Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Military Life

Favorite Military Discounts That Military Spouses Love

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Favorite Military Discounts That Military Spouses Love

Military discounts are the best! Whether it is 10% off at your favorite restaurant or a buy one get one free pass at a local establishment. There are such a variety of military discounts out there, and not all of them apply nationwide.

Some military discounts are more popular than others but they are a way for military families to save money, even if it is just a few dollars. When businesses offer these discounts, they are saying thank you to the military community and their kindness is very much appreciated.

Here are some favorite military discounts that military spouses love:

Shoes

What growing military family doesn’t need shoes? The good news is quite a few stores offer a military discount on shoes. Payless and Rack Room Shoes offer you 10% off, and the Foot Locker offers you 20%.

Blue Star Museums

A collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and Museums Across America has created Blue Star Museums. They offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families to include the National Guard and the Reserves. This offer is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and you can see a list of participating museums here.

Home Depot and Lowes

Need to work on a home project? Spouse deployed and you want to paint that room you keep putting off. Home Depot and Lowe’s will offer 10% off at their stores.

Disney

Disney is one of the best discounts you can find. They offer the Armed Forces Salute at both Disneyland and Disney World. You will be able to save a lot of money this way. There are also select military discounts at hotels near the parks that would be worth checking out.

Sea World/Busch Gardens

You can get in on the Waves of Honor discount at Sea World’s nationwide, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place. Each service member can receive one free ticket as well as three other free tickets for their dependents. Visit the Sea World page for more information on this military discount. This discount is valid for Active duty, National Guard, and the Reserves.

Michael’s and Joann’s

Into crafting? Want to buy some decorations for the upcoming fall and winter seasons? Check out Michael’s, who offer 15% off and Joann’s who offer 10% off.

National Parks

You can get a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass just by showing your ID at your local National Park. The pass is good for a year.

Old Navy/The Gap

Your local Old Navy and The Gap should have a military discount too. Usually, it is about 10%. Some places offer the discount every day, others every Monday or a few times a month. Make sure to ask when you are at your local store to find out what they offer.

Hotels

Finding a discount on a hotel for your vacation can save you some money. Check out Marriot, Embassy Suites, Choice Hotels, or anywhere you plan on staying to see if they offer a discount too.

Your favorite restaurants

Restaurants are a bit tricky as they can depend on the management at the specific locations. Most restaurants that offer a military discount give you 10-20% off depending on their discount. Make sure to ask before you pay if you are unsure about their discount or have heard that they have one.

This post does contain affiliate links!

Veterans Advantage 

Veterans Advantage, Inc.
By signing up with Veterans Advantage, you can gain access to even more military discounts. With Veterans Advantage you can find discounts from name-brand companies such as Target, 1-800-Flowers, Adobe, Wendy’s, Regal, and more.

What are your favorite military discounts? Which ones do you use all the time?

Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

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Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Which Breast Pump Is Best For You?

If you didn’t already know, if you are pregnant or have had a baby, you can receive a $0 cost breast pump through TRICARE. The Breastfeeding Shop is a good place to get your breast pump. They have a form you can fill out and they make the process as easy as possible.

The Breastfeeding Shop also has an excellent variety of breast pumps to choose from. Since all moms are different, the best pump for you might be different than the best breast pump for your neighbor.

Here is a run-down of all the breast pumps the Breastfeeding Shop offers and a little about each one so that you can make the right decision on your pump.

Medela Pump in Style

This pump has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and comes with a tote bag. The pump weighs 4.2lbs, has a 2-phase expression technology, and the motor is compact and easy to carry.

Spectra S2

The Spectra S2 has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. The pump also has dual voltage and is 4.1lbs. It is gentle and quiet and has a night light which makes this pump perfect for nighttime pumping sessions.

Ardo Calypso

This pump has adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. It is also dual voltage, battery option, and 3.2lbs. The Ardo Calypso uses vacuum seal technology.

Ameda Purely Yours

This pump has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. The pump is only 1lb which makes it very lightweight. There is also airlock protection and no cleaning of the tubing needed.

Hygeia Q

The Hygeia Q has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. The pump is 2.4lbs, and you can independently control cycle rate and suction strength for your particular needs.

Spectra S9 Plus 9

This pump also has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. This pump has a battery option, is 1lb, and very portable. This pump is ideal for travel although the suction isn’t as great as it would be on a stand alone pump.

Spectra S1

This Spectra pump has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system too. It also has dual voltage, battery option, 4.1lbs with a built in rechargeable battery. This pump is very quiet with a max suction of 300 mmHg.

Lansinoh Signature Pro

This pump has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. There is a battery option, comes with a tote and is 2.3lbs. This pump also has Bluetooth technology.

Evenflo Advanced Deluxe 

This Evenflo pump has an adjustable speed, single and double pumping, and a closed system. There is also a battery option, a tote, and the pump is 6lbs. This pump has an advanced control for ultimate personalization with 32 independent speeds and suction settings.

Choosing the right breast pump can feel pretty overwhelming. Take a look at this list, visit the Breastfeeding Shop’s website, and talk to your friends about what they use to find the right one.

 

The Dos and Don’ts of a Military Spouse Facebook Group

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The Dos and Don'ts of a Military Spouse Facebook Group

The Dos and Don’ts of a Military Spouse Facebook Group

Facebook! There is so much you can do on Facebook. From keeping in touch with your friends who moved away to sharing photos of your children so the Grandmas can see from across the country. Another benefit of Facebook is Facebook groups.

There are Facebook groups for everything. From your favorite TV show to your neighborhood. Within these groups you can talk to people you don’t know about topics that are important to you. You can make friends through groups, can connect with others in your community, and learn about something you didn’t know about before.

Within the military spouse world, there are plenty of Facebook groups to join. There are probably at least one or two based around where you are stationed. There are groups for each branch, groups for military spouses that are into different hobbies, and groups connected with military spouse blogs.

I have a Facebook group for my blog. I started the group about 18 months ago, and we are almost at 10,000 members. Having so many people in one group can bring up challenges and situations you don’t have in a much smaller group. Over the last 18 months, I have learned so much about running a Facebook group, connecting with other spouses, and the benefits of having this type of group.

The Dos and Don'ts of a Military Spouse Facebook Group

For a group to run smoothly, the Facebook community has to work together so everyone can have a good experience.

These Dos and Don’ts of Facebook groups apply across the board and are just a good way to be on social media.

Do read the rules of the Facebook group

Every Facebook group should have rules listed. You should be able to read through these even before you join. Doing so is important. Knowing where the group stands on certain issues is important.

Don’t break the rules on purpose

If the rules state not to post about your business, don’t post about your business. Rules are there for a reason so make sure you abide by them. In some cases, if you don’t, you could be banned from the group.

Do be understanding of people who don’t know as much as you do

In any group you join, some people will know more than you do, some will know less. Be understanding of those who don’t know as much. Some people are new to military spouse life and don’t quite understand how everything works.

Don’t call anyone names just because they don’t quite understand something the same way

There is no need to call other people names. If someone is making you mad in a Facebook group, walk away and take a break. You don’t have to respond to anyone.

Do know the theme or topic that the group is about

Make sure you are aware of what the group is about. I have been in groups where some strange comment is posted, and drama ensues, all because the person posting the comment didn’t quite understand what the group is about.

Don’t be negative on posts just because you don’t relate to the topic

You won’t relate to every post that is shared. There is no need to answer a post on a topic you hate or don’t care about. There are plenty of other posts you can respond to.

Do tell your friends about groups you love

If you like the Facebook group you are in, let your friends know about it. They will enjoy the group too.

The Dos and Don'ts of a Military Spouse Facebook Group

Don’t add people without asking them beforehand

Don’t add people without asking. Even more so if it is a group based on someone selling something. It never hurts to send a quick message to see if the person is interested in the group. Otherwise, your friend will start to see posts from a group they might not even know they have been added to.

Do be respectful in your responses

There is always a good way and a bad way to respond to someone, especially if they are asking for advice. Being respectful in your responses will go a long way in helping someone out or hurting them.

Don’t be rude, just because you can

Some people like to be rude to others just because. Don’t be that person.

Do know that anyone in the group can see what you post

Know that whatever you post will be shared with the people in the group. Double check the settings of the group. If the group you are in is a “Public” group, anyone on your friend’s list can see what you post. If it is a “closed group” only the people in the group can see.

Don’t overshare information about your situation that you would not want to get out into the world

The sad truth is that anyone can screen shot what someone else posts in a group. There is no way to stop this from happening completely. So please be aware when you are posting that this could happen.

Do know about OPSEC and PERSEC

Know what OPSEC and PERSEC is. Things like posting when your spouse is deploying isn’t okay. Know how much is too much for social media.

Military Spouse Facebook groups can help you meet other spouses, find out about where you are PCSing too, and help you through your deployment. When you join one, make sure you are aware of the rules, be kind and respectful to others, and you should have a good experience.

What are your favorite Military Spouse Facebook groups?

Why This Military Spouse is Thankful For Her Civilian Friends

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Why This Military Spouse is Thankful For Her Civilian Friends


By Julie Provost

I collaborated with Starbucks to share my story on bridging the civilian-military divide. Since 2013, Starbucks has hired more than 10,000 military spouses and veterans and is committed to hiring at least 15,000 more. On Aug. 21, Starbucks launched a national campaign encouraging the 99% of Americans who haven’t served to start a new conversation with veterans and military spouses. Learn more here »

Starbucks

During our past deployments, we received care packages from back home. Not only did my husband receive them, but my boys and I did too. Knowing that our civilian friends and family were thinking about us meant the world. From sending me books and candy to encouraging notes, knowing people back home understood that the deployment was challenging and wanted to help meant the world to me.

Sometimes we get stuck in our military world and forget how special our civilian friends are. No, they might not understand everything we are going through, but they can still be a source of support. I am so thankful for my civilian friends, and this is why:

They are good listeners

Finding a good friend to talk with is a plus, and your civilian friends can make great listeners. While they might not get what you have gone through or what a deployment is like, they can listen as you talk about your struggles. In return, you can listen to them and what they are dealing with. Everyone goes through frustrating times and having someone to talk to about them is a must, military or civilian.

They remind us what our service member is fighting for

When you look at your civilian friends, you see what your service member is fighting for. We can get caught up in our own military life and forget that the majority of the country is living their lives and that our service member is helping to protect that. America is a wonderful place and remembering what our spouses are protecting is important.

They can be steady in our ever changing world

There are plenty of changings in our lives as military spouses, but our civilian friends can be that steady person in our lives. Even if we move around, they probably will not and can be that person we see every time we come home for a visit. We can get into a good routine of texting them on a regular basis and know that they will always be there for us.

They can offer a different perspective

Civilian friends bring a fresh perspective that we could all use. Since they are not dealing with the military like we are, they see the world a little differently. They can offer different advice from our military friends. And when you are trying to figure out what to do about a certain situation, hearing from different perspectives is important.

They can learn about the military through us

You might be the only military spouse that your civilian friend truly knows. Your family might be the only military family they interact with. Through your life, they can learn about what it means to be married to a service member, what life in the military is like, and how Americans can best help the military. Having civilian friends bridges the divide between the 1% that serve and the 99% that do not.

Today Americans know fewer veterans than any other generation. Because of this, there are a lot of misconceptions about military life. Years ago, most people knew those who had served; these days things are a bit different.

At Starbucks, veterans, military spouses, and civilians work together side by side. Since 2013, they have hired over 10,000 veterans and military spouses, and they are committed to hiring 15,000 more. The goal is to be the leading corporate advocate and voice for transitioning veterans, military spouses, and military families.

Through partnerships with like-minded companies such as Team Red, White, and Blue, Team Rubicon, and the Mission Continues, Starbucks strives to bridge the divide between the 1% of Americans who have served in the US military and the 99% who have not.

Starbucks

There are 32 (and counting) Starbucks Military Family Stores. These stores are where the Veteran community can work, unwind and connect. The stores host Military Mondays where local Veteran service organizations provide transition guidance and information.

The Starbucks Armed Forces Network (AFN) on Facebook is open to all partners and their families. Their mission is to help Veterans transition to Civilian employment and give all partners the opportunity to strengthen connections while supporting a culture that embraces our military partners and their families.

Starbucks is doing amazing things for our Veteran, Military Spouse, and Civilian communities!

 

The Truth About the Military Spouse Community

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The Truth About the Military Spouse Community

I have noticed something, and it makes me sad. Military spouses who have no desire to be involved in the military community because they think everyone is awful. They don’t want to try to be friends with other military spouses because they believe all military spouses are the same and that they don’t want to be involved in their drama.

I just have to say, that in the 12 years I have been a military spouse, this has not been my experience. 

Military Community

Are there terrible military spouses out there? Yes, of course. Just like there are terrible civilian spouses out there. Terrible people are everywhere but so are amazing people. And the military community has a lot more of them.

Do military spouses cause drama? Yes, they do, but you know what? There is drama everywhere else too. There is drama in a civilian neighborhood, there is drama in a civilian school, there is drama just about anywhere you find other people. Life has drama.

The Truth About the Military Spouse CommunityWhen you shut yourself off to the military community as a whole, you are shutting yourself off to the ability to meet other people who understand what you are going through. You shut yourself off to the opportunity to meet people who can become family. You shut yourself off to making some amazing memories and getting to know your neighbors and your community.

If you are feeling like no one understands you, if you feel like you are the only military spouse who believes a certain way, I guarantee you are not alone. I guarantee that there are other military spouses out there, in your own military community, that believes the same way that you do.

When you are new to military life, the community can feel a bit overwhelming. There is so much to learn, so many terms, so many traditions. You can feel a little lost.

When you get to your first duty station and don’t know a soul, you can start to feel invisible. The school is asking for an emergency contact, and you don’t know anyone local, let alone anyone you would trust with your children. You see other spouses with their friends, and you want that, but you are not sure how to get it.

The Truth About the Military Spouse Community

You might be a seasoned spouse who is moving for the sixth time in ten years. Things didn’t go so well at your last duty station, so you tell yourself that this time you will stick to the civilian side of things. You will stay far away from the military community. But then your spouse deploys, and you are left alone, wondering how to make it through, wondering how you will do so without any battle buddies.

The truth is, our military communities are filled with people, and people do make mistakes. They are filled with good experiences and bad ones. They are filled with happiness and sadness. They are filled with men and women who all want to live the best life that they can with the people around them.

So whether you are brand new to this life or whether you have been a spouse for a long time, try to reach out and find the good in your military community. The good is there, I promise.

You can see it when one spouse loses her child, and her friends are there to help her through. You see it when one spouse loses her husband, and her battle buddies are right there by her side. You see it when a mom is having a baby and her community rallies around her and offers support.

The truth is, not everything is going to go smoothly. In a military community, you will find drama, you will find people who ignore you, you will find people who won’t understand you. But they do not make up all of the community. They should not ruin things for you so that you swear off military spouses for good.

The Truth About the Military Spouse Community

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be guarded or careful. Opening your heart to everyone you meet isn’t always the best plan. But you can go into your community with hope. You can work hard to be the type of friend you are looking for. You can work hard to make the military community a better place.

What do you love about your own military community?

 

Operation Rocker With Cracker Barrel and Operation Homefront

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Cracker Barrel

This is a sponsored post with Cracker Barrel!

Every time we go to we always take some time to sit in the rocking chairs out front. They are perfect for your porch, to sit and enjoy the evening or to have a cup of coffee before work. I am working together with Cracker Barrel on this post and they sent me one of their rocking chairs to put together, decorate, and gift to someone special. When they did, I knew who I wanted to give this rocker to.

My husband, who is in the National Guard, first joined the Army back in 1996. Although he did take a break, I joke it was in order to meet me, he has served a total of about 13 years, both active duty, and with the National Guard. He spends his weeks working hard at his civilian job and then when it is time for drill, puts on his uniform, and goes and serves his country. And his birthday is coming up.

I knew that my husband would love a rocking chair for his birthday. We have a front porch at our home here in Tennessee and I knew a rocking chair would be perfect for him to sit in after work or on a Saturday morning, especially since it has finally started cooling off here.

Operation Rocker With Cracker Barrel and Operation Homefront

When he is not working, he likes to relax and I knew the rocking chair would allow him to do so more than the chairs we already had out there. My six-year-old son and I took some time to decorate the chair for him too. He loves this type of thing and knowing he was making it for his Dad made working on it even better.

Operation Rocker With Cracker Barrel and Operation Homefront

My helper 🙂

We decided to go with a red, white, and blue patriotic theme for the chair. We used several different types of ribbon and a red, white and blue star decoration.

Cracker Barrel

provides a good meal for your whole family. They have a home-away-from home feel and whenever someone visits us from out-of-town, we like to take them there. The restaurant was established in 1969 in Lebanon, TN and there are 644 stores in 44 states today. Not only do they have good food, their breakfasts are my favorite, but they have an amazing country store you have to spend time in when you go.

Operation Rocker

The Operation Rocker campaign with Cracker Barrel and Operation Homefront is a way for the community to give back to the military and the veterans who have served their country. Cracker Barrel will donate a rocking chair to Operation Homefront for every adult rocker that is purchased on Cracker Barrel’s website until Labor Day (9/4/17.)

In addition to donating the rockers, Cracker Barrel also donated 10% of proceeds from all in-store adult rocker sales to Operation Homefront during the weekend of June 30th-July 4, 2017.

Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront offers relief, resiliency, and recurring support to military families across the nation. After starting shortly after 9/11, they have served tens of thousands of military families across the country. I know we have benefited from them in the past too.

Operation Rocker is one way to help so they can continue to help military families. The program Homes on the Homefront, which Operation Rocker supports, has also awarded nearly 600 mortgage-free homes as well as providing over $48 million in deeded value to veterans and their families. Other programs include the Fisher House, United Through Reading, The Legion Fund and more.

Last year, over 700 rockers were purchased during this program. Cracker Barrel and the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation together contributed over $430,000 to Operation Homefront through both monetary and in-kind donations. To kick off this year, they awarded a $50,000 grant to Operation Homefront.

Head on over to the and buy a rocker for you or that special person in your life. Doing so is a way to give back to veterans and you can enjoy the benefits of having a rocker on your porch too.

6 Reasons Why Deployments Can Be So Difficult With Small Children

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6 Reasons Why Deployments Can Be So Difficult With Small Children

Deployments with children are all I have ever known. When my husband joined the Army, we had a 13-month-old. My husband left for Germany, and we stayed behind waiting for our Command Sponsorship. This pushed me right into the solo parenting role and one I never expected I would be in.

Deployment

 

Over the years, I have been through four deployments as well as plenty of other separations where I had to parent alone. I have always felt this was a bit of a deployment weakness for me. Being both mom and dad is hard, and when you have to do it over and over again, it wears on you.

There are many reasons why a deployment can be so difficult. They vary based on each person, their situation, and what they are currently going through. A spouse suffering from depression is going to have a different type of challenge during a deployment than a spouse who isn’t. But that doesn’t mean the second spouse isn’t fighting their own battles.

Here are six reasons why deployments can be so difficult with small children:

You do bedtime, every night

Every night you are the only one putting your kids to bed. You do all of the bedtime routines. You read all of the stories. You always get the last drink and last snack. It is all you. There isn’t anyone else who is going to be coming home after work that you can split the job with.

Over the months, this can start to get to you. You daydream about your spouse being able to do bedtime, to give you that break. You swear that you will never take that for granted again. And you put plans into place to help you during those hectic nighttime hours with your children.

deployments with children

You have to find a babysitter for everything

When my husband was home, he could always be there with the kids if I had somewhere to go during the weekends. If I had a ladies, night, I just needed to let him know. If friends wanted to meet for lunch on a Saturday, I would just let him know of my plans. If I wanted to run to the store for three items, I could do so without my children.

Once my husband left, that became an issue. If I wanted to do any of those things, I had to find a babysitter. Luckily I was able to find friends to help, I was able to use hourly care, and was able to find other ways to have someone watch my children when I needed to be somewhere, most of the time.

You have to take them all with you to shop

Shopping with all of your children can be very stressful. During deployments, you most likely have to take all of your kids with you to shop, at least some of the time. If you have children in a preschool program or can use hourly care, that can be the perfect time to do your shopping.

If you do need to take them all with you, make sure you do go over the rules and try to make the experience as easy as you can. Doing things like using a sling for a baby and put the toddler in the front of the cart so that you can free up space for the food you need can help you have a better experience. In the past, I have also traded babysitting with a friend so that we could both get our grocery shopping done quickly and without our kids.

Your children miss their parent too

While you are missing your spouse, your kids are missing their mom and dad, and when that happens, you might not know what to do to help them. Sometimes all you can do is hold them while they cry and let them know that the other parent is missing them too. Tools such as Daddy Dolls and having your spouse read books over video to them can help children during a deployment.

Know that different children will handle deployments differently, even within the same family. You might have one child who seems to take it all in stride and another who breaks down over the deployment every day. Figure out what will work for each child and do your best to remind them that the both you and the deployed parent love them very much.

Deployments

Your spouse misses out on milestones

Whether it is your daughter taking her first steps or your son learning to talk, having your spouse miss milestones can be difficult. You can take photos and videos to share, but that isn’t the same. The best thing you can do is to write down when they things happen and share with your spouse and know that they will be home to experience other milestones in the future.

Things can be weird when they come back

When your spouse does get home from a deployment, parenting together can be strong. If your spouse left a 6-month-old who was barely starting to crawl and then comes home to an active toddler, things can be a little overwhelming for them. Even more than that, you probably have developed your routines and the way you do things with your child.

The best thing to do is talk about what life will be like for your children after they get back. You can go over expectations and the little details of having a child the age that you do before they come home. See if it would help your spouse to have you write out your regular schedule but also make room for them to add their way of parenting to your routines.

You should see eye to eye on the big parenting topics, but it is okay to do things a little differently when it comes to parenting your children. This naturally happens when both spouses are home as the child grows but can seem weird when one has been away for a long time.

When it comes to deployments and small children, you do the best that you can, you live each day as fully as you can, and you count down to the days when your solo parenting will come to an end.

What are your best tips for raising small children during a deployment?

Keeping Military Kids Busy With Hands On Educational Learning + A Giveaway

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Keeping Military Kids Busy With Hands On Educational Learning

This is a sponsored post by Nakturnal

So you spouse just deployed, now what to do with these kids? When you are suddenly both mom and dad, you have to figure out how you will get through. You will have to figure out how to stay busy so that the deployment will be easier for you and your kids.

There are so many ways to keep kids busy, both inside and outside of your home. From taking them to the park to signing them up for sports and other activities. Make plans and fill up your calendar. Look and see what is available in your local area.

Keeping kids busy during a deployment is going to keep your sane, wear them out so they sleep better at night, and help them make friends and memories along the way. When you can find fun things for your child to do, both of you will have a better deployment experience.

Activities for children

One option would be to sign them up for a Snapology class. 

What’s Snapology?

Snapology is an interactive STEM/STEAM program for kids. They feature technology and popular building toys such as LEGO Bricks and K’nex. This makes for a fun class that focuses on building and creating.

Where are Snapology classes?

You can check out the Snapology website to find where your closest Snapology franchise would be on their website. For those of us at Fort Campbell, that would be in North Nashville but Snapology is also looking for someone to open another Snapology in Nashville.

What does it take to open a Snapology franchise?

You will be able to be your own boss with over 40 different program topics and themes. You can offer field trips, birthday parties, workshops, scouting events, and more for kids ages 1-14. Fill out the form on the website to find out more information about opening your own franchise.

Activities for children

Now for the giveaway, would you like to win a Mascot Alligator Lego set?

Alligator Lego Set

Pretty cute, huh?

Enter the Rafflecopter below 🙂

Make sure you do leave a comment answering the question, What is your favorite thing to do with your kids?  

US addresses only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sometimes staying busy with your kids means being creative and a Snapology class can be an excellent way to do so. Take some time to check them out and see what they have to offer. Finding the right creative and educational class for your child can be one of the best things you can do and opening your own franchise can be a good way to earn money and do so by helping children.

Make sure to share this Snapology opportunity with your friends 🙂