Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

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Power Your Morning And My WAHM Morning Routine

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Nature Valley Cereal

They say that having a good routine is a must if you work from home. This is true. I have a lot to do each day and I want to start things off right. I want to power my morning so I can get through the rest of the day.

I usually get up between 4:30-5:00am. It depends on how tired I am. Sometimes I hit the snooze a few times. I get up, feed the dog, take a shower and get myself ready. I want to do all of this before my boys wake up.

After that, I make some coffee and get breakfast ready for myself. Then I sit at my computer and start my day. I start off checking email and then scheduling my Facebook posts as well as checking in on Twitter and usually sharing something on Instgram. I then make sure the boys are up around 6am.

I find this a good time of day to do those blogging tasks because I can do them while I am eating and helping the boys get ready for school. They are pretty good about doing what they need to do to get ready but they do need reminders, especially the five-year-old.

By 7:30 my two older boys are out the door. We leave for preschool a little bit later. After all the boys are in school my work day can really begin.

Nature Valley Cereal

Since I get up so early and lunch seems so far away I want to try to eat something that will keep me from feeling hungry and that is healthy for me. I am a big fan of cereal and I think Nature Valley Cereal is a good choice if you want to Power Your Morning and get off to a good start.

Nature Valley Cereal starts with the best ingredients from nature like 100% whole grain oats and honey. The cereal is packed with nutrients and protein, which can help fuel your morning. You can find Nature Valley Cereal in Baked Oat Bites, Honey Oat Clusters and Chocolate Oat Clusters.

Would you like to try some Nature Valley Cereal? You can print off a $1 off Nature Valley Cereal coupon to use at Publix to try the two delicious flavors and find your new go-to snack! From 2/25 to 3/2, the coupon will validate a BOGO offer as well.

Nature Valley Cereal

I also have a $15 Paypal cash giveaway going on!

Want to enter?

1. Go to Nature Valley Cereal and see the three new products.

2. Grab your $1.00 off coupon.

3. Come back here and tell me what flavor you would want to buy in the comment section.

I will pick one lucky winner. Giveaway starts now, February 18th and will go until March 2nd.

Good Luck 🙂

Saying Thank You To The Military This Holiday Season

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“This post was sponsored by the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central.”

Saying Thank You To the Military During the Holiday Season

Being a Military family during the holidays can be difficult. That is why is it so important to remember those people who are serving during this time of year. Sometimes they are home and are able to spend some time with their families and other times they are far away, missing their spouses, children, and other family members during a time when most people get to spend the holidays together.

It is so important to thank our service members throughout the year but especially during the holiday season. There are a lot of great ways to do this. I know for our family it is important to be there for others when they are missing someone during the holidays. When someone is overseas and away from their families it is nice to know that their spouse has friends to depend on back at home.

Care packages can go a long way as well. I enjoyed getting packages together to arrive in time for Christmas when my husband was away from us because of the Military. I knew he would be able to share some of what I sent with others in his Unit. I also remember receiving a few care packages myself and they really helped me feel better during my husband’s deployment. Small things like that can go a long way in helping say thank you to the members of the military and their families.

If you do not know any Military members personally, you can give in other ways. We have been able to give to different Military organizations that help the Military in different ways. From Christmas presents to helping those who have been injured. Take some time to look around your community and see where you can help those who serve. Even the smallest of donations can go a long way in helping the Military community.

MetLife also wishes you a happy holidays!

It is important to maintain good dental care, even during this time of year. The TRICARE Dental Program benefit includes the recommended cleanings twice a year, three times a year for those who are pregnant or people with diabetes. Two fluoride treatments are also covered within each consecutive 12-month period.

It is important to know that the TDP offers a network of over 250,000 locations worldwide. You can visit the website to find a dentist near you if you don’t already have one.

In the National Guard and Reserves? If you are enrolled in the TDP, network dentists can complete the Department of Defense Active Duty/Reserve Forces Dental Examination form -DD Form 2813 for them which will be done at zero cost.

Additional Resources:
2015 Winter Health Matters Newsletter:
MetLife TDP website: www.metlife.com/tricare
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetLifeTDP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/metlifetdp

What is your favorite way to say thank you to the Military???

 

 

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

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It’s December! It’s the holiday cookie season! Usually around this time of year I start to get into a big baking mood. I want to bake all the things! This year I started with Betty Crocker cookie mixes.

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

I love them. I have been buying them for years. I remember in college I would get them and make cookies to take to a potluck or just to hang out with friends. They are so easy. Since they require such basic ingredients they are great to keep in your home in case you need to make a dessert on a last-minute basis or just want to make something quick and easy with your kids. They are so ideal for the holiday cookie season.
Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

We used the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix to make these yummy cookies. I decided to add some red, green and chocolate chips to them to give them some holiday cheer. We also made some without the chips since that is my middle son’s favorite type of cookie.

The holidays are a nice time to bless people and bring yummy treats to them. It can be a great way for kids to get involved in the gift giving process too. You can give cookies and other desserts as treats to teachers and other adults that your children have a relationship with.

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

When you are giving the cookies to them, you need something to put them in. I love these Ziploc containers that are easy to close and add a ribbon to. Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes plus the Ziploc Containers are everything you need to make a nice gift for someone special this holiday season.

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

 

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

 

Holiday Sugar Cookie Baking With Betty Crocker

 

Do you have everything you need for holiday baking? Discover New Recipes from Betty Crocker and get some coupons to use to shop at Publix for all your holiday baking needs. Don’t forget to check out the cookie mixes. You can find them in other mixes such as chocolate chip and peanut butter. We plan to make some Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms next!

Also, make sure to enter my $10 Paypal giveaway to help with your shopping! Enter below!

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Military Family Appreciation Month And The MetLife Tricare Dental Program

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This post was sponsored by the MetLife TRICARE Dental Program as part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central!

Military Family Appreciation Month And The MetLife Tricare Dental Program

November is Military Family Appreciation Month!

It’s a great time to think about life as a Military family and everything we have gone through. Ten years ago my husband joined the Military. In 2014 we became a National Guard family. It’s been an interesting road for us. We have experienced so much over the years. First as an active duty family and now as a National Guard one. There are big differences between the two but through both of them we have been apart of the Military world.

We have been through four deployments and each one has been very different for us. From the amount of time he was gone to what he did while he was there to how old my kids were and how they reacted to it. A baby is going to be different then a five-year old with how they deal with the deployment. No matter how old the child is, it is hard to have to comfort them when they miss their Dad. They don’t quite understand why he would have to be gone for so long and I had to remind them that he would be home soon. As an adult I can understand his mission but it is hard to explain that to a child. I often times would tell them that he was off “protecting the United States” and as they got older that was easier for them to understand.

Growing up my Dad was home all the time. I often think about how different it has been for my own boys and that makes me a little sad. I have to remind myself that being married to someone in the Military can be difficult and I am not always going to be happy about it. The best thing for me to do is be there for my boys when they miss my husband and help them understand why he is in the profession he is in.

I also want to make sure that my kids have what they need, including dental care. We signed up for the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) back when my husband first signed up for the Army. Then in 2014 we signed up as a National Guard family.

There are a lot of great benefits to those who sign up for Metlife’s Tricare Dental Program. You and your children will receive two cleanings and two exams per year and zero cost when you see a network dentist. A long with this you will have two topical fluoride applications that are covered in a consecutive 12-month period and you will also have a $1,300 Dental Program Annual Maximum per enrollee per plan year. You can read more about the benefits by going to the Metlife TDP website.

If you are a Military family, go to the Beneficiary Enrollment website and enroll your family in the program. Those in the National Guard or Reserves can be enrolled themselves too. Your dedicated Military service entitles you to this benefit.

Don’t forget to find Metlife TDP on Facebook and Twitter as well…:)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetLifeTDP
Twitter: https://twitter.com/metlifetdp

Enjoy the rest of Military Family Appreciation month!

Shopping For Toys With Groupon Coupons

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*This is a sponsored post. I wanted to promote this topic with my readers. All opinions are my own. 

Shopping For Toys With Groupon Coupons

Shopping For Toys With Groupon Coupons

The holidays are coming, Christmas and Hanukkah will be here before we know it. I am already trying to figure out our budget and what we will be getting the boys. My three are pretty into Legos and Minecraft these days. My 5-year-old is also a huge Power Rangers fan. I have been asking my three boys for their Christmas lists so I have an idea of what they are most interested in.

I like to find deals on the toys we get our boys whether it is for their birthday or Christmas. I never want to pay full price unless I can’t find a deal. We also like to buy toys from Toys R Us. I find that they do have a lot of the toys we are looking for. I have recently found out about Groupon Coupons. You can use them to get special deals from places like Toys R Us. How great is that?

Right now you can get a $10 gift card to Toys R Us when you spend $75 or more between 12/1/15-12/24/15 by going through Groupon Coupons. That extra $10 can make a difference in your holiday budget.

You can also head on over and check out some of the deals of the week. Some are online and others are in-store only.

For example:
Lego Dimensions“Free $10 gift card when you buy any regular-priced LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack and any LEGO Dimensions Team, Level or Fun pack“

 

Lego Dimensions

“2 for $24 ALL LEGO Dimensions Fun Packs reg $16.99 ea.“

Discount toys for Christmas

“

“20% off ALL Star Wars 3.75″ figures & vehicles“

You can check out the rest of the deals on the Groupon Coupons Toys R Us page or take a look around at other Groupon Coupon pages if you are looking for other types of gifts. They can change often so make sure to check back throughout the next few weeks to find the deals that can help you save some money this holiday season.

I plan to keep checking to see what deals they have and if I can save money on toys I was planning on getting my boys anyway.

Have you started your holiday shopping yet???

 

 

 

 

Keeping You And Your Military Family Safe

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lifelock

Keeping You And Your Military Family Safe 

As a part of a Military family I am aware of the chance of identity theft. It has happened to us in the past as well as finding out that one of our bank accounts was compromised. When someone steals from you it can feel surreal like it wasn’t supposed to be something that you would ever have to deal with. The reality is that it can happen and you should do what you can to keep you and your family’s information safe. You don’t want to end up in a situation where someone has gained access to your personal information or has been able to take money from you.

A few years ago I visited my bank online like I do every morning and saw a few charges that I was not familiar with. They were all for purchases from an online site. I thought this was strange because even though I do work online I was not aware of the company that my money was going to. It wasn’t a ton of money but I knew something strange was going on. I called my bank and we were able to get it figured out. I ended up having to open a new account and had to close out the old one. That took some time and was quite a hassle but it was the safest thing we could do.

92e574c8-480b-4582-bb88-d8ad2f85805b

I hated the feeling that someone stole my card information and thought they could get away with it. Just like how you would feel violated if someone broke into your home, you feel that way when someone has broken into your bank account. Ever since that experience I have been a lot more careful about my information. I use a special card for online purchases and I make sure I am aware of who is getting my bank information.

It seems like the more that technology advances the more ways there are to steal someone’s information or their identity.

Identity theft can be a huge problem for military families. With all the moving around and traveling we military families might do, sometimes things get overlooked and it can make it easier for a thief to steal information. One way to to reduce the risk of identity theft use LifeLock. 

 

 

LifeLock offers three layers of protection:

  • Detect- They use advanced technology to constantly monitor over a trillion data points to help detect suspicious uses of your identity information to get loans, credit and services in your name.
  • Alert-LifeLock uses a very good alert system. LifeLock will send you a potential fraud alert by text, phone or email*. If you confirm that the suspicious transaction is fraudulent, your LifeLock team is on it.
  • Restore- LifeLock’s US-based Identity Protection Agents are ready to help with identity theft restoration. If your identity is ever compromised, an Identity Restoration Specialist takes charge.

 

As you can see, LifeLock will have your back! They understand what identity thieves do to gain information and how they plan to use it. 

If you are interested in signing up, LifeLock has a great special offer for Active and Retired Military personnel and their families.

Their military offer is 30 DAYS FREE, 15% OFF, PLUS A FREE AMERICAN FLAG. Promo code to take advantage of this offer is WESALUTE3.

Make sure you and your family’s information is safe and secure and go on over to LifeLock to sign up.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LifeLock. The opinions and text are all mine.

Share Your Hair And Support The Military With #ShareBeauty and Suave

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suave

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to do your hair each day? I know I do. A lot of times I find myself putting it up in a pony tail or bun. Boring I know but it is quick and easy. I think a lot of that is just being a busy work at home mom and not knowing what some other hairstyles would be. It is easy to put yourself on the back burner when you have so many other things you need to do each day. However, I am learning that there is a lot more you can do with your hair that is still quick and easy. I am also learning that with the right products you can really get it to look the way that you want.

Women who serve in today’s Military need to find a style that works and stays within the Military’s guidelines but that doesn’t have to mean boring. Although a simple bun might be the norm, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are a Military spouse like me or serving in the Military yourself, Suave® will help your hair be all that it can be with easy steps to style and the right products that work as well as salon brands do.

Megastar beauty vlogger and Military veteran, Dulce Candy is leading the way and has created a how-to video with easy tips for her favorite military-inspired styles to help women create the looks, while staying within military regulations. She is really good at explaining each of the steps and will walk you through what you need to do to achieve that style.

You can see the video here…

Some of the great products that can help you with your hair are a part of the NEW Suave Professionals® Sea Mineral Infusion line and the NEW Suave Professionals® Luxe Style Infusion line. 

They are truly amazing and I have enjoyed using them the last few days. In fact, I plan to keep using them because I love what they are doing with my hair. They unlock volume and lock in moisture for natural looking body and bounce that’s easy to style with. I love how much cleaner and healthier my hair feels. I plan to use the Sea Mineral Infusion Moisturizing Body Shampoo & Conditioner everyday. I will also being styling with the Luxe Style Infusion Smoothing Light Weight Weather Proof Cream and the Luxe Style Infusion Anti-Humidity Hairspray to help with my naturally wavy hair that is prone to frizz, especially in the humid weather we have here. These products will make styling a lot easier.

I spent some time watching Dulce’s video and decided to try the 2nd hair style she talked about. I love braids and I thought it would be a fun hairstyle to try. I will be sharing the hairstyle on Instagram tomorrow on Veteran’s Day and I hope you will join me.  I can’t wait to see all the different styles that everyone can come up with.

There are so many different ways to support the Military. Suave® is doing a great job with their #ShareBeauty campaign. They have been an American family brand for the last 75 years and will be donating 10,000 products to troops overseas. What a great way to give back!

We want you! Wear your military-inspired hairstyle on Veteran’s Day, share using #ShareBeauty, or both, to support Suave as they donate 10,000 products to troops overseas.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Suave via MSB New Media. The opinions and text are all mine.

*Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

 

Veteran’s Day With Baskin-Robbins

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baskin-robbins

* This post is a sponsored post!

Ice cream! What is your favorite flavor. I love mint chocolate chip!

One of my favorite places to get ice cream is Baskin-Robbins. I remember my Dad taking me there on my birthday every year for a special cone. I was happy to hear that they have a great promotion this Veteran’s Day giving back to those who have served.

In honor of Veteran’s Baskin-Robbins will donate 11 cents from every ice cream scoop sold on Veterans Day to the USO in honor of all service members, veterans and their families.

Make sure you go and visit Baskin-Robbins on November 11, 2015 and check out the Camouflage Waffle Cones and Waffle Bowls. Take your children because you know they will love to have some ice cream and eat it in a fun cone or cup.

baskin-robbins

About Baskin-Robbins:

Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,200 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats. The company is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops and has more than 7,400 retail shops in nearly 50 countries, including nearly 2,500 shops in the United States . Baskin-Robbins offers an extensive library of ice cream flavors, customizable ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes.

About The USO:
The USO strengthens America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. For nearly 75 years, the USO, a private, nonprofit organization, has served the men and women in the U.S. military and their families throughout their service – from the moment they join, through their deployments and as they transition back to their communities. Learn more about the USO at uso.org.

November Veterans Day promotion:
In honor of Veteran’s Day Baskin-Robbins will donate 11 cents from every ice cream scoop sold on Veterans day to the USO in honor of all service members, veterans and their families. They will be teaming up with the USO to support more than 1.3 million active duty service members around the world by encouraging guests to take a moment out of their day to say thank you. Guests can text THANKYOU to 50555 and send a message to our servicemen and women. Baskin-Robbins will also celebrate the military community all month long with a special Camouflage Waffle Cone and Waffle Bowl, which are decorated green, brown and tan. Guests can enjoy these freshly-baked waffle cones with any of their favorite Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors, including classics like Pralines ‘n Cream, Rocky Road and seasonal favorites like Pumpkin Cheesecake, Chocolate Almond and Fudge Brownie.

You can find Baskin-Robbins online at these social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baskinrobbinsUS?brand_redir=527725837256414
Twitter: https://twitter.com/baskinrobbins
Instagram: https://instagram.com/baskinrobbins/

Sound good? Now plan for a trip to get some ice cream at Baskin-Robbins next Wednesday and help support Veterans.