Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

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Let AAFMAA’s $5,000 CAP Loan Help with Your Summer Bucket List

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This is a sponsored post by AAFMAA!

Let AAFMAA’s $5,000 CAP Loan Help with Your Summer Bucket List

Let AAFMAA’s $5,000 CAP Loan Help with Your Summer Bucket List

By Charlene Wilde

AAFMAA Assistant Secretary

MilSpouses are nothing if not resourceful. With school out and summer in full swing, it’s time for planning family fun, hustling kids to camps and activities, or tackling projects around the house. Personally, I can hardly wait for a break from the frenetic hum of lunch packing, homework, book orders, and running for the bus so I can enjoy a lazy morning with nowhere to be. 

But money doesn’t grow on trees, and we all know that even summer days become tiresome, giving us a renewed focus to plan activities with friends, family trips, and other ways to fill the longer days. So, what are the options to get the funds needed to fuel your goals and summer bucket list? AAFMAA not only understands the military lifestyle, we’re living it right alongside you — and we can make it even easier than you think. 

AAFMAA offers a $5,000 CAP Loan that lets MilSpouses take control and keep their family finances on track. It’s reliable, affordable, and able to help Active Duty military families achieve that secure financial future we all strive for. With a host of other benefits, you won’t get from any other financial solution, it’s our way of continuing to thank you for being part of our AAFMAA family. 

Here’s how our $5,000 CAP Loan stacks up against other options, such as credit cards and other consumer loans: 

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If you’d like to hear more, check out this video on the $5,000 CAP Loan from AAFMAA’s Chief Operating Officer, Carlos Perez. He discusses how you can use the loan any way you want, with a low 1.5% APR and 5 years to pay it back. There’s no credit check, no collateral required, and no prepayment penalties — making it simple to apply and get started on checking off your summer goals. 

Whatever the season has in store, we at AAFMAA are here to help you make it fun, affordable, and part of your ongoing plans for a secure financial future. 

Ready to get started? Visit us online at www.aafmaa.com/cap or call us at (800) 991-0268 with your servicemember spouse to start their application for AAFMAA’s $5,000 CAP Loan today.

Have you heard what Macy’s is doing to help military families this summer?

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This is a sponsored post! 

Have you heard what Macy’s is doing to help military families this summer?

If not, here you go. Macy’s is offering their Macy’s Salutes Those Who Serve this summer from July 1st through July 18th. What is Macy’s Salutes Those Who Serve?

Between those dates, you can simply round up your Macy’s purchase amount, and donate that amount up to $.99 to Blue Star Families and Bunker Labs.

Helping Blue Star Families in this way means helping create communities of mutual support and stability for military families who experience frequent moves and deployments. The other portion of the change will go to Bunker Labs, which is a group that inspires, equips, and connects military veterans, active duty, military spouses, and family members to start and grow successful businesses.

Sounds pretty amazing right?

We were able to take a trip to Macy’s in anticipation of this upcoming campaign. I was also able to go on a little shopping spree and pick out a few things. My husband found a pretty amazing shirt, we bought some new bed sheets, a new cookie sheet, and my son picked out a pretty rocking Avenger’s backpack set.

Although each Macy’s may look a bit different, the Macy’s at Green Hills Mall in Nashville is three stories high with so many different departments. This mall is about an hour from Fort Campbell.

You can find new furniture and items for your home after a PCS in their home section, find a new bathing suit in their swim section, or start shopping for new school clothes for the kids for the fall.


They have make-up counters, shoes, purses, and more. You can even use their free styling service if you want to try out some new looks. Macy’s is also bright and had such a nice atmosphere. We enjoyed walking around the whole store, checking out all the different departments.

I think my son’s favorite part of the visit was the VR set they had to help you try out different looks for your home. Every time we go to that store, that is the first thing he wants to do.

So…make plans to head to your local Macy’s store, or visit one on vacation and round up your purchases to help raise money that will help military families.

Remember, this campaign goes from July 1st, through July 18th.

Blue Star Families is also going to be giving away a $1,000 Macy’s gift card! This would be an amazing prize to win to put towards new household items during your next PCS or pick out homecoming outfits for your whole family.

How do you enter this awesome giveaway?

Just fill out this form here—>>> https://bluestarfam.org/macys-salutes-those-who-serve/

Good luck!

I am so thankful for companies like Macy’s that see there is a need to help military families and then make it happen. Make sure you choose to round up when you head to Macy’s between July 1st and July 18th. The military community will really appreciate it.

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

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How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

Did you know that you can order a breast pump that is covered 100% by TRICARE? This started in 2014, and yes it is true. For every one birth event you have, you can receive one breast pump.

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

Here is how you can do so with the Breastfeeding Shop:

A birth event is considered either giving birth or adopting with plans to breastfeed. This benefit is for all types of TRICARE, and all types of military service. That means it doesn’t matter if the sponsor is active duty, National Guard, Reserves, or Retired. They all qualify.

You can receive your breast pump before or after delivery. Most moms like to do so before, so they can have the breast pump ready to go when the baby comes.

The Breastfeeding Shop offers top rated breast pumps and makes it easy to order using your TRICARE benefit. Here are the steps you need to take to do so:

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

1. Your prescription

You will need to get your prescription from your doctor, who will need to be an authorized TRICARE provider. This means a doctor, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or a nurse midwife. The Breastfeeding Shop can contact them for you, but this will take a bit longer to do so than getting the prescription from them yourself. You can also have your doctor fax over your prescription to The Breastfeeding Shop. The fax number is 866-430-7882, and you would need to note that is what you will be doing in the comments section when filling out the online order form.

2. Find the right breast pump

You will need to decide on which breast pump is right for you. Currently, there are eight choices on The Breastfeeding Shop’s order form. You can also choose “other” and then call them at 866-255-6779. They do work with most of the major manufacturers.

3. Fill out the order form

You will need to then fill out the order form on The Breastfeeding Shop’s website. This is a simple process and won’t take you very long. You can also do this on The Breastfeeding Shop’s app. Make sure you fill out the form as completely as you can. Please note that there is a different order form if you live in Pennsylvania. If you would like, you can also order by phone.

4. The breast pump will be shipped to you

The breast pump you have chosen will be shipped directly to you. In a lot of cases, you will have it the next day if you live in the United States. Shipping will take longer if you are stationed overseas. If you do need your breast pump ASAP, they do offer same day shipping.

How To Order A Breast Pump That Is Covered By TRICARE

What else do you need to know?

The coverage from TRICARE is not limited to a specific manufacturer, brand or model number. The TRICARE benefit also covers the following breast pump accessories: standard power adaptors, tubing, and tubing adapters locking rings, bottles, bottle caps, shield/splash protectors, storage bags, and up to two breast pump kits per birth event.

You can receive your breast pump and accessories before delivery or up to three years, or 36 months after the birth event. That date is either your baby’s birth date or their adoption date.

If you would like more information on The Breastfeeding Shop, makes sure to visit their website as well as some of my other posts on what they have to offer:

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

The Breastfeeding Shop Has a New App and it is Amazing

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

 

Sometimes They Miss So Much

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Sometimes They Miss So Much

This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Holt’s Cigar Company via SoFluential Media. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sometimes They Miss So Much

When my husband joined the military, we already had children. A little boy. One of the reasons I went back and forth on it for so long was that I knew that when my husband joined the military, it would mean he would miss some of my son’s life. And that we would not be able to pick and choose what we would miss and what he would be home for.

In the last 12.5 years, he has missed his fair share of moments with our boys. He missed my 2nd little boy’s birth, and almost his entire first year due to a deployment extension. He has missed the first day of school, the last day of school, first words, and other milestones along the way.

As a military family, we know this is a part of the deal, but sometimes it makes me sad for him. I have been here for everything, and for him, some of our children’s growing up was done over emails, texts, and video chats. This can be frustrating for both of us, and I can only imagine what it must be like to not be able to see your children for months at a time while you are serving your country.

Military fathers sacrifice so much during their time in the military. Having to say goodbye to not only their spouse but also their children. We as a country can never really thank them enough for that sacrifice.

Sometimes They Miss So Much

As spouses, we can send them all the videos and photos in the world, but once they come home and you see your children run into their arms, you know that the missing is over and the bonding can resume. That your husband can be an in-person father once again.

This father’s day, there are many ways to show you care to the military fathers in your life. From cooking them a special dinner to buying them the right father’s day gift. One company that has some fantastic things for Dads is Holt’s Cigar Company. They have gifts that would be perfect for Father’s Day, a graduation, and even the birth of a child.

And…best of all, they have a 10% military discount, to help you save money as you are picking out a present for your favorite dad.

Military life isn’t easy, especially when you are far away from your family. A nice gift can be the perfect way to show them your love and Holt’s Cigar Company can help you find something they will love.