Twelve monthly resolutions to help military families thrive

Ditch the traditional resolutions and lend a hand to the military community instead. New Year’s Resolutions are complicated. I know I’m not alone in making them and not following through. So, this year I decided to do things a little differently. This year, my resolutions aren’t about me, but instead benefit our military community. Hopefully, […]

Honoring grief during the holidays

Especially this time of year, it’s important to help family and friends remember those they’ve lost. Oftentimes, it feels as though we in the military community are more conscious of the delicate nature of life and the reality of death because we regularly face separations and hardships. The highs and lows seem more vivid, and […]

How I Ditched the Christmas Cards and Adopted a Family Instead

Christmas has come and gone and I still feel a twinge of guilt when I look at the Christmas cards we’ve received from friends.You see, I haven’t participated in this annual tradition for the last couple of years. I guess it all started because I was being cheap.Initially I began looking at our network of […]

How to host a service member for the holidays

Many of us look forward to spending time with family and friends during the holidays. But sometimes it’s just not that easy for our troops to do the same if they’re stationed thousands of miles away, can’t afford the plane ticket home, or are in the middle of training. Thankfully, there are a lot of […]

Marine Corps Birthday Ball do’s and don’ts

The Marine Corps ball is one of the most anticipated events of the year, and it’s just around the corner. If you’ve never been to a ball or it’s been a while since you’ve attended, here’s a rundown of what to expect. Dress to impress The Ball celebrates the birthday of our Corps, which fittingly […]

How to enjoy the holidays by slowing down

I was walking through Target with my 8-year-old son when he turned and looked at me with true confusion in his eyes. He asked me why there was so much Christmas and holiday décor on display when we hadn’t even made it through Halloween yet. I smiled as I walked alongside him and did my […]

Back to school: 4 free educational tools for military families

School is in full swing for most of us with kids, and that means homework. If you’ve been out of school for a while, you know sometimes that means we need to learn or relearn right alongside our kiddos. Unfortunately, sometimes the assignments given may as well be written in another language. Every parent has their […]

Six Programs to Kick Start Your Business: Veterans and Military Spouses

Many military members and spouses begin their own companies for a variety of reasons.  Maybe you’re an accidental entrepreneur or you’ve always wanted to own your own business. Maybe the idea of being your own boss appeals to you. Whatever your reason, there’s a lot of great programs out there to support you. Have you […]

6 ways to connect after your military move

Sometimes it’s difficult starting over. There are so many firsts again: new dentist, doctors, hairdressers and barbers, dry cleaners, and everything else that comes along with a new move. Finding friends can be even trickier, but if you follow these tips and tricks, you just may find adjusting a whole lot easier. 1. Facebook Pages: […]

A little perspective on the hard days of being a parent

Do you ever look at your kids and think, Wow, they’re just like me? Usually when I’m thinking that, it’s when I see my “not so great” qualities reflected, like needing to be in control and be right. Of course, it doesn’t help that school has been out for a couple months, or that we’ve spent […]

4 fun and easy summer ideas to keep kids entertained

Ready or not, summer is here. Chances are pretty good that your kids are itching to get involved in something – anything – other than being around their siblings. You may be left wondering where to discover activities to get your kids involved. Let’s face it, there’s a myriad of events ranging in price from […]

Preparing for a PCS: Top tips to a successful move

It’s moving season and many of you have orders to PCS (permanent change of duty station).  I’m on the eve of my sixth duty station and I’ll be turning in my 30 days’ notice tomorrow.  That’s right, even though I live in base housing; I still have let them know that I’m going to be […]