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Checklists
The Kocsis Household is crazy-busy. Yours too? I know plenty of us are flying by the seat of our pants with barely time to stop and sip the coffee. Yet, when I settle into bed at night there are days when I can’t even begin to recall what I had accomplished that day. Its a sinking feeling to go through the day and feel like you have done nothing, when you were running around raged doing everything. That is the beauty of ‘checklists’ for me. I have a weekly calendar that sits very comfortably in my purse. It goes with me everywhere. If I’m sitting at a stop light and…
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Apple Picking Equates to Picking More Apple Recipes
We are still crunching on Honey Crisps, Galas and a few Ida Reds. Yes, this apple season was a good one. I brought home a peck of Spies (for pies) and I see some are getting a bit ready to be used. Therefore, the oven is on and I am waiting for the Jewish Apple Cake to come out… the aroma has me watching the timer… why does it take so long? Preheat oven to 350 degrees1 cup oil3 cups flour4 eggs1 teaspoon salt1/4 cup orange juice2 cups sugar3 teaspoons baking powder2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Apple mix5 or 6 sliced pared and cored5 Tablespoons sugar2 teaspoons cinnamon Prepare…
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Your Finances in a Crisis? An Interview with a Financial Expert from USAA
In these current and volatile economic times for Americans I decided to ask the military community’s financial experts at United Services Automobile Association (USAA) some questions and they kindly agreed! So after my interview last night I shall share several blogs about finances and what the experts at USAA say about how to best deal with the current economic situation in which we live. Mike Kelly and JJ Montanaro, are both veterans and members of the staff at USAA. Mike is a former Air Force public affairs officer and JJ is a Army Reserve Lt Colonel. They have been there in your shoes/boots and lived the life so I thought…
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You have Questions?! We have Answers!
There is much excitement around the MilitaryAvenue office! We have just recently launched MilitaryAvenue Answers. The military community is a community of problem-solvers. We have questions! Of course we do when we… Enter new worlds, new lands, new territories; Run across problems that mom or dad can’t help us with; Know no-one that has been in our shoes… … well except for the other US military families around the globe! That is where MilitaryAvenue Answers comes into the picture: Inquire about the installation you have orders to; Wonder what resources are available to your family while your loved one is deployed; Find out where the best local-pizza shop is for…
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Finally! The Federal Government Gets It Right for Military Spouses!
This has taken a long time but finally the federal government has given military spouses priority for a federal civilian work force job! President Bush signed an executive order this week that is going to help military spouses stay employed during their many relocations! Patricia Bradshaw, deputy undersecretary of defense for civilian personnel policy said that the order authorizes noncompetitive hiring of spouses and should make the hiring process easier and faster for those in this category. The rules will be out in January according to reports and military spouses should be standing at the front of the line to sign up for these jobs! I remember one overseas location…
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A Friend in a Time of Need
This last week I exchanged some emails with a MilitaryAvenue Partner who had been helping a military family with their mortgage issues. He related the following information and story to me about a military family that he was able help. The military member will soon be enroute to Afghanistan and had a mortgage with an adjustable rate which can be controlled by the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act. The costs of their mortgage like many American families had escalated to the point of being beyond their means. The partner worked a loan modification and during the process found a retired Navy SEAL at the mortgage servicer who expedited the paperwork…
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Words of Wisdom… Wish I Said Them First
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your habits.Watch your habits, they become your destiny. Simple truths can be like a map to our daily plans of action. Gems of wisdom lend a light to the steps we take. How nice to have words fitly spoken that are like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Kings Solomon) These would be much easier to eat.. if it came to that! Hope your day is filled with promise, support and interaction with those who can help you… and with those to whom you can uplift.byDeborahonWednesday, October 15, 2008Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare…
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A Case of the Cruds
Well the Kocsis Household is officially under the weather. Somehow I was the first to get it. Usually it is the children that bring the ‘bugs’ to me. But Friday night I started feeling blecky. I was at the in-laws for a family dinner and they seemed to notice it before me. (I had a little less tolerance for the fact that my children were being … children.) Saturday morning I awoke feeling like a train had rolled over me but what is a mom to do when her oldest is scheduled to referee some soccer games 30 minutes away and her middle child has his last soccer game of…
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Apples Oats and Autumn: MMM Muffins
Weeks ago we went apple picking… we picked more apples than can fit in our refrigerators. I have canned them, baked them, cooked them and savored every bite. Folks walk into the house olfactory nerves a twitching! The aromas from apples are unbeatable.Here is another sure fire winner for a juicy, solid apple. It only takes one apple to make this confection. Apple Muffins 1 egg1 cup milk1/4 cup oil1 3/4 cups all purpose flour1/4 c rolled oats1/4 cup Splenda or regular sugar3 teaspoons baking powder3/4 teaspoon salt1 apple peeled, core removed1 /2 teaspoon cinnamon Nut topping1/3 cup chopped nuts3 Tablespoons Splenda brown sugar or 1/3 cup regular brown sugar1…
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MilitaryAvenue’s October Newsletter: Money & The Military Family
We will be publishing our October Newsletter on Sunday, October 19th. The theme this month is “Finances”. We have some great professional resources as well as some personal stories lined up for your enjoyment. The Holidays are right around the corner. Take the time to think about your family’s financial-makeup before it becomes a major stressor! The October “Finances Newsletter” will have our regular features including our top 10 MilitaryAvenue.com articles from this past month. Create an account on MilitaryAvenue.com today where you can manage your newsletter subscription! We would love to be in touch. – Leanne from MilitaryAvenue.com byLeanneonWednesday, October 08, 2008Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary…
