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Military Friends – A Puzzle for Our Civilian Counterparts
Military friends! Sometimes our military lifestyle is a puzzle to our civilian friends and the rest of the nation. We have some opportunities that civilians normally do not receive and we also face challenges and lifestyle issues they may never see. But one thing we have that is “just to die for” is our military friends. We come together from all over the country (and in some cases the world), of all races, ethnic backgrounds, economic and educational levels, different goals and lifestyles and so much more diversity that most Americans ever have the opportunity to experience. I have to admit that this is our (my military spouse, mil brats…
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NORAD and ReindeerCam.com
I am constantly reminded how things change through the years. Computers and Internet have changed communication, from hand written letters of many years ago to nightly Skype conversations with soldiers and children, airman and wives, marines and husbands, sailors and moms, coasties and dads (and any of that mix you can imagine). This Christmas season I am so happy to have our family whole but we are still glued to the computer. There are two new loves. (Don’t get me wrong: family is more important then these fun tools. However, you can certainly take the time to watch these as a family and create memories if you are together!) ReindeerCam.comSanta feeds the reindeer, Mr…
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Small Business Saturday: November 24, 2012
I am really intrigued by this idea of “Small Business Saturday”. The premise is the Saturday after Thanksgiving you go to your local family-owned, small business stores to do your Christmas Shopping.I got this ‘chain email from my mother-in-law a couple weeks ago. Usually I immediately hit delete on chains. I get over 100 emails a day so the delete key is my friend. But this one caught my eye and hits right along the Small Business Saturday concept: As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense…
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Full of Thanks
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far. Christmas and Easter shape my life but have become way too commercialized and, in general, we’ve lost the meaning. There’s not much pressure with Thanksgiving though. Wednesday I’ll turn the music up, bake some cookies, pies and bread. I’ll enjoy having the kids’ help once in awhile (especially with the cookie part) and then Thanksgiving, this year, we’ll head to hub’s family gathering; sixty to seventy of his closest relatives. No fuss, just family. I also love taking the time to enjoy what we are thankful for. This year, at dinner, we have gone around the table each day and said something we are thankful for. …
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Away for the Holidays – Care Package Ideas and More
There are a few Christmases that stand out in my life. I remember our first Christmas in Iceland after being separated from my dad for six months while we waited for a house to open up at Keflavik NAS. He had to report without his family but just before the holidays new friends opened up their home to us so that we could be together as a family. Our house would be ready when they returned from a vacation back to the states. That was the Christmas of Homecoming. (Although a new home, but home none the less). Another very memorable Christmas for me was the year my husband was in…
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Self Esteem vs Self Respect
Last weekend was cold. Cold and rainy. The kind of weather that makes you want to curl up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. Instead I was at a soccer tournament for my ten-year old. Three games over Saturday and Sunday 90 minutes from home. Three games of pure determination on our boys’ parts. Three games of ‘Go, Avon, Go!’ … Three losses. Continue Reading about how to turn the loss into a win, Self Esteem vs Self Respect But that doesn’t necessarily make this mom sad: * The relationships that those boys are making out there on the field, the friendships…
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Valentine’s Day Cookies
MMMMM… cookies. Usually I only bake cookies during the Christmas Season. But the urge to bake over took me last week and I suddenly found myself in the Valentines Spirit. Here is a recipe for /delicious/ Pink-frosted Valentines Cookies (or really whatever holiday you want to make them for. Just change the shape of you cookie cutter and the food-dye color and viola you are “in season”.) Perfectly Valentines Cookies Cookie Ingredients1 cup granulated sugar1 cup powdered sugar2 cups vegetable shortening1 large egg, beaten3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (/or/ 4 1/3 cups of Cake Flour if you have it hand) 3/4 teaspoon baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt Preheat Oven to 375 degrees. Using your…
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A Time for All Seasons – DoD Blogger Roundtable
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little“Put Me in Coach”! World and national events make this “A Time for All Seasons” and there is a reason that Friday is a favorite weekday of most! But it was with trepidation that MilitaryAvenue dialed into the DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable Friday afternoon to talk with Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and DoD Spokesman U.S. Navy Capt. John Kirby. Why? – you wonder? We were about to discuss the new 2013 budget proposal from the Pentagon. The subject always seems to be one of the tough issues that never please anyone. Which programs are being cut this time, manpower reductions, aircraft and naval vessel numbers slashed,…
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Have your December credit card bills arrived?
Has the New Year been a great start or are you looking at the bills from Christmas and the holiday season and shaking your head? Do you have credit card debt that is being carried month to month? Or do you have savings that you would like to invest for college or retirement? In either case, you should read this blog!I had the privilege to interview the president of an organization that can help with your financial issues and their services are free! My excitement grew as I realized how many resources there were to help the military community. FINRA – (who said civilians do not have acronyms?) Financial Industry Regulatory…
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Drink More … Feel Better
It was a rough start to our Christmas Break. The night before the final day of school and my first-grader was thinking of a school field trip in the morning and a class-party in the afternoon. What a fun day it was going to be. He had a rough cough for the past week but I just knew it would go away. Eventually. As we were settling into our bedtime routine that Thursday night *C* lost it. Vomit, vomit, vomit. Gross, gross gross. He spiked a fever and I knew he was down for the count. That cough stayed with him for another week. Cough medicine didn’t touch it and I was…
