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MilitaryAvenue.com
MilitaryAvenue.com – Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family Created by a team of military and internet veterans, MilitaryAvenue.com is an online service supporting the military relocation, travel, and lifestyle needs of the American military family. This very large family is made of millions of military active duty, retirees, veterans, DoD civilians and contractors, and of course the military spouses and children. Since one-third of the military relocate every year, we understand constant change is a part of the military culture. A next assignment could be for three years, a permanent change of station (PCS), or for three days, a temporary duty (TDY). Regardless, our…
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An Introduction: “Do You Have a Frog in your Pocket?”
Last week we published a blog in our Marketing to Military resource and the business owner was so military friendly we thought that we should share it today in our Military Family blog as well. It is a smooth read but what she says about the military community says a lot about her business. We like what she said about us too! So, read and enjoy! PS: If you know a military family owned, veteran owned or military friendly business share the blog with them too! “Do You Have a Frog in your Pocket?” Something caught my eye, increased the focus, sped up the senses a bit, made me look…
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Apple Chips for your Next Care Package
Are you looking for something new to put in your next care package? How about a slice of home? A reminder of autumn? The taste of crispy apples. But how do you get it overseas without it turning bad, mushy, yucky? Enter the power of the dehydrator! To make these yourself you will need: Apples – 4 or 5 per batch An Apple Peeler / Corer (Here is an example over at Amazon) A Food Dehydrator (An example at Amazon) Wash and core your apples, but leave the peals on for some yummy added fiber. If you use a corer similar to mine you can simply push the peeler-arm back and it won’t…
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New beginnings! Are you ready?
The new school year, a PCS this summer, a new job/employment, a deployment return or departure, a new or revitalized faith, a new workout routine, a wedding, a birth, a health crisis … all can be new beginnings for the military community. So how do you help yourself during new “stuff”? Remember the Old! It gives us strength to remember what helped us in the past. Looking at old pictures is a great way to enjoy old friends, family times, previous assignments, etc. More important though is the support emotionally and physically we get from the routines that we created to cope with the military lifestyle. The new school…
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Taking Life by the Reins
It was going to be a long week without my main squeeze. Hubs had JAG training at Fort Belvoir for a week and I knew for sure we would miss him. Truth is, it’s hard when your best friend leaves, even if only for a week. (And yes, I have done the year long deployment… but that’s not my point. Sometimes, I miss him when he is only sitting in the other room. Get it?) When he proposed that we tag along I admit I was a bit nervous at first. Tag along? Hang out in a hotel with the kids all week? Hit DC with just me and the kids, tackling…
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Requesting an Honor Guard for a Veteran’s Funeral Service
A final saluteThis past weekend was a tough one for our family as we honored our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend during a memorial service. James M. Kissinger was a World War 2 veteran who served honorably with the 685th Engineer Base Equipment Company in the European Theater of Operations as his discharge papers comment. We wanted his Army service, which he was so proud of to be recognized during the time of the memorial service. As a fellow veteran and his eldest son it fell to me to follow up on the family’s request and desire to make this happen. I found out that it was not…
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Tips to Protect Your Hard Earned Military Money! The BBB Military Line is for You.
Do not give away your hard earned military cash! You served. You or your soldier, airmen, marine, sailor or coastie served in a high threat environment to bring in the bacon and now an unethical business or person wants to take it from you. Have you ever been a victim of consumer fraud? Concerned about how to avoid becoming a victim? Many of our military community are vulnerable to consumer fraud, scams and contract issues due to their age, relocation to new and unfamiliar areas and their wide spread use of the internet according to Brenda Linnington, Director of the Better Business Bureau Military Line! Did you know that the…
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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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Two Very Different Veteran Day Celebrations
Last week I was privileged to be invited to the 3d Annual USAA Influencer Conference in San Antonio, TX. Today, I was invited to Pine Ridge Elementary School in Ada, MI. Both had Veterans Day celebrations that impacted me but in two very different ways. Both sent and had a wonderful message! USAA is built around veterans and their members are veterans and their families so there is a natural appreciation and their Veterans Day program certainly showed their affiliation. A dignified and respectful ceremony with flag officers, wounded warriors from the nearby medical center, family members, USAA team members and a crowded, standing room only audience. Captain Smiley speaking…
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Surviving the Storm – Hurricane Preparedness
Being prepared, it seems to be the motto of military-families worldwide. Hurricane Season is upon us and it is time to start making plans, thinking through what we need to do to be prepared. Some great tips from Hurricane Survivors include: Make sure you have lots of bottled water on hand and fill your bathtub before the storm. Tap water easily becomes contaminated and you won’t want to risk it before it’s checked. Make sure you have plenty of batteries, flashlights, candles, and nonperishable food on hand. – Cathy Keep those laptops and cell phones charged. If you have kids and have no power you’ll want to entertain them somehow.…