26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGES Granola bars. If your loved one loves candy bars, granola bars are a snack swap that will keep them (mostly) satisfied. (Because, let’s be real, Hershey bars are delicious.) If you’re very worried about the melt factor, send granola bars that aren’t loaded with GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE No matter why you’re interested, I created this list of organizations (both for-profit companies and non-profits) that send care packages to troops. Some of them you’ll be able to volunteer at; others you can’t. All of them take names and addresses to send service members packages abroad. Please remember that I am not

affiliated with any

27 TESTED, MAILABLE RECIPES FOR CARE PACKAGES Recipes for mason jar cakes, cookies, granola, dried fruit, snacks, breakfast bars, and other baked goods that can be mailed in care

packages.

WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT Stay away from the news. Or at least, be a careful consumer of the news. Especially when your spouse is deployed, especially when they’re deployed to an area of conflict, it is so, so, so easy to keep your ear tuned to the news. But it can also make the time during a communications blackout excruciating. It is so, so, so easy to

“read tea

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP BLUES: 4 SPICY IDEAS FOR YOUR Here are some game ideas you can try: • Two Truths, One Lie – Take turns by telling each other one lie and two true information about yourself. Then, allow the other to guess which one is the lie and explain why. • Last Letter – This game only requires you to be a

quick thinker.

OMBUDSMAN 101: A VITAL RESOURCE FOR NAVY FAMILIES But, your Ombudsman can direct you to resources to find childcare or transportation, to get financial assistance, or to find housing. The bottom line is that there are tons of resources out there for our Navy families – so many that most spouses haven’t even heard of many of them, let alone taken advantage of them. 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DATE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY 4. Don’t date him/her just because of an impending deployment. Deployments put a lot of pressure on everything– you, your military member, the relationship. The time leading up to a deployment can feel like a pressure cooker and it can also feel very, very romantic. Deployments can also be tough for people in the most exclusive THE HUGE LIST OF FREE STUFF FOR NEW MILITARY MOMS AND MOMS TRICARE offers free meetings with a breastfeeding counselor after the birth of your child in a few ways: as an inpatient maternity stay, as a follow-up outpatient visit, or as a well-child care visit. In fact, you can get up to six outpatient sessions with a specialist completely

free to you as a

26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGES Granola bars. If your loved one loves candy bars, granola bars are a snack swap that will keep them (mostly) satisfied. (Because, let’s be real, Hershey bars are delicious.) If you’re very worried about the melt factor, send granola bars that aren’t loaded with GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE No matter why you’re interested, I created this list of organizations (both for-profit companies and non-profits) that send care packages to troops. Some of them you’ll be able to volunteer at; others you can’t. All of them take names and addresses to send service members packages abroad. Please remember that I am not

affiliated with any

27 TESTED, MAILABLE RECIPES FOR CARE PACKAGES Recipes for mason jar cakes, cookies, granola, dried fruit, snacks, breakfast bars, and other baked goods that can be mailed in care

packages.

WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT Stay away from the news. Or at least, be a careful consumer of the news. Especially when your spouse is deployed, especially when they’re deployed to an area of conflict, it is so, so, so easy to keep your ear tuned to the news. But it can also make the time during a communications blackout excruciating. It is so, so, so easy to

“read tea

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP BLUES: 4 SPICY IDEAS FOR YOUR Here are some game ideas you can try: • Two Truths, One Lie – Take turns by telling each other one lie and two true information about yourself. Then, allow the other to guess which one is the lie and explain why. • Last Letter – This game only requires you to be a

quick thinker.

OMBUDSMAN 101: A VITAL RESOURCE FOR NAVY FAMILIES But, your Ombudsman can direct you to resources to find childcare or transportation, to get financial assistance, or to find housing. The bottom line is that there are tons of resources out there for our Navy families – so many that most spouses haven’t even heard of many of them, let alone taken advantage of them. 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DATE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY 4. Don’t date him/her just because of an impending deployment. Deployments put a lot of pressure on everything– you, your military member, the relationship. The time leading up to a deployment can feel like a pressure cooker and it can also feel very, very romantic. Deployments can also be tough for people in the most exclusive THE HUGE LIST OF FREE STUFF FOR NEW MILITARY MOMS AND MOMS TRICARE offers free meetings with a breastfeeding counselor after the birth of your child in a few ways: as an inpatient maternity stay, as a follow-up outpatient visit, or as a well-child care visit. In fact, you can get up to six outpatient sessions with a specialist completely

free to you as a

27 TESTED, MAILABLE RECIPES FOR CARE PACKAGES Recipes for mason jar cakes, cookies, granola, dried fruit, snacks, breakfast bars, and other baked goods that can be mailed in care

packages.

THE GIGANTIC LIST OF MOVIES PERFECT FOR WATCHING DURING Suggested by other milspouses and milsos “Twilight SagaSsshhhh!” -Edith “10 Things I hate about you and Dirty Dancing are my two guilty pleasures.” -Heather from Only Passionate Curiosity “Little Women, Love Actually, Harry Potter, most comedic movies to keep me laughing.And usually movies I had watched first before we met. Then I don’t connect it to a date or something 9 SURPRISING WAYS YOU MIGHT BE VIOLATING OPSEC AND PERSEC 7. Stop sharing when you see a violation. Sometimes when a military spouse accidentally (or intentionally) violates OPSEC or PERSEC, the offending post or action is commented on, screenshot, shared usually by other folks in the military community, and usually while people are decrying something in that post or picture. PERFECT HOMECOMING OUTFITS: 10 MILITARY SPOUSES TELL ALL 3. Bring an extra outfit. So I’ll be honest I wore one shirt and packed my actual shirt and wore a tank under because I kiddo wrangled at the time and knew I would sweat/get drooled on- Lauren F. 4. Wear the right mindset. Comfortable and realistic. Homecoming is a chaotic and unpredictable event. EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE Birthday Celebration. Long Distance Birthday. Colorful Birthday Box. Balloons and Cake Box (Etsy) Party in a Box. Birthday Banner. Happy 22nd! Baseball Birthday. Lucky I’m in Love. THE HUGE LIST OF FREE STUFF FOR NEW MILITARY MOMS AND MOMS TRICARE offers free meetings with a breastfeeding counselor after the birth of your child in a few ways: as an inpatient maternity stay, as a follow-up outpatient visit, or as a well-child care visit. In fact, you can get up to six outpatient sessions with a specialist completely

free to you as a

3 PROGRAMS TO USE DURING DEPLOYMENT (THAT ACTUALLY WORK!) There are tons of programs run by nonprofits, businesses, and organizations that are specifically designed to support and help deployed service members and their families during deployment.Today, I’m highlighting the three that John and I found. I didn’t really use many programs or organizations while John was deployed. 17 ST. PATRICK'S DAY CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Care Packages: (Root) Beer Pong – I sent this care package to John when he was deployed to Afghanistan. Complete with cheesy puns, a six pack of root beer, and red solo cups, it was fun to put together and send. It’s also the first care package I created where I 5 BIBLE VERSES AND A PRAYER FOR DEPLOYMENT Walk by his side and calm any fear. Be his companion and guide his thoughts. Encircle him with your light and keep him from harm. And when his service is ended, lead him safely home again. For you, O God, are our shelter in every storm and our refuge in times of danger. 10 FAB WAYS TO CELEBRATE AN LDR ANNIVERSARY LDR doesn't have to = boring. Long-distance relationships can be tough even on the most mundane of days. But throw an anniversary into the mix–a day that society says should be special, exciting, and celebrated together–and suddenly, a tough day can easily turn

tragic.

26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGES Granola bars. If your loved one loves candy bars, granola bars are a snack swap that will keep them (mostly) satisfied. (Because, let’s be real, Hershey bars are delicious.) If you’re very worried about the melt factor, send granola bars that aren’t loaded with 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE No matter why you’re interested, I created this list of organizations (both for-profit companies and non-profits) that send care packages to troops. Some of them you’ll be able to volunteer at; others you can’t. All of them take names and addresses to send service members packages abroad. Please remember that I am not

affiliated with any

OPEN WHEN LETTERS AND IDEAS Open When letters are a great way to keep in touch with your loved one and send a little instant encouragement. They’re also fantastic for deployments that may be difficult to get mail to (like submarines or special ops) or situations that don’t have ready internet access.. If you haven’t sent an Open When letter, it’s as simple or involved as you want it to be. WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT Stay away from the news. Or at least, be a careful consumer of the news. Especially when your spouse is deployed, especially when they’re deployed to an area of conflict, it is so, so, so easy to keep your ear tuned to the news. But it can also make the time during a communications blackout excruciating. It is so, so, so easy to

“read tea

150+ AWESOME CARE PACKAGE IDEAS AND ITEMS A bunch of care package ideas for you. Here’s a list of more than 150 care package ideas to choose from and it’s a great jumping-off point if you’re not sure how to get started. This list is broad and could be used for anyone sending a care package– to a college student, military personnel, or a missionary– so make sure that you

know

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE Birthday Celebration. Long Distance Birthday. Colorful Birthday Box. Balloons and Cake Box (Etsy) Party in a Box. Birthday Banner. Happy 22nd! Baseball Birthday. Lucky I’m in Love. 5 BIBLE VERSES AND A PRAYER FOR DEPLOYMENT Walk by his side and calm any fear. Be his companion and guide his thoughts. Encircle him with your light and keep him from harm. And when his service is ended, lead him safely home again. For you, O God, are our shelter in every storm and our refuge in times of danger. 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DATE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY 4. Don’t date him/her just because of an impending deployment. Deployments put a lot of pressure on everything– you, your military member, the relationship. The time leading up to a deployment can feel like a pressure cooker and it can also feel very, very romantic. Deployments can also be tough for people in the most exclusive 26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGES Granola bars. If your loved one loves candy bars, granola bars are a snack swap that will keep them (mostly) satisfied. (Because, let’s be real, Hershey bars are delicious.) If you’re very worried about the melt factor, send granola bars that aren’t loaded with 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE No matter why you’re interested, I created this list of organizations (both for-profit companies and non-profits) that send care packages to troops. Some of them you’ll be able to volunteer at; others you can’t. All of them take names and addresses to send service members packages abroad. Please remember that I am not

affiliated with any

OPEN WHEN LETTERS AND IDEAS Open When letters are a great way to keep in touch with your loved one and send a little instant encouragement. They’re also fantastic for deployments that may be difficult to get mail to (like submarines or special ops) or situations that don’t have ready internet access.. If you haven’t sent an Open When letter, it’s as simple or involved as you want it to be. WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT Stay away from the news. Or at least, be a careful consumer of the news. Especially when your spouse is deployed, especially when they’re deployed to an area of conflict, it is so, so, so easy to keep your ear tuned to the news. But it can also make the time during a communications blackout excruciating. It is so, so, so easy to

“read tea

150+ AWESOME CARE PACKAGE IDEAS AND ITEMS A bunch of care package ideas for you. Here’s a list of more than 150 care package ideas to choose from and it’s a great jumping-off point if you’re not sure how to get started. This list is broad and could be used for anyone sending a care package– to a college student, military personnel, or a missionary– so make sure that you

know

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE Birthday Celebration. Long Distance Birthday. Colorful Birthday Box. Balloons and Cake Box (Etsy) Party in a Box. Birthday Banner. Happy 22nd! Baseball Birthday. Lucky I’m in Love. 5 BIBLE VERSES AND A PRAYER FOR DEPLOYMENT Walk by his side and calm any fear. Be his companion and guide his thoughts. Encircle him with your light and keep him from harm. And when his service is ended, lead him safely home again. For you, O God, are our shelter in every storm and our refuge in times of danger. 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DATE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY 4. Don’t date him/her just because of an impending deployment. Deployments put a lot of pressure on everything– you, your military member, the relationship. The time leading up to a deployment can feel like a pressure cooker and it can also feel very, very romantic. Deployments can also be tough for people in the most exclusive START HERE - JO, MY GOSH!, LLC Start Here - Jo, My Gosh!, LLC. Hi I’m Jo, and I’m so glad that you’re here! Military life is an adventure. It can be full of frustrations and worries, but it’s also overflowing with opportunities and joy. And while it seems like everything can change in an instant, there is 150+ AWESOME CARE PACKAGE IDEAS AND ITEMS A bunch of care package ideas for you. Here’s a list of more than 150 care package ideas to choose from and it’s a great jumping-off point if you’re not sure how to get started. This list is broad and could be used for anyone sending a care package– to a college student, military personnel, or a missionary– so make sure that you

know

5 BIBLE VERSES AND A PRAYER FOR DEPLOYMENT Walk by his side and calm any fear. Be his companion and guide his thoughts. Encircle him with your light and keep him from harm. And when his service is ended, lead him safely home again. For you, O God, are our shelter in every storm and our refuge in times of danger. 50+ QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR SPOUSE BEFORE A DEPLOYMENT It’s very important to ask your service member how they want to be sent off for deployment. Some people prefer to do a kiss-and-ride type goodbye: drop your person and their stuff, drive away. It prevents a long, drawn out farewell and allows everyone to focus on the mission at hand. Others prefer to have their family there for some or all of EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE Birthday Celebration. Long Distance Birthday. Colorful Birthday Box. Balloons and Cake Box (Etsy) Party in a Box. Birthday Banner. Happy 22nd! Baseball Birthday. Lucky I’m in Love. THE EASIEST WAY TO DRY BLUEBERRIES EVER! Directions: Rinse blueberries and let air dry (or pat dry with a paper towel.) Spread blueberries on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Bake blueberries in oven for 3 hours at 225 degrees. Remove 17 THINGS MILITARY SPOUSES WANT YOU TO KNOW 9. I’m better because of this life. “The military lifestyle changed me into a better, stronger person.” -Trista from A Purpose Driven Wife. 10. You should say hi. “We may move a lot, but we do like making new friends. And it’s OK to get to know us, we are pretty awesome people!” -Sybil from Mamas and Coffee. 11. 51 OPEN WHEN LETTER TOPICS FOR NEW MOMS Include a note written by New Momma’s partner. you watched your baby hit a milestone without your partner there to witness it. Include a small note pad for New Momma to write down every detail. you missed a milestone. your feet hurt. Include a small foot cream or shoe insert with your note. you just need a break. 10 FAB WAYS TO CELEBRATE AN LDR ANNIVERSARY LDR doesn't have to = boring. Long-distance relationships can be tough even on the most mundane of days. But throw an anniversary into the mix–a day that society says should be special, exciting, and celebrated together–and suddenly, a tough day can easily turn

tragic.

THE HUGE LIST OF FREE STUFF FOR NEW MILITARY MOMS AND MOMS TRICARE offers free meetings with a breastfeeding counselor after the birth of your child in a few ways: as an inpatient maternity stay, as a follow-up outpatient visit, or as a well-child care visit. In fact, you can get up to six outpatient sessions with a specialist completely

free to you as a

26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE I get a lot of email. A. Lot. And I love it! It’s fantastic to be able to be connected to military spouses, moms, dads, significant others (and the occasional grandma and grandpa) of service members. 27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGESCANDY THAT WON T MELTCANDY THAT WON T MELT Dessert-y Condiments. If you can’t send chocolaty goodness, try sending things that can satisfy that chocolate craving without melting. Send a shaker of cinnamon sugar, flavored dairy-free creamers, or cocoa powder with a high fat content that can be added to coffee, yogurt, cereal, milk, or really anything else.. Protein

powders

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP BLUES: 4 SPICY IDEAS FOR YOUR Thanks to Aislynn Shania, a budding writer, for guest posting today! Email her at .. For people who live far from their family members, video calling has become their common medium to stay connected with their loved ones constantly and in real-time. WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT It’s something that you’ll most likely experience at least once during a deployment: a communications blackout. When John was deployed to Afghanistan, we experienced a 17 IRISH BLESSINGS PERFECT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES 13. An Irish blessing for when you’re doing a lot of traveling “May the blessings of light be upon you, light without and light within. And in all your comings and goings, may you ever have a kindly greeting from them you meet along the road.” EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE21ST BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGEHAPPY BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGETHINGS TO PUT IN A CARE PACKAGE Wow, JO! Thank you for sharing all these birthday care package ideas. I love how unique your blog is, and its obvious you a ton of work into

it.

OMBUDSMAN 101: A VITAL RESOURCE FOR NAVY FAMILIES Career help. Don’t have kids?Well, maybe you’re looking for a job. Military spouse employment is always a hot topic, as many military spouses face the challenge of trying to maintain a career while moving every few years due to their service member’s career. WHAT TROOPS REALLY WANT IN A CARE PACKAGE Don’t overload every care pack with novelty items because a majority of the time we will throw it away given the limited space we have. It was a great lesson for when I started sending care packs out to Travis. What’s more important than getting certain things you want? 26 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS ON YOUR NEXT VIDEO CALL Try these on for size: 3-minute TED Talks: everyone joins the Zoom with a 3ish minute powerpoint, then everyone shares and rates the talks.The winner gets a small prize, like a gift card, or everyone Venmo’s them $10. Unbox a shared activity: grab a subscription to a mystery box, like Hunt a Killer or Finders Seekers, then do the activity together each week until you solve the mystery 25 SUMMER CARE PACKAGE IDEAS Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Sand, sun, ice cream cones, pool parties It’s a great season to share with someone! Even if your loved one is far away, you can send a little bit of summer fun to them in a cardboard box.Here are 25 care package ideas for

inspiration. And if

GIGANTIC LIST OF FREE MILITARY CARE PACKAGES FOR SERVICE I get a lot of email. A. Lot. And I love it! It’s fantastic to be able to be connected to military spouses, moms, dads, significant others (and the occasional grandma and grandpa) of service members. 27 CANDY SWAPS THAT WON'T MELT IN CARE PACKAGESCANDY THAT WON T MELTCANDY THAT WON T MELT Dessert-y Condiments. If you can’t send chocolaty goodness, try sending things that can satisfy that chocolate craving without melting. Send a shaker of cinnamon sugar, flavored dairy-free creamers, or cocoa powder with a high fat content that can be added to coffee, yogurt, cereal, milk, or really anything else.. Protein

powders

LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP BLUES: 4 SPICY IDEAS FOR YOUR Thanks to Aislynn Shania, a budding writer, for guest posting today! Email her at .. For people who live far from their family members, video calling has become their common medium to stay connected with their loved ones constantly and in real-time. WHAT YOU CAN DO DURING A COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT It’s something that you’ll most likely experience at least once during a deployment: a communications blackout. When John was deployed to Afghanistan, we experienced a 17 IRISH BLESSINGS PERFECT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES 13. An Irish blessing for when you’re doing a lot of traveling “May the blessings of light be upon you, light without and light within. And in all your comings and goings, may you ever have a kindly greeting from them you meet along the road.” EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE21ST BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGEHAPPY BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGETHINGS TO PUT IN A CARE PACKAGE Wow, JO! Thank you for sharing all these birthday care package ideas. I love how unique your blog is, and its obvious you a ton of work into

it.

OMBUDSMAN 101: A VITAL RESOURCE FOR NAVY FAMILIES Career help. Don’t have kids?Well, maybe you’re looking for a job. Military spouse employment is always a hot topic, as many military spouses face the challenge of trying to maintain a career while moving every few years due to their service member’s career. WHAT TROOPS REALLY WANT IN A CARE PACKAGE Don’t overload every care pack with novelty items because a majority of the time we will throw it away given the limited space we have. It was a great lesson for when I started sending care packs out to Travis. What’s more important than getting certain things you want? 5 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN BOOTSTRAPPING YOUR BUSINESS This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union.All opinions are 100% mine. In 2013, John (who was my fiance at the time) called me from Afghanistan. 150+ AWESOME CARE PACKAGE IDEAS AND ITEMS And happy, happy shopping, filling, and sending! Care Package Ideas: Self-care and beauty supplies Military Care Package Tip. If you have contact with your loved one, it’s best to check with them to see what they need and what they can store. 5 BIBLE VERSES AND A PRAYER FOR DEPLOYMENT I’ve written before about how wonderful my home church was in welcoming John and supporting him (and me) through that very long, long year.. Bible verses were also very important to me while we walked through deployment together, although on separate continents and with thousands of miles between us. OPEN WHEN LETTERS AND IDEAS Open When letters are a great way to keep in touch with your loved one and send a little instant encouragement. They’re also fantastic for deployments that may be difficult to get mail to (like submarines or special ops) or situations that don’t have ready internet access.. If you haven’t sent an Open When letter, it’s as simple or involved as you want it to be. 17 IRISH BLESSINGS PERFECT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES 13. An Irish blessing for when you’re doing a lot of traveling “May the blessings of light be upon you, light without and light within. And in all your comings and goings, may you ever have a kindly greeting from them you meet along the road.” EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A BRILLIANT BIRTHDAY CARE PACKAGE Wow, JO! Thank you for sharing all these birthday care package ideas. I love how unique your blog is, and its obvious you a ton of work into

it.

HOW TO WRAP THE INSIDE OF A BOX It is crazy to think that John’s been home for just over six months and a week (not that I’m counting)! I haven’t made a care package for more than half a year until last week. I created a care package for some friends who are currently overseas– I got to break out all

of

WHAT TROOPS REALLY WANT IN A CARE PACKAGE Don’t overload every care pack with novelty items because a majority of the time we will throw it away given the limited space we have. It was a great lesson for when I started sending care packs out to Travis. What’s more important than getting certain things you want? 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DATE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY Uniforms are cute and all and ceremonies are exciting, but really, if you’re attached to the rank rather than the person, or more attracted to the allure or prestige of being with someone who is in the military, you need to really do some deep thinking and

soul-searching.

THE HUGE LIST OF FREE STUFF FOR NEW MILITARY MOMS AND MOMS This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of 1 Natural Way, a TRICARE breast pump provider. All opinions are entirely my own. Having a baby can be an exciting–and kind of scary– thing.

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April 10

DO I REALLY NEED TO TEACH MY MILITARY CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL SHUT

DOWN?

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by Meg FlanaganKids are loving this super-extended break from “traditional” school. No alarms or homework? Yes, please!Parents? Not so much.We still have our jobs to do, albeit remotely, while also having children home 24/7. Right now, you’re probably missing the battles over homework just as much as I am. Ah... the good old days: when kids left to go to a separate school building while we also went to a work building, meeting back at home for sports practice carpool and a quick bite before music lessons.Unfortunately, it seems that we are going to be stuck in this moment of Keep Reading...

by Jo military

April 6

11 EMAILS TO SEND DURING THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN

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by Meg FlanaganYou’re stuck at home and this pandemic stuff is getting really real. Social isolation is, well, isolating and lonely.Wouldn’t it be nice to have something pleasant and kind pop into your inbox every so often?We thought so, too!Snail mail seems kind of icky right now, what with all the licking of envelopes and the many, many hands that touch it on the journey from here to there. Email is fast, free, and equally rewarding. After all, you’ve got nothing to do but check your inbox every 15 minutes, hoping that something, anything of interest will arrive.When Keep Reading...

by Jo happy mail

military

March 25

WHEN MILITARY LIFE BREAKS YOUR HEART

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by Meg FlanaganIf there is one thing that’s certain about military life, it’s that, at some point, your heart is going to be broken. And not just once. Military life just keeps on breaking your heart, over and over again.I still vividly remember my first military heartbreak: My then-boyfriend had finally earned one weekend of leave during OCS. I had traveled down from New England via train because I needed to get grad school work done, to see him for less than 36 hours.Keep in mind: I was not raised in a military-connected family. I had lived in the same small town since 1986. I Keep Reading...

by Jo military

March 18

HOW TO DEAL WITH MILITARY LIFE UNCERTAINTY DURING A PANDEMIC

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by Meg FlanaganMovers were scheduled. Homecoming photographers were booked. Spring break was totally on track.Until basically the whole world shut down and everything stopped.Right now, everything is really up in the air and no one quite seems what’s happening next. Sounds kind of like military life all the time, huh?But this time, it’s literally everyone, everywhere around the whole world. We’ve still got to keep on, keepin’ on with military life as we all collectively lose our sense of future planning.It’s a lot to cope with, even when you’re used to handling the Keep Reading...

by Jo military

March 16

10 WAYS TO BE PATRIOTIC IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

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My friends, America needs you.America needs us.And Americans always answer the call of our country. Throughout history, Americans have responded when times have gotten tough. When they've been scary. When they've been uncertain. As a people, we've made sacrifices. We've banded together and fought injustices.  We've innovated and created. We've used our ingenuity and our hard work. We've worked as a team and done amazing things.Think of all of the things Americans have produced and accomplished. The literature. The scientific feats. The music. The infrastructure. The architectural Keep Reading...

by Jo military

March 15

BEWARE OF CORONAVIRUS INFO FROM MILSPOUSE GROUPS: USE THESE SOURCES

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In a time of fear and uncertainty, you need to listen to the authorities, not to a meme that someone shared. Not to your best friend's mom who got an A in high school biology. And not to your military spouse Facebook groups.Yeah, I said it.Sure, there are some folks in those Facebook groups who are sharing real, solid information straight from authorities. But most of it is a cesspool, y'all. And it worries me that many people are sharing information that is actually disinformation. It might not be intentional. But it still can be damaging.But no, you shouldn't drink bleach. Not if Keep Reading... by Jo military resources

March 12

9 REASONS MILITARY FAMILIES NEED A BUYER’S AGENT DURING A PCS

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This post is sponsored by PCSCashback.com. All opinions and work are my own.It's hard to believe that John and I have been homeowners for nearly three years. Those three years have given us insight and perspective. How should we have done this? Or that? What seemed like a good idea then wasn't the best choice after all.You live and you learn.But there's one thing we've never questioned: having a buyer's agent. Even now, we find ourselves talking about how important it was for us to find a buyer's agent. And how lucky we were. Because we were first-time homebuyers, we kind of just Keep Reading... by Jo military saving money

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March 9

23 DEPLOYMENT BUCKET LIST GOALS FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

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Chances are, you probably have at least a little bit of Irish heritage in your family tree. And even if you don't, you probably don't mind too much when St. Patrick's Day comes around. On March 17, it seems that everyone is Irish. If you live near a city, you'll probably have ample ways to celebrate. If you're in a more rural area or living on base, the options might not be so plentiful.But here's the great news-- you can make your own celebration with your deployment bucket list.If you read Jo, My Gosh! a lot, you probably know that I am a huge proponent of deployment bucket lists. Keep Reading... by Jo deployment military

March 6

17 IRISH BLESSINGS PERFECT FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

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Soda bread. Potatoes. Catholicism. St. Patrick's Day. Ireland is known for many things. For such a small island, their cultural presence is known and felt the world over, especially in March. It got me thinking... Ireland is also known for Irish blessings. Some of them are very well-known, while others are not. Some are funny, while others are serious. And many of them fit so well with military life.After all, who in the military community couldn't use a little extra peace, serenity, and happiness?Whether you need a toast, a saying for the inside of a card, or just a mantra for Keep Reading...

by Jo military

March 3

CAN YOU SHIP ALCOHOL IN A CARE PACKAGE?

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Almost everyone who has been through a deployment has a booze and care package story. They colored the water and made vodka look like mouthwash. They sent tiny airplane bottles stuffed in socks. One of the bottles leaked and the smell (and soaked box) made it obvious to everyone what was in the box.The exact story doesn't matter. No matter the story, the incident becomes a funny anecdote once deployment is over and is shared (usually, ironically--or not-so-ironically) over drinks.I'll be real honest: John and I do not have one of those stories. In all of the tons of care packages I've Keep Reading... by Jo deployment happy

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Hi, I'm Jo! Maybe you feel like I did when I fell in love with my sailor-- kind of confused. Kind of overwhelmed. But really excited and happy. It doesn't matter if you're dating or married, loving someone in the military is wonderful... and sometimes hard. We're in this

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