Life Lessons of a Military Wife

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Messy, Messy Kids' Rooms
2007-11-09 13:00:00
What is wrong with this picture? Other than the young man playing with his action figures. A lot apparently, if he were to leave it that way. Does it remind you of your room when you were younger? Remember your mom shouting for you to clean up your room? Is this now your son's or daughter's room? There is a way to break the cycle.Follow these steps below:You and your child must declutter the room before any more "clean your room" episodes, There is a right way to do this. Check How to Declutter a Room.You must have ample storage space for all their stuff. Storage cubbies and bins work best. Toyboxes...not so good. Everything gets too junked up in there.Straightening up must be part of a nightly ritual. I do mine throughout the house before I go to bed. It only takes 15 minutes. The kids can take 5 minutes to put away the things in their room too.If there are items still strewn about tomorrow morning, they magically disappear. When the kids wake up in the morning wit...
More About: Kids , Mess

Sending Christmas Cards This Year Should Not Be a Chore
2007-11-08 14:00:00
Do you buy Christmas cards at retail price or have cards embossed with your family name? Do you send out some generic card with just your signature on the bottom? Do you get started in the weeks before Christmas, or even AFTER the holiday? No wonder Christmas cards = drudgery to you. Here's a better way, and here's why I am already talking about this in November.This year:Buy Christmas cards AFTER Christmas (remember this for next year)Print out return address stickers on your computer or get ready to use the ones charities regularly send you thru the mailIn the months BEFORE Christmas, start labeling the envelopes with the addresses of folks you want to send cards to. Look, I know some of those people are going to move, but would you rather redo a few envelopes for those who moved or sit down when time is tight and address the whole stack?People want to hear what you and your family are up to. They do not want some generic card with nothing personal on it. Ditto on just th...
More About: Holidays , Cards , Year , Sending

A Better Way to Sort Laundry
2007-11-07 14:16:00
I absolutely HATE doing laundry. It's like every day is "Ground Hog" Day. You do a load of laundry, and I'll be darned if I don't look in the laundry hamper the next day, and there is more stuff in there. Then you have to do it all over again. It's never ending, isn't it? There IS a way to get a handle on it, to where it doesn't halfway ruin your life...or your peace of mind.Wouldn't it be great if all houses had laundry rooms right next to where you take your clothes off? This is most times in your bathroom or bedroom, right? I never understood, why we, in a two story house, have to carry dirty clothes downstairs (sometimes even down two stories to the basement) and then have to carry them back up again, clean. What bozo came up with the location of the laundry room in most houses? Well, I have been pleased with a few of the new houses around here when I went on a local Parade of Homes. Some DO have laundry rooms upstairs. Now, I just hope they are soundproofed. ...
More About: Laundry , Sort

Life Lessons for Military Wives Carnival, Issue #3
2007-11-06 14:59:00
It was so nice to hear from so many of you this month! Please keep up the wonderful blog articles! I really enjoyed reading your posts! Thank-you for sending them! Please see below for the informative and thought-provoking posts submitted for this month. Be sure to check back next month for Carnival #4. Here are the articles:Daily Life Warren Wong presents Why You Should Show Appreciation posted at Personal Development for INTJs, saying, "Why you should show appreciation for the little things people do and how to go about doing it."Daylle Deanna Schwartz presents Carrie Bradshaw Finally Got it Right! posted at Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat, saying, "Learning that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself really is fabulous--making other relationships healthier."Michael@TSM presents Fall TSM Travel Writing Contest: Win $125! posted at Traveling Stories Magazine.FinancialWenchypoo presents Holiday Dinner Rip-offs posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Menta...
More About: Military , Wives , Blog Carnival

Grocery Shopping and "The Game"
2007-11-05 13:58:00
Yes, I am calling grocery shopping a game...a game to get the most stuff for the least money. I started out watching my mother clip coupons here and there on Sundays. Now, she wasn't really into it too much. She just clipped a few coupons of things we regularly buy. Contrast that with the lady I was behind in the checkout yesterday and wow! She pulled out a HUGE billfold, secured with a heavy duty rubberband. I stopped counting coupons sometime after she handed the cashier her first 25. I kid you not! Her final bill for a cart overflowing with groceries was just under $30. So, that got me wondering of course....how did she do that? It also got me thinking, what's the best way to approach shopping to get the most value for my money? I know I'll never be like this lady, but what can I do to make my grocery shopping more successful?Before you go:I always start out with a plan. I keep excerpts of recipes in my day planner. Read here how to do that. You'll always know t...
More About: Shopping , Cooking , Game , The Game , Grocery

Don't Wish for Them to Grow Up and Here's Why
2007-11-02 13:00:00
Remember when you were running around with your diaper bag on one arm, purse on the other and then the baby in the stroller with all the accouterments and things you schlep around with babies? Or maybe you're still doing that. I don't know. All I know, is that I better not wish for the next stage. Remember when you said, "I can't wait for him to crawl" or "I can't wait for her to start kindergarten". Here's why you shouldn't be wishing for those thing and what you really should be doing.If you still have your first baby in the house, you will most likely have no concept of the worries you heap upon yourself as your child gets older. So let me give you a preview.Toddlers are always getting into dangerous things, and even if we baby proof our house, we always worry when we go somewhere else. We also worry a lot when there is water nearby and are constantly looking what our child is putting in his mouth.With preschoolers, often times, they are with other people, such as a ...
More About: Kids , Grow

Don't Waste $$ on Your Next Hotel Room
2007-11-01 12:00:00
Are you sorely in need of a vacation but just don't want to give out your hard earned cash right now? With the holidays coming up, you'd rather save up a bit, so you can buy a few gifts here and there. But...you'd really like to take a long weekend...or even a short weekend at this point, to get some well deserved R&R. If you have a sense of adventure or even a sense of trying something different, here's a way to do it from next to nothing, to a few dollars and some spare change! How about skipping the hotel room this time?Let's start with a destination close by. Hit the internet and google tourist attractions in your area. You can also call your nearby chamber of commerce. Is there anything famous or see-worthy in your area? Is there some kind of seasonal festival or event coming up? Now, I'm not talking in your direct town or city...I'm talking at least a few hundred miles out...you want to be able to really relax, and being at home "on vacation" usually ends up...
More About: Travel , Hotel , Room , Waste

What to do with all that Halloween Candy
2007-10-31 12:35:00
I know it hasn't happened yet, but if you have kids who trick-or-treat, you're going to have a stash of candy come this evening. Believe it or not, we are not big candy eaters, so inevitably, by Easter, we still have a bucketful of candy. You know, mostly the less desirable stuff, like Tootsie Rolls and those nasty, pasty Bit-O-Honeys. Looking for more ingenious ways to deal with the candy, while also teaching your kid a thing or two?You can let your kids stuff themselves to the point of feeling sick, or you can try these other options:Set up shop. Offer each child 10 cents for each piece of candy they want to give up. Do this right on Halloween night. Since you are running a business. tomorrow's rate will be 9 cents and so on. The longer they wait, the less cash they'll get. You might as well teach them something while you have their attention. Plus, you should get at least a few pieces for yourself out of it to enjoy later...when the kids are in bed.Portion out the ca...
More About: Holidays , Candy , Allo

The Art of the Thank-you Note
2007-10-30 12:32:00
Alas, "honest to goodness paper and pen with nice penmanship thank-you notes" are so hard to find these days. With the advent of email, text messaging and everything else electronic, many are finding it hard to stop....and say thank-you like they really mean it. Why should you be concerned with thank-you notes in writing? Here's why.You send thank-you notes because:It's the right thing to do.It sets you apart from everyone else, in a good way.You make someone's day just a little bit brighter.You actually feel good after doing it, and I'm all for feeling good.You are setting a good example for your children.It shows you are well mannered and sets you apart from others who are not.It lets the gift giver know you received the gift. Don't keep Aunt Edna wondering if the gift ever arrived. She'll also be disinclined to send you or the kids something next year (and yes, my children write their own thank-you notes and know it is expected of them).When do you send a thank-you no...
More About: Note , Hank , Thank-you

Monday Mayhem
2007-10-29 13:13:00
Oh, it's going to be another one of those days. I guess I shouldn't be surprised..it's Monday . One of my sons walked out the door without his lunch, and the other one forgot his project. Now I have to make a quick run to the school before I get to the gym to run all my other errands. Not to mention, it's back to the school later for an afternoon dental appointment for both of them. What a day...already! I am reminded about a little story a friend once printed out for me. I still have it in my desk, and thought I would share it....what if I didn't do what I am supposed to do today?Here's the story:One day a man comes home from work to find total mayhem athome. The kids were outside still in their pajamas playing in themud and muck. There were empty food boxes and wrappers allaround. As he proceeded into the house, he found an evenbigger mess--dishes on the counter, dog food spilled on the floor,a broken glass under the table, and a small pile of sand by theback door. The...
More About: Kids , Mayhem

Ready, Set...Carve Your Pumpkins
2007-10-26 13:00:00
Arrgghh...I haven't had the chance to take the kids to get their pumpkins yet! Well, last year, we got them too early and down here in Florida, if you do that...you're pumpkin will not be "alive" by the time Halloween rolls around a week later. We have the added task this year of making sure our German exchange student really gets a good taste, in all aspects, of Halloween and all the yipdedoo that surrounds it.If you've already gotten your holiday decorations out, kudos to you. Be sure to read Get Your Holiday Assortment in Order , so you are ready to go for next year. For the last few years, I've been using the mounting tabs with hooks to hang up lights around my front window. I actually found a set of orange lights on sale a few years ago, and they give the front porch a nice eerie glow. Be sure to check the craft and home decoration stores every year AFTER Halloween to find your best decorating deals. I've also found a few items at Goodwill in the month lead...
More About: Holidays , Ready , Pumpkins

Get Your Holiday Assortment in Order
2007-10-25 13:00:00
It's about that time again. Or have you already gotten out your Halloween stash and are already thinking about the next thing? Are you one of the ones still looking where you stashed your holiday assortment? Did you have a hard time getting all your Halloween things together this year? Is that scarecrow pumpkin thingy missing in action this year? There is an easier way to keep track of your holiday decorations, to include your kid's artwork and store bought items.You know...I love bins, so here goes...Purchase 2-5 heavy duty Rubbermaid-type bins (check for sales, as these things frequently go on sale; I've also found good deals at Big Lots on these)Purchase a roll of bubble wrap (I've seen the best prices locally at Sam's Club; I've also bought them on eBay at rock bottom prices...it's always good to have a roll if you do a lot of shipping anyway)As you get out your holiday assortment from the various hiding places throughout your house, sort the items by holiday, such a...
More About: Holidays , Holiday , Order

How to Declutter and Clean a Room the Right Way
2007-10-24 13:12:00
Have you ever walked in a room that looked like a windstorm blew through there overnight? I actually had a friend, who didn't even realize she was robbed...for almost a week...because this particular room was so messy! Isn't it disheartening to walk into that room...look around...realize the clean-up would be too overwhelming...and then walk right back out of there. As with anything else, you know I'm going to have an easy to follow system that will make the task less daunting and find you patting yourself on the back in quick order. Here's how.Step #1: Get two boxes (or laundry baskets) and one LARGE trashbag.Step #2: Label one box as "Items out of Place" and the next box as "Donations".Step #3: Start on the floor and then work clock-wise; pick up each item and put it in the appropriate box or bag.Step #4: Do not stop to admire, read or reminisce...there will be time for that at a later date.Step #5: If you have many small and loose items, whip out a piece of paper and...
More About: Clean , Room , Clutter

Look 'Em Up
2007-10-23 12:33:00
I just read an article that really got me thinking. I had really planned on visiting this pizza place run by an ex-marine after I read about it in the local newspaper. It sounded like a fun place, and the guy was hands on...seemed like a family place to go. Well, turns out he is a registered s.e.x. offender. So, that got me thinking...S.e.x. offenders and pedophiles typically go where the children are. I'm not passing judgment on this Marine and what he did, but it just got me thinking about where we live, where we do our business and where we take our children.Pedophiles can be found in so many places and jobs where children are, we would probably keel over if we knew every offender around us! You will find them as teachers, coaches, in the church, Scout leaders and supposed pillars of our community. We've all been warned about people watching our kids at the playground and around town, but let's face it, we have to do a bit more.Before even moving into our neighborhood, ...
More About: Kids

Shortcuts in the Kitchen
2007-10-22 13:00:00
Have you ever watched the chefs on TV doing their thing? They make everything look so smooth and effortless. They don't have bowls and things all over the counters, and their clothes are spotless with not a hint of ketchup or food stains anywhere. How do they get away with it...I mean really? They get away with it, because they have a pocketful of "hidden secrets", keeping their kitchen and workplace pretty darn orderly and clean. Here's how you can share in the magic.Run the full dishwasher before you go to bed at night. When it's breakfast time, you'll at least be able to use the breakfast dishes right out of there. Now there's less to put away! An added benefit is that your counters and sink stay clear throughout the day as you guy about your dish dirtying business.Turn on the fan when you fry food. This will actually grab the superfine mist of oils coming from your frying pan and settling on your walls, floors, lights...just about every surface in your kitchen and s...
More About: Cooking , Kitchen , Shortcuts , Shortcut

Prepare the Future for You and Your Children
2007-10-19 16:00:00
As I suspect, if you have children, you recognize the world is a much brighter place. I wrote yesterday about preparing yourself and your parents (and grandparents) for the inevitable. From the many responses I received, I can see these issues are on all our minds. I thought I would take the time to add to what I wrote.If you haven't already, please read yesterday's blog article. The tips I recommended for your parents also apply to you. You should also have a will (or living trust), advanced healthcare directives and powers of attorney in place. There are no guarantees in life, when your time will come. As I said yesterday, preparing yourself now buys peace of mind and the ability to focus on other things in life!Here are some other points you need to consider:Have a plan for your children should you become unable to care for them. Again, no one likes to talk about it, but if you plan now, you won't have to think about it again. Think about who could raise your childre...
More About: Kids , Children , Future , The Future , Pare

Talking the Talk with Your Almost Elderly Parents
2007-10-18 13:00:00
You are probably at the age, or soon to be, where your parents are getting up there in age. Hey, I feel like I am getting up there myself...especially noted when I get up in the morning and actually hear the creaking of my bones! As far as your parents, there is just no happy way to do this, but at some point, you are going to have to sit down with them and discuss the future, and to make sure they are prepared the best they can be. Do not wait until an emergency happens or you are forced to make last minute rash decisions....which are typically the wrong ones!This is best done in person. It's more personable and friendly that way. I had to do it myself over the phone, and it worked out okay, so don't use "I haven't seen my parents in awhile, so I can't do it just yet" as an excuse! Starting the conversation in itself, is the hardest step! Get the dialogue going by talking about yourself and your husband. Talk about what your plans are as far as your will, plans for your...
More About: Talking , Parents , Elderly , Financial Management

I Collect Things
2007-10-17 13:00:00
We've talked about clutter before in the past. We all have it to some degree. One thing we haven't talked about is collecting stuff...the stuff you like to display. If you have more than three of something, you've got a collection. Find out how to showcase your collection and make it look like it belongs...right where it is.Wrong way to display a collection:Scattered throughout the houseYour collection is overflowing its space and taking over other areasYour shelf, cabinet or table is sagging with the weight of your stuffRight way to display your collection:Grouped together by some theme (rather than scattered all over)Curio cabinet or a display case with a light (has the added benefit of keeping the dust away)Grouped on a table or shelf with small items in the front, tall in the back and leaving some space in between the items; stagger or alternate the heightsIf you have too much stuff in your collection, rotate the items (it's always nice to pull out an item you haven't s...
More About: Crafts , Things

Why You Shouldn't Make Your Bed This Morning
2007-10-16 13:00:00
I'll never forget that episode of 60 Minutes I saw about 20 years ago. Yes, it's been that long, and I have never forgotten! There seems to be something Americans do that no one else in the world does, and we are doing it wrong. Here's why.Remember when you first learned how to make your bed the "American way"? You had your fitted sheet, and then on top you smoothed out your top sheet? Remember the hospital corners you're supposed to be doing at the foot of the bed? Then you threw on either a blanket or a comforter, plumped up your pillows, and you were done. I don't know about you, but it would always take me an inordinate amount of time doing all that. Even after my stint in the Army, it still wasn't a simple task for me. Well, how about making your bed like 90% of the other Westernized countries do it. What would you say if I told you it was not only easier but more sanitary to boot!Go to any hotel or home in Europe, and you'll see they sleep with a featherbed or...
More About: Morning , Make

Those Dinner Assembly-line Places
2007-10-15 13:00:00
I recently saw an ad in our local paper. The ad went something like this:Do you often end up grabbing fast food, or spending a lot of money going out to eat? Wish that your family sat down for homemade meals more often? Let us help bring dinner home.Of course this did perk my interest. Even though I like to think of myself as the perfect housewife and mom....there are still things that get in the way of that. Since there was a coupon attached to the ad, I thought I would use it as an excuse to just try it out. I called a friend, and we quickly decided this would be a fun new thing to do together.These dinner prep places typically require a reservation ahead of time and ask for about two hours of your time. You assemble anywhere from four to 12 meals, so be ready to work with your sleeves rolled up! Come prepared with a large cooler and some cash (or at least a credit card). When I showed up at my local place, I noticed the staff was very friendly and the place looked and smel...
More About: Cooking , Dinner , Assembly , Places , Line

Maximize Your Errand Running
2007-10-12 13:35:00
I have an aunt who puts an enormous amount of miles on her vehicle by taking multiple trips throughout the day to run her errands...back and forth, back and forth. Not only are you wasting your time if you do this, but you are also throwing away gas money and putting extra wear and tear on your car.Have a plan and this won't be you. Every evening, sit down and go over your "to do" list for tomorrow and the next few days too while you are sitting there. Use a small day planner that will fit in your purse and check over this week's errands and tasks before you leave the house in the mornings.I typically have to run errands in three different directions. I try to group all errands in one area together and just drive a loop, or a loop as best I can with the streets that are available! If I don't have to do an errand tomorrow, and it is not in the area I am planning on going that day, I will plan that errand on another day when I am in that area. Plan ahead, and you will never w...
More About: Running

Nine Reasons to Attend Your Unit's Next Family Readiness Group (FRG) Meetin
2007-10-11 13:00:00
If you've been around the Army for any length of time, you've heard of the FRG. FRG, like it's some kind of entity with its own mind. FRG stands for Family Readiness Group . It used to be called the Family Support Group, until the Army decided it wasn't politically correct and that we spouses didn't need all this supportin'...so, the name was changed to go along with the times. Did you already realize there are some benefits to attending the meetings? You may think it's hogwash, or you don't need it, but guess what...every single one of us can come away with something we need (or our husband's need) at that FRG next meeting.Feel free to align yourself with any one or number of these reasons:When you are in need of help when hubby is gone, they will know who you are. "They" being the soldiers and those in charge left behind. They will be more inclined to jump and help if they remember you were the cute one with the big smile at the last meeting.You will get to know oth...
More About: Military , Reasons , Unit

What is Your Personality Dis...I mean Order?
2007-10-10 13:42:00
Did you ever wonder why you do the things you do and why you feel comfortable in some situations and not others? If you are married, are you an exact copy of your husband or are you opposites? Did you know there is a scientific method to finding out your personality type? When I was in the Army, we took the Myers-Briggs Personality Test.They sat us all down with pencils and papers and had us fill out the little dots. We lamented that it was such a waste of our time, but honestly, when we were done and the results were tallied, we were all astounded. Not only did we learn more about ourselves and how we function but also a lot about our fellow lieutenants. Kudos to the Army for making us do it.What is your personality type? Take the Myers-Briggs personality test, and see what comes out. All you have to do is make sure you answer the questions honestly. My personality type is ISTJ, which was spot on and describes me to the point of being scary! Let me know your results and w...
More About: Order , Ality

Before You Go to Bed Tonight
2007-10-09 13:35:00
Have you ever gone to bed with utter and complete chaos around the house? Sometimes, you just want to close yourself off from the mess and kids fighting and your husband not being home. Well, I think you know as well as I do...the next morning, it looks and feels even worse! Do you know there are some simple steps you can take to take charge of this situation? A few weeks ago, I found a website by someone who calls herself Flylady. The crux of her mantra, is if you keep your sink shiny and clean, everything else will follow along. She has many followers who she has guided from baby steps to being full fledged superwomen around the house. I felt I already had a handle on things but valued her opinions. I think they are good ones. If you are at a complete standstill, be sure to stop by her website. I didn't want to write about household order without mentioning her.If you have no need for a major overhaul in the homemaker arena, there is this one small task you can do to ke...
More About: Tonight

Useful Uses for your Camera Phone
2007-10-08 13:10:00
Do you have a camera phone? When was the last time you really used the camera part of it? I've had one for about three years now and other than the photo I took and uploaded of my kids to use as wallpaper, I haven't been using it....til recently. Be sure to get the most out of your phone! Here are some useful uses for YOUR camera phone.If you are ever in an accident or witness a car accident, take quick pics of the position of the cars, the damage and license plate numbers of those involvedI like to drive around my town and get landscaping ideas; sometimes I don't have my regular camera with me, so if I see something nice, I snap a quick photo out the driver's side window with my camera phoneBefore you drive that rental car out of the lot, take a photo from all angles; you don't want them to come back later and say you did such and such damage; now you'll have immediate proof it wasn't youWhen you return your rental car with that full tank of gas, take a quick photo of yo...
More About: Phone , Camera , Camera Phone

I'm Having People Over for Dinner...Am I Nuts?
2007-10-05 14:51:00
Here I am coming back from being out of town, and one of the first dumb things I do is invite a slew of people over...dumb, dumb...it's seems like I just ask for it sometimes! Well, guess what? I am NOT going to stress, because I am going to follow the tips below!I'm going to decide what I'm going to make ahead of time. I am not a masochist and don't have hired help, so only one "difficult" menu item is allowed. The rest have to be easy.I am not going to let myself stress by making any last minute food preparations.I will plan the menu well ahead of time and not go shopping the day of the dinner.If there is anything that can be made the night ahead, I will go ahead and make that dish then.I am not going to make everything the same color.Since again, I don't want to stress and it is a larger group of people, it will be buffet-style. Serving from the kitchen (you filling the plates) is also an option.It's always better to make too much food than too little. I love having l...
More About: Cooking , People , Dinner , Nuts

The Maker of Lists
2007-10-04 19:45:00
I feel somehow inadequate if I'm not making a list for some thing some where. I really do. I have lists for every kind of situation a mom and manager of the household needs or even wants. The neat part about making lists, is that it's okay that my brain gets a bit fried as I get older...I can just refer back to the list! Back in college, I used to make lists on any scrap of paper that was available. You can already see, eventually, you'd have a house full of scraps of paper and not know one list from another. In fact, I do have a few purses from my college days, and do you know, I recently found a 22 year old list!I quickly graduated to the more organized notebook mode. I have a small notebook and a day planner (also small) with a note section in my purse. I have another notebook by our computer and another by our bed...In bed seems to be where most of us do our thinking when we are not otherwise engaged, don't you think?Just perusing some of my lists, in my dayplanner, I...
More About: Lists , Maker

Manners Anyone?
2007-10-03 13:49:00
When did most people stop saying "please", "thank-you" and "excuse me"? I had quite an unpleasant visit to the supermarket up here in Chicago yesterday.I thought people had more manners than that! I was bumped into the bananas by a lady talking to herself...well, she was wearing a Bluetooth. And in the pet food aisle, I had to sidestep an older lady who came barreling through on her little scooter. Her cane, which was inconveniently jutting out, raked a whole row of Friskies into a young lady trying to decide on canned versus dry food. It caught her completely by surprise. Not a word was said by the offender.Those were just two incidents still sticking to my frontal lobe this morning. Not once did anyone make a remark as they jockeyed for position in that place! Is this a new trend or just a fluke? Is it city living or have I been out in the country too long?When I get home, I just better make sure I keep on top of my boys. I gotta believe I raised 'em better than that.
More About: Kids , Manners