Budget for a Vacation

Front Lines and Home Fires: Microbursts, BBQ, & Memories

Back in 1993, I did a six-month deployment to Soto Cano AB in Honduras as part of the staff of JTF-Bravo. The mission was good, and I got to work with some fantastic people in the Air Force and the Army. The area around the base was beautiful, and my job (Fuels Contract Monitor) had me out and about to storage sites and remote locations all over the country. About halfway through my deployment, a ...

HOME & FAMILY

New Year, New Money Habits: A Fresh Financial Start for Military Families

As we flip the calendar page to a new year, many of us are thinking about typical resolutions, such as losing weight, advancing in our careers, or maybe finally tackling that mess in the garage…but what if this year, we focused on something that impacts every part of our lives: our money habits?For military members and their families, financial readiness isn’t just a good thing…it’s mission-critic...

FINANCE

Finish Strong: Q4 Goal Setting

As a mom, military spouse, and veteran, I’ve learned that the last stretch of the year can feel like a mission in itself. Between school schedules, holiday planning, military events, and personal goals, Q4 (October through December) can either run you, or you can run it. The final three months of the year are make or break, not just for your to-do list, but for how you set the tone heading into Ja...

COMMUNITY

Wander & Wine: A Narnia Winery at Briar Rose

Briar Rose has always felt like a place you stumble upon rather than plan for. A Snow White cottage tucked quietly into the Temecula hills, stone walls softened by time, crooked lines that feel intentional in the way fairytales always do. However, in winter, something shifts. The air sharpens. The light changes, and suddenly, this familiar story opens into another one entirely. During the colder m...

TRAVEL

Spring Cleaning Your Finances in 5 Easy Steps

Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets, garages, and storage rooms. It’s also the perfect time to shake off last season's financial dust and get your budget ready for the months ahead. Whether you’re active duty, a spouse holding down the home front, or a veteran navigating civilian life, this seasonal reset can bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind as you prepare for the rest of the year. ...

FINANCE

Pet-Friendly Stays: Kona Kai Resort

I didn’t expect a PCS stopover to feel like an actual vacation, but that’s exactly what happened when the dogs and I checked into the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego. If you’ve ever PCS’d with a dog, you know the standard: cramped rooms, weird carpet smells, and taking your pet out through six hallways and an elevator at 2 a.m. None of that happened here. It felt like we accidentally booked a getaway...

TRAVEL

Wander & Wine: Coastal Sips – Alma Rosa Winery – Solvang, CA

“Where the breeze meets the barrel, and the story is written in sea salt and sunlight.” Some wines taste like a place. Alma Rosa tastes like the coast. The whole west coast. Set in the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, just a short, golden drive from Solvang, Alma Rosa Winery captures the soft wildness of California’s Central Coast. Here, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay aren’t just grown, they’re ...

HOME & FAMILY

Enjoying Some Fun & Sun in Jacksonville, Florida

I recently spent a weekend in Jacksonville, Florida and I must say the city did not disappoint. When I think of sunshine and fun, the state of Florida instantly comes to mind. I booked a hotel and got a great deal using USAA Perks. I must say I’ve used this service for a few things like hotels, rental cars, and attractions and I love the military discounts and savings. Anytime I’m in a new city, I...

HOME & FAMILY

Wander & Wine: The Chateau on the Hill – Inn at Churon Winery – Temecula, CA

High above the valley floor, where the air is a little quieter and the vines feel just a little more reverent, sits Inn at Churon Winery, a place that looks like it was poured straight out of Bordeaux and left to rest beneath a Temecula sky. It’s not trying to be trendy. It’s not asking for your attention, and that’s exactly why it gets it.Pull into the circular drive and you’re met with stone arc...

HOME & FAMILY

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, GA!

If you are looking for a city that has tons of southern charm, then put Savannah, Georgia at the top of your bucket list! Savannah has so much history and character you’ll want to visit again and again. Speaking of visiting, if you are a fan of St. Patrick’s Day, then you must take a trip down by the river.Did you know that Savannah often ranks third as one of the best cities to celebrate this hol...

HOLIDAYS

Front Lines and Home Fires: Microbursts, BBQ, & Memories

Back in 1993, I did a six-month deployment to Soto Cano AB in Honduras as part of the staff of JTF-Bravo. The mission was good, and I got to work with some fantastic people in the Air Force and the Army. The area around the base was beautiful, and my job (Fuels Contract Monitor) had me out and about to storage sites and remote locations all over the country. About halfway through my deployment, a ...

HOME & FAMILY

New Year, New Money Habits: A Fresh Financial Start for Military Families

As we flip the calendar page to a new year, many of us are thinking about typical resolutions, such as losing weight, advancing in our careers, or maybe finally tackling that mess in the garage…but what if this year, we focused on something that impacts every part of our lives: our money habits?For military members and their families, financial readiness isn’t just a good thing…it’s mission-critic...

FINANCE

Finish Strong: Q4 Goal Setting

As a mom, military spouse, and veteran, I’ve learned that the last stretch of the year can feel like a mission in itself. Between school schedules, holiday planning, military events, and personal goals, Q4 (October through December) can either run you, or you can run it. The final three months of the year are make or break, not just for your to-do list, but for how you set the tone heading into Ja...

COMMUNITY

Wander & Wine: A Narnia Winery at Briar Rose

Briar Rose has always felt like a place you stumble upon rather than plan for. A Snow White cottage tucked quietly into the Temecula hills, stone walls softened by time, crooked lines that feel intentional in the way fairytales always do. However, in winter, something shifts. The air sharpens. The light changes, and suddenly, this familiar story opens into another one entirely. During the colder m...

TRAVEL

Spring Cleaning Your Finances in 5 Easy Steps

Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets, garages, and storage rooms. It’s also the perfect time to shake off last season's financial dust and get your budget ready for the months ahead. Whether you’re active duty, a spouse holding down the home front, or a veteran navigating civilian life, this seasonal reset can bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind as you prepare for the rest of the year. ...

FINANCE

Pet-Friendly Stays: Kona Kai Resort

I didn’t expect a PCS stopover to feel like an actual vacation, but that’s exactly what happened when the dogs and I checked into the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego. If you’ve ever PCS’d with a dog, you know the standard: cramped rooms, weird carpet smells, and taking your pet out through six hallways and an elevator at 2 a.m. None of that happened here. It felt like we accidentally booked a getaway...

TRAVEL

Wander & Wine: Coastal Sips – Alma Rosa Winery – Solvang, CA

“Where the breeze meets the barrel, and the story is written in sea salt and sunlight.” Some wines taste like a place. Alma Rosa tastes like the coast. The whole west coast. Set in the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley, just a short, golden drive from Solvang, Alma Rosa Winery captures the soft wildness of California’s Central Coast. Here, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay aren’t just grown, they’re ...

HOME & FAMILY

Enjoying Some Fun & Sun in Jacksonville, Florida

I recently spent a weekend in Jacksonville, Florida and I must say the city did not disappoint. When I think of sunshine and fun, the state of Florida instantly comes to mind. I booked a hotel and got a great deal using USAA Perks. I must say I’ve used this service for a few things like hotels, rental cars, and attractions and I love the military discounts and savings. Anytime I’m in a new city, I...

HOME & FAMILY

Wander & Wine: The Chateau on the Hill – Inn at Churon Winery – Temecula, CA

High above the valley floor, where the air is a little quieter and the vines feel just a little more reverent, sits Inn at Churon Winery, a place that looks like it was poured straight out of Bordeaux and left to rest beneath a Temecula sky. It’s not trying to be trendy. It’s not asking for your attention, and that’s exactly why it gets it.Pull into the circular drive and you’re met with stone arc...

HOME & FAMILY

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, GA!

If you are looking for a city that has tons of southern charm, then put Savannah, Georgia at the top of your bucket list! Savannah has so much history and character you’ll want to visit again and again. Speaking of visiting, if you are a fan of St. Patrick’s Day, then you must take a trip down by the river.Did you know that Savannah often ranks third as one of the best cities to celebrate this hol...

HOLIDAYS

Front Lines and Home Fires: Microbursts, BBQ, & Memories

Back in 1993, I did a six-month deployment to Soto Cano AB in Honduras as part of the staff of JTF-Bravo. The mission was good, and I got to work with some fantastic people in the Air Force and the Army. The area around the base was beautiful, and my job (Fuels Contract Monitor) had me out and about to storage sites and remote locations all over the country. About halfway through my deployment, a ...

HOME & FAMILY

New Year, New Money Habits: A Fresh Financial Start for Military Families

As we flip the calendar page to a new year, many of us are thinking about typical resolutions, such as losing weight, advancing in our careers, or maybe finally tackling that mess in the garage…but what if this year, we focused on something that impacts every part of our lives: our money habits?For military members and their families, financial readiness isn’t just a good thing…it’s mission-critic...

FINANCE

Finish Strong: Q4 Goal Setting

As a mom, military spouse, and veteran, I’ve learned that the last stretch of the year can feel like a mission in itself. Between school schedules, holiday planning, military events, and personal goals, Q4 (October through December) can either run you, or you can run it. The final three months of the year are make or break, not just for your to-do list, but for how you set the tone heading into Ja...

COMMUNITY