Military Life
Building an Emergency Fund when you're “Part-Time” Military
When people hear “part-time military,” they often picture one weekend a month and two weeks in the s...
VSO 101 - Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
This month I’m going to cover a benefit many veterans and their families have never heard of: Compre...
Mission Ready Resources: The Military Family's Toolkit
As military families, we are blessed to have a variety of FREE resources available to us throughout ...
Military Life Doesn’t Come With a Manual, But It Does Come With Support
Military life is full of moments that shape us. Some are exciting, like arriving at a new duty stati...
Wearing the Uniform on the Fourth of July
Okay, let me tell you this now like a big sister would, because nobody really explains this part of ...
When Annual Training turns me into a Solo Parent
Let me just say this upfront, because I wish someone had said it to me like this. Annual Training wi...
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 whe...
Sunlight & Strategy: Activating Your Longer Days
Warmer weather also means longer days. More daylight is great for everyone. There’s more time to go ...
Memorial Day Feels Different When You Wear the Uniform
There’s a shift that happens when you put on the uniform. Memorial Day stops being just a long weeke...
VSO 101 - Love Your Family by Setting Up All of Your Benefits – Survivor Benefit Program
This month, we’re going to cover how to set up your Survivor Benefit Plan or SBP. For those unfamili...
The Best of Both Worlds…or Is It?
If you grew up on Hannah Montana, then you already know the line we were sold: “You get the best of ...
Welcome to the New & Improved My Military Lifestyle: Your All-in-One Hub for Military Life
If you’ve ever found yourself bouncing between five different websites just to catch up on the news,...
VSO 101 – Learn More About the PACT Act
Signed by President Biden on 10 August 2022, the PACT Act is a comprehensive set of rules and direct...
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot – Learning the Lingo Series: Don’t Panic with the Paperwork!
Paperwork! So…Much…Paperwork! Throughout your military career (and beyond, honestly), you are going ...
The Best PCS Tips and Tricks
As PCS season, draws near, I’ve reached out to experts at my current base and future base to pick th...
Chronicles of a Military Spouse: Care Packages
So, as a military spouse, you dread the word “deployment”. However, we do whatever we can to be supp...
VSO 101 – Applying for Death Benefits: Burial and Funeral Costs
This blog is directed to the families of Veterans, specifically the benefits available for burial an...
Inside Guard Life: Welcoming New Soldiers to the Unit in the New Year
New year, same cold, same 0430 alarms, same “who thought it was a good idea to schedule a PT test in...
Our Other Family Table: Thanksgiving with the Guard
When most people picture Thanksgiving, they imagine a table surrounded by relatives, food, and tradi...
VSO 101 – Education Benefits
The words ‘G.I. Bill’ first comes to mind when someone mentions military and veteran educational ben...
The Government May Be Shutdown, But Your Local Commissary & Exchanges Are Open!
With the overnight announcement of the 2025 Government Shutdown, you may be trying to navigate what ...
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...
When Finding Childcare Feels Harder Than a PCS
One of the biggest challenges families face today—military or not—is childcare. For many parents, th...
Deployments, Tantrums, & Cold Coffee Series: Let’s Wrap It Up!
If you’ve made it to the end of this series, congratulations—you’ve unlocked the secret level of sur...
We Know What THEY Wear, but What Should I Wear?
We talk a lot about military uniforms—dress blues, ACUs, PT gear—but when your spouse gets orders fo...
Deployments, Tantrums, & Cold Coffee Series: Make Your Health a Priority—Without Guilt
Here’s the reality—military life, parenting, and keeping yourself remotely functional is a lot to ju...
Bridging the Gap: The Grand Finale
Parenting through military life is like trying to PCS with no orders, no Wi-Fi, and three kids who a...
VSO 101 – Your Claim Has Been Approved – Now What?
Congratulations! You and your service officer have successfully navigated the VA bureaucracy labyrin...
Deployments, Tantrums, & Cold Coffee Series: Build a Battle Buddy Network
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re somewhere in the Deployments, Tantrums, & Cold Coffee zon...
Hold the Line: Suicide Prevention in Our Military Community
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and for those of us in the military community wheth...
More For You
8 VA Special Claims and Benefits Veterans May Qualify For Beyond Disability Pay
Most veterans with a service-connected disability focus on getting their rating right. That makes sense because your rating plays a major role in determining your monthly disability compensation.But your rating doesn't necessarily cover every expense or limitation caused by your condition.Certain service-connected disabilities may also qualify you for additional monthly compensation, vehicle assis...
My Dog Mom Non-Negotiables
If you have dogs, you already know they somehow become part of literally every part of your routine. You wake up and they’re there. You’re making breakfast and they’re staring at you. You try to leave the house and suddenly everyone needs attention right now. Quite frankly I wouldn’t have it any other way.I feel like there are so many conversations around being a “good dog parent” that make it see...
VA Disability Back Pay Explained: Effective Dates, Payments, and Deadlines
Getting approved for VA disability compensation can feel like the finish line, especially if you've spent months waiting for a decision.Then you hear about back pay, and suddenly there's another question: How much money should you actually receive?VA calls it retroactive benefits. It's compensation owed for eligible months before your regular payments begin. Depending on your disability rating and...
