MilSpouse Magic

It’s National Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

It’s also my last year as an official MilSpouse. I felt the strong need to blog bc the title Military Spouse means so much to me, my Family, and my fellow Military sisters and brothers. Being a Military Spouse equates to wearing many different hats throughout your Servicemember’s career. There are plenty of people in the world who wear multiple hats…and do so well. We all know someone who’s About section on their Facebook profile lists “Mom, wife, cab driver, chef, tutor, volunteer, and finance manager”. Applause applause, because the struggle will always be real for me and my fellow multitaskers! It’s those other hats that only a MilSpouse can wear I reference here.

You know, the pillbox one…to help you recognize Military customs and courtesies so that when you walk into a formal function or your SM’s office, you don’t embarrass your SM, their ‘unit’ or yourself. Nobody wants to be the one who breaks OPSEC (operation security) or the one caught walking in the commissary parking lot while retreat is playing.

The coach’s hat…for when your SM is gone and your kids’ sports league has no coach due to deployments and you must step up and teach something you’ve never actually done in order to give Military kids the same opportunities as civilian kids. It takes a village.

The newsboy cap…where you take it upon yourself to become part of the community and help teach new Military Spouses how to handle Military life and it’s curve balls. When you know better you do better right?

The tourist trucker hat…I am a bonafide travel guru! Moving every few years and the places the Military lifestyle can take you, forces a MilSpouse to become a promo packer, a travel agent, frugal tourist and a master of itineraries. My passport stamps are legit! And MilSpouses are some of the best to ask when it comes to travel tips!

The Photog fedora…there are more MilSpouse photographers than I could ever count.  Some hobbyists, some educated and some with just a ‘good camera’.  Either way, being a MilSpouse means it’s your job to make sure there is documented proof of what is going on while living so far away from Family and friends. They want to know…they want to see…they want to share in the experience. So it’s up to us…camera in hand.

Supporting sun visor…we’ve never had to get close with complete strangers like we have as MilSpouses. I’ve given many baby showers, birthday parties, held hands with, been a shoulder to lean on, an advocate for and a sister to Spouses I just met.  It’s like nothing I’ve ever dealt with before the Military because we all know there’s a risk factor every.single.time. Hence the sun visor, to keep the shade in check.

The hats are plenty and the memories are endless. Each one of my MilSpouse sisters has brought something to the table and it’s something I will carry with me for eternity.

These are just some of my MilSpouse sisters:

 

I commend all MilSpouses for their dedication, their support, their patriotism, their selflessness and of course…their hats!  I tip mine to all of you and hang up a couple also as I end this part of the Military journey. Thank a MilSpouse and/or a Military Child whenever you can…they deserve it and so much more.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Xoxo, Di

 

 

 

 

#44

The weekend has been calm, family oriented, reflective, and sobering.  We all have been spending some real good quality time together…just eating, watching movies, helping G and ourselves prepare for the inevitable events that become our reality this coming week.  In the midst of everything, Teage has been taking to his sketch pad to express his feelings.  He’s such a great little artist.  When he walked in and handed this to his dad I almost choked up.  He’s his hero and even though it must be somewhat confusing as to whyyyy he must go, it’s clear that he understands that it’s what he has to do.

44. What’s Your Dad’s Superpower?

 

Prayers for all the troops…

Xoxo, Di

#43

G-Pa is baaaaaack!  He was shocked at the snow downfall but as always, rolls like a champ.  I snagged this pic when G came in from work before we went out and about. A uniform pic, if you will.  I love this one because they look so close and it’s really hard for me to catch G with an uninhibited look on his face because he always feels like I am asking him to “pose it out”.  It captures real feelings in the moment to come and that’s my favorite kind of shot.  Plus, they are both wicked handsome 🙂

43. Lovin’ la Vida Isla

 

3 sleeps….mother fck

Xoxo, Di

November’s Faves

Whelp it’s already well into December so my November faves are late…but sheiiiit, better late than never!! Let’s get this party started…

1. My new Tom the Turkey Scentsy warmer…he’s glowing and brings the goodness to Fall I needed this year. Thanks to my sis in law, Rhea, for hooking it up!!

2. Ok so I’ve made horchata before and it’s amazing….add rum and it’s sinful. Now you can buy it premixed and for the holiday season they are selling it with a ceramic chata cup!! Alabanza!!!

3. Our visit to NYC brought a few things to this list…the closest to celeb sighting we had was our visit to Carlo’s Bake Shop. We stayed about two blocks from the shop and really felt the Hoboken vibe once we walked in. $70 later I can say all of the delectables were spot on…the icing on the cake (pun intended) was the chocolate peanut butter cupcake. I’m pissed I only got one and seriously struggling with a justified bakery delivery to my casa. Well played Buddy…

4. Another fave from NYC were the mass amounts of street art I captured while there. This was in Union Square…and the amount of chalk laying around was insane…the artist may have been too, who knows.

5. A November fave wouldn’t be complete without an advent calendar posted! The dayum Lego Advent got me again…We have way too many of these. I’m like whyyyy can’t we just reuse last year’s (or the year before or the year before that)? Fine, it’s all about the surprise factor…I get it. Next year Lego needs to come up with another theme though, I can only have so many droids lurking in my house. I feel like at any moment I’m gonna hear, “These are not the droids you’re looking for”. Ehhh, whatever I’m still a sucker for the Lego biz…

6. That fricking elf…this little creep is rolling in the dough and is stealing all your $hit while you sleep, you know that right?! I can’t. Buuuut, how do you work it out in your head the fact that his lil s”elf” is still a cutie?! I’ll tell you, buy an Elf ornament for your tree or the game like we did. The game is a hide n seek type where you hide him and he gives you vocal cues to locate him. Still borderline creepy I know, but at least he won’t be trying to burn my house down while I’m snoozing.

7. I bought this in Germany before we rolled out. I finally located it and it is sitting nicely in my kitchen. Don’t ask me what I keep in those drawers…cuz then I’d have to clip your knee caps 👊

8. This is by far my favorite purchase in November!! It’s a snowman kit…complete with all things needed to make your very own frosty friend. The container itself is super cute decor! And the kicker…$5!!! Get in my cart…

9. I made these last month as gifts for a few people. They’re homemade Lavender Bath Salts. Perfect for relaxation, achy joints, and murdering some fasciitis pain….umm, not getting high. Why is this even a thing….? People are dumb…

10. It’s time for the wine of the month! Diamond from the Finger Lakes is a perfect blend of a moscato and rose’. Yummmm….

11. This is humorous….the Special Edition Kuerig was a gift to both G and I from ourselves because there was a fab Black Friday sale going on. However, in reality it’s a gift to all our houseguests. G and I don’t really drink coffee, yet we r rolling hard with this k-cup business. So, you are welcome future guests. Actually I am getting some hot cocoa and chai tea out of this bad boy…oh and Irish coffee….with Bailey’s. Bloop.

12. My favorite wrapping paper of the season!!! Er, Santa will be borrowing this!

13. There was actually a whole box I stumbled on with things I bought last minute in Germany that I was “saving” for the new house. Enter the guest house slippers!! Yay! Now you dirty snowy peeps can stop tracking sludge in my casa….and look cute doing it 🙂

14. Favorite craft supply item of the month?? This kick a$$ tag punch! I like saying punch by the way…

15. I’ve always wanted a stamp with my name on it…I don’t know why this is escaping me still. But for now I was geeked to find the letter I…which is real tricky to locate on all crafty fronts.

16. The last day of November we hit Hard Rock NYC to celebrate JD’s upcoming bday. My favorite part was getting a family photo as we walked in. These are few and far between…because we all know I live behind the lens. So this is extra special to me for a couple reasons…one being that pink guitar 🙂

17. I heart Bliss Products….I heart them even more when they are amenities in our hotel room! I was thisclose to leaving these boys for the Bliss Spa downstairs!

18. A couple months ago I put shopping rewards cards as a fave…now I have something even better. First, you must know that if there is an app out there I have most likely tested it out and have it downloaded in my cloud. I love a good app. Rewards cards + app = genius!!! CardStar allows you to scan all your cards into one place and eliminate holding all those pesky keychain and humongous plastic cards. Shopping discounts at your fingertips…that’s the $hit I like!

19. I have been making crafts like crazy and mostly for teachers. Like this handmade cork board I am going to give to one of JD’s teachers. The paper apple is doing it!!

20. Lastly, my all time favorite of the month….this ACU uniform wreath I made for the upcoming deployment. I will hang it for G and keep it up until he comes home. It’s our way of representing the homefront we will keep cozy and strong for him as well as our faith in him as he fights the good fight. It’s symbolic to our Family and will be for years to come. I just need one of his name tags and we will be ready to hang the day he rolls…sniff.

Any favorites you remember from November?! It’s nice to reflect on what’s important to us and why at certain times of the year.

December’s gonna be a lot….

Xoxo, Di