Mrs. Marine & the Tiny Troops

The Artist's Daughter (I'm on the MOPS Street Team)

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:00:00 PDT

I highly recommend this book!

It is a very inspiring story and a must read for all mothers!

I plan on passing this book around to share with all the book lovers I know!

Watch this special message from the author Alexandra Kuykendall

Like Alexandra's Facebook page and Follow her on
Twitter @alex_kuykendall. Get your own copy of The Artist's Daughter from Amazon or enter to win a free copy!

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:18:00 PDT

If you didn't already know, both my children and I are Aspie's. We have Asperger's which is a form of High Functioning Autism. Today April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day (wear Blue today) and the month of April is Autism Awareness Month. Please help raise awareness, feel free to snag any of the following pictures and post them to Facebook or on your own blog.

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Riding the Train at the Mall ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:00:00 PDT

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My New Hobby, Crochet! ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:00:00 PDT

My mother taught me to crochet when I was 16. I made an afghan which took me a long time to complete and I didn't make anything else until now, 18 year later! Took me a bit to get the hang of it again but I'm enjoying myself! My first project was the "trial" pair of slippers for myself which I think turned out great! Then I made some for the kids! My daughter suggested I make more slippers and sell them and so "Mrs. Marine's Custom Crochet" was born. Visit the link for more details! I also have a Facebook page:

Cell phone purse (for when I walk to pick up my kids from school and I'm wearing a dress/skirt and don't have pockets)

Sissy's Miss-Matched Slippers (side medium)

My Slippers (size large)

Booboo's Slippers (size small)

I still have to make a pair for Hubby

UPDATE I forgot to add this in:

Granny Slippers also have "grippy" bottoms! This was done with silicone. I'm still looking for a spray-on stuff so I can easily cover more of the bottom but have yet to find what I want. This is my slipper, did this to my kids slippers also. My daughter said she doesn't like it because she cant "skate" in them anymore. Which is the whole point! It means their not slippery anymore!

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Getting Personal - Menstrual Cups

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:17:00 PDT

*This is not a paid/advertisement post.*

Simply put, periods are not fun, it's not something I ever look forward to. I hate the tampon commercial with the slogan "Have a Happy Period". My period has always been longer than most lasting 7 days but over the last 2 years it's gotten longer... Yippie... Lasting 7-10 days and in the middle its very heavy...

In the beginning I used pads which I hated! Once I learned to use tampons that's what I suck with for lack of knowing another option. About a year ago I heard about Menstrual Cups.

What's that?:

From Wikipedia:

A menstrual cup is a flexible cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. They are usually made from medical grade silicone which is a safe and hypoallergenic material. Menstrual cups are more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons, as they are reusable, and can be used for up to 5-10 years. They have greater capacity than tampons, and can be emptied every 12 hours, unlike pads and tampons which require more frequent changing. A woman need only wear the one cup and clean and empty it at the end of the day rather than carrying several replacement pads or tampons. By keeping menstrual fluid away from the vaginal walls and vulva and unexposed to air, menstrual cups have less odor associated with their use than with the use of tampons or pads. When using a menstrual cup, the menstrual fluid is collected away from the cervix and held in liquid form as opposed to it being absorbed and held in semi-coagulated form against the cervix as is the case with tampons. More

My first initial reaction was "Yuck", I didn't want to have to empty it, clean it, Eww! So I dismissed it and kept using tampons. My cycles have been so screwed up lately that I kept looking for natural remedies to help and again stumbled upon Menstrual Cups and decided to do some research. If you really think about it (what a tampons made of), I'm sticking "that" up "there" is that really the greatest thing to be doing?

I remember seeing a forwarded email a few years ago about this...

I finally decided to try out a menstrual cup, there are a lot of different brands and types out there most look quite similar with only slight differences. There is one brand (SoftCup) that is disposable and different from the others. I don't think it looks like it would work as well as the others. You can order them online but I wanted to try to find it in a store, which was not easy... Other than the SoftCup which I didn't want. I finally found one in a Organic store and got the DivaCup brand. I started using it in December and I found I hate my period a little less. I have also learned a lot about my period since I started using the DivaCup. You may not want to know this, but when using a cup you are able to actually see (the cup has measurements on it for 1/4, 1/2, 1oz) the amount of your "flow". I learned mine is more than the norm... I have been keeping track of the amount, so if I decide to go talk to my Doctor again about my crazy periods I have a better frame of reference...

Why use a Menstrual Cup?
- You only need 1 cup & it last 10 YEARS = less waste!!!
- Wear up to 12 hours at a time
- Wear during ANY activity (sports, swimming, sleeping)
- Eliminate menstrual odor
- Be good to your body = no link to Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Save money $$$

Using a menstrual cup definitely takes some getting use to. I had a few leaks in the beginning and figured the cup must not be opening all the way or in the right position. The directions say to rotate it a full 360 degrees which I tried and I couldn't tell if I was turning it or not. I found if I move/wiggle the stem around a bit it helps the cup open all the way.

I bought mine several weeks before my period was supposed to start so I could practice getting it in and out without any mess, which I would strongly recommend. The best part, if I'm not going to be home, I don't have to take extras with me like with tampons & pads. Except for my 1 very heavy day I only have to empty it morning and evening. On my heavy day I empty it around noon. There is no "guessing game" with which absorbency to use at any given time like with using tampons & pads. Ever taken out a tampon that was dry after having it in for several hours? It does not feel good at all. I want to encourage all the women I know (who have periods) to use a menstrual cup. Do research for yourself, decide which brand you like the best and give it a try! I will never go back!

This is a really great page, lists the good and bad aspects of all the menstrual product options. Specifically the image below (screen shot taken from the page) lists how BAD tampons are for you (click it to make it bigger). Thanks Random Girl.com

I also found another blogger who reviewed the Diva Cup, Olivia @ I am Still Learning

Sissy Getting Her Ears Pierced ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:00:00 PST

Sissy finally decided she wanted to get her ears pierced! She's 9 1/2

Before:

During:

After:

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Spa Like Treatments Right at Home - Guest Post by Michelle Pino -

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:26:00 PST

Like going to the spa, berries and chocolate are an indulgent treat. Combining both is even better. Indulging in a do-it-yourself berries and chocolate spa treatment like the ones we are offering at SkA:nA is the perfect way to imitate the vibrant glowing skin flaunted down the Oscar’s red carpet this year. Unlike the celebrities, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get gorgeous skin. You can keep both your arms and both your legs and pay very little out of pocket to make your entire body glow.

The following treatments are all natural, inexpensive and can be done in the convenience and comfort of your home.

Fruity Face Mask
Strawberries control oil balance in our skin naturally, which helps to prevent acne and breakouts. Honey hydrates, leaving skin feeling clean and smooth. The egg will hold the mixture together while the cocoa powder will act as the thickening agent.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pureed Strawberries
1/4 cup Cocoa powder
3 tablespoons Honey
1 Egg White

Directions: Thoroughly combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Add more cocoa powder if the mixture is too runny. If too clumpy, add another egg white.

How to Use: Start with clean skin by washing your face to remove makeup and skin products. Apply the mask with your hands. Allow the mask to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water followed by a splash of cool water to close your pores. Enjoy fresh, renewed skin!

Homemade Chocolate Pedicure
Whether applied to the entire body or limited to one targeted area, body wraps leave skin soft to the touch my moisturizing and providing hydration. A body wrap brings about relaxation as the skin becomes firmer and wrinkles and signs of aging are temporarily minimized. The following mask is intended for feet and can be done alone or with the help of a partner.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
5 strawberries
1/2 cup champagne
1/3 cup honey

Tools:
Microwave
Blender
Paintbrush

Directions: Place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe dish and heat on medium for approximately two minutes or until chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Add strawberries, honey, and champagne to the blender and creamy and smooth. Add the chocolate to the strawberry mixture and blend until a paste is formed. Allow the mixture to cool to a warm, but comfortable temperature.

Remove nail polish, cut, and file toenails. Exfoliate feet using a scrub or brush. Apply mixture to feet using paintbrush and relax while allowing mixture to sit for 15 minutes. Wash wrap off feet, and pat dry.

Strawberries and chocolate aren't just for eating any more! They make for a relaxing pampering experience while providing excellent, inexpensive benefits to the skin.

“Taking time to pamper our selves isn’t something we all do, especially as busy moms and women. It’s something we SHOULD all do, however, because the benefits of feeling and looking great will translate into our daily lives. I love sharing these easy and efficient tips. Working at Skana, an upscale spa in central NY has given me so many great opportunities that I am now eager and able to share with others.” – Michelle Pino

I love these tips, what mom doesn't need a good pampering, I cant wait to try them for myself!

First Pair of Glasses ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:00:00 PST

A few months ago my little girl got her first pair of glasses, she picked them out herself. She is in 4th grade, same grade I was in when I first got mine. My Mini-Me!

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Update 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:49:00 PST

Well, Hello there! How are you?
We are all good, not too much has changed around here. We are still in Hawaii (3 1/2 years now) and loving every minute of it! Ever since we hit the 3 year mark whenever I answer the question "How long have you been here?" I am immediately asked "Are you leaving soon?" because the average time at any duty station is 3 years. We will still be here for a while, we don't yet know when or where we will go next. I want to make the most of the remaining time we get to live on this beautiful island!

Hubby and I have finally taken up hiking! I was very hesitant at first I had not gone hiking since I was a teenager and it's majorly out of my comfort zone but I'm hooked! Whenever Hubby has a day off and the kids are in school we plan on going! We have only done 2 so far but plan on doing a few more next month! We have taken the kids on one easy paved hike so far. More details and pictures on all that later!

April is Autism Awareness month and

We (myself, hubs & kids) will all be participating in the Autism Walk which in Hawaii is on April 20th! I'm really looking forward to it, it will be our first year participating and I myself have never been involved in an event like that! I'm excited!
That's all the updates I have for now.

More soon!

Merry Christmas Elf on the Shelf ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 15:57:00 PST

Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) and Happy New Year!
Our "Elf on the Shelf" arrived on December 1st. We had a lot of fun with our elf Elmo! Goodbye Elmo, see you next year!

Day 1, riding on Rudolph, hanging from the ceiling fan

Day 2, squeezed himself into Santa's overalls on the clothesline

Day 3, hiding in the bamboo plant

Day 4 in the morning. He wanted some green milk and a cookie. I think he needed a break from the warm weather so he decided to hang out in the fridge.

Day 4, In the afternoon he decided to play with Booboo's toy cars and put a few stuffed animals in the window then did a trapeze act from the ceiling fan

Day 5, He invited a friend over during the night and decided to play tick-tac-toe on the bathroom mirror

Day 6, hiding on the shelf

Day 7, he left some "Elf Kisses" for the kids to get when they are good and played the the Christmas tic-tack-toe set. I wonder where Elf Kisses come from??

Day 8, pined up on the art board.... Is it wrong that I pined him to the wall by his arms and legs???

Day 9, he decided to deface the kids pictures with a dry-erase marker. I will admit, I had a little too much fun with this one. Especially making my adorable baby boy in the top left corner look like a punk, w/black eyeliner, piercings and a mohawk. The kids loved it!

Day 10, hiding in the tree

Day 11, caused mischief in Princess' room switching her dresser drawers around and turning things upside down. Then took a nap.

Day 13, he likes to be upside down

Day 14, atop a snowman totem pole!

Day 15, hanging from the (fake) mistletoe. Maybe he wants a kiss?

Day 16, he built a fort out of colored jenga blocks on the kitchen island!

Day 17, He used the blocks from his fort the day before to write his name

Day 17, riding on the snowman

Day 18, hanging out on Daddy's cover

Day 19, On the fridge with a marker! He left a note "Be good, Elmo's Watching"

Day 20, I think he's trying to get information out of the reindeer. Elf torture technique...

Day 21, Wanted to spend his last day on earth reading a nice Christmas book with his friends...
Whew!! It didn't happen!

Day 22, dreaming he was big enough to ride the motorcycle

Day 23, climbing the curtains

Day 24, last day here, he made a "sugar angel"
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Elmo the Inappropriate Elf...

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:16:00 PST

Like many households this time of year we have an Elf on the Shelf who visits us. The kids named him Elmo. Well, sometimes Elmo gets a little naughty while the kids are sleeping....

This is my entry into the Inappropriate Elf Contest @ BabyRabies.com please go vote for me to win!!

http://www.babyrabies.com/2012/11/inappropriate-elf-contest-2012/

I Felt Fabulous, Thanks to TheRoseDress.com

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:00 PST

Saturday was the Marine Corp Ball which is held every year to celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corp! 237 years! I have to say, I absolutely love my dress and I felt fabulous!

I was approached many times throughout the night by random women asking where I got my dress? To which I replied, The Rose Dress .com
Which is the same site I ordered my ball dress from two years ago! The selection is huge, so it was easy to find another dress I liked. Actually the hard part was picking just one! All the dresses are conveniently put into different categories such as: Military Ball, Prom, Homecoming, Bridesmaid, Mother of the Bride, Flower Girl and so many more. Once you select a category you can also search by color, which was great for me, this year I specifically wanted a red/wine colored dress! There are only certain colors that really compliment the Marine Corp Dress Blues, which can make dress shopping complicated. TheRoseDress.com has a wonderful section with Tips On Choosing A Military Ball Gown which is great for the wives who have not attended a Ball yet! Did I mention I love this dress? It's a keeper, in a few years we will be at a different duty station with completely different people and I will get to wear it again!

"No Poo" For Me - No More Shampoo!

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 22:45:00 PDT

I have not used shampoo since February and my hair has never been healthier, smoother and less frizzy!

If you begin searching online you will find a lot of different methods for going "No Poo" (Shampoo Free). First off, let me tell you my hair type, because when I first started searching that was the one thing I wanted to know. What works for women with hair like mine?

My hair is very long (middle of my back), naturally curly w/ tight frizzy curls and I consider it medium thickness. I have a lot of hair! Also I color my hair regularly and I never use a blow dryer. I live in a humid climate, which also has a lot to do with how hair behaves.

The first method I heard about is the backing soda method. A friend of mine swore by it so I gave it a try for about a week and it didn't work for my hair at all. My hair felt dirty, straw like and was difficult to comb through after washing. Maybe I didn't mix it right right, maybe it's due to the humid climate I live in or that method just isn't compatible with my hair type. Who knows, so I searched some more.

Next I tried Wen Cleansing Conditioner. Which I had thought about trying in the past but was always reluctant due to the high cost and not being able to buy it in a store. I gave it a try for a few months it worked fine on my hair and I noticed some improvement with frizz and manageability. However it wasn't enough of an improvement for me to justify the cost and deal with the inconvenience of ordering it through the mail.

With Wen, I was no longer using a shampoo. Wen is referred to as a conditioner not a shampoo. Which gave me an idea. Why go back? Do I really need shampoo?
For me, that answer is NO. So I searched for ways to clean hair with just conditioner and this is what I found: Washing Hair with Conditioner: A Shampoo Alternative?

I will never go back to using Shampoo again!
I use a cheep conditioner to wash my hair and a good higher-end conditioner (still grocery store brand) to condition. For the cheep conditioner I prefer Suave, I have also tried VO5. I think it's best to experiment and try different brands for both the cheep & good conditioners until you find a combination that works best for your hair type. Not only does my hair look and fee better but I am also saving money because I no longer have to pay for shampoo!

Bored Mom "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
I’m a new stay at home mom, I want to know, how do you manage? Do you network with other moms? Is it easier over the internet because it is not like walking up to a stranger?

~ Bored Mom

Dear Bored Mom,
When my daughter began preschool my whole world kind of changed. Not only did our routine change but I had somewhere to go five days a week. I would drop her off at school in the morning, then hang around and talk with the other moms who were there. In the afternoon I would get to school early so I could hang out and talk some more. I have made friends with a few of the moms so now I am able to get the daily adult interaction that I need.
I didn't have that in the beginning. I was at home every day with my daughter just sitting around the house. Some days were really boring. We didn’t have anywhere to go and I didn’t have any friends. It makes you feel isolated after a while.
When my daughter was two I found a "Mommy & Me" Gymnastics class that we would go to once a week. My daughter LOVED it and it got us out of the house. I found myself looking forward to it every week, we had so much fun. Any kind of class or playgroup is a great way to get out and socialize. Also most public libraries have "story time" once a week. Although I would much rather talk to someone in person or on the phone, I don’t always have that option, so, I turned to the internet. There are so many resources online to help you connect with other stay at home moms. The number of mom bloggers is constantly growing, along with online communities for moms. It’s easy to find other people to relate to. Blogs are a good way to communicate with other stay at home moms, to feel that someone else understands your life.
If you’re a stay at home mom, you have to find something to break up the monotony. It can be something as simple, and cheap, as having a picnic in your yard, or on the floor in your house (pretend you’re outside). Or craft projects, there are plenty of ideas online. Build a fort in your living room, pretend you’re camping. Children have such great imaginations. Doing anything out of the ordinary at least once a week can help prevent mom and kids from becoming board and restless.

Sincerely,

Special Days "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
What kinds of things do you do to make birthdays, holidays and other special days "special" when your spouse can't be there for them?
My son just turned 3 and my husband missed his birthday due to being at a school. My parents came down to celebrate his birthday and we had a little party and let him pick out his cake. He had fun and didn't seem to mind that daddy wasn't there.

~Special Days

Dear Special Days,
My husband has unfortunately missed several birthday’s, my kids were born in the same month, so if he misses one, he misses both, at least its fair. You have the right idea; you had other family there to help you celebrate! The most important thing is that your child feels loved and knows the absent parent is thinking of them. One idea is, if possible, have your spouse make a video with a special birthday/holiday wish ahead of time that the child can watch on the special day! Also, if your spouse is able to send a special gift from wherever they are that is unique to the location, for example, I always like those T-shirts, “Someone who loves me went to Japan and got me this shirt”. During one deployment, my husband bought two little stuffed bears. He slept with them for a few days so they smelled like him and had someone take a picture of himself holding the bears. Then he sent us a package with the bears and emailed me the picture, my kids loved it!

Sincerely,

Where has the time gone???

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:00:00 PDT

My house is decorated for Halloween! How is it already October??? (Doesn't feel like it outside because its still 80 degrees every day) Where has the year gone?
My days/weeks have become pretty monotonous. Wake up at 6:45, get the kids ready, fed and off to school. Come home, do housework or run errands. 2:00 go get the kids from school. Then they have ABA Therapy from 2:30-4:30 at home every day except Wednesday's when school is out at 12:30 and Wednesday's Suck (if you missed that post here is my rant about it). I get the kids at 12:30 and don't get home until 6:00, its always stressful.

My in-laws are coming to visit tomorrow and will be here for a week. They just want to see the kids, they don't really care about doing the touristy stuff, so it's a nice break for me and Hubby. Also Hubby will be on leave the entire time!!! My kids are on fall break from school all week. Their school is year round, so the summer break is shorter and there are two extra week long breaks during the year. One in October and one in April.

Stay Put "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
During deployments, do you stay put or do you move back home with family or closer to family?

~Stay put?

Dear Stay Put,
Every time a deployment rolls around I get the same question from other wives "are you going home for deployment?" Meaning "home" as in where I am originally from, which to me, that's not my home anymore. My home is wherever we are currently stationed. Out of our 8 deployments so far, I have moved back in with family for 1 of them, only because the initial plan then was we were getting out after the deployment. Obviously that didn’t happen. It made me feel like I lost a sense of my independence. It was nice to have the support of my family, but all in all, I prefer staying put if at all possible. Primarily, I don’t want to uproot my kids from their home. I feel it makes the separation even harder on them.

It seems like many wives think "my husband is deploying so I need to leave too." So they move back with their families for the entire deployment, uprooting children and leaving friends behind. It’s hard for me to understand why anyone would want to do that. Do they feel they can’t survive without their husbands, they can’t be alone? It makes it harder on the wives who stay because not only does your husband leave, but your friend leaves too. It makes everyone want to leave, it’s a domino effect.

In my experience, if you stay put and tough it out, you will find strength and independence you never knew you had. You have to test yourself in order to find out what you’re truly capable of. I have learned so much about myself since I became a Military wife. I am a strong woman and you can be too if you give yourself a chance to spread your wings.

Sincerely,

Moving Tips "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
How do you to transition through a move smoothly? I'm not sure if we are moving this fall or next summer, but I'd like to get a little head start on keeping things orderly. The last move was a mess (my first move with hubs). So if you could share your tips that would be great! Like how can you find a job ahead of time so when you get there you won't be stressed looking for a job? Is there any military spousal support to help you find a job? How do you deal with these moves?

~Moving tips?

Dear Moving Tips,
First important thing to always remember, smile at the lady you see in the mirror and keep your important papers with you! Moving can be stressful, unfortunately there is no sure fire way around that. However, there are simple things you can do to make the move go more smoothly!
Lists are a great way to keep organized. Make a list for everything and label all your boxes thoroughly. Get a PO Box at your new duty station to forward your mail to (unless you already have a house). Also, you can mail items ahead of time in packages to the PO Box to save space in suitcases.
To find a job, check the base website for an employment section to see what jobs are currently available. Also, call the base Human Resources office to see if you are able to mail in your application so you can get the ball rolling before you arrive.

Sincerely,

To Move, or Not to Move "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
My husband wants me to move to NC but I’m not sure if I’m ready because it’s going to be a last minute move and he is getting deployed in March. I’m just not sure if I should go or not and we haven’t found a place yet, plus we have two kids. I’m scared. We have a little over a month and then he will be gone and I’ll be there alone not knowing anyone.

~To Move, or Not to Move

Dear Move or Not,
It’s alright to be scared and uncertain. When we moved to our second duty station I was in your shoes. My husband deployed a week after my daughter and I arrived. It was hard but I got through it. You are stronger than you think you are.
Your husband wants you with him, go, that’s where you should be, holding down the home front while he is gone. That is the life of a Military Spouse. Tell your husband to hurry up and find you a place to live and start packing. Look at it this way; you will have a whole month together before he leaves! Once he returns you will be right there waiting for him and you can plan a great homecoming! Only unpack the necessities right away and leave the rest until after he leaves, that way you have something to keep you busy. You can do it!

Sincerely,

First deployment, first baby "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:00:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
I am 21 with a handsome baby boy! I am going through my first deployment with my husband and man do I get down a lot. What do you do to keep busy? Also, I'd like some advice on how to manage a 'newer' marriage, first deployment, AND a new baby without feeling overwhelmed. I try to keep my hubby as involved in what’s going on as possible but I don't want to over-do it or under-do it. He works ALL the time and rarely gets any time for himself so I feel like the last thing I should do is bombard him with things from home that will just remind him of how much he misses everyone!

~First deployment, first baby

Dear First’s,
I feel we all struggle at times to “keep busy” during deployment because if you don’t, time seems to slow down. It’s simple enough in theory, think about what you enjoy doing, and get out and do it! If you’re on or near a base, your husband’s unit should have activities for the wives and family. Attending those is a great way to make friends and interact with other wives whose spouse is also deployed.
Make it a plan to have dinner once/twice a week with other “lonely wives” you know. Also, look online and around the base for a new mommy group. It’s always nice to know other moms with kids the same age as yours. Do NOT allow yourself to sit around and mope, it will not do you, or your baby boy, any good.
My husband has deployed many times. When he is gone I am a "married single parent" it’s not easy. I am their sole provider, it can be draining but after a while I get used to doing it all on my own. Daily life becomes very routine and sometimes the days seem to mesh together. The key is to find things to break up the monotony.
You have the right idea about not bombarding your husband. Keep the info you tell him positive if you can, he needs to know you can handle everything on the home front. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, smile at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself, "I can do this!"

Sincerely,

Floating Social Toolbar

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:16:00 PDT

Have you noticed my new Social Toolbar at the bottom of my blog! I created it myself! I know there are several Toolbar widgets out there to choose from but all seemed to be lacking something I wanted. So I finally decided to try and create my own and I figured I would be nice and share it with you!

It's easy to install! If you would prefer a toolbar on the side I have a code for that as well! It will look like this:

It can easily be configured to be on the left or right side of your blog. Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out a way to make the Facebook buttons work sideways. Which is why I prefer the bottom toolbar.

Installation instructions:
First, you will need small images for each link you would like to have in your Toolbar. Also you will need the URL link to each of your profiles/sites you are going to link too. You do not have to use all the links that I did, just delete that portion of that code if you don't need it. Also if you would like to add in more or different ones here is how:

Each set of code for a linked image is set up like this:

<a href='http://URL FOR PROFILE OR PAGE.com'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='HOVER TEXT'><img width="30"
src='http://URL FOR IMAGE.JPG'/></a>

Just replace everything in red. The first URL is the link to your profile/page, replace the word "HOVER TEXT" with something like "follow me on Twitter" and last is the image URL.
Images can be uploaded for free at Photobucket.

1. On Blogger open up the Layout editor

2. All the way down at the bottom in the footer area Click "Add a Gadget"

3. Choose the option for "HTML/Java Script" and copy & paste one of the following codes:
All the red URL's need to be changed to your profile/page links and to your image links (as described above). Also you can change the color's #000000 to match your blog. You can find HTML color codes Here.

This is the code for the Bottom Social Toolbar:

<!doctype html>
<style type="text/css">

div.socialbar{
display:scroll;
position:fixed;
left: 0px;
bottom: 0px;
width: 100%;
z-index:9999;
}
div.border{
padding: 5px 4px 0px 12%;
border:1px solid #000000;
border-radius: 10px;
background-color: #ffffff;
}
</style>

<div class="socialbar">
<div class="border">




<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,
Times New Roman, serif; font-size:
20px;"><i>Follow</i></span>


<div class="fb-like" data-
href="http://www.facebook.com/YOUR-FACEBOOK-PAGE"
data-send="true" data-layout="button_count" data-
width="" data-show-faces="false"></div>


<div class="fb-subscribe" data-
href="http://www.facebook.com/YOUR-FACEBOOK-PROFILE" data-
layout="button_count" data-show-faces="false"
data-width=""></div>


<a href='http://www.facebook.com/ YOUR-FACEBOOK-PROFILE '
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Facebook'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='https://twitter.com/TWITTER-NAME'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Twitter'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='https://plus.google.com/GOOGLE-PROFILE' style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Google Plus'><img width="31"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://www.linkedin.com/in/LINKED-IN-PROFILE'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Linked in'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://pinterest.com/PINTEREST-USERNAME'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Pinterest'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/BLOG-RSS-FEED'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='RSS Feed'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='http://www.youtube.com/YOUTUBE-CHANNEL'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='YouTube'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://TUMBLR-USERNAME.tumblr.com'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Tumblr'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://theblogfrog.com/BLOG-FROG-PROFILE'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Blog Frog'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='http://networkedblogs.com/blog/NETWORKED-BLOGS-PROFILE' style='padding:
2px;' target='_blank' title='
Networded Blogs'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>



<a href='http://www.mrs-marine.com/2012/08/floating-social-toolbar.html'
style='padding: 2px 2px 2px 20px;'
target='_blank' title='Get this toolbar widget on
your blog'><img width="30"
src='http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/Patri
ciaG79/getwidget.jpg'/></a>
</div>
</div>
</!doctype>

This is the code for the Side Social Toolbar:
If you would like the Toolbar to appear on the left side instead of right, simply look for the red word "right" a few lines down in the code and change it to "left".

<!doctype html>
<style type="text/css">

div.socialbar{
display:scroll;
position:fixed;
top: 20%;
right: 1px;
height: 100%;
z-index:9999;
}
div.border{
padding: 6px 2px 2px 3px;
border:1px solid #000000;
border-radius:10px;
background-color:#ffffff;
}

</style>

<div class="socialbar">
<div class="border">




<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,
Times New Roman, serif; font-size:
20px;"><i>Follow</i></span>


<a href='http://www.facebook.com/ YOUR-FACEBOOK-PROFILE '
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Facebook'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='https://twitter.com/TWITTER-NAME'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Twitter'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='https://plus.google.com/GOOGLE-PROFILE' style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Google Plus'><img width="31"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://www.linkedin.com/in/LINKED-IN-PROFILE'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Linked in'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://pinterest.com/PINTEREST-USERNAME'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Pinterest'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://feeds.feedburner.com/BLOG-RSS-FEED'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='RSS Feed'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='http://www.youtube.com/YOUTUBE-CHANNEL'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='YouTube'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://TUMBLR-USERNAME.tumblr.com'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Tumblr'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a href='http://theblogfrog.com/BLOG-FROG-PROFILE'
style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank'
title='Blog Frog'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>


<a
href='http://networkedblogs.com/blog/NETWORKED-BLOGS-PROFILE' style='padding:
2px;' target='_blank' title='
Networded Blogs'><img width="30"
src='HTTP://IMAGE-URL-HERE.JPG'/></a>



<p><a href='http://www.mrs-marine.com/2012/08/floating-social-toolbar.html' style='padding: 2px;' target='_blank' title='Get this toolbar widget on your blog'><img width="30" src='http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/PatriciaG79/getwidget.jpg'/></a></p>
</div>
</div>
</!doctype>

Once you have changed the needed URL's, save and your done! Any questions or trouble feel free to ask.

Living Apart, supporting two households "Ask Mrs. Marine"

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:28:00 PDT

Dear Mrs. Marine,
I am a newly-wed Marine wife, and am seeking advice as to my options for benefits: Due to the great expense of my chosen degree, I am continuing to attend college in (another state), despite my husband being stationed in North Carolina. Since we will be living apart, he would have to move off base to receive BAH and try to support two households with the allotted amount. This does not seem like it would be in our best interest. Is there a benefit, program, etc. that I (as a spouse) am entitled to that would cover my housing expenses even though we don't live together (like a spousal "housing allowance")? If so, what is it's name?

Any info would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Sincerely,
Ashley
(asked via email)

Dear Ashley,
A Marine who is a Geo (Geographic) Bachelor does not rate a room in the barracks as per Marine Corps Order. If there is room in the barracks for the Geo-Bachelors, the command may give the Marines rooms. The BAH (Housing Allowance) is given to Married Marines for that Marine and his/her spouse and kids (if applicable) to live out in town or in Base Housing (which, the allowance is then deducted). The spouse living elsewhere is by choice and not put into consideration by the Military regardless of the reason.

Most areas offer comparable accommodations being it employment or schooling, therefore, is not a viable excuse for living apart. There is no program and no extra money allotted to a Married Marine for housing to accommodate such a living condition. Most Geo-Bachelors get together and get an apartment or house for rent, sharing the cost of housing and giving the excess to their spouse whom has conscientiously made a choice to not live in the same place. These Geo-Bachelors take up room in the already cramped barracks which is not fair to the single Marines whom do not get paid BAH and should be afforded more room then the Marines whom are getting paid to NOT live in the Barracks.

I'm sorry if this seemed a little harsh and it's not the answer you were hoping for. I asked my husband to confirm the answer and this exactly what he told me. Good luck.

Sincerely,

Finally; ABA Therapy for Sissy!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:15:00 PDT

It only took 4 months, lots of jumping through hoops, lots of phone calls and appointments to finally get the correct referrals which one doctor refused to give because she didn't agree with the diagnosis my daughter was already given....

Last Monday, Sissy started ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy! Booboo began ABA Therapy last August. Sissy was officially diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome the beginning of March, but it took until now to get all the referrals done because one doctor wouldn't give them...

My daughter was tested and diagnosed by Dr. C, through an office outside of the Military hospital. I did not originally know that Dr. C could put in the referral for ABA Services, nor did Dr. C know she could either... So, I took Sissy's diagnosis report back to a Dr. F at the Military hospital. Assuming that once Dr. F saw the report she would put the referrals in the system no problem, all done...

NOPE, Dr. F wanted to be difficult, despite the report in her hand in clear writing she didn't agree with the diagnosis. Dr. F had barley spent any time with my daughter and only observed her in a classroom setting a few times and met with her in her office a few times. She wanted to do more testing... Reluctantly I agreed and after more testing and waiting Dr. F decided all of Sissy's symptoms were due to ADHD...

Which left me completely frustrated and back at square one... Or so I thought.

I called the wonderful ladies at the Military EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program, which both my kids are in) and FINALLY learned that Dr. C could put in the referral for ABA Services!!! I wish I had known this to begin with.. At least its finally done!

Sissy now has ABA skills trainers working with her 5 days a week! Starting tomorrow she will begin going to Group like her brother does which makes Wednesday's SOOO much easier and less stressful for me! --see previous post--

Why I Don't Like Wednesdays

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:59:00 PDT

I rarely look forward to Wednesdays, it's always a long tedious day with lots of driving. Both of my kids schools have half days every Wednesday and every Wednesday (unless I cancel it) my son goes to "Group" for 4 hours in another city across the island 30 minutes away.

This is the schedule:
I try to plan a crock pot meal so my husband doesn't have to cook dinner, which I will get going before I leave. Otherwise we would plan something quick for Hubby to cook (he is a good cook, but it needs to be quick in case he gets home from work late). I need to find more crock pot recipes we like... When Hubby is gone, me and the kids would get fast food for dinner... Not the greatest I know...

I leave my house at 11:45 to go get in the pick-up car line at Sissy's school. Although school isn't out until 12:30 I have to get there early to be in the front of the line. Otherwise I am late getting to Booboo's school (yes, he is at a different school, this is why) which gets out at 1:00. It takes about 10 minutes to drive from one school to the other. I can't do the car line at Booboo's school, I have to go to his classroom, which isn't a big deal, just more in and out of the car.

Then we drive the 30 minutes to group. Which is from 1:30-5:30, we are usually a few minutes late, but they know the situation. I get there as fast as I can... Sissy and I drop Booboo off at group and then we get to hang out for 4 hours... It's too far of a drive to go back home and we would get stuck in traffic coming back.

What is Group:
Booboo has ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Therapy to help with his Asperger's. He works with a skills trainer 5 days a week. Mon, Tues, Thur & Fri they come to the house. Wed we go to the office so he is in a group with other kids. He still gets his own one-on-one skills trainer. The group is very helpful so they can work on his social behaviors.

What do Sissy and I do for FOUR hours:
There in lies the difficulty. Her homework comes first. We usually sit in the car while she does homework. It's a mini-van, and I keep one of the center seats stored away so she has plenty of room to sit comfortably on the floor with a small table. We tired sitting at a nearby Starbucks but its too distracting and noisy. Plus there is not always an available table. Not to mention I don't need to buy Starbucks EVERY week. Sometimes I do, but not always. Homework takes at least an hour.

Then what???
There is a Kmart near by, along with lots of other stores. So sometimes we run errands, but she gets bored quickly and running errands means spending money... So I don't go in unless I need something. It's too tempting otherwise. It's a good thing I'm not a "Shopaholic".
We spend most of the time hanging out in the car. I take Sissy's DS and some of her chapter books and my Kindle for me.

Just before 5:30 we go pick-up Booboo and head home. We get home a little after 6:00 PM have dinner and then its time for the kids to get ready for bed.

Booboo's Birthday falls on a Wednesday, so I will be canceling the session that day. I want to spend time with him on his Birthday!

Weird Little Kitty ~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Link-up

noreply@blogger.com (Patricia MrsMarine) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:00:00 PDT

I've never seen a cat sleep stretched out and crooked like she does. She is such a weird little kitty. We suspect she is part dog.

April is Autism Awareness Month

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