Deployment Diaries

Life is a struggle, a rollercoaster of emotions during deployment. You have good days, but along with that you also have your bad days.

Having a way to express your feelings is a beneficial way to balance emotions, and to write down exactly what you're going through while keeping everything private. Starting a deployment diary is extremely easy, and very effective.

Creating a deployment diary is not very costly, and doesn't take much energy, or time. This makes everything very perfect, for whatever your daily duties are, a spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, fiance/fiancee.

WHAT IS A DEPLOYMENT DIARY?

It’s simply a notebook you create for yourself to record feelings and events during your spouse’s deployment. The best part is you can use it however you want – maybe you want to record all the memorable little things from your day to share with your spouse, or maybe you want to use it as a personal vent space where you can share your feelings. It’s totally up to you.

WHAT IS HAPPENING DURING HIS DEPLOYMENT?

My boyfriend Calvin, was deployed about a week ago to Germany then Afghanistan in about a month. I'm hoping he is back in at least 2-3 months. We started dating in July of 2017, he went into the Marines at 17.This is his third deployment to Afghanistan, but this will be my second deployment with him, as I am still pretty new to  the Marine Corps life. During his first deployment, Calvin and I were friends, we became pen-pals. Although, he did tell me about his girlfriend and his son back home. While my view maybe different from others I'm still here with him now.

He just got into Germany today, he then goes to Afghanistan in a month.. I'm assuming there getting everyone prepared for it. Before he left I saw him a lot, now it is already feeling like it's been too long. For the most part, everything has gone pretty okay. We are so blessed to live in an age of technology where texting, phone calls, and FaceTime can keep us connected despite the distance. We don’t have to rely on snail mail to give updates — although we do still send the occasional hand-written love letter. Despite the 4,212 miles and 7 hour time difference, we still get to talk every day and for that I am so thankful.

I would also go through any deployment if it meant I get to be in a relationship with Calvin. His love is worth any obstacle…

I do hope however that the next BIG text message he has to send me — is that he is coming home <3

UPDATE:He came home a month later for reasons he didn't explain. I am happy though!

A Girl Willing to Wait an Eternity to be With Her Marine

Never in my life did I think I’d become a Marine girlfriend. I didn’t think I could handle the distance, the long periods of time apart, the having to put your trust in someone thousands of miles away and all the heartache that comes with all of that.

But a couple months ago, I began talking to someone (again) I never thought would find me attractive or want to try being an us. He is the boy version of me and the best parts of me too. However there are qualities (amazing ones at that) I do not have. However, he just so happened to be deployed within a week of re-enlistment after I had met him and I made the conscious decision to stand by him throughout his journey.

After that, I became immersed in everything military. I spent endless hours googling and wondering what to expect and what happens with all of this. Throughout my searching I found this quote: “A military girlfriend is just a wife in waiting. No one would go through this if they weren’t in it for the long haul.”

But as I continued to look on the internet a lot of what I found were blogs and support groups for wives and moms (which don’t get me wrong is great) however if women are that dedicated to their boyfriends to be a military girlfriend then why the hell are there barely any blogs or support groups for them? So, I’ve created this blog for all the military girlfriends who need everything from care package ideas to emotional support and everything in between.

BLOGMAS 2018 | DAY 3 | A holiday tradition passed down through the generations

One of our family’s favorite guilty pleasures is watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation during the holiday season. We love watching Clark, Russ, and cousin Eddy fumble their way through Griswold family traditions. It’s a tradition of our own.

Every year, around this time, we settle into a routine of rituals, such as watching the Griswold’s discover the squirrel living in their Christmas tree, that bring joy to our family and lay enriching groundwork for years to come. Holiday traditions are a big deal around our house.

I hope they are part of your holiday season as well, because holiday traditions lead to the magic moments that bind families and communities together year round.

The Importance of Holiday Traditions

Traditions are one of the foundations of a family. They are rituals, big and small, that often mark particular times and events throughout the year. Traditions give us a sense of belonging and provide ways to express our priorities. They bind us to past generations of family, and build a bridge to future ones.

Traditions that take place during the holiday season are among the most cherished and sacred. Three holiday traditions, in particular, stand out from my childhood. We’d always go to church on Christmas Eve. We’d take a walk after our Christmas Eve meal. And the meal would feature a once-per-year side dish called Yorkshire pudding (made from batter consisting of eggs, flour, milk and beef drippings).

More than opening the presents under the tree, these are the traditions that I remember most fondly and vividly.

I know I’m not alone in cherishing these little moments. In her book, Ask the Children, author Ellen Galinsky discusses a survey she conducted in which she asked children what they would remember most about their childhood. Most responded by talking about simple traditions like family dinners, holiday get-togethers, and bedtime stories. It may seem like the presents under the tree get all of the attention, but simple traditions are the real star of the holiday show.

A New Approach to an Old Tradition

Traditions are more important than ever to me now that I have young children of my own. Yes, my kids make their Christmas wish lists and love tearing through presents to see what Santa brought them, but we’ve all witnessed how quickly the allure of a shiny new toy fades. The best moments are the small, simple ones that don’t involve wrapping paper and big credit card bills.

Last year we started a new holiday tradition. Our kids love decorating the Christmas tree, and are always giddy with anticipation as I bring boxes down from the attic filled with our collection of ornaments.

My wife and I have collected many beautiful ornaments over the years, and so in years past we would carefully hang these ornaments just so in order to give them prominence at the front of the tree.

Our kids, on the other hand, are most drawn to many of the old, imperfect ornaments at the bottom of the box—ornaments from our youth that were preserved by our parents and passed down to us.

These include macaroni noodles glued to construction paper, shrinky dink candy canes, tattered old Sesame Street characters, and gumdrop glued snowmen that my wife and I created several decades ago when we were kids. These are the ornaments that we traditionally placed at the back of the tree, for no one to see.

But last year we decided to do something different. We’ve been on a journey to purge perfection—or at least the appearance of it (after all, no matter how hard we tried perfection was never attainable)—from our lives. So instead of imposing our own version of what a Christmas tree should look like, we decided to let the kids take charge.

Our tree now looks like something you’d find on the island of misfit toys. It would never grace the pages of a magazine, but rather than perfection our tree is now filled with something far more powerful: love and precious family memories. The ornaments that spent so many years at the back of the tree are now taking center stage. And our tree is far better for it.

But it’s not the ornaments themselves that matter the most. It’s the story that each ornament represents that our kids appreciate most. While there’s plenty of room for more ornaments on our tree, it hardly seems big enough to contain all of the memories it holds. Its branches sag under the weight of holiday tradition.

Our kids delight in the tree’s miniature reminders of moments passed, from ornaments my wife and I received as gifts during our own childhoods, to crafts we made in school. Faded photos of family, often glued to colored construction paper, tell stories of past generations who are no longer with us in body, but remain present in spirit. Our tree, imperfect as it is, tells our family’s story. It’s a tradition that I hope our kids will continue with their own.

Three Ideas for Holiday Traditions of Your Own

There are many holiday traditions that we engage in every year as a family. Again, it’s far less important—especially to kids—what a tradition entails. What’s more important is the establishment of holiday rituals, regardless of their form.

Here are a few ideas for fun and meaningful holiday traditions that you may consider adopting for your own family.

1. Cutting down a Christmas tree.

Sure, it’s easy to go to the local tree lot and pick up a beautiful Fraser Fir pre-wrapped in plastic webbing. But there’s nothing like trudging out into the countryside with hacksaw in hand, and family in tow, and cutting down the perfect tree to serve as the backdrop for some imperfect ornaments.

2. Hosting Events.

In the past, my house is the one who hosts holidays due to size. We can hold the whole family with room in between. A recent post on BizBash shared a few tips written by Michele Laufik that first appeared in the Fall issue of the BizBash magazine. It described different ideas for formal and non-formal party traditions a few she herself has started with her own family,  in which their are different picture ideas for the holiday season you can  do. 

Experiencing the Simple Joys of the Holidays

Too often, the holidays are a hectic, harried time, full of shopping and social obligations. During the past few years we’ve been making a concerted effort to be more present, mindful, and grateful throughout the season, while focusing on things—family, friends, and fun—that really matter. A big part of that mindfulness is maintaining established traditions and creating some new ones.

Don’t get caught up in trying to create perfect, Pinterest-worthy family traditions. Slow down and let go of expectations. The best traditions are often messy, simple, and spontaneous. There are no rules when it comes to creating traditions, other than the importance of having them. The real magic of holiday traditions lies in the opportunity to experience special moments with family that will last for generations to come.

Blogmas 2018 | Day 2 | Christmas Time Top 5 on my Playlist

Ah, the Christmas songs. Every year, around October, they slowly start to creep on over sound and PA systems as you browse through the clothing racks of your favourite shops. Love them or loathe them, we all have ones that stick out in our mind.

I’ve been ridiculously festive this year – I think planning blogmas back in October had an impact on that. But I found myself searching Spotify weekly for a list of Christmas songs to indulge a guilty pleasure – Christmas songs before it’s socially acceptable.

Over time you develop a list of favourites. I’ve grouped all of mine in a Spotify playlist at the bottom of this post. But I’ll give a low down on my top 5 first!

5. Do You Hear What I Hear by Carrie Underwood

A classic, really. I mean this is definitely a church song. Haven't you heard this song? Don't you love it? This my not be my all the favorite song, but I really live listening to songs that bring in the thought of Jesus.

4. I'm Getting Nuttin For Christmas by Shirley Temple

I love this song because it was sung in a child's voice. Adults  would find this to be a more boring song because of rarely hearing it. It’s cheesy, but has a good beat and is a lovely, feel good sing-along kinda song!

3. The Christmas Song by Justin Bieber

Kind of a guilty pleasure for me - this song always makes me feel warm during the Christmas season… I really love the rhythm of this song. It’s just really light hearted and cute.

2. Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio

I LOOOOVVVEEEEEEE the Peanuts!  So of course this song is in the top 5. I absolutely adore this song because for ne it''s just one of those things that make me think "how can a young child play something like this and have it  sound so great?" Also they have everyone dancing as a part of this song. I mean isn't that what Christmas is all about?

1. You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft

This song DEFINITELY follows the Christmas theme... This is a favorite of mine because I LOVE How the Grinch Stole Christmas - the book and the movie (non-animated version, of course). It’s definitely for the Christmas party sing-along!

So there are my top 5 Christmas songs. It’s by no means all of them. So,conveniently for you, I’ve put all of my favourites into a Spotify playlist for you to enjoy!

Did I miss out your favourite song? Let me know if I need to add anything to my playlist!

Blogmas 2018 | Day 1 | On the First Day of Blogmas...

Can you believe it’s DECEMBER already? WHAT! I guess it’s true what our parents used to tell us… time really DOES go by more quickly as you get older. The Holidays used to seem lightyears away from a child’s perspective, but now that I’m older it gets a little less magical. Realistic thinking starts to settle in as you begin your Christmas shopping in August and you have to actually start PLANNING when and where your holiday celebrations will take place, rather than following your parents around and just simply receiving gifts from Santa. As you get older, keeping the Christmas spirit alive gets harder. That’s why little things like hosting BLOGMAS in December are a must!

WHAT IS BLOGMAS?

I’m not SUPER into the Holiday season {WHAT?! How am I even HUMAN?! I know}, but every year I like to contribute to this season and spill a smidgen of Christmas cheer onto the blog, which results in a little thing I like to call “Blogmas.” Blogmas on Spreading the Bliss consists of daily festive posts from December 1st up until December 25th. Essentially it’s just a fun and creative way of doing a Christmas countdown from the beginning of December up until Christmas day! Some people choose to do “12 Days of Blogmas” or all 31 days in December, but I like to have a good middle ground and stick with the classic countdown until Christmas!

WHAT WILL I WRITE ABOUT?

Celebrating with you all makes me incredibly happy and, now more than ever, I’m going to need people to spread some Christmas cheer alongside me! I will be away from my family and life is a bit chaotic due to my recent move. But I have decided that this year will be a VERY special one, because I have asked a few of my beautiful blogger and influencer friends to get involved! We will be writing about ALL THE HOLIDAY THINGS. Everything from creative DIY and makeup to unique personal tales from all types of Christmases! So stay tuned for lots of wonderful festive posts that will surely hype you up for this Christmas season🎄

I can’t wait to spend the Holidays with you this year! I hope you find enjoyment and feel prepared for this season, I know I’m already getting excited. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Spreading the Bliss newsletter to keep yourself updated and aware on what’s happening on the blog this Christmas! And go ahead and give this post a big ol’ “ ❤️” below if you’re excited for this series. Happy Holidays, and Merry Blogmas to all!

Blogmas 2018 + 25 Post Ideas!

It’s the holidays!!! Thanksgiving is over and it’s officially the holiday season. Nothing against Thanksgiving or anything. I love Thanksgiving! But it’s no lie that I definitely love Christmas more. It’s just so much more magical and I always look forward to all the fun traditions.

In terms of blogging, I feel like I lack in holiday content around here. I admit I’m horrible some months/years at remembering to plan out and create holiday-centered content and it feels like I’m really missing out on some great collaborations and traffic because of it. there. So this year, I thought it would be super fun to participate in Blogmas.

WHAT IS BLOGMAS?

Okay so for those of you who don’t know what Blogmas/Vlogmas is, it’s 12, 25, or 31 days straight of holiday and winter-related content. I will be doing 25 days from December 1st to the 26th  (I have one previously scheduled sponsored post going live on the 5th that is not holiday or winter themed so that post will be the only exception to Blogmas!). Some may also do a ’12 days of Christmas’ sort of theme while others may go the full 31 days. I felt 25 days was the perfect amount for me so that’s what I’m going with.

You may see this trend a lot more on Youtube with Vlogmas. That’s how I became acquainted with the trend years ago. So many of my favorite beauty Youtubers would participate in Vlogmas and it always seemed so fun. So this year I decided to participate in Blogmas!

WHY AM I PARTICIPATING IN BLOGMAS?

As mentioned above, the idea of Blogmas/Vlogmas always seemed fun to me, but in addition to that, I feel like I’ve been in a little bit of a blogging rut recently. Moving cross-country threw me off a bit and it’s been a struggle to really get back to it. So I thought Blogmas would be a great way to get my creative juices flowing again. So in October, I sat down and brainstormed a ton of awesome content for you all and I’ve been working on it ever since. At this point, most of Blogmas is already typed up and scheduled out so I’m super excited!!

WHAT TYPE OF CONTENT DO I HAVE IN STORE?

I have SO much planned. As mentioned above, about 85-90% of December is already typed up and scheduled out for you all which is super exciting. I’m quite proud of myself for being glued to my computer in the month of November ensuring this is all set and ready to go (I can now spend December relaxing and spending time with family!). Here’s some of the content you can expect during Blogmas:

• How to deal with holiday stress
• Family-friendly winter activities in Springfield Illinois
• BLOGMAS 2018 – A LOOK AT BLOGMAS PAST (AND A ONE STOP GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS)
• Home holiday decor
• Holiday traditions to start with your little ones
• How to keep your family organized during the busiest time of year
• Stocking stuffers
• An Illinois Gift Guide
• and more!

I’ve also updated ALL of my holiday content from previous years so you’ll see those circulating through my various social media feeds as well this next month.

SHOULD YOU DO BLOGMAS/VLOGMAS?

I saw a few other bloggers bring up such a great point on this the other day so I felt I had to address it here as well. While Blogmas is supposed to be super fun and can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing, I think it’s something that cannot and should not be done on a whim if you want it to be successful. And here’s why:

When done incorrectly (aka on a whim), Blogmas can lead to less traffic, low-quality blog posts, a non-existent marketing strategy, and a very tired, overwhelmed blogger. I’ve been working on this for a couple of months now so there’s a whole strategy on the backend. I have a ton of social media already scheduled out, blog posts typed up, my email newsletters ready to be sent, etc. A strategy is key if you want Blogmas to be successful and an effective strategy cannot be made in an hour on November 30th.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t participate in Blogmas. You totally can! But if you want Blogmas to be a success and really drive traffic to your site then having a plan in place is going to help you tremendously. So if this sounds like something you want to do, I highly recommend getting started on Blogmas 2019 around August/September or so and really put everything you have into it!

25 BLOGMAS POST IDEAS

Want to try Blogmas for yourself? Here are 25 blog post ideas to get you started!

1. Gift guide for your spouse
2. Gift guide for your kids
3. Your holiday wish list
4. Your kids’ wish list(s)
5. Your favorite holiday movies
6. A holiday tradition passed down through the generations
7. A favorite recipe you always make
8. Your favorite winter beauty products
9. A recap of your Thanksgiving/Christmas
10. Winter/holiday activities in your area
11. Your home’s holiday decorations
12. Stockings stuffers for pets
13. A review/recap of fun holiday outings you do with your family
14. How you tackle holiday stress
15. Who do you celebrate the holidays with?
16. Your favorite Christmas memory
17. How to save money during the holidays
18. How you keep yourself healthy during the holidays
19. Your winter skincare routine
20. Gifts under $20
21. Festive makeup ideas
22. Tips to surviving Christmas shopping
23. Host a giveaway
24. Holiday date ideas
25. Ways to give back this Christmas

For updates on Blogmas, holiday sales, local events, tips for surviving the holidays, and more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter!

ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN BLOGMAS 2018?

Corn Life Decal

I'm going to mix things up a little today. I’ve been talking about things from a farmer’s daughters point of view. Today, I want to use the college student viewpoints.

I’m sure a lot of people have seen an image similar to the one shown. So, as I am leaving the college parking lot, I saw a salt life decal. I’m thinking to myself, okay this person either like the beach, or was originally from the beach, I wasn’t sure. But now you live in Illinois which is hundreds of miles from the beach. The ‘salt life’ maybe your dream, although the ‘corn life’ is your reality.

People  have asked things like – what does corn life mean to me and what is corn life. Well to me it means being myself and growing plants like corn for a living. I love help plant and even harvest season, I am an all around farmer’s daughter and I couldn’t be prouder of where I live. Corn life is more than just living in the Midwest and knowing we grow corn. Its about getting close to family & friends, other farmers, watching them plant, knowing the ins and outs of production, and watching growth happen.

If you want a corn life decal, I couldn’t find any online meaning they would have to be made online. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Illinois.

What does Corn Life mean to you?