MilitaryByOwner Blog

Merry Christmas from MBO!

Danielle Keech — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Merry Christmas from your MilitaryByOwner family!

5 Ways to Make Your Home Cozy This Season

Danielle Keech — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

It's no surprise that military families relocate frequently. Many times when we move, it is difficult to make our new houses feel homey. We move from a place that already felt comfortable into a new, empty house that does not feel like home. We become impatient, especially during the holiday season, to make our homes warm and inviting. We want our children to feel at home, for guests to visit comfortably, and for ourselves to feel like it has been our home forever. However, making yourself comfortable takes work.

Happy Holiday Traditions!

Danielle Keech — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Happy Holidays!

Is There an Exchange Near Your Home?

Dawn Smith — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

In a previous post, I described how shopping at familiar retail outlets often helps families feel more at home at their latest duty station. I neglected to mention a very popular option, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), or Exchange. Equivalents for the other branches include the Marine Corps Exchange, Coast Guard Exchange, and Navy Exchange. As we are an Army family, most of my experiences with these outlets are shopping with AAFES.

Who's the Bigger Humbug: HOA or Military Family Housing?

Karina Gafford — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

One of the directions to a holiday party I attended last week stated that, once inside the neighborhood, drivers should “go three doors past the giant Christmas tree.” After passing several large trees, including a maple tree that looked as if it had a rather unfortunate run-in with a box of mish-mashed twinkly lights, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to find the correct tree. Rounding another bend in the road, however, I found it. The largest light display of a Christmas tree I had ever seen sat atop the roof of a house, completely unashamed of its neon glory.

The Mills Mall Near Your New Duty Station

Dawn Smith — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

When we PCS, I like to quickly familiarize myself with the everyday essentials when it comes to the retail outlets in the area. This familiarity makes my new city feel like home much more quickly! It’s common for military families to understand how many trips to Target or Home Depot it takes to get the new house settled within the first month or two. After the necessities are handled, I like to dive in a little further and check out what mall options are available.

Donor’s Guide to Veteran Charities

Dawn Smith — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Veteran’s charities can be emotionally charged because most U.S. citizens believe the cause is well justified and deserved. However, this leads to the rapid and often inadequate startups of veterans' based charitable organizations. It is estimated that, during the last five years, the number of these new organizations have surged quickly--growing by 41% since 2008, according to The Urban Institute. But, although funding may pour in, the inability to execute programs sensibly leaves many veterans uncared for.

Getting Through the Holidays During Deployment

Jen McDonald — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Let’s face it, holidays during deployment can be anything but cheerful. During one holiday season while my husband was deployed, I remember wishing I could pull the covers over my head in November and wake up magically in January so I could skip the whole thing!

Since a deployment hibernation isn’t an actual possibility and many of us have children who are looking to us to set the tone for the holiday season, we military spouses are great at figuring out how to get through this difficult time. Here are a few ideas that worked for me:

Will a Home-Based Business Get You Kicked Off Base?

Karina Gafford — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

Senior spouses will recall a time when operating a home-based business on a military installation was an illicit activity that could result in having you and your family kicked off base. While you wouldn’t want your neighbor to receive an eviction notice for selling jewelry, regulations that would prohibit home-based businesses on base would put a convenient stop to the endless stream of shopping party invitations! For as long as most junior spouses have been alive, however, operating a home-based business on a military installation has been not only legal, but encouraged as a means of helping military families supplement their income. As with anything in the military, though, running your business from your dining room table (or spare-bedroom-turned-office if you’re lucky enough to score a larger house on your installation) comes with its own set of regulations.

10 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe During Holiday Travel

Karina Gafford — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 13:00:00 GMT

You’ve probably seen the well-intended Facebook posts warning family and friends to avoid sharing information about their vacations and holiday travels. For those with a public social media profile, sharing a picture of yourself in the Bahamas with a quick note about how you’re escaping the snow is akin to laying out a welcome mat for would-be burglars. It doesn’t matter that your address isn’t listed on your Facebook profile; you’d be surprised what someone with limited hacking skills can find.