Riding the Roller Coaster

To Whom It May Concern

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Dear Close Friends,

I am so thankful for each and every one of you. You are all supportive and loving and there when I need you. In return, I offer my shoulder to cry on and my undivided attention whenever you have issues you need to work out.

However, in the future, can you all please coordinate your issues so you're not calling me on the same day? I can only hear so many "thanks for letting me vent" within a 12 hour period before I need to find my own shoulder to cry on. I'm glad I was able to console all of you yesterday, but I had such an unproductive day that I'm going to spend most of my day today playing catch-up.

Sending good juju to all of you,

A Good Listener Who Is Out of Pep Talks

Dear Telephone,

Now that I'm working from home, I'm discovering that you ring ALL DAY LONG. I try to ignore you because, thanks to caller id, I'm forewarned of the obnoxiously incessant calls from Unavailable, Private Caller, Lower Interest, Insurance Srvc, Election Alert, Faith Prayer, and Wireless Caller from random area codes. But no matter how much I ignore you, you keep on ringing.

Add this to the friends calling in need of advice (see above), and I'm tempted to disconnect every phone in my house and hide my cell phone in the refrigerator. So telephone, please stop ringing. I don't want my kids to witness their mother throwing you against the wall and laughing like a crazy person as it shatters into a million pieces.

Sincerely,

In Need of Unplugging

Dear Neighbors,

Please stop sending your kids to my house to play because you need to pressure wash your gutters. Please stop accosting me in my own garage to beg me to babysit your children while you go to a concert. Please don't leave your trash cans at the curb for an entire week. Please RSVP to my daughter's birthday party. Please tell your son to stop leaving his scooter on my driveway before I run over it with my car.

And please, someone take MY kids today so I can get some work done.

Regards,
That Neighbor on the Corner Who Always Says Yes But Wants to Say No

Dear Labrador Retriever,
Thanks for the cuddles.

Love you,
Your Human Mama

Dear School Year,

I'm begging you. Please. Start. NOW.

Thanks,

A Mom Who Is So Over Summer

Stars Earn Stripes: Mil Spouse Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:32:00 +0000

Raise your hand if you've been watching the reality show Stars Earn Stripes. Keep it raised if you actually like it. Yeah, my hand isn't raised anymore either.

Wouldn't it be so much more entertaining if the celebrities were forced to endure scenarios that we mil spouses go through every day on the homefront?

I thought so. Head on over to SpouseBuzz to read my proposal for Stars Earn Stripes: Mil Spouse Edition, and let me know what you think!

Piper Reed Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:01:00 +0000

Thank you so much to the readers who entered the Piper Reed book giveaway! Now it's time to announce the winners. Drum roll please....

Nichole C. is the winner of the signed hardback copy of Piper Reed, Forever Friend

KDorner is the winner of the signed paperback copy of Piper Reed, Navy Brat

Elisabeth is the winner of the signed paperback copy of Piper Reed, Rodeo Star

Congratulations to the winners! You're going to love these books. Please send me an email at ontherollercoaster@gmail.com to claim your prizes. Happy reading!

Piper Reed, Forever Friend Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:24:00 +0000

I'm always on the lookout for good children's books for my kids, especially books that help them understand our military lifestyle. That's why I love Kimberly Willis Holt's Piper Reed series.

Today the latest book in the series, Piper Reed, Forever Friend, is being released. (Head on over to SpouseBuzz to read my review.) And I'm thrilled to be able to offer a giveaway for not 1, but 3, signed Piper Reed books! You can win 1 of the following:

1 signed hardback copy of PIPER REED, FOREVER FRIEND

1 signed paperback copy of PIPER REED, NAVY BRAT

1 signed paperback copy of PIPER REED, RODEO STAR

So how do you enter? I'm going to make it super simple. AND I'm going to give you 5 chances to enter. You can do any or all of the following:

1) Leave a comment below telling me a little bit about your own military brat(s) or another mil kid you'd like to give a Piper Reed book to.

2) Spread the word about this giveaway on Facebook.

3) Spread the word about this giveway on Twitter.

4) "Like" SpouseBuzz on Facebook

5) "Like" Piper Reed on Facebook.

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry!

The giveaway will be open until this Friday, August 10 at 6 PM EST. I'll be notifying the winners this weekend. Good luck!

To learn more about Kimberly Willis Holt, check out her website.

I Haven't Fallen Off the Face of the Earth, I Promise!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 00:48:00 +0000

I know I haven't been hanging out here at all lately, but as I mentioned in my last post (wow, a month ago!), I'm spending all of my blogging time over at SpouseBuzz. Here are a few of my latest posts...

War Heroes of the Canine Kind

Top 10 Tips for Road-Tripping With Kids

The Civilian-Mil Gap: Does it Weigh Down Troops?

And one more thing, SpouseBuzz has been nominated for Circle of Mom’s Top 25 Military blogs. Got a minute to vote? Head on over to Circle of Moms and scroll down to find us. You can vote once a day!

Thanks again for sticking around. I've missed riding the roller coaster and all my friends who have traveled that ride with me. Please feel free to leave a comment to say hello!

Wife on the Roller Coaster Meets SpouseBUZZ

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:06:00 +0000

So I know you all have been wondering where I've been. I kind of fell off the map, didn't I? I haven't been blogging much lately. Well, at least not here. I seemed to have found my way over to SpouseBUZZ. (Never heard of SpouseBUZZ? Oooh, you're missing out!) I'll be spending a lot more of my bloggy time over there, so if you're missing me, head on over there and check me out. Here are some of my latest SpouseBUZZ posts.: Tackling the PCS Purge Before the PCS Do You Allow Your MilKids to Watch War Movies? Fifty Shades of Grey: A MilSpouse Must-Read or Glorified Porn? Thanks for sticking around despite my disappearing act!

Learning to be Selfish

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:01:00 +0000

I've been a terrible blogger lately. My poor neglected blog has been collecting dust as I remind myself to check in a couple times a week just to make sure it hasn't been hijacked by trolls. Once a week or so I've been able to string a few words together and call them a blog post, but any regularity I once managed to maintain has disintegrated, and I fearfully wonder if those trolls have kidnapped my creativity as well.

"I'm too busy" and "I'm too tired" are my standard excuses for just about everything these days, including my skipped workouts, my dependence on Kraft macaroni and cheese, and my blog absence. But those are really just cop outs. I'm not too busy, and I'm not too tired. The simple truth is that I'm learning to be selfish.

As mil spouses we all seem to have this ridiculous tendency to think we can do it all, and I'm no exception. My husband is gone. He missed the last 2 weeks of school, the last 2 weeks of baseball/t-ball season, and that crazy mixture of stress and excitement that goes along with the start of summer vacation. It sucks doing it all without a partner. But sometimes we have to take a step back and realize we don't have to do it all.

Normally, I would put my children to bed after another long day and then park myself at the computer to compose a blog post or at the very least return the long list of emails I've been ignoring. But for the past few weeks, I've chosen not to. I've chosen to chat with friends on Facebook or read a book or watch bad television. I've chosen to put off folding laundry or bathing the dog or finding a place in my attic for my classroom materials I cleared out at school. I've chosen to be selfish.

At some point, I do need to clean my house and empty the dishwasher and write a blog post or two. Now that school is out for the summer, I don't have to use the excuses that I'm too busy or too tired to do what needs to be done. But during the past few weeks, while I was stressing over the speech I had to give at my kindergarten graduation and frantically stopping at the store before the last day of school because I forgot to buy presents for Little C's teachers and tearing my house apart to find a hidden t-ball hat for the last game, I enjoyed allowing all those other less urgent things to wait until I was ready to give them attention. I enjoyed giving myself permission to sip on a glass of wine while giggling with my best friend on the phone. I enjoyed the realization that I don't have to do it all. I enjoyed being selfish.

How do you allow yourself to be selfish every now and then?

To Whom It May Concern

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:29:00 +0000

Dear Summer Vacation,
Please hurry up and get here. I have 8 days left of school, and my students are bouncing off the walls, misbehaving, and generally making me wonder if there's any point in teaching them because they're no longer paying any attention to me. I will miss my students once you arrive, but I'm ready to read more, write more, and sleep more!

Dear Harry Potter,
Please stop being so mesmerizing. I've been reading you to my 8-year-old son, but he's so obsessed with your story that he's reading ahead of me. I'm at the beginning of the second book. He's about to finish the third. And he's telling me everything that happens!

Dear Gunner,
I've accepted the fact that I will spend most of my mornings wrestling my kids' toys out of your mouth and shushing you as you bark incessantly at the invisible enemies in our backyard at 6 AM, but for goodness sakes, my patio table is not a sofa.

Dear Mother of One of My Students,
You know when you were a kid and you ran into your teachers at the grocery store and thought how weird that was? Well, on Friday I ran into you and your daughter. At the gym. In the locker room. Where I was wearing a towel. I think that tops the grocery store for weirdness. So let's pretend that never happened, shall we?

Dear Fifty Shades of Grey,
Wow. That's all I have to say about that.

Dear Wedding Anniversary,
Cheers to another year you fell on a day that I am husband-less. Here's to hoping next year our 13th will be spent in the same time zone.

Act of Valor

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 20:02:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I attended the MilBlog Conference in Arlington, Virginia. It was my third year in attendance, my third year meeting incredible people, reuniting with friends, and learning more about our military blogging community.

I was excited to learn that the guest speaker at the conference was Scott Waugh, co-founder of Bandito Brothers Films and producer/director of the movie Act of Valor. (Click HERE to view his interview.) And I was honored to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with him.

If you haven't heard of Act of Valor, it's an action packed movie starring active-duty Navy SEALs. Here's a sneak peak...

I know what you're thinking: this movie is for guys right? It's definitely a guy movie, but there's plenty in it for us ladies as well (besides the Navy SEAL eye candy). While the movie does focus on the operations of the team guys, it also includes a glimpse into the families and what they go through on the homefront.

The directors did more than just get to know the SEALs who signed on. They got to know the families as well. When I talked with Scott Waugh, he became visibly emotional when talking about including the family element in the film. "I wanted to put in just as much of the family sacrifice on top of the story," he explained. "Not only is it about what these guys are doing to protect their families and get back, but also what the wives are sacrificing when their men are downrange. It's really that delicate balance."

And that delicate balance makes for a great movie.

So now you want to run out and go buy it right? Well, pretty soon you can.

Act of Valor will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on June 5th. And guess what I've got for you? A coupon code! Head on over to Fox Connect and get $3 off and free shipping with coupon code "VALOR" (code valid until June 17). Do you need another reason to head on over and buy it? A portion of the proceeds from the Blue-ray and DVD are going to Operation Homefront. Awesome.

So order your copy today and then come back and let me know what you thought of the movie!

Memorial Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:26:00 +0000

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

~George Washington

Today is Memorial Day. Most of us are enjoying a day off from work. We're hunting down sales at the mall. We're grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. We're sitting by the pools that are finally open. We're celebrating the unofficial kick-off of summertime.

But I hope that somewhere in the middle of all that fun, you take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. It is a day of remembrance for those brave men and women who have died serving our nation, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Want to do something to commemorate Memorial Day? The National Moment of Remembrance is at 3 PM (local time). Wherever you are at 3 P.M. today, whether you're finding a great deal on sandals or eating a hot dog while watching your kids splash at the pool, pause for a moment to remember what this day is about.

Looking for more ways to observe Memorial Day? Find out what kind of events and activities are being organized in your local community. Participate in nationwide movements like Wear Blue: Run to Remember. Read articles like this post at the New York Times blog At War and this one at Military OneSource Blog Brigade. And watch videos like this one at Military.com

and this one at NRA Life of Duty.

(For more ideas, check out the top 10 list I put together last year.)

On this Memorial Day I'm thinking about the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the families left behind whose sacrifices will never be forgotten.

What are your plans on this special day?

Today Is My Birthday...And I'm Turning Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:08:00 +0000

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." ~Mark Twain

Today is my birthday. Today I am 36 years old. And today I've decided to embrace my age.

Last year was a tough birthday. Thirty-five hit me like a slap in the face from Mother Nature. I swear I woke up one year ago today and looked in the mirror to find wrinkles and gray hairs that sprouted overnight. Despite the fact that those wrinkles and gray hairs were actually a figment of my imagination, I spent the better part of age 35 wondering how over 3 decades of my life have managed to pass by and searching for ways to recapture my youth.

Last night, as I closed my eyes on my last day of age 35, I finally accepted the answer to all of those nagging questions I've been asking myself about the aging process for the past year. You want to know what the answer is? It's pretty profound. You ready?

It doesn't matter.

Yeah, that's right. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how those years have flown by because we can't get them back. It doesn't matter how badly we want to recapture our youth because it's gone. It doesn't matter how many expensive night creams we purchase because our appearances are going to change. It doesn't matter how hard we try to fight the aging process because we're always going to lose. We age every day, every minute, every second. We can't fight it. So we might as well embrace it.

When the calendar turned over to May this year, my first thought was, "Oh great, my birthday is coming up." When people asked how old I was going to be, I answered with a self-deprecating, "I'm turning old." I laughed, but I didn't think it was funny. I don't want to get older. It's not fair.

Then last week in the midst of my anti-aging self-pity party tantrum, I was slapped in the face yet again. But this time, instead of a reality smack, it was more like a love pat of insight. Not from Mother Nature this time, but from a sweet little 5-year-old boy.

"Mrs. RC, you look younger without your glasses." I looked up to see little man staring at me as I wiped my lenses off on my shirt.

"How old do I look?" I asked, anticipating the usual estimations of either 18 or 80.

"Beautiful," he said. It was so matter of fact. There was no hesitation. Just "beautiful."

And that's when it hit me. Age doesn't matter. It isn't about the number. We are as young as we think we are. And you know what? My youth isn't lost after all. My youth is omnipresent. I find it in my children, in my students, in my friends, in my gym workouts, in my laughter, in my memories. (I mean really, how can I not feel the arms of youth wrap around me when my students tell me that for my birthday they are going to give me a surprise party, a swordfish, a sweaty shirt, nachos, a new pair of glasses, cheese earrings, garbage, and a stinky frog?)

My youth hasn't disappeared. It's simply taken on a new form of maturity and wisdom. I don't feel old. So why should a silly number bother me? Therefore, I'm no longer telling people I'm turning old this year, and I no longer feel the need to answer the age question with self-deprecating humor. Today I'm 36 years old. And I feel beautiful.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:20:00 +0000

The Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop is officially over, and I'm thrilled to see so many military spouses join in on the meet and greet. I hope you all enjoyed finding new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Thank you all so much for participating and sharing a little bit about yourselves!

And now for the giveaway winners! We had some amazing sponsors offer up some very cool prizes for our blog hop participants. So without further ado, here are the winners according the random pickings of random.org...

Our first sponsor is Marine wife Amber from Goodnight Moon. She is offering up a $25 credit to her Etsy shop, which includes eveything from totes to zipper pouches to iPad cases and much more. But that's not all. She's also offering a coupon code for 15% off the total of any purchases at her Etsy shop to all blog hop participants. Just type in discount code MILSPOUSE at check out!

And the winner is...#97 Erica at Mi Todo (My Everything)!!!

Next up we have, Army wife Kris from The New Normal. She is sponsoring a custom, patriotic knot dress. Perfect for the 4th of July or just to show off your little one's pride in the Red, White and Blue! The dress will be handmade to order and sizes to choose from range from 6 months to 6 years. The Patriotic Dress is the first one made to launch her new Etsy shop, "Happy Days," that she created with her mom.

And the winner is...#117 Abby at Flying High With My Flyboy!

Marine wife and mark. representative Ines from The Few, The Proud, The Wife is sponsoring mark.'s "Juicy Set."
The set includes:
•Juice Gems in Papaya, Beryliscious and Pomogranate
•Petite Slither Cosmetic Bag
•What A Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Denim
•Lash All You Want High-Volume Mascara in Wine

This is a $46.50 value! Wow!

And the winner is...#48 Jolene at 365 Days!

Army wife and Independent Scentsy Consultant Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life is sponsoring this awesome patriotic Star-Spangled Full-Size Scentsy Warmer and a bar of Love Story. Visit Julie's Scentsy website to see all the other cool stuff she has!

And the winner is...#99 Diamonds, Dog Tags & Diapers!

Marine wife April from Marine Parents is sponsoring a $15 gift certificate to her Etsy shop. She has clutches and eReader sleeves and necklaces and toddler backpacks and so much more! She's also offering a 20% discount to all blog hop participants. Use discount code APPRECIATE at checkout!

And the winner is...#66 GI Joe's Wife!

Navy wife Elizabeth from The Young Retiree is sponsoring a set of 5 military-inspired cards from her Etsy shop. What a lovely way to brighten the day of someone who has a loved one serving in the military!

And the winner is...#154 Amanda at Overseas Adventures!

Wife of a Marine veteran Holly from Holly Robertson Photography is sponsoring an 8 x 10 metallic print of a beautiful daisy (see photo). Make sure you check out the other beautiful prints from her shop Whimsical Photos and visit her on Facebook.

And the winner is...#61 Bethany at Canines and Cadences!

Thinking about changing the look of your blog? Well, Army wife Brea from Utterly Chaotic Designs is offering a free Blogger design. The value of the design is $100. The winner can choose between a Blogger design free of charge or $100 off of a WordPress design (normally $200, plus $50 if moving from Blogger to WordPress). Click HERE to check out Brea's portfolio and click HERE to view her packages and prices.

And the winner is...#39 Julie at When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground!

Hero On My Arm is sponsoring a $25 gift certificate to their store that can be used toward a custom purse or a premade item such as a makeup bag. The company custom makes purses (and makeup bags, and hugs bears and more) from people's OWN uniforms (both military and civilian, such as first responders). Hero On My Arm is the brainchild of an Army wife and all the seamstresses are military spouses or family members. They are also offering free shipping to all blog hop participants! Just type in FONTAINE at checkout. Don't forget to head on over and "like" them on Facebook!

And the winner is...#29 Ramblings of a Marine Wife!

Want to deck your patriotic little one out in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July? *My TuTu* is sponsoring a tutu customized just for you. I can tell you that my daughter and I both have tutus from *My TuTu*, and they are adorable! Make sure you go visit her on Facebook too.

And the winner is...#118 Hillary at The Whole FamDamily!

Simply Charmed is sponsoring a Girls' Night Out charm set. These unique magnetic wine charms are perfect for every occasion or everyday. They are also perfect for stemless glasses. Not into wine? No problem. Even glasses of lemonade and iced tea love to be charmed as well. These beautiful wine charms make great gifts, and are perfect when hosting a party to keep everyone's glass identified. Check them out on Facebook!

And the winner is...#76 Kellee Lyn at You + Me = Wii!

Author Hallee the Homemaker is giving away her trilogy of novels, Sappire, Emerald Fire, and Topaz Heat. That's 3 great books in one prize! You can learn more about Hallee at her blogs Hallee the Homemaker and Hallee Bridgeman, Novelist. You can also find her on her author Facebook page and her blog Facebook page.

And the winner is...#120 Amber at Random Rants of An Army Wife!

Courage Cakes is also joining our team of sponsors. "Courage Cakes allow you to encourage the troops with fresh, hot cake that's ready in seconds and a personalized message that lasts a lifetime. Share the taste of home with those serving our country and we'll send another on your behalf! Celebrate, encourage, and stay connected with Courage Cakes." The winner of this giveaway will receive a Courage Cake, 3-Pack Refill, and Personalized Lid. Yummy!

And the winner is...#108 Conni at Mrs. Mama Hen.com!

Our next sponsor is Trooppaws. They are sponsoring one of these adorable stuffed animals that is a personalized keepsake for military families. This is a wonderful company that truly wants to give back to our military community. You can learn more about Trooppaws on their website, Facebook page, and their blog.

And the winner is...#41 Mick and Mack Army Adventures!

My Military Life is sponsoring a Deployment Survival Kit featuring a TON of their favorite items!
- One of our favorite military spouse books
- Our favorite aromatherapy stress relief item
- MyMilitaryLife.com T-shirt
- $50 gift card to a popular restaurant
- $10 Starbucks Gift Card
- JennySpouse.com mug
- and other surprises

WOW! Make sure you "like" them on Facebook!

And the winner is...#132 Colwells in Carolina!

Military spouse and author Siobhan Fallon is giving away an autographed copy of her book You Know When the Men Are Gone. The book is a beautifully written collection of short stories about military families living in Fort Hood housing. I liked this book so much it made my Top 10 List of Books About Deployment for Military Families.

And the winner is...#26 Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life!

Another fantastic author, Laura Harrington, is giving away THREE copies of her moving novel Alice Bliss. Alice Bliss is a teenage girl who has to cope with her father's sudden deployment to Iraq. The book, which is heartbreaking yet optimistic, also made my Top 10 List of Books ABout Deployment for Military Families. Three lucky winners will find this book in their mailboxes. (Click HERE to read my book review of Alice Bliss.)

And the 3 winners are...#92 Holly at The Morrow, #166 Lynn at Wanderlynn, and #55 Neidy's Infinite Playlist!

Finally, SmileBooks is sponsoring not one but three different photo books. They're giving away an 11 x 8 panorama photo book, a 12 x 12 deluxe photo book, and an 8 x 11 classic photo book.

But wait, there's more! They're also sharing coupon codes with all of our blog hop participants. Just by using coupon code MILSPOUSE, you can get an 8 x 8 soft cover photo book with 26 pages. The book would be free, and all you have to do is pay $7.99 for shipping and handling (or you can add pages for a fee of $8.00 for 8 sides). The value of the code is $26.95. You can also order larger sized books and this code would deduct the $26.95 from your shopping cart. What a great deal! Make sure you go visit SmileBooks on Facebook and "like" their page!

The winner of the 11 x 8 photo book is... #17 Leanne at Military Avenue!

The winner of the 12 x 12 photo book is... #111 Cindy at Married to the Military!

And the winner of the 8 x 11 photo book is... #158 Cammo Style Love!

Winners – please send me an email at ontherollercoaster@gmail.com with your blog and prize info,
and I will connect you with your lovely giveaway sponsor!

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors! And thank you all for joining the fun last weekend! Feel free to come back and surf the linky!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! Military spouses are amazing men and women, supporting our service members, enduring sleepless nights, packing up everything we own and moving across the world, and ironing uniforms. But our service members aren't the only people we support. I've come to learn over the years that military spouses also strongly support each other. And on this special day, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the incredible military spouses who have offered their love and support to me as I've traveled on this crazy roller coaster of military life. We may not wear a uniform, but we serve our country in the silent ranks. Thank you military spouses for all that you do!

And now it's time for some blog hopping! Household 6 Diva and I are proud to present the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

Don't know how a blog hop works? No problem. Here are a few tips.

Please sign the linky with your party post address, not your homepage. You DO NOT need to sign the linky on both my blog and Household 6 Diva's! Add it to one and you're done.
Please post the blog hop button on your sidebar so visitors know they're in the right place (AND so you're eligible to win a prize!).
Spend some time visiting with the other lovely bloggers on the linky list and make sure you leave them a comment telling them who you are. I like to leave my party post link in my comments so it's easier for friends to visit us back.
If you're a twitter fan, we're using the hashtag #MilSpouseBloghop.
Have fun!!!

If you have any questions about instructions or technical problems, please contact Household 6 Diva. I will actually be on again, off again my computer all weekend since I'm currently attending the MilBlog Conference in Washington, D.C. Because of the conference, I may not be able to visit everyone until the end of the weekend, but I PROMISE I will make my way to say hello to everyone!

If you haven't checked out all of our cool giveaways, you can click HERE to see what you could win!

And if you're looking for my introduction party post, click HERE.

Now let's get this Meet and Greet going!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!!

I'm Wife on the Roller Coaster...Nice to Meet You!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Tomorrow is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! And that means that tomorrow is also the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop co-hosted by yours truly and Household 6 Diva.

So what the heck is an introduction post and why do I need it? Well, what happens in a blog hop is that a whole bunch of people hop around the blogosphere meeting other bloggers just like you as a type of virtual meet and greet. And what do you do in a meet and greet? You introduce yourself! That's what you need to do for tomorrow. Write a little post telling all of your new visitors about yourself. This is called your party post. When Household 6 Diva and I put up the linky tomorrow, you will copy the link to your party post (NOT the main link to your blog!) and paste it into the linky (I promise the linky is self-explanatory). Then you stroll around the list and read all the other fun party posts, leaving sweet comments as you go like you would handshakes and smiles.

Need an idea of what to write and how long your party post should be? Well, here's how my intro goes...

In case you don't know me, I go by Wife on the Roller Coaster but I also respond to Roller Coaster or just plain old RC. I decided to name my blog Riding the Roller Coaster because I always found myself telling people what a roller coaster ride military life is, with its ups and downs and unpredictability. After 2 and a half years of blogging, I'd say that name still fits.

I blog anonymously so you rarely get a whole lot of personal details out of me. I'm a military spouse rapidly approaching my late 30's. My husband is an active-duty service member, and we've been married for 12 years. We have 2 military brats: Big C is our 8-year-old son and Little C is our 4-year-old daughter. I'm currently winding down my second year of teaching kindergarten, and I'm a freelance writer in my spare time. (Spare time? Really. What's that?!)

I typically blog about whatever comes to mind. That includes, but is not limited to: military life, motherhood, the nose-picking of my students, the cattiness of my co-workers, the naughtiness of my Labrador Retriever, my love for top 10 lists, my addiction to half marathons, and my dream that one day I'll be able to balance it all.

I'm pretty active on Facebook, so you can visit me over there. I have a Twitter account too, but honestly, I don't really get Twitter. Facebook is way more fun in my opinion.

So that's me in a nutshell. Feel free to share pictures in your party post too. Everyone loves pictures.

Thanks for stopping by! Now get started on your party post, and I'll see you tomorrow! And don't forget to post the blog hop button either in your party post or your sidebar (can't win a giveaway without out)!

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11.

Click HERE to get the blog hop button code.

Click HERE to take a look at all the really cool giveaways you could win!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:41:00 +0000

I'm so excited that the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop is just 2 days away!

Want to know why else I'm excited? Because I finally get to share all the wonderful sponsors that were kind enough to donate some really awesome giveaways!

I won't keep you waiting any longer. Here is the list of what some lucky winners will soon find in their mailboxes...

Our first sponsor is Marine wife Amber from Goodnight Moon. She is offering up a $25 credit to her Etsy shop, which includes eveything from totes to zipper pouches to iPad cases and much more. But that's not all. She's also offering a coupon code for 15% off the total of any purchases at her Etsy shop to all blog hop participants. Just type in discount code MILSPOUSE at check out!

Next up we have, Army wife Kris from The New Normal. She is sponsoring a custom, patriotic knot dress. Perfect for the 4th of July or just to show off your little one's pride in the Red, White and Blue! The dress will be handmade to order and sizes to choose from range from 6 months to 6 years. The Patriotic Dress is the first one made to launch her new Etsy shop, "Happy Days," that she created with her mom.

Marine wife and mark. representative Ines from The Few, The Proud, The Wife is sponsoring mark.'s "Juicy Set."
The set includes:
•Juice Gems in Papaya, Beryliscious and Pomogranate
•Petite Slither Cosmetic Bag
•What A Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Denim
•Lash All You Want High-Volume Mascara in Wine

This is a $46.50 value! Wow!

Army wife and Independent Scentsy Consultant Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life is sponsoring this awesome patriotic Star-Spangled Full-Size Scentsy Warmer and a bar of Love Story. Visit Julie's Scentsy website to see all the other cool stuff she has!

Marine wife April from Marine Parents is sponsoring a $15 gift certificate to her Etsy shop. She has clutches and eReader sleeves and necklaces and toddler backpacks and so much more! She's also offering a 20% discount to all blog hop participants. Use discount code APPRECIATE at checkout!

Navy wife Elizabeth from The Young Retiree is sponsoring a set of 5 military-inspired cards from her Etsy shop. What a lovely way to brighten the day of someone who has a loved one serving in the military!

Wife of a Marine veteran Holly from Holly Robertson Photography is sponsoring an 8 x 10 metallic print of a beautiful daisy (see photo). Make sure you check out the other beautiful prints from her shop Whimsical Photos and visit her on Facebook.

Thinking about changing the look of your blog? Well, Army wife Brea from Utterly Chaotic Designs is offering a free Blogger design. The value of the design is $100. The winner can choose between a Blogger design free of charge or $100 off of a WordPress design (normally $200, plus $50 if moving from Blogger to WordPress). Click HERE to check out Brea's portfolio and click HERE to view her packages and prices.

Hero On My Arm is sponsoring a $25 gift certificate to their store that can be used toward a custom purse or a premade item such as a makeup bag. The company custom makes purses (and makeup bags, and hugs bears and more) from people's OWN uniforms (both military and civilian, such as first responders). Hero On My Arm is the brainchild of an Army wife and all the seamstresses are military spouses or family members. They are also offering free shipping to all blog hop participants! Just type in FONTAINE at checkout. Don't forget to head on over and "like" them on Facebook!

Want to deck your patriotic little one out in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July? *My TuTu* is sponsoring a tutu customized just for you. I can tell you that my daughter and I both have tutus from *My TuTu*, and they are adorable! Make sure you go visit her on Facebook too.

Simply Charmed is sponsoring a Girls' Night Out charm set. These unique magnetic wine charms are perfect for every occasion or everyday. They are also perfect for stemless glasses. Not into wine? No problem. Even glasses of lemonade and iced tea love to be charmed as well. These beautiful wine charms make great gifts, and are perfect when hosting a party to keep everyone's glass identified. Check them out on Facebook!

Author Hallee the Homemaker is giving away her trilogy of novels, Sappire, Emerald Fire, and Topaz Heat. That's 3 great books in one prize! You can learn more about Hallee at her blogs Hallee the Homemaker and Hallee Bridgeman, Novelist. You can also find her on her author Facebook page and her blog Facebook page.

Courage Cakes is also joining our team of sponsors. "Courage Cakes allow you to encourage the troops with fresh, hot cake that's ready in seconds and a personalized message that lasts a lifetime. Share the taste of home with those serving our country and we'll send another on your behalf! Celebrate, encourage, and stay connected with Courage Cakes." The winner of this giveaway will receive a Courage Cake, 3-Pack Refill, and Personalized Lid. Yummy!

Our next sponsor is Trooppaws. They are sponsoring one of these adorable stuffed animals that is a personalized keepsake for military families. This is a wonderful company that truly wants to give back to our military community. You can learn more about Trooppaws on their website, Facebook page, and their blog.

My Military Life is sponsoring a Deployment Survival Kit featuring a TON of their favorite items!
- One of our favorite military spouse books
- Our favorite aromatherapy stress relief item
- MyMilitaryLife.com T-shirt
- $50 gift card to a popular restaurant
- $10 Starbucks Gift Card
- JennySpouse.com mug
- and other surprises

WOW! Make sure you "like" them on Facebook!

Military spouse and author Siobhan Fallon is giving away an autographed copy of her book You Know When the Men Are Gone. The book is a beautifully written collection of short stories about military families living in Fort Hood housing. I liked this book so much it made my Top 10 List of Books About Deployment for Military Families.

Another fantastic author, Laura Harrington, is giving away THREE copies of her moving novel Alice Bliss. Alice Bliss is a teenage girl who has to cope with her father's sudden deployment to Iraq. The book, which is heartbreaking yet optimistic, also made my Top 10 List of Books ABout Deployment for Military Families. Three lucky winners will find this book in their mailboxes. (Click HERE to read my book review of Alice Bliss.)

Finally, SmileBooks is sponsoring not one but three different photo books. They're giving away an 11 x 8 panorama photo book, a 12 x 12 deluxe photo book, and an 8 x 11 classic photo book.

But wait, there's more! They're also sharing coupon codes with all of our blog hop participants. Just by using coupon code MILSPOUSE, you can get an 8 x 8 soft cover photo book with 26 pages. The book would be free, and all you have to do is pay $7.99 for shipping and handling (or you can add pages for a fee of $8.00 for 8 sides). The value of the code is $26.95. You can also order larger sized books and this code would deduct the $26.95 from your shopping cart. What a great deal! Make sure you go visit SmileBooks on Facebook and "like" their page!

A huge thank you to all of our generous sponsors! And if you're interested in sponsoring a giveaway, it's not too late. Just drop me a line ASAP at ontherollercoaster{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll add you to the list.

Winners will be chosen next Wednesday evening by using Random.org. Winners will be randomly chosen from the blog hop linky list. Please keep in mind that you are only eligible to win a giveaway if you have the blog hop button displayed in your sidebar. (Click HERE to get the button code.)

So make sure you get started on your blog hop party post! I'll be starting the party early by posting my introduction blog post tomorrow. Remember to keep it short and sweet...we'll have lots of friends to visit!

If you're on twitter, we'll be using the hashtag #Milspousebloghop so feel free to join in on the conversation!

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop co-hosted by Riding the Roller Coaster (yes, that's me) and Household 6 Diva starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11. I'll see you there!

Attention All Mil Spouse Bloggers...Get Ready to Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:41:00 +0000

"Our service members and their families seldom ask for support or recognition. They carry out their duties to family and country with the quiet courage and strength that has always exemplified the American spirit. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we have an opportunity to not only honor the husbands and wives of our service members, but also thank them by actively expressing our gratitude in both word and deed."

~Barack Obama in his 2011 Presidential Proclamation on Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Did you know that May is National Military Appreciation Month? And did you know that this Friday is Military Spouse Appreciation Day?

In 1984 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Since then, that day is set aside to recognize the sacrifices of our country's military spouses. Military spouses may not wear a uniform, but we proudly serve our country in the silent ranks. And although we rarely ask for recognition or appreciation, it sure is nice to have a day dedicated to us.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, my good friend Ann Marie over at Household 6 Diva and I are co-hosting a blog hop!!! What better fun on a day that celebrates us than to gather us all together to party in the blogosphere.

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11.

On Wednesday I'll be posting a list of all the really cool sponsors and giveaways that are up for grabs. If you're interested in sponsoring a prize, please contact me at ontherollercoaster{at}gmail{dot}com.

Thursday I'll post my introduction post to give you some ideas of what you should include in your party post. Remember to keep it short and sweet...we'll have lots of friends to visit!

And Friday is party day!

Don't forget to display the blog hop button somewhere in your sidebar or in your party post (click HERE to get the code).

And yes, there is a Twitter hashtag: Milspousebloghop.

So start working on your introduction posts and get ready to start hopping on Friday! Can't wait to meet and greet with all the other awesome mil spouse bloggers!

To Whom It May Concern

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:36:00 +0000

Dear Sore Throat and Stuffy Nose,
Please please please go away! I am going to the Milblog Conference next week, an event I've been looking forward to for a year. I cannot be sick for MilBlogCon! So please pack up your germs and move them to someone else's body.

Dear Baseball Season,
I know I signed up for you. I know that I was well aware of your scheduling demands before I chose to sign my son up for his gagillionth season of baseball and my daughter for her first season of t-ball. But please go easy on me. I'm still adjusting to the loss of my quiet evenings at home and the addition of the kids' morning crankiness.

Dear Family Hamper,
I know you've been feeling unusually empty lately, but have no fear. Mr. Roller Coaster is on his way home and will no doubt fill you up within minutes of his return. Enjoy the emptiness while you can. You'll be overflowing again in no time.

Dear Gunner,
I don't think our neighbors appreciate your incessant barking at 6 AM EVERY SINGLE MORNING. What the heck are you barking at? Are you having a conversation with the dog across the street? Are you trying to impress the ladies? Do you just like hearing yourself talk? I love that you're a good watch dog but dude, you have to stop the 6 AM wake up calls!

Dear Coffee,
Last week I had my first cup of you in over 10 years in an attempt to give up my morning Diet Pepsi. I have to say I don't get your appeal. Sure you smell nice, and sure it feels good to pour a hot liquid down my sore throat, but I just don't get why people can't live without you. I kind of feel like I'm drinking toxic mud that leaves my stomach a little queasy and my heart wildly palpitating. I find that switching to half caff and disguising you with cream and sugar are helpful, but I'm still not convinced.

Dear Diet Pepsi,
Oh how I miss your artificially sweet bubbles waking me up every morning. Although you're still waiting for me after work every day, I'll be giving up those secret meetings soon as well. The love affair that has held on strong since my college days will soon be a distant memory. I might allow myself to rekindle the past when I go to the movies or order a value meal at Chick-Fil-A, but otherwise I must say farewell. Please know that coffee will never satisfy me the way you do.

Sincerely,
RC

Where Were Mil Spouse Bloggers When I Needed Them 10 Years Ago?!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Google Images

I logged onto Facebook the other day and saw that I had a message on my Riding the Roller Coaster page. It was from a fellow military spouse who had a blog design question. Being the computer dummy that I am, I wasn't able to answer her question. But she thanked me anyway, adding:

"I LOVE your blog. It has really helped me as we start our journey into the military life."

In the 2 plus years I've been blogging, I've received lots of similar messages. I've also sent lots of similar messages as I expressed my own appreciation to other military spouse bloggers for telling it like it is, offering advice, making me laugh, making me cry, and sharing thoughts I never knew other mil spouses thought.

My heart warms when I get messages like these. It makes me feel good to know that I've helped someone in some small way, that I've given someone something that I was so desperately seeking when I was just starting out as a mil spouse.

During the first few years of my military spousedom, I felt trapped inside my own head. I didn't know how I felt about the lifestyle. I was proud of my husband, but there were so many other emotions going on that I felt guilty for feeling because none of the other military spouses I knew voiced the same thoughts. Throw in a brand new military brat, followed closely by a deployment, followed closely by a PCS, and I felt like I was on a crazy roller coaster. And I wanted to get off.

Flash forward a few years later when I decided to start writing a blog. I had never read a blog before. I just loved writing, and since I planned to write a book one day, my mother-in-law suggested I start a blog (still thanking you P!). So I did. And because I was still hanging on, riding that winding, jolting roller coaster of military life, I figured what better name for my blog. Riding the Roller Coaster.

It wasn't until I was several weeks into blogging that I discovered the vast world of mil spouse bloggers. I couldn't believe there were so many of us out there! So many women sharing their stories and adventures and advice!

And suddenly, I wasn't trapped inside my own head anymore.

I spent hours and days and weeks discovering blog after blog written by military spouses who were going through everything I was going through. My husband had just deployed for the second time, and unlike the first deployment, I felt a sense of camaraderie, a kind of united front against loneliness, fear, anger, sadness, and every other emotion I was too afraid to admit I was feeling. It didn't matter that I had never met these women. It didn't matter what branch our husbands serve in or what their ranks are. It didn't matter our age or our educational background or where we live or whether or not we have kids. My husband was gone, but I wasn't alone. I wasn't riding that roller coaster by myself anymore.

I often think back to when I first started out as a mil spouse and how I would have loved the kind of guidance I have since found in the blogosphere. Where were mil spouse bloggers when I needed them 10 years ago?!

But that doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that I found you. And I'm so thankful to be a part this amazing community.

How did you discover the mil spouse blogging community? How does reading mil spouse blogs help you hang on while riding this military roller coaster?

The Days are Long, The Years are Short

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:56:00 +0000

“The days are long, but the years are short.”

~ Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

I can't count how many times in the last month I've said to someone, "Wow, it's been a really long day." Work has been hectic, baseball season kicked off, and my husband's travel schedule has been frequent and unpredictable. Some days I can't wait to crawl into bed with a good book and finally take a deep breath.

But then there are times that I'm reminded just how quickly time passes: watching my daughter read her first book, comparing the kids' school pictures from this year to last year, seeing my son try to squeeze into a shirt he wore comfortably just 6 months ago. My kids are no longer babies, and I don't know how that happened. Despite those really long days, the years seem to pass right before my eyes.

I know I need to stop squandering time and complaining about long days. Because this is exactly how quickly it seems my kids' childhoods are flying by...

A Song For Mil Spouses By a Mil Spouse

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Last year I shared a song called "Drive These Blues Away," which was written and performed by an incredibly talented Army spouse named Olivia Perez-Breland. Well, Olivia, who currently lives in Hawaii, has just released a video for a song she wrote for military spouses who, like her, have endured repeated deployments and separations.

"No actors were used in the video," Olivia says. "Only active duty Army soldiers and their families who were preparing for deployments at the time of filming. Those soldiers are now deployed to Afghanistan, so the video is very much 'art-meets-life.'"

But Olivia isn't just a talented artist. She's also a military spouse wanting to do something positive for our military community. That's why she's donating half of her proceeds from the song to the Fisher House Foundation to support military families.

Olivia's story got picked up by KITV Hawaii, so click here to learn more about her!

Ok, enough of my chatter. Here's the video. Oh, and you might want to grab a box of tissues.

Traveling with Kids...Oh the Humanity!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:47:00 +0000

I love my children very much. And they're generally well-behaved, well-mannered, all around pretty good kids.  But as much as I love them, I DO NOT love traveling with them, especially when my husband isn't traveling with us.

I've done my fair share of traveling with the kids by myself, and it's always left me stressed, exhausted, and swearing I'm never going to do it again. I keep telling myself it will get easier as the kids get older and gain independence and require less equipment for travel. (Have you ever run through an airport juggling a roller bag, a backpack, a booster seat, and a car seat while pushing a stroller and holding the hand of a preschooler?!....Not fun!). I grasped onto the hope that my children are finally old enough to travel well as I packed them up and headed out last week for a family reunion.

The trip started off seamlessly. We left for the airport on time with limited tantrums over clothes (Little C) or the capacity to stuff one more Lego creation into a carry on (Big C).  In fact, the trip really didn't get interesting until after we had to speedwalk to make the connection for our second flight, our hands filled with greasy pizza and Happy Meals.  My optimism for a drama-free trip was still mostly intact when I buckled the kids in to prepare for our final destination.  Until I heard over the intercom...

"Passenger Mr. Roller Big C, if you are onboard, please press your call button." Let the drama begin.

I pushed my way against traffic to the front of the plane and approached the flight attendant. "Are you looking for Mr. Roller OR Big C? Because those are 2 different people. Big C IS on this plane. Mr. Roller is not." I had clearly confused the man by pointing out that they were paging the combined names of 2 people so he called an expert from inside the airport to speak with me.

"Is Mr. Roller Big C on this aircraft?"

"MR. ROLLER is not. He is supposed to be (insert tongue biting to keep from going into the details of why my husband would once again not be attending one of my family reunions), but he's not. However, BIG C is my son, and he IS on this flight." Long pause, empty gaze, head scratching. Why was this so confusing? Were we really holding up the entire flight for this?

Fortunately, the woman left to figure it out on her own, and I was permitted to return to my seat where my children were ready to kill each other. "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom." Of course.

"Hurry up," I told Big C. "We're about to take off." I settled Little C into her seat and sat down with my book, figuring Big C would be out any second.

"Ok folks, we're closing the main door of the aircraft. Please prepare for take off." What the heck is my son doing in that bathroom?!

I unbuckled my seatbelt and knocked on the door. "Big C, what are you doing in there?"

"I'm pooping,"

"Well poop faster!"

"Ma'am, you need to take your seat." Once again, I'm being scolded by a flight attendant. Once again, I'm holding up the flight. I swear that woman stood in the aisle impatiently tapping her foot until Big C exited the bathroom and watched us sit down. Lady, I can't control my child's bowel movements!

And then there's the normal travel annoyances like sharing the teeny tiny airplane bathroom with Little C because I don't trust what she'll do in there by herself. The fights over who gets to sit by the window. The long layover in a crowded airport. The tray table goes up, the tray table goes down, the tray table goes up, the tray table goes down. My begging them to take a nap and my subsequent frustration when they finally fall asleep...5 minutes before landing.  Strangers' dirty looks because I brought my 8-year-old son into the airport ladies room with me (sorry, but I'm not leaving my child alone in an airport!). The shoe throwing tantrums while waiting at baggage claim. Mom, I can't carry this anymore. Mom, I'm hungry. Mom, I'm thirsty. Mom, I'm bored. The tray table goes up, the tray table goes down...

No, traveling with kids is never fun. But at least I got a blog post out of it.

What are some of your best traveling with kids stories?

Top 10 Books for Military Brats

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Military life is difficult to explain even to adults. Explaining it to children? Well, sometimes it's impossible to find the right words.

Fortunately, there are people out there who seemed to have found the right words and then put those right words together in books that children of all ages can understand and relate to. In honor of the Month of the Military Child, I thought I'd share some of my favorite books for military brats. (Keep in mind that my children are ages 4 and 8 so the following are books that are appropriate for this age bracket or younger.)

Here are my...

Top 10 Books for Military Brats

10) I Miss You! A Military Kid's Book About Deployment by Beth Andrews

9) Deployment Journal for Kids by Rachel Robertson

8) The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (This one isn't about the military, but it's about being separated from a loved one so it's fitting for deployments.)

7) Over There by Dorinda Silver Williams

6) Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Willis Holt

5) The Wishing Tree by Mary Redman

4) Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom by Lisa Tucker McElroy

3) Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children by Various Authors

2) Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut

1) My Dad's Deployment: A Deployment and Reunion Activity Book for Young Children by Julie LaBelle

What are your favorite books for military brats? What books would you recommend for older military children?

Mil Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:44:00 +0000

May 11, 2012 is a very special day for military spouses. Why, you ask? Because this day has been set aside to recognize and celebrate, you guessed it, MILITARY SPOUSES! Yes, that’s right. May 11 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Mil spouses (and girlfriends and significant others, men and women alike) are amazing people with incredibly unique stories to share about the ups and downs of being married to the military. Thanks to blogging, we mil spouses are able to share those unique stories as we offer each other advice, support, laughter, and sometimes just a virtual shoulder to lean on. Blogging also allows us to share our stories with our non-military friends, who may not know a whole lot about our world but would like to.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, my bloggy soul sister Ann Marie over at Household 6 Diva and I thought it would be fun to celebrate the awesomeness that is the Military Spouse by throwing together a little blog hop, an online mixer for all of those amazing mil spouses hanging out in the blogosphere.

And what if you’re not a mil spouse but you’d like to express your appreciation? Well, we’d love to meet you too, so please join in! The more the merrier!

What exactly does this all mean? It means that on Friday, May 11, Ann Marie and I will post a Linky on our blogs. What are you supposed to do? Quite simply, you put together a brief post introducing yourself (and we say brief only because we’ll have so many friends to visit and so many intros to read!). Then head on over to either Riding the Roller Coaster or Household 6 Diva and link up your intro post. Then sit back, relax, and visit with friends both old and new.

But that’s not all! Noooooo. Because we love our mil spouses so much, we’re going to have some very cool giveaways. After all, what’s a Military Spouse Appreciation Day without presents?!

Ok, let’s take a deep breath because we still have a month before the big day. Today is just a heads up. In the meantime, work on your introduction post, keep your eyes peeled for blog hop updates, and feel free to spread the word!

***If you’re interested in sponsoring a giveaway, please contact Roller Coaster at ontherollercoaster@gmail.com.***

Mom, I Want to Be a Military Wife Just Like You

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Are you a military spouse raising military brats? Have you ever wondered how you would react if those military brats came home one day and announced they wanted to either join the military or marry the military? Well, I have. Head on over to the Homefront United Network to read my latest post, Mom, I Want to Be a Military Wife Just Like You. Make sure you share your thoughts in the comments section!

10 Resources for Military Brats

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:06:00 +0000

Google Images

As I'm sure you've already heard, April is the Month of the Military Child. What exactly does this mean? To me, it's a reminder that I'm not the only one in this family making sacrifices for my husband's military career. Not only are my children sacrificing as well, but they probably don't even understand why, which makes it that much more difficult.

I love that there is an entire month dedicated to saluting our children. They deserve some appreciation, don't they? And I hope that we continue to remember the unique needs of our military children during the other 11 months out of the year.

That's why I compiled a list of resources just for military children. I can't claim to have used all of these resources, but the ones I don't have personal experience with come highly recommended by families who do. Whether they advocate for military brats' education, offer ways to cope through family separations, or provide a safe place for military brats to meet online and support each other, these resources all have the same goal: to help make these children's lives a little bit easier.

10 Resources for Military Brats

Blue Star Families

{BSF doesn't focus strictly on children like the other resources I'm listing, so I wanted to point you in a specific direction on this one. To celebrate the Month of the Military Child, Blue Star Families is offering fun ways to honor our children, including a Military Child Essay Contest and a Certificate of Appreciation. Also be sure to check out their other programs for military brats like Books on Bases and their newly launched MilKidz Club.}

Military Child Education Coalition

Sesame Street for Military Families

Operation HUG-A-HERO

DeploymentKids.com

Our Military Kids

Military Youth on the Move

ZERO TO THREE

Operation: Military Kids

Military Kids Connect

Have you ever used any of these resources? If so, what did you think? What resources did I leave out? Please share!