Happy 4th of July from the Cammo Style Love Family!!

My favorite holiday is upon us. The special day of the year where I can go all out with the Red, White and Blue! Although, I must admit that all year long I’ve got the Patriotic vibe going on in my home. I love it. So much so that my room is decked out with a Tommy Hilfiger bedspread, statue of liberty photograph and flag pillow. What can I say, I’m a succor for it. We gather together with friends and family and celebrate this amazing country that we live in.

My family has always embraced this holiday. My mom has almost yearly photos of me and my sister on the porch with the flag…one that I try to replicate every year. We went to parades, lit our own fireworks or went out to watch them with a big group of people. There’d be BBQ chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs….the usual suspects. We would cry when we would hear Lee Greenwood sing and couldn’t have been more proud to be an American. 

Now everyday is a reminder of our families connection to our country. The flag that is neatly folded in a frame honoring my husband’s service, the uniforms hung neatly in the closet and the camouflage duffel bag leaning against the wall in his office. The strong feelings of pride that I have for my husband, his career and our country have never been stronger. Its hard, don’t get me wrong; and there are days that I just don’t want to do it – but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love it with all my heart.

I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends. Celebrate the fact that we are here in this country with freedoms that many can only dream of. I know that times may seem dark, and the road ahead for our country doesn’t seem all that great for many of us. But I still believe in it with all my heart; and I pray continuously that God blesses us and shows himself to us even in the darkest of times.

God Bless America!!

“We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth, peace, security, liberty, our family, our friends, our home. . .But when we look at our flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.”
~Calvin Coolidge

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MilSpouse Summit 2013: Will You Be There?

         In the world of blogging I still fill like a newbie.  It’s only been about two and a half years.  It was one of those things where I just jumped in, all in, without really thinking much of it.  From there it has just evolved…and kept on evolving.  About a year ago I attended my first blogging conference, a military blogging conference.  There were several of us “Spouse Bloggers” there and it was one of those celebrity kind of moments for me.  So many bloggers that  I had been following were now all of the sudden right there in front of me.  It’s how I started writing for Homefront United Network, how I met some amazing supporters of the community and how I met one special lady who totally got me, who understood my life and me (secretly snarky and all).  The only down side to this thing is that I spent that weekend being spoiled only to watch us be spread back all over the United States.  What it made me realize is the importance of being in the same space.  Yes, many of us live on base and have that community.  I don’t, so to be surrounded by like women, with similar goals and very similar backgrounds was priceless.  The people that I met and the experiences that I had were far beyond my wildest expectations. 

 
 The Mil-Blogging Gals!

  
Me and Angela (Founder of The HUN) and Heather (now Associate Editor @ Military.com)

So, of course I was looking forward to this year’s events.  However, this is going to be a whole different format, not necessarily a blogger thing, and pretty darn awesome if you ask me.  If you are or are going to be in around the DC/VA area April 11-12 then this is the place to be my friends.  Its as close to a once in a lifetime experience that I can think of.  The friendships you will make, the connections you will experience are 1000% worth it.

Me and Jacey (Director of Spouse and Family Programs at Military.com)
 
Here’s what you can expect from the Military.com Spouse Summit 2013
  • No Power Point (although I’m that nerd that wishes she was still in school…but I have a feeling I won’t be disapaointed)
  • No Panels
  • Representatives from the Center for Deployment Psychology, The Warrior and Family Support Center, USC’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and some pretty awesome speakers…perhaps one of the coolest is Sal Giunta – Medal of Honor Recipient.

        This will be the place for you to network, make friends and discover all the amazing things that will truly help you succeed and go forward in your military life.  Whatever is important to you I’m will to be that there will be focus on it, or you will meet someone that is in your position and can help you.  I know that is exactly what happened to me last year.

Visit the Spouse Summit website to learn more and register today!  Can’t wait to see you there.

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Meesh and Mia – Fashionable Collegiate Clothing

           It’s not every day that I get to reminisce about my college days. It seems so darn long ago doesn’t? I started taking classes at my local community college when I was still in high school. The campus I went to was a satellite location so we didn’t really have sport teams, and when I moved to the four year campus they sucked! It’s so terrible, but I don’t think I actually went to a game ever, but I didn’t attend a school awesomely known for its football or basketball, or really anything else for that matter. I went to a gymnastics meet…I seriously did. Total fail in the school spirit program. It’s one of those things you don’t think of until after the fact.

          There are tons of things I wish I would have done while I was in college, but didn’t. Maybe that just means I’ve gotta go back (ahhhh!!!). I did, however, peruse the student shop on many an occasion and I just might have gotten a little bit more into the School Spirit thing if I had had the opportunity to see clothes like this hanging there. I mean, seriously, these clothes are absolutely the cutest and coolest clothes. Meesh and Mia is the company. Here’s a little bit about them.

It all started at a football game. Looking around a tailgate filled with colorful tee shirts and sweatshirts, baseball caps, foam fingers and face paint. A tradition loved, some would say worshiped, by so many. But something was missing. There were women all around…but no women’s clothing?! Once it was noticed it could not be ignored…and the Meesh & Mia movement began.  
Meesh & Mia has started a female fanwear revolution by taking today’s latest fashion trends and combining them with your favorite school colors and logos. We provide a unique, fashion forward approach to University apparel whether you’re looking for something to wear to the game, to work…anywhere! Providing looks for the diehard fanatic or the closet enthusiast our styles are available with or without school logos, so you can choose whether you want to show your school pride loud and proud, or a little more subtle with just some game day colors! 
Gone are the days of dreading getting out that old tee shirt that everyone else has…now you get to stand out in the crowd! It’s time to make it YOUR game. 
  

        

         Being a military family I jumped at the chance to get my hands on some cute moto wear, representing our branch, while giving a little shout out to the Air Force Academy as well.  For you other military ladies out there, you can represent the Army and the Navy as well!

Cute stuff right?  I chose the Asymmetrical Ruffle Top, in black.  It was really hard to decide which one to choose.  The sequin tank, shown above is pretty darn cute as well.

        The fit on this is great.  Right in line with what I would purchase at a store I normally shop at.  That is always nice when you purchase online.  Sure they have sizing charts, but sometimes I feel like those don’t really accurately describe a fit of woman, if you get my drift.  I have small shoulders and a large chest area….that changes the sizing of a shirt that I wear totally.  I loved that this was right on, and fit nicely.  The fabric is great and the sequin design looks wonderful in person and like its done well.  I have no doubt this shirt will be in my collection for a long time.  I really love that it can be dressy or casual.  More importantly, I can share my moto wife love without being too crazy.  Its simple and class, fun and cute!  Totally love it!

Now, as I’m sure you are now wanting to run and grab some product!!!  So, here’s some housekeeping if you do!  Check out my referral link and order something from it and there’s a surprise for you, $15 off!  I can’t wait to order more frankly!  Also, if you order from one of the armed forces branches you get free shipping!  If you are currently serving or a past veteran, but would like to order from a different school, email Meesh and Mia at CustomerService at meeshandmia dot com and they will be happy to help you.  I was truly impressed with the communication, customer service and the all around general respect I received.  If you are looking for something different to support your college this would be the first and last place I would recommend to you!  Please check out Meesh and Mia and buy awesome stuff!!!

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Some thoughts this Memorial Day

Well it’s Memorial Day and I had wanted this to be my week for my Military Life Series (check out the first post here). I sat down to write my post, about my strange military life but I kept hitting the backspace key, typing more and then deleting more. It’s too hard. My life is hard, the hubby is gone a lot and I respect the USAG and OPSEC and I guess I’ll just leave it at that. I will say for our time in the service we have been far away from any sort of military community. No commissary, no PX, no real Family Services to speak of and that has been one of the hardest parts recently. Before we had kids I really could have cares less. I got myself involved where I could; and far less people had kids so it wasn’t an issue for me. After having kids that got harder and harder. I was grateful for what I had and tried not to dwell on what I didn’t. I’ve been through deployment time alone, tdy alone, other various trips and I’ve survived. I know I’m not alone. I know others walk with me an have walked before me. I know I’m far top sensitive about things too. The war between the branches bothers me, even though I know somewhere inside most branches respect each other for the tasks they do to provide support for and protect each other. The looking down upon of National Guardsmen and women bothers me because it usually comes from a place of not knowing.. There are full time men and women who provide support every day for the war, amazing things that go unnoticed and not talked about. There are traditional Guardsmen who do the same. Just because they don’t put on a uniform every day doesn’t mean they are any less deserving of our love, support, admiration and respect. For the most part I think (at least I hope) they do.

On Saturday we had the honor of hanging out in Section 60. We were going to lay some yellow roses on a couple graves. It was perhaps the most humbling and connective feeling I’ve ever had. I walked among friends and family with their blankets laid out, their folding chairs, friends toasting beers to their buddies and thousands and thousands of little flags blowing in the light breeze. It made me think that everything else just doesn’t matter. Rank, pay, job, branch…..none omit matters here. I met a new family of a fallen soldier who came up to me as we were laying flowers on our grave. It was an instant connection and now I’ve added that soldier to my list. Among others we visited we remembered Lance Cpl Daniel Bennett and Sergeant Sean Ferguson. This time I also wanted to find grave sites baring our last name and my maiden name. We did and the kids laid flowers on there as well. We talked about honoring those who keep this country free and in their little 3 and 5 year old brains they understood for just tht moment. I saw an older gentlemen salute the gravestone of someone. I don’t know what the connection was but it doesn’t really matter. It was the most moving thing to me that day.

This morning I also had the honor of attending the Air Force Memorial wreath laying, with special recognition given to The Tuskeegee Airmen, the men and women of the Mighty 8th, and the forgotten Flyin Tigers who protected and flew over China during WWII. It was a beautiful ceremony a during taps my adorable son joined the others in a hand salute. I couldn’t snap a picture, which was a bummer as a snap happy mama, but it was meaningful to me and several others who saw him do it.

So this memorial day I am grateful. Not just for my husband, but my grandfather Sergeant Major George M. who served in the Army National Guard in the Korean War and my other grandfather who started in the Army Air Corp in WWII as a top turret gunner and ended his career as a Master Sergeant in the Army, and my Great Uncle who was KIA and MIA for a period of time in WWII. I am grateful for the two graves we discovered today, who share our names. One gentleman Served in Company E, 7th Infantry Division and died in 1891. The other was a Major who served in Korea. Its a connection to our past. Even though we probably aren’t related to these two gentleman, its still an honor nonetheless. So I close these thoughts, grateful for where I am, grateful for what I come from and what I can pass on to my children. Grateful that I am here in the DC Metro area and can be a part of these things. So glad that my child, even though they are mostly too young to really understand, can be a part of it as well.

And on this memorial day, some treats for those that are still serving (and anyone else that might like to take advantage of this stuff):

If you saw my post about meeting Scott, director and producer of Act of Valor, who might have seen the trailer and heard that the DVD/Blu-Ray are set to come out in a couple days. Well, 20th Century Fox would like to provide my readers with a coupon code for the film which releases on June 5. Please enjoy $3 off and free shipping with coupon code “VALOR” valid 5/19-6/17 at http://www.foxconnect.com/valor. I also wanted to let you know about JollyBox. It is a pretty awesome company that puts together and delivers themed care packages to your deployed loved one! You can leave it up to them, and you can fill out a special survey so the box can be customized for your loved one. You can also include a special personal note. For just $25 you can have your very own JollyBox created. I know that I love the fun of making my own care packages, especially including the kids in it. In fact we just did one for a very close friend. But sometimes it might be nice to have one sent out during a time when I might be on overload with running things around here by myself. I think its a great idea! I could also see it being amazing for the adopt-a-soldier program that I work with through Soldier’s Angels. I also have a coupon code for you with JollyBox! You can get $10 off your first month just by entering “First10” during your check out! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy your memorial day coupon treats from Cammo Style Love!

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Mil-Spouse Appreciation Day!!

Well, here I am, a day late with my mil-spouse appreciation day post. This has been an amazing week for me and my mind has been swimming with thoughts and ideas for me and my blog, and my readers. One thing I am very excited about is an upcoming series about the military life. There are so many spouses, experiencing different things, in different situations, from different backgrounds and living different lives. But, and that’s an important BUT…..we can all learn from each other. Even if we aren’t going through a specific situation we can still learn from them. I feel like the military life is like perpetual school. I know that every day I’m learning something new. I’m seeing other ways to cope. My kids help me learn. They help me learn to be a better woman, mother and wife! I’m stronger because I know I can be. I hope to bring some amazing stories to you. Stories from some amazing fellow mil-spouses that are strong and beautiful women, along with bringing you my own story.

So to all the strong women out there, Military spouses, girlfriends an fiancé, thank you so much for your example, for your inspiration and encouragement. Stay tuned for a new story every week.

Now just a little tidbit about me

I’m an Air Force Wife, technically Air Guard, but we are full time…ridiculously hard to explain most of the time…….

We have three beautiful children and have been together for 13 years!

I love to read when I can, watch black and white movies, spend time with the huzzy when I can. Watch my crazy children grow, watch the news, read the news, learn as much as possible about the amazing history of our country! We are now living in the DC metro area and Im in absolute heaven! If you aren’t already a follower I hope you come by when you can.

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