Base Housing Or Not

One of the things my husband and I had to discuss was whether or not we wanted to live in base housing.

When we were married we lived in an apartment. Honestly I had mixed views of if I wanted to live in base housing or didn't.

What are your views of base housing?

Until Death Do We...

Thinking back to the wonderful day that my husband and I were married I am drawn to the vows.

Until death do we part...

I am reminded of this because someone had said to me that I was married to the military. No, I'm not married to the military but to a man who is in the military. My thoughts even drifted back to my wedding vows. Did they say...

Until military do we part...

I mean my wedding ceremony was long winded, there are parts of it that is missing from my memory but I am 100% sure the above statement was not said. It was something more along the lines of until death do we part. 

I do realize, in fact why my blog is named "Smile and Deal with it" that as a military wife a lot of things are thrown at me that are unexpected. My husband could be gone when I don't want him to be let's be honest who really wants their husband gone. 

But do not say I am married to the military. I'm not. I'm married to my husband. Part of me wanted to ask this person if later on when my husband retires if I needed to divorce the military. But I held back. 

One day my husband will not be in the military. I won't have to deal with him going away and just have his presence around depending upon the job he takes. I also won't have the advantages that I do have now with him being in the military. There are pros and cons. 

While I classify myself as a military wife I do not say that I am married to the military. That would be stretching it and just isn't true. 

My husband and I made a vow to honor and cherish, among other things. But none of those vows involved the military. I wish more women would see this. 

Do not let what your spouse does for a living define you. You are your own person. Do not get lost. Do not loose your voice. Remain true to yourself.

Birchbox VS MyGlam

A while back I signed up for Birchbox and MyGlam.
If you are unsure what they are they both deal with sending you samples for $10 a month, sometimes full sizes. Birchbox sends them in a box and MyGlam gives you a bag.

I have received two of each so far.

The first Birchbox I wasn't happy with I wish I had taken pictures of them. Yes I had a full sized lip balm but I'm a lip balm person and have a lot of those. There were some neat things to try but honestly I wouldn't buy them.

My first MyGlam I was excited for. I received a nice pink bag and an eye shadow brush and eyeliner brush. There was a blue eyeliner which honestly I will never wear and some other little things.

My second Birchbox I was happy with. I was excited, am always excited when the packages come. There was an awesome headband inside, makeup brush cleaner, and small samples. If only the headbands didn't cost $20 for a pack I would get them I love them.

My second MyGlam I was mixed about. I received a red lipstick. I happen to be someone who can pull off wearing red lipstick so it was okay, but probably not something I would wear the formula would leave red lips on my husband's face he would not be happy with. 2 more brushes, a  concealer and a different eyeliner brush, sample of perfume, and something for my nails. The bag had pink kisses all over it and is cute.

I can't tell you which one I like better right now. For next month I will take pictures of both so you can compare the packaging. I can't even tell you if it's a good $20's well spent, well now $40. But I can tell you I have received things that I wouldn't normally get.

There is a huge wait list for both. And I can tell you in previous bags that I hadn't received some awesome things were given away.

If you get a change go check them out. I have also signed up for Julep, a bit pricer $19.99 a month but I am only going for 1 month on a special. Julep has nail polishes.

Are there any other ones you recommend?

The Waiting

I do have to admit that I am quite an impatient person.

It seemed nearly every day I was bugging my husband if he had heard news of where we would be going. I was on pins and needles and just needed to know. And of course he would say "not yet hunny".

When this went past a week I stopped asking. I put it far from my mind so it wouldn't consume me it was already eating me up inside as it was.

Friends and family would ask and all we could say were the possible places we could go.
It became frustrating :(

Well the wait is finally over :) and my husband survived me asking lol.

We are staying in our current area. Which is exciting news for my dear friends in the area that I don't have to leave them.

I was also shocked to learn that there is a possibility that I can go with him when he leaves. No, not every time of course not that would be too nice of the military but occasionally. This put a smile on my face and I do hope it's true. There are a few key areas I would love to visit.

SN
As you have started to see I am doing reviews on my blog. If there is a product you would like me to review please email me and I'll see what I can do.

First News

I knew it was coming. It wasn't like it was a hidden secret. But when my husband came to me and asked where I wanted to live I was taken aback.

The first thoughts were panic. Leave the place that I have now called home. Then thoughts drifted to leaving my friends that I have come to know and love.

And then the thoughts came of a new place, new environment, and meeting new friends.

Source

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. 

In the end this was something that I knew would happen. It was a part of the lifestyle I have with my husband. He proudly serves this country and as a part of that we may end up moving, a lot.

If you are a military wives (or husbands) will you tell me how you first felt when you found out that it was time for you and your spouse to change duty stations.

If you are not, if you have ever experienced moving because of a job. How did you feel when you first found out? 

This experience is fresh in my head. A lot of others are experiencing this for the first time, or have experienced and can give great advice. 

In the end it's the name of my blog... Smile and Deal with it. Because somethings are just out of your control.

Chocolat Blow Dry Cream

Recently a friend told me of a product.

Source

This friend and I happen to have the same hair type. So of course when she says she went to a stylist I go and try the stylist out. Puzzle, what I'll call her, and I were hanging out one day and she said I had to try something. We went to Sephora and she showed me the above.

The box says: "say so long to coarse, unmanageable frizz by rebuilding your hair so it's naturally smoother and effortlessly silky". 

After you wash and towel dry your hair you apply the product. It says to squeeze a quarter size amount into your hand (I happen to have longer hair and needed more than a quarter size). Work it into your hair from roots to end, I used my fingers to make sure it was evenly applied. And then blow dried my hair.

I happen to have a curly hair type but when it dries of course no curls. And this product was AMAZING!!!!

It left my hair straight. I took my time blow drying it out (like I always do) and I took a brush to flip the ends too :) And my hair was straight and soft. This lasted until the next day. Helped with the tangles. 

My friend says it lasts for 3 days, but I haven't tried it.

If you happen to have long thick hair try this out. It really helps.

I was not endorsed by the company for this review. I purchased it with my own money and loved it so much I wanted to share. I often shop at Sephora :) They have a return policy that if you don't like something after you try it you can return it. This will not be going back.

I don't know where else you can find Carol's Daughter's products at. But I know you can buy them at Sephora. If you click source above it will take you to the site to purchase this cream.

Have a hair fabulous day :)

PCSings

PCS=Permanent Change of Station

When I first heard the term it was several years ago.  It was exclaimed to me by a friend as she was overjoyed with the orders her husband received.  Of course I had yet to meet my husband nor be truly introduced to the world of packing up your life and being thrown moved to a new area.  So my dear friend explained to me what it meant and why she was so happy... they got their dream orders.

I later met my husband and now am experiencing our first PCS together.  He laughs at me, at my worries. But then I remember the horror stories he told me when we first met, the horror stories from my friend(s), and of course other blogs on the Internet.

My husband brought home pages, yes pages, and handed them to me and told me to pick.

ME PICK??

I began to panic as I looked at this sheet.  Rows and rows of places.  I think I peered back up at my husband with puppy dog eyes.  Ignore this and that... good instructions.

I do have to admit the first time I went through the list I had to Google a few places.  I knew the state or country but the location.  And then screaming in my head I heard LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.  I quickly crossed off the places that I knew I didn't want to live.  And then I turned to my friends where one of my friends mentioned "dream locations".

Of course Paris came to mind, my husband laughed at me.  But I quickly made a list of all the locations I would like to live.

Wouldn't you know it, none of them were on the list... sigh :(

I narrowed down the places and handed the list back to my husband.  Then it became the waiting game.

I am asking you... where are your dream locations? If you are not in the military vacation spots.