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Budget Tips for Your Next Military Staycation

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Duty always comes first, even if you already have a vacation planned. There are plenty of service men and women who have found themselves calling hotels and rental companies, to cancel or modify their vacation at the very last minute. Thankfully, many service providers are happy to accommodate the ever changing schedules of the men and women who serve.

Tight budgets of those who serve are often not very vacation friendly. However, a staycation is a marvelous way to get that precious R&R without breaking the bank.  To make the most of a staycation, here are some fun ideas and budget tips.

 

  1. Book a hotel. The best way to feel like you are on a vacation is to book a hotel. One of the best money saving tips is to book based off amenites offered. All hotels have the standard bed and towels. The trick is to find some place that has something super cool that makes you feel like you are on vacation. It can be a pirate ship in the pool with a tiki bar or it can be something as simple as a complimentary cocktail hour. Weekdays are generally cheaper, and less crowded. Tip: Book directly through the hotel to avoid third party fees.

 

LBV_LRG_Banner

Photo of Lake Buena Vista, which offers Military Discounts

 

  1. Become a tourist in your current town. Military personnel are often located in places far away from where they grew up. This alone makes a staycation the ideal low cost activity.  Check out your town’s tourism website or the Chamber of Commerce for popular sights and activities. Pick a hour radius you are willing to drive and explore a new town.

 

  1. Take a walking tour. Many cities and small towns have free or low priced walking tours of historical areas. Some are even called ghost tours and are very popular around Halloween and Christmas. The guides typically relate interesting stories along the way about people and events from days gone by.  Tours usually end with coffee, tea, dining or shopping.

 

  1. Plan your staycation time around local festivals and special events. Small towns to big cities have special events throughout the year. It might be a chili or bar-b-q contest, music festival or art show. Within a short drive from wherever you are, there should be at least one big interesting event that draws a crowd.  Find out what that is and check it out.

 

  1. Have a fantastic lunch. For budget minded folks, fine dining is often out of the question. However, fine dining establishments typically serve the same foods at lower prices during the lunch hour. Look into it and plan a lovely lunch followed by an afternoon movie and ice cream.

 

  1. Use the Groupon app. Sign up for Groupon and be amazed at the savings. There are deals on dining, entertainment and shopping. The deals change frequently so keep checking until something fantastic comes up.  This is a great way to try an expensive restaurant on a budget. Tip: most purchases have a 24 hour wait period before you can redeem them, so read the fine print if you plan to use the deal the same day.

 

  1. Get outdoors. Most towns and almost all cities have parks and recreational facilities from pools and tennis courts to hiking and camping areas. Get out and enjoy the local nature trails. Check out the differences in flora and fauna from where you grew up to where you’re currently stationed.

 

  1. One way of enjoying some down time is by turning off all devices. In today’s world, we live and breathe with devices in hand that keep us connected, sometimes overly so, to the world. Disconnect for a preset period of time such as 12 to 24 hours.  Now you can read a book, take naps, try a new recipe, play with the kids and dog without trying to divide your attention.

 

  1. Look for museums. What sounds dull, such as an old tractor museum, may turn out to be a very interesting day. Plus, some museums are actually free of charge or pay by donation so a couple of bucks gets you in. You can find a list of museums that offer a military discount here.

 

  1. Check for military discounts on hotels. If you live somewhere extra fun but that also has a tendency to be pricey such as Orlando, Florida, don’t despair. Look for deals, especially those military discounts. Often times you have to skip the booking engines and go directly to the site. These are often hotel brands you know and trust like Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista.

 

  1. Look for a local brewery. It’s not only an educational experience, you get to know the locals on a new level by sharing their unique brews and finding out what made them decide to go into business in the first place.

 

  1. Do a movie or bowling night. Again, check Groupon for possible deals but both these activities can be relaxing and fun. If you haven’t bowled in a while, or ever, give it a go. You might be surprised how much fun you have.

 

  1. Take dance lessons. This is something that requires a time commitment of at least a few weeks but once you’ve learned how to rock the dance floor, take your significant other out for dinner and dancing someplace special.

 

  1. Try something new. One of the most amazing benefits of military life, is all the new places you get to see. Take that a step further and try something new. Find out what is popular in the area and give it a try.

 

  1. Look for local theater group performances. A good play is typically entertaining and inexpensive. Some high schools put on amazing performances as well. Dress up more than usual and make a special night of it.  You can find a list of participating theatres here.

 

If done correctly, a staycation can be as relaxing as the real thing. You and your family will get a recharge while the bank account stays intact.  Sounds like a win-win for all military personnel.

Guest Author

Amanda Basse

How Many Service Members Are Using Food Assistance Programs?

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On any given day, my husband and I exchange a volley of “what sounds good for dinner?” and “I don’t know, what sounds good to you?” We hem and haw before one of us finally breaks down and offers up a suggestion. But we haven’t always been so nonchalant about our daily meals.

When our children were young and my husband was a junior enlisted soldier, our monthly budget was tighter than a pair of skinny jeans after Thanksgiving dinner.

To make ends meet, we got creative with our food choices, shared living arrangements with another couple for a while, and gave up trying to save money each month.

Paydays were cause for celebration. It meant the promise of at least a few days of good eating.

We turned to the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program for some food assistance. We prayed that nothing would go wrong with the car. We hoped that the kids wouldn’t outgrow their clothes too quickly. Our bimonthly pilgrimage to the commissary helped us stretch our budget even further.

How Many Service Members Are Using Food Assistance Programs? DoD Has No Idea

I’d say it is high time DoD took notice of how many service members are turning to food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP.

We were far from the only ones struggling to make ends meet. We knew countless other young military families doing their best not to resort to a diet of ramen noodles, peanut butter and water.

Which is why a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggesting that the Department of Defense (DoD) has no idea how many service members are turning to public food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP is a bit surprising.

DoD is tracking valid numbers for the military’s FSSA program, but with so few military families utilizing the program, and with the speculation that many service members find shame and embarrassment at the involvement of their chains of command, the program will be calling it quits in September. Fewer than 300 people qualify for FSSA worldwide, according to DoD.

When you consider that a 2015 study suggested that as many as 1 in 4 military families are using some kind of food assistance program to supplement their food budgets, it becomes clear that the data is an important part of understanding our community’s current state of affairs.

Throw in discussions about commissary closures, BAH reductions and cuts to our health care programs and one has to wonder if DoD officials truly understand the day-to-day challenges faced by today’s military families.

The GAO’s report recommended the launch of a joint effort between the USDA and DoD to gather these numbers, and based on my own personal experiences, I’d say it’s about time.

Implications of inadequate food budgets are far-reaching. When military families worry about putting food on the table, mission-readiness suffers. Inadequate nutrition, while a significant concern for children, is also part of a healthy lifestyle for service members and their spouses. What’s more, with the buying power of food dollars fluctuating from duty station to duty station, morale can suffer when nothing more than a PCS takes away a family’s sense of independence and self-reliance.

My husband is fast approaching retirement, but for the entire extent of our military journey, we’ve known young military families challenged by food costs, many of whom have had to turn to food assistance programs or food banks.

Looking back, as a young military spouse, I was too busy trying to keep up with the daily rigors of being a military spouse, mother and employee to stop and think about how wrong it was for members of the best military in the world to have any issues keeping their families fed.

In the end, we were lucky. We managed to weather the storm and now enjoy the luxury of not having to worry about what’s in our pantry or refrigerator.

But not all military families are as lucky as we have been and with this issue being so prevalent, and in light of the fact that it’s been a challenge for our community for as long as I can remember, I’d say it is high time DoD took notice.

Now it’s your turn: Do you think DoD needs to do a better job of tracking food assistance program data? Why or why not?

10 Assumptions I Had About Military Life

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Before I was a military spouse, I had all these notions about who, what and how military wives were and acted. Turns out, most of my assumptions were pretty inaccurate!

10 False Assumptions I Made About Military Life

1. All military spouses are women!

So, the term “military wife” is pretty rampant. After all, when you see those warm and fuzzy homecoming videos, it’s usually the female spouses on camera. So if you thought you would be surrounded by ladies, think again!

A 2011 study showed women make up 14.5 percent of active duty troops, with about 51 percent of these service members being married. Accounting for the 48 percent of married female service members in dual-military families, that leaves about 51,000 civilian spouses who are married to female troops.

Yes, that study didn’t account for same-sex relationships because it was commissioned before the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Even with factoring that in, there are tens of thousands of male military spouses!

2. Being a service member is like a regular job.

This assumption went out the window real fast! With deployments, constant training missions, overnight duty and random weekends in the field, a “regular” job this is not.

There are definitely some assignments that operate on a more typical 7-5 schedule, but those are few and far between.

Our first assignment, right after getting married, was an immediate months-long training cycle for a 12-month deployment. My husband was never home for dinner and was gone before I woke up. That is, if he didn’t just stay at work.

3. All military spouses are the same.

I will be the first to admit that I went into military life imagining a Stepford-like situation: thousands of very conservative, very religious and very patriotic women.

Totally not the case!

Military spouses span the spectrum on both religious beliefs and political leanings. And the community is so inclusive of everyone. Whether you attend church or not, whether you vote red or blue or purple, there is a place and space for you to thrive.

10 Assumptions I Had About Military Life That Turned Out to Be False

What assumptions did you have about military life?

The patriotic thing though? That assumption is mostly true. Military spouses are definitely proud of our loved ones’ military service!

4. Everyone lives on base.

In our 3 tours, we have lived in on-base housing once. The other two times we rented homes off base.

Military housing, depending where you are stationed, can be hard to come by. There are often waiting lists for newly built or recently renovated neighborhoods. Other times, like certain overseas duty stations, military families might be required to live on base.

Often, houses out in town come with different perks. Some service members enjoy the separation of their work life and their home life. School districts might offer different resources in another town. Or the location, like on the beach or in the mountains, might just not be an option otherwise.

5. Everything is free or cheap.

We have all heard about the much touted military discounts and giveaways, right? From groceries to houses to theme park admissions, it can seem like lots of things are free.

This assumption is definitely 100 percent false.

While there are perks to being a military family, like complimentary admission to certain theme parks or organizations that provide things just for us, we are still just regular families who pay our own way.

6. Every sailor is on a ship, every airman flies and every soldier or Marine is infantry.

Each service member has a different job to do, just like in the civilian world.

Not everyone in the Air Force flies, for example. Some are doctors, lawyers or in charge of moving supplies around. Not every Marine carries a weapon and wears camo face paint. Some deal with the news media, some are in HR and some fly aircraft. And while many sailors are on the high seas, there are also those who serve on land in a variety of positions.

You can’t compare jobs, even in the same branch of service. Everyone has their own mission and objectives.

7. The great officer vs. enlisted debate.

Before joining the military spouse community, a lot of the word on the street was that officer spouses were snobby or that enlisted spouses were young.

I am going on record as saying this is absolutely not true! Literally nothing that you have heard about “how” officer or enlisted spouses behave or are is 100 percent accurate for every single person in that community.

Each spouse, each person, is their own individual self. No one fits a category or mold.

For the most part, every person I have come in contact with on this journey has been kind, helpful and generous to me and my family.

And spouses, unless also serving in the military, do not wear ranks. So, let’s just erase this one for good!

8. Military homecomings are picture perfect.

After waiting an additional few days and then several hot, sweaty hours in the sun, this assumption is definitely debunked.

Yes, military homecomings are usually a time filled with joy and happiness. Your service member is back safe and sound! But these events also come with some serious concerns.

Often homecoming dates and times are changed up until the very last minute, leaving families in the lurch when it comes to planning for child care or what to wear and bring.

Reintegration is a very real challenge. Your loved one has served in very different and often difficult situations for many months. He or she might have gone through hard times, including the loss of a friend or teammate. Sometimes, just rejoining family life is tough after months spent living on the military’s schedule.

9. Saying goodbye gets easier.

It’s not that it gets easier, it just becomes more normal.

You will still miss your spouse when they are gone, whether it is for a week or for a year. It is still hard sleeping alone, parenting alone and eating alone. You might still cry every time you say goodbye.

But with each farewell, you also have the knowledge that she or he will come home. You know the routine and can switch into it more easily.

10. You’ll see the world!

Or maybe just Kansas and Oklahoma.

There are military bases around the world, from right here in the United States to exotic overseas locations like Asia or Europe.

But not every military job or branch is able to move to every military base.

Some pilots can only fly their aircraft from certain locations. Or your family might only be able to receive health or educational services in certain places. Or your spouse’s branch of service isn’t in your dream location.

It totally depends in a lot of factors and the needs of the United States government.

The good news is that every duty station, near or far, has its own set of perks and benefits that can help make it feel like home!

What assumptions did you have about military life? Tell us in the comments section.

Amendment to Reimburse Recertification Costs

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Recertification costs due to PCS can really add up for military spouses that are employed in a career field that requires state licensing or certification. Two senators are working to get some of that money back to military spouses.

Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have been trying for years to get a tax credit for military spouses that have had to pay fees for licensure and certification when they PCSed with their service members.

Senators Introduce Amendment to Reimburse Military Spouses’ Move-Related Recertification Costs

Two senators have proposed an amendment to the defense bill that would reimburse military spouses up to $500 for the costs of re-licensure and re-certification.

Military spouses earn 38 percent less than civilians according to a recent report, due to the hardship of constantly moving. Many spouses experience a length of unemployed or become underemployed because jobs that require licensing or certification are state specific.

Recertification costs can be more than military families can afford, especially with frequent moves.

Senators Casey and Moran are hoping to ease that burden with a tax credit to military spouses to cover recertification costs. They have proposed an amendment to the defense bill that would reimburse military spouses up to $500 for the costs of re-licensure and re-certification that stems from a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to a another state.

Reimbursement for recertification costs would include:

  • Application fees to a state board, bar association or other certifying or licensing body.
  • Exam fees and registration fees paid to a licensing body.
  • Costs of additional coursework required for eligibility for licensing or certification specific to the state, not including the cost of continuing education courses.

Limitations include:

  • The total amount of reimbursement for recertification costs cannot exceed $500 per PCS.
  • Eligibility for reimbursement of recertification costs for spouses would not be limited by the pay grade of the service member.
  • Reimbursements would be distributed quarterly.
  • The cap on the reimbursement program would be $2 million a year.

There are more than 860,000 military spouses and only 55 percent of them were in the workforce in the past decade. If this passes, it would give many spouses the opportunity to continue their careers after relocation.

The government would also benefit from the program as a recent study by Blue Star Families showed. The report stated that it costs the U.S. economy between $710 million and $1.07 billion annually in lost tax revenue, unemployment benefits and health costs because so many military spouses were not employed in career fields that they otherwise could be without the hardship of moving.

These two senators are working to get recertification costs reimbursed to military spouses so that they can get back in the career field of their choice. This simple act of reimbursement can actually have a huge impact on the economy, as well as at home for military families.

Luckily, they are not the only ones fighting for military spouses. First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden started a campaign in 2011, known as Joining Forces, to make it easier for military spouses to gain employment in portable carriers.

They also saw the struggle that military spouses faced with PCSing, especially with recertification costs. Together, they urged governors in every state to take action, whether executive or legislative, to make state licensing for military spouses easier. This month they announced that all 50 states have created a way to help streamline the process of licensing and credentialing military spouses.

The Department of Defense along with state legislators and regulators has developed 3 ways to help military spouses transfer licenses: licensure through endorsement; temporary licensure; and expedited processes for issuing licenses.

Licensure through endorsement can be difficult for military spouses, so a best practice has been developed that allows spouses to show their competency in their occupation through various methods determined by boards such as recent experience and continuing education units.

Temporary licensure is offered by many states that allows military spouses to enter employment while completing state requirements or while awaiting verification of current license, certification or employment history for an endorsement.

An expedited process for issuing licenses is a quick way to get spouses back in the workforce. States have varying ways in which they expedite the process. Washington, for example, allows a board to approve a license based on an application certified by affidavit.

With recertification costs keeping many military spouses out of the workforce, hopefully these initiatives will be able to get them back into it.

How much have you spent on recertification costs when you moved as a military spouse? Share your story in the comments section.

Options When You Can’t Bring Your Pet Overseas

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Your overseas orders guarantee everyone can get there – except your furry family members.

If you luck into a space on military transport or can pay out of pocket for commercial pet flights or a pet travel service, getting a pet OCONUS can be as easy as swiping a credit card.

But what about military families that simply can’t afford to pay to move their pets overseas?

Luckily, there are a few resources to help you move your pets overseas or arrange for their care stateside.

What Options Exist When You Can't Bring Your Pet Overseas

How much did you pay to move your pet overseas?

SPCA International

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International should be your first stop on the journey to get Fido overseas. This organization offers a grant program, Operation Military Pets, that can help offset some or all of your pet transport costs.

To qualify, you must provide 6 photos of your family and pet to the SPCAI and complete the application process. There are no pay grade or rank restrictions, just the need for financial assistance. Families are eligible to receive aid once every 5 years. So if you get a grant this PCS season, you can’t apply for the return trip in 3 years.

There is a high demand for these grants, due to recent media attention. The best advice is to get your application in early!

Pet Chit

For military families E-6 and below, Dogs on Deployment offers a unique financial assistance program designed to help you continue to care for your pets in a variety of circumstances. From emergency medical bills to overseas pet travel costs, a Pet Chit grant could potentially cover up to 80 percent of your costs.

If you don’t qualify for a grant through SPCAI or Dogs on Deployment, the next best option might be to find a loving foster home with friends or family while you are stationed overseas.

Ideally, your foster family would be experienced with your furry buddy and be ready to take on temporary custody.

On the plus side, if your family or friends live near a military base, you can still see a military vet! Before you PCS, head to your base’s legal office and create a special power of attorney designating all pet care duties to the foster home. Be sure to include language that designates the use of military veterinary facilities and call the military base where your pet would be seen to confirm availability.

Other Foster Options

Sometimes, for whatever reason, a family or friend is not available to care for Fido or Fluffy in your absence. If this is the case, there are a variety of organizations that can help fill the gap.

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet: This is a temporary foster home situation, usually lasting 3 to 6 months for OCONUS PCS orders. However, this could offer families the time needed to gather financial resources or find a more permanent foster home situation.

PACT for Animals: The foster homes available through this group seem to cover both deployments and PCS orders overseas. The mission of PACT is to help military families avoid surrendering their beloved pets to shelters. The group helps to arrange and monitors foster home for pets. They even will work with both families to help everyone stay in touch and provides regular updates on the health and well-being of the pet.

Operation Noble Foster: If you have a cat, this may be the answer to your OCONUS PCS pet problems! This foster group is a cats-only group that finds foster homes for military families throughout the United States.

Dogs on Deployment: Before you use this as your fall-back plan, contact the organization to confirm your eligibility. Based on a few clicks around their website, military families PCSing overseas are not outright excluded. However, it is definitely a program aimed more at service members dealing with traditional deployments or short-term situations. Boarders are allowed to list themselves as “greater than 12 months,” which could potentially include OCONUS orders.

No matter what foster situation you potentially choose, it is important to keep a few basics in mind, according to the American Humane Society.

First, create a written agreement that outlines your pet’s needs and health conditions, as well as who is financially responsible for essential (food, medicine, vet appointments, etc.) pet care. You should also outline the terms and conditions of the foster period, like length of stay or boarding costs when your foster family travels.

Additionally, your pets should be spayed or neutered and microchipped prior to going to their foster home, to ensure that there are no small surprises and that a missing pet can be located more easily. Your pet should be fully vaccinated and given a clean bill of health.

How much did you pay to move your pet overseas? Was it a financial burden on your military family?

How to File an Inconvenience Claim for Your PCS

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Moving can be stressful and when the movers don’t arrive to pick up your household goods or to deliver them, it’s time to file an inconvenience claim.

How to File an Inconvenience Claim for Your PCS

Filing an inconvenience claim when a moving company does not pick up or deliver household goods is easy if you follow these steps.

What is an inconvenience claim?

An inconvenience claim is a request for reimbursement of money unexpectedly spent due to the moving company not arriving on the agreed upon pack or pick up date or delivered on the Required Delivery Dates (RDDs). You can apply for reimbursement, but it is not guaranteed that you will receive it. Moving companies will generally honor your inconvenience claim however.

What is covered?

Items that you may be reimbursed for with an inconvenience claim include:

  • lodging
  • meals
  • laundry service
  • furniture and appliance rentals
  • sheets
  • towels
  • pots and pans
  • paper plates
  • napkins
  • disposable cutlery

Rental furniture includes beds and air mattresses, cribs, sofa, chairs, table, appliances and one TV. Receipts for purchases must accompany your inconvenience claim.

The total amount they will pay back to you cannot exceed the daily lodging and meal per diem rate.

It is expected that military families will minimize these expenses in ways such as sharing a hotel room with the entire family if possible. If multiple rooms are needed, you must get pre-approval in writing by the transportation service provider (TSP).

It should be noted that if the TSP reimburses you for physical items such as pots and pans, they can reclaim those items once your household goods are delivered if they choose to, though it is not likely.

What is not covered?

Don’t go crazy purchasing things thinking you can just add them to your inconvenience claim. There are many items that are not covered including: food if the family is in a residence, cleaning supplies, toiletries and cosmetics, snacks, military uniform pieces, school supplies, receipts for items out of the local area, receipts dated prior to the missed moving date, expenses that you do not have a receipt for, toys, personal clothing, dry cleaning, ATVs, boats, trailers, bikes, gifts, alcohol or drugs or tickets to amusement parks.

What is the timeline for reimbursement?

The process for filing an inconvenience claim and receiving a reimbursement is actually quite quick. The moving company or TSP is required to acknowledge they received an inconvenience claim filed within 7 calendar days. The TSP will reimburse the family within 30 days. The TSP can choose to voluntarily approve your reimbursement without receipts during this time as well.

You can begin charging the TSP for failure to pick up household goods as of the first day of the missed pick up through the actual pick up date. If they failed to deliver your items, you can charge them from the first day after the missed delivery date up until the date it is actually delivered.

Who is not eligible?

There are some instances in which you are not able to file an inconvenience claim. This includes delays due to: a natural disaster, an act of the public enemy, acts of the government, acts of the public authority, violent strikes, mob interference or delays of Code 5, Code J, or Code T shipments that stem from the government and not the TSP. Also, service members on Temporary Living Allowances (TLA) are not authorized to file an inconvenience claim.

How do you file a claim?

It is a short and easy process to file an inconvenience claim. These are filed directly with the claim department of the moving company that failed to meet its move dates. Each business has a different procedure however, but most are simple. Stevens Worldwide Van Lines, for example, has a form you can download from their website.

It is also a good idea to notify the traffic management office after you PCS. They can provide assistance in filling out the paperwork to file an inconvenience claim. If your claim is denied, they can appeal to the carrier’s home office. If the appeal is not fruitful, your case can then go on to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command that will review it and make a final ruling.

Help can be found at the destination ITO for Air Force and Army and at the local ITO, Legal Assistance Office or the Claims Processing Office for Navy and Marine Corps. While they can help with the process, you still must file with the TSP. The inconvenience claim package must include at a minimum:

  1. A copy of the member’s inconvenience claim letter
  2. Copies of receipt for out-of-pocket expenses
  3. Copies of the Government Bill of Lading, DD Form 1299 and DD Form 619-1
  4. A statement of the reasonableness for the claim

Have you ever filed an inconvenience claim? What is your experience with this type of PCS claim?

10 Recipes to Savor the Flavor of Seafood

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Ahhh, summer! The sun is warm, the water is cool, and seafood is in season.

10 Recipes to Savor the Flavor of Seafood

Do you have a favorite seafood recipe?

Growing up in a New England fishing town, summer meant freshly dug clams in chowders or steamed, lobsters from the family down the street, and so much fish on the grill. The tastes of all different seafood screams “summer” to me!

With amazing reader-submitted recipes, you and your family can also experience the joy of a tasty seafood feast! Let us know which recipes are your favorites or submit your own recipe for a chance to win a $50 commissary gift card.

10 Recipes to Savor the Flavor of Seafood

1. Thai Shrimp Kabobs with Spicy Ginger Sauce

Let’s get things heated up right away, with these spicy grilled shrimp. Featuring fresh grated ginger and hot ginger sauce, these kabobs are sure to please the heat-seekers in your house. They also make an easy grilled appetizer for parties or barbecues. To help everyone enjoy the dish, you could also opt to omit the spicy ginger from the marinade and serve the hotter sauce recipe as a dip on the side.

2. Lobster Bisque

This creamy soup is packed full of lobster and is a great comfort food for cooler summer evenings or rainy days. When I make lobster bisque, I like to serve it with DIY croutons made from day-old sourdough bread and a BLT. Or just gobble up a huge bowl alone before anyone else arrives on scene!

3. Ceviche

The tangy bite of citrus combines with imitation crab and shrimp for a delicious seafood medley. For a deeper crab taste, use freshly cooked or canned crab meat instead of the imitation crab. For serving, pair with tortilla chips and salsa or add a big scoop to your favorite salad greens.

4. Caribbean Grilled Tuna

Add a little tropical flavor to your menu with Jamaican jerk spices and lime juice! This recipe is super easy to prep, with just a dash of the spice blend and squirt of lime juice, but packs incredible flavor. Serve with red beans and rice and grilled pineapple slices.

5. Louisiana Crawfish Etouffee

Etouffee is a fabulous one-pot meal that you can tweak to suit your family’s tastes. Crawfish might be easier to find on the Gulf Coast, but you can certainly sub in other seafood local to your area. Add shrimp, lobster, crab or even chicken to this meal for slightly different flavors.

6. Seafood Enchiladas

Chicken enchiladas are so winter! Mix it up by trying this crab and shrimp variety. Add seasoned rice, beans or slices of your favorite fresh local veggies to complete the meal.

7. Tom Yam

We head back to Thailand for this flavorful seafood soup. It is creamy, citrusy and absolutely delicious. This soup is also great for people on a dairy-free diet who still crave the creaminess of chowder. Tom Yam uses coconut milk instead of cream!

8. Crab Cakes

This is a Maryland specialty enjoyed around the country! Featuring fresh or canned crab and very little else, the flavors of the seafood really shine through. Enjoy your cakes on a salad, alone or as part of a complete meal. I like to pair my crab cakes with fresh broccoli, corn on the cob and coleslaw.

9. Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi

The sweet honey and the savory ginger combine with the mahi mahi perfectly. This baked fish recipe would also be great on the grill. Serve with a side salad, fresh steamed or grilled veggies and roasted potatoes for a delicious dinner.

10. Clam Bake

For a complete, one-pot seafood feast, try a clam bake or boil. Loaded with clams, mussels and shrimp, this is a great way to feed all of the seafood lovers in your life. For a clam boil, simply add halved onions, breakfast sausage, hot dogs and corn on the cob.

Do you have a favorite seafood recipe? Enter it at Military Shoppers today for a chance to win a $50 commissary shopping spree.

5 Tips for Better Sleep While Your Service Member is Deployed

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While the perfect night’s sleep is often as illusive as dragon’s eggs and fairy potions, getting a good night’s sleep is imperative for maintaining good health and handling the stresses of the day. Toss a deployment into the mix with all of that extra responsibility and worry, and even a good night’s sleep can become something of fairy tales.

Many military spouses often have difficulty adjusting to sleeping alone while their service member is deployed and in harm’s way.

Here are 5 tips to help you sleep better as you count down the days until homecoming.

5 Tips for Sleeping Alone When Your Service Member Is Deployed

Have you had trouble sleeping alone when your service member is gone for a deployment?

Prepare to Sleep: Develop a Bedtime Routine

One of the easiest ways to help your body sleep better, even in the midst of chaos and stress, is to develop a bedtime routine. At the end of a long, hard day, be kind to yourself. Brew a cup of chamomile tea, take a warm bath or shower, use aromatherapy, read, meditate or do some other quiet and calming activity.

While none of these activities actually makes you sleepy, following a daily bedtime routine can help remind your body that it is time to de-stress and get some rest.

You’ll want to avoid exercise within an hour of your normal bedtime as the endorphins released during this kind of activity can keep you awake.

And recent studies have indicated that the use of electronic devices like iPads, cell phones, eReaders and television can affect your natural circadian rhythms, so give yourself at least 30 minutes of unplugged time before bed.

Get Organized: The Easiest Way to De-Stress

Stress can have a huge impact on your sleeping patterns, so managing stress can help to ensure a better night’s sleep.

Simple things like getting your clothes (and your kid’s clothes) ready the night before, planning weekly meals, setting up bill pay and keeping a good calendar of due dates and activities can help to eliminate the feeling of having too many balls in the air.

It can be hard to get into the routine of planning ahead, but thankfully there are all kinds of free tools on the Internet to help you with everything from planning menus and building shopping lists to keeping track of appointments. Even if you usually do okay keeping track of things, putting some simple organization and time management mechanisms in place can help you stay on schedule and can greatly reduce your stress levels.

Keep a Journal

Often the lack of communication with a deployed spouse can add to your worry and increase feelings of isolation and loneliness. And while you can rarely control when the phone will ring or when that long-awaited email will arrive, you can make the most of the time you have Skyping or chatting with your deployed spouse by writing things down.

Consider keeping a journal. You can even make it part of your bedtime routine. Jot down a few words about your day or vent all of your frustrations on those pages.

Putting it down on paper can be cathartic and it gives you a chance to reflect and revisit some of your more taxing challenges when you aren’t right in the middle of them.

Plus, it can help to eliminate the need to unload all of that frustration on your spouse.

But don’t forget to write about the good and exciting things too. Get into the habit of finding at least one thing to be thankful or happy for each day. It will help add balance and perspective to your view of the deployment.

Sleep in the Middle of the Bed with a Snuggle Alternative

This one can be a bit hard to get used to, but sleeping in the middle of the bed can help to all eliminate that “something’s missing” feeling.

Adding a full body-length pillow, a teddy bear sprayed with your spouse’s favorite cologne or perfume, a pet or even a snuggly kid can also help to combat the feeling of being alone.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you’ve tried all these techniques or if you find yourself under an unusual or significant amount of stress, don’t be afraid to reach out to your primary care physician.

Simple supplements like vitamin D or melatonin can help to encourage good sleep and there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription drugs that can help as well. But always seek a doctor’s advice before starting any kind of sleep medication to rule out other conditions like sleep apnea and depression.

Have you had trouble sleeping alone when your service member is gone for a deployment or training? Tell us about your experience in the comments section.

Forget the Takeout: 5 Quick Meals from Your Commissary

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Life gets super busy, especially when you are working around often intense military schedules.

Takeout is super easy. After all, it is just a phone call away! But ordering takeout regularly can get expensive and the food choices are not always the most nutritious.

Luckily, your local commissary has awesome and convenient options to create healthy meals in minutes.

Soup and Sammies

First stop, the soup aisle. Be on the lookout for heat-and-eat soups, either canned or boxed, that strike your fancy. I love the bisque-style soups, especially the butternut squash soup or the roasted red pepper. Other great choices literally line the aisles. From your basic chicken noodle soup to organic limited ingredient creations, you can find a soup that appeals to you!

Next, head over to the deli at the commissary. Here you have 2 options: DIY sandwich spread or custom deli-made.

To create your own sandwich station, pick a few sliced lunchmeats and cheeses from the deli case. Some of my favorites are Boar’s Head roast beef and Echrich honey ham. My husband loves Land O’Lakes American and any kind of Swiss cheese.

Once you have your meats and cheeses, pop over to the bakery for a fresh baked gourmet loaf or swing through the bread aisle for your favorite sandwich-making brand.

Finally, grab some toppings: beefsteak tomatoes for slicing, lettuce, pickles or banana peppers. With the condiments you likely already stock at home, your DIY soup and sandwich night is taken care of!

For something even easier, order your sandwiches right at the deli! They will custom make individual sandwiches or even party platters with a little advance notice.

Chicken Dinner

A nice chicken dinner is super comforting, but it’s time consuming to roast the bird and prep all the sides. Instead, grab a ready-made rotisserie chicken near the deli.

In the refrigerated aisle of your commissary, pick up a container of pre-made mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese. A trip down the freezer aisle will net you some veggies that you can steam in your microwave. I love peas and mushrooms or buttery corn!

With 3 quick stops, your easy chicken dinner is ready to go!

If you have leftovers, your next meal is also super simple: use shredded rotisserie chicken, a carton of chicken stock and a bag of frozen mixed veggies, plus some diced onion and garlic. Toss it all in a pot and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Voila, homemade chicken soup!

For easy chicken pot pie, combine the chicken and veggies in a pie pan, cover with a ready-to-bake pie crust and bake for 30 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sushi at Home

The commissary has gone international, with a dedicated fresh sushi counter in many stores. Trained chefs prepare gourmet, fresh sushi throughout the day. Prices and types might vary from store to store, but there is always a wide selection available. Most counters serve several varieties of raw fish rolls, tempura or fried rolls, plus veggie and California rolls.

The sushi section also offers sides, like edamame and gyoza, to help create a complete and easy dinner.

If you wanted to add a little bit more to your meal, head to the international section in frozen foods. There you will find even more delicious treats: orange chicken, beef and broccoli and stir-fry, all ready to cook in your microwave!

If you are craving soups, the Asian section of the international foods aisle is a great place to stop. There are ready-to-heat canned soups and mixes that just require water.

Go Greens

For a totally healthy and super easy meal, find the salad section in produce. There are pre-made bagged salads that include everything: meat, cheese, croutons or other garnishes and the dressing. All you do is combine and eat! These make a perfect meal for 2 or a healthy appetizer for a hungry family.

If you are looking for a single-serving, you’re covered too! With ready-to-eat salad bowls, like chicken Caesar, your lunch or light dinner has never been easier or healthier.

What is your favorite convenient food option at the commissary?

DeCA Hosts Healthy Lifestyle Festivals in July

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There’s always a lot of emphasis on adopting healthy habits during the New Year. But you don’t need to wait until January 1 to start a new fitness routine or incorporate more fresh produce into your meal planning. You can pledge to make healthy lifestyle changes today.

Supporting the military community’s health and wellness goals is the focus of the Defense Commissary Agency’s military resale partnership event, Your Healthy Lifestyle Festival.

This annual event features discounted prices on produce at commissary farmers markets, savings on workout equipment and apparel at exchanges, health screenings at local clinics and fitness events hosted by the post morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) activities, according to a DeCA press release. Commissaries worldwide will be hosting healthy lifestyle festivals between July 1 and July 31.

“We heartily support DoD’s many initiatives to improve the health and wellness of service members and their families. Supporting this fest is a great way to continue that tradition,” said DeCA Sales Director Tracie Russ. “Together, the military resale community helps reinforce the installation as the No. 1 destination for partnership events.”

The healthy lifestyle festivals vary slightly from base to base. This event, which is a collaborative effort of commissaries, exchanges, MWR services and our industry partners, may include exchange sidewalk sales, MWR fitness events, demos, music, free nutritious food samples, prize giveaways, discount coupon offers, health and wellness information and children’s programs. Event details will be announced through the local military installation’s media, such as a base newspaper or a Facebook page.

The healthy lifestyle festivals will shine a spotlight on the commissaries’ worldwide farmers market program.

“Our patrons are in for a treat when it comes to the quality produce offered at our farmers markets,” Russ said. “Thanks to the creativity of our store personnel and industry partners who inject plenty of imagination and excitement into our farmers markets, combined with the exchange sales and the MWR fitness events, this festival will be a must-attend for our military customers.”

In the past, commissary shoppers have said that quality fresh produce is a priority for them. They want to buy locally grown produce at their commissaries. The healthy lifestyle festival is a way for commissary patrons to see what types of fresh produce are available at their commissaries that they may be overlooking.

Last year’s festival was the first of what has become an annual event combining the best of the military community’s efforts to help improve the health and wellness of service members and their families, according to the DeCA press release.

The majority of the healthy lifestyle festivals will be held on military installations this month. Commissary shoppers can find the participating military installations and dates on Your Healthy Lifestyle Festival page.

A few locations scheduled their event in June to avoid calendar conflicts, DeCA said in a press release.

Here is the list of bases that already had their healthy lifestyle festivals: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Chievres Air Base, Belgium; Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; Izmir Air Station, Turkey; Los Angeles Air Force Base; Naval Station Mayport, Florida; Naval Base Pearl Harbor Commissary, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, Maine; and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

Click here for the complete list of dates for healthy lifestyle festivals at commissaries worldwide.