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Know Your Military Voting Info

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“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. It all matters.” – President Barack Obama

A gentle reminder: The general election is November 3rd.

Military families, within the 48 contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii and Overseas locations are faced with voting challenges in elections – voting absentee. It is a myth that absentee ballots are not counted. In fact, all ballots are counted for the final totals – so both absentee and in-person votes count. Even if you are no longer residing where you are registered to vote, Service members and their eligible family members voting rights are protected by The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to vote absentee. The Federal Voting Assistance Program, FVAP, is a valuable resource for military families to enter their information to request absentee ballots, dates to postmark requests and absentee ballots by for counting, find your election office and check the status of your voted ballot.

According to vote.org, absentee voting is conducted by mail in ballot before the day of Election Day.

As a Service member, you can vote absentee while living away from your voting residence.

How to request an absentee ballot?

If you haven’t requested your absentee ballot, check your specific state to see if you have time to send in the Federal Post Card Application, or FPCA. The FPCA is the request card requesting an absentee ballot. This requires printing and mailing it in, which can add more time to the request. Some states have gone digital, so check your specific election office.

Each state has different rules and may have varying deadlines for requesting and submitting absentee ballots. Make sure to check what your state’s requirements and deadlines are for absentee ballot voting.

Can I check to see if I already requested an absentee ballot?

If you want to see if you have already requested your absentee ballot, check the election office  for where you are registered to vote. If you aren’t sure where you are registered to vote – check your Leave and Earning Statement – your voting residence is where you pay taxes. Military dependents voting residence typically coincides with where you claim residence. For dependents who turn 18 overseas, voting residence can be established by the last U.S. address held before moving overseas.  Once you know your voting residence, click your state on the guide map on FVAP to check on the status of your request for absentee.

The date to request an absentee ballot depends on the state and are typically in early October, so check now.

What to do after I request my absentee ballot?

Absentee Ballots should arrive by early October. If they do not arrive check the FVAP for what options you may have.  You can also check with your election office. Some states may have digital information available which can check the status of your request, and if your ballot has mailed.

Worst-case scenario, if you requested your absentee ballot but it will not arrive in time to send the ballot back by your state’s deadline, there is an emergency ballot called a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB. FVAP has a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot that can be completed on a computer, printed, signed and mailed here. Remember to use this as a last resort.

As the Nov. 4 midterm election nears, the Defense Department is assisting service members, their families and overseas citizens via FVAP.gov.

While waiting for your absentee ballot to arrive, read and research the platforms of the candidates on the ballot. Learn and discern so you are prepared when you ballot arrives.

I received my ballot, now what?

Vote!

Follow the directions on the ballot in regards to how to fill-in the ballot, and where to sign as proof that it is you and completed by you.

Send it back in!

Each state has varying deadlines for sending an absentee ballot back, so make sure to know what your state’s deadlines are. These deadlines are to there to ensure your ballot makes it back in time to be counted for the election.

The general deadlines are:

October 5, 2020 if you are on a ship out at sea

October 13, 2020 if you are living OCONUS

October 27, 2020 if living within the U.S.

Have more questions?

A general guide for absentee ballot voting is available on the FVAP website. Each state varies on election board names

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

13 Self-Care Things for When You’re Stuck in a Rut

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The world is kind of a lot right now, to be honest. We’ve all been socially distant from other people for forever, the news isn’t great and also we can’t travel.

No wonder you’re stuck in a rut! But you can do these 13 self-care things to unstick yourself and get back to living your best life.

13 Self-Care Things for When You’re Stuck in a Rut

1. Face Mask Relaxing

When the world gets to be too much, my skin shows it first. Which means it’s face mask time! I love the Aztec clay masks or the overnight Watermelon mask from Trader Joe’s. They refresh my skin and are easy on my bottomline.

2. Long Soak with Extra Bubbles

While I’m enjoying my mask, you’d better believe I’m soaking in a hot tub with all of the bubbles. So many bubbles. Mr. Bubbles is the hands-down best bubble bath solution: lots of bubbles plus that nostalgic scent!

3. Soothing Tea, Hot or Iced

A cup of tea. There’s just something about sipping tea, hot or iced, that makes me feel a little better. Right now, I’m loving iced hibiscus tea with just a little extra sweetness. In the winter, catch me sipping on Celestial Seasonings Lemon-Ginger tea for it’s throat soothing qualities.

4. Strip Your Feet

You can’t control much, but you can control the state of your feet. Indulge in a foot peel at home. Over the course of a week or so, all the dead skin on the outside of your foot will literally peel away, leaving behind incredibly soft, smooth tootsies.!

5. Listen Up

Pop in your earbuds and listen to something other than the news. We’ve been jamming out to the Hamilton soundtrack in my house. And when I’m alone it’s 100% true crime, all the time. Listening to something can be such an escape from the normal routine of life!

6. Walk it Out!

As Elle Woods would remind you, “Endorphins make you happy.” Exercise builds up those happy endorphins. So go take a walk outside, because fresh air also helps to lighten your mood!

7. Stretch Yourself

Yoga has long been a method to relax and rest your body and mental state. There are tons of great practices to stream on YouTube. My fave right now is Yoga with Adriene. She’s got a gentle, highly adaptable practice that invites movement for every body.

8. Lay Down

Honestly, sometimes laying down is a great way to literally take a load off. Unroll that yoga mat or lay down a picnic blanket.

Just lay there, eyes shut. Maybe listen to music or a podcast.

9. Add Color

Remember when you were 5 and could color for hours? Reconnect to the moment with a nice set of Crayolas and an adult coloring book!

10. Smell the Roses

Got flowers? Smell them! Enjoying the natural fragrance of flowers can be a huge mood booster. Treat yourself to a pretty bouquet to bring floral joy inside your house.

11. DIY Mani/Pedi

My nails were looking pretty wrecked what with, you know, a pandemic closing salons and spas. So I treated myself to a few new polishes and DIYed a mani/pedi experience at home, foot bath and all.

12. Ignore the News

One of the best things I did during self-isolation was to tune out the news. Instead of a constant stream of news updates and click-baity headlines, I got nothing. Pure silence. Which left me more time to walk outside, do yoga, smell flowers and color.

13. Turn the Page

Now that I’m not tuning into the news constantly, I also have time to read. I’m loving the digital library downloads from both my local library and the Navy MWR Library. Now, I’ve got books in the palm of my hand, whenever I want.

How are you practicing self-care right now? Share your best tips and tricks!

Shoppers Can Win $25,000 in Cash Prizes with MILITARY STAR Home for the Holidays Sweepstakes

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DALLAS – With the swipe of a card, military shoppers worldwide will get a chance to win their share of $25,000 in cash during the MILITARY STAR® card’s Home for the Holidays sweepstakes.

Through Oct. 15, all shoppers who use a MILITARY STAR card to make two purchases from any military exchange (including ShopMyExchange.com, myNavyExchange.com, ShopCGX.com and exchange concessionaires) or participating Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facility plus two purchases at any commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency will be automatically entered into the sweepstakes.

Five lucky winners—one each from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard—will each be awarded $5,000.

“This has been a stressful, unprecedented year, and Warfighters and their families could use some holiday cheer,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, Army & Air Force Exchange Service senior enlisted advisor. “This sweepstakes will make it easier for our lucky winners to spread some much-needed joy to their friends and family this holiday season.”

The MILITARY STAR card is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. Winners will be announced on or about Nov. 13. For official rules and alternate method of entry, visit https://MyECP.com/CustomerAds/Page/Exchange.

Facebook-friendly version: Through Oct. 15, military exchange and commissary shoppers will get a chance to win $25,000 in cash prizes in the MILITARY STAR® card’s Home for the Holidays sweepstakes—and entering is as simple as swiping a card. Read more: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-1uw.

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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 61st-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.2 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Conner Hammett, 214-312-2714 or hammettc@aafes.com.

Follow the Exchange:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/shopmyexchange

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/shopmyexchange

Instagram: @shopmyexchange

Focusing on Family Meals

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Defense Commissary Agency

Corporate Communications

1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800

Tel:  (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105  DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105 

FAX: (804) 734-8248  DSN: 687-8248

www.commissaries.com

Release Number:        74-20                                                                                                                        

Date:                              Sept. 22, 2020

Media Contact:           Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist

Tel.:                               (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773

E-mail:                         kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Focusing on family meals

Commissaries help customers save money as they shop for the products to cook more at home

By Kathy Milley,

DeCA Corporate Communications

Note: To read this release online, go to the DeCA website.

FORT LEE, Va. – Until 2020, the frequency of family meals prepared at home was on the decline. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing and sharing meals at home snapped back into focus, becoming the norm. 

During September’s Family Meals Month, the Defense Commissary Agency hopes military families focus on the benefits of cooking and eating meals together and will, hopefully, keep home-cooking a tradition long after the threat of the pandemic recedes.

“Engaging the family to prepare a home-cooked meal and share it around the dinner table can have overwhelmingly positive benefits,” said Deborah Harris, DeCA’s dietitian and health and wellness program manager, MPH, RD, CDCES (Masters of Public Health, registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist). “One of the best potential benefits is improving the nutrition quality of the family diet.”

Even those who are living alone, including service members in the barracks, can adopt the healthy habit of cooking more meals at home. Choosing a combination of ready-to-eat, semi-prepared, and fresh items, can add momentum to your nutrition game and help make the most of your hard work during physical activity.

Simply cooking a baked potato in the microwave and topping it with frozen broccoli, cheese, and deli meats is a fraction of the cost of visiting a fast-food drive through. The commissary offers many choices of frozen pizza and other frozen entrees and are much less expensive than eating out. Stock your fridge so you always have something on hand when you don’t feel like cooking.

Preparing and eating meals at home is a better choice for many reasons:

  • Meals can be more nutritious and may taste better since there is more control and awareness of all the ingredients going into the meal
  • Portion sizes are much easier to manage
  • Children learn from observation. Healthy habits, such as cooking more meals at home, will carry over into their adulthood. Taking part in preparing meals will teach children how to plan, prepare and serve 
  • Cooking meals together at home encourages quality family time and creates memories
  • Meals prepared at home will generally save the family money
  • The entire family can be involved in using resources to develop meal plans and manage shopping lists

“Designed with our families in mind, the Defense Commissary Agency offers a large assortment of easy-to-prepare, dietitian-approved recipes, many of which are customizable for picky eaters, always one click away on commissaries.com,” Harris said. “Visit the recipes link and filter by clicking “dietitian approved.”

DeCA is continually adding new healthy recipes to commissaries.com, ensuring military customers have the tools they need to improve the nutrition quality of their diet. There are even recipes from celebrity chef Robert Irvine, who develops delicious, nutritious recipes just for commissary customers.

Customers can also visit the “Healthy Living” tab on commissaries.com to learn nutrition tips, set goals and download meal planning resources, menus and no-fuss meal plans, all designed to help meet their health and wellness goals.

Click on the “Thinking Outside the Box” link to open a list of meals that include recipes and nutrition education. Use these to set goals while teaching the family about the nutrition attributes of the recipes you choose to try. Customers are encouraged to contact DeCA via social media to give their feedback on recipes, share photos and pass on any adaptation they’ve made at home.

“During September’s Family Meals Month, I challenge our families to set a goal of cooking at least two additional weekly meals at home,” said Harris. “If time is an issue, purchase prepared meals from our deli or frozen foods section. In addition, getting kids involved with making their snacks is a great way to try new foods, build skills and enjoy time being with you in the kitchen. Snacks can be as simple as preparing a cheese and cracker plate with some fresh fruit. 

“All these suggestions are a great way to save time and still get the family together around the table,” she added. “And don’t forget to give our commissary brands and Your Everyday Savings! items a try – helping you to save big at the register.” 

-DeCA-

6 Fave Base Housing Decor Hacks

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Ahhhh….white walls. Another base house, ready to welcome us to our new duty station. Except now I’ve got to spruce the place up.

Luckily, I’ve got a whole host of incredible inspiration from White Walls, a Facebook group for military spouses, and my 10+ years as a military spouse.

6 Fave Base Housing Decor Hacks

So base housing is pretty basic: white walls, plain floors, regular windows. Basic.

And, in some cases, there’s not much you can do to change things around. Painting walls isn’t always allowed.

But you can use these quick and easy decor hacks to make your base house into a home.

Put Some Words On It

One quick and easy way to add personality is to add wall decals. I love these! My husband might say I go overboard, but that’s never bothered me.

Plus, you can put wall decals everywhere. In our homes over the years, we’ve had quotes in bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens.

Add a Pop of Color to the Windows

It’s so tempting to keep curtains plain and neutral, but why not go for a little color instead?

Curtains are such a fun way to bring a room to life.

My kids love adding curtains with their favorite characters, like Frozen or Thomas the Train. In our kitchen, we have a cute little valance from Okinawa.

Photo Credit: ©Photographee.eu /Shutterstock

Put Plants Everywhere

Nothing breathes life into a home more than plants! Put them in every single room.

Succulents in the bathrooms, flowers on the dining table and herbs in the kitchen.

Add a Coffee Station

Every house has space for a coffee pot. Level it up by displaying some of your favorite mugs, too!

One of our favorite things is collecting coffee cups from all the places we’ve traveled over the years. Now we feature them as part of our home’s decor!

In pre-pandemic days, it was always a cool conversation starter. Coffee mugs: useful and pretty!

Create Display Spaces

Shelves are, like coffee mugs, pretty and useful. Military housing never has the same configuration of shelving or storage. It’s a rule or something.

Which means that you can add bookshelves and corner shelves and floating shelves and coffee station shelves.

Shelving is the ideal way to show off some personality in a way that doesn’t mess up the gleaming white walls of your base house.

Show Off Your Artsy Side

Art, photos, kid’s drawings, whatever. Put it up on your walls.

Nothing distracts from plain walls like colorful art! Add pretty frames for even more personality.

How do you make your base house feel like home? Share your best decor hacks with us!

Super Cute Things You Need for Your Virtual Office That You Can Score at the PX

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So, we’re all working from home now for the rest of our lives. Which means it’s the perfect excuse to take that home office situation up a few notches.

Super Cute Things You Need for Your Virtual Office That You Can Score at the PX

Shopping trip! Hooray!

And lucky you, the PX has so many cute things that will help you DIY the virtual office of your dreams.

Adorable Wall-Mounted Desk

Let’s face it, military houses are not the most spacious around. Which means making clever use of your space.

This wall mounted desk is the perfect solution! Tuck up the work surface when you’re off-duty, but quickly pull everything back out ASAP.

Sleek Classic Desk with Flair

If you’ve got the space, check out this adorable classically-styled wooden desk, with metal accents! It’s got three drawers for tons of storage flexibility.

No more fumbling for papers when you’re Zooming.

Two-Tone Ergonomic Desk Chair

Guys, you’re gonna need to sit somewhere and this modern mesh office chair is kind of perfect. It supports your back while also fitting into the background of your next video conference easily.

Tone Your Core While You Type

With a fun exercise ball chair! You’ll need to balance as you sit at your desk, which could give you the six-pack abs of your dreams.

Or at least keep you from getting the fidget. Either way, win-win.

Shed Light with a Simple Lamp

Add a little bit of extra brightness to your desk simply with a cute black-and-white metal lamp!

Old-School Desk Lamp

Remember the desk lamp your grandparents had? Yeah, you can get one for your very own!

Also, it looks like the Pixar lamp which is incredibly cool.

What are you must-have items for your home office? Share your faves in the comments!

Air Force Considers Families As Part of Decision for Orders

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Unpredictability is a cornerstone of military life. Last minute orders and moves to new locations every 1-4 years are common place and expected. Stressors of separation, frequent moves, and the long hours of the military career add stress to military marriages. Per a 2019 article from Military.com, the overall military divorce rate is about 3% a year. Co-parenting with a service member adds the possibility of them moving out of the area – another stressor on an already stressful situation. The Air Force recently made a move alleviate this stress with a waiver system for Airmen with custody agreements.

On 28 July 2020, the Department of the Air Force released an amendment to the Total Force Assignments, AFI 36-2110. This amendment allows Airmen to apply for a waiver to defer orders or change assignments if they have a court-ordered child custody agreement for children under the age of 17 that specify geographic limitations.  If the service member is the biological or adoptive parent and has court-ordered child custody agreements, regardless of current or past marital status, he/she must apply for and submit a waiver through myPers, and submit through the chain of command for amendment to the assignment or deferment. The memorandum is active for one year from the date of writing or until AFI 36-2110 is updated and republished.

Specific criteria for deferments and assignments are outlined in AFI 36-2110.  When able, a geographic location within a “reasonable traveling distance” will be considered. Airmen are required to complete all obligations and requirements as needed to be eligible for continuity of service and for Permanent Change of Station. As expected, the needs of the Department of the Air Force remain the priority and assignment matches will be made to the best to their ability to “fill valid manning requirements” in an Airmen’s skill area.  Airmen are advised not to “make decisions on future service, career development, or family planning based on the assumption they can always be assigned to the location where their children reside.” The Air Force is the first service to add this waiver system in support of these co-parenting family dynamics.

The required documentation to apply for the waiver is as follows:

  • Birth certificate or adoption decree naming the airman as a biological or adoptive parent
  • Divorce decree (if applicable)
  • Current child-custody agreement
  • Memo signed by the Airman and other party stating there is nothing precluding reassignment near the child’s location – such as a restraining order.  This also must have the final recommendation of the Airman’s Commander.

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

25+ Ways to Break the Virtual School Rut with Online Trips You Can Take for Free

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After months of being in quarantine or social distancing mode, it is fair to say that most families want to just get out to go somewhere.  The country is still practicing social distancing and mask wearing and now the majority of the country is in virtual schooling mode. Parents and caregivers across the country have become teachers to varying degrees. As a student, the best part of the school year was field trip day! Is there a way to continue those much-anticipated school activity of field trips for learning, and for a break in the routine? Virtual field trips are now on offer as an option to “get out and explore!”.

There are many free options for virtual exploration from international museums to parks across the United States. This is not an exhaustive list, it provides a starting point for the opportunities to explore the world via the world-wide web.

So get dressed, pack a picnic lunch, and take a field trip in your living room!

National Parks

While a road trip may not be doable for all, you can still visit the National Parks virtually both on the web and through your mobile phone. The National Park Service has videos, web cams and additional learning resources for each of the parks across the United States. Here are a few favorites.

Hawai’i: Thanks to Google Arts and Culture, you can head out over a Volcano in Hawai’i and learn about lava flows while “walking through a lava tube” at Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park.  Interactive portions with full audio make it feel like you are there. The National Park Service (NPS) has a combination of 15 thermal and static webcams. Discuss geological features of the park,  learn about the volcanoes that make up the park including the historical eruptions and the lava that builds the islands. Free downloadable curriculum plans are available from kindergarten through eighth grade and review the history and science behind volcanoes, natural rock formations and the night sky.

Wyoming: At Yellowstone National Park, you can watch the live stream of the Old Faithful Geyser erupt. Inclusive of prediction times for eruption from April through November. Explore more of the wildlife and views of the park with their 9 static webcams. Worksheets provided by NPS provide learning if desired, as well as recorded distance learning videos.

Florida: The virtual tour of Florida’s Dry Tortugas National Park offer the ability to swim a shipwreck and learn about the coral reef protection around Fort Jackson through Google Arts and Culture. There are interactive portions with additional areas of text to read.

Google Earth provides the ability to “walk” through the Everglades National Park without the humidity. Static webcams  provide views of the wildlife on the trail and the NPS made video series discusses the wildlife and nature preserve around the park.

Montana: Explore Glacier National Park through Google Earth or with the 13 static webcams through the National Park Service website. In addition to the images and webcams, NPS provides grade-specific lesson plans as a free resource.

If there is a National Park local to you, check their website for hours and reservation times. There are new virtual experiences added to the website along with free educational resources as well as the individual park shops to purchase under the “Support” tab for each park to financially support the National Parks from home.

Additional Resources for National Parks Virtual Field Trips

Check out the local library for National Geographic Kids National Parks USA as an adjunct resource for elementary and middle aged children. It provides tidbit information and pictures about the national parks across the United States inclusive of maps and photos.

Military families can download Park Passport for free thanks to Blue Star Families. The app lists all the National Parks. Additionally, it has virtual field trips to many more parks, along with activities including earning “virtual badges.” More virtual visits have been added over the last several months and the National Park Trust plans to continue to add more opportunities. 

Museums

New York: The American Museum of Natural History has broken up virtual field trips by age group, and each category has corresponding worksheets and videos. If you want to explore the museum, walk-through the museum via this Google Arts and Culture view or get exhibit information and close-ups here.  The museum has developed a free app for download with even more highlights and quizzes.

The Lourve: Now is the time to visit Paris for the low cost of $0! No worries about the long flight with kids – with one click you can explore the Lourve in Paris. Virtual tours of the Egyptian Antiquities and History of the Lourve are interactive, allowing viewers to “walk” through and around the exhibits.

Washington D.C.: The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. by way of Google offers a “walk-through” of the galleries. The two online exhibits about Fashioning a Nation and Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting provide up close views of the artwork along with information. In addition, there are over 40,000 pieces available to look at through both regular screen and augmented reality.  The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History offers a walk-through of the entire museum for exploration.

National Museum of the Marine Corps: Learn about World War II through artwork courtesy of this exhibit from retired Colonel Charles H. Waterhouse. It includes photographs, artwork and history behind each piece.  You can also explore the museum virtually with full, panoramic views here. Don’t forget to look up!

Check out Google Arts and Culture for their daily picks of museum highlights. Want to explore the Smithsonian Air and Space museum with a penguin? You can! Online exhibits from museums around the world like the Museum of Natural Science in Brussels or the Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom are available and more are added. Take a trip around the world all while wearing your pajamas!

Zoos

There are numerous animal cams you can enjoy from home. Do you remember huddling around the computer to watch April the Giraffe, and watch her give birth to Azizi? Did you check the animal cam multiple times a day to watch the progress? There is something amazing about watching the animals at the Zoo. While Zoos around the world were closed, they turned to the internet to share the adventure of being a Zookeeper behind the scenes! While Zoos have opened in some capacity, you can still explore the virtual zoo offerings, and their weekly events on social media.

San Diego Zoo: Beyond live webcams of the platypus and Polar Bears, the San Diego Zoo has an entire website San Diego Kids dedicated to elementary education with resources of videos, crafts, animal worksheets, recipes and games. Want to learn to draw a Tiger or talk about conservation with your kids – this is the resource for you. The San Diego Zoo Kids You Tube channel  offers animal videos in addition to Kids Corner and craft videos. The San Diego Zoo You Tube channel offers even more animal videos from watching Pygmy Hippos learn to swim to Ring-Tailed Lemur health checks.

Cincinnati Zoo: Check out specific topical presentations and videos from the Cincinnati Zoo Facebook page. Check out their Facebook page for a schedule of live events like question and answers with zookeepers. While the Zoo is open to the public now, they have continued these events online.

Chester Zoo: Across the pond in England, the Chester Zoo put together virtual Zoo Days.  Each day showcases the zookeepers along with red pandas,  jaguars, kangaroos, otters, painted dogs, and Orangutans while they go about their normal day. While feeding the animals, the zookeepers share facts about their zoo and the animals in a close-up experience. They are continuing live events on their Facebook page, and post the schedule a few days ahead of time.

Aquariums

If you haven’t tuned into the Jelly Cam while doing quiet time, you should. The soothing music alone promotes a zen atmosphere, but just enjoying the blue background and fish is soothing. Aquariums continue to share the webcams and a few are offering additional resources and virtual course offerings!

Georgia Aquarium: The Georgia Aquarium offers webcams of the belugas, Jellyfish and piranhas just to name a few in addition to multiple tanks. Twice weekly on their social media pages, the education department at the aquarium offers videos and learning opportunities that are then uploaded here. There are listed by topic and can easily be added into science learning or just for fun. Each video has a corresponding study guide for download.

Sea World: SeaWorld has an entire website dedicated to education. While Busch Gardens and SeaWorld may not be local or feasible to visit at the moment, there are free curriculum packets for Kindergarten through 12th grade to discuss birds, sea life and ocean preservation. Corresponding videos are available on the Sea World Parks You Tube Channel. The focus of learning is on conservation, and the curriculum puts it into age appropriate terms.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: The Monterey staple is a world-renown aquarium and worth the visit. While the aquarium remains closed, they offer weekly live videos on their Facebook channel. An added bonus are the Grade specific online courses for preschool through high school . These courses were developed by the staff and are completely free. Each course includes videos, corresponding worksheets and resource links for additional learning. In most cases, these courses are offered in both English and Spanish. The curriculum has everything ready to go so you can dive right in!

The Aquarium of the Pacific: The Long Beach Aquarium has created the Aquarium Academy with live online courses for preschool through high school with topical videos. Animal webcams are open various hours with the Penguin cam being on 24 hours.  For the preschool and early elementary age children, the Pacific Pals show is an online version of their Puppet shows bringing the aquarium to the living room of everyone who watches.

NASA

If space is your jam, NASA has you covered. You can take a 4k tour of the moon or tour the International Space Station! Or even explore Mars courtesy of the Curiosity Rover. The Kids Zone on the NASA website provides games, activities and more space resources to explore!

National Geographic Weird But True

This television series can be found on Disney Plus so it isn’t free unless you already have the digital platform, but these topical episodes provide information, facts and field trips. Based off the “Weird But True” books by National Geographic, this series discusses the history and science behind various topics and includes a field trip to meet with experts on the topic each episode. There is an episode about training for space missions where they interview an astronaut and travel to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. One of the presenters goes to Colonial Williamsburg to learn about the jobs in the Colonial times. There is even an episode on the importance of bees. It is presented in a fun and captivating way that will entertain children up to the teen years. There are things that even the adults will learn!

2020 has been a strange year. Thankfully, museums, zoos, aquariums and the National Parks have figured out ways to bring their location to the world through technology! No un-air-conditioned bus ride needed!

Heather Walsh is a mom, Marine wife, Navy child, blogger, and lover of all things crafty and Disney. Professionally, she is a Physician Assistant and writer and has a passion for helping others to stay positive and supported. She has been writing since KidPix was on a floppy disk! She is one of three women who founded MilMomAdventures, sharing travel and lifestyle tips for the military family at www.milmomadventures.com . When she isn’t crafting with her kiddos, going on the next adventure, or writing for MilMomAdventures, she has contributed to NextGen MilSpouse, Daily Mom Military and Military Disney Tips while reheating her first cup of coffee for the tenth time.

10 Things You Need to Do for a Safe Pandemic PCS

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You’ve been staying socially distant from others for months. No one has crossed that threshold since March. And now you’re getting ready to have movers pack up all your stuff and ship it to somewhere else.

10 Things You Need to Do for a Safe Pandemic PCS

To get yourself ready and keep everyone safe, you should consider doing these 10 simple things.

1. Make Your Wishes Known

Not everyone, unfortunately, is following the same safety precautions. But that shouldn’t mean that your family needs to compromise on safety.

Instead, make your COVID precautions known early and often. Start by letting the move coordinator know what you’re expecting, then repeat that to the company representative.

Post a sign on the door with your expectations for safety: masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc.

Then, remind your movers politely of what you’d like them to do so that you can all stay safe right now.

2. Require Hand Sanitizer

If you can find it, grab a few larger containers of hand sanitizer and station them around the house. Placing sanitizers at your front door, in the kitchen and near the bathroom would be a great start!

3. Offer Masks & Gloves

Not everyone wears masks and gloves or has access to them. To be safe, consider buying a pack of disposable masks and nitrile gloves.

Offer masks and gloves to the movers for your pack-up and your unpack.

Oh, and even though it’s your house, you and your family should mask up for the duration of the packing or unpacking process.

4. Designate a Restroom

You probably already do this, but if you can designate one bathroom just for the movers to use. Stock it with soap, sanitizer, Lysol wipes and disposable paper towels.

5. Pre-Pack as Much as You Can

Whether moving companies will pack Rubbermaid totes as-is or will unpack them and repack them is up to each business. However, many will just pack your pre-boxed household goods without question.

If you’re not comfortable with the movers touching all of your things, consider pre-packing your clothes, kitchen tools and utensils or other high-touch items.

6. Individually Wrapped Snacks & Drinks

Many of us buy the movers pizza or doughnuts as a thank you for a good move. However, it might be smarter this year to buy a bunch of individually wrapped granola bars and stock a cooler with bottles of water.

Less shared food and drinks could mean fewer germs floating around.

7. Shoe Covers to Prevent Germs Walking Around

Stop extra dirt (and germs) from getting tracked inside your house by offering sanitary shoe covers. Mover should use them inside the house as much as possible.

8. Hire a COVID-Safe Sitter

Kids get underfoot during a normal move. But to prevent them from exposure outside your pandemic-safe bubble, consider keeping your children out the house entirely.

Hire a sitter or ask a friend to watch them for the day, if you can.

9. Monitor from a Distance

Getting up close and personal to watch the packers at work isn’t really a thing in 2020. Sure, you should still monitor how things are going, but try to keep your distance.

Check each box before it gets loaded into the truck and ask about what’s in it. Then cross-reference it on your list of items and boxes to be sure.

10. Stocking Up on Cleaners & Wipes

Cleaning has never been more important, especially when you have strangers coming into your home for an extended period of time.

Before the movers come, wipe everything down with a sanitizing cleaner. As people move room to room, consider following them and wiping down any surfaces. When the move is over or if you’re sharing a restroom, wipe it down between users. Basically, clean everything before, during and after!

You’re going to need a lot of Clorox!

How has your family handled a pandemic PCS season? Sound off in the comments!

Need Some Workout Motivation – Check Out the Army & Air Force Exchange Services Weekly BE FIT Live Workouts

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Every Monday, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) BE FIT ambassadors Roy Montez and Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sonja Berry host 20-minute workouts at 11 a.m. CST live on facebook.com/shopmyexchange. Soldiers, Airmen, retirees, Veterans and military family members can watch the series on the Exchange Facebook page. The workouts are a component of AAFES’s BE FIT Program.

Strategic Marketing Manager Roy Montez Jr. serves as the Exchange BE FIT ambassador, drawing on his involvement in NCAA Division I soccer. As a part of his contributions, Montez offers weekly BE FIT live sessions on Facebook. These sessions were created with a goal of reaching the military community during COVID-19. Senior Master Sgt. Sonja Berry is assigned to the Exchange as the assistant director of Public Health and Food Safety. She partners with Montez on BE FIT’s weekly Facebook Live workouts. “It’s like having a free trainer,” said Berry. “It demonstrates the Exchange’s commitment to fitness and healthy lifestyles.”

Photo Credit: ©Kzenon /Adobe Stock

The idea for the live workouts came about to promote wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workouts include interval training, core workouts, strength training and more. “These BE FIT workouts remind military communities that staying fit is critical—especially during the pandemic,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “Joining the Exchange workouts through Facebook fosters a sense of community and resiliency.”

Each video begins with a short introduction, then Montez describes each exercise before he and Berry lead viewers on stretching. During the workout, Montez pauses to rest, provides advice, and answers questions from the online audience.

“BE FIT, which was launched in 2009, prioritizes the health of our Nation’s fighting force. The initiative highlights health-conscious meals and grab-and-go snacks as well as providing an assortment of fitness gear and wellness services. The Exchange’s BE FIT program empowers shoppers, their families, and the broader military community to make healthy lifestyle choices,” said Loyd Brumfield, PR Specialist, AAFES.

BE FIT initiatives include:

  • A revamped BE FIT page on ShopMyExchange.com.
  • New Healthier Choices shelf tags to promote meals and snacks that meet the BE FIT program’s calorie, sodium and fat requirements.
  • Partnering with commissaries for Healthy Lifestyle Festivals and other wellness events.
  • A social media campaign to post and share BE FIT content.
  • Opening more than 20 restaurants, all with better-for-you options.

“Every Monday, the Exchange offers live workouts on its Facebook page. Through BE FIT Connect, which is part of the Exchange’s community Hub, shoppers can find exercise videos, health and fitness tips and links to content on the Exchange’s Facebook page and BE FIT merchandise on ShopMyExchange.com. The Healthier Choice tags displayed on all our BE FIT items in our Express stores have also resonated with customers as they make it easy to quickly identify healthier options,” said Brumfield.

The BE FIT program helps Military Families make healthy lifestyle choices. “The Exchange makes it part of our mission to support troops’ readiness and resiliency through a BE FIT lifestyle,” said President and Chief Merchandising Officer Ana Middleton.  “Through our long-term BE FIT initiative, we are committed to providing the fitness information, nutrition tips, equipment and better-for-you dining, and snack options Warfighters and their families need to meet their health goals. “Our BE FIT initiatives also helps us develop lifelong emotional connections with our customers.”

For more information and updates on the program visit the AAFES’s Community Hub. The BE FIT content includes healthy recipes and fitness tips.

Marguerite Cleveland is a freelance writer who specializes in human interest and travel stories. She is a military brat, a veteran and now a military spouse.  Her military experience is vast as the daughter of a Navy man who served as an enlisted sailor and then Naval Officer. She served as an enlisted soldier in the reserves and on active duty, then as an Army Officer. She currently serves as a military spouse. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Visit her website www.PeggyWhereShouldIGo.com