navy-life
DIY Kitchen Backsplash
Wednesday, January 17 • california, design, farmhouse, fashion, how to, interior decor, san diego, san diego blogger, style
Backsory: I am a part of a Facebook group called White Walls (if you're a military spouse and aren't in the group you need to go join it now). It is a group for military spouses to show how they decorate their "white walls" in base housing or in rental housing. Since we all move around a lot, we can't really make each house our own. However, some of the people in the group have done amazing things to their rental houses that have completely changed the look! One of them being the removable wallpaper that I'm going to explain in the post!
Last weekend, I went to Target and saw this wallpaper for about $30. I had seen it on the Facebook page awhile back and it sparked my interest. I wasn't going to buy it but my friend told me that she would help me put it up if I got it... so I left Target that day with something I didn't go in there to buy (story of my life LOL).
On a Saturday night, two of my good friends came over and we ate pizza, drank wine and put up wallpaper! (You know you're getting older when ladies night turns into decorating your kitchen.) The wallpaper was a bit challenging to put up because you had to line the tiles up just right and make sure the fake grout colors matched. Lucky for me, my friends were pro at it and they had a system down so that they could line it up perfectly! Overall it took us the whole roll of wallpaper and about 2 hours start to finish.
I highly recommend this to pretty much anyone who wants to make their kitchen more "Joanna Gaines" without it being permanent. We did have to take a couple pieces off after we put them on and the pieces peeled right off the wall with absolutely no damage at all! I was throughly surprised with how real the subway tiles looked and I am absolutely obsessed with the way it turned out. It makes my kitchen look like a whole new kitchen!
Target also has a lot of other patterns so if subway tile isn't your thing or you are looking to do a whole wall, they have you covered! Let me know if you try this wallpaper and what you think of it :)
What to Wear - Navy Ceremonies
Monday, September 25 • attire, fashion, girly, milso, quick guide, san diego blogger
Its that time of year again.... Ball Season!! I am a total sucker for a reason to get dressed up (sometimes I dress up just to go out to dinner with my hubby) so when ball season comes around I get really excited!
I remember Roxy (from Army Wives) being worried about the "dress code" she would have to abide by after Trevor went to OCS. I found this part of the show funny because there isn't really a dress code for spouses on a normal day. I have definitely shown up to spouse meetings in my Navy sweatshirt and leggings but have also show up in a preppy Lilly dress so I personally think anything goes. However, when it comes to events and balls, there is definitely an unspoken dress code. From what I've experienced, it is best to wear modest clothes but still show off you sense of style - you can do this by wearing a chunky necklace or some adorable peep-toe heels!
I wanted to share some of the outfits I have worn to Navy ceremonies since Daniel has been in. Also, I am the kind of person who doesn't want to spend a ton on formal clothes since I don't really get a chance to wear them that often. So, all of the dresses I listed below are $80 and under!
OCS Dinner - The OCS dinner was more on the formal side so I opted to wear this red dress that I picked up from H&M almost a year prior. I didn't have a good sweater to wear so I paired it with my professional blazer to give the dress a professional/formal look.
OCS Graduation - OCS graduation was a little on the less formal side. It was in an auditorium and was a short ceremony so I didn't dress up too much. I ordered this dress from Red Dress Boutique about a month before heading to Rhode Island. I knew it was going to be chilly there so I made sure to pick up a cute oversized scarf to wear with it. If I could change one thing about this outfit, I would ditch the heels. We did a lot of walking and heels weren't really the best choice for shoes.
Merlot Dress (linked similar) // Heels
Navy Ball - This was my first ball so I had no idea what to wear! I went shopping with my gal-pal who had been to a Marine Ball before and she helped me pick out this dress. I originally found a dress similar to it at the mall but didn't want to pay over $200 for a dress I would wear once. So I headed over to Lulu's online and found this perfect dress for the perfect price! A simple yet elegant dress is always a good option for the ball. However, I did see some cinderella style dresses that had sequins and I also saw 3-5 ladies wearing short dresses. So I guess it is whatever you feel most comfortable in!
Wining Ceremony - Again, I had no idea what to wear for the winging ceremony! A couple senior spouses had told me to wear nice Sunday church attire so I tried to match that. Keep in mind that you will be going on stage (above the crowd) to pin on wings; so, when finding an outfit, think about how it will look from the audiences' point of view (aka not too short). In the end, I think my simple black long sleeve dress was perfect. It wasn't too dressy but it didn't look casual either. I would recommend either a simple dress or a cute summer dress for an event like this!
I hope you all have a wonderful ball/ceremony with your military member!
Shop more ball dress styles here:
5 Steps to Land Your Dream Job
Monday, June 19 • advice, college, how to, milso, quick guide, student, tips
1.
Be prepared: Before you even apply for your next
job, you need to be prepared. A lot of professionals have given me advice to
dress for my next job in my current position. This may sound silly but it can
put you in the mindset of your next position. If you are looking to become a
manager then dress like one!
Also, be strategic in your job hunt. Search
through Linked In and connect with professionals who are currently working for
the company you want to work for or have the title you are striving to get. Some
companies even let you job shadow (if you’re applying within the company) so
you can get a feel for what your workload would be. It is really important that
you take these opportunities and ask as many questions as you can.
Once you find your dream job, then it is
time to apply, apply, apply! I had to apply a few times to get into the
position I am now, and I’m beyond grateful that I kept reaching for my goals. It
is easy to get discouraged when you get turned down, but just remember what
motivated you to apply in the first place and keep pushing forward!
2.
Job description: A job description is the
position roadmap. It will outline what you will be doing and the
minimum requirements to be considered for the position. One technique that I
have been taught is to print out the job description before you create your
resume. Once you print it, highlight everything you do in your current position
under responsibilities and everything you can do under the qualifications. You
can also underline key words such as “analyze, assist, research, provide, etc.”
The job description is the best way to know what the hiring manager is looking
for so make sure you know it very well.
3. Resume: Resumes are a tricky art so I’m going to
try and keep this section to a few key points.
First off, you will want to create a master
resume. This is a document where you will be able to maintain your skills,
qualifications, accomplishments and everything you have done; but never
actually submit to any managers. You want to make sure and update this
periodically so it current.
Once you find the job you’re wanting to
apply for, and have highlighted all the important info, you’re ready to start
creating your specific resume. It is important to have a specific resume for each job you are applying for instead of a general one that you submit to multiple jobs. Your specific resume is going to be portions of
your master resume that are specific to the job you are applying for. To tailor
your resume, it is good to include a key qualification section that will hook
the hiring manager and spotlight what makes you the best fit. Also, tie in some
keywords from the job description if you can.
Finally, format and design play a large role
in building a great resume. A few tips I have learned while talking to hiring
managers are: do not exceed two pages, balance the white space vs text, don’t
have a fancy template that is hard to follow, and use a basic font around 12pt.
Also, your resume must be consistent. Don’t use a period after a sentence on
one bullet point and no period on the next bullet point. Make sure you are
bolding and italicizing consistently throughout; instead of having random bold
words. And finally, remove clutter from your resume. Don’t write “references on
request” because if a manager wants references, they will automatically request
it. Don’t put irrelevant hobbies or clubs that you participated in and do try
to convey your thoughts in the shortest way possible.
4. The interview: Woo, you made it to the interview!
This part can be extremely nerve racking but the biggest tip I can give you is
be confident. A manager’s goal is to get to know who you are, not who your
nervous self is.
The best way to gain confidence is to be
prepared. Ask your friends or family to do mock interviews with you and become
familiar with articulating your answers. Get a good night’s sleep the night
before your interview and set out your professional outfit before you go to
bed. When it comes to interview attire, it is always better to be overdressed
than underdressed. Your attire should be all business, even down to the
notebook and pen you bring with you to the interview (yes, you should bring a
notebook and take notes).
When you get into the interview room, shake
hands and make eye contact with each person. Make sure you engage each
individual in the room if you have a panel interview.
To conclude the interview, the hiring
manager will probably ask you “do you have any questions for me.” You
absolutely have to have questions to ask them! It is a good idea to come up
with three to five questions to have ready for the interviewer before
you even step foot in the room.
There are a lot of do’s and don’ts to
interviewing but the best thing to do is be authentic and show the interviewer
why you deserve to be in the position.
5.
Follow up: After the interview, follow up by
sending the manager a thank you note (handwritten is best but an email works
too) no more than 24 hrs after the interview. If you get the job, congrats! If
you don’t, get feedback on how you can improve your next interview and keep
pushing forward.
-->
Finding a job and developing your career are very
challenging. However, if you put your heart into it and are motivated to reach
your goals then it is 100% possible! Good luck to everyone out there!
Coffee Date
Wednesday, April 5 • about me, coffee date, milso, round up
Hey friends! Please forgive my long absence and join me, at your leisure, on my “coffee date” blog post. I hope you can take a break, sit down with a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and catch up with me...
First of all, a month ago, my husband, Daniel, earned and received his Wings of Gold. After almost two years of training, Daniel is officially a Naval Aviator. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the aviation community, earning one’s “Wings” is a milestone accomplishment (I have a timeline posted in my earlier blog post). During this same timeframe, our wonderful parents came down to visit us and celebrate the occasion. It was so much fun because we got to venture around Pensacola and play “tourist” with them for a week! It was a great time showing them around our “home town” before we moved. Also, they were very helpful with everything around the house, which made the stress of moving much easier! That same weekend was also Mardi Gras so we all celebrated that as well. If you want to experience Mardi Gras, without the New Orleans craziness, I’d recommend Pensacola. There were three different parades with massive floats, lots of awesome live music, and a multitude of bright and colorful beads. Additionally, in Pensacola, these celebrations were all family friendly.
Next up, we received orders to move to San Diego, California. Daniel’s orders gave us two weeks to move. We were fortunate in that the movers were able to help us pack everything and then transport almost all of our belongings across the country. At the same time, Daniel and I drove our cars, Jack (our dog) and Nala (our cat) from Florida to California. Along the way, we saw some fun towns and landmarks which made the drive more fun and interesting. As for Jack and Nala, they were out of their crates and comfortably slept in the back seat of Daniel’s truck most of the way. Jack was a little restless at times but for a six-month old puppy, he was great. We were very proud of our furry babies!
When we arrived in San Diego, we had a hotel room but no house. Finding housing here is very difficult because the average home is only on the rental market for about five days. Nevertheless, upon arriving in San Diego, we scheduled five home viewing appointments. After just viewing the first home on our list, we learned that we qualified (early) for coveted base housing! We also had the pleasure of having my brother, Ryan, and his girlfriend, Hannah, come to visit us during our first week. In between house hunting, we got to explore San Diego with them and go to Disneyland, which made our first week in the area that much better!
Fast forward to now. Our movers delivered our furniture and boxes, the furniture has been set up, the boxes unpacked and now we just have to organize things. So far, we are loving our new home and are very grateful! Daniel is beginning his next phase of the Navy flight program and I’m enjoying being a stay-at-home wife while looking for jobs. I would like to get back into blogging since there are so many things I’d love to share. I’d love to know what y’all would like to see on the blog in the future so if you have any input, please email me or comment below.
Thanks for joining me on this crazy “coffee date!” I hope you have a good week ahead and I'll do my best to write more soon.
Flight School Timeline - Student Aviator
Wednesday, October 19 • adventure, aviator, florida, milso, quick guide
Hey everyone! I wanted to write this post about the flight school timeline because when my man first started, I googled everything but couldn't seem to find a good timeline. All of the following info is my personal experience and you must know that everyone has a different experience! Also, each person's timeline is different. They may tell you 6 months and it takes 10 months; so don't expect your timeline to look exactly like this!
When the aviator graduates from Officer Candidate School, they are usually given a couple weeks to get their things together before reporting to NAS Pensacola. My aviator was given 4 weeks to come home and pack his life up then drive down to Florida.
After they check in in Pensacola, they wait to start IFS (this process can be anywhere from a week to 4 months).
IFS - Introductory Flight Screening: This portion of training takes place in Pensacola, Florida and is where the pilot learns to fly a Cesna or Piper Warrior airframe. Some aviators get to skip this portion if they have already obtained their private pilots license. During IFS, the aviator has a series of flights and tests to become FAA certified.
API - Aviation Preflight Indoctrination: This is the "fun and easiest" part of flight school according to my hubby. They spend four weeks learning about weather, aerodynamics, aircraft engines, systems and other things needed to fly the T-6. After the classroom work, they learn basic survival skills. This includes the infamous helo-dunker where they are tipped upside-down in a cockpit, submerged underwater and told to get out. Overall, this process takes about 6-8 weeks.
Primary: Primary is held in either NAS Whiting Field or NAS Corpus Christi (I highly recommend staying in Pensacola - especially if the aviator wants to go Helos!) Primary took about 9 months to complete. Primary is by far the most challenging part of flight school. Its here that aviators learn to fly the T-6 Texan. They have multiple tests, simulations and flights to go through before they are done. I wasn't with my aviator as he was going through this (I was finishing up college) but he seemed to be stressed out to the max! This is a time to really support your aviator and do what you can to help them because its a crazy amount of work. If you aviator makes it through then they will select their airframe. This is an exciting time yet still stressful because you have to pick the airframe you want to fly in the future.
Advanced: Once the aviator is selected for an airframe you will have to move to where that airframe's location is. (If anyone has any questions about where advanced is held, send me an email and I'll tell you - I don't want to put all the training bases on the internet.) Advanced has been pretty busy and stressful this far. Not quite like primary but still challenging. My aviator selected Helos so he is having to re-learn how to fly a rotary aircraft. We were told that advanced takes about 6 months but its looking more like 8 months before we get sent to the fleet readiness squadron (FRS). After that, we don't know whats going to happen but thats part of the Navy life! Adventure is out there!
If anyone has any questions, please send me an email. I know what it it like to be a confused student aviator significant other so I'm happy to help anyone else out.
When the aviator graduates from Officer Candidate School, they are usually given a couple weeks to get their things together before reporting to NAS Pensacola. My aviator was given 4 weeks to come home and pack his life up then drive down to Florida.
After they check in in Pensacola, they wait to start IFS (this process can be anywhere from a week to 4 months).
IFS - Introductory Flight Screening: This portion of training takes place in Pensacola, Florida and is where the pilot learns to fly a Cesna or Piper Warrior airframe. Some aviators get to skip this portion if they have already obtained their private pilots license. During IFS, the aviator has a series of flights and tests to become FAA certified.
API - Aviation Preflight Indoctrination: This is the "fun and easiest" part of flight school according to my hubby. They spend four weeks learning about weather, aerodynamics, aircraft engines, systems and other things needed to fly the T-6. After the classroom work, they learn basic survival skills. This includes the infamous helo-dunker where they are tipped upside-down in a cockpit, submerged underwater and told to get out. Overall, this process takes about 6-8 weeks.
Primary: Primary is held in either NAS Whiting Field or NAS Corpus Christi (I highly recommend staying in Pensacola - especially if the aviator wants to go Helos!) Primary took about 9 months to complete. Primary is by far the most challenging part of flight school. Its here that aviators learn to fly the T-6 Texan. They have multiple tests, simulations and flights to go through before they are done. I wasn't with my aviator as he was going through this (I was finishing up college) but he seemed to be stressed out to the max! This is a time to really support your aviator and do what you can to help them because its a crazy amount of work. If you aviator makes it through then they will select their airframe. This is an exciting time yet still stressful because you have to pick the airframe you want to fly in the future.
Advanced: Once the aviator is selected for an airframe you will have to move to where that airframe's location is. (If anyone has any questions about where advanced is held, send me an email and I'll tell you - I don't want to put all the training bases on the internet.) Advanced has been pretty busy and stressful this far. Not quite like primary but still challenging. My aviator selected Helos so he is having to re-learn how to fly a rotary aircraft. We were told that advanced takes about 6 months but its looking more like 8 months before we get sent to the fleet readiness squadron (FRS). After that, we don't know whats going to happen but thats part of the Navy life! Adventure is out there!
If anyone has any questions, please send me an email. I know what it it like to be a confused student aviator significant other so I'm happy to help anyone else out.
MILSO - good and bad
Wednesday, September 21 • milso, quick guide
Benefits:
Support system - The military, affiliations and many companies are very good to service members, especially their families. It's nice to see companies like SimpliSafe Security working with the Jackson In Action 83 Foundation to help military families feel safe and connect with each other. SimpliSafe created a wireless security system you can see here; and it's perfect for military families because there's no binding contract and it can be easily picked up and moved to another home. It is nice to know that if we have to be away from our house for awhile, it will be secure. There are also significant other clubs that are there to support each other. I'm personally affiliated with a spouse group in my current town and the ladies are the best. We meet once a month for coffee, volunteer in the community and have a page where we can connect. I know that no matter where I am with the military there is a group, company or association somewhere around me.
Locations - There are Navy bases all over the world so we could get to live over seas if we want. Also, most bases are on the water so no matter where we go, we will be by the water!
Draw backs:
Married vs Not Married - While we made it work, it's very challenging not being married and living in the military. When you aren't married, you don't get any of the insurance benefits so make sure you have insurance on your own. You can't live in base housing (unless the housing is off base like ours is) which means that you might be living in a less safe area. When we looked at houses, they weren't too bad but I am so glad we were able to get base housing. Also, when you aren't married, you can't go on base or buy anything from the commissary without your sponsor. This was probably the most frustrating part as I couldn't go grocery shopping at the commissary or even go on base to pick my pilot up from work.
Deployment - While we haven't been through a deployment, it is looming on the horizon. I am not looking forward to having to say goodbye to my man for 6-8 months at a time. It is very challenging to be away from your loved one for that long. We don't have children yet so deployment won't be bad in that perspective but I can't imagine how it is for families with children. This is where Jackson in Action 83 comes in.. Their mission is to provide support to military families, focusing on the children, whose parents are deployed. If you want to learn more about their mission, click here.
Careers - Like everything else, having a career as a MILSO can be a challenge. However, I found that a few national companies are willing to work with you and get you a job as you move around.The company I work for, Navy Federal, is a wonderful company if you want an occupation that can follow you, no matter where you go. There are also companies that allow you to work from home and thus move around. A few spouses have brought up the difficulty of finding a job for military spouses who move every few years and are working on getting a panel set up to answer different questions. I will update this post if I get more info on the panel.
Overall, I enjoy the military life. While it has drawbacks, it is great at the same time! I wouldn't trade my lifestyle for anything. I will be posting more, now that I'm finished with college and the wedding, so stay tuned for more posts on life!
Beach Hair, Don't Care
Thursday, July 21 • adventure, florida, milso, quick guide, round up, southern belle
This past weekend, my mom got the chance to visit us and we had a lot of fun! Here is a quick photo recap of the weekend...
We started the weekend off by having dinner at a restaurant in Downtown Pensacola called Taco Mez. I had a hibiscus martini and a "fancy ass taco" that were both delicious! I highly reccomend the place to those who live in or visit Pensacola because it was good food for a good price too.
We got up early on Saturday morning and headed down to the beach. While at the beach we got the chance to rent mopeds and ride them around the island! It was so much fun to drive around the little town and we found a really good place to eat lunch (Juana's Pagodas). After mopeds, we decided to rent kayaks and went kayaking on the ocean. Kayaking on the ocean is so much harder than kayaking on a lake! When we were fully exhausted we headed home. That night, my mom and I went to a froyo place by my house and enjoyed a cup of froyo together before she had to head back to Washington. I am so thankful for all of the fun we had last weekend!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
