tips Archives | 1200 Miles Away

Atonement in the Summer

July 1, 2016July 17, 2016 kimberly Leave a comment

I’m one of those people who views the new year as an opportunity to create goals and opportunities to try new things. It’s a new year so a new beginning. But this January, I realized, I didn’t quite do that. Instead, over the winter, I was in a funk. I’ve been in a strange place for about 9-12 months, but it wasn’t until recently that I discovered this low point.

That’s when I discovered that I needed to create a new beginning for myself.

After a few weeks of self inflection, I realized I had a bit of atonement to do.

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Patriotic M&M’s® Monster Cookie Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateWithM #CollectiveBias

Memorial Day is coming up quickly! Are you ready to kick off summer!?! I sure am!

Typically, we spend the weekend at BBQs and then our neighborhood pool opens so there’s always the first dip to start our summer off right. But being a military family, we also take a moment to honor WHY we celebrate Memorial Day.

It isn’t about the great sales on a new grill, or [finally] getting a 3-day weekend to spend with the family. It’s about honoring those men and women who gave their lives to serve our great nation in the Armed Services.

One way I like to show my appreciation during Memorial Day is to give back to those troops still serving. Whether it’s by providing meals to those who are working on the holiday, or just swinging by with some cookies to say, “thanks.” I know it isn’t easy for them to see the rest of us enjoy our holiday while they are still serving and protecting. (more…)

A Visit to a Strawberry Patch: Organic Berry Smoothie Recipe

May 12, 2016May 12, 2016 kimberly Leave a comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShoutSolutions #CollectiveBias

strawberry

It is strawberry season in California, one of my favorite times of the year. A few weeks ago, Mini Me and I took a trip to a locally-grown, organic strawberry farm located in the Santa Ynez Hills. The Farmstead is the area’s source for organic produce, and its farm stand environment is quaint and perfectly trendy. (more…)

Do I Stay or Do I Go?

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 kimberly 8 Comments

I recently had a reader contact me about living the geo-bachelor lifestyle. She was in a committed relationship with a military member, but had some doubts about being able to sustain a long-distance relationship when he travels to a remote assignment. After his remote, his orders show he will not be returning to the same base, and this will affect their relationship greatly. She asked, “Do I stay or do I go?”

Through our conversations, I learned that she had been given advice from everyone: her family, her friends, the random cashier at Target. Everyone she came in contact with had an opinion about her relationship. Mostly, negative.

I realized, through her story, that I, too, have found myself in similar situations. Where I had to decide if I stay or if I go (and leave my husband). How did I ultimately decide what was best for me? Read on.

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[How To] Open When…. Emails for a Long Distance Relationship

April 27, 2016April 26, 2016 kimberly 2 Comments

I love seeing lists of “Open When” letters to a significant other. They really help connect two people together across the miles. But what if writing out a letter is too much? Say, your significant other is deployed and you are juggling a household of kiddies? Or what if they can’t take too many personal affects with them (or not want the embarrassment of opening them)?

Here is a MODIFIED way of completing the “Open When” letters when you just can’t put a stamp on it! (more…)