Humorous Holiday Hacks: Round 3 (Army Wife Network)

December 5, 2016 by

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Not just because Christmas makes us feel all warm, fuzzy, snuggly and gives us the perfect excuse to eat #AllTheThings. But because I have a new reason to create yet another “batch” of humorous holiday hacks…

These Humorous Holiday Hacks are tips and tricks that, while entertaining, may or may not make your holiday season easier. (But hey, if it puts a smile on our face, that’s something right?)

Before we dig in to this fresh round of all things humorous, holiday-ish and hack-like, feel free to hop over and check out our previous hack batches by clicking here and here. 

Now, let’s get down to business. And by business, I mean let’s get ready to laugh about all things holiday.

humorous-holiday-hacks-3

1. Every holiday season, I just get so dang overwhelmed. I tell myself every year that I am going to keep from getting stressed but it never seems to work. I feel like I am running in a million different directions with my hair on fire yelling ‘What do I do with my hands?!?!’ Talk about a joy sucker. How can I keep the Christmas spirit without losing my mind? 

Hack: Ah, dear reader… Solidarity! Most of us, at some point, have probably been there, done that, spilled spiked egg nog on the T-shirt. But now, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite terms, actually adopted from this army-wife life. Are you ready? Say it with me: VOLUNTOLD. This delightful word is the key to all things sanity, especially around the holiday season. It’s that odd hybrid of getting someone to volunteer, but in reality its more of a command than a request. (See the connection with the army now?) We personally have to muster up the courage to say, “No thanks” when someone tries to back us in to a corner and voluntell us to do something. (If you struggle with telling others no, you can always pretend not to speak English OR wear earbuds wherever you go so as to pretend you can’t hear anything around you.) Also, be bold and start voluntelling other people in your circle to get to crack-a-lacking and help you out.

I’ve got three more humorous hacks to share with you this year (AND an Amazon giveaway going on– you don’t need any military affiliation to enter/win) over at Army Wife Network. Pop over, check it out and enter to win some extra spending money for this Holiday season.

Which humorous hack was your favorite? Do you have a humorous (or real) holiday hack you would like to share? Feel free to comment below!

And have a very Merry, non-stressful and humorous holiday season!

Laughing through the Holidays,

Initials Signature Blog

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” ~Job 8:21

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: Army Wife Network Tagged With: , ,

10 Commandments of Pregnancy: For the General Public

November 30, 2016 by

So I’ve been blogging for a hot minute. See also: Over five years.

And in that time, we’ve experienced a lot of life changes, especially in the family realm of things… A miscarriage, the birth of our daughter Charis and now, the 3rd-trimester-point-of-in-process-cooking of another Tiny Human.

One of my favorite mini-series of all time here on the blog are the “10 Commandments of Pregnancy.” They are funny, because they are true.

So today, I want to re-share the first installment of the mini-series: 10 Commandments for the general public, aka friends, extended family and strangers.

Because if I am going to put on weight and wonder how/what my body is doing, I might as well try to laugh in the meantime. (And I invite you to do the same.)

Oh. And if you are a friend/family member or just a random stranger who interacts with a preggo at any point in your life– please heed these guidelines. Trust me. You will thank me later.

[Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: Family Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Travel Log (Appendix) Part 2

November 9, 2016 by

I know… FINALLY! This post will conclude the crazy travels/adventures/blessings that my family experienced during our major life moving transitions in the fall of 2016… Cue collective sigh of relief. (And pardon me while I go take an epic nap.)

BTW: If you want to recap our entire journey, check out these previous posts:

Travel Log Part 1
Travel Log Part 2
Travel Log Part 3
Travel Log Part 4
Travel Log Appendix Part 1

***

Travel log (Appendix) Day-feels-like-873… Hello (again) from Indianapolis! [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: adventure Tagged With: , ,

Travel Log (Appendix) Part 1

November 7, 2016 by

Just when you all thought that things were simmering down for our little army family after our cross-country move… We added an “Appendix” to our traveling adventures, due to my commitment and dedication to my best friend Emily was getting hitched (in Kansas City) less than two weeks after my arrival to our new home in Georgia. So, the shenanigans continue… (If you want to get caught up to speed with all things sarcastic/traveling, jump over to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.)

***

Talk about Monday conflict. My brain/body are rebelling. I’m trying to pack and get ready for another road trip and they are all like, “Um, WE JUST DID THIS. ABORT MISSION. REFUSE TO FUNCTION.”

But my heart is all like, “SHUT UP AND GET IN THE CAR! WE’VE GOT BRIDESMAID-ILY DUTIES TO EXECUTE.”

West bound and down for Emily Surdez’s upcoming nuptials. #LiveLaughLoeb

*** [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: adventure Tagged With: , ,

Travel/PCS Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 4

November 3, 2016 by

So, at this point in the Knobloch-family-army-moving shenanigans, we had arrived at our new home-destination… But of course, the “fun” didn’t stop there. Keep reading for the ups and downs of transitioning to our new-to-us Georgia home.

(And if you are just joining us today… Catch up with Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of our transition. Feel free to point and laugh.)

*** [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: adventure, army Tagged With: , , ,

Travel Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 3

October 29, 2016 by

And the recap of our humorous military cross-country saga continues… Catch up with Part 1 and Part 2 by clicking the links. Hope you are enjoying our journey! ~SGK

***

Travel log, day 12: Hey yo, from Little Rock, AR.

1. Yes, I can count… Travel log days 9-11 were spent semi stationary at my parentals hacienda. Again, no driving = delightful.

2. Grateful for the the awesome hospitality tonight at Chateau De Knoberg (Aka, thanks Brock & Katie!)

3. Driven by the sign several times over the years, but “Toad Suck Park” still makes me lol.

4. Stopped for gas in Russellville, AR… And it reminded me of my summer spent there interning with Cargill Pork. (I waved in that general direction Cindy Woods Looney!)

5. Crushed (aka “Sonic”) ice is the best non-human traveling companion this preggo has thus far discovered.

6. We are one passenger (and a lot of luggage!) lighter as Charis is partying like a Rockstar Toddler the next couple weeks, first with Gma Cj then Gma Lex. I’m a little jealous. #AllTheIceCream

[Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: army Tagged With: , , ,

False Motivation is Greater than No Motivation

October 22, 2016 by

Normally, I am a very motivated person.

I am a goer. A doer. A get-things-done-er.

But sometimes, I lose my motivation… Like when we are facing a cross-country PCS that we are a teeny-bit-less-than-excited about and the first trimester of pregnancy practically knocks me off my feet. [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: Army Wife Network Tagged With: , ,

Travel Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 2

October 20, 2016 by

The recap of our journey across the USA continues today… to get caught up, be sure to check out Part 1 of this series. Thanks for tuning in! ~SGK

***

Surefire indication #2 you are in the middle of a very long road trip:

Husband get out of shower and you catch him doing the “smell test” on his very limited number of T-shirts he brought. ?#ThatsWhenFebreezeBecomesDeodorant 

***

“But seriously, Mama… What time zone are we in??” -Lightest Sleeping Child On the Planet Except When We Need To Hit The Road

[Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: adventure, army Tagged With: , , ,

Travel Log: #WeBeRoadTripping Part 1

October 17, 2016 by

So, if you’ve been kinda-sorta keeping up with #AllTheThings with our life transitions, you would know that we recently moved across the country (again) per military orders. I documented our adventures on Facebook, BUT as I reflect, those memories are too precious to just let them get sucked into the abyss of Facebook craziness. I want to cement them here– if not for your entertainment, for my joy/reflection later down the line. So for the next few blog posts, we will recap the adventure of #WeBeRoadTripping from Fort Lewis, Washington to Dahlonega, Georgia. Enjoy! ~SGK 

***

I think I read in a Milspouse etiquette handbook once that milspouses are permitted one melodramatic post per PCS.

And I am cashing mine in right now.

We are in our final moments here in Fort Lewis, WA. This place is an easy winner for the best duty station in our career so far.

We will miss everything about it (except I-5.) The people, culture, food, weather, stuff to do, you name it.

And as our personal belongings are all packed in boxes on a truck somewhere halfway across the USA, there’s one thing we can’t take with us… The pieces of our heart that will always be in this state, in this season, with our people. (That was the melodramatic climax, just FYI.)

So now, we say farewell to a place we’ve called home with the promise from 1 Thessalonians 5:24… “The one who called you is faithful and He will do it.”

Related note: Very grateful I super glued my sunglasses back together because it’s getting old explaining to Charis why Mama is all teary eyed.

*** [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: adventure, army Tagged With: , , , ,

My New-ish Niche (And Some Big Life Changes)

October 11, 2016 by

Hey friends! I know. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve last blogged.

Other than my blog teasers to my monthly Army Wife Network posts, I have literally written ONCE since May. (Remember? That was my post about WHY I wasn’t writing much… because things were starting to taste a bit like charcoal, aka, I was getting a bit burnt out.)

This post isn’t going to be full of excuses as to WHY I haven’t written much, because hey– no excuses needed when one works for “Jesus dollars.” But I AM still alive AND I (still) love Jesus! We all know that sometimes being obedient to Him doesn’t make a lot of sense (to the general public– or ourselves) in the moment.

But now? Now, it makes A LOT of sense. After five straight years of hardcore ministry and shepherding, my husband and I received a clear word that this new season of life was to be a transition, not just in a “home” location with the military, but in our walk with the Lord. We were to move from being shepherds to sheep.

Great theory. Hard to put into practice. I feel like I am learning to walk again– sometimes running around with my hair on fire yelling, “WHAT DO I DO WITH MY HANDS!?!?!” [Read more…]

Like what you see? Share it!
Filed Under: direction Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »