Often times we don’t feel at ‘home’ when we PCS. My first few moves were tough until I learned 9 tricks that I attempt in the first week of moving into our new house. With these few To Do’s on your move in list, you will no longer be jealous of your friends and their forever homes. You will be proud of your military HOME!
Vintage
In other words… yard sales and thrift stores. The one thing I hate about moving, is moving stuff! I tend to under pack or give half of our stuff away so I don’t have to move it. Try painting and polishing on some vintage pieces, allowing you to customize your home and not break the bank. Plus you will not feel bad leaving it behind on your next PCS!
The Walls
We all know that many companies sell products that you can use to hang a picture frame on the wall without damaging anything but have you ever tried fabric? This is a great way to add a WOW factor to your new place without having to repaint when you move. Check out this tutorial from HGTV.com.
Plant Life Into Your Home
Whether it is the first flower your spouse ever gave you, your state flower, or some tomatoes. There is nothing like a few dollars worth of flowers to give your home a personal touch! Try to find a fellow spouse with a love of gardening and even transplant pieces of their plants. If you’re lucky, this is a FREE activity and a great way to make new friends at your new home.
Dinner
I am not the cook in the family, but my husband can cook like no other! Even if you are eating off paper plates and using your moving boxes as a table, I don’t think anyone can deny that food makes you feel at home.
Best Friend
It’s nice to talk to someone that wants to listen to your gripes about moving, they will catch you up on everything you missed while you have your head in boxes and they will be that someone who will make you feel like things are normal for a moment.
The FRG
Don’t believe all the hype about FRG’s being cliquish. You can experience that in any facet of life. If they have not reached out to you, reach out to them! They can help you feel at home. Let you in on the best happy hour, pizza place, babysitter, and playground all in your first meeting. Now I may be partial since I am an FRG Leader myself but the faster you have a support team, the more you will feel like you are at home.
TKO The To Do List
Now sometimes this is easier if you live on a base because school and doctors are right there. Generally when moving around with the Active Guard we end up in a civilian neighborhood where we have to help set these things up. There is nothing worse than getting sick or needing a dentist and having to look for one that day! Be sure to find your Doctor, Dentist, School, and Gym.
Smell
‘They’ say your olfactory senses are very powerful in controlling your feelings. Pine-Sol® is my favorite “at home smell”, bake some cookies or get your first load of laundry going! Anything to get those smells circulating through your home. If all of that is too much work just light a candle!
New Memories
There is no time like the present to make new memories! Whether it’s a house warming party, movie night, or taco Tuesdays! The best way to make your new military house a home is to treat it like one.
Alison is a mother to a toddler, a Boxer and an English Bulldog! She is a very proud Army Wife and has been married to her man and this exciting life for 5+ years. With a few deployments under our belts and a few moves she loves to blog about what she has experienced. Detroit, MI is currently home, she is working in Orthopedics and specializes in employee relations and patient care. She is an advocate for JDRF, PTSD and Operation Home front. In her spare time she takes on the responsibilities of FRG Leader, any home renovation task she can get her hands on and any type of traveling she can experience. Alison is currently studying to become a certified Sommelier, so if you need any wine advise she is your go to girl! Contact her at: awoodburnFRG@gmail.com
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Army Wife 101
Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market. She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.
Krystel is the mom of two and an Army Wife. In addition to Army Wife 101 she is the Co-Founder of SoFluential.com a digital media agency that connects brands with the military market.
She has appeared on MSNBC ,FOX LA and formerly was a weekly contributor to HLN's "Raising America". She has written for various outlets including Sheknows and Lifetime and is a big fan of cupcakes and french fries.