We all need to invest back into our relationships, right? It's so important no matter what line of work you are in. But with a spouse in law enforcement, it can be hard to find the right amount of time to put forth that effort. People always give the advice to communicate, which is vital, but I wanted to talk about ways to keep your relationship going without the generic "communicate" as an answer. Yes, communication is KEY but how can you do that without making it feel like work or difficult around this lifestyle? What are the ways in which you CAN communicate or keep that spark alive with Click for more
4 major reasons NOT to listen to a scanner as a police wife
Image credit goes to: https://www.ratedradardetector.org/ I remember my dad having a scanner when I was a little girl. He would turn it on from time to time, usually while he was working in the garage. I think he just liked listening to it as background noise. All I remember were truckers with bad mouths and I never understood why he did it. Fast forward many years later and now as a police wife, I get asked pretty often if I recommend listening to a police scanner, especially while my husband is on duty. In total honesty, I have only listened to the police scanner a handful of times. It was Click for more
The most encouraging podcasts for police wife life
Growing in popularity these days are podcasts. I love listening to podcasts myself, but have to find the time when I am folding laundry or am driving my kids to and from. I love listening to a variety of podcasts but podcasts for the law enforcement lifestyle are a great resource and great way to feel more connected to fellow police wives and/or officers. I love finding new resources and couldn't wait to share these podcasts that are wonderful for navigating police wife life. If you aren't a podcast listener, I encourage you to try these out. I typically listen to police wife podcasts Click for more
Survival guide to the holidays as a police wife
This post is sponsored by Thin Blue Line USA. All opinions are honest and my own. Getting through the holidays while our loved ones are working is not always a walk in the park. Not only do we miss our officers, we may miss extended family or have memories of past holidays that didn't go as planned. Our newsfeeds may be filled with happy, cheery images all the while we are struggling on the inside just trying to keep things merry for those around us. But it is SUPER important to not forget about yourself during the holidays. All year long you give to others, so self care or making time Click for more
4 amazing things police wife life has blessed me with
Believe me, I know this lifestyle can sometimes be less than ideal. Call outs, crazy schedules, long hours, rescheduled plans. All of it can be feel hard; really hard at times. There are seasons of police wife life that I find difficult and other seasons I find to be not so rough. But when I sit down at the end of a crazy day or reflect on our super busy week, I always come back to feeling grateful. I know that because my husband is in law enforcement and I have been his wife for 9 years of his career, I have learned things I would not have learned otherwise. I think that if we lived a Click for more
9 random acts of kindness for police spouses
As police spouses, we often get overlooked but the truth is we are the heroes that hold it all together at home. It is important that we are recognized and appreciated, too. We walk the thin blue line right alongside our spouses and I can't say it is always easy! There are never expectations that we should have help, but gosh, if someone offers, it is so appreciated! And by all means ladies, if someone offers to help you, TAKE IT! You deserve it! But a little thank you for what you do can also go a long way. Honestly, it is the ONE thing that can change my day completely Click for more
Our collaboration with Emory Lane you don’t want to miss!
This is not a sponsored post. I just love this shop and want to provide a fun opportunity for our readers! Photo credits to Emory Lane Co. My most favorite shop, Emory Lane and I, have decided to collaborate again on an exclusive shirt design! This is a design exclusive to our readers that you can not find anywhere else! How fun?! Our first shirt run went over super well, so we wanted to bring you another design as our loyal readers! Without further ado, here is the design: Isn't it awesome?! Here's how it will go: -There are five shirt styles available: unisex black Click for more
How to help your relationship THRIVE during the police academy
After months of testing for our local police department and waiting for an acceptance letter, my husband finally got the call that he was offered a position as a deputy. He was starting the police academy in just a few short days. I literally had tears in my eyes for him. We were both elated and I felt so proud. I still carry that pride today, but I would be lying if I said this journey was easy for me. Once the academy began, I quickly realized he was more than a man in a sexy uniform saving the world. I felt lucky in the fact that he did not have to travel away from home to attend the Click for more
Why I need police wife-cations (and you do, too)!
Raise your hand if you do everything for everyone? You seem to put others first so much of the time? You spend your life working, juggling wife-life, mom-life, errands, household chores, cooking. Girlfriend, you do it all. Nope? Just me. Didn't think so. Think of your priorities. Seriously, stop right now and think about them. Now, do they ever include yourself? What about first? Are you ever first on your priority list? Like top of the list before kids, husband, home, work. If you are like me, then I am guessing that you are not always first. I get it, my kids are always my Click for more
The BEST home buying program for law enforcement
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Honor the Brave. All opinions are honest and my own. One of the biggest life decisions and milestones: buying and selling a home. When we bought and sold our first home we were lucky enough to find a local realtor that was known to support law enforcement families. But the more and more I talk to fellow law enforcement couples, I see that is not always the case. So many couples WANT to go through a real estate program for law enforcement but can't find information or worse, they don't even know one exists. So how can you find a trusted group of Click for more
Hey, police girlfriend…. Words of encouragement + 2 things you NEED to know
So you are "only" a police girlfriend, right? WRONG!! You may not know this about me, but I was a police girlfriend once, too. Not Earth-shattering news, but it has something to do with why I created this little blog to begin with. You see, as a police girlfriend, I felt "unqualified" to hang out or converse with the police wives. Not that the police wives I knew did anything wrong or made me feel bad about myself, I just simply felt like I didn't belong. I couldn't relate to what it was like living together and having a family together. I couldn't relate to being invited Click for more
5 reasons you’re not enjoying police wife life (and how to change those feelings)
The past thirteen years of my life has been spent being in a relationship with a police officer (dating and now married) and involved in police wife life. I remember the day my husband graduated from the academy. I remember looking at him with tears in my eyes, feeling so proud of his accomplishments and bravery. Those feelings remain but once we started having children, I began to resent my husband's job. The time away from one another, the worry and fear, some days I wondered if I was the only one with these feelings. Or did I just need to suck it up? (Which is not the answer, by Click for more
Are the problems in my law enforcement marriage normal?
Sometimes the things we experience in our law enforcement marriage are rather unique. We may struggle because this lifestyle is new to us or because we find not many people relate to our specific situation. But it is important to remember that you married a man, or a woman, not a police officer. A police officer is their career choice. Yes, it may be one that shapes them or one that impacts your life in numerous ways, but overall, know that difficulties that arise in your relationship are NOT only because of this career path. The law enforcement lifestyle has shaped both my Click for more
You’re a police wife…now what?
I received compensation for this post from Once a Month Meals. All opinions are honest and my own. Welcome to the world of police wife life! You may be flooded with emotions right now having just gotten married, in a new relationship or your spouse just entering law enforcement AND trying to juggle living the law enforcement lifestyle. I can promise you, you are not alone. Sometimes we have so many questions that we don't know where to start or who to ask. Or we know something feels off or we feel overwhelmed and we wonder if what we are experiencing is "normal". These are all common Click for more
5 things every police wife needs
If you have read posts on my blog before then you know I try to be super helpful when it comes to helping you navigate police wife life. Like tips for cleaning uniforms, finding work from home jobs as a police wife, and resources for your law enforcement life in general. But let's get real. Police wives do SO much. We are on our A-game all the time, so what is going to help us make our days go by a bit easier? What is really going to keep your sanity in-check? I'll tell you what: a REAL list of the MOST important things police wives need right now. No matter where you live or Click for more
What to bring to a thin blue line photoshoot: quick and easy ideas!
Photo Credit: K.A. It almost feels like a right of passage to have some kind of police or thin blue line themed photoshoot if you are a law enforcement family. I love seeing all the ideas trending on Facebook or Pinterest. Anywhere from those adorable, little newborn sessions where the baby is holding daddy's badge to couples draped around the Thin Blue Line Flag during an engagement session. They are all priceless and undeniably meaningful as law enforcement impacts the entire family. I always see wives searching for some inspiration for an upcoming photoshoot. So why not have Click for more
Encouraging prayers for law enforcement couples
Whether you are a police wife or an officer, we all need encouragement and support through this lifestyle. From the moment my husband started the academy and to this day, I have looked for ways to feel encouraged and supported; police wives prayers (prayers that seemed perfect for this lifestyle) were always the best place for me to start. Not all of these prayers may speak to you and that's okay. Different prayers may stand out to you at different times throughout your journey as a police wife. Same goes for your officer. But I love how so many pieces of scripture can be applied Click for more
Even more Mother’s Day gift options for police wives
Special thanks to Verizon for loaning me the Wonderboom to review! Mother's Day is almost here and if you are in a rush to grab a gift for your police wife then look no further! My original Mother's Day gift post is loaded with sentimental gift options, but I couldn't resist sharing a few more! Ya know, once my husband and I started having children, holidays really changed for us. The meaning of them, that is. And as we grow older, we realize that memories are what matter to us the most. While we do still give each other tangible gift items from time to time, it is not nearly as often as Click for more
What to wear to a police academy graduation
Whether you are a proud girlfriend or wife, you are VERY excited to see your officer get pinned on his up and coming police academy graduation! It may be you standing front and center pinning your officer. You will take a TON of pictures that day, no doubt about it. But what in the world do you wear for this special occasion? It is a VERY popular question that MANY police wives and girlfriends have asked, too. So before we dive in to some of your options, let me recommend a few things: Pick something comfortable! I can not stress this enough. You may be standing or sitting for Click for more
Legit work from home jobs for police wives
While working from home is NOT everyone's cup of tea, it is surprisingly a very popular question that I get asked from many of you. I think so many of us are desperately trying to figure out a work and home life balance. Many of you want to be home with your children and I completely understand that. But many of you feel that working from home will give you a sense of relief and reduce stress around your work and home life. Juggling around the law enforcement schedule is no easy feat for anyone. It can be hard on the officer, police wife and children. It can certainly be done- Click for more
7 must-have apps to have as a first responder spouse
"There's an app for that!" Oh, those words that I am sure we have all heard, right? If you have a smartphone then you have apps, I am sure of it. With thousands upon thousands of apps to choose from, which are best for you? Well, only you can decide that but the ones I choose are always ones that make my life a bit easier, reduce stress and fit my police wife and mom lifestyle best. As police wives we are constantly dealing with rotating schedules, days and nights apart, and literally trying to schedule events with our officers through text and phones calls on weekly occasions. Click for more
Why your first responder marriage matters
This is NOT a sponsored post. I am just truly grateful for the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation and their commitment to first responder marriages. My officer and I have been married for 9 years and we are high school sweethearts. After 16 years together, 2 homes, 3 children and busy careers, life can sometimes get in the way. This is true for many marriages, right? But one thing that is different about our marriage is that we face challenges as a first responder couple. (Which may be true for you also if you are reading this as a first responder spouse). Challenges that don't exist in non-first Click for more
This country music duo has a mission to reduce PTSD in first responders
This post is written on behalf of a partnership with A Thousand Miles. All opinions are honest and my own. Do you ever listen to a certain type of music depending on what type of mood you are in? I certainly do! If I am sad, I tend to listen to slower country music. If I need a pick me up, I tend to listen to more popular, upbeat tunes. Songs really provoke emotion for me and they have this funny way of relating to whatever situation I am currently in. And I love how I can relate songs to specific events or times in my life. To this day, I still remember what song was playing on the car Click for more
How to have a non-traditional Valentine’s Day
It's about that time of year when your newsfeed on Facebook is going to be flooded with these "perfect" looking Valentine's Day dates and gifts. Flowers, chocolates, surprise gifts and more. Yet, as first responder couples, we are usually at home, alone, while our officer's are working. Is it not discouraging to read all those lovey-dovey posts knowing you don't get to be with your loved one? In my early years as a police wife, I would feel down right lonely. Even though I would say Valentine's Day was a Hallmark holiday, in the back of my mind, I always wished I could be celebrating, Click for more
Why self-care is so important as a first responder spouse
I don't think I truly grasped the importance of self-care until I become both a police wife AND a mother at the same time. One day it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was so busy caring for everyone in my family that I forgot to care for myself. I was tired, extremely stressed & found myself never doing anything for myself because I put myself last. I was completely burned out. That had to change. As first responder spouses, we take on many jobs. Anywhere from living and parenting solo so much of the time to manager of our home and errand runner. Week after week we learn to balance more Click for more
How to conquer police wife life in the New Year
New Year's bring new goals! Which I love! I am a natural born planner and organizer and setting goals is SUPER motivating for me. But I don't always meet those goals. Look back on your last year of police wife life. Were there struggles? Did you meet all of your goals? If you said, yes, then you are not alone. You are like many, many other police wives that need support for living the law enforcement lifestyle. This includes me. Even though I have spent the last 12 years of my life as a police wife, I can honestly say, I have new goals for my police wife life each and every year. This Click for more
35 inexpensive dates for police couples
It can be so hard to find time to be with your significant other without other obligations, right? We really have to be intentional to carve out time for dates. Not to mention, inexpensive dates for many police couples are an absolute must. We all know that our officer's don't do the job they do for the money. So choosing dates that don't break the bank can increase the amount of dates you can possibly have each month. For us, the movies are usually out due to price, so going to the theatre was not a date that made this list. The movies have gotten SO expensive and you don't get Click for more
3 Common Problems Police Couples Face & How to Fix Them
*This post is based off my own experience and opinion* My husband and I are the best communicators. We always make time for one another and because of his career in law enforcement our schedules are usually WIDE open. He has the best schedule, honestly. It is one of the reasons I love being a police couple. SAID NO POLICE WIFE. EVER! Okay, let's get real here. Relationships require a lot of work, no matter what careers you and your spouse have. But law enforcement marriages are rather unique. Police couples deal with challenging schedules including shift work, which Click for more
How to balance pregnancy and police wife life
First, congratulations! If you are reading this then you are probably either pregnant or trying for a baby. Preparing for a little one in your life is one of the most exciting times of your adult life. My husband and I have 3 little ones and each time we were expecting was a joyous and special time for us. The last thing I want for you is to let the stress of law enforcement life to take over your feelings during a very happy time. It happens to many police wives. Our emotions are constantly changing during pregnancy and it can be hard to balance your emotions while your husband is away Click for more
How to feel protected when your protector works night shift
Night shift, well, any shift for that matter, can leave you feeling a little less protected when your spouse is on duty. But there was something about sleeping alone that always left me with this feeling. This unsafe, unprotected, uneasy feeling- feelings that I knew I needed to get a grip on. In the beginning of police wife life, I hardly slept and when I did, it wasn't well. I checked my phone constantly (I still keep an eye on it but not obsessively like before) and watched the news for any pertinent information regarding law enforcement (bad idea, very BAD idea). Every little noise had Click for more