Rachel Carpenter
Rachel has been an Air Force spouse for 17 years. Her husband's career had taken them to many assignments around the world, and she currently lives in Hawaii. She is a mother of four children; their ages range from fifteen to four years old, so her life is often exciting and challenging. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys volunteering within the military community and has even been a Key Spouse at two stations. Rachel has always enjoyed writing and literature, and she is happy to find this community to combine these interests. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, The Beautifull Project, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications - but The Military Mom Collective is her home. :)
October Book Club: Girl, Wash Your Face!
Have you heard of this month's book? A book that everyone claims is a "must" read? A book that seems to pop up in conversations and social media constantly? One that is so popular...
September Book Club: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
In its most simple definition, a book club is comprised of a group of people drawn together to read. The members can share their interpretations and opinions; food and drinks can be shared; life...
The Humbling Experience of Visiting War Memorials
During a recent visit with my family, I visited the World War II Valor in the Pacific Monument. This national monument is famously home to the USS Arizona Memorial; it also encompasses the Battleship...
August Book Club: Little Fires Everywhere
Parents know that rules are necessary. Rules keep order in the chaos of raising children; they provide structure and expectations; they are the yardstick to measure anything from behavior to development. Rules are a...
The Reasons You NEED Alone Time (and How to Get it)
Tonight, I did one of my favorite things: I went to see a movie by myself. All by myself. I like to pick a movie that I know my husband or kids will not...
Crisis is the Military Community’s Strong Suit
If you or your family need anything at all, we will be there.
If you are married or related to the military, you have heard this line more than a few times. Over the years, I...
May Book Club: Beneath a Scarlet Sky
If you are reading along with our Military Moms Blog Book Club, you know that our monthly selections are a variety. Our selections range between fiction and nonfiction, and our genres are limitless. I...
Stop Saying, “I’m Fine” and Start Being Honest
I'm fine.
I heard myself say it all the time. It was the standard response to any inquiry of my day, my mood, my life, my attitude. It was a knee-jerk response; something I would...
April Book Club: The Invention of Wings
I admit - I judge a book by its cover. I know, all our parents and grandparents have advised us against this (and we are probably telling our children this same adage), but in...
Calories are Stupid: Tips and Tricks From a Blunt Nutritionist
Megan Kober is not your average dietitian. The bio for her business website, The Nutrition Addiction, states that she is a "vodka-loving dietician with a no BS approach to healthy eating." She also writes...
March Book Club: A Stranger in the House
It was all about the title for our March book club selection, A Stranger in the House, by Shari Lapena. A little intrigue, a little mystery, and some good cover art really sucked me...
The Dos and Don’ts of PCSing With Pets
It's only March, but Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season will be here before we know it. This is the span from May 15-August 31 where the military experiences a surge of moves for...