BMT: Laundry Bag Living

Disclaimer: I don't typically post "cheats" for those heading to BMT, if you could call it that.  I advise and educate you on aspects of training, but have refrained from telling you things that you will learn on your own through the process.  It's not that I want to withhold information from you - I've always wanted to see trainees be successful at BMT - but some things are better learned in a hands-on manner than by reading.   

"Living Out of Your Laundry Bag" is a more advanced BMT concept/strategy for success.  I had a reader request a post on this topic, so away we go!  I'll chunk the information so it's easier to understand.

Problem(s): Success at BMT depends on inspections, particularly inspections of your locker and clothing drawer.  Passing an inspection depends on you being able to perfectly fold and display your clothing items.  [See my YouTube videos if you want to see the extent of perfection they require.]  You have an abundance of clothing items, which means more items to fold and keep perfectly displayed.  You're limited on time.  You're exhausted.  You kind of suck at folding/rolling one or more of those items.

Solution: "Living Out of the Laundry Bag" is the concept of rolling folding only the essential items perfectly, leaving them in your clothing drawer, and never touching them again.  You won't wear them at all - you'll only maintain the drawer as needed to ensure that it's always looking perfect, including dusting, lint rolling, slight adjustments, etc.  The items you'll actually wear will be stored in your laundry bag, hence the name.

Caution: There are two different laundry bags in the dorm - a personal one that hangs on the end of your bed and the larger ones the laundry crew uses to transport everyone's laundry down to be washed. You will not be storing all of these excess items in your personal laundry bag.  The MTIs know when they're overstuffed and will dump them out and call you on it.  Your excess items will go in the main laundry bags in the utility closet, but not all of them.  You'll stash some of your extra clothes in your civilian luggage, never to be touched for the duration of BMT.  So, you'll have your perfect items in your clothing drawer, one set on your body, a dirty set in the laundry, and a clean set in the laundry.  You'll cycle between the set on your body and the sets in the wash.

Pre-Requisites: Your laundry crew has to have their routine down.  This is huge, and this is why this strategy doesn't work right away.  The laundry crew job is overwhelming at first - having to clean the clothes of 50ish people, dealing with whiny trainees who can't find their items, etc.  We had a number of outbursts from a disgruntled laundry crew.  Eventually, they get it.  Once they figure it out, you can put this system in place.  Before then, you'll be tapping into your perfectly rolled/folded items, which is not the objective.  The laundry crew also has to maintain an organizational system in the utility closet, positioning the laundry bags so that they know which ones are clean and which ones are dirty.  Technically, you're not allowed to have clean laundry stored in the utility closet laundry bags, hence why you need to figure out a code for clean versus dirty laundry, typically by the positioning of the bag's opening.   

Making It Work: After PT in the morning, we would immediately load the laundry bags with our PT clothes and the laundry crew would go start those loads.  This requires everyone else to pitch in and get their areas squared away during dust down and details.  It wasn't uncommon for the laundry crew to get the shaft when it came to showering, although we generally had them eat first so they could get right to work.  Later in the afternoon, we would distribute the clean laundry and stash only the items needed for the next day in our personal laundry bags.  Every now and then we would have to use an item from our wall lockers; we would use this time to redo those items.

Hope that helps!  Again, you'll pick this all up eventually, but don't expect to have a flawless system in the first few weeks.  Your laundry crew will network with more advanced trainees for tips and hints, and eventually your flight will coordinate and work together.

Expecting

Life, Day Two

No, not another one, it's too soon!  We would only be so blessed!  ;)

I was recently contacted by the folks at What To Expect - yes, the renowned guide for pregnant women - about doing a review of their books.  When they first contacted me, it was late in my pregnancy, and given MAC's early arrival, I was through that stage quicker than anticipated!

Fortunately, they sent me three books - What To Expect Before You're Expecting, What To Expect When You're Expecting, and What To Expect The First Year.  I've enlisted the help of my friend Haywee, who's just beginning the family planning process to help me review the preconception book, and I'm going to be leafing my way through The First Year.  You know, in between changing and feeding...and changing and feeding and changing and feeding.  

In the meantime, check out the wealth of resources from the What To Expect folks.  I can appreciate what they do as it's not all that far off from AHE.  We're both educating those that are about to undertake a major life change, and you know I'm all about researching and knowing as much as I can, so that I can make informed decisions and feel as confident as possible.

Motherhood and the Military

Photo by Tina Joiner Photography

Two years ago I was gearing up to depart for BMT.  I was eager to leave and start that new chapter of my life.  Fast forward and here I am, at another milestone in my life with a four week old daughter.  Nothing could've prepared me for these last few weeks, and the learning curve has been steep.  Little by little, things are getting better as I learn more about my darling girl and how to be her mother.  It's a humbling experience and I have a newfound respect and appreciation for single parents and stay at home parents.  ;)

How has motherhood affected me and my role as a service member so far?  I've found myself more hesitant to get back into my routine and normal duties.  Had she come on/near her due date, I wouldn't have to drill again until mid-July.  With her coming early, I should return in early June.  I don't feel emotionally ready to leave her just yet, or physically, in terms of having enough bottles ready (she's exclusively breast fed and hasn't tried a bottle yet, nor do I have enough in my stash).  I can't imagine how active duty moms go back so soon after birthing.  Fortunately, I'm able to reschedule my UTAs until later this summer, closer to when I have to return to my civilian job.  I've been really fortunate to have such an extended maternity leave, thanks to the nature of my job.  I hope to pop into this weekend's UTA for the sheer fact that I'll be awarded my CCAF at Commander's Call.

As for commissioning, I finished up the last portion of my physical the other day, the chest x-ray.  From here my physical results are sent for approval along with my package to AFRC or AFPC, either the Reserve Command or the Personnel Command, I'm not entirely sure.  I'll be given the dates for OTS and the opportunity to pick my top three.  My hope is to pick ones in between the holiday season and her birthday.  While I know she won't remember my absence and DH reminds me that they can travel, I don't want to miss those firsts if I don't have to.

In the meantime, I'm getting as much time with my little girl as I can!  Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions.  I spend much more time on my phone than I do on my computer (next to nothing).  In fact, I've written 90% of this post with one hand.  NOT easy or fun!

MAC's Birth Story

Quick, while she's asleep in the Ergo and I have a chance to type!  ;)  I don't get much computer time in these days, between changing and feeding.  I can manage to Tweet or do a quickie FB update because I can do that one handed on my iPhone while breastfeeding.  Actually sitting down and getting computer time in is a luxury...so is putting on makeup for that matter.  But I digress...

After the jump is MAC's birth story, for your reading pleasure!  If you think it might be TMI, you know what to do.

Mhmm.  That would be me, taking a selfie on the birthing ball.

If you're on time, you're late...

If you're 15 minutes early, you're on time.

If you're on time, you're late.

We heard this philosophy of timeliness frequently at BMT and at tech school.  Sure enough, my super Air Force baby followed suit.  I had every intention of working that last UTA at 38 weeks and uploading one final photo for you of me in my maternity ABUs, but little miss had other plans.

On April 3rd, 2013, at 37 weeks and 3 days (18 days before her estimated due date), MAC made an early and timely entrance into this world.  She weighed 7 lbs, 2.2 oz, and measured 19.75" long.  Thankfully I had been on top of most of my to-do list, so I wasn't completely unprepared for her arrival.

She is already two weeks old (as of yesterday) and keeps me on my toes, to say the least.  My computer time has been very minimal and task-oriented - bill paying and so forth.  If you see me online, it's typically because I'm typing one-handed on my iPhone while breast feeding.  Thank you for your patience if you've left me a comment or sent me an email.  The quickest way to get a hold of me these days is via Twitter or FB, if you have a burning question.  Otherwise, my biggest priority is all of 7 lbs and very demanding!

We are so very much in love with our little girl and I'm learning quickly about all that mothering a newborn entails.  It's a hell of a learning curve, but we're loving every minute of it.

Liebster Award

I love meeting new people, and recently I was contacted by Brittany over at His Mrs. Hooah, who had selected me for the Liebster Award!  Just reading her "About Me" page, I can tell she and I are on the same wavelength, and she's expecting another baby in April as well!  I've had the pleasure of being nominated a few times already, so I'm going to cheat and answer her questions and not completely play along with the re-nomination process.  You'll forgive me, right?  Can I pull the pregnant card?  ;)  Thanks Brittany!

1.  Do you consider yourself a positive person or a negative person?  No question, positive all the way!
2.  What is your favorite food dish?  Can I choose fondue in general?  I really love fondue.  Someone please take me to fondue!
3.  Do you enjoy spending time outdoors?  Yes, especially when the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful!  I'm eagerly looking forward to those days here in Colorado.
4.  Do you have anything you "geek out" over?  Hmm...good question.  I really don't think I have anything like that, unless you count cloth diapers these days.  Is that "geek out" worthy?  Or should I be looking at more traditionally geeky pastimes?
5.  Do you collect anything?  Yes, indeed, although I've tapered off quite a bit.  From my rockabilly days, I have a lot of vintage 50's housewares, especially kitchenware.  Our living room is decorated in vintage Asian kitsch.  I have a huge makeup stash, but I don't consider it a "collection" since I use those items.  Priorities change though, so the only thing I've been collecting these days are cloth diapers to prepare for baby!
6.  If you could drop everything right now and go on vacation, where would you go?  It's not very sunny there either, but I think I'd take DH up on his desire to go to Ireland.  I saw an awesome Groupon/Living Social the other day for a trip there that included stays at B&Bs and a rental car.  I've been there before, but it was when I was in the 9th grade.  We could stand to do more international travel - if only it was in the cards and the finances.
7.  Do you prefer warm weather or cold weather?  Warm, please.  Please, bring the warm!
8.  What is your favorite outfit and why?  These days, anything comfortable!  I enjoy the weekends when I can wear a big t-shirt and my "squishy pants."
9.  What is your earliest memory?  I don't even have a clue.  I can remember bits of preschool on the playground, but that's about it. 
10.  Who is your favorite person?  Probably DH for another four weeks, then he's going to have some serious competition.  ;)
11.  What is your favorite trait about your spouse or SO?  The fact that under the façade, he has a huge, huge heart.  He's a softie, he's a lover, and he'll never admit it and rarely show it to others, with the exception to children and myself.

Military.com's Spouse Summit

 Last year I was blessed to have won the 2012 Milbloggie for the U.S. Air Force Blog of the Year.  The gracious Rheanna from Cammo Style Love was there to accept the award on my behalf, as DH and I enjoying a much deserved vacation in Durango.  I had hoped to actually attend the conference this year, but when I discovered that I was pregnant I knew that it wouldn't be possible since it was so close to my due date.  Come to find out, that this year the MilBlog Conference has been cancelled [the Milbloggies will still go on, although they'll be online only].  Fear not, readers!  There's something big in store for those that want to head to DC around the same time of year and network with other like-minded individuals!

Military.com is hosting a Spouse Summit, my goodness, in just a few weeks, April 11th - 12th!  If you're in a position to go, do it!  It's going to be absolutely free to attend - you just can't beat that.  For those of us that use blogging as our outlet to connect with other milspouses or to air milspouse-related issues, this is your chance to network in person and have your voice heard.  The internet can be a positive and a negative source of outreach.  For every fantastic, thought-provoking blog out there, there's a spoof page on Facebook mocking military spouses.  That gets old for someone like me, who hopes to debunk stereotypes.  Come and be part of the solution!  Network with other spouses that recognize the same needs in our community that you do, learn how to make change in your military community at home, and improve our outcomes (for families, spouse careers, mental health amongst our service members, transition back to civilian life) during these challenging times. 

What you won't get are two days of PowerPoints and lengthy speeches.  As a teacher I'm glad to see that they're doing interactive sessions where you can truly interact with representatives from The Center for Deployment Psychology, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Warrior and Family Support office of the Chairman of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and University of Southern California's Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans.  Kicking off the event is keynote speaker Sal Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War.

Sounds like something you'd be interested in?  Head over to SpouseSummit.com to get signed up!  If you go, definitely report back and let me know how it is!