a life of service should have its perks

Calling all service members!  You know how when you go to a store, and you ask if they offer a military discount, and they say yes?  You have to show them your ID card (which hopefully has a better picture than the one mine is working with) and ta da! 10% off your total.  Isn't that great?!  Wouldn't it be even better if you could do the same thing online?

Well, now you can!  The wonderful crew working over at TroopSwap has developed the technology that allows us to receive our military discount from the comfort of our own homes.  Enter:  Troop ID.

Troop ID is a single sign-on website (that's right, you log in to just one site) that authenticates your military credentials, and gives you access to ongoing discounts offered by their partners.  Their current featured partner is Under Armour, only one of many nationally recognized brands to come.

Sounds too good to be true?  Worried your personal information will be at risk?  Let me put you at ease... Troop ID was created by two former Army Rangers who know all about the necessary precautions to take when sharing your information.  Coming from someone who is hesitant to hand over her military ID at the doctor's office for insurance purposes, this is as good as it gets.  By validating your military status with Troop ID, you don't have to share that information with anyone else, and it is never given to their partners.  What this also means is that military-wanna-bes committing fraud will not be able to take advantage of the benefits we have earned.

Are you eligible?  If you fall under any of the following categories, the answer is yes:

• Active Duty Service Members
• Veterans
• Spouses and Dependents of AD & Vets

However, enrolling in Troop ID does not guarantee eligibility to all benefits.  For example, a brand partner may choose to offer a deal specifically for Veterans.

It gets better... Troop ID isn't limited to just shopping discounts.  They will also be able to offer employment and educational opportunities, VA benefits, and financial resources.

Now that you've heard all about Troop ID, head on over and sign up to start taking advantage of these offers!

And because the people at TroopSwap do everything they can to uphold their motto:  a life of service should have its perks! They are offering YOU some FREE BUCKS!  Here's what you have to do some time this week:

• Sign up for Troop ID
• Visit my Facebook page
• Find the post about Troop ID
• Leave a comment tagging 5 friends

You could be one of 23 winners announced next week!

• First Prize: $20 TroopSwap Bucks
• Second Prize: $15 TroopSwap Bucks
• Third Prize: $10 TroopSwap Bucks
• and 20 people will win $5 TroopSwap Bucks

You've earned it, so sign up!  And, don't forget to check out TroopSwap for exclusive local deals!

blow me one last kiss

I haven't really worked with Gunnar on blowing kisses just yet.  We've spent a lot of time on waving, which he has just picked up on very enthusiastically.  Yay!  When he would do what we called "blowing a kiss" he was really just smacking his lips together.  But last night, we were on FaceTime with some family in Florida, and the kid proved he's a prodigy. 

My cousin Tina got on the camera and started blowing him kisses.  I said "blow Tina a kiss!" and started smacking my lips so he would imitate.  To my surprise, he gently put his palm to his mouth over and over and over again.  What?!  He was totally doing it the right way, without any prompting from me at all!  What a stud.

Thanks for teaching him that Tina.  I suspect he's got a new girlfriend now.