Readers! I have a lot of love and respect for military wives who find ways to keep their independence, especially in the form of their own small businesses. Please welcome today’s featured MilWifepreneur, Elizabeth.
Hi, y’all! I’m Elizabeth: blogger over at The Young Retiree! “Retirement” was a fancier way of saying “no, I don’t have kids… no, I don’t have a job either.” Being a housewife was harder than I thought at first, but am so blessed to have the opportunity to build my marriage, raise three dogs we rescued, and work on a healthier lifestyle for my husband and me. So I’m not really “retired” anymore, I have a home business, but I’m already getting ahead of myself! Let me go back a few years…
October, 2011. My husband and I had been living in California for 18 months. When we first moved out here, we thought his time on the aircraft carrier would be over in 6 months, and instead of me spending time looking for a job, only to PCS again, I would be a housewife. When he accepted orders to another California duty station, we had gone through a deployment and my housewife status lingered on. He was happy having me at home to send him off in the mornings and welcome him when he got home in the evenings, I was happy to not have the stress of a 40 hour work week on top of nurturing our new marriage.
Then we found ourselves at the Navy Ball. We sat at a round table in our formal wear with people from his new command whom I had never met before. There was the awkward “nice to meet yous” and a co-worker of his asked me: “Elizabeth, what is your career path in life?” I was stunned by his phrasing of the question and in that moment had to think of something besides: “Career path? Why, I’m a lay-about indulging in the good life of yacht club membership and mimosas!”
I finally have something to say to folks: “I’m a CHOCOLATIER!” Well, that’s a stretch, I don’t make chocolates, but I do sell the best chocolate you will ever taste as a Lindt Chocolate R.S.V.P. Independent Consultant! We’re a fairly young company, just starting in 2011! I just joined the company, and as a consultant, I get to throw in home parties where my customers can taste exquisite chocolates before purchasing them! I get to share something so delicious with friends while finally bringing a little income in to our household. I’ll miss the dream of being a lay-about sipping mimosas at the yacht club, but I’m living a new dream- one I am proud to tell folks about when I get asked that all too popular question of what it is I do!
I would love to have you follow along with my story, and as I share fun ways to use our products on my blog The Young Retiree! You can shop for chocolates delivered right to your door on my Lindt Chocolate R.S.V.P. site, sign up for my monthly newsletter for all the latest including sales, recipes, and promotions, find me on facebook for and , with me or anytime!
Cheers!
Thanks for spotlighting me! I feel so blessed to be building my business right now! It truly is a *sweet* life
No problem!! I’m always so in awe of military wives who are able to maintain some of their independence in this crazy military life. Best wishes to you!!