Road Trippin' It

I just got back from an amazing weekend in Colorado. This was probably one of the best trips I have ever had for multiple reasons. Of course, being with Dillon is always wonderful. We didn't do too much but we had a lot of time together which was great. But what made this trip better than the others is that I got to go on a road trip with three other girls. Some (most) might think I'm crazy for enjoying driving that much - it is a 13 hour drive from Tucson to Colorado Springs, so twenty. six. long. hours. total of driving in a car. How crazy is that?? Us USAFA girlfriends are known to be pretty crazy, though. ;)

I had a whole huge paragraph mapping out every detail of our trip, but that bored me, even. Haha. So let me just say we broke up the trip into manageable driving times and I have never had such a blast being stuck in a small car with three other people. We talked about everything, you never would have guessed some of us had just met for the first time. As hard as it was for me to be supportive of Dillon going to the academy, I have to say I am so incredibly thankful that it has brought me to so many amazing friendships with even more amazing girls.

And then we finally made it to the Academy!! Dillon and I went and bought some wine and a movie and stayed in at the hotel for the night, which was perfect. We watched Gravity, and after splitting a whole glass of wine, that movie got to me. Spoilers if you haven't seen it. But when George Clooney let go of Sandra Bullock so she could live I legitimately started bawling. Like huge sobs. I think it's also because Dillon fell asleep on me, but whatevs. Don't mix that movie and wine people, you will get irrationally emotional.

Saturday we went to lunch and then we caught the last few innings of the USAFA baseball game. It's strange now that Dillon isn't on the team, but his roommate's girlfriend was also in town and we have been talking for a few months so we were excited to finally meet! Also, the Falcon's swept the number 20 team in the nation and are now on their longest winning streak in the program's history. So that's pretty sweet! That night we met up with Lily and her boyfriend Taylor (Dillon and Taylor went to Germany together last summer so know each other) at Edelweiss, which is a German restaurant in the Springs. We got some beer which was really good and then went and saw Oculus together. The only way I can watch scary movies anymore is if I am slightly tipsy...so we spiked our Icee's and enjoyed the movie. ;)

Sunday was really nice because instead of waking up and only having a few hours before I had to be at the airport, I had all day since we weren't starting our drive back until 7pm. So we went and ate breakfast, saw Captain America, and then went to my cousin's house for Easter dinner. And oh my goodness, their dog just had puppies and they were the cutest. things. ever. And they made Dillon happier than I have ever seen him. Just look at this:

This is Dillon while waiting for Easter breakfast.

And this is Dillon holding a puppy. He was seriously in love. We had been talking recently about getting a puppy after we got married and Dillon's dream is to get a lab. And then here they were. These adorable lab puppies just begging us to take one. We seriously considered it for a while, but then decided against it because having a puppy is ruff. Lol I'm funny. But my goodness it was great to hold those adorable pups.

It was so hard to leave without one of those adorable puppies, but alas, we did. We had a little extra time before we were meeting with the other girls, so Dillon and I played a quick game of bowling. And let me tell ya, I like playing against 10 and 6 year olds much better than Dillon. I at least broke 100 so whatevs. Then we went back to the academy and took the mandatory couple pictures in front of the chapel. I had actually never been so close to the chapel before, even though it's gorgeous and like the highlight of the USAFA campus.

Muh love. <3

And then it was back in the car for another 13 hour drive! I have to say though, it was one of the easiest goodbye's we've had. Of course it always sucks to leave him, but the fact that I was getting back in the car to spend more time with three amazing girls made it so much better. We are definitely hoping to do it again next year! And now it's only 27 days until I'm back in Colorado for RING DANCE! 

Come Back, Weekend

I guess you can call me a rebel, because I'm doing my weekend recap today instead of on Monday like all the "normal" bloggers do. Really, it makes so much more sense to do it on Monday, but what can I say, I'm weird unique.

Friday's have been a little weird for me now that I don't get off work until 8/8:30. My roommates and I ended up going to Applebee's and we didn't start eating until 10pm. I don't know about you, but to me that is a really late dinner. Afterwards we went to Frost to get gelato...yumm. Then we finally got around to watching the Pretty Little Liars Halloween special. The fact that it took us so long to watch is just sad. Anyone else big PLL fans?? Honestly, I didn't think the episode was that great...but I won't say why because I don't want to give any spoilers for those who are even worse than me and still haven't seen it.

I spent most of Saturday lounging and playing with the stuff that came in my ipsy bag. I really had nowhere to be, but you better believe I used every single thing that came in it on my face...hopefully the people that did see me that day didn't think I looked like a hot mess. I was lucky enough to see a fellow USAFA girlfriend on Saturday, though! She is from Albuquerque but her and some of her friends drove to Tucson for a fun day trip! I met them on campus and showed them around Greek row and the main part of campus! It was a short visit but very sweet. We decided that since we're only a four hour drive from each other, we should try to plan some more weekend visits next semester!

 Although I really should have gotten some more homework done than I did, I ended up watching Supernatural all. day. long. I honestly didn't start my homework until 9pm. Whoops! I really don't know why I think it's a good idea to leave all my homework for Sundays anyways. All weekends should be homework free, am I right?

Randoms from the weekend:

 They were at home together and I was at work when they did this...I was destined to lose this one!!

My adorable turtle in his new rock. It is seriously so cute to see him sleeping inside of it with his cute little hands sticking out the little hole in the rock.

I hope you had an amazing weekend! Did you do anything fun?

Also, quick question: would my lovely readers like to see an Ipsy review on my blog? To be honest, I tend to skip over any type of review posts, but I know that some people like them. Tell me what you think either way!

Truth Be Told: A Mini Series

Okay people, it's time to get real here.

One thing I hear a lot from bloggers is that you should be completely honest on your blog in order for people to relate to you more. That instead of just sharing all the great things that happen in your life, you should share those shitty things, as well.

So here we go, "Truth Be Told" will be a mini series where I will share some of my "worst" moments, maybe once every other week. (I can't be too negative, right?)

And to start it all out, here's my truth be told: I wasn't a supportive girlfriend.

When Dillon first told me that the Air Force Academy had reached out to him about going there to play baseball, I honestly thought it would never happen. Although it was always his dream to play baseball in college, it had never been a thought in his mind to be in the military. He took the time to think about it and decided against it. As much as he wanted to play baseball, the bottom line was that he did not want to be in the military. But then came the pressure. The pressure from the coach to come out just to have a tour, the pressure from his family to "live up to his potential," the pressure from himself to "ensure a better future for us." So he went on the tour, and decided that he would go to the Academy that coming Fall semester.

I was hurt. I was confused. He had always talked to me about coming to UofA, and although I was the one that kept telling him to keep his options open, that he didn't have to go there just because I did, it was what I was expecting because that's all he would ever say. And he also said he would never play baseball somewhere that it would snow........interesting. ;)

Even though I should have never felt this way, and I should have never made him feel this way, I felt as if he chose baseball over me. Despite his insistence that he was doing it so that we could have a better future, I couldn't see that far ahead, all I could see was the "here and now" and that was that he was leaving me.

From the time he decided to go to the Academy and all through the first year of him being there, I wasn't supportive. It wasn't that I didn't want to be, I honestly just didn't understand his decision. I didn't want to talk about the Academy, and if it was brought up I would get quiet. I literally cried when he got his hair cut (pathetic, I know, but it was just one more reminder of where he was going and that it was somewhere I couldn't follow). Truthfully, we almost didn't make it through that year. I was slightly depressed that whole year and it definitely took its toll on our relationship. We would fight a lot or constantly be in a bad mood.

It wasn't until I joined the USAFA Girlfriend's facebook page that I started to warm up to the idea and become more supportive of Dillon's decision. Well at first it was hard because they were all so proud of their boyfriends and they all seemed so supportive, so it just made me feel like shit. In my defense, most of them would say things like "It has always been my boyfriend's dream to go to the Academy/be a pilot/be in the Air Force" etc.  So it was rough because I felt like I was the only one whose boyfriend went solely for sports. But then they had a "big sister/little sister" program and my "big" was absolutely amazing. I really believe that it is only through my relationship with her and a few of the other girlfriends that I was finally able to wake up and realize that I had to be more supportive of my man.

I still might not fully understand why he made the decision to go to the Academy (and sometimes I don't think he does either!) but I definitely think I have become more supportive, and I really hope he agrees. The Academy has brought some amazing opportunities for both him and us. We probably wouldn't have been able to go to Canada for a whole week if it weren't for the Academy, Dillon probably wouldn't have been able to go to Germany for three weeks this summer, and we probably wouldn't have the opportunity to live in other states (and hopefully countries!) if it weren't for the Academy.

We all have faults, and this was a major one of mine that almost took me away from the love of my life. If there does happen to be a girlfriend reading this that feels/felt the same way I would love for you to email me! It is okay to not understand and to feel sad and hurt, but I have learned that it is not okay to not be supportive of the people you love.
And for Dillon, I love you and I support you in everything you do at the Academy and beyond. As long as we get to live abroad...;)

Beautiful Simplicities

<<Photo Credit: Emily Patten>>

Here are a few small and random things that have been going on lately. I am finding the beauty in simplicity, in these little happenings that may not get much attention, but have made me happy recently.

First, the picture used in my above graphic is a picture I took while in Canada with Dillon. We had such a fun time traveling by ourselves, and it is one of the things I am looking forward to the most in our future.

These were included in Dillon's Valentine's Day package. (I know, I'm slacking!)

Left: I used the washed out feature on Word to print out a picture of Dillon and I onto a lined sheet of paper and then I wrote a love letter to him on it.

Top Right: This is Rub-a-Dub Shaving in the Tub kid shaving kit. Dillon has been really into shaving kits ever since we saw the newest James Bond movie (because he uses shaving soap and a brush in the movie). I thought it would be a cute gag gift for him to open that first before realizing I got him a real one!

Bottom Right: This is the actual shaving kit I got him! I got it at Target, but I cannot find it on their website right now. He has used it a couple times and loves it! Shaving like this is supposed to better for their skin since the soap is less chemically harsh than shaving cream is. I would recommend it for your man if you feel it may be something he is interested in!

I also got him Junior Mints (one of his favorite candies) and colored him some inspirational quotes (super cheesy but I enjoyed coloring them at least!)

If you read my post about getting in shape then you know that as a reward for finishing my fab ab work out,  I was going to allow myself to buy a new outfit. However, I knew that it would not be smart for me financially, so I decided I would stick to one item. You can see the items I wanted to get...but I ended up getting something completely different!

I ended up going with a couple friends to our university's bookstore where they were hosting a Style Your Soles event. You could buy a pair of TOMS shoes and then they had artist's there to customize them for you! I have been wanting a pair of TOMS since forever, and to be able to get ones that were one-of-a-kind was just the icing on the cake! I am in love with them and am so happy with my purchase!

I was able to go home this weekend and hang out with my best friend Jamie! We have been friends since 7th grade, Est. 2004. We are the kind of best friends who don't have to talk every single day to know that we can see each other any time and still pick up right where we left off. I love this girl so much, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. We're both turning 21 soon...let's just say we'll have a good time. ;)

<<We starting writing on a piece of Styrofoam on the door of my dad's workshop garage, the earliest being from 2006!>>

By the way, I am now on Spring Break! This is my last spring break of my college career, but I am working all week...oh well. But I was able to go home this weekend without any worries of school, and it was such an amazing weekend. Friday night I sat outside by the fire with my parents (it was my daddy's birthday!) and had some amazing conversation. Saturday I hung out with Jamie. Sunday I went to church with my mommy, watched Mirror Mirror, and talked about weddings all day. We found this gem of a picture of my grandparents at my parents' wedding. So adorable!

I hope you had an amazing weekend and have been finding the beauty in simplicity! Save my "There is Beauty in Simplicity" graphic and make a post about your beautiful simplicities!

Valentine's Day

This was Dillon and my fourth Valentine's Day together. We have never done something too incredibly special in the past that I can recall, which has always been okay because our anniversary is just a month before. However, this Valentine's Day I wanted to do something a little bit more special. First, I got him a gift that I am SO excited for him to get (although I'm totally failing since I haven't even sent it yet...oops!) I'll post about it after he finally gets it.

But onto the more exciting story. After getting the idea from a few other USAFA girlfriends, I decided I wanted to have a date night with Dillon. And yes...we were able to accomplish this while still being 800+ miles away from each other. Since he would be traveling to Texas for baseball on the 14th, we decided to do this the night of the 13th. We both ordered Chinese food and decided we would Oovoo while eating and watching a movie (Thor!) together. 

Some may say I went a little overboard in that I got COMPLETELY dressed up. I wore a dress, did my makeup, and curled my hair (all of which I hardly ever do). 

I told Dillon I was "getting pretty" but I didn't tell him exactly what I was doing. I really just wanted to wear the pearl earrings he had given me for our three year anniversary! I was a little embarrassed that I went all-out, but he ended up wearing a collared shirt and told me repeatedly how beautiful I was. *Awh* 

It was one of the nicest things we have done together while apart. We have Oovoo'd and watched TV together plenty of times, but this was completely different and absolutely amazing. I was afraid he would think it was extremely cheesy (which it really was) but he liked it so much he suggested we try to do something like it once a month. Such a sweetheart! 

The next day was Valentine's Day and because of the night before, I didn't find myself becoming sad over all the couples on campus. My best friend, Becca made me a shirt to wear on Valentine's Day, and I absolutely love it!! Her man is on his mission right now, and so the shirts were perfect for us. The back has their last name's (and our *hopefully* future last names)! 

Then Dillon, being the thoughtful man he is, surprised me by booking me a massage! It was incredibly sweet of him, and honestly much needed because I have been so stressed out lately. Overall, it was the perfect Valentine's Date/Day. I feel so incredibly blessed to be in love with such an amazing man, and then to have an amazing best friend who understands the hardships of distance, but the wonderfulness of being in love.