Search Results for: family photos

Summer Lovin’

Filed Under: Uncategorized // June 21, 2013

…had me a BLAST! Happy Summer (officially) and High Five for Friday! It’s my absolute favorite season but unfortunately, I won’t be able to really enjoy it until August because I am buried in books til then. So I’ve decided to discuss one of my favorite summers ever: Summer 2011. It was my and Timmy’s first summer together and, luckily, he was still stationed in Norfolk, VA. This gave us plenty of time for visits and fun-filled activities. That summer I saw him 2 weekends in a row in June, for ~36 hours in July (oh how I wish he was close enough to even make that still possible), and for half of August. I loved being able to feel like we were in a more “normal” ~~long~~ distance relationship (because Hawaii -> NY is pretty long) since we were able to see each other so much. We were able to celebrate birthdays together, go sailing on the Hudson, and take a weekend trip. That summer, he also met most of my (extended) family and home and college friends so that made us really happy. Here are 5 of my favorite photos from that summer:

Quarter-life Crisis: Averted!

Filed Under: positivity // May 20, 2013

I’d recently been feeling the onsets on a quarter-life crisis. Family and friends would call me crazy for feeling as though I haven’t accomplished much just as I am about to graduate law school. Is law school a great accomplishment? Of course. Should I be proud? Certainly. And I am. I did not even think I could get into school let alone a great school. BUT I could not shake the feeling that graduating without an employment and life plan would render my accomplishment null and void. Time and time again I’d question if I’m good enough or have what it takes if no job, especially THE job I wanted, seemingly wanted to hire me. Well, here I am to tell you that life has been nothing short of amazing lately. God is great. I think I’m still in shock and trying to be cautious. I’ve always been a person who tries to keep things in perspective so I try not to be “overhappy” or overjoyed of fear that something will fall out of place. Nevertheless, I am very excited beyond words to share the news that has averted my crisis! It looks like I’m EMPLOYED with my DREAM job and just might be MOVING this year … !

Which also allows me extra time in Hawaii this summer/fall:

AND enables me to move my baby brother into college 🙂

My and Tim’s relationship is just 1/3 away from being a civilian, or at least non-active duty, relationship!

& speaking of Tim, he’s HERE … talk about excitement overload! We have much to celebrate 🙂
*** Please excuse my bloggy absence during his visit*** & be sure to check out my instagram, which I will be updating much more frequently

Linkups: Weekend Shenanigans & I<3Bloglovin post signature

Almost there

Filed Under: Uncategorized // May 9, 2013

I took my last law school exam today. For those of you who don’t know, final exams are generally worth 100% of our grades. That’s right – just one exam per class. Perhaps you now understand why these 3 years have been full of stress, stress, and more stress. But I trekked on through and ironically enough, just as I began this exam experience (that’s what I call it…) with a toughie (Federal Rules of Civil Procedure), I ended it with one, as well (Federal Income Tax). 1L

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=67dd0adfce&view=att&th=13e8947d063105c1&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=13efe1a5d0ec72b_0.1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-u4gob9xHMLV6JDbSr6qPa&sadet=1368102821444&sads=onEtg2MkpdfOfbscEQZAGtx_9bY&sadssc=1

Yes, that’s a [dark] chocolate bar. Tomorrow, you’ll read all about how I’m a chocofailure and have incorporated this not–so–paleo food into my otherwise paleo diet. Oh the joy of never having to sit through one of these again! … assuming I passed. Now to crunch out my paper and then school will be out F O R E V E R!

Welcome back to the link up unlike any other…

Not Quite There Yet!

This link up is specifically for non-mommy and/ or unmarried bloggers.

(We still love all you married with kids folks!)

This will be a weekly link up rotating through different social media outlets for us to connect through. I hope that this link up will facilitate the making of many new friendships and partnerships. We are all in the same boat, let’s get to know each other and support each other through life’s twists and turns.

Alright, let’s kick this thing off!

We will be linking up our Bloglovin & GFC accounts this week.

You know the drill…

1. Follow your host. That’s me! 😀

2. Follow ALL of your co-hosts. please and thank you!

Tarole from One Haole Girl&Jackie from City Girl Finding Her Place In the World

3. Link up your Bloglovin and/or GFC account.

Next week we will be linking up our Facebook fan pages!

4. Find some other great bloggers and follow along.And be sure to leave us a comment so we can all follow you back!

5. Button up and spread the word!Share this post on Twitter & Facebook!

If you are interested in co-hosting email me at dalayna {dot} dillon {at} gmail {dot} com.

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Story of My Life

Filed Under: Uncategorized // May 8, 2013

Day one: The story of my life in 250 words or less.(I’m doing this out of order because I really wanted to try it so here goes nothin’)

I was named after Jackie O, which could explain my aim to uphold myself to be a classy lady – drinking behavior sometimes excluded. My biggest goal in life is to be happy. I was always a “good girl,” make of that what you will. I love love. Being in love is my favorite. So are palm tree-lined streets and the beach. My family, friends, and Tim are my biggest blessings. My health is also way up there. As much as I struggle with it sometimes, I am a believer and I love God – I constantly thank Him. I thrive on adventure. I’m a summer baby. I am humble. The one thing I’ve wanted to be since I was a little girl is a mom. I also look forward to being a wife. I’m an aspiring attorney. I am a dreamer but a seeker. I am oversensitive. I’ve worn glasses since I was 5. I’ve attended school for ~20 consecutive years. I have big hair and expensive taste, and I’m sometimes referred to as “high maintenance” – I think I just favor good quality. Traveling and reading are my favorite hobbies. I am a lover of all things chocolate. I take chances but I’m careful to assess risk. I laugh at my own jokes. I laugh a lot, in general. I am a talker. I compromise, negotiate, and perhaps even whine to get my way sometimes. Because I’m not perfect. I’m human and I’m me. I love myself and my life.

Linkup: Wednesday Walkabout post signature

Love From Home

Filed Under: deployment, love // May 7, 2013

Today, the football care package I sent Timmy while he was deployed is being featured over at Love From Home! I sent it to him just as college football season was starting back up again. Note: I’m a Penn State alum and NOT a Michigan fan but I was a nice enough girlfriend to make an exception for this package 😉 Head on over and check it out!

Speaking of deployment, my & Timmy’s upcoming reunion will be the third since he got back last winter.

Our first night together after 205 apart, Dec. 2012

For me, (aside from the presents and flowers he sent me) the best “therapy” while Tim was deployed consisted of:

Constantly looking at my DOM (donut of misery via the Doing Time application)

33% down yay! By the time I get back from Cali we’ll hopefully be over the 50% mark:)

Draco keep your winds away! I need to get to my man verrrry soon 😁😍

The feeling of seeing the red being taken over by green is. the. best! Oh except the blizzard Draco had forced thousands of flights to be canceled so I was. freaking. out. the day I was supposed to fly to him. But alas, my flight was only delayed … 3-5x. I lost count. Truthfully speaking, though, I’d have taken 10 delays over a cancellation.

Planning and making care packages months in advance of when I’d send them

Countdowns & #carepackages make me happy … It’s the #littlethings when we’re #inlove ❤ (Taken with Instagram)

I highly recommend making as many of these as you’d like. The above Post Office boxes are FREE for sending to those deployed. They kept me busy and happy. I loved buying stuff for them, and honestly miss making them. I’ve also made him an Easter care package when he wasn’t yet deployed so you don’t necessarily have to wait for your SO to deploy.

Making him USO photobook after photobook

Someone finally found his #photobook in his mailbox! Thanks #USO! 👍📬💙💌 #l0veus #milso #navyso (Taken with Instagram)

because we thought he wasn’t getting them … turns out, only packages were delivered to him. For other stuff he had a… mailbox! haha RocketLife was super helpful and best of all: they’re FREE!

Sending him mail

Mailing his LAST deployment mail today! 😁 #SEEYASOONish

these were Veterans Day cards from me and my family

Making and responding to many a Viber text and call

Idk what I do to deserve his understanding but I appreciate it immensely and love him so much more for it ❤

Quite possibly my f.a.v.o.r.i.t.e. text of all. As you can probably tell, I was having a tough time around then.

Finding motivation in the amazing original quotes provided by the ladies over at Operation: Stand By Your Man:

“…make a conscience decision NOT to let deployment get you down. Make a decision that you’re not going to let sadness, jealousy, bitterness, anger, etc. be a constant in your life. You control you.”

And honestly, aside from family and friends, tumblr provided me with a very big support system.

Maybe one day I’ll talk about how our reunion didn’t go as picture perfect as planned a.k.a. I was awkward and a bit distant but until then I think this SpouseBuzz article hit the nail on the head when it stated, “Reintegration is way more complicated than sharing a romantic kiss and then automatically resuming all that was once normal.” Now, I know Timmy and I don’t live together so it’s a bit different for us, but I could relate to the article very much.

As that text indicated, the deployment experience was very much like a roller coaster and we each had our high and low points. I am grateful to have the partner that I have in Tim because he made each of those highs and lows more bearable just by being him. I smile because we made it through a time period we didn’t in the beginning of our relationship think we’d ever have to go apart and we came out 100x stronger as a result.

Linkup: Just Because