The Pilot’s girlfriend
I’ve gotten a few requests about giving relationship tips,
how the Pilot and I keep from fighting,
stuff of the like.
My only real relationship tips are: you’re a team, don’t nitpick the little things that don’t really matter, and do something everyday to show the other person you love them.
As far as deployments go, it’s something we’re forced to deal with, so I could either choose to be miserable or make the most out of the situation. Keeping myself busy seemed to help the most, as well as creating little goals or events to look forward to along the way. Exercise was a great distraction, too. Even though I tried my best, there were still the moments when I drank copious amounts of wine with the girls, or that one time I cried in a bush.
As far as “never fighting,” goes, we argue every now and again.
Like when I’m asking him when he’ll be done with his girlfriend
and come home for the night.
Yes, I nag my husband about when he’ll be home from work. When the Pilot says “be home in an hour,” I just tag a couple of extra hours onto that. He’s swamped, works his @ss off, does an insanely challenging, and dangerous job (teaching students how to fly), but I still miss him in those couple of hours after I get home from work, or Livi is in bed and he’s not home yet.
However, this week has been really awesome. We’ve been able to spend some quality time and actually enjoy dinner.. at the same time… together. He took a couple days of leave since the air show was over and could use a little break, so when I got home from work yesterday, the 3 of us headed to Blanco.
Chips, salsa, guac
tacos
great conversation, no technology distractions, and a sweet little mini chimi to keep us company 🙂
Back home from dinner before the sun was down
and the rest of the evening to enjoy. Refreshing change from the usual rat race over here!
This morning, I made an eggrito
(tortilla fail. Heating for 30 seconds is the magic number- 25 leads to cracks and a hot sauce-egg mess)
and am going to take Liv to the zoo.
Hope you have a very happy Friday!
xoxo
Gina
Today’s tip: Add in some variation to your usual plank!
*Remember, planks are more effective when held for 10 seconds and followed by 3 seconds of rest than trying to hold it for anything longer than a minute. This keeps the emphasis entirely on your core, instead of allowing form to suffer to hold for a long time and using other muscles to pick up the slack. Try comparing a 1-minute plank to a 10 sec on, 3 sec rest plank, repeated 5 more times (for a minute of planking total). Do you feel the difference?
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Where do you get your tortillas for your egg-ritos? They look perfectly chewy and delish!
trader joes
What kind are they? 🙂 The do look yummy!
brown rice tortillas
Can I come with you guys to the zoo? I have no one to go with!
You can come with me since I plan to go anyway 🙂
of course!!
The family picture is beautiful! I don’t think is real to never fight, me and my husband we have been together for four years, we fight here and there but I think is important to take a step back, take a deep breath and ask yoursel: is this really worth it? you know fighting for such small things when we can just be a team and make the right decision together!
So cute! Love that you call your little one a mini chimi! Enjoy the elephants!
My husband is looking at the NUPOC program to become a Navy Nuke Officer. Looks like I might have to compete with a giant floating girlfriend soon…
Great advice. I think it all boils down to communication and respect. Big time.
Cute dress!
Perfect advice for any relationship.
{{Whistles}}…geez, what a gorgeous family y’all make!!!
I had NO idea about that plank fact. I always try to hold mine for a long time and think about my alignment. I am totally going to try that out. Hoping for sore abs!!! 🙂
You guys are so cute! I love it 🙂
Fun I can’t wait to try that technique with planking. I think your comment about being a team in relationships is key too. I’m not in one right now but in the past I know it has fallen apart because one party didn’t really play as if we were a team at all. Also, all the couples who ‘seem’ to have it together (and I always say seem because you never really know what goes on behind closed doors, so I don’t ever ‘admire’ or ’emulate’ any couples) seem to play on the same team too. It’s a good mantra to have I think.
Is it just me or is the pilot super tanned in that pic???
Also, I love kids but I don’t have a lot of experience with young babies so I don’t know a lot about them/they make me a bit nervous but every time I see a pic of Olivia I think about how cute she is!! Seriously, she is adorable. One of my best friends had a baby recently and I am OBSESSED with him!! Thanks for sharing these tips with us!
the pilot came home looking like a LOBSTER from the air show. now he is a tanned roman god.
and thank you- she is seriously amazing 🙂
Does he were sunblock? I try to get my husband Eric to wear sunblock but her NEVER does. He always ends up burned to a crisp and red like a lobster. He evern runs away when I try putting aloe vera on him 😉
wear* blah.
that morning, i said “make sure you put some sunscreen on- it’s blazing hot”
it didn’t happened.. he fried :/
Good planking tip! I’ve never heard that! I’m going to try it for sure!
Gina, you have such a beautiful family. It feels weird to say since I don’t know you in real life, but as a long time blog reader, I’m so happy for you! 🙂
I second Candice’s comment!
Going to try that 10 sec on/ 3 sec rest x5 plank…good tip! Thanks!
My bf and I always say…wait “We’re on the same team!”
What is a rest plank, Gina? Is it where you put your butt up or do you come totally down?
come totally down and take a little rest
Something about the name “eggrito” just brought a big smile to my face.
Glad you guys have gotten some nice family time in this week; I agree with your overall approach to not sweat the small stuff and nitpick. Makes it much easier to be taken more seriously when I do have a legit gripe! haha!
My husband has a girlfriend too! He is a surgeon and I call his work his “jealous mistress” because “she” eats up so much of his time. My husband also pulls the “I’ll be home in an hour” (reality 2 hours) card. You and other military families are so strong to deal with deployments and other absences though and I can’t compare.
Beautiful family and scenery! We just came back from a resort near Tucson and loved hiking around there! Gorgeous!
Excellent post, Gina! I’ve been married for almost 10 months and I agree with the part about about being being a team…being selfless instead of selfish. My husband and I don’t really fight, but we’ve had our share of silly nitpicky arguments here and there. We’re not military, but he works at the university here in town in the athletic department and has to travel quite a bit with his job. He too has used the “I’ll be home in an hour” bit too, and it used to annoy the fire out of me. Now, like you I just add a few hours to that and roll on. He works his hiney off everyday, and is good at what he does. Posts like this really help me put things into perspective when I’m pouting about another trip or hours he works. I’m proud of him and his strong work ethic. I feel like I’m rambling now, but I really wanted you to know that I enjoyed your post today. :0)
I second this! So nice to hear that other couples go through this, too. Absolutely helps me put it into perspective – both your words, Stacie, and Gina’s! 🙂
I can totally relate with “when will you be home?”. My hubby is a full-time firefighter with 24 hour shifts, then works a second job on his off days. He goes straight to work from the fireball. So sometimes it seems like I never see him. And we have a 6 week old baby so now I REALLY miss him.
Instead of nagging him and getting mad, I try really hard to remind myself that he HAS to work and me being all on his case isn’t going to accomplish anything. I want to enjoy him when he is home and I know he works hard all for me and our son.
This post was a nice reminder for me to keep it up!
Have fun at the zoo! I always love taking my little cousins there (or just going myself…)
Interesting! Thanks for the tip on how long planks should be held. I had NO idea. I have worked up to holding planks for two minutes, but will now end the suffering ;). What is the longest that planks should ever be held for? And what is your opinion on regular planks (forearm) vs. yoga planks (straight arms)?
I second this question about the different plank types, it would be awesome to see a post on it!
I also did not know about holding + resting plank, thanks for sharing that tip with us Gina, I am sure going to try.
Ana
i wouldn’t hold them for longer than a minute. yoga planks are more challenging for me, but it varies from person to person
Thanks for the tip about planks! I hate holding them longer than 30 seconds and even halfway through that I start to sort of “sink” and use other parts of my body to hold me up. I will have to try the 10 seconds, 3 seconds rest next time!
Your posts are so inspirational and upbeat. They help me take a moment out of my hectic day and realize what’s really important. So, thank you for leaving me with a better attitude each time I check your site!
thank YOU so much for reading <3
xoxo
Hi Gina – Love the pic of you and your fam and I REALLY love your dress – do you mind sharing where it is from?
thank you! j crew
Love the plank alternations! And that’s a great tip– I had no idea about the 10 seconds on, 3 seconds off. Thanks!
I LOVE your dress!! It’s super cute and flattering.
When fighting/arguing or whatever, it’s also good to understand each other and know how to deal with such moments. I’ve finally figured out (but still don’t always practice) that the best thing for my husband and I is to drop to subject and spend a few hours away from each other. I’ll usually go upstairs to my computer or run, and he’ll go lift or kill zombies on the playstation. It’s been proven time and time again that me trying to nag/talk my way to the bottom of the issue is NOT effective, because my husband turns off, and I start using my high pitched “confrontational” voice. Then, after we’ve both calmed down a bit, we can try to work out the issue in a less conflicting manner.
love your cute little, striped dress. you should totally add it to your fashion page! i LOVE casual dresses in the spring and summer time!!
Thanks for your honesty in this post! As a single gal it’s nice to know the little tips that keep couples on track! Sounds like dinner last night was wonderful and delicious! Hope that you have a great time with your little girl at the Zoo! And thanks for the plank help– I was planking every day but have gotten out of the habit and need to bring it back!
I have nothing productive to say other than the fact that you guys make one beautiful family. What a great shot of all three of you!
Aw, great tips and pictures! Those tacos look delicious!
People outside of the military ask me that stuff all the time. You can’t help who you fall in love with so I always tell them I had two choices – marry him and make the best of it or not marry him. Haha….riiiiiiight.
That is an adorable pic of you guys.I bet the pilot has no problem wanting to come home to such a hot wife 😉
you stop that 😉
Wheeereeee is t hat dress from???!! Love.it.
j crew- got it last spring
thank you!
“You’re a team, don’t nitpick the little things that don’t really matter, and do something everyday to show the other person you love them.”
LOVE this. These are great tips for all marriages.
Have a great weekend, Gina!
thank you, friend- you too!
Liv has amazing genes how flipping cute are the three of you!? (hubba hubba pilot)
thank you! her daddy is one good-looking man 😉
I was searching the comments for dress information. It’s beautiful!!!!!!!!!
thank you! it’s from last spring- j crew
Unfortunately, I’m the one with the “girlfriend” in our relationship. Since hubby works from home, I end up giving him the “I’ll be out in an hour” line. I really don’t mean to do it; I just get a second wind right around 6pm and forget to look at the clock.
Thanks for the plank tip, I had never heard of it before (and I am a fitness article junkie 🙂 )! Totally going to revamp my plank moves!
Great relationship advice!! Not nitpicking at the small stuff is really important, sometimes you just gotta pick your battles. And what a beautiful picture of a beautiful family =)
Love that grey striped dress! where is it from?!
thanks! j crew (old, though)
I appreciate your post! The Motto in our house is don’t sweat the small stuff. The hardest thing for me is not being able to call anytime or hop on a p
*plane and go see him anytime I want. Another is becoming #1 then handing the reins back over. It’s hard but in the end hopefully it will be worth it!
I love that picture of the three of you! Such a beautiful family!
thank you!
I’m so glad that the Pilot has been able to take a few days to be with you and Livi! 🙂 You all deserve it. Don’t you just love TJ’s corn tortillas?!? Here in the Midwest stores, they don’t carry their brown rice tortillas. 🙁
i love pretty much everything from trader joes 🙂
Thanks for the link to my website:) I am a bit of a fitness nut and have been doing it for awhile. If there is anything you want to know just ask, or I can ask Julie (the girl in the picture) and Ill get her to chime in.
you look stunning! i wouldn’t believe you if you said you just recently had a baby!
wow, thank you for such an sweet compliment 🙂
Great striped dress!
Hope you had fun at the zoo.
i LOVE that dress! where did you get it?
thank you! i got it last year at j crew
That’s such a beautiful photo of the three of you!! 🙂
Hope you and Livi have fun at the zoo!
thank you! 🙂