The Everyday + a little DIY

Just about everyday I clean our little bathroom to look like this:

Within a few hours, honestly, it looks like this:

I can't even blame my hubby for it-- this is his side:

This is my side:

My side is worse! And I'm probably the one who left the floss and lotion out on his side! But you know what--I kinda like how fast it gets messy. I like it because it only takes a few minutes to put the stuff away and wipe down the counters--then I feel like I have cleaned so I don't have the guilt to clean the rest of our place!:)

Everyone has places in their home that just never seem to stay clean. The bathroom is that place for us. I always tell Travis that I really want a double sink in our next place. That'll probably just give us more counter space to clutter. Another place that is like this for us is our dresser in our bedroom. Take a look:

It is supposed to look like this:

And because I thought a blog post that is only about how dirty our apartment is would be super lame, I added a little DIY to spruce things up--the framed 'a' in the picture above.

What you'll need:
-An empty frame (any size, color, depth, etc.)
-A clothespin
-Some string, tweed, or something like that
-The letter of either your last name, first name, or something you want to display. I got an 'a' at Michaels for around $1 and then painted it.
-A nail and hammer
(I was going to use a hot glue gun but decided to just tie the string around the frame instead)

First, cut the string to the size that you'll want--probably about two feet but it depends on how big your frame is.
Next, lay the string behind the frame and tie each side to the frame. (In the picture below I have the frame turned on the wrong side.)

Next, grab your clothespin and hang your cute letter inside! Then display your quick DIY!

Its crazy how adding something small to a space can make you like it that much more. Now, if only we could keep our messy dresser from taking away from all of the cuteness!!

Enjoy this weather (if you are somewhere with weather like Chico)! It is feeling like summa my friends!

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Brittany's Bridal Shower

Brittany is less than two weeks away from being a bride! We were so excited to be able to celebrate her and shower her some love. Unfortunately, I didn't get to take too many photos but it was a beautiful shower with great friends!

Thank you Adrienne for opening up your home to all of us and thank you ladies for showering Brittany with so much love and fun stuff for her & her hubby-to-be.

Playing a game with HubbaBubba gum is always dangerous. Brit had to answer questions about her hubby-to-be. If she got an answer wrong, she had to put a piece of gum in her mouth. Although we all know that she knows Casey really well, she had to spit some gum out because she started drooling...

 Brit's younger sister and the maid of honor, Kristi. She is attending Chico State next Fall!!

 April 9th is going to be a good day. I was hoping to be able to take some photos but I doubt it'll happen because I am in the Wedding party. Maybe Trav will step up to the plate!:)

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Memory Verse 2

Travis is totally into memorizing a verse each week. It's nice to have someone help keeping you accountable. I posted a copy of it on our bathroom mirror. Last night I was brushing my teeth and he yelled to me from the bedroom "What does Romans 15:13 say?!" He thought I was cheating because I didn't respond for a while. Last night I got into bed and he was looking up a memory verse for this week. He's a cutie. So, here is this week's memory verse:

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

With all your heart...now that is challenging.

And by the way...can you tell Travis is an over-achiever?:) I should have titled this Memory Verses!

Right now...

This is what my dining room table looks like right now...

I'm looking forward to having a craft room one day so I can just leave this all out and not have to move it to eat!:)
This weekend us bridesmaids are throwing our friend Brittany a Bridal Shower. Her and Casey are getting married April 9th. Their last name is going to be Ryan--hence the R and the Y in the pictures below. I am working on some decor and gifts for her. If I find the time I will do a 'how to' after the shower on what I made. I'm thinking that it's going to be pretty cute!

I can't wait to celebrate this bride-to-be!

Yosemite

Not only do I have to upload my own Facebook photos, but I have to upload Travis' as well. He wants pictures but doesn't really care to take the time to put them on. So, I'll be the nice wife and do it for him. Especially when I have a lot of time on campus and am procrastinating on homework.

We went to Yosemite a few weeks ago with Travis' parents. They got a cabin that came with a jacuzzi and a cozy fireplace. We were set. Thanks in-laws!

Travis took these photos and edited them. They will be on his Facebook soon...

^That's some crazy hair not being tamed so well with the headband.

We are so lucky in California to have so many natural beauties surrounding us. We want to hike Feather Falls next. It is only about 30 minutes outside of Chico and it is a long hike to a beautiful waterfall. Who wants to come?!

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Memory Verse

Travis and I were challenged at our Young Marrieds study this past Sunday. I can't remember the last verse that I memorized. This is an area in my life that I struggle to make a priority. 
We absolutely love this group and don't think that our marriage would be the same without it. It was such an impactful way for Travis and I to build relationships together as a couple. Because I had lived in Chico for two years before Travis moved here, I had already established my relationships-- Chico was my home away from home. Becoming a part of our Young Married Bible Study, we have seen how God has blessed our marriage by providing such an honest, funny, and encouraging group of people. We have been able to make Chico our home... not just mine. 
In order to keep myself accountable and encourage you, I will be sharing our memory verse each week. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

I wish I could walk around Japan and share this verse with everyone. I wish I had the courage to share this verse with people in my classes, at my work, etc. Maybe next week the verse will be on courage...

Kyle's visit to Chico

Travis' brother is in the rainy city of trees right now. It is his Spring Break which, in effect, makes our Spring Break (that was last week) an extended good time! Kyle treated us to dinner at Tres Hombres last night. It is a nice Mexican Restaurant that has the greatest ambiance. Travis and I shared a tasty margarita (proof of the negative to those of you who think we might be expecting!) while Kyle sipped on a Mojito. I love how these Albini men like the "non-beer drinks". That's a nice way to say girly drinks. I like it because then we share!

Attention people of Chico and surrounding areas: Tres Hombres has the most delicious, addicting, can't- stop- eating- even- though- I- am- almost- full , chips and salsa. For reals. Both Travis and Kyle had to get to-go boxes because they ate too much of the chips and salsa and couldn't finish their meals. The only reason I could finish my meal was because it was a salad. 

 Lovely brothers- Travis is about 1.5 years older & he is loving having Kyle stay with us for a few days.

We woke up this morning, had some yummy breakfast burritos and headed to the Used bookstore to grab Kyle somethin' to read while Trav and I studied. TeaBar was calling our names so we decided to spend some time studying there-aka me taking pictures while Travis studies and Kyle reads his mystery novel.

 

 If you are wondering what kind of drinks those are--HoneyCream on the left and Oolong & Caramel Cream on the right. 

I think the only time the sun came out was when we were about to take this picture--hence the squinting.

The gate was closed to Bidwell Park. The water was moving really, really fast. We're thinking it had something to do with that because there were guys in uniform-type clothing looking at the water levels and stuff.  Bidwell Park is one of the main things I love about Chico. Miles and miles of gorgeousness.

Kyle will be here for a few more days so we are looking forward to showing him some more of Chico. It is so much fun having people visit. So I say--Come visit us! We will show you a good time. Just don't come in the next three weeks, we're really busy:)

Thanks for following! I hope you are having much better weather than we are. (After typing that I thought about the weather Japan has experienced in the last few weeks-- I feel selfish now.) I'm thankful for the weather we have had.

Love

We were so young. I remember some friends of mine and I were going to a No Doubt concert and my friend said "You should date Travis Albini. That'd be sooo cute." For some reason I said "Ew, no". I think I was just embarrassed and thought I wouldn't have a chance to be with the cute quarterback who has abs and muscles (a lot of freshmen boys hadn't quite reached that).

I think it was fate. We had both just gotten out of relationships--and by relationships I mean a month long fling where we held hands with someone and the only time we were had a conversation was on aim. Travis and I started dating when we were 14 years old. When I see 14 year olds now, I think 'we weren't that little, dorky, awkward, self-involved, etc'. But...we were. We had a few bumps in the road between our freshman and sophomore year of high school but were good to go after some time apart and seeing that no one else compared. He was cute. After I typed that I thought 'He is really cute!'

I recently saw on a friend's blog that the most important thing in a friendship is history. Travis and I definitely have that. When we got married, we had been dating for 6 years. We knew each other. Oh--if only we knew what we know now.

We will be married for 3 years in June. It has flown by but at the same time I feel like we have been married for our whole lives. I didn't know Travis when he was 5 years old with a mullet, when his best friend was his sling shot. But I feel like I knew him. I see his face light up when he and his brother talk about how they used to swing from the rope swing in their backyard. I see how excited he gets when he talks about how they used to sit on the couch and pretend they were cowboys riding the same horse bareback holding on to each other for dear life, trying to catch the bad guys. He beams talking about his younger sister Mallory. When she was young she accidentally burnt her hands on a grill and he loves talking about how they all pretended that she was a boxer with her hands wrapped up in gauze. I can picture him pretend jabbing with her, being so gentle. I love seeing the videos of him at about 5 years old wrestling his baby sister and letting her win-- his heart. It was so selfless and pure then just like it is now. I can picture him wrestling with our children, letting them win, being ecstatic when they do a move that he taught them.

I don't really know why I am writing this. When I sat down and realized that it had been a few days since I posted something, I didn't know what to write about. We write about the things we love, the people we love. I love Photography. I love nature. I love my family. I love Jesus. I love crafts. And I love my husband. (In no particular order)

 So there you have it for a random post about my love. And since a post is always better with a few pictures--here are some photos of our younger days together. These were high school and early college.

We were so skinny and I was so blonde! To not worry about spending $90 a month on getting your hair dyed-- Geeze.

I wish I had files on my computer of pictures before this time. I have some awkward beauties from Freshman year but they are just prints.

Thanks for your love, babe.

And thank you for following!

Time & Movement

As I've mentioned a few times before, Travis and I are taking a Photography class together this semester. This past week our assignment was about Time and Movement. We messed with our shutter speeds, took full advantage of our tripod, and busted out the flash equipment to freeze some motion at night. 

After driving around town to get some cool shots of car lights and whatnot, we decided to take a few pictures of ourselves jumping off the stairs outside of our front door. Travis was much better at this. My face always ended up looking like I was either really scared, not sure what I was doing, or having to run to the bathroom. They're keepers. ;)

Drain-o

A girl in our complex thought she'd give it a try. Her friends told her not to because she has a bad ankle. She said it was fine...

She walked away limping.

Here are some mess ups...just for your pleasure.

Cute...

For some reason there were a lot more mess ups of me...hmm. I won't share them--they're too bad.

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