march on.

Welp. This wraps up the February Photo-A-Day Apartment Project. I tried.

february twenty seventh: something you ate.

{tina, ali}

february twenty eighth: money.

february twenty ninth: something you're listening to.

{see the rest of the project here}

Anybody do some extra leaping yesterday? You don't get that day every year, you know (I don't think I'll ever fully understand that).

another photo project update.

february twenty third: your shoes.

february twenty fourth: inside your bathroom cabinet.

{chad, ali}

february twenty fifth: green.

{ali, chad}

february twenty sixth: night.

february photo project update.

Kyle's mom has been visiting for about a week and a couple days ago she filled our refrigerator and cupboards with some "community" food and has been making dinner for the past few nights. I haven't cooked in days, ha. AND she bought a few of my necklaces and scarves to take home to her daughter and her friends. She has been such a blessing to all of us! She loves her son very much and it shows.
Anywho, here's the past few days of photos.


february sixteenth: something new.

february seventeenth: time.

february eighteenth: drink.

february nineteenth: something you hate to do.

{I don't like taking medicine. It is a rare thing for me.}

{and chad doesn't like getting up at six :)}

wednesday without words: 'happy birthday, gideon' edition.

february fifteenth: phone.

visit my friend to see her wednesday without words post and the rest of her beautiful blog. this new friend, too.

to the greatest of valentines.

Hubsand, I hesitate to make today more special than any ordinary day because I love you the same today as all of those other days. But I guess I don't see anything wrong with a day for showing extra love and appreciation for my favorite.
Happy Valentine's Day, to the greatest of Valentines. Jesus is way too good to me.

Also, let's live like this guy.



I hope today (and everyday), YOU, my friends and family (or any random reader out there), know you are loved. I mean really loved. ali


Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had you in mind, had settled on you as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Ephesians (the message) -text from my mom today. I have a great mom.

also loved this: Just another reason to love on purpose! #ValentinesDay -Jason McKay via twitter.


february twelfth: inside your closet.

{chad, ali}

february thirteenth: blue.

{ali, seth, chad. (kyle's new shoes are on display)}

february fourteenth: heart.

{just me today. yeah, old gum on the stairs. grace finds beauty in everything, haha.}

{I know what you're thinking.. but I meant to spell it 'hubsand'.}

my practical valentine.

Today our little clan [sans Tina, who was at work :( ] went to the mall together. Cute, right?
Hub and I browsed JCPenny and Macy's (because we had gift cards) and picked out a valentine for each other. Really we picked our own, but it was fun to be together. He needed a belt because his recently kicked the bucket (which means free leather scraps for ali, yay!), so that's what he picked and I found myself a new scarf. We'll probably go back with the rest of the gift card money for a duvet cover we've been meaning to purchase. We thought of that just as we were getting home. Whoopsy.
{oh and those Macy's gift cards.. wedding gifts. haha. bout time.}

Also today, it was cold. Michigan people, I don't want to hear it.
I KNOW what cold really is.
But a high of 54 and lots of wind makes for a chilly Louisiana. Seeing all of the people that were out for parades and Mardi Gras celebrations.. I mean you would have thought it was going to snow, ha. They were so bundled up! It did actually feel cool here, though I didn't mind one bit. But we did have to layer up a little.. for 54 degrees. And my face felt a little wind burnt. Wow. Things have changed. (:
Just thought I'd give you something to giggle about.

Welp, I'm very behind on our photo project so here are three days worth:

february ninth: front door.

{ali's, carl's [yay, carl joined in! our participants are scattered.. :) ]}

february tenth: self portrait.

{chad's, ali's}

february eleventh: something that makes you happy.

{ali's, chad's}

I hope you're having a great weekend so far. I hear the roads have been a tad nasty up north. Drive careful, Michigan. And enjoy the beauty of the snow, even if just for a second, for me.

I know I've posted this a few times already, it's just sitting really well with me lately..

'to learn how to be grateful and happy, whether hands full or hands empty. that is a secret worth spending a life on learning.' ann voskamp.

cafe du monde and other things.

We went to Cafe Du Monde for the first time today. Weird, right? Bout time.

Strolling through the French Quarter is always surprisingly reminiscent of our unexpected stay in Paris. Especially driving down Canal Street. We shared a frozen cafe au lait and beignets, and honestly thought they were a little overrated. BUT we're still glad we finally went. And it wasn't bad. Everything was good. I just think it's more about the whole experience.

I received these lovely pearls in the mail for a very special project in the works. More on that at a later date.

But the company I ordered from sent me this bird charm as a free gift and a handwritten thank you note. So nice. And funny, that they don't know anything about me or the bird nest necklaces I've sold in my shop.

He cares about the details, my friends.

Seth and Tina were hard at work on Tuesday, fixing all of our dining room table chairs. Here he is, drilling her to the chair (not really). Since we've been here, all of the seats were folding in and falling apart. So Seth cut all new wood and foam, and the four of us shopped for some on-sale fabric. They did a great job and we can all sit at the table now!

february seventh: button.

february eighth: sun.

Also, if you haven't seen my post about Stevia from a few days ago yet and would like to add your input, I'll gladly take it.
have a splendid thursday. ali

photo updates.

february fifth: 10am

{seth joined in that day}

february sixth: dinner

Oh ps. I entered a camera giveaway, so if you've noticed annoying tweets from me on twitter, that's what they are for. I get an entry every time I share the link and an extra entry if you click on it. If you're interested in entering the contest too click here ( I'll also get five more entries if you enter through that link :) ). I'm not really expecting to win, there are soo many entries. But I can still hope! Thanks for clicking! (if you did, ha.)

that I may walk in all You have for me.

I had a kind of frustrating morning.. of letting a few of the things I know God has under control still get to me.
So I just sat down and took a breather.
Then a song started flowing through my head and I listened to it a few times.
And it was pretty perfect for today. So I thought I'd share.

Take my hands and make them clean.

Keep my heart in purity,

That I may walk in all You have for me..

Take my moments and my days,

Let each breath that I take,

Be ever only for You, oh God.

I think I could listen to that slower first part of the song over and over and over.

february fourth: a stranger

{I did a baaaad job of capturing a stranger, ha. She was really cute, though & thought it was so neat that we were from Michigan for some reason. I kind of wanted to be her friend. :)}

'to learn how to be grateful and happy, whether hands full or hands empty. that is a secret worth spending a life on learning.' ann voskamp. <-- repeat from yesterday but it is a great reminder. :)

apartment quality time? (or.. trying not to spend too much money on a friday night.)

A conversation I never thought I'd hear in my home..
Chad: I got to drive the forklift some more at work today.
Kyle: Aw, nice dude.
Now those two and Seth are trying to guess each song that comes on while Kyle's iPod is on shuffle. And keeping track of who has the most points. One point for each correct answer.

It is a really exciting Friday night here, you guys.

Because of some unfortunate circumstances, Chad isn't working the show he thought he would be when we came back after Christmas. Sad face. (that is something to focus your prayers on..) But he is a wonderful husband and knew just what to do when things were tight.
He got a random job that he has no interest in, ha. Love this man.
We both started looking, actually. I applied to a Jewish Community Center to be a gymnastics assistant. I didn't get called but I just thought I'd give it a try, ha. I've never actually applied for anything like that so it was a leap for me for sure. The last (at least) five years have been spent in one salon or a dance studio with people I grew to be very comfortable with. Glad I at least put in the effort to something unfamiliar.
But hub's been working at a computer parts shipping company. We are believing it will just be temporary until he lands the perfect spot on the perfect film. But they like him way too much at this new job, haha. They are also pretty understanding about his situation though, so we're praying it isn't an issue when he has to leave.
So that's a mini update. Here are the next photos for our project. We usually end up taking them with our phones during times that we have not-so-great lighting, so bear with us. Also you're only seeing photos from the two of us again. Oh well.

february second: words.

february third: hands.

happy weekend. hope it's great.

'to learn how to be grateful and happy, whether hands full or hands empty. that is a secret worth spending a life on learning.' ann voskamp.

wednesday without (very many) words.

Has anyone tried making these yet? I'm sure many of you have seen them on Pinterest.
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.
I tried my hand at them today. If you like cheesecake, they are yummy and so easy.

{via}

We're also starting a photo project here at apartment 2427. I saw a February photo-a-day challenge on instagram and thought it would be fun to collaborate with the roomies. Unfortunately, everyone has been gone all day and I just decided late last night to get it started. So I only have photos from Chad and I this time. We'll see if I can get everyone to commit. (:

february first: your our view today.

{mhmm. poo on the stairs.}