when life sucks // 6 simple steps

Sometimes life is just rotten. Like, really though.

So, what do you do?

Step One: Make sure you're married to a Chris Gourley.
(okay, the real "step one" is CRY. a lot).

Step Two: Have your Chris Gourley suggest that you go to Swig.

Step Three: Have your Chris Gourley voluntarily + completely drag down your mattress to the living room so you can enjoy watching TV surrounded by Christmas lights.

Step Four: Contemplate on leaving your mattress in the living room all month of December. #noshame

Step Five (optional): Convince your Chris Gourley to take a kissy picture (which probably ain't our best look) on self-timer solely for the purpose of being on the blog. #seriouslynoshame

Step Six (also optional): Realize that having a Chris Gourley is absolutely the one thing that helps life feel just a little less rotten. . .

Happy December 30th To Us!

"Sitting next to you doing absolutely nothing means absolutely everything to me."

I think that's a pretty good quote to sum up OUR day today. I say OUR day, because it's December 30th! Which means that today marks 4 years since we met. Is it weird that we still celebrate the day that we met? Like, at what point in your marriage do you have to start giving up those weird anniversaries? I just don't think I'm going to ever be ready for that...

Anyway, to celebrate knowing each other for four years now, we decided to get really crazy and... wait for it... watch Star Wars! Chris has been wanting to convert me ever since he made me go see Episode 7 a couple weeks ago, but I don't think Chris realized that with doing that he was going to be answering a million+ questions from me. Wait, does Darth Vader not have an arm?! Do Ani and Padme do IT?! Is it true that Luke and Leia were incest?! All of my questions have been answered with, "Shhh! Just watch, babe..." So watch we have! This is pretty much what our view has been the past couple of days:

Annnnd to contradict the quote that I said summed up our day, I will mention that we did go to Olive Garden for lunch, and then Swig--that counts as doing something, right?! But then we came right back to our couch and watched more Star Wars, because we're just crazy like that. Don't worry though, we got up long enough to go and see the movie, Everest.  I know, I know... a lot of sitting today. My heart loves it, my waist hates it. That's what New Year's resolutions are for though, duh.

Now we're back on our couch switching back and forth between football and basketball games (and when I say 'we,' you know I mean Chris). Super romantic, right? But that's why that quote above is kind of perfect for our day today because I truly have loved every minute with Chris today doing absolutely nothing.

I always do.

Who knew that 4 years ago I was meeting the guy I love doing absolutely nothing with? So, so glad I did.

Love you, Chris!
Happy December 30th!!!

Now time to get back to sitting and doing absolutely nothing with you...

being married to a grown-up

Since the very beginning of our relationship, I've referred to Chris as a "grown-up." Back when I first met him, he had just graduated college, had a job at Primary Children's Hospital, and was 24--A GROWN-UP, GUYS! And then there was me... living with my parents, working a cush campus job, and just completing my sophomore year of college. ha. I remember being so intimidated by Chris! Like, who is this guy and why does he have his sh*z together?!

Three years later, and I still feel the exact same way. Chris is such a grown-up! A successful one, too. Chris has progressed very quickly during his few years with Intermountain Healthcare, and I'm so, so proud of him! I bring this all up because for the past couple of months, Chris has been going to the Intermountain Healthcare advanced training program--a program you have to be hand-picked to attend! And it's kind of rare for people Chris' age or with Chris' experience (or lack of) to be chosen to go to this training. But it doesn't surprise me one bit that Chris was chosen since he's so hardworking + smart + personable and... everybody just loves Chris! 

I don't even get to be with "work Chris," but I know everything that I just said is true. I saw it with my own eyes tonight at the dinner party that Intermoutain takes all the employees who complete the training to, which is a huge perk to being married to a grown-up because I don't think I've been to a fancier restaurant in my life! We got to go to a place in Salt Lake called Valter's and holy fancy! This Del Taco lovin' couple almost didn't even know what to do! ("Is that my plate or your plate? Why are there so many glasses?!") 

It was so fun getting to see "work Chris" and see all the people he's been with that respect and adore him as well. I love that I married a grown-up who is so driven and hardworking all while being funny and optimistic. That's what makes Chris such a good grown-up. 

Chris, you're kind of a big deal...

and I'm so blessed to have  you teach me how to be a grown-up so that one day I can get my sh*z together like you.

I love you. 

MARRIAGE

Me: "Goodnight, babe! Love you."

Chris: "Love you, too. I'd cuddle you, but... it's hot."

I knew you meant that because you made sure your hand was touching my back until we fell asleep.

27 Things To Know + Love About Chris

Chris turned 27 today, but really we've celebrated all weekend! Celebrations included dinners, group date + a campfire, lots of back scratches/massages, and time spent with family (+ TWO birthday cakes!). Chris agreed that it was a successful birthday this year.

All Chris wanted to do today was go up to Tidbit and "look for turks" while I scratched his back. 

I think it's safe to say Chris is 27 going on 50, since he really wanted a hose reel for his birthday-ha! Adulthood?! Oh, and please ignore my horrendous wrapping job (it's safe to say that Santa will NEVER wrap presents at our house). Oh, and just to make you think that I'm a really cutesy wife, the Reese's in the water bottle each had a little love note on the bottom for Chris, who actually really ended up liking that gift. 

If you ever want to surround yourself with people that are pumped for your birthday, have the Gourley gang with you! It's hard not to feel loved and special with the Gourley kids around!

Now that I've given you the CliffsNotes on Chris' birthday, I thought it would be fun for you all to get to know Chris--the man behind the blog (ha!)--a little more, so in honor of turning 27, here are 27 things to know + love about Chris Gourley. Enjoy!

1. Chris is the baby of his family.

2. The turning point in Chris' life when he became "cool" was in 3rd grade when he beat Adam Donahoo in an intense game of Speed at recess.

3. His favorite food is pizza. His current favorite is pepperoni, pineapple, and jalapeno (and yes, it's just as gross as it sounds).

4. When Chris was younger, him and his buddies had a lawn mowing business called  "The 3 amigos."

5. Chris' dream vacation is to go fishing in Alaska.

6. He has to have juice or some kind of beverage for breakfast that is not water. "He just can't."

7. When we were first married, and I broke the news that we were out of grocery money for the month and didn't have anything good for dinner, Chris replied with what is now my favorite quote from him to date, "I hate being poor.Do we have any chocolate ice cream left?"

8. Instead of having pets, Chris would rather our kids have trees. He wants them to pick them out and take care of it and take a picture by it every year.

9. One of Chris' pet peeves is when there's holes in his socks, or if they are turned around/not on the right way. 

10. Chris' life motto is work smarter, not harder (which is ironic, since he's one of the hardest working people I know!).

11. Chris prefers toddlers over newborns.

12. There's only one thing that Chris is high maintenance about, and that is the brand of hot dog he buys. No Bar-S for Chris.

13. Chris was voted "Friendliest Freshman," 

14. You're not going to believe this one, but his farts seriously don't stink. He says it's because he "runs a clean system."

15. His favorite basketball player is Tim Duncan.

16. Chris drove a yellow truck in high school called "The Wiz."

17. His man-crush is Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

18. Chris hates roller coasters, but he loves water parks and water slides.

19. He puts tobasco sauce on anything and everything. 

20. Chris only puts gel in his hair if absolutely necessary. He hates having a sticky forehead. Actually, Chris just hates being sticky period. 

21. He's the favorite uncle on both mine and his side of the family. 

22. Chris hates listening to loud music. It's rare for the volume in his car to go above a 7. 

23. He served his mission in Brazil, and dreams of going back to visit someday. 

24. His drink order at Swig is a 32oz Fruit Loop. 

25. Chris always said his future wife would propose to him... and that I did (after he proposed to me, of course)! 

26. Every single morning when Chris wakes up and starts getting ready, he sings  He Is Risen loud and proud. 

27. Chris HATES being sung to on his birthday (but that didn't stop us this year!) 

I love you, Chris! Thanks for giving me a reason to celebrate every April 12th!

Call me Chrayli // a kind of sappy post (gasp!)

I have been so stressed out these past couple of weeks. I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty details of student teaching, but if you've been through it, you probably have a good idea of how overwhelmed/inadequate I've been feeling. To add to my stress, I found out this morning that I am now being required to student teach in my minor (physical education). I've been on the verge of tears since I found out the news because um, hi! I feel like I can barely keep up with just teaching health. How am I going to add PE to the mix?

So after suppressing that lump in my throat all day, I came home to this note from Chris and just cried, but the good kind of cry!

It might not seem like that cutesy of a note, but it's just what I needed to hear from Chris! Chris is so optimistic, and I'm just....not. But when I read this note, I couldn't help but smile huge. I'm becoming more like Chris! Trying to stay happy and chipper even when I'm super stressed--what Chris does every single day. 

Maybe Chris forgot about my mini-meltdown last week? Maybe he's just trying to butter me up for some back scratches for tonight? Or maybe, just maybe, I really am becoming more like my favorite human. For whatever reason, I'm just so happy he wrote this note for me to come home to today. It's inspiring me to stay positive and just keep chuggin' along.  

So here's to being more like Chris! Just call me.... Chrayli? Shris? Shaylopher?
. . . our couple name might need some work.

A Tidbit of Love for Chris

After my last post, Chris brought to my attention that I just "go into straight hate mode" when I blog about him. Chris' comment had me like, WHAT!? No! I am all kinds of cutesy about you on the bloggity blog! So then I started reading through some of my older posts, and I came to this conclusion: I'm afraid to be sappy on my blog. Not just about Chris, but about anyone. I noticed that anytime I would start to even become semi-serious or sentimental in a post, I'd have to end with a joke or a silly, off-topic comment. Am I afraid of sounding like a newlywed since I'm not really considered a "newlywed" anymore? Or maybe I'm really just trying to stick with the title of my blog and only keep a "tidbit of love" in my posts? I don't know, but for whatever reason, Chris noticed and it kind of plucked at my heartstrings when he said that.

So Chris, get ready to be sap-slapped so hard, your man-boobs (that I always assure you that you don't have!) are gonna concave after you read this saptastic post filled with reasons why I love you! (...do you guys see my problem now?)

Chris, one of the reasons I love you is because you just work so damn hard (I also love you because you always tell me not to swear, but let's just focus on the whole working hard thing for now...). I love that you work hard at basically anything and everything: your job, school, house projects, making me happy, projects for other people, and most importantly, pickle ball. I love that you're always trying to do better and be better. You're not okay with just being "okay," except maybe when it comes to knowing the correct lyrics to songs on the radio. I know I don't tell you enough, so I'm telling you now: Thank you for working so hard for us! So hard, in fact, that when you come home from work, you pass out on the couch like this:

Also, I love that booty ^^

Another reason I love you is the fact that you just don't give a crap what other people think of you. I'm almost envious of this trait you have because it's something that I struggle with, as you know all too well. So thank you for always reassuring me that I look like "a twig bi-" when I'm not feeling so good about myself. I love that if you are being teased by me or your friends or anyone for that matter, that you don't care and you don't change. You are always Chris and always will be the same Chris I fell in love with, and even when I complain about it, just know that I secretly love that you are a goofy, fanny pack-wearing, basketball-watching, manchild. 

Another thing I love about you is that you are a simple person. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is a good quality (mostly when you can't understand why I want to buy a new outfit or makeup), but for the most part, I really do love this about you. Not a lot of people can say that simple things like fishing, hiking, hunting, working hard on a project, or even just sitting outside and talking make them really happy, but you can. You don't need the newest technology (not even a smart phone!), the trendiest clothes, or any other materialistic thing to make you happy--the way it's supposed to be. I wish I could say the same thing for myself, but for right now I'll just appreciate the fact that you bring that great balance into our relationship ;) 

If you haven't noticed already, every reason I've listed so far for why I love you is a quality that I wish I had. The exact same thing applies to this next reason of why I love you: That you don't take yourself seriously. I mean that in the best way, too. If you did, who would I have to remind me to not take myself so seriously all the time?! My life would be so sad and boring if you didn't possess this quality! I love that you have better things to worry about than just yourself. The world would be so much better with more Chris Gourley's for this reason alone! You are a rare breed, Chris.

I could go on and on with more reasons as to why I love you, like that you always share your food with me and that you're so good with kids and that you cuddle me in the mornings and that you play Clash of Clans (just kidding! even the sappiest bone in my body would never let me admit that), but I know I don't need to, because even though I know this post probably could have been a little more serious, I know that wouldn't be like us--because WE are not serious (okay, you're not serious), and the cutesy, "serious" moments we do have together, don't need to be shared in the blog world. But I do hope that you appreciated this ultra sappy, newlywed-worthy blog post in your honor.

Because, well, I love your guts (figurative guts! you're a twig bi- with six pack abs! duh!) Chris Gourley! Even if I'm not always the best at showing it on the bliggity blog. 

xx

p.s. holy moly there's a lot of 'i love you's' in this post! if that ain't sappy, I don't know what is...

Love is...

-letting me eat the last fry

-kissing me every morning (even when you're only semi-conscious)

-letting me pop your zits and pluck your eyebrows

-agreeing to take a picture with me so I can post it on Instagram

-texting me every morning

-driving to Swig with me every Friday night

-complimenting me when I feel my worst

-watching How I Met Your Mother with me every night

-talking in your nasally voice to me

-encouraging me to study (multiple times)

-surprising me with food instead of flowers

-pretending to be interested in my rants about clothes, makeup, and Pinterest

-admitting that I'm funny (even if you think you're funnier)

-starting my car for me on cold winter mornings

-making me waffles on Sunday

-loving me even when i'm hangry

-wearing your "ball smasher" pants because I think they look good on you

-making me laugh with your dance moves

-patiently waiting for me to get ready for church, and not saying anything after I make us late

-when you make me want to be a better person

-commuting to Salt Lake everyday because I'm not done with school

-always putting me before yourself

-the reason we get to spend eternity together

------------

I love you Chris Gourley! And I love our love.

They say the first year is the hardest...

Chris and I celebrated one year of marriage this past weekend! Our anniversary was on Saturday, but we both took Friday off from work and decided to make a weekend of it. We started our anniversary off with some Cheesecake Factory and holy shiz... it was SO GOOD. Like, make-Chris-order-drinks-appetizers-AND-dessert good (that just goes to show how much Chris loves me... he hates spending money). After waddling out of Cheesecake Factory, we drove up to Park City to stay in a hotel that Chris got a deal on off of KSL. To say that Chris was disappointed with the hotel when we got there would be an understatement haha. As soon as we walked into the hotel, Chris looked at me with a frowny face and started making whiny puppy noises. Apparently pictures on the internet are really deceiving... bless Chris' heart. But we still had fun! We shopped at the outlets, enjoyed the hot tub with a bunch of pregnant mamas and their little kids, and had a late DTR (Del Taco Run). The next day we came home so we could watch the BYU game--the price you pay being married to a Gourley ;) Chris made it up to me by taking me to see Gravity, which ended up being a pretty good show. All in all, our one year anniversary was a success! 

It's crazy that it has already been a year... where did the time go? It seemed like just yesterday we were walking out of the temple into a complete blizzard! But at the same, it feels like we have been sleeping in the same bed for years. They say the first year is the hardest, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's hard, just... different? Adjusting to having someone next to you in the bed, juggling two families, taking on a new role as husband/wife, and finally getting the courage to poo and fart in front of your loved one--different! Not hard. Well, I guess one hard part is the dumb fights you have that you would never have dreamed of fighting over when you were dating. Truth: Me and Chris fought over syrup once. Freaking syrup! s y r u p haha. So embarrassing. We're slowly getting better at choosing our battles, though. Slowly. Even though marriage has been quite an adjustment, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Marriage has brought on so many occasions where I sit and ask myself, "How in the world did we get married?! We are so different!" It's really easy for me to focus on how we shouldn't work, instead of thinking about why we do work. If someone were to ask me why me and Chris "work" I'd reply with something like this: Because we both would rather be in sweatpants. And we love onions and cilantro--the more the better. And we tell each other when we look cute. And we love the snooze button. And 90% of our conversations are in our weird nasally voices. And we don't feel bad for swindling Cafe Rio by ordering a tostada with a soft shell and making it a cheaper salad. And he doesn't get mad when I steal his shirts and socks. And we wait for each other to watch important shows like The Walking Dead and Pawn Stars. And despite how much he hates pictures, he still takes them with me. And I bring him smarties from the grocery store. And we don't say anything when one of us is reaching for the treats after a long hard day of "eating good." And he let's me pluck his eyebrows because he knows it makes me happy. And I scratch his back even when I'm about to fall asleep. And because we just really like spending time together.

I'm not really sure how to end a post like this, so I'll just end it with another picture of me and Chris that my sister Shelby took for us (thanks, Shelbs!) because I love them so much.

Here's to many more November 9ths! 

Throwback Thursday

We took these pictures at Thanksgiving Point's Rose Festival on June 21, 2012--the day that I fell in love with Chris and didn't even know it (exactly one week later, we said "I love you" but that's a different story for a different day). I remember looking at the picture of us and being a little bummed out--two (non-intentional...I think?) photo-bombers, my purse put in one of the most awkward places I could have put it, and the fact that I still hadn't mastered the "skinny arm pose."

But looking at it now, I can see how giddy and infatuated we were with each other (still are! no past tense over here!). I remember walking around the gardens hand-in-hand and kissing whenever we got the chance. Yeah, we were one of those couples. Sorry not sorry. But in all seriousness, I remember just having this overwhelmingly peaceful feeling that whole night. It just felt...right. 

That night ended up being one of our most romantic/memorable dates ever, and what I consider to be one of the most important dates we ever went on. You see, me and Chris had decided to "take a break" that week  and agreed to not call or text each other while I figured out my situation with "my missionary" (we barely made it over a day before we caved. ha!). I'm so so grateful that night happened, because I honestly don't know if we would have ended up together without it. Plus, how can a girl say no to walking around a garden with thousands of roses AND watching Tangled outside in front of a waterfall?! ;)

....is anybody still here reading? This turned out a little more sentimental than I intended it to be, but that's what happens when you're waiting for lives on Candy Crush and you venture deep into the archives of your phone pictures...

my manchild

One of the first things I noticed about Chris when we were dating was how good he was with kids. Amazing, actually. Like, so amazing that all my nieces and nephews liked him better than me after only one day of knowing him + causing me to question my child-handling skills (back when I assumed that I had those special skills). But now, I understand why he is so great with kids--he's one himself.

Yes. A taller, hairier, slightly more inappropriate, 25-year-old version of a kid. A manchild, if you will.

His manchild-like behavior includes:

+ Taking more than one mint at Cafe Rio. And by more than one, I mean like 2 handfuls more. Do the outraged stares from Cafe Rio employees and fellow customers get to Chris? Of course not! Manchildren are fearless. Fearless of embarrasing their wives, that is.

+ Teasing me. Just because it's something to do. I pray that our future children do not pick up on this trait of Chris', or Chris just might become the favorite parent. Teasing includes tickling, wrestling, poking, 

+ Needing his juice! Chris will not have any other form of beverage with his breakfast. In all of my 9 months of marriage with him, I have yet to see him drink anything other than Tang, or Crystal Light with his breakfast. I'm not complaining though. I'm all in favor for slapping those extra cals on at breakfast!

+ His "I need a back scratch" routine. This routine can occur anywhere from 2-6 times a day. The routine? 1.give a side glance 2. hunch back over 3. shoulder shimmy. Sometimes, he'll even throw in what I can only assume is supposed to sound like whining puppy noises, but hey, it works.

+ Getting a free pack of smarties from the treasure chest at the grocery store. Every.time. Sometimes when I go to the store by myself I'll even grab one for him just so I can see his face light up when I give it to him.

+ Most recently, buying a kite. Not just any kite, but a Power Ranger kite! I never knew a kite could make someone so giddy. The best part? He even bought it with some of his "allowance."

When I watched Chris fly the kite with our nephew yesterday, I realized that even though I sometimes complain about Chris acting childish, those behaviors are also the very things I love about him. He has all the best qualities that a child has--funny, adventurous, silly, enjoys the little things, care-free, can get along with anyone, etc. Whereas I am like a child in the worst ways, like throwing a fit if I'm not fed, cranky if you wake me up, and pouting if I don't get my way (other than that, I promise I'm a pleasant person to be around). 

I guess what I'm trying to say is....

The next time Chris takes handfuls of Cafe Rio mints, I'll be a little slower to shake my head/roll my eyes ;)