Friday, December 28, 2012

Stop it Target!

Hat & Sunnies: Target, Vest: Gap, Blouse: JCPenney, Skinny Jeans: Charlotte Russe, Booties: Maurices, Oxe Blood Socks: Herberger's, Purse: Thrifted!

Let me just say it, "Stop it Target!"  Every time I enter those store doors, my eyes catch a new beautiful piece of art.  Can I call accessories art?! Well, I'm going to!  Accessories that are on the clearance rack and less than five dollars = My Weakness!  I have to say that I am definitely getting more selective with my purchases, but the inexpensive, adorably fun hats.....you make me want to take you all home and fill my closet with one in every color.  Okay?! Not really, because that would be selfish and foolish of me to spend all of my "hard worked for" paychecks on such things.  Hmmm...........maybe I'll leave with just one...or none.  Whatever.....just stop it before I have to go to TSA.....Target Shoppers Anonymous, okay?! Okay! :)
 
 
XO Tiff
I hope your Christmas week went well and your New Year is a celebration!
Woot! Woot!
 
 

Friday, December 21, 2012

Would you take my hand and skate with me?

 James and I found a night this week that was emptied of plans and full of time together.  We stirred with ideas in our heads, but wanted to do something we don't have the chance to do on a regular basis!  So.............of course SKATING was it!  It was cold enough but not too cold, and the earlier in the season we skated, the better!  When it gets cold in northern Minnesota IT. GETS. COLD. I tell ya!  We dusted off our skates and headed to one of the area's public ice rinks.
 
It was intimidating to see kids 15 years younger then me twirling and cruising on the ice like it was nothin'.   I was lucky to have not fallen and bruised a hip or something!  Those kids......the dedication and time they practiced to be better on the ice!  Their parents and all the time and effort they put in to help their kids along with their passion of skating (or hockey) was evident. 
 
Though I was never a skater, it reminded me of all the trips, time, and money my mom and dad put into my passion of volleyball.  If only I understood that back then....would I have thanked them more and appreciated them more?  I guess that is what growing up is all about...learning to appreciate people more.  It is never too late to appreciate someone and that is what I get to do now.  Thanks mom and dad (& sisters too!) for encouraging me and my passion of volleyball, and all my passions today!  I'm thankful for James too and how he encourages me in our marriage and ministry that God has called us to!  James, thanks for taking my hand and skating with me. 
I appreciate it!
 
XO,  Tiff
 
P.S. SOOOOOOOOOO appreciating the chance to head home to Wisconsin this weekend. 
I am looking forward to Christmas with those I appreciate! :)
 
 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Games of Traveling

James and I have the privilege to travel back to Wisconsin this year for Christmas family time!  We are very happy and excited!  If only we could blink and then we would be at our destination.  Instead we must travel on snowy roads and it takes about 4 hours.  To some that is nothing, to others that could seem like forever...especially with families that have youngsters in the back seat saying, "Are we there yet?!" at least a bazillion times!  Traveling is already a game in itself: packing luggage without bringing too much, not forgetting extra socks, packing a tooth brush (especially when you are eating all the sweet treats)...the list goes on.  For us, we usually take the time to listen to music, dance crazy with seat belts on (kinda of hard to explain) while listening to music as passing tavelers get freaked out and think we are weird!  I thought about some games we could play, just the two of us, & Rainey (oh yes....she is coming too).  When you have one person driving in snowy conditions, a dog in the backseat, and the other one searching through all the Christmas CD's we have, there doesn't leave much time (or space) to pull out the latest game of Monopoly or Twister (that one would especially be difficult). 
So, here are some suggestions for the two or three people traveling together:
 
1.  I Spy - We all know the I Spy books from when we were children, at least I hope you were able to enjoy that in your childhood.  It is really fun to play on the road.  Just pick something you see - in vehicle or outside of - and have your fellow passengers try and guess what the object is.  Make it more challenging by only allowing 4 to 5 guesses!
 
2.    The Alphabet Game - You have to find letters on road signs by starting with A all the way through Z (in order).
 
3.  Twenty Questions - One person thinks of an object or person, and the other people have to ask questions only that have an answer of "Yes" or "No."  The guessers have to try to figure the object or person out before they ask twenty questions.
 
Now, for those who are traveling in a larger group, here are some great games to put in the your vehicle and they're travel size!
 
Mini Chess & Checkers from Restoration Hardware (Now On Sale! Why not gift it!?)
 
Travel Scrabble from Restoration Hardware (Also On Sale!)
 
If you know the roads will be bumpy and your driver is rushing through traffic (safely) in time for Christmas celebrations, maybe try a Tile Locking Scrabble game like this one, instead! ;)
 
Settlers of Catan Portable Edition found here 
(James and I have brought this one along on multiple occasions!)
 
 
So, there you have it, travelers of all ages!  Make sure to make the most of your time on the road and never play the last three games if you are the driver!  Seriously, I am a firm believer in safety first! :)
 
How far do you have to travel, this Christmas!?
 
 


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The way to his heart...

So, poor James ended up getting the same severe cold I had.  Sad, yes!  Friday night, all he needed was some down time.  With this down time, nothing feels better than taking care of him....maybe it is just a wife thing....I don't really know?!  The care he needed was to fill his stomach with comfort foods and give him the comfiest spot on the couch. 
So this is what happened!!!!:


1.  Chicken in a Biskit,  
2.  Chicken, Bacon, & Ranch pizza and................
3.  Enough Dr. Pepper to last the weekend (more than two glasses were required!)

You know how they say it, "The way to their heart is through their stomach!" 
Let's just say I made it straight to his heart as fast as you can say, "Honey, look what I brought you!"  ..............He was smitten!

Friday, December 14, 2012

"the one" all bright!

Here it is..........the beautiful tree of ours.  I thought I would try some new manual focusing on my camera to get the Bokeh effect. Bokeh is the fuzzy or blurring in the out-of-focus areas of an image.  Blah, blah, blah.......................now let me reveal our tree slooooooooooooooooooowly to you, 'cause it may be too intense all at once!!! ;)
Tada!
We went for "simple" and "white lights" look this year, with absolutely NO ornaments!  Yikes......it's naked!  Call us crazy, seeing as I just received all of my ornaments from my parents and I'm not using a single one!  It's okay though, 'cause I hope to have many Christmases in this home of ours and who knows.........next year, I may just go crazy and pile them all on! 
 
For us........simple is good!
 
Have a blessed weekend!
 
XO, Tiff




We found "the one"


 We searched far and wide; deep into the forest.....okay, more like we drove down one road for a few miles and stepped maybe 30 feet into the woods & ditches...........but we found it!  Ain't she a beauty?!
 
She's James' and my very first, real Christmas tree!  James and I never expected to be able to take an afternoon with the family and pick out our very own!  There were so many options but we went for her.  And by the sounds of it.....I guess it's a girl!  Who ever knew that trees were boys or girls....I must just have this thought in my mind that our firsts are going to be girls:
1st dog - girl
1st tree - girl
           1st kid - hmmmm....
We must be having a girl.........HOLD UP....not until I get impregnated! 
....And we probably will have at least a couple Christmas trees to find before that little girl (or boy) comes along! ;)
Someday pretty baby........someday!
 
Until then, I hope to have more "Christmas tree searching" days like this one...with "the ONES" I love:
 
 
Check back in later, as I share a picture of "the one" ......all beautiful and bright! :)
 
xo, Tiff
 

 


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The first thing I saw...

Well hello there family and friends! How I have missed you! 
This gal has been recovering from a long, lingering, head cold.  You know the kind that makes you want to just curl up on the couch and literally do nothing!?  Well, that's what it felt like for me, but I am so thankful I am feeling so much better now! 
I'm back and with a lovely outfit just for you. 
 
The day that I did run some errands, I threw on the first thing I saw in the closet, literally.....and THAT. WAS...................
James' sweater (of course)!
 
Not my sweater, but his!  What can I say?! It was the first thing I saw and I liked it! 
It was the perfect mix of casual and comfy...but not totally "Hey, I'm sick" looking!  I paired it with my current favorite boots, cuffed denim, and a checkered scarf.  I even tried this braid I found on Pinterest to get the messiest braid ever! 
Remind me to try this braid again, now that I'm not reaching for a Kleenex every five minutes!
It gets kind of difficult when your holding a Kleenex in one hand and three sections of hair in the other! Agreed?!
 
 
Have a Happy & Healthy Wednesday........no Kleenex needed! :)

xo
Tiff

Friday, November 30, 2012

Dear Asher

 
Dear Asher,
 I love your kisses, and hugs, and laughs......they are totally contagious!  You are getting so so SO BIG!  I really hope you enjoy that little motorcycle and your rockin' new sweatshirt.  You are so cool!
Just so you know, I'm going to steal kisses from you for as long as I can! ;)
By the way, I miss you already!
Love,
Aunt T
__________________________________________________________________________
ATTENTION tisfortiffany readers!! 
My nephew, Asher, is featured in this post to introduce you to my NEW BOOTS from Target!
Do you like?!  Personally, he rocks them better than I ever could! :)
 
Asher, you are tooooo cute! :) STOP IT!!! ;)

Dear Clay

Dear Clay,
I am glad I was finally able to meet you and hold your little hands last weekend.  You have the sweetest little lips and eyes.....okay, I love all of you!  Don't grow up too fast, 'cause we don't want to miss it!  You have such a great mom, dad, and brother who are taking care of you and love you!  Uncle James and I love you too!  Just know....YOU. ARE. LOVED!
Hugs & Kisses,
Aunt T

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

So, I got me somethin' purple!

Target hat and vee tee, Charlotte Russe sweater vest, Herberger's boots
 
 
When James and I ran to Target, I never thought I would walk out of there with a hat.....let alone a PURPLE hat.  I mean, I don't really have much purple in my closet.  Now, I can say I do!  It feels good to try something new...try on a new color.  I guess I was missing out, all this time.....especially when James says, "Honey, I have always told you that I like you in purple. It looks good on you."
 
HOLD UP! .............What?!
 
Why don't I remember him saying that prior? I should have been listening better so I could have been wearing purple all this time!  I mean, what am I waiting for now?  What husband likes, I like!  Watch out, people........'cause these days I'm prowling for purple!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sit in the Hay!


OR when it gets chilly, just throw on a nice wool tweed coat:

Target hooded sweater, gifted scarf, Charlotte Russe skinny jeans (my favorite!), and Born boots ($3 dollar sale find...cha-ching!)
 
This outfit is the easiest and fastest thing to throw on when all you have to do is sit in the hay all day!...in this case, literally! ;)
James and I love to do that!....Not actually sitting in the hay ALL DAY, 'cause that would just get itchy and uncomfortable.  But, we do enjoy taking a drive out to James' parents home where there are dirt roads, no schedules, and lots of wind { as seen in photo 3 above :) }
 
At this very moment, these hay bales are now officially covered in "the white stuff"........snow!  That's right, I am NOW officially saying it is here to stay, unlike when I said it would be here to stay in this post....I was totally wrong!  Wrong I was, wrong I will be about many things.  That's okay, 'cause always being right and perfect is boring....unless James says it....then he's just making me blush. ;)
 
Happy hay day heyday and high spirits to YOU!
 
Love,
Tiff (& James)