WEAR YOUR SPRING FLOWERS WHEN ALL YOU SEE IS SNOW

Hat: Target, Floral Sweatshirt: Charlotte Russe (old), Boots: Herberger's (old), Black Button-Up & Jeans: Thrifted

The snow came yet another day into Spring...but these flowers finally came into bloom!!!  :)

You know when you see something over and over in your closet, but you just pass it by 86 times and think "not today?"  

But then it hits you!  If you don't wear it that 87th time you pass it by, you may NEVER wear it!  

NEVER is a long time and I'm pretty sure that passing an item 86 times pretty much means I NEVER WEAR IT!!  

I spent 4 dollars on this sweatshirt just because it was a good deal.  

I figured wear it now or throw it...so, here I am FINALLY wearing my flowers! 

Besides, this Spring is in dire need of some blossoms, don't you think so?! 

But if there is anything I can take away from this, let it be...

#1. Good deals don't always mean "hey, bring this bad boy home because you will wear it All. The. Time." 

...because I am pretty sure that didn't happen in this case.

 &

#2. If there is anything you pass over 86 times and haven't worn it yet, just throw it on or Throw. It. Out.

 ...or into a bag of clothes that you share with your sisters. ;)

Happy Monday, dear friends!

SAY GOODBYE TO THE JACKET...AND HELLO TO SPRING!

Target Sunnies, Purse: Guess Outlet, Silk Blouse, Skinny Jeans, & Boots: thrifted

 

Dear Spring,

I know you arrived yesterday and I forgot to tell everyone the great news!  "EVERYONE!! GREAT NEWS!!! SPRING IS HERE!!!!" 

But seriously, Spring....I'm not feeling you. HOLD UP!  Don' t take that the wrong way!!! 

LITERALLY, I am not feeling you!  We just had snow on Monday & Tuesday and the temps are still below freezing! 

 

How I would love to feel the real you:

 

pink blossoms instead of bare trees...because those trees are tired of being naked, 

 

rain showers instead of snow storms ...because I would just really like to trade my shovel in for an umbrella,

 

&

 

soft, fresh, green grass instead of ice rinks in my yard...

James and I have bruises to prove we just can't skate gracefully to the cars in our driveway anymore,

 

This is NOT me complaining, just wanting to feel and know the real you, Spring!

So, come on!  Open up and spill your pink, sweet, fresh, & delicious GUTS out!

 

SNAPSHOTS OF MY WEEKEND

My weekend was spent in a cozy, camp cabin

and here are a few snapshots of what it looked like:

I had such a good time with dear friends and people I greatly respect. 

I am always stirred and refocused when I leave this place. 

Thankful for Big Sandy and all the blessings from the weekend!

 

......and CHEERS is to another winter week in Minnesota!

...maybe a liiiiiiitttle sarcasm there but you decide!

 

:) Happiest 18th Day of March to ya!

I have a feeling this is going to be a great week!

Retreat! Retreat!

I am really looking forward to tonight and tomorrow.  I am headed back to camp!  You betcha!  You can see pictures from my last visit to camp here.  And these photos were taken about 10 minutes away from where I will be!  Beautiful last glimps of snow covered trees!

So....CAMP!  I love the time to get away...to renew, to refresh, and to "regroup" with other people that I respect and cherish friendships with!  I know this time will be great for me to, yet again, focus on the mission God has called me too...called James and I both too!  James and I are where we are because that is where God has called us. 
But beyond that knowledge, we need to wait for further direction. 
We are at that place right now, and to be honest...sometimes it seems scary (the unknown). 
But, that is when I am reminded of the verse that I mention often:

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your path.

Proverbs 3:5

As always, His Word gives hope and rest.  I'm resting on Him to to direct our next season in life....and I am not just talking about SPRING!!  :)  ....even though, SPRING is so close I can SMELL it!

Have a blessed weekend and take the time you need to renew, refresh, regroup,.....and RETREAT! RETREAT!
 

He just turned 2!

Wowza! How is it that I get so lost in the week, that it is Friday in a blink!!!?

I mean, it seemed just yesterday that it was Sunday.  We were in the cities visiting family, eating Butterfinger frosting cupcakes (yum!), and watching our nephew open his birthday gifts..........that was SO MUCH FUN!!!

By the way....I cannot forget to give a shout out to that little guy!  

He just turned 2 yesterday!

He can blow out a candle with only one eye open! I am One. Proud. Auntie.

Happy 2nd Birthday you crazy little man! We love you!!!

which way for today?

 

Sweater: Silent Auction, Tee & Mustard Skinnies: Target, Ankle Boots: Herbergers

I must admit that this sweater has been sitting in my closet since....I don't know....January!! 
It is currently March and JUST NOW I bring it out to the cold Minnesota winter?!  Sweater meet world.  World meet Sweater.  Do you like?

The cool thing about this sweater is that you can wear it inside out and no one would even know it....unless of course they read this one blog called tisfortiffany and then the secret would be out.  But we don't need to broadcast that now do we?

I really like the snowflake/dots/first-aid cross pattern that is all over it!  Very wintery if I can say so. 
Maybe I will wear it more next winter.....by the way...I'm not in a big hurry for next winter at all!
Spring you are so close and I am excited to see you!
Now sweater...which way should I wear you today?

 

IT'S COOL TO...

It IS still cool to "RAISE THE ROOF," right?!

Please let it be cool, 'cause that would really make my day! ;)

It's cool or maybe I'm just looking for any excuse to live out my younger years.

Either way...I just danced something funky for a camera...and it captured ALL.OF.IT!

The things I do to make you smile! :) 

James and I get to see family for a baby dedication & a birthday party...

...and boy oh boy, the roof is gonna be raised, if I have anything to say about it!

Ta ta 'til Monday!

Tiff

A recipe for family...and cookies too!

I am realizing more and more how much love is expressed through a family's kitchen. I know many of us can relate, but sometimes things finally "hit ya", if you know what I mean.  The energy it takes to prepare a meal for two seems tough at times for me...but then I think about my mom who normally prepared meals for six of us, including dessert!  How she did it after working all day...I just don't know?  
...it took a lot of love, energy & patience (with four girls), and a knack for creativity!  My mom had and still has the recipe to keep Dad, four girls, and an expanding family all together at the table to share in life and love through words and food.  I am always delighted to have some of mom's homemade meals....recipes she received from Grandma-B, and great-Grammy before.  
They always taste better when mom makes them...

Here is a simple & sweet treat that was passed down to me:

The good ol' No Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar
1 stick butter 
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups old fashioned oatmeal

Mix the sugar, butter, cocoa, and milk in a medium saucepan.
It will take a little time for the butter to melt. 
Once it comes to a boil, let it boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Immediately, add the vanilla and peanut butter to the saucepan and mix.
Once the peanut butter is melted,
you can add the oatmeal and mix until well blended.

All you have to do now is drop spoonfuls on wax paper. 
Don't worry, they can look a little messy like mine! 
Allow time for the cookies to cool and set. 
Then, serve with a cold glass of milk!

This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.
 

 

P.S.  You can always make a double batch and gift them!  Half of these cookies went to our next-door-neighbor who was so kind and plowed our driveway before we got home yesterday!  A wonderful surprise it was to come home and not have to worry about another thing.  

It was also wonderful finding out that he was NOT allergic to peanut butter

(always good to ask these questions before you deliver the goodies!!).

 

Go on...spread some goodness!

 

 

 

A little project.

WOW! Hey! I am back after I had some good time to catch up on some other things that needed my attention.  Sometimes it is good to just focus on some different things that spark some more creativity deep down inside ya!  I have been busy painting...but not painting canvases (like I wish I could have time to do!).  Instead, I have been painting baby shower invites.  Yup! If I could hand paint invitations every day for fun, I would in a heart beat!  So come on people, have birthdays, get engaged, get married, have babies........just so I can hand paint my way to craziness! Okay I may already be there, but just in case you want to see what I painted......take a look: 

 

So excited for Ashley and her husband Brad! 

Little Isabella may you be healthy and happy....so excited to meet you soon!

 

 

And.....I. AM. BACK!

How I have missed sharing here.

Happy 1st Monday of March friends and family!

 

Tiff



Wishful Weekend Wear

Pullover, Jeans, Wedges, Scarf

So, above you see what I would love to wear on our weekend getaway which is starting in........30 seconds! 
I better get going before I miss my ride! ;)

If I had no bills, I'd buy me those wedge sneakers first and foremost
and wear that heal down 'til it was a flat sneaker!

Would you dare to wear those too!? :)
Hope you wear what you wanna wear this weekend!
...and WE'RE OFF!

 

today and always

There is really nothing better than coming home to the man who has,
from the very beginning of our marriage, loved me sincerely!
Love is never perfect but it is always beautiful! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tights: wear them when you're cool!

^^^MAYBE TOO CRAZY OF A CLOSE UP!!

dress, sweater, & tights: Target, heals: thrifted!

I am pretty sure tights were the worst things any young girl ever had/has to wear.  They bunched up. They fell down.  You wear them once and then you get a hole on the knee while you were swinging on the mokeybars, or something.  Then your mom tried to stop the hole from getting worse by putting some clear nail polish on it....Have you been there!?  You know what I'm talking about, right!?
Well, then why is it that all of a sudden, I love them?  Was there a certain date when all of a sudden it clicked in my brain,
"Tiff, you now love tights"...?  Do you think it could be due to the colder weather? Probably, yes! 
But seriously...I really could wear them any day in any color.  
I thought I would be extra daring and start out with .......tan (tan legs are not what is going on here...they look like my normal skin color...white!).  But I do have them in black, brown, and wait for it.......................GREEN!  Yup! Maybe I'm wearing tights 'cause it's winter and
maybe I bought green tights because I am dreaming of fresh, green grass and spring blossoms. 
Do you remember what grass looks like? Man, I'm antsy for spring.  Are you?!

Until good 'ol spring comes, I'm probably going to wear out my tights if you don't mind...now where's my clear nail polish?
 

Thoughts on Trust

As of late, this verse has been on my mind:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path." 

Proverbs 3:5-6

I am realizing more and more how much I struggle with trusting....
...trusting someone else to  "take over."
   I think I can do things the best way possible....but on my own.  
I have an idea in my head of how things should be; how they ought to be...to be the best...to turn out the best.  
I don't do this intentionally but after the fact--always after the fact--I realize that
I tried really hard to do something on my own without asking for help.  Usually, I'm exhausted in my own strength
to the point of which I feel overwhelmed.  I mean, if I ask for help.....I look weak, right?! WRONG! 
That's a lie from the enemy of this world.  
Asking God to take my life and make it happen in his plan and not in my own is the BEST thing I have realized.  
I must remember: just because something isn't normal and maybe it doesn't make sense to me right away, doesn't mean it isn't possible.

These verses in Proverbs are right...

If I trust God with everything in my life and all my heart....

If I trust him without trying to figure it our on my planner or with my "24 years of experience" in life
which means absolutely nothing compared to the Lord's wisdom -- He who knows all things...

If I trust him and acknowledge that He is all knowing...
THEN...
He will make all things work together for my good...for what is best for me....

I'm trusting in His promises more than ever!

I trust that you had a good weekend.
May your week be filled with joy!
 

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Shoes, Sweatshirt, Sweatpants: Nike, Sunglasses: MENARDS (I know. Crazy!)

It's okay if...
...you wear your Nike shoes and sweats without going to the gym.

...those Nike sweats are men's and not women's...sometimes it's more comfortable that way.
...you went out in public wearing these clothes seen above.
...you even document this outfit to demonstrate your "amazing style"
that is going to inspire all fashion bloggers to wear sweats fashionably! ;) ha!
...went to an antique store and people thought you mistook it for the gym.
Oh bother...
By "you", I mean "I"....yes, this all happened and it is QUITE okay.
Like come on!....Dressing up on a weekend, "Ain't nobody got time for that."
Nobody! ;)....at least not this time!

Here's to a comfortable weekend!

James and I are busy as can be...so let's be casual, shall we?



 

I'm Nut-ellan'..

^^^Breakfast of champions!

Guess what!? I just found out that today is a very important day, but I'm nut-ellan' you why! ;)

(insert laugh here)

Okay, just because my jokes are plain ol' ridiculous, I'll tell ya what today is!

February 5th is World Nutella Day! Yay!
At first I couldn't believe it, but then I thought "no duh!"  
Why WOULDN'T they set aside a whole day for people to enjoy one of the best additions to the breakfast, snack, any-meal menu!?

I enjoy Nutella on fresh waffles--as you can see from Saturday's breakfast-- or as frosting on freshly-baked brownies...yum!
I'm drooling all over my keyboard just thinking about it.
Okay, no more bad jokes and then immediately grossing you out with the saliva thing! ;)

What's your favorite way to use Nutella? .....or are you not tellin'?
Happiest Nutella Day to you, my friends!