i'm going to miss this girl.

One of my bestest friends, my dear friend Lauren, is moving away tomorrow. She's moving to Alabama, and will live approximately 450 miles away from us. I am going to miss her dearly.

Lauren and I have built many memories over the past 5 years of living in Cleveland. And here are just a few of the many photos to prove it:

Steak 'n Shake 2005 - our first picture together.



Lee University's production of "Father of the Bride"
Spring '05



Studying for our Psychology final Spring '05.

Taken at the beginning of Summer '05.

Alpha Psi Omega formal.
December '05



Backstage before Lee University's production of "Cinderella"
Spring '06



Making funny faces while ushering for Lee's production of "Antigone"
Spring '06



When Jonathan proposed to me on April 14th, 2007
Lauren was there taking pictures.
She was the first person I got to giggle with about being engaged.



July 28th, 2007
Our wedding day.
Best bridesmaids ever.



Drive-in movies.
May '08

Bethany's wedding.
May '08

Lauren's 23rd birthday.
September '08

Annual Christmas Party '08.

Even though it is the end of a chapter in our lives, I know we will have many more memories to come.

And as Dr. Seuss perfectly stated, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." {Although I have to admit I shed a few tears while gathering these photos for this post...}

You are loved, Lauren. And you will be greatly missed!

on being absent and a cute little video.

Well, I have unintentionally taken a short sabbatical this week from reading and writing blog posts. Oops. Ah, well...this week has been uber-busy with some new major responsibilities with work, spending lots of time with a friend who is moving away soon, and enjoying life.

I'll try to get back into the swing of blog writing sometime soon, I really will.

Until that time, here is a super-cute video that one of my favorite bloggers, Nina, created documenting her recent trip to Norway. Go visit Nina's blog...now. It's so lovely.



p.s. I absolutely love the song in the video too! I'm going to have to look up the artist and get some of his music. :)

i heart pens & paper.

There's just something magical about having a new notebook full of blank pages with dozens of colorful markers at your fingertips. I absolutely love it. The possibilities are endless.

{all photos by me}

have a lovely memorial day weekend.

{photo by yyellowbird via flickr}

Like I know many of you are, I am definitely looking forward to a nice long Memorial Day weekend. Tonight husband and I are having our weekly date night, tomorrow we're going to a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game with friends, Sunday will be spent with family after church, and Monday will involved yummy food grilled outside {and possibly a strawberry pie to top it off.} I just love weekends, don't you?

What do you all have planned for this weekend?

In the meantime, here are some fun links for you that I discovered this week:

I'm a sucker for Reese's peanut butter cups, so this cake looks absolutely scrumptious!

While we're on the subject of baking, this raspberry buttermilk cake would make a perfect summer after-dinner treat!

Meet Sam & Ashley - I'm loving this video of this very particular but completely adorable couple.

A list of summer fun activities to do in the Chattanooga, TN area.

These bright nail polish colors definitely say summer to me.

Yummy fruit kabobs would be perfect for any Memorial Day cookout.

This unique almost-outdoor office design is absolutely amazing!

Have a very lovely weekend, friends!

quote inspiration: life is full of beauty.

{via creature comforts}

the day date: gardner's market & mayfield dairy

Husband and I had plans with family every night last week, so we decided that instead of having our weekly weekend evening date...we would have a day date on my day off. So, on Friday we had ourselves a lovely little outing.

First stop: Gardner's Market for lunch. YUM!

This is my absolute favorite lunch spot in Cleveland.
Their sandwiches are delicious,
and the freshly squeezed raspberry lemonade is
to
die
for.



If you live in the area and have never been there before,
you simply must.



Next stop: Mayfield Dairy



Ever since Jonathan and I started dating we have wanted to go to
Athens to tour the Mayfield Dairy {we are, afterall, huge fans of ice cream.}
As you can tell, we were pretty excited!



We even got to see the Mayfield Dairy cow that is often parked at Lee University during special events.



Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any pictures during the tour itself,
but it was quite interesting.
AND, we got to wear these super cool hair nets.
We were stylin'.



After the tour we got to eat some ice cream.



YES!



It was a very lovely day spent together.
Day dates are great.
Now say that ten times fast.

husby made me a website!

So, in case you didn't know this already...my wonderful husband is an extremely talented web designer and developer. I am incredibly proud of him and all that he does.

Out of the goodness of his sweet heart, he made me my very own website. :) And I am so excited about it! It's a spot where I can collaborate my hand designed card shop, our blog, twitter, flickr, etc.

www.tiffanyzajas.com

I'd love for you all to go and check it out and let me know what you think!

Thanks for my website, husband! I love it!

can't wait to see: paper heart.

This movie looks like it's going to be a good one. My dear friend Lauren worked at Sundance Film Festival this winter, so she had the privilege of getting to see all the great films there...and Paper Heart was on her list of favorites.

{photo by ma-rissa via flickr}

It looks like a good one, people! It comes out in theatres August 14th.

Oh summer movies, how wonderful you are.

max and driving with the window down.

Last summer Max was still a little puppy, so he wasn't a big fan of driving with the windows down...it was still kind of scary to him. But now, it has become a new love of his. Whenever we're driving somewhere and he's with us {and it's nice outside}, we roll down the windows...he climbs up in my lap and puts his paws against the passenger door...sticks his nose out and sniffs the fresh air.

He loves it. And we love it too, because it brings us a lot of amusement during our little drives. :)

reality is finally better than your dreams.

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” - Dr. Seuss

{photo by Sara Renee}

Dr. Seuss was a smart guy. He knew what he was talking about.

congratulations, brother!

My little brother graduated from high school today. I cannot believe it. I feel like it was just yesterday that he was a little boy running around with a sideways baseball cap playing with tonka trucks and "fixing" things with his little tool set.

I am so very proud of Ben and how grown up he has become. I know that he will accomplish great things with his life, and I'm so excited to see what those things are!

My brother is one of the funniest guys I know...right up there with Jonathan and my Dad. Together, they're the three funniest guys I know. He always has a tendency to make us laugh.

In a couple of days my brother is moving to Maine for the summer to work. As excited as I am for him and this opportunity, I am so sad to see him go.

Congratulations, Benjo! You are very loved and will be missed greatly.

mmm...frozen yogurt.

Last weekend husby and I went to Perkit's, a local frozen yogurt shop here in Cleveland.

And I have to admit, it was quite tasty.

I have always been an ice cream gal myself, but this frozen yogurt
gave my beloved ice cream a run for it's money.
And, it was fat free. :)

We love finding new local hole in the wall spots. I believe this is a new favorite for yummy dessertness.