i've returned from a nice little break.

It's been a little over a week since I decided to take a small break from the world of blogging and social networking. I must say, it was a breath of fresh air.

During this short hiatus I:

• baked pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
• read one and a half books.
• cooked some meals in batches and froze some for later (loving this method, by the way.)
• wrote letters to friends.
• had long phone conversations with my parents.
• went to a bonfire and roasted marshmallows.
• rested lots and lots (I've been sick for the majority of the past couple of weeks...Vitamin C and my pillow have been my best friends.)
• went on a pumpkin patch adventure with husband.
• enjoyed surprise homemade smoothies (thanks to husband...love him.)
• ate some halloween candy (here's to hoping it's not all gone before tomorrow!)
• collaborated with husband on a project we're working on (which we will be able to unveil soon!)

{image of my sister Alycia, taken by me}

It's been a good break, and I'm now going to slowly ease back into the online world. But this little break of mine has definitely helped me reevaluate my priorities and I'm aiming for much better balance in my life.

I'm not going to:

• feel the need to update my blog every single day
• feel like I have to read everything in my Google Reader
• compare myself to others
• leave Facebook open in my browser to distract me during the day
• feel like a loser when I don't have anything exciting to Twitter about :)

But I am going to:

• continue documenting our adventures through photographs and this little blog
• find inspiration in others and in turn, strive to inspire
• stay connected with what's going on in my friends lives
• love life with everything I've got :)

Enough about me. How are you all doing? I must say, I feel a little disconnected from everyone since I haven't been reading people's blog posts or statuses. I trust that no one got engaged or had a baby while I've been m.i.a. And if you did, you'd better let me know!

Happy Friday! :)

taking a break. see you in a little while!

{image by me}

I'm going to steal away for a little while and take a break from the online world of twitter, facebook, and blogging. I'm not sure how long this break will be exactly...maybe a week...maybe a little longer.

I need this time to reevaluate my priorities. Social networking is great and all, but when I get too caught up in what other people are saying and doing in their lives...I tend to lose focus of what's really important.

If you'd like to get in touch with me, feel free to send an email to tiffany[at]zajas[dot]com I'll still be checking my email frequently, so I won't be completely out of touch with the world.

If you're a personal friend, phone calls and letters in the mail are always welcome. :)

And if you think of it, keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We're still adjusting to this new life of ours...still settling in...still getting used to living further away from family and friends. We're so excited about all that God has in store for us together here...but the transition is still a little difficult at times.

P.S. If any of you happen to get engaged or have any other exciting news...please let me know! I won't have Facebook to keep me informed as I usually do. :)

today's list of random thoughts:

• Today our new fridge arrived, and we now have a working ice maker. To be honest, the sound scares me. Will take some getting used to.
• On Saturday my hands were sore from gripping my camera all day out in the cold...but I loved every moment of it!
• I have 10 gigs of wedding images to sort through and then edit. I'm psyched about it.
• I'm not feeling so well today. Husband and I are tag teamin' it. Now he's taking real good care of me. He's my favorite.
  
• I'm really excited about the new website that husband is making me...I can't wait to share it with you guys!
• I miss my friends and family.
  
• I really want to make an apple crisp soon.
• Hook is such a great movie.
  

sneak peek: jennifer + brian (brother and sister duo)

Yesterday afternoon I had the privilege of getting to photograph this brother + sister duo. Jennifer and I are friends from college, and I was so excited when she asked if I could do a session with her and her brother (you can see her first session with me here.)

The weather around here has been less than desirable lately, so we were hoping and praying that the rain would hold off for us and enough sun would shine through those clouds in order to make this happen...and by golly, it did!

Jennifer + Brian are surprising their mom and dad with these photos for Christmas, and I am so happy to help them with that surprise (no worries, their parents don't read blogs...so this post won't ruin it.) I think this Christmas gift idea is perfect!

Here's a sneak peek from the session:

hehe, Jennifer + Brian's dad has a mustache, so we thought it would be fun to incorporate these mustachios on a stick! :) For the tutorial on how to make these click here.

thankful thursday: homemade soup, gracious husbands, guacamole, second shooting, & rainboots.

{image via artzink}

I've been slacking in the area of taking pictures of things I'm thankful for this week. So, this Thankful Thursday post is photo-less.

This week I am thankful for:

Homemade Soup. It really is the most comforting thing on a brisk autumn day. Love it.

Gracious Husbands. Mine, in particular. I woke up in a bad mood this morning, and my sweet husband had to put up with me getting up on the wrong side of the bed. But he is so gracious and must love me an awful lot.

Guacamole. I made some this afternoon, and we're going to eat it with our tacos tonight for dinner. I'm excited.

Getting to second shoot at a wedding this weekend. That's right, I get to be second shooter for a Nashville photographer this weekend, and I am more than excited! I'm also nervous, since this is the first wedding I've ever shot...time to stretch myself and learn learn learn. Wooooooo!

Rain boots. They make rainy days fun for me.

What are you thankful for this week?

diy: laptop cozy

Ever since I got my laptop at the beginning of this year I have been looking for a laptop sleeve that I like. Most of the ones that I've found have either been too big, bland and boring, or way too expensive.

But today I came across this laptop cozy tutorial via design*sponge, and I think it could be the perfect solution! This is a no-sew project {made out of felt and velcro dots}, which is great if you're like me and don't own a sewing machine.

{images via design*sponge}

I'm adding this to my diy project list. If you'd like to see the complete tutorial, head on over to design*sponge.

Happy Tuesday!

today is awesome because...

{image via the small object}

Today is awesome because...

• My puppy is snuggling beside me.
• I have an amazing husband, and we're very much in love.
• I just had a mug of hot chocolate.
• God is so good. Way too good to me than I deserve.
  
• I am editing photos.
• We ate our favorite pizza this weekend.
  
• We got to spend lots of quality time with family and friends this weekend.
• I have dreams, and an opportunity to do something I love.
• Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra are my soundtrack for the day.
• The air is crisp outside, and I love love love it.

What makes your day awesome today?

have a lovely weekend.

{image by Lisa Welge}

It's Friday! Yay!

Husband and I are going to Chattanooga this weekend for a friend's wedding. Weddings are always a fun time, so we are definitely looking forward to it! We get to stay with my family in Cleveland and spend lots of time with them. And also we will get to see some of our dear friends who we miss very much.

I hope you all have a very wonderful weekend. Any exciting plans?

Here are some fun links for you to enjoy over the weekend:

• 11 Weeks Till Christmas: Gather Your Addresses. Wow, I can't believe Christmas will be here so soon! Guess it's time to start thinking about what we're going to do for gifts and Christmas cards. If anyone wants to get some fun (non-stuffy, non-traditional) family or children portraits to include with the Christmas card or give as gifts, contact me at tiffany@zajas.com :)
• How to make a mustache-on-a-stick! Who doesn't want to know how to make one of these?! Seriously, they look like so much fun.
• Pumpkin Roll Recipe. This looks absolutely delicious, and so perfect for this wonderful fall season we're having! Mmmm...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I must try this one.
• An adorable kite birthday party. This little kid's kite birthday party is so adorable! When husband and I have kids (not for a few more years, folks...simmer down), I know I am absolutely going to love planning fun birthday parties like this for them.
• Camera lens bracelets. Now, how cool is that?

Happy Weekend!

thankful thursday: emptying my inbox, fresh basil, date night, engaged friends.

Today is Thursday, and you know what that means!

This week, I am thankful for:

Emptying my Inbox. It doesn't happen often, but when I've sorted through and replied to all of my emails, it makes me feel like one productive happy girl!



Fresh Basil. I love love love basil. The smell of it. The taste of it. The way it looks sprinkled atop pizza. Next year I would love to grow my own garden, and it would be amazing to include some fresh herbs such as basil in it. Yum.

Date Night. Tonight is date night for husband and me! Yay! Date nights are a favorite. Even if all we do is stay at home and cook dinner together, having a night set aside for just us is oh-so-important and oh-so-perfect. Getting to spend quality time with my best friend and love of my life is my fave!

Engaged Friends. I already mentioned it once today, but I'll say it again (because I am just THAT excited about it): Two of our best friends are engaged and we are so happy for them!

What are you thankful for this week?

thorne and laura are engaged!

Two of our best friends got engaged last night! Thorne and Laura are two of our best buds from college, they were both in our wedding, and we got to watch them go from friends to in love and now they're getting married!

I was so happy to get to be there for the proposal to snap some pictures and celebrate with them on this momentous occasion (husband was working, so he sadly wasn't able to come). The sun faded fast, so the images aren't the best ever in photo quality due to lack of lighting...but they capture the moment which is what really matters. :)

Thorne set up candles along the rocks of the Ocoee river. This is where Thorne first told Laura that he liked her, so this place has special meaning to them.


Our friend Russell came to play the guitar and provided a nice ambiance to the evening.



Thorne did such a great job picking out the ring! This ring is definitely perfect for Laura. He also had it placed in a frog prince ring box, which was such a nice touch (Laura has had a love for frog princes since before they started dating).

Here she is!

YAY!!!!!

Just in case you are wondering, she said yes! :) Afterwards all of us who were there helping went out with the newly engaged couple to celebrate over burgers at Five Guys.

Love them.

Yay! Friends forever. :)

We are SO very excited for them and the future that God has in store for their lives. Also, I'm pretty excited that I get to help my dear friend with wedding planning and festivities!

YAY for love!

don't worry. everything is going to be amazing.

{source: unknown via: we heart it}

It must be the planner in me. The part of me that has always wanted to know what was going to happen tomorrow, and write out all the details. As early as I can remember I have been this way. I used to sit down at the kitchen table, ask my mom what the plan was for the day, and write it all out on my crayon and construction paper calendar.

Sure, planning is good. It has helped me be prepared for things. It has helped me be organized. But, in my 23 years of life I have come to discover that this need for planning has also caused me to worry. And worrying is blech.

Alongside the worry that threatens to creep in during moments of doubt or vulnerability, I also have this faith. This faith in Someone who is much bigger than me that assures me everything is going to be amazing.

It's a day to day struggle for me. This struggle between faith and worry.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." - Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

Everything is going to be amazing. :)

a restful weekend.

{print by: decoylab via: we heart it}

I don't know about you, but after I've taken a break from something it often takes me a little while to get back into the habit of doing it. For example: checking my email, updating my blog, and staying connected via the web. After having spent most of last week off of my computer, it's taking me a little longer than normal to get back into the swing of things. So, forgive me for my recent lack of updating.

This weekend when we got back from Pigeon Forge, husband and I just crashed. We decided that our time would best be spent relaxing and spending time together in our cozy home.

Here's what our weekend consisted of:

• Making meals at home {as much as we love going out to eat, after eating out for every meal for a week...we were ready to cook at home.}
• Snuggling with our puppy {we sure did miss him!}
• Catching up on our favorite show, The Office {is anyone else excited about Jim and Pam's wedding this week?!}
• Reading a lot {I'm a bookworm...reading is such a relaxing activity!}
• Visiting a new church {we've visited a lot of churches recently...ready to settle in to a church home.}
• Snuggling on the couch--husband watched the Titans lose miserably, and I read more of my book.
• Napping.
• Cookie baking {this oatmeal raisin cookie recipe by Smitten Kitchen is amazing! It's also good with craisins.}

It was such a perfect home sweet home weekend. What do you like to do during a relaxing weekend at home?

hello from pigeon forge!

Hello friends! I know I have neglected the blog this week, but this is the first time I have seriously sat down at my computer all week (crazy, I know). Jonathan and I have been in Pigeon Forge, TN all this week (and we're still here as I type) for the Tennessee District Assemblies of God Minister's Retreat. It's been a great week of meeting new people and getting to spend time with old friends, great speaking, and beautiful fall weather.

Jonathan has been working the event all week, and I've been helping him in every way I can. I've also been photographing the services and taking headshots for the leaders. I'm SO glad and thankful that I was able to come with husband for this.

Our little Maxo has been staying with the grandparents (a.k.a. my parents--my dad calls Max his granddog, haha). I have missed him bunches. There are a bunch of parents who have missed their kids this week, and here I am missing my dog. He's like my child.

I hope you all are having an amazing week! :)