have a happy happy wekend!

{image via ffffound}

HIGH FIVE! It's the weekend! Yay. I thoroughly enjoy the week...but there's something extra-special and exciting about the weekend.

This week has been a good one. I've edited lots of photos. Husband has designed a lot of design stuff. We got some super-awesome vintage finds at a thrift store. Making progress with my new business! Last night we met two new friends at Starbucks and had great conversation about life and God {and drank some caramel apple spice...mmmmm...a fave.}

For the weekend husband and I are heading to wild and wonderful West Virginia to visit my sweet grandparents. I'm uber psyched because I haven't been to their house in a few years...there's something special about going to grandma's! My family is also going this weekend, so I'll get to see them too...woo hoo! I'm going to smother them with lots of hugs. :)

What are your plans this weekend? Whatever they are, I hope you have a very lovely one!

our trip to the pumpkin patch.

A couple weekends ago, husband and I made a trip to Walden Farm to go and pick out some pretty pumpkins for our front steps. We had a great time, and there was a lot more there than we were expecting. The place was crawling with people...and there was a snack bar with yummy fall treats. We shared a hot apple cider and walked around looking at the farm animals before picking out which pumpkins would go home with us. It was a fun day, and we hope to make a family tradition out of it.

My handsome husband who takes me on fun dates!

As a little girl I wanted to grow up to be a farmer. We even lived on a farm for part of my childhood, so getting to see and pet all of the farm animals was sentimental to me. :)

"Yay!" for fun day dates!

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?