Short & sweet.

I just wrote a huge blog, explaining how I need to go easy on myself, not care so much what others think, and then I erased it, because I need to realize that I don't have to give the world an explanation for every feeling I feel.

Yesterday I went & tried on wedding dresses for the first time & it was awesome. I can genuinely say I wasn't thinking about how I have a gut lol, or that my skin looked awful. Standing there in a white fitted dress, with a veil, I truly felt beautiful.

I feel like I've had a lot of epiphanies lately, in a really, really good way. I need to go easy on myself. Worry less (as much as I possibly can with the way my brain works) and pursue things I love. I think I'll try to write a book, and not worry if I fail, & as cheesy as that sounds I'm excited for it. I can't wait for this summer & the next chapter in my life.

Here are a few of my favorite finds as of late:

Vintage shot glasses.

 vintage goblets.

 vintage oil lamp. Love the color.

Painting, on a Friday night. I'm a wild one.

 

here's a little peek from yesterday. Not the one, but so much fun. :)

 

 

Autism Awareness Day.



No day is the same as the one before. Some days I come home crying or am furious & some I can't stop laughing. Something as simple as the kids making eye contact with me, saying my name unprompted or even hearing them sing along with me during circle can bring tears to my eyes, and I never had appreciated such small gestures before. These kids will always hold a large piece of my heart.





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San Francisco.

We are off!

On our way to San Francisco for a short trip that we both really need.

I can't wait to get there, be in the sun (hopefully) and go to cute little shops. and eat a hot dog.

A tip of my hat to all of the women who rolled out of bed and did their hair & makeup. The best I could muster up was asking up fifteen minutes before we left (only to stop nick from bothering me) & I look like a 12 year old boy on his way to summer camp.

I hate flying. Is it bad that I'm already looking around for the air Marshall? There is a possibility that I may pull an Annie from bridesmaids on this flight but I have high hopes.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday morning!

Xo tiff

help me I'm poor & I discovered West Seattle.

As if my bank account can't get any smaller, my best friend just moved to West Seattle.

For one, I am not a seattle person. I say this kindly! It's just not for me. The obscenities that come out of my mouth while driving there, mixed with the elaborate outfits of so many lost souls (hipsters) tends to be too much for me, HOWEVER, to avoid being a hypocrite I will admit that I do enjoy going out dancing there & eating a hot dog on the side of the road at 2 am with my girlfriends.

& in all reality it just really depresses me. There are so many homeless people, and I want to help them all and I can't, so it ends up being a long drive home with Nick about how we need to change the world and me yelling PULL OVER! Every time someone is walking down the street (most likely not homeless.)

BUT.

This place is different.

I was weary. Hillary & I lived only 10 minutes away and the thought of her, and my nieces and nephews (see below) being so far away was unsettling.

 

Anyway, not being a seattle lover herself, Hillary convinced me this place was different and I had high hopes, for two reasons. 1. because if she gets murdered living in the big city I will turn into Liam Neeson. "I don't know who you are, but I will find you, and I will kill you."

2. Because she lives there and I'll be spending time there so I guess I am selfish.

 

Last Sunday after driving through neighborhoods for 40 minutes in the pouring rain when I could've just gotten directly on I5 (thanks you bitch GPS) I arrived in the euphoria of West Seattle.

 

Oh my god.

 

 

 

 

So many cute shops. An antique mall. Adorable flower shop with the best cards ever. I almost cried of pure joy when I found a shop that carries a ton of rifle paper co stuff. A pet store with a cat in it, who I sat and stared at until I realized the clerk was judging me/my life, an adorable kids store where I had to stop myself from buying my friends children hundreds of dollars worth of shit (once again, poor) and the best sandwich I may have ever had in my life. I also found a place with so many cute little macaroons which makes me happy, and also sad because I searched for them when making my bridesmaids gifts because I wanted to be a chic pinterest bride which APPARENTLY is not an option. NOT IN RENTON HIGHLANDS TIFFANY, NOT IN RENTON HIGHLANDS.

 

For now, I had to force myself to only buy a desk calendar, a poster for my dad (early fathers day gift...because I am always prepared/thoughtful OBVI.) and a toy for one of the cool kids I babysit.

 

& because she is awesome, Hillary got me this amazing wedding planner. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

 

ugh. I can't wait to go back. And be a millionaire. And donate so that I don't feel sad every time I go to Seattle. And adopt all the cats from the pet store. And not be awkward when people catch me staring at cats. This list could go on, because there are so many things I should work on, but instead I'll just blog.

 

So thanks Hill. Now I am officially going to be in debt.

 

XOXO

 

TIFF

 

 

 

engagement photo prep!

Yay! Today we got our engagement pictures taken. Woo hoo! Planning the outfits was half the fun.

Nicks mom is a florist & made me the awesome floral crowns. Nick called me a hippy but he doesn't realize he's talking to a glamorous bohemian babe. 

can't wait to see how they turn out! 

Crafting til I die

So I came home from work, I had a pretty rough day so I decided to craft, of course.

Here are some goodies that are now up on etsy! (Link on main page) (shameless self promoting) (help me im poor) (need to be able to afford wedding dress)

 

I am obsessed with these little accessory dishes I found at the thrift stores. eek! So pretty. I bought extras for myself, because I'm selfish, ugh.

 

I'm sitting here praying Nick will walk in the door with sushi, but I pretty much can assure you that is not going to happen because he 1. does not like sushi, 2. doesn't know I want sushi.

 

Shocking right? Usually I would have texted him complaining of severe hunger pains by now.

 

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope yours was more relaxed than mine!

 

XOXO

 

 

 



This is how we goodwill.

First off, I'd like to make one thing clear.

I've been thrifting since before hipsters decided it was cool.

 

I was a goodwill kid. I remember the days of my mom dragging me around the thrift store, praying I wouldn't run into kids from school, and I'll never forget the day she accidentally packed my lunch in a goodwill bag.

Now that I'm an adult, no longer care about anything other than being able to afford starbucks every day, goodwill has become my savior.

I am a shopaholic. & I say that in the way like, Nick is afraid for our future shopaholic.

This being said, now that I have seen the light of my moms ways, I am a THRIFTY shopaholic. So to everyone who follows my goodwill finds on instagram and has asked for my tips, here they are.

3 Tips for entering the further:

-Don't get in the elderly peoples way.

They have been doing this a LONG time. They know what they are looking for, and it is not you walking in front of them. Some of them are kind, but some are testy, approach them with caution. Also watch out for teenagers in Brandy Melville shirts & flannels wrapped around their waist. They are only here temporarily, and they get in the way.

-If you are a beginner, do not go on a Monday.

Monday does not give any shits about you, nor do the people in goodwill. They will hunt down their deals and possibly kill you along the way. Beginners, try a Wednesday, managers special day that everyone hates.

-Use your imagination.

It is rare (depending on your style) that you will walk into goodwill and see a must have thing that everyone is dying to buy. You have to take the item OUT of its surroundings and imagine it in your cute apartment.

For example. In my last blog I showed the before & after of a large slab of wood project. It started out as a mural of jesus...(Speaking of, I have no idea why there are SO many of these at goodwill. Everywhere I turn Jesus is judging my purchase. I think everyone may be getting rid of these large wooden Jesus paintings ever since Justin Bieber came around I really have no idea.)

I painted over the Jesus mural (In the name of the father son, and crafting spirit) and made a chalkboard sign.

These wooden signs will cost you up to twenty bucks anywhere else, but I got mine for a whopping 2 dollars. Hallelujah!


I will also say this. If you have eclectic style, and love vintage things, I'm not sure why you haven't been going to goodwill for your entire life but I am here to help you now. Seriously, some of my favorite home décor items I have found there. Knowing that the item has a history adds a little something special to it.

Some of my favorite things to find at thrift stores are:

 

Bags
 

 

 

 

FRAMES.
 

 

 If you have been buying frames elseware, I am sorry I didn't find you sooner and punch you. My favorite frames ever are from goodwill. They have the best selection of brass, gold, antique looking frames you will find anywhere, most for under 2 dollars. With the oval frame above, it started out as just an oval frame with a painting of a house on it. This is what I mean about imagining it in your apartment opposed to the store. We painted this one for my engagement party, but I decided to keep it up because I love it!

 

jewelry.
 

You can find the coolest vintage necklaces. Again, this depends on your taste. If you are looking for something that says Juicy Mama or something you may have to resort to the mall, but if your style is similar to mine, thrift stores are the way to go. You will always have something different, and I have noticed they have a TON of long pendant necklaces, which are usually my favorite.

 

 photo albums.

 

 

 

I am one of those people that loves printing out pictures, and goodwill always has the coolest old photo albums. I got both of these for 1.50 each.

 

 

 Yay! Hopefully this helps. I think I'll start posting my favorite finds every week. Thoughts?! I'm also planning on doing all my wedding décor DIY, so we shall see how that goes! What are you favorite things to thrift for??

Tiff XO