Celebrating 2 Decades of Tiff

My dearest friends, and other readers of this blog, it is with pride and joy that I announce that in 2 days I will be turning 20! I will now pause while you cheer for me and receive odd looks from the other people in Panera. I have been alive 2 decades which is 20 years which is 1042.86 weeks, which is then 7,300 days that goes into 175,200 hours which is then 10,512,000 seconds. Yes, I did just use the calculator on my computer. Now, we all know I like to do things up right especially for such an awesome occasion as this. You're about to ask me what I'm doing aren't you? (If you weren't I'm not a mind reader so I can't be right all of the time). Even if you weren't I'm going to tell you. The mom and sister are going to Baltimore for a Volleyball National Qualifier Tournament and are leaving on my birthday. They asked me if I wanted to go, but honestly I'd rather not spend my birthday getting beat to death by volleyballs hit by girls half my age and twice as tall as me. Instead, I will be visiting my lovely friend Amy at Duke for the weekend!! Yes, I am driving down by myself. Yes, I do have directions, and yes I am going to get lost at least once. We're going to one of my favorite restaurants The Melting Pot (I already went to another restaurant on my top 5 list with the fam to celebrate earlier this week), if you haven't been there go...right now. I'm serious. So I know how I'm celebrating my birthday but what am I to do on here for it? Let me tell you I thought and though about it and I decided I would post my 20 Favorite Birthday/Happy Memories (20 is a lot of numbers) also accompanied by some pictures from previous birthdays. This will obviously be rather lengthy, so I'm dividing it up into 2 posts, this one and the next one. Some of these memories could possibly be classified as "lame", but they made me feel good so therefore they are not lame and if you think they are you should not be reading my blog kthanks :) Also, these are in no specific order just how they come to me. And now without further adieu, my list...

20 Favorite Birthday/Happy Memories

20. Having my friends give me 3 surprise parties for my 16th Birthday.

19. Tiffapalooza, 'nuff said.

18. My eighteenth birthday altogether.

17. My ballerina party (I was turning 5) when even my most tomboy friend (who shall remain nameless, you know who you are haha) dressed up as a pink ballerina.

16. My Princess party (birthday #6) when Cinderella came to my party to sing me Happy Birthday.

15. Going to the Homestead for my 16th birthday

14. Having Amy drive up from Duke for one day to surprise me for my 19th birthday

13. My Easter Egg Hunt Birthday Party (I can't remember which one, but Easter was that week how cool!)

12. Making Amy and Daphne sing Karaoke with me on Tiffapalooza

11. Mom making the "How well do you know Tiff?" quiz and seeing the answers everyone wrote down (Bday #18)

10. Carmen taking me to Texas Roadhouse, telling the cute waiter it was my birthday and then having to stand on the table while everyone "yeehaw'd" me.

So ends the birthday part of my list, more may appear in part 2...stay tuned!!

Love,

Tiff

The Dreaded Day....

Hello my dear friends and blog readers (one in the same I assume)

Well, it's that time of year again: Flowers are being bought in huge bouquets, chocolates are being made in heart shaped containers, diamond rings and other accessories are being purchased by nervous guys hoping and praying for a yes.

On the flip side: tissues, ben & Jerry's, sappy love movies, and horror movies are being bought either on or the night before the so-called holiday that we celebrate by women in sweat pants whose eyes shoot daggers at any man to pass by them.

I fall in neither category. I had an early Vday with 2 awesome girl friends of mine, two of us are single and the other has a bf who is currently in basic training. We celebrated early so I could be at church, but we had a blast and I had more fun that I would on a date with a guy. Here's my 5 reasons why:

5. I dressed up for my friends. This means they noticed things girls notice that we women WISH guys would notice. Like "That color looks SO good on you!" "What a pretty necklace!" "Your hair is AMAZING"

4. No awkward "Who's paying" debacle. A HUGE plus.

3. We didn't have to worry about the "kiss goodnight". We all know that ain't happening.

2. No awkward conversation, AND we didn't have to worry about what to get...well except for dessert...which pie to pick!

1. I had so much fun. Nothing was awkward or forced, and we could be totally open. Afterward we could just go back to my house and watch funny Youtube videos while we were in sweatpants and tee shirts.

Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't love to go on a date with a guy. However, if you know me you also know I have the potential to be really awkward. So ladies and gents of blogland, I dedicate this blog to you. Happy Valentines Day.

If you're single: Happy Single's Awareness Day (SAD for short). And don't worry, they'll come along at some point. Until then, smile and be happy you don't have to go on an awkward date.

And if you're a sweet, single, Christian guy between the ages of 19 and 23, with a sense of humor who likes long walks on the beach, reading, dogs, chocolate, funny movies, and has a thing for slightly off yet funny entertaining 19 year old girls with short brown hair and a big sense of humor....

Just Kidding!...about the long walks on the beach

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

Slightly off Balance

First off, I apologize to anyone who has suffered withdrawal from my lack of blog...so while I work on my NYC blog(s) here's one to keep you entertained...

I've recently been looking through some pictures of mine, due to a transferring of files from one computer to another. This act has caused me to remember oh so many things about myself, and also come to a certain realization on something: I have the potential to be "normal", however, I seem to upset the scales a little. Not too much, but enough to make a difference. So, sporadically, as they come to me, I will post my "Tiffalities" as opposed to "normalities". Here's the first that came to mind:

The Dear Fellow in the Passenger Seat

Last Summer, the kid's ministry I work with (The Filling Station- www.tolm.net/tolm/the_filling_station) at my church went to the IPHC General Conference. IPHC is International Pentecostal Holiness Church. Basically, all the pastors and the other important people from the IPHC all meet once a year at General Conference to discuss all the important stuff about the church. Obviously, I did not go to that part of it what I did go to was our part of it- the kid's ministry.

Quick rabbit trail on that: IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! Yeah, I was up at 7am and usually didn't get to sleep until like 12am or later but it was so worth it!! I performed a magic show, the kids were AWESOME and a TON of them got saved which made the entire thing worth it.

Back on the other trail:

We all had to drive down to Greensboro, NC. "We" consisted of the staff of the Filling Station consisting of: Parents, me, 3 other teens, and of course some of the kids. However I'm the oldest teen so the other teens had listen to me :) Along the way, we stopped by God's Pit Crew (an AWESOME ministry! Check it out!) because they were storing some stuff for us...nothing too important just our entire set and everything we needed down there basically. We realized when we got there we would have to put some things in other people's cars. All of the other cars were basically full with luggage and other random roadtrippy things (like other people and children). However, I was the only one in my car (Coincidence? I think NOT!). Now everyone else took the normal things we had: Lights, cords, a few minor styrofoam set pieces (ok I know that sounds abnormal but it's totally normal at the Filling Station where everything but our faith is made out of styrofoam). Now let's take a look at my car.

First of all, I drive a Candy Apple Red 2006 Toyota Solara. Everybody else there was driving either a big rig, mini van, or suv. Compared to those giants, I have a 2 door Barbie car, that I love dearly. In this car so far was me, my other small car aka my suitcase, a 12 pack of mtn dew, and a collection of CDs that yes I did sing to- loudly and off key with choreography. We added to that 2 normal items: Candy (3 boxes of it in my trunk and backseat and YES it made it there uneaten...due to the fact of where it was located) and styrofoam dinosaur bones (the theme was "Night at The Museum: God's Word Comes to Life!...yeah awesome I know). The other...thing...well...I'll let the picture show you:

That deer fellow (HAHA I love puns) in the passenger seat is just what you think it is and exactly what you don't expect it to be. Yes, it is a deer head but its not a real one. His name is Buck and he is one of our character at The Filling Station. He's animatronic, so he talks...and moves and well we weren't just going to throw him in the back of someones car! So we buckled him into the front seat of mine!

Along the way to Greensboro, I passed a variety of Big Rigs. In one, there were 3 younger guys about my age. They passed me, I passed them and they gave me some odd looks (and not just because of my staggering beauty either HA). About five minutes later, they pass me again...this time with cameras. I'm still looking for the pictures on facebook, myspace, and Bass Pro Shops.

That's it for now, if you think of more instances where I am slightly off balance, leave a comment and I'll be sure to write about it!

Love y'all,

Tiff

Top 5 Guys

Over the course of the past week or so, I have devised a list of my Top Guys. Top guys being guys that I would date, or that have qualities I find important in a guy. Just for the record, only one of these guys/men is real, the others are characters but hey a girl can dream!!

5. Logan Huntzberger

Logan Huntzberger, son of Mitchom Huntzberger in the hit series Gilmore Girls aka my favorite show.

Why he is Top Guy Material: Let's face it, the boy is hot. The perfectly messy hair, the perfect angles of his face, and well he's just hot. He is also very sweet and will admit when he's wrong...most of the time. He has a great sense of humor, a huge selling point for me. He does really sweet things unexpectedly, and knows the importance of a Birkin Bag.

Why he is not number 1: He's conceited, and well if I was a guy and looked like that I probably would be too. However, that's not an excuse. He's also slightly immature and is too much of a partier for me.

4. Jess Mariano

Jess Mariano, Rory's 2nd boyfriend on the hit series Gilmore Girls. Ok, I like Gilmore Girls its not my fault that all the guys are top guy material!

Why he is Top Guy Material: I started out not liking Jess, he had that whole rebellious-teen thing going on, which I do not like at all. Later though, he wrote a book, got himself together and totally changed my perspective on him. He is into the whole artsy thing, which as we all know is VERY important to me. Also, he reads (which I'm addicted to) and understands literally references and humor. Oh, and let's not forget...again he's hot, I think hotter than Logan just looks-wise. The deep brown eyes, the hair (again perfectly messy or as Luke describes it "did you do your hair with a razor?!") and what really gets me is the smirk. It's cute, it's hot, and it adds mystery. If a guy had a smile like that, I would definitely date him.

Why he is not number 1: Again, the teenage rebellion thing. I don't like it, plus he's REALLY moody. Must come with the artsy territory.

3. Westley/ Dread Pirate Roberts

Westley, the farm boy later turned to the Dread Pirate Roberts in the movie The Princess Bride. I had to include both pictures because, well he had two different names so he needed two different pictures.

Why he is Top Guy Material: He marries a princess, so he's prince material and I, being a somewhat princess, obviously find this important. He is quick witted, skilled in fencing, and insanely handsome, not to mention he saves a damsel in distress and comes back from being "mostly dead". He has a sarcastic sense of humor, but is so smooth and confident you can't help but love him. Come on, he's basically a prince.

Why he is not number 1: Although confident, he can come off as arrogant. Plus, the dread Pirate Roberts doesn't take prisoners...well except for 1 every like 5 or 10 years. Also, he's married...and not real...well neither were the others so far haha!

2. Lance Burton

Lance Burton Master Magician, the longest running act in Las Vegas. Awarded Magician of the year 2 years in a row, and a Member of The Royal Dynasty of Magic the highest award a magician can ever receive.

Why he is Top Guy Material: Starting from humble roots in Louisville, KY he worked his way up to the Master Magician he is today. He is a truly spectacular magician and trick designer. He does everything with the grace and confidence of a true magician, but manages to keep the audience entertained an laughing. Not one to be conceited, he frequently performs for numerous charities across the country. He will admit when he is wrong, and when something was stupid. Such as, he attempted an escape from a roller coaster and BARELY made it!! Stating afterwards, "That was stupid...that was REALLY stupid." on a t.v. special. Also, check out the smile ;)

Why he is not number 1: He's at least 40...and while I don't mind a guy being older than me that's old enough to be my dad.

1. Jim Halpert

If you watch The Office, you knew this was coming. Jim, basically the perfect man.

Why he is Number 1: Ok, I know Jim is not real**Pause for all the girls to cry** but here's why he is number one:

-He is low maintenance

-Confident, not conceited

- He is insanely laid-back, and oh so smooth

- Very cute, just look at him!!

-Amazing sense of humor, will do anything for a laugh

-Serious, but at the same time just goofy enough to keep you laughing

-So sweet and considerate

-Creative (I mean who else would think of putting someone's stapler in jello?!)

All of this was fun, but I'll leave y'all with a quote I just came across that I'm pretty sure describes how I will know who my real number one guy is:

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." -Dr. Seuss

Love Y'all!

Infomercials

Hello again my faithful blog followers!

Today's theme is infomercials (bet you didn't guess that one). I love infomercials!! I want basically all the items I see. However, after some late night t.v. watching, I have developed yet another Top Five list. For those of my dear friends reading this: Yes, I am serious and yes I really do want these and yes my birthday is March 26 :)

-5. The Perfect Brownie Pan

Yes, you read that right negative 5. I started this list with the idea in mind that all of these would be items I want. I worked on this list bizackwards (starting at 1, so technically forwards but bizackwards from the way you are currently reading it) and I felt that I must include this simply because this may be the one infomercial product I despise, loathe, and all together am just not fond of, with that in mind...

Why I do NOT want this item: I hate side brownies. Sick, gross, ewwy, chewy, yuck. I prefer the middle ones, and really who eats the edges?! (0:45 in video) I have NEVER seen that! NOBODY LIKES THE EDGES!! If you do, I'm not implying you're nobody, just disturbed and I can give you the number of some people who can help you with that :). The patent pending design isn't helping their case much either. The one thing I do like about this commercial is the brownie ideas- aka the banana split brownie I had never heard of or tried those before and oh goodness are they good!!

Things included besides the product:

-Stencils!! Wow...like I couldn't free hand a circle (fyi I can).

- Recipe Book

Things I do like: I like the integrity of this item...no cutting brownies. The less I'm around knives the better. I'm sure it'd great for rice krispy treats and that kind of thing....maybe even cake squares, but for heaven sake not brownies!!

5. One Touch Can Opener

Why I want this: Ok y'all I do realize I don't cook...at all. However, I still want it for those few times I do cook. I am not one of great strength, and I hate can openers after a (literally) scarring incident which involved a cheap can opener and my poor tiny hand. This item, however, eliminates any possibility of me being cut or otherwise scarred by said can opener and everything can be done with the push of a button!!

Things included besides the product: The Gripmate (included absolutely free) is also a plus, its a JAR opener!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen a can opener and a jar opener- not in one but close enough.

What I don't like: I haven't tried this out, so it might not work. Plus, this whole can opening thing could be avoided if I just didn't cook. :)

4. Big Top Cupcake

Why I want this: I LOVE cupcakes!! They are basically the only thing I can bake and not burn, undercook, or otherwise ruin the integrity and actual being of. (Yes I realized I just ended that sentence in a preposition, but I couldn't find a way to reword it...did I mention it's late?) Anyway, I know for a fact this product works as one of my sister's friends made her a birthday cake using this exact mold and it looked just like, if not better than, the pictures!! Woah, crazy I know!! It also has a MAGIC INSERT if you want to fill it with ice cream, pudding, another kind of cake, money, or illegal aliens (well it is 25 times bigger than a regular cupcake like I'm actually doing that math..). I think the best part about this item is the commercial, I'm not kidding. Now, it's no Billy Mays masterpiece (may he rest in peace) but it made me laugh. I have included the video above... now, fast forward to 0:50 and watch the kids in the background....

Yeah, you're laughing too, don't deny it.

Things included besides the product:

-Magic Center Insert (again for those fugitives you're harboring and just need a way to get them out of the house)

- Idea Book (They mentioned a clown cake...not sure how I feel if that's the best they can do)

-3D cookie cutters (a $20 value absolutely free!)

What I don't like: The cake pieces look weird, I know it's stupid but i mean the pieces are oddly shaped and HUGE!

3. Bottle Tops

Why I want this: I am forever running into the problem of de fizzed canned drinks. I like can drinks for 2 reasons: 1) They taste better no because they don't have a plastic-y taste and 2) They are the perfect size. This item is the perfect solution to my problem!! Plus, they won't spill in my immaculate car or at my desk at work.

Things included besides the product: As far as I can see, the only thing included is 12 of the item. When in the world will I need to simultaneously drink 12 canned drinks at once?

Things I don't like: I'm pretty sure it will leak...I'm a skeptic.

2. The Jupiter Jack

Why I want this: Many reasons, mostly because Billy Mays makes me believe I NEED this.

I talk on the phone and drive (bad I know....shame on me) and this solves my problems!! Yay!

Things included besides the product: Not one, but 2 Jupiter Jacks!! For my second car...

which I don't have.

What I don't like: Despite the credibility of Billy Mays, I'm not sure if this will work due to

my iPod FM converter thingamabobbit not working correctly!!

1. Roomba

Why I want this: It's a ROOMBA!! Don't tell me you don't want one too!! It'd be perfect for my room, since I hate cleaning and vacuuming. Plus, its a robot!! So not only does it suit my nerdiness, it must follow the 3 laws. It works, as I've seen, and I WANT IT.

Things included besides the product: Nothing, but why would I need 2 and what is cooler than this?

What I don't like: It's a little creepy, it knows too much and I can totally see it starting to clean just when I fall asleep.

You Might be Tiff's friend if...

While changing computers I came across this file I forgot I had, constructed by my friends and myself. It started off as a "How you know you're Tiff's Friend" list, then inspired by Jeff Foxworthy I turned it into the list you see before you! Feel free to add to it!

You Might be Tiff's Friend if...

- You never directly call Starbucks for their hours, you just call Tiff because she already knows them...for all the locations in The Burg.

- You never leave the table at a restaurant to use the bathroom first...you never know when if might be your birthday!

- You don't consider it odd if a 19 year old girl has her bedroom decked out in Disney Princess merchandise

- you automatically think someone is mad when they have a deep southern accent

- you don't consider it odd to meet a friend at Vinny's while she is in mime makeup

- Hot pink no longer burns your eyes

- you know all the words to most broadway songs, and deeply dislike showtunes

- You know all the words to Taylor the Latte boy

- You don't really like theater,but you go to at least one play every two months

- you know who laquisha sha nay nay and/or La Fawnduh are

- You refuse to get in a car with Tiff as the driver ever again

- you attend her 19th b-day party and nothing has changed since the 5th one, including the theme

- You start saying ya'll without realizing it

- you're no longer shocked that a girl who cannot correctly pronounce "epitome" reads 5 book a week

- You can finish the phrase "Life is like pool...."

- you don't think it's weird for someone to carry 3 decks of cards in their purse, 2 of which you are not allowed to touch

- you're not offended when she says "I kill you"

- you're surprised you don't have to give your friend directions to place in lynchburg, aka their hometown

- When someone says "I have a new magic trick..." you automatically groan and walk away

- you no longer have to ask "where'd you get that?!" you automatically assume J.Crew.

God loves me? God loves me!

I know it's been awhile since I've posted a blog, and for that I do apologize. However, I had exams and come on people its Christmas!!



So here's whats on my mind today: Love.



What brought this up? A text message, plain and simple. Here's what it said:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. . .Because you are precious In my eyes, and honored, and I love you. -Isaiah 43"



Those three simple words: I. Love. You.



Let's be honest, the first time you heard those words from a guy I know what 99% of women felt. Suddenly, there was a while meadow of butterflies in your stomach. You turned red, your adrenaline kicked in, and you couldn't think straight.



However, lets say your mom says "I love you" before you go to bed at night. Completely differnt reaction: You feel safe, secure, loved.





Now I have a tight group of friends and we all say I love you when we leave each other. No butterflies, not the security of a parent, but the feeling of acceptance.


The text I received was from one of my very best friends, and the reason I received it is because she knew I was going to face something hard for me that day. I had never read that verse or chapter before so it was new to me and what stuck out to me were those three words: I Love You.

God Loves Me. A simple statement, any child who has been to Sunday school can tell you that God loves them. It is another thing to realize He really does love you. It took me a minute, because when I read it, my thoughts went something like this: "God loves me. God loves me?"
In a world where 6th graders tell their boyfriends and girlfriends of 3 days that they love them only to break up with them an hour later, and a place where parents tell their children they love them, but ignore them, some people don't know love. It's a hard thing to comprehend and I'm not claiming I do. I do know this though:

I'm not perfect, read the rest of my blogs, I make mistakes I even make typos! I'm messy, skatter minded, irresponsible at some times, I lie, I've cheated, I'm vain, I've disobeyed my parents. I'm a sinner. I've done things I shouldn't have, I'm a long way off from being perfect.

However, the most perfect being in the universe called me by name. I am HIS. Not yours, not anyone else's, His. If I go through the water, when I can't see when I'm scared, He's there with me, holding me up like a dad holds his child up in the pool. In His eyes, I am precious. He loves me. I can't stop that. I didn't do ANYTHING to deserve it. Yet, He still loves me, sins, mistakes, and all.

Not just me, He loves you too. You are precious in His eyes. When YOU go through waters, He will be there with you too.

He loves US.

Remember that.