Tiffany Harper

Today I turned 30

I woke up this morning so excited for the chance to celebrate a new decade of life.  My twenties were filled with experiences, heartache, love, children, laughter, trials, excitement.

I have had an amazing 29 years.  I am excited for 30 because with this new age comes new challenges. New dreams.  

New opportunities.  

I am so excited.  

Thank you to all who wished me a happy birthday through your text messages, voicemails, Facebook and twitter.  I am so blessed by the people who come into my life.  

Love you all! I can't wait to document the next ten years with you through this blog.

Tiff~

And Finally..Compassion

*Special Note- This post you are about to read was crafted a week on a late night blogging binge ;).  It was on my heart so  much that I had to write it.  I know so many of us are struggling and feeling the financial crunch, but if we can help just one child, it would make  world of difference. Also, imagine my lovely surprise literally the next day when I read of not one, but two young ladies who gave their birthdays and wishes up in order to benefit others.  Please read their story as well: Kaitlin and Rachel.

 

The last few days have been purely superficial. I have had a lot of fun sharing with you all some of the things that I have fallen in love with over the internet. 

Perhaps you have found new favorites. Perhaps not.

But today I come to you asking for a huge birthday gift.  But the gift isn't for me.  

It is for a child locked in the struggle of poverty.  A child, through no fault of their own, waking up in mud huts in india, walking barefoot and taking care of their baby brothers and sisters due to losing their parents to AIDS in Africa.  They are the most innocent of all beings and I am asking, the day before my 30th birthday if you would help.

Compassion International is determined to change the life of a child in poverty. Dan and I are so blessed to sponsor a beautiful little girl in India.

If you are able, would you consider helping a child? Compassion can't do this without its sponsors, so imagine the opportunity to be a part of a movement to end poverty. 

 

Sponsor a Child

If you are unable to commit to giving each month, there are plenty of ways you can still give and help Compassion. Feel free to click on my Compassion sidebar to obtain more information!

Many thanks and blessings to each of you!! And thank you for being a part of my 30th birthday.  I so appreciate it and love each of you that stops by to read my little corner of the internet.

Tiff~

Fashion Queen

One of my favorite things growing up was back to school shopping. 

Whenever my mom took me and my sisters out to find new school clothes, I was always the one she had to pull aside and make  put clothes back the rack. Because I would practically pick out the entire store.  

I clearly had a problem.

I love shopping. I know it sounds so shallow and awful to say outloud...but it is true. I love it.

It really is good that God had me marry a Pastor and we don't make tons of money because the good Lord knew I needed to humble myself in the fashion and shopping department.  He expects me to be a good steward of my resources and of my gifts....so I am working on not shopping as much. 

I am much better now than I used to be. 

But since it is my birthday this week I thought I would share a couple of my favorite shops.

Ruche.  I have gushed about this little shop on my blog before.  I am still in love with their clothes and their branding.  Gorgeous stuff. Again, if you have not checked them out, RUN!!!! They are awesome.

Laurenly : I love this shop that is located in Old Town Orange, California.  Beautiful clothes and the sweetest girls I have ever met.  If you are ever in SoCal, the Orange Circle is a fantastic place to hang out. Great food, great shops...and Laurenly. Perfection. Plus, Laurenly carries jewelry from 31 Bits, a company that features jewerly created by impoverished women from Northern Uganda. Please check them out!

What are your favorite places to shop for clothes?

Tiff~

 

Play Everyday

Sometimes I get so caught up in the daily rituals of life that I forget to enjoy myself.

Because honestly, most of my days look like this:

*Wake up

*make breakfast for kids who can't sleep in past 6:30 AM

*Eat

*Pay bills

*Do whatever household chore is on the schedule for the day

*Take out trash (that should be a man's job...yeah I said it)

I bet I could put a million other things on that list. Even playing with the kids can seem like a "chore" if I let it. Sometimes I behave as if I am babysitting them and I am not really engaged with them.

I love this necklace by Lisa Leonard.  A sweet and beautiful reminder hanging around your neck to enjoy the life you have.

To Play everyday.

Playing and having fun can get lost in the mundane.  My kids are awesome. They are funny and loveable and creative. 

I want to play with them everyday.

I want to laugh and play with my husband everyday. 

In fact, I want to laugh a whole lot more than I have been.

That is a new goal for my upcoming birthday.

Laugh. Play. What awesome little yet powerful words.

What inspires you to play everyday?

Tiff~

Can I Take Your Picture?

In September of 2009 I lost my beautiful Canon Powershot. Sean was born in July and I had not yet uploaded his birth photos onto my computer.

Needless to say, I cried.

I have yet to replace said Canon. Not because I haven't wanted to, but mostly because, well, at the time we couldn't afford it.  

So now I am on the lookout for a small portable camera so I can capture the lovely faces of my children.

I loved polaroids growing up and I believe Fujifilm has created an awesome product to match it.  The instant pictures are perfect for instant scrapbook projects for the kids and I love instant gratification when it comes to photography.  Plus, it is gorgeous.

Lomography. Need I say more.

The Canon Powershot. I still love it and it is a great point and shoot. And it fits right into my purse so I don't have to lug too many bags around in order to take pictures. 

What cameras are you all drooling over? What do you have right now that you are using?  

Blessings,

Tiff~

Book Worm Alert

It is no secret in my family that I love reading.  I can read an entire book of roughly 740 pages, if it is really good, in a day and a half. 

I'm that awesome. Okay maybe not awesome. Just really nerdy.

I am okay with being a nerd.  Nerds are cool....so says Zachary Levi. Go NERDS!

*ahem*

Anyway, yes I love to read and one of my wishes is to eventually get a Kindle.

The Kindle is perfect because I can house all of my books in one spot and not have to worry about putting them away when I am done reading them. I hate clutter (and funny....my house is completely cluttered...no wonder I am going nuts.) and I hate having my books get ruined because there is no place to put them. So having a Kindle would be awesome. 

Do any of you have an e-reader? What do you think? Do you prefer books or are you stoked about your e-reader? Please share!

Tiff~

It's Almost My Birthday

My birthday is coming up next week (August 4th peeps!) and I am ready to celebrate the entire month of August because this birthday will be a special one.

I am turning 30.

Holy Cow!

I am so excited for this new stage of life. Of course, I do wish the gray hair would have waited until I was about 40 to make its grand entrance......

but you don't always get to choose certain things in life. Ha! I blame you Dad ;).

My husband always asks me every year what I would like for my birthday.  Most humble people I know go "Oh I don't want anything" blah blah blah.

I am not one of those people. LOL!!!! Just keeping it real! 

I love gifts. I don't always expect them. I don't get mad if I don't get any gifts. I truly appreciate the thought. But I would be a downright LIAR if I told you that I didn't make a birthday list. 

Now you know a little more about me. I am sorry if you are disappointed ;).

This week, I will be posting sites and photos of some things that have caught my eye over the past year. They are on my birthday wishlist, but I often find awesome things online that I have to share with y'all so that you can grab them too.

And if your birthday is in July or August like mine....then you can add them to your wishlist as well.

And everyone wins!

Happy Wednesday!

Tiff~ 

 

A Special Message to My Love

Today is my husband's birthday.  He probably won't like me telling you how old he is...so I will just say he is really young ;).  

Daniel,

  I am so thankful that you are my husband. That God gave me such an amazing and godly man to be the leader of our home.  I love watching you with Madison and Sean.  I love how they react to your silly theatrics with glee and shrieks of delight and try to copy you.  I love the laughter that fills our home.  I don't think our home would be the same without you in it.

Thank you for being so amazing and loving and patient with me.  Even during the moments when I am most unlovable, you still love me.  You teach me volumes about the definitions of grace and forgiveness.  I am thankful for a teacher like you.  

Photo by Pam Booher 

Thank you for being a real man and loving your family.  You provide so much more than a paycheck to our household.  You lead us in this journey of ministry and faith, pressing on and encouraging us to set our feet upon the rock of Christ.  Thank you for your sacrifice and willingness to be obedient to God with your life.

I love you far more today than the day we said I do.  Happy birthday my love.

Tiff~