Cheers to 2021!

1 retiro do casados in the Poconos simply being together with some of our favorite people, big and small
2 trips taken this year where every flight got delayed, and they were worth every hiccup.

3.1 miles run in Hoboken for our first Turkey Trot 5k with friends, and my mom's first 5k ever! So proud!

4 months with Vovo living with us, telling stories from the past and singing hymns every day along with

5 kindergarteners in our Breakout Class & all the kids who also love to sing and make our hearts happy.

6 x 7 = 42 songs in our first Christmas playlist with friends! Some of whom were there to see the...

7 hot air balloons that seemed like they'd rise into the air but gave us a light show instead LOL

8 months of Sisterhood with many beautiful ladies sharing conversations, food, tears, prayers and laughs.

9 minute long voice memos were common between Erin & I with so much love + wisdom in-between them.

10 beautiful years of marriage celebrated where it all began, Chicago & in our favorite home yet, SoBe!

11 different exhibits to walk by before seeing the Obama Portraits in person, and they did not disappoint!

12 months of seeing God move through many amazing people at CCP and point people to Jesus plus...

13 weeks of gratitude journaling on the journey of thanking Him in all things, with so much grace.

14 thousand average steps walked every time we visit NYC bc after all this time, it's still our thing.

15 lattes a month at Sihana between the girls! Probably more, thanks to D & K for making it a second home.

16 deep breaths before I felt I wouldn't pass out in front of everyone at Burn (thanks Julie! LOL)

17 times we reconsidered watching Survivor this season, only to remember how much we love it!

18 books on my reading list I did not finish, but I did spend a lot of time listening to...

19 songs on repeat! I Thank God, Revivals in the Air, and Gratitude to name a few. We had about...

20 weeks of Lovely Day CrossFit which blessed our bodies, hearts and souls. And finally...

21 + 12 weeks into the year I received a promise from God that I will hold in my heart forever.

Ready for you, 2022!

<3

Cheers to 2020!

1 perfect shell given to me by a stranger with Maverick City's "I'll still bless you" on my mind
2 preaching series that changed me: "FU" + Relationship Goals by Mike Todd

3 COVID tests taken between G & I in the last 2 weeks of the year, and it didn't hurt! YES!

4 miracle babies born - AJ, Noah, Josiah & Gio - and so many cuddles.

5 women that impacted my life in a huge way this year: Erin, Mom, Tia Ana, Emma & Jeanny 

6 days of breaking & reckoning, healing, and grace on a sacred week in September

7 months of G working from home #covid + a promotion for me; God went above & beyond! I watched..

8 sunrises that changed me, lifted me up, and gave me hope in a wild year where we celebrated

9 years of marriage! What?! We swam with the sharks (crazy!) & had a private rooftop dinner for two

10 episodes of The Crown watched in our new home of NJ (a God story) after...

11 final months spent in South Beach, which will forever be in our hearts <3

12 laps around the track was G's workout plan, but I usually only lasted 4 in the Miami heat

13 and a half books read meaning my goal of 12 was beat for the first time!*

14 weeks going on sunset walks almost every night, and it was magic

15 x 500 people singing outside that JESUS IS KING in Downtown Miami with Sunday Service!

16 to 26 MILLION people protested for the #blacklifematters movement in America this year - incredible

17 hours of snow perfection, plus every season experienced! Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer

18 days spent with Michi & Joe laughing at all the things while they spent Christmas break in Jersey!    

19 family members that support and love each other through our ups and downs. So so grateful

20 hours of surprises for my 30th bday that blew me away. Thanks to my precious babe - I love you G

//  2020 - I bless you because you broke us, and in the breaking we were healed and made whole  //

* Books read:

• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Girl For The Job by Jess Connolly
• The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
• Invitation to Solitude and Silence by R. Barton
• A Spirituality of Caregiving Henri Nouwen
• Making All Things New by Henri Nouwen
• The Way of The Heart by Henri Nouwen
• Men, Women and Worthiness by Brene Brown
• A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
• The Book of Forgiving by Rev Tutu
• The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
• Making Vision Stick by Andy Stanly
• Dream Big by Bob Goff
• Becoming by Michelle Obama -  halfway done but started in February. This just wasn't the book for me to finish this year

Cheers to 2019!

1 Europe trip that was years in the making and a real dream come true; we ate so many croissants, I lost count! Opps!
2 pregnancies that made me cry for joy - Jess & Tish will be the best mamas <3
3 hard months that brought me to my knees and taught me how real faith lives & how much your people matter.
4 weeks of G saying, "this is our perfect Christmas tree...I love it!" 
5 XO coffee bar employees that made every coffee stop sweeter & more fun than the last.
6 months of perfect weather in Miami, from January to June. Almost too good to be true!
7 entire books read/listened to from beginning to end! Ok, three chapters left in John Maxwell's but who's counting?!*
8 adventurous years of marriage to my enneagram...
9 of a husband who is a total peacemaker, professional napper & most amazing listener of them all!
10 thousand steps was my average on my days off walking all over SOBE, listening to...
11 fav podcasts on rotation including: Nights at the Round Table, Elevation, Rise, Super Soul, Dream Big & more**
12 x 4 walks to the beach! Walks...I still can't believe we get to do life in South Beach. 
13 bits of regret bc salad + Paris = food poisoning & Paris laughing at you saying, "You should've had more bread!"
14 people away from not getting into Sunday Service with Kanye - a night we'll never forget.
15 Flamengo games, maybe more? & too many championships won because apparently there's more than one!
16 sunsets a month spent outside sounds about right, but the most memorable was the orange sky behind the Eiffel
17 months at Anthro working with strong women who gave me courage, lots of laughter, fun & love.
18 weeks committed to Vous Church + so many precious souls we've met because of it.
19 + visitors from Jersey to Cali and some states in between, even Brazil, welcomed into our home. 

And to be honest, this was what made 2019 a special year, from the first of January to December 31st, loved ones were here and God showed his love for us through every single one.

What an unforgettable year! With a grateful heart, happy new year! Love, the Olives
I'd love to hear what your favorite books and podcasts are! Share below or send a DM my way on insta! 
@tiffanyolives


* Books I read: Dare to Lead by Brene Brown, Love Does + Everybody Always by Bob Goff, Girl Stop  Apologizing by Rachel Hollis, Making All Things New + Suffering and Joy by Henri Nouwen, 15 Laws of Invaluable Growth by John Maxwell

** Other great podcasts I listened to this year addition to above list: Vous, O Being, Tony Robins, Oprah's Master Class, Rise Together, Cleaning Up The Mental Mess, The Real Life, Five Minute Fatherhood, Ed Mylett, Head to Heart, How I Built This, Goal Digger

Cheers to 2018!

1 trip to Miami in the first month of the year that changed everything, and started our plans for the big move!
2 many tears shed since we were part of...
3 grand weddings, including my baby brothers and one of my best friends of almost 20 years, in Mexico!
4 months in Escondido, CA where I had more winery dates with my coworkers than the past three years combined!
5 babies met and gushed over! Ellie, Lily, Kamali, Jason & Juliana, who we love so freaking much!
6 months spent traveling and living with family until moving into our new home at the beach.
7 years of marriage with g, who amazingly planned a weekend in New York City to celebrate. 
8 average phone calls a day between my mom and I. What can I say? Mamas girl.
9 minutes of panic & prayer as the cop in Texas asked G to step into his vehicle & questioned my relationship to him.
10 minus 5 games Brazil played in the World Cup, which is 2 less than it should've been. haha
11 visitors we welcomed into our new home in the short 8 weeks we've lived here, and loved every minute of it! 
12 weeks of 5 to thrive, thanks to Rachel Hollis and her encouragement to take care of yourself sister!
13 free lattes at Peets since discovering happy hour, and living a brisk 60 second walk away.
14 states driven through on our cross country trip! Favs: Arizona/Grand Canyon & Georgia/Savannah. Worst: Texas.
15 screams of excitement as we watched dozens of dolphins swim and jump around our boat in SD!
16 minutes of mediation I tried and failed to do every day, but am committed to starting again.
17 corresponding messages between Facebook Market and Craigslist for the best thrifted finds.
18 pounds shed and a newfound love for exercising every single day because life is too short to stop moving.


With a grateful heart, happy new year!

Cheers to 2017!

1 woman's march that empowered many beautiful souls.
2 months of keeping my best friends pregnancy a secret, and two grandparents who passed away. (oh, life's paradox)
3 epic engagements among family and friends.
4 Saturdays of Christmas shopping which was two way too many. haha
5 months sans the gym since changing work schedules, which changed my life in a good way, except that one ;)
6 years of marriage to the best person in my life!
7 major trips taken (the most we've ever done!) including weekends in Mexico, Phoenix, Vegas and ofcourse, Jersey.
8 powerful words of prayer in battle - whatever is: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy...
9 flower arrangements on #theolivestable
10 thousand moments of happy tears during Michelle & Joe's beautiful wedding <3
11 trips to Oscars Mexican and Seafood for tacos and a quesadilla.
12 books on my reading list, but six was the grad total read. Brené Brown, thank you. 
13 months waiting for House of Cards, the Crown and Stranger Things to begin, and it was so worth it!
14 conversations about the future and constant reminders to trust God and stand in prayer.
15 minutes taken to walk across the border to Mexico, and the disbelief of how easy that was!
16 divided by four months of watching the sun rise and set on most days. That was a gift.
17 honey lattes from Better Buzzed, and way too much $ spent on coffee thanks to Communal Coffee too!

This year was one to remember. It was the year of high highs and low lows. The year we took our first intimate vacation since our honeymoon (meaning, not staying with family on a trip HA!) The year we decided to take charge of our finances and make smarter decisions with our money. The year I took risks that could've cost me my job, but instead got me promoted. The year I almost went to the ER because of anxiety which was a battle I never saw coming. And the year I practiced leaning into my pain with Jesus, and He met me over and over again in that place. It was the year I read the most books by choice, ever. And the year I went to gym less than I have since I was 21. This year it rained so much that the flowers bloomed like they hadn't in decades, and So Cal came out of the drought! This year, we struggled and fought and prayed more than years past. But we also celebrated like crazy and cried many happy tears. 2017 was good, but we think 2018 will be GREAT. As we like to say, the best is yet to come. So cheers to 2017! We can't wait to see what God has in store for the next one..

with love and hope, the olives

Cheers to 2016!

This Year:

1 new tattoo after years and years of wanting and praying about one! 

2 trips to Joshua Tree 

3 dear friends we grew up with got married!

4 trips to Chula Vista (Nathan Nathan...) in December

5 years of marriage <3
6 girls driving my crazy at work...but I love them!
7 ways we rearranged the apartment..or maybe more haha
8 times reloading my Starbucks app (estimated)
9 hours in NYC
10 x 10 sunsets that blew us away
11 months of advance concert tickets purchased for COLDPLAY!!!
12 months of smh at the elections
13 new budgets created using Mint!
14 thousand miles on our brand new miracle car
15 trips to the beach
16 ohhs and ahhs at Michelle & Joe's wedding venue!

I feel that many miracles happened this year through many hard situations and circumstances. And God has been faithful. I had moments where I seriously questioned God and what the heck He was doing and why He was doing it. I felt confused and lost, worried and hopeless! The grand miracle is that through all that mess, I realized there were so many areas I trusted myself or security over the God that holds all things together. I trusted my plan, my work ethic, and my good intentions for things to go well. 

But in His grace, my mind has been continually renewed and reminded of the truth - that I am beloved, a child of the living God, who knows all things and leads me besides still waters and walks with me in my darkest valleys. His love for me is perfect, so when I have trouble in this life and feel that no one understands me or when I cant even understand myself, He is with me and knows me. And He, Jesus, is all that I need.

He is my Light

Thank You Lord for the trails and triumphs of 2016. I am eager and full of hope for what's to come.

Cheers to 2015!

How did 2016 get here so fast? I have no idea! With the family here the past two weeks, time just passed us by in the best way, and it was GREAT having them here to experience our new life on the west coast. We took tons of photos from all our sight seeing, so there will be posts coming from our time together soon! (I miss them already!)

Speaking of posts, with the new year here I've been thinking about what to do with this little blog in 2016, and you know what keeps coming to mind? Share more memories. The little things, even the most simple ones. Why? Because looking back and seeing how much we've changed over the past few years, what we've experienced and how our love has grown over time is beautiful.

If there's one thing I learned from blog writing/photo sharing this past year, it's that being able to go back and see your memories is priceless. 2015 was such a huge transition year for G and I, blogging was not on my radar for months at a time. So looking back at the end of the year, there weren't as many pictures to see or stories to read. But what I was able to read and see, those memories were so special to me. Before, what I remembered in so many of those moments was the stress or chaos of that time. But reading the posts reminded me of the joys and silver linings that slipped my mind as time went by. And through the remembering I see God's faithfulness to us through it all.

No matter how unfaithful we were to Him, or lost or scared or doubtful, He remained and remains faithful to us. And I am so excited to see what He has in store for us in 2016. My prayer this year is simply this: Lord, you're will for us, not ours. Give us the strength to endure the race. And may we love as You love.

Cheers to you, 2016. We are SO excited for you.