Let's make magic!

Do you have lots of favorite photos of your family just sitting on your computer, and wish you could have them displayed on a beautiful album on your coffee table instead? Did your photographer send you a link to a beautiful gallery of  your photos, but you never had the time to do anything with them besides share on social media? Have you thought to yourself, "I'd love to make an album, but I don't have time?"

Well, I am here to help! In the past couple months I've had the opportunity to work on photo albums for family and friends and LOVED creating them. So I wanted to extend this service to you.

As you might know, G and I made the move to South Florida a couple months ago, and most recently started working and earning income again so we can move into a place of our own! For now, I'm working part time hours, so to help us with our move, we hope you'd like to support us while I make you something you will love and cherish for years to come.

If you are interested in a photo album for your family, please message me on Facebook and lets make it happen!

Image via Artifact Uprising of soft cover books

What you'll receive:

• A beautiful soft or hard cover photo album with your images in the size you'd like 
• An average of 45-55 featured photos in your 30 page book, or 75-85 featured photos in your 50 page book

Investment:

• $50 for a 30 page book or 
• $60 for a 50 page book 
• Plus, the cost of your photo book and shipping from Artifact Uprising (Average $20-$50 total for softcover / $60-$100 for hardcover)

Image via Artifact Uprising of hard cover books

I use Artifact Uprising because it is my favorite photo company. Their products are amazing! No, this is not sponsored, I just love them :)

You can check out their site here: https://www.artifactuprising.com/

So, whether you'd like a book for yourself, or want to gift one (or a few!) for the holidays, this is a great opportunity to help you get your photos out of your computer and into your life!

This is a limited offer as I am only accepting 6 book creations to be completed by December 5th! I may open up availability for more if  I have time to make them. I hope to hear from you soon!

**The first person to order a photo book from me will receive $10 off their book, so if you're interested, don't hesitate to contact me**

More details!

• First, you'd send me the link to your online gallery of high resolution photos after selecting your favorites for me to create the book from. You'd choose the cover photo of course!

• On average, I take about 3-4 hours per book. This is something I want to make beautiful! You'll get to review the final proof for any changes before the book is complete.

• Once the book is created you can order as many as you like! I'll send you the log in information to the website and put the book in your cart, so all you need to do is fill out the shipping and billing information and order away.

• The $50 or $60 charge (depending on the number of pages you'd like) does not change depending on the number of books you want to order.

• Half the charge ($25 or $30) is paid upfront through PayPal or Squarecash, the rest is paid when the book is done.

• Your book will be completed within 3 weeks of initial payment. 

* * The best way to contact me is through my email address: tiffanyolives@gmail.com * *

I hope to hear from you soon!

Love, Tiffany Olives

The Best is Yet to Come

a faith journey to Miami

It's hard to believe, but in a few short weeks we will be moving into our first home in Miami! Do we have the apartment or house we're going to move into yet? Nope! We're actually viewing some this weekend we are very excited about! But right now, I'm writing it like it's already happened. It's going to happen, SOON. After two months of job hunting, G started a new job this week to get the ball rolling, and I just accepted my first job at one of my favorite companies! It's been 6 months of rest and work, seeking and praying, and doing the thing we set out to do after visiting Miami for the first time, almost a year ago. 

This past January we visited Miami for the first time, and this trip changed our life. I was 100% hesitating and strongly opposed to moving to Florida at the time, but knew it was time to leave Cali. For a menagerie of reasons, G and I felt we needed to make a change. But this would be our third major move, and I was ready to stay in one place for more than 3.5 years. I wanted deep roots, great community, and babies! So, this next venture would impact our future in a multitude of very significant ways.

I think you already know where we stood after this trip. We prayed and prayed and I cried because I'm a crier, and even though I was still very fearful and hesitant along the way, I followed my husbands lead on this and believed God was present in our story, and ultimately leading the way. I'm not gonna lie - it hasn't been easy. Moving across states never is, and this was our third time doing it with no jobs waiting for us and our second without a place of our own. So you can imagine why even after the move I found myself wondering if this was the right decision, because well, uncertainty is hard. But doing something hard doesn't mean its not worth doing. And that feeling of fear doesn't necessarily mean it's the wrong decision.  A brave life requires faith. Imperfect, sometimes doubting, faith. And I have to pray for faith all. the. time. I know I cant do it on my own, I've tried and failed miserably. I need Jesus! And you know what, He always hears my cry. Even when life looks like a mess - He is present and ready to be with me through it all, and He's ready to be with you too.

We could have NEVER done this alone. The great transitions of life also require a tribe of people to stand with you and support you in love and deed. And we are so grateful.

To our parents and siblings, who drove 10 hours from Jersey to Chicago with all our newlywed gifts and helped us settle into our very first home. 

To Tia Rozangela and Joe, who welcomed us in to their home in Long Beach for weeks at a time during our transition into and out of So Cal. Our home away from home.

To Elimar and Julia, who gladly let us live with them for three months until we miraculously got our place in the mountains of Escondido.

To Tia Rozani, who invited us to live with her Coconut Creek while we got jobs and did the things we needed to do before moving down to Miami.

To all our friends too many to name, who called, prayed, encouraged, gave financially and visited us along the way.

THANK YOU. 

Even though we've said this personally, this is a very important public thanks. We are where we are because of so many people, our determination to make our dreams come true and through Gods grace. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose. And Lord Jesus, I pray that we will do your work in this new place and make a positive impact on lives in our new home state.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Brené Brown "The Gifts of Imperfection"

January 2018

G, the husband of my youth, I love you so much <3

words from the wiser: intimacy in marriage

Lately, God has been opening my eyes.

Spiritually and internally opening my eyes to the truths of life. Its a season of change, and dare I say, growth I've been praying for for a long time. Interestingly, I've been working on this post for a few weeks now, and this weekend fall has officially begun, the ultimate season of change, and it's this weekend that this post is finally done. Not a coincidence, Lord Jesus, you are GOOD.

Normally, I would keep this good news to myself. Afraid that saying it out load, or putting it on paper would jinx whats happening inside. But I refuse to let fear rule over my life any longer! I'm saying, "Fear, get the freak away from me! I'm moving into the light." This is a daily practice, and some days are better than others, but by the grace of God my mindset changing, and that is allowing me to see myself and others more graciously as we fight the good fight and run the race. 

Side note: please, PLEASE don't compare your life to the pictures I post on the blog. 

I know, it's kind of inevitable in one sense., and sometimes I do it too. 

But, what I mean is, please don't feel bad about your relationships, your struggles, your LIFE, 

by looking at images. 

These memories are some of the best moments of our life, the crème de la crème. 

The things I don't wanna forget, 

so when I'm having the hardest day or feel so discouraged I don't want to get out of bed 

(Yes, I have those days) I can look back and remember the blessings and feel grateful again. 

I think we all need those reminders sometimes. 

Although I always try to be transparent about the realities of marriage and faith and life, 

often when we're feeling vulnerable or down we cant help but compare. 

On that note, I''ll leave you with this: 

Darling, a beautiful thing is never perfect.

I saved this quote I saw on Instagram as a reminder to myself, that often times the beautiful things I see looking at others are a result of work. And often, lots of hard work that goes unseen. I can't think of a better transition to the topic of this NEW (its been a while!) words from the wiser post about intimacy.

Here's something that not many married couples talk about: struggling with sex. 

Oh yes, I went there. Sex is a delicate subject, a beautiful act and a life-changing experience. However, many make light of it. One night stands are common, and having sex on the third date, or any date before the one you say, "I do" has become normal. What saddens me is this: people have no idea of the trauma they are causing to their souls by living this way. There's a reason why God says it's not good for man to be alone. But the Bible also says, "...man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." Eph. 5:31 God designed sex to be enjoyed in a bond only shared between a husband and wife. But what if you saved yourself for marriage, or understand the depths of what it means, and still sex is shameful, disappointing or is just non existent? Author and relationship expert Tracy McMillan says this: Relationships are a spiritual path. I couldn't agree more. Relationships are not linear, and neither is sex. Sex is spiritual, as well as emotional and physical. That's what makes it so complex, difficult at times and blissful in others. 

Aaron and Jennifer Smith (from Unveiled Wife) are a Christian couple who love Jesus, have a lot to say about this in their video titled, "Our Personal Struggle with Intimacy in Marriage" If you relate to struggling with sex and intimacy in your life, I'd encourage you to watch this video. It is honest, informational and encouraging. 

G and I have sure had our fair share of struggles with sex and intimacy in our marriage, which is one reason I wanted to share on this topic. But let me tell you something true: healing is possible! I don't say this from a place of perfection, or having reached an ideal place in life, but I do say it from a place of working hard through struggle again and again, with a lot of prayer and counsel, which I want more of! On the outside, we all look pretty put together, but no one ever really knows what's going on within a marriage, or a life from the outside. So lets be kind to ourselves, and to one another! Jesus loves us, and gives us freedom to work through our pain with Him on our side, and this is how healing happens. In the light, and not in hiding. In relationship, and not alone.

I hope you enjoyed this post and watch this video!  Even if just one person is encouraged by it and that person is you, know that you are not alone. If you'd like more content on this subject, or if you have any suggestions for future posts, please share in the comments and let me know!

with love always, 

Tiffany Olives

The Smiths YouTube Channel: Marriage After God

Featured photos by Fabiane Pavezzi at FabianePhotography

Isla Mujeres, Mexico!

a family trip to Isla before a few days in Cancun!

so grateful for these moments with my people

I hope to make more videos soon

they take a lot of time

BUT THEY'RE SO FUN

adios!