Today with Tiff

Chocolate? Vanilla? Strawberry? Those three flavors are the basis for any great dessert - especially ice cream. But if you really want to tickle my taste buds, combining the power of peanut butter with chocolate is near heavenly. When I asked my class of children (ranging from ages 7 - 12) what their favorite ice cream flavors were, the answers varied, but were surprisingly traditional. When they asked me the same question, without hesitation, I replied with my heavenly duo. Their response? Groans of disgust. I was a little surprised at their lack of imagination - them being kids and all. However, it makes sense when you think of their ever-growing palette. Heck, I'm still picky and in my thirties. But chocolate and peanut butter?! Mmm. Yes, I am writing an entire post about chocolate and peanut butter. In fact, I'll share a recent find of 20 mind-blowing recipes of the all-too-perfect flavor combo. One of my favorite places to go and enjoy these two flavors toget...

It's that time of year when the glitz and glamour of Hollywood awards shows and their accompanying parties grace our small screen celebrating the attendees' accomplishments in film and television. First out the gate is the 73rd annual Golden Globes. Votung members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have done exactly what I will do here...only it will make a difference. Though, I tend to believe my opinions matter as well - regardless that I'm doing this the day of. A girl can dream, right? Here are my predictions in film: Best Motion Picture - Drama The nominees: Carol, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, Room, Spotlight Who Will Win: Spotlight Who Should Win: Mad Max: Fury Road This race has been Mad Max's to take until Spotlight stole the....well, spotlight. The visionary prowess of George Miller and his extraordinary work in the colorful and character-driven post-apocalyptic action film, Mad Max, took my breath away - tis why I think it should ...

In school, I wasn't quite like Hermione Granger, but intoxicated enough by the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and cloud of dust from childhood chalkboards to enjoy school and learning. Okay. I admit, I was a teacher's pet. However, all it would take is one conversation with my favorite teachers and, you too, would find every possible way to please them academically. Their love of passing on knowledge was something I still treasure. It made school and the entire process of education FUN. I'll also admit that I had some rotten teachers that cared more about how many seats were filled instead of how many brains were receiving the information taught. Their classrooms cluttered and their attitude often unchecked, it was frustrating to be their student...to say the least. However, the rotten ones (thankfully), were few and far between in my years going to school. The best ones stood out and forever imprinted an indelible mark that led me to the kind of work I still...

Image credit: Ben Hall It's the age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people? In times of helplessness, it's easy to look around and ask where God is in all of this. We often question why things happen to good people while bad people get away with stuff. That kind of fruitless thinking will certainly drive you mad! God is not a respecter of persons. He does not play favorites; he does not show favortism. Instead of focusing on the negatives that you come across or the injustice in the world, focus and rely on Him. It may be difficult when that's all you really can do, but ultimately He'll direct your path and you'll be rewarded when you seek Him - in total trust and abandonment. A portion of scripture I've come to really love and understand is Psalm 10. It asks all the questions one does in times of helplessness, reveals the injustices of this world, and then flips everything around and looks to the Lord with praise and a cry for help -...

Why do I have a picture of Ben Affleck, you ask? Read on to find out... I thought it best to switch up my daily writing challenge to something a bit more fun....especially since I missed yesterday's post. The topic was favorites, so I scoured the web for a fun list to fill out about one's favorites. Feel free to do this exercise yourself! Take the time to learn something new about yourself or gain a new perspective. Then, scroll down for my answers! The Favorites List Favorite word: Favorite phrase: Favorite thing that flies: Favorite thing to do when I’m nervous: Favorite planet: Favorite reason for laughter: Favorite children’s book: Favorite smell: Favorite location: Favorite author: Favorite thing to do on Sunday mornings: Favorite food topping: Favorite type of weather: Favorite soda: Favorite presidential candidate: Favorite season: Favorite class in college: Favorite holiday: Favorite cereal: Favorite car you’ve owned:  Favorite song: Favo...

"There was no possibility of taking a walk that day." I am fond of walking. Particularly to work. It gives me time to pray, ponder, sing, and stretch some muscles. It's good for the body AND the soul. However, waking up to overcast skies and an endless downpour of rain left me thinking of the first line in one of my favorite books and the realization that there really wasn't a remote possibility of walking today. This turn of events had me thinking of Jane Eyre all day today. Recommending it to a friend, and summarizing the plot, certainly got me in the mood to read my favorite parts this cozy evening. It also had me thinking of all the good reads I'd love to rec to you! So, here's a quaint list of some of my favorite books: Jane Eyre : This story centers on a plain English orphan and the sequences of her life. There are ups, downs, losses, and love, but ultimately it's about finding your own identity and strength. An absolutely beautiful boo...

They're in movies. They're in books. They're in conversations with friends, family, and even strangers you stand behind in the line at the grocery store. They're coming from your pastor, your kids, your coworkers, and from the loud couple on your daily commute. They're in your facebook feed, at family game night, and forever in your brain if you've come across a catchy one. FOR-EH-VER. See? That was one. (10 points to those who can name where...) They're quotes and I love them. Maybe because I'm a bibliophile and a film buff. Quotes can inspire, incite, and ignite. Some of the best can, at least. Today's seeds are some of my favorite quotes from movies, books, and people. Enjoy! "What man is a man that does not make the world better" ~ Kingdom of Heaven, 2005 "Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been" ~ Wayne Gretzky "...Every breath is a second chance..." ~ Switchfoot, ' Alway...

Before you kick the bucket, what's the list you've conjured up to accomplish? I've never really put much thought into this question. Perhaps, because, the issue of mortality has never really been a huge deal with me. That may sound pretentious or thoughtless, but as someone living for Christ, my thoughts on dying differ wildly from many. However, when I think of a bucket list, and everything it entails, I think of it in terms as goals and possible dreams. I see the positive - the glass half full. So, looking at it like that, I've always had a bucket list - just under a different name. In no particular order and off the cuff, these would top my bucket list: * Eat a pizza slice in New York City * Visit Hobbiton in New Zealand * Learn another language fluently * Be an extra on a feature film * Spend a week's vacation at DisneyWorld * Kayak in the ocean * Win an Oscar for writing * Buy a tiny home or an RV and travel cross country * Spend a Christmas i...

Have you ever made a New Year's resolution? Have you ever made a New Year's resolution that you kept? It seems like every year a resolution is made with the greatest of intentions, but year after year they're broken. Whether through busy schedules or a determination that simply dissolves. I've learned, after *cough*thirtyoneyears*cough*, the hard realization and have, in recent years, scaled back on the magnitude and difficulty of my yearly personal pledge. This year, I'm doing something rather big and bold. My daily writing prompts will be my New Year's resolution. I'll take it a step further and add a personal promise as a clause. This will be the year I finally put my work out there. Bolded for your viewing pleasure, my dear faithful readers. This year, I will put my work out there and see where it takes me. Let's hope to the Academy Awards where I win the Oscar for Best Original screenplay, yeah? Okay, big dreams aside, baby steps with ...

Pumpkins weren't involved and, unfortunately, neither were glass slippers. But the clock struck midnight and another year is unveiled. Wecome to 2016! My New Year's Eve plans were very minimalistic, basic, and undoutedly boring compared to others. I spent the night at home in comfy gear playing Scattergories and watching romantic comedies. Only bringing out the (non-alcoholic) bubbly a few minutes before the big countdown. NYE would not be complete without my red grape cider and Ryan Seacrest. Say what you will of what that says about me, but oh well. Is this how I want to celebrate my evening? A question posed to me by my writing prompt challenge. Hmm...tricky. I suppose, IDEALLY, I could see myself celebrating it differently. Perhaps in the future with a significant other and engaging in more lively, festive activities. ( Like attending weddings...shoutout to my cousin who got married this evening! Congrats Nikki & Brandon!)  However, these reflective moment...