lovely people places & things

i said yes.

2012-01-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

Good song by Mumford & Sons.

2012-01-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

So... I'm engaged!!!!!! I got engaged on December 28th, and it was the most amazing and beautiful proposal ever!!! It was like a fairy tale.

First, Cory took me to this gorgeous restaurant, Modern Steak. The food was absolutely delicious and the design was exquisite! One day I want to design a restaurant like this :) I got this picture off the internet, so when we were there the lights were low and it was very romantic and we got our own enclosed booth that was very intimate, it was perfect.

Following after dinner, he told me we were just going home. (But I didn't believe him) Until we seemed to actually be going home, so then I thought the big moment was going to be at his house or something. But then he pulled into a little parking lot by his house and told me we had to wait until his "little elves" we finishing some things up, so we couldn't go home yet. Then he asked me to walk around outside with him for a bit. We began walking on a path in the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert next to the beautiful pond. The moon was reflecting off of it perfectly. As we walked up a little hill and turned the corner I saw a tree that was a lit up with delicately designed mason jars and lanterns. There was a pathway that lead up the the trunk of the tree...... Cory decorated each mason jar by hand with lace, doily's and frost, my favorite!

As we walked up to the tree, he said "I think there is something over there for you, go look", so I walked over to the table in the tree and found this BEAUTIFUL ring that Cory picked out. But usually the guy has the ring in his pocket or something and the girl doesn't pick it up or anything. So I got a little confused and I asked if I was supposed to pick it up, he said yes, and then I said "aren't you supposed to put this on my finger??" As I said that turning around he was on one knee and proposed. It was so cute! Then out of nowhere a photographer that he hired popped out the bushes and said "hi Laura!" It was so funny because Cory had no idea that I actually knew Amy (the photographer) She is absolutely amazing! Check out her website http://www.amyfraughtonphotography.com/#/special/splash/.

It was seriously just like a fairy tale. I just love his guts!

I love him <3

Happiest night of my life!

Us walking up to the tree

Afterwards we carved our names into the tree. Too bad the photographer left after we did this, we could have gotten some good shots. :)

My Ring.

I couldn't help but post almost every picture she took of the engagement, because I love them all. Cory has what I love to a T! He picked out the ring and came up with the whole engagement by himself! My ring even has a beautiful fancy yellow diamond in the center and I LOVE yellow diamonds!!

I love you Cory. Can't wait to start a new chapter in life with you :)

Christmas Day.

2011-12-26T22:04:00.000-08:00

More Christmas festivities!!!

Cory's baking face :)

our gingie bread men.

Wes and Cory on Christmas morning!

Rockin' around the Christmas tree!!!

Christmas with the Rush's :)

Abbey snuggled up to her stocking.

One of my favorite gifts! A graphic design tablet!!!! Cory also got my a plane ticket to Utah to visit my friends and many other goodies :)

Cory's new batman apron! "I'm batman. How did you find me?"

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!! And a Happy New Year!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T20:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas was a real treat this year! I don't think anything could top it off. Cory and I made ginger bread men (will come in a later post), decorated gingerbread houses, attempted to make my family recipe of fudge and toffee! We went all out on the baking skills! I was swamped on designing Christmas cards for all 41 clients within 3 weeks. But I still managed to make one for me and Cory! You can check out the Christmas Cards I designed at http://www.ruffledink.com/p/holiday.html. I still need to post more but you can see some of them. I just love the holidays!!! It's the best time of the year :)

I totally won the gingerbread contest. He'll deny it though.

Ugly sweater party!!! I even made a little Christmas ornament headband :) we were in the top 5 ugly sweaters. yeah buddy!

Cory's grossly HUGE burrito. He ate it all.

thanksgiving.

2011-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

Cory came home for Kyle and Caitlin's (his brother) wedding reception and then spent Thanksgiving week with me! The reception was beautiful and we had a great time!

Cory made his own specialty Sweet Potato casserole. It was soooo yummy!! After our big dinner Cory got a food baby and I basically looked like I was pregnant with kids. It was bad.

We went to Deanna's friends house for dessert and had a grand ol' time with the fam! Especially Cory, the girls were hanging all over him.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for so many things!

I am thankful for my family and their love and support they bring in my life, my wonderful boyfriend, my job, my nice warm and comfy bed, friends, the sense of sight, creativity, technology, my phone, grapefruits, rain, my car, kind strangers, life's challenges, chocolate milk, fashion, music, blogs, pinterest, laughter and Christmas lights! I could go on forever but it would take up the whole blog!

my first time east.

2011-09-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

I went to Charleston, South Carolina on the twenty-first of September to visit Mr Cory. We walked on the beach a lot, ate a lot and cuddled a lot. Can't wait to be back there in November :)

after the return from Europe

2011-08-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

These pictures cover the months of July and August when I first began my journey in Arizona.

Whitney, (aka bobs/the one in the middle) one of my bff's from collage came down with Angela (not pictured) to pay me a little visit.

whit and ang, my bff's through thick and thin :)

Johnny boy, another one of my bff's from high school gave me some great company and helped me move from Utah. Such a good friend. Miss him to death!!!

Ang and I go way back to the high school days, she convinced me that her real name was Angel and her middle name was Ann and for a nickname her family called her Angela, so for about 2 years I always thought her name was Angel Ann and I told everybody. Come to find out, it was a big joke and I believed it for far too long. Still love this girl, I get to see her in ONE day in Vegas this weekend!! Woot woot!!

My lovely sister, Stephanie. We are two years apart and she lives in Scottsdale. If you need someone to laugh with or have a yummy home cooked meal, she is your girl. Love you Stephy!!

Oh and I forgot to mention the many fun roadtrips with her and Tyler (her bf) aka the Tile-er/Tator Tots/Tile/The Pooper (that is another story)

Steph's new pup, Max. Who I like to call Maximus Prime.

Harley and Max just hanging out in Flagstaff.

Okay, I couldn't help but put this on here. My niece is just so adorable!!!

Cory took me fishing one day and this was the beautiful view on the way up

ahh I miss him.

here i am.

2011-08-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

well hello. my name is Laura Tafoya and I love to create, take pictures of every little lovely thing that catches my eye and laugh. Which by the way, laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. So all you little sick bugs out there start laughing more, you will feel much better :)
I have just started a new chapter in my life. After finishing up school at Utah State University with my bachelors in Interior Design, I went to Europe in May for seven weeks and traveled to England, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy, it was the best experience of my life. You can vicariously re-live those moments on my travel blog, adoretoexplore.
Following after Europe I moved to Arizona, which is where I now reside. I met an amazing man named Cory who defiantly strengthens my immune system ;) as well as making me a very lucky girl. Sadly he moved back to South Carolina for dental school, so we are doing the whole long distance thing, because I just couldn't let go of him. I also have a freelance graphic design business called {Ruffled ink.} Designs where I design wedding invitations, stationary, branding/logo design, etc. Basically anything printed on paper, I'm your girl. As if I don't already have enough blogs, I decided to make one more as my little online memory box of pictures and things I love. I mean hey! It's always best to record a new chapter in life right?
So enjoy and feel free to wander around!