1 Peter 3:15

This verse has been on my heart lately, and so I hope it encourages you today! 

The Lord knows what He is doing.

Currently, we're in the curating+gathering process of this first issue of our little magazine magazine. This process could also be called the waiting process. Waiting for emails to get sent back, waiting for ideas to pop up and waiting for all the little details to come together. Which they definitely are, albeit slowly. 

If you know me, you know I'm not good at waiting. 

For anything, really.

(Which is why I'm prone to using the microwave.)

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart.

The Lord's timing is better than mine will ever be. 

When I think that really cool vendor will never reply to my email, God knows when they will (or knows that they won't, which is fine, too.) When that *perfect* job comes... and goes... gather all your patience and wait on the Lord for something even more amazing. When you've been waiting so long for someone to love forever and it seems impossible to wait a little longer... just wait. 

The Lord knows what He is doing. 

~joie team

Forever Faithful

I was at a coffee shop yesterday evening and started reading Psalm 136, the chapter that reminds us line after line that "His love endures forever".

Line after line. A reminder. A promise. 

That He loves us. And He will love us forever. 

Without fail. 

He loves you. 

Remember that today. 

Super Easy DIY: Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Have you seen the "Will you be my bridesmaid?" gift trend going around? Well, here's a really easy and meaningful DIY way to make some for your girls!

Supplies:

- Two different colors of washi tape, in your wedding color scheme (can be found at Paper Source)

- An ink pad

- A paper tag (can also be found at Paper Source)

- One small kraft paper box (I got this one at Michael's)

- Some "filler" shreds of paper. Or you could use fabric.

- Small piece of paper to write a note on.

- A small, very special gift (I chose a sterling silver ring)

- A marker

- Scissors

1. Cover all four outside edges of the kraft paper box with one of the colors of washi tape.

2. Open the ink pad and press it firmly onto the top of the box. Careful, it takes a while to dry. 

3. Cut hearts out of the second color of washi tape. Place them in a cluster, anywhere on the top of the box.

4. Also ink the paper tag (the more gold the better!)

5. Add some personal touches! Write a special note on the card inside and your friend's name on the tag. Tape the tag to the box and voila!

There you go! An easy DIY for your future bridesmaids. Definitely add your own twists to it, like using your wedding colors and choosing specialized individual gifts for each girl. 

Send us your DIYs! Tag your photos #joieDIYfun on Instagram! 

~joie mag team

Ten Dates under Ten Dollars

It's a MUST to keep dating even after you are married! Just because you have settled into a daily routine, doesn't mean you can't still have fun! Here are ten easy and inexpensive dates to give you some ideas for how to do just that. I suggest bringing along a disposable camera to capture these new memories! 

Out on the Town

1. Go to the library! Pick out books, or check their schedule and see if anything fun is happening. Sometimes local artists or musicians visit.

2. Take a bike ride. It's always fun to explore your neighborhood in a different way than usual.

3. If you appreciate art and/or want to feel cultured, check out your local museums. Most have one night a week when admission is free.

4. Go on an "adventure drive". Take turns deciding which roads to take, and see where you end up. Don't forget to document it!

5. Check the local paper for any open houses, and then go to them! It's fun to dream together as you walk around.

At Home

5. Bake goodies for each other! Cookies, pies, muffins. Whatever the other person wants.

6. Draw the head and arms of a character on the top half of a sheet of paper. Fold it in half, and give it to your guy to draw the legs and feet. See how silly of a person you can create! 

7. Pop some popcorn, change into your comfies, and watch as many episodes of your favorite show as you can, before you fall asleep.

8. Do something crafty related to the upcoming holiday! Carve pumpkins or make Valentines or Christmas ornaments. 

9. Rearrange your bedroom. Doesn't sound like much, but you'll work on your communication skills, and maybe get a workout! 

10. Write each other a love letter that you won't open for another 5 years. Be detailed, so when you open them in 5 years, you will remember exactly how you felt about each other!