Thrift Shopping Tidbits

My husband and I love to go thrift shopping. I find it thrilling to discover those unique pieces to add to my home décor. Although, thrifting sounds pretty simple, there are a few ways to make your trip even more successful. Here are some thrift shopping tidbits to start you on your own adventures.

#1 Location, Location, Location

More often that not, you are going to find the best pieces (be it household décor or clothing) in the “better parts of town.” Check out the thrift and consignment stores in the middle to upper class areas; often items brought here are in better condition and are less picked over.

#2 Go A Lot!

It may seem a little monotonous, but make sure to frequent the stores on a weekly basis. Stores are constantly receiving new inventory unfortunately it leaves just as fast as it comes.

#3 Learn Your Store’s Schedule

Employees can tell you what days of the week the accept donations and how long it usually takes them to get those items on the shelves. They can also tell you what days of the week are the sales.

#4 Use the Internet

It seems pretty obvious, but if you want to make sure you are getting a good deal, check online. Not very often, but sometimes items are found cheaper on sites like eBay.

#5 Don’t Forget to Check Out New Stores

My husband and I love checking out new stores on vacation or while visiting other areas of New England. Finding new stores with a high volume and variety gives you a thrifting thrill like no other. Make sure you don’t pass the chance up!

I hope these five simple tidbits can keep you on track next time you go to your local store! Don’t forget to have fun and happy thrifting!

~Taryn

May Scripture Challenge (#lampandlight)

It's never a bad thing to challenge yourself to read your Bible more, right? We all have those days where it just doesn't happen. But when a community of women from all around the country come together and pledge to read their Bibles together for 31 days, it might make it easier!

Starting on May 1st, we'll join Kristin Nicole and a whole group of women and read our Bibles everyday of May. After your devotional time, snap a picture, post on Instagram (tag it #lampandlight) and write a little bit about what God taught you that day. It'll be a challenge. But it will be so worth it, don't you think?

"The more I seek You, the more I find You." A Kari Jobe song that has always challenged my heart. The more we read God's word, the more He reveals to us. And the more we get to know Him. And THAT is definitely not a bad thing!

We hope you'll take part!

(photo by kristin nicole)

God is God {Devotional}

I know Thursdays can be rough. It's almost the end of the week, you've still got a bajillion things left on your to-do list, and it may seem like there isn't time to stop for 3 minutes and be still. I'm asking you to do just that. Stop and listen to Ellie Holcomb's 'Only Hope I've Got.' 

This song stabbed at my heart the other day as I was innocently driving along in between jobs. "I don't want to be a thief who is stealing your glory," Holcomb sings. How often do I put myself into the position of glory-stealer? If I'm honest with myself, it happens more than I'd like to admit. Truthfully, sometimes I do think that I'm God - that I'm wiser, can plan my life better or provide for myself better. And sometimes, I just selfishly want to take the credit for the things I know I haven't done on my own. I want all the glory and none of the work. It's an arrogant way to live, friends. But it's easy to fall into. 

Today, I challenge you to really let God be God, and come to terms with your own humanity. Make God HUGE and let yourself wonder at His majesty. Own your weakness and let God be strong for you. After all, He's the only hope you've got. 

<3 sarah elyse

Book Review: Beautiful Outlaw

Last spring/summer, I was generously gifted with the book Beautiful Outlaw written by John Eldredge. Shout out to Alyse Morrissey for being incredibly kind and thoughtful! This book had greatly impacted her love for Jesus, and she couldn't keep it to herself. I became the beneficiary of her inspiration.

I didn't pick it up until August when I was on a short-term missions trip to NYC with the high school youth at Westgate Church. Once I had it in my hands, the words flowing into my heart, I couldn't put it back down. At that time, I especially needed a rejuvenation of love for Jesus in my heart. While it's the Spirit that inspires renewed affection for Christ, this book gave me a new perspective on who Christ is. It fueled a desire in me to seek Him more fully.

There really isn't anything magical about Beautiful Outlaw. It's certainly not a piece of literature that is going to change your entire understanding of Christianity. It's not even a book that comprehensively explores the personhood and deity of Christ. Rather, it's a book written for the purpose of exploring the life of Jesus in a new light - a more real light. There are parts of this endeavor that I wholeheartedly stand behind. Revisiting the gospels with the intention of seeing Jesus as He really is rather than the person we've been previously taught or conditioned to accept Him as is an honorable task. We should never settle for a second hand experience of Jesus when we have the resource (the Bible) to encounter Him personally. This raw look at the person of Jesus through the stories told about him by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John proved fruitful in my life. The fresh look at Jesus that Eldredge encourages stoked a fire of affection in my heart for Jesus.

But I also felt a little uncomfortable with the posture he takes towards religion, and subsequently, the church. Because of Eldredge's blatant warnings about the religiosity that we own in American Christianity, some argue that the message this book sends is more hurtful than helpful. I honestly don't know exactly where to stand at this juncture. On the one hand, I think we are better for being warned about the evils that can penetrate our religiousness. The devil deceives. He can use religion (referring to the do's and don'ts, the extremes of legalism, an unclear understanding of who God is, etc.) to stand between us and the true God. He can use inherently good things and twist them so they become obstacles rather than pathways. We do need to be careful in this regard. But, and this is a big but, we should not reject religion and/or the church just because it can be used by evil and for evil. Christ came for the church. Christ came to make all things new, and that includes religion and the church.

I believe that Beautiful Outlaw was written with the intention of turning hard hearts into hearts full of the love of the real Christ. Christ, who was fully human and fully God simultaneously. Christ, who was filled with righteous anger but also overwhelming compassion. Christ, who willingly substituted His life for ours so that we may never have to experience separation from God. Christ, who desperately wants us to encounter Him as He really is. I think this book can reveal Christ to you more, especially as you read it with Scripture in mind and a prayerful heart.

Hope you enjoy! Happy reading.
<3 sarah

He Cares {Devotional}

We all know that God is a strong and powerful God. He rules over all the nations, and power and might are in His hand (2 Chronicles 20:6). He always knows what is going on. Anything is possible through Him (Matthew 19:26).

But what about the other side of God? His gentle side. His caring side.
Like a sweet friend, God cares for you. He wants to know your worries, and he wants to help you through them. He is always looking for ways to take care of you! 

Don't be ashamed to cry out your troubles to the strong and mighty God of the universe, the God who also wants to make sure you have everything you need. He takes care of the birds of the sky, you know. Do you believe he will take care of you? (hint: you should :) )

~*~

Enjoy this fresh spring day, friends! 
~Joie Mag team

Giveaway Winner!

Bria M. is our giveaway winner! 

Thanks to all the sweet ladies who entered. We really appreciate your love and support for our passion project! So excited for the day when we'll FINALLY be able to share all the goodness we've been collecting over the last few months.

~joie mag team

Carissa + Pat's Long Distance Love Story

Today we have a fabulous guest blogger, Carissa, who is sharing her and her husband Pat's love story. They spent the better part of 7 years in a long distance relationship and this month they are celebrating one year of marriage! Carissa recounts their story and shares a few tips about how to make those long distance days seem not so long. 

~*~

The first time we met was in 2001 on Pat's summer orientation before beginning at Le Moyne College. I was living and working in Syracuse for the summer, and my friends on orientation convinced me to work that one weekend. I happened to plop myself down on the arm of a couch with two guys. It was that night that I first made an impression on Pat, and I have to admit, I wasn't all that phased by the interaction!

Fast forward to January of 2004, when we were reintroduced by a mutual friend... by March Pat had made his first move. While I was in denial since I was a few weeks from graduation, everyone around us know there was something special between us. We were seen together at the cafe, at mass, and around campus holding hands. Looking back, I know that God had a plan that we would end up together - but back in 2001, we just weren't yet ready for each other. 

Our long distance relationship started as soon as I graduated. We knew we both cared about each other, so we decided to "take things slow...one day at a time" and we would try to see each other as much as we could, always saying that we could last just a "couple more days" before we saw each other again.  

We made sure to talk to each other every day, at least right before going to bed to say good night to each other, but it usually would also include a good morning call and a check in around lunch just to say hi. There was one weekend that we were not planning on seeing each other, but on a whim decided to drive two hours each and meet in the middle for lunch! Our relationship was really built over the phone and enjoying every second we had with each other on the weekends.  

There was another weekend that we weren't due to see each other because Pat was going on a campus ministry retreat. There was a wonderful tradition at Le Moyne where past attendees would welcome the retreaters back to campus. Since I had attended that retreat while I was a student, I surprised Pat when he arrived! His reaction when he saw me is still one of my favorite moments of "us" when he ran into my arms.  

(talk about long distance!) designed by Jillian at Bella Carta

~*~

I think the biggest thing that God taught us was to really enjoy our time together and not take each other for granted. We really balance each other out and bring out the best in each other. We learned to put each other first, but understood that we each had family, friend, and school obligations as well. We supported each other through my masters program and his doctorate.  There were times he had to focus on school first, there were times that I was tied up with work all weekend. Sometimes the only time we would get to see each other was to drive to visit our families... but we would make the effort to see each other.

Above all, we learned to trust. And truly, our entire love story is built on trust. Trusting that we would find each other when the time was right, (and even before that, trusting God that there was someone out there for each of us). We were constantly trusting Him that we would find our way to each other and finally to be together. We needed to do our own work, and take care of what we needed to, but trust that the distance was temporary and trust in His plan above all. We knew that in His time, when the time was right, the stars would align and plans would fall into place. It was a balance of trust and working hard. Long distance isn't hard work, but we each had to work hard at it.

~*~

photo by Andrew Hodgdon

The biggest joy of our first year of marriage has been FINALLY being together forever!  We also just celebrated 10 years of being "us". We have built friendships that are ours and not just his friends/her friends from work or school. We love exploring and are enjoying OUR new city. And of course, we laugh a lot!

~*~

Our top 3 snippets of advice for others in long distance relationships

* Talk to each other...and listen to each other. Truly stay connected while being apart. It seems like a no brainer, but it was really important to build our relationship on trust, honesty, and being able to talk with each other. Share your feelings with each other.    

* Do what you need to do during the week, so that you can spend the quality time together and focus on each other when you can.

* Know when you'll be together again and look forward to it. Whether it's 4 days or 4 months --- Just make sure you have a plan when you'll see each other again and know you can make it "just a couple more days". Keep yourself busy in between and before you know it, you'll be together again! Celebrate and keep moving forward!