Love and Life

For Better, For worse!

I don’t really talk much about my family and personal life here on LookingJoliGood, but in the next few days, I am about to celebrate my 14th wedding anniversary…

happy anniversary | lookingjoligood.blog

Way back then I thought I loved him with all my heart… I had no idea what it really meant to truly love someone.

Love isn’t just a feeling, it is action. It is a daily commitment to choose to put someone else before yourself.

Over the last almost 14 years, I have not always made loving me easy. Life it hard, marriage can be tough. I can be a bit overdramatic at times.  Through the years, he has always been the one steady anchor in my life. 

He still makes my heart skip a beat just by walking into the room.  He is not only handsome, but he is strong and dependable.  I never have to worry about whether or not I am going to be taken care of.  I love him more every day!

He is the yin to my yang, the calm to my CrAzY. Like cheese and wine, he only gets better with age and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with him.

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, now and forever!

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Love and Life

Redeemed

Way too often I have to remind myself that I need to stop fighting a fight that has already been won!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

I try to do things on my own.  Do right on my own.  Forgive others on my own.  Be better, act better… on my own.  My problem is that often I don’t trust in Him enough to let Him do it for me… So instead I try to take control, I try to do it on my own. Then I remember, God, You’re not done with me yet!  He doesn’t expect me to do it on my own.  He already gave me the power to do it through Him.  I don’t always have to be the same, I  am redeemed, God set me free!

Big Daddy Weave - "Redeemed" - from the new album Love Come To Life | lookingjoligood.blog

Big Daddy Weave – “Redeemed” – from the new album Love Come To Life

Seems like all I can see was the struggle
Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past
Bound up in shackles of all my failures
Wondering how long is this gonna last
Then You look at this prisoner and say to me “son
Stop fighting a fight that’s already been won”

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off theses heavy chains
And wipe away every stain now I’m not who I used to be
I am redeemed
I’m redeemed

All my life I have been called unworthy
Named by the voice of my shame and regret
But when I hear You whisper, “Child lift up your head”
I remember oh God, You’re not done with me yet

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off theses heavy chains
And wipe away every stain now I’m not who I used to be
Because I don’t have to be the old man inside of me
‘Cause his day is long dead and gone
Because I’ve got a new name, a new life I’m not the same
And a hope that will carry me home

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off theses heavy chains
And wipe away every stain now I’m not who I used to be

I am redeemed, You set me free
So I’ll shake off theses heavy chains
And wipe away every stain now I’m not who I used to be

Oh God I’m not who I used to be
Jesus, I’m not who I used to be

‘Cause I am redeemed
Thank God, redeemed

 

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Love and Life

Up and Vanished

When I find something that I love, I have to share it with all of you!

I spend around two hours of every weekday driving my kids back and forth to school.  I love listening to audiobooks and Podcasts during my commute!  For years I have been listening to This American Life and Snap Judgment.  I love Serial and The Moth. I highly recommend all of them!

Recently I discovered a cold case crime podcast called Up and Vanished.

up and vanished podcast | lookingjoligood.blog

“Up and vanished as an investigative podcast that explores the unsolved disappearance of Georgia beauty queen and high school teacher Tara Grinstead and 11 year old mystery that is the largest case File and Georgia’s history follow along as host Payne Lindsey a documentarian turned amateur investigator examines old case evidence RI interviews Persons of Interest and uncovers New Leads while guiding listeners through his real-time investigation a recent arrest in the case may have given us more questions than answers in this main question Still Remains…WHAT HAPPENED TO TARA GRINSTEAD?”

tara grinstead up and vanished podcast | lookingjoligood.blog

Payne Lindsey does a great job of piecing together the mystery of what happened to Tara Grinstead 11 years ago when she up and vanished from her small town in Georgia.

If you like crime stories and enjoy listening to podcasts, I recommend this one!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

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Love and Life

Happy Resurrection Day, 2017!

I Know My Redeemer Lives!

John 15:13 | lookingjoligood.blog

Because He Lives (Gaithers)

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he brings;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Romans 10:9-10 | lookingjoligood.blog

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Love and Life

Easter Candy, I Love You!

So, yeah, I try to mostly talk about eating healthy and making good choices…. I will also be the first person to tell you that I love candy.  I don’t care what kind of candy it is, I love it!  But I have to say, there is just something extra special about Easter Candy.

Why Reese's Easter pb eggs do you have to be so temptingly delicious?! The holiday edition of Reese's pdcups tastes even more awesome than the already awesome Pb cups. | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I don’t quite know what it is, maybe it is the egg shape, maybe the bright colors, but whatever it is, I especially love Easter candy!

My absolute hands down favorite are Cadbury Mini Eggs!  Why they are only sold for such a short time every year? Why? Actually, it is probably a good thing because they are pure kryptonite to me!

cadbury mini eggs | lookingjoligood.blog

While my heart truly belongs to Cadbury Mini Eggs, I can easily be persuaded by some Reese’s pieces eggs.  The candy shell is extra crisp and delicious.  The peanut butter center is sweet, smooth, and creamy…

reeses pieces eggs | lookingjoligood.blog

Moving right along onto Butterfinger eggs, they are also amazing. I have to be careful to not eat the entire bag!  Something about that egg shape wrapped in foil makes it all taste better!

I know that Peeps get a bad rap, but come on when given a fair chance, you have to admit, a sugar coated marshmallow is delicious! Plop that thing into some hot chocolate…yum, heaven.

Peeps

Hey, even candy is ok in moderation…right?!  I’m glad that this candy is only available for a short while each year!

moderation

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Love and Life

It’s About the Cross

Isaiah 53:5 | lookingjoligood.blog

Today is a very special day, it is a day where I set aside time to remember what Christ did for me when He came to earth and died on the cross for me!  I am so grateful for such a wonderful Savior! I am humbled when I think that God loved me so much that he sent His Son to suffer and die in order to rescue me from my sins!

“The Son of God loved me, and gave Himself for me! Galatians 2:20.

It's About The Cross | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

It’s not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It’s not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day

It’s not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It’s not all about the Wisemen
Who traveled from afar

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday

It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

It’s not just about the presents
Underneath the tree
It’s not all about the feeling
That the season brings to me

It’s not just about coming home
To be with those you love
It’s not all about the beauty
In the snow I’m dreaming of

Romans 5:8 | lookingjoligood.blog

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great
But it’s the ending that can save you and that’s why we celebrate

It’s about the cross
It’s about my sin
It’s about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again

It’s about God’s Son
Nailed to a tree
It’s about every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me

It’s about the stone
That was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
So that you and I could have real life someday

It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

 

Love and Life

Hair or There

So my beauty friends, who knows the struggle of wanting to cut all your hair off yet wanting to grow it out at the same time?! I have gotten to the point where I need something new!  I know so many of you have been hair before too. (I am so punny, I know:-))

I have very straight thin somewhat oily hair (meaning I wash it every day or look like a hot mess.)  Oh, and did I forget to mention the crazy cowlicks, yeah, I have a bunch of them too!

I have had a similar hair cut for several years now. I tend to wear my hair in some form of a graduated bob that is medium short, just between the chin and shoulders, with medium length side swept bangs.

laurajoli | lookingjoligod.blog

I am not complaining about the style that I wear it in now, I think that it looks good on me and is so easy to do.  I just feel like I am wanting something different…

“Hair” is a little history of my past styles…

college hair | lookingjoligood.blog
Wow, look at those eyebrows! I didn’t realize that my eyebrows have been on fleek since college, haha!  😉

In college, (15ish years ago) I kept my hair quite short and layered in a pixie cut.  It was very easy to do and manage while living in humid Florida, and also had to wear a nursing cap while at clinical in the hospital. (I am not even kidding!).

wedding | lookingjoligood.blog

Like every bride, I had planned to grow out my hair for my wedding, but my husband prefers my hair shorter, so I cut it a few months before we got married and wore it curled half up and half down.

growing out long hair | lookingjoligood.blog

I really liked my hair at this length.  I think that it was very manageable and didn’t look too thin.

medium hair | lookingjoligood.blog.com

 

This above photo is from around 11 years ago.  I had been growing out my hair for about 11 months at this point. Also, look at that tan!  We had just come back from a vacation to California.

long hair dont care | lookingjoligood.blog

As you can tell from the above photo, the growing out process went very well…maybe a bit too well.  My hair thrived while I was pregnant with my son,  it quickly grew so thick and so long!  Unfortunately, as with many women, once I had my son, my hair started falling out like crazy!  About 9-10 months after my son was born I cut my hair into a medium length bob.

short hair | lookingjoligood.blog

About 4 years ago, I decided that I wanted to cut my hair much shorter again.  I also switched the side I part my hair on, and cut side swept bangs.  I think this length might be considered a long pixie cut. The shorter my hair is the thicker it looks.  While I did really like my hair like this, it required a lot of upkeep with constant haircuts and I had to style it every day.

Beaute Basics 3 Tone Bronzer | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

This past summer I cut thicker bangs and wore them a bit less side swept.  I do like shorter bangs, but they require a lot of upkeep.  Also, bangs are kinda like avocados, they are only perfect for such a short amount of time.

Hello! I'm Laura Joli from Looking Joli Good! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Despite this being a picture from last Easter, this is how my hair is usually styled: graduated bob medium short between the chin and shoulders with medium/long length side swept bangs.

I’m not sure what I am planning to do next.  I may grow it out for a bit… end up with hair down to my waist again (my husband is not a fan of that, so probably not), I may cut it into a pixie cut again.  We’ll see.

What do you think?  Any tips and tricks on how to make thinner hair look thicker when it is grown out?

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Lifestyle · Love and Life

Never Gonna Let You Down

never gonna let you down | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Colbie Caillat

Low
When you’re feeling low
And you just don’t know where to run to
Broke
If your heart’s been broke
And you feel like you’re all alone
If you need something to believe in
If you’re looking for a light to guide you home
Just look inside
You light a shining brighter than you know
You should know
I’m never gonna let you down
I’m always gonna build you up
The pain you’re feeling lost
I will always find you love
I’m never gonna walk away
I’m always gonna have your back
And ain‘t nothing else who can always count on that
When you need me
I promise I will never let you down

Laugh
I will make you laugh
If you ever feel like crying
Close
I will hold you close
You won’t be alone anymore
If you need someone to believe in
If you’re reaching for a hand to guide you home
Just take my hand and I won’t let you go
I hope you know

I’m never gonna let you down
I’m always gonna build you up
The pain you’re feeling lost
I will always find you love
I’m never gonna walk away
I’m always gonna have your back
And ain‘t nothing else who can always count on that
When you need me
I promise I will never let you down
Ain’t never gonna let you down

If you need something to believe in
If you feel you’ve reached the end of the road
Don’t be afraid, I’ll always guide you home
You should know

I’m never gonna let you down
I’m always gonna build you up
The pain you’re feeling lost
I will always find you love
I’m never gonna walk away
I’m always gonna have your back
And ain‘t nothing else who can always count on that
When you need me
I promise I will never let you down