Around November/December each year, I like to take a deeper look into Joy Because Grace’s analytics to see which posts have done well over the year so I can continue creating similar content in the upcoming year. These last few weeks are no different :) So as I was planning out my blog’s calendar for 2018, I looked at the top ten posts from 2017. As I did so, I thought, “Hey, this could be a fun end-of-the-year post idea!”… Read more »

A few months ago, I saw the movie 17 Again for the first time. And OMGoodness! I loved it SOOO much! (I have no clue why I hadn’t seen it sooner. For one, I love the movie 13 going on 30, and from what I knew about 17 Again I thought it was similar to that. For two, it has Zac Efron in it… and I had a major crush on him when I was 12. #TroyBolton #Sighs.) Anywho… My favorite part was when the… Read more »

I am sad. I am sad because I am finished with school. You see, this past Friday, I graduated. Which is great and happy and all, but I’m gonna miss my university and my professors and my friends so much!! This last semester has been so crazy busy. I’ve been student teaching and taking my teacher certification tests and taking my very last Spanish course. Swamped. I’ve felt swamped and stressed out.   But now it’s over and I’m sad…. Read more »

Fun fact about me: I LOVE surveys! I love taking them and hosting them. So thus I take several reader surveys throughout the year. This is Joy Because Grace’s end of the year survey, and I would love, love, LOVE it if you would take a second to fill it out :) The results will let me get to know you a bit, as well as know how to plan out 2018 for Joy Because Grace. You can take the… Read more »

About a month ago, I broke up with Instagram. And let me tell you, it hasn’t been as easy nor simple as I thought it would be. Going this long without Instagram is really, really, really hard. One of my friends deleted Instagram the same day I did. I admitted to her a few times that it’s been really hard staying off of Instagram, and I asked her if she had been having the same struggle. She said she hadn’t been,… Read more »

The following is a guest post by Janae Biologically, ladies and gents are programmed to look for a mate.  Let me be the first to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way if we are conscious of our interactions! Platonic friendships between genders are possible but require a bit more thought. Ladies, I would like to give you some simple advice about your friendships with guys. There is likely to be a time when you will have… Read more »

This past Wednesday, November 8th, I broke up with Instagram. That’s right. I officially called things off. In other words, I deleted the app. And let me tell you that going without Instagram these past few days has been really, really hard. This weekend was my university’s annual pageant, which I participated in last year. It’s been really hard staying off of Instagram. I want to see other people’s posts about the pageant and I want to post a mushy post… Read more »

In the words of Gerald the Elephant, “Waiting is NOT easy.” Have you heard of the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems? Oh my goodness, they’re only the bestest best books, like, ever, in the history of the universe!! Seriously, my friend, I wish these books were around when I was a kid. Now all I can do is collect them so I can read them to my children someday. Let me back up. The Elephant and Piggie books follow the many adventures… Read more »

The Following is a Guest Post by Michaela Today’s post is going to be rather honest and real. There’s going to be lots of raw emotions. This post is one that I’ve been dreading, but I knew I needed to write it. Over the past year, I’ve written to you all about long distance relationships, with all its perks, lessons, tips, and struggles. I’ve used my own life as an example to share with you. (See: 12 Ways to Make a… Read more »

The following is a guest post by my roommate, Bonnie I have never dated anyone. I’m in my third year of college, and I’m still as I’ve always been: single. This fact doesn’t define me, lessen my value in any way or mean I’m not just as worthwhile as anyone who is or has been in a relationship. And honestly, a lot of me not dating anyone has been my choice. You see, when I was a freshman in high… Read more »