It’s light outside when I leave work at 5:30 pm now. A sure sign of spring! There’s just something happier about driving home when it’s still light outside. It makes me want to do something when I get home, besides just curl up on the couch and watch a documentary when I walk in the door (my norm in the winter, I’ve exhausted the Netflix Documentary selection). Makes me want to go outside, I’ve got the whole night ahead of type feeling.

A prelude to summer after hours activities.

And so we prepare for Spring around here. With bright colors to match the bright outside.

JOYN does this so well. Here are a few of our favorites from the JOYN 2013 Spring Collection.

JOYN Everyday Tote $44

JOYN Dangle Earrings $14

JOYN Boho Bag $30

JOYN Zipper Wallet $16

We have so much more and several different patterns/color combos in store! Be sure to come in and check it out soon!

-Kelsey

For those of you who are unfamiliar with 99 Balloons, here’s a little backstory!

99 balloons refers to what was released at the funeral of Eliot Mooney- each balloon representing a day he spent on this earth. You can learn more about Eliot’s life by watching the video below or through the blog that his parents, Matt & Ginny, kept during his life. Among the many gifts he brought his parents was a passion to help children with special needs and their families.
99 Balloons Inc. was founded in 2007 to serve as a non-profit umbrella organization in order to fulfill this vision. rEcess was the first 99 Balloon’s initiative. The capitalized “E” in rEcess is no mistake. The Mooneys were on the receiving end of much help and assistance from others that enabled them to better care for Eliot, and that is what this night is all about- serving families in ways that help them better care for their children.

99 Balloons has grown to become an organization that helps others engage children with special needs locally and globally.

Now for the new project that we are SO excited to be a part of…

99 Balloons invites you to help change the global story of disability and join with us as we launch “Passport.”

Passports are released by season, and they highlight a different geography each month. Passport holders make a commitment to pray for change in attitudes and perceptions of disability, as well as participate in changing the story for children with special needs around the globe.

To learn more, please click here.

One lucky Passport holder will receive roundtrip airfare to join with 99 Balloons on a trip to Uganda this July. Check out the Passport website for more info. And help spread the word for more chances to enter the drawing!

 We have a box inside The Global Shoppe! Some come on in and grab a passport! 

Warning: Les Miserables movie spoilers!

I recently went to watch the new movie, Les Miserables, based on the book -made musical- by Victor Hugo.  I was somewhat pressured into seeing it, and broke my rule about reading the book before seeing the film, but my curiosity bested me.  All the Facebook updates, about “loving it,” “sobbing the whole way through,” and “how beautiful!” the story was, etcetera, encouraged me to go.  So I went, arming myself with a box of tissues.

Wow. After the movie finished I took the drive home quietly.  Pensive.  Thinking.  Processing all of the misery, love, fear, hate, despair, and forgiveness I had seen flashed upon the big screen in front of me.  I felt an inner sense of relief- my life was not that hard, an emotion then coupled with more than a little guilt at this revelation of relief and newfound gratitude for my luxurious American world.  Les Mis had put up some shocking lenses through which I viewed my extremely blessed lifestyle.  For a moment I was SO glad that people did not have to live and suffer like that anymore.

Oh.  Oh.  It does exist.  The people of Les Miserable may not live in France, but they are still here.  Heartbroken.  Hopeless.  Jean Valjeans living in a cruel, merciless justice system.  Women working long hours in sweat shops, scraping together all they have to feed their own ‘Cosettes,’ only to be fired and tossed out onto a dark and dirty path.  There are still ‘Fontines,’ women and girls left with no choice but the shame and pain of selling their hair, teeth, bodies.  The true poverty and misery depicted in Les Miserables is still very present today, in our 21st century.  What now?

There are also the bishops, giving up wealth and time to invest in people’s lives, giving away their silver candlesticks and a word of hope to men who are desperate.

‘Monsieur le Mayors’ are employing the poor women, giving them a fair wage, seeking out the sick and prostitutes- actually caring for them, showing them love in action.

Jean Valjeans are finding orphans and giving them a new life.

These good characters and more are out in the world right now, doing good and giving life to the masses.

The Global Shoppe helps these characters, helps them help those in need.

JOYN in India are employing the street children, lepers, and outcast, providing work with love and care.

International Nepal Fellowship helps and provides training for the outcast people with disabilities.

Sasa designs employs deaf people in Kenya.

Tukula business invests in the local people of Uganda.

Kingdom Crafts Nepal actively works to stop the human trafficking and give young girls (Fontine’s)  a future outside of prostitution.

Heavenly Treasures exists to break the cycles of poverty and give hope.

Mama Carmen’s Espresso Cafe was created to purchase coffee from a micro-lot coffee farm in Guatemala, giving local farmers a way to support their families and community.  It also provides support to Mama Carmen, a Guatemalan women fighting the unfair justice system which overlooks the hundreds of orphans she loves and lives for.

All these businesses and partners are, in their own special way, a bishop or Jean Valjean of Les Miserables.  But even a Jean Valjean needs help from a bishop, or a shelter and trust from a convent gardener.  If Les Miserables gave you a perspective of what poverty looks like, invest in the Jean Valjeans and kind bishops across the globe, working with the poor, helpless, lepers, and destitute.  Choose whichever character best suits you, but let yourself be a person who makes a difference in the world of Les Miserables as it is today.

Shelby Shackelford

Our “thank you” is always really big this time of year.

Well, I say that like we’ve been doing this a long time, this is actually only our second Christmas to be open. But still, for two years, you better believe we’ve been singing our customers praises.

Without you, we can’t continue purchasing from all these amazing vendors. Honestly! We can only  purchase and partner with them if we have the money to do so. That money is directly from the hands and hearts of you!

So as a “Thank you,” right back, we’d like to treat you tomorrow to a free Mama Carmen’s 12 oz Latte (up to 1 syrup flavor) or 12 oz drip brew of your choice if you spend more than $50 in our shop!

Merry Christmas!

-Kelsey

I’ve already bought 2 of these bags this Christmas to give out as gifts (I’m banking on the receivers not reading this post). I’m also banking on my husband not reading it either. ; )

They really are the perfect JOYN bags! The interior is lined with pockets as well as the exterior. The perfect size compartments for your phone, snacks, wallet, or even a baby bottle.

We’ve had so many women buy them as diaper bags. We’re expecting our first this May, we just found out it’s a girl. So I’m already planning out in my head which one I’ll buy after Christmas.

But even so, the uses for the bag go on and on. One lady who comes into our coffee shop has turned hers into a laptop bag, perfect! The cord rolls up and fits into a little pocket on the side.

The best part? We recently marked them down, they are now only $44!! And today only, (12/19/12) if you buy a JOYN Big Bag you get 15% off another JOYN item of your choice!

So swing in and see us today! And if you end up buying it for yourself, we won’t tell.

Kelsey

These little sets really do make the perfect gift. For either Christmas morning or even something for the host of the home you’ll be in this weekend.

Each salad set comes with a little bag and a tag attached to it explaining where they are made and who benefits from the purchase.

In this case…

Kamba Kids

The purchase of this product will help Kamba orphans. Many children in Africa are left without parents. This wide spread need is growing daily. We are working together to provide support for community of kids that are part of Kakuyuni Redeemed Gospel Church family. Thank you for your support of these kids. May you be blessed for your generosity. Every product represents a changed life!

 So swing in and grab one! They are only $15-$20!! Doesn’t it feel good when you buy something that makes a difference?

Kelsey

KCN Flower Hat $20

This is a special vendor to us, near and dear to our hearts, however these little cuties only make their debut in this season. But it makes it that much more fun when the first box arrives, truly like opening up a Christmas gift!

These wool hats are made by Kingdom Crafts Nepal, a group of girls who have been saved from a life of slavery in prostitution.

We posted about it last year, and you can read that story HERE.

It truly is incredible what this organization is doing to better these girls lives. One of those things that can tug at your heart strings in a long lasting sort of way.

KCN Adult Wool Hat $25

So we are wanting to do a little special on these items just for fun! Tomorrow only (12/13) if you buy one of these hats you’ll get a free cup of coffee from Mama Carmen’s Espresso Cafe with the purchase.

KCN Banana Fiber Hat $18

So swing in and grab one along with a hot cup of the best coffee in town (I am biased, this is true).

Thanks for your continual support!

-Kelsey

I never really believed in Santa. I guess I always tried to be realistic about it. My parents never told me he wasn’t real (if you’re 10 and under stop reading, calm down, he’s real, the rest of this is just irrelevant to you).

I legitimately remember laying in bed as a 6 year old trying to reason it out…

My house, then Chelsea’s down the street, all my cousins in MN, the rest of America and then China, all tonight? There is absolutely no way…

I went along with it, I never ruined it for my little brother or my friends and to be honest it never made me like Christmas any less. I never really cared that much.

I still experienced the joy and carefreeness of it every year. It’s so much fun as a kid isn’t it? Of course it still is now, it’s just much different.

It wasn’t until I got married that I had a newfound appreciation for all the effort my mother put into it every year. Setting a budget, divvying it out from there, finding out what everyone in the family wants, executing that and then wrapping it all.

It’s a lot of work really, I love giving gifts so it’s an effort I like to put forth, but it’s effort nonetheless.

At the end of getting all the family squared away I often wish I could buy things for my friends. Some years I am able to and others it’s hard to justify it monetarily. Can you relate?

So this year we wanted to help you out. JOYN makes some lovely things that any girlfriend would be thrilled to receive at Christmas!

So starting today all JOYN clutches are 25% off! That puts them all under $16.50 and one as low as $13.50!! : )

JOYN Wristlet now $16.50 (several more colors/designs in-store)

JOYN Classic Clutch now $13.50 (several more colors/designs in-store)

JOYN Button Clutch now $16.50 (several more color/design options in-store)

Now you just have to act surprised if you end up receiving one from a friend this year who read the same post. ; )

Happy Christmas shopping for your friends!

-Kelsey

Last night could have easily waited until this morning. I tend to be an impulsive person, not with the important things, but the small things. Once an idea is in my head I need to knock it out before I can move on, it’s weird and kind of annoying.

Yesterday was one of those times, home from work, I had settled in watching a movie and got it in my head that I needed to go get my flu shot. Right then. It couldn’t wait. So I hit pause, threw on my shoes, grabbed my coat and headed out the door around 8.

I waited for probably 45 minutes just standing at the pharmacy counter while they tried to sort out an insurance issue with the woman in front of me. For whatever reason her child’s insurance information wasn’t coming through and her bill was slowly starting to climb, it sounded like the little boy needed the antibiotics and you could tell his mother was stressing. Just one bottle alone without insurance was $79.

She ended up leaving and was going to call the company this morning to sort it out. I wish I would have just paid it. You know those moments where it just sinks in that it was a total missed opportunity? At the time I was annoyed I had even left my house only to stand there for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn’t until I got in my car that it hit me that I could have helped out and maybe that was the impulse that brought me there in the first place.

How often do we go through our day missing out like this? We are a distracted society for sure, and it’s not just our phones that beckon our attention, it’s ourselves. I’m tired, I’m having to stand in this line, I’ve been waiting for way too long, me, me me. Gross.

Some of our dear friends gave $ to those close to them this Christmas with the challenge to just give it away how we see fit, pretty cool huh? That was their gift this year, to encourage us to give!

Last night I missed it, but you better believe my giving radar is up now.

What about you? How do you plan on giving back this year? Have you thought about it? Maybe it’s financially or maybe its giving your time.

Below are a few of the gifts we offer that are all under $15, the hope is that these options can free up your wallet to give in another way this holiday season.

Tis’ better to give than it is to receive.

Small Floral Wallet $5.50

Turquoise Drop Earrings $13.00

Cotton Scarf $12.00

Travel Bag $15.00

Ethnic Wallet $5.50

JOYN Cloth Coasters $12.00

Animal Hair Clips $6.50

Animal Salad Set $15.00

JOYN Scrap Bangle $8.00

The benefit to purchasing from a non-profit is you are constantly giving back when you purchase the item. You give one of these to someone you love, wonderful, the very fact that you bought it in the first place blessed someone on another continent, double wonderful.

We hope to see you in our store this season.

Merry Christmas!

-Kelsey

JOYN, Scarf $25

I love themed things. I hear names all day long, the coffee shop we reside in has a rewards system and we track customers via last name. Whenever I hear a last name I often think of the best wedding theme that could go with that last name. Is that weird? You think I’m weird. I can’t help it, if I wasn’t managing this boutique I’m pretty confident I’d be a party planner. I’d theme things all day every day.

So naturally when I heard that the theme of The Girls Night out night at the NWA Boutique Show is “Shopping and Chevron,” I got really excited. A theme, and a fun trendy theme at that. To top it off one of our vendors has chevron block-printed on several handmade items, perfect, we look like we planned this. I’ll let you think we did.

So come join us Friday night for “Girls Night Out: Shopping and Chevron,” (click HERE to buy tickets) and we can be giddy about the theme together.

JOYN, Big Bag $50

JOYN, Big Bag $50

JOYN, Hippy Bag $26.50

JOYN, Classic Clutch $18

JOYN, Hippy Bag $26.50

JOYN, Wristlet $18

JOYN, Button Clutch $22

JOYN, Stockings $24

Aren’t these the cutest things you’ve ever seen?? See you all this weekend!

Love,

Kelsey

The Global Shoppe Manager