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Insider’s Scoop on

Instaworthy Locations

Curated by Alexis Stuart

Admit it, we all love a good selfie moment. Taking photos, whether alone or with friends, has honestly never been more accessible than it is today! With every new business designed with aesthetics in mind, Central Florida has so many creative spaces to offer. From funky to functional, here are a few of the faves:

The Robinson Room

This coffee shop has it all: good food, good coffee… and trendy vibes to go with it! Its decor is inspired by coastal meets boho meets Scandinavian, and a little modern too. Chat over coffee and a quick bite to eat on your lunch break.

Mills

It’s hard to get specific when every inch of this area is decked out in local art. Just drive up and down Mills Street, hop out of your car near any alleyway, and you’ll be sure to find a cool mural!

Park Aire Apartments

This mid-century modern, all-pink apartment complex screams vintage. It provides a cohesive, monochromatic backdrop to any outfit.

Lake Nona Town Center

Downtown Lake Nona provides some of the coolest, most original concepts in central Florida. Between Boxi Park’s shipping containers & market lighting; state-of-the-art parking garages decked out in brightly colored paint and binary cut-outs; the angel wing mural; a tree painted all pink just a block away; and Canvas’ world-renowned house of stained glass, Lake Nona is as diverse as it is unique.

Wall Crawl

Tucked away in Downtown Orlando, Wall Crawl’s creative backdrops are designed by local artists. Swapped out seasonally, come back for each holiday to experience curated backdrops. If you’re going alone, an in-house “Instagram Husband” can follow you around and take your photos for an extra price. If you’re a pet-lover, check their website and social media for information on their dog nights so you can bring your furry friend.

Polytechnic University

This one is a bit of a drive, but its architecture is worth seeing! This futuristic-designed college with an all-white exterior.

SelfieWRLD

Located in the Florida Mall, this 33-booth studio offers a wide variety of themed photo-opps. From swings to trampolines to neon signs and more, each space is interactive and unique. Their accommodating staff, mobile ring lights, and clicker upgrades make this place both fun and convenient. Each time you go, expect something brand new as they are constantly switching it up!

Lake Nona Town Center

lakenona.com

Selfiewrld

selfiewrldorlando.com

Florida Polytechnic University

photo credit: floridapoly.edu

Wall Crawl

wallcrawl.com

Orlando’s

Greatest Thrifts

Curated by Pedro & Taylor Prado

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EYE GAME

A tip about thrifting is to make sure you have some sort of idea in your mind on what exactly you are looking for; or else you’re going to spend A LOT of time and walk out of the store empty-handed.

For example: look on Pinterest, screenshot a look from your fav celebrity you follow on Instagram OR get creative and throw a vibe together in your mind!

Think about it from a Pirates of the Caribbean perspective; thrift stores are like oceans, you got out into the deep sea of second-hand clothing in search for hidden treasure at an affordable cost.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

There are many DIFFERENT types of thrift stores and not any two are the same, unless they are owned by the same person.

Places like Dechoes Resale, Owls Attic, Foundation, Etoile Boutique, The Lovely, and the infamous Avalon Exchange are all categorized as thrift store boutiques. Most people will find these boutiques to be a little bit more on the pricier side, however, all of the clothes they sell are curated more carefully, are still in pristine quality, and are quite unique. More often times than not, you will walk away with some special and if you don’t, there will still be something that catches your attention. You won’t ever find a dingy t-shirt or an item with stains or holes from one of these boutiques and quite honestly that is why you pay a little bit more.

Most people will tell you boutiques like that aren’t “real” thrift stores. Regardless, it’s still second-hand clothing you are purchasing — it’s just better quality and easier to shop in. Also, what’s cool about these boutiques is a lot of them give YOU the opportunity to sell your clothes to them and make a profit!

FACTSSS

Coolest thing I have thrifted?

Taylor: REAL vintage Chanel shoes from Dechoes Resale!

Pedro: A Star Wars hand-painted denim shirt from Dechoes Resale!

“REAL” Thrifting

Thrifting originated WAY before these boutiques were popular. I’m talking about the original mom-and-pop thrifting that’s been around before thrifting was “cool”. Ya know, the type of thrifting where you can find hidden gems outside of just clothing? Places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, OMG Thrift, and Community Thrift. Now, places like this can be hard to find items in, however, that’s the beauty in it all!

Thrifting requires patience and a good eye for the things you are looking for because once you find that diamond in the rough you’ll walk out feeling like you hit the JACKPOT! It’s the BEST feeling knowing you scored something cool, vintage, or valuable for such a cheap price.

My grandma would take me thrifting with her on the weekends when I was little. She would find

cool little trinkets, beautiful jewelry, knick-knacks, and so much more. These stores would often be dusty, smelly, and sometimes very cluttered but like the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

What to Thrift

• Over-sized T-Shirts.

• Anything from the 80’s.

• Hand-designed Items.

• Always look for cool over-sized t-shirts. What’s been popular of recent is Harley Davidson t-shirts, anime t-shirts, or just cool graphic tees.

• Anything from another era is automatically going to be a GEM.

Whether it’s a funky 80’s wind-breaker, a vintage denim jacket, or anything that makes you feel like you’re a part of The Breakfast Club. A pair of wild sunglasses can spice up any look, no matter the outfit.

• What’s awesome is people often customize clothing then eventually sell it, donate it, or give it away! Whether it’s a crop top that was hand-made, a vintage tee that was bleached or dyed, or jeans/shorts that were distressed, ripped, or painted on re-purposed clothing is some of the best because it guarantees that no one else will have that exact item!

From your favorite, newlywed, freshly-fitted thrifting duo, Taylor & Pedro,

HAPPY THRIFTING FRIENDS!

Thrift Stores

Avalon Exchange

745 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

Foundation College Park

2529 Edgewater Drive, Orlando FL, 32804

Goodwill Boutique

750 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

Dechoes Resale

2525 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 2110 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804

Omg! Thrift

1442 FL-436 #1028, Casselberry, FL 32707

Salvation Army

1330 Semoran Boulevard, FL-436, Casselberry, FL 32707

Goodwill

7531 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32809 4780 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, FL 32822

Community Thrift

5456 Hansel Ave, Edgewood, FL 32809

Owl’s Attic

3106 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

The Lovely

2906 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

Etoile Boutique

2424 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Thrift Store

2054 FL-436 #140, Winter Park, FL 32792

A Place to Grow Get you some

Fitness Tips

Curated by Liz Wright featuring Certified trainer Michelle Muñoz

Michelle Muñoz is a Certified Fitness Trainer and an incredible part of our Voice Fam! She is AFAA Group Exercise Certified, NASM Personal Training Certified, a Barre Above Certified Trainer, and TRX Certified. In other words, she’s awesome! Here are her Top Ten Fitness Tips for getting in shape this fall:

1. If you have a health-focused mentality instead of a vain-focused mentality at the gym, it’ll be easier to stay consistent!

2. Not every workout is going to be your best workout - and that’s okay!

3. For your warmup, it’s perfectly fine to include dynamic stretching, but no static stretching.

4. Start off with compound movements when lifting. Save the isolation exercises for the end.

5. Forget about the 10-minute ab workouts on YouTube. They don’t work!

6. If you’re a woman afraid of becoming bulky by lifting weights, don’t be! Nobody looks like that by mistake. Weightlifting will help you tone up fast.

7. Stick with whole foods instead of processed foods.

8. Don’t lift heavier than you’re capable of because you want to match the people around you. Everyone starts somewhere, and an injury from lifting too heavy can slow down that process.

9. Stretch at the end. Always. No matter what.

10. Thank God for allowing you to move your body after every workout! Being able to exercise is a privilege!

Keep pushing toward your goals, Voice Fam! You got this!

Pro Tip:

Check out our Fall Cadences to find an interest-based group for you! From activity-focused groups like sports or game nights to discipleship-centered groups like Bible studies and worship nights, each semester our leaders switch it up!

adulting Hacks

You Can’t Live without

Curated by Geraldine Jeannot

Write everything down.

Use apps like Reminders and Google Calendar to keep you on track for homework, house tasks, and various responsibilities.

Check Youtube University.

Youtube has a plethora of helpful adulting tips. From how to do an oil change to how to write a cover letter and how to tie a tie. Our favorite is the cooking recipes you can find online.

Make your bed as soon as you wake up.

Do not delay. As soon as you wake up, get up and make your bed. Not only will it make your room look and feel cleaner, but it also eliminates the urge to jump back in for “five more minutes.”

Start your day disconnected.

When you wake up, avoid the temptation to scroll on Instagram or check Twitter. Your brain is still waking up and the last thing you need for a productive day is to start by reading other people’s thoughts and comparing their lives to yours. Create a morning routine that avoids the phone if at all possible.

Wash your fruits and veggies.

When you return home from the grocery store, immediately wash your fruits and veggies. If possible, put them in a bowl so you can easily grab a handful when you open the fridge.

Drink at least 8 ounces of water.

We know, we know…coffee is WAY tastier. Water, however, is necessary to great health. Drink water every day. Put some lemons in it if that helps. Do what you gotta do, but stay hydrated!

Ask for help.

Nobody has it all figured out. Nobody is perfect, and regardless of what you may see on social media, nobody has it all together. Ask for help and take advice. We have to stick together in this crazy adulting phase of life. It’s not a sign of weakness to admit you don’t have it all together!