Archives for December 2013

2013 in Review

December 31, 2013 by Amy 19 Comments

Oh, 2013, how many different ways could we review you? Top 10 lists are flying around the web and here will be no exception.

First, I want to mention how far we’ve come here. Did you know at this time last year, this site was still named Permission to Peruse? Yowza! We’ve settled into the new name and theme and it’s by far the best change on the blog for quite some time. We started over with a new Facebook page too and I’m happy to see many of you made the switch.

Now, let’s take a look at the year. I thought I’d break it down a few ways. If I was a bit of a better planner, I would have stretched this out to a few posts, but let’s cram it all in today, why don’t we?

Most popular posts by month
My favorite books of the year
My favorite family/personal moments of the year

Favorite Books of 2013

Jesus > Religion / The Language of Flowers/ Eleanor & Park/The Fault in Our Stars/ Beautiful Outlaw / Bread & Wine / Blue Like Jazz / A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd / On Writing / On Becoming a Writer

Some of these weren’t even published in 2013, but these books either meant the most to me or brought me a lot of joy.

Favorite Family/Personal Moments

These posts may or may not have been the most popular but they document some of my favorite moments of the year. If I ever get around to doing a family yearbook, these moments will be in there.

I got to hear Maureen from The Mercy House speak here in town.

I loved following my friend Linda for a day of her 50 RAOK for her birthday.

We did lots of traveling and those are always special: Great Wolf Lodge, visiting Scott’s cousin Carla, visiting friends in Charleston and our summer vacation in Palm Beach to name a few.

We welcomed our Havanese Bella to the family this year.

Emma got braces.

Redoing the bar was one of my favorite changes ever around our house. Having the water leak I thought would be the worst of the year but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Both the girls love their new rooms and we really did need to overhaul those two rooms. The treehouse bed was definitely a favorite!

Hosting a baby shower for my great nephew was wonderful as I watched friends and family gather together to be Jesus for that family.

I loved the P90X program Scott and I did together at the beginning of 2013 and then getting back on track with AdvoCare in October.

Watching what God did at Allume was one of my personal favorites of the year.

Hosting a Sole Hope Shoe Cutting party was a great way to gather friends and get some good work done too.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I love sharing special moments from life, what I’m learning and how God is moving. I wrote this year about having fun and I’ve since realized writing for you and hearing back IS my fun. Thanks for being here and here’s to a great 2014.

Happy New Year, friends!

Linked up with Musings of a Housewife

What I’m Into – December 2013

December 30, 2013 by Amy 26 Comments

I’m linking up once again with Leigh Kramer to talk about what I’ve been into this month. It’s a great opportunity to talk about all the little things I got excited about.

Family and Friends

My Christmas break is officially over. We made a short Christmas bucket list and marked them off through the month, but mostly we hunkered down and spent a lot of time at home. I enjoyed a full week off with the family and man, was it what I needed. We had a great Christmas week and I’m so thankful for another year with family and friends.

Julep Nail Polish

After hearing about it many times, I finally broke down and subscribed to the Julep Maven box–a monthly beauty subscription service–when a friend posted a coupon for a free box.

In my free box, I got two Julep polishes and wow! I was super impressed with how well the polish went on, how shiny it was and even how long it lasted. I’m not sure how many Maven boxes I’ll actually get, but you can count me in as a definite fan of the polish.

Get your first box with the code FREEBOX!

TimeHop App

My friend ohAmanda introduced me to the TimeHop app and oh, it is so fun. Every day it shows you what you posted on your social media accounts that exact day in any previous year. You can’t see any day except the day you’re on.

For example, on Christmas, it was so fun to relive those Christmas mornings again. I have tweets from 6 Christmases ago!

You also unfortunately get to see some rather embarrassing moments too. Like, 5 years ago I don’t think I posted anything that wasn’t related to Twilight for a few months. Sheesh. Sorry, folks.

The best thing is it’s free!

Wedge Tennis Shoes

These wedge tennis shoes are way out of the norm for me but I found them on Clearance at JCPenney’s on vacation and I just couldn’t say no.

They are so comfortable and unlike many wedges, they make my feet look smaller instead of like small boats. Does anyone else think they look like the high-tops in Back to the Future?

Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush.

I just got this for Christmas so I haven’t been able to do any long-term testing but I’m definitely loving my Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush. Everyone raves over the Clarisonic but the price point was just a little high for me.

I can’t compare them, but I really am enjoying the Mary Kay cleansing brush. And at $50 retail, you really can’t beat the price (especially when you’re a consultant!). It doesn’t feel too rough, but it leaves my skin feeling super smooth.

Shameless plug: If you need a MK consultant, I do ship anywhere in the US.

Miche Bags

Speaking of consultants, my mom is a Miche bag consultant. She’s been trying to get me into the bags for years, but I’m a one-bag-at-a-time-and-for-years kind of girl. Seriously, the bag I had up to this month I’ve carried every single day since I bought it in March 2012 in Georgia.

My aunt gave me the mid-sized bag and a few shells for Christmas and y’all? I kind of love it. Like, really love it. Even though no one probably cares, it’s fun to swap out the shell in just seconds to a shell that compliments my outfit. It sounds so trite but it really does make me happy!

Books I’ve Read

Contrary to how I thought my month would go, I read fewer books this month than any this year. I spent a ton of time on the house (and Netflix—see below) and very little time reading. In fact, I only finished one novel: The Misremembered Man.

This novel was billed as a romance but it was so much more. Set in the 70’s in rural Ireland, it’s the story of a man who was abused in a Catholic school as a child and then adopted. The reader comes into the story just as he decides he needs to get married in his early 40’s.

As someone who is trying to adopt a boy from DSS, this was a little gut-wrenching, particularly at the end, but it was just such a work of art. I couldn’t speed read through the Irish accent in much of the dialogue and the vocabulary was rich. The characters were just lovely (well, some of them) and a surprise (and GOOD) ending left me satisfied this was the only book I read all month.

At only $3.99 for the Kindle version and free to borrow for Prime members, you shouldn’t pass this one up.

I spent the Advent season reading through The Greatest Gift. If you’re on the Facebook page, I hope you enjoyed the snippets each morning. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book. If you haven’t read it, don’t hesitate to read it at any time of the year.

TV I Watched

What Not to Wear holds a very special place in my heart. I started watching the show when it first began in 2003. I was in my early 20’s and still trying to figure out my style. I learned so much from them and really, feel like I relearn it all every time I watch. I haven’t watched it in years and years, but they put the last two seasons on Netflix. The girls and I were goners.

I’d heard the buzz online about White Collar. Tiffani Thiessen from Saved by the Bell AND Hilarie Burton from One Tree Hill are on the show so you would think I’d be all over it. For some reason I never took the time to get into it.

When my parents got into it recently on Netflix and insisted we did, we took a peek at it one night and we were sold. We buzzed through the first season in just a few days. Great law enforcement drama, great characters, good humor and all around great show.

*While we’re on law enforcement dramas, I should also note that Scott was WAY into the series on Netflix called Flashpoint this month. I watched a few episodes with them and even though it wasn’t something I was into, he was. If that’s your sort of thing, you should definitely check it out as well.

So with that, we’re staring down the end of 2013. I’ll be back tomorrow with a year in review post.

In the meantime, anyone want to share any Christmas gifts they’ve been loving?

Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

A very Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Duck Dynasty, Writing and Christmas

December 23, 2013 by Amy 1 Comment

I was entirely distracted at the end of last week with the Duck Dynasty debacle. Truth be told, it still is stirring in my heart. I should confess that I felt like I should have written about it and got scared and didn’t.

Technically, I did write about it but threw it in a virtual trash can and then waited for someone else to say how I was feeling. Once I found a few articles that did just that, I realized just how powerful the written word is. Sometimes you can’t find the words to say what you want, sometimes you can’t put a finger on exactly how you feel but when you read the words that are locked in your heart, it’s like an internal dam breaks in your lungs and you can breathe again. Processing through the written word is just part of me and I suspect based on the number of articles being shared last week, that it’s the same for many of you.

So, even though I’m not as passionate as Jen Hatmaker or get to the heart of the matter like Ann Voskamp or find myself articulate as Mike Cosper, I realize now I should have written. Even if it couldn’t have helped thousands process what happened, it could have helped me process it a bit faster and maybe a few of you too. I apologize for not showing up.

When Thursday rolled around and I was debating writing about the Duck Dynasty stuff, I was already wrestling with some behind-the-scenes stuff that was happening with my writing here. When Ann Voskamp says words are powerful, she isn’t kidding. Vague enough? Bottom line, I was feeling the weight of words already when this Duck Dynasty stuff hit and the weight of their words piled on top of mine left me wanting to walk away.

I was on the way to the school to get the kids Thursday, I told the Lord, I need some encouragement. If this writing thing is going to continue, I need you to show up and help me.

I had decided before I left to get them that I wouldn’t take my book and just read whatever was on my Kindle in the car. As I waited, I opened Denise Hughes book On Becoming a Writer. I’d read it already but it was encouraging to me the first time I read it and decided it might give me the kick in the pants I needed. I came across a section entitled “Know Your Reason for Writing.” Denise asked why we write and then shared her personal mission statement from Isaiah 30:8:

“Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.”

As I read that I felt that tug on my heart that says, I just showed up for you—that’s the encouragement you needed. And it was. I want so much for this space not just to help me process but for it to be like an altar to the Lord to remind us, “God was here.”

God was here. God is here.

And that’s what I want us to remember this week as we celebrate Christmas. Christianity isn’t a list of rules to adhere to or theology to debate, Christianity is about a relationship to experience. It’s about a God who came—who comes–to be with us. Not just for 33 years on the earth but now. He wants to give us life and life abundantly now. He wants to encourage us when we doubt, he wants to hurt when we hurt, he wants to laugh when we laugh.

He delights in us so much and we just keep forgetting to delight in Him too.

And so I ask us to set aside the debates and the anger and the distraction of the season and let him show up. There’s a million reasons you might need him to show up and a million ways he might show up but look for Him. He so wants to and He so will. Immanuel—God with us.

What I Wore Wednesday 12.18.2013

December 18, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

I pair my outfit photos with matching inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Email and RSS readers need to click over to the site to see the inspirational photos.

Even though I was the photographer of the weekend, I managed to get zero outfit photos. I took this one yesterday when I was working from home during the day and carted the kids around to get supplies for holiday parties and a quick doctor’s appointment in the evening (all is well).

I bought this huge scarf last year and didn’t really know how to wear it. None of the handy scarf tying guides worked. On a whim, I wrapped it like a shawl today and it was just the thing I needed to stay a little warmer around the house and the ruffles finally decided to lay just right. Something about it made me want to wear a hand muff—anything to stay warmer!

Francis Yap on Pinterest.

Let’s connect! Like AmyJBennett on Facebook. Follow me on Pinterest (where I post these inspirational pictures),Instagram (where you might sneak an early peek of an outfit) orTwitter.

Linked with The Pleated Poppy

You Know You’re Home

December 17, 2013 by Amy 6 Comments

When you breathe your lungs full and the frosty air goes down.

When you laugh for the thirty-sixth time at your husband making Grandma ask the clerk for “B” batteries during Christmas 5 years ago.

When you hold back tears passing their house because it’s been 20 years.

When you open doors without knocking and leave your shoes at the door.

When they go down the frozen hill with their cousins just like you did with yours.

When you sigh at the taste because it’s the food of your people.

When you stack the presents by name.

When you look at faces and see parts of your own in so many.

When you watch the little ones and wonder how they changed so much since last year.

When you hug a little longer at the goodbye because you know it’ll be too long before…you know you’re home.

We had a wonderful long weekend away with my extended family. The snow made it feel like we had suspended time just to live in a special world with our loved ones.

I’m curious, how do YOU know you’re home?

What I Wore Wednesday 12.11.2013

December 11, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

Happy Hump Day, friends! Can you believe we’re only 2 weeks away from Christmas? Eek!

I pair my outfit photos with matching inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Email and RSS readers need to click over to the site to see the inspirational photos.

I wore this for the Sole Hope party on Friday night. Lexi thinks I look like a picnic table. I feel a little like my dad in his collared shirts and sweaters. But still, I love this outfit and loved that it was 75 degrees and I could pull off capris and flats.

I wore this to church on Sunday. I woke up EXHAUSTED after the Sole Hope parties Thursday and Friday and then staying up so late to finish Gone with the Wind. I resorted to my usual jeans, boots, sweater winter uniform and threw on the scarf and earrings so I looked a little put together. I thought of this exact little bird on my Pinterest board when I picked the black and white scarf. The picture is not a perfect color match, but this truly inspired this outfit.

I wore this as a work from home day. I ran out to get Emma some dress shoes and got her to dance but other than that, was at home.

Can I tell you a sad story about these pants that I was oh-so-excited to get at Allume? One of my vitamins exploded in the pocket and the jeans STINK of fish oil. It’s disgusting and I usually only wear these at home now so I don’t stink up a joint. I’ve tried lemon juice and washed them several times. The smell is slowly going away, but I just can’t make myself get rid of them. I even cut out the bottom of the pocket where the pill was 🙁

Let’s connect! Like AmyJBennett on Facebook. Follow me on Pinterest (where I post these inspirational pictures),Instagram (where you might sneak an early peek of an outfit) orTwitter.

Linked with The Pleated Poppy

Facebook Fans, You’re Probably Missing Out

December 10, 2013 by Amy 1 Comment

If my stats are any indication, many of you are relying on the Facebook page to alert you to new posts here. If that’s the case, I have some sad news. Facebook is consistently and strategically hiding each post from up to 90% of you. It’s worse than it’s ever been and expected to continue!

This is true for ANY Facebook page you like!

The Problem

Like any other business, Facebook wants to make money. They’re purposely limiting who sees posts from Facebook pages and then forcing the company (blogger) to pay for their posts to show up in their fans’ News Feeds. Even when posts are highly engaging (which normally makes it show up more), only 30% of you are seeing even those posts. You’re missing out on some great conversation and you don’t even know it!

Here’s what I really hate about this: when I pay to promote a post, it automatically turns a post into an ad. I feel like I’m spamming you, and you feel spammed (just me?) If it were like a traditional subscription service where the consumer pays for the content (think magazines), then you better believe I’d be honored and willing to dole content out! While I’m not saying I feel like the content here is worth paying money for, I am saying that this model Facebook set up does not work well for bloggers.

I don’t mind spending money to promote posts to make sure you’re getting the content you asked for (you’ll see Sponsored underneath), but I can’t do that consistently either.

Below I have 3 alternate, automated ways you can be sure you don’t miss a post. I hope this helps you not just with this blog but others too.

Option 1: Get Notifications on Facebook

If you really want to continue using Facebook to hop over here, choosing to “Show in News Feed” is not enough action (since they’re not actually doing that as you requested). You need to turn notifications on. You can do that by going to the Facebook page, click on Liked so the drop-down menu appears, and then select Get Notifications.

When you do this, you’ll get a notification the second I post something new to the Facebook page.

I’ll be honest on this option: if you do set notifications on for too many blogs, your notifications are going to drive you a little bonkers. Options 2 or 3 might be better.

Option 2: Subscribe via a Feed Reader

If you are savvy enough to know what an RSS feed is, this is probably a moot point, but you can use sites like Feedly.com or Bloglovin.com to subscribe to this site’s RSS feed. I always compare it to a blog-only email inbox.

The downside to feed readers is you have to remember to visit the feed reader to read all the posts. The good news is when you eventually revisit it, ALL the posts will be there waiting in sequential order for you. This is actually my preferred method of keeping up with blogs.

I find that RSS subscriptions are a little too technical for some, so Option 3 is probably your best bet.

Option 3: Get an Email

The best way to be sure you’re getting alerted to all the posts is to have it delivered to your email inbox. For this site, an email is delivered around 7am with the previous day’s post. If you want to sign up: go here.

This option is great since most people keep a consistent eye on their email and you have total control about comes in and what doesn’t. If you need a good way to organize incoming emails from your favorite bloggers, check out my post on how to use filters to manage your inbox.

Alright, that’s my PSA for the day. If you are reading this at all, I appreciate you so much! You just have no idea how much I think of you!

If you start seeing some Sponsored posts on Facebook, please don’t feel spammed. My goal is to get the posts out to people who have already stated an interest in reading content here. I’m trying to help!

Share this post with your friends, readers or anyone else that might benefit. Facebook is NOT being nice but hopefully with these options, we can still connect with the content we want.