Archives for 2013

What I Wore Wednesday 1.23.2013

January 23, 2013 by Amy 11 Comments

Today’s the day I share my outfits from the week with The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday. I pair my outfits with inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

I feel like I should say, Ahoy, matey! with this outfit on but seriously, so bright outside.

Source: redbubble.com via Amy on Pinterest

This day was a no-good rainy day so my rain boots were in order. The rest? I liked the idea of blue, mustard and red together inspired by this duck I pinned but for me, this outfit wasn’t hitting on a whole lot on its own. The duck is pretty amazing though, yes?

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: magicalnaturetour.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

I wish you could see the gray sequined shirt and snakeskin flats a little better in this picture. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to take these pictures. Tips?

Source: media.picfor.me via Amy on Pinterest

In case you missed my stellar day recap, this was my casual laser tag-bowling outfit. T-shirt, jeans and chucks are still my favorite some days.

Source: Uploaded by user via Amy on Pinterest

Apologies for all the wrinkles and flash on this work outfit. I sat in EIGHT hours of meetings and then drove home 45 minutes before taking this picture. *sigh*

Source: img-fotki.yandex.ru via Amy on Pinterest

Every week I’m convinced I can’t pull off another post with outfits and pictures and God always pulls it together. Such a beautiful creator! I hope you’re enjoying these because I have SO MUCH FUN putting them together!

Come visit my Facebook page for a bonus picture!

3 Ways to Have a Stellar Day

January 22, 2013 by Amy 5 Comments

Days like yesterday don’t happen often in the dead-center of winter, but yesterday? Was stellar.

And the best part is I think you could have one too.

Take a Risk

For several months, perhaps years, I’ve been reading and listening to training on this whole blogging business. Every single one recommended guest blogging.

I knew it was the way to go but Inadequate told me I wasn’t good enough–I didn’t deserve to be published elsewhere. It was a risk to me to send in the guest post to MoneySavingMom.com that published yesterday. But the risk paid off.

And I can’t tell you what a good day that made. Risks don’t always pay off but when they do? Stellar.

Where do you need to take a risk? A conversation? Application? Do it! It will make for a stellar day!

Be Creative

Yesterday morning the girls and I decided to make some homemade play-doh. I did the making and yes, even the playing.

What is it about homemade things that provide so much satisfaction? Perhaps because God is quite creative and he put that inside us too. When we tap into that, it feels right and good and dare I say, sometimes stellar.

Get Active

Scott and I don’t get many days off together so yesterday when we were, I was determined to do something as a family.

We landed on laser tag and bowling. And let me say, running through the dark with fake guns with your 10 year old, chasing down your husband and 8 year old? Makes for a stellar day.

How can you get active? Maybe you need to sign up for that 5K or pick up your dusty tennis racket.

And as a bonus tip, order a StitchFix and perhaps they’ll tell you they shipped it on the same day as your other stellar-ness is happening, making your stellar day downright giggly.

What makes your days stellar?

5 Steps to Grocery Shopping Once a Week

January 21, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

A year ago, I was running to the grocery store nearly every day. I panicked about dinner every afternoon. I’d run to the grocery store last minute, if I could even think of something to make. Many nights, we’d head for take-out.

Now, I’m grocery shopping once a week, making homemade meals nearly every night and saving hundreds of dollars.

Follow me over to my guest post on MoneySavingMom.com to see 5 steps I took to make it happen!

Little Black Dress

January 18, 2013 by Amy 5 Comments

Write on “Cherished” for 5 minutes…no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

She used her math to calculate the costs. “$5.50 and shipping is $2.00. That is $7.50 and I will have…$4 left.” I clicked the Buy It Now button on the black strapless sequined Barbie number and we waited.

I got home late last evening from a blustery evening out and checked the mail on the way in. A squishy envelope told me it had arrived and I hoped she hadn’t fallen asleep yet so I could see her wide eyes and smile.

She wasn’t and I got to see the celebration and anticipation of a little black dress.

As we woke this morning, disappointed at the black ice instead of white snow, she surprised her Barbie with a new dress. But disappointment brought her sagging into my office complaining because it was too big.

“Hang on, we’ll fix it. Sometimes in fashion you just have to make-do. You never know what you’ll have to use. I think this bobby pin will work just fine.”

I slipped the bobby pin over the folds of the back of the little black number, turned her around and we both beemed when it stayed.

Little girl mom moments. Cherished.

What I Wore Wednesday: 1.16.2013

January 16, 2013 by Amy 17 Comments

Today’s the day I share my outfits from the week with The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday. I pair my outfits with inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Source: flickr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Cool story –> I copied this outfit from Pinterest but they had a white layering tank. I really felt impressed to wear a red one instead. I kept saying, “Really God, are you sure that’s going to look right?” I went on with it, trusting.

When I opened my board to write this post and saw the photo below I’ve had on my inspiration board for weeks, I knew He had remembered the photo even when I hadn’t. How perfect is the red in the photo? Even the shape of the red in my picture mimics the shape of the red boats.

Source: baenk.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: dontcallmebetty.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

I wish I got a better picture of this outfit. The color is wonky but I just loved the orange, blue and gray combo.

Source: telegraph.co.uk via Amy on Pinterest

Source: adamschallau.photoshelter.com via Amy on Pinterest

Book Review: Beyond Ordinary

January 15, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

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If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that any couple–any person–is susceptible to having an affair. I know you’re shaking your head and saying no way, not me but I’ve lived through the slippery slope from fairytale to a crowded marriage. While I didn’t have a full-on physical affair, I can say with assurance that I do understand now how it happens—to anyone.

While it may be unforgettable, it is forgivable. And that’s just what Justin and Trisha Davis proved several years ago after he lost his church and nearly his family because of an affair.

What I found out, though, is the affair is just a sliver of Justin and Trisha’s story.

In Beyond Ordinary, Justin and Trisha take turns sharing their story, showing just how their marriage began to crumble and how God ultimately redeemed it.

Beyond Ordinary reads both like a novel and non-fiction book. The first half of each chapter is spent telling another part of their story while the second half is spent on the applicable lessons from that part of their story.

I loved the layout of the book. In so many non-fiction books, I find that the author tells their story up front and then spends the rest of the book teaching. Slowly telling the story throughout the book kept Beyond Ordinary a page-turner.

It’s not just their story that shines. The counsel they share on marriage is unequal to any I’ve read—anywhere. They covered everything from expectations to forgiveness to withholding truth to porn with a candor I appreciated. I felt like I had my own marriage counseling couple in a book.

I know I was challenged—and still am challenged—by so much from Beyond Ordinary. It truly is a handbook for showing you what to do when a good marriage just isn’t enough.

I can’t recommend Beyond Ordinary enough.

To Justin and Trisha—thank you for showing God’s grace and forgiveness and sharing your story.

watch on tyndale.com

(in)RL Conference: Sign Up Now—for FREE!

January 14, 2013 by Amy Leave a Comment

Last year I “attended” (in)courage’s first (in)RL conference. I have attended in quotes because it was all online. Or, at least it was for me.

The idea is everyone watches from home on Friday and then on Saturday, small groups around the ~~country~~ world meet and watch the rest of the content together.

I signed up at the last minute last year—actually 20 minutes after it started! I couldn’t make it to a get-together Saturday but watched all the content from home and it was such a blessing.

Registration for this year’s conference on April 26th and 27th starts TODAY!

The best part of (in)RL is that it’s FREE.

AND if you register today, you get a copy of (in)courage 365 Daybrightener while supplies last (US residents only).

AND everyone gets a copy of the eBook: “Best of the Beach House 2012.”

This year they’re taking a closer look at what it takes to stay rooted in community when sometimes just walking away would be so much easier and tons more convenient. Women share stories of how they’ve chosen to stay through hard marriages, challenging parenting, worthwhile friendships. How choosing to stay has freed them more fully and unexpectedly than if they’d cut and run.

I will definitely be registering today and hoping to make it to a meetup on Saturday. Scott is working that weekend so I don’t think I can host but I’m eyeing the Cornelius meetup so I can finally meet Tracie—check out her blog if you don’t read it already, love her!

Check out the trailer for (in)RL below

How to Finally Quit Fearing

January 11, 2013 by Amy 7 Comments

Write on “Dive” for 5 minutes…no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

One of my dreams for you, my dear daughters, is that you dive–dive with abandon and joy and courage from whatever platform you may be standing on. Not with baby steps to the end and a falling off, hoping that the jump doesn’t fail but a running from the start, no-second-guessing, free-falling dive.

I asked you to fly with me. Literally, to take a little trip.

You started with your baby steps. “Do we really have to go?” “It’s not like riding in a car! It’s in the air"!” “What if the plane falls from the sky, mother?” My heart fell. Run, child, run! No need to fear! If you’d only let go, you would laugh with abandon and fly without fear.

But baby steps and more baby steps. Weeks and weeks of baby steps on the diving board and still no sign of that diving I dream for you.

I finally ask myself why I dive. Why is it that I’m able to run from the back of the board and dive without fear?

Aha, the answer is always the same.

I assumed that she has learned that it’s always the same, but no, I need to remind her, no teach her, the answer—the key to learning to dive, or fly, as it were without fear.

“You do know, dear daughter, that the very worst case scenario is that we go get to meet Jesus? That is the worst that can happen.”

She giggles because how funny that sounds.

“Yes, daughter, that’s what I mean. If the worse case scenario is actually the best case scenario after all, you have no need to fear.”

And she gets it. I can see it in her eyes she’s backing up from the baby steps, starting over at the beginning of the board and planning her run to the dive at the end.

It’s the same answer for all of us when we’re too afraid to dive isn’t it?

Jesus is waiting at the end of our worse-case scenario. No matter what we’re asked to do, no matter how badly we fail or fall or hurt or even die, Jesus will be there waiting to meet us.