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Archives for 2013

When You Think You Have Nothing to Offer

September 24, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

I’m over at Ashley Brooks’ place today talking about writing an e-book.  Even if you’re not writing a book, I think we can all relate to feeling like we have nothing to offer.  Would love for you to hop over and say hello.

 

 

writingpenWhat’s holding you back from writing an e-book? Time? Money? Know-how? 

For me, it was the belief that my e-book wouldn’t make a difference.

Eight years ago I had an emotional affair.  Years after it was over and my marriage was restored, I felt led to write the journey we had taken and lessons we had learned.  I was nervous about sharing my story because no one knew, but I was also convinced it wouldn’t matter.

I told myself my story wasn’t that big of a deal, that I didn’t write well enough to write an e-book, that no one would read it even if I did.  I mean, who was I?

In my head, I imagined I would write the book, my friends and family would learn of my mistakes and shun me and then everyone else wouldn’t care. All that work and there would be no point but more pain.

When it launched, however, I found quite the opposite.

Read the rest over at Ashley’s blog.

Filed Under: ebook

Our Weekend and the Start of Something New

September 23, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

Please skip to the end for a question if you’re skimming 🙂

 

After my post on Friday, I’m glad to report that this weekend was just what I needed.

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Friday night Scott and I were able to have a quick, last-minute date night at one of our favorite restaurants in Charlotte to use up an expiring LivingSocial deal.  We ate fast and didn’t stay long but the food was scrumptious and it was just nice to get dressed up and do something different.

Saturday we spent most of the day with my friend Dani and her family who just moved over an hour away.  The kids totally disappeared for the day to play dress up and choreograph dance routines. We got to catch up the entire afternoon after all our missed coffee dates and enjoy a yummy dinner together.

 

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The sugar-laden kids couldn’t help but photobomb our picture at Sonic

 

Among other things, I think they’ve helped us find just the thing that’s going to snap me out of my poor eating and exercise habits I talked about on Friday.

Scott and I both signed up for 24-Day Challenge (and as distributors) with AdvoCare.

Now, don’t worry, I’m not here to sell you on anything (although I will) but I do want to share this journey with you.

So what is AdvoCare? Basically, it’s a nutritional company.  The idea is to add things like probiotics, Omega3 fatty acids and cleansing products to make your body function properly.  For some, it’s a weight loss program, but for many, it’s simply a way to make your body perform at its highest level.

While I am concerned I’ve gained a few pounds, I’m mostly concerned I’m addicted to sugar and I know I’m not feeding my body the proper nutrients.  If I never lose a pound, I NEED to eat better. 

My family is wrought with cancer and diabetes and strokes and heart problems.  I’m not getting younger over here and I need to be smart about the choices I make.

Plus, I know a lot of this brain fog and memory problems are likely due to the sugar as well.  I just know if I can kick that and add in these products, I’ll be feeling 100% better.

What is the 24-Day Challenge? The 24-Day Challenge is a sort of kick-off to the AdvoCare program.  You can get products and use them without doing the challenge.  The challenge puts a set of products together for you in two phases that puts everything in to high-gear (forgive me, this is my newbie explanation).  The first is a 10 day cleansing cycle and then the second is called the Max Phase where it really ramps up your metabolism.

Can I do this without AdvoCare? Absolutely.  I’ve eaten clean before and stayed on a good exercise routine.  However, this time I need help.  I can’t seem to kick it on my own.  This will put me on a regimen that will keep me accountable and give me extra tools to be successful. 

Scott is doing this with me and I’m really excited to have something to do together.

We ordered all the products this weekend and plan to start later in the week.

 

Here’s my question:

I’ve thought about sharing frequent video updates from both of us as we go on the Facebook page and doing intermittent blog posts to share any progress.  I even wanted to see if anyone wanted to do the 24 day challenge with us.  I know it’s perfect timing for me as I head to Allume next month. We could wait and all start together if so? 

Or, I can just update you at the end and let you know how it went.  I really don’t want to sound sales pitchy and feel like I’m taking advantage of your time.  Although, believe me, if this helps, I will sing its praises.

So, tell me.  Do you want all the nitty gritty details from us as we go or just an update at the end?

Filed Under: AdvoCare, health

Struggling: A Confession

September 20, 2013 by Amy 7 Comments

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I lost a very important piece of paper yesterday and it left me panicky and feeling irresponsible and flighty.

Today I couldn’t find some medicine for our dog and I still can’t find it and it’s making me feel unorganized and not-together. 

Other parts of life are feeling out of control.

Let’s start with food.

I was doing really well at the beginning of this year with all my P90Xing.  I lost a bunch of weight.  I was in my happy place, feeling great.

And then Spring popped up.  Sunshine! Heat!  The pool!  P90X. Nobody had time for Tony and exercise bands anymore.

I never lose weight from exercising, but it does make me eat well so when I stopped exercising, I quit eating well.  Add in summer vacations and celebrations and I gained all the weight back and then some more.  Maybe you can tell, maybe you can’t.  But I can.  The only upside is I have boobs that are bigger than at least SOME 6th graders.

Normally I can snap myself out of a sugar addiction and get back on track.  I throw the Mountain Dews and ice creams and cookies and cupcakes back onto the “No” list and start chomping on carrots again.  But this time? It’s like I know how hard it is to let it go and eat well and I just don’t have the fortitude to make myself do it.  Plus, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are just yummy.

My poor diet is making me tired and lazy and exercising sounds like a terrible idea even though I know how desperately I need to given my desk job.

Let’s not discuss the financial implications of these bad habits.  Starbucks for breakfast? Sure!  Milkshakes for dessert? Yes please! Taco Bell for lunch? I do hear that bell ringing.

Our finances have not been properly monitored for months now.  We got hit with too many fees this summer just because I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t have the right money in the right place soon enough.  Unexpected medical bills threw me off kilter.

That made me feel very irresponsible and icky too.

The seasons changing always makes me feel a little depressed.  Addie Zimmerman called it Septembering yesterday. I relate to that even though mine doesn’t hit hard until we start Decembering.

Yesterday morning I forgot Emma’s Silk chocolate milk from her lunch and normally I’d just let her skip having it but I drove to the school at lunch and gave it to her.  I was screwing some things up but missing milk?  I could fix that.  She’d have her milk, oh yes.

The tears I blame on PMS but the feelings are in there. 

Inadequate, unorganized, undisciplined, lazy. 

I’d like to say they’re lies but I don’t know.  In some ways, they’re true.

Lysa TerKeurst posted this last night after ruminating on a lot of this:

God is okay with me even when I’m not okay with me. And that’s a beautiful truth.

That IS a beautiful truth. 

 

What areas of life are you struggling with right now?

Filed Under: random

Stitch Fix #8

September 19, 2013 by Amy 15 Comments

2013-09-18

 

After last month’s Stitch Fix delivery, I really wasn’t sure I’d go for #8 but another credit showed up (THANK YOU) and I couldn’t resist.

I’m so glad I did because this one was way, way better.

 

#1 Opaque Faceted Gems & Rhinestones Necklace

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First up is this necklace. It was at the top of the box when I opened it and I oohed and aahed.  I think it’s really pretty but I’m not sold on the colors.

$34

#2 Rossi Polka Dot Print Neck-Tie Blouse

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I was a little annoyed this blouse showed up. I told them in my feedback after last month I didn’t want any blouses with a neck tie.  However, the polka dots are insanely cute.  And if you can’t tell, this makes me feel like a nerdy librarian and let’s be honest, it’s not too far from the truth.

I feel like TiffanyD could pull this shirt off with some glamour but I’m not sure I can.

$48

#3 Ivy Zig-Zag Print Tab-Sleeve Blouse

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If you can’t tell, I like this one.  It has color, it has a pattern, it’s not tight, I like where it hits on my hips.  I know I’d wear this a lot. My only concern with a shirt like this is it won’t stay in style for very long.

$68

#4 Larsen Heart & Stripe Print Sweater

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Y’all.  After last month’s flamingo fiasco, I nearly laughed out loud when I found almost the exact same sweater except with hearts on it.  And most of you don’t know this about me, but I’m not a big fan of hearts.  They certainly have grown on me in the past years, but listen, I would NEVER wear this sweater.  Never.  Plus, it’s too small.  And just for the record, that’s what sarcasm looks like on my face.

$68

#5 Denna Colored Skinny Jean

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So that is my suck-in-my-gut face and the one above it is I’m-not-really-sure-about-these-pants face.  I love that Bella is in front of me, like I’m not really sure about these either.

These were actually really comfortable and I pinky swear I’m going to lose a few pounds for the winter so they won’t be quite so tight.  I love the color and the length is perfect for me.  Even if I don’t keep these, they’ve definitely convinced me to buy some colored jeans.

$78

 

I have $30 credit so I’m for sure keeping some things.  With Allume coming up, I’m willing to spend a little extra so I can wear it there and don’t have to go shopping beforehand.  I *think* the blue one is a keeper and I’m debating the polka dot blouse and pants.  I think the polka dot shirt would actually look good with the jeans as my stylist recommended.

You guys are always so good to help me pick though.  What do you think?

 

If you want to see my other fixes go here:


Stitch Fix #1

Stitch Fix #2

Stitch Fix #3

Stitch Fix #4

Stitch Fix #5

Stitch Fix #6

Stitch Fix #7

Filed Under: StitchFix

What I Wore Wednesday 09.18.2013

September 18, 2013 by Amy 9 Comments

It’s Wednesday when I share my outfits from the week.

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

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

 

 

Well, I didn’t realize it until putting this together but I must have been in a mood for black?

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After watching hours of Scandal and Olivia Pope’s amazing suits in her wardrobe, I decided to add a blazer to my dress for church this week.

 

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I saw someone where a top with their maxi dress in last week’s WIWW so I decided to try it out this week with my striped maxi.  LOVE wearing it like this.  It doesn’t slide up and down like a skirt would or leave indentions at my waist line.  Love that this is a little warmer than wearing it just sleeveless.

 

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I wore this to work yesterday.

Linked up to:

The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

Filed Under: WIWW

Twitterature – September 2013

September 16, 2013 by Amy 16 Comments

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I’m once again joining with Modern Mrs. Darcy for her monthly link-up for books called Twitterature.  The premise of this link-up is to share short, casual reviews of books we’ve been reading.

(affiliate links included below – thanks for supporting this site!)

 

My reading got a little put off by one book that I trudged through and then my marathon viewing of Scandal. Still, I was able to cross off a few this month. Let’s get to it!

 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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I mentioned last month I picked the first Harry Potter up second-hand to preview in case my daughters wanted to read it. 

I feel like such a bad reader but I couldn’t stand this book.  I feel like I might be pelted by a gaggle of sorcerer stones any minute. I respect Rowling’s ability to create likable characters and an interesting new world but I just wasn’t hooked in the least.

If I weren’t such a stickler about finishing books I start and previewing it for the girls, I would have dropped it midway.  I don’t have too many qualms about the girls reading it if they want I suppose.  Just not for me.  Maybe I’ll still pick up the audio book at some point and see if it changes my mind.

 

Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Call You to Do

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I saw Christine Caine three years ago at Catalyst.  She made a mark on me then and did it again with her debut novel Undaunted.  Part memoir and part inspiration, this book leaves you emboldened to do whatever God calls you to.

 

Eleanor & Park

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I read Eleanor & Park at Anne’s recommendation.  She’s calling it one of her favorites for the year.  I don’t think this beats The Fault in Our Stars for me but if you like Young Adult fiction at all, you’re going to want to pick this one up.  Incredibly charming and gritty all at once.  Lots of language I wasn’t a big fan of but there was a truthiness to it that led me to give it a pass. My only issue is the ending.  As cheesy as it might have been, I wanted a cleaner, happier ending.

 

I’m currently in the midst of listening to Tina Fey’s Bossypants and reading Jesus > Religion by Jeff Bethke, Anything by Jennie Allen and Jodi Picoult’s Keeping Faith.

 

Have you read any of these? What’s your latest favorite book?

Filed Under: Book Review

Scandal: My New Guilty Pleasure

September 13, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

I totally did NOT mean to find a new TV show.  Did. Not.  I’ve been enjoying my TV-less life the last year or so.  It’s freed so much time to read and write (and SLEEP) in the evenings. I don’t feel so attached to a TV schedule.  I feel freeee.

Well.

I decided to see what all the fuss about Scandal was.  MISTAKE.

 

scandal

It’s all my favorite dramas in one show.  If you combined The Practice, Dexter, Grey’s Anatomy and some political show, then that’s Scandal.  The only thing that would make it better is if Riggins from Friday Night Lights showed up as a client.

I should have known I would like it since Shonda Rhimes created it but I thought I was just OVER all the dramatics.  Turns out not so much.

It’s so good.  Except it’s not very good.  I mean, the show centers around an affair the President of the United States is having. There’s a lot of dirty politics and violence and lying and cover-ups and what not.  But seriously?  Such good characters and writing.

A few comments for you Scandal watchers:

(I’m on Season 2 Episode 10 11 12 right after the President gets out of the hospital asks for a divorce).

  • Kerry Washington is brilliant.
  • Even though it goes against everything I believe in real life, I love the President and Olivia together. I mean, not very many actors can pull off so much steam just looking at each other.
  • I love all the plays Olivia makes to fix things.  It’s never what I would think to do and I respect her ability to think like that (even though I know that’s not really a person but the writers? I love them for writing that).
  • I enjoy the fast-paced banter between the team.
  • I enjoy the long-running storylines.  I literally had to take notes on everything that was happening with Hollis and I LOVE that a TV show challenges me to think.
  • I really miss Steve from Season 1.
  • In Season 2, I don’t like that Olivia is back at the White House.  I mean, I like that she’s doing what she’s good at and has more reason to interact with Fitz, but I kind of miss her being at her place and the episode concentrating on whatever random person in trouble had stumbled in to her office. 
  • Huck fascinates me.  He’s like a cuddly Dexter.
  • I do not like the VP.  Her fake Southern accent is annoying and I cannot stand the way they are portraying her role as a conservative Christian.  I mean, seriously?  “It’s is God’s will” and all that nonsense.  It’s insulting.  This is part of the reason I quit watching Grey’s Anatomy actually.  I’m hoping since the President is getting better that she disappears quickly.

 

So yeah, that’s what I’ve been spending my extra time doing this week.

If you don’t watch it, just stay away—you’ll lose the next week or two of your life.  Seriously.

If you watch Scandal, DO NOT spoil anything for me pretty please but does the VP go away? Does Olivia stay at the White House?  Who are your favorite characters?  Share your love of the show in the comments!

Filed Under: tv

What I Wore Wednesday 09.11.2013

September 11, 2013 by Amy 6 Comments

It’s Wednesday when I share my outfits from the week.

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

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

 

Sep 11 tribute 

First I must take a moment to remember those that lost their lives on 9/11.  Still such vivid, sad memories from that day and the weeks that followed.  My prayers go out to the family and friends that still live with the scars.

 

On to what I wore…

It’s still so crazy hot here in the Carolinas.  In fact, I think it’s been hotter and drier in the last two weeks than the whole summer.  Even though I LOVE the warm weather, I’m so ready for a break from summer clothes.  I don’t feel very motivated to take pictures when you guys (and I) have seen the same outfit so many times!

 

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This was a work from home day.  We also had our small group over that evening. Comfy and cool.

 

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I did manage a bit of fall clothes yesterday at an offsite meeting for work. I was so excited to find these Ann Taylor jeans brand new with tags at a second-hand store—score!

 

 

Let’s connect!  Like AmyJBennett.com on Facebook.  Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter.

Linked with:

The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

Filed Under: WIWW

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Hey! I'm so glad you're here. I'm Amy, working mom of 3 in the Southern suburbs. I love Jesus, my family, books, chocolate and coffee. I write about faith, parenting, adoption, marriage, fashion, and design. Read more here

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