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(in)RL and Ultimate eBook Bundle

April 25, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

Happy Friday to you!  I’m sure I’m not the only one happy to see the weekend. I have two quick things I want you to know about for your weekend.

 

inrl

(in)RL conference is a FREE online women’s conference happening today and tomorrow.  Today, you watch the webcast on your own at one of the screening times – 9am, 1pm, 6pm or 9pm EST and connect with friends, if you choose, via Twitter with the hashtag #inRL. 

And then tomorrow, you can either join a meetup to watch the webcast or you can watch on your own as well.  You have ZERO to lose by signing up and checking it out.  I was so encouraged the last two years by this conference and did I mention it’s FREE?  Go sign-up here: http://www.incourage.me/inrl-countdown

 

 

ultimatebundle2014

The other thing I want you to know about is the Ultimate Homemaking eBook bundle is back!  You might remember my book Entangled was in it last year.  They’re back this year with 78 eBooks  PLUS 10 awesome bonuses which includes 10 DaySpring greeting cards, $15 store credit to HopeInk and 3 FREE eyeshadows among others for $29.97.  Hello, it’s worth it for the bonuses! Plus, check out all these books you get!

 

 

BigBookBundle

If you want to check out all the books and bonuses, head over to their site. It’s ONLY available until Monday so you need to jump on this while it’s available.

 

So there, I hope I made your weekend even more awesome!  Share with your friends so they have an awesome-er weekend too. Have a great one!

Filed Under: random

Saving Hundreds a Year and Avoiding Appointments By Cutting My Own Hair

January 9, 2014 by Amy 20 Comments

cutting_hair

About two years ago I decided I’d had enough of paying nearly $100 every time I went to the stylist every 6-8 weeks.  Let me do the math for you—anywhere from $6-800 a year.  So, I started growing my hair out.  With a longer, simpler hair cut, I figured I could afford the chance at getting a cheaper cut.  If someone really messed it up, I could have it fixed. And really, Scott prefers it longer. 

Plus, I’m terrible at making hair cut appointments –or any appointments for that matter.  What is it about calling someone and having to commit to a time??

For several months while I was growing it out, I used some Groupons to help with the money issue, but the scheduling issue still lingered.

In August 2012, I had my last professional hair cut.  I started trimming my hair, following the stylist’s last lines.  But soon, my hair was a few inches past my shoulders and started looking scraggly.

It was ‘do or die time.

Would I just be a grown-up and make the appointment and fork out the cash or attempt it on my own?

Oh, you guessed it, I decided I would try it.  My hair is super thin and I had a few extra inches of hair so if I screwed it up, I’d go in and let someone fix it.

I am very happy to say that not only was the process doable, it was actually fun.  Maybe I missed my calling.  Nah, probably not. However, there was something extremely freeing about letting myself adjust my hair cut as I wanted.  No money, no appointment.  It’s totally working for me.

I followed this YouTube tutorial to cut a long, layered hair cut.

 

Is it perfect? Probably not.  Definitely not.  But it works for me.

If you have short hair or super thick hair or curly hair, I can’t say I’d recommend this.  Thin, straight hair is a benefit for once.

Have you ever cut your own hair?

Filed Under: random

What I’m Into – November 2013

December 2, 2013 by Amy 9 Comments

November was a busy month of birthday parties capped off with Thanksgiving.  I read a lot and watched Netflix with the family to decompress.  I don’t have a ton of stuff to share but let’s get to it!

Online Shopping

cybermonday

I know this might be an odd thing to say I’m into, but I’ve definitely been into online shopping.  Given today is Cyber Monday, I thought it worth mentioning.  I bought all the girls birthday presents online and the only Black Friday shopping I did was some poinsettias from Lowe’s.  The rest was done from the comfort of my office chair.  Even when we did go out for a few presents this weekend, we found that there were better deals online.  And who doesn’t love to have a bunch of boxes show up on your front porch?

If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, we’ve found it pays for itself easily.  Also, did you see they’re testing 30 minute deliveries with drones.  I’d be into that.

A serious footnote: I’ve been wrestling with all of this consumerism this holiday season given this post I wrote about Catching Fire. I can’t seem to find my way through it yet and life marches on—we’re crossing our Christmas list off the only way we know for now. Maybe I’ll write more tomorrow on Fair Trade Tuesday.

 

Earthpaste Toothpaste

earthpaste

Soo…I never thought I’d be including this, but I really am into this natural toothpaste called Earthpaste.  I got it as a free gift on one of the eBook bundles.  It’s made out of clay and has no foaming agents.  At first, I was completely turned off.  But honestly, the more I use it, the more I prefer it to traditional toothpaste. 

I don’t feel like my mouth gets as icky in between brushes, I feel like my breath is better and my friend Becky that uses it too said it’s really helped her teeth unlike any others she’d tried.  I have it in the lemon flavor but it also comes in peppermint, wintergreen, cinnamon, and spearmint.

 

Mocha Brownies

IMG_0841

Now let me give you a good reason to need toothpaste…Pioneer Woman’s mocha brownies.  I’ve made these several times in the past, but again for Emma’s birthday this month after we were caked-out.  It always gets rave reviews, but be ready for a serious sugar rush!  As you can see, they’re more icing than brownies!

 

Christmas Music

christmasspotify

We started decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving so I’ve already been into Christmas music.  I’m not one of those crazed Christmas music fans, but it doesn’t bother me to hear it early either.  I found a few good lists on Spotify (FREE music!) that are perfect background music for the season.

  • Classic Christmas
  • Pop Christmas
  • A good mix of pop and traditional

 

Books

WhatImIntoNov2013

I didn’t read a ton, but I did manage to complete a few books.  I admit, this month’s books are a little unfair.  I read a few Advanced Reader’s Copies I got from Allume. 

Restless – Jennie Allen’s book coming out in January is a next step from her book Anything.  It’s an answer to those calls you have way down deep that there’s something more.  I was underlining this one like crazy—something I only do when a book is one of my favorites.

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode – Crystal Paine’s book is another January release.  If you’ve read Money Saving Mom for long, you know Crystal is like a productivity ninja.  This book is all of her productivity secrets rolled together.  I’ve learned so much from her over the years and I can’t imagine this wouldn’t motivate someone.  She aims to stress less, sleep more and restore your passion.  I highly recommend it.

If You Find Me – I read this YA fiction after reading a passing social media comment about it.  It was ok but nothing to rave over.  It had some sensitive subjects in it, but I was drawn to the theme of adoption.  It wasn’t terrible, but I can’t say I highly recommend it either.

Speaking of books, I’m reading through Ann Voskamp’s Advent book The Greatest Gift his month and posting about it on the Facebook page.  Join me there!

 

What have YOU been into this month?


Check out more What I’m Into posts over at Hopeful Leigh

Filed Under: Book Review, music, random, Recipes

Sole Hope – An Invitation

November 13, 2013 by Amy 10 Comments

At Allume, the hallways were lined with non-profits—so many that are already close to my heart—Samaritan’s Purse, Mercy House Kenya, Compassion—but it seems this year the Lord had one in particular he wanted to stick with me. Sole Hope has not left my mind since Allume.

 

solehopeboy

Sole Hope’s goal is to make shoes for children in Uganda who are affected by soil borne conditions like jiggers.  They reuse jean material and tires and use locally trained shoemakers to make shoes for children to prevent diseases. They help clean the children’s feet at clinics and then give them a pair of shoes.

solehope

I had no idea this was even a THING until they showed this video at Allume (warning—graphic):

 

 

Did you watch?  Because that’ll make you want to DO SOMETHING.

And the really, really fun thing is we CAN do something super easy!  All it takes is a sharpie, a pair of scissors and some time to attend a SHOE CUTTING PARTY.

Through a shoe party, participants trace and then cut jeans based on templates that will then be used by the Ugandan shoemakers.  Not only are the children provided with shoes, but local women are provided with a job.

solehopemachine

Some of my too-small jeans I took to Allume to donate are now on their way to Uganda to cover some little feet!  It’s like the BEST THING EVER!!

And guess what??

I’m hosting a local shoe cutting party and you’re invited!!

 

Sole-hope-Shoe-cuttingposte

 

If you’re reading this, you’re invited!  I don’t care how far away you are, whether we know each other and don’t talk much, or we’re BFFs in real life, I’d love to have you here!  Bring as many jeans as you want, a pair of your favorite fabric scissors and $10 donation if you can swing it  (not required—it’s used to pay the shoemakers).

I’m giving you plenty of notice–it will be at my house on Friday, December 6, 6:30-8:30.  I’ll have coffee and snacks and have everything organized so we can make the most of our time.  I’m planning to have my kids there and if you have older kids that can cut, BRING THEM too (or not, if you want a kid-free evening).  

Consider this your official invitation—just let me know in the comments here or in email at amyjbennett AT gmail DOT com if you plan on attending. But, if you’re local and we’re friends on Facebook, you’ll be getting a Facebook event invitation there as well.

If you want to see some past shoe cutting parties in action, head right over here.

If you aren’t local to me or can’t get here that night, host your own shoe cutting party.  Just do it one night with your family or invite your small group or your best friends!  For just $15 you can order a 10 person kit that can be reused over and over.

 

Alume has given me permission to show photos from the cutting party that happened on Saturday at Allume.  For folks like me, knowing what you’re walking into really helps:

 

Allume October 2013-AllumeCandids 2-0156

 Allume October 2013-AllumeCandids 2-0157

Allume October 2013-AllumeCandids 2-0158

Allume October 2013-AllumeCandids 2-0160   

Allume October 2013-AllumeCandids 2-0165

photos courtesy of Allume/Kim DeLoach Photography

As you can see, it really is as easy as tracing and cutting!  We can do hard things but we can also do super easy things like this!

 

Ah!!  I’m so excited! I really would like to make a big impact for Sole Hope to show them our support.  Make plans to come out!

Let me know—who’s interested in coming or hosting your own party??

 

 

*images courtesy of SoleHope.org

Filed Under: random

On Neatening and Broken Windows

November 12, 2013 by Amy 8 Comments

desk

I recently had a lightbulb moment regarding homemaking I want to tell you about, but first I need to preface it with two truthful, but funny comments from my children.  It should set the tone for the type of homemaker I am regarding neatening, or what Cheryl Mendelson of Home Comforts calls straightening up.

 

Messy Is the Norm

Last week I was straightening up for our weekly small group we host on Thursdays.  Emma was sitting on the recliner in the living room and says, “Why are you cleaning up so much—our house doesn’t look like that.”

“Are you suggesting I’m being fake by cleaning up?”

She confirmed that indeed, she thought I was being disingenuous by straightening up the house before company came over.  I get what she was getting at, but I’m pretty sure company would rather not trip over her tennis shoes and sit on bags from Walmart.  In any case, I guess the point is it stung that she thought messy was the norm in our home.

Yesterday I was home because of Veteran’s Day and the kids had school.  I spent most of the day straightening up the house, trying to finally catch up on all the catch-all areas that I can never catch-up on. 

Lexi came home from school, walked through the house to set her stuff down, went to the bathroom and what-not and asked if the cleaning lady had come.

“Yes, your cleaning-lady-mother came!” I quipped, realizing once again that messiness was more norm than I realized.

So, just to level-set, this is what we’re dealing with in our house. 

My house gets professionally cleaned every two weeks, it gets neatened in the common areas once a week for small group and the entire house is neatened just before the cleaning lady comes. I try to get the girls to clean their room floors every night but that’s not always the case.  Scott usually keeps a handle on the floors being clear but other than that, it’s a free for all.

One cannot be expected to have 100% of a house straightened 100% of the time. It’s just not possible.  However, I admit that I had some weird thoughts about the whole neatening process after reading the neatening section of Home Comforts. 

Let me explain.

 

The Broken Window

In Home Comforts, Cheryl explains the broken window theory.  The broken window theory is something police officers uncovered in derelict neighborhoods.  If an abandoned home had a broken window, then delinquents were more likely to take the vandalism one notch higher, like graffiti.  And if there was graffiti on the house, they were more likely to break in the house.  By fixing the small issues like broken windows, police could significantly reduce vandalism.

She applies the concept to our homes.  When we walk into our kitchens and there is a glass on the counter, we are more likely to set our dirty glass down beside it.  However, if the counter is clean, we are more likely to put the dish in the dishwasher so the counter stays clean. If we can fix the broken windows in our homes, it’s more likely to cut down on the need for neatening.

This concept was a lightbulb moment for me.

In the past, I would look at a room and rate the messiness of it.  I rated the messiness of the room by how long it would take to clean it.  If just a pair of shoes was on the floor, it would only take 30 seconds to take the shoes to my room.  If there was also a book out that I was reading, that would only take another 30 seconds to carry it to my bookshelf.  So, in all, it would only take a minute—literally—to clean the room.  If the rating was very low like that, I would consider the room nearly clean and I would not see a need to straighten it. 

Once the room’s rating was high, meaning it would take several minutes, or even hours to clean, I labeled it messy and then figured I should do something about it.  The problem was once it was going to take several minutes or hours to fix, I rarely would have such a chunk of time to actually clean it.  This made the problem all the worse because everyone saw it as a free-for-all since it was already messy.

This broken window theory has totally thrown a wrench into my thoughts. 

 

The Broken Window Applied

Now when I see just one thing out of place, I see the potential and in fact, psychological impacts, of not “fixing the broken window.”

Now I don’t see a room that will take no time to clean, I see something that could cause lots of other things in the room to gather AND something I could fix very quickly NOW.

I’m not saying I have a neat house 100% of the time now (please see my children’s comments above), but I am saying that the broken window concept has changed how I look at a room and has, in fact, made me neaten a room when it takes just 30 seconds to do so instead of waiting.  As a result, I think the rooms are staying cleaner (emphasis on the “er” part) and I’m only neatening for seconds at a time instead of several minutes or even hours.

 

Whew, welcome to my neatening neurosis.  How do you view neatening?  Is it something you do religiously or just wait until you have lots to straighten at once?

Filed Under: random

What I’m Into – October 2013

November 1, 2013 by Amy 20 Comments

Welcome to November!  This is our craziest month as a family.  Both the girls’ birthdays are in November as well as other family members and friends, Thanksgiving hits and then holiday shopping starts and work tends to be busy too.  I’m not one to celebrate busy, so I’m taking a deep breath in as I type.

I really wanted to share some things that were making me happy in October. I skipped September because really?  I was into chocolate ice cream and cookies and that’s not helping anyone.

 

AdvoCare

advocare

Whether you saw my results post last week or not, it bears repeating.  AdvoCare totally dug me out of my funk and I feel GREAT.  In fact, I’ve lost a few more pounds since posting and I’m still feeling terrific.

I can’t get enough of the Fruit Punch Spark energy drink in the mornings. I get just as excited about that as I did my coffee.  Seriously.

 

Pure Protein Bars

pureprotein

One way that I’ve been able to handle the high protein/low carb diet is protein bars in the afternoon.  I’ve tried several of them and BY FAR the best one is Pure Protein in chocolate peanut butter.  It’s like eating a Snickers.  Like, without the caramel and nuts and yummy goodness but, you know, close when you’re eating low carb.  Buy them by the box at Walmart.

 

30 Day Shred

 

30day

30 Day Shred is an oldie but I keep returning to it over and over.  It’s a solid work-out and I completed the 30 days in October.  You can’t beat just 20 minutes of working out in your living room with just a set of hand weights.

 

BIC Velocity Pen

 

bicvelocity

If you’re a pen freak, you probably already know about this pen but seriously? The BIC Velocity is the smoothest pen EVER.  Love.

 

New Girl

newgirl

I decided to check out New Girl on Netflix and I’m a fan–not like, I can’t live without this fan, but fill in the Friday night nothing to do fan.  It has quite a bit of adult humor and the morals/lifestyles are atrocious, but it’s funny.  Scott and I watch it together and I spend most of it punching his shoulder across the bed laughing.  I finally get the Zooey love.

 

David Walker Band

 davidwalkercollage

I mentioned this band in my Allume recap but since I’ve been home, I’ve been listening to David Walker’s music and oh my word, they are GOOD.  If you want some good worship music you can leave on repeat, go check it out on Spotify.  Fragrance and Only You are my favorites.

 

What I’m Reading

 whatimintobooks

Based on our reader survey, I think I’m going to bow out from Twitterature each month but I think this is a good spot for it to land.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh turned out to be one of my favorite novel EVER. 

I did a full post of Jesus > Religion but it only scratched the surface of the book.  It’s really fantastic. I really, really hope you check it out if you’re a Jesus follower.

A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman was like a long poem—beautiful writing.  The Type A side of me wanted it to be more practical but it’s really more about a perspective shift.  From the site it says, “Do you desperately fear you have nothing to offer the world but secretly hope you’re wrong?” This book is definitely an encouragement when you feel you have nothing to offer.  We ALL do.

Me Before You was a fantastic novel with great characters and interesting storyline but darn it, why couldn’t it have a better ending??

I also read Tina Fey’s Bossypants which I found hilarious but not necessarily up my alley.

Anything by Jennie Allen was good but not great. I wish I would have read this after hearing her live.

Jodi Picoult’s Keeping Faith made me frustrated and mad–I threw it on the floor when I was done.

 

BONUS!

I have a copy of A Million Little Ways to give away!  Just leave me a comment—tell me something from the list you’d like to check out or something you were into in October!  I’ll draw a name next Monday!

 

Linked to October 2013 What I’m Into

Filed Under: health, random, tv

A Suburban Mom and a Rock Star

October 4, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

Guns-N-Roses-Guitar-HD-680x425

Scott’s been on a kick listening to 80’s rock bands.  He really likes the guitar, so he was especially interested in listening to Slash, the guitar player from Guns N’ Roses (Sweet Child O’ Mine video.  You’re welcome).  One day as I was working, Scott was watching his performances and as people usually do on YouTube, he got a little sidetracked and started watching interviews of Slash.

In one, they talked about his sordid past including partying and drug addictions.  In this particular interview, he was asked about his history with women.  I listened as he confirmed rumors that he would rent a hall of hotel rooms and have different women, not knowing about each other, lined up for the night.

I was appalled.

How could he think so little of the women to do that to them?  Surely the women knew they were only one in a long line of women he had used, if not in the same night, then over his career.  Did they think so little of themselves?  What in the world would make him do this?

He didn’t go into details and I haven’t done a lot of reading but I guess a sex addiction played a role. Even if an addiction had taken over, doesn’t it all start with us doing what we want because we can over and over?

I kept thinking about this for days.

—————————————————————————————

As I mentioned last week, I started eating well again.  The days tick by and I realize just how enslaved to sugar I’d become. I wanted to quit but couldn’t.  Just one more cookie, one more cupcake, one more latte, one more bowl of ice cream.  I’ll start Monday.  Oh, wait, tomorrow.  Next month.

I wanted it.  And no one was stopping me.

I believe it when I hear sugar is as addictive as heroin.  Not that I know how addictive heroin is, but I know sugar is addictive.

A sugar addiction and sex addiction aren’t comparable in consequence, but possibly in cause.

It’s easy to dismiss Slash as disgusting, perverted and nothing like me but as I thought about Slash and his hall full of women, I realized I had no better excuse.  I wanted it, could have it and did.

On its own, though, isn’t doing what we want the best part of being an adult?

Gretchen Rubin recently tweeted this just days before I started changing my eating habits and it rang so true to me:

 

image

 

We have freedom to explore those things we want to do but while they temporarily feel good, in the end, they bring death. If you read some of the articles by these legit rock stars they’ll admit it’s fun for a time, but it just cannot sustain a healthy lifestyle, or a life at all.

Certainly I’m not suggesting we should all abstain from things like sex or sugar just because it leads to addiction.  But for some of us, we should.  Part of growing as an adult is learning those things that make us eventually feel worse instead of better and then stopping them. As a Christian, we have a great running start at this as sin always leads to death.  Still, we have much freedom in Christ and we still have to be wise in the gray areas.

I suppose I share all this to remind myself, and maybe you too, of a few things. 

This gluttonous suburban mom is at times no better than a sex-crazed rock star. 

None of us can throw stones–love before you judge. 

Pleasure doesn’t equate to goodness. Let’s repeat that—pleasure doesn’t equate to goodness.

Sometimes we need help walking away–reach out to someone.

Changing your life is possible—a heart changed by Christ is the best.

And true wisdom is knowing and doing what leads to life, regardless if you’re in front of your fridge or a hotel room door.

Filed Under: random, spiritual stuff

Struggling: A Confession

September 20, 2013 by Amy 7 Comments

misty

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

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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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