Amy J. Bennett

One Year Without Phone or Cable

August 6, 2013 by Amy 20 Comments

Lexi watching Saved by the Bell through Netflix on my phone

One year ago we decided within days to get rid of both cable and our traditional home phone. A few people have asked me how it’s going so I thought it’d be good to share a review one year later.

So, here’s all the ins and outs of life without traditional phone or cable.

No Home Phone

Because of the hours I spend on conference calls, I used the phone so much for this purpose that I have an Analytic Call Tracking, we’ve been using a Google voice line in combination with an OBi box as well as our cell phones, of course.

I have had connection issues on my meetings a handful of times but compared to the number of hours I’ve used it–probably 1,000 hours–it’s been inconsequential. In those moments, I’ve switched over to my cell.

The savings of about $500 this year make it worth it. The fact that we’ve had no telemarketers calling confirms we have no plans to go back.

No Traditional Cable

There’s multiple aspects to how we’ve felt about surviving without cable so I thought I’d review from a few different perspectives.

From the Family

The Kids

The kids had a hard time in the beginning when they couldn’t just switch on the TV and stream their favorite shows one after another.

Since then, Netflix has become the staple. Please don’t make the mistake thinking the kids don’t watch TV without cable. They log plenty of hours (maybe more) watching marathons of a particular series. Sometimes they’ll cycle through all the Good Luck, Charlie episodes while other days they’re cycling through Saved by the Bell.

They’d tell you they want DirecTV back but it’s certainly enough to keep them satisfied.

The Husband

Scott was a news and documentary TV watcher. He misses Fox News and can’t get enough of it when we stay at a hotel.

We bought an XM radio base for him to listen to Fox News channel but over the year, even time on that has decreased.

Netflix has enough Discovery Channel type shows like Shark Week to handle his sciencey preferences.

Scott agrees it’d be nice to have back but it’s not worth the money.

Me

In the past, you could have easily called me a TV addict but I do not miss cable in the least. In fact, my TV time has decreased over the last year to almost no screen time unless I’m watching something with the kids.

Last fall, I kept up with the last few shows I was watching (Revenge, Once Upon a Time, Parenthood, Arrow) through Hulu but all of them fizzled for me mid-season.

I watched a few of the season finales in the spring just to see how they ended. This summer I couldn’t even tell you what was on TV—except The Bachelorette which I do kind of miss on finale nights like last night!

Every once in awhile I’ll watch a few Mad Men episodes, finally watching Gilmore Girls is on my to-do list and I’ll watch Sherlock Holmes and Downton Abbey when they come back out. Maybe I’ll stay up to date with Parenthood or Arrow this fall but all in all, TV is just way down the priority list these days.

Anything I do want to watch will be later through Hulu or Netflix.

My inner fan girl is shedding a few tears but honestly, I feel more free than ever before. I have plenty of time to read and I’m not constantly hounded by a list of shows I’m behind on. I don’t feel like I’m wasting time while I watch and it’s just right for me in this season.

The Devices

Roku

We have a PS3 in the living room and use our subscriptions on that device but we bought the Roku device for our bedroom. The Roku itself works perfectly but we bought the wifi version and our connection in our bedroom is horrible so we often get frustrated and give up. I would have skipped the Roku or at the very least, gotten the hard-wired one.

Digital Antennae

We rarely–RARELY–watch live TV. It’s been great to pick up live national events like the Christmas parade or Super Bowl but other than that, we don’t use it.

I’d guess for those that watch Sports, this would be a must if you got rid of DirecTV but for us, it’s a good thing this was only a one-time cost or it certainly wouldn’t have been worth it.

XM Radio Base

As I mentioned above, we bought an XM radio base for Scott to listen to FOX News. His time on that steadily decreased but it has been nice to have the music on in the background. While I doubt I’d buy it again, it is a nice-to-have.

The Subscriptions

Netflix

We had Netflix before leaving cable and it’s an absolute must without cable.

Hulu Plus

We bought this subscription thinking we’d keep up with our shows on Hulu on our Roku but that hasn’t been the case. Even when I was watching my shows, I found I watched them on my computer and given our issues with Roku, I’d cancel Hulu Plus if it were not for the kids who love of Minute to Win It and Wipe Out.

Amazon Prime

I already had Amazon Prime for the shipping but a few times we have picked up some movies and streamed them through our PS3. I certainly wouldn’t buy Amazon Prime just for the streaming but it’s been nice as a package deal.

All that to say we could do just fine with a regular Hulu account, a Netflix subscription and our PS3 and computer. We’ve saved at minimum $600 this year with no plans to change a thing.

Lots of questions for you—if you have cable, are you thinking of making the switch, what would you miss the most, what shows am I missing?! If you’ve cut the cords, what other tips and tricks have you learned?

The Fault in Our Stars Review

August 5, 2013 by Amy 7 Comments

I finished The Fault in Our Stars yesterday and declared it one of my favorite novels ever. Although I haven’t reviewed a book on its own in awhile and I even had plans for another post today, I need some space to gush.

If you haven’t read the book, please do two things for me. Go buy the book. And until you do, don’t read anymore of this post.

If you’ve read the book, please prepare your typing fingers because I need you to gush with me in the comments.

the-fault-in-our-stars-okay

Here are some Gushy Thoughts about the book:

What I loved most about this book is it’s fearless. John Green wasn’t scared to make an entire book about kids with cancer. Who does that? Who wants to live in a world of Kids with Cancer long enough to write, edit and deliver a novel about it? I can’t imagine the writing process was an entirely happy one but I’m so glad he wasn’t afraid to live there for awhile. He was brave to make Isaac blind and Van Houten miserable and Augustus dead.
I love that John Green writes for writers. He makes his characters have conversations about the improper use of “literally”, centers an entire plot line about a character’s need to know the ending to a story and often use poetry. Even though I don’t get poetry, I appreciate that he does, that the characters do and there’s still something romantic about it.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.”

There’s a truthiness and grit to Hazel without her being annoying and overly sarcastic. She gushes over the boy often but only because she’s been pushed to the point by Augustus where it really demands it. I was grinning like a fool at Augustus too so I’d be upset if she was too cynical about love.
So maybe Augustus was too much. I mean, he was a basketball playing, cancer suriving, good-looking, poetry quoting, wish granting, self-sacrificing boy but I mean. He died. He’s allowed to be awesome.

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

I want to relive their Amsterdam trip. Even though they were disappointed and really didn’t get what they were going for,the conflict made it all the more interested to read and the night they had together was well, epic.

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”

I couldn’t have been happier with the ending. Her mother was moving on and Hazel didn’t feel so much like a grenade anymore. Hazel got a kind of goodbye from Augustus and an ending to her story all in one swoop. Even though we don’t ever know what happened to Anna’s mom, I rather prefer it that way. It’s clear Hazel isn’t going to survive, but I’m glad that Green neither saved her nor put us through her death.

I know I’ll post this and think of 27 more things to gush about. Ever since I finished it yesterday, I keep thinking about it.

So here’s your chance folks, gush about this book with me. I mean, please tell me you loved it too. There wasn’t anyone that hated is there? I can’t imagine but tell me if you did.

Is there a movie in the works for this book? I haven’t looked it up and haven’t decided whether I want one although I already have been trying to decide who could do Augustus justice. Michael Rady (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) is at the top of my list right now.

Now, GO GUSH! Okay? Okay.

On the Braces Train

August 1, 2013 by Amy 12 Comments

I got braces during my 9th grade year. I had to get 4 teeth pulled because my mouth was so crowded.

I remember having to gnaw on PB&Js at school lunch, change out bands and nurse sore cheeks with wax. There’s no doubt braces aren’t exactly fun.

My 10th grade picture, about 6 months after getting braces. (The necklace was a birthday gift from Scott. Hello 90’s and gold chains.)

I’d had them 2.5 years when I begged to get them off for my senior pictures but he said they just weren’t ready. I finally had them removed at the end of my senior year and all the discomfort was worth it.

Fast forward 15 years.

I had no idea that orthodontists these days start looking at kids’ teeth as early as 7 or 8 years old. When one of Emma’s best friends got braces on over a year ago, we realized we were already behind.

When Emma saw what her friend was going through at first, Emma didn’t want a single thing to do with braces. And that meant I didn’t want to either. There’s no way I would force the issue. It’s enough work and pain when you want them but it would be absolute torture if she didn’t want them and I was having to force extra hygiene, bands and wax on her.

But now that Emma’s friend is nearly getting hers off, Emma wants her turn. And listen, I’m striking while the iron is hot. If she’s into it and ready for the work, then I am too. The orthodontist said there was no harm in her waiting until she was older. She doesn’t have any glaring issues worthy of an emergency but she’s ready, she has a buddy that’s been-there, done-that and that’s enough for me.

So, her treatment plan looked something like this: she’ll have spacers for one week in her back teeth to make room for brackets.

Then, get the expander which will widen the roof of her mouth by turning a screw device twice a day for 10 days. Her mouth is tiny like mine and they’re trying to avoid pulling her teeth like mine.

The expander will stay in her mouth for at least 3 months to ensure her mouth doesn’t move back. However, the braces will go in along with the expander and they’ll stay for 2 years.

*Deep breath*

So far we’ve completed the spacers and tomorrow will be our last day of turning the expander. Braces will be coming in just a few weeks.

The first few days weren’t really fun. She was having trouble keeping things out of the roof of her mouth and her teeth were sore. We were keeping her hopped up on medicine almost all the time. She only wanted to eat things like cottage cheese, yogurt, mashed potatoes and smoothies. Since we’re gluten free, it made eating EXTRA fun.

Right now, things are getting worse before they’re getting better and I admit I’m a little panicky.

Here she is last week before the expander.

Her front two teeth are perfectly aligned but you can see the back of her mouth is very narrow, she has an overbite and her bottom teeth are not growing properly because of it.

She got her expander last Wednesday and here’s how much it’s changed already:

You can see the back of her mouth is wider. On her right side, you can see a back tooth you couldn’t see before. Most glaring though is the space in the front.

Last night I told Scott, “Did we really pay for her to have a gap in her teeth??”

It’s totally expected (I actually think it’s kind of adorable) and the braces will immediately fix it but still, it makes me a little panicky for it to get worse before it gets better.

I had originally planned to get her braces on several weeks before school started so we were doing all of this during the summer but due to vacation and holidays, it looks like she’ll be getting her braces right as school starts.

*Deep breath*

She’s actually having fun with it all though. Just this morning, she said she likes turning the key and will miss it after tomorrow and she likes using her waterpik. She’s already got the color picked out she wants on her bands the first time.

That’s exactly the attitude I’d hoped she’d have when we ever decided to get braces so all in all, I’m calling it so far, so good.

I’ll be updating you (with permission from Emma) through our braces journey to let you know how it goes. I know it’s helped tremendously having someone we know go through the same thing just before us.

Did you have braces? Do your kids have braces? Any tips/tricks/advice is welcome!

Posted with permission from Miss Emma

What I Wore Wednesday – 7.24.2013

July 31, 2013 by Amy Leave a Comment

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.

If you read my post Friday, you’ll see last week was a tough one. I didn’t have time to take too many pictures and one day, I just never got around to taking a shower. Just one of those days I’m thankful I work from home most days.

Most weeks, I highlight my every day casual style but I thought I’d show you the highs and lows of this week too. From lounge wear with a top knot, a dress for night out to dinner with friends and another style I rarely photograph—a business casual work outfit.

Clearly I wasn’t inspired by any colors in this outfit, but not everything in nature is colorful and happy either. This storm picture seemed appropriate, somewhat in color but mostly in subject.

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

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

What we Wore at Suburbs Mama

What I Needed When I Needed It

July 29, 2013 by Amy 1 Comment

One of my pastors always said God gives what you need when you need it.

I believe it.

Last week was hard and this week probably won’t be any easier. But this weekend was a pocket of rest in between where God gave me what I needed. It all came in the form of others, as he so often does.

While the weekend provided lots of rest—I really did take a Sunday nap—and fun moments there were 3 times where I felt like God was really providing what I needed.

On Organized Playroom

The first will likely sound like the least spiritual provision to anyone ever, but my mom spent hours upon hours Friday and Saturday helping to reorganize the kids’ playroom. You other moms will recognize this as the Godsend that it is.

I have spent hours through the years (here’s one iteration) doing the same—Barbies here, Polly Pocket here and American girl there—only to have them completely destroy it over and over. In fact, when it’s the most organized is when it’s the destroyed the fastest. The whole thing makes you want to bang your head on the wall incessantly.

The past few years I’d kind of given up on the whole deal. Everything got picked up off the floor and thrown in bucket and good luck, kids!

We’d gotten to the point where we’d just close the door. Each time I walked by, it mocked me reminding me what a failure I was and how entirely spoiled the kids were can’t you just get it together.

My organization loving mom wanted a good challenge apparently because she volunteered to come and give it another heave-ho.

I got really nervous for her when she kept dumping entire boxes on their end and Barbie shoes and chards of used crayon went flying everywhere.

By day two, Mom was laughing at the disaster but only because the only alternative was to cry.

It was bad.

She pressed on though and while there is still organization of each “station” to be done, there are in fact, stations in the playroom now—American Girl, Barbie, medical lab, houses, parking garage and crafts.

The kids are ooh-ing and ahh-ing at toys they haven’t seen in years. I haven’t seen them play this much with their toys in quite some time. With Emma 11 this November I know time is running short on their use and before we know it we’ll be transforming this room once again.

Needless to say, getting something DONE is just what I needed after a terribly hard and somewhat unproductive week. Thank you, Mom.

A Hug from a Friend

Lysa TerKeurst’s conference SheSpeaks happened over the last few days here in the Charlotte area and I happened to see a tweet from Holley Gerth last week asking who was going to be around. Although I would LOVE to go to SheSpeaks, I just haven’t been able to make it all work so I wasn’t attending. However, since it’s only 30 minutes away I immediately tweeted Holley back about crashing the hotel and meeting up with her.

You might remember, I spent some time with Holley in a few sessions this past spring so I was really looking forward to saying thanks in person.

I ended up heading up there Saturday morning and listening in to Holley’s session on God-sized dreams. It was just the encouragement I needed to hear.

One takeaway I thought I’d share was that Holley defines success not by a number or published book but by simple obedience. If we do what God calls us to do then we have succeeded, no matter the outcome. Guess how much I needed that simple reminder after last week?

Plus, it turns out Mandisa was at the conference too and I sat right behind her and then was able to snag a picture.

You know I love a good run-in with a celebrity.

A Well-Timed Word

And finally, this last one comes with unfortunate news. While I was meeting Holley Saturday morning, one of the pillars of our church suffered a heart attack after his morning run and died. It was terrible news to receive on Saturday afternoon.

Our pastor scrapped his sermon for Sunday and taught on suffering. I know that family is suffering way more than I ever have, but I love how God can use his word to comfort many of us in our myriad of circumstances all at the same time.

He reminded us that God uses our hardships to draw us closer to him, not to push us away.

So it’s with all that, that I come into another tough week with a renewed spirit and reminder that God is good, he loves me and I can make it through.

I hope your weekend provided the rest you needed and I know God will give you what you need when you need it.

Five Minute Friday: Broken

July 26, 2013 by Amy 9 Comments

Work is just that–work–and it’s to be expected. But this week, the whole summer even, has provided one of the most challenging of my career. Between a high visibility, high pressure project and managing an intern–or any person–for the first time, my brain has been in overdrive leaving little for any creative, thoughtful adventures.

The girls’ sitter is on vacation and instead of finding backup, I decided to have them home with me while Scott worked. Cue the boredom and consequential fighting.

And how about we had Emma’s new expander mid-week which is causing more difficulty in eating and just being. Yes, a child in pain is just what this week needed.

Finishing projects from the water leak remodels have been all but stopped but hang heavy on my to-do list.

And how about we throw in some sleepless nights with a few night terrors from a child and all night play sessions by a certain puppy.

I don’t mean to complain. It’s all just life and all blessings but I do feel a bit broken this week. I know enough to know I’m not alone. This summer has thrown many of us curve balls and tight schedules, leaving us all a bit broken inside.

This too shall pass, I remind myself.

There’s nothing to be done but leaving the to-do lists and taking extra naps and giving extra hugs and letting in help. Broken, yes, but left stronger.

What I Wore Wednesday 07.24.2013

July 24, 2013 by Amy 4 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.

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

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

What we Wore at Suburbs Mama

When I Doubt

July 22, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

Every so often, I doubt my faith.

I was raised in a Christian home in the Bible belt and have spent most of my life following Jesus. By 10, my journals would show I was concerned for the eternal fate of my friends. I never experienced a rebellious streak where I turned from my faith. For those that get to know me, it doesn’t take long to put me in the “Christian conservative” box.

But sometimes, I ask myself Is all this Jesus stuff real?

I’m a logical, well-educated person. I’ve worked in the corporate world for 15 years, connecting with people from all over the world with many different faiths. I’m Internet savvy. I’m not small-minded or close-minded.

So if I’m going to be all in all the time, of course I have taken a step or two back and considered whether it’s all malarkey or not.

I thought I’d share my thoughts when I doubt.

I’ll warn you I’m not the one that studied religion in college. I never left the church and tried life without faith. I don’t read a ton of theological blogs or books.

Certainly these steps do not encompass all the facets of my faith. These steps are meant to give a high-level view of my thought-process when I work myself out of doubt.

Remember Nature

When my doubt is the worst, I not only doubt Jesus as God’s son but God himself.

But all it takes is a quick walk outside, a reminder of the ocean, a few pictures and facts about the solar system or some thoughts about how the human body functions and I’m back on track.

There’s just absolutely no way that this world and the people in it are by accident. Nature sings of a creator.

Remember Jesus Lived

Since I’m so entrenched in Christian culture, at times I look around and go wait a minute, this isn’t a fairytale or just a story. Jesus is a historical figure. He actually lived. Forget the Bible, there’s enough evidence he walked the earth.

But, a lot of people also walked the earth and I’m not following their religion. What’s the difference? Let’s move on to the next few points to see. The point here is you can’t ignore the fact that Jesus lived.

Remember the Prophecies

What always blows me away when I think of it, are the hundreds of prophecies that foretold Jesus’ arrival, death and resurrection.

Sure, this takes some faith in the Old Testament but Jesus himself predicted his own death. I don’t spend much time here because it doesn’t take much convincing for me to know it’s true. Many different people, hundreds of years apart all predicted many different aspects about Jesus’ lineage, life and death and then Jesus fulfilled all of them. It’s truly amazing to me.

Remember Jesus

Beyond all that, I remember who Jesus was and who he said he was.

In fact, you could forget everything before this and just sit here in your thoughts.

Jesus healed the sick, loved those in the margins, spoke truth to the legalistic Pharisees, walked on water, turned water into wine, said he loved all of us and said he was going to die for us and then he did.

As I’ve heard many times: when faced with Jesus, you only get to decide three conclusions: he’s either liar, lunatic or Lord. You can not. CAN. NOT. read about the life of Jesus and just decide he was a good person.

Either he was another liar pretending to be a Savior or a blasphemous lunatic as the Pharisees claimed, either of which makes him NOT a good person. Or, he really is who he said he was–the Son of God.

Remember Our Relationship

Throw out nature, historical books and the Bible, all I need to do is remember my personal experiences to remember that my faith is authentic.

I’ve had too many personal experiences with a holy God to believe he’s anything other than real.

I’ve been moved physical, spiritually and emotionally by some mysterious force that no one can explain, and no one should. There’s more to life than what you can see and touch. I’ve experienced it, can name it and for those, I give my life to this Jesus.

And that’s when I find myself back to my faith. I make the decision over and over again that He’s Lord.

I don’t write this to start a debate but perhaps encourage another believer in their doubt or maybe encourage someone in their utter unbelief.

I am curious though, what helps you believe? What’s hard for you to believe?