Amy J. Bennett

Again

January 25, 2013 by Amy 20 Comments

Writing with Five Minute Friday on “again”. No editing or backtracking, just writing for 5 minutes.

Last I updated, we waited. Waited to hear about the possibilities of a little blonde-haired boy coming to our home. I said it felt right, and it did.

The waiting has ended.

But maybe not for the reason we hoped. He’s getting adopted by his foster parents.

I’m so happy for him. I truly am. He’s getting a forever family with someone that already knows him and where he feels comfortable. He doesn’t have to move homes yet again.

But I can’t say we all weren’t a little disappointed.

But God spoke to us last weekend through a friend, giving what we needed just when we needed it. He let us know he’s coming, finding his way home.

And with that message, my heart is content. Disappointed, but content.

We’re out to sea now, though, floating and not able to see the shoreline. Not sure which direction we need to go to find it.

We’re in a different waiting game, one where we try to find the next step, knowing we’ve taken all the ones He’s told us to so far.

And so we’ll wait.

Again.

StitchFix: Fix #1

January 24, 2013 by Amy 14 Comments

If you haven’t heard of all of these monthly beauty and style boxes circling the Internets, let me introduce you to one of them: StitchFix.

In a phrase, StitchFix is an online personal shopper.

What happens is you pay $20 to order a “fix” from StitchFix. You fill out a style guide and then you wait.

In a few weeks, a stylist will mail you 5 hand-picked items based on your style guide . You get to try on all the pieces, keep what you want or send it all back. You pay only for what you keep AND your $20 styling fee you paid up front goes towards the purchase if you choose to keep something.

Y’all, it’s like Christmas.

Within just a few minutes the box looked like Christmas morning, indeed.

So. Before I show you pictures you have to know I was sick all day, didn’t fix my hair or makeup and didn’t try to put these pieces in outfits. This is like legitimate girlfriends-in-a-dressing-room-trying-on-clothes pictures. Except I ran outside because the lighting is so much better.

Onward.

NORDICA AIRY KNIT OPEN CARDIGAN

Um, does my face give it away? While I normally love cardigans, love maroon and love knitted things, something about this combination didn’t work for me. The sleeves were tight. The length seemed too long. I felt old.

ARINELL TRIANGLE TRIBAL PRINT TANK

I liked the idea of this shirt. Clearly it would be cuter with leggings and boots. I believe this was a size too big though.

LYRA 3/4 SLEEVE JERSEY TUNIC DRESS

Again, it’s hard to imagine with these cords on. The dress would be way cute with tights or leggings but I don’t know. I just can’t seem to get with the pattern. I usually love the chevron pattern but this just didn’t work for me. The dress made me look boxy and dated me. Perhaps another size too large..

HOLLOWAY BUTTONDOWN STRIPE MAXI DRESS

This dress? This dress was all kinds of awesome. It fit like a glove, has gorgeous stripes in all the right places and I love the color. I want to wear it every single day this summer.

TRIBAL PRINT GOLD CUFF

The final piece is a cuff. Unfortunately, the cuffs and I don’t get along too well. Normally, I’d be open-minded but the cuff stayed more like this:

Oh my, isn’t that so much FUN?!

And yes, as you go, you give feedback about size and styling and it gets better as time goes on. As someone said last night, it’s like Pandora!

I’m totally ignoring price tags right now and just having fun with the arrival, dressing up and sharing!! Prices aside, what should I keep?? Is it just me or is the maxi dress the winner, winner, chicken dinner?

If you want to sign up, be sure to use my referral link—for everyone that uses your link you get $25 to spend. FUN, right?!

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.

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