Archives for December 2011

Know Why You Do What You Do

December 31, 2011 by Amy Leave a Comment

I’ve kept this post open in my browser for days. Daye posted the top ten things she’s learned about blogging this year. Something about her first point has stuck with me.

Know why you do what you do- It is okay to not have a well thought out vision for the next 20 years of your life. But it’s important to have a reason for what you do. For me this means that I write because when I do, I feel God’s pleasure (One of my favorite quotes is from Eric Liddell of Chariots of Fire fame- "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.").

I didn’t blog for much of December. Time and inspiration were not lacking. But I didn’t feel like it would please Him. Not because of their content because many of them would have been tucked away in the spiritual category. I don’t know why it was but I didn’t feel freedom to blog. The day after Christmas I finally felt His permission to write but He needed to ask me that question: why do I do what I do?

I don’t know how the content will change in 2012, if at all, but my goal is to work on this thing called writing and to do that for as long as I feel His pleasure. I hope you’ll join me.

Happy New Year!

Fashion Friday: Dress Like a Mad Man

December 30, 2011 by Amy 13 Comments

Or, Mad Woman. Well, not a Mad Woman. Oh golly, Buy a Dress Like the Ones They Wear on Mad Men. Hmph! Have I mentioned my love of the show Mad Men? At least the first 3 seasons. I was not fond of Season 4’s storylines one bit. But the first three are dramatic gold. Sure it’s dark and twisty and there’s not a redeemable character to be found but the writing! the acting! the sets! the clothes! If nothing else, Season 1 is worth the look (all 4 seasons are on Netflix).

I bumped into this store on etsy where you can have CUSTOM dresses made that will make you look like Joan Harris. Well, in my case, without the perfect curves. But custom made! A pencil dress that actually fits like a glove! Just look at these:

*swoon*

If the pictures and price didn’t sell me, the feedback did:

I never had such a great fit ! Excellent workmanship,beautifull fabric and great communication made this a very positive experience.

The dress is absolutely amazing and rich in color! I got it in purple with gray trim and in swing skirt. The fabric is high quality. It fits me beautifully. I can’t wait to wear it.

…thank you so much for the fast work, the dress arrived today, it’s very beautiful and fits perfect (as always ;-)).

i could not be happier with this purchase. the dress fits amazingly well and the design works really nicely with plus-size measurements.

I love that they’re modest and most are modern enough that people won’t realize your nod to the 50s and 60s. She’s got many, many more styles, most of which I could not pull off but I would gladly walk around in one every day if I could!

The best part is I contacted the store owner Cynthia and she graciously gave me a 10% discount for YOU: HEART10. If you like it, how about pinning it?

OK, so go visit the store and tell me which you would (or will) order! I’m having a hard time deciding!

This post was linked up to Musings of a Housewife for Fashion Friday.

Captivity

December 29, 2011 by Amy 2 Comments

I mentioned it in passing in a blog post but I’m in the midst of reading through the Bible again. I’ve done it 2 other times but this time, this section stuck out to me from 2 Chronicles 6. Solomon had just built the temple and was dedicating it:

“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; ³⁷ and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; ³⁸ and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; ³⁹ then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.”

A light bulb moment this time. That entire paragraph is the story of Entangled. No, I didn’t have soldiers in another land the God gave me over to but I was my own worst enemy. Satan was right with me when I sinned and God let me dwell in captivity in an emotional affair. My body was not held captive but my mind was. But when I had a change of heart and turned back to Him, He forgave me. I give Israel a hard time for continually turning to their wicked ways but I’m no different. Not at all.

What to Do When Your iPhone Lock or Home Button Quits Working

December 27, 2011 by Amy 22 Comments

I’m hard on phones. I really am. It’s sort of a joke to the folks around me. I’ve had two drop in toilets, screens shatter in my driveway on more than one occasion and the latest mishap is my lock button has quit working. Don’t be shocked but this happened last February too. Since my phone was still under warranty, Apple was quick to replace the entire phone. But now? I’m out of warranty and the only thing they offered is a new phone for the low price of $149. I only have 2 weeks until my phone upgrade is available (hello, Siri) so it’s silly to pay for a new one. Without my lock button functioning, I can’t shut my screen off which means I’m draining battery about as fast as my kids can make a mess. And I can’t restart it.

Well, I found this handy thing called Assistive Touch and I just think it’s the neatest little thing. I’ve had 3 models of the iPhone and have never heard about this. I have no clue how long it’s been there.

Oh and PS, I can’t take screen shots on my phone since, you know, my lock button is broken. This fix doesn’t fix that unfortunately. If you know of an alternate way to do that, please let me know.

Go to settings:

General:

Accessibility:

Turn Assistive Touch on.

A little black box with a white circle will show up somewhere on your screen. It kind of jumps around on the screen depending on what you’re doing. You can see it here on the right side in the middle-ish of the screen.

You can also drag it around on your own. Here I’ve moved it to the bottom right. You can see it right under that fingerprint and glare.

When you need to lock your screen or go Home, click on it and you’ll see this menu pop up:

For Home, click on Home or for the lock button, click on Device and you’ll see this sub-menu:

Click the Lock Screen and voila! Your phone is locked and you can see your fingerprints and smudges perfectly!

As you might have seen in that submenu, you can do several other things. This can also be used when the volume/mute button is broken. Handy little thing.

So for two weeks, this is how I have to lock my screen. Works for me! Think it might work for you one day, pin it to keep it handy!

I’ve linked this post to Works for me Wednesday at WeAreThatFamily.

Permission to Peruse’s Top 10 Posts of 2011

December 27, 2011 by Amy 7 Comments

I just *know* you guys come here every single day and read every single post so this one you can skip. Buuuut just in case you haven’t and may have missed one of Permission to Peruse’s most popular posts, I thought I’d put together a little list:

More Working Mother Rambling
Introducing Entangled (Entangled: Launch Day and Things I’ve Learned Writing an eBook also made the list but I thought I’d combine)
Top Ten Reasons to be an Early Riser
Top Ten Tuesday: Lighting Choices
My {Current} Take on the Topic
Top Ten Reasons to Watch Downton Abbey
Sacrifice
My Experience with the Daniel Fast
Jewelry Holder
Would You Quit the Internet?

This one gets an honorable mention because it didn’t have the most comments but I believe it got the most views: My Favorite Things

As we begin to finish out 2011, I can’t thank you enough for coming to read here. I’m looking forward to what 2012 brings for Permission to Peruse!

You can see more Top Ten Posts at ohAmanda.com

Christmas 2011

December 26, 2011 by Amy Leave a Comment

We had a wonderful Christmas weekend. Scott worked all weekend but we made it work. Friday evening the girls and I went with Heather to watch Dolphin Tale. Great family movie. Emma walked out and said, “See, that taught us it’s important to take care of hurt people.” I was just telling my aunt (who is also a nurse) I wouldn’t be surprised if she became a nurse.

Saturday afternoon we enjoyed a Christmas Eve service at church. I loved the opening video and they finished off with a great a capella version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Saturday evening we had Christmas Eve at my parents’. The kids got lots of American Girl and art supplies. Mom gave me a bunch of stuff for the house. Mainly, the hardware and fabric for the curtains in our bedroom and a new bench for our bathroom.

Saturday evening I decorated the living room while Scott was at work. Last year I put up some snowflakes but I decided to step it up. Since our plans were to wake up the girls super early so Scott could get in from work and get to sleep, I knew it would be dark so I decided to string lights across the living room and hang the snowflakes from there. I loved it so much I sat out and read in the recliner late that night.

Christmas morning the girls were up as soon as they heard the front door squeak. They normally sleep right through Scott coming in from work. They were shocked by the lights and had a great time opening their gifts. Lots of American Girl this year. I was ecstatic to be able to give them a set of baby dolls we thought were out of stock everywhere until January. I found them on eBay just last week. I had hoped they’d give me a YouTube worthy reaction. They were happy but we’re not going viral with it. Still, I was happy to give them what they wanted. Scott surprised me with a 24” monitor which I’m currently enjoying while I type this. Do you know how many Pinterest pictures fit on a 24” screen??

We wrapped up Christmas Eve by watching Yes, Virginia and having some Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. I’m telling you, this stuff is GOOD.

Sunday afternoon after Scott was up we went to his parents’ for Christmas. We had a yummy steak dinner and enjoyed opening presents.

Last night we took it easy since Scott was working and watched Soul Surfer with Heather since she’s never seen it. The kids were exhausted after being up at 5:30am and were out like lights as soon as it was over.

It’s been a great holiday season. We’re so blessed with family, friends, wonderful presents for each other, health and time with each other. God has been so good to us and I’m so thankful.

Merry Christmas 2011 – Alleluia

December 25, 2011 by Amy Leave a Comment

Alleluia – used to express praise, joy or thanks.

Alleluia

Close your eyes, lift your hands and say thank you.

Alleluia

My soul quakes and my flesh feels the waves of thanksgiving. We celebrate him abiding in flesh as a babe but today He abides in me. In His church. In the body, not a body.

I hope that’s truth for you. That this Christmas when you stretch your hands out with alleluias, you feel Christ abiding.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

15 Random Thoughts to Catch You Up

December 14, 2011 by Amy 3 Comments

Busy packing

Appreciative of Zicam for keeping my cold to a minimum

Grateful for the lady who retrieved my checkbook from a parking lot

Also to the JCPenney worker who recognized our street as her sister-in-law’s and called us right away

Beyond thrilled that eBay saved Christmas for my girls. Remind me to give Deborah in West Virginia a big hug when we get to heaven. I just know she’s an angel.

Overwhelmed with drama from my girls

Soul-satisfied with the maturity I’m starting to see in Emma

Proud of how she helped at a service project this weekend

Missing working from home full-time

Loving that presents are bought and wrapped

Jaded by social media

Wondering if we’ll ever find the right fabric for my bedroom

Frustrated at food

Annoyed that I couldn’t keep up with Truth in the Tinsel

Disappointed that my book hasn’t sold any books in a few weeks

Feeling the winter blues.

And PMS.

We’ll return to the regularly scheduled program soon.