Happy One Year to Me!

Today marks

ONE YEAR

of my working for Walt Disney World!

My contract started July 29 last year (even though I didn't really start in show for a few weeks later) . How crazy fast time goes. I really can't even comprehend that all that was a year ago, and honestly, it puts in perspective for me how short a year really is. When I was a kid a year seemed like an eternity, and now it seems like nothing at all. I never expected to stay here as long as I have... so YAY for me!

My Birfday!

What a FANTASTIC 27th birthday I had. Thanks to EVERYONE for the phone calls, the Facebook messages and blog comments, the letters in the mail- EVERYTHING. I honestly feel so blessed to have so many people that I know love and care about me. That was the very best part of my birthday- hearing from all of you. I really have no words to thank you enough for making my birthday special.

The celebrations started the day before when I got to work and found the cute cupcakes made by Kristen... the girl is a domestic diva. Love it. I did five shows, and then Chuck humored me and we went to see.........

I have a sentimental attachment to this show- even though I've never actually seen the Broadway production. My Grandma Colleen saw the show in San Francisco before it's Broadway opening, and I tell you, the woman was OBSESSED for MONTHS. I can't tell you how many times, as I did my weekly cleaning of her house, that I would find her in the living room dancing to the cast recording. Honestly, it's such a silly show- dumb story, cheesy way of tying a bunch of ABBA songs together, but I LOVED it. It's one of those movies that really just lets you forget about everything going on in your life and ENJOY. It's light and fun, Pierce Brosnan SINGS (HA HA HA!), and GOSH it makes you love your girlfriends!!! I'd forgotten how fun it is to sit around and act like idiots and giggle with all the girls. Women truly share a bond that men have no comprehension of. * SENTIMENT *

After the movie I came home and found THIS:

I have a cute boyfriend and roommates. I fell asleep that night with the streamers on my fan singing me to sleep. I felt like a little girl on Christmas Eve! Sometimes I am such a kid...

Morning came! PRESENTS!

And of course I had to eat out... Cracker Barrel for breakfast!

AND Cheesecake Factory for dinner with the roomies and friends!!!

Lindsey's card to me. So funny!

My roommates make fun of me for eating oatmeal every day. Hee hee! THANKS JENNLYN!

Lindsey standing as we all sit down to eat... the poor girl has a back injury that won't allow her to do... well, anything really. BUT she ended up sitting down for most of the meal after this! YAY for milestones!!

Anyone want a CLUB SANDWICH????


Adam's Peanut Butter Cheesecake... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Such good times.

The Girls

Me with Chuck's roommates John and Brandon

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!
I also got to do some great shopping with money from Chuck, my mom, and dad. THANK YOU!! Aaaaaaaaaaand there's technically more birthday stuff today. We never ate my cake because we were so stuffed from the food we'd been pigging out on all day! YAY BIRTHDAY!

Oh... AND this was the highlight of the day:



Chuck hates cats. I LOVE them. I'm sure we've discussed this on the blog before. ANYWAY- so he got me this card, and then when we met up with his roommates they'd got me the same thing. Now I have two meowing kitty cards to drive him crazy!!!! (Evil giggle...)

Grateful... Sunday Sunshine

This week I have been extremely contemplative. Every morning I have woken up with a strong sense of gratitude for the things in my life. Honestly, my life is a piece of cake. Those of you who know me well know that I have definitely had my tough times and trials that seemed would never end, but I can honestly look at my life at this point and feel such a sense of thankfulness and true happiness. Those trials and hardships have made, and will continue to make me who I am, and because of them I know exactly how the sun feels. There's LOTS of sun in my life right now!

Here's a little list of things I am grateful for right now:

* A job that when I leave work, I don't have to think about it one bit when I go home: I never take the stresses of work home with me. That's not to say that I'm never stressed out by aspects of work, BUT I honestly can leave there on Friday and not even think about that stage once.

* Musical theatre: Yep. I LOVE it. Always have, always will. As nerdy as it is, I am PASSIONATE about it. There aren't many things I enjoy more than singing various musical songs in the shower. "I am so much better! I am so much better! I am so much better..... THAN BEFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!"

* My predictable and very low stress life: Every aspect of my life is predictable right now. For some that may seem boring, but it suits me very well. I go to work, I come home, I eat, I read, I pray, I go to the gym, I play with Chuck and my roommates, at night I call my mother... yep. That's about it.

* Girl friends: Mamma Mia made me remember how much I LOVE girl friends. I have spent nearly every moment of my time here in Orlando with the boy, BUT besides that time, some of the sweetest moments of my experience here in Orlando have come from my roommates! Last night as we all ate at Cheesecake Factory I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly BLESSED to have each one of those girls in my life.

* I don't have to worry about money: OK- I am in NO WAY saying that I have it made in the finances department... ha ha. BUT I live very comfortably and since I graduated from BYU I haven't had to worry about money once. WHAT A HUGE BLESSING THIS HAS BEEN.

* A cute room: I LOVE my bedroom. I love MY SPACE. I love relaxing in my room, pondering, reflecting, reading, singing, vegging, and sleeping in my room!

* As always, the Gospel. Dunno what else to say but that I am grateful to know who I am, where I came from, and where I am going. I am thankful that I know what I want out of my life- for the most part... ha ha- and that I never have to feel alone or afraid. I constantly feel the presence of Heavenly Father, the Savior, and the Holy Ghost in my life. What more could I ask for?

* I'm also thankful for cleaning products. I love to clean. I did lots of it today.

* Toothbrushes. I LOVE brushing my teeth.

* Bedtime. It's bedtime now. And I love it.

What are YOU grateful for today?

A Boy and His Girl's Deodorant

Hello. This is my Secret Platinum Brazilian Cherry deodorant. It smells fresh, is totally girly, and it keeps me dry while I play princess. (OK- THAT'S a lie... as if ANYTHING could keep one dry while performing OUTSIDE in the Florida heat and humidity... but that's besides the point...)

So who knows what I was doing Monday night when I turned to see Chuck, with his sheepish grin, not just SNIFFING my deodorant, but putting it on! You'd think my first thought would be "EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Hairy boy armpits in MY deodorant!!!" But somehow it didn't phase me because it so so freaking hilarious. Ah how I wish I would have pulled out my camera to capture the SOOOOOOOOOO not manly moment. HA HA HA!

I guess I act like a crazy loon 90% of the time... He's allowed to make me laugh sometimes as well.

Sunday Sunshine: Little Happies

Little Happies- and Randoms:

1. I wore my new Shabby Apple dress today. I LOVE it!!! It took an hour or so to feel sure that I loved it, but I DO!!! It's adorable.

Allow me to be candid for a minute: I have become REALLY lazy when it comes to dressing up and taking care of myself. 80% of my life is spent either with no makeup and in gym clothes, or in gym clothes with left over stage makeup and my hair in a ponytail at the top of my head (My bedtime hairdo for those who know what that looks like... Hilly and Laurel...) Another 15% is spent in PJs or in costume at my stage, and that last 5% is spent actually being "put together." SAD SAD SAD and PATHETIC!!! However, and I think this is a record folks, for TWO DAYS in a row I woke up, dressed up, did my hair and makeup... IT FELT WONDERFUL!!! This weekend just reminded me how much I DO love dressing up and making an effort to look pretty! Now if I could just motivate myself during the week after shows... HA. HA. HA.

2. There's this squirrel that lives on my street. I'll call him Wilbur. He's crazy. Every time I drive past the house on the corner he DARTS of in front of me, ends up underneath my car, and disappears! WHERE DOES HE GO? IT ALWAYS HAPPENS!

3. I think I'm getting a new calling at church... stay tuned.

4. MY BIRTHDAY IS FRIDAY! I'm turning 27. Funny that I never pictured myself single and working at 27. I guess I always just had the plan of being married by 22, and having at least 2 or 3 kids by now. Ha. Nope, I'm content with my life and excited to be in my "late twenties." I do, however, feel that my body is falling apart. That's a shame. Sigh.

5. There's this intersection here in Orlando by Sea World and International Drive. EVERY time, AND I AM NOT KIDDING, EVERY time I am at this intersection I see this weird car... it's a sedan with trinkets glued ALL over it. The thing is seriously COVERED in randomness. COULD ANYONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME?!?!?! Why does this car hang out at that intersection, and WHY is it covered in STUFF?? I need to get a picture.

6. I only do two shows tomorrow. Love that.

7. My birthday is Friday- did I mention that? I'm going to Cheesecake Factory. YUM.

8. The cruise has been postponed... BUT we're gonna catch the next one that comes up for cast discount!

9. Sophie took a minor beating this weekend. Sniffle. But all is well and I am thankful for the wonderful, honest, and sweet girl who is willing to fix her.


10. Only FIVE MONTHS till I can get a new phone! My toilet phone only has to last that much longer. PLEASE BLESS!

11. I like fruit and cottage cheese.

12. Sometimes I act like a little girl. I giggle like one. I run around like one. Such was the experience in the cultural hall of the church last night. (See the picture at the top of the post.) Most of the time Chuck just stands there shaking his head, but every so often he'll break out in an Amy impression. Kills me. He's funny. And cute. And makes me laugh.

13. I am a good basketball player!!! WHO KNEW?!?!?! Ha ha. Well, see, a certain stage that I work at bought me a basketball hoop to toss a certain item in during my quick change. And I'm good! Love it.

14. My birthday is on Friday.

15. Chuck and I went to Carrabbas on Friday. I LOVE CARRABBAS. Have y'all been there?

16. Tomorrow is Monday. A new week. I really can't believe how quickly time flies.

OK- time for bed. Loves to everyone. Happy Sunday!

Kensie and the Broccoli

Food For Thought

I'm a sucker for videos like this... I won't lie.

http://www.findingjoymovie.com/

Sunday Sunshine

It's been a few weeks since I've done a little "Sunday Sunshine" post. So here are some random sunshiny things from my week:

* MY SHABBY APPLE DRESS CAME!!! Yippee! I love it. Though I'm not gonna lie... ladies, if any of you purchase that same dress, save your $18 and make the red sash YOURSELF. I could have made that thing... and I haven't sewn anything but a pair of Tweety Bird boxers in the seventh grade.

* I LOVE THE RAIN

# 1: I LOVE rain shows at my stage. It cools off, and we do the show in about HALF the amount of space we normally use. This means a LOT less sweating, and a I have a LOT less running around to do. I love blessed rain shows.

#2: I LOVE sitting out on the porch of my stage while it rains. Something about the sound of a huge rain storm is so calming.

#3: I love puddles. I've expressed my love for them before.

* I keep watching the video of the Beast's pants falling down... and I am still giggling every time. I LOVE IT.

* My birthday is in less than two weeks. And I'm taking the day off. YAY! I think I choose CHEESECAKE FACTORY as my place to dine. Yep.

* It's going to cool down a bit this week- only a SLIGHT cool down, but I tell ya ANYTHING is better than what we've been dealing with the last few weeks. The AC at our stage broke the other day. I only did TWO SHOWS and my body was freaking out- I've never sweat so much in my life.

* McKensie hasn't had a seizure in more than a week. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND FASTING! She saw the neurologist a week ago and they did an EEG and some blood tests. Elizabeth is still waiting on the results, but for right now we're thinking "no news is good news." Apparently Kensie is at the age when seizure disorders appear, but according to the doctor, her symptoms aren't those of any of the disorders. I'm really hoping it's just some weird, quirky thing she's going to grow out of. I'll keep you posted.

* I love the game Five Crowns. It's kind of like Phase Ten, but better and you have to think more.

* Ice cream makes me happy. I had a ton of it last night with all the necessary syrupy toppings! THANK HEAVEN FOR BUTTERSCOTCH! (Which reminds me: DAIRY QUEENS IN FLORIDA ARE STUPID. I got a dipped cone a few weeks ago, and the only option available was CHOCOLATE. WHHHHHHHHHAT? No cherry OR butterscotch. What is the world coming to?)

* I ordered the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff." I remember my grandma Colleen LOVED this book and gave me a copy years ago... but who knows where it ended up. Anyway, I'm trying to read more lately, so I though that'd be a good, motivating book.

OK- now for the real stuff:

Truth is, I've been busy. And worn out. My wonderful friend and former roommate Alicia came into Orlando this week. It was the first time in a year and a half that I'd seen her, and I even got to meet her little three-month-old baby girl, Mekynzie! We spent Wednesday morning in Hollywood Studios, and that night we ate at one of my favorite restaurants on property, Ohana. I LOVE FOOD. Have I ever mentioned that? Hee. They spent the next two days hopping from park to park, and last night, before they left, Chuck and I got to spend some time just hanging in their hotel. I love my friends. Honestly, there's no greater feeling than being with someone who has known you for years and years and who you can sit down and laugh with about all the stupid things you once did together.

The funniest memory that came up as we reminisced:

* During our final seminary testimony meeting of senior year, Alicia bore her testimony and expressed how excited she was to "start her new life with Amy." I had COMPLETELY forgotten about that... good stuff.

Belle, Licia, Mekynzie, and Chris

The Whole Gang

I'm feeling in a rut. With my job, with my life... I need a vacation. And THAT'S why I have decided to join my roommates on a 4 day Disney Cruise at the end of August. Y'all have to understand that this is NOT like me. I am uber practical and I AM A TIGHT WAD. I don't spend money on unnecessary things. But heck- I haven't spent any of my Hong Kong money on traveling- well, except for coming to audition here, so dang it- I'm gonna go do something crazy and fun and make some really good memories for a few days!!! Yippee!

Here's some insight into the nerdiness of me and Chuck:

He's working on a portfolio to send to an unnamed mouse park in a certain unnamed Chinese city. So here we sit, on a Sunday night, together, on our computers. Don't worry, we were IMing on gmail as we did this. NERDS.

Happy Reunions

Finally : It Shows Up on YouTube

Many of you will remember the story of "My Beast: The Pantless".

http://maimsiecakes.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-beast-pantless.html

For your viewing enjoyment, it FINALLY showed up on YouTube.

Years Ago...

Kristy tagged me... and I actually did this little thing a few months back... so I'm posting it again with some changes :-)

20 Years Ago:

1988- I was 6. Sooooooo I was living in my Heather Drive house, in the first grade with my favorite teacher ever, Susan Firmage, and I spent my time playing My Little Ponies and house with my sister. I also got in trouble at school for talking too much all the time. Once (or probably several times...) Mrs.Firmage made me stay in from recess with my head on the desk because I was talking too much during class. I was crushed that I had let my teacher down.

10 Years Ago:

July 1998-It was summer time- right before my senior year. My grandparents were getting ready to celebrate their 50th anniversary with the family in Hawaii the following month. If I had my journals here I could tell you exactly what I was doing... but honestly- I was probably just doing summertime things with Heather, Melissa, Aubrey, Licia, and April. Any of y'all remember what was going on summer of '98???

5 Years Ago:

July 2003- I was in the middle of my last summer at The Playmill. My heart had literally just been ripped to shreds by an unnamed person and I spent WAY too much of my time listening to Faith Hill's "CRY." I was living with Laurel and Hillary, and spending all of my spare time whining about men to, and with Brenna. Despite how it sounds, it was one of my favorite summers EVER. Love to the Playmill cast of 2003.

3 Years Ago:

July 2005- I was working YASE and Education Week at BYU to make money for my final year of school. I was bumming at Andrea's house for about a month and spent lots of time listening to her Devin woes. We ate LOTS of BYU creamery ice cream that summer. YUM!

1 Year Ago:

July 2007- I had just finished a callback with Disney for Belle in the "Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage" show. I was told nothing would be open till February so I was just chilling in Salt Lake working in the box office at Hale and casually looking for other jobs. Paul had just left for Nauvoo (We'd been dating for a couple months...) and I was just feeling a little restless about everything in my life. A few weeks later everything changed when I moved to Florida...

So Far This Year:

I have been working in Beauty and the Beast (750+ shows to date), I've done lots of special events, and I have had lots of visitors- Justin, Mom, Grandma, Lindsey, Nikki, Becca, Kallie, Brie, Emily, Gail, Travis and Kristy, Biff, Brett, McKensie, Chuck's grandparents and cousins... wow. Lots of people love you when you're in Florida!!

Yesterday:

I did five shows at Beauty and the Beast and then went to see Get Smart with Chuck at the Downtown Disney movie theatre. I was tired and a little cranky, but he still put up with me.

Today:

I woke up at 8:15, showered, went to church at 10, bore my testimony, LOVED Relief Society, came home and hung with Chuck and the roomies, took a little nap, make peach cobbler for Break the Fast, WENT to Break the Fast, went to Chuck's new house, came home and cleaned up the kitchen... and NOW I am blogging. Exciting day.

Tomorrow:

I don't work till 5 so I will get up, putter around a bit, clean my room and the rest of the house that needs it, I'll go to Costco and put gas in my car, I'll go to the gym, and then I'll go do two shows at B a B. Then I'll go find some random boy to hang out with...

In the Next Year:

Wouldn't y'all like to know :-)

As Always...

I LOVE THIS BABY!

Food, Fireworks, Friends, Patriotic Music... I LOVE THE 4th of July!

This 4th of July was, of course, different from those I am used to. I missed playing with my mom's family in the Layton Park. I missed the orchestra and fireworks in the amphitheatre. And I ESPECIALLY missed hearing "God Bless the USA" and sobbing through it after the fireworks have finished. HOWEVER- THIS is what I experience for my 4th of July at the Magic Kingdom:


... Not bad, eh? It was a wonderful day- great for making memories of what is likely my only, or one of my only, July 4ths in Orlando.

Ah yes, and now for the "WHAT I ATE ON THE 4TH OF JULY THIS YEAR" portion of my post... drumroll, please:

3 slices of French Toast
1 English muffin
First Watch Potatoes
1 "The Works" Omelet
1 string cheese stick
1 large bowl of vanilla ice cream smothered in chocolate sauce
TONS of "7 layer dip" and chips
1 can of root beer
2 4th of July sugar cookies
1 hot dog with LOTS of mustard, relish, and ketchup
1 cheeseburger with loads of mustard, relish, ketchup, and a tomato
1 root beer float

Thank heaven for my job where I sweat like a crazy woman and for my wonderful new gym habits. All that will be worked off in no time...

The day begins...

Yummy.

More yummy.

And even MORE yummy!

Me and the Roomies at First Watch for brunch!

Kim getting festive at the party store.

Boys playing with fire. Men.

I like food.

I don't know what it going on in this picture...

... Off to the Magic Kingdom with go with Brandon, Chip, and Lindsey for the fireworks!

Uh, Chuck, the fireworks haven't even started yet, dude.

Lindsey's awesome mom sent her glow sticks! And she SHARED!!! I LOVE GLOW STICKS!

Summing Up My Day...

Yay 4th of July. It's late and I need to sleep because I have five shows tomorrow... Buuuuuuuuuut I wanted to quickly share what my day was all about.

Food! Food! Food!