So, So Proud

My baby sister, Biff-Biffy-Baby Bronto-Sissy- Yizabiff- etc etc etc has officially passed her board exam and is a REGISTERED NURSE!!! A job is around the corner and we are SO PROUD!!! :-)

In other good news, my friend/husband-but-not-really, Kevin, was just cast in the 1st National Tour of Wicked. It's a REALLY happy day for some people in my life. I'm thrilled for them!

Twenty 8

Last Saturday I turned 28. Next weekend is my ten-year high school reunion. I'm feeling a bit tripped out by it all. Had you asked me, oh, ten years, ago what I'd be doing at this point of my life, I'd tell you all about the diapers and sleepless nights and sippy cups and the struggle to lose those last ten pounds of baby weight. I'll admit that I am thankful for the Lord's plan for my life. I'm in the perfect place for ME right now. For Amy, now is perfect. I love that.

I planned to get married to "a hot RM" at 20. We were going to meet during my second year at Ricks College, he was going to be from California, and we'd be married the summer of 2001 in the San Diego Temple. That WAS the plan. Fast forward ten years... I got the boy from Cali- and I had to go to Orlando to find him.

I've had many, MANY adventures along the way.

There were REALLY lonely times. The summer and fall of 2004 was nearly torture for me. The unmarried friends from Layton I had left all bit the dust, and the season concluded with the marriage of my sister- four years my junior- and my cousin, Melissa. Cherie Call's "He Gives Flowers to Everyone" became the theme song of my soul. (I can hear you snickering now...)

I was always looking ahead to the next step. What program would I get into at school? What would I do after graduation? And dangit- when would I meet THAT boy???? I'm a very driven person. I get what I want. I obsess over the things I'm gonna get. Tunnel vision- I've got it. And I've never been too great at LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

For the first time in my life I am content living for NOW. Of course I have dreams of babies and performing opportunities, getting my house decorated, blah blah... but for now-I can honestly say that I LOVE where I am at. It's a great feeling.

So often we live for "when the kids are older," "when I have a better job," "when I lose weight..." Make your NOW perfect for you.

Cuz life is good. I promise.

Had I Been Cast as a Dancer...

A little fun from back in February before I left the show...

Revisiting Old Times...

Home. Happy to be here. I love my husband and the smell of the house. I love my tomato plants that are now gigantic. I love my bedroom and my bright and sunny kitchen. Home. I love it.

The last week was filled with flashbacks and surreal moments of, "I know things have changed, but it all seems the same." I stayed at my old house, in my old room, and it took everything inside of me to stop myself from opening up my bathroom drawer and pulling out what would NOT have been my toothbrush. The pan I always used to make my oatmeal in the morning is more worn out than it was back then, there's a new roommate, three people from the B and B cast are gone. But it still all feels the same...

Thanks to Lindsey for driving me everywhere, Hannah for sharing her room, all the ladies of the house for putting up with my loud happiness, and everyone at B and B for the huge welcome. I sure feel loved.

Starving after a day of flying...

Finding Nemo with Andrea

Searching for frozen lemonade at the Animal Kingdom

Bliss.

By far the most perfect day I've had on a Florida beach...



Back to work... Muscle memory completely took over! Phew...

Result of the beautiful day at the beach... OUCH OUCH OUCH!
Thanks, again, to Lindsey for smothering me with aloe in between every show!

After two days at work I spent Tuesday by myself. I LOVE doing Disneyworld alone. On my own agenda, I did SO many things I hadn't before, and I ate myself gleefully sick around the world. Thank heaven for that chocolate mousse in France.

As if I hadn't stuffed myself enough already, a night out with the ladies bloated me even more. PIZZA!!!!!!

Ghirardelli's.

OK- enough. I feel sick...

Wednesday morning I spent with Lindsey and Jenni in the Magic Kingdom. The opening of this park is my favorite. There's just SUCH an energy and excitement to be had when you see all the characters come in on the train... awwwww. I'm even a sucker for Disney sometimes. :-)

Now I'm home. Back to life. Thankfully.

But don't worry, Orlando. You'll see about THREE WEEKS of me in November. I've been booked for a special event Nov. 1-10, I'll spend three or so days in the parks with CHUCK (YAY!) and THEN... We're planning a seven day cruise. LIFE IS GOOD.

From the Very Sunny Orlando...

Hola y'all.

The Fried Tomato here. Florida. Amazing beach. Evening out a "tan" line goes bad. Burn. IB Prophen. Solarcaine. Turning purple. Ouch.

Missing the husband.

On the BETTER side of things: Ohana. Lindsey. The roomies. Good times at the B & B stage. Fun friends. 5 shows. My microphone. Red Lobster biscuits. Monday Night Trash TV with the ladies. Audiences. Birthday cake. Techs and Costumers. Carmel Praline Crunch. My old white board. Smiles. My wedding invite everywhere. The worn out oatmeal pan. Water bottle after water bottle and not having to pee. :-) Hugs. Singing. Costumes.


Quote of the Week:

"It's like Simpsons episode when Homer completely falls apart without Marge after only a few hours. He stays in the treehouse and his clothes are all tattered and dirty and he makes a new Marge out of a paper plate and a tall potted plant that resembles her hair and acts like it's really her. That's how I am when you are out of town. Come back!"

- Chuck. Facebook Wall post.

Woes of the Jobless

On a whim I applied for a job as a part time cashier at the BYU Bookstore. Bring in a little extra money, relive my glory days at BYU, be a few feet from Creamery ice cream- ya know? I've done that job before so surely they'll hire me. Let's be honest, it's not like it takes much SKILL.

I have never NOT gotten a job that I applied for. Oh wait, once. I applied for a staff position with BYU's Ed Week. But who cares. I got hired at Hong Kong Disneyland a few weeks later.

I got an email the other day. My application was reviewed and "Unfortunately, it was not selected for further consideration at this time."

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I can't even get hired as a cashier at the BYU Bookstore.

Guess no one in the real world cares if you've performed professionally for the past three years.

What in the world is an ex-princess supposed to do with herself? Sigh.

This Week's Edition...

Sunday Sunshine

What a great week is has been. Nothing eventful, but sometimes those are the best kinds of weeks. I'm feeling happy that the middle of summer is upon us, I'm going to Orlando this week (Ohana here I come...), and Mr. Obama was good to me and Chuck this week. (Grandkids, I'll thank you later when you're paying off our national debt because of the perks he gave us...)

Happies of the Week

1. Primary today: Mr. Sharing Time: "Boys and girls, what kinds of things make YOU happy?" Senior Primary Fellow: "I like to think about snakes."

2. Folks, today marks TWO WEEKS since I last cried! Things are looking up!

3. Last week when I went to Rexburg, my little heart was filled with beautiful memories as I drove Chuck around that little town. I am so thankful for those 30 or so months that I spent in Rexburg, Idaho. Happiness.

4. As I mentioned earlier, thanks to Obama's housing perks, Chuck and I paid of $6K of debt this week. We decided we needed to enjoy a bit of the money as well, so we each took a small portion- $250 each- and went on a little shopping spree. I would have loved to spend, ya know, all $8K on fun things like decorating our house and that Hawaiian cruise I am DYING to go on, but ya know- someday it'll all happen. For now it's time to get rid of debt. I hate debt. Sigh. BUT THE HAPPY POINT is that we got rid of $6K of it this week!

5. Our room is almost complete, and I LOVE it! Pictures to come...

6. I spent the day with Kensie on Friday. She's officially a little kid and it's hysterically fun.

7. I ate at the Canyon Street Grill on Monday last week. Peanut Butter shake- Delish!

8. My husband is crazy dedicated to his calling and the ward, and I adore that. I feel very blessed that I have a guy who is so set on serving those around him, and who sacrifices so much to do so. He's basically amazing. That's all.

9. Going back to Orlando holds excitement and some nerves at the same time. It seems a lifetime ago that I was there doing about 20 shows a week. Life is so different now...

10. Tomorrow is Bachelorette night! Chuck and I love Mondays. FHE, Bachelorette, and Here Come the Newlyweds. We're such nerds. But I DO have to say that this season is RETARDEDLY scripted and fake. Whatever. I'll still watch.


Be good this week. And do something to make you happy. :-)

This Coming Week...

A Little Ditty

Not perfect- but considering that it was the first time I've sung something other than Beauty and the Beast in about two years, I won't complain too much. :-)

Oh, Fox. How You Torture Me.

Stop showing me previews of the Fall season. It makes me wish that September were here already. And I'm not ready for that.

I Approve- Five Day Weekends

All weekends should be like this last one. It was filled with FUN FUN FUN summer activities, great family, and fantastic food. I couldn't possibly want more- except maybe a kitty.

I worked my magic on the BBQ. First time- not bad.


Biff's festive cupcakes!

The Kids and the Drinking Fountain

Sugar High...
Good thing I get to send her home with her mommy.

Chuck feels the love of my step-sister Pam's kids. ADORABLE.

The annual massage train- happiness.

What a flash in the dark will do to you...


West Yellowstone...


"Brains" in Rexburg...


And who ever decided that THESE were a good idea?




Truth be told, I thought they were hilarious.

I want summer weekends to ALWAYS last five days.

Introducing Linus and Jerome

HE GAVE IN!!!

And not only did he give in by giving me ONE kitty... but this morning TWO little guys greeted me!!!




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Yeah right. Lies. All lies.

Linus and Jerome are my tomato plants that I haven't killed in the four or so weeks that they've been in my ground. They're actually growing!!! I'm so proud... killing plants seems to be a part of me- but these guys are thriving! I feel like I am truly involved in "Provident Living" now. :-) Ha ha ha.



Also- this was my favorite part of the day:


I sing "Popular" to Chuck almost constantly... and he'll join in. I love it. But today, instead of joining in song, his napkin art said it all.