Saturdays are Good For...

I have recently rediscovered the joy of Saturdays. It has been months since I've had Saturday off, and now, because the other-person-who-plays-the-role-I-do (what? There's another one?????) wanted to trade, I have Saturdays AND Sundays off.

HOW BLESSED AM I TO BE IN THE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT AND HAVE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OFF???

Wow. My life is cooooooool.

Summer Saturdays are good for:

* Brunch at Perkins, First Watch, Cracker Barrel, Dennys... you get the point...
* Sleeping in.
* Lifetime movies that are poorly acted and yet you still are drawn in and watch them.
* Long needed and deserved pedicures.
* Making out. Shut up.
* Doing laundry.
* Making the outside of the house look pretty while wearing a cute little dress and getting some sun.
* Staring at the pool that's growing black algae yet still looks so appealing...
* Making grilled cheese sandwiches.
* Ponytails on the top of your head.
* Cleaning your room.
* Managing your finances.
* Vegetating and finding old reruns of American Idol Season 2. Yeah.
* Swimming in the algae pool till 11 PM.
* Singing at the top of your lungs because no one is home at the house you share with five other girls.

I love Saturdays.

Sunday Sunshine

* I love puddles. Here in Florida puddles are everywhere. I love driving in them. I love jumping in them. I just love puddles.

* I am conducting an experiment. As of yesterday, I started driving 55 mph - which ironically is the speed limit on my most traveled road- to see whether or not is really DOES save gas. As of yesterday, gas prices here rose to $4.02/gallon. I've had it! I am ready to buy myself a cute little pink Vespa to drive around Disney. Ha. But anyway, I am going to find out if going 55 on C.R. 535 will indeed, save me gas. I normally go about 70-75 on that road, so we'll see if this helps!

But the point of me telling y'all this is : In the 24 hours that I have been participating in this experiment, I have learned something great that has NOTHING to do with the fact that I could be saving my precious gas. Because I know I will only be driving 55 mph, I leave earlier when I need to be somewhere, I drive at a decent pace with no need to be on the lookout for cops, and I have time to, if you will, "stop and smell the roses." It is truly amazing how I feel no stress on a road that I am usually frantically trying to conquer. Life is MUCH more enjoyable like this. Ahhhhhh.

* Kensie learned to wave "bye bye" a couple days ago. Love her.

* I have a project underway... it is going to be fantastic. Next Sunday I will be able to post pictures of the finished cuteness. Yay.


NOT PART OF SUNDAY SUNSHINE:

* To any family members who may be speculating about my trip home in October: Sorry to disappoint you folks, but I will NOT be announcing a wedding that will take place that week. I am way too high maintenance in the world of wedding to ever do something like that. Ha ha. Anyway- just thought I'd clear that up since rumors have been flying...

Anyone Watching?

Are any of you folks watching the new reality show on MTV to find the next "Elle" in Legally Blonde on Broadway? I'm kind of addicted... the whole thing is actually pathetic to me, but hey- I enjoy watching people who do the same thing that I do... it's fascinating... and terrible. Ha ha.

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/legally_blonde_search_for_elle_woods/series.jhtml

More Bragging...

Biff posted lots of new Kensie pics on Facebook today... so I had to steal them and post them to my blog. I love her.


Cute Easter Baby!!!

Remember the PINK BOOTS I got Kensie before she was born?!?!?!
(She's now outgrown them...)

Ha ha.

Already learning how to drive!

Nostalgia

Just remembering how much I loved these markers...

Sunday Sunshine

Ah, I love Sunday. Annnnnnd I have decided that I am going to spend each Sunday reflecting a bit on my week. So welcome to the first edition of :

"Sunday Sunshine"
By Me

The other night I was reading from this month's Conference issue of the Ensign, and was inspired by the address of Ronald A. Rasband called "Special Experiences." His talk focuses on those experiences that we have in our lives that strengthen and fortify our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ; moments that increase our faith and knowledge that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and living church.

In the last few years I have had many of these "special experiences" in my life. Most often they are quiet little moments in my world as Heavenly Father speaks to me through the people around me. Such moments happened frequently as I lived on my own in Hong Kong, and they happen almost daily now as I look at the world around me in awe.

This week I had such an experience:

I am a shy person. It seems ludicrous to people who know me well, or who know me as a performer, but I can be PAINFULLY shy. It's something I have pondered A LOT in the last few years, and this week I was taught a very important lesson by a four-year-old girl.

Friday I met a little girl named Kira. I work with her mother, Salem, and she's the darndest cute thing on the planet. This little four-year-old girl came to visit us at work on Friday when her mom was unexpectedly called into work.

"Who's that?" Kira said to her mom as I walked into the dressing room.
"That's Amy."
"Ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!" Kira ran towards me, threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug and kiss on the cheek.

It is such a tiny thing that Kira did, but her actions impacted me significantly. As I have tried to work through my "shy issue," I have often been reminded that if I look at those around me as I SHOULD, like my brothers and sisters, I really have nothing to fear. (Heaven knows I'm not the least bit shy around my Biff...) Anyway, Kira was the perfect example of this to me. The girl had NO idea who I was, and yet she greeted me with a big smile, a hug, and I kiss on the cheek, and had no qualms about it. I thought, "If only I could be like that." I want to be the person who can go up and give someone I hardly know a hug. I want to be the kind of person who can carry on a good conversation with someone who, when it began, was a perfect stranger, I want to the the kind of person who can compassionately mourn with and serve the people that I am only acquainted with. They ARE my brothers and sisters- literally. YOU are all my brothers and sisters, and it is such a blessing to know that. That alone is reason enough for me to not be the silly shy girl that I am.

I looked into this little girl's face and saw the love, innocence, and exuberance of the Savior. Kira did what He would do. She did what I SHOULD do.

... So if you don't know me and happen to meet me this week... be ready for a big kiss on the cheek. ;-)


On another note, I was going through my notes on "The Miracle of Forgiveness," and found these quotes that I absolutely love:

"Many people die with their music still in them.Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out." -Oliver Wendell Holmes "I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung." - Tagore

President Kimball concludes with this thought:

"My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music still in us. Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life which God our Father to those who keep his commandments."

Good stuff right there.

On a lighter note:

This weekend I domesticised myself even more. I love Break the Fast because it gives me the excuse to learn to make stuff with hungry, not picky, Mormon boys as guinea pigs. :-) Anyway, I finally made those Lemon-Lime Bars I posted a few weeks ago... and they turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself.

My Amazing Friend Travis

This is me, John Bidwell, and my friend Travis Gugelman back in 2001. Hard to believe that was seven years ago. Sheesh. Anyway, Travis is a RIDICULOUSLY talented photographer nowadays. Yup. Ah, I just love his work.

http://www.gugelmanphotography.com/

Pretty Idiot

My hair always looks so pretty when the stylist does it. She roundbrushes to dry it, she puts cool products in it, and I come out looking fabulous. HOWEVER- when it comes to AMY recreating the look ... well, it just DUN'T work. I get through one section, it's left tangled and looking like my mom's poodle, and then I just loose patience, flip my hair upside down, and blow dry away. So much for looking pretty. Ha.

SOMEONE TELL ME THE SECRET TO ROUNDBRUSHING YOUR LONG HAIR ON YOUR OWN!
(I don't have four hands...)

A Boy and His Birthday (Which Also Just Happens to be the Day that KICKS OFF SUMMER!)

Yesterday was the big 28 for that boy I sometimes talk about on my blog. :-) Ha ha. Chuck and I had a day full of fun... and that's why today, Tuesday, I am still in bed (but hey... blogging), at 11 AM. So much for being productive on my day off. Hee hee.


The morning started off with a surprise brunch at this lovely little place...

... Chuck thought it was just him and me going but I had arranged for a bunch of our friends from church to be there as well. Yay for surprises!

Jennlyn, Naomi, Simone, Jeff, John, Tawnya, Chuck, me, and Enoch! And Wes... who took the picture.


The came shopping... and a few hours later, THE BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Peanut Butter Playground cake from COLDSTONE:

I was very particular about getting the Reeses Peanut Butter cups sliced evenly. I love them and am too selfish to let the birthday boy have more than his share. :-) Ha.

Birthday birthday!

Next came more shopping, and THEN we headed to the ward FHE- a Memorial Day BBQ at Fort Wilderness. OK- now most of you know that I am OBSESSED with the 4th of July. I LOVE BBQs and summertime STUFF. This event did not disappoint and here I am chowing down on a burger. Gah- I LOVE summer.

NEXT: (Bear in mind that at this point it's already 9:30 PM)...

The PIRATES AND PRINCESS PARTY at Magic Kingdom!
(Thanks to Jamie for the tickets!)

Singing Pirates.




I like Indians.

Apparently he doesn't. I always did think he was racist... hee hee.

I think it's hilarious that we all love these car rides so much. We drive around in our cars every day, but somehow giving us a little toy car and a track makes driving so much fun!

Self Explanatory...

Amy the Pirate gathering treasure...

I am the Princess.

PIRATE TREASURE!

A Worn Out Boy on the Ride Home.
(Sporting his new TOP GUN shades- I feel a song coming on...)

Happy Birthday to Chuck! Yay 28!!

Because it's a Relaxing Sunday Night...

I'll play, Kecia!

Two Names You Go By: Maimsie, Amer

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now: Jeans, HK Disneyland sweatshirt

Two Of Your Favorite Things To Do: Eat and snuggle (Not at the same time...)

Two Things You Want To Do Very Badly At This Moment: Drink some water, and... nope, nothin' else. I am very content right now.

Two Favorite Pets: Mitzi the Poop Cat and Samuel the Nanny Cat.

Two Things You Did Last Night: Played Belle till 10:15, and talked to my mom.

Two Things You Ate Today: Oatmeal and cottage cheese.

Two Last People You Talked To: Chuck and Kim

Two Longest Car Rides: Seattle and CROSS COUNTRY! (Utah to Florida!)

Two Favorite Holidays: 4th of July and Christmas

Two Favorite Vacations: Hawaii and NYC!

Two Favorite Drinks: Water and Vanilla Cokes... the REAL kind... oh, I miss Galaxy Diner. Sniffle.

A Short Visit....

Sooooooo... Biff, Brett, and Kensie lived in the same state as me again for about a month. Sadly, this week they decided things weren't working out here so they headed out on their long cross country drive back to Utah with a seven month old. Now that's daring... :-)

Anyway, on their way out they came to Orlando for the night. We were able to go to dinner with Chuck's brother and sister-in-law, and their little boy, Myles, and then we all just played around and were entertained by babies. Gotta love 'em.

Kensie eating solid foods!

Bath time! I'm obsessed with this little duck tub!
(Side note: Do you see the water ikkiness? Well water. Not too pretty, eh?)

She loves her Auntie Amy

Bedtime

Brett and Biff steal my camera...

Good morning, Auntie!

Time to go!!! See you in the fall!

I still think she's pretty much the cutest baby ever. She's so pretty! Drive safely Biff, Brett, and Kensie!!!

Whhhhhhhhhy?

Grumble. Why is it that everyone I know (INCLUDING my other single friends...) got a $600 stimulus payment package and I only got $300??? That's not fair! Grumble.

A Thought...

It's too bad, when your plane is LATE picking you up, that you can't land at your destination at the originally scheduled time.

Days Three, Four, and Five in UTAH!

The last few days of my life have been incredible. I have reconnected with friends from years past, and it has just been soooooooooooo wonderful to recharge my little battery with friends and family. I am so blessed with people who love me and who laugh and play with me. Gah- it has just been so amazing. And it makes me want to move back to Utah. Sigh. So...

Last night (Monday), I had dinner with my roommate Audrey- whom I haven't seen for SEVEN years. We picked up right where we left off and chatted it up for hours. We went to our other roommate, Hillary,'s wedding reception, and here we all are- single and working, newly married, and a mommy with three kids! These girls, along with Licia, Joella, Stacia, and Cecilia, are part of my very fondest memories of college. I love Colonial House #304 1999-2000!

Now:

Back in 1999:

Sunday I got to spend time with my cousins... look at how attached little Nate is to his uncle Justin. The kid likes Justin more than his own parents. It's adorable!

MOVING. This has been the other part of my vacation home. Yeeeeah. After just getting through a move in Florida, I came home to Utah only to help my mom move. I decided our best option was to hire movers- so six hours and $531 later my mom was moved out and into a new place. Now I'm just trying to make it look pretty before I leave tomorrow afternoon...

This is us trying to get the couch out of the room we shoved it into two years ago. So entertaining. Good times.

Ben and Luana's reception was a Playmill/Orlando reunion that I was SO in need of! Hillary and I were talking the day before about all the people we might see and how much fun it was going to be, and honestly, it FAR exceeded my expectations. Here's the list of all the friends I saw- and yes, I must list them because I was SO thrilled to see ALL of you!!!!

- Laurel
- Alison
- Rachel
- Sam and Gina
- Hilly and Tavnir
- Brenna and Brent
- Andrew (We missed you Kristi!)
- Marshall and Tammy and Emma
- Melissa Thorne
-Melissa Lindsay


Weddings bring people together. And I expect to see all of you at mine...

Tomorrow I head back to Florida. I have had SUCH a good trip home, and as always, I wish I could stay a little longer and see more of my dear friends... (Melissa Porter!) But alas, it's time to head back to the Beauty and the Beast stage and that cute boy who loves me. OK- I'll go. Ha ha.

Since People Have Asked...

Yeah- that's me in the Annie Get Your Gun poster. The pic was taken last year during Millie. I am Hale's poster child. Ha.

Day Two in Utah!

I love being home. I love seeing friends. I love hanging with friends. I love talking so much that my throat it a little raw at the end of the day. It makes me happy.

It's 7 AM right now... what am I doing up blogging? Weird. ANYWAY- yesterday was fantastic. I don't have pictures of the first event of the day because I am not so smart and left my memory card in my computer and couldn't take pictures. Lame. Ah well.

Soooooooooooo the day began when I met Hilly at her house and we went to Wingers. I LOVE WINGERS. I LOVE THEIR STICKY FINGERS. So I ate ate ate. Then we continued on do our "Pretty Girl Day" where each of us had our hair cut and colored and came out looking fabulous! (By the way- THANK YOU for all the suggestions on hair people! Now I wanna try them all! I ended up going to this girl is Salt Lake that Hilly had used before. She was great, in a convenient location for me, and yeah- I was really happy with the way it turned out. Anyway...)

Continuing on...


My mom and I headed to Hale in West Valley to see Annie Get Your Gun... where, just like last year at this time, (only in a different costume...) I found THIS:

(Yes I am squinting and look like I'm in pain... the sun was killer!)

I absolutely loved the show. I was so proud to see my fellow MDTer Debra up there being fabulous, and seeing Cy, Michelle, and Paul on that stage made me sentimental for the good ol' days of life at Hale. And for my friends. Sigh. I miss my friends like crazy. ANYWAY- afterwards WHAT did I do again? Oh eat. You'd think I'd been stuck on an island in China for eight months again with the way I've been eating...

Chili's chips and salsa and the chocolate shake. Mmmmm.

Me, Paul, newfound friend Molly, Cy, and Michelle. Sniffle. I love you people.

Hey Cy! Remember when.... ????

One more rambling: I finally got to watch the season finale of The Office. WOW! I was really happy to see the show back in full swing. I've felt like the last few months have just been, "meh." Now I can't wait till September again. Bring it on!