Halloween Video

From Sweet May May

A Bedtime Story

Me: "Baden, do you want some popcorn?"
Baden: "Yep."
Me: "Oops, it's past 8:00. Have some popcorn and then you need to go to bed."
Baden: "Darn it, I was hoping you wouldn't notice!"
May: "Oooooooo, Baden said a bad word!"
Me: "No he didn't, he said 'darn it.'"
Baden: "Yeah, damn it's a bad word."
(Me throwing exasperated evil eyes)
May: Laughing hysterically. "I knew it! I knew I could get you to say a bad word!!"

Yeah, I don't even know where to start with this one.

Send help.

Get A Job!

Remember when people used to say that?? It was a long time ago, so maybe not. But anyway - - I did.

I got a job!

I'm so excited to be working at Stella & Dot! It's a new jewelry company with the most fabulous boutique style baubles! My friend, Mike, is the CEO and I see Marci (his wife, my friend) wearing the jewelry all the time - oh, and I've bought a ton already! I love the jewels so much that I just wanted to be a part of the business somehow. Marci suggested that I talk to Mike about buying pieces at a discount, wearing them around in my normal life, and be walking advertisement. Okay fun, but not enough! I really wanted to be a part of this company.

So now I'm a Stylist - how cool is that?! I get to have Stella & Dot Trunk Shows with fun women who love jewelry! It's a great atmosphere, the parties last about an hour and a half, and I get to play dress up and make money at the same time!

My biggest challenge is keeping Kitty out of my jewelry. Next to me, there is no one more excited about my employment opportunity than Kat! If only I could represent Mary Kay on the side, she'd be in heaven!

Check out my very own website - www.amychinn.stelladot.com - I show my top four fabulous picks (my favorite pieces). And you can see all the beautiful jewelry that the Editor in Chief of In Style magazine said was her favorite jewelry line EVER!

Yeah, me too!

Luvs!

Charmed, I'm Sure

Dearest Michael,

What a splendid concert! Thank you for the many love songs and friendly banter. You have a beautiful voice (maybe you've heard) and a well um nice demeanor. I hope you understand about my not asking to see you after the show.

All My Love, A.

To my Readers:

"Ask to see him? What?!" You say. Well let me tell you an uneventful story...

As we (group of 4 fab women) were walking - no change that to sauntering through the Convention Center, a gentleman invited us to an after party at a club where Michael was staying. "Will Michael be there?" Beautiful Friend #1 asks. "Yes" says the gentleman, "but he won't be signing autographs or taking pictures."

Okay, whatever. On with the show.

As Michael charmed each of us over the course of the next couple hours, we decided to pay him a visit at the after party. Upon arrival at the hotel we lounged in 4 private armchairs in a dark corner of the lobby. As we were assessing the situation (girls in short skirts and super high heels trolling about) we had a great laugh at our ourselves. No way were we going to this after party!

About that time we met a band guy (the trumpet player, I think), who I must admit was pretty cute. He pulled up a chair and joined our little group and we actually had a really fun time talking together. Then something kinda weird happened - BF#1 told him very clearly that we were all Mormon and all married. He bolted 10 seconds later, claiming the Red Sox were playing. Must have been an important game.

Ah, that makes me giggle.

The only disappointment of the evening is that we couldn't find a Baskin Robins (that's an ice cream place Cousin Helen). See, I told you it was uneventful!

Happy Birthday, Joe Awe!!

My Favorite Brother
I positively admire this man. He has a plethora of fabulous qualities, so in celebration of his October 15th birthday I'm sharing 15 things I know about him:

1. He's determined
2. He's intelligent
3. He loves to read
4. He's super friendly
5. No matter how tired he is, he is ALWAYS teaching his kids, explaining principles, leading by example
6. He's a great athlete
7. He's quick to laugh
8. He's strong, physically and mentally
9. He's courageous
10. He's a Marine
11. He rides his bike hundreds of miles (!) at a time
12. He's gregarious
13. He's dedicated
14. He loves movies
15. He's sensitive

And because I just can't stop, I'm sharing 15 things he's taught me:

1. Friendship
2. How to push myself
3. A love for music and lyrics
4. To play football
5. How to let someone do things for me
6. Don't open the door to strangers
7. To combine brownies and ice cream
8. How to climb (trees, chicken coops, super huge dog houses...)
9. Dating etiquette
10. To take a joke
11. How to lift weights
12. How to be a good partner
13. To be brave
14. How to shoot a gun
15. Loyalty
    I love you, Joe!!
    

The Important Things

I heard two excellent lessons at church today. Love that.

May May is spending the night with my sister. She's off having a fab evening of cookies and games.

My little boy and I made brownies together. Then enjoyed them with cold milk. Now he's sleeping soundly right next to me in my bed, where he'll stay 'till morning.

No school tomorrow. Thank you Christopher Columbus. Not only do we owe America to him, but a day off as well.

Good Times.

Fall Finds

havelka.com
Yum

Stella & Dot


Cinderella Pumpkins










Irresistible little ghosty that sounds all spooky

Thursday Three

Three Movies I'd Like Be In:

1. Princess Bride - So I can laugh my head off for weeks at a time
2. Austin Powers - So I can dress mod for weeks at a time
3. Blue Crush - So I can hang out at the beach for weeks at a time

How 'bout you?? :-}

Oh wait, bonus movies - - Chocolate, for obvious reasons and Spanglish cuz the family was eating all the time. Okay, I'll be done. Your turn.

No Pictures Please!

Why oh why are boys fascinated with all things gross?? I could use a day off from the disgusting! Unfortunately this time it's the toilet. He's bewitched! He's not been enchanted by every commode. Just my commode. I have nothing of worth in this house that is only mine (mine! mine! mine!). But with two little blond mess makers spilling up trouble, I've managed to isolate one itty bitty bathroom for myself. Itty bitty . . . you know the one - under the stairs. It's the size of a cute London phone booth. Dinky.

Okay so great, the kids get the big bathroom. We're all happy. Until someone (Kat) stuffed TP in the big bathroom sink and got it all clogged. Of course the Littles can't wash their hands in that bathroom, so they've come over to mine. Well, my bathroom happens to have a toilet that is extremely picky about its TP to water ratio.

Side note: I'm so sorry that I'm writing about bathrooms, and toilets. Total yucky. I want to run to the shower even now . . .

A couple days ago I heard someone (Baden) repeatedly flushing said toilet. I asked him what he was doing. As he looked up at me I saw eyes bright with plumbing excitement. "I'm watching the toilet paper go away a little bit, and then I flush again and a little more goes away, and then . . ." Extremely pleased, he reaches for the handle. "It's clogged." I say. "We need the plunger." Then I gave him a mini-lecture on plungers being the filthiest thing in the house. Long story short - toilet was fixed.

Next Day - - I spy Baden running down the hall holding the plunger up like the Olympic torch. To myself I think, "He's touching it. Please make him stop. Why is this nasty, ugly, thing fun to him?"

My internal dialogue does nothing to help me stop him. He's too ecstatic. Instead I give him the thumbs up and an encouraging smile. Mommy may have a problem with the yucky, but I've learned that kids don't melt away because of the foul and disgusting. And after he washes his hands it's like it never happened . . .

Yeah . . . never happened . . .

I've Been Wooed...

romance

love

. . . by the serenity and quiet beauty found in these photographs of Amsterdam. I want to slip away with only a carry-on bag and my true love . . .

free

General Conference

As my church gathered for our semi-annual General Conference both Saturday and Sunday I had the privilege of watching the proceedings in my home. Sitting on the couch in my family room I can laugh and cry without anyone noticing. I can pause my tivo and take better notes (Jen and Kim, professional note takers, I heard that!). I laughed out loud at Elder Wirthlin's story about his daughter and her "date." I wept as I heard Elder Holland's talk and I pondered my own battles and my own Angel.

I love to hear these messages of hope from our church leaders. In the end I think that's what all the talks came down to - hope that we can do better, hope that we can overcome our trials, hope through adversity, hope in prayer, hope in unity, hope for inner strength and self discipline, hope in our testimonies, a hope in Christ.

Speaking of watching Conference at home, I found this quote interesting:

Gordon B. Hinkley
"With the growth of the Church, we likely could never build a hall large enough to accommodate all who would wish to assemble in one place. Nor would accelerating travel costs make possible their coming. The gifts of science have provided a more convenient way. We are confident that as the work of the Lord expands, he will inspire men to develop the means whereby the membership of the Church, wherever they may be, can be counseled in an intimate and personal way by his chosen prophet. Communication is the sinew that binds the Church as one great family. Between those facilities which are now available and those which are on the horizon, we shall be able to converse one with another according to the needs and circumstances of the time."
October 1981 General Conference

How cool is that?! Also kinda fun is this great idea I got from Jill's blog: creativity, musings & such. Every Conference she puts together a basket for the sisters she Visit Teaches. I was inspired and put a little care package together for my sisters as well - -


I included a notebook and pen in their packages, but as I sat down for the opening session I realized I didn't have a notebook of my own. I wished I was better and had a type of spiritual diary that I hear so many talk about.

But I don't.

So I grabbed a large pink spiral notebook that I bought to use for our adoption (oops, is that an official announcement?!) and took notes in there. Now I'm excited, because I'll get to see my notes every time I use it. I even started my To Do list in it. I'll use this notebook until next conference. See the wisdom??

Anyway, thanks for reading. I know my interests aren't always your interests, but I like having you stop by.

Luvs!

VP Debate

Sharing -

I was reading Sue's blog, navel gazing at its finest, which is a super fun read that I recommend, when she mentioned a blog that I had never heard of. Apparently it is way popular, so some of ya'll (authentic Texas speak) may know of it, but just in case I'm sharing it here cuz I've just been totally laughing out loud - - http://icanhascheezburger.com/ Give it a couple pages and you'll catch the funny.

Luvs!

Good Mom Points

"I want to see Hello Kitty animals." -Kat on her way to the zoo.

I always feel like a Good Mom when I take my kids to the zoo. This time I kept Kat home from preschool and we took our own field trip. I think that gives me extra points. I brought a lunch too (more points cuz she's #3 and I don't have a brain anymore). However, it wasn't the healthiest lunch (Lunchable), so minus points. I did buy her the Popsicle of her choice even though it would be messy - and this mommy gets extra points for that cuz I have "Messy OCD." No sunhat, minus. No sunscreen, double minus.

If I go on, I'm not sure I will come out ahead.

I'll just remember the wonderful day we had with nice friends. And the beautiful feeling I get when I spend time with the precious little girl the Lord has blessed me with.

*If you would like to earn points of your own (bragging rights, really) you can answer this animal question: Why are flamingos pink?? In a couple days, check back in "comments" to see if you can brag or not.

Yes, Grasshopper

"Trust me, you can drive yourself crazy picking apart what you can't change." -Jason Morgan