About Amy
Amy B. Chesler is an author, award-winning blogger, & actress from Southern California. She discovered her passion for the literary and film worlds as early as she can remember, and has been voraciously reading, writing, and performing ever since. Amy’s journey has led her to contribute work to many popular publications. Read more…
Freckles & Perspective
She hunches over, furiously scribbling on the paper taped to the floor. It is there to catch excess paint from the ceiling, but the men have packed up for the day, and I see no harm in decorating the barely marred surface. “Why not draw on the floor?” I had proposed...
Reflection, not Resolution
Here’s my proposal: forget resolutions. Instead, let us reflect. What can we learn from 2017?
A Simplistic Holiday Survival Guide
I have one rule, and one rule only: know your financial, scheduling, emotional and mental limits, and try your very best not to push past them. That’s it. May you have the happiest (and most rejuvenating) of holidays, Blog Family! ???????
I Didn’t Choose the Blog Life, the Blog Life Chose Me.
I’ve always dreamt of being a writer. As a child, I devoured book after book, traveling to far off lands and through life-threatening mysteries (from the safety of my bed), while the rest of the late eighties kids played outside from sun up to sun down. I think...
It Literally Takes a Village
Everyone’s heard the adage, “It takes a village,” in respect to parenting. And thousands of years ago, people did actually have the help of a village in raising their children. Consider our original mode of survival: hunting and gathering. Tribes of...
Ten Years of Lessons (in Less Than 500 Words)
It’s been ten years since Mom died. A little over ten years ago, I sat down to write her eulogy, which (as Mom was a long-time teacher) appropriately discussed all the things she taught me in the twenty-two years I was given with her. And as this first...
A DIY Dresser Your Kids Will Never Want to Get Rid Of
If you know me, you know I have a serious adoration for DIY kids’ décor. The littles grow out of interests so fast though that it’s absurd to spend too much money on things for their play or bedrooms. So, when I saw this easy to make, affordable, and...
Fiction Friday: Interview with J.M. Ames from A Haunting of Words
As much as writing has been a large portion of my life since as early as I can remember, the non-fiction genre is a realm I only entered in my mid-twenties. Fiction always has, and always will, have a large portion of my heart. So, today I begin what will be an irregular series I’m (fittingly) calling, Fiction Friday.
#BlogHer17 – More Than Just a Recap
As the thick layer of jet lag dissipates, I’ve finally set out to create a BlogHer17 recap. But as I prep my entry, I begin reflecting on my experience. What do I write about? I think about which panels were most useful, meals the tastiest, events the most...
Three Things I Wish I Knew Before Attending BlogHer16
About five days before BlogHer16, I stumbled onto a post for the convention for the first time. I know, I’m not sure where I was living before that (perhaps under a rock?), but it was going to be on my home turf in just over 120 hours, and I knew in my heart I had to get myself there.
I did the best I could to prepare. I read an article or two, but with the very little time I had all I could do was print a rushed business card at a local office supply store and pray for the best.
Balloon Animal BFFs
Our Florida trip is in t-minus three weeks and the nerves have already set in. This will be our first time flying with the kids, and Charlotte has been saying “I’m scared of heights” on repeat. I’ve tried to sweeten the deal time and time again: “But we’ll be landing and going to DisneyWorld!” “You won’t even notice you’re in the air!” or “C’mon, you’ll be able to watch movies the WHOLE time.” I’ve even offered her cool flight swag (a captain’s hat, an iPad, etc) to assuage her fears. Nothing has worked.
Until, that is, we watched Home and Family on Hallmark Channel – our new mother and daughter ritual – and saw Orly Shani’s super fun balloon animal pillow project. Charlotte’s eyes lit up and she shouted, “That’s it, Mommy! That’ll be my nap time pillow for the plane. I can cuddle it if I get scared! Can we make twoooo?” How can I refuse a family craft time that’s simple and super cheap?!
An Ode to Trader Joe’s Watermelon-Cucumber Juice
I’m a foodie to the nth degree, and when I find a new product I fall in love with – especially from super affordable Trader Joe’s – I want to shout it from the rooftops!
Instead, to avoid my neighbors trying to commit me, I hit up a Facebook group made for uber loyal TJ’s Moms like me instead. I posted about the juice that I had found and spontaneously mixed with some rose on a hard day of Momming. The response was tremendous! People from all over the country chimed in about their favorite ways to use this insanely delicious nectar…