Watchu Been Up To?

I know. I know. I have been gone a long time.

Things around here have been crazy-go-nuts. Big time. The good news is that I have pictures of just about all the good stuff over the past two weeks. 

Halloween

First of all.... 

The Halloween costume that I hyped up for weeks and then never showed you pictures of:

I took this bridesmaids dress ( now like 8 sizes too big)

And made this Medusa costume:

Tada!

My husband has a tendency to not work on his costumes until the VERY last minute. Here is his super slapped together statue costume....and some of our friends before hitting the bars. Emily, poor thing spent $80 on a costume only to have the zipper break 15 minutes after putting it on - we had to improvise with a sparkle dress and Mardi Gras mask  - but it worked!

That's pretty much all the Halloween pictures I have because as you already know- my purse hit a bucket of water that night and the camera fizzed out.

So moving on....

The New Old Job

My last day of work in Ky was a week and a half ago. 

It has been a very rough transition. 

Though its technically a transfer - because of my old building getting sold and my actually being an employee of a different company for two weeks - I have had to jump through hoops like a new hire. 

This includes drug screens, physical, TB test, fingerprinting, etc. all over again. And not having computer access at all. Hence the no blogging. 

My awesome assistant put together a little going-away party for me on my last day

I told her not to put a sappy message on the cake so that I wouldn't get emotional...this is what she came up with! Lol! 

Me and my cake and flowers- I can't really show any more pictures because they all have residents in them ( technically I shouldn't have this one on either- but I figure since these two are in the way background it should be OK) 

The cat was very sad to see me go. 

So a week ago Thursday I left my big, awesome office/activity room:

My KY home...

And checked into my new digs in Ohio:

What the hell was I thinking? I literally share my space with the community copier - I have no privacy - people come in and out all day. I REALLY miss my old office - and my residents. Its so funny to me how it is the same position - yet somehow feels so different. Its definitely going to take some adjustment. Its been really hard to get into the swing of things because my first week I was only in the new community for two days before the weekend - then the next week I only worked three days before the 4 day holiday (which I didn't completely get to take...more on that in a minute)

So I'm all moved in at the new job and trying to get my head around it all. Its going to take some time - I still don't think its fully kicked in that I'm not going back to the KY building - it still feels like I am. Its sad. I'm still kind of sad. Its hard. 

But in the past couple of weeks I've had plenty of wine with my favorites to comfort me and keep me warm!

Out & About

Seriously...I drink a lot of wine.

Disaster

A week ago today I got a phone call from my mom in the early evening to tell me that my brother-in-law fell  from a tree stand while hunting and was being flight cared to the hospital. That was all the information that she had. So Ben and I loaded up the car and drove down to the hospital expecting the worst. And it was bad. My brother-in-law fell 20-25 feet out of a tree stand because he had not harnessed himself on and fell asleep. My 13 year-old nephew was the only one with him and he basically saved the day. Calling 911, running to get help and staying with his dad while EMTs were on the way.

Somehow, my brother-in-law survived this fall with 11 broken ribs, both lungs punctured and collapsed, and a high risk for infection from the lacerations on the right lung. He spent 6 days in the hospital under close surveillance and is now back home with a long road to complete recovery. 

I have no idea how he was not hurt worse than he was - but thank God he wasn't! 

Thanksgiving

Was quieter this year.

My sister Diana didn't come until after visiting hrs were over at the hospital - and even then only for about an hour. So we were down both her and her hubby - but my nephew did come for a few hours before leaving to visit his dad. There were only about 10 of us for dinner this year. It was quiet but nice.

Snuggling with my sister's dog: Sampson.

A sisterly photo shoot minus 1 sister:

This one made my boobs look funny...

This one is just silly....

This one is just right! FAVE!

Then Ben and I attempted to get a pic for our Christmas card:

That is no easy task! Here is one of the outtakes from our attempts. This one is just OK. Christmas card to  come soon!

The Weekend After Thanksgiving

This year I didn't really do much Black Friday shopping. With Diana at the hospital and Denise working for 4 hours I took some time in the late morning and early afternoon to go into work and get a jump start on the 9..yes, NINE Christmas trees that needed to go up at work. So even though I was scheduled and getting paid for a holiday I went in- have to take about 4 hours off sometime this week - see if I actually am able to do this!

I did hit a few stores Friday evening and Saturday early: 

Picked up a few gifts and a few pretties for myself: 

New Coat!

And sweater!

Then I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon decorating for Christmas

And goofing off with the camera!

 Before having dinner at Ben's parents and then hitting the bars with the Emily for a few 28th birthday drinks (hers ... not mine!)

Sunday was a lazy, lazy day. I haven't even left the house:

However, this evening Will and Emily came over for Dexter and we had cake for Em's bday.

 The birthday girl!

And that's pretty much it! You are all up to speed. I still don't have internet access at work and this week is really stacking up so I may not be back in full force yet - but I knew when I started getting comments about my absence it was time for an update!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful! Have a good week all!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challenge Days 13 & 14

Goals:

I'm not much of a long term goal setter...probably something I should work on but I'm kind of a live in the here and now kind of girl. Odd because in everything else I'm so methodical and well planned.

The goal I've kept the best - maybe in all my life  - is my weight loss goal. I originally set out to lose 35 lbs and have since lost somewhere in the 55 lb area. My "ultimate" goal is to drop down another 7 (give or take) to bring my total weight lost to 64 lbs.

People have been telling me lately that this last little bit must be for vanity because THEY can't see where I need to lose more- but I know that this last little bit will be completely healthy for me especially since the first 45 or so seemed to just fall off and the last 10 I lost hung on for dear life so I know this last 9 is going to take some time and a lot of work!

So there's a goal. Get to the 64 lbs lost mark ( and keep it off)

More generally than that:

1. Be successful and respected in my new community
2. Pay down debt with my husband, pay off his parents and actually start padding our savings
3. Buy a house
4. Travel LOTS more
5. Own a Louis Vuitton Bag (not on credit)
6. Christian Loubitan sky high black pumps MUST BE MINE SOMEDAY!
7. Become fluent in another language
8. Write a novel
9. Star in a musical
10, Babies? Someday?
11. Learn to play the guitar and piano
12. Be financially sound
13. Make sure my our parents are well taken care of throughout their lives
14. Have a wonderful marriage that withstands the obstacles of life

And I could go on and on. Not that these are SMART goals (you know specific, measurable, etc.) but they are goals- and when the time is right... I'll either figure out a way to achieve them- or move on. That's just the kind of girl I am.

A Picture I Love:

I had no idea what picture I was going to use here until this morning when I logged into Facebook and I discovered that my uncle had posted this picture of me to my wall:

I have NEVER seen this picture before and right off the bat of course I thought it was stinkin' cute. Then as I studied it more I fell in love with it.

Look how happy. Unashamed, unassuming, head thrown back, chipmunk teeth baring, chunky, little happy, curly headed baby. It almost brings tears to my eyes thinking about it- I love what this picture captured in me and I am so glad I have it to remind me forever.

I actually think I'm going to get a print of it and frame it in my office- because I don't think I'll ever be able to look at it without grinning from ear to ear.

Never saw it before today...but yes, I love this picture.

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

The One Where I Skip Catching Up On The 30 Day Challenge for Some Monday Musings

No, I'm not giving up on the 30 day challenge...I've just been promising a more substantial blog post for quite some time now and thought that I would deliver on the promise today. So without further adieu:

1. I've been sitting on some very big news for the better part of a week and a half now- I've kind of been wanting to write a big post because its such momentous news in my world- but the timing just never seemed to be there (probably because last week was a giant cluster f*ck for me..more on that in a minute). So I guess the time is now.

Can you guess the news I'm about to break?!?!?

Did you guess that I was pregnant?!?!

Well......................................................................................................................................................................................









YOU'RE WRONG!!!!!!!!!

I want to be married 5 minutes before I procreate and the idea of having another human being to take care of on top of the 5 felines we own and 1 too-busy-to-be-bothered to clean husband makes me want to put a campfire out with my face. (9 million cool points if you know where I got that expression).

So the news.....

I'm changing jobs!!!!

Well, actually I'm keeping the same job, and the same company (from before my current building was sold) and changing locations to a community that's MUCH closer to home and practically in the back yard of both my mom and my sister's homes. So its a new, old job that's going to pay me slightly better AND cost me about 200 less a month in gas! Hooray! More money for the Smiths!
 My last day at my current job will be a week from Wednesday and I'll start the new,old job a week from Thursday- no down time- just go time!

I'm going to miss a ton of people here but I've always intended to transition closer to home and now is that time! Yay me.

2. Any one try any of those Lean Cuisine steamer bags yet? I have and I love them! It's like real food from the freezer. Slightly more costly but so worth it. I recommend the portabello ravioli...my fave and only 5 points!

3. So, remember how I said last week was a cluster f*ck. Here's why: Saturday night whilst out celebrating the Halloween holiday- my little black, bar purse slipped off my arm and fell into a bucket of mop water outside in front of the bar. Had I been ..uh...sober I probably would have immediately complained to management about ill mop water placement...however...being a little out of my head I just tried to dry everything in it out...no dice. Droid incredible...ruined. Nikon camera...ruined. Balls. Then Sunday night my car fizzed out. So come Monday morning I had no cell phone, no camera, no car. Then I get to work Monday (my FIL drove me) and the internet is down at work because the new company was in process of takiing over and setting up there internet- I literally had NO connection to the outside world or control over anything. Long story short; phone had insurance- new one delivered Tuesday- car got towed and I picked it up Friday (long week of bumming rides and borrowing cars) internet eventually got restored at work and well, I still don't have a camera. Oy.

I made an awesome Medusa though- however pics will have to wait until I'm home.

4. Time change is killing me- I just want it to be summer all year long. I can't deal with the sun only being out a handful of hours a day

5. Not looking forward to the holidays this year. Changing jobs, and the in-laws going out of town and having to work Christmas day for the 3rd YEAR IN A ROW- just take the wind right out of my sails.

I guess that's really all I have to muse about. I'm definitely excited about the job change- but all the transition with the new company at the current job and getting ready to go into a new community overall just has me stressed out. It will get better though. I know it!

Ok well that's all for now- seriously Halloween pics soon and I will resume the 30 day challenge too...hopefully.

Much Love Always!

30 Day Challenge Days 11 & 12

Day 11:
My Favorite TV Shows:

Let me preface this post by saying...I watch entirely too much TV...I know this. My only redemption is the fact that I DVR most everything so I don't watch it all the time. I set aside TV hours and catch up then. That being said...here we go.

Dexter
True Blood
Big Love
Californication
Board Walk Empire
Nurse Jackie
How I Met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory
Teen Mom/ 16 & Pregnant
Dancing With The Stars
The Middle
Modern Family
Cougar Town
Wipeout
Wife Swap
Jeopardy
Project Runway
Boy Meets World ( every morning while getting ready for work)
Ellen

And sadly - there are probably other off-season shows that I am forgetting about. Oy!

Day 12:
What I believe:

This is awfully broad is it not? I think I'm going to have to go with the very first thing that pops into my mind when I think of my beliefs and that is that even though we all get bogged down in the, "woa is me" when things don't go the way that we plan (I know that I certainly do) that ultimately:

 EVERYTHING happens for a reason and that there is a greater plan for all of us.

Basically: Everything will be ok in the end and if its not ok - its not the end.

How optomistic of me huh?

Lol.

I will be writing a real post very soon- I have lots to update you on! So much is going on - and I do of course want to share my Halloweeen costume!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Much Love Always

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challege: Day 10

AGHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

Real post coming tomorrow in addition to the challenge! See ya manana!

• Miss Amber Lane 

30 Day Challenge: Day 9

A Picture of my Friends:

From Left: Emily, Jessica, Diana, Megan, Moi, (Makayla), Jennifer-Marie, Rachel, Denise

These are my best friends and two of them are my sisters. We've already talked about Denise and Diana so let's skip them this round

One of just the girlfriends and me

Though my best friends all know each other - none of them really are good friends independently of me. Megan and Jen may chat from time to time or make plans. Emily and Jessica may also. Otherwise its with me or nothing. I like that I have best friends from different places in my life: Reiterates that each of them make up a part of who I am today.

So of course I have to say a little bit about each of them:
.

Emily:

Emily is my P.I.C. She is my go-to girl these days when it comes to nights out on the town, shopping, or advice. We met in college and at first didn't really care much about the other- but that changed one semester and the summer that followed when we really got to know each other and how much in common we actually have. We both love a good glass of wine, hip-hop music at the bars, travel, delicious food, and we have many TV nights together over True Blood, Dexter, and Bengals football. She and I have similar views on life, love, and all the above. 

Jessica:

Jessica and I also met in college and really became close through the Children's Theater group I was telling you about yesterday. She's crazy smart and creative and always up for something fun. We love to sing karaoke together or hit up a bar. She's not afraid to be unique and individual - which has her convinced that's the reason she's still single. I just don't think she's found a guy who can hang with her complete awesomeness at this juncture. Jess lives in sunny California- living the dream and paving her way as a theatrical costume designer. Looking forward to planning a visit soon!

Megan:

Megan is my oldest, nearest, and dearest friend. We met in second grade and have been friends ever since. We've certainly had our ups and downs though.

For instance you may remember if you've been reading for a long time, that Ben and Megan dated in high school and when Ben and I decided to step out of friendship and into romance and I told Megan- it did not go so well....

We got through it though and even though we thought that we would never make it back to being as strong as we were before- we did, in fact I think we're stronger now- we've grown up - and grown as individuals- before we were always so much like we were virtually interchangeable. I mean consult the picture..hello matching outfits! Megan is expecting her first baby in March- can't wait to meet him or her and be the best Auntie I can be!

Jennifer Marie:

First name Jennifer, middle name Marie- went by Jen when she and I met and then Marie later so I still call her Jen. Jen and I met in middle school and became great friends. We had one wild and crazy summer when we were 16 and working at the local water park. Most fun/trouble I've ever had. Jen and I have also had ups and downs but I guess that's the thing about long friendships/ friendships you create when you are young and still changing. Jen's an awesome drinking buddy and she'll dance the night away with you for sure. She lives about an hour and a half away so I don't see her as often as I would like but once or twice a month usually. She has two kids a boy and a girl- both were in my wedding.

Rachel:

You read Rachel and my story a week or so ago. We met in high school when I changed schools for the remainder of my junior year and my senior year. Never would have guessed then that I could make a life-long friend that fast- but I did! We are favorite shopping partners- good for our closets,vanities, jewelery boxes - bad for our wallets! Rachel recently got married too as you know- so she's busy being a newlywed right now. You also know that she lives in Baton Rouge and that I LOVE to visit. I'll be back again soon Rachel... WATCH OUT!!! 

Of course there are other girls and gals who mean the world to me: Julie, Will, Ashley, Kristen, Rae-Leigh, Jackie....and many others but these 5 are my heart and deserve a special post just to them! 

Much Love,

Miss Amber Lane

20 Day Challenge; Day 8

A Place I've Traveled:

So in 2005 I contracted with a privately funded Children's Theater group that was run by a theater prof. at my school. Each contract bound you to the group for 1 full year and countless performances of a cute little show that seemed simple at first glance but was physically, crazy, demanding, and vocally draining. It was an operetta called: The Girl Who Sang Wolf and it was full on opera singing my friends.

The unique thing about joining the group was that the travel was stellar. We toured to Russia by way of Finland and Taiwan. Not to mention a three week mid-west tour.

Our group was unique because it was 6 chicks, all theater majors and basically all the same graduating class. Meaning: we already knew each other before joining the group and for the most part had A BLAST!

From top left: Natalie, Emily, Kat, Ashley, Jessica, and moi...yep we were roller skating!

All except Jess- headed to an Indians game on Mid West Tour..look at my hair back when I was a broke college student and did it myself...yikes!

On to the trips!

Russia:

Was beautiful. So mysterious and different. Loved visiting the Hermitage and The Church on Spilled Blood, and St Isaacs Cathedral.

Only problem was it was so darn cold you could hardly stand it: This was back before I had a digital camera so my shots are limited:

Me twirling in palace square- the winter palace is to my left

Natalie and I in front of the large doors at St. Isaacs Cathedral 

Crazy Taxi Rides!

Taiwan:

Balmy, beautiful tropical weather in December....this one was niiiice!

The types of things you see just walking down the street...that and 7-11s!

Jess and I with our host family

These trips are what cemented our friendship

The girls in Taiwan 

Since those trips my adventures have been much smaller: Florida, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, NC, Baton Rouge, New Orleans....can't wait for a big trip again someday!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane 

30 Day Challenge: Day 7

My Favorite Movies in Screen Shots: If you haven't already peeked at my favorite movies from Day 1 - guess along!

Also for your enjoyment I've captioned with some of my favorite lines from the movies!

"YOU got into Harvard?!?!"
"What, like its hard?"

"And last week I saw Cameron Diaz at Fred Segal, and I talked her out of buying this truly heinous angora sweater. Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed."

"OK so by now your probably going; is this like some kind of Noxema commercial or waht?! But actually, I seriously have a way normal life for a teenage girl. I mean I get up, brush my teeth, and pick out my school clothes"

"I simply say, babay, oh babay, my sweet babay- you're the one"

"I only eat the brown m&ms because I figure chocolates already brown, has less artificial colors"
"How very scientific of you Dr. Steve"
"I'll toast when I see fit"

"Tawanda"

"Face it girls I'm older and have better insurance"

"Tell him its carol singers"
"You saucy minx"
"I feel it in my fingers, feel it in my toes"

"I hate boats"
"Certainly not ALL boats"
"Yes, ALL boats"

"Hey man gotta joint?"
"No."
"Hmph It'd be a lot cooler if you did"

"That's the thing about high school girls, I keep getting older- they stay the same age"