The Blonde Bride Unveiled

Dear Blogger

2012-01-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

I miss blogging.

Not just blogging ... but blogging about NOTHING. I miss logging in and typing a blog chock full of pictures from my weekend and purchases I made and how I lost weight this week and blah, blah, blah. Posts like that are much more fun than the ones I've shared lately ... but I haven't made any fun purchases lately
( I bought a new hard drive for my laptop and paid an outrageous energy bill - does that count?) and I certainly haven't lost weight - my biggest work out this week was running after a 14 month old and a 10 month old on Saturday afternoon (although my quads are burning and my arms ache like I've been lifting weights lol) so.... ce'st la vie ... life is different now... posts are bound to be different too.

Fact of the matter is - I'm sick of my life revolving around the dramz of a divorce and all that it entails ... I'm ready to bring this thing to a close and be able to talk about life again ... actually living life and I am ACTUALLY LIVING LIFE its just I'm getting used to new normals and it sucks the energy for blogging right out of this child.

Here I am now though - so how about a weekend update?

This weekend I was off on Friday and Saturday and was Manager on Duty at work Sunday.
Friday I slept in until about 11:30 then ran errands while the bf went to class. When I got home I did laundry and mopped the floors because by 6:30 the bf's little girl was scooching around in her pjs being adorable and I didn't want her knees to collect dust and paw prints. We spent the evening with her then picked up dinner from IHop to eat at home after dropping her back off to her mom.

Saturday was all about working on the new/old SUV. The bf works on cars as a hobby and about a week ago he snagged an older Explorer for a steal and has been fixing it up. My friend Megan's husband also knows a little something about cars so Saturday morning after the bf picked up the baby for the afternoon the 3 of us went over to Megan's to get some work done on the vehicle. The boys worked on the vehicle I hung out with the babies....yes plural...Megan was at work and with her husband helping work on the SUV someone had to keep an eye on Miss Shelby - so I hung out with the girls and let the boys spend time with a fuel pump in the cold, windy January air. It was a lot of work keeping up with the girls but also a lot of fun - I took a lot of adorable pics of the two together but I'm not comfortable posting any of the bf's daughter without consent - especially since I do not know or have a relationship with her mother - so while I may blurb a snippet here or there about how adorable she is - I won't be disclosing her name or any photos of her - I think thats the appropriate and respectful thing to do.

After about 4 hours on the SUV and with babies -we were all exhausted so we headed for home. The baby napped and we talked about dinner plans for after she went back to her mom - we decided on an old Italian place thats been in business for about 75 years - the food was phenomenal - the service was lousy. Can't win em' all I guess lol. I fell asleep on the couch watching The Expendables and that ended my weekend.

Sunday was work followed by chicken wings, keno, and the pro bowl at a local bar.

Now its Monday and the dawn of a new week. Its sunny and the next couple of days are promising to be unseasonably warm for January in southern Ohio so I'm hoping it lifts the winter blahs for the masses and everyone is in good moods for the week.

This week I have a hair appt (finally -ladies I made one for a week ago Saturday and it got cancelled thanks to an ice storm) its been since the first week in November that I had my hair done and I NEED IT - I'm also ready to start lightening back up ... brown hair was fun for awhile but its just not me! I also have a meeting with my lawyer ...but that's not fun stuff so enough of that for now!

Hope everyone is well and has a great week! Before we know it spring will be here and with the flowers will bloom new beginnings - hope you're all as excited for that as I am!

Much Love!

January 16th 2012 - How My Life is Different Now

2012-01-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

1. My hair is brown

2. I have a new dog. Olive passed away after having a couple of massive seizures in December – it was heartbreaking. Christmas eve the new beau took me to meet a family who raises beagle basset mixes and he bought me Holly to bring home and love.

RIP Little Pug Princess

Meet Holly

3. I have gained 6 lbs back from the 5 I lost when I was so distraught all the time I could barely eat. While its bothered me a little bit I’ve learned its happiness weight.

4. BTW the “new beau’s” name is Lee. We are the EXACT same age. Both born August 8th 1984. We met early in August at a spot we both frequented. Just conversationally we got to talking about our birthdays and discovered we had the same one – we did not exchange numbers, we did not flirt, I don’t think either of us thought anything much about the other until a month later on a Wednesday night we ran into each other again somewhere entirely different – he remembered me – I did not remember him until he said, “You’re the girl with the same birthday as me” – then I remembered. My marriage was already in shambles at this time but I am at the point where I feel comfortable saying that I pushed it over the edge after I met Lee.

Me and my guy at Sam's bday party in late November

5. It was a very quick move but we decided we didn’t want to spend any more nights apart so we now share the 3 bedroom rental house.

6. I stay up until 1am instead of going to bed at 10 pm simply because I’m bored as I did in my old life. Because I am happy and less stressed I don’t feel nearly as tired as I frequently did then.

7. On that same note on the weekends I sleep in until I wake up on my own. This means that once or twice I’ve slept until 2pm and didn’t even bother to feel guilty about it.

8. I don’t go out nearly as much as I did when my marriage was ending – I definitely don’t drink as much wine. Maybe a glass or two a week. I’m content to rent a handful of movies and snuggle up on the couch these days.

9. I feel like its ok to dream again. So often the dreams I had in my past life were crushed by the unwillingness of my spouse to help me realize those dreams: several vacations, the desire for children and a home that we could be proud of …. I realize now that we wanted different things out of our lives. I feel like those are once again realistic dreams – not just because I’m with someone who will dream with me but because I know I’m strong enough to remove myself from unfavorable situations and make the choices I need to make in order to be happy.

10. I spend a lot of time with a 13 month old little girl. Lee has a daughter. A beautiful, sweet, smart little girl whom he adores – not gonna lie – she’s stolen my heart too.

11. I’ve learned I’m not perfect and I need to chill the fuck out every once in a while.

12. I’ve also learned that normal is a relative term. My normal is different than yours. Our normal is different than theirs and no one way is necessarily the right way.

13. I’m really working on not being so critical of myself and in turn not being so critical of everyone else in my life. Sometimes I need to take the blame for things – I’m not perfect- am never going to be perfect. I’m working on accepting my short-comings and moving on- because the way I view myself can and does affect my relationships with others.

14. I’ve actually left my house to go to dinner in a hoody, sans makeup, wearing gym shoes. Those of you who don’t know me IRL probably have no idea how big of a deal this is but trust me … its epic. I’ve always prided myself on looking “perfect” at all times – perhaps it’s because when I was heavy it was my way of “hiding” (in therapy they call this a breakthrough) I’m learning to be ok with myself – just as I am.

15. I used to think that I wasn't a snuggle sleeper that is until I fell for someone who is - if ever there is a night that I don't feel his arms around me - things just don't feel right to me.

16. I realized that since I started eating so healthy- I'm not a very good cook anymore. I've subbed out so much of the yummy fattening stuff that my food is boring and bland to those who prefer not to eat that way. I'm researching a middle ground... cause even though I call it "happy weight" 6 lbs is ENOUGH!

17. I'm happy. Undeniably happy. Things aren't always easy - definitely never perfect but there is freedom in truth and now that I'm being completely honest with myself and everyone in my life... I am free.

Back Among the Living

2011-12-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

I can't believe its been since the end of September - and I haven't written a word. Well, I take that back, I've partially written some posts and haven't known how to finish them or fully and eloquently explain things the way that I've wanted to so I've abandoned them half written. I apologize to those who have shown me support in the past - its not very fair of me to not update with so much going on and changing in my world. Over the years I've become virtual friends with many of you- so I'm sure that's its disarming to hear so much and then suddenly silence.

Today I am breaking the silence.

So,So, Soooooooo much has taken place since last I've written. Some terrible things have happened and some wonderful things have happened. I've had to face some cold, hard, truths about myself and my marriage I've had to pack up my visions of doing things properly and by the book and not "stepping on any toes" and for once do things the way that I feel that they need to be done in my heart. Its been hard- continues to be hard in some ways but I can say only one thing that summarizes the way I feel right now - happy. I am happy.

I don't want to look back too much so in fast forward here's what I need to share:

1. Moved out of town house in mid October - without so much as a day's notice. Things had become so ugly between Ben and myself that it was damaging both of us (and our property) to stay in the house together. One Wed. morning things were particularly out of hand - so I packed an overnight bag and headed for the door. I never spent another night in that house again. My intentions were a hotel but another door opened and I walked through it. I am now renting a 3 bedroom house and am very happy there. Of course the few weeks that Ben was still in the house with the things of mine I needed to collect I suffered considerably ... clothes on the lawn, stuff just thrown in boxes and labeled with awful, horrible names he felt he should call me etc. He was kind enough to delete all my family from his facebook but every friend of mine saw all the terrible things he posted about me all over facebook too - it was very mature.

2. Ben and I are in the process of filing for a dissolution. We have no joint assets and really no joint debt. For those not familiar- this is a much quicker and cheaper process than a divorce. Barring any complications a dissolution takes just a couple of months from start to finish and the costs are minimal.

3. This is where I need the peanut gallery to not share their opinions - this is also where I need to preface by saying THIS topic is where I've had to not allow societal expectations and doing things "perfectly" to truck me down. I am seeing a someone else. Is he the reason for the end of my marriage? No. My marriage was already in shambles when we met and the separation already started. Ben however will tell you that its added fuel to the fire and he doesn't believe that the new guy isn't the reason we are no longer together. I know that everything you will ever read and any professional you ever consult will tell you not to jump into a new relationship during a divorce - but sometimes you have to follow your heart and that's what I have done.We met when we were supposed to meet and things have grown from there. I am not planning to divulge any more about him or our relationship in this post - I'll allow you all to digest this new information all on its own. But know how great I think he is, how fun, smart, sweet, and incredibly sexy I find him to be and be happy for me for I am truly very happy.

And I'm not perfect. And I don't do everything "right" but I'm OK with that since admitting to both of those things has led me to where I am today and that's exactly where I am supposed to be.

I think that's enough for now. I'm alive. I'm well. Things certainly are different for me but everything is as it should be.

Much Love Always!

Dear 16 year-old-self

2011-10-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

Saw this post on Jax's blog and in light of everything I've been going through lately thought it would be interesting to let my stream of consciousness flow with advice to the 16 year-old Amber. The year was 2000 I was a junior in high school and went through 2 moves and 3 high schools in the course of one school year - it was a rough year.

Dear 16 Year Old Self,

* You are OK ... matter of fact you are better than OK - you are smart and talented and you really should stop comparing yourself to other people and thinking about all the things that you don't have that you think other people do - the grass is not always greener.

* Stay away from Adam - I know he makes you feel weak in the knees and the way he kisses you melts your insides but he's nothing but trouble, he's going to destroy your view of men and relationships and cause you much emotional and physical harm for the next 3 years. And trust me - he's not going to be the last person to make you weak in the knees and melt your insides.

* Eat right! Learn what foods are truthfully good for you and how they effect your body and go with them. Lay off the McDonalds and really get your butt moving- once high school is over and your built in physical fitness is gone - you're going to really pack it on - I'm just saying.... you aren't the kind of girl who can eat whatever you want without consequence.

* Don't let your ego be so fragile. You are worthy. Don't take everything to heart and so seriously. People can be mean just for the sake of being mean and snide just because they want to cut you down a peg.

* Cherish this time with your 5 year old nephew - you'll never be this close again - and he's going to grow up so fast - you will really, really miss his younger self when your 27 and he's 16 with a girlfriend in college,and a drivers license, and a rock band.

* Look past today and tomorrow and to the future - joy comes in the morning, troubles they don't last always

* Friendship is important but expect even the longest lasting friendships to evolve and change over the course of time and life's triumphs and tribulations

* Hug your grandpa everyday and be so appreciative for everything he's done for you in your life. You will miss him forever and to this day you will dream of your grandparents home - the most consistent family home you've ever known

* Love like you've never been hurt but pay attention to whose worthy of that love and whose not. Don't fall for wolves in sheep's clothing - there are so many of them out there

* Your priorities are going to change...and then they are going to change again....and then probably again...

* Some things just weren't meant to last. If you look in the mirror one day and don't like who you see and its influenced by a relationship that you are in ....its time to know when to cut your losses

* Bleaching your own hair is never a good idea - you will later be embarrassed when you look back at pictures of your wretched self coloring jobs

* Don't give up on your dreams. Don't give up, don't back down, don't take no for an answer .... do whatever it takes to get to where you want to be...just because things naturally come easy doesn't mean you can half ass it...that only makes you mediocre.

* Go away for college. You don't belong at Miami - once again its the easiest route and when you take it you will find that you don't fit and you will spend a few years trying to make a square peg fit in a round whole and then the remaining few resenting yourself and everyone there.

* Don't have roommates - if you can live alone - you should

* Beware of black ice - you aren't invincible

* The money thing ... it does get easier but its never easy - no matter how much you have or don't have

* Don't drink more than a glass of champagne ... and that night you find yourself downing several bottles...sleep in the bathroom

* Don't look back in anger. Everything happens for a reason. In the grand scheme of things - you were supposed to do what you just did...every strand in the rope makes it stronger ... don't look at yourself as a failure just because something failed.

* Hey, when your 20 ...don't open that high limit credit card and max it out....its going to take you 7 years to pay it off....oy. For that matter don't take out any loans other than federal school loans...your're going to regret that too.

* Pay attention to warning signs and red flags in relationships...don't look past them because you want something ...and don't try to make something or someone who they are not - that will only come back to kick you in the ass.

* In college...go to class....seriously...don't be so lazy

* Don't obsess over little things on yourself. I get it - your a perfectionist - but honey you aren't ever going to be perfect.

* Don't get distracted while driving and plow into the back of an army grade jeep....disaster

* Stop looking for what's next - live in the moment and enjoy life. Also stop expecting it to look a certain way...it never does and it never will

* Your only going to improve with age...

Sweet 16

Tumultuous(?) 27

Now I only wonder what my 38 year old self will tell my 27 year old self..... I'm sure a lot!

Now That The Band Aid is Off....

2011-09-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

I felt it was only right to return fairly quickly and share a bit more - I'm thankful to those who commented on my last post - knowing that you are out there - thinking of me is so very helpful - I feel very supported through you, through my family and friends, even through my colleagues at work - that is making this much easier for me. Honestly I was expecting judgement, people to tell me I wasn't trying hard enough, that I hadn't given my marriage enough effort, love, attention - something...but that hasn't been the case.
Honestly, those closest to me have told me that they aren't entirely surprised - which kind of blows the lid off my whole world - ya think you could have shared that with me?!!? I guess that's not really their place though - its just so interesting to me that people could see what we were blind to.

So how am I?

I'm good. I'm surprisingly good. I feel ... relieved. I felt like I was faking what should have been something I was elated over and now I don't have to anymore.

I love Ben ... I do. I care greatly for him, and what happens to him - but things have changed between us- had changed maybe even before we got married - but one tends to become blinded by expectations, and wedding plans, and the dream of what your future together will be like. I never had a moment of cold feet before our wedding - but looking back I realize that I was all business.

I was planning and financing and DIY projecting - I was working out and working and busy ... it never even occurred to me to stop and think - and why would I have thought I "needed to". I had been with the man 5 years before we got engaged- of course we were supposed to get married - what was there to think about?

Sigh.

There were things to think about.

Perhaps the fact that I had told him just months before we got engaged that if he didn't commit to me soon - I was leaving -I don't consider it a true ultimatum - it was just a fact - if he never saw marriage to me- eventually we would have to end. So I've always considered my proposal more of a business deal - which sucks the fun right out of it.

Perhaps that when we moved in together years before - I basically moved my stuff in on him and he pointed that out time and time again - as well as the fact that he wanted me there to help pay for things - not because he wanted me around all the time - which of course he never ACTUALLY said - but I'm sharp - I understand sub-text.

And there are other things...but I'm not going to be specific about those - if it were solely my dirty laundry - I would air it ... but its not and I'm not going to smear him.

The truth is .. I'm not perfect either. I have flaws and faults and I've not been the best person to him at all times - especially in the last 6 months. Just another sign that what is happening right now - this separation - needs to happen.

So now what?

I am looking at an apartment on Saturday - if it shows well ...I am planning to make it my home early in November. The location and price are right - its going to be much smaller than I am used to (and the worst part is no laundry on site at all...) but how much space do I really need at this juncture...the space I need is figurative - not literal - I need space to breathe and think and determine what it is that I want from my future and I want Ben to have the same thing - because whether he realizes it yet or not - he needs this too.

I know that I am doing the right thing because I feel free. Not that I was a prisoner or miserable the entire time but I feel like myself again...I can write here because I'm not trying to fake a happy marriage through pictures and sweet words, I can be honest about how I'm feeling here and in real life, I can stop pretending. There is so much relief in that for me - you have no idea.

Is this absolutely the end of my marriage?

I can't answer that right now. Who knows what the future holds for us ... but for the first time in a long time - I actually am ready to find out.

It won't be long before you hear from me again.

I've reclaimed my voice.

Amber

Oh Honey, Just Let Your Heart Ache

2011-09-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

It is no mystery to blogger that my last several posts have been filled with uncertainty and heartache - even if they have been quite vague. I've clued my readers (those of you who are left) into the fact that some things are just going on in my life - and while I still won't divulge all the intimate details of my "unsteady" life - I am now to a point where I can share a bit more.

Things with Ben and I are not good. So not good that we are not going to be living in the same house for awhile -or maybe ever.

I never thought 1.3 months into my marriage to a man that I've known for 16 years - I would be saying those words but here I am .

There are so many facets to this story- I wish I could tell you - this is the reason *** tada! But I can't.

There are major trust issues, respect issues, financial responsibility issues, compatibility issues -issues abound.

Plus I can't get past the feeling that we got married because that was what was "next" for us.We had been together so long, we didn't want to not be together, we didn't know what else to do so we got married....maybe I'm blinded by all that is going on right now but I just can't shake that feeling.

I am sad. I am troubled. Yet at the same time...I'm relieved that all the issues are out on the table and that perhaps we are coming to a turning point in it all.

I know this is still not much information - but perhaps now you can see why I've been AWOL - a lot going on in my mind and in my life. I never disappear for too long - know that I'm still here - its just when I can't scream from the rooftops everything I want to say - I tend to go silent.

Say a prayer, send a wish, think of me. I think I'm in for a bumpy ride.

Wherever You Go, Go With All Your Heart and Weekend Update

2011-08-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how infrequently I've posted in the past 6 months. Today, I decided that I would re-read some of my more recent blog posts and realized - there really aren't any!

I've always been a blogger - I love to do it - but somewhere along the line my heart fell out of it. Not because I don't enjoy it anymore - mostly, I think because I don't feel like I have a story to tell anymore.

Now that I'm married, and we're not planning for a baby, and we don't have a new house - it seems like nothing terribly exciting is going on for us anymore. Nothing "blog-worthy" anyhow.

And sadly, part of the "sadness" that I was experiencing over the past month is related to that same idea.

Oh Shit. Now what?

I never got cold feet or had any doubts while Ben and I were engaged. Without a doubt I knew this was the man I was to marry. But now that we are married and more specifically just celebrated our 1 year anniversary in June - I've had those deer in the headlights moment where I ask myself,

"Just how long is til' death do us part?"

I know how this makes me sound but I'm willing to bet most women have found themselves in this moment at some point in their marriages. Especially women who dated a long time before engagement and then had a lengthier engagement as well. Ben and I had been together 6.5 years already when we got married. We have a strong, solid friendship and a deep love and respect for one another - but I'm not going to wax poetic and pretend that we are today, as hot and heavy as we once were. Ours is a marriage based on friendship - not passion - and I know that this type can be the strongest of them all but my heart is fearful of what its going to be like to never "fall in love again" and its made me feel very lonely.

Maybe that's why I got a puppy...

Gratuitous Puppy Pic

I love my husband though- don't get me wrong- he is my very best friend and I couldn't imagine life without him -

So again I ask....now what?

Now that we're married, and have good jobs, and aren't planning any major life changes (with the exception of a new place perhaps) what in the hell do we do to keep life interesting now?

I've been doing a lot of soul-searching on that one. So far I've come up with travel, fun-filled nights out with our other child-less friends (and friends who still go out even though they have children) Furthering education - did I tell you I've been accepted to a Group Fitness Certification program -yep I'm going to teach classes eventually - two years ago would you have thought I would be doing that?!?! Nope. Me neither! Auditioning for plays and musicals again, sleeping in, walking around naked on a whim, training a puppy, really...the sky is still the limit.

And It doesn't matter if I'm having "major life change moments" what ever it is that I choose to do - I've learned - that I will do it with all my heart and soul.

I don't know how to do it - I learn to do it. I enjoy something -I make it a lifestyle - Zumba for example on that one.

I approach my friendships this way, my job, being a new puppy mommy - whatever I do - I want to be the best I can be at it and I usually get pretty damn good.

There is no going small in my world.

Go big or go home.

BUT!!!!

I'm getting to another point here, and it is:

My can-do, will-do attitude also gets in my way. It makes me overly critical of myself and highly sensitive to insults and doubts from other people.

My short-comings haunt me.

When I can't master something, when someone sees my house when its not at its best, when my hair falls flat and my mascara runs....when I don't get enough attention from my husband - that little nagging voice inside me tells me these things happen because I'M not good enough.

I am my own worst critic. B/C I've pumped my heart into it all.

The trick I believe is going to be to find a balance between the positive and negative aspects of this trait and learn how to work the entire thing to my advantage.

Growing up is hard to do.

On that note (a much lighter one) this weekend was all about growing up - or celebrating a dear friend as he grows up - our friend Will celebrated number 28 this past weekend.

A casino close to our area has a 70s, 80s, 90s themed dance club called Boogie Nights so we headed there for an evening of drinks and dancing!

Rocking the sparkly,blue , disco shadow and leopard print

Sam and I with the Birthday Boy on the dance floor

Me and Sam taking a dance break - don't know why I look like I have an attitude problem ) :

Will and I dancing - this man can DANCE and he does- hence the visible sweat

The night before Will's celebration Sam and I headed up north to visit my cousin at the bars he likes to go to... I only took a couple shots of the night..

Ready to go pick up Sam

Me and my cousin Danny

Sunday was spent quietly. A nice breakfast out, grocery shopping and spending time close to home .

In all it was a good weekend.
Hope the rest of your were too.

Picture Pages

2011-08-15T14:15:00.000-07:00

It really has been the oddest couple of weeks of my life..... as you can probably tell from my last, vague post I have been far from being myself.

BUT... before I go any further let me tell you all that while I would love to share my ENTIRE story with you - my bloggy friends and to seek your advice- I simply can not. Real life gets in the way of that- you just never know who may be reading your blog, who may be out there to judge you and what the consequences of their judgement may be. I know that this is very vague as well - but don't worry - I am OK. I am doing a lot of soul searching right now- seeking advice from those closest to me - and praying that I am led in the right direction. Sometimes we are faced with things that we never expected or asked for and its up to us to move forward and to take on the experiences.

OH and before the real worrying sets in....

Yes. We are still together.
(Picture From A Night Out With Friends)

Ok. All that aside..during my weeks of ...whatever you want to call it.... I also celebrated a birthday.
Birthday #27 and while it may always be synonymous with some troublesome weeks in my heart - it was also a time in which I felt loved and celebrated by my friends and family.

My camera met its true death while kayaking a few weeks ago so please bare with the cell phone snap shots!

My birthday is August 8th so a week ago Friday (the 6th) my mom and sisters took me to dinner at Bonefish Grill after work.

Mom and I getting ready in her bathroom
(yes she's putting on makeup and I'm having a cocktail ... did I mention I may also have been drinking too much these past few weeks? When in Rome I say)

Emotionally, I was in an odd place that night but they did the very best they could to cheer me up.

Pink Gerber Daisies and a Brownie Sundae

Posing with my flowers

I got my first two pieces in my new "Vera" pattern- the agenda and the lunch date (not pictured)
Ben also added the bowler (also not pictured).

I ended the night by going to the bar where my friend Sam djs and spending my time talking to locals and drinking chardonnay.

The next day was just what the Dr. ordered. I had a massage at 10:00 and a hair appt. at noon, then I shopped with my mom before coming home to get ready for my birthday dinner with friends.

Ignore the smug, mentally challenged face I am making in this picture ( not to mention my un-made bed)

I'm pretty happy to report that on that Friday I came in at my lowest weight ever- having lost almost 4 lbs in one week - mostly becuase I had no appetite but if you're going to be sad- you might as well reap some rewards amirite?

Ben and my friend Sam- who I mentioned briefly above took me to a mexican restaurant for dinner where I was humiliated with whipped cream by the wait staff- but it was all in good fun so I didn't really mind.

This is a pic of Sam and I from back in July

She's a girl I've known since high school but never really got to "know" we've gotten pretty close in the past couple of months and I'm really enjoying having her around.

She actually made me a birthday cake and brought it to dinner....

I thought it was pretty awesome of her and the cake was delicious! She also took me to breakfast ON my birthday and brought me balloons - for a new friend she really took a lot of effort to make me feel special and I really needed it so it was much appreciated!

Will, Emily, and her boyfriend Stephen met us and then we went to a bar that we frequent where we were met with a couple more friends and Sam's husband Mike.

I sported the birthday bitch ribbon proudly

Ben and I at the bar

It was a fun night followed by a good next couple of days off

My mother in law bought me a cute apron - among other things...

And then Monday on my ACTUAL birthday I gifted myself the best thing ever......

Meet Olive.

And please ignore the way I look at 11 PM in this picture.

Olive is a baby pug who is so sweet and smart and loving - just what the Dr. ordered for me right now

I am in love. Adjusting to life with puppy has been a challenge but I'm loving it!

Life is just a challenge in general right now - but maybe eventually I'll look back and say I loved it all too...

I really am fine friends -

but some times I'm more fine than others.

If I can ever share more- I swear I will - but for now I'm eager to read your latest posts and see what's happening in your worlds!

Much Love Always!

Confessions of a Former Fat Girl

2011-08-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't know I was starting a journey.

One day I was stepping on the scale at my Dr's office, trying to avoid the number - asking the nurse not to tell me - but still peeking over her shoulder to see the number on my chart. The next I was buying a hot pink sports bra and a copy of The 30 Day Shred. A couple months later - "without really trying" I was on the scale again - down 17 lbs from my Dr. appointment. Something sparked in me and ignited. This feeling of success was addictive and I wanted more- it was like they say, "nothing tastes as good as thin feels" and they were right.

Although too much food has never really been my problem. The lust for decadence has. I never felt there was any reason to limit myself - you do only get one life after all - mine should be filled with rich delicious foods, chocolate, wine - so yes, while that is an overindulgence of sorts, I was never the type of girl who ate and ate and ate - I just wanted what I wanted when I wanted it - so I had it - If I had pizza one night I didn't look at that as an indulgent treat for the week and modify elsewhere - I went ahead and had Red Lobster the next night and McDonald's for breakfast the following morning. I had/have a taste for the good life.Today after my weight loss success that appetite manifests its self in other areas of my life - it has to - otherwise I feel that I might just explode and fizzle into Amber confetti all over the carpet-. but there's more to that story to come.

So there I was 17 lbs lighter and all fired up to keep right on trucking. 6 months later I was 50 lbs lighter and still losing. I was wearing a size 8 pants - down from a 14 - It was a proud moment as I dropped out of double digits and I can not lie its thrilling even today when I comfortably button and zip into my newest pair of Capri pants that proudly boast the smallest size I've ever worn in my ENTIRE life; a size 4.

What I didn't realize though was that with the weight loss would come a totally different set of challenges.

I'm never, never, satisfied. Losing the weight has allowed me to be seen the way I always saw myself - but what it didn't do was teach me how to handle what comes with that. The desire for attention, the desire to be viewed as beautiful and perfect - even worse -the desire to be desired - and I have not been at a loss for that - a challenge, no a demon that I struggle with on a regular basis.
The former fat girl in me - loves the attention. The former fat girl is no longer happy with being slimmer - the former fat girl wants perfection, the former fat girl wants EVERYTHING.

But Amber Lane wants to find peace and balance.

Amber Lane wants to snuggle in bed at night with her husband and know that no one else's opinions of her matter besides his and hers. Amber Lane wants to be healthy and fit and completely happy with who she is -even if that means her stomach isn't flat, she drank too many diet cokes today, and she's up a lb tonight from this morning. Amber Lane doesn't want to be obsessive.

What I'm about to find out it seems is what happens when The Former Fat Girl and Amber Lane collide.

Heavy post coming out of what "appears" to be nowhere - this is what my life is right now.

Stay tuned.

The Start of Something Good

2011-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well after I went on and on about the gorgeous, sunny weather on my last post, mother nature has decided to rub my nose in it and the sky is gray and murky - splashing rain drops down from time to time - thus ruining a perfectly free Saturday that I had set aside for pool lounging. Sigh.

Guess the dreary weather will act as the motivator I need to organize this house and US for our trip to Virginia Beach - we leave 1 week from tomorrow!

We are looooong over due for a trip alone together. We have NEVER been on one in the entire 7.4 years we've been together! We've had a weekend trip here or there with friends but that's it - we never even had a honeymoon thanks to Ben's new job (I'm not complaining believe me!) so we are really looking forward to getting away together to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary- which is 1 week from today!

In honor of our anniversary week I thought I would share some of our story through photos with you this week.

Friendship: 1997 - Well...for always

Really hard to see I know: Ben is on the far right in the 2nd row..I'm the head to the left of him with the bangs- this was at a party our freshman year in high school

Sophomore year homecoming - Ben in the couple on the left and me with my then boyfriend in the middle

Band camp our junior year in highschool - Megan, Ben, and Me

Another tricky one to see - Junior Year Homecoming I'm on the left in the front- Ben is the second on the left - both there with different dates than the year before ( :

Dating: Feb 2004 -Feb 2009
(AKA Look How Chunky I Was...j/k...still good memories)

The first month or so of us officially dating

New Years Eve Ringing in 2004

Ren. Fest

Our 4 year dating anniversary

Ringing in 2009

Out and about with friends

My college graduation party 2007

One of our many Halloween get-ups

We're on a Boat!

Waking Up to a scruffy face!

The picture that inspired our engagement pictures

And there are so many more that I could show you but there's only so much time in the day!

We dated for 5 years before getting engaged - something I was convinced would NEVER happen but it finally did....

And I w as going to post those pictures today too but blogger is not cooperating so I'll have to save them for another day!

Stay tuned! For now I'm off to attempt productivity - happy weekend!

Much Love Always,

Mrs. Amber Lane

Hiya!

2011-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Its amazing how quickly time flies when you are not blogging. We're closing in on 2 months of me not posting- but it sure doesn't feel like it! Time flies! Especially now that the weather is toasty and perfect and I literally itch to be outside!

It wasn't like that the first month of my non-blogging - it was a weather nightmare - rain and tornado warnings almost every night! We are so very lucky to have not been touched by a tornado but May was a very volatile weather month here in southern Ohio! Then it got very hot for awhile - almost with no warning the temperature sky-rocketed into the 90s ! I love the heat but even I was unprepared for the quickness that it sprang up.

Now as I mentioned - its perfect. I <3 summer so much. I love the pool, I love the beach, tan skin, bare legs, the smell of Hawaiian Tropic , iced tea - summertime is really my season.

So what have I been up to as we jump into summer?

Glad you asked!

For starters....
I got bangs.....

I think its a fun look for summer - don't know how long I'll keep it but for now I'm enjoying.

We said goodbye to our sweet,fluffy,kitty BG who went missing for a week before our neighbors found that he had perished beneath their back porch....

That was most definitely not a good day in the Smith household. Ben is the one who had to retrieve him. Although we more than likely will never know what happened to him- Ben said it looked like he had gotten into a bad fight - maybe with a raccoon or something. I wish he had come home instead of crawling under a porch- but what is done is done. We buried him in Ben's parent's back yard so that we won't have to leave him behind when we finally buy a house.

I went camping over memorial day weekend
(No pics of that- trust me you don't want to see them)

Celebrated my Mom on Mother's Day....

(I stole her face huh?)

Ben and I went to a wedding....

I worked between weekends off ( lol that's seriously how I feel right now- work is just something I do between pool lounging sessions and nights out... is that sad? Sorry its my summer brain talking)

I read a couple books...

actually really like the Carrie Diary novels even though I've otherwise HATED Candace Bushnell's writing

still reading this- a friend left this behind for me - I've never read Jackie Collins - its entertaining - a great pool read.

Spent some time with this doll baby....

hard to believe baby Shelby is already almost 3 months old!

Continued to work on getting to goal..

This is @ my mom's before a Zumba for the cure event. I have not taken off anymore weight but I notice that my body is continuing to change. I'm still in the 140-143 range and still trying to get to 135 but I'm pretty happy with myself. I Zumba twice a week and try to mix in some miles at the park a few times a week too.

I continue to be crazy amazed with the way my upper chest, shoulders, and neck have changed just in the past month or so - even with no additional lbs. lost...

Don't mind my crazy hair or odd expression this pic was literally 30 seconds ago - I slipped off my cardigan to snap a photo in my office.

Other than those things, I haven't been up to a whole lot that's terribly exciting. I think that's why I put writing off for so long. I wanted the perfect topic to come along, the perfect event to re-emerge to. That hasn't happened but here I am none-the-less. Writing is a part of who I am - it always has been whether its in a tiny pink diary with ballet slippers on the front (what my first diary ever looked like when I was 9) or sitting at my computer at work during my lunch break (guilty). So I guess you could say I'm back. I don't promise to be here everyday but I do vow to continue telling my story in the imperfect way that I do.

So going forward what are the plans for me?

Celebrate a year of this...

With 10 days off and...

5 days here...

June 25th is our 1 year anniversary- hard to believe! This year flew!

Lol. Well lunch is over by now. Have to run! Hope the start of your summers have been lovely. Looking forward to "catching up" with all of you soon!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

Dear Blogger

2011-04-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe we should break up.

I lost a follower today - or sometime recently - I don't log- on everyday anymore. It seems I used to have lots to write about- but anymore it seems life is life- I'm living it- its good mostly - and nothing is THAT exciting. Not only that but I used to LOVE to log on and see everyone's wedding.baby, home decor posts and anymore its getting exhausting trying to keep up. But its not you...its me..

On top of all that- I get a little irritated that I can write about frivolous BS and everyone wants to comment on it but when I write serious posts- there are literally crickets and cob webs.

Maybe we aren't breaking up but lets at least call it like it is....

We're on a break blogger - its best for both of us.

So for now....

The Friendship/ Marriage Conundrum

2011-04-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

This post has the potential to be really profound - or to be a random spewing of all my recent frustrations.

What my best hope is that it will at the very least fall somewhere in the middle and allow me to make a point while still getting my thoughts out and venting some frustration.

Here goes nothing.

I am the type of girl who prefers a small group of close friends to a large group of mediocre friends. I didn't think that I was that way until recently- probably around the time of my bridal showers. When I looked around and realized- the crowd wasn't huge but the people who were there were people who all had profound meaning in my life.
Around that time I also realized that I wanted to "let go" of the other friends.
You know the ones; the ones that text you last minute as an after thought to join this or that. The ones who may or may not show up for your birthday party. The ones that you enjoy when your around but realize you have nothing to talk about one-on-one.
I'm not saying I de-friended those people on Facebook or took their numbers out of my phone- I just decided it was more effort to try to keep them around on a regular basis than to just let them fall away- and apparently that was mutual b/c they haven't been blowing my phone up either. I decided it was better this way - to focus on my close friends.

I realized this past weekend that I am also the type of person that gets REALLY close to one person for a span of time over all the others. More often than not- this person is experiencing the same life things that I am.

-Early in college it was Julie. Newly single (as was I) ready to party. That lasted about 6 months before she started seriously dating someone and gradually put me on the back burner rarely to text, call, or anything. Then she got pregnant and has only recently attempted to reconnect somewhat (the baby is on her way to 3 years old)
-Then it was Rachel we were together non stop for one summer then she went back to Columbus to school and she never really came back home to stay.Now she's in Louisiana.
-Mid way through college it was Jessica. Also a theater major, in some of the same classes, liked to drink and was always up for an adventure. Then we graduated and Jessica moved away to Arizona for grad school. Then California.
-Megan has always been a constant we were most recently the closest during her wedding planning days- but after the big day she became a home body, got pregnant relatively quickly, is now basking in the joys of new motherhood.
- Most recently its been Emily. Both love to travel, interested in fashion and fitness/healthy lifestyles but like the other stories...you can guess how this turns out- she experiences some major life change and suddenly I hit back burner or fall off the face of the planet in her world period.

We had a huge fight this weekend about why dating someone new means never contacting your best friend at all - anymore - ever. Wine was involved so its sort of blurry. But my interpretation of her response was; "You're married you have a life, I need to create a life for myself / life isn't like Sex & The City Amber - some friends only see each other once a year."

I have a lot of snarky comments to those things but I'm not going to get into that now.

Upon reflection my thoughts at first were this: why is it that my life has progressed- I graduated college, got a great job, got married -but still have not ever found a reason or WANT to leave my friends behind- not in the physical sense but in the emotional sense. Why is it that my friendship is so unimportant to these people that I am so easy to "forget" about?

After some further reflections though my thoughts became a bit darker: why is it exactly that my focus HASN'T changed? As a new(ish) married woman why DON'T I want to spend every free moment with my husband? Why would I rather plan trips with my girlfriends than my husband? Why am I NOT thinking of a baby? Why am I NOT planning date nights with Ben instead of wine nights with friends?

Am I REALLY good at friendship and REALLY bad at marriage?

I consider Ben to be my best friend yet find that we have very little in common when it comes to activities. I like to be outside and active. He likes computers. I like to shop. He hates it. I love the beach. He hates the sand and the smell (what smell?!?!). I do consider us to be compatible we have similar values and views of the world but when it comes to spending time together we prefer to do different things.

Is that bad?

I feel confident enough in my marriage to leave it for a night with friends or a trip to Miami with the girls. I think that's healthy. What I'm concerned about now though is what do I do now that all my friends are involved in their life changes and I'm still here wanting to have with them what we've always had?

If you don't enjoy the same activities as your spouse and aren't ready for a baby and aren't planning to move or change careers anytime soon- what do you do next?

Mrs. Amber Lane

NSV

2011-04-04T15:27:00.002-07:00

I know I don't update my weight loss goals on this blog with much regularity but if I did you would know that I've essentially been at a plateau since November. I maintained through the holidays which is FANTASTIC but now that we are well out of the holidays and moving towards summer I am really looking to blast through the last 10lbs - which seem to be the absolute hardest.

Today was my second weigh in since officially joining weight watchers.

At the start I weighed 142.8

Week 2 I weighed 145.8

Week 3 (Today) I weighed 143.4

You can see why I am frustrated. These numbers are so close together that any number of factors can be swaying the weigh in- too much salt, didn't go #2, PMSing (Last week) Starting (Yesterday) (Sorry for the TMI P.S.)

I won't be happy with my "number" until I weigh in less than my starting weight (duh) but today while out and about grocery shopping and looking for a dress for a friend's up-coming wedding I realized that I have a number of Non-Scale Victories that I can be proud of.

First of all - shopping is so much more fun!

When I started my weight loss journey back in February of 2010 I was in a size 14 dress, 12-14 pant, 16/ XL blouse. Today I was in a size 6 dress, 4-6 pant, 10/M blouse.

I was really into the dresses today b/c there are some darn cute ones out there right now!

Don't mind the goofy faces I was making in these pictures.

Front runner for the wedding (Ny&Co)

Work Dress (Target)

Just running around on a warm spring day dress- needs a belt imo (target)

Another Warm Spring Day Dress (target)

Very Cute dress from NY&Co Maybe work?

Second: Trips to the grocery store have become mini adventures!

I love planning to grocery shop now. Looking up recipes and using Recipe Builder to make them even healthier. One thing I've loved since I officially joined is plugging in recipes I was previously using and really seeing how healthy (or sometimes not healthy) they really are. One thing I've discovered is that I'm already using power foods that are naturally good for you in abundance so that's great!

Some of the staples: Apples,salad mix, strawberries, bananas, Greek yogurt, eggs

Tuna in water, pineapple, beans, ffree soups, ffree chicken broth

Along those same lines recently at work in the lunch room co-workers have said that they've never seen anyone eat as healthy as I do- who would have thought? Me? Eat healthy?!?! I used to be the drive-thru queen!

Third: I'm in so much better shape than I was. I never 'thought' that I was out of shape. I knew I was heavier than I should be but I was seriously one who never really saw it or thought that my extra lbs hindered me. When I was leaving the grocery store today the skies had opened up and the rain was pouring down. I surveyed the scene, decided it was warm enough, slipped off my shoes and sprinted to my car in the back of the lot. When I got there I wasn't winded, didn't feel my legs burn at all - didn't feel any different than I would have had I just walked- matter of fact I felt invigorated and ready to keep moving! So different than the old me!

Fourth: My journey has made me a planner and organizer on an entirely different level. In my fridge right now are containers of pre-chopped fruits and vegetables, pre-made tuna salad, black beans and rice, and super salads. I can tell you what I'm going to eat for each meal, each day thru Friday and there's a certain amount of power and control in that and I love it. I love it for me and I love it for Ben because its helping him get healthier too!

So though the numbers on the scale are basically at a stand-still life is still good- I am still successful and that's a damn good feeling!

Not to brag or anything (;

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a happy Monday! I worked all weekend and was off today - it was a good day!

Much Love Always!
Mrs. Amber Lane

NSV

2011-04-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

Shelby Love

2011-04-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well it happened, Tuesday night my BFF called me to let me know Wednesday morning (her actual due-date) at 6am she was having labor induced!

I couldn't get out of work until about 2:30 but when I did I high-tailed it to the hospital to find the mommy-to-be only 4 cm after HOURS of labor! Luckily she had an epidural and was pretty cozy by the time I got there!

Megan and our friend Ashley

At 9pm when Megan still hadn't progressed more than 4cm and had been in labor for 15 hours already they made the tough decision to go cesarean.

Going to meet Shelby!

We were all shuffled out to the waiting room to wait for about 45 minutes before Kenny; the proud daddy rushed into the waiting room to confirm what we already knew...

ITS A GIRL!

(she's got her mama's nose and cheeks!)

Shelby Diane
March 30, 2011

7.15 lbs, 21 inches long

Mommy and Baby were both great - although we did find out the cord was around Shelby's neck so its a good thing they went C-section before she got too stressed out!

We each got to spend a few moments one on one while they were in recovery but they needed their rest so no one stayed long.

Ben and I went back today and hung out at the hospital for a few hours.

Big Baby Feet!

Hanging with her Auntie Am for the first time

Clearly she was thrilled-look at that yawn!

Not quite a natural but we'll get him there someday!

Showing Little Miss Shelby how to take the one armed angle down pictures and look good-but all she had to do was lie there- the camera loved her!

I just want to squeeze that little face!!!

May not be ready for my own yet, but I'm sure thrilled to meet this little girl! I of course have friends that have children but this girl has been my closest friend since I was 6 years old....more like family than friends really and I'm so excited to watch her take on her new role as a mother and to be a part of Shelby's life as she grows up - I'm just about as proud as I can be!

So this has been my contribution to all the baby posts that have been springing up lately - and until I have my own ( and lets be honest - probably even after) you're going to be seeing a lot more of this little baby face!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

Week's End

2011-03-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hallo Poppets!

Its been a few since I've visited but here I am again (on Friday..imagine that).

This week hasn't really been terribly eventful. Over the weekend I dined at a winery with Emily and had lunch with my fam. for both of my nephew's birthdays.

Then Monday rolled around again as it always seems to do and it was back to business as usual.

Tuesday I finally decided to bite the bullet and formally sign-up for Weight Watchers on-line. I was sick of guessing the new Points Plus plan and decided if I ever want to lose the last 8 lbs that I better hop to. Its been a successful week in my opinion. I've earned activity points everyday with 2 Zumba classes and a nice long walk. I've stayed within my points or earned Activity points everyday and still have a full count of Anytime points to play with over the weekend- which is good because Jen is coming into town and I'm planning to drink a fair amount of those points. I know. I drink too much wine. But I love it!

My weigh in day will be on Saturday even though my points aren't going to roll over until Monday. I like to start my weekend off with the hard truth so I can decide how to approach my Anytime points.

Ok well, I guess that's about all I have for now. I'm hoping how have a positive report after weigh in tomorrow!

For now I leave you with a little questionnaire snagged from Just Jinny @ A Girl in the Real World

Have a great weekend everyone!

A-Age: 26

B-Bed size: Queen, our room couldn't fit anything bigger

C-Chore you hate: Dishes- we don't have a dishwasher - NIGHTMARE!!

D-Dogs: Nada, zilch, zero

E-Essential start to your day: Starbucks Venti Iced Coffee, no classic, 4 splenda, and soy milk!

F-Favorite Color: PINK!

G-Gold or Silver: Silver when it comes to jewelery

H-Height: 5'3

I-Instruments you play: Flute and I sing..I also dappled in the melophone but I sucked at that!

J-Job title: Activity Director and Concierge Supervisor

K-Kids: No, and at the stage in 20 something life where even being around most kids makes me cringe.

L-Live: Suburbia

M-My mom's name: Georgeanna

N-Nickname: Ru-Way, Berlane, Ambie, Boo Box, Am

O-Overnight hospital stay: Nope, not for myself at least

P-Pet Peeve: People who are late and will call you to tell you they are going to be late exactly at the time you are supposed to meet and you are already there and have no choice but to just sit there and wait because you are already there!

Q-Quote from a movie: "Ok so you're probably thinking, is this like some kind of Noxema commercial or what?! But actually I have like a totally normal life for a teenage girl, I mean I get up, brush my teeth, and pick out my school clothes."

R-Right/Lefty: Right

S-Siblings: 2 older sisters

T-Time you wake up: The alarm goes off at 7am but I make no promises on that one!

U-Underwear: Always cute

V-Veggies you dislike: ? I really love vegetables...do water cress nuts count as vegetables

W-What makes you run late: If I can't decide what to wear

X-Xrays you've had: Ankles numerous times

Y-Yummy food you make: = Everything I make turns out yummy

Z-Zoo animals: Monkeys!!

St. Patrick's Day Times Three: The Same Outfit A Different Body!

2011-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

You may recall from this post that last year I did a comparison of my St. Patrick's Day photos from 2009 to 2010 and was really geeked to see that I was beginning to make some weight loss progress at the time. Well its 2011 and once again I donned my hair bows, green top, and shamrock suspenders so I figured it was time for another comparison!

2009

At one time I LOVED this picture (even though I cropped it so my whole body wasn't in)

2010

Starting to see some progress - I had lost about 15 lbs by this point and this was the first comparison I could do with pics of me in the same outfit!

2011

Not at Lifetime goal yet (5-8 yet to go) but 60 lbs gone! I'm a new woman!

And the joy is written all over my face!

In case you wondered Bennyboo rocks the suspenders too!

Me and My Girl

Will thinks its appropriate to wear blue on St. Patty's ..pinch him!

Ok...he did at least come with gold coin dollars...that's pretty bad ass on St. Patrick's Day- no pinches!

Hope your St. Pats were a blast!

Much Love Always!

Mrs Amber Lane

Some of my Favorite South Beach Pictures: Emily's Camera Edition

2011-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Waiting to Board The Plane

Checking the time: Time to go to Miami yet?

Emily trying to get a shot of herself with the ocean in the background. Instead she got me trying to see my phone!

Emily and I Outside the Fountainbleau Hotel

Jess and I at Blue Bar in The Fountainbleau

Emily at Blue Bar

Emily and I on our way to catch the bus!

The bus ... sucked.

Ready to hit up Mansion

All three of us before leaving for Mansion

Taxi to Mansion

My favorite part of Mansion? The pink stripper monkey!!!

What exactly is happening here? Video to come!

Not bad for 4 something in the morning huh?

Me headed towards South Beach

So Lovely

Me at Nikki Beach

Emily in front of The Colony -where we stayed the last night

Me in front of The Colony - no makeup, ready for bed to catch our 4am taxi to the airport!

There are so many more but uploading pics takes FOREVER! These are just some of my faves from the ones I have saved at work from the disc Emily made me!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

2011-03-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie to you. Fridays at my work have turned into a bit of a joke. The joke is that I'm actually here.

The first part of the day the residents swarm the hairdresser who only keeps Friday hours. They buzz about outside the salon and refuse to leave their spot in the line in fear that someone will jump in front of them and get their cut in curl 15 minutes earlier. They WILL NOT (for the most part) participate in Activities with me on Friday morning - so I threw in the towel and went ahead and put Hair Salon on their calendar . So what do I do Friday mornings?

Well, here I am.

Perhaps I will actually have a few moments to hack out an actual update.

First of all. After I returned from vacation I changed offices.Remember how when I transfered I went from a glorious hard wood floored activity SUITE to a desk squeezed in by a copier? Well, two weeks ago I finally found a happy medium. Its an actual office - with a door - that locks. After a few months of copy machine adjacency I am in 7th heaven. And since I now have a glorious door I can shut it and find time to catch up on things (including blogs) in peace. Something I haven't been able to do since November. Its lovely.
Speaking of work: things are finally leveling out after the sale and transition. Things are definitely working out in my favor financially. I've taken on another "position" in addition to being the Activity Director which has also increased my salary slightly. I am now also the Front Desk supervisor. Meaning I hire, schedule, staff all of our concierges. It was a source of much stress when I first returned from vacation because I literally accepted the task the day I left for Florida and that same day one of the concierges announced she was leaving for another job (not related to my taking the supervisory position TYVM). So I returned to a vacant spot that I had to staff by the skin of my teeth. It worked out though.

Me at my desk Monday morning. Not a great picture but I know how boring posts with no pictures can be so here ya go!

Speaking of the door to my office from the earlier bullet point - the minute I forget to lock it people just barge on in, scare the crap out of me, and bust me not working! Not that this person was my boss - or that I'm in trouble- but now let be known I slack off on Fridays lol!
I have not done so well with working out and/or eating well since I've been back from Florida. I may be up a lb or 2 but its hard to tell since I fluctuate so much from day to day any way. I'm very thankful that I've essentially maintained through the holidays and the bulk of the winter. Especially since WW got all sassy and changed to Points Plus completely revamping their entire Point System. I believe in the changes they've made but I was not a "member" before - meaning I used all things that I found on the internet and apps to track points and things. Well when WW changed I no longer had access to pertinent information therefore Point counting basically ceased. I'm thinking if I want to continue to be successful with loss (if I want to get this last 5-8 lbs off) I'm going to have to bite the bullet and join. I also have been jonesing to get outside for work outs and the weather has just SUCKED - unfortunately that has been my excuse to not work out for weeks.

My planner open on my desk a few days ago. Left side my schedule. Right side trying to track what I ate! Also you can see I PLANNED to go to Zumba Tuesday but I never made it!

Friendship Realization. This has been hard lately. I have spring fever bad and all I want to do is go out and play. Doesn't have to be a lot or a crazy night out - just want to be around people and do SOMETHING!!! Well Ben works all day Saturday and usually gets off late Friday night. Emily usually does too. And then the crickets start chirping. I have other friends sure. One in California, one in Louisiana, one in the hick sticks of Indiana, and one who is about to give birth. Those are my closest 5 girlfriends. So basically if Emily doesn't want/is not available to do things ... I'm on my own. It seems as though all of my other friends are busy parenting and living a very domestic (read: stay at home) life. And while that makes sense - it bums me out. I'm not ready for that life yet. So what do I do in the meantime and with whom? I'm thinking of taking up a class. Creative writing or something to meet some new people. Its hard after being out of school for so long though. Where do you meet new people?

Well, I've been here long enough now I suppose to fill you in on at least the thoughts in my head this Friday morning. Hope you all had a great week and an even better weekend! I'm still hoping to come back in full force very soon. Just takes.....what's the word again? Oh! Motivation.

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

10 On Tuesday

2011-03-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

I have so much to write about but since I can't seem to find a good place to start I thought I would just fill in the blanks!

10 on Tuesday stolen from Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields

1. How did your parents decide on your name?

I was named after the title character in the novel Forever Amber ; Amber Sinclair - if it weren't for that book my name would be Marci (gag)

2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?

ALL was my maiden name and in middle school I used to say I was, "ALL that and a bag of chips" ( because I was lame) Now its ALS and all I can think of is ALS Toy Barn from Toy Story!

3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)

I took my husbands last name and kept my middle name the same. I feel like my middle name is as much a part of me as my first name I would feel weird without it- and its also a family name. My mom never had a middle name so she took her maiden name as her middle name when she married.

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)

I might- I'm Amber and my husband is Ben so I thought maybe we could continue the alphabet but then I thought that's dumb because for the most part none of the baby names I like would follow suit and that would be a dumb reason to name a baby something you don't love. More lately I've thought having all As and Bs might be cute because there are several names I like that begin with those letters.

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?

Sort of. I have a laundry list of names that I love but I'm not sure that I came up with them when I was a little girl or later. I shall share (Middle names are in () ): Girls: Autumn (Lane), Addison (Rose), Bridgette (Audrey) Jolie (Georgeanne) I also like the middle name Grace Boys: Lane, Gabriel, Christian, Dominic, Caleb, Aiden

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?

Lane. My grandma's middle name - my middle name - a future middle name of a girl or first name of a boy for me!

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?

I look at the name's meaning definitely. For example I love the name Addison but it means: Daughter of Adam. Adam was the name of a boy I dated who almost killed me; emotionally and literally. I don't know if any child of mine can have a name that literally translates to daughter of Adam.

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?

Five cats two have "human" names: Izzy and Zoey. The other 3 are Bryndel, Rennie, and BG Snugs.

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?

See above on Adam. I also don't like the name Maria, Mary, Chrissy and I'm sure if I really thought about it there would be more.

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?

See above! On another note about names..with a last name like Smith any child we have must have a name that will be strong and stand on its own.

Megan's Baby Shower

2011-02-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

Today was Megan's Baby Shower. I've been working my buns off putting this shindig together and it finally came ... and went. Everything came together awesomely. My mom has most of the photos and hasn't posted them yet but here are just a couple from today:

Megan and I before her guests arrived

The girls that go WAY back...We've known each other a LONG time - most of us since elementary school. I'm glad we keep in touch and still come together to celebrate!

That's all for now! Tune in to the Oscars tonight. My bro-in-law did the artistic design for God of Love nominated in the short film category! Good luck to Casey!!!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

Back From Miami!!!

2011-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

Departing from Cincinnati

I know I've been AWOL for quite some time but things at work leading up to our trip were insane and then of course I was away for the better part of a week so I wasn't able to post then either.

The trip to Miami was just what the Dr. ordered. Lots of sun and relaxation and a few nights of crazy good-ness. We arrived back in Ohio today at 11:30 after dragging our over-tired buns out of bed at 4am for our 6:30 departure. Needless to say; I haven't done much besides eat and sleep since I got home- and my lord let me tell you - nothing feels as good as your own bed when you've been sleeping in hotel beds!

I haven't uploaded my actual pics yet but here are a few taken from my phone and uploaded to Facebook- kind of teeny but you'll get the idea!

Dinner at Maya

Jess at Maya

The Beach Outside Our Hotel Early in the Morning

Taken in the afternoon of day 2

Emily and My Shoes and wine glasses at Fountainbleau Lounge

Sitting in the Sun

Crab Leg Dinner

Real pictures to come soon!!!

Much Love Always!!!

Mrs. Amber Lane

No More New Orleans

2011-01-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

That's right... today, I cancelled the reservation for our hotel in the french quarter for next month.

) :

But before you feel too terrible for me ....

Instead of spending a long weekend in Louisiana.... I will now be spending 6 days here:

That's right ya'll..... Mrs. Amber Lane will be spending 6 days in Sunny Miami Florida!!!

Plane tickets are already booked- reservations made...February 16th I am on my way!

Oh and did I mention this is now just a ladies trip?!?!

There's a whole story there- that's been in the making for a week - but its not a Wednesday night kind of story.

For now, just be envious of my sweet vacay and I'll fill you in later!

Much Love Always,

Mrs. Amber Lane

You Asked For It

2011-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

So sporadically since I've started sharing my weight loss with you all, I've been asked to reveal my secrets and tricks for shedding 60 lbs in under a year and I think its high time that I oblige.
Only thing is ... there aren't really any secrets ... or tricks either for that matter. Honestly my success is based upon an honest-to-God lifestyle change that sometimes even I am impressed with.
I look at myself and my current habits and wonder how in the world this girl was ever closing in on 200 lbs - she's so active, so dedicated, so knowledgeable when it comes to foods - but I suppose I wasn't always the way I am now and there were some key changes that I made on my way. These changes are what I'm going to share with you now.

Things I said to myself and the changes that follwed:

1.NO MORE FAST FOOD FOR WORK LUNCHES: I was eating fast food for lunch almost every single day. McDonalds, Chipotle, Taco Bell, McAllisters, Wendy's, Moe's bleh! It was getting ridiculous! I started packing my lunches and snacks everyday : starting simply at first with Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones - then moving on to more lean meats, fruits and veggies that packed more nutrients once I became more hip to the importance of these things. Today a typical packed lunch for me might be: home made Hungry Girl chicken salad ( made with minced chicken breast, red grapes, apple chunks, cucumber, f f. free miracle whip,. f. free plain yogurt, lemon spice seasoning and a packet of Splenda) on whole grain crackers with a side of baby carrots. For a snack at work I may have some dried edamame or a small apple. If I'm in a rush I do still have Lean Cuisine meals on hand but I am really trying to stay further away from pre-packaged meals these days due to artificial ingredients and preservatives. After I started really looking at the nutritional facts of the fast food chains I had previously frequented- it was no wonder I had put on so much weight - even some of the most innocent seeming things (like half a sammy from panera) were loaded with fat and calories - I am a major advocate of restaurants being required to disclose ALL nutritional values to their customers.

2. GET YOUR ASS ON THE SCALE: I used to say that I didn't weigh myself because it was simply a number that I didn't feel I should base my self worth upon. OK..true, my entire self esteem should not teeter upon a number- but I was in full fledged DENIAL! If I didn't know the number I didn't have to hold myself accountable and ladies - I didn't. I estimated my weight (always lower than actual) and that was that. Imagine my horror when I finally did have to come face to face with my number at a dr. appointment and it was about 20 lbs heavier than I had thought at first! I now weigh myself weekly - sometimes a few times a week - but I think thats mostly because I'm still working on losing and I get anxious to see if I am or not.

3. READ FOOD LABELS: Plain and simple - not all foods are created equal. You can look at two similar products and see that their fat and calories are almost equal so they must be nutritionally about the same - nope. What about serving size? what about dietary fiber and protein? Poly saturated fats vrs. mono ... how much added sodium and sugar? All of these things are very important when considering which foods to buy. Honestly, I am a strong believer in staying to t he outskirts of super markets and only going for the pre-packaged items when absolutely necessary. I also swear by the idea that the fewer artificial ingredients- the better - but I'm not a complete convert.

4. DON'T DEPRIVE YOURSELF: If you really want something- have it....in moderation. This is life after all- what fun would it be if we didn't splurge every once in awhile. Moderation is key- one cookie- not the whole bag. And for God's sake don't punish yourself after you eat it by exercising for 4 hours extra - make plans for your little splurges and move on -no one is perfect- and making lifestyle changes is hard- learn to forgive yourself.

5. PLAN AHEAD: Planning lunches and menus has been a life saver for me. I look at my calendar for the week and plan for the times that a meal out is inevitable or that temptations will be strong. If I have a big family dinner planned for Wed. night at Outback - I plan for that. I will eat a lower point (calories and fat) lunch and plan a healthy snack to curb major hungers so that I can indulge a bit more at dinner but also so that I'm not ravenous when I get there. Oh yes, and I definitely visit a restaurant's website before ever setting foot in the place- that way I already have something picked out before being tempted with yummy smells!

6. MOVE YOUR BOOTY: Until the past month I had not set foot inside a gym or in an organized exercise class. I just found ways to get my butt in gear that I enjoyed and that didn't feel like tedious exercise. I walked , then I started jogging, I did exercise DVDs, and discovered Exercise TV on Demand. I shoveled our sidewalks when it snowed, I raked leaves, I swam, I danced my ass off at the bar on a Saturday night. Even now when I am stressed beyond belief and my house is a wreck and all I want to do is get my life in order - I clean for all its worth- scrub on hands and knees, reach high to dust ceiling fans, go up and down the stairs for laundry...I just move! As I said in my last post though... I have started Zumba and that's a blast- but as I'm in the home stretch to reaching my "Ultimate Numbers Goal" I want to start targeting certain trouble areas for tone and I'm thinking of investing in a personal training package. Sometimes you do need the help of a pro and thats ok too.

7. KNOW THAT THERE IS NO QUICK FIX & NO ONE GETS CART BLANCHE: Diet pills, prepackaged foods, cleanses - they may all work for the right here, right now results that you want but the problem is not just that a person has extra lbs. - the problem is that there is some kind of under-lying behavior that caused the extra lbs. to be there in the first place. A sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, thyroid problems , a new baby - a combo of one or more of those things - its my belief that once the underlying issue has been addressed and curbed the results can be reached and maintained. If you eat only pre-packaged foods for 6 months and lose 20 lbs but in the meantime don't learn how to eat better on your own- once you quit using the pre-packaged system - its all coming back.Also don't get discouraged by the size 0, toothpick girl that you sit next to in the break room eating a Big Mac and drinking a Mountain Dew- just because she's not wearing her poor eating habits on her body right now- doesn't mean she isn't doing harm to her body that will eventually catch up with her down the road; be it in weight gain or high cholesterol. Fatty foods are just as bad for skinny minnie as they are for you!

I hope this gives you some insight into the changes that I made for those of you who are curious. I am by no means a weight loss expert but I must be doing something kind of right.

Now I'm going to do something that I wasn't sure I was ever going to do when I began this journey... share my actual numbers with you - my blogger friends.

When I stepped on the scale at the Doc's office in September 2009 I almost fell over when I saw the number the nurse wrote on my chart: 199 lbs!!!

I didn't get mad or sad - kicked myself a little and moved on. Didn't even change anything right away- just though on it and finally it was thinking about my seniors at work that really got me moving. I thought about how this is they only body that I'll ever have, and this is the youngest I'll ever be again, and that I owe it to myself to treat it the best that I can now and get it in the best shape that I can now so that hopefully it will be there for me later.

Here are a few pics of me around the time of my highest weight ever:

My 25th Birthday August 2009

Round 1 of Our Engagement Pics: Sept 2009

Megan's Bachelorette Party October 2009

You all know the story from there - here are a few gratuitous pictures of late just for vanity:

Christmas 2010

NYE 2010

This week I have weighed in at my lowest adult weight ever : 138 lbs!!!

Blurry pic from a fitting room but I love it because I think I look TINY!

I'm not going to lie to you though girls- I'm in that yucky place where you weigh in one week and you're down several lbs and the next week your up a couple and the next week your back down again - but I'm super happy to not be actually gaining or going at all above 141.

My ultimate number goal is 135- so I'm so close I can almost taste it!

Thank you to those who have encouraged me on my journey thus far- you've been an inspiration and I'm glad to "know" you. I hope my little "pearls" of wisdom helped in some capacity. As always I welcome your thoughts and comments!

For now, I must start thinking about bed!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

So Friggin' Bored

2011-01-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

January has been soooo dreadfully boring in my world. Its lame.

I have literally done nothing exciting since NYE.

First of all my PIC swore off alcohol for the ENTIRE month of January to jump-start her weight loss and de-tox..therefore by proxy I have also not had so much as a glass of wine since the wee hours of January 1st Which means no late night dance marathons or slobbery karaoke sessions or anything that makes me feel remotely like the bomb-ass chick that I really am. I say this all tongue in cheek of course. Wine does not rule my world but I do enjoy it as the universal lubricant and I sure miss the fun weekend nights its helped to create!

No, this is not my only friend but my other friends either live out of town, have children, or are in the process of growing them as we speak - so I'm kind of floating our here alone right now.

Especially since Ben and my work schedules are still not in sync. Basically we are two ships passing in the night who occasionally go to brunch or hit the grocery store together. Otherwise he's working, I'm at Zumba. I have a late meeting he's working on the computer. I'm blogging and he's been in bed for a half an hour already -yada, yade. I'm so bored!

And I don't know what its like in your end of the world but winter seems to be lasting an excruciatingly long time in southern Ohio this year. I think we've had accumulating snow every week since before Christmas- which for these parts is almost unheard of- another storm is due to hit this Thursday and I'm dying a little just thinking of it!

Oy.

So in my boring life what HAVE I been up to?

1. Zumba. Like 3 times a week. So much fun! Thinking of adding a boot camp class in there too. Zumba is the one place I do get to see my January non-drinking friend right now!

2. Baby Shower. Throwing one for my childhood bff. Finally booked a venue today which takes a huge load off. Hard to believe its coming up so fast- before we know it baby Shelby will be here!

3. New Orleans. Headed there in less than 30 days to kick of the Mardi Gras season with Bennyboo and some friends!!! So friggin' excited. Though I went twice back in the fall this will be the longest amount of time I've actually got to spend there!

4. Work, Going through another management transition and it sucks. I think it will be for the greater good but that doesn't make it suck less. Also some of the front-line team....suck. No details. Just suffice to say.

5. Working my butt off to be in my best shape yet for my trip - but not starving myself or abusing myself just want to be hot in Nola and for this summer...

6. How come finding an awesome bathing suit is so friggin hard? I found the one I want at Vicky C's ...decided that this year I wasn't going to get something cutesy, polka dotted, ruffled or pink (like I usually do) and picked a killer two piece in red with underwire support for my girls on top and strings on the bottom - the top for the tatas is actually in stock (though it seems the bigger top sizes go quick...hint hint Vicky C's) but like the only color the string bottom doesn't come in is red....why?!?!? So complicated!

7. Sick of snow, sick of cold, sick of not going out.....

Really that's all. Hopefully I'll have more exciting things to post soon. In the meantime I'm going to wash my face and go to bed!

Much Love Always!!!

Mrs. Amber Lane

PS If you use the words: precious, sweet, and amazing in a single blog post more than 10 times each - you're getting a little out of hand: we get it..your marriage,baby, job, life, etc. is perfect....now grow a vocabulary. Don't hate me...I'm just saying.

OH and....

2011-01-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

Do you know that if you google image search blonde muppet one of my pictures shows up after a page or two?!?! Oh lord.

That's what I get for calling my eyes big ole muppet baby eyes.

Oy.

Ok really going to bed now.

A Blonde Bride & Her Boo Chapter 2

2011-01-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

Yep, the name has changed. I figured now that we're almost 7 months post wedding it was time for a change.

Three Notable Changes:

1. My Blog Title:please adjust accordingly
2. My Blog Design : my life is no longer centered around one huge party, nor should my blog be
3. MISS Amber Lane is a thing of the past .. MRS.Amber Lane will be the new signature.

Minor details - but I feel refreshed.

Big snow storm coming to the Nati tonight.

) :

I hate winter.

Ok gals...its bedtime!

See you soon!

Much Love Always!

Mrs. Amber Lane

2010: A Year In Review

2011-01-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

As I revamp for 2011 I thought we would stroll back over 2010 to refresh everyone as to what this year was all about for me!

I GIVE WARNING!!!

This post is picture heavy!!! Since my busy year has left my blogging sporadic at best I thought I would hit you with some of the wedding-related pics I skimped on before.... Enjoy!

January:

NYE 2009

Realized that we were only 6 months out from our June 25th wedding and snapped into high-gear in regards to making those plans and putting together DIY projects.

Created a list of 2010 goals: Including the one where I decided I was going to start journaling my food and also cut out most complex carbs and full fat dairy. I also decided to start following some Weight Watchers guidelines from home and see where that got me.

Spent the night at work one night due to snow:

We paid off my car a year early and opened our joint checking account!

February:

Turns out that goal got me pretty far - by mid February I had lost 18 lbs! A spark was ignited and I stuck with my new eating habits and began adding in lots of cardio and walks and eventually some sow paced runs!

Ben and I celebrated our 6 year dating anniversary and 1 year engagement anniversary. We also hit Ben's 1 year of being laid off - with still no job on the horizon ) :

March:

My work life went crazy-go-nuts when my boss announced she was leaving and my assistant went out on maternity leave at approximately the same time.

I was really beginning to stress about wedding things, with just 3 months left until the big show!

Weight loss was continuing steadily and I was beginning to see the difference in pictures and the way my clothes fit:I posted my very first before and after pictures on this post.

My friend Lindsey tied the knot!

April:

I began dress fittings and the wedding gown that I bought two sizes too small was now too big! Thus began a series of dress fittings that lasted up until the week of the wedding as my dress kept needing to be taken in - I was so proud!

I hit my initial goal of 35 lbs lost in just 4 short months and set another 15 lb goal for my self to hit.

Ben was up for a new job at his old company and we were really excited about it - he did not get the job but a fire was lit in him and within a week of his rejection he had lined up a position with a new company!!! We went out for Mexican with his family to celebrate!

My sisters threw my first wedding shower!

Over- all was beginning to feel pretty sassy as I lost the weight!

May:

Wedding planning craziness: invitations went out, diy project nights with sisters and bridesmaids were a regular occurring event, wedding bands were purchased, our couples shower was had. It was a wedding crazy time!

That was about it for May!

June:

The month of the wedding!!!

The planning and prepping continued!

I had my crazy night of bachelorette fun in downtown Cincinnati!

Ben was a holy terror from quitting smoking- he eventually picked it back up again ) :

Ben started his new job - 2 weeks from the wedding- cancelling any honeymoon plans that we had. I resolved to take time off anyway- I needed it!

We had our do-over engagement pictures taken 6 days before the wedding..we loved them!

June 24, 2010: Rehearsal Day. My bridesmaids and I had lunch at Panera then we had our nails done before heading to our venue to put all my DIY projects to action finally! I was very proud with how it all turned out!

After we had dinner at a local pizza parlor and I went to sleep for the last time as a single girl!

June 25, 2010 We became Mr, & Mrs. Ben Smith!!!!

The weather was beautiful- sky blue, and dotted with puffy white clouds. The humidity was low even though it was seasonably warm.

The day started off with a light breakfast with my sisters as the bridesmaids arrived (my sisters and I spent the night together at one of their homes). Then we caravaned to the hair salon and the day took off from there! I think everything went together beautifully and it was a great day:

I will probably always remember the very most from that day: our cake cutting/smashing. Ben took off an eyelash strip from me and one whole side of my face needed to be touched up and Ben inhaled cake and spent 5 minutes choking it back in a private room - while I cried thinking he was going to die. We have pictures of the smashing framed at our house!

It all got cleaned up however, and we went on to enjoy our reception:

Ben went back to work Monday following our wedding and I vacationed into

July:

Emily got arrested for Public Intoxication at a lake pretty near to us while I was on my honeymoon - nightmare!

Ben and I spent one night away from home being on a honeymoon- it was nice- but way to short!

We camped and kayaked with friends.

Found out my bff was pregnant!

We also realized that though we had already been together 6 years and lived together for 3 - marriage was going to take some adjustment!

August:

Started fielding the "so when are you going to have a baby" questions

Celebrated my 26th birthday at a co-ed strip club

Got low-lights

Ben and I realized how much our wedding actually cost us and started a plan to recover from it (still on the road to recovery btw)

Posted more before and after pics here.

September:

Flew by myself for the first time ever to Baton Rouge for my friend Rachel's bachlorette party weekend!

Traveled to New Orleans for the party and had a blast!

October:

Back to Baton Rouge - driving this time with my mom for the wedding. Visited Houmas plantation house and back to New Orleans again. Was a smashing bridesmaid for my girl who made a lovely bride!

Got my Droid Incredible - which I still love!

Was Medusa for Halloween

Found out my property at work was being sold to another company- sparking a transition - I prepared for the change until I got a call from the woman with the same job as me at a property that was not being sold - giving me a heads up that she was leaving her position. I interviewed and in....

November:

I was offered the job that was much closer to home and family and I accepted. Just like that I was giving my 2 week notice and I was out of there by the 17th.

On the 18th I started at the new location.

My bro-in-law had his hunting accident- scaring us all - but he has since made a complete recovery

Had a quiet Thanksgiving.

Then a Saturday night out to celebrate Emily's 28th birthday.

December:

Quickly moved into the busiest time of the year for an Activity professional and being in a new building made it that much more hectic!

Dreaded working Christmas day for the 3rd year in a row but made the best of it.

Found out that my new property is being sold- meaning I'm about to go through ANOTHER transition.

Had a mostly quiet Christmas due to the in-laws being in NYC and my having to work Christmas day and the day after.

Spent Christmas Eve just Ben and Me opening presents and enjoying our first married Christmas:

Main Christmas Tree

Our First Christmas, Christmas ornament

Presents from Ben

Our bedroom Christmas Decor

Christmas day was work for me so the evening was spent with my family:

Rang in the New Year with husband and a few friends at a local bar.

Oh and did I mention that on New Years Day I weighed in at my lowest weight yet???

Remember the NYE 2009 Pic from the beginning of this post???

Let me refresh you:

picture of a picture...sorry!

* BAM! 2010! *

Bringing me to 60 lbs lost in 2010!!!! My whole lifestyle changed in just 1 short year- but I'll get into that more later! Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane!

And hope everyone's 2011 has started out awesome!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

Happy New Year / I'm Not Dead

2011-01-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve 2010

I AM NOT DEAD!

Multiple factors contribute to my truancy of late

1. The Holidays Are Hella-Busy

2. Our laptop is out of commission

3. My new desk at work is not in a private office; there is no door and my screen faces the main entry way meaning any and everyone can see what I'm typing up as they come in to make their copies (I seriously hate that I traded in my awesome office for a crappy little cubby - see prior post)

4. Its like ridiculous hard to get back into a routine after the hodge-podge that is the holiday season; go to work, keep house, work out, eat right, save money, look awesome, and blog?!?!

Shew!

I am cusping on a come-back however - wait with baited breath!

In the meantime; congrats on the new babies, new houses, new jobs, and much better blogging skills - don't stop following me - I SWEAR I'll be back!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

Watchu Been Up To?

2010-11-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-11-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

AGHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

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

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challenge: Day 9

2010-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

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

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

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"

30 Day Challenge; Day 6

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

A Photo of Something That Makes Me Happy:

This is a two part photo series.

Part 1: The Sentimental:

Taken the day after we got married on my camera phone after being saudered and re-sized. It wasn't meant to be an earth-shattering picture but I love it- and what it symbolizes.

That I married a man who on a regular basis can make me laugh like this:

Part 2: The Vain/ Proud

This past year I had two of my best friends get married 1 year to the weekend apart from one another.

Megan and Kenny tied the knot on October 17, 2009

Rachel & Brett got married on October 16, 2010

Of course I got married smack dab in the middle of em (yup gratuitous wedding photo here:)

The point I am getting to however is that I was a proud bridesmaid in both weddings - but in one I was just MORE of a proud bridesmaid:

Meg's 2009 Wedding:

Can't even believe I'm showing you this next one...

Eek!

Rachel's 2010 Wedding:

Proud as a peacock!

So yes, these pictures taken 1 year from the date of each other and the difference in my body between the two of them- makes me VERY HAPPY!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challenge: Day 5: My Siblings

2010-10-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am the youngest of three girls. And by youngest... I mean - YOUNGEST.

My sister Denise was born in December of 1965.

My sister Diana was born in July 1966

Miss Amber Lane was born in August 1984

That my friends is a 17 year difference between me and my sibling closest in age. Can you say- SURPRISE! My mom was 7 months pregnant with me at my sister's high school graduation. I LOL at the thought!

Growing up it was kind of like having three mothers. Diana got married when I was 3 and Denise when I was 6 so they didn't really live with mom and I together ever with the exception of a year or so.

Diana:

Diana always lived near by so she was the sister who picked me up to go shopping or have lunch. Who never missed a play or awards ceremony. For many, many years I didn't quite understand Diana. Her husband ; though he treats her well has never been too friendly with me so that prevented us from being closer in my younger days and I kind of resented her for that for a long time. Then one day she showed me one of her favorite pictures of us together- a picture I had never even seen:

This picture was taken at our grandparents house and Diana said she had just gotten up and ready for the day and was getting ready to make me my favorite breakfast: scrambled eggs. I instantly fell in love and some of my "childhood resentment" melted away.

Personality wise I see now that a lot of my personality traits are very similar to hers. When it comes to style, and grooming, and organization,

Diana's birthday- we were being hat ladies

and approach to projects.....

She was the cornerstone of all my Wedding DIYs. She let me use her basement as my workshop and it remained in turmoil for MONTHS!

The result of weeks of work on centerpieces!

Diana has one son named Calvin: He's 13 plays the sax and guitar, loves old school comedy like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, etc.

Calvin in 2001:

Diana's Family Mother's Day 2010:

Our wedding day portrait

Denise:

Denise and I were always close even though she lived away for the better part of the first 19 years of my life. First Tennessee, then Virginia, Indianapolis, Tennessee again, Florida and now finally back home in Ohio. Because of her distance away when I would visit her, they would be extended visits. Whole summers, spring breaks etc. This helped reinforce our closeness. Her husband David is also one of those awesome father figures I mentioned in yesterday's post. Denise is the wife a music minister in the church of God and the two of them have been my "spiritual guides". Our relationship has always been more mother/daughter than that of sisters (at least until recently) and I've appreciated that.

Denise and I Christmas 1987

Thats what sisters are for...1 to hold the dress and 1 to hold the camera lol

Our Wedding Day Portrait

Denise also has 1 son named Devin: He's 15 and an awesome musician; singing,guitar, mandolin, saxaphone, piano - the kid is gifted. He's also an avid skateboarder.

Devin and his Aunt Amber in 1995 x 2

(In case you ever wondered about the Cuban heritage of mine that I talk about- this pics from my younger days prove it lol)

Denise's family (2006 maybe)

Both Nephews in June 2010 - They've grown up so fast! ) ; Sniff

So, well its not "traditional" to have sisters so much older than you with no one else in between- its worked out pretty well for me!

Awesomely enough my wedding actually helped bring us closer by getting us together for project nights, showers, and pre-wedding slumber party with just the three of us:

One of my fave moments before the wedding was when they handed me a gift bag with a picture frame that read:

Together Through it All....

Which evoked this reaction from me.....

I didn't actually cry...yet. No the only thing that actually made me cry was when my 15 year old nephew got up to do his reading and balled through the whole thing. THAT was a heart melter.

Anyhow I could go on and on about my awesome sisters and the awesome nephews that they have provided me with but this post is getting long enough.

Instead I'll leave you with a few more photos: Enjoy!

Ready for the wedding!

The picture in the earlier mentioned frame

Sassy girls

rehearsal

Bachelorette Party Down Town

Graeters Ice Cream

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challenge: Day 4

2010-10-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

My Parents:

My mom is awesome. She's been a single parent from day 1 and has done a pretty stellar job. She's always had to work super hard to make it work and sometimes the things that we went through kind of sucked but we were always together.

I think its hard for her now that I'm married and into a new phase in my life. She made me her life for 20 something years and change is hard.

Some facts about my mom:
1. I call her Ma Mere
2. She loves spicy food and dining out
3. She still has her old school Nintendo, Sega, and Super NES and still plays them when time allows
4. I think she's addicted to Farmville on Facebook
5. Her go -to karaoke song is "Crazy" by Patsy Cline
6. She's an awesome cook- and her sketti is the best
7. She has a cat named Toby
8 She loves to travel
9. I stole her face....seriously....

Until recently I never thought I looked like my mom...but clearly...I do. We even make the same faces as demonstrated above.
10. She always made everything a blast. New Years at home with Mom when you're 8...PARTAY!

Go ahead... LOL your face off. I die. Wonder how my hair turned so blonde......???

And nice glasses Sally Jesse. Oh memories.

My mom rocks.

As for the Father person.

That was complicated. Suffice to say. Never had him around, never missed him. Watching the Teen Mom finale with Dr Drew the other night- I watched some teenage girl burst into tears because she never had a dad and she talked about how hard it was growing up.

I totally don't feel that way. I had an awesome mom and great father-figures who more than made up for what I didn't have.

I am lucky.

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 2 & 3

2010-10-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Combining these days because my blog name story isn't that interesting and my "first love" doesn't deserve a whole post to himself.

Meaning Behind My Blog Name:

My blog name used to be Miss Amber Lane Takes on the Universe- when Ben and I got engaged I changed it to a Blonde Bride & Her Boo- because I was and I call Ben- Bennyboo or sometimes just boo, or sometimes Boo Box - don't even ask how that got started - its even more wierd when he just shortens it to Box- oh the progression of a pet name.....I digress.

I've thought about changing it again - but get stuck on it, "A Blonde Wife and Her Boo" just doesn't have the same ring to it and though "A Blonde Bombshell and her Boo" is probably quite appropriate I think it just gets messy when you go changing names on people.

As for my user name "Saucyminx410"..I loved that Hugh Grant said that in Love Actually and Blogger made me add numbers because apparantly I'm not the only Hugh Grant/Love Actually Afficienado.

My First Love:

Called me babydoll, bit my bottom lip when we kissed, and beat the crap out of me early one Sunday morning on the way home from a party.

Yeah. That sucked.

We met through our parents who worked together even though we went to the same school. We dated a couple months before I moved away and then when I moved back we officially got together. He was tall, dark, and handsome- smoked a lot of pot, was a crazy good artist, and well...just sort of crazy. He did cool things like draw pictures of me as a fairy and gifted me with crystals to hang on my headboard to keep bad dreams at bay- he was a hippy and I tried real hard to be the yin to his yang. It was a messy couple of years that spanned senior year in high school through sophomore year in college. We used to talk about getting married and using pot seeds mixed with glitter and bird seed as our "tossable" - interesting alternative to rose petals or bubbles huh?
Our relationship was all this crazy, hippy, dreamer crap and then literally blood, sweat, and tears that took me years and a VERY strong, supportive, awesome Ben to pull me out of the wreckage.

In short. It was a disaster. But now you know.

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Blog Challenge: Hello Day 1!

2010-10-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

So you all know this 30 day blog challenge has been swirling about in the blogesphere- I'm not usually so awesome at challenges and generally they have the opposite effect of making me blog everyday. However, since my last attempt at a challenge I have discovered the joys of scheduled posting- so I might actually make it through this time. We shall see. I'm not sure where this challenge originated or who to give credit it to- so I'm not linking up to anyone. If this is YOUR challenge however, feel free to let me know and I'll give credit where credit is due. ( ;

Anyhow: The Challenge:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your siblings

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite tv shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-Favorite city

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-a picture

Miss Amber Lane Day 1:

My name is Amber. I'm 26, recently married, and all kinds of awesome if I do say so myself.

1. I have a degree in Theater with a minor in Arts Management from Miami University (of Ohio). I also took a thematic sequence in Gerontology. I used to think I was going to be Miss Broadway superstar but real life was much more glam (amirite?) Currently I am working as Director of Activities for a senior living community. Talk about create your own path huh?

2. I am wierd about my hands. I don't like them to get wet if I don't immediately have lotion to put on them when they dry. I also don't touch certain things when my hands have been wet recently- like paper- for some reason it makes my skin crawl

3. I've never seen Twilight or Harry Potter or read either of them

4. I have lost something like 56 lbs since January of last year- I used weight watchers points system but never set foot in a meeting - or a gym- everything happened through portion control, counting points and getting my ass up off the couch for walks, exercise dvds, cleaning, etc.

5. My favorite color is pink. Pink, pink, and more pink!

6. Favorite candy reeses peanut butter cups or hershey chocolate. Don't get much of either these days. Also LOVE Tabasco jelly beans and jolly rancher gummies.

7. I consider myself to have a highly versatile taste in music. This morning I was listening to Jimmi Hendrix and the Doors on the way to work - on the way home it will probably be Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga and tomorrow Rascal Flatts- lol. I grew up in a very musical family- we all sing and most of us play at least one instrument. I personally sing and play the flute. I have a guitar that I never learned to play but would still like to. I think this lends its self to my music taste.

8. I can't figure out how to eat grits...butter and sugar, salt and butter, butter and jam - how do you do it?

9. When I want popcorn at home I always pop it on the stove. No microwave pocorn for me - I'm old school.

10. I have 5, count em' 5 cats. Ben and I are both suckers: Izzy, Zoey, Bryndel, Rennie, and BG Snuggs.

11. Favorite Movies are pretty much brainless chick flicks: Clueless, Legally Blonde, Dirty Dancing, Two Weeks Notice, Love Actually, The Wedding Planner, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Dazed and Confused (a remnant from my stoner days lol). Movies to me are an escape from the everyday and I want something light hearted and fun.

12. I'm a magazine junky. I really should have gone into journalism or advertising or something. I know this may sound silly but magazines are organized the way I think. On the shelf under our coffee table right now I guarantee you would find the following mags: InStyle, Women's Health, Shape, Self, Lucky, Vogue, Weight Watchers, The Nest, and Playboy. And yes, they're all mine. Junky. You should have seen it when I was wedding planning. I had em all!

13. Favorite Smells: Fabric Softener, Crisp apples, Baby soap & powder, Calvin Klein Euphoria, moth balls and bleach - yeah I'm a wierdo.

14. I drive a 2001 Malibu with a turn signal that only works when it wants to and lipstick smears on the back windshield from my bridal party writing just married on it- WILL NOT COME OFF! I dream of a brand spanking new car- but that's not in my immediate future. We own my car free and clear.

15. Some of the things that Ben and I want to do before we start thinking about a baby Smith: Mardi Gras, Vegas, NYC, buy a house, pay off our debt to his parents and my college credit card, own a Louis Vuitton handbag ( not on credit), buy a big screen TV, lose the last 7-10 lbs and do a nekkid photo shoot, watch The Wizard of Oz while listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and smoking hookah, and probably a whole lot more if we ever really stopped and thought about it.

Day 1 - that's a wrap!

Hope you enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about me. See ya manana!

Miss Amber Lane

(You think one day I should change my signature to MRS. Amber Lane?)

Nah.... ( :

Baton Rouge: Houmas House Plantation

2010-10-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

The day of the wedding Ma Mere and I decided to do a little bit of site seeing and drove out to the Houmas House Plantation for a few hours.

You already know that no road trip is ever complete without a trip to the Cracker Barrel.

Ma Mere sat in the LSU chair- we are still amazed at how fanatical you people in the south are about your college football. Me, I could care less.

So beautiful. The view from the road is breathtaking.

Welcome to Houmas!

Practicing my delightfuly aloof look in front of the main entrance pond.

Wanna swing?

They do weddings here every weekend- wouldn't that be magical?

Beautiful gardens on each side, in front, and behind the house

Ma Mere and I before departing to get ready for the wedding.

My pictures inside the house- were not so awesome. It was beautiful but I didn't do it any justice!

Wish I could live in the Houmas House- my dream house would absolutely be an old, old house - I know they have problems but I think it would be worth it!

And also...just to keep you current..visited my cousin Thursday night for karaoke in his town about 45 min. away....

I was bored waiting for Emily to get off work so I started playing around with my camera...

Not sure about this face here but I like the close up uf my bif ole muppet baby eyes. lol

Emily and Me.

Me and my cousin Danny. Can you tell he's kind of a ham?
Hell of a good karaoke singer though!

I'm working this weekend - like it or not. So for now...I gotta run!

Much Love Always!

A Louisiana Wedding

2010-10-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

I'm Back! The trip down to Louisiana for Rachel's wedding was great. Mom and I left at about 5am Ohio time and arrived in Baton Rouge at about 9pm Louisiana time. We made a lot of stops including one in Memphis to scope out Graceland- which let me tell ya - is nothing to see from the outside so the trip down took a little longer than expected. The trip back was a snap however because mom basically let me sleep the whole way home- lucky me, poor mom.

We'll talk more about the rest of the trip later this week but for now lets get down to brass tacks. The wedding.

Before a wedding you need a rehearsal. Rachel's rehearsal was quick and painless- so fast there was no time to even take pictures- so I'll jump right ahead to the dinner which was held at Rachel's uncle's beautiful house with rooms built specifically for cooking big meals and entertaining large groups.

Dinner was traditional Louisiana fare and delicious!

The bride-to-be and me

The future Mrs. and Ma Mere

Never too old to sit on your mommy's lap

The Wedding:

Was held at a place called the Oak Lodge. The ceremony took place at sunset outside and was simple and lovely - very much suited to Rachel and Brett and very sweet.

The reception was all about delicious food and dancing your butt off. On to the pictures!

The bride to be smiling excitedly up into the photographer's camera

Peek-a-boo bride

The bride and her maids. I know we look less than thrilled but this was between photographer's shots!

Me and My Mom

Rachel's unique and oh so fun bouquets!

Ready to get married!

After the ceremony I posed for some proud mommy pictures

Sassafrass

Me and the bride on the dance floor

Having a ball

Ma Mere looks like she's up to something!

The newlyweds and yes my stupid finger was covering the flash

Saying goodbye to the Cabo-headed Newlyweds

That's the wedding of Rachel and Brett. Be back soon for more pictures of non-wedding related such and such in Louisiana!

Missed ya'll! I'll be catching up on your blogs ASAP!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

Happy Wedding Day Rachel!

2010-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Rachel (AKA Shawdee),

We met our junior year in high school when I transferred to Talawacky. I know it seemed unlikely that we would make life-long friends in the mere months we had left in school together- but life long friends is exactly what we are.

We've had a ton of fun together: from upside down margaritas and cookie dough fiascos to shopping trips that stretch on for hours.

Our friendship has lasted while living never closer than 1.5 away and now spans 100s of miles and numerous states- but last it does!

I will always remember that one particular summer when we had "More Fun" and got into some of our craziest debacles ever - looking for Harold's, skinning Tiffy's, and ruining fantasies just to name a few!

We were "cute" back in those days Shawdee...

Goofing off in 2004

Christmas Time 2003

Your Pink Hair Days

"Blondes Having More Fun" circa 2004

But Really...We're only IMPROVING with age!

"Blondes Having More Fun Grown Up Edition" 2010

3 months ago you stood next to me on my wedding day....

Bridal shower April 2010

Wedding Day June 2010

And today I get the honor of standing up for you on your big day!

I am so excited for you and Brett and all the "adventures" you are embarking on!

Love Always,

Amber Lane

(Sassymouth)

Baton Rouge Baby

2010-10-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of my departure for Baton Rouge today I thought I would share my pics from my trip back in September:

On my trip to Louisiana .....

I arrived:

I Shopped:

I Had More Fun:

I ATE!!!

jambalya

Gumbo

Didn't care much for gumbo

AND ATE....

Boudin Balls

Mufuletta

AND ATE!!!

Some of the best eating came once we got to New Orleans!

In Nawlin's I also drank plenty of these....

It didn't take me long to feel the buzz and be a total tourist!

I enjoyed the view from the balcony....

Then dolled up and did it again...

I also partied pretty hard in honor of Shawdee:

Notice the straw to my hurricane is never far from my mouth!

I enjoyed the unique sights of New Orleans:

And I went home well fed and happy!
Looking forward to seeing both Baton Rouge and New Orleans again this weekend!

Rachel, I'm on my way!

Much Love Always!