What's Been Goin' On

This weekend went by in a blur of not much.

Friday night - well honestly I can't remember what we did Friday night. Hmph.

Moving on...

Saturday morning: Woke up bright and early to discover one of our cats knocked my prescrip. acne meds in the toilet while the lid was cockeyed thus ruining the whole thing (almost full) so on my way to my 9am hair apt. I stopped by Walgreens for a re-fill only to discover the pharmacy isn't open yet. Fail. So I swing by Starbucks and cruise over to my hair salon, check in with the receptionist only to discover that whomever took my apointment down over the phone scheduled me for A WEEK FROM SATURDAY instead of that Saturday. I almost cried. My roots were heinous and I knew that I wouldn't be able to make it next Sat. because I'm MOD. Luckily I got in with another hair stylist who is almost as cute as my regular and she did a fantastic job. Not only that but I got to have my waxings done in the spa (as opposed to over the shampoo bowl) because this stylist doesn't do waxings (my reg. does) so that was a life-changing experience- I am so always going to book my facial waxings with an aestitician instead of my stylist from now on. Ok and I'm not going to lie- the very best part of my hair appointment fiasco Because it was the salon manager who f*ed up my appointment- I got EVERYTHING gratis. That's right- fo free. Be jealous.

After the hair apt. took longer than originally expected Boo and I missed our invitation appointment and had to reschedule so we cruised the mall and then had lunch at Chilis. Know how hard it is to find something healthy/want something healthy at Chilis? Hard. But I succeeded and that was a major challenge. While at Chilis Ben and I struggled to come up with some spectacular Valentines date- but we came up empty handed and/or lazy and just went home for awhile. Then it was groceries, subway, and Up (which made me ball like a baby) followed by bed.

Suday: We didn't plan on exchanging gifts or flowers or having a date for Valentines Day because of the expenses of the wedding so we just spent Sunday together shopping for some wedding related items and doing some trial and errors with centerpieces.

A few pictures from Sunday:

Boo and I on Valentines Day (Ben found a vintage Bengals sweater and much to my dismay has been wearing it out in public)

(Pay not attention to my half up, half down collar...I really have no idea)
We Love each other!

Me and my other Valentine:

My Princess Kitty: Izzy and me.

Ok... so the pinwheels I've been talking about....

I know its kind of hard to envision but Ben and I are planning a very colorful, summer, garden party inspired wedding. For ceremony flowers we are planting our own flower boxes full of pink annuals, for escort cards we're hanging a clothes line and using pink clothes pins, for centerpieces we're using pinwheels. Hand made pinwheels. I kid you not....

The first trial of our pinwheel centerpieces:

Ok keep in mind a few things. The mirror we use will not have any tacky edging I just had this one lying around for repurposing. The vase will be filled to the top (ot just the ribbo) with pink gumballs, and the Vera Bradley tag you see will be an actual table number that coordinates with the ribbon around the base.

So far so good. I made those pinwheels all by my lonesome and they are so easy to do! I'm really excited about all our whimsical ideas! The pinwheels will factor in elsewhere too- but for now this is the only tangible thing I can show you!

What do you think?

The weekend ended with Ben and I watching HBO's new series How To Make It In America- a show that my future brother in law is a set designer for! If you have HBO tune in next Sunday at 10pm and help make "his show" a success.

The early part of this week has kept me busy by dumping loads and loads of snow on my life. South Western Ohio received 21 inches of snow in just over a week! We broke the record for February snowfall set in 1914....and I AM OVER IT!

Here is a picture of me that Ben took when we were outside shoveling/playing yesterday evening after Ben drove me and picked me up from work (unfortunately with my job I HAVE to be there no matter what- so nearly two feet of snow and no snow day for me)


Oh Well! You may notice that I'm all bundled up yet my belly is creeping out from under my coat- that's cause my pants are too big and falling down! Hooray Me! Also today I wore a pair of pants to work that haven't buttoned since 2008 and haven't buttoned comfortably since 2006.

I officially rock!

That is all. I have an early work day tomorrow so I'm off to night night (yes, before 10pm and I love it!)

Goodnight!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

6 Years Ago Today ...

I was a 19 year old with a date.

A date with a friend whom I had known since I was a 6th grader. A friend who used to talk to me about his girl problems over the phone for hours in high school. A friend who just so happened to be my best friend's first love in highschool. A friend who I didn't know if "crossing the line" with would be worth potentially losing my friendships over -hers if it worked out and his if it didn't. A friend I knew I had to find out about.

I stopped by my mom's house before driving the 45 minutes to his place where I would leave my car and he would drive us to dinner. My mom would say that she could tell I was nervous because I paced around fussing over my clothes (a hot pink, low v-neck sweater, black pencil skirt, and black knee-high boots) and my hair ( warm strawberry blonde, just skimming the shoulders, curled under to frame the face) and whether the choice I was making to go on this date was the right one - (I still hadn't told my bff what my intentions were and this date was to be the deciding factor).

Mom reassured me that everything was going to go fine, I looked great, and that I should just go and have a good time.

So I did. I drove the 45 minutes to his apartment and he met me on the stairs wearing a suit. We went to a cozy little restaurant near his place- I have no idea what we ordered - but we sat close to the fire and close to each other. Though I was rarely at a loss for words, this night I could hardly find a one that didn't fit awkwardly in my mouth. I wanted to say everything and nothing all at once my nerves were bouncing throughout my body making me feel as though at any moment I was going to come right out of my skin!

Then somehow (and I can't remember how) through the awkward nerves of a first date we reclaimed the rhythm of our friendship. We joked and laughed and spoke to one another as friends who had known each other since middle school. My nerves settled and the flirtatious energy that perhaps was always there between us on some level - took over.

We had a truly unforgettable date that ended in roses and a dessert of strawberries and cream at his apartment while we watched - of all things - The Lion King 1 1/2 on DVD. We snuggled on the couch and enjoyed our Valentine's night together. At one point I looked at him and said,

"If we do this, really decide to do this remember we were friends first and that's always the most important thing to me" he said me too and kissed me. It wasn't our first kiss- after all something had to lead us to this first date...but it was a kiss to seal the deal- though we wouldn't officially declare our relationship for another week and a half (after telling my bff- a declaration that caused us not to speak for the better part of two years) and from that point on I knew we had something special.

Exactly 5 years later on our "millionth" date he slipped a ring on my finger and I said "yes" to being his wife.

We've come this far as a couple because we've based our relationship on the friendship that we began 8 years before we even dreamed of becoming a couple (ok..there may have been a mutual crush in 8th grade that led to nothing) and that has made us stronger together than anything else.

4 months from the 25th we will finally say "I DO" and I'll get to put a ring on his finger too and what we started so long ago will come full circle.

And to think - it all started with a little Valetine's date.

If It Aint Broke..Don't Fix It

In 1999 I borrowed a set of hair curlers from my sister to do my own hair for my sophomore homecoming,

They were nothing special, no switches, no bells, no whistles. Just rubber hair curlers in three sizes that didn't light up when they got hot, didn'tchange colors when they were cool- they just went in your hair with little horseshoe shaped pins, stayed in for 15 minutes, then came out, leaving your hair bouncy, shiny, and curly.

I never gave those curlers back and they have worked for me- without fail for over 10 years.

Only problem is; all the bells and whistles of the new curlers with their heat up clips and their soft, felty goodness made me swoon. My curlers were missing a few pins anyway and I thought it really was time to move on.

So I packed away my trusty curlers and bought a new set with the heat up clips and the felty, cool-to-the-touch curler and thought they would work fantastically- I mean they were made 10 years are more into the future from my other curlers, with the advancement in technology they had to work 10 times better!

Nope,wrong, nuh-uh- they freaking suck.

My hair is processed to a nearly platinum blonde every six weeks - its thick and though its straight, it will hold a wave when twirled around my finger. So explain to me why a $35 set of curlers didn't so much as and a half inch of volume?!?!?


I know this all sounds really stupid- but I just had a mini melt down tearing apart our upstairs looking for my old set of curlers. I have been trying to get in with my stylist for a week with no luck first they were closed for snow, then my girl got her car stuck in a snow drift, now I have an apt. scheduled for Sat. morning but an event that I'm the host of- tomorrow. My roots are dark and noticable and my eyebrows look like unruly little catterpillars- sure I could pluck but then I wouldn't be able to wax on Sat. and then the cycle would start all over again. Being the savvy chica I am- I figured if I could roll my hair then mold it into some stylish updo adored with a flower or a bow or something that would divert attetion from my roots and I'm banking on the hope that my glasses (that I only NEED to wear for reading) will cover my Bert brows. So imagine my frustration when my craptastic curlers failed to do the trick!

When I pulled the curlers out and stared at my limp, multi-colored strands the hissy fit commenced- I had to use my old curlers- only problem is- I had no idea where I stashed them. I stormed the bedroom for a few minutes before I called Ben off the computer and demanded he help me look as I continued to stomp around with a flashlight looking under beds and in backs of closets.

"What's wrong with you?!?!" Ben asked me finally

My answer?

"I'm mad because I bought a new set of curlers that suck and my old ones worked perfectly fine!"

I said it with complete frustration and disgust then there was a moment of silence before Ben and I cracked up, I pulled my head out of my bum, and remembered where I stashed the old curlers.

They are heating to perfection as I type. Tomorrow the new curlers go in the garbage and the old curlers reclaim their throne on my vanity.

Ugh.

I'm totally over this story and this dilemma. I've learned two things from this event:

#1 Always have a standing apt. for beauty maintenance
#2 And never fix it if it aint broke

I WILL NEVER PART WITH THESE CURLERS EVER!

Grr. PMS is a hell of an ailment.

Ladies,

Goodight!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

Oh Snow!

I'm over it.


Here I am early in the AM getting ready to leave for work (with Bennyboo at the wheel) with my bags packed just in case I had to spend the night tonight. Luckily we had a break in the snow and the commute home was much improved. It is currently snowing again and through the early part of tomorrow.

I know the almost foot accumulative in southern Ohio isn't much compared to other areas of the country....

But I'm bored with it.

Spring time anyone?!?

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

I'm Back!

Holy February Batman!

The past week has been a long, slow one, with NO HOME INTERNET ACCESS!

I won't go into details of why we didn't have any but we've put a band aid on the boo, kissed it, and now its all better!

I've been away so long I've lost a follower - but its their loss.

Now I'm back and better than ever and ready to present you with some bloggy goodness.

First things first:

Weight Loss:

STILL A SUCCESS!

Things are really good and we are going into week 4! That's right, almost a full month and its still not hard. I don't know why I'm expecting it to get hard - maybe because a week ago is usually the point when I'm like...F this I want fried chicken and this time its smooth sailing. I've turned down cake and cookies and chocolate and made several wise choices while dining out so my confidence is only growing!

I know I said I would buy a scale and actually weigh- and I will but at this point I am going off the praises of others and the way my clothes are fitting.

How's that going for me?

A little something like this - "Are you losing weight" "Your face looks thinner" "You look great!"

also....

My skinny jeans are loose! And my fat day work pants (you know the ones...they look like dress pants yet are stretchy loose and comfy) are TOO BIG - I can't wear them anymore without looking like the clown with baggy pants or running the risk of exposing my booty.

Its good friends. Very good!

I've mostly just altered my diet based on Weight Watchers points and have been working out about 45 minutes a few times a week.

My goals for week four: Establish work out routine (45 minutes 4 times a week)
Buy Scale (I know what I weighed when I started...no idea now....)

Wedding:

Wedding things are going very well right now too, we are definitely gaining momentum. This week we've picked out our invitations, finalized the men's tuxes, and have started the long process of handmaking lots, and lots, and lots of brightly colored pinwheels.

Pinwheels? Oh that's right...you don't know that story yet...
Fear not! Pictures and an explanation are soon to follow!

In the next week or so we are (finally) (re) finalizing our photography plans, making more pinwheels, buying lots of vases at ikea, going to the seamstress about my dress fittings, purchasing underpinnings and accessories, buying my reception dress, booking the honeymoon, and hooking myself up with a new bikini via the Vicky C's website!

Whew! Just over 4 months to go!!! Yay!

Went to the derm this past week as well for ugly blemishes. Hormonal outbreaks are all I have and I've been given a prescip and some topical goodies to make it all better. Only bummer? Extreme photosensitivity. Meaning- no tanning bed for 6 weeks. Self tanner recommendations anyone? My skin should be crystal clear ASAP though so its definitely worth it!

Weather:

Is crap. Southern Ohio got somewhere between 4 and 7 inches this weekend crusting everything in snow and ice. It may not sound like much to those of you who live further north butI hate it. I hate snow. I suck at walking in it, driving in it, and over all dealing with it.
Rumor has it another "winter storm" is headed our way mid-week. Fantastic. Can it please be spring now?

Work:

Major changes coming this way. Annual reviews this month + my boss is relocating to Mississippi at month's end. I am staying very positive and hoping that all changes will be for the best! I'm not exactly bummed to see my boss go. She's a perfectly fine person there's just something about our personalities that doesn't seem to mesh. I always feel super inadequate and awkward around her so I'm sort of excited to (maybe) get a new boss who doesn't make me feel like a teenager in puberty (PLEASE GOD!). Fingers crossed.

Other:

Nothing really. Life is the wedding and work right now. I am excited for the superbowl tonight. No big plans probably just the couch and Ben but I'm cool with that. Sundays are the days I save my bonus points for so I'm looking forward to some kind of tail gate munchy (pizza maybe?) this evening. As far as which team I'm cheering for? Well....I could go either way. I kind of like Peyton Manning and the Colts I think they're a clean fighting, hard working team but like most of the world I like the heart and soul of the Saints and think New Orleans could definitely use a championship. It will be a good game either way!

So Go Team(s)!

( :

Ok, well I'm off for now. I'm hoping to catch up on all your blogs in the next day or so - its good to be reconnected!

Much Love!

Miss Amber Lane

It Only Takes A Spark....

To get a fire started and I think my spark has ignited!

As I mentioned in THIS post; I've really been watching what I've been eating and writing down every little thing that goes into my mouth. I'm also basing my food choices on Weight Watchers points.

Let me tell you a bit about my history with Weight Watchers.

Many moons ago (or 4.5 years) I purchased a membership to WW At Home and followed the plan successfully for a few weeks until my 21st bday hit and I started indulging more and more, drinking on more occasions and my 4th year of college started and I had to eat pretty much what I could, when I could. So at that time I thought F this and burried the kit away not to be seen for a couple of years when I once again started the program. I didn't go more than a few weeks before quitting again.

It was a fail both times. But not because the program was hard - because - still in college- pizza and fast food were a pretty regular part of my existance and money for grocies often was scarcely existant (Ramen noodles and easy mac were a pretty regular purchase at the grocery store). I ate what I could, took people up on offers for dinners out and if those meals didn't fall into WW standards of good eating- well, oh well - I had to eat!

And I just don't think I was ready. It was more important to me at that time- to be a good-time girl. Go out nightly with friends, eat, drink (lots and lots of vodka cranberries) and be merry.

Now, things feel different. Mostly because my life style is different. I have a routine now, any big nights out with friends are well planned for and well I have something to work for- not only do I want to be smoking hot in my wedding dress- but I want to set a good example for Bennyboo and our future children so that I know I'm doing my part in raising a healthy family.

I'm not having any troubles finding the right things to eat - at this point (though its been just over a week) I'm not feeling deprived or having strong desires for incredibly decadent meals.

I've passed the dining out test 2 times in the past week and made healthy choices both times!

It also helps that now at 25- I'm a much better cook than I ever was at 20 so I'm able to make my own completely yummy and good-for-me dishes and I have a steady joint income that is consistantly able to pay for the ingredients for these meals! I also am much more in the know as to other resources to use cookbooks,web sites, and support groups.

One of the best tools I have now compared to my early twenties in being successful with weight loss is: I know myself better now and therefore know my own eating habits better.

I know that I don't notice the difference between fat free dairy products and their full-fat cousins.

I know that I like SILK Low Fat Soy Milk better than I like regular milk.

I know thatI love vegetables and that if I eat more vegetables at meals I will feel fuller faster with less points value (in some cases- no points value!)

I know that though its important that breakfast and lunch be eaten during the day- its not during those meals that I'm at risk for consuming the most (bad) food- its dinner! Some days I could gloss right over those meals and never miss them ( I know that's not healthy either though)

So I've gotten in to the habit of packing my lunch or of making a wise fast food choice like Subway or Taco Bell's Fresco menu- when I do that- lunch is a breeze.

Dinner is a completley different story- mostly because I'm eating with another person. Ben is still heaping cheese on veggies, lathering butter, and fueling up on carbs while I'm sitting beside him measuring and counting. Its not really been much of an issue yet but I'm keeping myself prepared just in case it ever is.

I know that though the number is sometimes intimidating; weighing myself at least once a week is a good tool. Before- I NEVER weighed myself- I figured if I started losing weight I would notice. What I now realize is that because I didn't weigh myself I didn't notice if I started to lose weight therefore figured my hard work wasn't paying off and leading me to slide back into old habits. Had I been weighing myself I may have noticed a couple lb difference and that might have been just the motivation to keep going. So this time a weekly weigh in is A MUST!

And I could go on and on. Suffice to say however, I am motivated and things are going well! I don't have a good scale at present so I will be buying one this week. No, I will not be sharing my lbs with the blog world- but as the numbers start to fall away- I will share totals and pictures.

Its not really like me to do things like admit publicly I want/need to lose some weight but this is a new me- one that's owning up to the fact that I've gained 20 lbs since I first wanted to start WW to get rid of an extra 15 back in college. Now both numbers will be my first goal- 35 lbs with no deadline to reach it.

I'm going to take my time and do it right.

Will you notice a change to A Blonde Bride and Her Boo? Not so much. I'm still going to talk about the wedding, and work, and life in general - but now there will also be a scattering of my weight loss goals and progress as well- just another ingredient to make this bloggy cupcake a little more flavorfull!

( ;

For Now!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

A Moderately Productive Monday

My weekend went by in a blur. I worked both Saturday and Sunday because it was my MOD weekend and Boo and I didn't do a thing. Honestly, off the top of my head I can't even think of what we did this weekend....

Hmmmm.

I'll have to ask Boo when he comes back inside from smoking.

Today on the other hand we accomplished a few notable things.

First of all: I am officially THE OWNER of my car. That's right- Ben and I went to my dealership and handed them a check for the remaining balance 1 year and 1 month ahead of schedule! It was an exciting moment. Ben's parents agreed to lend us the money for pay off-and I will continue paying them until about August...but they are saving us about 2 grand.

Woo Hoo!

After that we went and (finally) opened our joint bank account. That is, after a LONG, tense conversation about our budget from now until the wedding. Talk about stressful. Its hard for me to relinquish control of my own purse strings but after a lot of math and aggravation Ben and I came to realize that we are literally blowing through about $1000 a month on......

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Mostly, eating out and a little of this and that.

So that's stopping immediately. The unfortunate (fortunate?) thing is that in order to get to where we want to be for the wedding we are putting ourselves on a VERY STRICT budget. Its only 5 months away (OMG FIVE MONTHS FROM TODAY!!!!) so I think we should be able to grin and bare it!

After opening our account Ben and I went back home for me to get my car so that I could pick up Megan and we could hit Subway for lunch. We caught up on the latest goings on and then swung by a rental company to check out their rental structures for the wedding. No decisions yet- but soon. I dropped Megan off and went back home to switch cars again so that Ben and I could drive out to the west side to our appointment to pick out invitations - but it started snowing pretty hard (boo!) so Ben and I rescheduled for Saturday.

In all it was a pretty successful day.

I also took a time out to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for a week from Friday.

Why?

Well, in my adult life I've always been prone to moderate break outs around the time of my girly time (sorry if there are any guys lurking around) especially in my jaw line area. This month was no exception about a week before I got a little flare up along my left jaw line - I've been treating it and being extra careful to remove all traces of makeup and for a day or two it will seem like its clearing up , then BAM! its like it starts up all over again! I've had the same little outbreak for about two weeks now and today the left jaw line has started flaring up too! I don't know what's going on. I'm sure that cell phone use is irritating that area and I've also come to realize when I'm sitting at a desk on the computer I cup my face in my hands but still - no reason it shouldn't go away!! So I'm going to see the derm to see what can be done to treat and prevent this from happening any further. I want clear skin for the wedding (Please God!)

I also made an appointment (finally) with a new dentist for the week after the derm.