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

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

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

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

Did you guess that I was pregnant?!?!

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









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

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

So the news.....

I'm changing jobs!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Much Love Always!

30 Day Challenge Days 11 & 12

Day 11:
My Favorite TV Shows:

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

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

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

Day 12:
What I believe:

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

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

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

How optomistic of me huh?

Lol.

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

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Much Love Always

Miss Amber Lane

30 Day Challege: Day 10

AGHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

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

• Miss Amber Lane 

30 Day Challenge: Day 9

A Picture of my Friends:

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

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

One of just the girlfriends and me

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

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

Emily:

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

Jessica:

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

Megan:

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

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

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

Jennifer Marie:

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

Rachel:

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

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

Much Love,

Miss Amber Lane

20 Day Challenge; Day 8

A Place I've Traveled:

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

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

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

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

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

On to the trips!

Russia:

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

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

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

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

Crazy Taxi Rides!

Taiwan:

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

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

Jess and I with our host family

These trips are what cemented our friendship

The girls in Taiwan 

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

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane 

30 Day Challenge: Day 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Tawanda"

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

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

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

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

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

30 Day Challenge; Day 6

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