On My Mind with: Amber Lane

(Ala Instyle Magazine September 2008)


Obsessed with...
Fall Fashion. Summer in dwindling pools are closing and I'm ready for a new color palate and a healthy serving of cashmere.











Wool and cashmere coat, Elijah, $575; at Elsie Garden, call 434-979-2888.

Happy I bought...

Smashbox Master Class Volume 3 Complexion Perfection ($59 at Sephora.com).
Not only does it come with an instructional dvd to help you learn exactly how to make your face look flawless, it also has the camera-ready products to do the trick!

Necessary extravagance...

Back massages. Whether given by the bf or a professional. I try to negotiate one a day. I'm not always successful but for the most part all I have to do is offer to take the bf's turn at dishes and voila. I am about due to hit the spa for the real deal
though.

Looking forward to....

Halloween! My spooky Halloween decor is the best, we throw a kick ass party and I've already decided on a costume idea ... my own spin on Princess Lolly from Candyland!


















Dreaming of...

Event planning for the Playboy Mansion...true story that was what I dreamed last night!

Listening to...

Secondhand Serenade, Bob Marley, Flyleaf (and hoping like mad Christina Aguilera is getting close to a new record)

Dropping by...
Macy's to pick up Fancy by Jessica Simpson its relatively inexpensive and smells sexy yet still young and flirty

Wishing for...
My new assistant already....or a tropical vacation....mmmm vacation!

Speed Dialing...
No one. I just want to rest.

Addicted to...

Starbucks Venti Green Iced Tea

Carrying...

A wonderful no name bag from TJ Maxx in cream with my blackberry, Hot pink Samsung camera, snake skin planner, five different lip colors, bobby pins, wallet, cute pink business card case w/ business cards....my sister gifted it to me for my birthday and it fits me to a t!

Can't stop watching...

Jon and Kate + 8 and looking forward to the return of ALL my fall shows!

My Cast of "Characters"

To put names with faces here are the people I will talk about most frequently. Also had I realized that I would not be able to rearrange the order of the pictures once they were posted this post would have a bit more of a fluid structure (ie friends and family) however, since I did not what you will find is a mess.

Oh well. Everything can't be perfect.

Here we go.

Rachel


Rachel and I met when I changed high schools my junior year. It took us a little while to become friends but once we did....watch out! We have been known to buy sparkely shoes, get Cadillacs stuck on big rocks, and go in search of Harolds (our name for everyone lawn gnome). This picture was taken the summer after our sophomore year in college as part of a montage known as "Blondes Having More Fun". Rachel has since gone back to her dark roots and moved with her bf of nearly four years, Brett to Baton Rouge. I miss her but we still chat via blackberry messenger frequently and visits will commence soon!


The Girls


You will see at least one of these girls a bit later in more detail. This picture was taken on Navy Pier in Chicago when we were there for Kristen's bachelorette party in May. I have known Kristen since first grade and though we are not always the closest (especially since her move with her now husband, Rich) we are family. I am also good friends with Jackie and Rae-Leigh as I have known them since first grade and early high school respectively. I consider them close friends yet you won't hear me talk about them often From left you have Megan, Katie (Kristen's sister in law) moi, Kristen, Jackie, Linda (Kristen's mom) and Rae-Leigh.


Ma Mere

Though I have two sisters- they are 18 and 20 years older than me so I grew up with just mom at home. We are probably one of the closest mother-daughter pairs you will meet. She's my number one dining out buddy among other things. This pic was taken about 7 years ago in Florida...but its one of my faves.


The Family

This picture was taken the day after my grandfather's funeral in 2004 at the Olive Garden. You won't often hear me talk about everyone in this picture but I love it because we rarely all get together. From top left: Johnny (1st cousin), Connie (aunt), Cindy (1st cousin), me, Zack (2nd cousin) Greg (2nd cousin) Diana (sister), Denise (sister), Mom, and Becky (aunt). Missing from this of course are many other cousins and an Aunt and Two Uncles. Mostly when I talk about my family it will be about my mom and sisters and sometimes Aunt Becky and her kids.


Nephews

You will also hear me talk about these two. The nephews. One from each sister. This picture was taken last Thanksgiving. Devin is on the left he is 13 now and an avid skateboarder, he is also freakishly talented at all types of music and very tall (he is several inches taller than his 5'3 aunt at present). The one on the right is Calvin he is active in a drama program and likes to read. I am proud of both of them and love them like crazy. I only wish I had more time to spend with each of them because they are growing up so fast!


The Babies: Izzy


This is Izzy. Before Ben and I moved in together we each took a kitten from the litter my crazy cat Chloe had after she went to live with my mom. Izzy was mine and you can tell. She is a princess and she knows it. She is not at all shy and is known for prancing into the lap of anyone who sits in our home whether she has been invited or not. She gets away with it though because she's cute and sweet and doesn't have an attitude about it. She's perfect and she knows it but she won't make you feel less than. ( :


The Babies: Zoey

Zoey was Ben's cat before we moved in together and she definitely has his personality. She's a tad lazy and not as outgoing as Izzy but she is a total sweetheart. She is also the biggest of the three and though she rarely throws her weight around when she's had enough of our sisters she lets them know. Zoey is best known for waking us up on the weekends when we sleep past her normal feeding time- with her incessant meowing and pawing until her dish has been filled and all is right with the world again.


The Babies: Bryndel


Bryndel came to us from the same litter as Izzy and Zoey but almost by accident. My mom was moving and only wanted to take one of the two remaining kittens (crazy Chloe had long since run off) so she asked my sister and myself to take her to a no-kill shelter. Well when we tried the shelter informed us that they were full and we would have to find another place for her. "Temporarily" I brought Bryn home to stay with us and after a week she was family. The other two accepted her back within no time even after a year apart so we decided to keep her. Unlike the other two Bryndel is very shy and only takes up with us and by us I mean mostly me. She has a big mouth and will tell you when she's not happy. Bryndel is happiest when we are in bed and she can curl up on my feet.


Megan


Best friend since 2nd grade with the odd year here and there in college during an awkward transition period for us. That and Megan and Ben dated in high school and there was so animosity when Ben and I started dating sophomore year in college. Like good friends do- we worked it out in time and though we thought it would never happen we are as close if not closer than we were before. This picture was taken after Kristen's rehearsal dinner on Megan's porch. We had been hitting the wine a bit too hard but its still a pretty cute pic. I'm a fan. Some of my fave Meg memories involve our trip with my mom to Florida in 4th grade, getting "drunk" the first time in my basement, when we looked so much alike people thought we were twins, her mom Diane (who passed away in 2005) and so much more.


The Boyfriend

Ben is not only my bf but my bestest friend too. We have been together since Feb. of 2004 and friends since 1997 when we met in band. I played the flute and he played the trombone. This picture was taken a few weeks ago during my 24th bday celebration. I know you can't really tell much about him from this picture but its the most recent one we have together. I'm sure there will be more in the near future. We share many interests but to name just a few Bengals Football, Dexter, Jon and Kate + 8, going to bars, movies, etc.


Jen

Jen and I have been friends since 7th grade with a few time lapses. Jen is the "old married woman" of the group. She and Scott have been married since 2006 and they have two kids Makayla and Aiden. Jen was around during my "wild child" stage when I was 16. I could never go back there but the memories sure are fun! Working at our local waterpark, shopping (or shop lifting as it were when I was 16) road trip to Virginia Beach, getting our belly buttons pierced and matching our clothes but in different colors....ah to be 16.


Jess

Jess and I met in college. We were both drama majors and though I was a year ahead we became fabulous friends through the touring children's theater group we were in. Jess is so much fun and so stinking smart its ridiculous- she is in her second year of grad school for costume design in Arizona so I don't get to see her too often anymore either. Some of my favorite memories of Jess involve bar hopping in Finland, stealing a little man from in front of the art building at Miami, and going on a spur of the moment trip to Myrtle Beach the weekend before finals.


Emily

I also met Emily in college through the theater department. What's funny though is that our whole lives we've lived about 7 miles apart and run in social circles that at times over-lapped but we never met. We are still very close today although Emily has recently begun dating Stephen pretty seriously and doesn't have as much time to just hang out anymore- but let's be honest who does? This pic was taken on Halloween last year. I was Eve (yes Ben was Adam) and Emily went as a Bengals Kitty. We live for Halloween and have already begun planning next year's costumes. We also share a love for upscale cosmetics and designer clothes, shoes, etc.

There you have it. This list is of course not all inclusive there are many other people who are important to my life and that you will hear about them. As I write about them I will try to post a photo- its fun to get a face to the name.

Ciao for now!

Miss Amber Lane

When One Gets A Day Off.....

One must blog.

After much arranging, organizing, and scheduling I was able to have all of the activities at work today covered by volunteers/other staff members and thus could take a day off. Praise the Lord (and pass the ammunition)! It is damn hard getting anything done with no assistant. Diane's last day was Tuesday and though there is always much to do (and many difficulties in arranging a day off) I can't say that I am without relief that she is gone.

Without getting into much detail and long story short my most recent assistant had once held my position and was asked to step down to become...that's right...my assistant. Awkward. So while it was an asset that she was there my first few months as far as not having to train a new assistant- it was also a hindrance whenever I tried to make changes or assert authority. I have also come to learn recently that though she was kind to my face she also had (and took) ample opportunity to set me up for failure. Wonderful. She also has made it difficult for me to gain the trust and respect of the team members because A: They liked her very much and B: I've been told she's kind of talked shit about me.....isn't that wonderful to know about a fifty something woman? So though I'm stressed about not having an assistant (not much longer though) I can't help but to feel- free.

So, I took today off. I didn't have any major plans for the day although I considered a few options. Pool day or putting my free tickets to Coney Island to use...but the mostly cloudy, threatening to rain weather hindered that. Plus I just didn't feel like leaving the house. So I pulled the covers over my head when my internal clock tried to make me wake up at 7:30 and convinced myself to stay asleep until about 9. I got up at that point - put on Dirty Dancing and began to clean the downstairs like a mad woman (leaving the kitchen for the bf of course because its his turn). I've paced myself though- sitting down to watch my favorite parts of DD and to catch up on a DVR'ed Jon and Kate but I still got a lot done. At one point I was feeling quite ambitious so I got dressed and cruised to Wal-Mart but thats where the nagging little headache I had been ignoring all morning decided to kick it up a notch so I excited with a few cans of diet coke and some chicken quesadilla rolls and came home to lounge and play on the computer- the headache has begun to subside finally.

Now its 5:30 and essentially my day off is over- if it were a regular work day I would be home by 6:30 anyway. Sigh. They go so fast. Tonight the bf and I are will probably go see a movie. And stupid though it may look to some -I want to see House Bunny...I don't know it just appeals to me on some frivolous girly level. Surprisingly the bf hasn't objected so House Bunny it is...if we decide to venture out anyhow.

For now.

Amber Lane

Today I am feeling: Lethargic, unmotivated, sloppy, and stressed

Things I Just Wouldn't Want To Live Without

Clearly I'm killing time before bed- but in the spirit of getting to know me, here are some of the things I love:



Where would my life be without my planner- of course that is not my particular planner but none the less- without them things just wouldn't get done!

I wish I could say that every night I came home and took the time to unwind in the bath tub- alas I can not say that- however I can appreciate a bubbly bath anytime I can make the time!


So many people say that being sent flowers is frivolous ---maybe so--- but I don't care. Send me pink roses and you can consider me officially wooed.


I'm not sure what kind of life I had before my blackberry pearl....how did I ever live without my 3am notification that Macy's.com is having a sale? In all seriousness though- there is nothing this phone doesn't do---well it doesn't text mobile to mobile but it can email, gps, photo take, video capture, myspace, blog, alarm, entertain etc. etc. and I LOVE IT!


Love. A tad pricey....so worth it...invest now.


I prefer mine in Venti form from Starbucks on my way to work.I ced and sweetend by moi with three packets of Splenda- Goodmorning!


What isn't perfectly precious and prissy about a cupcake. I like to make them- I love to eat them. Yes please.

Smells good, feels great.... light enough that even the bf won't shy away. I always have it on hand in original and lavender.


How much to I love my recently discovered addiction John and Kate + 8? Very much. I don't know why there are so many people who speak so negatively about Kate. So what if she's a self proclaimed germaphobe and a touch anal. That woman inspires me- I feel that I am very much like Kate in the arena of planning and organization I empathize with that side of her...sometimes its hard for others to digest. On top of that though John is a cutie and all the kids are adorable. We've actually adopted some new vocabulary words from them: Aldergator and underwears.


This case in particular isn't mine but I love, love, love my pink Sephora train case. It looks amazing on my vanity or when carrying it by hand and was by far the most perfect present for the bf to treat me to last Christmas. It holds EVERYTHING and that's what a girl on the go needs. My personal case is A: dirtier than this from makeup spill mishaps and general use and B: Crammed to the brim with cosmetic candy....maybe one day I'll take a picture of it....for those who may be curious....well when someone starts reading this blog anyhow!


Addicted. Its funny because dually I wish to live their lifestyle and John and Kate's (with a few less kids). Is it possible to construct a glamorous, primped out, sex kitten, organic, mommy, blonde bombsehll, well organized, lifestyle in the eastern mid west for a real life girl? One can dream.

And dream she will. It is now 11:50 and I'm now almost an hour passed the bedtime. I have to work tomorrow- yes on a Sunday- my job could be 24/7 if I didn't stomp a foot down in a well timed tantrum from time to time. I love it though- so its worth it.

Sweet Dreams,

Miss Amber Lane

Miss Amber Lane Has Arrived

I can not tell you how long this blog has been in the making. For months I have sporadically visited this site, tweaking backgrounds, editing my profile, and selecting just the right glamour shots for my profile pics. My fingers would itch to type something to announce my arrival to the Blogger world- yet something would hold me back- coaxing me to wait until something profound and meaningful could enhance my exposition. That moment never came, no pearls of wisdom have I found- yet I have chosen today to be the day. Many thoughts are dancing within me and I need an outlet for them. So I here I sit.

First let me start by saying that I am not new to the blogasphere. I was once a self professed Xanga addict. For over 6 years I wrote faithfully about every little going on in my life. Xanga and I met when I was 18 years old and we became great friends. Yet somehow the last year of our friendship has been somewhat disappointing. Subscriptions that I read faithfully began to fall away and new features have cluttered what I once enjoyed in its most simple form. I also feel that I'm in need of a fresh start. I'm not an 18 year old anymore, life has changed, I have changed- so while I will still visit with my old friend Xanga and the friends I have met through him- I will begin a new journey here tonight.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amber, I am 24 I have a fun, interesting, yet challenging career as an Activities Director for a Senior Community near my home in Cincinnati. I am living "in sin" with my boyfriend of 4.5 years Ben and we are currently in the most intense (read: stressful) process of buying our first house.

Let me get this gem out of the way early: we are not engaged. Will we be? It is my hope. Throughout the course of our dating relationship (we were great friends all through middle and high school before dating) we have climbed the mountains of our early twenties together. My five-year college degree, Ben's career, early twenties accumulated debt (will we ever reach the peak of that mountain?) Death of close friends and family, the start of new careers and the on-set of "real money"(although is it ever enough), Our official merge of households, an apartment, a townhouse and now by the end of September a home-we have finally reached a point where it will no longer be about finding the right job, finishing school, etc but about discovering what lies next for us as a couple. Whew! I know a mouth full there right? (~;

We have no children- I definitely want a big family someday- Ben has been undecided but I think he is starting to come around. We do have three feline babies whom we adore and treat very much like real babies- we are indeed cat people and have the stray hairs on our clothing to prove it. Izzy, Zoey, and Bryndel come to us from the same litter birthed by a crazy cat I had for awhile my junior year in college. She was the meanest cat I've ever met but gave us three of the sweetest girls we could ask for.

Ben and I have a great group of friends whom we have mostly retained from our school years. His friends are my friends and vice versa so its always nice when we get everyone together- which these days is rare. I also have friends from college who are scattered across the map whom I also love dearly but sadly don't get to see with much frequency. While my friends are dear and I would not trade them for anything in the world- sometimes I feel estranged from their particular life choices. I have many friends who married early and already have children. While that doesn't prevent us from being friends it does prove to be a hindrance at times. With the exception of my scattered college friends I am also one of the only of my closest circle to go to a University and complete my bachelors degree. You don't really realize how that will affect your relationships until you are in that situation so I find it difficult to explain.

I feel this is a big reason to why I blog. I am always looking to be in circles with other young women who are in a similar position in life. Educated professionals who are either in serious relationships or married- no children yet but wants them- who I can talk to, learn from, empathize with. I am in constant search of these people. I thought when I began my serious career I would be ensconced with them- but I was wrong. While I love my job very much I find that there are two distinctive groups. The coordinators who with the exception of myself are at least in their 30s, are married or were previously married, they ALL have children -several even have grandchildren- and then there are the team members who are either very young (read- teenagers) or (and I hate to say it) are uneducated women who are working as supplemental income to support their families. I am by no means saying that I am above them in any way we just have very different lifestyles- myself from both groups of people at my work- and I find a hard time pulling much more from my interactions with them than friendly chit chat.

I'm thinking about joining some type of club or performing group but right now my work schedule is so hectic that membership is only a pipe dream.

So for now I blog and read blogs to fill that little gap.

I think that's a lot to chew on for now. And besides there will be lots to discover about me as we go along together and that will be much more fun than me serving it all up to you here tonight.

Love & Kisses,

Miss Amber Lane

Tonight I'm:
Optimistic, Verbose, Sleepy, Organized, Creative, Content