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.

Live From My Bed....

A blog.

It won't be anything much or fancy-like. There's really nothing new under the moon - wedding plans mostly but I have a strict, "No Wedding Plans Before Bed" policy that came into effect after a couple of nights where I tossed and turned in bed for hours pondering different details until the wee hours - so I won't be elaborating on any of the plans at 11:30 in the pm tonight.

Its really not pretty. I get all stressedified and that's not good for anyone.

Honestly, these past couple of weeks very little of any interest has transpired.

Here are the highlights:

• Slept at work over night during an especially snowy evening
• Nixed our wedding florist all together when I had a major ambitious spurt one day
• Had one drunkity night with Emily and Boo that resulted in lots o' karaoke
• Had a dinner and shopping day with Ma Mere
• Got new tires on my car
• Implemented a skin care regimen to try to nip moderate outbreaks in the bud- its starting to work my skin is all glowy tonight!
• Did I mention I'm really watching what I eat right now and writing down everything that goes into my mouth? I have no real weight loss goal at present- I just want to be healthy and feel good about myself- and ok fine look damn hot too
• Got the fo sho ok that I will be able to hire a temp assistant during my assistant's maternity leave (insert sigh of relief here)
• Picked out tuxes for wedding
• Created a DIY centerpiece
• Voiced preferance for rehearsal dinner (twilight picnic with comfort foods anyone?)
• Met with wedding coordinator
• Held final meetings with potential photographers...choosing ASAP
• Stopped talking about wedding because its TOO CLOSE TO BED TIME!!!!
• Learned that the 2% raise cap from last year is no longer a go in my company so we'll actually earn the raises that we deserve in 2010
• My arch nemises at work has been removed from our company (guess she was nemises for a reason huh?)
• Spending a night away from home next week for business- will be first time solo in a hotel

That's really all I've got.

I've been keeping up with you, so I'm not too far out of the loop.

Its my goal for next week to come back on a regular basis- here's hoping.

Well I'm on this weekend as Manager on Duty so I better turn the lap top off and actually catch so zzzzzzzzz's.

I hope the rest of you are off this weekend and have a fab one!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

Wedding Wednesday: Play List (A Day Late)

Whenever You Call: Mother's Escorted to Light Candle

Speechless: Processional

Here Comes The Bride: Me obviously

The Way I Am : Candle Lighting and Time For Reflection

The Way You Make Me Feel: Recessional

Let's Get Retarded: Bridal Party Entrance To Reception

Yeah!: Bride and Groom Entrance

I'm Yours: First Dance

In My Daughters Eyes: Mother/Daughter slide show

A Song For Mama: Mother/Son dance

How Sweet It Is: Cake Cutting

I'll Be There mixed into Blame It On The Boogie: Bridal Party Dance

100 Years: Generations Dance

Girl Fight: Bouquet Toss

Foxy Lady: Garter Removal/Toss

Save The Last Dance: Guest Last Dance

You and I: Bride and Groom Dance as guests prepare for sparklers, bubbles, etc. for grand exit

Of course there will also be a few surprises- but I'm not giving everything away here!

Stay tuned! Just over 5 months left!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane