Weekly Wants: SoCal Summer

Summer is just around the corner (and so is my thirty first birthday ... WOW!) so it's about time to start thinking about what I'll be rocking around town. From hanging at the Malibu, to rocking it out at  Hollywood events; i'm gonna need gear I can rock while i longboard in Venice in (Andy took me out for my first lesson yesterday & I can't wait to be a skater girl with him this summer!!) and 'fits ready for the LA social scene. Here are a few styles/pieces i am eyeing to rock this 31st summer of mine... It's gonna be a good one, I can tell!!

click pictures to be linked to products

keepsake Kiss The Sun Dress

Lisa Marie Fernandez Genevieve High-Waisted Bikini

One Teaspoon Holster Off Shoulder Body Con Dress

291 Anchor Uneven Hem Top

Citizens Of Humanity Jeans Ava Cut Off Shorts

10 CROSBY DEREK LAM Mandarin Collar Shirt in Black/Nude

and for more of mty musing find me on Pintrest, Twitter and Instagram (Ambersnotebook).
Have a greta monday y'all!!

xoxo Amber

Style Icon: Dazed & Confused

Tonight I am headed to a Dazed and Confused themed party at Anthony Meindl's (where I have been studying for 8 months now) so naturally i had to google some screen shots to get some inspiration for tonight's outfit. I mean who doesn't love rocking bell bottoms, tees, and tube socks. I know I sure do, and what's not to love about a coming to age movie based in the 70's? I sure know I feel like I have a bit of seventies-ness in me and what better excuse to bring that out then tonight. Plus this party is gonna have a keg old school high school party style and I love pretending I'm still a senior in high school. here are some images getting me in the mood for tonight's party...











P.S. Vanessa thank yo for getting me hooked on the movie back in the day love you!!!

A Hard Shell To Crack

well let's just start from the very beginning.. a very good place to start... i met The Boyfriend (Andy) at the Viper Room on January 30th.  At that point i was still swearing off boys and dating (although i would still late night rant & rave about being lonely and single on Twitter...).

I had built of a HARD shell. I had gotten the hang of guarding & protecting my own heart and had no interest in dating or letting a dude get even close to my heart. I had pretty much given up on even trying to dress cute. My neighbor Jenn was quick to point out how i regularly rocked a hobo style. I carried around a raggedy clutch & wore holly leggings on the reg. Oh and I pounded bottles of wine nightly, and got in the habit of introducing myself as Amber Mother Fuckin Lane.

yup i was REAL CLASSY.

my hobo chic days...




and that's exactly how introduced myself to Andy, complete with holy leggings and an "I don't get shit" attitude. I was cocky as hell, but on the inside i was still a mess. I had let part of myself go, part of myself that i loved and i shoved so far down inside myself. she was barely visible anymore. But she was still there somewhere waiting to come out, and that part of me was the one tweeting about  her dreams, prince charming & the things she loved. All while Amber MFing Lane was wrecking havoc.

But Amber MFing was kinda of badass and without her I would never have met Andy. And on that January night i met my match in that sweet lil badass southern boy. Somehow he managed to sweep me off my feet and i haven't' looked back since (okay I have dragged my feet a bit, and done some kicking & screaming) but for the most part i've laughed, lived & loved. And those were things Amber MFing Lane wasn't exactly capable of.

I'm not gonna lie it's been scary hell to open my pretty little heart back up but I can't exactly resist a boy who sings me country songs, picks me flowers and talks to me cutest southern accent ever. He takes GOOD care of me! Okay i'll stop being so cheesy but clearly I'm smitten; and most importantly I more myself then i have been in AWHILE. I mean I'm back to blogging (aka sharing my emotions in the written form), driving my car again (well when Andy's not driving me...), oh and the holy leggings have since been retired (Thank you Jenn!). And shoot! I can't even remember the last time i had a glass a wine (I do enjoy beer still though...)

Andy & i at the Mc Donald's Premium Wrap Party


It's been quite the journey fixing the parts of me that need work, rebuilding parts of me that i lost & letting go of old habits (umm hello, defense mechanisms) that i no longer need to rely on anymore. I know this journey is far from over but I am grateful for everyone who inspired, encouraged and loved me along the way.

Until next time... i'm gonna keep cracking away at my own shell & dreaming away.

Have an amazing weekend!!!


xoxo Amber Lane

Made My Skin a little Bit Thicker...

So i've been off the blogging thing for about 7 months now. Long story short, the domain name Ambersnotebook.com has not been owned by me since November 14th, 2012. randomly the domain was taken from me the day after my debut "RAP" video was posted on Youtube, coincidence?
who knows.

And as bad as it hurt, and as hard as it was to see my baby taken from me, i ultimately had to take it as a compliment. Like Christina Aguilera said (or I mean sang) : "makes me that much stronger, makes me work a little harder, makes me that much wiser. ...Thanks for making a fighter."
And really, thank you to the new ambersnotebook.com owner, for giving me a reason not to blog for a bit.

You see, I was getting a little burnt out on blogging. Blogging became something i felt i "had" to do. It was no longer something i wanted to do. I started blogging as an artistic outlet, it way to save my memories in words in pictures. It was a place for me to express myself & my creativity. And in my life transition I lost that passion for my blog and more importantly i needed a new artistic outlet, so I turned to acting and I haven't looked back since.

So in this new era of Ambersnotebook.blogspot.com expect hearing about my journey to my dreams and lots of venting about my new form of therapy (AKA acting). You all (if there is still anyone out there .... have always been an amazing support system to me and I can't thank you enough for all the love during the dot com days. I missed you all and it feels refreshing to be back. I can't wait to share more about my new life with you (and I can't wait to write about it!! Haven't done that in days!!)

And before i go, let me introduce you to my new boyfriend. He's pretty cute and has been my main motivation for getting back into blogging. Love you babe and thanks for inspiring me!! xoxo



He's kinda a goofball like me & you can read more about our relationship & adventures here on his blog andyleblancsblackbook.blogspot.com


Big thanks to Jacqueline CEO of RAD + REFINED (and stylist to the Stars) she's been an amazing supporter and friend of mine and was there for me in the wee hours (or her early morning) when I was bawling my eyes out over losing my blog.

Can't wait to keep this up and share more. Funny how nice it feels to pick thing stat you used to love back up...
When is the last time you picked up something you used to love to do? You should try it.

Until next time keep on dreaming & keep being a fighter!!

Love you & Thanks again!!

xoxo Amber Lane

hello

Things I love: No Fear

It's Halloween which means typically this time of year I was decorating my house and classroom with all things Autumn. I used to celebrate the change of the seasons, I loved them and embraced them. Funny how here in LA the seasons all blend together with small changes here and there. And while the leaves might not be turning down here and sweaters are not needed, I instead am the one changing ... and that is MORE then worth celebrating.

I have been working hard to push myself emtionally and spiritually out of my comfort zone and I am learning more about myself then I ever knew possible. I am learning how strong I can be and how much control I have over my emotions. I'm constantly letting go of fear and emotions and pushing myself out of my box by diving into everything head first. And it's amazing feeling and I've never felt more me or this happy. 

Now I still have plenty of things I am still working on. I am still finding myself  and uncovering what my true passion is. I am working on my issues and I am working being able to open this pretty little lovable heart  back up, so I can once again share her with someone. I mean, let's face it, I'm not exactly jumping back into the dating scene, I've still got some fear to plunge through in the dating department.

It's funny when you face a fear how powerful you feel, and it can be a silly as my fear of acting like a goofball in front of the camera (but off camera I will goofball like crazy though).

Check out me goof balling and facing a fear of mine in this Freedom Forum Halloween PSA video .... warning Cassandra's humor is kinda out there, she clearly has no fears of acting like a goofball on camera...

And to see more of my thoughts on dating and being single at thirty please check out this Article that I wrote for Dirty and Thirty and our Spreecast chat about it as well. Clearly talking and writing about my feelings is a fear I faced by putting myself out in the blog world. And imagine I used to not even post my face on my blog... I'm glad this is a fear I long ago conquered!!

So go out there and conquer a fear, do something you've never done before, push your limits and see where it takes you. You may surprise you self like I'm surprising myself.

Things I Love: Priceless Tags

This time last year I was supposed to be in Spain. Which would have been my first time stepping foot on Spain. Let me backtrack here; last summer I was planning to visit Madrid and Barcelona and was planning to take amazing pictures, at amazing places, while eating amazing foods and drinking (probably drowning myself in) amazing wine.
And had I been there a year ago and gone on that trip, who knows where I would be now.
You see, that trip was planned with my ex-husband and, well, that trip never happened.
It's funny how people can hold things over you head and make you feel as if they, things, time and money are more worthy then you, and your gut feelings.
I never part took in the planning of that trip, nor was i excited about it. I think in my heart I always knew it would never happen. I mean, i had told my husband on our Euro-vaction the previous summer that I often thought of divorce and that the loving feeling I once had, was long gone.
I am grateful I had the guts to say no to that fabulous Spain trip, my comfortable life and our lovely home and; exchange it for a life, city and apartment which suits me much better.
I have still never traveled to Spain; and I haven't left the country since my last ill-fated Euro-Trip which was plagued with my bouts of pneumonia.
But in my life I have done somethings in my life that I always have dreamed of yet NEVER thought would ever come true.
I came from a world where you could only buy things to make you happy, like trips to Spain. And well, how can't you be happy about a trip to Spain?!
... I can tell you how...
Instead I now I find myself seeking happiness from within and from the art I create and the connections and relationships i build. And that, my friends, has made a whole new world of happy. A happy world that twenty-plus Louboutins and European Vacations never brought me.
Experiences like attending the 2012 VMA's, recording my first rap "song" and working on my art; are things you can't put a price-tag on. And yet, they are the things that have allowed me to feel the happiest I have felt in years.
And that realization means more to me then a trip to a place I will one day visit, and when I do visit Spain it will mean more to me then it ever would have a year ago today.

Where were you a year ago? Are you as happy, or perhaps happier then you were then? And what will you do, to make sure that eveyr year you strive to be your happiest?
I know I'll be following my dreams and I CAN'T wait to report back next September 12. But don't worry 'll be back before that!

Things I Love: Through Rose Colored Glasses

A couple weeks ago I hosted a SEE EYEWEAR giveaway on my Twitter account. I asked my followers to tell my why they deserved the glasses. And, well, when my friend Cassandra Hein posted that she needed a new pair of glasses because she currently rolls in free sunnies that she got from a bat mitzah - I not only laughed out loud when i read her response but i was glad she called her self out!
I'd been staring at those $4 frames for months now, too nice to mention them.
Good thing Cassandra is a good sport, and if anyone can pull off $4 glasses she can. But she can also rock the heck out of SEE Eyeglasses.
Cassandra and I had a fabulous time at the See Eyeglass store at the Beverly Store, the staff was a amazing as well. They picked out glasses for each of us and after trying on several pairs we both went with the first pairs the staff picked out for us.
So much fun and I am happy NOT to see Cassandra rocking these anymore ;)
Before:

much better!!
After:

celebrating the new glasses with some Coco Breve`

Thanks so much SEE Eyewear!! we had a blast picking out new glasses!!

Now I'm one pair closer to my goal of having a basket of glasses to grab from a'la Jackie Kennedy style.
Happy Friday everyone!!

Things I Love: ARTing it UP

Let's talk about blogging
and what exactly does it mean to be a blogger?
I started blogging (my first one here) because it was place to record, share and record my life and the things in that mattered to me.
and I always grew up writing in my journals (NOTEBOOKS) everyday ... oh and making 'zines.
As blogging evolved i followed the trends, like posting my outfits EVERY SINGLE DAY.
At that point putting outfits together, taking pictures of them and posting them was an escape.
I always wanted to be a model, a writer, a stylist, a socialite.
and my blog was a means to do that on the daily.
It was a fantasy of sorts.
My Blog served as a means for me to act out my dreams, when my world was anything but fairytale-like.
I used it as an escape and as my blog grew I was able to make money off it and was able validate all the time and effort I put into it.
And that's where things got fuzzy for me.
Right now I have blog posts I am obligated to write and they will get written...
but when I feel i have to write for someone else i feel as if my creative outlet is compromised.
But hey, i do have to make money, right?
I am beginning to realize that being an artist and making money off my art can be tricky thing.
Do people come to read what I write on my blog because I get to attend fabulous events and am gifted amazing things from my favorite companies?
Maybe.
Or do they read what I write and share because I'm honest straight forward and I do share things I love in my own ways
and when i feel excited about something?
Now that's the million dollar question.
All I know is i'm going to keep doing what i do. And I'm going to keep doing it my way.
Because my way is the only way I know how to do things and, well, it's gotten me to this amazing life that I always dreamed of.
So I'm keep on dreaming, sharing, blogging and staying true to myself.
okay now I'll be getting on those obligated posts.

... I mean after I work on my Art ;)
What have you created lately? I'd love to know!!
leave a link
and if you haven't created anything lately GO OUT THERE AND CREATE!!
Photo Credit: LordAsh Photography
Styled Credit: Amber Lane
Unif Flannel, Posso for Volcome Skort (YUP SKORT) Urban outfitters Bra Top

Party Time: Blast From the Past

Recently the Bollare team invited me to attend their latest client Wastland's party. The LA Canvas + Wasteland + Minkpink Wasted Daze Party was nineties teamed and was SO much  fun!! The event was nineties themed and was decorated like my middle school bedroom. My sister Andi and I hit he arts and crafts stations  and grubbed on Burger Lounge veggies burgers while the Dj's spun nineties hits. It was such a blast to indulge in my teenage loves. The only things missing was a middle school- esque crush ;)

The Tie-dye station was my a hit! So much fun I want to tie dye everything now!!

My creation:

The thought and details of the party made it a HIT!




Thanks again Bollare, Mink Pink, Shop Wasteland and LA Canvas!! Can't wait for more fun events!!