Things I love: Hearts & Sparkles

I hope you all are having an amazing Holiday season. My Christmas was filled with some Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga and Audrey Hepburn goodies. I love having inspirational TALENTED ladies as my heroes and idols. My Christmas was also filled with toys, gadgets and games because I believe you should always remain a kid at heart (however, emotionally you should ALWAYS be growing!!).

I love this time year because all my favorites come back to town and all my high school friends hang out just like they used to. I managed to squeeze in time with my high school clique, neighborhood gang, and reconnect with my guy friend crew.

They all make me feel young again, and there's a reason I've kept them around & so close for so long.

Being around those whom I love & respect shined a light on as to why I was keeping people close to me that were only bringing me down.

Never be afraid to remove people from your life that truly don't deserve your time, energy or love. It's not easy and it's a hard pill to swallow but sometimes it's just necessary.

Angie is my favorite Britney Spears fan and she's a LOV-ar & I heart the sparkles out of her!!

Today I'm off to LA to spend time with all my SoCal faves. I have very little planned besides an amazing white party on New Years Eve (my first time out celebrating since I was 20!!).

So excited to rock this hot little thing:

So seriously, if you're in LA and have some time I'm ALWAYS down for a coffee (or cocktail) you should hit me up.

And in the meantime watch me live blog from LA on Facebook (Amber Lane - friend/subscribe me or fan me Ambersnotebook) Twitter and on Instagram (Ambersnotebook).

I hope you use this time to think about what goals you would like to accomplish this year, BIG & SMALL.

My Goals, you ask?

-apply for Survivor

-continue my mission of spreading positive energy around

-attend as many parties as possible

-learn a new photobooth pose

-start making more money

-find a more permanent living situation

-hop back in the dating pool (SCARY!!)

-continue to ROCK MY THANG OUT!!

Things I Love: Half Birthdays

Today I turned 29 & a half.

AND A HALF.

And let me tell you, that half matters. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind (Tornado? HURRICANE?).

And I've gone through probably the biggest life change I have had thus far. My 29th birthday on June 14th marked a year since I sick with pneumonia.

During the two months that I spent in & out of the hospital, I began to reflect on why I was so unhappy with my life and I began to make some changes.

I decided I didn't want to be a teacher anymore. And I took a leap of faith that I could propel my blog into something more then a hobby.

I grew a pair (Mom, just Urban dictionary it) and started going to every party, event and meet up I heard about.

It might look easy, but it's hard to do. Going blindly into an event, party or situation is scary, and I'll be the first to tell you that.

{You don't even know how many times I got back in my car, drove away, and FORCED myself to go back and go inside}.

But I did it, and it paid off.

A year later I go to parties and events several times a week, and I couldn't be more gracious and excited about EVERY single one I attend.

And I am MORE then grateful & blessed with all the new friendships I've made, all the reconnecting I've done with old friends & all the relationships that have grown stronger these past months.

I have met some AMAZING people these past six months, and it's been unreal.

I'm looking forward to my next 6 months and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be celebrating every SINGLE last day that I have in my Twenties.

It was a decade in my life that shaped and changed me into the woman (a Grown Ass one, obvi) that I am today.

I hope you're living the life you love, and if you're not, try to make some changes.

Big & small.

Loving your life is an amazing way to feel, trust me, I haven't always felt this way.

Don't be afraid.

Time to start party planning, my birthday party is going to be a doozy!!

Photobooth's are going to be necessary, duh.

Things I Love: Sunshine & Rainbows

I like LA like A LOT. And I am more then grateful that my sister and long-time friend Sara are so welcoming & let me couch surf in SoCal on the reg. I'm not going to lie, after being in a relationship for 9 yeas (lived together for 7!!) I get lonely.

Yup, that's right, divorce isn't all sunshine & rainbows. It hurts, like A LOT. But when I'm in LA, Hollywood and Hermosa Beach I feel anything but lonely and I'm SO grateful for that. I'm MORE then happy to be heading down to enjoy my favorite places & people. Oh and to DANCE (OCEAN BAR HOLLA!!).

Hey, if you're a SoCaler I'd love to kick it sometime. You can find me working at Coffee Bean or at the Sunset Marquis most weekdays when I'm there (AKA tomorrow).

If you're not a SoCaler, follow my adventures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Ambersnotebook on all three).

I guarantee I'll make you laugh at least once.

I mean I do stuff like this...

And this is the kind of stuff you get see if you follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Enjoy your last weekend before the Holidays really KICK into gear!!

Things That Make Me Smile: Down to Ride Till the Very End

Here are a few things that are making me smile today:

I'm super excited about the Leopard + Lace Poshmark Party that I am co-hosting tonight.

Will You be joining in? Dooo it...

I am stoked for my Halloween costume, fingers crossed it all comes together in time...

Just a little hint... (more hints on my Facebook Wall).

And since I love having costume changes and rocking more then one costume, last night's movie sparked a new costume idea and um well, obsession.

After watching Bonnie & Clyde I am currently on a last-minute search for a handsome fellow to be my Clyde, because I'm almost certain I was made to be Bonnie.

They were bad asshes who took the wrong route, but they knew were more then their small towns boxed them in to be.

Lastly I have some of the BEST blog friends, loyal readers and cheerleaders.

This morning I received an email that brought me to TEARS:

I LOVE YOUR BLOG! YOU REALLY MAKE MY DAY BRIGHTER

I just want to let you know that when I checked your blog post from yesterday it really struck a chord with what's going on in my life right now..My sister's best friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer.. for the 2nd time..and we keep talking about positive thinking ..and health is the one thing I think is really easy to take for granted and get caught up in the everyday details of life..but then all of that seems like nothing when your health is compromised..anyways..i shared your blog posting about J brand and thinking positive and life is all about how you react to the situation, etc.. with my sister, my cousin and her best friend through facebook messaging..My sister in fact lives up in San Francisco and I told her she should start reading your blog b/c I'm sure she would recognize some of the places you do your posts at.. (I live in San Diego)..

Anyways..just wanted to let you know that you made a positive difference in my day/week- (I read your blog daily) and keep doing what you are doing! :) Hope you have a great week!

-Katie

p.s. next time I'm in San Fran and if you are free I'd love to meet up for coffee or something :) Not sure when that would be though!

I can't imagine a bigger compliment then to receive such kind words from someone I've never met, and I also can't imagine being diagnosed with breast cancer not just once, but twice.

That's a hand no one should be dealt and my thoughts go out to Katie & her sister, as well as her sister's friend and family.

Honestly, my thoughts are also with ANYONE who has been dealt a hand no one wishes for. Being positive and keeping yourself happy isn't easy, especially when you've got reason to be anything but.

I am more then touched that my words could brighten up someone's day and I'm BLESSED to have Katie's words brighten my day!!!

See the power of positive energy? It makes people HAPPY!! It makes YOU happy.

Why would you ever waste your time being negative? Well, I know I'm one HAPPY FREAK!

{freaking happy at the san francisco blue grass festival}

"Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be..."

Look of the Day: Head Case

Sometimes there are things in life that bring you down. Hey, sometimes there are people in life that try to bring you down. For example I'm currently rendered computer-less, and man that's something that could REALLY bring me down. Yes, the new computer I just got in June, for my birthday is already in the shop. Why you ask? I managed to overload it with pictures already, so the Geniuses at Apple are fixing her up. But unforts she won't be back for 5 to 7 days!! Blogging will be few and far between until I get my little lady back sometime next week...

In any case, when people or things try to get me down, you know what I do? I make sure I'm happy and good-to-go. Things don't always go your way, and you know what? People make mistakes and (pardon my language) shit happens, duh. But I do what I need to do to keep myself calm, because I am the only person and mind I can control. Walking, hiking and rocking out hard to music all are ways I get myself in the positive zone.

But it's also a good thing I'm flying the coup or I'd go stir crazy without my computer. I'll be in my favorite place this weekend, LA & Hermosa Beach. A much needed head-clearer and extended weekend. Gazing at the Hollywood sign and the Ocean both equally calm and sooth my soul. I hope you get some soul southing in this weekend as well.

I'm a happy lady rocking my Marmot rain jacket. What do you do to clear you mind and keep yourself positive?

Be sure to keep up with my shenanigans this weekend on Facebook & Twitter.