Amber's {shopping} Notebook: Royal Treatment

Spring is in the air and that means I finally ready to make a few purchases for the season. I have learned to not shop too much before the weather turns. If I do I end up with too much, things I no longer love, and many things let over with tags on them. So now that I can wear things, I will buy them.
First and foremost this Marc Jacobs Simone dress has me buzzing. You know the one worn by the First lady herself? I think this dress is just amazing and if the price (ever) drops I may get my hands on it.

Luckily the fabulous J from Look for Less found this amazing colorful dress that will satisfy my need for bright colorful stripes!
I purchased this dress as soon as she posted the deal.
Use code THE MUSICISSUE for 10% off and Ebates for 3% back.

Now I am just lusting over this amazing Short Kimono Dress by Issa. You've heard of Issa London right? Just designer that the soon-to-be Princess Kate Middelton adores. First the First Lady, now the Princess-to-be. I've got Presidential-Royal taste, can't you tell? I must get my hands on one of Issa's kimono dresses, if for no other reason then to wear while watching the royal wedding -- you KNOW I'm going all out for that.

So please tell me, what dresses are sparking your fancy these days?

Amber's {style icon} Notebook: Gma Style

This week is my Grandma Olga's 82nd birthday - and what an exciting and stylish life she has lived. She was born and raised in Prague, and grew up dreaming of moving to America. When my mom was a teenager my Grandma & Grandpa finally hatched a plan to escape Czechoslovakia in order to try their hand at the American Dream.

Before their escape my Grandma was enamored by America and the freedom and possibilities that a citizenship here meant. Being a lover of movies and everything glamorous, my Grandma admired the fabulous American movie stars, and emulated their style. Their curly blonde hair, leopard prints, and sequins were all things my Grandma made her own, and in turn, she taught me to admire them as well. No one in my life has influenced my style in such a way.

I need to upload more pictures of my Grandma's old pictures, she was so fab.

When I was growing up, I saw how much my Grandma loved to get dressed and done up. As time went on, I began to appreciated her style more and more. Her vintage collection sprinkled with 70's DVF dresses and furs is one to admire (some of which have made appearances at my parties), and her rule of never leaving the house without heels, lipstick and fingers full of chunky rings is one I always try to follow.

When she would babysit me we would watch Entertainment Tonight and would ohhh and ahhh when Mary Hart would mention Princess Di, Ivanna Trump or Elizabeth Taylor. And when we watched Wheel of Fortune, it wasn't to solve the puzzles, it was to see what dress Vanna was wearing. Everything was about the glamor and my Grandma and I wouldn't have it any other way.

She's never one to shy away from color.

I'm so lucky to have a fabulous, stylish, Grandma who has taught me so much over the years!
I love you Gma. Happy Birthday!

Amber's {shoe} Notebook: Out with the Old, In With the New

If you read my blog over the fall and winter, I apologize for the copious amount of times you saw me wear these Ozzy & Deena tread boots. I must have wore them nearly every-other day. Mostly because it was hard not to wear them - they kept my feet warm, gave me a few inches and are incredibly comfy and practical.

I am all but certain that these Seychelles 'Greatest Hits' wedge sandals will be my go-to sandal this spring and summer. They offer a similar height, comfort and have just enough fun in them to be my everyday shoe.

You'll also be seeing quite a bit of these Wanted 'Sunshine' wedges, that the folks over at Wanted so generously sent over to me.
Thank you to the folks at Wanted.

Speaking of summer shoes, after forgetting to pack sandals for Arizona I made an emergency trip to Target and picked up this pair of Women's Mossimo Palila Beaded Flat Sandals in Black. Casey insisted that I get the black and orange ones since we were in town to watch the Giants but I like them so much, I kind of want to go get the nude pair, which I like even more then the black ones.

What sandals and wedges are making the cut for you this season?

Amber's {flower} Notebook: The Simple Things

I love jars. Seriously, love them. I save nearly every glass jar and bottle that comes into my kitchen. In my kitchen I fill them with quiona, lentils, rice and oatmeal. While In my craft room my jars are home to buttons, embellishments and sequins. For display and organization purposes I even fill jars with my collections of matchbooks, hotel pens, and sea glass. The possibilities of jars seem endless, they are so simple but so lovely. So when I stumbled across this vintage mason set of Ball blue jars and a carrier basket for $30 I was beyond excited. They look lovely whether they have flowers in them or not, but currently I am loving how they look with these lovely hot pink ranunculus spilling out of them.

Flowers and jars - two simple things that make me so happy.
What are two simple things that are making you happy right now?

Amber's {Party Planning} Notebook: Hear Me Roar

I'm not a big Birthday girl. Don't get me wrong, I love my birthday, and I always feel special being the birthday girl, but I tend to have low key affairs to celebrate the day. A simple dinner with my family is perfect for me. However, I love to plan parties and since I haven't done much for my birthday for awhile, and this year being my last birthday in my "twenties", I am dead set on throwing a "Roaring Twenties" bash for myself.

While I have lots of party idea up my sleeve, I'm looking at this project as not just a birthday party but history lesson and a thorough examination of a decade in American History. I have already loaded up my Netflix que with twenties era documentaries, and movies based on the era. My bookshelf is also being stocked with books on the 1920's and I'm sure my iTunes library is not far from being twenty-ized. So while the end goal will be a birthday party, I'm looking at this party planning experience as a history lesson in the making and a celebration of a decade, not just a celebration of myself.

I have been slowly collecting images to help inspire my decor and outfit.

Images from Frech Vogue

Spread from Marie Claire.

Marion Davies' parties at the her Annenberg Beach House (which I visited this summer) will serve as inspiration to me. And I can't throw a twenties lawn party without some Great Gatsby inspiration.

I will be sharing my party planning with you, but if anyone has any helpful links for me I'd love to see some other twenties themed party ideas!

Amber's {outfit} Notebook: Setting the Tone

There's something so comforting about coming home. It always feels like a fresh start, or maybe it's Monday that makes things feel like a fresh start to me. With a new month just on the horizon I am setting mini goals for myself and planning my schedule to make time for them. Now that the days longer and the weather warmer it seems so much easier to fit in time to make it to the gym, and later sunsets make evening walks so much more enjoyable. I am also hoping to put some time into my garden this coming week. Taking time to think about myself and my goals always makes me feel so much better, especially when things, like emails, can pile up so quickly after a weekend away. I look forward to an April full of gardening, fresh and healthy meals, and a putting a little more exercise in the books.

I am looking forward to ditching my boots in April as well.

Style Tip: When wearing flowy blouses pair with a long pendant necklaces to keep the top from appearing to baggy. They help reign everything in, when you aren't relying on a belt for waist definition. Also make sure to pair with slimming jeans and a fitted cardigan, opt for only one piece that doesn't define your figure.

Joie Glendale cheetah top, similar olive sweater, Forever 21 pendant and sunglasses, deena and ozzy boots and J Brand martini jeans.

I'd love to hear what some of your current goals or plans are for yourself and how you take accountability for achieving them.

Amber's {baseball} Notebook: Off to Scottsdale

Casey and I are off to Scottsdale to watch my boys of summer do it up at Spring training.

And if you know anything about me.

You know I'm more then excited!

Have a fabulous weekend!! xoxo

Amber's {friendship} Notebook: BFF

I can only hope that everyone has a friendship in their lifetime like the one I share with Jen. It's not a friendship that makes often sense, or one without bumps in the road. Jen's a single girl, who writes her own rules. I, on the other hand, have been married for almost five years. Jen is an athletic party animal. If she's not out and about causing scene, she's OTG and no one can locate her. While I'm a skiddish kitten who prefers nights alone ruling the internet. If I'm hiding out, it's in my girly room or kitchen. But we aren't opposites either. We both love to throw on party dresses, get weird and silly and share a connection that sometimes doesn't even require words -- although we may or may not developed our own language. If there's a ying to my yang it's Jen. And I'm very lucky to have the best freaking friend ever. Story of how Jen and I met here.

Happy Birthday Jen!
I Love you!!

“A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have”

Amber's {outfit} Notebook

Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head

There's something about patterns that just make me happy. I'm always drawn to stripes, polka dots and checkers. They are magnetizing in the same way bows and sequins are, they make anything cute. And on a gloomy day like today I think doubling up on patterns is necessary. Seriously spring and sunshine, where are you?

Similar shirt, skirt, deena and ozzy boots

If you haven't already:
Check out my tribute to the stunning Elizabeth Taylor
and
Vote on what dress I should wear to the Charity Fashion Show.

Amber's {style icon} Notebook

Elizabeth Taylor was one of the first old Hollywood Stars I remember adoring. As a young girl I cherished both Black Beauty and Little Women, the books and movies alike, and Elizabeth made them both come alive for me. She was gorgeous, stunning and alluring, and I don't think I've looked at actresses the same since. The more movies of Elizabeth I watched, and the more I learned about her diamonds, marriages, and charity work, the more extraordinary Elizabeth Taylor became to me.

Have you seen her in Cat on a hot tin roof? No one has ever been so glamorous in my eyes. Her violet eyes, a subtle beauty marks are from an time of untouched beauty, when makeup didn't hid her imperfections, it enhanced her beauty. And her outfits and curvy body are old Hollywood perfection. Why that hasn't come back in style bewilders me. I, for one, will be watching Giant tonight, and remembering a Hollywood actress who's legend will live on through her charity work and who's beauty will live on through her film work.

"My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked."
Elizabeth Taylor

“When the sun comes up, I have morals again.”
Elizabeth Taylor

"Big girls need big diamonds."
Elizabeth Taylor

"I fell off my pink cloud with a thud."
Elizabeth Taylor

"I don't pretend to be an ordinary housewife."
Elizabeth Taylor

"I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them."
Elizabeth Taylor

"I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it."
Elizabeth Taylor

images from weheartit.com
~
{if you too love Elizabeth Taylor and want to watch her work, there is an Elizabeth Taylor movie section on Comcast under OnDemand>Movies>Scroll down to Selected Actresses>Scroll to Elizabeth Taylor and there is a selection of her movies for 2.99. Cleopatra is currently available under the free movie section}

Amber's {flower} Notebook

Receiving flowers as a gift is always something I appreciate. When I was younger I remember giving flowers and at the time I thought of it like a gift card, if you can't think of anything else to give someone, give them flowers. I suppose at the time I didn't appreciate fresh flowers, now I love to give and receive flowers. When I give flowers I love to pick out blooms and colors especially for the recipient and I often opt to give flowers to people I know don't often treat themselves to fresh beauties.
When I receive flowers it's always special because it's usually a bouquet I wont pick for myself, and it's often more extravagant then I would indugle in for myself. Sometimes I am gifted a flower that I have never seen at my market or Trader Joes ,which always excites me. Flowers and nature are meant to admired, cherished and respected, and I feel like fresh flowers remind me of this, so I love sharing and enjoying those feelings with others.

These gorgeous irises were given to me by Step Mom Rena and my Dad -- thank you!

They have been lighting up my kitchen all week.


My good friend Lei gave me these beautiful lilies.

When do you like to give or recieve the gift of flower?

What Should Amber Wear?

The last time I asked you all what dress I should wear it quite the success, so I decided to rely on your trusted opinion again and pose to you the question "What should Amber wear?". On April 2nd I am going to the Charity Fashion Show in San Francisco and I will be wearing a dress from Rent the Runway to it, and I'd like your help picking out what dress I will wear. I can wear any dress that is available on Rent the Runway for the dress but here are some of the dresses I have narrowed it down to. Special thanks to HipLip for her suggestions!

Tibi Abstract Flower Dress
I love the back and detail on this dress.

Tibi Snow Leopard Dress
Love the print, back and leather details.

Tibi Calla Lily Cap Sleeve Dress
I think that this dress is something I would never purchase but I think it looks fun to wear and perfect for spring.

Cynthia Vincent French Trellis Dress
Again, this dress looks incredibly fun to wear and it's one I would never purchase myself.

Vena Cava Pow Wow Dress
Love the hip details, and I am kind of obsessed with Vena Cava so I would love to wear one of her dresses.

Halston Heritage Liquid Gold Dress
A little bit of a departure for me in terms of style but I think it's an incredibly cool dress.

Let me know what you ladies think of if you have any other suggestions!

Amber's {Outfit} Notebook: Back At It

My sister's birthday celebration this weekend was finally a reason for me to get up and get back to normal. So I ended my week in pajamas and threw on my favorite leopard dress from Urban Outfitters and I felt like me again. I just adore this dress. It's comfortable, flattering and can be easily dressed up or down. And right now I'm happy to wear pieces like this for (hopefully) the last time before the weather catches up with the seasons and it begins to feel like spring.

I'm pretty happy to back and feeling almost normal!

Similar long sleeve dress, red skinny belt and olive cardigan.

Happy first day of spring!