Things I Love: Pinky & The Brain

Well it's about that time. Time for me to fly the coop again, I mean. LA, Hollywood & Hermosa Beach I'm coming at 'cha -- OC I keep meaning to give you LOVE and I promise one of these days I will!!

It's fun being up here in the Bay; hanging with my friends and family. I feel like a kid up here -- well I pretty much am a kid at heart. I put in hours of bike riding sessions and some temporary pink hair (HAIR CHALKING: it rocks and um confirms that blondes DO have more fun -- I joke, I joke. I kid, I kid.). So I'm temporarly back to being a teenager, and that makes me DARN happy. One of my favorite things to say is "i'm never going to be younger then I am today." and I'm going to celebrate that idea every single day that I'm here on this lovely earth of ours.

P!NK:

Bike SO hard. Only used my car a couple times since this baby came into my life -- THANK YOU DAD!!

I am very excited about this particular trip to LA because I'll be one of several amazing bloggers who will be co-hosting Poshmark's first LIVE event!! And guess what? If you're in the area I would love to see your pretty little face there (just make sure to email your confirmed RSVP to: rsvp@poshmark.com).

It's going to be a blast and you know I'll be up to my typical shenanigans.

You know...rocking party dresses (can I have outfit changes?! I like those!!). Obvski. You can count on silly Photobooth action. DERF. And I'm sure I'll be sipping (and, um, SPILLING) champagne. Well, that's a given.

And if you can't join you can follow along on the Poshmark app & umm peep me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Ambersnotebook on all three)!

You will get to see things like this there (paired with clever commentary of course):

Happy Tuesday everyone!! I hope you have something BIG or small to look forward to this week!!

And if you like cartoon theme songs...peep this mashup, it's RADish.

Things I Love: The Path I've Chosen To Go

I arrived home from Vegas last week, but I've spent the past week trying to find my heart & my inner strength. After leaving a high intensity place with so much energy, it's hard for me to come back to my life in the Bay Area and feel the same.

Things these days things just feel odd and like I've mentioned before no place feels like "home" to me anymore. So when I come back to the town where I used to live. In a house. With a husband.Working as a teacher. It's hard to come back as the new Amber. An Amber still trying to find her way on this new path. The things I used to take for granted are all peppered with reminders of my old life. My friendships, trips to the dentist, and grocery store are anything but easy these days. And that's hard pill to swallow.

Going to the dentist isn't exactly everyone's favorite activity; and when you throw in having to explain to the technician, dentist and then again to the receptionist that you are divorced makes it just that much more enjoyable. It's the little things that are the hardest and, well, hurt the most. It's the big things that I get to put big band-aids on, in the forms of trips to Vegas and LA.

Life changes AREN'T easy.

I do hurt.

Loneliness is the hardest thing to deal with, for myself. But I believe I am a much stronger person now and have a newfound clarity on how I would like to live my life. I'm all but certain that my life will continue to be vagabond-ish in the meantime.

While coming back to "reality" made me sad, no lies, Vegas was a BLAST. Um I'm pretty much IN LOVE with Cosmopolitan Hotel, Kaskade and Calvin Harris. Sara & I lived it UP and danced like crazy.

I love the high I get from dancing, sometimes I get a good feeling...

And you know I love a place where I get to rock a party dress every night. LOVE!

We danced at Marquee to Kaskade and at XS to Calvin Harris, both places were very cool and Umm the DJ's? I am in love.

Dancing is something I never did when I was married and now I cannot get ENOUGH.

And coincidentally, my LONG-TIME online friend Wendy, was in town. It was so nice to see her, catch up and introduce her to Sara. Wendy is an awesome person and has been an amazing support and inspiration to me. We had two unforgettable trips to LA together over the years (I mean we met Britney together!! ) and I'm so glad I have someone like her in my life.

And you know I did a little shopping. I mean it is Vegas!! I hit up the All Saints 70% off sale and grabbed this, and this sweater. I love the funky unique details of All Saints pieces.

We also ate at some amazing restaurants. Our favorites were La Cave at The Wynn (Bacon wrapped dates and the Crab Lump salad were AMAZE) and Jaleo at Marquee (amazing cocktails, small plates and paella - the endives are a must get). I love to eat good, quality food and Vegas brought it.

And after dinner go head down to Vesper at The Cosmopolitan, find Rodger and have him teach you a thing or two about quality cocktails. Dude knows his drinks, and they are MIGHTY tasty.

It was a good, good time. And I rolled solo. Thank you Suzy for giving my trip an anthem!!

Wishing you all the strength to get through any hard times you may be facing.

Big or small.

And if someone you know is going through a hard time or a life chance, make an effort to reach out to them. They'll appreciate it and it'll make you feel good.

I like two for ones.

Things I love: The Internet

The Internet is my voice. The internet is my escape, my entertainment, my information source, my means of earning money as of right now. The internet has allowed myself and so many others to become self starting entrepreneurs. It has had the power to help people in this hard economic time find a new path.

It has also changed the way we find information and news. And it has changed the way the world connects. If you are a blogger, tweeter, tumblr, or avid fan of the internet and it's content PLEASE educate yourself and sign the Google Petition and take the time to contact your Congress Representatives.

THIS WILL EFFECT US ALL. #savetheinternet

Just one example of why this SOPA is so scary, according to Mashable:

"For example, if you upload a video to YouTube of you singing a popular song, and that song might sell for $1, and your video gets 2,500 views, you are guilty of felony copyright infringement. Furthermore, you can tack on “willful infringement for commercial gain or valued at more than $1,000.”

Felons, huh? Just for posting NOT for making money off it. Now that's scary. Keep Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Arts & Entertainment ALIVE!!

And keep my voice and the voices of many other's (YOUR FAVORITES!) alive!

More information here & here.

Thank you for your support and I'll be back tomorrow with my Vegas recap.

Missed you guys!!

Places I Love: Viva Las Vegas!!

I'm up & outta here for a weekend in Vegas. My first trip there not as a married lady!! Should be fun. Our plan is to dance to Kaskade, AfroJAck & Calvin Harris. And course dine the heck out of the town. Don't forget to get to follow me on Twitter & Instagram (Ambersnotebook) for up to date, live posts.

Including mirror outfit posts (I'm bringing it back old school). Love you all!!

some of the goodies I'll be ROCKING!!

GO NINERS!!!

Blog Events: QSW Spring 2012 Water Dancer

Last night I went to my first blog event in LA and for me it was a BIG deal. Exactly one year ago marks the date when I really began to hit blog events hard, and on the regular. Going to blog events has opened so many doors for me. Plus they are confidence builders and I've met so many amazing people at them. Is it absurd to say partying on the weekly changed my life in the best way possible?
Well you all knew I was a party animal. So that can't REALLY surprise you.
You know I had to make new friends to join me in the Photobooth.

And beyond being an anniversary for myself, last night felt full circle for me. The event last night was hosted by Quiksilver Women, a line designed for "women" like myself who wore Roxy as teenagers but are now all grown up.
As a teenager was a huge Roxy Quiksilver fan. So much so, that for my senior project my Mom contacted Roxy and arranged to have me flown down to Huntington Beach to job shadow one of their fashion designers. I came home with stars in my eyes and bags & bags of swag. I was hooked on dreaming after that experience.
Meeting the Quiksilver Women Team & designer John Moore was an absolute thrill and I was honored to be in attendance with some of best and most stylish bloggers out there (Emily from cupcakes & cashmere & Liz of Late Afternoon to name a couple). And I just adored Quiksilver's Water Dancer video & concept, which compared the beauty of ballet & surfing; two of my favorite things to watch but can only clumsily attempt. It was an amazing night to say the least and I'm counting my blessing, all of them.
These LA girls sure know how to rock the heck out a photobooth!

The amazing spread at Everleigh on Sunset. It was such an awesome venue and I love farm to table restaurant concepts.

There was a craft table at the event where you could make friendship bracelets out of the Quiksilver Women fabric scraps.
It was such a cute idea & a great way to meet new friends.

Oh and for good measure, I just wanted to share that I submitted my survivor application & video. Because when I say I'll do something, I do it, far fetched as it may seem. Let's just say Tom's founder Blake Mycoskie and his book Start Some That Matters has really inspired me.

Happy Wednesday y'all. I'm almost ready to pack up & head north, almost.

Things I Love: Little Vegas Dress

It may be Friday (did this weekend sneak up on anyone else!?) but I'm already thinking about NEXT weekend. Next Saturday (after I watch the Niners kick some ashh) I am headed off to Vegas with my friend Sara and I'm SO EXCITED!!
This trip to Vegas will mark the first time I have ever been to Vegas when I'm single & I look forward to a very classy (but DANCEY) trip to Vegas sans a husband. I'm sorta looking at the trip as my un-Bachlorette party. And let me tell you, nothing is going to stay in Vegas, I don't participate in that kind of shenanigans, and you know I can't hide anything from y'all. I love you too much for that.
In preparation for the trip I plan on using some of my Christmas SWAG to purchase myself a LVD (Little Vegas Dress) to rock with my new new Michael Kors Clutch that my mom gifted me for Christmas (LOVE & MISS YOU MOM!).
You know this party animal loves her a PARTY dress. So I'm spending my Friday morning mulling over my LVD options and I'd love your opinion. I am DYING over the Pierre Balmain's asymetical twist on the LBD. You know I love me a funky accent, and I would also love to add an Alexander Wang dress to my collection. I can never have enough dresses, that's for sure.
Click on pictures to linked.




So whatcha think? Only 8 days to go & I couldn't be more excited!!
Y'all have a FUNky & FUN Friday!! Love you all!!

Places I Love: Home is Where the Heart Is

Let's talk about homes. What makes a home? A happy home?
For seven years I had house. I helped pay the mortgage and the bills. I made dinners there every night. I decorated it for every holiday. I hosted dinner parties there. And, well, I bought fresh flowers for it on the weekly. I even had my own girly room to store all my party dresses & Louboutins. All my goodies sat around looking pretty but waiting for the day they would leave their home & enter the real world.

Then the real world set in and my home was no longer a happy one. While I currently do not have my own place to call my home, I have begun to realize that home really is where your heart is.
And my heart is in California, north & south and most definitely at the beach.

I have my place at my mom's where I watch Jeopardy with my mom, sleep on a futon (on the floor nonetheless) store my belongings at, hang with my family and it's where I get ready for blog events. I feel very "Amber" being in my childhood room and my Mom takes great care of me, but I can't help but feel a bit lonely when I am there.

I have my sister's place in LA where I stay with my sister, her boyfriend Dustin, their roomate Taylor and her cat (Gus) & dog (Sawyer). They feel like my little LA family when I stay there and I love them all to pieces.


And I have Hermosa Beach where I stay with Sara. We spend our time watching romantic comedies, eating dinners in & out and dancing our pants off to DJ Dik at Ocean Bar.


My readers have been asking me when I plan on writing daily posts again and posting my outfits daily again. And to be honest I don't have a plan right now. I live blog constantly (Twitter, Facebook & Instagram) so make sure to follow me there. But for now I plan on soaking up this new found freedom I have, learning about myself and evaluating the friendships & relationships that benefit me in a positive way.
LOVE Kim!!

And let's be honest the Internet is totally where my heart is. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my blog ALL make me feel that no matter where I am, no matter what time it is, I am not alone. You all make me feel like this little heart of mine IS loved and I can't thank you all enough for that.

PS if you have a couch, I'm always down for a new place to call home. ;)