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. ;)

Things That Make Me Smile: Teenage Dreams

Like Katie Perry I'm a teenage dreamer and I'm a California girl, so naturally I'm a sucker for surfers. As a teenager I was pretty much obsessed wih Roxy Quicksilver and all that it encompassed, it was the California life I wanted. My room was littered with Roxy & Quicksilver ads and posters featuring all my favorite surfers. Kelly Slater being my favorite surfer and surfer boy crush at the time. It was Teenage Dreamin (or California Girlin it) at it's best.

In September when I attended my first Surf competition in Hermosa Beach I saw ads for the Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere in San Francisco and I knew had to attend. After checking the event out more I came to find that Kelly Salter was lined up to clinch his 11th World Title -- umm SICKNESS. I knew I had to be there to witness it, and I sure did.

I headed out Tuesday to watch the event solo and the weather was perfect and the waves were amazing. Ocean Beach felt like anything but San Francisco and as a Native Bay girl I was proud that San Francisco was being showcased in way that's anything but what you normally picture. Eighty degrees on the beach up North?

Yup it happens this time of the year.

Kelly didn't get a chance to clinch on Tuesday, so yesterday Gigi and I headed back out and watched history go down as Kelly shredded the waves up and then was awarded his 11th world title. It was one of those moments and events that I'll never forget and I am so glad I made the effort to go (the feeling reminded me a bit like going to the World Series Parade, which I also went to solo). Gigi and I got to watch Kelly Slater accept the title from the VIP lounge, thanks to Gigi's friends Lindsey and Andy (of San Franpyscho) and we got to go an awesome after party. It was an amazing day to say the least!!

I believe you're never too old to remember what you loved as a kid and teenager. And you're never too old to live out your dreams.

Yesterday I was not only able to only check "seeing Kelly Slater surf in person" off my bucket list, I also witnessed sports and surfing history.

I'm a California Dreamer, alright. And if you're not already living your dream, go dream and LIVE!!