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 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!!

Look of the Day: Three Day Weekend

I had a heck of a weekend, which subsequently rolled into Monday. I will be recapping soon, but for now, here is my outfit from yesterday. Monday afternoon's have now been reserved for my "niece" Isa (Jen's sister's baby).
Jen, Ash and I took Isa on a walk stopped in Gap and I grabbed her this adorable outfit (Sweater + skirt).
Yup, I got her a girl skirt (how genius are the attached leggings?) and a boy sweater. I want Isa to be original!
I also picked up this hat & belt for myself. It was a nice way to start my week in town.

Fit:
Roxy Quicksilver New Twist Tube Dress (I love it SO much I may have to get it in this color as well).
Forever 21 Glasses
and I ended up scoring these forever 21 earring and rocking them with too.
Aren't they rad?



Happy Tuesday y'all!

Things I Love: Summer Nights Drifting Away

Summer is here and it sure as heck feels like it. I have been enjoying poolside days and fresh summer dinners. Yesterday I went to my friend Vanessa's house to celebrate the longest day of the year. Vanessa parents made us salmon and a peach, corn, tomato, avocado salad and it was fantastic, perfect for a warm summer night. I look forward to many more nights like that this summer and many more laughs in Vanessa's backyard.

I picked this Roxy dress up in Santa Cruz a few weekends back, I used to be *kinda* Roxy obsessed (I went job shadowed the designer for my Senior Project) so it was nice to buy something from them again after all those years.

Wearing: roxy dress, forever 21 sunglasses

I'm not going to lie, Vanessa and I get PRETTY silly when we are together!

It was the perfect way to beat the heat!

Side note: what are your favorite iPhone camera apps? I use hipstamtic and Camera +

Blog Award: Confessions of a Shopaholic

LC from Let them Eat lentils (how CUTE is that blog name!?) nominated me for A Beautiful Blog Award over on her blog. THANK YOU LC! =) LC and I meet back in October at Kath's Kerf meetup, love that girl, we need to meetup again soon! I am so grateful to have meet so many great blog friends. Anyways I am supposed to list 7 random facts about me and then pass it on to 7 more amazing bloggers.

I could NOT think of anything but here it goes!

1.My Mom was born and raised in Prague but shamefully I have never been and can't speak a lick. But we plan to go this summer and I cannot wait!!Image from http://www.incoczech.com
2.I am not a "beauty" person. I can't do makeup or hair at all, headbands are my friend. Good thing my good friend Jen helps me out it in that department.

3.Most of the new friends I have made over the past 4 years have been online ones and I have become extremely close with them. #iknowsomeonelikethat

4.For a high school project my Parents arranged for me to fly down to the Roxy Quicksilver headquarters so I could meet their clothes designers and job shadow them. Pretty much awesome since 15 year old Amber was obsessed with Roxy at the time, case in point...WOW! ....Dad that was for you ;)

5.I love Seinfeld, HIMYM,The Big Bang Theory, SNL, Friends, and most recently Tosh.0. Basically I love comedies and comedians, and I feel like I kind of missed the boat on the whole Reality TV thing.

6. I am a complete and total Star Wars Geek. Definitely expect a Princess Leia and Senator Padmé Amidala/Queen of Naboo Style Icon post one of these days......seriously, they have LEGEN- wait for it -DARY style. Bigger Nerd could I be?

7. I am a huge baseball fan. And I mean HUGE! Go GIANTS! 102 days until Opening Day =)

Ok now my turn to pass the torch. I nominate some of my favorite ladies
*participation not required =)

1. Kara from Fashionably inspired, love this girl! One of my online friends turned real friends.

2. Chelsea, I meet Chelsea at Kath's KERF meetup and became fast blog friends, I*heart* her!

3. Nicole we have been online friends for awhile now, and face it that chick has STYLE!

4.Lynn who I need to meet-up with soon. She is my future best blog friend.

5.Brittany from It's Exhausting Being This Juicy! Such a sweetie, with a closet that I want to raid.

6. J from the Look for less because she is just straight up rad.

7. Andrea from Faded Plains. Because her store rocks and we share a love of ruffles.

May the Force be with you =)