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.

Weekend Recap: Sundress Sunday

After being out of town the past couple weekends it was nice to have a weekend at home with my friends and family. I started my weekend on Friday with a walk on the bay with Vanessa and her Mom and their dog Buster. Vanessa's mom then treated us to lunch at Burma Superstar (thanks Sue!) I think I could eat their Tea leaf Salad everyday for the rest of my if I had to. It's a must try for sure!

After Vanessa and I headed to San Francisco and enjoyed some park time out there and then kicked I with our old friends Steph and Mandy. It's always nice to reconnect with old friends.
I ended Friday by celebrating my Friday TGIF Katy Perry style with friends out on the Town. Sometimes you just need to let loose.

Burma Super star tea leaf salad.

On Saturday I hiked, caught up on some work and enjoyed an after noon glass of wine with my Mom and Gma. Those two ladies always crack me up and I love spending quality time with them.

There was a black fly in my Mom's chardonnay...

In the evening Courtney, V and I took their dogs on a hike and watched the sunset. The sun might set everyday but it never ceases to amaze me.

I started my Sunday watching Jen play soccer. She was a soccer star in high school and it's so fun to see back on the field again! After the game I headed over see my Dad and Rena show their car in a local car show.
Then it was festival time! Jen, Vanessa, Nay Nay (Renee) and I put on our maxi dresses and got funky festival freaky. Kind of our favorite thing. The day was declared Sun Dress Sunday and we rocked it out.
I wrapped up the weekend with some quality friend time in V's backyard telling stories and just chilling. Simple friend time like that can be kind of amazing sometimes.



It was just the kind of weekend I needed.
I am so blessed to have such amazing friends and family in my life, LOVE YOU ALL!

Weekend Recap: Star Gazing

This weekend Vanessa and I packed up her car and headed up North to Oregon to visit our oldest & dearest friend, Mandy. I've lived in Northern California my entire life and I'm almost embarrassed to say that I had never been to Oregon. Well, all I can say is that it was well worth the wait. Oregon is absolutely gorgeous.

The girls and I had a blast taking in all that the small town of Shady Cove had to offer. We spent the weekend relaxing & hiking around the Rogue River. I loved checking out what the locals had to offer (wine, beer, and excellent food-- I was a happy lady to say the least). And of course we got some thrifting in; small towns always have the best little treasures. A highlight of the weekend was seeing my friend Mandy on duty as a Park Ranger at Joseph Stewart State Park, it made me feel so proud to see her at a job so perfect for her!

We also spent hours looking up at the stars. There's just something so magical about looking up at sky full of twinkly lights. There's beauty out there in the world, and I spent my weekend enjoying it. It was an amazing weekend packed with all my favorite things and I couldn't ask for two better friends to spend my time with.









I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend as well.

Weekend Recap: Turkish Delights

After being away the past couple of weekends, it was nice to have a low-key weekend at home. I started my Friday evening by shooting outfit pictures with the lovely Lydia Hudgens (I can't wait to share the photos with you). After the photo-shoot I went over to Vanessa's house for a Turkish cooking lesson, and helped her family prepare for her father's Turkish birthday party.

Vanessa and her Aunt showed us how to prepare Czech Chicken.
It was a boiled chicken covered with a walnut, bread and chicken broth mixture.

Party details.

On Sunday, Vanessa and I took her cousin out to lunch at Unwind.
The weather was gorgeous. We enjoyed the sun, delish snacks and we hit up the LF 60% off sale.

It was a nice weekend full of friends, family and fun.
I hope your weekend was a nice one as well.

Things I Love: Lakeside

I'm writing this blog post from the deck of a house on the shores of Lake Tahoe blasting my music, currently Mumford and Sons. I think Vanessa is making coffee, i think. It's kind of a radical way to wake up. The weather up here is perfy, and I'm excited to ge dressed up and celebrate my friend's marriage today. There's not much I can complain about. But why would I waste time complaing when I can enjoy this lovely Friday?

Lakeage.

V's baical guac. She used the Trader Joe's kit and it was bomb.

Couldn't help but take a pic of totally chill V with this dude.

funky!

margs lakeside.

Grilled artichokes, one of the best thangs i have eaten recently.

Doing what bloggers do (if only i could V only get blog...)

how we roll.

we apples to apples-ed it all night. so fun.

Happy Friday!

Things I Love: I Don't Want to Grow Up

I'm still a kid at heart and I love toys. And no, they don't have to be of the Toy's R Us variety. Whether it be a new badical app (8mm whaaa?) or the raddest bike on the block, I like to have the coolest stuff. So when we went to the Giants game this weekend and saw some dude selling Jammypack (a fanny pack with speakers) I KNEW I needed it. I don't know if anything has been so perfectly made for me. These things bump, LOUD. Let's just say my bike rides just got a heck of a lot cooler. I mean clearly the only things my redic outfit needed was a fanny back with super bass. My only request is Giants colored Jammypacks.

Black & Orange, Black and Orange!

These people were slightly annoyed with my excitement over my new toy.

But they did go to the game with this girl...
It was a magical night and obvi the Giants won!

Jammypacks = new good luck charm.

Amber's {LA Trip} Notebook: What I Ate

My weekend in LA was pretty much amazing. I spent my time pretending I was a celebrity and celebrating the heck out of life and of America. Anytime I go on vacation my favorite thing to do it eat, and I mean come on, what best accompanies eating? Drinking! So this past weekend I ate my way from Hollywood to Malibu and I enjoyed every bite.

One of many Coffee Dean drinks I enjoyed this weekend.
Iced Soy Vanilla Latte - No sugar added

Tuna Tartare, Lobster & Shiitake ravioli, and Mojitos from Asia De Cuba's $5 happy hour.

Ray's Stark Bar had such an amazing menu selection we almost couldn't make a descison. But we settled on a cheese platter and we also sampled the stuffed chile (un-pictured)



Bloody Mary's and some bruschetta at the Beachcomber in Malibu.


Breakfast at Urth Cafe.

Bottomless mimosas and egg white omelets topped off with some Cotton Candy.

Have I ever mentioned I'm a bit wild?

I think it may be gym time now...