some sweet meat

Ella and Lacey are staying the night tonight... here are a few photos we snapped during pizza time.
Big Bite

What's with my unusually crooked head?

Ella reaching for her "juice-ah" cup.

The ultimate sweet meat

you need Needham

I am a sucker.

I repeatedly buy lip-plumpers (this is the best one so far, by the way) because I'm sure one of these days I'll find one that will turn me into Angelina Jolie. I wore self tanners (and had more than one spray-tanning incident) last summer because I actually thought it looked real. I always tear up during weddings and happy endings. And just like yesterday, I buy things just because they appear in my inbox, like today. I purchased a CD online just because grassroots.com sent me an update of new artists. And also just like yesterday, I'm passing the info on to you.

I went straight to the new indie music section on the grassrootsmusic.com site and clicked on the album cover of a 20 something kid with a round face and shaggy hair mainly because I thought to myself 'Who is this punk kid?!' It literally took me 2.547893574 seconds to not only change my tune (and realize that I loved his), but decide I was buying the album, whether it was on iTunes or not.

It wasn't (he's indie after all!)... So I had to buy it the old fashioned way. Should be here in 3-11 days. I highly recommend that you check out Jimmy Needham. From the site, "[The album] is a perfect blend of blues, jazz, rock, rap, and soul. And soul is something this kid has. You can hear it in every note he sings." Sure, you won't all agree with me, but I can think of a handful of you who will. Definitely worth checking out. (And to quote Will Smith, "But don't download, go out and buy the record").

I guess it's not so bad to be a sucker... Sometimes you stumble on to a great find. And I firmly believe that Jimmy Needham's "For Freedom" falls into that category.

junk email = happy girl

Something amazing happened to me today... I got a junk mail message in my inbox that I actually ended up being happy to have! For the fashion conscious of my readers (which applies to most of you): Have you ever been watching TV and wished that you could find an article of clothing or accessory that the actor was wearing?! My clearest memory of this happening was with the dress jacket that Rachel Bilson wore in the airport scene of the Italy-trip-that-didn't-end-up-happening-episode last season that I HAD to have and couldn't find anywhere... Until today!

The aforementioned junk email I got today should ensure this sort of 'fashion gratification delay' never happens to me again. This website will not only allow you to pick a show and find the clothing the actor or actress wore during the episode, but allow you to search for a store in your area that carries the brand. Excellent... A must have for your fashion arsenal. Give it a whirl. You'll thank me later.

arrowbix. that's how it should be spelled.

"My blogging seems to have become creatively flaccid lately," I told my mom just moments ago. "What should I write about?"

"Write about how you can't come up with any good ideas then," she replied.

So here I am, fingers on the keys and brain waves barely buzzing by. Between an exhilarating and subsequently exhausting weekend, two full days of shooting furniture sets for work, good friends to catch up with on the phone late at night and my recent adventures with aerobics class, I am spent when the time comes to sit here and write. Ah, there's a topic to discuss.

Aerobics (isn't that a tricky word to spell?), I am going twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday, and this one is week 2 or 3... I really can't remember, but I think week 3. This twice-weekly-bum-kicking is hopefully going to prove to be a great $7 a week investment. We measured the first night (pleasant) and have pledged to work toward losing at least 10 pounds each by Christmas. This is totally do-able since during my 4 month romance with Weight Watchers last year I lost 9 the first month! It really is amazing how your appetite seems to shift when you incorporate exercise as well. Now, if I could just implement both at the same time... sheesh.

I have been sore, but it's the good kind. And once I found out we get out early on Thursdays so we can watch Survivor/OC, I was in. I mean, c'mon, a girl's gotta keep her priorities in order.

and now for some pictures...

Here is Lauren and her Junior Bridesmaid Kimberly (she is Andy's niece). I realize the visual quality of this picture isn't really anything to write home about since no one is even looking at the camera! However, the reason for posting it is so that you get a feel for how petite Lauren really is. #1 She's wearing heels. #2 Kimberly is about 11 years old... pretty close in height!

A picture of Laura and I riding home (pretending we have no idea I'm snapping a picture. Ridiculous, I know).

The most hilarious and fun bridesmaid Allison, and Laura during the reception.

Lauren signing on the dotted line.

Laura and I riding home from our fun weekend.


More pictures of the actual wedding to come... this is just the first batch.

the wedding

The weekend is over... But the memories are still fresh in my mind. And so, my readers, here I am with my weekend update.

Laura and I left Cadillac about 1 pm on Friday and began the 3-ish hour drive to Ann Arbor. Things were going smoothly until we had an unfortunate detour through Jackson because Laura wanted a coffee. Typically they post a billboard announcing what's at the following exit so you know it's there, and can easily find it. Well, we knew the Beaner's was there, but we couldn't find it anywhere, and ended up driving the 20 minutes through the city. Essentially, this 'coffee hunt turned witch hunt' caused us to miss the wedding rehearsal. (Nothing comes between a girl and her latte). It was suggested that we arrive at 3:45 to begin at 4, and that was precisely when Andy, the groom, called to let us know they'd be starting without us. Leave it to Laura and I to make a 'grand' entrance. It turned out to be okay since we weren't a crucial part of the ceremony and had yet to practice with Young, the guitar accompanist. Luckily, we arrived just in time to meet Young, find out he hadn't taken our advice to learn the song in a more singable key, send him off to buy a capo, and then leave for dinner. I have to admit, it was then that I felt the most stressed about the pending performance. (I later found out that Young was like a child prodigy on the piano, he began playing at 2 years of age and is incredible now). The second time I felt a little acute panick was when we realized what Laura affectionately called the 'Microphone Scare,' otherwise known as realizing we might not have any. Lauren's sister Anna went to work locating what we would need.

The rehearsal dinner was at an Italian restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor. The food was delicious and the conversation was fun. When Laura and I drove down for the wedding shower a month or so ago we met a couple of Lauren's bridesmaids so it was fun to play catch up with them. Mama J (Lauren's mom) offered special thanks to the family and friends who had traveled to join them, and encouraged Andy and Lauren with an inspiring poem of love that Lauren had given to her family last Valentine's Day.

After dinner, we checked into our hotel and changed clothes before meeting up with the group for Whirlyball. Little did I know I was about to unleash my competitive side with a fury that surprised even myself. I actually felt kinda bad for Lauren's extended family who first met me sweaty, intense, wiry and on-a-mission. For those of you who have yet to experience the wonder and fire that IS Whirlyball, it's a game played by 2 teams of 5 in go-carts on an indoor court. You are given a curved lacrosse-ish stick (yeah, I'm a professional wordsmith) and pass around a whiffle ball in an attempt to make a 'basket.' (This isn't the official site of where we were, but you can at least see a picture of it).

We turned in for the night completely exhausted at about 11 pm. Yeah, night owls, I know.

The next morning we raided the continental breakfast avoiding a group of guys that were in town for a sporting event of some kind. I laughed out loud when I passed the biggest black guy with 'COACH' on his shirt who interrupted his cell phone call to say "Hey Sugar Lady." We ran over to the office for shopping and quick manicures. We originally had discussed getting pedis as well, but figured we wouldn't have enough time. Laura and I were not sitting next to each other while we were having our nails done, so as we were sitting under the dryers we compared stories.

'The guy was pressuring me to have a pedicure too,' I told her, 'He kept saying 'We have special, we have special.' Then Laura replied, 'Yeah, well my girl kept telling me that I needed my eyebrows done. She wanted to wax them into thin lines.' We laughed and agreed not to go to World Nails ever again. We left there, got ready and rushed to the church by 2 o'clock. After waiting for Young to arrive, we finally got to practice and get everything together. From the first note, Lauren was thrilled. She told us later that she thought we sounded like 'Angels' and made her cry right away. Mission accomplished.

We spent some time with the bridesmaids and Lauren before the wedding who were passing around a bottle of champagne and each swigging off of it. Somehow Laura kept appearing several times throughout the line... I took plenty of pictures but am just uploading a few today, I'll put some more up in the next couple of days. Lauren looked incredible, and the wedding went off without a hitch.

The bridesmaids (Lauren's 2 oldest friends Courtney and Allison and her 3 sisters), wore a creamy mocha color and carried white/pink/coralish flowers. Both mothers gave readings during the ceremony and we performed.

The compliments afterward were so gracious. Laura and I have never felt so well recieved by an audience. We are thinking maybe we should perform more often together!

During the dinner a harpist played and then a live band played for the dancing. They did an amazing job. Andy was a trombone player in the marching band at MSU, so 3 guys who also played with him did an impromptu tribute to Lauren and Andy... He was in his heaven. And of course, they played the MSU fight song, so people everywhere were celebrating. Andy followed the performance up with a spontaneous dance-off with one of the other guys which we found highly entertaining. As for our time on the dance floor, there was a plethora of shaking, laughing, clapping and even a little playful spanking... although I'll conceal the identity of those who were doing it! Courtney had an unfortunate 'incident' in which she fell into the band (don't ask me how), and my repeated asking of 'Hey, so I've had my eye on someone all night... What do you think of him?' and then I'd point at Andy. I got some good laughs. All in all, it was a great time... and when Laura and I climbed into our hotel beds at 11:15, we would more easily have believed it was 3 am... This morning Laura's back hurt and my feet ached... we are feeling our age. :)

When we checked out, Laura put one night on her card, and then I gave the lady my debit to charge the other. She announced that it had been declined, and after insisting that there was plenty of money in there, she tried again. It happened a second time. I ended up paying with cash and called the bank helpline as soon as I was outside. The operator informed me that she had entered a wrong expiration date the first time, and a wrong security code the 2nd... nice. At least it wasn't identity theft!

On our way back we lunched with Sarah Clevenger in East Lansing and chatted. It's always nice to catch up with her even if it's just for a short time. Finishing up the last leg of the trip home, we filled our satisfied silences with some Scissor Sister and Carbon Leaf. As the rain poured outside I let my mind drift back over the weekend's events and all the hilarity and beauty that ensued. It was a lovely day and definitely a refreshing time for all.

(For some reason the blogger system is only allowing me to enter one picture on this post. I attempted to add some in separate messages, but I can't seem to upload anything else. Very weird. Keep your eyes open for more pictures soon).

'Am' Arbor, Michigan

So tomorrow the fun begins...

I'm working from 9 (let's be honest, it's really more like 9:17...) to noon and then Laura and I are headed south. South to Ann Arbor that is...

It's the moment Lauren and Andy have been waiting their whole lives for, and I for one am excited to be sharing the day. Laura and I have spent several nights rehearsing the duet we'll be singing in the ceremony, but so far we've been accompanied by her mother on the piano. At the wedding, we'll be performing with a guitar player guy we haven't met yet. Blind faith and the thrill of a new adventure. I'm sure it will go fine.

We're staying 2 nights in a hotel, entertaining ourselves, planning on mani/pedis for Saturday morning, relaxing, and supporting one of our most dearest friends.

It should be a beautiful ceremony... And a wonderful weekend.

capturing the moments

I stopped by my sister Lacey's house for a minute after work and tried out my new digital camera on them. Here's Ella 'bonking' me in the face with her Teddy Grahams. This is her non-chalant way of telling me 'no kisses today...'

Here is the sweet grin we know and love.

Lacey's hands and sweet feet.

A great pair. Like mother like daughter.

One tired little lady.

And last but not least, Ella telling Lacey and I exactly how she feels about us laughing at her spaghetti face. (We laughed until we cried about this one... too hilarious... who taught that child to flip the bird?!)

As random as they come...

Let me start this post with a bit of a disclaimer, a word of warning if you will. Because of my lack of designated computer time this week, I've not had an opportunity to properly 'debrief' each day from the thoughts in my head. With that said, please expect this post to be a bit random and possibly disjointed.

As I sit down to the computer, I feel like I'm catching up with an old friend. I've got things to share... items that relate to life, and topics that could be filed under 'only to be spoken about with those who know you are not clinically insane' - So when I jump from topic to topic, don't look stunned like I didn't warn you. Be the good, understanding friend across the table and smile and nod. Just smile and nod.

And now, let the lunacy commence...

I happily entered the world of digital photography today (huge thanks to the dear friend who gave me such a precious, and generous gift). I've dappled in photography over the past couple of years and have a great camera to show for it. But when it came to shooting digital, I was a bit hesitant. Like the traditional wedding march being played during a wedding ceremony, like using a pan to heat up food instead of a microwave, I've always been a bit of a traditionalist... Cameras are meant to have film... or at least that's how I'd always felt. Blogging and Flickr have revolutionized the way I see life. So much to share right away (or in the case of this post, a week later), and who wants to go through the hassle of developing, scanning, etc... You get the idea. So here I am, digital and thrilled about it. The following three photos are shots that I took today on my walking route. Take a good look at each one, and then tell me you wouldn't mind the 2 miles of exercise every day if you could see the beauty I get to be surrounded by.

This picture is a gazebo that's out on the island. I've referred to a bridge before and there's a picture from that as well. One road goes out to the end of the island, and there is water on both sides of the road. It's breathtaking.



The next shot is the view from the bridge. I always take a little breather/stretch here and love it when the water is especially still (It's kinda windy in this picture).



Finally, I know there's a bit of a camera flare here, but you can still appreciate my beloved bridge, I'm sure.



This past Sunday we had a guest speaker. He runs a ministry that is directed primarily to India. My brother-in-law Jon's dad is the pastor at the church there, and he'll be joining this man on a trip there in January. He shared many good things about reaching out and sharing the Gospel with people around us, but one thing he said really struck me. I guess we are often more moved by things that hit home. He said 'God is most glorified when we are satisfied in Him.' From time to time we get rattled about our lives... the direction we're headed, or the feeling that we're not really going anywhere. Ultimately, this can fill us with a sense of longing, even a discontentment with our lives. I think these are the times when God most wants us to find our identity, our satisfaction, and our hope in Him.

Thinking along those lines, I was reading an article in the local newspaper yesterday about a man who carves and etches headstones for a living. He was talking about how it really is an artform. When the reporter asked him what he's learned over the years, his answer was simple, 'Experience is the best teacher.' I can see how this is so true in my life... sometimes you succeed, sometimes you fail, but in the end, it's going THROUGH those experiences that leave the biggest mark on you... and hopefully you DO learn.

On a lighter note, I came across an interesting little article in an advertising magazine yesterday. I'm going to include a couple of excerpts.

'The Mall of America in Bloomfield, Minn, has a 74 foot Ferris wheel, a shark tank and a dinosaur museum. But if that puts you to sleep, a new nap store will sell you some shut-eye for 70 cents a minute.

The store, to be called MinneNAPolis (LOVE IT!), is aimed at weary travelers who need a nap after a long flight but aren't staying long enough to book a hotel room, or spouses of shoppers who are traversing the mall's 4.3 miles of storefronts...

Founded by PowerNap Sleep Centers Inc of Boca Raton, Fla., the new store will include themed rooms such as Asian Mist, Tropical Isle and Deep Space. Each will have walls thick enough to drown out the sounds to squealing children at the indoor amusement park.

The 70-cents per minute fee works out to $42 an hour, through PowerNap President Michael Javaherian says the company will probably offer discounts for half-hour and hour-long naps that would reduce the price.

Some pointed out that it would be cheaper to buy an $8 movie ticket and spend two hours sleeping through a quiet movie.

It would be even cheaper to stretch out on one of the mall's wooden benches, but people who work in the mall say they have seen plenty of tired people walking around, but haven't seen many of them doze off in public...

Still, some shoppers had their doubts about paying for a nap. "Would you get your money back if someone snored?" says Linda Belz, 54, of Orlando, Fla.

"How do I know there won't be lice in the sheets?" says Ericka Dickerson, of Bradenton, Fla.

Javaherian says the rooms would be cleaned after each use just like a hotel. Mall officials say the store would adhere to a one-person-per-room policy.'

(Shopping and sleeping: two of my most favorite things. Incorporate chocolate and it might as well be heaven).

This Friday is Lauren's rehearsal dinner, and her wedding is Saturday. I'm really excited for her - she's marrying a sweetheart-of-a-guy Andy (who I affectionately call 'Droid' short for Android). I know it'll be a beautiful wedding, and I'm just honored to be a part of it. Laura and I are headed out around noon on Friday, and will be back sometime Sunday afternoon. We'll be driving back through Lansing and have plans to meet up with Sarah as well... Really looking forward to it all. Digital pictures will abound. :)

Finally, just a side note... today is Jon and Lacey's anniversary. Congratulations and I love you both.

oh where have i been?

'It's been a really long time since you've posted,' Laura said to me slightly annoyed over tasty lasagna tonight.

'I know' I responded, 'I actually took a second at work today and jotted down a list of random thoughts that I need to post about.'

And I'll tell you, I had full intentions of writing a blog once I got home... But between the season premiere of Arrested Development, time for catching up on invaluable girl talk over food and matching People magazines, practicing our duet for Lauren's upcoming wedding this weekend, having a meaningful conversation with her mom, and another with my friend John on the cell phone driving home, I just ran out of time... And steam. I'll do my best to give you a full report on what's going on in my life and mind, tomorrow. (Well, after aerobics and the premiere of The Office, that is!)

If it's a good dose of random Amber thoughts you need, I'll leave you with this one I was thinking earlier today while I was hard at 'work.'

Is it mere coincidence that some of my favorite things are so good you gotta say them twice? Couscous. Bon Bons. Frou Frou. Mahi Mahi.

Coincidence or fate? You decide.

dumbfounded

What does this mean!?

all in the family

Here is a picture of Ella before she was even a year old, next to me at one. My mom found this photo of me again last week... we thought it was interesting.

Granted, I've never had eyes like that... but I still think there's a resemblance (mainly in the lips and nose).

framed freaks

So I did it. I actually bought the 'freaks' picture about a week ago, but just finally remembered to get a digital photo of it to upload. You'll notice in my original post about it, I mentioned the picture was $30 - So you can imagine how happy I was when I revisited the antique store and it was only $15!! I am not sure if it went on sale after I first saw it, or if I just remembered incorrectly. (I know it's hard to believe that I might have gotten mixed up on the facts, but try and consider it as a viable option).

I know it isn't coming through all that clearly, but here it is:



My personal favorites are the guy that's on the lower level 2nd from the right -- his head is on backwards, the 2 midget ladies flanking the sides of the large woman also on the bottom row (they are just-a-smilin'away), and the woman just below them, who I am sorry to say, has no legs. But don't worry, the man 2nd from the left on the lower level has 3 legs so he makes up for her... And who could miss the giants? To me this picture is both sad and hilarious.

According to an old man who works at the antique store, the woman with no legs and the giant guy in the top/middle were married, and she recently passed away - the longest living woman from the whole group. I told him that I felt kinda bad for all of the people who were basically paid to be gawked at, but he reminded me that they had happy lives, made good money (that they otherwise wouldn't have without some sort of disability coverage), and that they found a sense of 'family' with one another. This is what ultimately convinced me to make the purchase - I am not necessarily joining the throngs of gawkers who paid 'good money' to stare, I'm paying tribute to a group of misfits who were able to make happy lives for themselves.

I think this will make a great conversation piece for my guest bathroom someday. I'm also going to leave the price tag (in the upper left hand corner) attached, because who wouldn't get a kick out of seeing 'Freaks' in an old lady's shaky penmanship?

a packrat's fridge

I had just scooped out a bowlful of Tin Roof Sundae when I made a startling discovery - stuck to the face of the freezer.

Under a faded realtor's magnet were several coupons good for a free pizza at the Parkside Diner downtown. It's a great idea, buying 10 pizzas and getting one free. Then I noticed this important message, "Expires one year from date of purchase."

'Hmmm, wonder if these are still good?' I thought. Peering closer, I read these words:
Purchase date: 11-10-01.

2001?! Guess not.

Post script

We had a little visitor all day today. A friend of my sister Lacey just had a baby and needed some help this afternoon, so she left Ella with us. That kid is too much.

The child is a genius, although I might be a little biased. She talks constantly and has a very developed vocabulary. Among my favorites are how she says "Stwawbabies" for strawberries, how she instantly asks "Whew Ah You?" as soon as you leave the room, how she interchangeably calls my dad Doug, 'Douggie' and 'Gwampa' and screams 'Mama! Mama! Mama! LACE!!!' if she doesn't come right away. Too cute. I got a kick out of the fact that before Lacey left we were all watching Baby Einstein. It's a new one that I hadn't seen yet focusing primarily on water and aquatic animals. Ella was off playing while Dad, Lacey and I sat mesmerized by the video.

'Wow, I guess I never realized you could touch a starfish when it's still alive,' I say.
'Yeah, I didn't know that before this video either,' Lacey replies.
Then as a clam moves quickly through the water my dad adds, 'Geez, I didn't know that clams could 'swim' like that either.'

We're dorks... Or maybe that's why Ella's so brilliant.

My sister was here today and I showed her yesterday's update to my blog. Showing her what a wrote brought to my attention that I needed to explain further how/where to apply Eye Bright. Basically, you apply the pencil to the inner and outer corner of the eyes, and can even pencil it in just under your eyebrows as well, if you so desire. Finally simply blend/smudge with a fingertip. Instantly refreshes the look of tired eyes.

*It's commonly held that when applying makeup or cream to the eyes, you should always use your ring finger because it's the weakest finger and pulls your skin the least.

Additionally, I was getting ready for bed last night and realized that I had one more great product to include. I bought this product several months ago, and have found many special occasions to use it since then. It's called Fast Lash. This product is advertised as 'False lashes in a tube.' It is suggested that you apply a thin layer of mascara first. I prefer to use 'Underwear for Lashes' by Origins. Once your lashes are dampened, pull the wand out of the tube. Use caution because these microfibers easily take flight. Dab wand to lashes. They will look like a fresh snow has fallen on them. (Re)apply mascara. These fibers will catch the mascara, bulk up your lashes, and also be pulled out to the edge of your lashes with each swipe of the wand giving you instantly longer lashes. Very cool.

Shameless plug

Hey ladies -- A little shameless promotion of products that I'm loving right now...

The first one is a product called Herbal Face Dew by Tony and Tina Cosmetics. Essentially, it's designed to be rubbed onto the apples of the cheeks or near the temple/eye brow area to give a nice sheen dewy look, but not greasy... Much like this girl...
This product is available online through Sephora, or in downtown Traverse City at Venus. Also, I attempted to include a picture, but the websites blocked me from copying -- please follow the link if you are interested.

The next product is called Eye Bright by Benefit. My good friend Sarah introduced me to the wonder that is Eye Bright while visiting her in Lansing a couple of weekends ago. You can find it anywhere they carry Benefit products, I found it in the Marshall Fields in Ann Arbor. It's a great pick-me-up to keep your purse. I have been using it in the afternoon to open up tired eyes. It looks pink in the stick, but it blends nicely around the eyes and has no shimmer, so it looks totally natural.


Next on the list of things I'm totally digging right now, is the Team Aniston Tank. For any of you who follow celebrity news (some call it 'gossip' but I think that's heresy), you may have a theory about the timeline of the Aniston-Pitt breakup and subsequent Pitt-Jolie hookup. I think it's obvious whose side I'm on.

My good friend Laura introduced me to a fun new site which is sure to make me go broke, but offer hours of fashion ogling and entertainment. Check it out!

Last but not least, and HUGE right now... Metallic purses. Lauren bought me a bronzish colored one for my birthday and I'm getting compliments left and right. Don't have one? Get one... Perfect for dolling up a simple outfit.

From dicey to spicey

Anyone who works in a regular 9 to 5 job, sitting in an office or cubicle entering data and answering phones all day looks forward to 2 things... Lunch, and the end of the day.

Some people live close enough to their place of employment that they can hop in the car and eat lunch out of their own fridge. Some people actually do this novel thing called 'Packing a Lunch' and dine in the break room with a good book (novel thing, good book, get it? Hehe. Yeah, okay, that was bad). Then there are the people like me... The ones who regularly eat out, throwing money away, and thriving on out-of-the-office-banter.

The bad thing about living in a small town is that your lunch choices are limited. These are the places we frequent...

The Blue Heron - I always get the turkey wrap or the Nature Lover's Salad (fruit, poppyseed dressing, feta and almonds on lettuce... Delicious).
The Bistro - A hip, downtown sandwich place that is known for their gyros (although I only eat their turkey wrap as well. The owner, Mark Fowler puts this incredible scallion cream cheese and salsa on it for me... Perfect).
House of Hunan - This is the ONLY place I trust for Chinese food in Cadillac. I used to crave their mixed vegetables in brown sauce at least twice a week, but that's tapered down quite a bit. We knew it was overkill when the servers would bring our preferred drinks to the table before we even ordered them. (I've always avoided the mystery buffets at all of the other Chinese places in town, and NOW I remember why).

Some days we do fast food, but I try to avoid that as much as possible. And this, my friends, was basically the list... Until today. Today was a milestone for me... The first time I've EVER had authentic Mexican food within 45 minutes of Cadillac.

We used to have a La Senorita on the south end of town, but it got really nasty, always had flies buzzing around, and finally just closed. Then the building changed owners, went through a little renovation and was renamed Avanti's. I'm not sure what type of food they served there, because I couldn't get past the fact that there was a misspelled word painted on their front sign. Eventually Avanti's also went under, and I recently heard a rumor that a new Mexican restaurant was opening in its place. You can understand my trepidation of actually ever stepping foot in that place again, but when Matt reported this morning that he'd eaten there last night and it was good, I decided I was willing to give it a try.

Mark and I drove over, and were immediately put at ease when we found the walls freshly painted, new ceramic tile on the floors and no less than 3 men in polos and khakis sweeping various parts of the restaurant. This brought a gentle calm over my heart, and a rumble to my stomach. The chips came out hot, the salsa smooth, and the waiter's accent was heavy. At this my confidence bolstered. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and was happy with the service. I couldn't help but laugh at the festive music being pumped from overhead the dining room. Who knew that Spanish rap could be so catchy, or that someone had not only taken the time to translate 'Achy, Breaky Heart' into Spanish, but also record it!? Hilarious. One of the men sweeping was actually singing along under his breath.

On our way to the cash register I saw my former pastor and his wife in another booth. They seemed genuinely interested in how I was doing, since they haven't really seen me at all since the divorce (My ex still attends their church, now with his new wife). Mark and I paid and then stepped out into the sunshine, full bellies and happy hearts. It was then that I heard a car quickly approaching, peeling around from behind the restaurant. Just as I halted my step Mark said, "Amber, watch out!" and the car whizzed by.

Just like it happens in the movies, the events instantly turned to slow motion. Just slow enough for me to glance up at the oncoming vehicle, notice the passenger's big oh-honey-no hair piled on top of her head, and that the driver was in fact, my ex!

All I can figure is that they were headed to the restaurant to eat with the pastor and his wife, but were given the heads up that I was inside while I was cashing out. Either way, he was clearly on a rampage to avoid seeing me... And only narrowly avoided maiming me in the Herradura's parking lot.

It was weird, nearly being run over by my former husband. As I walked away two distinct thoughts crossed my mind.

1. Lunch was delicious, and now we have a new option. And...
2. At least I looked good today.

The proof is in the pudding

It's amazing how much just one year, a mere 365 consecutive days, can change your life completely. For me, it seems I can too easily get caught up in my life and feel like one day runs into the next. The fact of the matter is that even though today might feel just like yesterday with its barrage of errands, mundane tasks, emotions and thoughts, it's a distinct increment of time unto itself... One I'll only have once.

We know we are to 'Seize the day,' and even Scripture repeatedly refers to the tempo of our lives as being measured in days... Creation happened in seven, Jonah was in the belly of the whale for 3, we are to forgive 'While it's still called Today,' and the mercies of God are 'New every morning.'

I picture my life as a parfait dessert. Through clear glass I see layers stacked on top of each other, each with distinct flavor, color and texture, each varying in width. Nestled in about every 4th layer is a yummy chocolate one. These represent savory days that turned into sweet months, that comprised years of decadence. (Like most women, I wish every year was a chocolate one).

Next come the vanilla layers scattered in between. These white sections are the ones that I don't have distinct memories of, the ones that seemed to pass in a blur and left no real lasting impression on me. I'm sure they had their own tasty moments, but none that I cared to have lingering on the tip of my tongue more than the chocolate ones.

Lastly, the dreaded blueberry layers. This flavor comes as a surprise, not only because it makes for an odd tasting dessert combination, but because it represents the years that blindside us. We're nibbling along, savoring every bite, when suddenly an unexpected burst of not-quite-yet-ripe flavor clashes with what's already on our pallet, leaving a sting at the back of our mouth. Here comes a sour year... One with unexpected pain that contorts the face and turns the stomach. Those are the toughest ones to get through.

Life is full of unexpected bites. One year can leave a bad taste in your mouth, and the next can be so full of delicious moments you wish it wouldn't end. This is the beauty of savoring each layer. There is something to be experienced even in the blueberry ones. Yes, they are barely palatable, but if you'll just chew through them, the upcoming chocolate ones will taste even sweeter.

Some of my all time favorite lyrics come from a ZOEgirl song that says 'I've tasted bitter, tasted sweet. I've found the beauty in the place they meet.'

God wants us to make the most of each day, measuring them in small victories, in His love, and in the company of people who love us...

Ultimately, these are things that sweeten up our lives.

weekend at lauren's

I laughed at my brother in law Jon's update today... He basically was talking about the pressure to update a blog and how it can feel like a phone call you keep trying to dodge. That's essentially how it's been since my meager excuse for a post yesterday...

So to catch you up... I was sick Thursday afternoon until mid-day Friday. I thought I would be up to working on Friday, but once I woke up, I decided it would be in my best interest to stay home and rest. I felt a little guilty since we had a shoot scheduled, but the guys told me yesterday that they managed just fine without me. Originally I was scheduled to go visit my friend Lauren (who is getting married in 3 weeks), for the weekend and I didn't want to cancel. Once I felt like eating again, and the queaziness had stopped I packed up my car I took the 3 hour trip south. She and I did some shopping damage at the mall and she gave me a cool metallic gold handbag as a birthday gift. We also walked around downtown Ann Arbor and ate outside (one of my most favorite things in the whole world).

It was great to have girl time with her, sleep in, shop, and drive around together with the windows down. It's weekends like the one I had with Sara & Keisha last week, and the one I just had with Lauren that make me so thankful for the friends I've been so fortunate to gain over the years. Speaking of great friends, I just got back from an impromptu lunch date with Laura. Since we're just about a month apart in age, it's time to do a little birthday celebrating of my own. We had a fun lunch together, shared the sordid and hilarious details of the past couple of weeks and practiced the song we'll be singing together in Lauren's wedding.

This blog has turned out to be more like a 'Dear Diary, this is what I did this week' entry more than anything, but I'm sure you were all in suspense about where I've been. It's only fair to report back to SO MANY dedicated readers.

All 4 of you.

:)

Have a great Labor Day weekend, and look for a piece of my birthday cake in your mailbox tomorrow.

Excuse # 47 'I was puking'

Everyone comes up with 'reasonable' excuses for not returning calls or writing blogs. I have a good one... I was throwing up. LOTS. I got some sort of food poisoning on Friday from the Chinese buffet (that for the record I did NOT want to go to), and paid severely for it.

Just after I concluded that last sentence, my mom called and she's run out of gas, so I've got to help her. I'm going to post this, and I'll catch you up on the remainder of my weekend, otherwise known as the Not-Revisiting-My-Lo-Mein-And-The-Milkshake-That-Came-Back-Up-Still-Cold portion. (I know, that was really gross)...

Hehe.