It's February! What a Month it is!

February is a crazy month for me. It begins with Bastien's and mine 6th year anniversary on the 5th, then it jumps to crazy old valentines (validation) day, then skips on to one of my best bud's 25th bday on the 18th and then completes the month with my 25th bday on the 26th! Aye!

Right now in my life, I'm still considering lots of things because at the approach of my quarter-life crisis I know I still have plenty of time to contemplate. Here are some of the contemplations/plans:

-I'm still working at my most favorite place of employment ever, The Littlest Birds. I'm only working half-time right now because that's all the time they can give me...but...soon come I will be getting many more hours. Come August/September of this year I will be working nearly full-time when one of the owners moves. Her and her lovely spouse will be moving to go to grad school and I will get to take over her time. I am so excited and so privileged to get this opportunity to run a small, locally-owned business. I am also way impatient and would love for this to happen NOW! But patience is a virtue, I hear.

-I've been yearning to take some more classes. I am so in love with this Earth we live on and I want to do as much as I can for it. Despite this passion, I need to be more knowledgeable. I need to know some basic science, some basic scientific facts. I have never been a science kind of girl, but I really want to take some herbalism classes at the Appalachian School of Herbalism (so I can grow my own awesome garden and create my own beauty and cleaning products) and I want to take lots of environmental science, botany and ecology classes so I can be a better educated environmentalist. I'm starting to look at ways of doing that in Western NC.

-I want a car! Ack, I have a very deep love/hate relationship with the Asheville Transit System, the sweet thing. But I want a car. And even better, I'm thinking about getting a diesel car so I can use biodiesel to run it. That's right, ya'll - I want a vegetable car! ;) I'm thinking about getting a late 90's VW diesel car. It's pretty much my choice of a Mercedes or a Volkswagen, only. Not many other cars have diesel engines.

-Omg, beer! The beau, er, fiancé, and I have been brewing beer (well, mostly the beau). And we love it! And he loves it! I really do believe he has found his passion and his life path. Whew! So our plan, now? Create a microbrewery/restaurant. I won't give any more details on that plan right now. It's so juicy and delectable, but it still needs to do a bit of fermenting (ba-da-ching!) before more details are released. Let's just say I love to write business plans and I've already got a good start on this one.

-Oh man, I just have too many ideas and plans and desires, it's almost too much! Oh, and I have, like, no money. No money to save, no money to invest. Nada. Anyways, I would also like to have my own business where I sell handmade, handcrafted, preferably local, goods for the home. And of course I have a business plan written already. ;)

-I would also like to be an environmental constultant. Hence, the desire and need to take some environmental science classes. I figure I could hire myself out to plenty of people who need some practical and easy advice on taking steps to helping the Earth.

-Oh yes, I'm a bridesmaid. I'm one for the wonderful, soon-to-be-my-sister-in-law-in-just-over-a-year Lucie.

-And then I have a wedding of my own to plan. (Wow, did I really just say that? Good god.) But it will be lighter on the wedding planning and much heavier on the party/reception and the traveling/honeymoon planning. I've already got some ideas floating around in that lil' head of mine...like May 1st, courthouse wedding, big-arse party in a park/backyard/natural, outdoor setting with lots of friends and fam, family celebration in France and Corsica traveling afterward.

A lot, a lot. A lot that I like.
<3

Wkend Recap: Post Sickness Fun

Thursday: Stayed at home for the last day of a three-day run so that I could fully recuperate from the Sickness that had plagued me all week. It was a lazy day, it was a productive day.

Friday: Worked my last day at the B&B! Then came home to find that I had left my keys in the apt. Called to interrupt beau's Mela lunch so he could come let me in. After all this, we joined the beau's parent's and a French family friend (she lives in the same neighborhood as Johhny Depp in Paris![swoon]). We spent a fair amount of time walking around some of my favorite spots in downtown and having coffee. And then had the always delicious goulash and bread and cheese. Afterwards, we played some darts, smoked some hookah ("shouldn't you close the window - isn't this illegal?") and collapsed for sleep, precious sleep.

Saturday: Halloween! Worked at The Littlest Birds till 6. Got dressed in an old halloween costume (flapper!) while watched bemusedly the beau have costume identity issues (his final choice was a hot skull-faced woman). Spent the night at the Pocket, got drunk way too quickly, failed miserably at beer-pong and ended the night w/the best Waffle House experience ever (hashbrowns by candle-light).


Sunday: Worked at TLB till 4. Went to a potluck w/the beau that Alexandra was hosting and ate some unbelievable orzo salad, chicken pot pie and vegetarian pizza, among other yummy dishes. Also made a lovely spill of red wine on my favorite white shirt and cardigan. Then we went over to a co-worker of the beau's to pick up a sweet little kitty, named Tabitha. After a hilarious car ride back home we watched her explore the place and contemplated her replacement name (goulash, cinnamon, cardamon).

<3

Wkend Fun: Frenchies & Old Friends

I really adore Lu's Weekend Recaps. So I thought I'd try a version of this:

Thursday: Worked at the B&B. Had a glorious shower and headed to TN to see the Gilots, Lu, Mitch & Eli & special guest Eliane, Alain & Rosine. Had a scrumptious meal of Morracan Cous Cous & Chicken + Banana Flan for desert. Followed by a French-dubbed version w/English subtitles of Chocolat (Johnny Depp just isn't the same in French) w/tea & petit gateau.
Friday: Wake up at 9:30 to have a petit dejuner w/the Frenchies. Good convo & translations. Talk about Wal-Mart, birds, dreams & bigger bugs in the U.S. A slow mid day of reading, catching up & lunch. Then back to NC where I worked at the bookstore (& gave them my 2wk. notice!). Ended the night w/some yummy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup (how I adore cilantro & ginger!) and listening to my stepdad (And the Address) on Asheville FM.
Saturday: Worked at The Littlest Birds until 6. Seba, the poop-face, visited. We ate at Universal Joint, where I had a yummy Blue Cheese & Bacon Burger and a Foothills Oktoberfest. Then we met up w/our old college friend Mary + her new beau + Nik at Hookah Joes. Ended the night w/trivial pursuit where poop-face kicked our bums.
Sunday: Worked at The Littlest Birds until 4. Then made some disastrous pork, mushroom & tomato pasta. Was super tired so I just stayed at home and watched old episodes of CW shows while the beau played pool.

<3

Oh, Wilmington

(Source.)

Going on another freaking summer trip, and I cannot believe it! So many beach trips this summer, I can't believe I'm actually affording everything in my life right now. (And that's why I need you to hire me to be your writer! Find out more about it here or here orr here!)

This time, it's the beachy area of Wilmington that is calling me. One of my best buds from way back when is celebrating her 24th and she wants to do it in beacharific style. So the end of next week, you'll find me tanning in, hopefully, sunny Wilmington!

<3

Ridunk Charleston

I've been back home for three days since returning from Charleston, SC and it was a super-ridunk trip. I went w/my partner-in-blog-crime, the loverly Lu, along w/my beau, Lu's beau, and friends Nik & Sebastien.

Some highlights:

Smush five people into one car and add their camping gear, etc. and you get a very interesting car four-hour car ride. (Sebastien joined us later.)
I sacrificed my flesh for the rest of the group (I, em, didn't put on bug repellent the 1st night - big mistake), therefore my feet flesh were in pain....& are just now healing.
Lots of scattered thunderstorms made for delightful after-rain air.Two beach visits. Perfect temperatures for wave-jumping. Perfect wind conditions for finding sand in your private spots a week later.
Visited the oldest tree in the US. The Angel Oak is over 1,500 years old. Gorgeous.
Toured the oldest building in South Carolina - a creepy-arse prison. At one point it held 1,000 soldiers during the civil war. With the use of flashlights and a camera, we had fantabulous times entertaining ourselves after the sun went out.Also, if you want Lu's version of the events: here's Lu's recap of the trip.
<3

off to the beach for a while!

I shall be going to the beach in a very short few days! I am very much excited (despite the fact, it's putting me a debt a wee bit). I need a break from worrying about finding a job. I am terribly, terribly sick of it. I really do have so many talents, and I am just wasting away searching for someone who will take a chance on me. So that's why it's the time for the beach! Now!

(Via flickr.)

Nevertheless, I will be taking my laptop with me (I am so literally & pitifully addicted to my online existence) and so my mind will not be very far away from the online universe.

Also, I will be making mucho efforts to be as earth-friendly as possible while on the trip. To read about how I'm going to do this click on over here to read my Lu-n-Am post about this.

Much love!
Bisous!
<3

Oh, Abe, you're making me blush!

I received my federal tax refund on Monday and celebrated all day! On top of it all, Monday was a snow day for the beau so we had to untie our shoes and act a little irresponsible. ;) I went with the beau to Nine Mile and we ate & drank to our little hearts' content.

(Hello, Mr. President...[source].)

Later on, we hopped over to Greenlife, picked up some yummy and (slightly) healthier-than-usual pizza, chips & dip. We came back home, put on our couch potato clothes and watched one of the stupidest movies ever - The Animal - on Netflix. Honestly, I do not recommend it.

It was a fun day, but one that will not be repeated soon...I must save money for a beach trip in April & our trip to Quebec this summer (w/Lu & her beau!). Nevertheless, mad props to our man Abe (Obama!) for "stimulating" our economy. He can stimulate me, anytime. ;)
<3

bonne anniversaire pour moi!

It was my birthday yesterday. I had beaucoups and beaucoups of fun. The festivities included lots of champagne, chips & dip, the little mermaid, gypsy music & bindis, handmade pizzas, bbq chicken sandwiches, real corn cornbread, spicy mac & cheese, twitter chatter, so much wine & beer, keds shoes, dainty undies, gift talks, craft talks, FigsandGinger, baked beans & mouth-watering made from scratch red velvet cupcakes.

(The only picture from the night. A silly one, indeed.)

It. Was. Wonderful. My first organized little potluck turned out quite well indeed. And the fun isn't over. I'm going out w/the beau tonight to Table. Having lunch with my parents on Sunday & (I think) getting a stereo receiver so I can FINALLY play some sweet albums on my sweet record player. Oh! And some new clothes, as I so desperately need some jeans without huge, gaping holes. ;)

24 isn't so bad, I think.
<3

the happy, happy, happy, happy things

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's the combination of vodka and ibuoprofen (this comes from a combo of the holiday spirit and being on my period), but I am especially happy right now and in this happy moment I would like to go over the things that are making me so happy right now.



1. Being with the people I love. This has been quite a roller coaster year for me. From the split with my ex, to the moving in with my best friend and her mom, to the reconciliation with my ex and moving back in, it's been one hell of a ride. Therefore, this is a great time to just relax and think about the good things in life with the people I love.

Really, in a nutshell, this is it. When it all boils down...in essence...yes, this is it. So be happy. As the Dalai Lama says - our purpose in life is to be happy (yes, I've been in a Dalai Lama phase lately, which I don't want to get out of). So be happy. Happy.

<3

have a holly jolly christmas

Le sigh...I love being off of work and with my most beloved friends and family. I love spending the holidays with my bf's family. I love dis french family. And do I ever love the french food. (I wish I could show you how much I am drooling right now! Wait, no, I don't. But I do wish you could smell the food - then you'd be drooling.)

In the spirit of this season, I'd like to wish everyone out there a very happy, pleasant and warm holidays (whichever you are celebrating is up to you).

(Photo courtesy of mercurian.)

Please, relax for a while, with your family and friends and enjoy the peaceful, happy times.
<3

tis the season

I've been super busy lately. I've been working like an ox (well, this is my Chinese astrological sign...) at the bookstore, buying presents, making presents, wrapping them all up, making pretty decorations for the apt (so it can look remotely festive and femme), packing, moving and unpacking, preparing for three festive days, and cuddling with my love.

(Droolicious. Photo courtesy of juliedesmeules.)

So these are the things have kept me away from my ole woman (i.e. my blog!). But all in all, they are good things, and I am thankful for it all when it comes down to it. So when you feel like absolute poop and you think you couldn't be more irritated/angry/fill-in-the-negative-feeling - sit down, breathe and think about everything good in your life, the people that love you. It makes all the negativity slip away. :)

<3

update-o

So here's the latest, wha-wha:

-I've got a job! Two, actually. They are far from my ideal jobs, but they work for the present time. They are:
...Bookstore X & Shoe store Y. At the bookstore I am sales associate, while I have somehow miraculously snagged a job as keyholder at the shoe store. A keyholder is, for those of you who have never worked in retail, a managerial position. I suppose you are given a key and some responsibility. I'm especially excited about working at the bookstore b/c, well, I lurve books! And if there is anything I can get excited about when trying to sell something, then it's books. I'll be working part time at both of these jobs but they should add up to nearly full time work. We shall see. At this point, it's just good that I'm employed.

-I was able to get my loan payments deferred for 6 months. Yay! This is sooooo, so good. I was paying $200/month, which is a huge, huge expense. This is a huge relief and will enable me to save more money.

-I went to Knoxville last week and hung out the oh-so-lovely Lu. I had an absolutely awesome time there. I love hanging out with Lu and it was a good break for me - a good change of pace for a while. I also went to some of her classes and I took full advangtage of some free education. I also went to a club with her and some of her friends. This was a hilarious and head-trippy time. I got really drunk on cheap beer and bootydanced with her friends. Who-wee. We also hit up this sweet hookah joint, which withheld many mellow times. Good times, indeed.

(Poster from Knoxville club.)

So that's that and this is this.
I'm optimistic. Hope it lasts!
<3

oy vey

Hey everyone, I'm still here. Just stressed is all.

I did finally move from my cute apt. in the best neighborhood in my area to a friend's place. It has been a tough move. I have so much support. But I am feeling like a pest to everyone. Having no car and not living where I use to live SUCKS.

Being in this new place away from the Frenchman has, I don't know, maybe changed things between us? Not sure if things are better or worse. I feel like every other day I am telling my friends/my mom that I have just had a huge talk/fight w/zee Frenchman. It's exhausting. It's safe to say that, at least.

It's also safe to say that we are both making efforts to concentrate on ourselves. I have to let go and not think about him possibly coming back to me. If it happens, it will happen and there's nothing I can do about.

For a girl like me who's always been on top of her game, this new territory is confusing, straining and scary. I just don't know what I'm doing now. So I have taken steps to figure out my life. And next Tuesday I will hopefully be able to breathe a little easier.

I am also waiting too-anxiously about this company I've been interviewing with. For them to be so adamant about getting a person for the job in asap, they are taking their precious time. It's frustrating. I am going to have put my pride aside and apply for places I don't actually want to work at. It's getting to that point. Finding a good, well-paying job in Asheville is nearly impossible. Argh.

(I'd like to go here & destress. Beautiful photo courtesy of Guido 62.)

Well this is just a little update. Hopefully (I know they will), things will slowly get better and I'll be back to life-lovin' self.

Love &
Bisous*
~Amber~

florida-mania

I just want to go back and address why I neglected my blog for over a month. One of the main reasons I hadn't been posting was because for about 10 days I was on vacation in Florida. And although I had been promised internet access on a semi-regular basis, what I was given was nothing near access. Of the 10 days I was away, I think I was able to actually sit down and do work on the internet twice. Yes, twice. I know, unbelievable. I don't know how I survived. ;)

(Me & Steph waiting around for the Tampa Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game.)

Anyways, this is just one of the reasons why I have been greatly lacking on posts. And as I write this, I also realize that this summer is/has been very Florida-liscious. A couple of weeks ago I was there in no-internet heaven/hell and I will soon be there next weekend for another week of Florida hottness (but this time with almost 100percent internet assuredness). I don't know what it is about this summer, but, dam, Florida, you have my heart strings a' tuggin!

(Rockin' Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios. It was rockin.)

Oh, yes, another reason there has been no new postings recently is that I've become incredibly behind on work. You know, real work. So I've been trying to catch up with that as well as catch up on blog postings that are taking entirely way too much of my time to research and write. But, you know, I'm not complaining or anything.

pictures, father's day

So, here's some the pictures from last night's show & benefit for URTV. There were actually three bands playing. We came in as the first band was playing, and this is why I am not sure of the name of the first band. The next band was "Black Hook," and the last one, the one more of us came for was "Rat Jackson."

(Our host for the evening...one dirty-mouthed kid.)

(Yes, yes, yes...THE Rat Jackson.)

(Me & my buds hanging out. Me, as usual the drunkest one around.)

(The oh-so-elusive D. She actually enjoyed the show, despite her expression here.)

I also would like to wish all fathers and practically fathers out there a Happy Father's Day. I never knew my father, but my mother met a pretty nice guy when I was 10, and he's been around us ever since. He's a pretty good guy. And despite having no genetic resemblence or connection to him, I think I've acquired some his best and worst traits (like being a music snob, my sarcasm and my passion for politics and the world). :)

neglect!

it's been almost a week since my last post. and i feel almost quite ashamed of all the neglect i've bestowed upon this wide electronic cyber world. i really have no clue how many [regular] readers i have in the first place (my estimates come to a minimal amount), but i still feel a little bad for this. i guess i've just been in haze ever since i got back from charlotte on monday. and getting back into the swing things and work has been rather disheartening. my work is fine and all, but sometimes, ugh, argh, ack, i need lots of help when it comes to actually getting stuff done in a somewhat timely manner.i'm working from home right now, but this is only because both of my bosses aren't at work today. one of them is on a trip in oregon for two and a half weeks, while the other one is at his parents house, four hours away, getting more furniture for his own home. but as i write and glance over at my bf sleeping, i know any moment he's going to wake up and complain about why i'm not at work. seriously, this is annoying. it's like he's my employer, which he clearly is not. but i can't be too pre-maturely perturbed right now because he looks so...not annoying when he's asleep. and he woke up at 6:15 this morning with his heart hurting. he's been sleeping on the couch ever since...

as for inspiration and all that other nickety-nackety stuff, i have been reading this blog called the freelancer's fashionblog. it's really fun. and i really enjoy reading blogs by europeans. i don't know what it is exactly, maybe their unique and bold styles, their passionate yet still clueless desires, or their cute little mistakes in english (which usually lead [unintentionally?] to a double meaning and some irony), but they have lured me into their coffee-drinking, hem-sewing, lace-loving ways. another european blog that i pretty much visit on a daily basis is only shallow. she's the first euro-fashion blog that i started reading and i've been a dedicated reader ever since. i discovered her on n.e.e.t and was influenced even more to visit her blog when i read about her in BUST.

in the clt

i'm in the big clt this weekend. it's been great fun so far. we're actually here for a nascar race [wooowhooo]. but we're staying at a friend's place. this girl is really nice. she went to high school with us, but she's a year older. and it sounds like she just might have my dream job. well, not dream-dream job, but one that i'd like to have right now [she's an editor for a cute little publishing company!]. i guess i don't really have anything to post, like a new link or picture or anything, but i just thought i would share my happiness at making a new friend and having a good time with old ones (& the new one, too!). but...if i really think about it, i might be able to give a link. i went to this one part of town, it was like a little slice of asheville. :) it's called plaza-midwood. and i suggest that anyone that likes the more alternative/less-commericalistic areas, then this is the place. i went to this really cute store, but most of it was highly over-priced. there were a couple of other cute little vintage/thrift stores there, too, but it was too late for to go there.