February 1, 2012
by Amber
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January Highlights

2012 is off to a good start for me. Its hard to believe we’re already this far into the year. So much has happened in the past month. Here’s a breakdown of memorable events.
I rang in the new year in a none fancy, highly alcoholic manner. A friend of the boyfriend was nice enough to open his house up to a rowdy bunch of us. Not a huge gathering, but definitely a group of some of my nearest, dearest and oldest friends. Highlights include: a friend home from the navy able to celebrate with us, boys lighting many things on fire, intoxicatedly sprinting down the street in time to catch the trains going by, and a lot of great heart to hearts.

I redesigned and reinvented amapeli.org. This is probably the simplest layout I’ve ever had up, and I absolutely love it. My goal was to make myself want to blog. I figure if I have more specific categories, and establish myself an over all style, it will all just come together. Its happening. Slowly. Speaking of website design. I’ve been working hard on Urban Warehouse, an up and coming business belonging to a very good friend of mine. With that on the go, I went and purchased my design site last week. I now own a domain for Ampt Solutions, which will eventually be my child. It’ll be a while before you get to see.
As a regular browser of places like weheartit, tumblr and pintrest, I’ve seen a whole heard of bedrooms with decorative led lights. I’ve wanted them for ages. I picked myself up a string of them for $5 on final after Christmas clearance. Win.
There were plenty of pub nights for watching Canucks games and unwinding after a long day. Pho is another hot topic in my friends group.Speaking of my friend group, we really can be a fantastic pile of mess when we want to be. A couple weekends ago we went out for a friend’s birthday. I found these blury, squinty eyed gems from the train ride home on my phone the next morning.As always, I made plenty of time for the trail. With the recent snow falls, the scenery was even more beautiful than usual.

January 28, 2012
by Amber
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Weekend


I wish my eyebrow wasnt messed up, otherwise, I dig this photo.

I’ve been hibernating. I tend to do this in the winter time. I get outside for plenty of air, but I dont feel like being social. I just keep to the trails and my couch. I’m not in the mood to get dressed up for anything, I feel like my Netflix and my websites are more favourable options. Plus, its warm in here and I can wear my pjs. I’m physically tired. It must be the season. The weather. Shrug.


We saw The Grey last night. I really enjoyed it. It made me jump and got in my head. I kept thinking about what I would do if I were stuck in a situation like that. This morning I went for a snow covered gloomy day trail run … so that movie didn’t mix very well with my mind. Hah. I have some great photos to blog though!

P.S. I updated the Dream Board



view board >>

January 25, 2012
by Amber
4 Comments

Snowy Hike

I suppose its about time I make a real blog, eh? Now that the holidays have ended, I’m out of my random sump (I get into them sometimes… too lazy to work out, too hungry to not eat crap, too tired to not sleep all the time). Luckily they dont last long. So, to celebrate the end of my lazy slump, I gave amapeli a newer, simpler look.

Vancouver had its annual week long winter just recently. Im a huge fan of the winter weather. I don’t mind bundling up and going out to enjoy it. I may be a bit bias because I drive a 4×4, own a plethora of scarves, and my off season camping gear doubles as a winter wardrobe, but shrug. Last weekend I woke up to a winter wonderland. I felt like a 5 year old with a sugar rush. Unfortunately, my hiking company wasnt as enthused, but it didnt stop me from heading out.

Buntzen took me about 2 hours that day. It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. I had a moment while I was standing on this bridge:

It felt surreal. Standing in between snow covered mountains, crossing the water, looking out at this scenery:

You cant help but get lost in it. I wish the photos did it proper justice. Maybe next time I’ll make a video.

Along with beautiful new scenery, the snow made my hike about 10x more challenging. Try hoofing it up hill in a foot of snow, sliding around and drudging through the resistance. It wasn’t long until I had the hat, gloves and scarf off. I even cursed myself for chosing my jacket over my vest.


January 6, 2012
by Amber
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OOTD (3)

I wore this outfit to work and carried it over to my evening’s errands.

Bag is Estee Lauder, my purse during the week. It holds everything for work and for play. The zebra print leggings are a favourite of mine from Forever 21.

December 17, 2011
by Amber
2 Comments

Thanks, Mom

So I’m hanging out on Facebook earlier today, wind up on my Mom’s page. Glance over to her side bar and notice…

 

 

Last time I checked, I was your daughter.

Face palm.

December 12, 2011
by Amber
2 Comments

30 Day Challenge: Day 6

I have chosen to omit Day 5 (a time you thought about ending your own life) as its not something I feel relevant to who I am and where I am now.

Day 6: 30 Interesting Facts About Me

  1. I am obsessed with Dinosaurs. Obsessed. I have figurines, toys, etc all in my room and too many documentaries.
  2. My favourite dinosaur is Gorgosaurus. He’s pretty much the T-Rex of the north. Remains typically found in Alberta areas.
  3. My favourite super hero is The Flash. I collect the comic series and I have the entire early 90s television series.
  4. I’m a total dork/nerd/geek/whatever. I like comic books, coding, message boards, sci fi novels and the like.
  5. I have an LG Optimus 3D – Team Android. I converted from years of Crackberry and haven’t looked back once.
  6. I have an irrational dislike for tomatoes. The sight of them gives me a slight shudder, everything about them weirds me out. The whole fruit vs. vegetable debate, their tough outer skin, the weird squishy inside parts, the beads and the flavour they leave behind even after i take them out of my food. I will not eat them in any form. No ketchup, no sauces, nothing.
  7. I drive a 4×4 suv for a reason.
  8. I’ve been employed by General Motors (various dealerships) for 6 years. I know cars. Most of the time I could tell you what car is behind me at night by the headlights.
  9. I love Jason Lee. I’m not sure what I would do if i ever met him. I actually met a look a like once, it was fantastic.
  10. Girl crushes = Ashlee Simpson & Mila Kunis
  11. I drink green tea like its going out of style. Infact, I drink tea of all kinds this way. I always have a cup next to me, at work, at home, and its custom to sit around the table after a family dinner with a cup.
  12. I’m a mod over at Joltmb.org. I love those ladies with my whole heart. We have a stamps game going, you’ll be addicted in no time.
  13. I know nothing about make up or hair products.
  14. I have a very extensive closet. The doors dont close and a lot of things are doubled up on hangers. I then have to hang things off the door handles and over the top of the doors. Yes, I do wear it all. 
  15. I love scarfs. I have a ridiculous amount of them. They have their own rack and they hardly all fit.
  16. I wear a Claddagh Ring. Always facing the proper way. Its an irish tradition, my Grandmother bought me the ring while we were in Ireland together visiting family in 2004.
  17. I’m one of the guys. My social life is largely about meeting my buddys at the pub for beer and wings and usually to watch the hockey game.
  18. GO CANUCKS GO. Need I say more?
  19. I basically hate facebook. I feel like its the bain of existence.
  20. I use night drives as therapy.
  21. I’m an avid hiker. I’ve been up most mountains in my area, and every one I haven’ t.. I will.
  22. Nothing puts things into perspective like sitting on top of a mountain with the right play list on my ipod.
  23. My friends and I will never be too old to build forts.
  24. I live with 2 of my best friends. Its like a sleep over every night and the most fun I’ve ever had. Sure we have the odd issue, but its worth it. I love our little family.
  25. I’m obsessed with inspirational quotes. I have posters which I’ve made all over my room, I’ve also made plaques of them for my friends.
  26. I have sticky notes all along my bathroom mirror. Daily aspirations and inspirational quotes to keep in mind. I start my day by reading them while I’m getting ready. I truly believe they make me a happier person.
  27. I know every line in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Jim Carey & Taylor Momsen version). Its borderline obsessive. Absolutely my favourite holiday film.
  28. As far as body mods go… I have 3 piercings in each ear, one in the belly and one in the nose, retired an eyebrow ring a few years back. A tattoo just below my neck reading “keep the blood in your head” and one on my left food reading “keep your feet on the ground” lines from “The Quiet Things The No One Ever Knows” by Brand New. Also, on my neck a flock of birds.
  29. I am very tight lipped. I dont like to gossip, even my best friend has to pull teeth for info from me some times.
  30. My dream car is a white Audi R8. I will have one.

Meme List
Previous Days

December 12, 2011
by Amber
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Reasons To Smile

Like most of us in the blog world, I have a secret tumblr addiction. My timeline is littered with inspirational and fitness blogs. My most resent favourited find is Little Reasons To Smile.

Here’s a few of my little reasons to smile.

Go discover yours.

December 1, 2011
by Amber
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30 Day Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Views on Religion

 

I consider myself to be Agnostic. I dont believe in any one god, I dont believe someones watching over me, I do believe there is some sort of higher power, some reason we’re all here doing what we’re doing. I also believe in Karma as well as the power of positive thought.

As far as organized religion, I think the best way to sum up my views is with one of my favourite movie quotes:

When are you people going to learn? It’s not about who’s right or wrong. No denomination’s nailed it yet, because they’re all too self-righteous to realize that it doesn’t matter what you have faith in, just that you have faith. Your hearts are in the right place, but your brains gotta to wake up.  – Serendipity, Dogma

Meme List
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November 28, 2011
by Amber
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Birthday Dinner

I had my birthday dinner on Saturday night. Followed by drinks and video games at my house.

I had a really great birthday. My friends made things fantastic. Dinner was excellent and drinks at my place with the old school nintendo took the cake. I also had a great family dinner last night where I ate an embarrasing amount of food resulting in an extra crazy morning work out. I figure we’re even now. Sorry body, but it waaaas my birthday after all.