geek support.

Recently, Kacie from The Written Word(s) posted a blog on Superheroesque about having a geek girl support group.  Just the idea of having one local geeky friend made me happy.  But she had 4!  I'm so jealous. 

As many of you know, I moved to a new city about a year and a half go and have been working through the struggle of making new friends.  Thankfully, I have found a few who are pretty awesome....all the while making time for those super rad ones that live over an hour away.  But when it comes to geeky friends, I have Jeni.  The downside to that, is that Jeni lives in Colorado.  *womp, womp* 

A great light was shining down on me the day I found the International Geek Girl Pen Pal Club (IGGPPC).  I have made a few new friends there who share the same interests, but they also live far away. 

Because of this lack, I turned to my blog to express my fangirl-ness, my squees, my wants, etc.  Through this blog, I have become connected with even MORE super rad geek girls. 
Then....I had an idea.  <insert light bulb here>

I can hang out with my friends, if I want.  I can host...

And guess what!?  You're ALL invited! I have a feeling that this could become a recurring event.  I will need time with my like-minded friends.

Tell your friends!  The bigger the better!!  If you blog about it, come back here and let me know.  Tweet it.  Pin it.  Do what you do.

Hopefully we'll have a good turn out.  But, hey....even two would make my night. 
 
We all need a geek girl support group.  I know I do.

Will you be there?  Let me know!

my first car.

The idea of trekking off across the country on a roadtrip makes me reminisce about becoming a driving and getting my first car.
Ah...my first car.  A white 1981 Chevrolet Citation. 
It was affectionately known as the "Screamin' White Demon" by all of my passengers.  Rightfully so.  She was a "surprise" from my dad.  My parents have been divorced since I was two, but this definitely should have been one of those choices for me that required discussion.

(For a visual, imagine this puppy in white!)

The maroon interior and obnoxiously large steering wheel gave it even more character.  (Like that was needed.)  Classically, the ceiling material was hanging between strategically placed thumb tacks.  The stereo was an 8-track player with the car radio placed vertically into dash rather than horizontally. 

I think I could have rocked it if it had this red interior...

I promise, that car took off about as fast as Bowser's go-cart does in Mario Kart.  Acceleration was not her strong suit.  I remember just praying that we could hit 55....soon.  She may have rattled a lot, but by the time that thing hit 70, we were coasting. 

I remember going out to sell ads for the high school yearbook with some fellow classmates when my left blinker stopped working.  Thankfully, I was able to depend on my crazy friend, Spencer, who would hang out of the back driver's side window and point as we approached a turn.  We had some good times in that car.

Thankfully, she only had to last me about a year.  I think my mom pitied me. She bought a new ride and mercifully gave me the keys to her red 1992 Pontiac Grand Am.  I was stylin' & profilin'....

Luckily, I won't be driving either of those for the 2500+ miles that we'll be driving roundtrip.
But I still remember the days...

Any awesome stories about your first car?  Let me know in the comments!

8-bits of awesome.

Each week I talk about 8 things that I find to be awesome.  Whether it be geek news, things to be added to my ever-growing wish list, funny pics or some rad new music...you'll find it weekly here at The Shiny Happy in my

And here we go:

• Are you an Iggle?  Have you heard about IGGPPC Online Summer Camp!?  I'm so super excited about this!  Join us!!
• No thanks, Taxi.  I prefer to roll out with Optimus Prime!
• I do not condone violence in the workplace, BUT this makes me feel all Daryl Dixon-ish.
• In my serious apathetic search for workout clothes, I found this treasure.
• This is me.  Except for the fact that I am pathetically behind...
• There is some serious want here. Possibly lust.
• Sooo......I'm probably going to have to try this.  Don't judge.
• I'm a fan of a good 404.  These are pretty rad.

Alright! And that's a wrap on this week's 8-bits! What things are bringing the awesome to your life this week? Let me know by sharing your links in the comments. I can always use more awesome.

insert clever title here.

Weekends are glorious.

This past weekend was no exception. 

While it wasn't full of relaxation & downtime, I had too much fun.  I mean, how can a weekend not start off right when your boss takes you to play golf on Saturday!?  Right!??

I absolutely love my job.  This past Friday, that love grew exponentially. 
The boss calls for us to leave at noon for lunch and some good ol' times at Top Golf.

Proof:  My boss & I.

That form, though...

After that, dinner with friends.  No pics though.  I suppose we were too busy being awesome. 
Saturday gave me time to clean & organize the casa before I leave for vacation this Saturday. Oh yeah!!!  Saturday night was movie & pizza night with Miss Mattison.  We also made cinnamon roll rabbits.  However, Matti preferred to call the cinnamon roll werewolves.  That's my girl.  Let that geek flag fly!

Sunday morning, we woke up bright and early to celebrate with a Father's Day breakfast.  Even though we always go to breakfast every Sunday morning...I enjoyed this time with my loves.  I'm extremely happy with the life we've made.

Aren't they cute?

After breakfast, we headed to my hometown to have lunch with my daddy-o.  We met up there with my little sis, Laci; her husband, James; my nephew, Colton; my step-bro, Matt & my niece, Giana.

Matti & Giana enjoyed girl time in the pool.

Me & my "seestar".  Blue eyes like our daddy.

Check out that handsome fella. :)

That's my daddy-o!

I can't talk about our visit without acknowledging how cute my nephew, Colton, is.

Matti loves her daddy. The epitome of Father's Day right there.

I hope everyone else had a great weekend & a wonderful Father's Day.
 Now, I'm planning for my vacation next week!  Tybee Island, Georgia!!  WOO!!  I'll be roadtrippin' it with my mom & my niece.  Can't wait to share pics of our adventures!!  I plan on stopping along the way in Mississippi, South Carolina and Louisiana.  Who's meeting me for dinner? :)

8-bits of awesome.

Each week I talk about 8 things that I find to be awesome.  Whether it be geek news, things to be added to my ever-growing wish list, funny pics or some rad new music...you'll find it weekly here at The Shiny Happy in my

 

And here we go:

 

• Has anyone else been wanting a Gnome-Eating Garden Kaiju for your yard? 
• Why don't I have super cool neighborhood watch signs in MY town??
• Walter White, Jr. wished his dad a Happy Father's Day....and my heart shattered again over the crystal meth-shaped-hole that Breaking Bad has left.
• Have you heard of Cowl Girl!?  I must say that I'm pretty stoked to see this.
• While looking for office art, I came across The Power Cosmic on Etsy.  Check them out!!  I now have several prints on my wish list.
• My OCD self REALLY wants to invest in one of these.
• I dare you to tell me that this doesn't make you squeeeeeeeee.
• My new spice rack project.  I'm loving it!

Alright! And that's a wrap on this week's 8-bits! What things are bringing the awesome to your life this week? Let me know by sharing your links in the comments. I can always use more awesome.

 

icymi.

....I took a 2 month hiatus.

While that may be considered slacker-esque, it was completely necessary.  It wasn't burn out.  It wasn't writer's block.  It was me trying to balance my new job workload, plus M's softball schedule, PLUS my work on the Relay For Life Committee. 

Whew.

Now that all of that is off the plate, I'm back!
What have you missed!?

My mom and some awesome friends went with me to celebrate my birthday at my 3rd Color Run!

Being a rebel & wearing my Yoda shirt instead of the "uniform". :)

....Because neck tattoos make me feel hardcore.

Game faces...activated.

By the way...my mom is more awesome than yours.

No idea who this is, but I thought she was super rad for rockin' the Color Run.

My obligatory "aftermath" shot.

 One month later, I participated in my 8th Relay For Life event.  I'm so proud to be involved and on the committee.  We had an awesome time!  7pm to 7am....and it felt like it.  
I'm getting old.  

I was the proud Team Captain of The Crushers!

Downtown Sulphur Springs during Relay.

I was the host of the "Man Pageant".

4AM at The Crushers camp....and going strong.

4AM called for the Mohawk.

Last lap at 7AM!

My team, The Crushers, were named the Most Spirited team. :)

 That following Sunday, I made my very tired body crawl out of bed and attend my very first Comic Con in Dallas!!  It was worth it!

This is the face of a very tired Amber. (But my shirt is awesome...)

Thanks to my friends, Chris & Brad (cameraman), for going with me!

I was a kid in a candy shop.  Seriously.  I'm sure Chris & Brad were ready to drag me out of there far before we ever left.

So, my hiatus definitely hasn't been all work and no play.  But, I have to admit, I am so ready to get back in the groove of blogging again.  I've missed you guys. 

Did anyone else make it to Dallas Comic Con?  Let me know!