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!

the birthday is coming.

That's right, folks.  I'm about to be another year older.  I'll be 34....and April 6th is the big day.
Personally, I celebrate all month.  I've done it for years now.  All of April are belong to me.  I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing this year to celebrate.  
I'm a fan of birthday parties. What can I say?  I like attention.  My 30th birthday was an 80's Bash since I was born in 1980.  

My 32nd birthday was my first birthday back in Texas...so a Texas Rangers theme was appropriate.  PLUS, I'm a super fan.   I love me some Rangers! 

Number 33 was spent at my very first 5K -- The Color Run.  Seriously, best birthday ever!  We had so much fun!

Now we're here to the big 34.  What to do?  While I've been thinking of activities...we can't neglect the thought of the infamous wishlist.  You know I have one.  Everyone does.
Here's what has made the birthday wishlist so far:

1. Batman Funko POP! Vinyl
2. iMac Desktop Computer
3. Happiness Junky tee
4. Mantis Orchid Women's Bike
5. Totally Rad tee
6. Rainbow Unicorn Mug from Lenny Mud
7. Star Wars Saga DVD set
8. Womens Sanuk Bedouin Sky Bootie
9. Wonder Woman Retractable ID Badge Holder

 

Any celebration suggestions?  Let me know in the comments.  Any and all birthday cards will be accepted with leaps and squees. :)

 

Later, folks.

 

 

 

my week in photos. // 1

Hi!  Remember me?

I'm that girl from this blog who got a new job and has been SUPER busy.  This in turn has caused me to neglect my blog this month.  I am currently working to get a new schedule down. Promise.
Because of the aforementioned busyness, I am presenting you with my week in photos in what I believe will become a normal thing around here. 

Well, I am currently waiting for my new glasses to come in.  I figured that a selfie with my old trusties would be fitting.  They've been good to me, but they are so scratched up now that it's surprising that they are even helping my vision at all at this point. 

 Miss Mattison insisted on practically every toy and stuffed animal she owns to be in her bed for a super awesome slumber party last weekend. By the way, everyone of them has a name.  Every. One.  

The move to my new office was grand.  I'm getting everything all set up.  Of course, no desk of mine is complete without Wonder Woman.  

Of course, my other Funko POP! friends are slowly joining the party.  The Force is very strong in this office.

I absolutely LOVE riding around with the mister is his big ol' truck.  I don't even know what we were doing...or where we were going here.  Isn't that sad?  
I'm getting old.

Well folks, I'm off to enjoy my weekend!  I'll be doing the music thang in Denison this weekend. Anyone else have big plans? 

Enjoy!

merry friendsmas.

This week, I celebrated my First Annual Friendsmas with my new crew here in my new town.  (#34 on my 35 Before 35 - done!)  To those of you that are new here, I recently discussed the difficulty of making new friends for the thirty-somethings.  Thankfully, I have been able to make some friends through work.  They are affectionately deemed K-Hop, MoJack & J-Wil.  
Friendsmas became a thing for me years and years ago.  Now that I'm in a new place, (and I've actually managed to make some friends) I felt it was time to implement the First Annual Friendsmas here.
J-Wil wasn't able to come since she's off in Cancun or someplace with her hubby.  Whatev.
But, K-Hop and MoJack were in!  We met up at Bayou Jack's and exchanged gifts. 

K-Hop, me & MoJack.

You have to appreciate friends who understand your geekish ways.  K-Hop surprised me with a new addition to my tree.  I was just talking about my Christmas tree and how much I needed more geeky ornaments and she has blessed my tree with this awesomeness...

 

Perfect timing!  And you know that when he's not gracing the Christmas tree, that he'll be on desk at work.  I love him!

The thing that did go on my desk immediately, is MoJack's sweet gift -- a Funko POP Darth Vader Vinyl.  

Now, we all know that I have an unhealthy obsession with Funko POP Vinyls.  This has spurred an even greater want. Ugh.  All the Funkos are belong to me!

 MoJack is a HUGE Potterhead, so one of her gifts included a wand.  I have seriously never seen anyone so excited about such a small gift.  I'm 100% certain that she brought it to work.  No lie. Of course, I've never read or seen any of the Harry Potter business.  I know how excited I got when I saw Funko POP Darth.  There was literally a squee heard throughout Bayou Jack's.

 We ended the night by going to see Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas.  Too much fun.  I'm thinking that we'll need to start planning a GNO once a month now. 

I'm pretty excited about my new friends.

Do you do anything special for the holidays with your group of friends?  What kinds of things do you do?  I might need some ideas!

 

hey, santa.

Christmas time is just around the corner.  Do you have your list ready for Santa?  I know I do.  I've included some of my favorite wishes this year.  There's no way we have time to go through the full list, so I'm presenting my short one.  Santa already knows the rest! 

 

1.  Mantis Orchid Women's 26- Inch Bike

2.  Tom's Washed Camo Canvas Women's Classics

3.  Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray] (1977)

4.  Michael Kors Bedford Ostrich Tote

5.  THIS Black Leather Jacket (or something similar)

6.  Timex Unisex Weekender  

7.  Rainbow Unicorn Mug by LennyMud

8.   Yamaha DGX640W Digital Piano 

9.  Mr. T Funko POP Vinyl (and every other Funko POP ever made!)  

10.  Olloclip iPhone Camera Lens System from ThinkGeek

Seriously.  I'm in LOVE with Funko POP Vinyls.  I find myself wanting to buy every single one.  I'm hoping someone will pity me and send me a new one since I need to stop ordering them.  Also, everyone should check out LennyMud on Etsy.  Most awesome mugs ever!! 

Have you been nice this year?  What things are you wishing for this Christmas?  Let me know by leaving a comment.

 

the soup.

The Soup includes a mixture of all the lovely things that made me *squee* this week! It’s got my favorite geek news, social media posts, and anything other delicious thing that makes me happy. 
So, awaaay we go! 

• Geek Newsy Things: Wonder Woman’s Name Pops Up As Female Leads Test For The Man of Steel Sequel at The Mary Sue & Online Video Submissions Now Open For Star Wars Episode VII Casting Call at Nerd Approved.
  
  Online Video Submissions Now Open For Star Wars Episode VII Casting Call
  Read more at http://nerdapproved.com/movies/online-video-submissions-now-open-for-star-wars-casting-call/#X45rZR7M5JlPDgG7.99
  Online Video Submissions Now Open For Star Wars Episode VII Casting Call
  Read more at http://nerdapproved.com/movies/online-video-submissions-now-open-for-star-wars-casting-call/#X45rZR7M5JlPDgG7.99
  Online Video Submissions Now Open For Star Wars Episode VII Casting Call
  Read more at http://nerdapproved.com/movies/online-video-submissions-now-open-for-star-wars-casting-call/#X45rZR7M5JlPDgG7.99
• Favorite Facebook/Instragram Post:

  

  "This is our 'We miss Amber Henry' face." - from my good friends, Melissa & Emily in Iowa.

• Favorite Pin:
• 
  
  
• Favorite Song: "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" by Fall Out Boy
• Favorite Blog Post:  "Before Hitting Publish:  A 10-Point Blog Post Checklist" at Sillygrrl.
• Something I Learned: Doctor Who was originally an educational show, with episodes set in the future to teach kids about science and episodes set in the past to teach them history.
• Wants of the Week: 

  

  Seriously.  I already love Monopoly, but The Walking Dead Monopoly: Survival Edition!?  Sold.

  
  
  
  

  

  LOVE this Wonder Woman Backpack with a removable cape! WANT!!

  

  I love coffee mugs…and this Goonies mug needs to find a place in my home.

  
  
  What are some things that made you squee this week?  Hit me up or share in the comments.
  
  
  

the soup.

The Soup includes a mixture of all the lovely things that made me *squee* this week! It’s got my favorite geek news, social media posts, and anything other delicious thing that makes me happy. 
So, awaaay we go! 

• Geek Newsy Things:  Thor’s Jaimie Alexander Fans The Flames Of Rumorville By Talking About Warner Bros. Superhero Films & Wonder Woman at The Mary Sue and "Star Wars: Episode VII" Gets An Official Release Date at Nerd Approved. 
• Favorite Facebook/Instragram Post:  I'm thankful that my friend, Sophia, sent me a virtual Starbucks red cup cheers from California.  I can't say that I was thankful for her song choice -- "Friday" by Rebecca Black.  Ugh, earworm.

• 

  
  
• Favorite Tweet: "Shout out to @theradwagon!  One of the few RL people that can handle me on twitter." -- @jayosy (My friend, Joss, in California)  <--- She's pretty awesome by the way, which deserves a follow in my opinion.
• Favorite Pin:

  

  (imglove.com)

• Favorite Song: "Miss Jackson" by Panic! At The Disco
• Favorite Blog Post:  "The Littlest Turtle" at Daddy's Little Prop.  So. Much. Cute.
• Something I Learned:  One of the most popular marching songs for the Russian Military is the Spongebob Squarepants theme song.
• Wants of the Week: 
  
  LOVE this GameBoy Coffee Mug from This Is Why I'm Broke.  I think that seeing the "Game Over" at the end would make me even more distraught about having no coffee.
•  
  
  My, oh my!  So much want for this Michael Kors bag.  Ugh.  Give me your money!
  

  

  Seriously!  The cold weather is here and I live with Mr. Polar Bear.  I would rock one of these Star Wars Onesies in a heartbeat!
  
  

  

  
  As a proud girl with a gun, I love these target posters!  These are even better than the zombie targets that have been around.  I might need to order some and go warm up my Glock! 
  
  What are some things that made you squee this week?  Hit me up or share in the comments.