Cupcakery at the Birthday House

So the magical day of August 30th, 2008 is soon approaching. Are you excited? I am! My birthday is just a mere 3 days away, and it has been years since I have been this elated. Granted every year brings on a new wave of panic, and fancier eye creams and dermabrasion kits, and now the elimination of black eyeliner (makes me look too old), but I have been mentally planning for this event for some time now.

Last year for my birthday it was sushi and mochi green tea ice cream. This year everything has been left to suprise except for 2 things: rose angel food cupcakes, and the lemon-zest cream frosting that will be topping them. Lavender ice cream may still be in the mix. I made the rose water myself, the rosey fragrance sitting in my fridge will be mixed into the angel food cake mix tomorrow. I'm so excited! I debated back and forth on the flavor of the frosting. I couldn't buy a cake mix or a tub of frosting because all of them contain trans fats! (Except for Angel Food) I thought of Marshmellow frosting, rasberry, blood orange, rose... but lemon won!

As known, girls should wear some form of a fancy headress on their birthdays, and for a while tiaras seemed to do well. However this year I decided that perhaps I wanted something a little more understated and classy. So, in true Amber fashion, I made myself a "birthday headband". I lined the headband in gold, wound in in pink satin ribbon, decorated it with pink shiffon and two bows: one gold, one pink. Oh, and Swoarski cyrstals! I promise it is still "understated"! There are quite a few quirky cupcake websites and bakeries out there. I encourage you to find some, and dive into the wonderful world of cupcakes!

Here are a few site you might enjoy:

http://www.chicagocupcakes.com/

• http://www.52cupcakes.blogspot.com/



• http://www.cupcakerecipe.net/



• http://www.dozencupcakes.com/html/flavors.html

Stay stylish!

Interviewing

While as an intern it may be tempting to believe that you are disposable, it is of the utmost importance that you never believe this! Sure sometimes your boss forgets you going to be there at ten (like you have every last Monday for the last month), and yes he is still the only one there who is willing to remember your name. Don't lose heart!

However, having the opportunity at both internships to sit at a desk where every one who enters the building sees me first, I have put together a list- a very helpful one indeed. Seems as though everyone wants a job/internship these days. This in turn leads to many interviews. Which gives me the ripe opportunity to observe these internees. Because of them, I have been able to form a very helpful list as to behavior at an interview: (I speak in "we" form, because I know someone out there agrees with me)

• Please overdress. We'll like you better.
  
• If you're not going to wear a tie, please tuck your shirt in. If you're not going to tuck your shirt in, please iron it.
  
• Do something with your hair


• Always, Always know with whom you are interviewing. And, by all means, do not walk through the door and announce that you don't know. Humor us: pretend.
  
• Bring your resume with you. Even if you e-mailed it.


• Do you have a portfolio? Is it with you? It should be.


• Only thing we hate more than your Coach branded woven "C" pattern smeared all over your open toe wedges? Flip-flops.
  
• Please research the company before you come in.


• Smile!

Sitting at the Mall

So I must confess, I had an hour to kill. When Amber gets bored, her imagination takes over.

I spent an hour after work sitting at the mall, and decided that I had been sent on a mission to spot "new trends". And to also to take a mental note on every shoe that passed by. (Even interviewed a few people, on demin. Thank you Lila!)

Newest trend that's not so new? Ugly shoes. Yes, men still try to pick up girls, and Victoria Secret hasn't quite gotten it right. It's a bit obvisous why their sales are down (apparel now). When catering your marketing twoards the 14-20's crowd, it may come as a supprise that they don't have $50 to spend on a bra. The plethora of stiched Coach bags almost led me down the path of depression. For me Coach represents my mother. I remember being a little girl and growing up thinking that all purses had Coach written on them. She owns 3, 4 if you count the backpack. All are made of soft supble leather, and her closet always had the sweetest smell because of them. However with the younger marketing, and the outlet stores (and TJ Maxx) everyone and their sister is carrying them. I see 10 year olds with these bags. Of course it's not the leather ones, its the multi colored, or two toned brown ones. I guess part of me can rest assured in this fact. Personally, I still want a Coach bag - only I want the kind my mother carried. Show me a classy lady, and I will show you a well made (dark) leather bag (the less hardware the better) with a Coach tag hanging from it (smiles to Stephanie). The bag pictured one of the bags my mother owns.

As I stated earlier, I took a a mental note of everyone's shoes. Now, I know I vented earlier about wearing Uggs out and about in hot and sticky weather - so it would make sense that people would wear...slippers/flip-flops out instead, right? In my whole 80 mintues sitting at the mall, only once did I see a pair that did a foot justice. I understand that they're easy to slip on, that they're comfortable, etc. But, they don't work. Not for your outfit, not for my eyes, not for your skirt, shorts, and certainly not jeans. Now when I say slippers, I'm talking those you bought from Old Navy, your Locals (outside the Islands of course!), the ones that have molded to the shape of your foot. Now if you're wearing the jeweled ones from Aldo, by all means sister! Walk on!

Uggs

Girls, what is up with the wearing of the Uggs? Stuffing them into your skinny jeans, shuffling your feet in the halls...Wearing them with your mini skirts.
This needs to stop. Desist! Let them go! Please!









*Now, the Ugg company has designed Boots as in actual shoe. Check those out!

The OMG moment of the day

someone pls tell me where have i been?! carla bruni, my favorite french singer, the woman who assisted in the disassembly of mick jaggers marriage, the woman who has dated the prime minister of france AND walked for karl lagerfeld has married n. sarkozy, the president of france?! OMG! i seriously got on my phone to access my page just to tell you guys this!

Musing

So here I am, sitting alone in the office - trying to ignore the Red Vines, with my Earl Grey tea (my favorite. And, yes i gave into the red vines...6 times; once with peanut butter. Yum...). Reading through the traditional gossip magazines, and now onto Marie Claire, while listening to Alicia Keys Unplugged, I realize just how much I want into this world.
While logically I know that it is not possible, I feel like I have gained a ton of weight in the past few days spent in Texas. A woman who had a case of food poisoning doesn't gain weight. Silly me. Nonetheless, liquid leggings are back and if there has ever been a time (besides summer) to avoid mindless snacking, my dear friends it is now. I honestly am really excited about them! Oooh the possibilities that these hold!

An effortless rocker-chic. A vamped up floral outfit, or even with plaid (via current Express ad campaign). I recently have been in a friendly "tumble" with a girl from Copenhagen, Denmark about whether or not skinny pants/jeans are still in style for the fall. Um...

<--.

I dunno, do those look "skinny" to you?

I guess they don't receive Vogue or Harper's Bazaar in Denmark. She stuck to her story of wide legged and flares being in for this season, which isn't entirely incorrect. However if we are to go the way of philosophical, skinnies are in the "more true" category. So, buy both!

With runways all over Paris, Milan, London and New York having been pranced on, danced on and flounced on, a few things are clear: black lace is heading the race of what is in your face "now" and florals are here to stay. can you imagine wearing a black lace pencil skit to the office? I would love that! I would like to take the time to say that I have a teensy weensy prediction for Spring '08/Fall '09: wedge ankle boots. Let's see?

Strong "all grown up" female shilloutes are here for fall says Bazaar. Claiming that the cutesy girly frocks should be stashed. However, Valentino plays by his own rules, and I would like to thank him for this:

For some reason it reminds me of Wendy from Peter Pan. Which I find a bit strange, seeing as it looks nothing like a nightgown. Who cares! I love it. Just give me a windy subway, and a tough looking leather belt, and I'd be set.

Purple is a really big color this fall - and bright jewel tones in general. Are you guys as excited about this fall as I am? Fall has always been my favorite season as far as fashion goes, and this year the designers really have me excited.

This week our company just picked up a new demin client: we get to do a complete company make-over for them. Part of the assinment? Wear their jeans and let them know what we think. So, everyone in the office scored 2 pairs of free jeans!!!

This here be Texas, Y'all

Whew! I'm back from Texas y'all! This was my second time being to Texas; my first was when I went with ASA for Social Vice to Southwestern University. But, that wasn't in August, and back then my allergies killed me. This time it was a little more fun. We drove...and drove and drove! Holy cow! We flew into Austin, and then drove to Victoria. From Victoria we drove to San Antonio. From San Antonio, we drove to Dallas. From Dallas we drove to San Antonio. From San Antonio to Victoria. From Victoria to Austin. There was only one day out of that Thursday to Monday trip that we did not drive, and that was... Saturday.

For those of you who know Texas, you now know that about 70% of our trip was driving! Each of those places are about 3-4 hours away from each other. San Antonio to Dallas is about 6-7. Still fun none the less. I got to meet both sides of the family. However, it was under drastically different circumstances, unfortunately.

The wedding was beautiful! But let me just say that a wedding in Texas in August, outside at ten am, not the greatest idea. So glad I had my hat!

While in Texas I tried to keep my eyes open for trends that were popular down there. Since I was mainly on the outskirts or large cities, or in the country, it proved a little difficult. But let me say that the health movement was not one of them. On a corner shop in Victoria, there was a sign for burgers that read "Extra LG Greasy Cheese Burgers". I wanted to take a picture so bad.

We would go to restaurants, and there would be nothing vegetarian on the menu! Not even the cheese dip. When people heard that I was vegetarian, I received blank stares - like it was incomprehensible. One guy (a groomsmen from the wedding), wanted to know if I was going to drink that afternoon, and since I didn't feel like it, said no. When he found out I was vegetarian, he's all "What the f.ck do you eat?? No beer? No meat? That's my diet!" LOL. He forgot to mention cigarettes. Every 20 minutes. And, 7 pints of beer.

So, no health trends. One trend that I did see were these zebra and giraffe print bags:
They're plastic-like with ribbed texture along the animail print. I've seen them with color accents of electric blue, green, pink and then orange. The woman that I used to work for just ordered them for her botique about a month ago. They seem much more popular in Texas than California. At least for now.


While in Texas I saw some of the biggest Targets and Wal-Marts, and people, that I have ever seen. I saw some of the cheapest food and gas prices that I have seen in a long time! .39 cents for a bunch of bananas (not per pound), and $3.49 for gas. It's still over $4 over here. Let me just say that Texas made me realize how much I have really missed Lousiana. I forgot about the muggy air and the hospitality. I had forgotten about the lush thick greenery everywhere, and the crickets that sung me to sleep, and the mourning doves that woke me up. The south has a way of awakening a romance in you. However, the south also made me realize just how blessed I am to live in the state I do. And also how lucky I have been to have lived in the states that I have: California, Hawaii, Nevada. I don't know about the rest of NV, but Las Vegas has a pretty strong health movement, much like Hawaii and California. I don't think I could not live in a state where fresh produce is not only enjoyed but demanded, or where trans fat is evil and something to be feared.
I had a blast in Texas - but sitting here, eating my blackberry, banana and oversized shredded wheat, no sugar added, 100% whole grain breakfast, I am happy to be home.

Television, Glitter and the Metro

Today was the day!

I headed over my fashion internship this afternoon, and ended up arriving 30 minutes early. It's a good thing that I did! The other female model was there. Her mother was there as well (the other model was a senior in high school). I have never seen so many jeans for one girl! And they were all hers! Ha! She pulled Christian Louboutins and Manolo Blahniks out of her Louis Vuitton duffle bag. Looking around, I realized that I was the only one who was impressed. I suppose everyone had seen that - and it was nothing new.

Now I know why models are so skinny. Because, when the designer says "here, I brought this just in case - see if it fits" There is a wave of panice that goes through you: and a euphoric glow that grows when it does fit. But, if the garmet shouldn't, you begin to question why you exist. But it fit.

I got my hair and make-up done, and it was quite fun. I couldn't see what Christina was doing: all I could see was the dark purples, navy blues, and dark wine eye shadows being applied to the applicators and feel them swept across my lids. I loved the outcome.

So the television/fashion show was to go as such: there were to be four models, 2 male, 2 female. While Molly was interviewed, she would talk about her company and when cued we would walk out, pose and be filmed while she talked about each outfit. Some were designed by guest celebrities, others by former Miss USA's, some were for benefits, etc.

The glow of the stage lights where warm! But, who's complaining? It's television!

I took some documentive photos but alas, when you are alone who is there to take your picture?

The whole thing took about an hour. I loved it: running back and forth to change clothes, wiggling toes into the shoes, prepping your lip gloss right before the camera swings your way, the glow of the lights...smiling into the depth of the camera.

After the filming was finished, Molly was approached by the camera man. He was telling her about the international film festival that was coming up. He needed actresses. Molly points over to me "Oh - she'll be there. She'll do it." Looking at me, he's like "Oh, will she? Oh good. I need an actress." I smiled.

So there you have it. I'll be recieving a copy of the recording, and Molly says it will be going into my portfolio. I'll see if I can find a way to post it.

By the way, if you haven't heard of them yet: Metro Station. I heart them. And, Shake It is my obession at the moment. Oh, and girls, the tatooed, vestwearing lead singer? Mine

Check it out.

I would post the music video, but "Embedding disabled by request". So you'll have to YouTube it yourself. Bastards.

Fall '08

Most of my friends know that I have a handful of designers that I love:

Alexander McQueen, Betsy Johnson, and Ralf Lauren. Don't get me wrong; I know others exist. From the small up and coming designers, to the big over the top labels, to Target, I'm nowhere close to being elite.However, with the 3 that I mentioned above, I love them because of these reasons:

• They are unique
• They are consistant with their collections
• They are unpredictibly predictable
• You can actually wear it (Well...)

Just, can someone give me a red coat?

So here are a few highlights from their shows, that I absolutely absolutely love.
One of the reasons I love McQueen is because this man has been having a love affair with hips for as long as I can remember. Women have hips - and he remembers this.









Does anyone remember Bjork's Swan dress? I am slightly reminded of it here. Only, I find this much more beautiful. I love how McQueen reinvents the lace here. And the booties? I'd wear them in a heartbeat.
(Have you checked out the runway? It's actually made of satin. Sheesh. So, we've got the sheer, the black lace, and the satin!)
His theme this season was the Princess and the Prince, with a Russian flair. I say Turkish here, but whatever. This. Is.Beautiful. When she walks, it appears as if she is floating. Which, by the way, was the way royal women were taught to walk. Marie Antoniette was a master at it. She wowed the who French court with her walking abilities.



Betsey Johnson is crazy. And, I think that at her shows, I would have the most fun. At the end of every show, this woman cartwheels down the runway. I own two of her dresses, and as funky as some of her designs may look, they have the ability to stay classic. Her dresses fit so well! She got enough classy in her funk to make them wearable; and unforgivably cute.

Ok. Yes. That's all I have to say. And then these two:

And then of course, Lauren: (These don't really need explainations!)
Get me graduted!! So I can money to wear these. :)

Stay stylish!

Reflecting

Two days and counting until we leave for Texas! Fermin tells that everywhere I look, I will see heatwaves.

It was a good weekend. It certainly started off rought and angry, but that's what happens when you have two very stubborn people. Funny, because I never thought of myself as stubborn, but alas, I have proven myself otherwise.

But I have great news: I have a FashionSpot account! Considering it's invitation only, I am quite excited. I haven't figured out the perks of it yet, but I'll keep you updated.

I've been thinking about my internships lately, and I have realized just how lucky I am! Most people when they hear "intern" they think coffee runs, filing, and picking up poop. But, I haven't been doing that - instead I've been designing clothing, attending meetings, and updating blogs. I've been handling 19th century dresses and attending openings with upcoming artists and getting to dress up. I feel very blessed.

Of course working 20 hours a week and going unpaid comes at its price. Once school starts, the price will become higher, considering I won't have any time for a job - except for the interning. My dear boyfriend who works full time already, and who just applied to grad school is looking into picking up a 2nd job. It's hard not to feel guilty, and on top of it, he never complains. Instead, he brings home suprises of lotions and anti-wrinkle creams. For me.

I don't mean to sound like I'm bragging, it's just sometimes we need to sit back and realize how blessed we really are. I have a loving and caring boyfriend who does what he can to help me achieve my goals, and doesn't allow me to get down on myself - not even a little bit. I have two very nice and understanding bosses who dispite their titles remain down to earth. I just hope and pray that God rewards Fermin for all the sacrafices he has made for me.

So - about that TV fashion show. For one of the outfits I'll be wearing a leather (no too)mini skirt and black patent leather heels! I'll be sure to try and take pictures while I get my make up done.

Wow - I am so glad I have been working out.