Backpacks

Lately I've been eyeing new bags to use for carrying around my laptop. I've been using a Timbuk2 extra small messenger bag for the last few years, and it's been great, but it isn't big enough to fit my laptop, so I've been looking for alternatives.

In the last few years I've been strictly into messenger bags so I thought about doing the classic San Francisco thing and get a Chrome bag. But to be honest, they seem a little bulky, and maybe not a great fit. As I've been cruising the streets of SF I've noticed that a lot of people use backpacks instead of messenger bags, so I started checking out my options.

Of course Chrome and Timbuk2 have backpacks, but then I found Topo Designs. Okay... Match made in heaven.

I love the clean minimalist feel to their bags, and yet they still have a lot of personality.

I love that they have a flat base so that your bag isn't constantly tipping over. And of course, I'm a huge sucker for organizers. 

Now the hardest part will be deciding on one... Do you use a backpack to tote around your laptop? Any recommendations?

I'm not dead yet!

Anybody catch the reference to Monty Python in the title? Ha ha ha.. That HAS to be my favorite part of the movie.

As the title references, this blog isn't quite dead. In fact, it is about to become very much alive. Now that Adam and I are in the big city (not that one, the one on the left coast..) I thought blogging would be a fun way to keep you all up to date on the comings and goings of our life in San Francisco. Come along for the ride, and be sure to comment! That's a great way to stay connected!

Here are a few quick pics. If you don't already, you should follow me on Instagram (@amberschmamber). That's where a lot of these pictures come from, and it will probably be a more reliable place to see pictures. :)

Adam won a free Tee-Shirt by eating a 2lb donut in under 3 minutes. He's pretty proud of that.

Trying to check out the sites in my free time. You probably recognize this guy.

In the background are the Painted Ladies next to Alamo Square. I thought this would be a nice place to study.

This is the view from our temporary housing. Dreamy right?

Thanks for joining us! Watch for more posts coming up.

Duck Duck Goose

This story is just too funny to not share. For those of you who follow me on Instagram (@amberschmamber), you've already received a preview of this story.

One Monday morning I pulled into the parking lot at work. Standing in the way of all the cars entering the parking lot was a canada goose. This is not uncommon for our building. We are right across the street from a small lake, so the ducks and geese are plentiful around our office. When you first start working here you think they are so cute, and that it's so rad that they hang out around the office. Then you realize that the geese are super mean. They will fight you, and that's exactly what this goose was doing on this particular Monday morning.

Some of said geese hanging out on top of the building

Back to the story. I pull into the parking lot, and there's the lone fighter goose. It's standing right in the way of all the cars coming in. As I tried to get around it it came closer to my car. I couldn't believe it was that dumb to fight a car (even if it is a Mini), so I maybe drove a little close to it to see if it would back off. It didn't. After I parked I saw it interrogate a big utility van that pulled in. It actually pecked at the van! LOL! This geese clearly needed a lesson on relative size of objects.

Well, I laughed off the situation. It was a funny way to start a Monday. 

As I left work that afternoon, I found revenge from the goose on my car.

It relieved itself all over my driver side door handle. I'm telling you, there was no way to open the door without touching this stuff, and I'm certain it belonged to the goose because I see those things eat grass all day, and this was definitely made up of grass.

Goose 1, Amber 0. You win this time.

Such a good movie!

I just watched this the other night, and it is definitely in my top favorite movies now!

That little 82-year-old man is my new hero. Swimming and yoga, my two favorite things, and he is AMAZING at them in his old little body! Plus, I don't think he ever stops smiling. Such a cool guy. If you watch it, make sure you watch to the very end. That's when the most inspiring quote happens.

It's on Netflix Streaming. Loved it!

Past the point of no return

This roller coaster we call life...

I've been very contemplative about the events of today. It's my birthday, and I'm past the point of wanting to get older. I'm not that old, but I wish I could just freeze things where they are and not get any older.

Maybe it's because my mom watched a lot of Oprah while I was growing up. I always wanted to be that kid who was on Oprah for making her first million by age 18. I had high expectations for myself. Have my own business at age 21... The past handful of years I've felt disappointed to get older because I didn't feel like I was where I wanted to be in this point of my life. I wanted to rocket past the playing field, and advance rapidly to become that wonder-kid.

Well, I've arrived. I really have been dreading this birthday, but after pondering it, I have nothing to be upset about. I am that wonder-kid I've been dreaming of.

I recently got a new job. This job is literally everything I wanted. I didn't know what in the world I wanted to be, but I knew that I wanted to be independent, have a flexible schedule, and be someone who makes a huge impact by making things better. Well, that's exactly what I got. 

I've told a few people this. I feel like I'm standing on a launching pad. I have everything I need to sky-rocket. ...and that's exactly what I plan to do. =)

2011 was my year. Make 2012 yours.

Future family tradition

Check out the blog post below to see this family's annual tradition of Family Olympics. This looks like a ridiculous amount of fun! It will definitely be an A-team tradition for the future!

family olympics!

Bike Wreck

Yeah, that’s right. I wrecked my bike. Well, I don’t know whose fault it was. Maybe it wasn’t I who wrecked the bike.

I hit a car. A parked car. No, I’m not proud of it.

We were riding back home after biking up City Creek canyon. To give some background, sometimes Adam will give me a little push while we’re riding. So instead, this time he said, “Hey Amber, give me a push!” I was feeling a bit confident, so I held my hand out, made sure I was balanced, and tried to give him a push. Instantly, my bike bailed to the right. My hands were closest to me on of the handlebars, away from the brakes. There was a parked car right in front of me.

What do you do in this situation? I couldn’t reach my brakes. I was going pretty fast. Hitting the car was imminent. So… I screamed.

Since there wasn’t video or photo documentation of the wreck, I drew a picture for your viewing pleasure (please do not use this picture for commercial use, I’m in the process of getting it copyrighted so it can be mass-produced.. )

After I screamed, I bumped into the back of the car. I kind of rolled over the front of my bike and fell to the side.

Thankfully, the bike wasn’t injured. I just rocked my pelvis into my stem is all. I have a nice bruise today. But lets talk about the real injury. My pride.

Funniest Picture Ever

It really isn’t my place to share this photo, but it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s 4 years old, and so happy.

AFV

Probably my all time favorite show is America’s Funniest Home Videos. It’s the greatest ever. These are my two favorite clips that I could watch all day long. =)

 

How can you not ADORE that kid?!! He makes me so happy. =)

Frame Project Finished

It feels so great to finish a project. Especially one that has been years in the making.

Thank you to the expert skill of my husband, these are finally hanging on our wall

Here’s the long story side of it (buckle up, or feel free to skip this part)

Once upon a time (probably 2 years ago), Ikea came out with these really cool frames you could wrap fabric around and hang on your wall (as seen here).

Adam and I went to Ikea to get some. We first hit the fabric section and cut all the fabric we needed, then headed to get the frames. Unfortunately they were sold out. After multiple long trips back to Ikea to get these frames, they finally told us that the frames had been discontinued. Lame.

We still had the fabric, and thought it was a cool idea, so we decided to make our own.

It went horribly wrong. The wood we picked was super tough, we couldn’t get the nails in, and the boards didn’t align right, so each frame was a bit skiwampus. On top of all that, I don’t know measurements, so they ended up way smaller that I planned…

After about a year hiatus, we got back into this frame project. This time, Adam did it his own way, and they worked out wonderfully.

He built 6 frames, and then we stapled the fabric to the back of the frames (starting in the middle of each side, and then working outwards).

I am so happy to finally have something hanging on the wall, and to have a finished project! Thank you Adam D!

Just a reminder

If you ever park on the street BE SURE to check your side mirror for oncoming bikers before you open your car door. Especially if there’s a super hot girl on a super fast bike coming toward you in the bike lane and you are a parent dropping your kid off to school yesterday.

It was a close call. I’m generally very alert, now even more so.

The near point of impact:

BE SAFE!!

This is the front page of ksl.com right now, 7:05pm on Wednesday.

The teen was going around the gates. One train passed so she crossed. She didn’t see the train coming from the other direction, got hit and died. Train vs. person, train will always win. BE SMART!!

The 14-year-old in Herriman who got hit was crossing through an intersection but he had a red light. One car saw him, the second car didn’t. Bikes going through red lights is a common practice, especially downtown. I thought this was okay, but it isn’t. When you are on a bike, you have to act like a car. You have to stop at stop lights, signal for lane changes, etc… For further detail on the rules for bikers, read this short page!

Finally, in the picture above, there is a story about the Nurse who was killed in a hit and run. She was riding her bike with full lights, and someone hit her resulting in her death. To add insult to injury, that person is unnamed. Freaking jerk. Pay attention to the road. Put down your cell phones and watch out for bikers.

This horrible news is too much for one day. Everyone please be safe and have respect for yourself and large objects around you!!