October - the Middle

It’s already the middle of October and this is my life.

Greyson likes to scream, especially when he wants cheerios.  He just turned a year old. How did that even happen? We plan on doing a smash cake and a party at home this weekend. We will also be celebrating Christian turning 16! Youngest and Oldest.

The three oldest kids just went to homecoming. They have been keeping busy, they have seminary in the morning and we like to pretend they are there on time at 5:40am haha.

Joslyn stays after school 2 extra hours. She got the lead part of Anne Frank in a play at her high school. She has been spending a lot of time practicing. She read me some lines the other day and I cried. I will end up missing the play unless I can figure something out. I guess we are all busy.

She is also the vice president of the drama club. She is in A CAMP program that has to do with media and photos and videography. She had to make a website and create a portfolio and is going to San Diego this weekend overnight for it. Busy? Very. She is really good at it, so we just keep encouraging her.

Micaela is trying out for soccer and Christian is trying out for basketball. Fingers crossed for both of them. Alina just went on a trip to Knottsbury Farm with her class and had a blast!

All of the kids still have to decide on Halloween a costume. I’m cheap so we try and recycle costumes as much as possible, and we have them get creative and make their own. They come up with some pretty good stuff. Except Greyson, I got him a $3 costume from a thrift store....my poor kids and their cheap mom...

I haven’t had time to put up any Halloween decorations yet. I have been gone every weekend working and have a calendar packed with markets and events...and so the holidays begin...

Greyson playing in the bath last week

Three oldest going to homecoming

Queen Bee Market

This morning I woke up really early and headed to Channel 13 news with a bunch of hats, scrolls, wooden hearts, succulents, wooden pumpkins, and a huge letter board while wearing my favorite watercolor pig shirt and vintage hat. My mission was to promote Queen Bee's upcoming market and get the word out about S.T.R.E.E.T Teens. Street Teens is a volunteer based, non-profit organization dedicated to assisting homeless, abandoned, and at-risk youth, ages 12-21, in the Las Vegas Valley.

The Queen Bee Market is coming back to Las Vegas for the fall expo the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6.  There will be over 70 vendors at this huge event. I will have a booth set up with a few of the popular items from my own market. 

If you want to watch me squirm, here is the interview from the news. 

Make sure you come down and support the Queen Bee Market and me next weekend. You can also follow the The Queen Bee Market on Facebook and Instagram. 

The September Market

It's time once again for another fantastic market and this time things look a bit different around here. That's because I had a good friend come and spend days rearranging! Okay, maybe not days, more like hours, but lots of them. Like sixty. The store is so redesigned and it looks so good, I want to move into the place! I just love the September Market because I love all things that are fall. I love orange and pumpkins and spice and the signs that go with it all.

I am open Thursday 9/27 from 10 to 5, Friday 9/28 from 10 to 5 and on Saturday 9/29 I will be open from 10 to 4 so make sure to come and check out the new loo. I know you will love some of the new items I have.  Amber's Umbrella, 7960 W. Sarhara, Avenue, Suite 110, next to Metro Pawn.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention all the things that are on the sidewalk in front of the store and the up to 75% off sale happening now too! I just have so much stuff, I keep getting more and more so I am out of room. You won't believe all the things I had to move outside and it is all on sale! Look at all of this stuff, it's amazing and on sale!

See you in a few,

Amber

Who is Amber

How it all began

It was the perfect story. I fell madly deeply in love with my high school sweetheart. We bought a house, had babies, started a few retail businesses (maybe not in that order, we got hitched at a drive thru). 

At age 31 my first husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and in four short months he was gone. I was left with two girls (2 and 8). I was devastated and coped by painting furniture into the wee hours of the night. It was very therapeutic.

My friends started buying my finished pieces and Amber’s Umbrella was born. My shop became my umbrella from the storms of young widowhood.

Fast forward 4 years and I decided to start dating. The first man I met I fall madly deeply in love with. He has 4 kiddos and I have 2 so we decide “Hey, what’s one more?” Baby boy is born and I’m sitting here trying to learn how to blend two families, navigate my heart (its grief and its joy) and the fact that I am madly deeply in love with two different men.

When I’m not managing 7 kiddos I love podcasts, chocolate, crafting, sushi, and connecting with others who struggle with grief. And I still enjoy painting furniture.

I live in California now but I drive to Las Vegas, Nevada once a month to open up Amber's Umbrella for three days. It's the cutest little vintage market. As the market is open I get to enjoy watching people find some new piece they love.

You can find out more information about the monthly markets on Facebook and Instagram. 

My family of 7