Amber Williams

So, I have officially packed, unpacked, arranged sorted, decorated, re-decorated (and so forth!) the new home!! YAY!! I absolutely LOVE the new house! It's a great size, not too big, not too small and very cozy! I honestly can see us living here for a long time! (As long as the neighbors aren't crazy! Haha!). It's a semi-dettached home with 3 bedrooms 1 full bathroom and one half bathroom. A nice little living room, dining room and kitchen as well as a back yard with a nice little porch! We have neighbors to our right and left, but none behind us, so we shouldn't bug too many people! I think the best thing about this home is that we have really been able to feel like we could settle into it and really make it our "home". Not just a "house" but a "home". I'm just so pleased beyond words! 2nd good news (and perhaps a start to better things to come!) is that I was asked to work a temp job that starts tomorrow morning! I will work with the...

Right! So last post I told you the top 5 things I loved/missed in the U.S. today, I feel that it is a great time to tell you about all the things I love about my new home! (It will be more than 5 things...and not in any particular order as today I just don't have the energy!) Here we go! 1. The history! It literally can be seen everywhere! From the old building structures to displayed artefacts, there are signs of England's history and culture everywhere! I can't wait to see more! 2. Believe it or not, the food! I have tried so many amazing different foods from different cultures that I have become quite fond of! 3. On the few days that there is sun shining brilliantly in the sky (especially in the spring), the colours here are the most brilliant and vivid I think I have ever seen! It is absolutely fantastic and t takes your breath away! 4. Let's talk affordable amazing wine!....Enough said! 5. Let's talk affordable amazing beer...Enough said! 6. Travel ...

One of the top things I think I am asked over here in England (aside from "why the heck would you choose to come here!?"...It's a smaller town I'm in...) is: "What do you miss the most from back home?" It's a good and fair question I think! I've put quite a bit of thought into this question as well and have come up with the top 5 things I miss about home. Truth is, I've learned to adapt and become content in pretty much any situation. But just because I'm content doesn't mean there isn't a thing or two to be missed about my homeland! So, without further ado, here it is: 5. It's silly, but I'm going to throw it out there. Certain foods and restaurants. You can not get snow crab legs here at all and I ADORE snow crab! You can by King Crab for a ghastly amount and it's not the easiest to come by...But it's no comparison. Same goes for restaurants like Texas Road House. BUT I have a real new found love for Indian food a...

Boy has this week been a fantastic week! Let's start with the visa process! So, because I'm completely anal retentive with being over prepared when it comes to what I consider important things, I had put together this pristine package of paperwork covering the span of anything they could be asking for from tax forms, to random letters showing my name on it, to pictures and proof of our relationship since November 2009 and of course the application they require as well as passports, birth certificates, bank statements and pay slips, etc. But to show just how anally organized I am I made a COVER PAGE that listed out the paperwork in the order it was stacked in! LOL! What was funny about it is that she didn't even look at 75% of what I packed! So here is how our day went: We got up at 6:30 a.m. to get make coffee, get ready etc. so that we could be out the door by 8:30 am (our appointment was scheduled for 11:00 with a request that we be there by 10:30) we head on our way t...

I'm soooo excited! (and I didn't get a chance to blog about this yesterday!) I FINALLY received my visa in the mail yesterday via the UPS. I'm supposed to have a letter from the embassy stating that I was accepted, but since it's all going through the company we used, I guess one of the agents actually has the e-mail in her in-box and I can't get it until she comes back on vacation! (Ugh!!) I guess the e-mail actually came last week while they were off from work for the holidays, so I was approved last week! (Which would have been nice to know last weekend!...OH well!! At least I know now!!) I booked my flight to England for this coming weekend! I will leave early Saturday morning and be in England around midnight (Pacific time) which is like around 8 in the morning England time! I'm absolutely excited to see David! I haven't seen him in person since September 4th! So it will be amazing to be able to actually see and touch him and not talk through a co...

"This year I'm going to establish a New Years Resolution I KNOW I can stick to: I vow to gain ten pounds, spend in excess more than I could ever bring in, smoke a thousand cigarettes a day, and spend more time than healthy on facebook" (Not sure who wrote this, but it cracked me up!) How true is this statement when you think of it?? That's what seems to happen though, we make all these high-expectation promises of what we will accomplish then do the exact opposite. It's almost like a set up for failure! For that reason alone I decided this year I'm not going to make a resolution. The reason for it, I put so much pressure on myself and end up failing, so instead, I choose to keep myself open to learning and gaining new experiences and just a continuation of growth. Life has enough pressure on me as is without me putting a ton more on myself! That's not to say that it isn't a good thing to set high goals to achieve, but why only set that goal once a y...

Just a mere 4 hours of 2010 left and I am full of hope, wonder, excitement and anticipation of what the new year can and will bring. It's amazing the change and transition life has taken in the last year. I NEVER thought in a million years that I would fall in love with a British man, go to England, go to Greece, get engaged in Greece and be set to move over to be with him in 2011! (The sum of my year! LOL!) To boot, I received some rather humorous (or at least humorous to me!) news that has had me smiling all day today (which is horrible that I would gloat because it's just soo mean! But I look at it as "poetic justice"! I can't say what I found out on here, I was sworn to secrecy!) But let's just say that a wish for karma to make it's mark finally happened! ;) What a way to end the year! So, is this a good start to 2011?? I believe it is! (Raising my wine glass) Cheers to a great year of growth, love, adventure, tears, laughter and sweet revenge......

Merry Christmas to everyone!! :) Today is Christmas and though I didn't get to spend it with my hunny and his family like I had hoped, it is nice to be able to spend another year with my parents and sisters as well as my brother and his family who should be here soon! It's been a nice relaxing day with anticipation of some fantastic dinner to come! (Ham, Turkey and all the other famous holiday foods that are bound to make you gain 10lbs!) I haven't heard any word yet from the British Embassy in regards to my visa, but now they are closed until the Wednesday (the 29th) so I don't think I will be in England for New Years either ((POUT!!)) Sooo....Yeah! The waiting continues! Still just trying hard to remain positive! Other news, my wedding dress made it to England! LOL! So at least I don't have to worry about that! But hopefully after these holidays I can still fit into that dress!! Lol! I can't seem to get the numbers to budge, it's maddening really! At...

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! So, STILL nothing from the UK Embassy! I recently joined a site for American's going/in the UK to network together and there's a forum about Visa processing times and it's soo frustrating to see all these people who have applied 3 weeks AFTER I applied for mine and they have theirs while I'm still waiting for me! :( Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that they got their visa, but it just makes me REALLY discouraged and frustrated, etc. It's really hard to explain the feelings and I don't want to sound like I'm whining, but seriously, unless you guys are going through this, you have NO idea what it's like! I'm pretty convinced that I won't be there for Christmas which is hugely disappointing to me. I was really hoping to spend my first Christmas there with the fiancee and his girls and we had all sorts of things we wanted to do together, etc. Ultimately, I...

So, this is my high horse tonight, it's a stupid pedestal to stand on and I realize that and I probably sound like I'm throwing a kid temper-tantrum but this is where I'm at tonight...WHY do we continue to support and "ok" the behaviors of wrong doer's? It's NOT ok!!...and show a LITTLE ounce of loyalty, support and respect to the person who was victim to wrong doer!! What I'm finding out is who my real friends are and who most definitely are not! I never wanted to make people choose between me and my ex...but I didn't think I was expecting much by hoping that the one's who really have nothing to do with him or just even flat out hate him would take a stand for me and say "you know what? I don't need your friendship! You were a horrible person to my friend and I really don't want that kind of person in my life!" I REALLY question people's concept of loyalty...You can't claim to radically stand and speak out on the ...

Today has been a great day! Woke up this morning, made my sisters, mom and I some peppermint mocha espresso's and we ate cinnamon rolls. I got to spend a good amount of time talking to my fiancee on Skype and now we are decorating my parents house for Christmas (I'm waiting for dad and mom to get the lights on the Christmas tree). It's all warm and cozy with hot chocolate and Christmas music and family...It's nice! I've missed that togetherness time...bittersweet though, that's how I feel right now. (I will try not to make this another whiny blog because Lord knows I have enough of those already!) I think it's just that incomplete feeling. I have family around me...I have everyone here I love to spend time with...Except my hunny. I try to be patient and I try not to pout and get frustrated and be moody but it's hard since I thought I would be there already and I want to be there soo badly! So Santa, my only Christmas wish is to be in England with the...

UGHHH!!!! This is torture!! How long must I endure the painful wait?? (Please no comments of it "building character"....I DON'T CARE!!) I'm just very anxious! I thought I would be there by now and I'm finding myself stuck in the land of "what if?"...By this I mean questions that cause me to worry like "What if it got lost in the mail??", "What if they are taking so long because they are going to say no??", "What if it takes many months more to get my approval??"...etc! It's all stressful! I only have so much money to stretch out to a certain point! So, my fear is that I will run out of funding and need to get a temp job to make ends meet and Dave will have to pick up my slack more...*pout!* I don't know if my paperwork is coming via normal snail mail or certified mail, UPS, etc. and my biggest worry is that it gets lost! I have tried to remind myself that I DID receive the letter stating that it would take them 5-1...

So, I haven't had anything going on which has been the reason for no new updating posts, but I have been contemplating things that I want to do before I leave the states and start my new adventure! (Plus, I want something to talk about!!) So one mini-venture I thought I would get started is maybe (and I KNOW this is cliche'!): Losing a few pounds! (I just heard a million sighs and groans! LOL!) I have gained a little in the last couple months because of my food intake and well, I NEED to fit into that wedding dress! So, I'm praying to lose at least 5 pounds in the next 2 months (if not quicker!) and 10-15 by the time we do our honeymoon! SO, wish me luck and I will keep you updated on the progress! (This officially starts tomorrow by the way!) The 2nd idea I had was to start some sort of video blog to post to this as well just for fun or to show surroundings, etc! I was working on the idea tonight, but couldn't figure out how to work my hp mediasmart programs! LOL! ...

At least there has been some progress to moving forward to this next chapter! I found out a few days ago that the British Embassy has gotten my paperwork and they say they will have it processed within the next 5-15 working days. (But my lawyer says they typically move very quick so I should hear something pretty quick...With all hope!) I'm trying not to get my hopes up every day when I check the mail! (Especially since it's waaayyy to early to get anything anyways!) But it's hard because I'm so anxious! Tomorrow morning I have the movers coming to re-pack my items and take to ship off (they needed to be re-packed anyways as I had packed them using clothes and towels as padding, so it would be good to have them packed a little more professionally). Funny enough, the process was insane, it's like I have to push myself on these companies to get them to work with me! LOL! I originally called 4 different companies to get quotes. 3 out of 4 actually responded back, nev...

So I suppose it's a good time to update the "goings on" in my life now that I have a few things to chat about! :D Monday I went and did my biometrics which was just finger printing (in this day and age though it's all through a computer!) Then they took a picture of me and stamped my documents and I was sent on my merry way! (Funny enough, it was a 30 minute drive for a 10 minute appointment, but I'm not complaining! I didn't have to sit in a lobby and wait an hour, I was just able to walk in, do the do and leave!) after my biometrics appointment though I was able to send off the additional paperwork on my side to the British Embassy in L.A. (funny enough!) I expect the paperwork to arrive to them tomorrow sometime. So at this point, we play the wait game with them till they decide whether or not to give the go ahead! I'm told they work pretty quick, so I'm hoping to hear anything in the next 2 weeks! At this point, my travel plans are set for the 27...

I'm soo excited! I think this will make the PERFECT 2 time use wedding dress! :)I tried to upload the picture onto this site, but for some reason it won't! *POUT!* I'll keep working on it! But for now, refer to the link I'm providing! http://www.simplydresses.com/shop/viewitem-PD484473 So I couldn't help myself! You see, David and I have been talking about what we want to do. Well, in order to just make things "official" we have to go to the judge and just do the whole in-court marriage, which is fine because I've already had my whole big wedding with the big dress and ceremony and reception, etc. Not really needing it. So, instead, what we thought is that we would just get married and then throw a "reception" later that everyone could come to (maybe just a big BBQ or something). But then later we want our "Honeymoon" to be in the Maldives (BEAUTIFUL Island by the way!) and do their little wedding package with the two of us (it...

Well it's official! The visa paperwork has been submitted and I have to go in for my "biometrics" (finger printing and pictures taken of me for identity purposes) and then submit some paperwork to the UK Border Agency in California. The lawyers think that it is possible that I should be able to fly to England in 3 weeks! We are pushing for the 25th of November. I REALLY hope it goes that well. I'm afraid of it taking longer though because we are starting to go into Holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, etc. Which means more days off and less time to get things done with lots of people...I don't know how many people are trying to LEAVE the U.S. but I assume the work load isn't light. It's amazing how many things start to cross your mind that you have to figure out like: How do I file my taxes this coming April? What about 2012? Paying my student loans? Keeping dual citizenship? Etc. etc. etc! I think I got them all figured out though! ...

I was glancing through my blogs and I realized that I never posted about my trip to England! How could I forget!?! It was only like the the biggest event of the year (so far!) and littered with exciting stories and adventures! BUT being several weeks later, my recounts won't be incredibly amazing in describing the details of the whole trip, so I'll summarize the trip and highlight the best parts! Spent the first 2 days around London with the Brit as my amazing tour guide. Got to see almost EVERYTHING! Big Ben, Parliament, historical parks, rivers, Buckingham Palace and yes! EVEN the soldiers dressed in red with the big fuzzy black caps! It was fantastic! Hand-in-hand he proudly showed me all the sites he thought I would love and beamed at my child-like enthusiasm. After a few days of being in England, we took a special trip over to Rhodes Greece where I got to see more amazing history, castles, temples, and rode a donkey in Lin dos to the Acropolis (and yes, I had "MAMA Mi...

I wanna make you smile, Whenever you're sad. Carry you around when your arthritis is bad. All I wanna do, Is grow old with you. I'll get you medicine, When your tummy aches. Build you a fire if the furnace breaks. Oh it could be so nice, Growin' old with you. I'll miss you, kiss you, Give you my coat when you are cold. Need you, feed you. Even let you hold the remote control. So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink. Put you to bed when you've had too much to drink. Oh I could be the man, Who grows old with you. I wanna grow old with you. ~The Wedding Singer You never realize what you really want in life until you think it's been taken away. I'm so grateful for a second chance at life, love and opportunity! I was thinking about the comment I made yesterday about being afraid of being that "old spinster with 20 cats", I never really realized how badly I wanted to grow old with someone. All those sentimental pi...

Left Boise on Monday with a mixture of anger and relief followed up by sadness! The anger and relief was due to work crap and then me leaving the work crap. The sadness was due to having to tell everyone goodbye...especially my best friends! :( I have to remind myself though that this isn't goodbye, this is a "see you later!" So, day 2 has come and gone at my parents home in Washington and I'm now playing the waiting game on my visa application which I feel like is taking FOREVER! It doesn't help that our lawyer lost our paperwork for over a week, and apparently as of today, it still hasn't been submitted! I thought I would be able to relax after leaving work, but this whole ordeal has just been an addition to the whole thing. Eventually I will be able to relax and breath! If everything was going the way it was supposed to go, I would be leaving here on the 20th of November, but I don't know if that's the case anymore! The waiting is killing me though!...