The Mother of All Bloggers

Travel bug turned media maven, Amber Fillerup Clark takes complete control of her career as she redefines what it means to “blog”.
Less than a few seconds on www.barefootblonde.com and it’s clear that you’re in for something truly special. It’s actually unfair to call it a blog. In some ways it’s part reality show and part magazine, with some of the most professional and impressive photos around. A window into “Amber’s world” shows the viewer a robust travelogue, beauty and fashion ideas, and most importantly a great attitude from the whole Clark family – husband Dave, son Atticus and daughter Rosie. In our opinion it’s an influential reminder to have fun with life.

Photo: Rosie, Atticus and Amber visit Iceland, Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Amber exploring Iceland Barefootblonde.com
Amber’s Brand of Accessibility Sets Her Apart
Amber’s influence is felt far and wide. With well over one million followers internationally on Instagram, and hundreds of thousands more between other platforms. Amber’s husband Dave quit law school years ago to take part in what has become the family business. What is so special about this woman? We think it’s her extremely down to earth style. The tone of her blog is more “Look what we’re doing!” versus “Look what I’ve got”. At five foot ten, Amber has cultivated a unique look – kind of a Scandinavian-esque athletic silhouette, sporting her own brand of hair extensions. She’s basically a self-made freelance model, now sought after by many brands from JCrew to Rebecca Minkoff, for whom she walked the runway this fashion week. Despite the gorgeous photos, Amber doesn’t seem to fixate on the superficial. Though she makes an excellent clothing model, her spectacular settings remind us that it’s not just about the outfit – it’s what you do while wearing it!

Photo: Amber and Rosie in Annecy, France Barefoodblonde.com

Photo: Amber at dusk in Paris Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Barefootblonde.com
The best part is, she’s about having fun with the clothing or product she’s modeling. She is not overly-refined, often wearing comfy white sneakers and a messy bun. When she promotes even the more expensive brands, it’s all about what is going on around her. After all, isn’t a bathing suit better when you’re wearing it to jump off a glass bottom boat with your friends? Or if you and your kids coordinate outfits when you “dig for fossils” at the beach?

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Amberfillerup on Instagram

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Barefootblonde.com
Amber remains ever-grateful and humbled by her success, replying promptly to followers who comment and looking for opportunities to meet up with her fans in real life. She has reached a point where she is sometimes recognized in public as almost all of her photo shoots take place on the streets of cities and towns worldwide and popular tourist destinations.
Travel Worldwide with the Kids? Of course!
When Amber was younger, she used blogging as a way to keep in touch while she travelled. Fast forward and she has certainly taken the whole travelogue up a few notches. The locations vary from Japan to Australia and all over Europe, and no matter how remote, the Clark’s always make if family friendly, sharing detailed tips for making it work. Frankly, it’s hard for most families to imagine attempting some of these locations with two children under four (and yes, the Clark’s do have help) however, they remind us that not all travel needs to wait until kids are a certain age.

Photo: Barefoodblonde.com
Amber can definitely be relied upon for a great outdoor excursion, easy meals on the go, and the occasional lodging recommendation. She fits in her sponsorships while on her adventures for some pretty naturally-occurring ads.

Photo: AmberFillerup on Instagram

Photo: What better place for a mud mask ad than the thermal pools of Iceland? Barefootblonde.com
We All Scream for Ice Cream – and a Good Acai Bowl
Another unspoken message we glean from Amber is “everything in moderation”. Can you have your bathing suit bod and ice cream too? Good news – you certainly can! Amber is commonly photographed taking a snack break with her kids. If it’s not ice cream, she helped us develop a new appreciation for acai bowls while the family lived in Hawaii. The other side of course is fitness. And Amber is happy to share her workout regime and quick tips for staying in shape. The Clarks are huge advocates for getting outside and experiencing a variety of activities that are equally fun for adults and children.

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Atticus, Amber, and Rosie enjoying ice cream in Annecy, France Barefootblonde.com

Photo: Amber and Atticus enjoying Positano. Barefootblonde.com
Amber’s Ab Workout
Ten Reasons We Like Amber Fillerup Clark
1 Amber followed her instincts about blogging her own way, with no real guidance.
2 She has parlayed blogging into a full-time, lucrative business with several revenue streams.
3 Her business and her lifestyle go hand in hand, and involve her family (which is just the way she likes it). This helps ensure that she has plenty of time for each.
4 Amber’s blog does not follow a template. Her content is not predictable, and her photos are magazine quality.
5 While she covers fashion and beauty, she manages to avoid a superficial or narcissistic tone. It’s all just a means to an end – and that end if full-blown fun.
6 Doing “more” does not necessarily mean spending more. While she certainly travels to great locations, and she may be sponsored to wear an expensive dress, she’s most often just enjoying a day playing with her kids, as opposed to posing at an exclusive venue.

Photo: Barefootblonde.com
7 Her ads are creative and fun, which makes her a sought-after model. She’ll advertise hand soap to clean up after baking with her son, or remind us how simply delicious a plain vanilla ice cream cone is. Amber stands for the elegant simplicity of life.
8 She and her family remind us to get out there and see very new and different things. Hanging out in the gorgeous lake town of Annecy in France can be made more affordable by the great AirBnB they recommend. Also, when is the last time you rented an Airstream in Malibu?
First Time Scuba Diving!
9 Amber encourages us to choose the area we live in wisely – then take advantage of all it has to offer. We have seen her enjoy New York, Hawaii, and now Arizona.
Helicopter Ride Over New York – With Doors Open!
10 Not that many years ago, Amber and her husband lived in his parent’s basement and donated blood plasma for cash. Theirs’ is the story of people who cultivated opportunity from some good ideas, willpower, and teamwork. A special shout out to Amber’s husband Dave Clark for supporting his wife’s vision and working together to develop their own unique venture.

Photo: Amberfillerup on Instagram
You’re in Good Company with Amber Fillerup Clark and family!