it's the Random Reasons.

I have noticed that my entries have started to get a little lengthy, which I apologize for. So, in an attempt to keep things light for the weekend, here is a quote which I found, really liked, and thought really said something about why it's the random reasons in life that keep life wonderful.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” --Ashley Smith

Forbidden, but Found

"We dance round in a ring and suppose,

While the secret sits in the middle and knows."

 -Robert Frost

Secrets. What is the point in them? The only kind of secret that is a good secret is the secret kept for a surprise. That is all. But, why do people keep, or try to keep other secrets? Charles Sanford put it nicely: 

"Secrets are made to be found out in time."

Today's post comes from an area of my life that has been a big secret. However, as I learn more about this secret which has recently surfaced, I realize that there were a lot of people keeping this secret. I am from a small town....so it was probably known by a lot of people. Why didn't anyone ever say anything? Why did I have to find out by myself? Why in the world was it such a big mystery that no one wanted me to solve? I may never know the answers to these questions, and I suppose I am coming to grips with that. Secrets are meant to be kept, but they rarely are. It is shocking that this particular secret was kept for as long as it was. And even now that I have discovered the truth, investigated, and took things into my own hands and let them out into the open light, it is still a forbidden topic. It's just a tad bit puzzling. But, I suppose,like most mysterious things it will always hold a bit of secrecy.

The art for today is something I created in high school. It is pencil and charcoal and was an assignment. At the time this piece had nothing to do with secrets, but when I look at it now it reminds me to live like an open box. Be true to yourself and honest with those around you, and everything will be, for the most part, wonderful.

 A long time ago I decided to try my hardest to never keep secrets that are not in the nature of a joyful surprise. Things like surprise parties, gifts, and genders of babies are perfectly ok to be a surprise. It is the things that people keep hidden for negative reasons that are terrible secrets. So I encourage each of you today to be honest, don't keep things a secret from the people who need to know the truth...and as always...it's the random reasons.

Stickered

Stickers. The kind children get on A+ papers, the kind you scratch and sniff, the kind that scrapbookers find so gosh-darn cute. Yes, they leave a sticky goo behind and are most often times banned from events held in public buildings. Much like the glitter which is banned from any cheer camp staying at OSU, but that is a separate matter, which we will no doubt discuss in full detail.

Anyhoo, stickers. I love them...well, most of them. I like the artistic ones, the cute fancy letters, the ones that I can add to an altered art piece and still be able to happily say that it is mine. The scratch and sniffs, "way to go's" and stickers of those sorts are all just a waste of paper and adhesive as far as I am concerned. But no one asked me. What I am getting to today is this amazing website I found in my blog feed this morning. It was posted by a blogger I follow, who can be found at the bottom of this page, her blog's name is AnnaLikes. It is a neat blog, I really enjoy looking through it. What caught my attention today was a website which specializes in wall decals and just decals in general. Not the tacky wall decals that everyone and their dog have been purchasing to "decorate" their homes, dorm rooms....etc. Yes, I am a tad bit bitter about these decals. They are not artistic and very generic. They are providing people with an "easy" way to decorate and for some odd reason it just makes me nauseous. I'm sorry if I am offending any of my readers who have tried to decorate with these. I'm just venting.

So...this website. So presh. It has wall decals which are very artistic and are a great breakaway from the decals with quotes and things saying cheesy and cliche sayings. These are clever and a little gutsy. My personal favorite was the decal for a refrigerator...found in the kitchen section. The decals made for children's bedrooms are so adorable and the living room ones are very humorous. They have also produced a series dealing with energy, which, by the way, all of their decals are eco friendly! In my opinion wall decals, should act as part of the wall (like a mural)...they should not be the centerpiece of the room. These seem to do just that! They would definitely add conversation pieces to any room.

Check them out at www.hu2.com. You won't regret it, I promise.

So, as you go about your day, remember to always be you. Whether you are decorating a room or picking out your clothes or writing a speech--let your uniqueness show! And remember...it's the random reasons...

Oh, oh, oh...it's Magic

Last night was a date night. With our crazy work schedules and everything, C.J. and I have not been on a date in a long time. Yes, we see each other everyday, we usually have lunch and/or dinner with each other on a daily basis, we watch movies together at home, and other everyday tasks...we do them together. But, we had not been on a date. You know, the kind where you both get dressed up and then go do something you wouldn't normally do. The fun kind of date.

Dressing up--it is magical. There is something about getting all dolled up to go out that just makes everything so fabulous. I have realized that when I get all caught up in school and work and the monotony of it all, all I have to do to get a little bit of rejuvenation back is make an effort to get dressed up. Whether it be for a date or for no reason at all, getting all pretty seems to make things so much better. I love it! It is such an easy and fun fix to a problem.

As for the date, we went to this wonderful steakhouse in OKC (they have great steaks and delectable dessert!), then we went to a movie. It was a great evening away from our work, school, and everything else at home.

So, as you go about your day or your week, don't let things get boring. If you have to wear pearls to wash the dishes, if you feel the need to put on a cute pair of heels for work, or if you think your family needs to get dressed up for supper, do it! It does wonders. Most importantly, always remember...it's the random reasons...

Just for Dad

Yesterday on Twitter #ilovemydadeventhough was a trending topic. This is absurd. I mean I know Father's Day is coming up, but shouldn't the trending topic be #ilovemydad? What's with this "even though"? I mean, love for your dad should be completely unconditional. What do I know though? Well...my dad is awesome. He knows how to embarrass me beyond belief, we are nothing alike, he knows how to get under my skin, we have argued, and yet I always have loved him. No "even though."

My dad is silly and crazy, and when he wears shorts the sun has to use the clouds to hide the glare, but he is also dependable and supporting, and whenever anyone ever needs help, he is always there. He has always been there, and as long as he is able, he always will be. Father's Day is tomorrow. This is not my first Father's Day away from home, but it is the first one that has been preceded by a year of me being away. Throughout this last year I have had to fix things by myself. I have had to be innovative. I have had to challenge myself. I have had to suck it up and just do things that I have not wanted to do. If it weren't for my dad, I would not have known what to do. I called him about tires and oil for my car. When my brakes needed to be replaced, he dropped everything and fixed them over a weekend. He is always there for me, and he always has been.

Some things will never change. My dad is always going to try to be embarrassing, and he will usually be successful. He will always be the goofball at any event. He will never wear a tie and he will always have freakishly white legs. He will always be there for me and I will always love him. No "if's" or "and's" or "even though's". So in honor of Dad's Day, here is my dad, being his silly and obnoxious self.

Don't forget to wish your dad or closest person to a father-figure in your life a Happy Father's Day. They might be the craziest person you know, but love them no matter what...no "even though's". And, more than ever, remember, it's the random reasons...

Pulling Out the Hair

Someone once said that "Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness."

Stress. Stress. Stress. It seems to always be lurking around the corner, ready to chase you, tackle you, and consume you as soon as you seem to be a tad bit worry free. I do not handle stress well. In high school it made me physically sick, but unless my mom interfered I just kept trucking along. Now, my mom is not around to tell me to "take it easy: or "to get some rest" so it is much easier to find myself buried in a big deep pile of stinky stress. I know...I'm terrible. However, I have learned how I handle it...I just keep going until whatever is stressing me out is accomplished or until I just have to take a moment to breathe. It usually only takes a moment to temporarily talk myself into settling down. I'm sorry for the rant, I suppose this is one way of my attempts to release some of my stress. I have yet to have an ulcer...so that is a plus! haha!

What I am telling all of you is to stop and smell the roses, to not give yourself an ulcer over nothing, and to allow yourself some relaxation time. I will try to take some of my own medicine. It will most likely be bitter. So relax! And, as always, remember that it's the random reasons...

Live like you mean it, love till you feel it.

JitterBug

Good afternoon everyone! Hope your weekends have all been delightful! I worked most of the weekend, but today is my day off from both jobs...yes, both. Hallelujah! Anyhoo, my aunt and uncle came over today and delivered the dining room table, and the tv stand. Now we can stop eating on the couch and tv can be moved from the file cabinet. Surprisingly I did not intend to blog about the apartment today, that can wait. I wanted to express my excitement about something that will hopefully be a wonderful event full of generosity, excitement, laughter, and fun.

Rock the Sock, my first baby (the second being the new apartment haha), has blossomed into so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. While I am very excited about that, I am more excited that, possibly, in a year, Rock the Sock could be hosting a first annual event that will give so much to so many people. Not just in sock donations, but in fun, community involvement, and a sense of togetherness. A few of my aunts and I have been discussing plans for this event throughout the last few days. One of my aunts mentioned having it around the end of July and doing it in memory of a very important person who is no longer with us in person. This event would be planned by several members of my family and would hopefully help bring all of us closer together. What a blessing. When thinking about this event, I can't stop thinking of new ways that it would be helping everyone involved. What a great way to honor someone who was always thinking and lending a helpful hand to others. I think he would be proud. And that is why I can't contain my excitement for this event. You don't come across opportunities like this everyday, and letting one slip through your hands is unacceptable. It will be a lot of work, and there will be obstacles to overcome, but it most certainly can be done.

For more information on Rock the Sock, check out the blog at http://warmandhappytoes.blogspot.com

As I leave you all today, don't forget that “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” Know what you want, be excited about what you want, and work your tail off to get what you want. And, as always, remember that it's the random reasons...

Hung At Last

Good morning everyone! Hope you all have been absolutely wonderful! I have been busy busy with the new apartment and work. That seems to be my life at the moment...work, work on the apartment, sleep, work...but I am loving almost every bit of it! The apartment is coming along. I still need to move my essentials over from the dorms to the new place (my art supplies and clothing), but it will get done soon I am sure. We have been cooking in the kitchen. I LOVE it! I made a cake, then some grilled cheese, and then last night we made tortellini and bread. Nothing too ambitious at the moment, but we haven't gone grocery shopping for a lot of items yet. It is crazy starting  kitchen from scratch. I am so used to cooking at my home in Guymon where the pantry is full, there are refrigerators and freezers with food in them, and the spice cabinet is bursting at the seems. Cooking in my first kitchen has proved to be a challenge because if I want something, or anything really, I have to go buy the ingredients. Oh well, I suppose it has to start somewhere. One day I will have the kitchen full of food and spices, and will not have to plan a shopping trip to make a single meal. Grilled cheese, however...I have all the ingredients for that.

Anyhoo, I did not plan on blogging about my kitchen today. What I had planned on was telling you all that my final 2D design piece, the couch, which you all have seen through the entire design process has finally been hung! I cannot express how excited I was when C.J. surprised me one morning saying that he had "kidnapped" my couch pieces. I am sure I gave him a look and he told me that he had taken them to Hobby Lobby to get framed. We went and picked them up the same afternoon. When we got home I wasted no time opening the bag they were in and checking out the frame job. The frames looked great. Everything still lined up, and then I saw it...an orange speck on the back cushion of the monochromatic blue couch. It was pastel. I got most of it off, but it still left a stain. Knowing that I could fix it (as you can fix basically ANYTHING when it comes to art) I wasn't upset about it. The framer probably forgot to clean off the table after framing a pastel piece. No big deal. C.J. was upset about this though, and took the painting into Hobby Lobby the next morning. He told me that he was completely polite to the people and ended up getting the entire frame job for free. He brought the painting home and I fixed it and then hung the three pieces up. They look so wonderful in the wall and I am so incredibly happy that they are no longer hidden away in my art bag.

So as you go about your day today work hard so that you will be able to enjoy the finished project one day! And remember...it's the random reasons...

No Meat, Just Fluff

Hello! Hope you all are wonderful today! So as today's title suggests, I will not be posting anything of substance in the main blog portion today. However, I have added some photos and other posts to some of the pages on the blog. So, if you are looking for something to glance at while trying to keep from dying of boredom at the desk (wait, that would be me), then check out these pages:

1. Domus Mea:  It is going to allow you to creep on what is going on with my new apartment.
2. FinishedBliss:  My own personal art gallery, well a few of my favorite works anyways.
3. GiggleBox:  You need to laugh everyday. It is good for you, so just do it.
4. SuperHero:  A little insight into what is really important to me at this moment in my life.

So, if you are wanting a little marshmallow cream today, look at the pages and I look forward to posting something in the form of steak at a later date. :)

Oh, and always remember that sometimes we need a break from the norm, and that it is completely ok to have marshmallow cream for breakfast, and, as always...remember, it's the random reasons.

Flower Pots in the Kitchen

Hello everyone! Hope your weekends went fabulously. I started moving things into the new apartment on Saturday and then we finally got the power turned on on Tuesday. It was a hot weekend, but extremely productive nonetheless. My stress is starting to die down now that things are starting to come together, the furniture is looking like it is all going to fit, and the apartment is coming together very nicely. My mom came down on Monday night and we unloaded almost all of the "big" furniture on Tuesday morning at a very early 6 a.m. We were finished by almost 7:30 and then she left around 8:30. It was great to see her while she was here!

So now I have a few projects:

1. Getting the apartment ready.
2. Refinishing the dresser.
3. Refinishing the desk.
4. Decorating and constantly making things "pretty."

So...3 and 4 on the list were my own choice. I love taking things that people are going to just throw away and fixing them up into something that no one else has and that everyone else envies. It is so  much fun, especially after I have fixed up some one's something and they end up wishing they had kept it and just asked me to fix it for them. I also love Hobby Lobby and Lowes and antique stores, so this just gives me an excuse. No worries, all of you will stay up to date on the progress of my "Projects with Potential" haha.

It really isn't an art project, but I made some innovative silverware holders this last weekend. I already had a bunch of silverware given to me by my grandma before I left for college, and I was having the hardest time finding a silverware holder that fit in a drawer or that I liked. So while at the desk during one of my shifts I googled "silverware holders." One lady had used flower pots. I instantly loved it and went after work to buy some. I found some in the clearance section of Walmart, took them home, and added a little snazz to them. I love how they turned out! Who would have thought--flower pots in the kitchen!

It just goes to show that any problem can be fixed and that anything can be made adorable, so smile as you go about your day and remember...it's the random reasons.