I’m Back!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! I took quite the break, let me tell ya. I just didn’t have much to say I guess, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t done anything since February. I’ve been a busy, busy bee, for sure!


Ok, so I’ve mostly been eating food and watching TV, but that still counts as busy in my world. Haha!





Oh, NCIS, how I love thee…let me count the ways… <3 <3 <3







<3 <3 Bacon <3 <3


TV and bacon. Does it really get any better?




Anywho, remember when I said I was going to paint my living area? Well, I totally started it! Along with my lovely assistants, I’ve painted 3 walls. Only a bazillion more to go!







I’ve also been spending a lot of time, and when I say a lot I mean basically every waking minute, with this guy. And I’m not talking about the fish.


He makes me crazy happy. And I’m still not talking about the fish.







Mom and I have taken up walking. We’re both a little jiggly if you know what I mean, but we love the bacon so perhaps the walking will keep us from becoming more jiggly. Hopefully.







Oh my…that’s all I can say.





Until next time!



Eat some bacon, it’s good for you.

The Fiesta Bowl pt. 1

Now that November is out of the way we can move on to December, but I’m pretty sure I’ve shown enough Christmas tree pictures to last anyone a lifetime so I think for your sake and mine, but mostly yours that I’ll skip right on in to January.


January 2, 2012. If we’re being exact, and I am.


Ok, this journey really begins December 30, 2011, but January 2nd is when all the excitement happens!





12/30/11: I headed West in route to I-40 so that it may take me all the way to Arizona for The Fiesta Bowl!


Of course I didn’t take that picture through the windshield while I was driving! What do you think I am? Crazy?!





Morning of 12/31/11: Hello New Mexico! One state away from our target!





Evening of 12/13/11: Arizona. Finally. So, we might have taken the Pony Express. Literally. At least it was pretty!





Night of 12/31/11: Liquid courage. I mean, a refreshment after such a long trip.


By the way, have you ever heard of Calculated Couples? It was going on in your hotel for NYE. I did not attend since it sounded very…calculated.





Morning of 1/1/12: Happy New Year from beautiful Arizona! Palm trees and fabulous weather I could definitely get used to!





Breakfast nachos from Daily Dose, a most delicious restaurant in Scottsdale. In fact, it was so delicious we went there twice!



I have no pictures of this because I spent most of my time in Dillard’s and the rest of the time trying not to get lost, but after breakfast we spent most of the day at the Fashion Square Mall. It. Was. Huge.
Then we went for a little walk around and around before dinner.





Sometime during the afternoon of 1/1/12: Cousin Carissa finds the perfect man.





Sometime during the afternoon of 1/1/12: We found this neat-o fountain to ooo and aaa over and then proceeded to take a bunch of pictures posing in  front of it.






Evening of 1/1/12: Downtown Scottsdale was like walking through a twinkling fairy wonderland.





Later in the evening of 1/1/12: The Old Town Tortilla Factory. Quite an interesting place. Especially when it’s full of rowdy OSU fans!



And now, finally, we have arrived at our destination! January 2, 2012. Otherwise known as the day the Pokes took down the Cardinal!





Orange shoes? Check!





Orange shirt? Check!





Fancy stadium? Check!



Let’s get this party started!


Literally.


The Pregame Party! But, more on that later.


After a short, possibly one day long, but definitely not month long, intermission I shall return with the conclusion to this oh so wonderful story.


TTFN!

Happy New Year…17 Days Late

 So, the new year has come and gone. I, apparently, decided (without actually realizing it) to take a break from blogging. But, I’m back! I do so love to bore people with my ridiculous goings on and my sometimes insane amount of iPhone pictures. Anyway, here I am, and here is what’s been going on the last month or so (I am going to break it up, though, or this would be the longest blog post in the history of blog posts. Whew. Even saying that took a long time).


Family pictures! Do they still count as family pictures if it’s only part of your family and if it’s only the children from some of the family? I’ll vote on this with a Yes.


The lovely Heather Beadles, a photographer out of Edmond, OK took these for my grandmother back in November. Yes, I know, that was last year! I’m such a procrastinator.





This is my favorite of the bunch of us. Transalation: this is the one where I thought I looked the best. Ha!






I’m just going to say it…no, this is not an engagement picture.


I don’t know why, but everyone always thinks that pictures of my baby brother (yes, I know he’s way taller than I am, but I’m still older so that still makes him the baby) and I are engagement photos. I mean, come on…do we not look almost exactly alike? Except for that giant beard? And maybe my much better groomed eyebrows?






I really thought I didn’t like this one the first time I saw it and not because it isn’t a beautiful picture. Because it really is, but because it has me in it. Are we all our own worst critics? I know I am.






See that sweet lady in the center? Don’t be fooled! She’s none other than the grandma who forced me to eat lettuce! Lettuce is so nasty, but lettuce aside, this is a fabulous photo of a grandma with all the lights of her life.




I can’t thank Heather enough for taking such gorgeous photos of our crazy group!





Coming up on The Everyday Ordinary, I will most likely gloss over December like it didn’t even happen. Ok, that’s not true, but I won’t get into it too much because what I really want to share is my trip to the Fiesta Bowl.


Catch you peeps later, over and out!

Today…

I graduated!!!


It’s been a long time coming and it is finally, finally, finally here!





At this moment, there’s no better feeling than that of being an Oklahoma State University Alum.


I couldn’t have done it without all the support I’ve had from family and friends over the years. Thank you all!

I Will Always Love the Oklahoma State Cowboys

Picture via: OKState.com


Because I was born a Cowboy. My parents met on the OSU campus. They were married the Saturday after finals in 1979.


Because when I hear my dad say, “How ‘bout them Cowboys!” I don’t only associate the phrase with the Dallas Cowboys (who happen to be my favorite NFL team).


Because when I see the color orange I don’t just see a color I see a way of life.


Because anything orange and black is automatically fair game to be OSU attire or home décor.


Because wherever I go in my travels there is always someone there to say, “Go Pokes!” when they see my orange t-shirt.


Because Pistol Pete has to be the coolest mascot ever.


Because Cowboys aren’t just fans, they’re family.


Because even though we lost to Iowa on November 18th after a terrible tragedy had befallen our school, people gathered to meet the football team at the airport and sing the Alma Mater so they would know we’re still fans, win or lose.


Because two weeks from Bedlam Saturday I will be an Oklahoma State graduate. Yay!


Because OSU isn’t just a school, it’s home.



And because I will always love the Oklahoma State Cowboys if I could say anything to the amazing team we have this year before our game on Saturday against OU it would be this:


You’re all incredibly talented individuals on and off the field. You genuinely love to play the game. As fans there is nothing greater than watching a group of guys who love the game and each other as much as you guys do. So, don’t go out there thinking that you have to beat OU to keep us happy or that you have to beat OU to to be champions or that you have to beat OU so we can all travel to an awesome bowl game sporting America’s Brightest Orange. Beat OU because you can. Beat OU because you love the game. Beat OU because you love your teammates and you enjoy spending 60 minutes on a football field with them. Beat OU to beat OU. Don’t think about what it means or where it will get you. Just do it because it’s fun.

Go Pokes!

A Girl of Many Faces

This kid cracks me up. I point a camera at her, the eyes start to roll, and the dimple pops out.


Or should I say in since it’s a dimple not a pimple?


It’s questions like these that keep me up at night.




There go those eyes…





Oh man, can she roll those things!





Ah! Here comes that dimple!





A little more…





Almost there…





There it is! Deep as the Grand Canyon.



Then she did this…



She giggled like the little giggle monster she is.



If only I had done a better job of focusing on her and not the cup. Oh well, learning is a process and I’m definitely still learning. I sure do love my camera, though, and this silly little girl!

Photo Challenge Week 17 : Someone I Love

This is my “little” brother. I don’t know why, but I just love this picture of him, and well, I guess I love him too.


It’s amazing how you can grow up practically hating your siblings because they’re always touching your stuff or poking you in the shoulder and just generally annoying you to the last straw, but then when you both grown up and become adults you can’t imagine your life without them.


My brother is someone I would consider to be a best friend as well as a family member. He listens when I need to vent. He hugs me when I need to cry. He really is the best (even if he has yet to come visit me at my new house and I’ve lived here over a year…).


I love you lots “little” brother.

The Little Things

I love when something comes together. Even small things.

I’ve been working on making my house look the way I want it to since I moved in over a year ago. I’m not anywhere close to finished, and honestly, I’ll probably never truly be finished, but when I complete a project I’ve been working on, no matter how big or small, it makes me feel that much closer to my goal. And that makes me happy.

Early in the Summer, I bought this cabinet to put in my dining room. I’ve written about it before, but at the time I had yet to do anything more than pile random junk on top of it. Well, I wouldn’t say the vase and the platter are junk, but you get my drift.




I was having a hard time coming up with something to place on the top, but then I found this vase at Pier 1 which I just HAD to have.




They’re made of recycled glass which reminds me of old Coca-cola bottles. I have a huge small love affair with old Coca-cola bottles so when I see anything that reminds me of them I get a little excited (I’ll feature them on here sometime. You’ll thank me later! ). The short round vase is the one I chose to purchase just knowing it would be perfection on top of my cabinet, but then I brought it home, placed it up there, and it shrunk! By approximately 10 times. I couldn’t believe how miniscule it suddenly became.

After 2ish months of indecision I have finally, finally found the beautiful vase some companions.




See how small it is? I can’t believe I ever thought it was huge.

My mom had the idea to put a lamp up there because my dining room is a bit dark. How can a room be dark when it’s part of another room? I may never know… Anyway, I looked everywhere for a lamp, but I have this problem where I dream up things in my head that don’t actually exist in real life so that when I go shopping I’m sometimes disappointed. But when I saw this lamp at Hobby Lobby the other day I fell in love immediately! Then, as I was carrying it’s loveliness around the store I spotted this adorable chicken.

My mom is obsessed really likes to decorate with chickens and I’ve always wanted one in my décor to kind of honor her, I suppose, but have never seen one I really liked until now. Isn’t he adorable?




Forgive my weird close-up picture. There’s a huge mess all around this area that no one needs to see. Ha!

You might remember the wooden fruit from the auction I went to earlier in the Summer. The drink dispenser is from…where else?…Pier 1! I’ve now filled it with twine wrapped balls and wooden apples so please imagine those being in there. The platter and wooden spoon belonged to my grandma. The platter actually belonged to my great grandmother first. I love family history.

As soon as I placed the last item on top of this cabinet and turned the light on I was so happy. Even though, it’s such a small area, and there’s a huge mess all around, it just makes me smile when I look at it. And shouldn’t your home make you smile?

It really is the little things.