Happy late Christmas to someone!

Observation #33: Blogging is easy when you have a motive

Hey guys... (said in an unsure voice)
I know that right now I may seem like that friend who ignored you for two years and then decided they want to be friends again. Well that is exactly who I am right now. I know it hasn't been as long as two years but it sure feels like it. WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND AGAIN?!

I'm just going to pretend that you all agreed and we did our secret spit-on-the-ground handshake (sorry its not a secret any more) because I've got something to say. And your gonna let me say it!



I made some shoes for my brother for Christmas and I was so proud of them. Until he tried to squeeze them onto his foot and we all realized that they would never fit him. So now I am trying to sell them. They are size 8.5 in men's and 10 in women's.

 

I am selling  them for $60, so if your interested in buying them comment below or send me a message on FB.

Wish My Life was in Black and White

Observation #32: Old movies and photographs have a way of making everyone look happier and more attractive.

If you know me, you know how much I love old movies. Well, my all time favorite (and when I say all time favorite I mean my favorite as of right now until I watch another one but it sure feels like an all time love so I won't be correcting myself) old movie would have to be Roman Holiday.
I think this is partly because of my love for Gregory Peck.

Can't you just feel his charm emanating from this picture?

I want him

I need him

Oh baby, oh baby

The Pursuit of Happiness

Observation #31: It is all about the little things

Because of foot surgery and a 2 week family vacation, I have not been able to get a job. This may sound like a great relaxing summer to many of you, but I am going OUT OF ME MIND! I think it may have something to do with being raised by Phil Stoker or just my ADD personality, but I need to be doing something all the time.

I have picked up quilting because of this. I have also completely redone my room (pictures will come soon).

But I am still slightly miserable without the feeling of being needed. So I have started to create lists of the little things that make me happy whenever I feel anxious about how much time I have.

Here is my list for today:

1. Brushing my teeth for the first time with a new tooth brush
2. Watching my dog's pleased prance as we go on a walk without a leash (a first for him)
3. The adorability of an awkward boy. Have you seen the new Spider Man? I am kinda obsessed with Peter. I am so glad I saw it with Taylor Jones instead of a boy so I could oggle openly about how much I wanted him throughout the whole movie.

I just love this picture of him
It may or may not be taped on the ceiling above my  bed

4. Having a queen size bed (first time in my life)
5. My niece following me around all day saying "whatcha doin' missy?"

I just had to put a picture of her because she is da cuutest

6. Green smoothies. Like seriously. Ever since I started drinking these I have lost 10 pounds. I went on the HCG diet and I didn't even lose 10 pounds. I have very positive feelings towards these things

Thats All Folks!

Stokage

Observation #30: Every single good book I have read has/will be turned a movie.

Seriously. If I were an author of novels, I would just write a screen play along with my book so I could get it all over with at one time.

Anyways, one of my favorite books that I actually read about 3 years ago is finally being turned into a movie
AND I AM STOKED! And considering I am a Stoker, my stokage can become pretty extreme. (insert pity laugh here)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Read it before September 20th since that is when this comes out:

"But Friday I'm in Love"

Observation #29: A different scene can be seen with a new kind of sheen.

This has been the theme of my life for the past couple of weeks.
Ever since my sophomore year of high school I have always had a very negative view of Mesa, thinking it had nothing to offer me. I was so excited to graduate and get out of there and now I always dread coming back during school breaks. But recently some people have come into my life and switched the light bulb so I now can see Mesa in a brighter light! As if its not bright enough... phew its hot.

Anyways, this is how I also feel about a new found music obsession: Kimbra.
I heard her about a year ago and thought she was cliche and unoriginal, but I gave her another chance and now I am the chick throwing my bra on stage at her concert.
Just check out some of her music and you'll want to join me in my bra-less stampede

Can I hear an AMEN!!

A new light has also been shed on a boy. 

Yes, your thoughts are correct; I DO move on quickly. Its a problem I need to correct one day if I want to get married. But I'm young for now so let me be. 

So this boy: I have known him awhile and always viewed him just as that guy who has the same friends as me and is always at everything I'm at. But I have recently viewed him as a little more.
The light has shifted

My Current Life as a Mesian

Observation #28: Time+boredom=inspiration, if you'll let it.

Because of foot surgery and the lack of a social life, I have picked up painting again. Here is the one I just finished:

Its not a very good quality of picture but ya get the idea

I get really nervous about showing any one my art because I know not EVERYONE is gonna like it. But I'm trying to face my fear. So don't criticize it yet because my feelings are still soft about it.

Also because of my new time I have gained, I have read a lot. My all time favorite book I have read recently goes out to:

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

You may have seen the movie which I thought was pretty good, but the book is AMAZING! Jonathan Safran Foer knows his stuff. I have a large literary crush on him.

Lights. Camera. Awkward!

Observation #27: The camera adds 10 pounds...of awkwardness

I cannot take a serious picture. Its impossible for me to take a normal smiling picture without feeling/looking awkward. As my mother so wisely put it after I would give her each of my school pictures, "why can't you ever just take one decent picture?" Well mother, I have finally found an answer to your question: unless, for some reason, I feel really hott that day, my picture is gonna turn out like this:

or this:

or this:

or who could forget this:

(surprise! orchestra picture)

You may all be confused and a little disturbed by this blast from the past, but the truth is, I haven't changed at all. Is the past still the past if it is identical to your present?

Anyways, this is a very long and embarrassing explanation for the reason for my attempt as a fashion blogger. 

I have been thrifting and sewing my own clothes since I cared about fashion (so like 7th grade?), and I've finally decided to share something I have thrifted/altered. But my attempt at a serious picture didn't turn out too well, so you get this instead:

I found this brilliant moo moo at a thrift store. In its former life it was an XXL shapeless dress, but I saw it's potential as soon as the tribal pattern and I locked eyes. So I took it home, and after a couple hours of clothing therapy with the sewing machine, it became a flattering shirt and skirt that I can't get enough of. I also bought the tribal necklace I am wearing (if you can see it) at the same thrift store and I wear it like my own skin. 

Some Asian that I Used to Know

Observation #26: Asians make every situation better.

Its true.
I always want to bring my Asian friend Sora Lee with me wherever I go like my favorite purse because she makes my daily routine that much more exciting.
Also, if you want to make a hit movie, throw an Asian in it! Instant success.
And this video that I found on this blog wouldn't be nearly as good if it was with a bunch of white guys.
Watch it.
Think about it.

Too Hip to be Hipster

Observation #25: It is impossible to be a hipster if your purpose is to be hipster

I have returned to the land of extreme heat and judgement that is Mesa, AZ. This is why I am finally blogging; my life in Mesa is as pathetic as a shark in my swimming pool. I've got nowhere to go and no one to eat!
Anyways, the reason for my long awaited post is to explain hipster. I have been called hipster several times before I understood the term. Now that I generally get the idea, I have to disagree. Although I like vintage clothing, big glasses, witty banter, and indie rock music, I don't think this is what being hipster is about. If I may, I'd like to give my own explanation of hipster:

Although he does not have an edgy hairstyle, big glasses or a 50s jacket, this boy is truly hipster. He does not care in the slightest what the mainstream is telling him to do. He is completely true to himself and acts accordingly 100% of the way with grace and beauty. He sounds perfect right? I think so too... So, BACK OFF! 

Just kidding.

not really

Food vs. Music

Observation #24: I would not be able to carry on without music.

This is a true observation. I have tested this theory on myself and this is is the result. My entire social life is even centered around music. Even the way I determine if I can be friends with someone is determined by the music they listen to. And when I am taking a test, I remember what I have studied by remembering the song I listened to while I was studying. Without music I would be a poor schmuck sitting in a dark room all by myself because I wouldn't have any friends-since I couldn't decide what friends to have, and I wouldn't have a job- because I couldn't pass any test.
Moral of this rant: I went to another concert last week.
I know, my blog has turned into the section in the newspaper with all the bad reviews, but this will be my last post about music for a while.
Back to the concert. It was the mutemath concert on Valentines Day.
So, I have been to a lot of concerts in my long 19 years of life, but this one blew my mind. At the end of it I was literally wiping away tears because I was too overwhelmed with emotion.
Just watch this quick music video and then you can get on with your lives:

So I Want to Marry a Musician

Observation #23: Everyone needs to know the Kooks in order to live a complete life.

kooks [kooks]
noun Slang .

1. a beautiful English indie rock band formed in Brighten, East Sussex, in 2001. They were created by the quirky and adorable lead singer, Luke Pritchard.

2. an eccentric, strange, or foolish person.

So I was privileged to see these great characters in concert about a month ago, and oh was it great! I have no words for the joy I experienced as I looked up at Luke's bobbing curls singing to me. The greatest thing about this concert is that not many people know of the Kooks (or just love them like I do) so the concert wasn't too crowded. It was almost like Luke and I were the only 2 in the room...

If any of you haven't guessed I am totally turned on have a soft spot for musicians. 

Anyways, if you do not know the Kooks, know them now.

I Have Found the Cure

Observation #22: Charlie Chaplin is the solution against white hair

When I tell people I am in the Interior design program, I am instantly pictured picking out fabric samples and paint swatches all day. Please get this picture out of your mind right now for it is both degrading to the ID program and false. I am constantly doing project, after drafting plans, after project. Lately, these projects have made me a little testy as my roommates will attest.
The bright spot in all of this is that after all the yoga and noodle crafts, I have finally found my perfect therapy; Charlie Chaplin.

How brilliant he is.

This post is not done.
watch this and then you can move on with your lives:

Fooled ya.

You can't move on now can you?

Conference uplifts in more ways than spiritually

Observation #21: My life is better than yours

Guys, or girls probably, I met my soul mate.

Oh and remember how I said I would include Europe in my next post? Well I don't feel like writing out every detail since I've already done that in my journal and put up every picture on The Book. Instead I want to explain why Europe is better than America.
In summary: the people, the economy, the environment, the style, and the people.
I loved the people. Complete strangers were content to sit and talk to us for hours without a care in the world. Why are Americans in such a hurry to get about their mundane lives? We need to take some tips from the Europeans and stop to enjoy our tea. Or milkshakes in our case maybe. We don't have to change EVERYTHING about America...

On to my soul mate.
If you do not know me you may think I am a creep by this story. But if you do know me then you KNOW I am a creep and will be expecting a creepy story. This is a warning for those of you who don't know me: I'm kinda a creep
Anyways, Matthew; He is the guitarist slash backup singer of this band:

You need to go FB stalk this band because they are amazing and Matt is adorable.
I met him sitting in the stand-by line for conference. We talked for 2 hours, and oh were they educational. Before those 2 hours I never knew that every quality I wanted in a man could be in one person.
  And now we are dating
I just wanted to write that because it felt good. But it is a lie. He lives in Vancouver, Canada. But his band is doing a concert in April.
Stay tooned till then...

Why do we need to hear those words, "I'm proud of you?"

Observation #20: The human race can't be satisfied without the permission of the world.

I have this issue of not being satisfied with who I am. I think everyone has that problem in some way or another but we each struggle with it in a different way. I have a problem comparing myself with others. If it seems like they are doing it a little better then me, I try their way. But the thing is, it never works out for me and I return to my way.
That is my over-personal, round-about way of explaining why I haven't blogged recently. I just haven't enjoyed it recently like I used to. And I don't enjoy it because I haven't been doing it the way I want. I started this blog because of my love of the art of expression through writing. But I looked at other peoples' blogs who had several more followers than me and thought that if I added pictures instead of my rambling and over-personal bits here and there, then maybe I would have more followers.
Why do I need followers?
Why do we all need followers?
Can we be satisfied without the approval of the world?

The end of rambles,
-Stoker

P.S. Europe will have a part of the blog soon

My Life is a Goofy Movie

Observation #19: I have lived a sheltered life


visited 14 states (28%)
Create your own visited map of The United States


Yes. This happened.
And the whole way through, this song was stuck in my head knowing we would be arriving in LA.
And let me tell ya, each state is a whole different world. I have always thought that everyone needs to travel out of the country to have an open mind and appreciation of others, but one could merely travel this country to be aware.
Here are a few examples of what we came upon:

 
The buildings of Chicago

 
 Wisconsin Cheese

Iowa's very own and very proud Corn Palace

South Dakota's prairie dog parks

Big Heads!

And the best rhubarb pie in the whole country! Trust me, I would know

Steven Dunn is so funn, he'll be my hunn. We won't need a gunn, because I'll wear a bunn, but I won't be a nunn. Yes I am dunn

Observation #18: We are so afraid of rejection that we are willing to succumb to lies as an alternative

Whispers collect there, the bad news
from our subconscious,
tears that have dripped down
the inside of faces,
apologies that have gotten lost
in all of our throats.

So much has been held in,
so much has seeped through
the soles of our shoes,
that half our lives are beneath the sidewalk
We sense the deep riot
that is always going on.

In spring there are small explosions.
Signs. This is why
the sidewalk must be repaved.
We hire someone to do it for us,
our tight bodies watching from the windows

-Steven Dunn

I hate it when English teachers would give you a poem just to tell you what it "really means" after you made, what you thought, a deep connection to it. So I will not shatter your dreams like the 9th grade pieces of my own, but you can make your own connection to this poem. And please do because it is my new favorite. And like my afternoon snack of nutella and pretzels, I have a hard time sharing my favorites (sorry roommate). So take advantage of it dang it!

Get me a time machine quick!

Observation # 17: Vintage always wins

This has been my motto for a long time when it comes to fashion, but I have realized that it applies to every aspect of life.
Today's views are so wrong. If Lady Gaga came out in our parents age she would be shunned, no chased down with pitch forks for being of the devil! Or maybe that's just what I want to do... Anyways, I was thinking about this the other day while I was watching my favorite movie from the 50s:

Some Like it Hot

If you haven't seen it, watch it. Now.

Okay now that we are all on the same page, I have a question maybe you could answer for me:

What were they doing to make their society so much better than ours?

Really. 

The humor. The class. The style. The morals.

They had it right.

I've recently realized that this idea of beauty being a size 2 is a modern idea. Take my girl Marilyn:

I mean look at that Bod!

She was the sexiest thing during her day. And guess what

 She's actually got some meat! How refreshing!

Why can't it be 1959...

The Best 19th Birthday I'll Ever Have!

Observation #16: I don't need my mom to have a successful birthday! Mazeltov to me!

So I'm turning 19. Now what? Well I'll tell you! This is what you do:

You hang on BYUI-center basketball hoops (Believe it or not I have a picture like it but my belly showage made it inappropriate)(I guess 19 is the year you gain the hops that black people have always had)

The next thing you do is fly a kite (preferably in Idaho since it provides the best kite-flying potential)

Then you find a carousel in a random park and beg Angela Graves to to pay for you to ride the pony

You then make your roommates dress up all hott so we can take pictures at Walmart like we are Asians or something (when really only a third of us are)

Lastly (((yes I am doing parentheses again(I'm 19 get over it))This one is crucial so take notes) you need to get in your footy pajamas and put 4 candles on a half eaten cake so you can blow them out RIGHT before 12:00 of the A.M.

P.S. No you are not crazy (well I don't actually know the kind of people my blog attracts so maybe you are, but I may be able to save you some money on a psychologist if you keep reading beyond these ridiculously long parentheses) that IS Angela Graves in the top picture. Unfortunately she didn't move to Rexburg, but she did visit me for a day, and made my 19th Birthday the BEST 19th Birthday I'll ever have!

I Understand

Observation #15: I have been so miss informed before I came to Rexburg.

This is everything I've learned up here at BYUI-do summed up with one brilliant YouTube video

Bow Down

Observation #14: I am Queen Procrastinator!

So I have attempted to create a post several times but my creative juices have been sucked dry by this Rexburg wasteland. But it warmed up to 60 today so my creative spirit has thawed a little. I have a long overdo room explanation. When I got my foot surgery and got super bored I got a little creative and I told you guys I would share some of that with ya. Typically, I got distracted so here it is now:

So the couch has been lonely in our basement since I could remember how much it clashed, so I took it to my room where it has made friends with my vintage suitcase ($25 from Decades) and old pillow.

Above it: I just found rope and hung some of my art work and other randoms from around the room on it with clothes pins.

This old trunk was the perfect find (Goodwill $15) for my much needed record player stand

I got this lamp on the same Goodwill trip ($10) but I still haven't found the right shade

Also if you can see, I mod podged news paper all over my night stand and bookshelf (not pictured here) and I am quite pleased

I made these from this tutorial and hung them from that same rope

P.S. The rumors are true. 

no not those rumors...

I mean I AM back at BYUI and loving it! Don't let this long-overdo post make you think I don't have a life. I always just get more done when I have more things to procrastinate. Its a very off-balance cycle, my life.