Out for the Night So Let Me Try Out This J.Crew Look....

The latest thing that everybody is talking about is this girl with the side pony tail in  J.Crew catalog and I was thinking to myself, "I really need a change this morning" so why not try just that. I naturally have very curly hair so it was a bit of a process to get to this point and my hair is way too long so I made it a real side pony tail. Here's my lil morning project:

Me sans make-up and all curls.

Halfway through the straightening process. I wonder what my job would say if I went to work like this? hehe. 

I love the winter because my hair straightens so nicely. 

Gotta make sure it poofs on the top!

Adding some make-up...

And Viola! My version of the J.Crew look!

I like it very much but I think I'm going to stick to my old hair style for going out today and switch back to the J.Crew look for tonight! I used my Revlon hair straightener. It used to take me hours to straighten my hair but now even with its length it's only about 20 minutes. =)

I'm off to try to start the weekend with my new Hair-do! I'm going to a Home Show tomorrow to see about some deals for the condo! I hope everyone has a great weekend and if you are doing your Valentine's Day early, have a very wonderful lovely evening. =)

Don't forget to enter my $55 CSN stores giftcard GIVEAWAY too! Click to Enter

I Just Called to Say "I Love You" & I Mean It From the Bottom of My Heart...

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There really should be a law that no drama can happen before someone has had their morning coffee, especially when it’s NOT your own drama. At work like I said I’m the spokeswoman for Venus aka all the females of the world because they think asking one is asking the collective, so I heard the latest bit of relationship drama. I feel bad airing Michigan’s (Let’s call my co-worker that) dirty laundry but his story this morning left an imprint on me. All he wanted to do was tell his girlfriend that he missed her…that was it. I’ll explain…

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Everyone has emotional baggage unless you were literally born yesterday. It’s a fact, but its okay. But when you in a relationship I don’t think it’s right to constantly hold that baggage over your new person’s head because they are not your ex & they weren’t there. Yes you’ve been hurt, we all have been there, and it’s important that you find traits in this new person that isn’t like your ex and maybe just maybe some of that baggage will disappear over time and your heart might get healed. Also understandably so that you will put some guards up around your vulnerable heart so you don’t get hurt again. I’ve done that many MANY times so trust me I know. BUT you have to let this new person try to love you or the relationship will crumble sadly.

Michigan is dating this new girl who was emotional dragged through the gutter it seems & she apparently doesn’t like hearing words like “I miss you”, “I love you”, “I like you”, “I want to be with you” because her ex said them to her & she doesn’t want get hurt by those words again. So he’s like “I don’t know what to do? I kiss her hello, I hold her before she goes to bed, I talk to her all the time, I put in a relationship on facebook, I’m honest with her, I tell her that I want to be her man…etc.” however this girl it is just not registering with her that he likes her even tho he is her boyfriend. I’ve never met the girl before so I don’t know if she is looking for a way out or not but I told him to just continue doing what comes natural. If you want to kiss her do it, if you miss her say it, if you want to see her and smile do it.

There are many ways to say “I like you” and “I love you” and I wonder what it is for this girl? When Cj comes in and hugs me hello and does that extra squeeze I realize BAM there it is. That’s the love. Moving my hair behind my ear before he kisses me BAM it’s there again. (Yes, I love Zombieland too). But Michigan’s girl….I don’t know what else to say to him…Just be you.

Today is Thrusday, February 10 & I hope you tell someone or show someone today how much they mean to you. We all don’t need one day a year to give a person a hug. It should be everyday. So share the love everyone. <3

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“But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that, even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you. Valerie.” – V for Vendetta

Stay tuned: Later will be New HomeOwner Newsletter Issue #2!

Don’t forget to enter my Giveaway too! 

This just in! A CSN Stores Giveaway!!! =)

Hi Everyone! I really need to wake up today!! I'm absolutely exhausted and I'm not sure why. Well I know a good way to wake everyone up, have a GIVEAWAY!! CSN Stores has become one of my favorite online sites to buy almost anything. In their 200+ stores they have everything from a meatball maker, to Swing Sets, to fondue sets, to office furniture, to movies, to jewelry, to ohh name it, they have it!!

The ordering process is so easy and they ship everything out to you so fast & accordingly. It’s shopping made easy! With tons of online stores to choose from within CSN Stores you’re bound to find something that will tickle your fancy! =)

Here's the list of their Stores!! CSN STORES - Our Stores

CSN Stores have been kind enough to offer a $55 GIFT CARD to ANY of their stores to one of my lucky readers!! This Gift Card does NOT include shipping costs.

~ HOW TO ENTER ~

1. Must be a Follower of my Blog through Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin & visit CSN Stores & tell me what you might buy! =)

EXTRA ENTRIES:

1. Follow me on Twitter!@MelsRandomness

2. Tweet the following:

“CSN Stores $55 Giveaway @MelsRandomness Blog! Come See to Enter! http://tiny.cc/c28dc”

3. Follow me on Bloglovin: Here’s the link: Melanie's Randomness!

4. Let me know if you have my button OR Grab my Button!

5. Blog Question: What type of posts I write do you like the most & would like to see more of? Relationship ones, Stolen Moments, Drama with Friends, New Purchases, Money tips...etc..

{PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH!}

Giveaway will END NEXT WEDNESDAY,  February 16th!

(Sorry only open to U.S. & Canada residents! )

I'm a Spy for Mars...Venus for Hire...

There is an old saying, "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus". Oh yeah that's true. I've always wanted to read that book. Maybe one day. Lately it seems every man from Mars has been asking me for advice with ya know the ladies from my planet. I work with 5 men, two of which are my age, and a day does not go by without the, "Hey Mel your a girl can I get your opinion on this with this chick?". I think it's funny how one girl is supposed to answer ALL the questions about my gender. Well I've been trying...

Christmas was a big "Ask Mel" time BUT I think tho I used up all my tokens on it. I told them "How about perfume? Or How about concert tickets or a Show? Maybe a necklace? Or a Keurig?..etc..." I thought I was done. I forgot about Valentine's Day. Oh crap I kinda gave out my best ideas already. Oops.

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CJ has alot of guy friends too and as we hang out with alot of them they are asking me "Hey did so and so say what she wanted for V-day?". Uhhh...no? So here's my dilemma. I think I used the good stuff on Christmas & birthdays. I'm at a bit of a loss what to tell these guys??? Chocolate? Lingerie? Jewelry? Maybe a flower that is NOT a rose or a carnation? (I always think non-roses shows more thought went into the gift)...However some of them did that route before making them stuck for more ideas...

Here's my Question for all of you:

What do YOU want for Valentine's day from your Valentine? 

What are YOU doing for Your Valentine too?

I'm most definitely a "It's the Thought that Count" person. I once got a mix cd of all my favorite songs as a gift and it was so thoughtful I cried. The fact that you want to do something special for someone is more wonderful than any price tag. I think the most important thing is to spend time with your Valentine that day or the weekend before and if you can't be with them...a call and "I love you" is just as Awesome. Webcams work too & skype.  As long as that person knows that you are happy & proud to be their valentine I think it'll be a successful day whether it be a boyfriend, girlfriend, or a good friend. =)

Til Tomorrow...

Well Now We’re "Us"...Okay Now Where am “I”?

When you enter a relationship there is those glorious first months where you want to spend endless time being that couple. Going to the movies, cuddling under the blanket playing with your boyfriend’s cats, romantic dinner for two where he will suddenly kiss you in the middle of a Hibachi show with the onion volcano just because you reacted too cutely, and lil slumber parties where you tell each other your secrets to name a token few things. BUT then you two realize, “Oh wait I have a life and friends and sometimes a Beer festival and commitments and cupcake classes and school and…”  so you have to part ways for a sequence of time to live your individual lives. But where did I go? Where did he go? Uhhh this could be an issue...

How Do You Keep Being YOURSELF in the Relationship? 
How Much Should You Adapt?

It occurred to me this Saturday while I was at the Beer festival that I was doing my own thing without CJ on a Saturday, yet it was barely my thing at all. I wasted a whole day to get some extra cash. Yes it was fun & great that I got some extra money but it made me think what else I could be doing with this time that I spent being “ME” and not a “We” or an “Us”.

I ran into an old friend there who I hadn’t seen in almost year and he asked me, “Hey how’s your Zombie novel coming along?” I got a lil flustered and embarrassed to tell him that I haven’t really done anything with it. He asked me why I responded that I didn’t really have the time. It upset me. He then asked what I’ve been up to and I told him about all the wonderful things I’ve done with CJ. The friend was like Oh cool then left to go drink more beer. BUT it got me thinking…

I love my boyfriend more than any other & please don’t think I’m saying “Geez all I’ve done is relationship stuff for the past 8 months or so & bitching” because I’m not. I’m just realizing I’m letting ALL my time to be consumed by constant  things ALLLL across my life board & saying too many “Oh I’ll go, or we should go or defaulting that I’m going here or there” so I’m forgetting about a lot of other things I want to do. I think I have to start learning how to say “No” or balance my time better or remember how much I like to write not only here, I love to ice skate, I love to go thrift stores & tag sales Saturday mornings, I love to make collages and scrapbooking, seeing movies that are not just guy friendly ones, I like to bake not always eat out, and so much more.

I think I need a lil extra time in the week to do something I want to do so I feel more like myself in my relationship. I had my dreams and told CJ & he said “Babe I’ll back you up 100%” so I’m pretty sure he’ll be cool with me spending a lil time to myself besides just a Tuesday or an afternoon on the weekend. Or I could be writing my book while he's playing the guitar? Hmmm... He liked me just as I was so I want to be that girl and not be a tired frazzled mess that I feel like I’ve been lately.  I’m going to try…I'll talk to him about this tomorrow...Honesty works best. Anything to make the "We" & "US" work better. =)

Stolen Moments Sunday...

Hey Everybody! Welcome back to another week at Blogland. I have been running around NON-stop this whole weekend and ohh I'm looking forward to copying this panda. I need to put my head down because Whew I did way too much. I went to a Mexican restaurant's 7th Anniversary bash jam-packed with free tequila & a Mariachi band, worked at the International Beer Expo where I literally served beer to about 5, 000 people, & then the Super Bowl. Is it bad if I'm looking forward to relaxing at my job tomorrow? Probably.

Well without further ado here were my Stolen Moments in the weekend...

~I had a fortune cookie laying around so I finally ate it & this was my fortune! I thought it was funny...hehe =P ~

~ Listening to a man in a Mariachi band for 4 hours play the trumpet NON-STOP! Damnnn he has a good set of lungs! They played "Hotel California" Mariachi style...It was awesome!~

~A man at the Beer Expo gave me one of  the CHEESIEST PICK-UP LINE EVER!!!  Check this out...

Drunken Guy:  "Do you have a shovel?"

I replied, "Huh? No"

Drunken Guy: "Oh, too bad I was totally digging you"

(Yikes...Is there a real-life Hitch anywhere? He needs you STAT)

~Another said I looked like Mila Kunis. I thought that was pretty cool!~ 

 ~ Kisses. Lots of stolen lil smooches. Like when he thought I was asleep and kissed my cheek. <3 ~

~ Christina Aguilera messing up the National Anthem. I always thought she was cool but that was bad....REAL BAD & funny as hell. ~

~ This is the CUTEST Super Bowl Commerical. The lil boy dressed as Dark Vader. I awwed all the way home! ~ 

So What were your Stolen Moments this Weekend?

Okay I'm going to finish watching Pretty Woman and head to bed. Goodnight everyone! Oh thank you for the camera recommendations! I'm going to be making the purchase soon! =) I'll let you know what I choose! See you tomorrow! (I wish I could wear those outfits to work. It would be so cool!)

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Could You Take My Picture? Cause I Won’t Remember…Yeah…

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What a quick and fast week! I wonder why January seemed to drag on forever and now February is just rushing to the finish line. Hmmm…Well before we know it Monday will be back again. BUT I have a few very important things I have to do this weekend. One of which I need all your photo genius support!!

I really need to buy a new digital camera. My camera I have been using is a Canon Powershot SD720. It’s old & for some reason decided to just stop taking quality shots for me. Oh well. I did get a return check from my Closing which means I have about $150 to spend on a good digital camera.

I would love to buy a very professional camera with all the different lenses but that day will have to come a lil bit later.

So Let me ask you:

What Digital Camera Do you have and Do you Love it?

 Is it Canon or Nikkon?

You all probably know a lot better than I do so I really would appreciate any advice on the subject. I have my eye on this New Canon Beauty: The Canon Powershot A2200. I don’t think it’s even out yet. It’s supposed to be in the U.S. by January 2011…and it’s not. I’ll have to do some research. It’s got 14.1 megapixels, 4x Wide Angle (28mm) Optical Zoom & a whole bunch of other goodies. I want to take my blog to the next step and I think a better digital camera & maybe video blogs will help that happen!

In addition to my found money I will be working at the International Great Beer Expo this weekend to pay for the camera. Weather permitting. It’s a favor for a friend who works at a local brewery called Defiant in my hometown. I will be representing the Brewery & getting to sample a whole bunch of different beers from all around the world! I’m a more of a wine girl but I’ll try anything once! It should be a treat. =)

Do any of you have any cool plans this weekend?

Have a good one!!

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Title song: "Take my Picture," Filter

Review: Green Day's Broadway Show "American Idiot"

Every once in a while there is a band that seems to ALWAYS be there in EVERY stage of your life. A prom song, a “I just got dumped” song, “I’m angry at the world” song, “I love him with all my heart” song, a bang your head side to side like a rocker song, and then a song that pretty much sums up your generation. This band that has played all of these songs and more is Green Day. I’ve been a fan for years & without fail when I ask “Hey it’s been a while, did Green Day come out with a new album yet?” the answer is most probably Yes!

But they took it up another notch and now have a Broadway show called, “American Idiot” and it was absolutely AMAZING!! I’ll be honest with you that I never thought of going to see it even tho I’m a big fan. Money is tight lately & I’ve never been hit with the Broadway Show Bug but my eyes glazed over when CJ’s Mom surprised us with two tickets to a show WITH BILLY JOE in the cast for CJ’s birthday. I think I blinked a lot when she told me because I was in shock. I’m ever so happy we went.

One thing before I tell you about the show...if you plan on seeing it familiarize yourself with their album, “21st Century Breakdown” beforehand. The show is 95 minutes without an intermission and there is tons of stuff going on all over the stage so listening for every word of every song is impossible. If you know the music you can just hold on and enjoy the ride.

I wish I could have taken some pictures but above are some stock photos of the show cast. I’m not going to give away the end of the show but the story revolves around 3 men setting off to take life by storm with their guitars in hand and dreams on their shoulders. But…then the 21st century basically hits them directly in the face. A time of war, drugs, misjudgments, broken dreams, out-of-sight love, growing up, coming back to reality and then waking up to your decisions all shoves it’s way into these three guy’s lives. There is something for everyone in this show. Whether you personally can relate or you knew someone that had trials and tribulations in the past 10 years you will be standing up with the rest of us clapping when the cast bows at the very end.

What really was the most Awesome part of it all was that Billy Joe himself was in this showing. CJ and I kept looking all over the madness of the cast dancing & industrial-feel set waiting for him to appear. Then BAM! There he was singing along with the cast. I think he has an awesome voice that doesn’t need auto-tuning at all. It’s a natural talent. I cried at the part when he himself sang “Last Night on Earth”. That’s CJ and me’s song so it was like Omg OMG he’s SINGING IT!!! If him and I get married it’s going to be our wedding song. =)

“I hope you had the time of your life…”

The show was a big hit in my book and I’m very happy I got a chance to see it. It really makes you think to about yourself and the generation you live in too. If you’re a Green Day fan you’ll be excited to see this & if not you might be a fan by the end of the show. =) This show will definitely be something CJ & I remember always!! =)

New Feature: New HomeOwner Newsletter...

One of my highlights & big accomplishments of 2010 was buying my first home. It's has finally sunken in that I have my own place. It took a month to crack me over the head but it is real. I'm not going to wake up & be back in my parents house. I'm waking up in my new place & all the responsibilities it will now entail.

Geez how many "New" 's can I fit into that title? I think it's stressed enough just how new this process is to me. But I'm not alone. Whether it be your first home or you've just moved out of your parent's house or just moved you will find yourself with alot of New things to do.

Well let's get started...Here's a list of things that I've done today that without a ice storm making my job close I wouldn't have done BUT then realized,

"Oh I really need to remember to do this in the future."
                                                                                                                               

1. There are radiators in my condo. They will collect dust. There is no Dust Fairy or influx of wind that will clean them. YOU have to dust them & USE a cloth towel to do it NOT a paper towel. It's winter, they will be hot to the touch, duh.

2. There is no such thing as a vintage Valentino or Alexander McQueen broomstick with pail that you will need to preserve. Therefore USE your broom & pail to clean up your kitchen. Enough said.

3. When your Mom buys you a mini vacuum cleaner so you don't have to lug out the HUGE one you have in your closet...USE IT. The lil lint & pieces of paper & other crap you find on the floor isn't going to magically go into the garbage.

4. The Coffee Ring on your coffee table is NOT a wise Decor Choice. In none of these online magazines is someone showcasing "Fabulous Coffee Rings" so use the Fantastik to clean it up.

5. The bills will actually start piling up if you just bring your mail upstairs and NOT open it all until a day you're off from work. There is something called PAY BY THIS DATE. So you must open your mail everyday to avoid Late Fees & Interest. Thankfully I paid everything on Time. Whew!

                                                                                                                                 

I think I'm going to do this feature every once in a while in the next upcoming months to highlight lil things that might seem like common knowledge but yeah know every once in a while you need reminders of simple things.

Life as a new homeowner...what a new adventure this is...=)

Reach the City Steps Tonight...Following the Power Lines...Met a Man Barside....with Eclipes for Eyes...

Yet another February has snuck into the calendar year. I think February & December are the two months that literally from midnight on that first day you can feel it. The stores have switched over, the blogs are painted red, and Valentine's Day is on everyone's minds. Just like that. Well this year I have to admit it's going to be a different month for me because I have a special someone I met when I least expected it. My boyfriend CJ.

Now I've had boyfriends during Valentine's Day but for some reason it's been a total disaster. One time 2 years ago a guy I was seeing told me he couldn't hang out on V-day because he had to take his Mom out to see the new Underworld movie at the time. With a capitol G for Gullible on my face I believed him & then was stupidly surprised when 2 weeks later he called me the wrong name. Another guy wouldn't give me the flowers he bought me because he thought they were defective but he was so stupid because he didn't realize that flowers sometimes close up at night. I'm so happy that silly sitcom like shenanigans is over. Whew...

Cj. It's been a lil over 8 months now. Time flies when your learning to love again or rather realizing what love really is. I love so many things about that man & what makes me really love him are the non-typical. He likes me as I am but there is alot more to that. I think he completes me. (Yeah insert Jerry McGuire reference.) I've never been able to finish a full crossword puzzle myself. When we do the puzzle together he knows all the answers I don't & vise versa. I might go back to school & he told me he would support my decision any way possible. Standing in line at the Broadway show CJ randomly kissed me on the forehead to warm me up. I can cry in front of him & he will wipe my tears away & calm me down. I can tell him what's bothering me & he will do anything in his power to change it or help me out. We know how to say "I'm Sorry" to each other & mean it. He calls me everyday when he gets out of work even if he's seeing me that night just to review our day...He is making my February special...He makes me feel special...

Tonight I sat home by myself due to the weather. There is an ice storm coming. I wish Cj was here right now to keep me warm but it's okay that he isn't. I didn't want him to risk getting caught in this crazy weather. I watched some old episodes of The Office & it cheered me up. He reminds me of Jim so much. I can't wait to see him tomorrow...I can't wait for so much with him...one day at a time...

Do you have someone special in your life to brighten up your February?

Title: Lyrics from the song "Silvia" by Miike Snow

Stolen Moments: The Mustachio Bashio!

What do you get when you date a guy with a sense of humor and then attend his 29th birthday party and then the guest honor's girlfriend brings a whole mess of mustaches?? You have one hell of a Friday night Mustachio Bashio!!   It was totally Awesome! The funniest part was that CJ & me were sitting at this bar for about a half hour before the party guests showed up & we were dressed all normal and when we all started wearing mustaches the bar got quiet as hell except for us. Apparently it's wrong to put on mustaches?? hmmm....Oh well...

I think its mandatory to always have SOME sort of fun on your birthday or the next weekend after. Life has been so hectic for CJ & me and this was EXACTLY what we needed. A good hearty laugh from within our guts.

 Well here are some of the pictures from this crazy event!!

Of Course the Birthday Boy had to wear the Biggest one! <3

CJ and our friend Kate!

Oh boy did it itch my nose!!

Everybody was joining in!!

My mustache completes CJ's. =)

 AHH!! I forgot my mustache!! =P

Ironically Cj and I have been Mario Bros for Wii recently and with our mustaches we all kept saying, "Here We Go!" or "Let's Go" every other minute. It was so much fun everyone that I can't begin to tell you! Theme parties are alot of fun when people actually participate in them! Another awesome moment was that I left one of my mustaches of the night on my beer bottle & put it empty on the bar. The bartender started to say, "Hey Miss you Left your..." He pulled off the mustache, shook his head, and laughed and then gave us a free round for orginality. hehe. =)

Cj said it was one his best birthdays! I was so happy. Now what to plan for next year...*Thinking*

Have You Ever Done a Theme Birthday Party? Was it Fun? What Theme Did You Pick? 

I'd love to hear...