Underbite

Happy big fat snow flakes, everyone!  Today, trapped in from our vicious blizzard of a snow storm, I have been buzzing around like a mad woman, drawing, cleaning, educating myself on topics I would like to know more about, and then getting back to drawing... and multitasking all of these betwixt one another!  Being able to devote a day just to art-making is amazing!

Last night, Joey and I sat down to watch the movie Bronson, a film about Michael Gordon Peterson (aka Charles "Charlie" Bronson), a British man who is currently serving a life sentence in prison and has spent ALL but four of those years in solitary confinement!!!  He initially began his life in prison after being convicted, at age 22, of armed robbery (he only got away with 26 some-odd pounds) and was sentenced only to seven years.  Since then, he has furthered his sentence and gained the reputation of being Britain's "most violent prisoner", taking hostages in his cells, fighting groups of prison guards, making threats to kill others, etc.  Needless to say, the guy is a little on the intense side, but nonetheless interesting.  During his stay in prison, he has managed to become an excellent boxer, artist, and has written a book on working out in small spaces.

P.S. - Tom Hardy is a stud.  Not like Joey, though ;)

Anywhoo, whilst we were enjoying the insanity that is Charles Bronson, I decided to pick up my dusty knitting needles, stretch my fingers, and have a movie date with one of my favorite activities that I have recently neglected.  A beautiful reunion it was and I'm very happy with the product... and, it was completed within the time-span of a feature film.  What do you think?  It was super easy with this wrist-band pattern and then me having fun with my button collection.

Pssst... here's a sneak peek at a detail of my piece I'm working on for the art show.  It's still in pencil, so you'll have to squint...

Happy Weekend, everyone!  I hope that you have at least one day planned for relaxation.  Joey and I are both suffering from some kind of funky head cold thing, and I'm really hoping that it doesn't turn into anything more than that.  It's not the most convenient time to be significantly sick, but then again, when is? 

Check it out!  My sister Lindsey, who has always had an aesthetically able eye, has gotten little Gus man's nursery in a color challenge on Ohdeedoh!!!  She has done a fabulous job decorating his room and not only with color choices and accent pieces, but in the arrangement of the room as well.  It's a really small room, so it could easily become crowded and feel claustrophobic, however, Lindsey has flawlessly selected the furniture and decor that give the room a rich personality and filtered out (yes, my sister is a hardcore organizer/cleaner which is awesome, because I'm not) the everyday clutter that threatens to steal the room's aesthetic and character from those living in it.  On top of all of this... it is functional, AND cute as hell for a nursery.  I know the littlest Hill approves.  Gus's Jalapeno Jelly room is so much fun, but it's not Gus's room completely until the little Gusbuster man is in it.

So, go to the link and vote for Gus's room!  It's fun and it'll make you smile!


There are so many awesome house tours and kids rooms tours on apartmenttherapy.com you should definitely check it out.  Lots of visual inspiration for your home, nursery/kids room, kitchen, the technology in your home, and how you can become more environmentally conscious in your own home.

In fact, I've been putting to good use this helpful list (found on Apartment therapy) to easily keeping your home clean and organized each month.  So far, so good as the place is actually looking clean on a consistent basis.

And, for your weekendly browsing pleasures, here are some fun links from around the web:

First off, wh-wh-wh-where DO you find one of THESE!!!

I just can't get enough of recycled appliances/junk turned into functional furniture and home items.

DIY no knit scarf!

Check out Emma Watson's (Hermione) new hair via thesensesfive.com and beautiful holiday hair via a cup of jo!  I love it!

So, that's what I got for links this weekend.  This weekend I'm hoping to be super productive with my thesis, beautify a lamp that's been waiting for a face-lift and a place in our home, and clean up the workroom in our home.  Wish me luck.  And, because I want to send out some love to both of my nephew's and give a shout-out to my best buddy, Joey while he's at work, here's a couple of awesome pictures of Joey and Jeremy on their Boys day here at our house:

This week flew by!  It seems like everyday there was something going on so that by the time I made it home it was time to go to bed and do it again.  That does not mean, however, that I didn't enjoy the week.  The beginning of this week was pretty rough with a few classes that decided to act like CERTIFIED LUNATICS instead of actual human children who sometimes act endearingly looney.   After Tuesday, though, the week began to look up and good times and lots of productive art-making began to happen.






On top of working on the C-STEM Challenge, an extra-curricular program that a few of the teachers and I are participating in with the kids, I've been working on an art contest with the kids where the grand prize is a 75 gallon living coral reef aquarium!!!  Fingers crossed we'll win, however, if we don't, then that's one 75 gallon aquarium that I won't be maintaining and one beautiful piece of artwork made by the fantastic 5th graders at Oakhaven to hang up for everyone to see.  The C-STEM Challenge is pretty exciting as well.  It's a set of 6 challenges that the kids will have to complete and compete against other schools (mainly schools based out of Houston, which is where we will finally be competing in April).  We're the only school in Tennessee participating and knock-on-wood Memphis makes a name for themselves while competing in Houston, TX.

Besides school stuff and constantly keeping up with how the educational environment is changing or trying to change, life has been very good.  Joey and I enjoyed a semi-disappointing opening game with the Grizzlies game with our friends Zach and Sara.  Great company and a fun team to watch, Joey swears that when they stink it up during their first game of the season, the Grizzlies always do well during the rest of the season.  We shall see, won't we :)

 I still need to work more on my thesis and hopefully, sooner rather than later, I will blink and find myself with a master's degree.  In the meantime, I need to find more self-motivation.

As for today, however, it's Friday; a much needed Friday for many, so therefore, we shall proceed with fun non-work-related distractions and goodies!!!

Ahhh, December.  The heater running, mice finding little nooks in the house to seek refuge from the cold outdoors, a few extra minutes in bed to savor the warmth... these are things that I find endearing about the winter-time.  Even the mice... a part of me likes the idea of sharing my space with another living being that needs it, as long as it respects my space, and then I will respect theirs in return... and so far, thanks to Nugget, the mice have been extremely respectful.  The cold rainy days, waiting, shivering for the car to warm up as you drive to work, and feeling claustrophobic in all my layers of clothing, are the days I like to skip over when daydreaming about the winter season.  Admittedly, I am a summer girl and at times this time of year is a struggle for me, so, occasionally I need to subconsciously lift my spirits up from any seasonal depression I may be having and scout out things to psyche myself up about the cold.  As a constant pit stop in my internet meanderings, apartmenttherapy.com has succeeded in exciting me about winter-time with excellent posts focused on adjusting your home for the winter, which, often-times, adjusts your attitude as well.  So, I'd like to share some of them with you.  Enjoy!

• 14 Ways to Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up
• 5 Ways to Insulate Your Windows
• Color Inspiration: Brighten Up Dim Winter Days, Naturally