Underbite

As the year's day of love starts off next week, this weekend seems to be the best time to celebrate!  So, in honoring of loving... not just a significant other, but many things, here is my Valentines Weekend post:

Happy Weekend, everyone!  The Holidays are upon us and family and friends are slowly trickling into town :)  Lindsey and Gus are home until after Christmas, which guarantees an entire week of family fun (I'll be sure to have my camera on me), and  I know some of my friends are coming in town as well, and I can't wait to see them either!


I was silly to think that my busy time ended after I finished my thesis, because now I have to get started on artwork for the Graduate Art Show.  However, that means I'll be working on artwork and will have work-in-progress to post occasionally; so that's exciting.  Wish me luck on getting done what I need to get done within the next two weeks!  In fact, today I'm making a scheduled to-do list... hmmmm, we shall see how many "do's" get crossed off.

So, what are your plans for the weekend/week?  Joey and I are going to my friend Kelly's Christmas Party tonight, which I'm pretty excited about.  It'll be nice to hang out with friends and relax and enjoy the season.  I'm making more hard cider for the occasion and need to round up some holiday attire for the festivities.

And, since I've been collecting links, but took a hiatus for a bit, here are some fun places to visit from around the Internet:

First off, if you haven't checked it out via links through facebook, then check out my friend Amy's blog, memphisupbeat.com, which is a collaborative effort made by she and a group of wonderful people from within the community who have made it their goal to highlight the positive teachers, students, events, programs, etc. that are happening within Memphis's public education system.  I was lucky enough to have Amy visit one of my classes.  Afterwards, she put up an amazing post about how the lesson unfolded.

This makes me want to get active...

This story had me rolling on the floor!  Thanks, Todd!

Homemade edible gift ideas...

I want to do this with my kids at school.  In fact, I want to do this by myself, as well!

Pretty, pretty!

I'm loving these posters!

Sheesh!!!

And, ladies, for those days when you need a little style inspiration, check this website out!

So, I am hoping that everyone's last month of the year is going well and that your staying warm and cozy.  I'm excited to have more time to work on projects as well as keep you up to date on them via Underbite.  So, with that said, I will see you soon!

I know this post comes a day late, but I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that everyone got to enjoy some time with their loved ones and enjoy a potluck of delicious thanksgiving foods!!!  Also, I hope everyone got at least one food-induced coma.  As gross as it is to think about passing out from all of the food you've just stuffed down, I swear it's the best nap of the year, and if you're going to get that one nap a year, then I say take it... cause it's amazing!

This year I made apple spice cake for our two families, Joey made deviled eggs, and we both made that boilo (Hard Apple Cider) that I was wanting to make a while back.  It was delicious and was perfect for a cold, rainy day.

My favorite food out of the whole Thanksgiving feast has to be the dressing.  Never mind the turkey accompanying the dressing (although that's delicious too), just give me the dressing.  Joey's family has a tradition of making home-made ravioli (this is a serious under-taking!) and serves that as their Thanksgiving feast on his mom's side.  It's delicious and OH HOW I LOVE RAVIOLI!!!  So, how was your Thanksgiving and what's your favorite Thanksgiving food?  If you're having a low-key break this year, then are you doing anything exciting?

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? 

Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful New Year's sealed with either a kiss from their loved one or made merry by the company of good friends.  Goodbye to 2009 and welcome 2010.

This post will be short and sweet.  Cliche', though it is, I'm going to list my resolutions for the new year.  I'm determined to better myself and to stick with my goals, so hopefully, by posting them to the world, their will be more pressure, and therefore more motivation, for me to accomplish them.  So, simple as they may be, here are my New Year's Resolutions:

• To Quit Smoking... all together.
• To make it a point to have a real work-out AT LEAST twice a week.
• To keep a cleaner and more organized home.
• To really begin to eat healthier (guzzling LOTS of water) and cook more, using healthy meals and saving money by not eating out all of the time.
• To read at least 15 books this year.
• To complain less.
• To get into a routine of posting at least 2 posts per week... one on Wednesdays and one on Sundays.

To catch you up since the last post, last Saturday I volunteered at the school to help out a charity called Help-Portrait.  This organization allows families a chance to get a free 8x10 in. family portrait.  It was a really good experience and if you get a chance, check out their web-page and see what you can do to help out or to get them involved in your community.


Last Thursday was the last day with the kids before Christmas Break and we had a talent show.  After the talent show, I got some of my fourth graders to come down and help me clean my room up before the Holidays.  We had a good time and I have to say, it's been hitting me recently, just how hard it's going to be to leave the kids at Oakhaven if I end up moving in the next year or two.  I can't wait to experience a new city, however, the idea of leaving my students breaks my heart.  When the inevitable happens, and I do move, it will indeed be very bittersweet.

Ahhhh, I'm dreaming of Thanksgiving week and how it's just around the corner.  I love the anticipation, and, like most other teachers, I am definitely ready for a break.  I love the warm feeling of this specific holiday, and dream about naps that only a post-Thanksgiving meal can encourage.  Plus, the Macy's Day Parade and that nostalgic feeling of waking up as a kid to the sound of the parade on TV and the smells of your families contribution to the family feast.  I can't wait to spend time with family and meet the rest of Joey's family that I have yet to get to know.  So, this post, in honor of my premature daydreams of next weeks holiday, are in honor of Thanksgiving and a collection of things relating to it.

Thanksgiving Dinner for a feast on a budget:


and Part 2...


Also, in case you forget your wine cork at dinner...