Underbite

1. Do a favor for yourself at least once a day.
2. If time allows, find a cute photograph of an animal and create funny dialogue with it.
3. Find something fun to sing in your head while you work:

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

Alright, it's official... I'm a flaky procrastinator.  I don't have the post I promised for you today, but you know, it's the weekend and it's been a busy week, so we'll deal.

I've decided to chop my posts down to only twice a week until I'm finished with my thesis... so, that's in December.  I love having a deadline for Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's, it gives me a bit of a routine to stick to, but I'm going to be needing all the thesis time I can get, and it's becoming slowly harder for me to stick to that routine, so, I'm opening up more time for myself.

Onto fun things for the weekend!!!

First off, my good buddy, Emily, shared this with me, and I don't believe I've ever seen anything quite so precious...LOVE!

I'm moving Joey and I's Experiment post to this Friday's post.  So, I wanted to find something "different" for you to enjoy on this fine Wednesday.

September is always bustling with birthdays it seems like, so this is going to be a birthday shout out post for all of those birthday's!

On Sept. 2nd, 1920, my grandmother, Irene Farris Travis a.k.a. Mimi, was born.  She turned 90 a couple of weeks ago and did it with grace.  She is smart, funny, and movin' and groovin' every day.  Way to show old age how it's done, Mimi!!!


My two cousins Madison and Mabree and their grandfather, my Uncle Scottie, all shared birthdays this month as well.  They're a beautiful bunch who have way too much talent for their own good.  Seriously, they're talented in everything from singing/songwriting, to dancing and cheerleading.  Ladies and Uncle Scottie,  I hope your birthdays were utterly delightful!


Three of my dearest friends, Audrey, Lauren, and Katie B. also shared birthday's this month (except Audrey, whose birthday was the 24th of August, but close enough).  Audrey's finishing up vet school down in Auburn and has done it with a style and finesse that no one else has yet to achieve, Lauren's getting down and dirty on the farm while attending vet school in Dublin, and Katie, whose birthday is actually today, is going the homo sapien route and attending Med school over in East TN (ETSU). Yes, if you must ask, all of my friends are brilliant.  Ladies, you are beautiful, talented, and so intelligent, I am so lucky to have friends like you and I can't imagine not having you in my life.  I hope your birthdays rocked!

Tomorrow is my birthday.  So, since it's on a tuesday, we treated this weekend as my birthday weekend, and I have to say, it was wonderful and much needed.  I got to spend Saturday with my buddies Angela and Dani exploring the COOLEST thrift store in the city of Memphis, the Elvis Presley Blvd. thrift store.  Still don't know why I hadn't ever been, so thanks Angela and Dani for taking me!  Then, we dominated India Palace's buffet (Joey joined us for this amazing feast).  Joey and I went home to relax, and then we went and checked out the Horn Island exhibit at MCA, went to dinner at Bennihana's (delicious!), and then went bowling with our friends Garre, Greg, Katherine, and Paul.  Cosmic bowling and beer... great combo.  I even scored the highest game (153) but have no memory of doing so if that tells you anything.  On Sunday, we relaxed and then hung out with my parents who grilled a delicious birthday kabob dinner complete with birthday cake!

So, I don't deserve the AMAZING gifts that I got for my birthday, however, they were AWESOME, so I'm going to share them with you.

The EELS, one of my favorite bands since High School are playing up in Chicago, so Joey got me tickets to the concert and everyone pitched in and got me train tickets (Joey covered his own ticket so I won't be going solo) to ride up their for the weekend!!!  I am so stoked, you don't even know.  My mom also got me two tickets to Wicked, so we have a date to go see that in October as well!  I've heard it's great, so I can't wait to experience it.  I'll definitely put a post up about our Chicago trip after we go up there, as well as a post on Wicked, and for your listening pleasure, The Eels.  Thank you to everyone who made my weekend wonderful!!!

This weekend Joey is going to take me out for my birthday :)  I can't wait for the weekend to begin!  I'm going to start it off with a quick nap with my furry little ladies as soon as I finish this post.  I need to make it a new goal to get a picture of these three all together.


I've been in a crafty mood lately.  I think my body is starving for some creative busy work to relieve myself from my more demanding responsibilities.  Anyway, if anyone wants to join me in my frenzy, I've been at it all week and will hopefully keep it that way for eternity, so if anyone wants to have an Art night, just let me know.  Seriously, don't hesitate to call.

Would you like to go strolling through the wild internet?

I'm loving this pair of boat shoes.

I want to incorporate these mirror stairs into Joey and I's cob house someday...

It's been a loooong short week.  Kind of rough.  So, I've been doing a lot of "busy, take-your-mind-off-of-it" artwork when I get home from work.  Lots of repetition and coloring.  When I saw this swirl picture, my first thought was, "Wow, I bet that was extremely therapeutic".

I've been wanting to take a jab at this project for a while.  I mean, look at how great a man's shirt turns into a woman's skirt!  I've seen one skirt where the arms of the shirt were used as a tie-around waist.  Super-cute!

This video makes me really sad that I didn't see it before I cut my hair, just so I could use my lost single socks to make SOCK BUNS!!!  Why I have never heard of sock buns before is beyond me.  Also, if you're hair doesn't easily curl, but you want it too, then here's another sock bun method; blow-dryer FREE!!!

I'll be making these awesome necklaces soon enough!  Perhaps I could make them available to make at my tie-dye party, whenever that happens.

Do you like moccasins?  Then check out this easy DIY project...AND, if you're a baseball fan, then you'll probably get into this pair of shoes as well...

I contemplated for a while whether it would be appropriate or not to post this on Underbite, but I can't help it.  I LOVE this poster!!! It cracks me up.

Last week I mentioned that Joey and I were going to be posting an experiment here on Wednesdays.  Well, today is the first Wednesday and the kick-off to our little project.  Joey is being a wonderful sport in offering his time and patience, as well as providing his artistic talents for the effort.  So, thank you Joey for participating... I will definitely return the favor!

1. The motive for this project:  I can't stand the word CAN'T.  When it comes to controversial issues that most people get really heated about, there are only a handful that I can say that I have an extremely strong position about.  This is simply for the reason that I find that I can easily see most points of view on different topics.  This is not, however, to say that there aren't issues that I do throw down for.  This experiment, though not a controversial issue, is definitely one of them.  I get super frustrated when someone tells me, usually pretty adamantly, that they absolutely can not draw.
2. My response and personal belief:  I believe that ANYONE who can write their name and draw simple shapes (squares, circles, triangles, etc.) can draw, they just perhaps have not been introduced to the skill in a way that they understand and/or they simply just don't have the desire to pick up a pen or pencil and doodle.
3. The Participant:  My husband, Joey, who claims that if I can teach him how to draw then I'm a miracle-worker.  Also, anyone else who wants to join in who is convinced they can't draw a stick figure.  Get ready to work some magic.
4. The goal:  To provide a lesson per week in order to supply the skills needed in order to draw a still life and a portrait/self-portrait with a good sense of proportion, detail, and accuracy.  I don't expect perfection (nobody's perfect) and I don't expect a miracle to be made.  I just expect an understanding that when we put our mind to it and approach a challenge from an angle in which we personally understand, then we can begin to accomplish what we thought we were incapable of doing.  

*As a side-note, because I believe that everyone CAN draw, I would like ONLY positive feedback in the comment box as it is a courageous thing for a person to openly display their work for presentation of progress, critique, or for the benefit of a friend's experiment.  Thank you!

• Lesson #1
• The Anatomy of the face
• I believe that when it comes to understanding how to draw the human face and body, that it is typically a misunderstanding of the anatomy of the face and it's proportions.  Therefore, the lesson was meant to provide the guidelines for the human face in order to better understand how to begin to approach it.  This makes a daunting task into a simpler, multi-step approach.

Congratulations, everyone, we made it to the long Labor Day weekend!  Sorry this is coming on Sunday instead of the start of the weekend, but oh well, even when you think you're going to have more time with an extra day in the weekend, that really means less time.  It's a beautiful weekend, with the perfect taste of fall inching closer in the air.  I'm hoping to relax and enjoy myself for a short bit while having a short list of "to do's" checked off by next week:

1. Finish my sketchbook; turn it in
2. Clean up my introduction to my thesis and work on other sections of my thesis
3. Get my lesson plans ready for the week
4. Clean up the house a bit
5. Work on some Christmas presents (yes, Christmas presents... something I don't want to be worrying about when crunch-time for my thesis paper rolls around)

It's been awesome working on my sketchbook and feeling that intoxicating flow that comes with producing art.  All I have to say is, "Damn, it's  been absolutely WAY too long since I've had that feeling and shame on me for neglecting it."  All too often I get dragged under the procrastination train simply because I feel and I am aware that I'm busy with work and all of its obligations, graduate school, married life, and then my social life.  Well it is a busy life, but it's no excuse to not make time for what I really enjoy doing and what I would really enjoy doing for the rest of my life.  So, that's that, I'm now pointing myself to the "think about it" chair in order to get my routine and my priorities arranged in such way to be more productive.

Yesterday was a ton of fun.  My family and I all met up down in Oxford, MS for their first football game of the year.  It's been a loooong time since I've been to a football game, so I'd forgotten the sense of community, pride, and spirit that comes with being at a big university like Ole' Miss.  It was fun to people watch and to participate in tailgating.  I have to admit, it was a bit overwhelming at times, but it was great to have the day with my family.  By the end of the day I was beat and fell into bed like a brick.  I don't know how the town gets up and spends the day in the grove, watches an entire football game, goes back to the grove, and then goes out on the square for dinner and then later to party on game day's that they win!  Whew, apparently I just can't hang with the the rebel fans.

Unfortunately. like an idiot, I broke rule #1 of being a photographer.  Rule #:  Always have film and/or a memory card to actually shoot photo's with.  So, I don't have any documentation of the day except for what Blake took which I'm hoping to borrow from him.  So, I'll hopefully have some pictures up later.

Meanwhile, I was going to give you a sneak peek of my sketchbook and then show you some cool findings from around the web.  Enjoy!



If you want to see more, then you can go to the exhibit for Project Sketchbook, or you can wait when I get it back and flip through it then.  Scratch that, just come to the Project Sketchbook exhibit if you can, and if not, I'll just make a post about it.  :)

For your browsing pleasure, check out this CRAZY AMAZING trip to a tea house in China!!!

A cool way to shelve your books while bringing nature indoors.  Not that I think he cared much about interior design, but I'm sure Henry David Thoreau would have liked having this in his house.

Love these tights.

And, speaking of fashion, I love this store and this store's new fall line, although, I can't really afford either.  That's why we love thrift stores and a little ingenuity on the sewing machine!!!

These tattoos are lots of fun, especially the painterly one's.

Lovely to look at.

My dogs are barking this fine Wednesday, so I'm propping my feet up and working from the couch.  It's been a long day, but I'm determined not to lazy out completely.  So, I'm going to make this post short and sweet.  I need to work on my sketchbook for this years "Project Sketchbook".  It's due by this Sunday and I would like to have it turned in by Friday so I can enjoy the weekend.  Here's hoping I get it done and that it turns out great.  I'll definitely post pictures of the sketchbook once I'm done.  It's been a while since I last dedicated time to personal artwork, so it's been quite enjoyable.

I've been wanting to ride a bike to school (MCA, not MCS) whenever I go, but I still need to work on acquiring one.  And since we're talking about bikes, I like this "rush hour" video:

One of the sites that I frequently visit, pacingthepanicroom.blogspot.com, is a guy named Ryan Marshall who blogs about his family as well as his efforts to successfully do what he loves... photography and being a good father.  It seems as though he's been extremely successful in his efforts so far as he continuously churns out beautiful photographs and has recently used his creativity and his connections to organize a charity music album for kids to help raise awareness for SMS (Smith-Magenis Sydrome), a developmental disorder that his step-son has been faced with.  The album is called, "Do Fun Stuff" and features songs that sing about going potty, birthday songs, and missing teeth.  Totally kid friendly and really fun.  Check it out.  It's for a good cause and it's something I'm sure any kid you know would love.  If you want you can buy the album off of itunes (be sure to rate it and/or leave a review) or you can leave a donation.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of this album goes to a grant fund Ryan established with PRISMS. From there, "the money will be made available to grad students who wish to make SMS their field of choice, the benefit of this is more hard research being done, which leads to more case studies, which leads to more answers for parents and researchers". 

Photo taken from the website "The Year of Mud: Cob and Natural Building"

Joey and I have been talking about the possibility of someday building our own house.  This idea is exciting not only because of the romantic notion of physically building a home together, but also saving money while building a house... if we were to do it right, that is.  I've always been a huge fan of cob houses and other alternative ways to building a home naturally.  For the longest time I would design blueprints of my ideal home to build based off of my grandfathers barn.  I wouldn't change much to the design or the feel of the barn except for getting rid of the snakes and spiders and adding a living interior instead of wild kittens and hay with ticks crawling in it.  The cob house above looks wonderfully comfortable and seems to say "Welcome Home".  This kind of architecture is the kind that is made out of love.  Finding and collecting salvaged wood, doors and windows, and other used household items to help to create the structure re-uses and breathes new life to forgotten pieces while giving the house an eclectic and cozy feel.  Using materials provided by the earth (straw, mud, sand, and clay) to create quite possibly the best insulation a house can offer is a partnership with the land and the builder as the home is created.  Like I said... love!  This little daydream, along with a chicken coop and some goats, sounds perfectly delightful.  What's your dream home?

This weekend was Lindsey's birthday weekend.  She turned 29 in the most graceful manner; juggling life as a beautiful and wonderful wife, brilliant new mother, and a successful and (I'm sure) inspiring teacher  (she's also an amazing sister to have too, btw).  She even manages to exercise.  What the hell, right?  I don't have nearly as many responsibilities as she does and completely lazy out when it comes to exercise.  I drink wine every night instead.  Never mind my own issues, though; she looks great and handles her business like a pro.  So, kudos, Lindsey, you're awesome and I hope your birthday weekend was great.  I mean, how could it not be with Pop, Skeeter, and Aunt Wheezer in town :)

Yes...

Back in July, I referenced a list I was working on.  I am most definitely NOT the first person to write a "30 before 30" list (just google it and you'll be able to read all sorts of fun stuff that people have determined to do before 30), but I love the idea of giving yourself time to consider goals that you want to reach, deadlines, whether they be completely ridiculous or legitimately productive and on task with your life's path... or off of it for that matter. I love making lists.  It's quite a lot of fun to do and it helps my scrambled brain to visually grasp order in my own life.  My sister is the QUEEN of lists!  If my list making skills were ever as good as Lindsey's, I believe I might quit my job and get paid to be a professional organizer/counselor.  I'm telling you, the woman is GIFTED!

Anyway, here is my list.  I'm posting it on the blog as a way to avoid forgetting about it and/or ignoring it.  I will complete it!  I WILL!!!

1. Get a tattoo
2. Learn to play an instrument (know how to play at least 3 songs well)
3. Go to New York City, Boston, and Washington D.C.
4. Go to the City Museum in St. Louis
5. Illustrate a children's book
6. Attain my MAT
7. Begin working on/finish my +45
8. Memorize 3 poems
9. Pay off my student loans
10. Get down to my most comfortable weight 
11. Train the dogs to sit, stay, lay down, and not pull on the leash
12. Get a bike... ride it to any destination that's within 2 miles or so
13. Learn how to sew to the point where I can create my own unique clothes
14. Go camping with Joey on Isle Royale
15. Understand and speak spanish well enough to carry on a simple conversation
16. Learn to surf
17. Have a day of Sun Studio's and the Civil Right's Museum
18. Design a custom-made header for Underbite
19. Visit Bowe down in Oxford before he friggin' graduates!!!
20. Attempt the master cleanse (over the summer, though, so I don't smell at work)
21. Take a trip with Joey up to Chicago by train
22. I want to be able to do 100 push-ups in one sitting
23. Create a simple, yet highly functional wardrobe where the majority of the clothing items are utilized consistently
24. Write and create a short film with Joey
25. Meet an elephant (if I can ride it that'd be even cooler!)
26. Begin volunteering regularly
27. I want to go to more musical concerts, but more than anything, I want to attend one that will top the list of my favorite concerts that I have been to.
28. Finish reading the Count of Monte Christo from start to finish
29. Go vegetarian for a year
30. Raise chickens

Happy Friday, everyone!  The first actual week of school was a successful one and I hope that everyone in the educating business had a good first week as well... and even if you aren't in education and it wasn't your first week back with the kids, I still hope your week was fabulous.

So, Joey and I finally submitted our pictures for the Mad Men casting call.  We didn't read far enough into the fine print, though, that it was specifically one person per entry, which makes sense, but it was fun when we thought we could possibly just send in a shot of the two of us.  Anyway, we improvised with some other shots that we took for the hell of it and pulled individual shots out of those.  These are the ones we chose: