The Holidays are Upon Us!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while! This week has been crazy busy with working at the mall over Black Friday, working on my art studio, family coming in for Thanksgiving and trying to get this college thannng situated. 

So here's a message I didn't get to tell you earlier,

Now you can just pretend like it says "Merry Christmas!" because as the decorations at the mall prove, 'tis the season to be jolly!!!

Ours was an eventful Thanksgiving because my sister brought home two exchange students from Colombia and France to spend the day with an American Family. Here she is with Ana Maria from Colombia! Such a sweet girl. 

Rather than getting pictures, I took a bunch of short videos of everyone interacting, my grandmother telling stories and of course the food! So I'm going to combine them all with a great song to make our Official McFerrin Thanksgiving Video! Here's the song I'm going to use, and don't let the title fool you... we definitely did eat ;)

It's a gorgeous song, please have a listen!

What did you and yours do to celebrate Thanksgiving and did you brave the Black Friday craziness??? I enjoy Thanksgiving so much because it's all about family and being thankful for what we have. Christmas is getting a little blown out of proportion these days and it's nice to get back to the root of things.

The Entrepreneur Challenge: I am a part of all that I have met

I made a few shirts in honor of Kennesaw Mountain's beloved theatre teacher, Edward Deavers, as part of a project in my Graphic Arts class back in May of this year. 

The quote on the front is from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, Ulysses. Mr. Deavers used to often include that phrase in his discussions that I would give anything to hear again.

Photo from Matt Saul

"I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As though to breathe were life. Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this grey spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought."

Those first few shirts are all gone now, but on facebook a lot of people have been asking where they can find more! I decided to go ahead and make more so everyone can get one who wants one. Here are the originals!

I was able to make a bag too!

The new shirts will be one color. I like the way the black and white looks, but I feel that Mr. Deavers would appreciate the royal purple dye so I will go with the white. I will make between 50 - 100 so comment, send me a message or let me know on facebook if you want one! They shouldn't be more than $10. A lot of these t-shirt companies I'm looking at are really expensive!

Here I am making the FIRST batch of shirts ;)

I'll be sure to keep you updated! Just wanted to go ahead and let you know this is in the works in case you want some. I think this will easily, easily take up all of my $100 for the E Challenge. It's worth it though! Anything for Ed!

The Sounds Live in Atlanta!

Last Tuesday was my 18th birthday, and to celebrate the Webb twins and I went to see one of our favorite bands, The Sounds, at The Masquerade! The Swedish band brought DJ Kids at the Bar and The Limousines with them. 

    Felix.         Fredrik.     Maja.        Johan.    Jesper.

Here's one of the opening bands, The Limousines.

They killed it! Not familiar?

Get Familiar

Then it was time for The Sounds!

Have a listen to one of my favorites:

Rock Goddess Maja Ivarsson

Felix = A Thing of Beauty

Don't mess with her!  Haha

Maja's gorgeous performance of Night After Night

After the show I caught up with Gio from The Limousines. A little shocked by how similar we're dressed; leather jackets, The Sounds t-shirts, necklaces and cross earrings. Whatevs. That's how we do. 

Then I got to switch shirts with my favorite rockstar this side of Elvis. You know, no big deal.
Scratch that, BIG DEAL. VERY BIG DEAL!

While a rocker at heart, Maja is too sweet and kind. I'm so thankful she took the time to come say hi to the fans! What's even cooler? She actually wore my shirt at a concert in Austin, Texas!!!!

Photo of Maja by Richard Cremean from Soundcheck Magazine

So all in all, I'd say it was the best concert I've ever been to. The energy from the boys, Maja's stage presence; The Sounds came to play. I think you might should head over to Itunes and support Kids at the Bar, The Limousines and The Sounds. They're making great music. 

Do it for Maja? Who knows, she might trade shirts with yah ;)

If you want to see more photos of the shirt, head over here!
Thanks to Tori and Laura (my eternal concert buddies) for being great photographers of the shirt swap!

The Entrepreneur Challenge

I have exciting news for everybody! This is the beginning of a new segment on Mind the Gap. My parents decided to put me up to a little challenge. They gave me one of these

And said, "See how much money you can make out of that by the end of February."

Challenge Accepted.

November Goals!

There are a lot this month! Let's see if I can get some stuff done.

Yeah. Some of that may take some 'splaining.

What do you want to do this November? I'm thinking about adding "Learn to Dance"as a Gap Year Goal. Anybody want to come swing dancing with me??? Haha (but seriously)

October Goals Recap

I didn't forget you! Promise! I've been pretty busy, you know, living and enjoying life and everything. But now I'm back glued to my computer working on posts. So it's all good.

Here's what I wanted to accomplish for the month of October.

READ AT LEAST FOUR BOOKS

I only got three finished and was halfway through with The Screwtape Letters by midnight on October 31st so I'm giving myself 75% credit for that one! Here are the books I read:

If you want to read any of my reviews about the books I read, head to Blog #2 Of the Thing Sung

20 POSTS ON ARTEMIS

booom.

EXPAND MY WARDROBE!

I never have any trouble with this one.

Missing from these pictures are a pair of high waisted snake print pants that complete my life! They have yet to be photographed.  If you ever want to see more of my style, you can head to my Fashion Blog, If I Were Artemis...

RESEARCH COLLEGES

hello future.

SAVE AT LEAST... HMMM

not so much. 'Twas an expensive month

10 POSTS ON OF THE THING SUNG

The November 1st post I worked on all night and posted it at 12:01, so I'm counting it!!!

POSTSECRETS

Made four! I haven't sent them in yet because I really just want to email them, not go print it out somewhere. But I'm NOT showing you pictures because they're secrets ;) If you haven't been to this incredible website, go check it out!

PHOTOSHOP & BLOG LAYOUTS

Still working on it, I purchased the domain site aretmisapollo.com so that's a step in the right direction!

ohhhh yeah. Get ready. The website is COMING!

4 FILMS

I already blogged about that one! But I watched The Devil Wears Prada, The First Wives' Club, The Hours, Shakespeare in Love, Rebel Without a Cause and An Education. All quality films!

So how did I do? 

Meh. Could've done better. And I WILL THIS MONTH! But I thoroughly enjoyed October. I got another job at Ecologie, this great thrift, consignment and vintage store I always go to. I've been really busy working two jobs, babysitting at least three times a week and I decided on plans for the future. I'm going to go to Kennesaw State University for at least two years. Not super pumped about it but let's see what God has in store. Trust is the name of the game I suppose! 

How are you doing? November is a great month. Fall has come and gone, Winter is in the air and one favorite food and family related holiday is coming up. All the stores are selling scarves, mittens and all sorts of fun cuddly, bundly things. I just heard my first Christmas song at the mall today (I know, right?). SO let's remember to be thankful for what we have this November. You with me?