Pre-Christmas presents! PART ONE

I did it!  I reached out into that large blogosphere and made some friends!   

After reading Sarahs post, i decided it was time to get into some swapping fun..  I participated in these girls  GET YOUR SCARF ON  swap!

So thanks to these  girls  I met a new blogging friend!   It is my goal to get over to her site and hang out over there!  So thanks Nilsa for my beautiful scarf!

And so i took photos of me and my new scarf!  and naturally this turned into a photo shoot.

Whats that Kevin Charette?  why yes, it is new &

 it is G-orgeous!   (BTW, so sorry you got bumped from top billing when alissa carlson moved to town.....  its only because she's a real meteorologist...)

SORRY  i have a tendency to think my local newscasters are part of my day to day life.

And finally my best blue steel impersonation.....   

PS  -  I'm wearing glasses because with no sub job today comes sleeping in... also comes with laziness...  to which I thought... lets take a day off of poking my eyeballs.  

Thanks again nilsa, you rock!!!!

5 words.

I am SOOO over homework.

I LOVE Christmas.  Its my fav holiday.  Not because of all the hype, but because of ( i know i sound corny) all the Holiday Cheer.    Nerd Alert.

So i love setting up all our Christmas decor.  Which is minimal.. because living in a one bedroom apartment means ZERO storage, meaning I have one tub of of decor and one tub for ornaments.  

This year, Tad convinced me to get a fake tree at the end of the last Christmas season (who can deny a sale, am i right?)

and we put it up.  

(ENTER PHOTO HERE... BUT I CAN"T  because all x-mas tree photos look just odd) 

it doesn't look BAD... but it doesn't smell like Christmas, so I went and bought a candle.  Mmmm...   now its Christmas.

Thanksgiving in Oregan

So I know that its been a WHOLE week since we had Thanksgiving... and really, I WAS planning on writing this up , but the hoopla over from monday's post just pushed it off....

Last Thurs. was Thanksgiving, and Tad & I drove with his parents to visit his Grandparents, nan & pop  (we were never a nickname your grandparents family... just grandma bernal and grandma solis).  It was a 9-10 hour drive that we did ALL AT ONCE.  Talk about fall asleep in the car and wake up with a the worst neck/back crick.

I think I can sum up our trip with a list of pros/cons to Oregon.

Benefits to Visiting Oregon: 

+ The weather. I love the cold foggy weather and

 snow on the ground.... ahhhh.... 

+ The Sales Tax.   CUZ THERE IS NONE!

+ The Clean Air (not to be found in bako)

+ If your going to shop the day after thanksgiving, do it in a teeny Oregon town.  

     The Mall in town felt like our Target on a Sat.  I didn't even have to wait in line.

Downfalls to visiting Oregon (and there's really only one):

- You have the propensity to get hit in the face with snowballs.  

I'm talking like hit right behind the glasses stick in your nose kinda hit.   by your loving husband.   If we would have had a video you would have seen me crying ralphie style.

***EDIT*** My husband would like you to know  that, at the time, snow had transformed him into a little boy... and that the act in question was not on purpose and he felt really bad afterwards.

In your face State of California!

 Remember way back when I wanted to rip my hair ouT?  When I could see NO end to the hoops that I had to jump to get a teaching job.   I mean I lost my job this year because i wasn;t highly qualified because the state changed the rules ...

So i HAD to pass these stupid tests.... these very scary, terrifying, all-encompassing agony.

After I wrote that post, i took off to my testing facility... l i left my test with the feeling...  meh.   like maybe I matched my score last time 15 pts for passing.   no better.... no worse.

I didn't even apply for student teaching last week because  I was about 87% sure I didn't pass.  I was so meh that I didn't even know results were coming out this morning.   So imagine my surprise -  not out of joy - that my Unofficial results were in.

And there in my mail box... was an email letting me know....   I HAD PASSED!!!!!

I AM HIGHLY QUALIFIED!!!!!  I can teach math!!  I can.. well... thats about it.      BOTH tests are behind me (unless i wanna teach calc.... which i don't)  So now i gotta get on filling out student teaching apps.

BOGO SALE!

Go Check out my store!  And let anyone you know know...

LoveAlisa.Etsy.com

That I am having a killer sale on all of my cute little onesies.   So pick some up for all those adorable babies you know and some that are on the way!!!

Buy One Get One FREE!!!!  on all my onesies!!!!

lovealisa.etsy.com

SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!

Thanks giving.... giving thanks...

Ahhh yes . . . . making thanksgiving treats....

* This year i included pumpkin scones...

Awww crap....  cleaning thanksgiving treats

and now that I am covered in cinnamon frosting... i must go.  and clean.

The Great Fall

The great thing about living in a one bedroom apartment is that there is absolutely NOOO room for anything.  So our desk, as seen previously  fully intact, held just about everything.  On top, in the drawers, next to, around...  everything perfectly had its little cubby/area.   Unfortunately, three years ago as poor newlyweds, we decided to save some moola and get the target brand furniture (desk, coffee table and side tables).  Three years later we realize that MAY not have been the best discussion and decision we could have made.  Because over the past few months - our flimsy desk had been teetering on what seemed like a pin.    Apparently, thats exactly all that was holding it together, because one evening, (I was at school) Tad was at the desk typing and as he picked up the labtop to move the the couch, the world fell out from under him.  our desk collapsed.  And everything on it crashed down. Our macbook is fine, and so is my floppy disk pen holder (thanks for asking).  

So There ---------------------> 

is our sad desk all crumpled and thrown in the corner.  Dear Desk, I'd say some nice words here, like "thanks for the times, and for being such a nice desk" but you never really were.  Sorry Desk.

   We reorganized into crates and have turned our table into a make-shift desk.  Which makes finding lesser used items like stamps and the little interchangeable socket for the apple charger a bit more challenging.   But now that we are a poor married couple again, we'll have to wait til i get a job for a new one (NOT from target).

study study study

I am in an intensive neglect-everything-eat-fast-food-cram-your-brain--your-job-depends-on-it type of mode.    Tomorrow I will be taking the CSET Math SubSet I for the third time.   I was 9 points then 15 points away.    Its the ONE thing that is stopping me from getting a job as a real teacher.  I was kinda a faker last year with not being "highly qualified."   I passed SUBSET II (Geometry & stats)  and this is the last tough hurdle.    Its to the point that I am sick of it.  I thought I ma have passed last time, thinking, i can squeeze in nine measly points.. but then found I am now further with 15 points away.     

And here i sit studying formulas, theorems, inductions, matrixes, dot products cross products, vectors, proofs.   My brain is swimming.    

 And every so often it clicks I look at my notations,  I look at my computer screen (there are some great resources) and I get it.  I really do. And then as I sleep it slowly seeps out of my brain.

So pray for me today, tonight, tomorrow (5 hours in a freakin' freezing room with ten pencils and a water bottle w/o the label) and pray for my nerves, and the peace I will get when my results come in next month.   Just pray I don't fall apart.   I am so sick of jumping through these hoops.  Its like I can see the other side....  but through a telescope.  

I finally completed a project...

Just about a year ago... I visited one of my bestest friend from Vanguard and her newly married apartment living. She was showing me what a great idea it is to create frame artwork she did. we looked at her creation, and at the O'Dell's creation and a few inspiration walls.      And then we decided to head over to Paper Source gift wrapping department.  

I could spend all day there, i know (for a FACT) briana still frequents there quite often.

So now a whole year later.. i finally get around to it.  I guess probably because of the fact that I don't have a job.  Well a consistent job.

Drum roll...  here you go!

***EDIT*****  Here's a close up one....

a few shots of my handy-work.  Well,  Tad's handy work mostly.  Major thanks goes to my very patient husband.  Our first experience with a wall mounted level.

There's our lovely Target desk.   If you look really close you can see my Bad -A super dorky pen holder I made from recycled floppy disks from the Vanguard Days. (remember those)

  

Look on the inside and you'll see an inscription reading 

"Alisa Bernal's Disk  -  Box #88"

ON DECK FOR MY NEXT POST:  

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUY COMPUTER DESKS FROM TARGET.

i suck at organizing...

and Tad most definitely does not suck at it.   Except his idea of  "organizing" is the trash can.   So I am in desperate need of organizing all my craft mediums.    

The little table that holds my oil paints and aisle are overflowing.  So in a corner are my fabrics, threads, yarns, beads, ribbons,  scissors and other tools in milk crates a "borrowed" from my middle school last year.  And ever since "The great FALL" of our desk (more on that to come) (imagine you HAD a desk.. and then... you DIDN'T)  there are stacks of electronics, papers, folders, books, irons,  CDs .....  everything has been compacted in this itty bitty apartment.  I have a lot of storage units, boxes, bowls, i just got them at different times and for different needs, so nothing matches or looks good stacked.  It looks like a bad yard sale up in here.

I need Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray to come over here with like supplies from IKEA or TARGET and get everything in cute matching baskets, buckets and jars.  And then Tad could breathe.

 

Today I created something new.

I taught myself some new stitches by looking at the craftsmanship on etsy.com 

 and i came up with some rea

lly cute bookmarks.

   

I've been using this one that I made last night. 

 

Its just so darn cute,  except, there are plenty of mistakes - and tracing lines and frayed edges etc. . . 

 so this one stays with me.  but i'm working on more of these and will add them to my site next week probably

God Bless the Kindergarten teacher

Because Lord knows its a hard job.

 

Today I was awoken with a call to come in for a half day at BLANK Elementary for Kindergarten.  I walked in thinking,   I can handle this,  I subbed a few Kinder classes two years ago.  Cake.   

Wrong.

First of all, to all you primary teachers bless your little patient heart and consistency with your morning-carpet-calendar-wall time.  For those of you who forgot what its like to be in primary grades - This is time you sit on the carpet and talk about the days of the weeks, months, weather, counting days, letters, counting by 2s and so on, songs and sayings that help you remember all these.   What I love about Kinders and carpet time....  They have no shame to tell you you're wrong.   Wrong order, wrong pointer, wrong song, wrong placement of the straws.   Shameless these guys are.

 

Next bit - Complaints.  Do I really need to know about kid across the way that looked at you the wrong way or girl next to you that took over your job of paper passer outer or can we deal with that ourselves?  Do you think I, who have been here for little over one hour really knows the true story behind why your crayon has presented itself if such a disparaging manner?

 

Next bit -  Alphabet - I was quickly reminded that it is only the beginning of the year and most of kids don't know their alphabet or phonics.  This was the first time most were introduced to the letter U and how to make the rounded bottom to that letter.  And some could not grasp it  giving me V's instead of U's. They are like little sheep lost in the wilderness.   Please someone, teach them.  I know i don't have the patience.

 

Recess - In a line that is around the corner on a far away blacktop, what am I to do about a line cutter.  Get over it, everyone to the end of the line.

 

Reading a book -  is sooo the hardest when its upside down, sideways, every-which way just so the class can get a gander at the pictures to a story they will probably forget tomorrow.

 

All - in - all....  that goodness It was a half day.  And as if God was laughing at me, i went home and checked online for sub jobs...  there was another day and another kinder class tomorrow waiting for me.

 

God Bless the Kindergarten Teacher.

More ETSY news.

I updated my etsy store with two of the onesies i've been promising pictures of.   Go and check them out.

This first one is Monogramed for dear Molly i have another curly one, but i didn't have the time to finish it  ...and i think i lost a lot of blood on this one.   Don't worry (megs, not any on the shirt, and i used lots of spraynwash)

I also made this adorable little flower one that I gave you a sneak peek on friday.  I went looking for something i could deconstruct... the whole fabric is a bit overwhelming, but each flower is really cute, i'll probably make more from this fabric.

Anyone who has been lost in F & M fabrics off of niles knows that sigh when finding that perfect fabric...  after wandering aimlessly and taking a tangent to ogle ric rak   Suddenly,  there it was.  Hiding in the back of the $3 isle, leaning in a huge pile against other florals and brocades just waiting for me.  ONE TOUGH COOKIE.   So cute and so worth the hunt.

Also, since that money from my previous sales has been burning a paypal hole in my pocket i went and bought the CUTEST purse I've had my eye on fo months now!!!

I want to post!

I just finished with the cutest little present for my friend's baby shower.

And I am dying to post the photos on here.   But alas, I must wait. 

Because I know for a fact that she reads this site.  She's like a silent blog stalker.  And thats why I love her.

So instead pretend I got her little baby girl this!

($155 for that thing)

I'm sure she'll love it!

I promise to post my creation soon!

:::UPDATE:::   JUST A PREVIEW:

Anticipatory.

So I'm working on a PPT on my Mac for a class project.  (I'm putting everything together.)

Recently I've been noticing my Powerpoint has been anticipating my words and already puts the red squiggly line underneath.  which would be fine, because I'm aware that I could be the single worst speller on the planet. I welcome constructive corrections.

But what bothers me is that MAC is doing it for words i'm CORRECTLY spelling...

Honestly MAC, I have self-esteem issues as it is.  I don't need you getting me to second guess myself.

So, I'm totally a cheapskate...

I like to be in the know.  I like to know what my junior highers are interested in.  i like to talk about young lit with junior highers.  I like to know everything about everything.  So i need to get updated on the newest book trends.  Recently I have become extremely interested in the Twilight series.   I need to start reading these!

(especially since they'll be in theaters this winter)

Back to why I'm a cheapskate: So instead of buying the book...  I decide that the library is a better deal.   So two months ago, I go to the library and see if any are available.   The Librarian looks it up and ... there is a 291 person waiting list in the  San Joaquin Valley Library System. 

Now, Sarah Palin might say "thanks, but no thanks" and drive down to Russo Books and move on.   But not I.  NOT A CHEAPSKATE!  nope.  I wait. . . and wait.

And today I received my bountiful blessings. A call from Southwest Library that my book had been transported there and was ready for pick up.  

THAT was worth so it!

Things I love right now:

1.) The kids i see during substituting!!

a.) What they search for on Google Earth:  top of the list: their home, hawaii, the north pole.  Those smart few look up the Georgia Russian border and places that Ike hit.

  b.) In an ELD class a jealous jr high boy could no longer handle the girls swooning over the jonas brothers that he started calling them the CHONIES brothers.  "you can go marry Joe CHONIES and be Mrs. CHONIES!"

2.) Fringe:  Like seriously.  JJ Abrams, Joshua Jackson, and crazy theoretical science that fills that inner conspiracy nerdiness of me that has been lost since Area 54 was relocated.

3.) Tad has started doing the Jim Halpert face whenever someone says something ridiculous, or confusing and it takes all my strength to not laugh in front/ at people.

**EDIT** (insert - better jim face)

4.) Politics.  I am like glued to my seat and I watch endless amounts of Keith Olbermann and I adore Chuck Todd's nerdy numbers.

I've Sold something...

I opened a site on etsy.com because I love it so much. And I have a lot of ideas, and wanted to get my stuff into peoples hands.  

I sold two bookmarks the very first night i listed my items.  I was stoked.  I can quit my job, my Career has taken off, I'm a regular small business owner.  

 Or maybe not.  Perhaps a fluke, .... have been dormant for the last three months....  I check it everyday, mostly because its in my safari bookmarks bar, and also because i Just love the whole site.   If you haven't been there its like ebay for talented people. (friends, expect gifts from here).

tonight I sold a cute little ipod cozy that I innovated using logic and creativity complete with a space to plug in your earbuds.  I'm actually really proud of it.  

so I'm excited!   I will certainly put up the rest of my creations soon !

its back....

 ...yes, I'll have a grande non-fat no-whip pumpkin spice latte.   Yum.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

the pumpkin spice latte and today it helped me through my first eight hours of Saturday Credential Class.

 

all is right in the world.  

Fall is offically here (september 21st, shmemtember 21st)

I think I'm Starting the revolution.

Now more then ever, as many other conscious Americans have realized, we must now take care of our planet. (Whether of not you think Al Gore is a complete hack or a genius deserving of his nobel peace prize.)

So I have been doing my part. And not because I have been pushed. But because I always have. I was raised in northern california where recycling is a must and my brother at a young age realized his life goal was to become a pelican saver (which never came to fruition...yet).

All this to say Tad and I have been recently changing our lifestyle to reduce our carbon footprint. Recycling (well, we've always done that), reducing the amount of paper napkins used, using reusable shopping bags. Responsible citizenship, Nothing ground-breaking, except if you live in Bakersfield.

Especially using reusable grocery bags.

The funniest thing is going shopping and when I pull out my cute little reusable tote bags I get varying results:
1.) A look of confusion.
2.) "Whats that for?"
3.) Did you want to buy that? (NO LADY ITS MINE!)
4.) A search for a barcode or tag.

But every time I have to explain that these bags are mine, and I would like my purchases to be placed inside.

So if you are trying to save the planet like me in a world that doesn't understand what carbon footprint is... Raise your lime green octopus tote with me and together we can green this city!





****UPDATE**** Costco knows what's up... they are awesome and we had a conversation about what types of reusable bags are best. ITS SPREADING....

Scene: Cool Water Ad company meeting.

"You know what show is really cool now? LOST."

"We should get that Sawyer guy to do a commercial."

"Yeah, and I think that he can just come straight from his LOST set.

"He doesn't even have to change his wardrobe, or his hair at all."

"Don't even let him shave.. he has to look exactly the same."

"yeah in fact let's just put him in the same water he spends most of the show in."

"Perfect?"
"Perfect."

its the power of cool. I spent like five minutes just laughing. apparently he's not better than that.

Tad's In Alaska.

Tad is using his well earned vacation time to fish in the wild with McPherson boys. They are getting in touch with their inner hunter. So now Tad can feel like he has provided for his family by bringing home a freezer full of salmon.

Which is perfect since the smell of fish makes me gag. This reaction is probably thanks to my sophomore year roommate Jesica Turpin. Everyday, in our tiny squished hotel-like dorm room,  Jessica nuked her tuna for lunch. And the smell lingered... at least to me. yuck.  plus i've always hated fish.

But back to Tad-less life. What does one do in this situation? Adjust her netflix!    So that all those girly movies which have mysteriously moved to the bottom of the queue are now on the way here!



This is my favorite scene from Becoming Jane that I just balled at. I know. i'm pathetic.



Its amazing how many more tears I shed for those sappy moments this week.     I mean, i cry a lot.... but this week every time there is a moment, a look, a word a feeling or emotion i am crying.   It's a little bit of missing Tad and mostly of knowing what we have and how special it is. Of how much we tried so many times to move on, but like in jane's case kept finding a path towards one another (even if it was unknowingly).

this one happens to be so great! jane austen's life is amazing. what she experiences helps her to became the greatest female author. so now I must go and reread all of her books.

Hidden Blessings...

When I was hired last fall my HR person told me that my district was on a 10-month payment cycle. Meaning, I wouldn't get checks for July and August.

Tad & I have known this all year long, so we have been saving and saving for a fun anniversary trip and to survive the summer. When gas became too expensive for a trip to seattle and canada, we went for San Fran. We were were able to save and allocate enough to splurged on a nice hotel and really nice restaurants.

On the last day of our trip in SF, We pull out money to pay the parking attendant. . . and there is a number noticeably MORE then it was on Wednesday. Its about the size of my monthly payment. . . . but . . . what???

At home its confirmed it is my paycheck... So We have two unexpected paydays! Yeah! This will definitely jump start our savings for a house!

Sometimes blessings have always been there, you just gotta look for them.

20 Day Giveaway!

I found this super cute website that I can't wait to explore!!!   But as a addict to free stuff how could I NOT participate in this little contest!  This post is one of the stipulations and the next is that I window shop and surf the web :-D  Go check it out yourself!

See you laters alligators.

June 25th

9 Years ago today, I was nervously anticipating a first date with this cute guy, Tad. We were going to see the opening of my favorite actor's movie Big Daddy. I walked in not knowing what to expect, and Tad walked in unsure of what to do with the armrest in the theatre.

5 years later on this day, we said our vows and have never looked back.

Today we are celebrating our 3rd year of marriage. Wow, has it been that long?   I am so thankful that God has brought us back together after all our time.  I think of all the things we went through to find each other again.  I am thankful for understanding that our time apart matured us and made us even better for eachother then we ever thought we could be.  Now, more then ever, every day is a gift, and I am grateful spend each of them with the love of my life: my Taddy.

Our Plans:  We are going to San Francisco tonight, so our anniversary dinner on the way tonight, won't be sooo romantic... but we have plans for Friday or Saturday. Our original plan for a trip to Seattle was gobbled up by the gas-price-monster >:-D

My first blog post.

Here I am on the eve of my 26th birthday writing my very first post on my very own blog. My xanga account is sooo dead, I refuse to even visit for fear of the stench. Tomorrow I'll go delete it.

wait...Let me rewind.

Last week my husband Taddy came home from Nick Chapman's house super excited about facebook and all the people he's "friends" with. Up until now, I have shied away from networking sites for fear of my students google searching.) He convinces me to join. Then I see all his friends. Then I see all these blogs. I have waited as the silent reader for a while reading through my sister and her friends and stumbling on other names I recognize.

Finally, I decide. I need to connect. Connect with family, connect with friends, just connect with people. So drop me a note. Any way you see fit. (except on xanga, which is dead to me.)