New Years Resolutions...

Well, i'm not a fan of these.





In the past:
 - I've tried to take a picture a day for a year, 
-  i've also tried to stay up on my blog .
- I've tried to give up Mt dew
- I've tried to set up a work out schedule 
-I've planned to cut out take out and cook at home each night.


All of these i have HAD success with for a WHILE and then over time I either lost interest and it faded or I just failed miserably all together.


So in 2011, I'd hate to set myself up for failure.    


 Instead of "resolutions" and "promises" and "whatevers"  


I've been thinking about what I love.  I love to to create.  I love to read. I love to try out new things. I love to cook.  I love to connect & bless others.  (not in that order, and a lot of those overlap.)


I wanted to stay away from professional goals, only because work stories are boring, i spend most of my time at work, and  I need to be refreshed.


So i've created some "goals" Things I'd like to accomplish, things that will refresh my mind, my spirit and my soul.


1. For my crafting:  My goal is to get more things into my shop. Its not a priority, My priority is to get back to that feeling of accomplishment I have when I complete a project! - but I'm going to challenge myself to CREATE something each week.  I think I owe it to myself.  I love making things to much, it can be something for lovealisa or it can be a gift to someone else, or it can be a fun thing for myself.  Whatever the case nothing makes me happier then with i'm sewing/glueing/painting/beading/crocheting/designing.


2. For my reading:  Recently I received a kindle for Christmas, and I HAVE BEEN FLYING through books! That said, I AM on vacation from school, and i'm sure once I go back I'll lose a lot of time.  So I think I"m going to set a goal of reading ONE book each month. 


3. For my new things:  Since I've shown Tad how cool etsy is for my little teeny shop, and how many people make a living off of their small companies, I have turned him away from a "Fox Books" type and into a more "shop around the corner."  We've been trying out small businesses in town (We're not like LA, but there are a lot of places i haven't been to.) I'd like to make it a goal to visit ONE local or family owned business/attraction in town a month. This could be food, shop, theatre, etc.


4.  For my cooking: This is simple.  I'd like to be sharing a recipe/meal... twice a month.  I'd like to do once a week - but... we're being realistic, not pie in the sky.


5. For my ministry to others: This is an interesting one. I think i'd like to challenge myself to connect with someone or some group twice a month.  This can be an encouragement, coffee with an old friend, volunteering, donating time, money resources, gifting.  This one i'm sure will morph over time.  I'll take ideas on this one.


_______________________________________


This hope is that as I accomplish these things, i will start documenting them on here. My blog will be overflowing with posts, I will be proud of all i can do, and you will get to rejoice with me!   So really its like a win-win-win. 

Cheap Tips # 1...

Ok,  I've been saving this one for a while now.    I've been meaning to share this because one, it'll save you money and two its a funny story.

i'd like to start sharing some tips because I'm a cheapskate.  Most of the them, I guarantee, if you are frugal enough .. you already know about... but some, hopefully, you might find helpful.

Tip # 1  Buying Bagels at Von's.


For the last year or so Von's has had their amazing freshly baked bagels constantly on sale a dozen for $3.99.  They also have prepackaged ones for $1.99.   NOW, if you are like me, its just me and my husband at home.   We cannot consume 12 bagels in a week.  just not happening.   BUT i HATE the prepackaged ones because they never package my favorite ones: wheat.   And if I were to buy the 6 individually it costs more then if i were to buy all 12. BUT i hate wasting.


Quite a predicament ...


Here's what to do:  Wait for the sweet bakery ladies and ask them kindly to print you up a NEW tag for a six pack of bagels (It'll usually say 6 plain or 6 sesame because there is really no tag for assorted).  Then mix and match your favorite six bagels for the $1.99  and slap that tag on your bag.

Here's what not to do:   Take up the six bagels without a preprinted stickers and ask for the $1.99 price.  You WILL ruffle the cashier's feathers and you WILL get into an argument with the manager about how you've done it before and you'll do it again... and you WILL pay the full $4.74...   Just ask for a preprinted tag and let it be just between you and the bakery girls what you're doing!

The end of the year is fast approaching

I can hardly believe my second year of teaching is coming to a close. I mean, here at my school I go two weeks longer  then the other local schools.....  but its still almost over.

I was in a department meeting mapping out the end of the year and there's like this week, next week, memorial week LAST week of school. 

Now compound that with the fact that the last two weeks here are dedicated to preparing for a personal reflection of the year for each individual student- its like its already here.

Summer. I can here you!  Sleeping in. Sewing up a storm. Avoiding the heat. And watching way too much television.

Awwww. Perfection.

Pandora Radio.

How amazing.  

I know i've been using it for over a year now... but It still ceases to amaze me at how much it thinks like me.  And its a great addition to my long commutes when the three music stations in my town aren't playing anything good (which happens often.).

Recent Pandora Gems:
- N*SYNC: Lets talk about flash back of awesomeness!  you weed out the newer stuff and Pandora gets you only want 90s, its smooth sailing.
-GLEE CAST:  I can't tell you how epic this is!  Once you dislike  the Mraz and Buble enough its pure Broadway bliss!  (plus a few old school Disney musicals sprinkled in...)

The Downside.
-Only one:  The moment you run out of skips.... its like the walls are closing in on you.  I ran out today and NONE, NOT ONE, of my stations can appease me.  Suddenly we are all playing crap and I can't get away.  I can't start new stations fast enough....   Its like they know....

Early Birthday.

So this June i celebrate 28 years on this planet.

A few weeks ago a good friend posted about if she could pinpoint the 29 (one for each year) albums that influenced her.

I've been compling this list too.  i've come to realize that I can catagorize my music into four distinctive, choronological periods.  (some over lap, but thats because I was in transition.)

My hope is that if you knew me at those times, you will read this and say "oh, yeh, alisa always listened to this.."

1.   The -I didn’t know any better…

      1. James Taylor – Sweet Baby James (1970) (I wasn’t born, but it still was part of me.)

2. Santana's - Greatest Hit 1974

3. Michael Jackson - Bad  (1987)

4.  Michael W. Smith -  Change your world (1992)

5. Celine Dion – Colour of my love (1993)

6. Jays of Clay – self titled (1995)

7.  DCTALK – Jesus freak (1995)

8. NSYNC – Self Titled (1998) (one last hurrah)

The Discovery of Music…( I realize this comes after some of the other albums chronologically, but I know that I was growing and learning along the way.)

9. The Offspring – smash  (1994)

 10. Bush – Sixteen tone (1994)

11. Weezer – Blue Album (1994)

12.  Alanis morriset te – jagged little pill (1995)

13. Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

14. Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack (1996)

15. Lauren hill – the miseducation of lauren hill (1998)

The College Era:

16. Nikka Costa – Everybody’s got their something  (2001)

17. The Strokes – Is this it (2001)

18. John Mayer –  Room for Squares (2001)

19. Josh Groban – Self Titled (2001)

20. Justin Timberlake – Justified (2002)

21. Jason Mraz – Live at Java Joes (2001)

22. The Postal Service – Give Up (2003)

The Now I know who I am:

23. Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

24. Franz Ferdinand – Self Titled (2006)

25. Ingrid Michelson – Boys and Girls (2007)

26. Vampire Weekend – Self Titled (2008)

27. Friendly Fires – Self Titled (2008)

28. Mayer Hawthorne -  A strange Arrangements (2009)

Actual Conversation.

Setting: Von's Deli

Deli Girl:  Hi, Can I help you?
Me:  Yes, (studying price labels)...  Can I have....  A THIRD OF A POUND of pepper turkey.
Deli Girl: Sure!
Me: (catching up on the days twitter and not paying attention)
Deli Girl: (Placing A HUGE MOUNTAIN of turkey on the scale.. close to a pound)
Me:  Um...  I only want one third.
Deli Girl:  One Quarter?
Me: One Third.
Deli Girl: So, like Less than a half?
Me: Yes.  Less than a half.

Dirty Looks exchanged.

And Scene.



This is why I  teach math.   everyday i must remind my students that that WILL need math in life. sigh.

May the 4th be with you.

No, this won't be a Star Wars Post.

(though i could go with it for a while)

It's an update blog:  Here's whats going on:

In no particular order:
1. I started a Cooking Club at my school, and my kids LOVE it.   So far we've learned knife skills, mixing skills, we tasted fresh herbs and used in dishes, and make cupcakes.  It's truly a joy.  Oh and last week they "stole" my camera and went on a picture spree.   I'm sure i'll post them as some point.

2.  I started a garden.   I'll have a whole post about the process and then about the follow up.  (i see this as being an ongoing update)

3.  I'm a major slacker when it comes to the 365 project. i have my pictures all (well, almost all) taken.  I just have that pesky task of editing and uploading them. So its probably more of a 352 project.

4. School is almost over. wow.  I can't believe it!  how time flies.  I have a contract to come back next year.  whew.  Now I don't have to stress about it any more.

5.  Our Bible study leader is moving churches, so I am thinking of stepping into the leader position.  Its only right since I have been co-leader.  hmm...  I'll still be praying about it.

6.  I have a new couch thats A-MA-ZING.  no, like really, it kicks your couch's butt.  And I'm pretty much finished decorating my two living rooms and dining room!    Pictures and full post to come.


hmm...pretty much all of these can be posts.  Well, stay tuned.

(p.s. - JANA I WILL POST PICTURES OF MY HOUSE!!!!!!)
(pps - Jill - There.  Happy?)