A must see! This film is shocking, amazing, emotional, powerful and horribly true.
Does anyone have a soapbox for me? :) Right now I'd like to use it, because I recently saw a movie that uncovered an old passion of mine...Education. Those of us who live in America, need to take a stand and realize that our education system is connected to the success of our future as a nation. If we fail our children, we are failing the future of America. This is such a serious problem, and I am so grateful that some of the people involved in this film have the courage to speak out against the "untouchable" unions and politics of the education system. Yes, I was a teacher, but No, I was never a member of the teachers union. I am a firm believer that the unions have their place to protect teachers from unfair and unjust situations. However, I DO NOT feel that the unions have the right to protect ineffective teachers who are doing more damage than good to our children.
**There was a stat used in the movie that said basically: 1 in 57 Doctors will loose their medical license. 1 in 95 attorneys will loose his/her law license... but only 1 in 2,500 has even lost their teacher credentials. REALLY!?
The teachers union is has the strongest protection of any group of workers, meanwhile our schools are failing. It seems we are more concerned about protecting the adults here and not the children.
I was able to see this film a few days ago and I'm so glad that I did. I have too much to say on the topic of the education system here in America. I have taught both high school and junior high, and although it has been seven years since I last taught, I still have a strong opinion on what is happening in America.
Now, I'm experiencing public school on the other end, with two children attending our local public school. Luckily, we are blessed to have a good school, and so far, excellent teachers. However, once upon a time, I did teach in an inner city high school in Washington DC and experienced first hand the corruption and hardships that these large cities are facing. When I was there, the Washington DC District received the highest amount of money per student and yet they had the worst school system and schools in America. Huh!?
How does that happen? The DC District has been through several superintendents recently, one of which, is an amazing woman who took DC by storm. If you watch the movie, then you'll see what I mean. She was hired to revamp the DC District, and revamp is what she did!
ok, ok... I'll wrap this up. I could go on and on about my experiences. But the bottom line is that something needs to be done... for our kids, our future, and our nation.
GO WATCH THIS MOVIE! PLEDGE! BE INVOLVED WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL! WRITE CONGRESS AND LET THEM KNOW WE CARE AND UNIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE POWER TO PROTECT INEFFECTIVE TEACHERS! WE NEED BETTER EDUCATION NOW.
"When you see a great teacher, you are seeing a work of art!"
It is snowing, and I was about to go run some last little errands before the big day, instead, maybe I'll stay inside... I'm feeling like it might be a good time to wrap presents and do my annual watch of the nostalgic movie: White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. The cast, music, and dancing are all wonderful! White Chrismtas reminds me of my Grandparents because they used to watch it every Christmas. I watched this movie with Grandma Tuttle quite a bit, and I'd love to pass that tradition on to my kids. Good movies like this need to be watched and remembered. If you haven't seen it, you'd love it!
So for the wrapping....
obviously it is too late to get this paper for this year, but I am bookmarking this site for next Christmas. Snow & Graham is a letterpress company, but they have darling wrapping paper for the holidays and everyday.
For now, I think I'll just indulge in their darling cards...
Being a history major and an ex-U.S. History teacher, this is quite predictable of me to suggest. I love excellent books on U.S. History, and if they are entertaining too, that is a bonus! I know that to mention the word history book can either surface feelings of love or dislike in people, however, I feel confident enough in this book and movie series, that I feel most people could enjoy it. Especially during this time when our Country is changing drastically, and so many of us are scrambling to understand our history and what the founding fathers truly visioned for us and what we truly stand for.
John Adams by David McCullough is an amazing read! AMAZING! It is very well reasearched and very informative. Not only do you learn about John Adams and his family, but you also learn quite a bit about many of the other founding fathers and the history of this Great Nation. This is a must-read for every American and anyone interested in the history of America.
John Adams HBO miniseries with Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney is a very well done and interesting movie series that everyone should see. Christmas break is a great time to heat up some hot chocolate, fix a warm fire, and relax and bond with a historical movie.
"Take a serene Santa Barbara setting with to-die-for interiors, add a triangle mixing love, divorce, and renovation, and you have all the elements of an unusual romantic comedy."
I'm so excited to see the new movie: It's Complicated! Sure Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin are in the movie, but I'm excited to see yet another fabulous movie by Nancy Meyers. She is the writer-dirctor of many other movies that I have watched over and over, not just for the movie, but for the homes... Something's Gotta Give and The Holiday-- need I say more.
Am I weird?
I'll rewind and play those movie back s.l.o.w.l.y so I can analyze and
drool over the amazing homes and decor.
The same set decorator that did the beach house in Something's Gotta Give, Beth Rubino, also decorates this Californian home. I'd love to work with and decorate with her!
The sets also included a bakery that was influenced by everything from London’s Daylesford Organic to
New York’s City Bakery and Dean and Deluca, among others.
Other movie house set designs i L.O.V.E are:
The Break Up, Pillow Talk, Father of the Bride, Under the Tuscan Sun,
Parent Trap (both the old and newer version...but mostly the old 60's! It's too fabulous!)
Do you have any favorite movie homes?
Is anyone else excited for NEW MOON to come out? Well, I can't wait to see more of this fabulous house! Here are some shots of the house used as the Cullen family stomping grounds from the film. A very cool space indeed! A vampire with good taste? Could a girl ask for more? :) This home has 2 fabulous things: amazing design and decor and it is located in the mountains!
Welcome! I'm Alisa & thanks for stopping by. I love treats, & seriously, is there a better treat than relaxing on a beach with a pina colada (virgin, of course) in one hand & a book in the other?
This blog is a collection of my favorite "treats" in life...
My favorite people, places, things, ideas & home decor.
I adore & love my adventurous husband, & my darling, creative,& spirited 4 children.
*Fishing with my man (although we don't get to do much anymore). *Seeing my daughter's excitment when she gets to see the princesses at Disneyland. *Oldies but Goodies: anything with Cary Grant, Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Audrey Hepburn. Love them! *Italian and Thai food. *Sunday dinners at my parents; eating my mom's excellent food and laughing with my siblings at the dinner table.* Lunch with the Tuttle ladies. *Learning about and getting new makeup and face and hair products ( I'm a junky). *Summer evenings in Utah. *Hiking in the mountains with my husband and kids.
*Relaxing in a hamock, on a beach, any beach! *Going to new yummy restaurants. *A relaxing trip to the spa. *Decorating (oh! how i wish i could do more of it). *Magazines, especially architectural and decorating ones. *Hawaii, especially the North Shore. *Working in Young Womens. *Having a new born to cuddle with. *Playing and snuggling with my beautiful children. *A good trip to Target.
*Much loved and needed road trips with my friends. *Catching up with my friends on our girls night out. *A nice day of shopping including lunch at Nordstrom Cafe. *Watching 24 with the other 3 die-hard fans. *Dark Chocolate, well, pretty much any chocolate. *Traveling anywhere and everywhere. *Curling up with a good book. *Checking off things on my "TO DO" list. *Cherry Limeade. Dr. Peper. Water with a lemon. And of course, a pina colada. *Chillin' with a book, under the sun, next to a pool.
*Snuggling with my honey. *Hearing my children belly laugh. *Gerbera Daisies. *Yummy, I mean yummy salads. *Going to Mexico or Hawaii with my parents and siblings. *Buttercream Frosting. *Cozy hot coco on a cold, snowy day.
“It is as we serve, as we take time to express interest and concern in someone other than ourselves, that we are more likely to gain a glimpse of who we really are and what we can ultimately become.” -Gordon B. Hinckley
“Another fresh new year is here... Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, To love and laugh and give! This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .. To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs!”
~William Arthur Ward
"Whoever is happy will make others happy too. " ~ Anne Frank
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." -Jane Austen
"The glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall." -Chinese Proverb
"In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy of sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity,interested in big things, and happy in small ways." -Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance
"It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones." -Jean Webster
"Any adult who spends fifteen minutes with a child outdoors finds himself drawn back to his own childhood, like Alice falling down the rabbit hole." -Sharron MacLatchie
"Once you realize that thought is cause and life experiences is the effect, then you realize that the greatest way to change your life is to change your thinking." -Marianne Williamson
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