Erika S. fun stuffs

bacon bacon bacon, and caramel

I bought B a couple of these for his christmas stocking this year:

We shared one last night and OMG, it was, as my friend Zhaoweezy puts it so elegantly, an orgasm of the mouth.  Imagine the best salted caramels ever: the perfect amount of salt mixed with rich butter and smooth sugar.  Then coat that in rich smooth chocolate.  Now inject all that with strong hints of bacon and bacon bits.  H e l l a.  A m a z i n g.  B kept gushing about these a full 5 min later.  He said he could still taste the amazingness and he never wanted it to go away.

I highly recommend trying these at least once, if not only once.  It’s like crack, for the price of diamonds.  Pricey, but oh so exquisite.  Check out their website, Nosh This sells online.  I purchased them at the Holiday Renegade Craft Fair back in December.

Erika S. fun stuffs

Kai and Virginie come to visit

B’s brother Kai came to visit over the holidays all the way from Sydney. We opened presents. We shopped, we ate. We were merry.

I loved how Kai, at 6’4″ made that loveseat at Anthropologie look so small. And how there are amazing swings randomly placed all over the city right now. I love Rosamunde Sausage Co. and their duck/fig sausages. I almost squeeed with delight when I saw Upper Playground‘s cheeky taxidermy. Interesting how a coffee shop in the mission uses the Obey Giant in their Occupy statement.

Erika S. fun stuffs

back to school

Today is the first day back after the winter break.  Also the first day of the spring semester.  which means it feels like the first day of school all over again.  I have a whole new batch of health students (one semester long course) and I’m playing the getting to know you game today.

A few things that would help anyone get to know me: 

Erika S. fun stuffs

sidney awards

Each december David Brooks of the New York Times puts out a list of notable articles from the past year.   “Anybody interested in being a better person will click the links to these essays, and read attentively”

I’m only a few essays through, but the Sidney Awards essays have always been thoughtful and informative, even entertaining.  My favorite so far to be expected, is Paper Tigers by Wesley Yang.  This article came out amidst the storm that was the Tiger Mom and for me it was the effective counter to the benefits of the Asian parenting style.  Yes, that style leads to forced academic success.  But it also leads to low self esteem, depression and pressure cooker type explosions.  I’ve experienced it and I see it daily as a teacher.

The friday before Winter vacation, we teachers were at school submitting final grades, finalizing the semester.  I was in my classroom, blasting music, filling out hoop-jumping-worksheets for my BTSA credentialing, when one of my kids walked in with red puffy eyes.    She was checking her semester grades, and she was getting Bs in her classes.  I gave her a B too. She started sobbing and telling me that her parents were going to be so pissed at her and that all she ever does is disappoint them.  With her Bs this first semester of her senior year, her chances of getting into a UC are now slim to none.  I just hope that one day she will realize that she’s more than just a failure and a disappointment.

the Sidney Awards Part 1

the Sidney Awards Part 2

Erika S. fun stuffs, trips

Big Sur

Second day in Monterey, B and I drove down the coast a bit to Big Sur.  I feel thankful I live in California every time I dive down Highway 1.  It’s gorge.  Even more breathtaking down near big sur.

The perfect location for a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shot.  B and I joked about how the models would get there.  I said by canoe or repelling down the cliff.  He swears models are too prissy for that so he stuck to helicoptering in.  whateves.  I just want to park it under that waterfall and get a good massage in.

i thought those little black things were little sharks or large catfish at first.  but it’s just plain old kelp.

Erika S. fun stuffs

A Den of Slack

I’m in the midst of the second week of Winter Vaca.  Christmas vaca has traditionally meant 3 things:  shopping (for myself and others),   Eating lots (and feeding my recipe guinea pigs),  slacking.  on EVERYTHING (except shopping and eating)

This year has been no different, and my blog has suffered.  A few products of my vaca.

Soft gingerbread men and women using the recipe from Tartine’s Cookbook

Mussels in a bacon and white wine sauce

tree transport with the trusty maroon stallionchristmas booty under a dead dried out tree that looked great for only about a week. Note to self: douglas firs are cheap, fluffy and smell great, but last only about a week before losing all color and getting crunchy.  I murdered a tree.
drinking!  We went to the Renegade Craft Fair where I shopped.  a lot.  Then we rewarded ourselves even more with beers.
and finally, a clip from one of my absolute favorite movies and the inspiration for this post:
Erika S. fun stuffs

wallet naughtiness

I’ve been really naughty lately.  Naughty with my wallet. It’s hard to resist all the great deals all the stores have this month. I go out to do my christmas shopping, but then I end up putting up my conscience blinders and “forget” that I should be shopping for other people.

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darn you J.Crew for having such cute stuff on sale.  20111214-193448.jpg

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The yellow raincoat I found at Anthropologie on super sale.  I drooled over it when it first came out.  I’ve worn it to school these past three days. Comments I’ve received thus far from students (an other teachers!):

“good morning Ms. Bright!”

“What the hell are you wearing?  I’m blinded!!”

“That so cute!  Why don’t you ever look like a teacher?”

“it’s not raining in here. why are you wearing that.”

“Hi Ms. Schenck, you look happy today!”  that’s because I’m wearing a new coat!!!

To be fair, I did end up getting gifts for others.  Case in point:  got bambi some woodland creatures in sweaters as friends.  Never mind that they are actually candles.  And that they look so cute in my hallway!  Bambi loves her new friends!

Erika S. fun stuffs

animalism

I saw these nail sticker decal things at h&m this past weekend and decided to get them. an homage to my little animal, Bambi. she’s so chic.

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in the end, the nail stickers sucked. Sally Hansen salon effects strips kick these to the curb.

it’s finals week! this means two significant developments for the social lives of teachers. first, it means only one more week till Christmas vaca. second, it means no lesson planning and half days! woot woot! unfortunately for me, it also means I’m working on BTSA (dumb useless paperwork crap for credentialing) stuff that I’ve put off all semester. boo.