friends – Teachers Have Lives Too!

01/02/2017 Erika S. fun stuffs, parties

Hello 2017!

Another day, another year! 2016 was pretty amazing (deaths and politics aside) – B and I planned and grew our first vegetable garden, we traveled all through Australia, climbed three 14ers, took a canoe camping trip, and my sister had twins! Last new years, I made a small bucket list and I got through every item except for one – the hike from Aspen to Crested Butte. That hike is definitely going to happen this year, no excuses. This year’s bucket list is also going to include a trip to Paris and London, more planning and growing (we’ve tripled the growing area this year) vegetables, climbing four more 14ers, going fly-fishing a lot (and actually catching a fish on my own), visiting/camping in every national park in Colorado (there are four), snowboard Vail and Whistler, and getting more comfortable snowboarding through trees. Also, I’m turning 37 this year – hello middle age! If I could afford it, I’d add, buy a motorcycle, to my bucket list but let’s be real – I’m working with a teacher’s salary here.

B and I threw another New Years Eve party this year and it was so much fun, I think it’s going to be a regular thing from now on. It was a small but close group, and the shenanigans went into the wee hours of the night. I picked up a vintage punch bowl at the thrift store a few days ago, and we mixed a double batch of very, very potent Rabbit Punch for the party. That punch fueled a lively game of catch-phrase, B showed off his favorite Christmas present (a Silky Saw), and I managed to get some fabulous photos of everyone. Most of my friends are/were teachers, and we all know how to have fun!

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Happy New Year everyone!

12/26/201612/26/2016 Erika S. parties

Holidaze with the Schebenses

B and I hosted a small holiday party this past Saturday with a few of our friends, and I just wanted to share some photos from the night. I have been waiting for a good opportunity to break in our new dining room table with a feast, so I bought a standing rib roast and made prime rib. B and I are not religious in the least bit, but I do like the festive coziness of a Christmas tree. A couple of our friends brought their menorah along with print outs of the prayer (written phonetically) for Hanukkah. We started off the night with gin martinis, friends brought the red wine, and we ended it with hot apple cider and group photos!

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10/09/2013 Erika S. outfits, teaching

Teacher Spotlight: Rachel

Rachel is the teacher spotlight this week! I’ve always loved Rachel’s look – I’m pretty sure we shop at similar places. Chances are good that if I’ve been debating on buying a particular dress or pair of shoes, Rachel will walk in to the staff room with that exact item on! I’m actually pretty surprised we haven’t inadvertently “twins-ied” yet. I loved Rachel’s jumper (as in playsuit, not sweater) today and was secretly envious that she could pull it off so well. One pieces never work for me since my height is all in the torso (not comfortable at all!) One day, I’ going to sew one for myself – extra long in the crotch. In the meantime, I can stare at Rachel’s and it’s awesome print.
We teachers always have something to learn from each other. Rachel, as a seasoned crew leader, has taught me how to have a crew and actually do good stuff with them. Last year, her crew kids were the only ones who put together their own community service project. At the time, I felt overwhelmed just thinking about organizing my crew for Student Led Conferences, not to mention a larger group effort to better the community. With some tips from Rachel though, I’m planning on tackling that this spring!

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Rachel’s jumper: anthropologie from last summer – boots: j.crew

On another note, I’ve been uninspired by my closet lately and have been slopping it in my black jeans and buttons ups. An example of this to come tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s yesterday in Central Park while out on a field trip with the 10th graders to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I busted out my old boy scouts shirt for the trip, and it helped me feel like a kid all morning on the way there. But then, teenage shenanigans in the museum squashed my child like excitement and turned it into adult-like embarrassment.

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03/25/201303/25/2013 Erika S. outfits, parties

to wed

B and I were lucky enough to attend a wedding of new friends Mandi and Keith at the Green Building the other night in Brooklyn. It was gorgeous, fun and all around a fantastic time. What a way to kick off spring break!

Of course, B and I had to snap a few pics prior to running out the door.

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I hadn’t worn this dress (Banana Republic) since 2007, for my friend Marissa’s wedding in Cali. Good thing I kept it and brought it with me here to NY! The shoes on the other hand were a last minute I-don’t-own-any-fancy-heels-for-black-tie freak out purchase from DSW’s clearance section. So then there is B, cheekily copying my “blog posing” in his outfit.

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A little photobooth fun with animal masks. Why the hell not, right?

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10/21/2012 Erika S. outfits

sunny!

Sunny came to visit! She brought with her a nice reminder of San Francisco — I swear every overheard conversation this weekend involved SF in some way. I’m off to spend the week near Fishkill, NY, camping with my crew (homeroom). 24 hours a day for 4 days with ten 14 year olds and no showers. OMG.

My stuff– sunnies: ray ban – be the change sucka tshirt: mnkr – belt: gap – skirt: j.crew – bag: freitag – boots: hella old bp

02/25/2012 Erika S. outfits

Crowns, crumpets and Jason.

One thing I dislike about being a responsible adult is scheduling. It evolved slowly. double bookings here and there, missed deadlines occasionally. Then it started snowballing and I realized I had to start scheduling everything. What’s even harder than maintaining my own schedule is trying to match it with two other schedules, Devon’s and Marisa’s. We manage to do it though, averaging one chick date a month.

This month, our chick date was for afternoon tea at Crown and Crumpet. Super cute, super girlie and just the thing to revive me from last night’s Glass Candy show. Tea, scones, crumpets, and sandwiches with no crusts really does wonders. We got temporary tattoos with our tea. =)

I lucked out and scored a Jason Wu for Target dress last week. It must have been a return because the day it debuted, both SF area Targets sold out. I saw it randomly when I stopped in for nail polish and promptly snatched it up. This also meant I had to give myself a matching manicure. The pink dress was perfect for tea and a sunny brisk SF day.

the chicks, Devon and Marisa.

<– weird stretched arm self shot trying to get in my earrings.

dress: Jason Wu for Target – cardigan, bag and tights: J.Crew – booties: Steve Madden – earrings: gift from B’s mum – sunnies: old Anthropologie

11/14/201111/29/2011 Erika S. outfits

Doctor Friends

Larissa comes to visit. She’s plucky, she’s unafraid, and she’s got her style down. And she’s my doctor friend. You see, teachers have friends who are not also teachers.

If you ever run across Larissa in SF or New Orleans, ask her to do an interpretive dance for you. You’ll love it, I promise.

scarf: H&M – cardigan: j.crew – top: H&M and target – jeans: madewell – shoes: DV by Dolce Vita – bag: f21