in between the storms and the races

It stormed like crazy last night.  We don’t get real lightning and thunder very often here in SF, so when it does happen everyone talks about it.  City dwelling high schoolers reverted to grade school kids sharing their fears.  It’s funny here in SF: earthquake? “Meh, no biggie.”  Thunder? “OMG that was sooo scary!”  The storms cleared today, but it looks like another one might be rolling in this evening.  I took advantage of the lunchtime sunshine.  Too much blue?

My mom gave me this necklace about a year ago when she was going through a rough time.  She picked this necklace out when she was 12 years old in Saigon, Vietnam.  Her favorite uncle had given her money for something like this just before he died.  The character (in cantonese, which we speak at home) is “fook”, which means good luck or good fortune.  These necklaces are not meant to be taken on and off frequently, so I just leave it on all the time.  Wearing it all the time also means I tend to get sideways glances/stares from chinese people on the street.

Asian people tend to think I’m Caucasian and and vice versa.  Kids are usually obsessed with questions like “what are you Ms. Schenck” at the beginning of the year.  Last semester, I made it a point to tell them flatly, “I’m San Franciscan American” and left it at that, redirecting each time.  Mostly, they would get visibly frustrated and try to guess.  Eventually, after much explanation and discussion, they stopped asking.  They laughed when I pointed out that other countries don’t obsessively classify their residents by skin color (hello, I’m Chinese Brazilian!  or hi, I’m African Australian!).  They agreed that knowing my ethnic background would in the end have no relevancy.  But they still just wanted to know.  So they went out and asked around and eventually figured it out.  I understand when they talk shit in Chinese, after all.

shirt: levis (last seen here) – dress: many belles down (orange version seen here) – belt and tights: j.crew – boots: h&m – other necklace: unicorn crafts (last seen here) – bag: f21

stripes and height

A kid said that I looked too serious today.  Must of been the new nude colored blazer I picked up from F21 yesterday.  It could have also been the height.  These Sweedish Hasbeens for H&M sandals put me at 6’3″.  Even the science department head remarked on how tall I was today.  Yeah, I’m tall.  But I still love tall-ish shoes.


glasses: bonlook – blazer: F21 – sweater: madewell – tank (underneath): target – belt: banana republic (old) – jeans: j.brand – shoes: h&m – bag: jcrew

napa

This is what I’ve been doing since yesterday:

B was on a work trip in Napa this week, so I took advantage of my spring break to crash in on him at his work event.  Lucky me, he was staying at the Carneros Inn, a suuuper nice place.  Our room was pretty insane.  There was an outdoor shower!

We left Napa today, but stopped at the Oxbow Public Market on the way home.  This place is basically just like the Ferry Building, but with Ritual Roasters instead of Blue Bottle and a Kara’s Cupcakes instead of Miette.  I bought 3 cupcakes for myself (2 for later) and B only got one.  =)  B, being 6’4″ also got stuck sitting at the kids table. 

I decided to wear my pizza shirt today, since pizza goes so well with wine.  right? And, I seriously love these Forever 21 sunglasses.  They were cheap as heck ($6!!) and so darn cheeky.  I love cheeky, off beat-ish things.

sunnies: F21 – cardigan: j. crew – tshirt: h&m – jeans: madewell – bag: pour la victore – boots: ZigiNy – nails: Essie Chinchilly

spring break is almost over!  Tomorrow: snowboarding.  Quite possibly the last time this winter season.

spring break whites

I know it’s only spring break and not summer.  But if I don’t start busting out the summer clothes soon, I’m going to start feeling depressed.  There’s no school this week!!!  woot! I went browsing through Downtown SF yesterday and of course had to check out the Madewell sale section.  Surprise!  The skirt I’ve been lusting after for so long is finally on sale!  In my size!  It was my lucky day.  Still, it was super hard to fork over the plastic for an $80 skirt (the sale price even!).  I think I stood in the store for a good 15 min debating over the purchase before deciding to buy it so that I could debate over it some more at home. $80 is a lot for a skirt, no?  I’ve decided to keep it though, justifying the price by thinking about how it would be perfect for a really hot day, and it’s breathable since it’s silk.  I’ve been thinking about the skirt ever since I saw the Madewell spring lookbook, and I’m going to wear the sh*t out of this skirt come summer.  I wore it today to get a start on summer.

sunnies: F21 – sweater: anthropologie (old) – necklace and skirt: madewell – bag: pour la victoire – sandals: sweedish hasbeens for h&m – leather wrap bracelet and belt: j.crew – watch: marc by marc jacobs (old) – other wrist: the usual, paracord and an old bracelet from my grandma – bambi’s collar: from noe valley pet co.

 

outfit stealing

I was browsing my usual blogs yesterday and came across this post from Calivintage (who got it from this post by, Milk Teeths).  I immediately pinned this look to my pinterest board for “looks I love”.  I already have high waisted blue pants!  So I stole the outfit idea and recreated it with what I already had in my closet.

By the way, these H&M Divided pants are the most comfortable pants ever.  It’s like wearing pajamas to work!  It was lunchtime, and I treated myself to a coffee ice cream bar.

glasses: bonlook – cardigan and pants: H&M – blouse: UO (from 2006!) – shoes: Target – bag and belt: J.Crew

A couple nights ago I painted sock monkey faces onto my nails.  Cute right?

easy days

Thursdays we have staff meetings and early release at my school.  This translates into ‘easy days’, meaning short 40 min classes and the kids get out at 1:30 pm.  The kids like the early time off, I like how the shortened classes make the day seem to blow by (expect for the fact that I still teach night school till 5:30).  Yesterday I decided to really take it easy with no makeup, my everyday bun and my favorite no fuss dress.  It’s stretchy, jersey, soft and simple.  I love this dress so much I have it in 2 other colors.  It’s seriously fantastic.   Pockets and all.

I picked up this one last year, but it’s still available online from here and here.  I’m seriously debating buying the one in grey to go with my black, turquoise and pumpkin one.

Side note:  I don’t normally wear tall shoes to school.  I tower over the kids enough.  Yesterday, I got comments such as, “damn.  Ms. Schenck is a giant!” and “Now I can see your nose hairs!”  Thanks kids.  I ❤ my hella worn in H&M sweedish hasbeens.

dress: many belles down via ambiance – cardigan, tights and shoes: h&m classroom: Ms. Hsu’s