Erika S. outfits

Smocks of Michelle

There’s no way to start this post without sounding stalker-ish so here goes:  I’m so semi-obsessed (oxymoron, I know) with Michelle Williams, I feel the need to emulate her style as a neighbor of her neighborhood.  I mean, who doesn’t want to copy this?

On a less stalker-ish note, I’ve also been semi-obsessed with finding the perfect summer smock dress.  I’ve always loved smock dresses.  To me they exude comfort, style, simplicity and minimalism, all while being sexy in a very subversive way.  Great examples here, here and here.

B on the other hand, strongly disagrees with me on the subtly sexy bit.  I brought this dress home the other day, and he instantly called it the B.W.G.D. — “big white grandma dress”.  He likens it to a large shapeless sack-ish grandma’s nightgown, the type his grandmother in Minnesota wears.  He thinks Grandma, I think Michelle – grandma shoes and everything.  thoughts?

dress: gap – sandals: worishofer – bag: target – glasses: warby parker – lips: nars heat wave

Erika S. fun stuffs

stuffs

stuff.

1.  brekky.  Reintroducing dairy into my diet with the biggest blueberries I’ve ever seen.  Also, this iced coffee mixed from this cold brew concentrate is amazeballs.  seriously.  It’s like Blue Bottle‘s New Orleans style iced coffee….always in your fridge.

2. My desk is all set up, and very cluttered already.

3. & 4. new glasses.  I visited the Warby Parker showroom last week to get my old Huxleys adjusted.  My eyes are still getting worse (-6.75 now), so I took the time to try on every single frame they carry for my new prescription.  Meet my new Becketts.  I still really like these and still want them, but I can’t justify paying over $150 for glasses (with Rx lenses) anymore since I discovered the plethora of online optical offerings such as Warby Parker (my fave), Bonlook, Mezzmer, and Tortoise & Blonde.

5. & 6. new pullover.  OMG so adrobs, right?  Who doesn’t like meerkats?  Yes, I know it was expensive ($80!! don’t tell my mom!), but I couldn’t resist.  So. damn. cute.  Sold out online, hop over to a Madewell store if you agree this cuteness is worth $80.

Erika S. outfits, teaching

little victories

I have a student who is super shy.  So shy and unsure of herself that all year, she has barely said more than a few sentences in class.  I was also a very shy kid, so I can empathize with her.  Well, this shy kid had to do a solo power point presentation last week on the integumentary system.  She could have chosen to do a mini-book project instead, but alas, she opted to challenge herself and speak in front of the class, all by herself.  The day came, and she froze on the spot.   Really froze!

My class, as good as they are, kept encouraging her with “Don’t worry C__, you don’t have to be shy in front of us” and “you can do it C___, just pretend we’re not here at all” and other supportive things.  Still didn’t help.  She was still standing there frozen with large eyes.  I suggested that everyone in the class turn around so that C_____ wouldn’t feel like all the eyes were on her, every single student whipped around in their seats and stared at the wall.  After a 3 minutes of tortured silence, C____ began to speak, read her note cards and did her presentation, switching slides for the backs of heads.  It was a mini victory.  I wanted to hug each one of my 5th period students that day and stick them all in my pocket so that I could pull them out routinely and tell them how proud they make me.

On an outfit note, I bought these black jeans this past weekend at Uniqlo in NYC.  Love that store.  Cheap, good quality basics with a touch of designeyness (I just made up that word).  Just when I plan on moving to the only US city that has a Uniqlo, they announce that they’re opening one up in SF.  Bah.  I  have two paris of the same jeans, black and blue, mid-rise skinny tapered.  They are super stretchy, thick, super comfortable and holds its shape well for at least 3 wears.  All for $40.  Can’t beat it.  other than the jeans, my teaching outfit was pretty boring and basic.  T-shirt and jeans.

glasses: warby parker – jacket: h&m (old) – v-neck: thread for thought via nordstrom rack – belt: gap – jeans: uniqlo – shoes: bass – bag: j.crew

 

Erika S. outfits

my friday

Today is my friday….and friday for seniors (12th graders).  Tomorrow is senior cut day.  Senior cut day is supposed to be a secret, but of course we teachers find out eventually.  Usually it’s the meek straight A student asking for the work she/he will be missing because “uhh, I’m going to be sick.  cough. cough.” We all had a senior cut day when we were in high school right?  No big deal kid, I wasn’t planning to teach an empty classroom!  When I told my health class kids (mostly 9th graders) that they were going to have a sub tomorrow and that I expected them to behave and do the work I’m leaving for them, some kid yelled out, “it must be teacher cut day tomorrow!”  No, it’s not teacher cut day, I’m just going out of town….to New York!  Just for the weekend.

My favorite booties of all time.  I just got them back from the cobbler, heels refreshed.  I had worn them down to lopsided stubs in the years I’ve worn them.  I love them so much and have yet to find any other black bootie to even come close to how awesome these are.  Durable (the top still looks good!), comfy (I’ve walked all over Philly, DC and LA in these on various trips), and of course hella cute.  If there was a fire and I could save only one pair of shoes, these would be it.  I’ve searched high and low for a pair just like them but without any luck.  I’ve even purchased other black booties hoping I would like them as much as these.  But nothing comes even close to the awesomeness that are these booties.

glasses: warby parker – blazer and jeans: madewell – shirt: anthropologie (old) – belt: jcrew – booties: BP by Nordstrom (old) – bag: f21

Erika S. outfits

Blue Flowers

The back is still getting better, kids have been calling me grandma for the past 3 days.  I’ve been wearing the don’t-even-have-to-think-in-the-morning black pants/sweater combo for the past couple of days, so I decided to break out the prints today.  I bought this dress a couple summers ago when I was in Perth for a few weeks.  I still love it and in fact I picked up the old school saddle shoes a while ago to wear with this dress specifically.

These photos were snapped during lunch time.  I was on the lookout for kids.  By the way, my health class noticed how my nails matched my dress today.  A happy coincidence.


glasses: warby parker – cardigan, shirt (layered for the cold SF weather) and bag: j.crew – dress:hello by karen walker – belt/sash: taken from another shirt, F21 – tights: h&m – shoes: bass – watch: marc by marc jacobs

Erika S. outfits

brownies

First thing in the morning:    Teen – “Ms. Schenck, do you have brownies for us today?”  Me – “Uhhh, no, why?”    Teen – “Because you look like one!  Hahahaha”

Kids.  They think they are so funny.  Today was the start of our Mental Health unit in Health class. I usually start it off with a 5 min interview where the class can ask me any question they want with the caveat that I can abstain from answering anything I want.  2nd period just wanted to know if I’ve done drugs and/or smoke weed (abstained).  4th period wanted to know about my sex life (abstained) and if I would date Mr. Won (we’re both taken).  6th period wanted to know how I was in high school (awkward and unsure of myself).  All periods asked me if I wanted to get married eventually and have kids.  Two best questions I got today was, “What do you like about teaching science?” and “Who inspires you?”  I like seeing how science can empower people to make better choices for themselves and I love seeing students make sense of their own experiences using principles they learned in science class.  My students inspire me, as well as a large assortment of people both in and out of education.  Brownies inspire me, and there were brownies waiting for me at home this evening, baked by my neighbor.  =)

glasses: Warby Parker – necklace: Flea Market Girl – cardigan: J.Crew – Dress: UO – belt: H&M – leggings: Target – boots: ZiGiny – classroom: Ms. Hsu’s

Erika S. outfits

grue: grey-blue

It’s Monday.  nothing special, except my usual accessories: my dog and a necklace in honor of her name.  It was an overcast morning, so I matched my outfit with the sky: grue.


bambi was not feeling like a model today.  she was worming around the whole time.  what a punk.

glasses: warby parker – necklace and jeans: f21 – cardigan: hella old no name from Therapy – top: Mango (last year) – boots: steve madden

Erika S. outfits

sail away, it’s girls’ night!

It was girls’ night out.  All respective significant others are out of town and/or didn’t feel like hanging with the chickies.  B is in Hawaii on a work trip…. I am sooo jelly.

We went to Luna Park for a late supper and drinks.  I wore my new favorite dress from Madewell which garnered more than a few complements both from the girl friends and from rando girls whist waiting in the restroom line.  All together, this means that this dress was not only a great buy, it is now going to be a closet staple for the weekends.

Next test that could possibly raise the dress up to a weekday and weekend closet staple: how the kids respond.  Granted, for the classroom, something as short as this dress would never fly.  So some layering magic will have to happen.  FSM forbid I actually show too much skin at school.  I feel dirty just contemplating it.  *shudder*



glasses: warby parker – jacket: urban outfitters (old) – hoodie: american apparel – dress: madewell (not online but currently in stores) – socks: asos – booties: boutique9 via endless – clutch: f21 –  watch: marc by marc via nordstrom rack – bracelets: DIY and gift from B

I’m all about the nautical look.  I love it.  I’m obsessed with it.  I was a sailor, after all.  I did at one time fancy becoming a coastie (coast guard) or a merchant mariner.  I just wanted to be on the ocean forever….I ❤ sailors.

BTW, all pics by Aimee.  thanks girl!