... olive juice ...

Bag-O-Facts Chip Bags- Book Report

2012-02-26T12:37:00.004-08:00

For February, my students were asked to pick two non-fiction books and create
"Bag-O-Facts Chip Bags" with the information they have learned.

Directions for each side of the bag (plain lunch bags):
Front: Draw a picture of the topic, write the name of the book and the name of the author
Back: Write a summary of the book
Side panel: Write and illustrate a "Meet the Author"
Side panel: Write a paragraph of "Why I chose this topic"
Chips: Create 10 "chips" with "profound/interesting" information you have learned.

I was thoroughly impressed with their work! After they were done, we gathered in a circle and passed bags to the left for a few rotations. And for a "exit slip," they were asked to write down 5 new things they've learned from other bags.
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There you have it, round one of two- since non-fiction books are shorter reads. Stay tuned for the 2nd shipment of "Bag-O-Facts!"

Valentine's Day 2012

2012-02-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

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a few sweet valentine cards from my students today- I didn't have a chance to whip up any fancy treats for them and handed out heart lollipops and packs of hot chocolate instead- I was pretty surprised at how happy they were! And then I remembered that not many of them have had hot chocolate before. I think for the next "rainy-day schedule," we will all enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with all you can eat marshmallows!

Biography Book Report

2012-02-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

For January, my students were asked to pick a person to research, study, and portray! They were allowed to choose anyone- as long as they could find a book on them. I had a plethora of people from dead presidents, scientists and of course, pop stars.
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To provide scaffolding (tiered lesson requirements for different levels of student capabilities), they were asked to either write a summary, create a timeline, or find 10 Facts for their person. To work on presentation skills and public speaking, they were asked to talk about "themselves" behind their posters. Needless to say, Room 301 had a fun time watching their classmates talk in front of the class!

comic book

2012-02-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

For December's book report, my students were encouraged to read a "your choice" book and then turn the summary into a comic book. I figured that since they would have two weeks of winter break- they could channel their energy into a project that would challenge them yet be fun, exciting and self-motivated because it was a book of their choosing...

After selecting a book (it must be at least 100 pages and it must NOT be a graphic novel already- otherwise it would just defeat the purpose), they would then use a planning sheet and conference with me as to how their comic book or comic strip would look like. After I finalized their plans, they created their comic summaries.
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The school year is zooming by so fast! Parent teacher conferences are coming just around the corner and test-prep will begin soon for the end of the year STAR exams. yikes.

20something birthday

2012-01-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

happy birthday to me!

Another year older- I celebrated my merry unbirthday this year with close friends taking a baking class from PastryPixels and Bonbini. (PastryPixels is current pastry chef of Luce by the way) Namthip from Bonbini teaches macaron classes from her kitchen- which has been recently renovated into a beautiful learning&cooking space. Afterwards, we all went to Bourbon&Branch for some delightfully, expertly crafted drinks at an authentic speakeasy.

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I'm very grateful for all the wonderful people in my life and I thank you for being a part of it.

Namesake

2012-01-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

As a gift for the much anticipated "little princess" in my family (my sister in law is about to bless our family with our first niece!), I went out and bejeweled some alphabet letters for her nursery. Pastrypixels also helped me make tons of strawberries&cream rice krispy treat pops as favors.

The process is incredibly simple and with some patience, will yield amazing beautiful results! The letters were purchased at Babys"R"Us - you can find many pre-painted and even unfinished alphabet letters in all sizes and fonts at many local craft stores. I just love the size/font offered at Babys"R"Us- and they come with ribbon and metal hooks as options.

As I was designing the letters, I kept a mindful consideration to the personal style of my brother and sister-in-law. They have a sleek&simple aesthetic through out their house with rich espresso and dark furnishings, so I knew that Ellie's namesake would and should not be plastered in hot pink and rhinestones. I kept the color palette soft and muted.

... romantic.

My favorite letter would have to the "I"- I was looking through my materials and I just started to play with my box-o-buttons. And voila! I started to pile on all the white and cream buttons. Then I added more dimension and pops of color with some soft blue and pink buttons. If you really look closely, I have hidden "special" buttons too, shaped in hearts and flowers.

Lastly, to commemorate sweet little Ellie, who will now forever be nicknamed as "Ellie the Elephant", I flexed my creative juices (finally!) and made a cute little elephant with flutter-butterfly.

The countdown is winding down and she will soon be here! The baby shower was full of food and gallivanting elephants! I'm sure my sister-in-law was thrilled to see that elephants are the "in" with baby designs as of late!

Skeleton Book Report

2012-01-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is what my students did for their October book reports. They were assigned to read Mystery Books and then completed skeleton "bones" for their report!

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It was their first book report and they seemed to enjoy it very much. It was also nice to watch how surprised and delighted they were with the genre. Afterwards, I bought the class the complete set of "A to Z Mysteries".

2012

2012-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

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Little boy boy is exhausted! Here's to a new year with new expectations, new goals, and new discoveries! One of my resolutions is to find more time to blog- and devote even more energy and love into my classroom and my students.

I'm excited to greet room 301 come Tuesday- I hope they completed their homework packets!!! Their book reports ~~better~~ should be awesome! Let's just say the bar was set high because they were able to pick a book of their choice... but the report itself will be in a really fun media. Stay tuned for the post this week!

newest little addition

2011-12-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!!!

We are slowly settling into the new place- slowly turning it into a home. It's small... but cozy.

On a whim, we also decided to expand our little family.

Meet Rocky.

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This little guy already has his dad wrapped around his squirrely little tail.
Our new ginger fluff-ball!

*We adopted Rocky from San Francisco's ACC - where I also got Mochi 6 years ago. I highly recommend pet adoptions from ACC's or other shelters that euthanize animals who are unable to find a home.

ornament tutorial

2011-12-10T20:32:00.001-08:00

It's been a while but here is a tutorial for the holidays

I loved making these with my students when I taught preschool. They're easy, fun and make the best keepsake ornament!
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Keepsake Fingerprint Snowman Family Ornaments

How to...

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Ideally, you (or your child) would use as many fingers as there are 'family members'. So that the pointer, tall-man, ring finger, pinky, and thumb would go according to size/height to reference whose who in the family. Make sure the fingerprints are clear (a quick wipe with a damp cloth will allow for many re-dos as needed). Once the snowman family is dried, use paint makers to decorate the snowman and the ornament (perhaps name of the child? Family name or even the year). When everything is thoroughly dried, carefully take off the cap and use a funnel to add "snow" glitter. Re-cap and hang it on your tree!

Please visit Wild Olive for many other ornament posts and giveaways this month!

rewind!

2011-12-10T15:46:00.001-08:00

Yes. It is December.

But check out what happened in 301 for Halloween!
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-conversation with a kindergartener during the parade:
"You make a GREAT dinosaur! I love your ferocious green color, and those claws!"
"Thank you... but I'm not a dinosaur"
"What? Then what are you?"
"I'm a DRAGON!"
"Oh, sorry, I see your wings now."
...FAIL

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Book Report- Award Winning Books

2011-12-03T23:21:00.001-08:00

This year, I will be assigning my students monthly book reports. For October, they read Mystery books and made skeletons (with each bone reporting on different elements of the book).

For November, I asked them to choose and read Award Winning Books. After reading, they were asked to make "Book Bites" sandwiches:

the details:

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Overall, I was really impressed and happy with their sandwiches. They made vast improvements since the skeleton reports (which I will post soon). I knew it would be difficult to get the kids excited to read different genres but I thought that providing fun ways to report and write about them would offset it. I was delighted to watch some of the students devour and put so much effort into their reports.

The only sad part was "catching" a few students who "faked" their reports. I figured this by cross-checking internet reports... and the summaries were completely off. Of course this might be the result of comprehension difficulties, so I will have to speak with them about it.

bath time

2011-11-26T15:47:00.001-08:00

moving into a new place warrants a clean kitty!

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I still remember mochi's first bath. She was about 2 months old and squealed like a piglet when I bathed her in the tub. She struggled for a minute and then fell limp in my hands! With that, I just held her under the faucet until she was "clean". 5 years later, she's still the same way. I bubble her up with soap and then rinse her clean under the tap!

feast

2011-11-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

with an empty house come another blog post!

Thanksgiving was FULL of fun and laughter. I went to my brother's house where we dined on all things delicious.

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On the menu: green beans, stuffing, wild mushroom bread pudding, homemade pear-berry&peach cranberry sauce (by me!), gruyere mac&cheese with coppa, seasoned sweet potatoes, honey baked ham, and of course the turkey which was complimented with sage&spices. Not pictured was also a delicately and dangerously thin sliced red wine caramel apple pie which I helped my brother make.

It was great to be a guest for such a feast, but with that, comes the sad realization the next morning that there would be no trips to the fridge for leftovers!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

2011-11-24T13:56:00.001-08:00

Man, I'm really failing on this job&blog! My class has been amazing and wonderful thus far. I can't believe it's already Thanksgiving!!! Another few weeks and I will be enjoying a nice 2week winter vacation (one of the greatest perks of being an educator right?!). My students had a surprise guest the other day:

"Room 301, we have a special guest today"
"Who is he?"
"..um... he is Mochi's daddy" (mochi is my cat)
"uh... okay" (look of confusion)
"...and I'm Mochi's mommy"
"ooOOOooooOOohhh!" (giggles and embarrassment ensue)

It was just an easy way of "saying it" without saying it! Because you know, introducing your "boyfriend" isn't quite as stable as fiance or husband....but anyway. haha

I am also in the process of moving to a new place- we are shooting for December- and then when things are settled, I would love to devote more time to blogging again.

Anyway, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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pastrypixels and I made candy-corn treats for my students for Halloween, and that is my annual homemade cranberry sauce! I hardly "cook" and that is the only thing I'm proud and responsible for every year. hahah.

Halloween Time!

2011-10-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

This post has been long over-due!

With David on vacation and an empty house, I finally have a moment to upload some photos and blog a quickie.

5th grade has been an AMAZING experience. I just finished my first set of parent teacher conferences- and with such a small class- it wasn't too grueling. A lot of the parents/grandparents just wanted to make sure their child is staying on task, and I was genuinely happy to report that they were. Report cards were a bit confusing but it's all a learning experience right? I think round two for the second quarter will be a smoother process.

Thursday was National Farm Day- and my school had ranchers and farmers from Oregon and Nevada who brought animals and demonstrated the current methods of farming and growing the healthy food that we need to thrive. Mr. Dennis, did an fantastic job leading the 4/5th graders and teaching them what it's like to be a rancher. We also had an almond assembly where we learned many new terms such as splicing and grafting.

Did you know that they graft almond branches to peach tree roots to speed up the process? Pretty cool.

They each received a "ranchers kit" with bandanas

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I also spent an amazing adventurous day with good friends- brunch with bottomless mimosas at Bisou Bistro located in the Castro District, ice cream at Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous in the DogPatch District, sticky rice stuffed chicken from Lichee Garden in San Francisco and.... then to the most haunted pumpkin patch: Clancy's Pumpkin Patch & Christmas Tree lot where I was robbed for mini pumpkins for $1 EACH.

Room 301 will be slowly transformed through out the week! Stay tuned for more photos and updates.

But don't hold your breath.

Classroom Newsletter

2011-09-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly getting my scheduling down... in the beginning, I was scrambling to fill the time, but now that all of the enrichment schedules are out (P.E., Dance, Music, Library, etc.), I've been stressed out to find sufficient time to teach a lesson!

At my school, we highly prioritize home-school connection and communication, so class newsletters, school newsletters and bi-weekly progress reports for each child is sent home quite often. I was trying to find an easy program to create newsletters with "drag-n-drop" capabilities, but I haven't quite found one on just yet... but here's a snapshot of one I will use for now:

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DYB has been unfortunately, put on the back burner for now... but I really hope to find the time/ability to balance my new career, with my creative craft.

sandcastle build-off

2011-09-10T19:34:00.000-07:00

The past 3 weeks of 5th grade has been such an adventure! I survived the major move-in ,the clean up, back to school night, picture day and even brought the kids to a last minute field trip! I never thought that I would even like teaching intermediate elementary grade (my ideal class was k-3rd) but I'm pleasantly surprised and slowly falling in love with my 5th grade classroom- kids, class, and even curriculum!

I've been really blessed with a great bunch of kids and a surprisingly low enrollment/roster this year- which is great for a first year teacher. Things do get tough at times but I look forward to learning new things and new ways to overcome any challenges.

Every year, many 5th grade classes in the city participate in an annual SANDCASTLE BUILD-OFF! Of course Room 301 will participate as well! Here is their first meeting with the architects and engineers paired with our school/class!

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The team asked the students to sketch out their ideas and invited them to make models of their sandcastle ideas/elements for the build-off. They had a bit of trouble sticking with the theme "sandblast" but they all had fun playing with good ol' play-doh.

cursed keys!

2011-09-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

My sister bought me "welcome to your class" key covers the other day. They were super adorable too! But one of the donuts was sad and crying- and as luck would have it, this happened:

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Crazy right?!?! The key snapped in half when I tried to let my students into class the other morning!

and I'm back!

2011-08-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

Finally have some time to update my precious blog!!!!

The transition from preschool to 5th grade has been quite interesting and I'm glad to report that I'm actually loving it! I do miss the little ones and circle-time where I can play silly songs and dance but it's admittedly also nice to be able to "teach" and not have to work on behavior management and training.

Room 301 was a mess when I first got my keys but after endless hours of scrubbing and dusting and mopping and sweating- things are finally somewhat functional.

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More pictures to come- Back to School Night is Wednesday and I need to/have to put more student work onto the walls.

first day of school!

2011-08-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

No one cried, bled, or died yesterday... so that constitutes as a SUCCESSFUL FIRST DAY of fifth grade!

The kids are all "well behaved" for the most part, but I know its because Im a new teacher/face at the school. They are awfully quiet too, so I hope to get them feeling more loose... I dont mind hearing "thinking" in the classroom. Im trying to get planning and prepping down to a routine soon, everything else in my life has been put on hold for the time being, especially this blog.

:(

im on the train...and its heading into the tunnel! More updates soon!

love and miss you all!

back to school scramble

2011-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

so Im blogging from the car, in the school lot as I stalk for signs of the janitor to open up the doors... one more final day of prep before school starts on Monday!

The class was a complete mess with years and years of "quality" paperwork stowed in all drawers possible. The previous teacher wasnt known to be organized... thanks.

Room 301 is so bare and boring compared to the 10 other classrooms (its a small school, 11 classes total) but the principal keeps reminding me that "the walls and paper and pretty borders dont teach, YOU do."

yah... I understand, but I just cant calm that creative urge! I do need to focus on curriculum planning today though... more posts and pictures to come!

Thank you for all your support and well wishes! I greatly appreciate it!

whoah

2011-08-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

I DID it!

As much as I am RELIEVED to have found another job just as I was laid off from my preschool- I am terrified!

I landed a 5th grade class! Talk about leaping from one end of the spectrum to the other right?!

I'm going into the school tomorrow to get my keys and begin setting up my class! So more posts and pictures will come.

crazy stupid excited!

cream puffs

2011-08-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Ms. Annie really does know her days of the week! Really. I've just been bombarded with career ~~confusion~~/choices lately, so I wasn't able to post the appropriate posts. But I haven't stopped eating sweets though. haha. There is always time & room for desserts!

Here is a yummy morsel I snacked on the other day:

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yum.mondays- Pacific Puffs

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My sister scored a sweet GROUPON deal and she needed to redeem them before heading over seas. Pacific Puffs sell out like hot-cakes.. wait. um. yah, you know what I mean! So if you plan on munching on a few, it is best to call and place an order at least 24 hours in advance. When we picked our dozen, the case was already wiped out and it wasn't even 5pm.

My favorite was the Fruit Whip: choux pastry puff filled with whipped cream & freshly cut strawberry, dusted with powdered sugar or topped with their signature chocolate glaze

Pacific Puffs

2201 Union Street
San Francisco

415.440.PUFF

it was bound to happen

2011-08-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

So the much anticipated Treasure Island Flea- numero dos turned out to be a big bust for me. I was a vendor at the launch for just one day and it was so successful that I thought it would be easier and more fruitful this time around- since I was able to participate both days... right?!?!

nope.

It was hard to compete for crowds with the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival and the Kite Festival! Thank goodness I had a booth partner though! Slow Fall SF is a new indie business that specializes in feather extensions and feather jewelry. Their weekend proved to be super successful and they plan on participating more often...

As for me, I think I will have to sit it out for a while.

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Feather rat-tail? totally cool.

the turtle and the hare

2011-07-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

... slow and steady wins the race... right?

One of the children in my friend's class brought in his new pet turtles for show&tell
how appropriate right?!

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I feel like I'm tip-toeing on the edge of the deep end- I'm ready to take the plunge but I'm waiting for the official "whistle" so that I may start. I just hope this will turn out to be a graceful dive and not a belly flop!

the nightingale - giveaway!!!

2011-07-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

Mollie from Wild Olive is hosting another giveaway for the story of July:

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Hurry and hop to the giveaway post to enter for a chance to WIN ALL OF THE PRIZES!!! One of which is an earring holder from me!

To enter, please comment on the giveaway post with your name and email so that Mollie can contact you if you're the lucky duck- er- birdie that wins the grande prize.

***This is open to all old and new followers of this blog- please follow & "like" my Facebook page!

a Sunday stroll in Napa Valley

2011-07-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy lately with big-girl life decisions! If everything falls into place, then I will be able to share some big news! Cross your fingers & toes for me as I take a leap of faith.

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wonderful.wednesdays - napa valley

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I spent a sunny Sunday with some new and old friends at Napa Valley- enjoying gourmet lunch [Bouchon] & dinner [Bottega] while wine tasting at different wineries. It was pastrypixels and my first time and we are determined to go back!

crepe temptations

2011-07-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

On a whim, my sister decided to seek out crepes for dessert. She asked me what I wanted and I told her to surprise me.

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yum.mondays - Crepe Temptations

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She came home with this delicious surprise- cheesecake with vanilla ice cream and fresh whip. The shop offers TONS of filling varieties and even crepe bases: plain, chocolate and green tea. I was so happy with my cheesecake crepe that David and I went back a few nights later to eat a savory crepe (just as amazing!) and hopped out with an "oreo madness" crepe with mint-chip ice cream... mmm this post is making me crave for another crepe outing!

Crepe Temptations

2575 Judah Street

San Francisco

415.379.4892

my family

2011-07-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

A lot of the classrooms at my school are currently studying "All about ME" for their fall project. Because of move-ups, the older children have left, either on vacation or to transitional classes to ready them for kindergarten. This of course means that we have tons of barely-threes running around! So the children have been learning and sharing information about themselves.
Here are some drawings about their families:

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Kids' drawings always crack me up and well and warm my heart! I love how Katie drew the birds! ... I should also ask the child why the family is all sad in the last drawing...

happy 100

2011-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

wowie wowie! 100 followers! It took a bit of time and a few mysterious dropped followers
(after giveaways...)- but I'm so happy and elated that Olive Juice has reached this ~~mini~~-milestone!

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have a wonderful Wednesday!

hand washing

2011-07-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

My older sister paid a classroom visit the other day to teach the kids about hand washing and general health. It was really fun watching her interact with the children and they of course got a kick that "Ms. Annie has a big sister!?"

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toot.tuesday - how to wash your hands

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A different tutorial today... hehe. But all kidding aside (hah! pun totally intended!), it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly. So a trick is to sing "Twinkle little star" and of course, scrub and "make bubbles" with the soap to "wash the germs away!"
Other Hand Washing Songs

boardwalk bites

2011-07-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

I know this is uber late, but better late than never!

David and I drove down to Santa Cruz and Monterey for July 4th and here's a photo recap of our mini-vacay:

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yum.mondays - Boardwalk Bites

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mmmmm... I'm still dreaming of that combo tray of fried zuchinni, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts! It's always a delight to eat fair foods and boardwalk bites- just being there shakes away all the excuses and ~~diet~~ ~~regimens~~ that you keep telling yourself to keep & follow.

Have you been to any county fairs lately? If so, what are some things you look forward to doing/eating there?

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

400 Beach Street

Santa Cruz, CA

let's cupcake SF

2011-07-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

I went on a dinner date with pastrypixels and as we were driving home, we noticed a new cupcakery (cupcake bakery) in the neighborhood. Naturally, we made a couple of U-turns and parked the darn car.

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yum.mondays- Let's Cupcake S.F.

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Did you check out that deal?!?!? Each cuppycake was $3 individualy, but 5 for $10? um yes please!

Sadly, all of the cupcakes with the exception of SunsetSin was UNyum.mondays. pastrypixels and I were trying to think of the reasons why:

We went on a Wednesday night- were they day(s) old baked goods?
They were HEAVY (like literally)- was it the style of the baker?
It was a new cupcakery (open for only a few weeks), baker is tweaking the recipe?
It was all buttercream frosting- which I'm not a fan of...

either way, I don't think we will be returning anytime soon. The reviews on Yelp weren't too kind as well- maybe another try when the cupcakery establishes itself.

SunsetSin- was good though... so there is definitely potential!

Let's Cupcake SF

2255 Judah St

San Francisco, CA 94122

415. 702.9649

cleanse my palette

2011-07-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

Tired of just staring at my pile of felt/materials and turning cock-eyed from color-combo confusion, I made a ~~quick &~~ ugly palette board for easy reference and inspiration.

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My little sister actually helped me a lot with this project- she has a keen eye for color matching- and then I stumbled on Color Trends which was amazing! Too bad I don't have all the colors of felt in the world, but it's just so nice to be able to browse and get inspired by color. Let's see if I can come up with more combinations...

david's dude salon

2011-07-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

~~Last~~ polish post! I created a new page Polish Picks so that I won't jam this blog with too much nail polish antics. As mentioned, David's been showing some interest & say in my nail polish selection- and he decided to give me a MANicure:

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Gotta love the man for trying! It was actually truly HORRENDOUS and ugly. I literally closed my eyes and turned the other way to save myself from a heart attack with how he glopped it all over the place. The pinky shot was the "best" one. I'm pretty impressed that he stuck it through and had an inkling of what a french manicure was though!

Urban Outfitters
Crowded & Taxi

boardwalk brights

2011-07-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

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Sinful Colors- pink & neon melon

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inspired and anxious for my small road trip to sunny Santa Cruz and Monterey, I changed my manicure from the green monstrous color to something quite blinding. My bf has recently taken a liking for my polish picks- and he called the shots on this one! We were perusing the aisles and he asked if I would wear any color he picked and I said 'yes'.

And so, he picked the two brightest colors on the display: pink & neon melon by Sinful Colors. The pink is super bright like that in the bottle but the photo was taken at night w/o flash- so it looks more muted. The formula is really watered down so many coats are needed. Neon melon was a pain to work with, and it took about 4-5 coats to make it opaque. I also whipped out my old konad plates and used the stars on m3 for something festive in lieu of July 4th.

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Sinful Colors

pink (871) & neon melon (56)

Neon Collection

headband holder

2011-07-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

... and I'm back! The mini vacay to Santa Cruz & Monterey was much needed and a lot of fun. The weather was splendid and the food amazing! (something for yum.mondays later on!)

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toot.tuesdays- Headband Holder

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I wanted to make a few of these for display purposes for my booth. At the first Flea, I just hung them on a rack, but they kept slipping and people just stuck them randomly while browsing- can't have that now can we?! So I wanted to make something neat and organized and more polished for the upcoming flea.

The original plan was to stuff the "pillows" with poly-fill stuffing- but it wasn't cost effective (about $15-20 bucks a bag) so my eyes immediately darted to the yarn aisle and VOILA! At just $8 bucks for a humongous skein of yarn- my cheat-sheet short-cut idea was born.

I think they turned out pretty okay- my only worry now is that people will over stretch/extend the headbands and they might snap when they put the headbands back..

... you break it you buy it?

feelin' foamy

2011-07-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

notw - OPI Gargantuan Green Grape

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Sea Foam green anyone? I'm feeling a bit iffy about this color- I can foresee some of children calling me a dinosaur or monster with this manicure! But I wanted to try a color other than coral so I borrowed this from my sister in law. The formula is very, super duper creamy and awfully streaky- so I needed all the patience in the world and 3 coats.

David and I are off to Santa Cruz and Monterey for this long weekend. Afterwards, I need to glue my bottom to the chair and get cranking for the next T.I. show. I've also recently mustered all of my strength and will power to go to the gym too. It's been 3 years (hmmm... 3 years since being with David... coincidence much!?) since I can even consider myself "active" and it's long overdue! I went from being a gym rat to a hibernating bear... literally.

anyway- have a wonderful Fourth of July!
---
OPI
Gargantuan Green Grape NL B44
Brights Collection

other fishes in the sea...

2011-06-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Alas- Mollie from Wild Olive has another fun-filled story for JUNE:

Through out the day, you can check out her blog Wild Olive- for some special blog posts about

"fishes, wishes, and making things better"

And you- my darlings can have a chance to enter for a giveaway from me!

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Winner will receive 3 hair clips & 1 headband: 2 clouds/stars, 1 fish felt hair clip (fully lined alligator clips) & the beautiful spring green/lace elastic headband.

I had a great time thinking of fish themed hair accessories for June's story- and I love the results! Don't you just adore the fish hair clip? I'm thinking of creating more for the shop or at least the upcoming Treasure Island Flea! And the stars/cloud hair clips were created by PastryPixels- I thought they were perfect for the "wishes"- the headband was my "making things better," I wanted to try something new and better my "skills" so I used the hellokitty machine for that one...

To enter this giveaway- please follow my blog and/or "like" my Facebook page
Once you have, return to Wild Olive and comment AT THIS LINK--> giveaway post.
This is open to all old & new followers- so be sure to comment on Wild Olive to officially enter!

Goodluck!

notw

2011-06-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

OPI: Spark De Triomphe

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OPI has teamed with Serena Williams for the 2011 Tennis Grand Slam Tournaments and releasing a duo of polishes for each event. The next Grand Slam event is the French Open and OPI has recently released the polishes that are being tied into this event. The colors are Spark De Triomphe and White Shatter. This is two coats with Seche Vite topcoat.

OPI

Spark De Triomphe [NL S18]

Glam Slam Collection 2011

yum.mondays

2011-06-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

yum.mondays- Belgian Waffles

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PastryPixels called this "straight from the source". She made these bad boys when her friend gave her a bottle of maple syrup from Canada- and she made yeast waffles from scratch along with some homemade blueberry compote... yummy!

and lucky you, you can make your own batch because she offered her recipe! HERE

Be advised to follow her blog- she's always creating something delcious!

notw

2011-06-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Essie - Strawberry Sorbet
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Decided to switch things up for the weekend- my sister loathes pink so I was pretty surprised to find this gem in her stash! Even she was shocked: "what IS that?! ew I have that?"
A very pretty bright berry color- perfect for the start of summer don't you think? This is 2 coats with SecheVite topcoat. I even played with her dotting tool... the flower is wonky but it will do for now.

Essie
Strawberry Sorbet (#111)
Classic Collection

red white and blues

2011-06-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

With Fourth of July just around the corner, why not some red, white and blues to your life?
How about some DYB♥ cuppycake clips from yours truly?

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okay... the star lanterns are a bit off in the collage but I needed to fill the void. haha. Admittedly, I've been pretty lax on creating new things for DYB♥ recently, but I just booked a booth for Treasure Island Flea in July, so the hustle and bustle will commence once again!

toot.tuesdays

2011-06-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Almost every year- aside from "I will loose weight" for new year's resolution, I always tell myself that I will learn how to french braid. Yes. French braid hair. I like to consider myself a
"Jill of all trades" type of girl, but I have never been able to grasp the concept of french braiding. So I was browsing youtube and I stumbled across different styles and twists to the traditional french braid and man- I'm so smitten!

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toot.tuesdays - waterfall braids

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Isn't it so pretty!? I really want to commit myself to learn! Which really... only makes sense since I make hair accessories right?!?! hah hah.

Credit

1. LUUUX- DIY waterfall braids

2. YouTube- bebexo

3. We Heart It

4. Love Maegan

yum.mondays

2011-06-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

bacon maple glazed donuts.

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yum.mondays - Dynamo Donuts

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Dynamo Donuts is a must have if you're ever near the Mission District of San Francisco. And by that, I mean the very edge of the Mission District. A quaint and humble little green awning will be the beacon to guide you to the store front- but I'm sure you will be tipped off by a line of hungry people waiting to place an order!

They offer a delectable menu of flavors and rotate them religiously with at least 3-4 served daily and "everyday is bacon donut day" as their motto. Unfortunately, of the times that I've frequented Dynamo, I have yet to taste the elusive bacon maple glazed donut (I haven't been able to catch them in the mornings)... but I'm not fretting too much. I know that whenever I get a chance to devour their donuts, I'm sure to be happy with any selection. To name a few:

Lemon Pistachio
Strawberry Earl Grey
Apricot Cardamon
Chocolate Rose

They also offer specials here and there. PastryPixels mentioned that they had Guinness Donuts and I really want to try those! Shown are the passion fruit and vanilla bean that I did get to nibble on, and those cute donut graphics are from here- where you can order the cards!

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Dynamo Donuts

2760 24th Street

San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 920-1978

1 - 2 , to the zoo

2011-06-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

My older sister wanted to enjoy a bridal shower (kid-free) so I kindly accepted to baby sit my nephew. I only see him twice a week for family dinner so it was a nice treat to have him for the day. The initial plan was to take him to Monterey Bay Aquarium, but plans fall through as the usually do- so I ended up taking him to the San Francisco Zoo instead:

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We had a lovely day at the zoo! And most of that was attributed to the weather. There was a slight breeze through out the day but the sun was shining. A bit obsessed with Dora the Explorer, Nick had a blast with "his map" and navigated the zoo by referencing the animals we were looking at, with the picture symbol on the map! Pretty smart for a toddler! I also allowed him to purchase the train ticket and hand over the money- "one ticket peeesh!" and of course I had him pick out a toy at the end of the day at the gift shop. His mom says he hasn't allowed anyone near his train since coming home...

notw

2011-06-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

So I've been secretly obsessing over nail polish lately. Yah. I don't know either.

My little sister likes to collect them which makes it easier on the wallet for me- but I've been finding myself mesmerized by nail blogs out there:
Scrangie, Lacquerized, RobinMoses, Nailcrazy, StupidPolishName
... to name a few.

And of course shiny painted things are favorites of preschool kids... so I've started to take suggestions from the kids! Sometimes when they're having trouble napping, I just flash my nails and let them look at them- kind of therapeutic and relaxing I guess....?

Anywho- a little boy asked me to paint them orange:

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Nail of the Week (NOTW)- OPI: HOT & SPICY

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A really pretty and bright shade for summer! Please excuse my ugly manicure- my technique usually consists of "schlop it all over the place and then let the shower take care of the mess" style. This polish is really creamy and pretty easy to work with. I didn't have much trouble with it being streaky- so that's a plus for me! This is 2 coats with SecheVite topcoat.

OPI
HOT & SPICY
Spring 2010 "Hong Kong" Collection

stickbugs!

2011-06-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

When I first started working at my school, each class was given about 4 stickbugs. A year later, after taking care of them and watching them complete their life-cycle, we have a new generation!

Room 6 was the only class that kept the eggs (instead of destroying them) so we are the only class with babies. We were unsure if the eggs were fertilized but I insisted that we remain patient- and sure enough, after about 3 months of idle watching, we have babies crawling everywhere.

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They are incredibly easy to care for. I guess for this particular species, we just needed to put in fresh ivy leaves every few days and spray them with water once a day. And... that's it! SUPER DUPER easy pets. Anyway- as you can see, room 6 has tons of eggs, so we've been giving away the babies as fast as people are willing to take them!

toot.tuesdays

2011-06-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is creeping up really soon! Here are some great and cute (and inexpensive!) ideas for June 19.

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toot.tuesdays- Father's Day

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Aren't they so cute!? I can't take credit for them though- this post is totally reblogged from LittleBirdieSecrets - go and check it out- they have all these "secrets" to crafting and any DIY projects you can think of.

I know, this (probably) is not as elaborate or expensive as the gift for mother's day, but come on- most of our fathers would probably want something low-key anyway! There are only some many ties, boxer shorts, PJs, slippers, and pens that they can rotate. A yummy treat is always the best gift (in my opinion) the receiver can just gobble it up and the gifter won't have to worry if it's just sitting somewhere collecting dust.

yum.mondays

2011-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

To celebrate our ample harvest from our adventure this weekend, today's yum.mondays will of course, feature a yummy that Laura (of course) baked with the fruits we picked!

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yum.mondays - peach & berry crostata

For the others that went on the trip, we only had to wash and eat our harvest, but Laura- being a pastry chef and all, was thinking a bit further and thought of various ways to turn her fruits into creations. Am I lucky or what? Good ol' PastryPixels herself whipped this up and sent over a slice. Well, I had to bargain with her-

"laura... I have your birthday present! Come and trade?"

Thank goodness it worked! hahaha. The crust was crispy and golden brown from the caramelized sugar crystals.... and when I received it? It was still warm. She filled the crostata with yellow and white peaches and blackberries that we picked!

strawberry fields forever

2011-06-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

I went fruit picking! Laura from PastryPixels planned a trip up to Brentwood California (about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco). The last time I went fruit picking was when I was a child- so the trip was very much anticipated:

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The cherry trees at Seko Ranch were so majestic! Grande and full of cherries on every single branch, it was so delightful to see the many different types of cherries- some on the same tree! Tasting as you pick of course was the best part. I was surprised to find "a favorite fruit," but apricots turned out to be the most rewarding fruit to pick. There isn't a guessing game at all, a friendly stranger informed us that for apricots, just a gentle touch will tell you if the fruit is ripe: "you don't need to twist, pull or tug, if it falls right into your hands, it's ready."

There were many farms which meant we were able to farm-hop in order to assess which fruit was ready and which ones we would pass on. Dien, blogger of I'veGotFashionitis was really enthusiastic that day and picked pound after pounds of fruit! Thank goodness we didn't go to the watermelon patch!

meow

2011-06-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

So I finally received my "special" package the other day!

Before you keel over and laugh at my absurdity- I had "good" reason to purchase a Hello Kitty sewing machine... um, I my old one broke?

Something possessed me to dig in the garage and pull out my older sewing machine- I vaguely remembered that it didn't work properly the last time I touched it (3years ago)... and luck would have it that time did not heal the darn thing.

Anyway, so there you have it, I own a teal hello kitty sewing machine. I'm not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed, but David and my mom shook their heads when the delivery man handed it over... hehehe

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the various stitches the machine offers- very basic

believe or not, there are many hello kitty machines out there!

and of course there is a youtube video that features the machine

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I read many reviews for this particular machine- and it seems to be a standard "beginners" sewing machine- so why not have some fun with a little kitty decal yeah? Granted a lot of people are buying them for their 7 year old daughters to learn how to sew- but hey, I have to start somewhere right?

3 bears

2011-06-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest pleasures of teaching is read aloud time.

Ms. Annie!? What is a "read aloud"?

Read Alouds are just what it sounds like. It is a time when you read a story/book out loud to children. So what's so special? Well- it's all about presentation. I was taught in my intern program to always rehearse or at the very least- *look through the book beforehand to get the feel, tone and emotion of the story. Another good lesson that I've learned is that the goal of storytelling is not entertainment- but engagement. Sure, I can act silly and have the children in an uproar, but are they absorbing the story? Was I able to get them involved and curious about what will happen next?

[*ALWAYS look through any new or unfamiliar book before reading! I've made the mistake of reading a random book that a child brought to me, and halfway through, I had to cut it short because the puppy in the story was dying!- sure, a good teaching moment about life stages, but it's a lesson I would not like to spring on my class right after naptime!]
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I read "The Three Bears" by Byron Barton the other afternoon and afterwards, for my small group, I invited the children to draw pictures of the story, they're favorite characters and scenes...

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I love kid art! If you look carefully, the drawing with the purple crayon increasingly gets more complex. She is one of my younger 3's and you can see clearly that her fine motor skills are coming along. She's even got the first letter of her name down now! VERY PROUD. The drawings with the red and purple&yellow are from my 4's - so you can compare and see the amazing growth that happens in preschool.

toot.tuesdays

2011-06-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Today my dear friends, will be a different type of tutorial.

If you are a recent reader, you may not know that due to California's $#!++& budget, I was laid off. In the beginning, I thought there was some hope to cling onto my job- but with recent news, that thought bubble has since burst.

The good news is that the district recently extended layoff teachers to work until August. The bad news is, (due to political and bureaucratic reasons) I am no longer going to be "Ms. Annie" in room 6. So what does that mean??? Well- for one thing, I still get a paycheck until August, so there's a huge sense of relief of course, but that means I no longer have a class to call my home. I spent the better half of the afternoon clearing out my things in room 6 and consolidating everything onto one shelf (I hope the new teacher will be okay with me having one shelf!)

Life sucks but it could always be worse right? To look at the positive, I can look forward to getting to know 3 classes now, and with the new school year starting, at least room 6 can have a fresh start- I do wish the new teacher the best- and I'm hoping that I will still be able to plan some activities here and there so that I may share the preschool shenanigans that most of you enjoy.

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so there you have it, I won't be mopey dopey about it so let's just focus on pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows. I hope things will settle between the district and the union, many lives are in limbo with their indecisiveness. I shall keep everyone posted with any news.

have a great Tuesday!

yum.mondays

2011-06-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Laura from PastryPixels kindly and lovingly brought back macs from NYC for me!

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yum.mondays - bisous,ciao. MACARONS

Ever since I've tasted my first macaron (of course from laura), I've slowly fallen in love with them. And apparently, I like the french version best! I ~~like~~ love to eat them like oreo cookies, pulling the top off and then savoring the pieces one by one.

Needless to say, I was delighted to receive a beautiful box of macarons from the big apple! There were 6 little gems (all but one was crushed but tasty anyway). FYI, "Bisous, Ciao" means "goodbye kiss" ... isn't that wonderful? I swear they tasted even better once I found that out! To the best of my knowledge and (not so refined) tastebuds, I had the following flavors:

Salted Caramel (my favorite)
Espresso
Lavender Honey
Cherry
Lemon Verbena & Fresh Mint (another yum)
Blackberry

*oh and the picture of me with the world's smallest macaron isn't the ones from Bisous. haha. I don't think any macaron would be worth bigbucks if they were that teeny!

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bisousciao. MACARONS
101 Stanton Street
New York City, NY
212.260.3463

graduation

2011-06-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

*cue the graduation march song (pomp & circumstance)

Two Fridays ago, 7 of my children graduated from preschool and are now headed for kindergarten!

It was a first "school wide" ceremony so things were a bit chaotic but everything turned out nicely. Even the weather cooperated- it was drizzling right up until the beginning of the commencement.

Room 6 had the smallest group of graduates of the six preschool classrooms. Each classroom sang an individual class song and then all of the graduates sang a "graduation song".

Room 6 decided on good ol "Skidamarink"
short, sweet, with hand movements to boot!

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It was too bad that I was unable to take a class picture with all my graduates- I was busy running around setting up the pot-luck lunch! Perhaps I can track down at least one photo where I was taking a picture with the cute little guy in tails... isn't that so adorable?! Tuxedo tails over sweatpants and knitted favorite dog sweater? why not.

stoked to re-stock

2011-06-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

DYB♥ has new items in the shop!

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I have something special coming in the mail and I can't wait to share it with you! I scoured the bay area looking for it at the stores so that I may have it in my hands (immediate gratification you know?) but no one carried it so I had to order it.... hmmph. But I wasn't that eager to shell in 50 bucks for express shipping either (starving teacher here)!

FYI- I finally used up all my vacay-days at work, which explains the lack of room 6 posts- I have really cute graduation pictures to post! I'm saddened that I'm loosing a great little bunch of kinder-ready kids but that means room 6 will have new friends! At my school, (which is year round) it's a revolving door, so when one child leaves, another is admitted into the program. It can throw a wrench into developing a smooth routine but having new friends is always nice! Because then I get to say:

"why don't you help show our new friends what to do?"

It really allows the other children an opportunity to become role models for the new ones... which also helps them become more self reflective and work on their own behaviors! sneaky sneaky...

anyway, I'm off to trek to work have a Happy Friday everyone!

winner winner chicken dinner!

2011-06-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

** reblogged from Wild Olive:

Really quickly, I wanted to announce that
the winner of the sponsor giveaway is Rochelle!

And...the winner of the Mamma Made & Wild Olive dress kit is Gail!

Congratulations to both of these lucky ladies!

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A note to all my followers and likers (fb) there will be plenty more giveaways! I know Mollie will have another fantastic voyage on June's new story:

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And of course DYB♥ will offer a water-worthy themed giveaway there. But don't fret! I am planning on creating new pieces for a separate giveaway here for you darlings.

In the meantime, I just made a run to the craft/fabric store... so it's time to play!

toot.tuesdays

2011-05-31T17:29:00.000-07:00

I've been royally obsessed with buntings for a while now, and after signing up to be a vendor at Treasure Island Flea, it became the perfect opportunity to finally make one for DYB♥!

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toot.tuesdays - how to make a bunting

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Tah-dah! You now have a cute and oh sooooOOooo adorable bunting to display! This was a very fun project and I'm sure many of you can either make plain ones to hang up, or even of names of your children for their room or your own for that matter!

I received many compliments at the flea as I'm sure you will too when you make yours!

happy crafting!

yum.mondays

2011-05-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

I was a lucky duck on Sunday- my little sister and her friends came by to support me at the fair... which meant they were happy and willing to man the table while David and I perused the aisles and enjoyed the many booths at Treasure Island Flea.

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yum.mondays- Harvey's Gourmet Mini Donuts

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These little balls of deliciousness took over my thoughts throughout the day. Located just kitty-corner from my own booth, the aroma wafted in the air and swirled about me... resulting in TWO orders of the chocolate glaze & powder.

num.num.num

An eavesdropped conversation revealed that he uses(owns) a rare machine to cook these donuts. Supposedly the machine is one of ten that was a prototype that never took off. It is very fascinating to watch the donuts being made and it takes a lot of will power not to order the entire menu! Beside the usual toppings, Harvey offers DONUT SUNDAES:

Donut Sprinkle on my parade

Classic Sugar glaze, rainbow sprinkles, mini m&m’s, Fudge, whipped cream & a cherry
The Chocolate Grail

Chocolate glaze, oreo’s, mini chocolate chips, fudge, whipped cream & a Cherry
O.M.G
Classic Sugar Glaze, Oreo’s, Mini Chocolate chips, Fudge, Almonds, Rainbow Sprinkles, Whipped Cream & a cherry

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Harvey's Gourmet Mini Donuts
A Mobile Concession making mini “Donuts to Live For”©
which means you can have him at your next event!

treasure island flea Slide Show!

2011-05-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

I thought a slideshow would be an easier way to share my first experience of being a vendor at a craft/flea market fair:

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Treasure Island Flea 5.29.2011

"Treasure Island Flea 5.29.11"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

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I had a really good time and as always, some self reflection about the event will only make future ones even better! yep... I think I will do it again... maybe in July? It was good to interact with the people and see which which items were popular and which ones needed more marketing revamping. I'm so happy with the turn out and met so many nice people.

One highlight was being recognized from YouTube: "hey, I know your clips! You're on that YouTube video with the little girl that does makeup tutorials!" That really got me excited!

The bucket of mustaches were a hit as well- at just 2 bucks a pop, many of them flew out of the bucket and now I know which ones (shapes) are popular and which ones to skip out on. I am also going to work on my display a bit more... so stay tuned for more DIY "toots"

treasure island flea

2011-05-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

whoa! Just got home from my very first craft/flea market show- I am so exhausted but all the hard work definitely paid off.

Photos and details will follow, but a nap is in order...

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pinky up

2011-05-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

As you might know, Mollie at Wild Olive is hosting a Tea Party all week long! And I have submitted a guest post/giveaway for the occasion!

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So glad to join everyone at the tea party! I’m Annie from Olive Juice. I am a preschool teacher by day and crafter/creator of Darling You Boutique (DYB♥)… um later in the day. Living in foggy San Francisco, a tea party is just the perfect place to get cozy and warm up!

To celebrate this lovely tea party that Mollie is hosting, I am offering a giveaway from DYB♥. Winner will receive the headband and five hair clips- all handmade and designed just for the occasion!

Wouldn’t you like to dress up for the tea party?

Headband is made from cream cotton lace adorned with matching cream felt lace (brand new dyb design) cutout with a pink/lavender flower in the center

Purple&Pink poppy flower hair clip is made from layers of hand cut purple and pink chiffon and white tulle- adorned with a grey pearl in the center.

4 Petite Treats- (inspired by the tea party with the mad hatter) features a mini blue cupcake with a splatter of purple frosting, a cute little donut with royal icing and pink sprinkles, a slice of “unbirthday” cake with yellow sprinkles, and a purple macaron with yellow outline stitching.

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To enter this delectable yet curious giveaway, please become a follower of my blog, and/or “like” my DYB Facebook page (also located on my blog side bar) then leave a comment on my post at Wild Olive (as the way for us to contact you).

I hope you’ve enjoyed tea thus far. Please enter the giveaway and you might be the lucky winner of the Tea Party! All of the hair accessories are of course, handmade with love.

Pinky up!

xoxo- annie
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**** If you leave a comment HERE on this post, it will also be submitted as an entry on the giveaway (since there are so many giveaways on the post at Wild Olive)

good luck!

toot.tuesdays

2011-05-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

oh gee! another segment? maybe.

Here is a first (and perhaps last) of ...

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toot.tuesdays: how to spiffy up your hand mirrors!

In preparation for my first Craft Fair: Treasure Island Flea, I needed to make cutesy hand mirrors for people to check themselves out with my hair clips and headbands!

I purchased two inexpensive hand mirrors with the intention of just tying a bow on the handle but eureka struck and I started to get crafty.

It's quite simple really- as most of my "toots" will be, like that of my munchkin magnets. In just 6 easy steps, you can add some charm to your mirror:

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tah-dah! you now have an adorable mirror to admire yourself in.

oh... and I just realized it's Wednesday. hahah!

yum.mondays

2011-05-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

uh oh! an hour shy and it might turn into "tasty.tuesday".

This segment of goodies features handmade chocolates that my sister brought home from her visit to Boston. She kindly set away some time strolling through Harvard campus looking for a future ivy.leaguer.boyfriend and carefully handpicked some cocoa delights:

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yum.mondays - Burdick Chocolate

Aren't they cute?!

They're delicious too. The catalog is quite extensive and you know they mean serious business when it comes to packaging. Unwrapping the box of chocolates was almost like opening an anticipated box of jewelry.

The house favorite turned out to be...

Earl Grey Bonbon:
Dark chocolate ganache with a round flavor of tea and bergamot.

Lemon Pepper Truffle
Dark chocolate, pepper, lemon, cream and rum, dusted in cocoa.
DARK Salted Caramel
Cardamom - Enrobed with dark chocolate, topped with sea salt.
Pavé
Interior of dark chocolate, cocoa butter, cognac, saffron, coated in milk chocolate with a touch of candied orange.
Almond Chamomile
Chamomile tea infused ganache topped with a half almond and coated in dark chocolate.

Burdick Chocolate Shop & Cafe

pre-k carnival

2011-05-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

Let the

wild rumpus

start!

Yesterday was the annual pre-k carnival at my school. The booths were created and managed by 5th graders at a local elementary school - talk about community involvement right?!

I LOVED IT!

It was so endearing to watch the older kids teach and play with the little ones- being very patient, kind and caring about making sure that they have fun.

To celebrate the festivities, the children also enjoyed hotdogs and nachos for lunch- topped with juice! Trust me, this is a treat for most of the kids- probably their first experience of a "carnival" and "carnival food".

One of the great things about being a preschool teacher is being able to provide new experiences for young children. My goal is to help them grow into lifelong learners.

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"whack-a-animal" was HILARIOUS!

"please be gentle with the hammer- some of the animals have ouchies"

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Perry the Magician/Balloon Artist donated time and efforts for some balloon magic as well. He was great as usual and pretty much ensured that every child received a balloon (150+)! The teacher and children were so amazed and waited patiently for their turn for a special treat from Perry. The carnival was a success and everyone had a wonderful time- after all, what's preschool if it's not fun?

monster bash in room 6

2011-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday for large group, I read "Go Away Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley and "The Monster Princess" by D.J. MacHale. As an extension activity I had the kids create their own monster. To work on fine motor skills, they selected different shapes to trace for the head/face and then used stickers for eyeballs. They had a lot of fun and of course- came up with more creative monsters than I would ever have imagined.

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Room 6 is gearing up for a Carnival this Friday! Perry the Magician (from my previous post) decided to volunteer his time and make some balloon magic during the festivities. I'm so excited and I know the little ones will have so much fun experiencing their first carnival/fair I'm sure. A local neighboring elementary school is partnering up and creating booths and games for our carnival!

hooray for COMMUNITY involvement.

yum.mondays

2011-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today's segment features another yummy treat made from my bff Laura at pastrypixels:

yum.mondays- Fresh Mango Sorbet with Panna Cotta base

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I've fallen in love with panna cotta and laura's is definitely delicious to the very last creamy spoonful. And when I said fresh mango sorbet? I really mean it! She brought out her ice-cream maker and I saw her pour in fresh mango puree into the machine. The humming and churning of the ice-cream maker provided the ambient noise as we had our very first LAN.party. We were busy creating buttons & banners for our blogs and websites. Hold on to your seats- pastrypixels will soon open up shop and everyone can sample her homemade jams!

UPDATE- here is a BEAUTIFUL photo of the dessert:

didn't you know? Laura is a talented photographer as well!

site makeover

2011-05-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

The official DYB♥ site received a makeover today!

from this:

to this:

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Actually... the first screenshot doesn't even show the ugly that was there before that mini-makeover. Once upon a time, dyb used to have too many pages and too much text. I was torn when I started this blog because I felt that I had wasted money on my domain site and access to site building resources- but I'm happier now that I've focused my "official site" into a main landing page. Now my readers/buyers can choose to either shop or read my blog immediately- instead of navigating the link menu as before.

As you may have noticed, I've also added new buttons on the top menu that will link to other pages (about, contact, shop, tutorials, etc.) and also on the right --------------> over yonder.
There you will find buttons to link you to other awesome blogs that I follow religiously.
Clickity click on those and share the love!

tutorial 1

2011-05-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

*make munchkin magnets

- My aunt asked me for some ideas for favors and I suggested to make some quick&cute magnets:

Aren't they adorable? (yes- the baby too!) She is hosting a grande Red Egg & Ginger party and needed some favor ideas and I suggested these magnets. You will need the following:

pre-painted animals/figures (available at large chain craft stores)
favorite photo of child
cardstock for mat backing
double sided tape (easy, convenient, and mess free)
magnet tape (sticky adhesive on one side)

There isn't much explaining to do really. This project might take some prep work (cutting photos and card-stock to desired size) but it's really just assembling. I think it took about 4 hours to make 200 of them. It really helps if there is an assembly line as well: for example- someone can trim photos/card stock, another can glue photo onto card, someone else can glue animals to card and finally, someone can adhere the magnet tape. And voila! Instant munchkin magnets.

trim photos and card stock

adhere photos and animals to the card stock

cut magnet tape to size

stick the magnet to the back of the animals, not the picture

tah-dah! Munchkin Magnet

Look at all the variety!

teacher?

2011-05-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sad and irritated that blogger was down all of yesterday. I did so many changes to it too and everything is gOne.

This little blog usually features the lessons and fun activities and sometimes reflections of my teaching. To all of my readers/followers- I apologize for the lack of preschool/classroom posts- I've been on vacation from room 6 for the past two weeks- and will return and reclaim my title as "ms. annie" on Monday. The school year is winding down- albeit my preschool is year-round. The official lay-off notice is coming in the mail soon... so I'm dreading that. It's hard to feel motivated and charged to return to the classroom but I know it's all bureaucratic so I will pledge to leave room 6 with a bang!

I've been trying really really hard to keep focus and prepare for Treasure Island Flea. I even had a moment where I just wanted to throw in the towel- I don't feel ready at all. There is so much to think about and some of my closest friend will be out of town as well. But I'm hopeful- if I break even, I will plan to participate again and it would be really fun and special if my friends can help or at least stop by to support.

My head is up in the clouds most of the day as I dream about the upcoming craft fair- but mostly it is the day when I will actually have my very own classroom without having to worry about being laid off.

sew cool

2011-05-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Wild Olive is hosting a Tea Party for the month of May- and she is having a meet&greet at her blog tonight for readers to get to know one another and her sponsors (I'm one of them). There are many amazing and talented artists/bloggers there- so go check it out! There will also be many fun tea party related tutorials, giveaways and activities in the weeks to come- so check in often.
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I think I might have hit the mother-load & jack-pot in terms of fabrics and trims. I was pretty grumpy and mopey dopey after getting a root canal this morning, but I decided to roam the neighborhood and found a really amazing fabric store.

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Look at all the wonderful colors! The people there thought I was crazy and even asked if I owned/worked at a factory. hahaha. I would need a lot more than THAT if I worked in a factory. They're mostly of delicious wool blend, and I'm pretty stoked to start using them.

oh and this is mochi. she snuck into my chair as I was checking emails:

Isn't she adorable! I guess it was a nice little hint for me to take a break from the craft-corner. I've been feeling hard-pressed and pressed for time to get enough inventory for Treasure Island Flea at the end of the month. I typically work on one item/design idea at a time- so for example, I might work on a headband and them jump into a hair clip... but perhaps I should work on one design and make variations. David suggested that I make "master models" of items and then keep those as inspiration- what a great idea hunny! Except then almost everything would be models and nothing would be available at my DYB♥ shop... how do you manage your ideas/designs? Or better yet- what do you suggest?

yum.mondays

2011-05-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

I am a fanatic, genuine gummy bear connoisseur .

really.

Today's yum.mondays will be of these: Gummy Pandas from Bissinger's

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I spotted packs of these gourmet gummy pandas at a gift shop in San Diego Zoo. I vaguely remember hopping up and down and grabbing one of each flavor. As tempted as I was, I held off gorging on them until I returned home to share with my family.

I bought a total of 5 flavors:

pomegranate white tea
apricot green tea
goji guava w/camu camu
lemon ginger yuzu
pink grapefruit w/grapeseed

AMAZING! I really should have bought more because they're delicious- full of flavor and made with organic sweeteners. They have a good chewiness to them and you can definitely taste the exotic flavors in every panda morsel. A house favorite turned out to be the lemon ginger yuzu. I loved them all with the exception of the goji guava w/camu camu. That was one a bit too hard in terms of texture and I have no idea what camu camu is. They're a bit pricey but you can get a better deal online I'm sure.

happy mother's day!

2011-05-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

a funny conversation with my mom over morning coffee:

"what color purse did you pick out mom?"
"I wanted purple or pink, but all they had was black, *cà phê sữa đá, or cow."
"cow? what color is that?"
"you know, brown cow."
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*cà phê sữa đá is a traditional Vietnamese chilled drip coffee served with condensed milk instead of creamer. Give it a try- it's super delicious, creamy and refreshing.

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My mom is hilarious with her random thoughts and ideas... probably where I get it from. We tend to make up new words and conjure up things to say to make people stop, think about it and hopefully laugh.

Happy ♥ Mother's Day!

so dapper

2011-05-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

With the new wool blend felt I purchased, I made some lovely bow headbands! I think they're so cute and pretty! The felt also looks and feels so soft and luxurious don't you think? I'm falling in love with the "taupey/mud" color- it's too bad I don't look good in headbands- well- maybe it's a good thing because then I wouldn't be able to part with the many headbands that I've been creating.

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They're currently listed at my Etsy Shop- along with other goodies- so take a look!

ribbon frenzy

2011-05-07T21:35:00.000-07:00

I like to prep as much as I can when I'm creating new clips- so here is a "behind the scenes" method to my madness. I line the alligator clips for almost all of my hair clips, so instead of wondering/wandering, and staring aimlessly at my ribbon collection, I like to hold the design and riffle through some pre-cut & measured ribbon in a designated box. Here is how I do it:

The tape on the table is measured to the exact length that I need the ribbon to be in order for me to line the clips.
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I went to the craft store this morning and brought home some new ribbon! Aren't they so bright and gorgeous? I love the geometric semi-circle design- reminds me of Japanese zen rock gardens. And the turquoise zebra print is just fun!

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Well there you have it, a sneak-peek of my ribbon collection. Thank you for all the comments and followers old and new- I really appreciate you.

my little star

2011-05-06T20:43:00.000-07:00

As promised, I donated a spring pot full of goodies to the preschool I previously worked at. It was such a joy to have some little ones run up to me and hug me! Mind you, I left that school about 10 months ago.

"Ms. Annie! Are you here to play with us again?"

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No matter how stressed and tired and burnt out I may be, kids can always brighten up my day and mood.

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The headband looks a bit funky but it's super cute on! I'm thinking of creating "set pots" for the Treasure Island flea and then selling them as such. What do you think? I think it can be a great idea for gifts- a bunch of cute bright goodies with a little bit of everything: a headband, a birdie, a cupcake, felt flowers, and posies.

hmmmm....

ideas ideas.

feeling a bit knotty

2011-05-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

have you checked out WildOlive yet? She's amazing. From her latest post on the segment: Embroidery Basics, I was able to learn how to stitch french knots! Initially I wanted to use them as eyeballs for my little birdie clips but after practicing, they make really cute sprinkles for my cupcakes!

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thanks mollie

crunch time

2011-05-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

I think I can, I think I can...

I know I can...?

I have to.

Treasure Island Flea is coming up really quick and besides the items in my Etsy shop, I don't have much inventory. I also have to hustle and create a basket of goodies for a preschool fundraiser. On my other post, I mentioned that I will try embroidery floss on my felt clips- here is something I was working on yesterday. Excuse the photo quality, all I had in arms reach was my phone.

yum.mondays

2011-05-04T11:31:00.000-07:00

okay, you got me. It's really Wednesday.

I just returned from a mini vacation, celebrating our 3 year anniversary in sunny San Diego, California. For some odd reason David and I would use "San Diego" as an excuse and diversion whenever we planned surprise trips and getaway. This time around, we figured that we should for once, actually go to San Diego.

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yum.mondays

my little sister, short of twisting my arm, suggested that we try Extraordinary Desserts by Karen Krasne in Balboa Park, San Diego. By now I was used to the lines in San Diego for good eats- but the line for desserts was a little ridiculous this time. We soon figured that it was because all of the workers were on break so it was manned by only 2 people, one for the counter and one to serve. Needless to say, it took like 1/2 hour for our desserts to arrive- which mind you- only needed to be slapped on a plate since they were self-contained (if that makes sense...?) Anyway- this isn't supposed to be a yelp review so I should stop critiquing. We ordered a pot-o-tea (they have an extensive tea menu) and decided to try their creme brule and passion fruit pavlova.
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Extraordinary Desserts
Balboa Park, San Diego
2929 Fifth Avenue
619.294.2132

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Next stop, a cuppycake from Heavenly Cupcakes in the historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. David, who does not share the affinity nor the sweet-tooth for sugar allowed me to indulge and even nudged me to do so, since "we're on vacation". It was about 9:30pm by the time we strolled in so there was slim pickings. I decided to try the Vanilla Caramel cupcake.

The cupcake was really flavorful albeit not as moist as expected. But because I only tried one, I'm not sure if it was the particular flavor or their shop's chosen texture of choice. Regardless, it was really good and I would love to sample more flavors in the future.
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Heavenly Cupcakes
518 6th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
619. 235.9235

socal

2011-04-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

hello from San Diego! These are the moments when I wish I owned a netbook or an Ipad or something.

hmm... perhaps when more companies launch tablets and drive the price down? hmmm...

the resort is beautiful (paradise point resort), but i wish the weather was warmer.

new threads

2011-04-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

This move has been so exhausting and I'm soooo OVER IT. Good thing though, I'm now just a ~~lazy~~ reach away from my craft corner so there should be no excuses for new DYB ♥ creations. I shouldn't have, but I did. Look at some new materials!

colorful felt for my bunting for treasure island flea

cotton lace trim

embroidery floss! I'm excited to try/use these

so girly - so sweet

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yum mondays

2011-04-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

I really should NOT be blogging right now. With a few more loose ends to clear, clean and tie up at the beachhouse and a junk service scheduled for pickup...
eh whatever!
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how about a new segment? sure.

I've always had the biggest most ridiculous sweet tooth on earth. I have been known and seen eating ice cream and cake for breakfast and even taken "just one more bite" after I've brushed my teeth. So here is a new segment "yum.mondays" where I will showcase a sweet treat or two.

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As many of you know- gourmet cupcakes have been the rage lately. And being in San Francisco- there is no shortage of these delicious little sugar shops. This week's sweet treat is from That Takes the Cake.

3 gentleman prefer red (red velvet)

1 cherry blossom (green tea with lychee frosting)

1 school days (classic yellow with PB&J filling)

1 what competition (chocolate with caramel filling)

my favorite

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I really enjoy cupcakes from TTTC. Nestled at the end of Union street, its a cute and quaint little shop. I was first introduced to these cuppycakes at my previous preschool for a kids birthday party. The mom ordered a whole bunch of mini-cupcakes (about 2 bites) and I fell in love with how moist and flavorful the red velvet were. Okay I admit that it took me only 1 bite but that was because they're so delicious! I've been a fan of TTTC since. They only thing I don't "like" is the menu, they don't offer a deal for a 1/2 dozen. So it's up to your discretion whether you want to sample a few or take a plunge and buy a dozen. I restrained myself this time.
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That Takes the Cake
2271 Union Street, San Francisco
Tel: 415.567.8050
Hours: Tues - Sat: 11-7, Sun: 12-6

one fish, two fish, red fish...

2011-04-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

there's other fish in the sea... in this case however, same fish, larger tank.. so it feels like the sea?

anyway- you get me.

So room 6 was the lucky winner from my mom's never ending obsession with de-cluttering the basement. I got a 18 gallon tank years ago when I had the inkling to own angel fishes- but it never happened so the tank sat in the garage and collected dust for about 7 years. An oopsies happened one afternoon, and all the fishes in room 6 landed in the class library! (they were all rescued and okay) and lived in a glass bowl for a good while. What a perfect coincidence right?! I dug through the storage room and thankfully the tank was intact albeit really dusty. Take a looksy:

can you say UPGRADE?!

"do you think the fish will like their new home?"

"yes! now they have a bigger yard to play in ms. annie!"

I carefully scooped out one fish at a time and allowed the children to observe

in you go!

as each fish was released the kids said "welcome home!"

and of course for ECERS- everything must be labled

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I'm so happy the tank worked out. I was afraid that it wouldn't because its such a tall and narrow tank so it wouldn't have been safe in the science center on top of the shelves- so I placed it on the counter by the windows instead. I even went to the local fish store in hopes of getting new tropical fish to add more color and vibrancy to the tank but the worker was just trying too hard to make me buy an elaborate set up (he insisted that I MUST have air/heat/filtration for the tank or the only fish I could have was ONE GOLDFISH). I left bummed that perhaps the tank would not work (because it was no where near an outlet and I did not want to run an extension cord across the room/counter). So I took the risk and gave the fishes a happy mansion to frolic in anyway. I felt confident enough that it would be fine since the tank was at room temp most of the day and there was enough plants living in the water to supply oxygen). They seem pretty happy and adjusted to me! As for filtration, I might go and get one of those vacuum sucker fishes to handle that problem..

cwazy

2011-04-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Miss a few days of blogging and catching up on my blog-roll dashboard and I feel completely out of the loop! Goodness- I didn't think it would come to this.

=P

DYB♥'s craft corner has alas turned into craft chaos central. David and I crammed our necessities and threw clothes on top of any available surface. A few more car loads, dust will have a chance to settle and I can resume to some normalcy. With a preschool fundraiser (donation from DYB) and the Treasure Island Flea (first craft booth!) coming up real soon, I need to get moving out of the way and focus my energy on creativity and build on inventory.

By the way- the mustashes sold the other day! I'm pretty excited and I hope the buyer will enjoy them.

DYB♥ will also get a new look soon. Cindy from DESIGN3RD has been busy creating new business cards and banners for the website and buttons for my blog. She's amazing and I highly recommend her for your blog/site needs. Stay tuned for a sneak peek!

somewhere over the rain...bow

2011-04-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

With everything that has been going on, the ugly drizzly San Francisco weather hasn't been able to cheer my mood. But in the midst of it all, I was reminded that eventually, inevitably, everything will be okay.

I was headed back to the "beach-house" to change for work (my body is at my temp home but my clothes are all at the place near the beach)... and I came upon a beautiful rainbow over the shore. I pulled over a few times and tried to snap the picturesque scene from the window- finally I just parked and stepped out.

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There is so much static noise around me right now- I need to remind myself to just tackle one thing at a time. How do you deal with stress and interruption?

ocean beach

2011-04-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

I try to jog every morning before work. Living a few blocks away from the beach is definitely a plus and I'm sure going to miss if after I move. I always regret not taking my camera with me because there's always something unusual or beautiful that catches me eye. Out of necessity (my ipod died), I brought my phone out one day and snapped these while jamming on Pandora (BEST thing ever! btw):

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Ocean Beach is so vast, powerful and mysterious. Unlike a "typical" beach though, the water is really cold and frigid and the beach isn't the prettiest.. so if you're imagining a bunch of California girls tanning it up- dream on. We DO have a lot of surfers that dare to conquer the waves though... but unfortunately, because of the water temperature- they are completely suited up. With San Francisco's infamous weather, we only see hoards of beach-goers when the mercury rises. These blogs are GREAT: The Richmond District Blog & The Ocean Beach Bulletin. There you can get daily updates, photos and stories about Ocean Beach and the residents that live near it.

Case in point:

photo/story of Playland

Heron at Stow Lake

King Philips Shipwreck (can be seen from Noriega during low tide)

Great Highway at night

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i love Ocean Beach

simmer down

2011-04-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

On the verge of another move (three times in 2 years!) I've been really stressed and short-tempered. please excuse me if you happen to be at the wrong place and the wrong time! Poor david's been on the receiving end too and I feel pretty bad. Apologies will ensue I promise.

pinky swear.

So why the stress? Well, I just loathe moving. And I always feel like I have to plan and sort everything out. With the 3rd move- its also difficult to really build a "home" and settle in when I never know if I will stay put long enough for that feeling to develop. Worse yet, this move is only temporary until David and I move AGAIN to a more permanent spot. yeah. 4 moves in 2 years!

counting back from 10-1 ...

So I sat on the couch for a moment to let it all sink in and I flipped to the Discovery Channel (with collaboration of BBC). Whoa. Their new series Human Planet is amazing! I really had to mentally shut down and shut up my own lingering anxiety and stress down when I watched the daily struggles & accomplishments of people around the world just to survive:

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Isn't it so unbelievably beautiful and amazing? A good friend of mine calls many of our issues and stresses "first world problems" and I agree.

drdp's and parent teacher conferences

2011-04-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

It's time for spring assessments and parent-teacher conferences! This is my second time doing them and it's been a lot less stressful as imagined.

The DRDP consists of 43 measures and you must provide evidence for each measure either with photos, samples of work or with comments such as dictation (what the child says). As you can imagine, it can be VERY tedious and exhausting. Because I'm sharing the class however, I don't have the full load of 24 reports. yay!

I'm trying to crank them out asap and finish all the conferences before I leave on vacation.

I really enjoy meeting and talking to the parents of my students. It's a nice way to ease their anxiety and let them know that their child is "on track" and/is improving. I like to start off with their thoughts and how they feel about the class and the program and then talk about the accomplishments of their child. As with teaching, you don't want to emphasize on the negative- rather, you give positive praise and encouragement and discuss what needs to be improved.

here is what the DRDP looks like:

and here is the form I use for a meeting

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If you actually click on the photos and read the print- it's really interesting and fascinating to look at the developmental measures a child is being assessed on. A lot of people have opposing views about preschool and prek. Some people think it's just fun and games and babysitting whereas others stress on learning the ABCs and 123s. A well rounded preschool program should embrace the child as a whole and nurture their development and prepare them to become lifelong learners.

playdate at pastrypixels

2011-04-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

So my long time bff laura who manages pastrypixels invited my mommy and i to play in her kitchen.
please check out her blog!

... the truth is- my mom's been bugging me to bug laura to teach her how to make&bake cupcakes. A weekend finally worked out and laura taught my mom how to make banana raisin bread and dark chocolate coffee cupcakes with marshmallow whip! She's probably wondering why I'm making up names for her goodies. haha.

mom was a pretty good student!

banana raisin with whiskey glaze

dark chocolate & coffee with marshmallow whip

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Yes. I'm pretty fortunate to have a best friend as a sweet chef (as opposed to savory chef)- because of her, I am now addicted to macarons as well. And believe you me, I never turn down any samples or rejects!

stash bash

2011-04-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

in my previous post- I went ahead and made some stashes-on-a-stick.

aren't they absolutely ridiculously hilarious?

It was on a whim that I decided to make them since everyone and everything has a stache on it now.

I stuck them in a colorful pail and they immediately added some charm and whimsy to my craft/corner. I think I will create more and use them as a display for my booth at the first annual Treasure Island Flea.

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new earring/jewelry displays

2011-04-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've always loved making earring holders- those of you who went to college with me probably have my "vintage/antique" ones hanging on your wall somewhere. haha.

I tested out a newer, more modern and polished earring display for the DFES fundraiser- and it was a success! Many people thought it was adorable and I recently got a sale from my DYB♥ shop.

Here are some new additions to DYB♥ :

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I think they're so fun and cute! Its a great way to add some POP of color to your vanity and treat your jewelry like art. If it's displayed, there's a higher chance that you will wear them as well. Typically people just tuck them away into drawers and boxes and you forget about all your little treasures for your wardrobe.

Hocus Pocus POOF!*

2011-04-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

As mentioned, I had a magician come to room 6 today! This all came to be because I wanted a magician to come into the class to talk about his/her "magic hat" for our Hat Project.

Perry The Magician was absolutely wonderful and his show captivated the young children from start to finish! Some of the other teachers and I were worried because the kids had little to no knowledge/experience as to what "magic" was. But we are sure that they know now!

He talked about the "magician's top hat" for a brief moment and then performed a show for about 20 minutes. Many of parents were so happy watching their kids enjoy such a fantastical treat. It really melted my heart to see how happy they were as well.

Here he is with the opener, making the kids laugh hysterically as he made the green scarf disappear first with "failed" tricks and then the real disappearing act!

To be honest- I am still flabbergasted at that stuff...

His Magician's Top Hat

His act was so entertaining! The kids were active participants through out the show and Perry knew how to scale his words and performance so that they can understand and appreciate the wonder of magic.

This was his finale where he had an audience member come up and rip tissue up into pieces... and then TAH DAH! Yards of colored paper streamed out from his mouth!

Needless to say, everyone was speechless and amazed.

We will actually see Magician Perry again in a month- the director was so pleased that she invited him back for our carnival and graduation! Perry is also an expert balloon twister- I can't wait to see his work... I'm already thinking of what I want!

New vocabulary: magic, magician, trick, hocus pocus, disappear

"disappear" was hard to explain but I think they got it. Case in point: A teacher walks out of the room...
child- LOOK! Ms.Blahblah DISAPPEARED!
me- what do you mean?
child- She's gone now! She went away.

lol! kids say the darnedest things!

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I love these pictures! They are all having such a good time!

bubble bash

2011-04-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty curious about these bubble paint colors from discount school supply for a good while now... and a great thing about teaching is you can always improvise and create your own! So that is what I did for the past two days. I wanted to extend the bubble party from the yard during recess into the classroom.

I simply made bubble solution and then added liquid watercolor into the mix and then plopped a bubble wand into each color.

The kids went to town and I sat back and tried really hard not to worry over the mess they were making (from a teachers POV, I don't really mind the mess but I know parents cringe at their kids clothes at the end of each day).

They made it look so fun, I ended up getting messy myself.

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spring fling

2011-04-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

I spent Sunday morning doing laundry (chore!) but it did allow me some time in my "studio" to create more clips for DYB♥ ! I mean "studio" because it's really my old bedroom at my parent's house. If I had it my way, I would have converted it into a complete work space and craft studio, but of course my parents insisted on putting a bunk bed there JUST IN CASE there are guests.

which is never.

The last time we had guests was when my siblings got married. And since I'm next but no where near a nuptial- I'm stuck with a "crafting corner" instead. heh.

Anyway, here are the newest darling designs- enjoy!

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How do you like them?

bubble party

2011-04-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

For the past few days, San Francisco has been blessed with beautiful "hot" weather. And by "hot" I mean anything at hmm.. around 70 degrees. Some of you may be shocked especially if you are from an area that experiences all 4 seasons- but as you may know, SF only has one.

foggy.

Anyway- after about 2 weeks of rainy dreadful weather, it was nice to get a little sunshine in the city by the bay.

And as every teacher knows (it's okay, you can admit it- this is a safe place), - we HATE rainy day schedule. I hate rainy day schedule. The kids are all pent up with energy, the room is so stuffy with stale air, and everyone is just so restless and antsy! Even the lure of taking out the "Legos" wasn't sufficient.

So finally Mr. Sun decided to come out and play and Ms. Annie decided to host a Bubble Party. It was fun watching the kids go bananas- and it wasn't easy either. You'd be surprised how hard it is to make a good batch of bubble solution! There has to be a good amount of detergent (and not all detergent are equal) and just the right amount of water to make it usuable before its too diluted.

TRUST.

I had to run back a forth into the classroom to get it just right.
It was messy. It was wild. It was fun.

little penguins

2011-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

one great thing about blogging is being able to follow and connect with so many different people around the world- just wanting an outlet to share our individual passions. So a few weeks ago when I blogged about having a wedding designer visit room 6, Clouds & Daffodils commented that I should have a pirate (complete with parrot) visit- just to even up the playing field for the boys in the class. I laughed and took a mental note, but left it at that.

But then, he got me thinking... why not?

I couldn't find any more real-life pirates in the yellow pages (hah!)... but then I thought- well why not a magician? Magicians are still around and are real life people! and they have hats! So I contacted a few magic shops in San Francisco and abracadabra- I will have a magician as a guest speaker in room 6 to talk about his special hat. So cheers to clouds&daffodils!

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I also made it to his "blogs I read" page which is nice:

did you read it? haha pretty cute and clever.
go and check out his blog- he is a fantastic writer.

planning prek

2011-03-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

a glimpse into how I plan for any given week:

Usually, I try to plan on the weekend so if I need any supplies or books, I have the time to pick them up. but that's usually...

I open up my good 'ol "teacher plan book" (the blue book) and take a look at the week/month. I chart out all the holidays and meetings in advance, etc., etc., you get the gist.

The white paper you see is the district lesson plan- this is what parents would see posted on the classroom wall- so that they may glance and see what their child is learning for that particular week/day. The one I use however, I had to re-create and personalize it because room 6 has 2 teachers (I am the PM one). Here it is completely blank. You can clickity click on it to read the fine print if you want to.

Now, I pretty much chart out my usual routines and add in the special activities for that week. Notice that only the bottom half is completed? that's because that is my section and the AM teacher will fill in the rest.

My trusty blue book is what I teach from, it is more detailed and allows me to write down the steps and skills that I am trying to target. I know- so much repetition! The ~~slashes~~ are days in which I "don't plan"- either because I have a meeting (so the children have free play) or if I'm absent. Notice Wednesday? Yah. Took a personal day today.

this is pretty much the finished product of a planned week:

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umm... notice the "easter egg hunt"? THAT IS NOT ME. The AM teacher wanted to have an easter egg hunt today. Don't ask me why she is doing it a month early. I'm wondering the same.

blog vs. board

2011-03-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

uh oh. it seems as though my documentation panels are beginning to pile up! It's so much easier to post the pictures on this blog and then pat myself on the back and call it a day. only problem is "forgetting" (read: being lazy) that I need to document them on the poster boards for the hallway. arg. I did go and print tons of pictures though... so that's a start. Pretty alarming right? I don't need to print so many but I like to give the photos to the parents so that they can see what their child is working on through out the day! Parents rarely have a clue about what their child learns and does in school- so I wanted to show them what little milo was up to- a nice way to connect home+school.

I also picked out the photos for my next board : Visiting Expert: Yve "Wedding Hats" and selected the drawings that I will use. Another good start! Except... they've been lying on the floor for the whole weekend. FAIL. okay okay, new goal for the week: crank out AT LEAST one of them by the end of the week and 2-3 before my director returns from vacation. which is next week. everyone is on spring break right now except for my school- prek apparently is year-round. if you could only feel my pain!

In other news, the bf forgot to give me a kissy before leaving for work (what are some rituals you have with your special person?)- grrr. but I found this when I finally managed to get out of bed:

asparagus for breakfast? he is so strange.

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olive juice!