Five Things

Posted on February 24, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

This week I have a slightly thematic Five Things lined up. That’s right, it’s Five Things: The San Diego addition.

We were all sitting in a circle chatting, as you do, and my girlfriend Brooke very effortlessly busted out this incredible braided hairstyle. I watched her do it, and still have no idea how it’s done. A bit of braid-inspiration for your day!

My friend Devyn and I spent our last day in San Diego enjoying gelato from Pappalecco’s in lieu of a proper lunch. I had strawberry and the signature pappalecco gelato, which is a combination of chocolate and crushed amaretti cookies. My only regret was that I didn’t get a bigger cup…

A view of the USS Midway just next to Seaport Village. Californians are so spoiled; I still can’t believe this was a beautiful February day.

Look at all this beautiful pasta I found at the Mona Lisa Deli in Little Italy! Never seen striped Farfalle quite like that before. Seems a shame to cover it up with sauce…

and, lastly, if you need a good laugh.

My friend Rachel was having a particularly stressful day at work the other day, which she and a few coworkers remedied by watching ridiculous Youtube videos. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so hard. Sometimes a good laugh is all you need.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on February 19, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I hope this week’s Five Things finds you well. I must say, I found myself desperately wishing for more house in the day, that or the ability to function on two hours of sleep. While neither of these are feasible, I figured you just have to make due. Even right now, I stopped typing momentarily to check in for an upcoming flight. I’m heading to San Diego this weekend for a long-anticipated girls’ trip! Eight of us are hunkering down in a condo downtown, so it’s bound to be lots of fun (which means it’s bound to end up on Watch Me Juggle). So, before I head off to pack, here are this week’s Five Things:

In case you missed my favorite new perfume’s cameo in my previous post, here it is: Flowerbomb. I never thought I would gravitate to such a popular fragrance, especially since a few of my friends already wear it, but I’ve come to love it. I took to wearing a sample that I had hidden away in a drawer, and loved the way it made me feel extra polished on evenings out. A new fragrance can change everything, didn’t you know?

I ventured into Footcandy the other day with my girlfriends for the first time. They have such a fun and fabulous assortment of shoes, and quite an extensive sale section, which surprised me. I think the crystal studded Jimmy Choos on the bottom shelf were some of my favorites!

What work day isn’t brightened up by a Blue Bottle latte? Funny how the simplest things can make you instantly happy.

This is how I celebrated my Valentine’s day with friends. I felt it was a very appropriate start to what turned out to be a very elegant meal.

On a whim, I popped this fresh orchid in my hair when I left to teach class today. It was a surprising little pick me up. Also a good way to spruce up a boring ballet bun!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on February 11, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! We’ve officially made it halfway through the week. Who else has a long weekend to look forward at the end of Friday? While I’m still teaching classes as usual, I’m glad to have a little time to breathe on Monday before diving back into my routine. Meanwhile, the final thing on today’s very long agenda was to finish off with this week’s Five Things. (Hint: it’s rather food/San Francisco-heavy. Pretty typical for Watch Me Juggle at this point!) Hope you enjoy!

Voilà! A peek at my Sunday brunch! I love salmon and cucumbers, so why not together? I was surprised at how beautiful it all looked.

This is what I did on my lunch break today.

A quick trip to Chantal Guillon for macarons could instantly cheer anyone up. The Persian rose flavor there was so amazing!

A girlfriend of mine sent this to me via Instagram the other day. It melted my heart. Yes, I give myself a pep talk sometimes, just like that chubby bunny.

I was on a phone call today and sat down in a rather unassuming courtyard in the financial district of San Francisco. It wasn’t until I started looking around that I really appreciated this fantastic view.

There’s a fabulous new ballet documentary coming out this Friday! Who’s coming with me to see it?

Until next time,

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on February 4, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

Today was my first full day of work in the office, and I’ve decided to celebrate a job well done with a fresh batch of brownies. I was a bit worried about how my week would pan out, and I’m pleasantly surprised. Sure, I’m busy, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable- in fact, it’s sort of nice. I commuted by ferry into San Francisco today, which is a wonderful way to decompress both before and after work. And, thanks to my brownie adventure, I’ve also discovered another big perk of living alone: no one is around to see your batter-covered face lick the whisk. It’s one of those things you know is 800 kinds of wrong as you do it, but that certainly doesn’t stop you.

Now that I’ve proven my adulthood through the course of the day (Emails! Phone calls! Unburnt dinner!), I’m looking forward to sharing this last week’s Five Things with you, dear readers. Off we go!

The last throwback photo from the San Francisco Ballet’s gala a few weeks ago. I love this picture I took of the flower arrangements adorning each bar. They guaranteed that you always had something pretty to look at while waiting for your glass of prosecco.

I allowed myself one coffee break during the day, so I made sure it was a good one. This Blue Bottle kiosk seems to have lines at all hours of the day, despite being tucked away in its own little niche in Hayes Valley.

I recently discovered a new favorite Instagram account: @iamhertribe. It’s inspirational without being schmaltzy, and I find myself relating to every post lately. Just “go dancing or something…”

One of my students gifted me these beautiful, handmade earrings last week. It was such a sweet gesture, and exactly what I needed when I was feeling less-than-stellar. The young dancers I work with have so much potential- I hope I’ll get to see what they’ll be doing with their bright futures. Good kids, all of them.

I found these new and very bright blue suede and cork wedges from DV by Dolce Vita at the local Salvation Army the other day. I took advantage of the oddly warm weather and wore them out last Saturday night with a pair skinny jeans. They made me at least a foot taller! I amused myself by hitting every crosswalk button I came across with my knee, I was that tall.

Typical Watch Me Juggle shenanigans…

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on January 29, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

It’s rare that I miss a “Five Things” Wednesday. Of course, I’m typing this on Thursday, so that’s slightly embarrassing in and of itself. I’ve had quite the whirlwind of a week. That’s the best way to describe it, I’ve found. Many exciting and interesting things going on behind the scenes at Watch Me Juggle. Stay tuned for updates!

Today, I just want to share five little things that I stumbled across during the course of the chaos. Luckily, no flat tires were included!

I recently visited Monk’s Kettle in the Mission district of SF. They have a fantastic beer selection and possibly one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. I’m sure I’ll be back.

“What exactly is this a picture of?” you might ask. I decided to get a little creative and snap a shot of the illuminated dome inside city hall during last week’s San Francisco Ballet opening night after party. It’s beautiful from all angles, really.

A fabulous shirt I got as a Christmas gift from my friend, Rachel. I wore it today with pride, accompanied by wet hair and a bare face. It felt quite good.

This week, my lovely students gifted me my very first Alex & Ani bangle. It’s a mermaid, in honor of our upcoming performance. It was such a sweet gesture. I’ve worn it everyday since receiving it.

Photo c/o Foodie Fiasco.

I’m totally inspired by Foodie Fiasco’s extensive food blog. Exactly how can one make delicious cinnamon rolls in 30 minutes and with a few simple ingredients?! They really do look amazing. Join me in some kitchen experiments and try out the recipe here. I will report back!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on January 21, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I must say, it’s really hard to multitask when you want to be 100% engrossed in all of the things you’re attending to. Do any of you ever experience this? I certainly do. It’s, unfortunately, the reason why it takes me at least three times longer than usually to finish whatever I’m writing. It’s because, in the meantime, I’m attempting to watch “Game of Thrones,” make tea, and clean my house . So far, the tv is paused and my hot water has yet to make it into the cup where the teabag is. Hey, I tried.

I did, however, manage to crank out this week’s “Five Things,” so let’s hop to it!

It’s official. I now own work swag. Not only do I love the company, but their hoodies are the most cozy things ever. I’ve been trying not to live in it on a daily basis.

I was looking through some pictures from my hike up Mt. Tam the other day, and lo-and-behold, a photo-bomber! Hi Gary! I just had to share.

My girlfriends and I had a mid-week dinner date at Chino SF the other day. They boast an interesting take on Chinese cuisine. My favorite (although slightly gimmicky) thing was the boba cocktail. Quite refreshing, actually.

Tiny cupcakes courtesy of my friend Sarah. Cute and delicious, although I must say that the ones topped with chocolate chips seemed a tad inappropriate.

And, in case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s my new favorite Instagram account:

Photo c/o: @omgliterallydead.

It’s the infamous: Omg Literally Dead. A fabulous 30-something out there thought it would be poignant to spoof all those Instagram-abusers out there, overusing hashtags and all. The photo above was captioned: “Ugh, #Starbucks barista fails again! It’s Skellie, idiots.#starbucksfail #psl #whothehellisskully.” As you can see Skellie is, in fact, literally dead. So take that!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on January 7, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hey y’all!

Anyone else feeling those January blues that tend to set in after all the holidays? I sure am. It’s in that sigh when you inevitably have to go back to work. It’s in the ritual of bundling up before you go outside: hat, check; gloves, check; scarf, check. It’s hard to get into January, quite frankly. Which is why you need your good friends around to tell you you’re not crazy, and to help you unwind with the occasional cocktail. Which brings me to the very first of my “Five Things” of the week.

(Like that segue? I like to pretend I’m smooth sometimes.)

I give you: Karl the Fog. A coffee-based cocktail from Bluestem Brasserie in San Francisco. I highly recommend them the next time you find yourself in need of some refuge in the midst of all the downtown SF craziness.

I finally took my Christmas tree down yesterday, but I wanted to share my newest ornament with you, dear readers. Yes, it’s a lemon wedge. It was a gift from a friend of mine, who told me I always had the ability to make life’s lemons into lemonade. It was a sparkling nod to optimism, this silly lemon.

I know it’s not yet Thursday, but this is a throwback to the evening when my friend Kelsey and I rang in 2013. I had a lot of change in store for me, but I didn’t know it yet!

I admittedly like to take photos during the odd moment of calm in the office. Yes, it’s a cliché Starbucks cup shot! And no, that’s not how you spell my name. But, I did get a row of new little gold Bowzer spikes from the fabulous Marrin Costello!

Doesn’t every good family dinner end with a large bottle of the latest pre-mixed cocktail brought to you by a famous rapper? Well, mine did. A family member works for a local liquor distribution/production company, and happens to be friends with E-40. Who knew? The best part of the evening was watching his wife cajole us with lines from “My Shit Bang.” I love these people.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on December 17, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi everyone!

This week marks my last week of teaching in 2014. What?!

It’s strange to look at it that way, but it’s true. I have no idea where this year has gone. I hope all your planning for the holidays has been going well thus far. I’ve managed to put a dent in my holiday shopping but still have quite a few things left to do. Namely, I have yet to get a Christmas tree, but it’s the first thing on the list for tomorrow!

As always, let’s get to this week’s Five Things!

Photo c/o Buzzfeed, Creative Commons

Ah, Buzzfeed- providing endless hours of internet entertainment. I recently found 51 Of the Most Beautiful Sentences in Literature, and I’m pleased to say that I’m familiar with most of them. Although having read Lolita, I don’t quite recall the line above, but love it nonetheless.

I may have a slight obsession with snarky refrigerator magnets. I’m slowly growing my collection, little by little, hoping that one day I’ll have enough to horrify future house guests. This one is particularly witty, if you ask me.

Whilst in Tempe, I spent a lazy afternoon with a friend at a place cleverly known as the World of Beer. Boasting over 100 beers on the menu, I made a beeline for the Austrian section for one of my favorites: Stiegl Radler. It’s an Austrian shandy of sorts, but made with grapefruit soda in lieu of lemonade. Amazing!

Apparently, this is the face I make when eating habañero peppers. Of course, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Never again. But, at least I can check that off of my to-do list!

Meanwhile, back at World of Beer, I give you the largest pretzel I’ve ever seen. They do get points for creative display.

Cheers!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on December 10, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

We’re officially halfway through the week! We’re also apparently expecting a monsoon of sorts here in the Bay Area. Schools are closed for the day tomorrow, and people have begun distributing sandbags. It’s really happening, people. We’re awfully spoiled when it comes to the weather in California, so I’m staying optimistic. Hopefully my commute isn’t too crazy or rain-soaked tomorrow, but, if anything, I’ll have a good story!

On that note- on to this week’s Five Things:

My friends took me to Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Scottsdale a few days ago. Fantastic burgers and shakes! I ordered the seasonal shake of the week, which was the Frozen Banana- banana chips, chocolate, and a little cinnamon. Delicious, of course.

I came away from Arizona with an extra little sparkle this week. I’ve been wanting to get a little forward helix piercing for a while, and finally did it! Yes, it hurt, but only during the actual piercing. We went to HTC Body Piercing in Tempe, and had such a great experience.

Last weekend was the Arts Festival in downtown Tempe. I was able to catch a glimpse of it at dusk on Sunday. One of my favorite things had to be the beautiful, ongoing chalk art on the street.

As many of you know, I have a serious shopping/thrifting habit. I was wandering about Buffalo Exchange the other day, and found this borderline hilarious top. I quickly decided that it needed to be my friend Emily’s latest birthday outfit. What would she be able to wear this with?!

Here’s a glimpse at the streets of Tempe, all lit up with holiday decorations. I love seeing all the Christmas lights out and about. I almost wish we could keep them up all year round!

It’s officially that time of the year. Happy holidays!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on November 13, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Congratulations are in order- we’ve made it halfway through the week! Although, some of you have been lucky enough to have a long weekend in honor of Veteran’s Day, so your week may just be starting. I, for one, am jealous, but also can’t complain because I’ve already enjoyed the random weekday off.

This weeks Five Things features quite a lot of coffee- I didn’t intend it that way, but there you have it…

I enjoyed one of the best mocha’s I’ve ever had at the popular Jane Cafe on Fillmore st. on Sunday. I’ve never had marshmallows in my coffee before, but it’s a brilliant idea!

It was my fabulous friend Sarah’s birthday recently, so we’ve made plans to have a girls’ weekend in the near future to celebrate. Stayed tuned, as you’ll undoubtedly see this on the blog soon! Also, please forgive my thumb in the frame. Selfies are harder than they seem.

Here’s a little throwback to last year’s Thanksgiving festivities. Our resident baby, Ewan was busy being adorable, so it’s only a natural response to want to eat him, which you can clearly see. I’m so looking forward to spending some time in San Luis Obispo this year for the holidays.

Oh look! More coffee! Did you know that our local artisan coffee roasters Blue Bottle have a book out? I certainly didn’t.

I give you: the Corpse Reviver from Sens San Francisco. I ended the last week with a much needed cocktail with friends. How they get their logo on the egg white foam of this drink, I’ll never know.

Hope you’re doing well, dear readers. See you again for next week’s Five Things!

EVA♥