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♥

Picnic in the Park

Posted on September 2, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I hope that you’ve had an enjoyable last weekend of summer- what a beauty it has been. I found myself wandering around the Marina the other day in shorts and a tank. Those of you that have lived or at least visited San Francisco know what a rare occurrence that is, especially in an area that I would otherwise describe as “living in cloud.” I’ve attempted to be a social butterfly, as of late, so you’ll soon be seeing my latest adventures retold. I’ve been rather scattered while getting ready for the transition of summer into fall- summer gigs are wrapping up, and I’m looking forward to starting new classes and seeing some familiar smiling faces, as cliché as that sounds. As much as I enjoy a break during the summer, it also serves as a nice reminder that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing.

In the meantime, I can fully enjoy writing to you, dear readers, about my adventures. Despite having lived in the Bay Area for almost the entirety of my young life, there’s still so much that I haven’t seen. Last weekend, I jumped on the back of a motorcycle (crossing that off of the bucket list!) and tooled around Golden Gate park. Does everyone know that there are bison living in that park, or is this just news to me?

Photos c/o Patrick Baron.

We spent the majority of our time outside the Conservatory of Flowers at a friend’s birthday picnic. A fantastic time and place to have one, I must say. I, foolishly enough, forgot my phone, which left me unable to take any pictures at all. I’m sure you can guess how much this killed me, knowing how much I like to take pictures of flowers. Luckily I had someone with a much better phone who was willing to take pictures for me, which was incredibly obliging. I was especially surprised that, unlike most flower gardens, the Conservatory of Flowers is bordered by a full garden of dahlias, rather than the traditional roses. All in all, it was a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on August 13, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

We’re officially half-way through the week and still alive, so give yourself a great big pat on the back! This week, I’ve developed the rather unhealthy bedtime habit of changing into sweats, turning on the tv, and subsequently watching Youtube beauty videos on my phone until I completely lose consciousness. My life is clearly very glamorous. Remember the concept of “blackout” that I once wrote about? I think now might be a good time to instate it. I promise one day I will, but for now, enjoy this week’s Five Things- courtesy of a few blackout free nights.

I enjoyed my beautiful birthday flowers so much this last week. These Stargazer lilies from Trader Joe’s made my apartment smell so amazing. Better than any candle I could have burned.

I’m rather a rare breed in that I’m a dancer who rejoices (maybe sometimes too frequently) in the occasional cheeseburger. Ok, make that a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. My absolute favorite as of late is Super Duper Burger in San Francisco. It’s comfort food at it’s finest, in my humble opinion. While it may not be the healthiest option, I do feel like I’m not eating anything overly processed or frighteningly manufactured. They’re house-made pickles are also some of the best I’ve ever had, and I often end up eating several of them as a makeshift appetizer while waiting for my meal.

I came across this amazing clip of the famous Nederlands Dans Theater while perusing Youtube the other day. While I had the privilege of seeing them perform live a few years ago, I have to say that I find the most beauty in the studio work that dancers do. I love how this video is essentially a collage of that work, showcasing the intensity and evolution of the pieces we come to enjoy on stage.

Along with a few birthday festivities came a Saturday night out on the town, complete with dancing of course. My favorite spot of the night had to be a relatively no frills bar in San Francisco, that is, of course, if you happened to miss the staggering amount of disco balls on the ceiling.

and, lastly…

How Y’all, Youse, and You Guys Talk.

A good friend of mine introduced me to this fantastic dialect quiz courtesy of the New York Times. Quite a few of us took it at the most recent family dinner, and had some fun comparing our results. Essentially, it analyzes your everyday idioms and pronunciation to predict where you’re initially from in the United States. It’s incredibly accurate, for the most part. According to this quiz, I was either originally from Fremont, San Jose, or Corona, California. I guess it picked up on my stint of living in Southern California!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on July 2, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

It’s been a long day at the summer job, and, I must say, dancers are some of the most meticulous people I’ve ever met. Despite the sometimes tiring commute, I’ve been enjoying working in San Francisco, albeit for a short time. I’ve met up with friends, and eaten some delicious food, so it’s all quite worth it. Today’s (rather late) Five Things is entirely reflective of all the things I love: delicious food, beautiful flowers, the city, and a little Audrey Hepburn for good measure. Combine these things and you have….me. In a nutshell.

One of my favorite lunch spots in downtown SF is undoubtedly Bamboo Asia. Imagine the Chipotle business model, but set up to represent a variety of Asian cultures: Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indian. Pick a station and enjoy! My favorites are the rainbow-colored sushi bowls.

After 10 days, my beautiful flowers from our “Big Show” are still going strong. They’re such a nice sight to wake up to.

I’ve been taking the ferry directly into San Francisco these days. I bet you that the views on my commute are better than yours! One could get used to this.

I recently discovered Frenchiebutt on Instagram. Should this peanut of a dog ever be available for adoption, I’m taking the first flight out to Seattle ASAP. What a sweet face!

As some of you may know, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my favorite movie of all time. I’ve made it a tradition of mine to watch it every year for my birthday since my 17th. I imagine if my alter ego ever did move to New York, she would be something like Holly Golightly: drinking milk from champagne flutes and storing her ballet slippers in the ‘fridge.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on June 25, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I’ve been enjoying my week’s vacation in the most passive manner possible. I’ve found it horribly refreshing to not necessarily make plans for my day, but to do whatever and go wherever the wind blows. Today’s accomplishments include giving myself an at-home chemical peel (Yikes!), making a healthy lunch, and watching Shutter Island on AMC for the fifth time this week. Yes, I know this is bizarre smorgasbord of activities. On the more normal side of things, I’m currently prepping some cherries for a lovely clafoutis I’m making this afternoon. I have fond memories of this cake from when I first made it during an unusually cloudy summer day in college. When in doubt, take on a baking project! Not only does it make you feel just a little accomplished, but you’ll have something very delicious to eat!

Speaking of delicious things..

Whenever I need a little pick-me-up, I love this pomegranate green tea by POM. It’s tart, refreshing, and sweet (with no added sugar!). Extra points to me for all the summer-y colors in this photo.

I brought a bouquet of my very favorites home with me the other day. They’re still hanging in there, but one stem is determined to forever be a bud.

Resorting to sticking your fingers in the bottoms of chocolates to determine their flavor? Never fear! That’s what the internet is for. One quick peek at the See’s Candies website and I knew exactly what I had. Apparently you can tell what you’e gonna get…

A quick glimpse of the organized quiet before the storm. We had a record number of accessories for this year’s show. They all turned out so beautifully, we can almost forget the burns we sustained accidentally hot gluing sequins to our fingers. Here’s a hint: yours truly is not inherently crafty.

My second favorite view in the world- the first being this exact view, except with the rows packed full of people. There’s nothing quite like walking out on a stage in a beautiful theater.

Happy Hump Day everyone!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on June 18, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I am so excited by all of the positive feedback I got on yesterday’s Wonderland post! We like to say that although we’re in class throughout the year, unlike sporting events that happen on a weekly basis, this is our one chance to show everyone the culmination of all our hard work. The support of our audience is so meaningful, and there’s nothing like performing for your friends and family.

That being said- on to today’s Five Things! I must warn you, this Wednesday’s post is rather-flower heavy, but who doesn’t like flowers?! It’s possibly just as socially unacceptable as not liking chocolate. If either of these apply to you, keep it to yourself.

My friend Rachel just returned from China, and while her bringing back stories of Chinese wedding ceremonies would have been present enough, she also brought me some treats! Her ultimate goal was to find the oddest flavored things to feed me. The cucumber chips were weirdly sweet, and I suppose payback for the chicken chips I brought her from New Zealand, and the mango cookies tasted eerily of oreos. I also believe that the neon yellow, bunny-topped nail polish she purchased is banana scented. Guess I’ll just have to use it and find out!

Hydrangeas I found meandering through my neighborhood. They made me nostalgic for New Zealand. Imagine having these bright blue things lining every highway.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will have noticed my latest purchase. Though highly debated, I caved and bought this snarky tank from Dimepiece LA last week. You can go make your own sandwich now.

Hawaii has been calling my name. It’s been almost a year since my first visit and I find myself feeling nostalgic when thinking about the beautiful plumeria tree outside of our condo near Turtle Bay.

Possibly the most random of today’s Five Things is this dog-eared magazine from October of 2011 I found on a recent trip to the doctor’s office. That stereotype exists for a reason. Similarly horrifying is the fact that I most likely still have this same issue of In Style floating around my apartment at the moment…I’m not ashamed.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on May 21, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone and Happy Wednesday!

You’ve made it to Wednesday on the week before a long weekend! Which means, it’s really Thursday, if my math serves me correctly. In other news, pervasive fatigue seems to have taken over all of my people. Everyone is dragging, including myself. Honestly, I think this may have something to do with the fact that my boyfriend is broken. By boyfriend, I mean my coffee maker, and broken referring to the fact that all it seems to do now is crank out espresso like sludge. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s quite distressing. I think everyone is long overdue for a little vacation. I’m getting ready for a road trip up the coast to Portland and Seattle at the end of this week, so look for those adventures soon on Watch Me Juggle!

Continuing on to this week’s Five Things, I’ve been loving the articles on The Bold Italic lately. It’s quirky, San Francisco-specific pieces make me laugh and give me a little something to think about at the end of the day. Where else would you find trite little gems like this?

Photo from Chris Michel, c/o The Bold Italic

Yes, they are Haikus inspired by all the different neighborhoods in San Francisco. Concise and accurate, my favorites have to be those depicting the Mission, Fisherman’s Wharf, and North Beach. Click the picture above to read them all!

I’ve featured my beloved glass Camelbak water bottle on Five Things before, however, the fabulous boss-lady liked mine so much she purchased its twin at Athleta recently. So now we can mix up our water bottles as well as our coffee tumblers (which are also matching).

Excuse my giant man hand.

Word has gotten out that Miss Eva likes candy, specifically gummy worms/bears. I have received multiple packs of gummies from my students over the last weeks and couldn’t be happier. Pictured above are Gummy Rattlesnakes, delivered by one of the fantastic mothers at my school. So thoughtful! I was very amused by the level of detail on this little Haribo candy- look closely and you can see the eyes and a little squiggle design on the body. Too bad I had to eat it.

Speaking of cute things, I was tooling around Baby Gap the other day, buying a little something-something for the little chunk I’m finally going to meet in Seattle this coming weekend, and I found this! It’s a knit crab hat. I just about died. Too bad I don’t know a child with a head small enough to fit in it, or I would have bought it in a heartbeat.

I’m excited to announce that it’s peony season once again! I celebrate peony season the way other people celebrate football season. It’s just really exciting. I love those gorgeous flowers, especially the deep, wine colored blossoms. They’re the Scarlet O’Hara of the flower world. Yes, I just wrote that. I’m not ashamed.

EVA♥

May Flowers

Posted on May 6, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

Bunches of beautiful ranunculus. The delicate, cabbage-like blossoms remind me of mini-peonies. Their little alien stems have a mind of their own, though…

A little known fact about me is that I had a brief stint in floral design, back in the day. I’m sure you all can agree with me when I say that there’s just something about flowers. As a child, I imagined that working in a florists’ shop would be the most relaxing and pleasant job ever, and I was right (for the most part). Usually flowers accompany celebratory occasions: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, but occasionally you are greeted with: “My girlfriend’s barn caught on fire, and her horse died. She’s pretty upset.” True story. Unfortunately, we did not have an equine specific condolence card for the poor gal but I threw together a bouquet that I hoped would cheer her up a bit.

I’ve never been the person with the green thumb, but I’ve always loved having flowers in my home. Like most artistic endeavors, working with flowers turned out to be a difficult way of making a living, but I so enjoyed it. Over the years, I tried to retain all the little tricks I learned in the business; what season is best for each flower, how to cut them so they last longer, and how to artfully arrange them in any type of vase. I learned not to be afraid of mixing nontraditional flowers and greenery together. Yes, that actual stalk of kale looks beautiful with those roses. Mix strange colors together, it will work itself out. Gathering flowers for a bouquet is intuitive, if anything. Everyone will have their own way of doing things, and what constitutes a “good” bouquet is entirely subjective. When in doubt, throw in some fresh herbs (mint is my favorite) to liven things up. Learn to choose wisely: flowers like stock and alstroemeria are inexpensive, last an incredibly long time, and are a great way to bolster any arrangement. If you want something full and beautiful, but don’t want to break the bank, throw several bunches of alstroemeria together. They’ll last for at least a week, if not longer.

One of the best “insider” tips I’ve ever received was from a woman at Pike’s Place Market in Seattle. In preparation for my friend’s wedding, we dashed to the flower section of the market in the search for any blue-toned flowers we could find to bolster the pew markers and centerpieces. When she learned of our attempts to jerry-rig wedding flowers, she told us that mixing a bit of crushed ibuprofen in the water would boost any flower’s staying power. Refrigeration also helps tremendously. Then again, I am also the sort of person that keeps their bread in the fridge, so there’s that…

Get out their and enjoy all the spring blossoms everyone! It doesn’t have to be a special occasion, just another day to treat yourself.

EVA♥