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♥

Walks with Theo.

Posted on February 3, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

This last Saturday we experienced some unseasonably warm weather. I’m even beginning to feel a bit guilty. While the rest of the country was being blanketed by snow, my friend Sarah and I took a leisurely walk around Lake Temescal with her pup Theo. It was a great way to end my roller coaster-like week. I just threw on my “I Woke Up Like This” shirt after teaching a couple of dance classes and we headed out. There are few friends that I’ve had as long in my life as Sarah. It’s strange to think that, even though 10 years have passed, we’re still doing the same sorts of things, albeit with a little more freedom and the occasional cocktail. We talked about work, dates we’d been on, and the latest developments at the dance studio.

I feel like talking to a good friend can cure an innumerable amount of ills, whether you’re just feeling restless or have big life decisions to make. When I first starting writing on Watch Me Juggle, I had just quit my corporate job, and was looking for a solid direction for my life. Now that I know I’m not the kind of person who can sit at a desk all day, every day, what exactly was I meant to do? Almost everyone I know has a “traditional” desk job, so deviating from that seemed reckless, scary, even. So I spent a little over a year figuring things out. Writing to my heart’s content, picking up jobs where I could, and paying my bills along the way. Having an unstable work schedule does take its toll, so when I was offered a solid position with the ballet company I occasionally work for I was both extremely excited and extremely nervous. I felt like things where happening at me, and that I was suddenly being made to choose between two things I enjoyed doing. Under the pressure, it became apparent to me how much I loved teaching dance, and that I wouldn’t be able to let it go anytime soon, if ever. Just when I was making the decision to walk away from the more stable job I was offered, things suddenly fell into place. In life, sometimes you have to stand up for the things you want. Sometimes, you have to be willing walk away for better things to come along. They might not come in the form you imagined, and it might not be as easy as you thought, but I’m convinced it’s worth it.

Yes, we covered all this on our walk with Theo. When you’re lucky enough to have friends you can rely on, and who will give you advice when asked or listen to you without judgement, don’t let them go (obviously). I would have hard time making all my decisions with out them. Well, I could have done it, but it sure wouldn’t have been as fun…

And then we went out for ice cream.

EVA♥

Sometimes Life Gives You a Flat.

Posted on January 20, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all.

It is due to recent, slightly unfortunate events that I came up with today’s post headline.

When I left my job at Smuin Ballet this morning, I walked out to my car to find a note, and a very flat back tire. So flat that the rubber had puddled on the ground around it. Ever seen one of those? Well, that was my tire- comically deflated while simultaneously giving me the middle finger. I’ve changed a tire before, but always with someone else around to help, so I didn’t trust myself to do it properly. I had to wait almost two hours under a freeway overpass before AAA came to my rescue. It was a miserable way to spend an afternoon, quite frankly. I did, however, get quite a bit of thinking done. I wondered why the universe had sent me yet another flat tire (the last one was three weeks ago), and why, especially when I made an extra effort to be on top of things, something always seems to go awry. I came to these conclusions:

Sometimes, life gives you a flat tire just to show you that there are some decent people out there. If that person hadn’t made a little extra effort on their morning commute, I might have attempted to drive on without noticing my flat. I could have damaged my car, or even gotten into an accident on my way home. Thanks, whoever-you-are. Sorry about your pen.

Sometimes, life gives you a flat tire when you feel yourself getting complacent. You know what’s worse than having a flat? Having no job to commute to and no one to call when things go wrong. I had more people than I could count who would listen to me bitch about something as silly as a tire.

Sometimes, life gives you a flat tire when you think everything is falling into place. Don’t feel bad, or stupid about being fleetingly happy where you are, but know that these little dips in the road are a part of life. It’s like Isadora Duncan said: “the deeper the sorrow, the more colorful the joy.”

Sometimes, life gives you a flat tire when you have places to be and things to do. Your annoying flat tire is teaching you to roll with the punches. Do as much as you can, and remember that you often can’t control what happens to you. But, you can control the kind of person you become when bad things happen.

Sometimes, life gives you a flat tire when you least expect it. See, I thought my tire was perfectly fine. I had it checked less than a month ago. Sometimes, even when you think you’re being smart about your decisions the universe has other things in mind for you. Your flat tire might come in many different shapes and sizes, but don’t let it stop you.

Fix it, and just keep going.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on January 14, 2015 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I hope your weeks are off to a good start! My weekend absolutely flew by, and I’m not entirely sure how it came to be Wednesday, but there you have it. I’ve attempted to cram as much work into this week as possible, and I do think I’ve almost succeeded. I’ve been teaching, dancing, and trying to put together a show simultaneously. Yes, it’s that time of year again: the Big Show planning has begun at my studio. This year we’re doing “The Little Mermaid,” or our version of it, anyway. It’s been one of my favorite stories since I was little, and I’m quite excited to be able to put my own creative spin on it. Because I’ve been so busy this week, I’ve really been trying to take good care of myself during my downtime. That being said, I’m planning on having a pampering, quiet evening and going to bed early in preparation for the long Thursday ahead.

So, as always, here’s a peek at this week’s Five Things:

Remember when I said no more jewelry purchases for 2015? It’s come to the point where I’ve started stacking my rings. I’m running out of fingers, people! These are two of my favorites.

I was poking around Target the other day, and found this little book quite out of place. It felt a bit like a sign, so I picked it up and began reading it. Best. Decision. I assumed it would be horribly cheesy, but was quite the opposite. Highly recommend.

You can always count on the cute Starbuck’s baristas to brighten your day. I was joking when I told him to put this on my cup, just so you know.

I give you the ultimate lazy brunch. I planned on taking myself out for a lazy Sunday morning, and found my neighborhood coffee shop much too crowded. Voilà! Take-out waffles.

and, lastly, I was recently informed that my favorite female comedienne, Anjelah Johnson, has a few music videos. This is my absolute favorite:

If you haven’t already seen her Nail Salon stand-up check it out here. Sometimes we just need a laugh.

EVA♥

Taking Stock: Christmas Edition

Posted on December 24, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

It’s been one whirlwind of a week, and, considering it’s only Wednesday, the holiday craziness continues!

I apparently didn’t have enough foresight to know that going to Trader Joe’s on Christmas Eve would be complete and utter chaos. (Insert horrified emoji here) I pointedly said “Wow! It’s crazy in here” to the woman at the checkout, who looked at me like I had lost my mind. Touché.

Either way, I realized while getting ready for work at the ballet this morning that it’s been an awful long while since my first Taking Stock post, and thought an updated was long overdue!

Here goes nothing…

Making : a last minute gift bag for my neighbor. I found a little Christmas cheer from him waiting at my door today in the form of a gift card. So thoughtful!
Cooking : Parmesan pups from TJ’s to snack on. A high brow pigs-in-a-blanket, really.
Drinking : Found Elderflower soda. A recent delicious discovery at the local Target.
Reading: Survivor, by Chuck Palahniuk. I’ve been craving dark novels as of late.
Wanting: Christmas Eve dinner!
Playing: The wait-until-the-last-minute-to-get-ready-for-a-party game.
Wishing: that everyone gets all that they wanted this Christmas.
Enjoying: reruns of Sex & the City on my tiny television.
Waiting: for Christmas morning to enjoy mimosas with the boss lady.
Liking: Nicki Minaj’s new album. I know, it’s rather out of character for me…
Wondering: what to wear! Is an all-black Christmas ensemble appropriate? With a red lip,too.
Loving: the amount of love my students, friends, and family have shown me this Christmas.
Marveling: at the amount of time I’ve spent away from home over the last few weeks.
Needing: an extra cookie sheet to accommodate all the cookie baking I’ve been doing.
Smelling: Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb. It’s my new fragrance!
Wearing: a big, slouchy teal cashmere sweater to keep me warm.
Thinking: about going to see Into the Woods in theaters soon.
Knowing: that I’ll do some serious damage at all the after Christmas sales.
Opening: presents soon, of course.
Giggling: over Jenna Marbles latest video. Typical Eva.
Feeling: tired. restless. excited. All the things.

….

Wishing you a happy, merry magical Christmas season, dear readers!

EVA♥

The Tiny Tree

Posted on December 19, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone, and happy Friday!

Since I started living on my own about three-ish years ago, I’ve developed a few traditions that I like to carry out over the years. I like to buy myself a present every Valentine’s Day, and I leave it wrapped until the day of. I get my nails done every year, without fail, on my birthday. And, of course you already know about my yearly Thanksgiving traditions. It’s sort of silly, but these simple things have become an oddly significant part of my life. For example, one of my all time favorite things to do around Christmastime is….to get a tree!

Yes, it’s not the most innovative, but, after years of living like a nomad and not having a tree, I finally went out and got one during the first winter I spent in my apartment. While they initially started out quite small, this year’s tree was the odd giant among the tiny trees on the lot, and I had to bring him home with me.

Brace yourself for selfies:

This funny little picture gives you some perspective of the actual size of my tree. I always feel a little absurd lugging my Christmas tree home with one hand. It’s certainly doable!

Before: Naked tree!

Sure, a Christmas Tiffany box isn’t necessarily an ornament, but it was the first thing I popped on the tree this year!

After: With a little extra sparkle. I’ve collected a number of ornaments organically over the years. My favorites thus far are Barbie as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, a pair of ceramic angel wings, and a little sparkling pair of pointe shoes. I’m a dancer, after all. My tree wouldn’t be complete without a nod to my profession. I’m looking forward to adding some more ornaments to my collection this year.

I must admit, I had to squeeze in some tree decorating between multiple jobs, and rather late nights, but it’s been well worth it. It’s just my size, and, albeit a little lopsided, but perfect to me.

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 3, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I’m enjoying a cozy evening at home, with some long-anticipated rain tapping away on the windowpanes. I’ve been listening to the rather ominous Dark Places by Gillian Flynn on audiobook, and just had to turn it off for a minute to take it in the racket all the rain has been making outside. It’s been such a long time, I’ve forgotten what heavy rain sounds like- quite nice, really. This week’s Five Things is, without a doubt, San Luis Obispo-themed. It was where I spent my extended Thanksgiving vacation, after all.

Let’s hop to it:

I’ve rarely encountered a functioning record player, and was totally thrilled to mill through my friends stack of old records. Naturally, I picked Arethea to serenade us while we cooked our Thanksgiving dinner. I’m definitely entertaining the idea of buying one myself now.

One of my favorite stores in downtown San Luis has to be Hands Gallery. It’s filled with the most beautiful, locally made jewelry and art. I love going in and ogling everything, especially this framed poster extolling the virtues of coffee. It kind of is just like buying instant happiness, if you ask me.

This beautiful little card made its way into my hands over this last week. I keep it on top of my dresser so I can see it every morning as I’m putting on my jewelry for the day. I’m lucky enough to have many of these things.

This is Smurf, the most aggressive lap cat I’ve ever met. Now, mind you, she’s not aggressive and lap-oriented, she’s just really serious about getting in your lap and staying there. Don’t try to get up when she’s not ready, she’ll just hold on for dear life. Ouch.

Image via: Brown Butter Cookie Company

During last year’s Thanksgiving in SLO (San Luis Obispo) , I visited the beachside town of Cayucos. I quickly learned that it happens to be home to one of the most delicious cookie companies ever: Brown Butter Cookie Company. You know it’s good when the word “butter” is part of the company’s name. I didn’t get the chance to drive up to Cayucos this year, but I did sample these buttery little cookies in a local shop in SLO.

Nothing’s better than delicious food and good company, if you ask me.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on November 26, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all,

It’s time for the last Five Things of fall! I can’t believe it has gone by so fast, but there you have it. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I’ll be on the road to my annual “Orphan Thanksgiving” celebration. Of course, while I’m no longer an “orphan” away at college, I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to continue this long-standing tradition with one of my fantastic college roommates Maren. If you can recall, I did write about our lovely Thanksgiving break last year here. I can’t believe it will be little Cooper’s first birthday soon! How time flies- it has a knack for making you feel old.

On to this week’s Five Things!

I picked up this fantastic new ceramic mug at Starbucks earlier today, since my most favorite one met its demise on the school blacktop earlier this week. Apparently, tough studs are my new thing.

People complain that California doesn’t really have four solid seasons, but leaving my house everyday and seeing these autumn leaves scattered everywhere makes me feel awfully festive.

A glimpse at the jewelry I’m currently sporting. The i.d bracelet is well-loved, but the ring is one of my latest purchases. I do love it.

This appeared in my text messages one day. Sent to me from my friend Rachel, I thought it was beautiful both visually, and in sentiment. It’s true, you know.

And, for old time’s sake, I give you “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” Part III:

It’s the silliest, most random thing, but I bonded over it with some of my lovely students years back. I encourage you to check out parts one and two on Youtube as well, if you’re ever in need of a pick-me-up. Marcel is completely the reason why I want to name my future dog Alan. If you watch part one, you’ll understand the reference. 😉

Happy Holidays, everyone!

EVA♥