Five Things

Posted on January 30, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello All! I must say, I’ve missed my “Five Things” posts. I write to you from the comfort of my home, sipping a big cup of PG Tips tea. Just so you know, I take my tea like I take my coffee, I’m afraid: strong, dark, and with lots of cream and sugar.

(Delicious tea in my favorite mug. I may no longer be in Hawaii, but I sure can pretend.)

Another one of my favorite teas has to be Republic of Tea’s Ginger Peach black tea. I drank it in abundance growing up, and, when my parents left me in Santa Barbara for college, a big cup of it was the one thing that made me feel instantly at home.

(It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Maddie! Someone can’t hold still long enough for me to take a decent photo of her. She will also lick you to death if you’re not careful.)

Speaking of feeling at home, my new favorite doggie seems to be very happy in her new home with my good friend Rachel. Despite the fact that Madeleine is her brother’s (now roommate’s) dog, I think she likes us best. Maybe.

(Sushirrito. Is it sushi or is it a burrito?)

Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the Geisha’s kiss. Tuna, avocado, cucumber, tomago, and a variety of vaguely Mexican/Japanese ingredients make this creative thing. I highly recommend, so do check it out next time you’re in SF and in the mood for a culinary adventure.

(The Brooklyn, at Dogwood in Oakland)

Before anyone asks, that is a homemade brandied cherry on a stick. Bar Dogwood is this week’s “new-to-me” discovery. It’s small, cozy, and serves some of the best/fanciest grilled cheese sandwiches ever. I ate it before I could take a picture of it, and the tiny pickles it was served with.

(My idea of fun on a Saturday)

Yes, I am breaking in a new pair of pointe shoes. In my house. I have quite bit of sewing/doctoring to do, as these are not the maker of Freed I usually wear, and they’re a bit on the narrow side. But, there’s nothing to make you feel more accomplished as a dancer than beating a pair of shoes to a pulp, busting out a new pair, and starting over.

Five Things (New Zealand Edition!)

Posted on January 16, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello All!

Welcome to a special edition of ‘Five Things!’ As many of you know, I spent a bit of time browning myself and enjoying summer in the Southern Hemisphere at the beginning of this year. Armed with my journal, I had every intention of documenting the details of my trip. Instead, what I ended up with was two entries, written either on the plane or in the airport, word-vomiting all of the highlights that I could remember. Yes, you will be privy to this information as soon as I can make sense of my notes (involving many arrows) and chicken scratch. I did, however, manage to play the tourist, and get some lovely snapshots of the things I saw. I confessed to my travel buddy that one of my favorite things to do in a foreign country is to eat all of the strange foods I can find, and to peruse the supermarkets for unnecessarily long periods of time. After running up and down the aisles of Countdown (the Kiwi equivalent of Safeway) the very first time, I created an edible bucket list that I dreamed of fulfilling as quickly as possible. And I did. So, here you go!

Five Things….That I Ate in New Zealand

(Kiwi-style Chicken Burger in Tauranga)

One of the first things I learned about cuisine in New Zealand is that they like to top their burgers with big slices of beetroot. This was a very good surprise to a girl that has loved beets since before she can remember. Another variation includes a fried egg and some bacon. Yum! Enjoyed this lovely meal at TOI, a cafe adjacent to a climbing gym by the name of “Vertical Assault.” Semi-awkward gym name, if there ever was one.

(Tip Top Ice Cream, Boysenberry on the left, Candy Floss on the right)

To say that I liked the ice cream in New Zealand would be an understatement. Let me be frank and say that all of their ice cream tasted like butter. Yes, very distinguishable butter flavor. Who doesn’t like their butter with a little sugar? I also enjoyed the variety of unique flavors that they had: Candy Floss (aka Cotton Candy), passion fruit, orange chocolate chip, tropical, something called “Gold Rush,” raspberry lemon fizz, lime swirl, and Hokey Pokey. “What’s hokey pokey?” You might ask. The explanation on the carton was: hokey pokey flavored ice cream, with hokey pokey pieces. Make sense? After a taste test, we found out it was just sugary sweet toffee.

(Lattes at One2One in Ponsonby)

This might fall in to the “Things I Drank” category, but I just had to share. After living off of instant coffee while camping, nothing is better than real espresso with nice, thick foam. We wandered in to this lovely cafe in Ponsonby while visiting Auckland. Not only was the coffee lovely, but so was the beautiful garden patio out back. Despite the fact that the garden was filled with the most massively aggressive little birds I’ve ever encountered, we enjoyed some much needed down time here. Remember, just because the birds are small, doesn’t mean they won’t pull your cookie right out of your hand as you eat it. Defend your pastries, everyone.

(CHEEZELS.)

Pardon the blurry car photo, but I had to share. If a cheese puff and a Cheez-it had babies, they would be Cheezels. And also amazing. I first purchased this treat from a gas station in Matamata on our way to the Shire. Everyone was silent until we finished the bag, refusing to get out of the car until the last Cheezel was consumed. I brought two bags back with me, but alas, they are already gone.

(Best. Dinner. Ever. Jammin’ Cream Donut ice cream.)

This, ladies and gentleman, is a photo of myself, in the car, eating ice cream for dinner.

As many of you know, being an independent adult, I have made it my mission in life to do and/or eat all the things my parents told me not to. That is how this photo came to be. I am clearly very excited. But, who wouldn’t be a pint of cinnamon-and-cream flavored ice cream with donut pieces and raspberry jam swirl in your hands? I dare you not to be thrilled. And, yes, Hawaiian Airlines, this is the reason why I did not want you to wake me up and serve me dinner at 1am. I was full. Thank you very much.

Love,

EVA ♥

Five Things

Posted on December 5, 2013 by 4evamaria

Hello All! Here’s the latest, slightly belated five lovely things in my life:

(Tiny slippers for the tiny dancer.)

I tie these guys at least 12 times a day, if not more.

(Beautiful view from my front porch. Pink Clouds!)

This picture could never do the pink and blue sunset justice. I’ll keep trying, though!

(Punch @ Novela SF. Some fierce concoction involving black tea)

“Oh, you fancy, huh?”

(Autumn leaves outside my house)

(A new manifesto)

Embracing the fabulous December to come!

Five Things

Posted on November 21, 2013 by 4evamaria

This week’s Five things is going to be a little bit different. I’m sharing five things that not very many people know about me.

1.// I was always made to wear turtlenecks as a child. Under everything. Dresses, overalls, even my Halloween costume in Kindergarten. I was the only gold lamé angel on the playground with a long-sleeved white turtle neck to match my wings. Because we all know that you might get a pneumonia and die if you get cold. I’m slowly starting to warm up to wearing them again, but it’s a love/hate relationship if there ever was one.

2.//I have a co-dependent relationship with my sunglasses. More accurately, a dependent relationship, as I’m sure my sunglasses don’t care if I wear them or not. I hate being without my sunglasses. They’re like my armor against the world on bad days, and they make anything you’re wearing seem more put together. Mind you, I do not own one pair of expensive sunglasses. They usually run about the $0-$10 range. I did recently purchase a pair for $40, and now obsessively guard them.

3.//I’m afraid of heights, but I forget it all the time. It’s usually not until I’m peering out the window of a tall building, or at the top of a rock wall that I realize that I’m totally horrified. Whoops.

4.//I was the most awful leash-child ever. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’m probably going to pay for it with my own kids someday. Not only did I try to run away from my parents every chance I could get, but I learned how to unlock every lock on the front door of our house as quickly as possible and make a run for it. This all stopped when they got a special lock I couldn’t reach. They still have it on their door. Too bad for them I’m tall now.

5.//I’m convinced I have a larger imagination than is healthy for a normal adult. Yes, I dance around my house pretending I’m in a field of flowers/on the beach/at the worlds most amazing club on a regular basis. In the kitchen I put on my apron and imagine that I’m Betty Crocker, cooking for 20 people. And yes, when it’s cold out and I have to wear socks inside, I pretend I’m Tom Cruise in Risky Business. I know you all do it too, so don’t judge me!

Five Things!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by 4evamaria

Hello Everybody!!

It’s Five things time again. Yes, time to see the collection of random things I’ve amassed over the week and documented on my phone. Off we go:

(No. 10: Everything & Nothing. My new perfume acquisition)

Smells like sweet orange, pressed petals, desert moss and tea leaves. So unique.

(A new drink discovery)

Almond water- essentially an Afghan dessert in a glass. Delicious!

(World’s tiniest Gummy Bears)

Courtesy of one of my students. Straight from their own Halloween loot. They know they’re my favorite. ♥

(This is the part of my blog where there’s two cocktails!)

The jalapeño infused”Rosa Picante” on the right, from Redwood Room.

(And a bit of silliness)

The above gif is my general reaction to a complement. I am an unabashed dork. Just saying.

Five Things

Posted on October 31, 2013 by 4evamaria

Happy Halloween eve everyone! (If that’s even a thing) Seems like the holidays are in full swing, and the pumpkins have taken over. They’re everywhere. In your lotion, in your beer. I could do a whole post on it. Someday soon!

Here’s this week’s “Five Things”:

(Meet the latest edition to my Jewelry stash/hoard, courtesy of H&M)

If you’re wondering, I do have magpie-like tendencies.

(Tazo “Rest” Tea)

One of my before bedtime favorites. With lavender & rose. Yum!

And…a little ballerina cake-topper. Something tells me she will make other appearances here in future.

(My nailpolish color matches the walls in my bathroom!)

Just an amusing observation. Forgive my scary hand in this photo.

(Speaking of Pumpkins: Meet Pumpkin Mumkin)

My latest Lush acquisition. He has a little licorice stem, chocolate chip eyes, and makes loads of orange blossom-scented bubbles. Trouble is, he’s too cute for his own good and I can’t bring myself to use him!

(Audrey Hepburn. Dancing. Enough said.)

Five Things

Posted on October 17, 2013 by 4evamaria

Hello All! It’s time for Five Things…Wednesday? It doesn’t have as nice of a ring to it as Five Things Friday, but it’s a start.

And, because it’s been one of those weeks, we’re going to start with this:

(Prosecco & a Garden Gimlet. Because we’re classy broads.)

(One of my favorite quotes ever. I believe…)

(My new favorite hat. I will be a hat person this fall.)

And yes…I am aware the colors clash horribly, but sometimes you have to take a selfie when separated from your friends in what seems to be the world’s largest H&M. How else are you going to show them the cool things you find?!

(My favorite album of the moment. Blaring through my headphones on repeat.)

(And a puppy. My puppy. Someone just needs to go find him for me.)

Gotta love those brachycephalic dogs.

Five Things

Posted on October 10, 2013 by 4evamaria

Hello All!

Today’s post is inspired by the lovely Cupcakes and Cashmere, a blog I avidly follow that’s the ideal combination of LA style and simplicity. Every week, I’ll feature five things that make me smile. Straightforward enough right? Let’s get to it!

(Jose Gonzales- Heartbeats)

I love love love this video. Something right out of child’s imagination, but even better because it features lovely San Francisco.

(Beautiful little IKEA candle holder, now doubling as a home for my favorite jewelry)

(Dahlias. Many many Dahlias from the local Farmer’s Market. )

(Vivienne Westwood shoes)

Yes, a beautiful impulse purchase. 100% recycled material & they smell like bubblegum. Seriously…..smell them. The adult equivalent of jellies.

(My most favorite, Buttercup)

I have recently dubbed her “Peanut Buttercup,” as this seems most appropriate for her size. Loving life, obviously.

Watch Me Juggle

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