Game Day

Posted on August 28, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Ever have one of those days where all you’re capable of after work is laying in bed and drinking copious amounts of tea? That was my day a while back, and, aside from venturing out in the evening to procure some frozen yogurt in lieu of dinner, it was disappointingly uneventful. In other news, when it comes to self-serve yogurt, I’ve realized that my taste preferences leave me with something resembling a kindergartner’s dream breakfast: a soupy mess of fruity pebbles, strawberries, mangoes, and neon colored mochi.

Unlike some days, however, this last weekend was quite eventful! Yes, there was that giant earthquake that scared the living daylights out of me at 3am, but not so much that I didn’t have a problem rolling over and going right back to sleep. When I did finally choose to get out of bed, I had a little rooftop brunch with the significant other, which is a lot more glamorous than it might sound. Sure, we were sitting on crates on a tar roof, but sometimes you must trade comfort for a spectacular view of the Golden Gate.

What’s a Watch Me Juggle post without a little digression? So, with that long-winded introduction, I give you: Sunday night game day! I have a soft spot in my heart for my local Oakland A’s. The coliseum is a one-stop Bart ride away, tickets are reasonably priced and games are decidedly laid-back.

It isn’t quite a baseball game without an overlarge, overpriced beer.

The best bleacher view ever!

Apparently it was one of the first Sunday evening games in 10 years, and was entirely sold out! Unfortunately, the A’s lost this one, after a long winning streak.

Stadium garlic fries are the best. I kept thinking they were smiling at me. On a side not, the upper left sauce is not ketchup- it’s barbecue sauce. Perhaps not the best idea…

French fry close up. Look at all the garlic! I’m hoping in vain that I didn’t totally reek afterward.

It was a girls’ day out; two rows of very fun ladies.

A set of my some of my favorite sisters, in their natural environment.

Most everyone (aside from myself) got to the game hours in advance. Of course, the main motivation was this awesome unicorn backpack that they were giving away. Yes, it is in fact a backpack for adults. Plenty of grown men were sporting it all around the stadium with pride.

Have a great day everyone!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on August 27, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi everyone!

I somehow went into complete zombie mode yesterday, and I ended up abandoning my blog-post-in-progress about halfway through, which is something I rarely do. It was there to greet me this morning, however, and instill the appropriate amount of shame in me to get me rolling. And, here I am! It’s this week’s Five Things- a little photo-collage glimpse into my life over the last week.

I tend not to wear any ostentatious or noticeable colors on my nails when my classes are in session. I like to look appropriate and well-groomed, and, let’s face it, bright blue nail polish somehow screams “I’m a teenager!” to parents of prospective students. Solution: I wear the heck out of them in summertime. Pictured above are two of my favorites from Essie: Bikini So Teeny and Mint Candy Apple, which I have on my nails now.

I finally jumped on the fashion-blogger bandwagon and bought myself some skater shoes. These were such a steal, and I’ve gotten so many compliments already. Bonus points for the leopard print, they make me feel instantly chic even when I’m wearing sneakers and cutoffs to go grocery shopping.

My mother gifted me a refill of one of my favorite perfumes from Philosophy recently. I after finally cracking it open, I realized it was the exact same color as my bathroom walls. Coincidence? I think not.

I received a very cool, belated birthday card in the mail a while back from a good friend of mine. It took me about a week to finally realize that it wasn’t just awkwardly thick, but was in fact designed so that I could mount it on a wall like a piece of artwork. A very clever idea!

Here’s a little sneak preview of tomorrow’s blog. I may not be the biggest fan of sports, but I do enjoy the atmosphere of live sporting events. Sure, I use the majority of my time there to eat all of the junk food available to me and to gossip with my girlfriends in between doing the wave/the Bernie lean, but isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? I’m well aware that I”m a living female stereotype.

Don’t judge me.

EVA ♥

Kitchen Experiments

Posted on August 25, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I hope all of you had a good Monday. Recently, I had an evening free and decided I was going to see what all the fuss over coconut oil was about. I haven’t been baking all that much as of late, simply because, when I do, I find myself eating the same cake/brownies/cookies nonstop for a week. Not the best plan of action. I did, however, have some aging bananas sitting on my dining table that I just had to do something with, and figured that bananas and coconut would be a good mix.

I was correct.

I had a surprising amount of trouble finding a recipe that involved coconut oil in banana bread, but was glad when I stumbled upon this No-Fail Banana Bread from All Things Simple. I tweaked the recipe a bit- substituting vanilla bean yogurt for sour cream, and adding extra-large pinches of cinnamon and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Ingredients ready to go.

The required banana mash. Looking frightful.

I’m a horribly impatient person, especially when it comes to dirtying “necessary” dishes, but I forced myself to separate the wet and dry ingredients this time around. What I was not so successful at doing was fully melting the coconut oil. Yes, I used my blow dryer to do this. And yes, when I got too impatient, I just threw it in there. I did have to give a disclaimer to people eating the banana bread that should they come across rare “doughy” bits that it wasn’t underdone, merely clumps of oil. Not making that mistake again.

I purchased this little silicon loaf pan recently. While I initially wasn’t sure as to how well it would work, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome! It’s just a little tricky to get in the oven when filled full of wobbly dough.

Before.

After.

The end result!

I must say, I was quite happy about it. My house smelled lovely, and I enjoyed my warm banana bread with a big glass of milk.

So…that’s basically what I did the other day instead of going to a yoga class. I feel no shame.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on August 20, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I must admit, today’s Five Things is probably being published at a record-breaking late hour. Though I don’t feel as if I’ve done anything extraordinary today, I do feel like I’ve managed to cram a whole hell of a lot of things in one day. Taking in the morning news, dropping off the dry cleaning, commuting to work, catching a quick happy hour cocktail, and dashing back across the bridge home. Of course, The less glamorous part of the day involved me eating a very large burrito bowl in record time while in my pajamas in bed, but who doesn’t do that every once-in-a-while? We all deserve the occasional break from socially acceptable behavior.

Speaking of breaks in socially acceptable behavior, I spent a weekend afternoon at my parents house in this outfit:

It’s a traditional dirndl dress straight from Austria. I agreed to model it for my mother, who was convinced it would fit me better than her. The charm of this dress is most certainly in the details- the sweetheart neckline is complimented by actual hearts in the lace trim of the sleeves, and there are festive little green reindeer printed on the apron accompanying the skirt. I could think of a few occasions in which this dress would be a hit, namely the annual Sound of Music Sing-Along at the Castro Theater in San Francisco.

This would be an avatar of the mastermind behind Watch Me Juggle. My friend Rachel created it and sent it to me last week, during a slow afternoon at work. There’s, of course, an app for that! I appreciate all the lovely details; the knobby little ballerina bun and almond-shaped eyes are an adorable touch.

If I came with directions…

I recently discovered the online shop Thug Life. Ever since acquiring my infamous “Ain’t No Wifey” shirt from Dimepiece LA, I’ve developed an affinity for witty shirts like this one.

Like many aspiring adults I know, I have a soft spot for the occasional cold glass of beer. However, when the contents of said glass turn tepid and flat, it becomes decidedly less delightful. Enter the “pony beer-” slightly smaller than your average 12 oz. beverage, it’s the perfect size. It always stays cold, and is just enough to refresh you without that pesky full feeling.

Meet my favorite new breakfast. I’ve been loving slices of large white peaches straight from the market, especially while they’re still firm. They’re crisp and delicious, and pair amazingly with a warm cup of coffee. They’ve brought a glimpse of summer to even the foggiest of mornings here in the Bay Area. And, boy, have there been some foggy mornings…

There you have it, post #150 on Watch Me Juggle. How time has flown!

Have a wonderful rest of your week, everyone!

EVA♥

Ballet Bandwagon?

Posted on August 19, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Quick question: has everyone else noticed the sudden uptick of ballet in ads and pop culture as of late? I sure have.

There’s the phenomenal Misty Copeland UnderAmour TV spot:

…the viral Taylor Swift music video:

…the many deoderant ads:

It seems that the idea that dancing is hard and/or sweat-inducing makes for great antiperspirant commercials. And, we can’t forget the infamous Free People spots gone horribly, horribly wrong.

So, what happened? It seems that every few years or so, ballet is thrust into the spotlight. Back in the day, it was Center Stage and more recently Black Swan, with all its dance double controversy. Dance has always been a big part of pop culture, but ballet, which has such a small niche, tends to come and go. It’s often labeled with the stigma of elitist, out-dated, and boring. Now, I’ll be the first one to tell you that I’m not the biggest fan of sitting through a three hour production of Swan Lake. Here’s a hint: uber-classical ballet is really fun…when you or your friends are the ones doing it. Recently, ballet as an art form has given way to so many visually diverse, modern, and mind-blowing new works. It’s changed so much over the last few decades, even.

It’s always nice to see something you’re passionate about in the limelight. In a world that’s always moving on to the next “big thing,” it’s conversely frustrating to see people absorb the thing that you’ve dedicated your life to, without context, and move on. Misty Copeland, as beautiful as she is, is a very much (and self-proclaimed, I might add) the unlikely ballerina. Ballet, like any athletic endeavor, has its politics- its traditions and its trends. That being said, it’s wonderful to witness ballet’s evolution, and its occasional emergence in pop culture. All I ask is that, after you get tired of watching Taylor Swift play ballerina and when Misty’s chiseled physique ceases to amaze you, you don’t forget about the ballet. Maybe go, have a glass of wine, and see one for yourself.

EVA♥

On Family

Posted on August 18, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone.

Today, I would like to write to you about family. Specifically, all the people I consider my family. It’s not a particularly novel subject, I admit, but it’s one that I’ve thought about quite a bit over the years.

It’s been long understood that you have little control over the circumstances you’re born into. A few religious faiths even dictate that your life’s path is ultimately decided, in its entirety, well before you’re born. This is a comforting thought for some people. You’re essentially who you are meant to be, without question, and the people that surround you are exactly who they are supposed to be. There’s little room for thought, and any inner turmoil that comes your way is “destined;” all part of a greater plan you know nothing about. That being said, I’ve always felt a little bit…off. The people who surrounded me while I was growing up, my relatives, were from various backgrounds and walks of life, but were all united by some common language, culture, geographical location. I could wear the same clothes they wore, speak the same language, act as they acted, but it never quite stuck. I physically, mentally, culturally, and emotionally stuck out, like a conglomeration of recessive genes. The kind of kid who looks like the neighbor from down the street in family photos, the party crasher who isn’t supposed to be there. I was, like I’ve said before, a fabulous imitation of everyone else. I desperately craved an acceptance that I’ve never quite gotten. Whether this is solely a perception of my own making, or one that concretely exists, I may never know. As difficult as it is, I know these people are my family. I’ll be the first to admit that there are some days where I feel grossly alien, where I feel uncomfortable in my own skin, but I’m somehow all the better for it. A friend of mine once told me that I was meant to be with this family- that I would shake them up, challenge them, and do great things. Sometimes I don’t feel like that person, but it’s a nice reminder every once-in-a-while. I think accepting this will be a lifelong journey, but I’d like to think that I’m up for the challenge.

My “homemade” family (mostly pictured above), the curious patchwork of people that they are, never really asked me to be anything other than myself. They healed me when I thought I was utterly broken, and without knowing it. I feel a ridiculously unshakable bond with these people. Where my first family shaped me, they filled in the blanks, like a coloring book. They added a sense of “normalcy” and belonging in my life that, for years I didn’t think could exist, and gave me permission to be who I wanted to be without judgement. They are the grandmothers, mothers, and sisters I think I was supposed to have. We may not be related in the traditional sense, but I also like to think that our paths crossed for a reason.

So, if I could tell my ten year-old self one thing, it would be this:

There’s the family you’re born into, and the family you make for yourself. They’re both equally important; don’t let anyone tell you any different.

Oh, and also that boys are stupid. The stupidity tends not to get better as they get older, so go easy on them.

And brace yourself.

EVA♥

Overnight Beauty Essentials

Posted on August 15, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone, and Happy Friday!

I wanted to end the week with a lighthearted post, so I decided to let you take a quick glimpse into my Beauty Essentials- the things that I automatically grab for, whether it be a last minute weekend trip, or in anticipation of a late night out, usually followed by an early morning. For all those ladies out there navigating both commuter relationships as well as work, I applaud you. I also feel your pain. There’s is nothing more frustrating than dashing out of the house, ready for your day, only to realize that you’ve forgotten something essential, like a stick of deodorant. I conveniently forgot to include one in the pictures above, but I assure you, I do wear it.

The products pictured above are as follows, from bottom left to right: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude, Nars Laguna Bronze r, Bare Esecentuals All-Over Face brush, Burt’s Bees wipes for sensitive skin, Urban Decay’s Naked Basics Pallet, Bare Escentuals eyeliner brush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, Bare Escentuals Dual-Ended Brush, Mac Select Cover concealer in NW20, and Tarte’s Lights Camera Lashes Mascara.

Seeing as all this goes into my purse, saving space is essential, so I like to pick products that will effectively multitask. While I usually apply a sunscreen and then foundation, I find that Laura Mercier’s beloved tinted moisturizer does a fantastic job of protecting, moisturizing, and concealing minor imperfections. I swear by the Naked Basics eyeshadow palette as it has everything you might possibly need for your eyes, as well as your eyebrows. I like to blend the two brown shades on my eyeliner brush to use on my brows, line my eyes with the black shade, and highlight with the lightest. You certainly get your bang for your buck with this one! And remember, as tempting as it is to use last night’s makeup as this morning’s face, don’t do it! Your clogged pores will later have their revenge. I love the Burt’s Bees wipes because no matter how tired you are, using one of these to take off your makeup at the end of the day leaves you feeling as refreshed as if you had actually taken the time to wash your face. I’m all about the shortcuts, ladies. Whatever makes your life easier.

And, lastly, you’re going to need a fabulous bag to disguise the fact that you are now essentially a bag lady. I highly recommend Longchamps Le Pliage shopping bag. My girlfriends and I like to refer to it as the “Boyfriend Bag.” It holds all your essentials while looking chich, and no one would ever know that last night’s high heels are rattling around in there.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

EVA❤️

Living Alone; Part II of The Random Thoughts Chronicles.

Posted on August 14, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Today is a continuation of the Brain Is Cobwebs series, aka: The Random Thoughts Chronicles. I’ve been revisiting it periodically in the midst of my writing, and boy, they were really random. I wanted to write about something that’s been near and dear to my heart for quite a while now, something that I’ve often touched upon briefly in past posts.

I live alone.

Yes, it was a very daunting thought when I first stepped into the realtor’s offic. I remembered how I felt when left home alone as a kid, and assumed every day would feel a little like that. What if I got lonely? What if I couldn’t decide what to wear out at night? What if I decided to watch a scary movie all alone and subsequently scared the crap out of myself? What if everyone forgets about me while I’m holed up all alone in my pad? All alone. That’s the phrase that kept repeating itself in my head.

I’m really glad that I had so many great people to encourage me, or else I would have never done it. They had lived through the “aloneness” and even rejoiced in it. I love living all by myself now. Mind you, sometimes my house looks like a war zone; And sometimes I burn my dinner beyond recognition; and sometimes I do watch scary movies (ultimately a bad idea). I’ll also be the first to tell you that I owned only an airbed, suitcase, coffeemaker, and dresser when I initially moved in. But, no one is around to chastise me for the mess, or laugh at my failed culinary attempts, and I find that a ridiculous amount of cartoons can chase away anything that might have spooked you. Whatever the Ikea directions say, you can put that bed frame together all on your own. Years ago, a friend of mine visited me in the Bay Area and remarked upon how my apartment made her feel a little sad. She had never lived alone, and now, living with her fiancee, she would never really get the chance. It makes me feel a bit lucky, in a way, that I can come home to a place that really is all mine.

So, there are all my deep thoughts about living alone. On the other hand, I find that it’s given me rather peculiar mannerisms that other people are quick to remark on, much like the video I posted above. My quirks involve things such as:

Spontaneous singing of questions/statements
Adding sound effects to daily life, i.e. makeup application (Whoosh!!)
Eating entire meals in bed. No, not like breakfast in bed. Like, it’s too-hard-to-eat-off-of-this-plate-while-sitting-in-a-chair.
Spontaneous bad dance moves and/or flailing.
Not using proper silverware/plates/glassware when eating meals. i.e. I stir my coffee with a butter knife every morning.
Talking to myself out loud. I’m unfortunately infamous for this as it startled past roommates. I can’t imagine why…

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the pros and cons of living alone. Having your own places means you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, but don’t be surprised if the rest of society finds you irrevocably weird.

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♥

Birthday Dinner

Posted on August 11, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi everyone!

I must say I have missed my dear blog over the last few days. Sorry to be MIA, but, as you might have gathered from my previous blogs, I have been occupied with celebrating my birthday over the last week. Which is totally appropriate adult behavior.

On my birthday proper, a small group of girlfriends and I gathered at Hard Water, a waterfront bar on the Embarcadero. Specializing in bourbon cocktails and New Orleans-inspired food, it was an intimate and enjoyable cocktail hour, although it was quite cold and blustery out.

This top-heavy concoction consisted of bourbon, St. George’s NOLA Coffee liqueur, organic Straus cream, and a variety of other things beyond my comprehension. It also came with this curious little metal straw/spoon, in the manner of those Iccee straws of your childhood. Also pictured are some beautiful pink dahlias I was gifted. True girlfriends are worth their weight in gold, I’ll be the first to tell you.

After a few drinks, I got to check another item off of the Summer List with a late dinner at Foreign Cinema. Two birds with one stone! I’ve never had the opportunity of being at this beautiful restaurant while they were showing their signature films, so this was an absolute treat. I found it a bit difficult, however, to enjoy Casablanca in the full interior of the restaurant and without totally ignoring my date. It was a lovely sentiment, though, and created a really nice ambiance. Being the girl that I am, I did manage to document the lovely festivities by taking gratuitous photos of my celebratory meal before devouring it.

…minus the actual dinner…

When my exotic seafood stew arrived, you see, I decided that it needed to be in my face as quickly as possible. So, I put down the camera and enjoyed my dinner. Bad blogger! However, I did manage to capture the beauty of my cocktail. Typical Eva.

Here’s the fantastic chevre cheesecake I had for dessert:

Topped with berries, brown sugar oat crumble, and a swipe of a white peach based sauce.

I have a feeling that this restaurant will continue to be one of my very favorites for years to come. I was so full by the end of the meal, I was beginning to regret my dress choice. Unfortunately you can’t unbutton any buttons when you’re wearing a dress…#girlproblems.

Happy Monday all! Promise I won’t be too much of a stranger.

EVA♥