Favorite Places

Posted on September 4, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Those of you who know me, know that I’m a fan of going on adventures. I’ll use anything as a motivation: a mundane errand, a really good lunch, a stopover on the way to something else…you name it! So it’s funny that in a place that’s ultimately know for its fabulous wine and vineyards, I go for the cheeseburgers. Now, granted that this last weekend was bloody hot, I opted for something a little bit different with Ahi Poke tacos. My favorite spot in Napa, Gott’s Roadside, formerly of Taylor’s Automatic Refresher fame, is the place to go if you want a no-frills good food, with a little bit of a Napa twist. And, while there’s almost always a sizable line at this diner, the trick is to get a refreshing glass of wine to keep you company while you decide on your order. What’s even better is its great proximity to a number of sprawling wineries. Did you know that there’s a castle in St. Helena? Neither did I. Unfortunately, my poorly charged brick of a phone gave out before I could take a vast amount of pictures. There’s always next time…

Oh, hello Bowzer. As you can see, I was feeling a bit grungy that day.

The best meal for a hot day. Fresh and delicious.

Oh, hey, wine country castle! I was perhaps the biggest fan of the wine cellar at Castello di Amorosa, as well as the outdoor Roman-style bathtub. A girl could get used to that.

Photo c/o Patrick Baron

Remember my Summer List? While it looks like I might not have been able to make it SUP’ing this year, I did get to spend a last day on the last official weekend of summer in St. Helena.

Whatever…I’m still all for wearing white after Labor Day.

EVA♥

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♥

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♥

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♥

SLO & Co.

Posted on July 22, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Today’s post chronicles Part Two of my latest weekend adventures. Day 2 in my LA involved brunch at Urth Caffe, (a place I will absolutely be visiting the next time I’m in Southern California) and some daytime tooling around Griffith Observatory. Despite the ridiculous crowd migrating up the hill to take in the famous view, the Observatory itself was pleasantly open.

A photo from the observatory deck. Does anyone know why the famous Hollywood sign came into being?

LA is ridiculously populated- buildings as far as the eye can see. It’s also, unfortunately, the city with the worst pollution problem in the US. There are apparently mountains in the background, but we couldn’t see them, which makes me a little sad.

After enjoying a little bit of the sunshine, it was time to head back. I know I shouldn’t be taking photos behind the wheel, but the sunset while driving up the coast was just stunning. My amateur phone photography isn’t quite doing it justice.

I’m glad I made the extra stop in San Luis Obispo. Not only did I get to visit some of my favorite people, I got to see the progress of their beautiful garden since my last visit in November. It’s flourished, to say the least. Extra points to them for supplying me with a basket of home -grown veggies and eggs for the ride back.

Here you have some kale, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers, all shadowed by a huge tomato plant in the background, as well as some blackberry bushes. Behind me is a continuation of the garden with melons,corn, and an orange tree. If you look closely, you’ll see the hottest pepper in the world, the ghost chili, in the bottom right hand corner. I’m not sure what they’re going to do with that, but good luck to them. I figure it would be a good way to enact revenge on people you really dislike…?

Did I mention they have three cats, four chickens, and a dog as well? It’s a bonafide animal menagerie! The chickens aren’t nearly as cute as the other members of the household, and have a tendency to peck at your toes and be generally stupid.

The newest member of the clan is Jeb, the three-legged dog. He’s the ultimate example of a grateful rescue dog; all he wants in life is some food and gentle pets. Despite his rather tumultuous background, he is surprisingly unsuspicious, and laid his head in my lap about three seconds after initially meeting me. He reminded me so much of a well-loved stuffed animal, with his snaggle tooth and his snuffling- I joked that all he needed was a patch on one of his hind legs to complete the transformation.

Happy Tuesday! Watch Me Juggle will be back tomorrow with it’s weekly “Five Things.”

Until then…

EVA♥

There is TOO stuff to do here…

Posted on July 14, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone and happy Monday!

I’m pleased to say that I already checked one thing off of my ‘Summer List’ this past weekend!

After a few failed attempts I finally managed to book a tasting and tour at St. George Spirits, our local distillery right here in Alameda. For those of you that aren’t familiar, you’ve probably come across Hangar 1 vodka: these are the guys responsible. What I didn’t know is that, in addition to their more well known vodka, whiskey and absinthe, they also make brandies, liqueurs, rums, and gins! The whole shebang, as it were. Now, I’m going to say what most Alameda natives don’t want to hear: the island, while lovely in a quiet, suburban way, doesn’t have too much to do in terms of entertainment. Ok…we finally have a movie theater. And there’s all the food you can dream of eating. Being San Francisco adjacent makes it seem rather quaint in comparison, but it still has its hidden gems. The abundance of alcohol-related fun to be had on our old Naval station is one of the many perks. We have Rock Wall Winery, the new Faction Brew Co., and St. George Spirits all within walking distance of each other.

With all three right on the water, you can’t help but linger and take advantage of the view, as well as the good food. Please note that food is essential when planning gin/rum/brandy/absinthe tasting in the middle of the day.

Corn hole next to the San Francisco skyline anyone?

Get a designated driver, everyone. Preferably a well dressed man who will feed you. I find the elementary school French flashcards Scolari‘s gives you rather amusing. L’avion va très vite!

A little bit of summertime in a salad. The perfect thing to eat with the sun at your back. Not pictured are the Parmesan truffle fries that were previously inhaled. They were so delicious, I forgot to take a picture.

Where the magic happens in the distillery proper. With all the chemistry, and stuff way beyond my comprehension.

Yes, that is a shark guarding the brandy barrels. Specifically the one from the movie “Deep Blue Sea.” It’s a story you need to hear from the St. George people firsthand. Let’s just say that one of the perks of a job there is getting to quality control their product as well as go on gratuitous shark rides.

Pear Brandy, reminiscent of what my family makes at home.

This took me a few seconds to comprehend. Sneaky people…

If you happen to visit the distillery anytime soon, spring for the Advanced tasting, which includes the tour. Our tour guide was both knowledgeable and hilarious- a key combination if you’re going to attempt learning anything after multiple swigs of hard alcohol. For example, did you know…

…The only requirement that a ‘gin’ needs to have is that it contains some amount of juniper…

…When in Scotland, never ask for “scotch.” Just ask for whiskey. “You don’t go to Mexico and ask for Mexican food”…

…Absinthe’s popularity at the turn of the century was due to the grape population being decimated, making wine expensive and scarce…

…Back in the day, absinthe was also made in lead-lined copper pots. Anyone who drank it, with the popular addition of laudanum, was giving themselves lead poisoning, getting drunk, and freebasing heroin simultaneously…

…Making alcohol seems horribly complicated. Each batch produced needs to be systematically separated, lest the drinker get a mouthful of almost pure ethanol instead of a delicious brandy…

…We have the British navy to thank for the term ‘proof.’ Initially, this was soaking gunpowder in rum and lighting it on fire to prove that what was in any given barrel was at least 50% alcohol…

See, you can have your cocktail and learn things too. Aside from the usual life lessons…

EVA♥

Summer List

Posted on July 11, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Now that we’re officially into summer, and a little more than half way through our year, I thought I would share my Summer “To Do” List! This is partially for fun and partially so I’m somehow held accountable for them. Without a doubt, summer is my absolute favorite time of year and I plan on making the most of it. Some things on my list, like swimsuit shopping, can be considered typical summer activities, but others are a little more personal. I’ve seen beautiful pictures of the view from the “Hippie Tree” in Tiburon, but have never gotten a chance to go. And Alameda is the perfect place for kite boarding and paddle boarding, but I’ve never made the time to go! I’m hoping that by the time September rolls around, I will have checked most of these things off my list. If not, you, dear readers, will be the only ones who know, so go easy on me!

…Buy a new swimsuit…
…Visit Off The Grid, at least once…
…Attend more Saturday farmers markets…
…Go stand up paddle boarding…
…Make a Vegan dessert, à la The Simple Veganista
…Attend the Alameda Art & Wine Festival…
…Visit St. George Distillery…
…Have dinner at Foreign Cinema…
…Catch a baseball game at AT &T Park…
…Go to more yoga classes…
…Spend the day in St. Helena…
…Host a mimosa brunch…
…Visit the “Hippie Tree” in Tiburon
…Wear as many sundresses as possible…
…Dance as much as possible (nothing new here)…

What do you think? I tried to make it as well-rounded as possible, after much mental note-taking. Last summer was pretty incredible- I got to celebrate my 26th birthday in Hawaii, and spent some wonderful time with friends. Now, I can’t necessarily go to Hawaii for every birthday (or can I?), but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my summer in a totally new way.

Have a great weekend all!

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on July 9, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

It’s been interesting adjusting to my new work schedule, I must say. I have a new-found appreciation for all you 9-to-5’ers out there. While I’ve held my share of full time work, I was always lucky enough to have unconventional hours, that left me feeling like there was plenty of time in the day to get things done. Now, between commuting and cramming in ballet classes, I’m barely able to make it out of the house having had breakfast. So you must forgive me as my posting schedule will be rather off for the next few weeks or so. I’m getting it together, I promise! In the meantime, commuting isn’t all as bad as it’s cracked up to be, especially on those mornings I forget breakfast. I can always buy a decent cup of coffee on the ferry, and, upon reaching the ferry building in San Francisco, there’s always the Pepples Donut stand to keep you happy and full. I know, me and my doughnuts…

Pepples primarily makes organic doughnuts. Some (obviously not Californian) tourists were remarking on how doughnuts could be “organic.” “Is it like organic fruit? I’ve heard of that…there’s no pesticides in it, or something?”

Last week, my girlfriend Kate had her bachelorette party prior to whisking off to Prague for her nuptials. A few of her good friends graciously organized and hosted the party, which was beautifully done. Playing with the idea of a guest book, the bride-to-be had her guests leave kiss marks along with their well wishes on a plain matting, which she later framed as a favor. It was a really unique idea- yours truly is in the upper right hand corner. I, the faux teenager that I am, only had lipgloss, but it worked just as well and didn’t smudge!

Ladies and gents: I give to you, my first Outfit of the Night photo! I know the lighting is horrible, and I’m in my shared apartment hallway, but whatever! My OOTN (in fashion blogger-speak) consists of a top from H&M, a black, convertible pencil dress worn as a skirt from American Apparel, the rose gold leather clutch is Marc Jacobs, and the leather station necklace from House of Harlow 1960. Not pictured are my fabulous Melissa by Vivienne Westwood pink shoes, that appeared on my very first “Five Things” feature ever. Those puppies finally got to leave the house, and I got compliments on them nonstop! They were incredibly comfortable, too!

This is what I do at work, pretty much all day. We’ve lovingly dubbed it “Pointe Shoe Alley,” and occasionally find coworkers stuck under piles of shoes there, like I was in this moment. Nothing out of the ordinary for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZdUpGd2ppU

As a dancer, I think this is such a cool idea for a video, and I love the way they’ve played with the timing, slowing movement down to show their intricacies. The dancers talk about how difficult these steps are to execute, but you would never guess, judging by how unruffled they are. And that Cheshire Cat lift?! Wow. It’s a mentally challenging as much as it is physically. Try staying calm while upside down, six feet in the air. It’s not easy.

Happy Wednesday!

EVA♥