Five Things

Posted on September 17, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi everyone!

Between running boring, adult errands (fingerprinting and insurance, anyone?), watching complete drivel on Youtube, and teaching what feels like constant ballet classes, I’ve come across a few little gems throughout the week. First off, I’ve been lucky enough to have a mailbox full of notes recently, which is a refreshing change from the junk/bills I usually get. Below is one of my favorites:

My friend Emily sent me this surprise “just because” postcard in the mail! Love the diamond in the middle. She knows me so well.

I’m relishing the last remnants of summer with my produce lately. I cut into this beautiful nectarine the other morning and its natural heart shape made just me happy.

Apparently Yan-Yan now has “educational” phrases on each cookie, stick…thing. Star+Fish.

Also, I have giant hands. It’s not an illusion at all.

The most delicious seared ahi tuna and avocado taco at Garaje in San Francisco. I highly recommend.

and finally,

15 Career Tips from Smart Women

as featured on the amazing, and oft-frequented Joanna Goddard’s blog, “A Cup of Jo.” I think my favorite tip is from Hilary Rodham Clinton on the “perfectionist gene.” It’s something that I can wholeheartedly relate to. Do you think men worry about wearing the wrong shoes in a meeting? Um, no. Go forth, ladies, and conquer!

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♥

Things It Took Me 27 Years to Learn

Posted on August 5, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

My 25th birthday. Possibly the best birthday party ever. Almost all of my favorite people were there.

This was what 26 looked like. Swimming with sea turtles, hiking in a bikini, and a sand birthday cake.

Today I am officially 27.

While I’m not currently sunning myself in Hawaii or Las Vegas, I’m celebrating nonetheless. As I’ve previously shared with many of you, 27 is my “scary age.” Yes, I’m aware this is illogical and absurd. 27 is not 30, or 40, but for whatever reason, I’ve anticipated this year since I was young. While 26 was perhaps more of a milestone (Hello health insurance!), 27 always seems to mark the beginning of one’s late-twenties. To me, it’s always signified going to bed a responsible hour, investing in an IRA, and attending copious amounts of baby showers. You know, that time when the universe yells at you to wrap up all the fun you’ve been having. Silly, I know.

One of the many distinct memories I have of this day last year is that right when the clock struck midnight I was startled awake by Nicki Minaj’s “Starships” blasting through the speakers of my girlfriend’s iPhone. On a side-note, I had had the song stuck in my head since arriving in Hawaii, and kept singing “Let’s go to the beach beach…” over and over again. It seemed appropriate, and had soon turned into the theme song of our trip. So, in the dead of night and half asleep, I was asked to recall the the one thing that it had taken me 26 years of my life to learn. That year, I learned what it meant to truly go on vacation.

So, to continue with the ritual, today I will share with all of you some of the things it’s taken me 27 years to learn…

Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay. Not everyone has to like you. All that matters is that you like the person looking back at you in the mirror.

You can not jump into a swimming pool wearing fake eyelashes. It’s not a good look. Just don’t do it.

Thrift stores are amazing. Who doesn’t love paying $20 for $400 boots?

Going to the gym, yoga, dance class…whatever you enjoy doing, is an investment in your mental health as much as your physical health.

You don’t need a bottle opener to open a bottle. Keys, the side of a barbecue, and the corner of a coffee table are just as effective, if not more labor intensive.

The $20 handshake is a real thing. Depending on the occasion, it works marvelously.

Your iPhone charges faster while in airplane mode. A tip I picked up from a handsome stranger while on a layover in the Honolulu airport.

Money is fluid. It will always come back to you. Maybe not right away, but it’s there.

On the same note, you will never regret money spent on travel. You’re literally buying yourself memories and life experience, not to mention stories to tell the grandkids.

I can drive on the other side of the road. It’s scary, but I can do it!

Spending the day at the pool is an acceptable way to spend the day. The same goes for spending the day snuggled in bed.

It’s most definitely better to have quality people in your life that you can depend on, whether it’s in times of emergency, or just on those days when you really need a hug. Quality trumps quantity, any day.

…

Happy Birthday to me! Here’s to another good year.

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♥

Blackout

Posted on June 30, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

It’s….Monday.

The day started out beautifully here in the bay, but it soon turned hazy and rather stifling. Today, which also happened to be my last day of vacation, turned out to be a bit too much. It’s okay to have those days every-once-in-a-while, if you ask me. I did have a rather lovely weekend, and I promise to share more on the blog a little later.

Today, I wanted to share with you a channel that I’ve become rather attached to on Youtube. This will probably be rather ironic, because the theme of my post (like “I Can’t Read” from earlier this week) is the general preoccupation with electronics. This video-blog, also know widely on the internet as a Vlog, features the daily life of a young couple in London. Their weekly outings with their baby boy aka “Squeaky G,” their travels, adventures, etc. There’s something so incredibly endearing about them, and I’d like to think that we would be friends in real life, which is probably totally creepy. Aside from the fact that they’re an adorable family, the way they portray their lives is so refreshing and relatable. It’s not anything extraordinary, really just a techie guy and his makeup artist/stay at home mum wife , but I look forward to their videos every week. Here’s the latest:

They were my initial inspiration for “Blackout” night. They touch a little bit on the instant validation we get through our phones and social media: a retweet , or a ‘Like’ on Instagram or Facebook. It gives us attention we so naturally crave with the minimum amount of effort. It makes us feel connected even when our time is probably best spent connecting with the things and people physically present in our world, even if that sometimes means spending time totally alone.

I particularly enjoyed the excerpt featured from “The Independent,” also known as “The i,” in England is an article from Simon Kelner. It is both beautifully written and expresses a worrisome condition that I’ve become all too familiar with. (Note that the below is a transcript, rather than a direct quotation.)

“This morning, I couldn’t take my eyes off the landscape. Oxfordshire under a cloudless sky looked like a province; green, still, restful and sweeping. The only traces of the heat haze hung over the well-tended pastureland. You couldn’t see anything other than the indigenous trees, not a pine in sight. Horses stood quietly in paddocks. It was a vision of the countryside that was so perfect, as to be almost implausible. I stared out the window in awe and as deep as I could be in contemplation. And then I realized, I was the only person in the carriage who was living in the present. Every other person was hooked up to an electronic device. Some were switching between laptop and mobile- even the woman reading a book had earphones attached. Not a single passenger on the 720 to Marylebone was taking a blind bit of notice of the majestic scenery. It literally passed them by.”

Here’s the thing:

It’s hard to unplug, and be alone.

I think it’s worth it, in the end. Not to put things in finite terms, but think of it like this: do you want to be the person behind the phone always experiencing life through a screen? Or would you rather just live it?

Just a few thoughts.

EVA♥

Wonderland.

Posted on June 17, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Get ready for some shameless promotion!

Hey look! It’s me teaching class! Photo c/o Michaela Lynch

Wonderland characters. Photo c/o Mary Lee Shalvoy

I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed lately- in the best possible way. I realize that I’m horribly spoiled in the sense that while I sometimes work long hours on my feet, I get to be a part of a wonderful and creative company doing what I absolutely. I spend my days with people I know (some for more than 10 years) and love, and am so proud to call my coworkers.

If I’m somewhat absent from my blog this week it’s because we’ve been working tirelessly on putting together our annual “Big Show!” As many of you who know me outside of my blog already know, this year’s show is “Wonderland;” our take on Alice in Wonderland, with a little bit of Giselle and The Wizard of Oz, smushed together. I’m particularly excited for this year’s show, as I’ve known many of the graduates featured as our main characters since they were four or five years old. I’m going to boast that we have a little something for everyone, regardless of their music taste or preferred dance style. It’s possibly one of our most diverse, yet cohesive shows yet. Want a little bit of classic rock? We have Queen. Prefer social dancing over classical ballet? We have that too. Mom a fan of disco? No problem. We have the disco ball and everything! And where else will you find an Alice sporting Dr. Marten’s?! Getting to perform a bit in it myself is the cherry on the sundae. If you’re around this coming weekend, I encourage you to come and enjoy. You can find all the details at Dance Art Project.

““I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, my reality is just different from yours.”

~Lewis Carroll

EVA ♥

Es un día trieste

Posted on May 29, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone.

photo c/o Kelsey Tinkham. The only recorded history of Freebird’s being closed.

I’m writing today with a heavy heart, but I hope that in doing so, I’m helping myself, and maybe some others heal even just the slightest bit. Yesterday, I attended one of many candlelight vigils held across the state in remembrance of the lives lost on Friday. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects- UCSB sweatshirts as far as the eye could see. Despite the number of people gathered, it was utterly silent. As beautiful as it was to see, I hate that we are all bonded by this atrocity now. As people stepped up to speak on the steps of Memorial Glade on the UC Berkeley campus, I was amazed by how many people knew the victims directly. They spoke of their kindness, their goofiness, their love of baking. I was brought to tears when so many people recalled their time at Santa Barbara as having experienced some of the hardest times of their lives, directly followed by some of the best. This mimicked my experience there. When I felt utterly alone and broken, the people I met there helped me through my struggles, most without even realizing it. The only solace we have is that we are never alone as we experience the loss and the emotions that come with it. Berkeley’s Vice Chancellor Claude M. Steele, in honor of those that passed all too soon, and in the great Maya Angelou’s words, said it best:

“And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.”

Love,

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on May 28, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I want to start out by thanking everyone that has read my previous post. The outpouring of kindness has been a bit overwhelming, but wonderful. While I was on the fence about doing “yet another” Five Things this Wednesday, and while I’ve been feeling a bit down lately, I think it’s really important to simply acknowledge this and carry on! I was especially saddened to hear of the great Maya Angelou’s passing this morning. She was a pillar of strength- a bearer of things artistic, compassionate, and quintessentially human. I feel I speak for all of us when I write that she will be sorely missed.

One of my favorite poems of all time.

I wanted to share this silly little photo with you, dear readers. It commemorates my last summer living in Isla Vista, directly on the beach. This was my view every morning (complete with the requisite ratty old couch). Add a big bowl of Golden Oh’s and what more could you ask for?

d c/o philosophadam.wordpress.com

I came across these 40 Amazing Facts About the Human Body the other day. They’re fascinating, to say the least. I also find it particularly amusing that we share 50% of our DNA with bananas.

I wanted to commemorate my favorite late night meal (with one of my favorite people) on the blog today. For those of you that are not familiar with Santa Barbara, it is home to the infamous Freebirds restaurant. Open 24/7, you can find orders of steak nachos so big, they can be split between three people and still be too much food. It is also home of some of the most entertaining people watching around 2:30am on a Sunday morning.

And lastly,

I rarely do this sort of thing on Watch Me Juggle, but I also wanted to take the time to ask you, dear readers to go to http://everytown.org, and consider fulfilling the request of Richard Martinez, who lost his only son this last Friday. He has asked the following of us, and I believe it’s well worth everyone taking some time out to consider:

“Today, I’m going to ask every person I can find to send a postcard to every politician they can think of with three words on it: Not One More. People are looking for something to do. I’m asking people to stand up for something. Enough is enough.”

Love,

EVA♥

A Letter to the Gauchos

Posted on May 27, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello to my fellow Gauchos, ladies, friends, and all others who read this blog.

I’m writing to you fresh off of my vacation, and, quite honestly envisioned my first post back to be something very different. I was hoping to write to you about my travel adventures in the Pacific Northwest and all the fantastic UCSB alumni I met with along the way. However, as most of you are well aware of by now, a tragedy has occurred at my beloved alma mater, and I feel the distinct need to address it here.

The years I spent at UCSB and living in Isla Vista were some of the best years of my life. Comprised entirely of UCSB and SBCC students, Isla Vista is a hub for young people to bond, to share their homes and lives with each other. Its community is inherently trusting and, in my day, you would rarely find a home with the front door locked. Although it got many of us in to trouble on occasion, (hello Halloween insanity!) Isla Vista welcomed anyone and everyone with open arms. It was a special, very happy place. Ask any Gaucho, and they will corroborate my story.

After the news broke on Friday of the mass killings in Isla Vista, I was glad to coincidentally be in the company of so many fellow UCSB alumnae. We’re still all struggling with coming to terms with what happened. I, admittedly, am trying not to dwell on it too much. The New York Times recently released a “Trail of Violence in Isla Vista” graphic mapping the events that took place that night. Of the two places I lived in Isla Vista, shots were fired mere feet away from my former homes. The path I used to bike to campus everyday was the same the gunman drove down and injured multiple people. The IV Deli Mart, now with its windows shot out, was formerly the bookstore I would frequent for all of my textbooks. That pervasive sense of freedom and happiness that myself and many others associate with Isla Vista has been taken from us. The beautiful place I used to call home and the wonderful people I shared it with deserves to make national news for its many accolades, not for something so unspeakably tragic. The deaths and injuries were horrific, senseless, and, without question, preventable.

I would be lying if I said I’m not deeply sad- I’m angry, even. The more I hear about what has happened; the more news articles I read, and trends on Twitter I follow about, the more my frustration grows. This obviously wasn’t some random act of violence. It was a hate crime against women. It was a hate crime committed by a misogynistic, narcissistic little boy with a gun who felt such a sense of entitlement, believed so strongly that women owed him something, that when they didn’t submit to him, he felt the need to “punish” them. Regardless off the fact that this is the behavior of someone obviously and deeply disturbed, let me take this moment to say, on behalf of my fellow women:

We owe you nothing.

At the risk of sounding horribly jaded, what I’m bewildered by is how many people are surprised by this show of misogyny and gender disparity. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t consider it. It’s become so ingrained in my behavior that it’s second nature. I consider it when I get dressed in the mornings, when I park my car on my commute, and everytime I walk anywhere alone. Everytime. As a woman, you’re indirectly taught that the way you look and the way you behave has great bearing on whether or not you’re harassed or victimized. To not become a target you learn to do things like walk quickly, stay off your phone, never make eye contact, never park next to a windowless van, never leave your drink unattended, never go to the bathroom alone; never wear anything too short, too low-cut,or heels that are too high, or even your hair in a ponytail alone at night. I could go on. Stray outside the protocol of “respectable” behavior and you knowingly put yourself at risk. This is universally understood by all the women I know. While I’m optimistic in regards to the powerful #YesAllWomen trend on Twitter stemming from a show of solidarity against the hate-filled ravings of Elliot Rodger, it doesn’t mean anything is changing. Of course, sharing and acknowledging these truths is the first step to ensure nothing like this happens ever again. The father of one of the victims, Christopher Martinez, has spoken publicly on his belief that his son would be alive today if not for “craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA.” Now, once the insufficient and indiscriminate gun laws are addressed, what then? What about the quality of mental health care in this country? Or lack thereof? What about the fact that all of this, and all the stories you read with #YesAllWomen, stems from an inherent lack of respect and encouraged degradation of women in society in general? There are so many issues that need to be addressed as we move forward and attempt to heal. There might not be definitive solutions to any of them, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.

….

Oh SB, always a part of me!
Oh hear me shout, hear me shout
Hear me Shout! Shout! Shout!
Rain or shine
Win or lose
My heart belongs to you!

Love,

EVA♥