Post-Halloween Post

Posted on November 3, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I’m baaaack! 🙂

If you haven’t guessed as much, today’s post is an official Halloween recap. It’s technically the final post of Blogtober ’14- how I will miss you! I know it’s already November, and that there’s the unspoken rule that all talk of holidays has to immediately cease once said holiday has passed. It’s already Christmas at Starbucks….need I say more? Always on to the next best thing. But first, let me share all of my ridiculous Halloween photos with you. Bonus points to you if you can figure out what our fabulous theme-costume was! Hint: We are not witches/fairies/anything from Frozen.

We found a rubber snake on the dance floor. And also found 800 ways to pose with said rubber snake.

Big shout out to fabulous photographer-friend Rachel. She kindly shared all the good pictures with me.

Some of my favorite gals and I went to the Starlight Room in San Francisco for their annual Halloween party. One of favorite parts of the night, aside from the dancing, had to be the amazing view. 21 stories above Union Square, we made some new Australian friends, got some free cocktails, and gawked at all the ridiculous costumes. (My favorite was possibly the person who decided to dress as a tornado.)

Before Friday I had a variety of costume ideas swimming around in my head, but at the very last minute, I decided to go as a part of the four seasons. My friends still needed someone to be Spring, and I luckily already owned a fabulous crown of flowers to stick on my head. While our costumes were quite thrown together, they turned out really well, if I may say so myself! My girlfriends are a creative bunch. Meanwhile, I, while attempting to be crafty, managed to hot glue myself into my costume while wearing it. I did not think this through and am not the best when it comes to crafts, clearly. Seeing as I had absolutely no idea as to what I was going to wear two days prior to Halloween, I’m happy with the way things turned out. I loved running around with my little green bustle flowing out behind me and felt a bit like a superhero.

Despite having to call it a night relatively early, I had such a nice time and even managed to fill my purse up with candy for the road.

Treats all around.

EVA♥

30 Facts About Me

Posted on October 30, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

Here’s an old-school head shot for you photographed by the studio’s lovely resident tech guru/photographer Miss Mary Lee Shalvoy. You might have also seen this elsewhere on my page, under the “About Me” tab.

If you’re reading this, it’s most likely that I somehow got myself together enough to finish a blog post and schedule it’s publication in advance. Go me! Why all the hooplah, you ask? Well, while you’re reading this, I’m most likely trapped in a classroom of ten year-olds, trying to keep them occupied while simultaneously winning them over with my goofiness. And yoga skills…

Anyway, it’s Blogtober day 30, and I thought I would play a game of get to know you by giving you 30 random facts about me! I love reading and creating lists like these- they appeal to my desire for randomness,while simultaneously making you feel like you’re getting to know someone in all their little details.

Here we go!

1…I was born with black hair and blue eyes. Where they went, I have no clue…

2…I can count to 10 in six languages…

3…It used to be seven, but I’ve completely forgotten my college Arabic…

4…I have a few double jointed fingers…

5…I have an affinity for remembering the lines from my favorite movies…

6…In 5th grade, I wanted to be a forensic anthropologist…

7…I had hair down to my knees for the majority of my childhood..

8…I have chronic foot/ankle pain from years spent dancing on pointe…

9…I’m allergic to cashews…

10…I’ve never had the chickenpox…

11…English is my third language…

12…My work commute is exactly two minutes…

13…I love the smell of freshly ground coffee…

14…I’m first generation American…

15…I own over 30 pairs of shoes…

16…I live in an apartment with an entirely lavender bathroom…

17…I wear the diamond ring my parents bought me for high school graduation everyday…

18…I’m 27 and I own several stuffed animals…

19…There’s a special place in my heart for overweight cats…

20…There’s a plaque in my elementary school with my name on it, somewhere…

21…There’s a section of my closet devoted to evening gowns…

22…I learned to walk in my grandmother’s kitchen in Austria…

23…I have a beauty mark in my left armpit…

24…I genuinely enjoy bourbon…

25…I’ve dreamed of living in SF since I was a kid…

26…I’m just crazy about Audrey Hepburn…

27…Purple is my favorite color…

28…I love flower-flavored desserts…

29…It’s a goal of mine to own a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes…

30…I used to be terrified of dogs, but now can’t wait to own one…

EVA♥

“Taking Stock”

Posted on October 28, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

Today, I was inspired by the lovely Pip, whose blog, Meet Me at Mike’s, I stumbled upon while browsing around A Pretty Penny. Yes, much of my downtime is spent perusing other people’s blogs. It’s a relaxing little activity that helps me decompress. I loved this little checklist that I stumbled upon, and decided to recreate my own in the spirit of Blogtober.

Belated…or early…TBT to a local farmers’ market with some of my favorite people. This picture makes me happy.

My very first “Taking Stock” post! Let’s get to it:

Making : mental plans for my mid-week day off tomorrow.
Cooking : whatever I can find in my freezer. I’ve been getting really creative using up the contents of my pantry, too. I’ve turned out some delicious surprises.
Drinking : San Pellegrino Sparkling Pomegranate & Orange. A new flavor for me! Slightly interesting…
Reading: The contents of my Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. I desperately need a new autumn dish to bake.
Wanting: Friday. Is it Halloween yet?!
Playing: new music on Spotify, courtesy of P.
Wishing: that I had enough energy to stay up an extra hour. There are always things that need doing!
Enjoying: reruns of Modern Family on my tiny television.
Waiting: for “Congratulations on your new job” earrings from Baublebar to arrive in the mail! Love their stuff!
Liking: the fact that I have two whole weekdays off this week! I’m spoiled.
Wondering: whether or not to go to ballet class tomorrow morning….
Loving: Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice latte season. Yes, I’m one of those girls.
Marveling: at how many things I’ve done today.
Needing: a stylish new duvet cover to perk things up.
Smelling: the lingering scent of my Twilight shower gel from Lush.
Wearing: my soft new pajama set. I first saw them on Vanilla Extract and had to have them!
Thinking: about the missing pieces of my Halloween costume I have yet to purchase.
Knowing: that today was a good day.
Opening: 800 tabs at a time in my browser. It’s my new bad habit.
Giggling: at Jimmy Kimmel’s “Elsaween” video- watch it here. So true!
Feeling: accomplished.

EVA♥

A Letter to My Younger Self

Posted on October 27, 2014 by 4evamaria

Dear Little Eva,

It’s me: Adult Eva, from the future. (Could this get weirder? I think not. Just go with me on this…)

I may be 22 years older than you, but I’m still figuring things out. Life can be all sorts of confusing, and there’s always some crazy new thing that gets thrown at you. I’m not saying that I haven’t picked up a few gems of wisdom along the way. So, here are some tidbits of advice that might help you out:

Half your head is bangs. Get a trained professional to fix this ASAP.
While very endearing, red and pink are not quite the same color. You’ll figure this out eventually.
Always, always, always wear shorts under your dress. Those metal slides will burn your butt something awful.
I know you’re coming right out of the 80’s, but try to wear some real pants every-once-in-a-while. You’ll have your whole adulthood to live in Lululemon leggings. Amazing, right?
There’s nothing scary under the bed or in the closet, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
Sliding on parquet flooring in your tights is really fun- just say no. Loosing teeth is a really big hassle.
Yes, some bushes have berries. No, it doesn’t mean you should eat them. Save your mother the freak-outs please.
And speaking of freak-outs, stop taking your emotional cues from adults. They’re not the end-all-be-all, and can overreact at times. If anyone hasn’t told you this yet: everything is going to be fine.
Also…pennies. Quit eating pennies. It’s not attractive.

Remember that you’re a good kid, no matter how hard other people might be on you, and quit being hard on yourself. You’re a brave and spunky little person, and you should be proud of it. Also, good job on the good grades and the being nice to people. One day you’ll look back at your younger self, full of nostalgia, and be happy with the way things went. So, enjoy!

Love,

EVA♥

Happy.

Posted on October 26, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I can’t believe that Blogtober…erm, I mean October is almost over! I hope that you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. I’m rather late to the party on this Blogtober prompt, but I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while. What makes you happy?

October has consistently been a month of change over the last few years. Four years ago, I moved into my beloved little Barbie house of an apartment. It’s been the month of starts and stops- all positive. This year’s October has lived up to its reputation, to say the least. I’ve hit some milestones on Watch Me Juggle, and have written more than ever. Being so busy this month has only added fuel to the fire, and I’ve been making an extra effort to fit in all the important things in my life. I finally started teaching as a substitute in the local schools. It’s been an adjustment, but I have a good feeling about it. It’s just a new work/life schedule. So, what does this have to do with being happy?

I recently came across this little post on Instagram. Yes, it’s a little quote from yours truly. I vaguely remember having a poetic moment while teaching one evening, but I was so incredibly touched that my words resonated with one of my students. I’m perhaps doubly surprised at how my own words resonate with me, months later. The thing is, while there are always things in life that you could want, I’m glad to say that there’s nothing in life that I find I still need. There’s always room for improvement, but the surest way to making yourself unhappy is to look for all the things you don’t have. Sure, nothing is a guarantee in my life, and I, like most people, wish to never have to see another bill as long as I live. However, if you look at everything in context, those things aren’t really the important ones. I’m pretty amazed that I get to wake up in my own little home every morning, get to make a living doing something I love, and am surrounded by wonderful people. I just feel lucky, and happy.

I must say it’s hard to be particularly thoughtful on a Sunday night. I sure did try!

Good luck out there 😉

EVA♥

Lazy Girl Skincare

Posted on October 25, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Happy Saturday! It’s finally here! This week has just flown by, and I’m so looking forward to the weekend. I’ve survived my very first week moonlighting as a substitute teacher, too. Barely! I kid…but I got to write my name on the board and everything. I promise to share more stories later, they just keep coming.

Today’s prompt started out as “One Beauty Product You Can’t Live Without.” Well…if you know me, you know that I’m rather fickle when it comes to my beauty products. I love experimenting and trying new things. If I had to pick one thing under this category, it would probably be my very favorite “lipstick” from YSL: ‘Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy’ Glossy Lip Balm in No. 5, the perfect berry shade. I’ve gone through two tubes of these, no joke. It was the first tube of lipstick I’ve ever used. Pictured, it’s the one to the far right.

Can we gawk at the packaging for a minute? It’s like a gorgeous paperweight!

I digress, as usual.

I’ve recently stumbled across the most significant skincare product of my life: Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Peel.

It’s the very first thing that has ever visibly made a difference, almost overnight. I get compliments as to how clear and smooth my skin looks frequently. I can’t say enough good things about it. The amazing thing about this product is how versatile it is. The Boss Lady was the very first person to introduce me to it. She looks at least 10 years younger than she actually is, and is, therefore, a fantastic source of skincare advice. I initially thought that my mother would really enjoy it, but then a sample of their “Extra Strength” peel was conveniently popped into my bag at the local Sephora. I was totally hooked, and now my mother is too!

Now, I realize that chemical peels sound scary. The thought of it really scared me too, at first. I kept envisioning the “Sex and the City” episode where Samantha leaves the dermatologist with a raw hamburger-looking face. Eeek! But, this product is so gentle and pretty much fool-proof. Rub the first towelette on your face, wait three minutes, then rub the second. That’s it. It’s like baby-wiping your face, except you wake up the next day and your skin looks flawless.I suffer from the occasional cyst on my chin (Yay hormones!), and the subsequent dark marks they leave behind. No amount of cleansers or scrubs or acne creams have helped. This has.

I rest my case.

EVA♥

Men vs. Plants

Posted on October 23, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I was having dinner with my girlfriend Courtney the other evening. She’s recently redecorated her house in anticipation of a new roommate. New couch, some throw pillows, a bit of pushing the furniture around- I’ve seen the final product and really quite homey. Somewhere along the line, she brought up her new plant friend. The only bit of green in the living room, but she was entirely perplexed as to how to care for it. Sure, succulents seem to be the latest “trendy plant.” They’re everywhere: mounted on walls in picture frames, in antique punch bowls, and hanging from glass orbs from the ceiling. They’re versatile and pretty spectacular to look at.

There’s only one problem: how are you supposed to take care of them?

I had about as much of a clue as Courtney. I’ve had limited experience with them, but I’m fairly sure they’re really low maintenance. To my knowledge, all you do is spray your succulent with water every week, or so. Her plant’s care instructions simply stated to only water if the soil was dry. Other than that, leave it alone. Both of us were confused: how do you know how it’s doing? It doesn’t appear to be dying, but leaves are falling off? Is this normal? What is the thing feeling?

So I got to thinking…men are very much like plants, aren’t they?

Is it doing alright?

Do I need to water it?

Is it happy where it’s sitting?

Is it getting enough light?

Does it think I’m nagging it? Wait…what?

Within this analogy, I’ll admit that I do not have green thumb. Once I spent an entire winter nurturing a Paperwhite Narcissus; have it grow, never blossom, and then die. It was rather depressing. So, in my experience men come with the same convoluted instructions: check in occasionally, make sure it’s not dead, and water. Oh, and cross your fingers. It’s supposed to be really straightforward, but can be really confusing at times. Personally, I’m used to caring for pets, or spending time with my girlfriends, so anything else is completely new territory to me. My point in all this? Yes, like a plant, a new guy in your life can be a wonderful addition. When you find yourself overthinking things, trust yourself enough to leave it alone. I know it’s hard to believe, but I think it really is that simple.

Also, you’re not alone, girl. Men are strange.

EVA♥

Only moderately peevish…

Posted on October 22, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

Today’s Blogtober prompt: Pet peeves. Now, this perplexed me a bit, as the majority of the month’s prompts have been entirely positive. Writing about pet peeves seems like inviting yourself to a one person bitch-fest, pardon my French. On the other hand, pet peeves are entirely innocuous. They’re personal, and don’t even have to make sense, really. And I’m sure I’m probably the embodiment of someone else’s pet peeves, so it’s all in good fun. Here are a few of my pet peeves:

Holding the door open for men and not being acknowledged. At all. Eye contact and a smile would be nice, at the very least. I am not your personal doorman or a doorstop. If the roles were reversed I would most certainly thank you. Common courtesy, learn it.

People chewing with their mouths open. This makes me want to slap anyone instantly. I know, it’s totally unreasonable.

People that don’t give up their seats for the elderly, heavily pregnant women, and/or women with small children on public transportation. Rude. Just rude.

Your car has a turn signal for a reason. Use it.

People who like to listen to the same song over and over…and over again. It’s like beating the dead horse you used to really like. Now I never want to hear that song ever again. Stop it!

People that order ridiculously complicated food or beverages. For example, I once found myself in line behind a woman at Starbucks who asked for a venti, no-foam, half-caf, quad, nonfat, sugar-free vanilla latte, with 10 Splenda. Yes, that’s right: 10 Spenda packets. They asked her to repeat her order, I’m convinced out of sheer disbelief. I feel like this has come up before on the blog, but it’s one of those things I can’t forget even if I tried.

On a similar note, picky eaters drive me up the wall. Everyone is entitled to his/her preferences, but when you refuse to eat 90% of all foods, or can’t eat food that has touched other food, we need to start questioning your level of adult.

Celebrities who insist on giving their children nicknames, or strange nouns for their proper names: Apple, Ace, Mars, Alabama, Peaches, Fifi, and, my favorite, Moon Unit.

#Excessive #use #of #hashtags! #Itsevenbetterwhenyouputanentiresentencetogetherlikeitsawordbutitsahashtag. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

…

OK! I think I’m done…for now. If you want more fabulous pet peeve posts, go check out The Daily Tay and Helene in Between, the lovely creators of #Blogtober14.

EVA♥

…and a Piñata

Posted on October 21, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

It was recently my friend Rachel’s birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with a sunny backyard barbecue? We had the required array of food: hot dogs, barbecue chicken, salads, chips and dip. There was good weather, good company, and good food, so it was a perfect afternoon in my book. Also, there was a piñata. I’m sure you could gather as much from the photos.

The innocuous, sparkling Dora the Explorer-covered star seemed to bring out the security dog in Maddie. She was entirely determined to rescue us all from its threatening presence. If you look closely, the star seems to only have four points, as she dismembered it as we were in the process of stringing it up. We had to remove her from the yard just so the birthday girl could take the piñata out properly. Of course, we let Maddie have her fun with the remnants, yet she wasn’t happy until she had systematically taken it apart. Bless her- I’m convinced the sparkling streamers just weren’t her style.

The afternoon also happened to coincide with Fleet Week, so we had the pleasure of having a Blue Angels flyover. I told Rachel it was entirely in honor of her birthday, obviously. I left the party with a purse full of candy- some things never change.

I can’t believe that October is flying by so quickly! I’m looking forward to getting into the Halloween spirit, and am steadily stocking up on my pumpkin-flavored goodies from Trader Joe’s. I’m enjoying Fall while I can…only 63 more days until Christmas, and not enough hours in the day.

EVA♥

The Whirlwind

Posted on October 20, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I hope your Mondays treated you well. Mine was quite the doozy, if I may. I may have fallen off the daily blogging bandwagon (it’s really hard blogging on Sundays!), but there are still plenty of adventures to write about! This last, very busy weekend, I had a wonderful time running about San Francisco. One of the highlights was a girls’ afternoon tea at the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus.

The famous stained glass dome.

Afternoon tea isn’t complete without a glass of good champagne, obviously.

My goal was to finish the entire tub of strawberry butter that came with my popover. I didn’t meet it, but I came awful close!

A chicken consomme amuse bouche. The cup isn’t nearly as big as it should be.

A tower of treats.

Delicious Dammann Frères black tea, flavored with strawberries, rhubarb, and flower petals.

The inside of my strawberry macaron. And the mess I made of my scone.

Lovely ladies!

Photo c/o Patrick Baron

It’s been years since I’ve visited the Rotunda, and I’ve missed the ceremony of the place. Let’s face it, I love any excuse to strap on my Vivienne Westwood barbie-looking shoes and eat delicious food. I first discovered their luxurious tea service back in high school, when my girlfriends and I would giggle over the same pot of tea for hours on the rare weekday off. I may be 10 years older, but little has changed. Ok…well, there’s the champagne addition to the tea service, but that’s about it!

I ended the week with a little city adventure, and got to take in the beautiful view from the top of the Lyon St. steps. We’ve also been unbelievably spoiled with beautiful weather as of late, and it’s a rare occasion indeed when you find yourself wandering out and about without a jacket. It’s one of the things I love about living in the bay area. Despite the fact that I’ve considered San Francisco my stomping grounds for most of my life, I’m still discovering new places, and there have been no two weekends alike. While I’m always a bit sad at the end of the weekend (hello Sunday Phenomenon!), it’s been a great kick-off to what looks like a promising week.

EVA♥