I Like Food

Posted on July 8, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hi.

My name is Eva, and I like food.

I like food so much that while I’m eating food, I’m thinking about other food. I often plan my free time around what meals I’m looking forward to eating, or what restaurants I’ve always wanted to go to. When traveling, my favorite tourist destination is the grocery store. I guess you could call me a “foodie.” Don’t let my size, or the fact that I’m a dancer, fool you: I can throw down. I will eat my meal, my dessert, and, if you’re not careful, your dessert as well.

…

My relationship with food hasn’t always been a good one. Quite the opposite, in fact. When I was a teenager, I developed stomach ulcers, which took an extended period of time to diagnose, and took quite a toll on me mentally. Along with the constant state of nausea, there was the anxiety: social events that revolved around restaurants or food became a nightmare. While everyone chatted and enjoyed their meals, I would get pale and clammy, struggling to keep my food down and hoping no one would notice. I lived in fear of being sick in public. I spent extended periods of time in the bathroom and lost weight, which led to people inevitably concluding that I had an eating disorder. I talked to doctors, who never really listened, instead insisting I had a temporary bug or just prescribing antacids. I finally got fed up enough that I stopped eating altogether, angry that I couldn’t enjoy life the way everyone else could. Once properly diagnosed, I spent weeks taking rounds of antibiotics, sometimes up to 12 pills a day. The truth is, even doctors don’t fully understand how most ulcers are caused. (It’s often a little bacteria called H. Pylori- If you’re interested, there’s always light reading to be found on Google.) Years later, I sat down to an amazing lunch with some of my college roommates and reflected on how I once was afraid of eating in public. I think I have to credit all those negative experiences when I look at how much I appreciate food today. It hasn’t been the easiest thing, but I love how the right meal can make things feel right again. Food can be physically and emotionally nourishing, and being healthy and eating well is something I enjoy integrating into my daily routine. I think there’s a lot to be said for listening to your body- for treating yourself when you deserve it, taking care of yourself, and sometimes changing habits when things don’t feel quite right. There’s no shame in asking for a little help, if you need it.

Oh, and for those of you wondering, the above meal pictured is from dinner at Fish in Sausalito. It’s fresh, sustainable seafood right on the water. I went this last weekend and sat right at the counter where I could see the food being prepared. It’s unpretentious, delicious, and entertaining; I’ve spent afternoons on the dock there with a good book and a bowl of their ceviche. If you’re ever in the area, it’s well worth checking out. Call me first, though.

EVA♥

Happy Days

Posted on July 7, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

It seems like an absurd amount of time has passed since my last post. I’m not entirely sure how all the “pro” bloggers out there do it! If I’m ever not posting, it’s usually because I’m out doing fun things and experiencing life, which I will, naturally, write about. What I can’t seem to coordinate, however, is the doing things and writing about doing things simultaneously. Perhaps a time machine is in order…

On another note, I hope everyone had a lovely Fourth of July. Mine was filled with good food and good company, which I believe is the definition of a good time. I attended, possibly the best family barbecue ever, with the most wholesome and elaborate dishes.

For appetizers/dessert: buratta with fig jam and toasted pistachios. Also, some patriotic berries.

A fabulous salad. Yes, that is a Christmas tablecloth. It added to the festive feel of the occasion.

Apparently, cooking salmon in a foil packet on the grill is the easiest and quickest thing ever. Who knew? I surely didn’t. Now all I need is a yard. And a grill…and salmon.

It’s Rachel! Grilling up seasoned zucchini straight from the garden. It doesn’t get any better.

Also part of the dessert was Voodoo Doughnut beer. It smelled like chocolate-covered pretzels and tasted of cocoa and raspberries. I highly recommend.

Pineapple, corn, and my favorite dog companion: Maddie! If you hold still enough, she will lick you to death.

After filling our bellies with delicious food, we marched down the street to the annual July 4th block party. Being the first block party I’ve ever attended, I was quite impressed. Aside from the fantastic band, beautiful decorations, and coolers of elaborate cocktails, there were more than a few fireworks. Despite the questionable practice of letting small children play with explosives, it was a really entertaining evening. This, of course, might have been helped by the concoction of blueberry lemonade, mint, and vodka I was drinking. I finally decided to call it a night after some movie watching, and realizing that what I thought was a sprig of mint in my cup was, in actuality, grass.

Good times. Hope everyone’s July is off to a good start!

EVA ♥

Five Things

Posted on July 2, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

It’s been a long day at the summer job, and, I must say, dancers are some of the most meticulous people I’ve ever met. Despite the sometimes tiring commute, I’ve been enjoying working in San Francisco, albeit for a short time. I’ve met up with friends, and eaten some delicious food, so it’s all quite worth it. Today’s (rather late) Five Things is entirely reflective of all the things I love: delicious food, beautiful flowers, the city, and a little Audrey Hepburn for good measure. Combine these things and you have….me. In a nutshell.

One of my favorite lunch spots in downtown SF is undoubtedly Bamboo Asia. Imagine the Chipotle business model, but set up to represent a variety of Asian cultures: Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indian. Pick a station and enjoy! My favorites are the rainbow-colored sushi bowls.

After 10 days, my beautiful flowers from our “Big Show” are still going strong. They’re such a nice sight to wake up to.

I’ve been taking the ferry directly into San Francisco these days. I bet you that the views on my commute are better than yours! One could get used to this.

I recently discovered Frenchiebutt on Instagram. Should this peanut of a dog ever be available for adoption, I’m taking the first flight out to Seattle ASAP. What a sweet face!

As some of you may know, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is my favorite movie of all time. I’ve made it a tradition of mine to watch it every year for my birthday since my 17th. I imagine if my alter ego ever did move to New York, she would be something like Holly Golightly: drinking milk from champagne flutes and storing her ballet slippers in the ‘fridge.

EVA♥

The Best Saturdays

Posted on July 1, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I had my first work-free Saturday morning this last weekend. If you can call dancing with two dozen four-year-olds work. (Yes. Yes you can.) I spent the morning with two of my girlfriends having brunch at the ferry building in San Francisco. To make things even better, each Saturday features a winding farmer’s market. You’ll find your typical, locally grown produce and flowers, but also San Francisco favorites like Blue Bottle Coffee and artisan pastries from Craftsman & Wolves.

After a latte, a filling breakfast at Market Bar, and some healthy people watching,we braved the crowds inside the ferry building to Boulette Larder’s stand. Despite the fact that I’ve been here dozens of times, I never once sampled their infamous beignets. Covered in cinnamon, sugar, and Valrhona chocolate, they were warm little puffs of sweet air. These isn’t your traditional deep-fried rectangle covered by an inch of powdered sugar, oh no! They were entirely unique and entirely delicious. I can’t wait for next weekend so I can go back for more.

Beautiful, and rare, blue sky first thing in the morning.

Sunny faces. I would have bought some, but I still had an apartment’s worth of flowers from my show last week.

The morning isn’t complete without coffee. It’s just not.

Good food, good company. Oh, and mimosas!

Soft scrambled eggs with ricotta. Delicious!

And, voilà! The bite-sized beignets. Yummy.

Who’s coming with me next weekend? All those delicious things aren’t going to eat themselves!

One of the many reasons I so enjoy living in the Bay Area.

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♥

Kitchen Adventures

Posted on June 26, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I’m sure many of you remember the Frankenstein-of-cupcakes I created in my kitchen a while back. (Hello, weird watermelon frosting!) Today’s recipe is quite a bit different, but somehow turned out equally as strange. Luckily, the taste makes up for its questionable appearance. I’ve made a cherry clafoutis before, although using an entirely different recipe that I was unable to find this go-around. Although, it was significantly more cake-like, I believe this squishier pancake dough is perhaps more authentic. I used an amended recipe I found from Garrett McCord on Simply Recipes, and, as the name would indicate, it was quite simple. For my version, you’ll need:

2 cups of pitted cherries
1 tablespoon almond extract, or almond flavored syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 pinches of salt
1 cup milk
a splash of vanilla extract

Cherries in their still-frozen state. They got a lot uglier once defrosted, I’m afraid…

While the cherries defrosted, I practiced my one-handed egg cracking skills. Which is why all of the egg yolks look so destroyed in this photo. Whoops!

Batter’s done and cherries are ready to go in the bottom of my favorite Le Creuset baking dish.

After 1 hour of baking at 350 degrees, I was left with the below masterpiece.

It’s a little cherry-heavy, and forgive the missing chunk on the side. It’s where I sampled it before taking a picture. And, as the original recipe said, it did fall quite a bit while cooling down.

In hindsight, though I’ve previously used frozen cherries, I wish I had used fresh cherries despite the extra work of removing the pits. I’d also like to use a tad more flour to up it’s density. It’s awfully squishy, this one. If you don’t mind the funny texture, it’s quite sweet and delicious. I’m hoping to slice it up this evening and serve it alongside some ice cream. A pretty good accomplishment for a Thursday, if you ask me.

EVA♥

I Can’t Read

Posted on June 24, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello all!

I’m going to confess a little problem I’m having with all of you.

I can’t read.

Of course, I’m literate. I’m physically and mentally capable of reading, I just….can’t.

If you’re frustrated with this lackluster explanation, join the club. I’ve been in love with books all my life, but it’s become a rather tumultuous relationship as of late. Since I was a kid, I loved the way books smelled, the way the covers crinkled in your hands. I would read my favorites over and over again, until the pages were so dog-eared and the covers so creased they ceased to lay flat when I finally had to set them down. I would attempt to walk and read simultaneously, and got scolded at least once a week for bringing books to the dinner table and propping them in front of my plate. You could always tell my most loved stories were the ones where the pages were most stained, or most stuck-together. When I outgrew blankets, and my favorite stuffed rabbits, books were my constant companion. I can say that, as is the case with so many other bibliophiles, they were a means of escape. When I couldn’t read them, I resorted to books on tape, which was akin to falling asleep while being read a bedtime story. I still do this, on occasion. When I got to college, my roommates could always tell when I was going through a difficult time, not necessarily because I divulged everything, but often because I became a voracious consumer of books. I grabbed anything I could off our communal bookshelf, and would plow through extensive novels in mere days. At times when I couldn’t cope with my own reality, the ones in print were so much more appealing.

Over the last few years, my books and I have grown apart, and it breaks my heart. I still adore them. I eagerly run to the local bookstore to stock up on the latest bestseller, or any novel that catches my eye, really. I’ll open them, cracking their spines just enough to satisfy, and then find myself reading the same two pages over and over again. This continuous loop drives me to pick up another book, thinking that maybe this one will be different, that it will pique my interest. I’ll repeat this pattern until I’ve reached a mound of books, all relatively new, stacked by my bedside. I find can blame a lot of things for this new, maddening ritual- the TV is always on, it’s drone keeping me company. This blog, and all the other blogs out there, make for quick reading anytime. My iPhone, with all its apps and news headlines available to read right at my fingertips. My paper friends just can’t keep up with my constantly buzzing mind. I can’t even sit still long enough to read them.It’s somewhat reassuring to share these feelings with other (actual) adults I know, because, more often than not, they feel the same way. It’s much easier to check out in front of Youtube than to engage yourself in any real way. I’ve acknowledged my problem, and I’ve decided that it’s time to do something about it.

I recently came across the idea of a “blackout” night, or rather, a night in which one shuts off all electronic devices for a set period of time, usually prior to bed. While I wouldn’t classify myself as a technology addict (I much prefer the company of people I’m in a room with than the social media on my phone), it has become quite the pervasive ritual in my life. I hope at some point this summer, when I’m not meddling about in the city, the studio, or the kitchen, I’ll find some time to turn everything off and read a really good book; the kind that teaches you something, or makes you feel something at the very least. Now that I’ve shared my plan with you, I’m going to have to stick to it, lest I feel like a complete dunce by the end of the summer. You can only watch so much trashy TV. Those books aren’t going to read themselves, you know.

EVA♥

Performance “Hangover”

Posted on June 23, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I’ve been rather scarce on the blog lately, but if you’ve read my previous post, you’ll absolutely know why! “Wonderland” was a beautiful success, and I’m so glad. It was a joy to pour all my creativity in to, and I believe that all of Dance Arts Project was proud of all their hard work at the end of the day.

“So, what’s with the the blog title?” some of you are wondering.

Well, I’m currently experiencing what I have dubbed the “performance hangover.” For non-dancers out there, it’s akin to coming back home after a fabulous, much needed vacation. You’re so glad to be back, but your return simultaneously marks the end of all the vacation fun. And, boy, was it fun… but that shouldn’t justify the inexplicable sadness, should it?

I’ve been attending ballet classes and daily rehearsals like a crazy person this last week. Who rehearses at 9am? WE DO. At the end of my days I felt too tired to even sleep, illogical as it sounds. I should welcome the week-long break before moving on to my projects for the summer. The palpable vacancy in my life has left me listless, at best. Today, aside from lunch plans and running errands, was filled with a little bit of everything and nothing. I described it via text as “just sitting around, ‘watching the trashiest tv possible while simultaneously reading food blogs, and using Google to identify what was actually in my box of chocolates.'” This last idea was pure genius on my part. I digress, as is usual.

Onstage, during my final curtain call for my college company, I embarrassingly burst in to tears. This was partly from sheer exhaustion at the end of a long tour, partly from the fact that I didn’t know if I would ever have the opportunity to dance onstage again. The thought filled me with a fear I’d never felt before. When I was younger, all I ever “knew” was that I loved dancing. At the end of each show, there was always the anticipation of next year- what I would wear, what part I might have. There was never the question that I might not be dancing. The temporal nature of dance is what makes it so beautiful, but also what makes it so difficult for those who love it. There will always come a time when we must bow out, hopefully with grace and of our own volition. But, many things in life are like that. You can’t stay young forever (well, physically, anyway). I like to remind myself that the end of one thing doesn’t necessary mean an end, merely an evolution. If you love something enough to keep it in your life for 20+ years, you’ll absolutely find a way to integrate it in the rest of your years, if you so choose. It’s probably silly of me to be so preoccupied with the idea of endings after an annual show. What’s perhaps sillier is that I spent hours writing, and thinking about this post. In between snacking, dancing around my room in socks, and staring at the television. This is what my vacation looks like, I guess.

Please stick around- I’m hoping to showcase some lovely snapshots and a more formal review of our show later this week on the blog!

As always, thank you for reading.

EVA♥

Five Things

Posted on June 18, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone!

I am so excited by all of the positive feedback I got on yesterday’s Wonderland post! We like to say that although we’re in class throughout the year, unlike sporting events that happen on a weekly basis, this is our one chance to show everyone the culmination of all our hard work. The support of our audience is so meaningful, and there’s nothing like performing for your friends and family.

That being said- on to today’s Five Things! I must warn you, this Wednesday’s post is rather-flower heavy, but who doesn’t like flowers?! It’s possibly just as socially unacceptable as not liking chocolate. If either of these apply to you, keep it to yourself.

My friend Rachel just returned from China, and while her bringing back stories of Chinese wedding ceremonies would have been present enough, she also brought me some treats! Her ultimate goal was to find the oddest flavored things to feed me. The cucumber chips were weirdly sweet, and I suppose payback for the chicken chips I brought her from New Zealand, and the mango cookies tasted eerily of oreos. I also believe that the neon yellow, bunny-topped nail polish she purchased is banana scented. Guess I’ll just have to use it and find out!

Hydrangeas I found meandering through my neighborhood. They made me nostalgic for New Zealand. Imagine having these bright blue things lining every highway.

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will have noticed my latest purchase. Though highly debated, I caved and bought this snarky tank from Dimepiece LA last week. You can go make your own sandwich now.

Hawaii has been calling my name. It’s been almost a year since my first visit and I find myself feeling nostalgic when thinking about the beautiful plumeria tree outside of our condo near Turtle Bay.

Possibly the most random of today’s Five Things is this dog-eared magazine from October of 2011 I found on a recent trip to the doctor’s office. That stereotype exists for a reason. Similarly horrifying is the fact that I most likely still have this same issue of In Style floating around my apartment at the moment…I’m not ashamed.

EVA♥

Lipstick. Lipstick. More Lipstick.

Posted on June 13, 2014 by 4evamaria

Hello everyone and happy Friday!

I’ve been sitting on the temptation to do an incredibly girly, beauty-oriented post for quite a while now. I’ve quenched my thirst for all things makeup related on the internet machine for years. I’m not ashamed to admit that my evening ritual often involves watching Youtube beauty videos on my phone while curled up in bed. I find all the products the beauty industry has to offer fascinating- there’s always something newer or better to try, something that will add that extra pep in your step, so to speak. Now, I’m sure there’s many of you out there that think that you can have only so many shades of eye shadow or lip gloss before things become excessive. I’ll agree with you on some level. When purchasing makeup, I never ask myself if I absolutely “need” something, because the answer will always be no. You need things like soap and water, not a $35 tube of YSL lipstick. There’s just something about a new tube of lipstick, though. It can make you feel rejuvenated, more put-together, more special, and braver all at once. It’s an age-old tradition. As Holly Golightly said in Breakfast at Tiffany’s: “a girl doesn’t read this sort of thing without her lipstick.” I’m not sure if I understand the psychology of it, but there’s no denying it’s existence.

The above pictured doesn’t even begin to tap in to my ever-growing collection, but for those of you who appreciate a good, voyeuristic glimpse into someone else’s vanity, I’ve included my first ever swatch for you:

From top to bottom: Mac’s Ravishing, Viva Glam V, Plumful, and Brave. Rimmel London’s Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in Shade 06 (very similar to Mac’s Impassioned), Mac’s Spice It Up, and Rimmel London again in 107. Not pictured is my Chanel Rouge Coco in Boy, which I must admit is somewhat similar to the Viva Glam.

I must say, I’m rather proud of the color range I pulled out today. I recently felt like a bit of a boob when I swatched a few lipsticks, some expensive others less so, and they were all almost exactly alike. I’m trying my best to not be in too much of a rut when it comes to beauty products. I have most of my twenties to figure things out and like experiment on evenings out while attempting to not look like a child that’s gone through her mother’s makeup. But that’s what I love about it. I was never allowed to wear makeup growing up, so it’s become representative of pure fun, in adult form.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

EVA♥

Watch Me Juggle

Tag Archives: lifestyle

I Like Food

Happy Days

Five Things

The Best Saturdays

Kitchen Adventures

I Can’t Read

Performance “Hangover”

Five Things

Lipstick. Lipstick. More Lipstick.