Disneyland, Here I come!

A Week in L.A.

My little munchkin just turned 4 and what better way to celebrate than a week at Disneyland. Of course, being the devoted parent that I am, I figured that after having a photo op with Cinderella, I could also squeeze in a few fun, grown-up activities.

Since my father and I were traveling with two small kids and would be alone until my hubby and mother's arrival later in the weekend, I knew I had to prep ahead of time.

1. Clothing: I don't know about you, but I'm a horrible packer. When traveling, I always pack too much or too little and nothing works together. I often feel like a hot mess and regret bringing most of my outfits. But I am now a born-again packer. After religiously following Camila Coelho's YouTube channel, I found a packing tutorial with amazing and very helpful packing tips (It's as if she read my mind). Thus, the week before the trip, I planned 8 daytime outfits and 3 nighttime outfits. I placed each outfit and matching accessories in a ziplock back. This may sound crazy, but it was great to wake up, grab a bag, and get dressed in just a few minutes and before my bundles of joy began asking for breakfast. Best of all, I felt comfortable, confident, and cute.

2. Places to Visit: Ideally, I wanted to take a dance class, dive into the ocean, and eat pao de queijo and acai at a quaint but very busy Brazilian cafe. Well, it did not happen this way. Did you know that everything in L.A. is an hour away--Everything!!!!

Though I did not make it to some of the places below
, I hope you can.

• Brasil Brasil Cultural Center: Great place for dance classes and Brazilian stuff. In 1 hour, you can buy a Brazilian-cut bikini, show off your favorite dance moves, and learn more about the Brazilian community in L.A. They know it all!

My little girl showing off her moves at an Aquarela Carnaval rehearsal. Next time, I will definitely take her to a dance class in L.A.

• Daily News Los Angeles: This is a great site with upcoming Brazilian-related events in LA. I suggest you look at the site prior to your trip.

• Fogo de Chao: I am fortunate to have a gaucho (aka South American cowboy) as a dad. Some of my best memories of my father involves a Brazilian-style BBQ steak and potato salad. He is such an amazing cook that I often wonder if hubby married me because of my winning personality or because of my dad's cooking. Being the case, I often don't eat at steakhouses. I actually rarely order red meat or chicken when at a restaurant. It sounds crazy but I know that my dad can make it better, and believe me, he does. However, if you have not been invited to one of my dad's BBQs, you should definitely visit Fogo de Chao. The food is amazing and very authentic. FYI: It is a little pricey.

• Huntington Beach, California: Next time I visit the LA region, I am staying at Huntington Beach. I loved the city and beach. The sand was scalding hot, the beach goers were friendly, and the lifeguards were cute (If only they wore speedos). Surprisingly, the beach was only 30 minutes and not an hour from Disney and the weather was great.   

This is how I envision future lifeguards of America. 

  Beijos and enjoy your week!

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