Summer Plans

Oi gente,

My parents recently bought a condo in Fortaleza for the family to enjoy, relax, and cheer on the Brazilian soccer team during the World Cup. This for sure is a dream come true for the whole family. Needless to say, I have officially started the countdown to summer vacation. With only 5 weeks left, I now daydream of coconut water, tapioca ice-cream, a whole lot of sun (odd since I don't like to sunbath), and men in speedos!

Oddly enough, my excitement parallels my anxiety. I grew up in the US and consider it my home, so the idea of spending two whole months in Brazil is odd, fascinating, and amazing. I find myself wondering about the culture and people, but most of all, I wonder if I will fit in and like it.

To make my trip a sure success, I started a Must Do list. While in Fortaleza, I want to take Forro lessons. Forro is a Brazilian dance with its origin in the Nordeste (North East) of the country and I hope that hubby and I can one day become the Forro version of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.


Once we master the dance (or at least learn not to step on each other's feet), I want to attend all (yes, all) the quadrilha parties in the area. In June, the north of Brazil celebrates Sao Joao (Saint John) with private and public quadrilhas (Brazilian Hoedown). In some ways, it's the carnaval celebration of the north but without the bikinis.

Without a doubt, my summer vacation will be a lasting and enjoyable experience.

Time for a Break

Oi Gente,

Now that the San Francisco Carnaval Ball is over, I have decided to take a much needed break. Yes, I love dancing and performing, but at times I just want a whole lot of nothing!

   Ideas for my next costume!

Of course, this feeling does not last long and almost immediately the idea of working on a costume or getting ready for the San Francisco Carnaval parade pops into my head. To cope with my dilemma, I have decided to take a little break during March and start up again in mid-April.                 

Aside from grading papers, I plan on finish The Painter of Battles by Arturo Perez-Reverte. This is SO not the book for me, but I am captivated by the protagonist's actions and thoughts. Not only do I picture a James Bond looking character (Pierce Brosnan of course), but I am also fascinated by all the testosterone that oozes from the book. What I mean is that this is a GUY book and I love it!

Once my break is over, I will work on a parade costume and prep for my World Cup vacation!. World Cup 2014, here I come!!!

San Francisco Carnaval Ball 2014

Carnaval Ball 2014

Oi Gente,

I love Carnaval!!! The energy of the crowd, the intoxicating music, and the Speedy Gonzales' footwork always puts a smile on my face. This year's Carnaval was not exception.

The San Francisco Carnaval Ball was great and a testament that hard word does pay off. For four hours, Aquarela dancers danced, paraded, and entertained a lively and energetic crowd. No kidding, we danced non-stop the whole night and I loved every minute of it! Click here for a fun video of the night.

Twice a week for the past 2 months, we have rehearsed and danced to some of my new favorite songs. They are cute, sexy, lively, and I below you will find YouTube videos of the songs:
* Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Michael Telo
* Cavalinho Filhos do Sol
* So Vai de Camarote by Groupo Revelacao. By far my favorite! Below, you can see a photo of our outfits.
* Eu Quero Tchu, Eu Quero Tcha by Joao Lucas and Marcelo
* Piradinha by Gariel Valim
* Show das Poderosas by Anitta

 Of course the night was not complete without samba performances. The above songs are great, but nothing compares to the energy and beauty of samba. During the night, we danced (Aquarela video) to amazing samba de enredo and batucada songs and wore various and fabulous bikini costumes. I even painted my nails red to help set off the sambista look!

Beijos and enjoy your week!

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New Red Back Piece

Oi Gente


I have been dying to show off my new back piece, but things have been crazy with Carnaval related shows, Carnaval Ball preparations, and my awful cold. We have been rehearsing twice a week and workshopping costume and dance ideas for each show, which leaves me little time for other samba things. Regardless, I am still dying to show off the latest addition to my samba costume collection!

One of the first back pieces I have ever made was a large, lotus-leaf, gold and red pack piece. It was beautiful and impressive but the size was cumbersome and the style, after a while, became outdated. After  brainstorming for weeks, I decided to take apart the back piece and use the materials to make a new and elaborate piece.


I started off with metal frames I bought in Rio de Janeiro. The carnaval frame goes on like a backpack and can be molded to fit just right.

Once I had the frame molded to fit my needs, I wrapped it with foam and a thin nylon fabric. The foam serves to cushion and protect the frame against my skin and the fabric helps hold the foam in place. I followed by wrapping the frame with a bright-red strap and secured the ends with hot blue.

To the center of the frame, I added red ostrich feathers and a few pheasant feathers for an extra pop. I then embellished the shoulder straps with swarovski crystals and was done.

The whole process took me four night and now I have a gorgeous back piece to go along with my new bikini. Love it!

Beijos and enjoy your day!

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Instagram: The conundrum!

To Instagram, or Not to Instagram, that is the Question

For years, I have struggled with the idea of having an Instagram account. Having another social media account to manage and follow just overwhelmed me. Call me old-fashioned but I like an electronic free day.

At the same time, it is all around me. My friends and students rave about it and I can see the social and marketable benefits associated with it.

I finally gave in and signed up for Instagram. I now love it! (Not the idea of having another app on my phone or another account to manage, but all the great photos I see). I follow some of my favorite artist and carnavalescos (carnaval producers).

Below, I have included the names of some of my favorite pasistas (samba dancers) and carnaval lovers:





Facarnavaloficial: Managed by Claudio Medeiros

He uploads the latest and most beautiful Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo carnaval photos.

Laurakelleroficial: Managed by Laura Keller. 

Beautiful pasista and beautiful costumes.

Neguinhasambista: Managed by Neguinha Sambista from Aquarela.
She is a social butterfly, so you are bound to see the latest on SF Bay Brazilian events.

Renatasantosoficial: Managed by Renata Santos. 

She was recently selected the muse of Mangueira samba school in Rio de Janeiro

Evelynbastoss: Managed by Evelyn Bastoss.
She was Mangueira's rainha da bateria (queen of the percussion section)

Dominique425: Managed by Dominique 

 She is one of Aquarela's principal dancers. I simply love following her because of her style and taste. Plus, she follows the best sambistas.  

Giljungoficial: Managed by Gil Jung, an Brazilian bikini line. 

They include great photos of carnaval sambistas and their bikini line. 

K-riocasambashow: Managed by Samba K-Rioca Show. 

They include photos from their latest events, so you are bound to see photos of Brazilian bands, sambistas, and promoters.

Graoficial: Managed by Gracyanne Barbosa. 

She is a Brazilian fitness model and pasista. Unlike the above, Gracyanne includes loads of videos. 

Caju93: Managed by yours truly 

I'm new to the Instagram game, but I enjoy following and posting anything related to samba.

Beijos and enjoy your week!

If you like my post, please leave a comment below or click on Follow. I love to hear what you think and appreciate your support. 

Brown rice and Broccoli

As a samba dancer, I have come to accept that physical appearance is just as important as my dance abilities. Really, think about it. When performing, one is not just showing off one's dance moves;  the dancer is also living up to the expectations of the audience. Thus, when out on the dance floor, I must live up to the image of the perfect samba dancer, an Amazon-looking lady who is fit, tanned, stylish, and looks great in a g-sting. Needless to say, this is not always easy, especially when I open another can of condensed milk.

To keep me motivated, I follow my "Brown rice and Broccoli" mantra. Let me explain. Before retiring, Maria Sousa, the founder of Aquarela, would attend rehearsals regularly, give us constructive criticisms, and gently say, "The Carnaval Ball is coming. So brown rice and broccoli for everyone." We always smiled but were aware that the smack down had to begin.

Unfortunately, denying myself of any food has never worked for me. Like a moth to a flame, I instantly gravitate and want what I can't have. The minute I vow to never eat red meat or open a can of condensed milk, I find myself with a plate full of churrasco or brigadeiro. I just can't do it! So, I turned "Brown rice and broccoli" into a mantra reminding me to exercise, eat right, and stay healthy.

Brown Rice and Broccoli Routines and Habits:

Rehearsal time with Dominique

After dinner and when the hustle and bustle of begin a mom is all over, I walk or job on my treadmill for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week (The number of days depends on the number of rehearsal days). The exercise clears my mind, makes me a happier person (Really, I feel positive and energized the next day), and keeps me in shape. If I miss a day, I get upset, for I really really enjoy those 30 minutes of me, Netflix, and treadmill time.

As for my eating habits, I try to follow the French. Why not? They eat cheese, bread, and wine like it's going out of style and still manage to say in shape. So like the French, I eat 4 times a day: I have breakfast, lunch, snack (usually a cup of coffee with a pastry), and dinner. On the weekends and only on the weekends do I enjoy a can of condensed milk poured over fruits, yogurt, or plain (usually the latter!). I also make a point of sitting down when eating (This can be a huge challenge when my little munchkins are around). By putting my food on a plate and sitting down, I become more conscious of what I eat and how much I am eating.

It took me a while to establish healthy habits and routines, but I am glad I did. Somehow, it all works for me and keeps me sane, happy, healthy and fit.

Beijos and enjoy your week!

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Goals for the New Year 2014

Goals for the New Year

Every year, I see friends and family members set New Year's resolutions and for a hot minute, I think of doing the same. Then I remember I don't believe in them. Instead, I like to set goals, which I accomplish and then am free to set new goals throughout the year. This year, I will do the same.

For now, I have simple goals. After all, I no longer have a master's degree program hanging over my head (Yeah!). This means, I am free to enjoy my nights and weekends and no longer have to lock myself in a room and study the day away. I digress. My goals for now are to (1) enjoy those around me, (2) complete unfinished projects, and (3) plan a baby shower for a good friend and former San Francisco Carnaval Queen--no pressure!


Goal 1: Aquarela's Bring in the New Year Party
To simplify things and take away the pressure of attending another holiday party in December, we decided to celebrate in January with a Welcome the New Year Party. The event was carefree and relaxing, allowing me to have a great time with some of my closest friends and some of the best samba dancers in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Goal 2: Finish my red Carnaval bikini
It's official, red is my new favorite color. The rhinestones and swarovski stones in the bikini bring a glitz and shine to the bikini that I was never able to achieve with just beads. The headpiece is also fabulous with color that I just can't find in the American feather market.
Update: I finally finished the bikini and love it. As an added bonus, I have a shoulder piece from a previous carnaval that goes well with the costume.

Goal 3: Baby Shower
This shower thing is a great deal of work but loads of fun. I have even created a Pinterest board with my ideas and have decided that when I come back in my next life, I want to be an event planner. The time and effort that goes into planning a single event is impressive but so much fun.

FYI: You may ask why this picture. As I mentioned before, she is a SF Carnaval Queen so even her maternity photos are hot. Really, hot!


Beijos and enjoy your week!

If you like my post, please leave a comment below or click on Follow. I love to hear what you think and appreciate your support.