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!

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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!

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Rodson de Jesus: An Amazing Dancer and Dance Instructor

Rodson de Jesus

If you are looking for a fabulous (yes, fabulous) dance class, you must try Rodson's class on Tuesdays or Sundays at Casa de Cultura in Berkeley. He is an exceptional dancer, amazing teacher, and San Francisco's Carnaval King.

If you are still not convinced, let me tell you about Rodson. He is a Brazilian native who has performed and taught all over the world. A former ‎Balé Folclórico da Bahia and Dance Brazil dancer, he is known for his energy and talent. The man can really dance!

Rodson's classes are fun, lively, and a great workout. Carefully, he breaks down the steps and guides students through various moves while playing Brazilian songs by some of my favorite artist.

Whenever I attend his class, I am always impressed by his attention to details and caring personality. For instance, after showing a move, he guides students through the same move before adding on the next step. It's odd to say but his teaching style puts me at ease, so I end up really enjoying myself and getting a great workout.

Here is a beautiful performance from ‎Balé Folclórico da Bahia

Beijos and enjoy your week!

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False Lashes

As a performer, I've come to accept that false lashes is as important to a performance as accessories. Somehow, the lashes make my eyes and make-up pop! However, I have a difficult time putting false lashes on. Somehow, it ends up lopsided or it comes off at unexpected times.

See how my eye pop. Love it!

To remedy this shortcoming (Really, I'm a hot mess when it comes to applying false lashes), I have included a tutorial from Camila Coelho, my favorite blogger.

Can you guess which of the dancer are wearing false lashes? 









Beijos and enjoy your week!

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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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Getting Ready for a Show

Show prep time!!

Over the years, I've come to understand and except that clients want to see an Amazon-looking dancer or a dancer who oozes out Latinness (I can't believe it took me so long to figure this out!). They want the tanned skin, long and voluminous hair, impeccable makeup, and eye-catching outfit. And though I resisted this idea for some time, I have now come to accept it and embrace it. I now LOVE getting ready for a show.

Getting ready for a show takes some planning but it's always worth it. First, it's imperative that I know where I'm going to perform. I once wore flip-flops and shorts to a backyard party that turned out to be a Google company event (Some backyard party. I still cringe at the thought). Not only did I stand out like a sore thumb, but I felt like an idiot for most of the day. In knowing the location and sponsor of the event, I can then plan my look.

Though the outfits vary, I have a few musts. For one, I start with great shoes. "Why?" You may ask. I have no clue; I just love fun and eye-catching shoes. It can be a pair of heels or flats; it doesn't matter. They must, however, stand out. Next, I accessorize like there is no tomorrow. This means the earrings are bold and the bracelets are abundant. If I don't jingle (not jiggle), I'm not happy. Once the outfit is done, I work on my makeup and hair. I love big hair and believe that I, in my past life, was Rapunzel or Chaka Khan's twin sister. As for my makeup, I load up on dark, shinny eye makeup and keep my lips neutral until the show. The intense eyes with neutral lips give me a sexy and mysterious look. To wrap up the Brazilian samba dancer look, I spritz a little perfume. After all, no self-proclaimed Brazilian leaves the house without perfume; it's a cultural must. Done!


Getting ready may seem like a whole day event but it actually takes me less than 1 hour.  In the end, I feel comfortable and confident when I arrive at a show and am happy to meet the client's expectations. By God, they want a samba dancer, so I will give them one!

Show time!

Beijos and enjoy your week!

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