The Canyon

Finally got to check this off the list. Right before I moved from my hometown down to Southern California in 2017, I lived so close to this amazing spot. My roommate at the time took me on a hike here … with who ended up being my roommate down south, now that I think of it. It’s an absolutely breathtaking view of the canyon that opens up into the valley where Chico resides. Right now it is so green - a fleeting and magical thing. I haven’t been back in the summertime for a couple years because this area is plagued by fires all summer. This is something that was occasional during my childhood, but constant now. Coming in Spring, before the true summer heat begins, is so ideal and I was lucky enough to get some days warm enough to want to jump into the still icy cold creek. The best of my two favorite seasons. Today is my friends’ wedding. Kelly and Jordan will be tying the knot this afternoon so I will be heading home soon to get gussied and say bye to the fam before they head to San Francisco for a concert this evening. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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Finalmente consegui tirar isso da lista. Logo antes de me mudar da minha cidade natal para o sul da Califórnia em 2017, eu morava tão perto desse lugar incrível. Meu colega de quarto na época me levou para uma caminhada aqui... com quem acabou sendo meu colega de quarto no sul, agora que penso nisso. É uma vista absolutamente deslumbrante do cânion que se abre para o vale onde reside Chico. Agora é tão verde - uma coisa fugaz e mágica. Eu não volto no verão há alguns anos porque esta área é atormentada por incêndios durante todo o verão. Isso é algo que era ocasional durante a minha infância, mas constante agora. Chegar na primavera, antes que o verdadeiro calor do verão comece, é tão ideal e eu tive a sorte de conseguir alguns dias quentes o suficiente para querer pular no riacho ainda gelado. A melhor das minhas duas temporadas favoritas. Hoje é o casamento dos meus amigos. Kelly e Jordan vão se casar esta tarde, então eu estarei indo para casa em breve para me vestir e dizer adeus à família antes de irem para San Francisco para um show esta noite. Eu espero que você tenha um fim de semana maravilhoso!

beijinhos

Mariamma

Table Mountain

Hello sweet friends! Tonight is my last night in Chico. It has been oh so quick of a visit, but utterly perfect. One of my high school buddies, Mr. Thomas Walker, was in town for just one more day when I arrived and we filled our day with multiple creek dips, scarfing burritos, catching up, a hike, and topped it off with pesto pizza and arroz con leche popsicles. It was grand. The following day I headed up to the notoriously gorgeous Spring attraction, Table Mountain, with my brother and his fiancé Abbie. These photos were taken there. The spring rains pool and feed fields upon fields of wild flowers on this flat little mountain just above Chico. Timing your Table Mountain visit is always touchy because if you go too early it’s all mud, and if you go too late the heat dries up a good portion of the flowers. We avoided most mud so it was a good day. I spent today running errands but managed to get my booty to dance class. My nails are fresh and my laundry is hanging … now I just have to pack. But first, sleep. 

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Olá queridos! Esta noite é minha última noite em Chico. Foi tão rápido de uma visita, mas absolutamente perfeita. Um dos meus amigos do colégio, o Sr. Thomas Walker, estava na cidade por apenas mais um dia quando eu cheguei e enchemos nosso dia com vários banhos de riacho, comendo burritos, alcançando uma caminhada, e cobrindo com pizza de pesto e picolés de arroz com leite. Foi grandioso. No dia seguinte, fui até a notoriamente linda atração da primavera Table Mountain (Montanha da Mesa) com meu irmão e seu noivo Abbie. Essas fotos foram tiradas lá. A primavera chove piscina e campos de alimentação em campos de flores silvestres nesta pequena montanha plana acima de Chico. O tempo de sua visita à Table Mountain é sempre delicado porque, se você for muito cedo, é tudo lama, e se você for até tarde o calor seca uma boa parte das flores. Nós evitamos a maior parte da lama, então foi um bom dia. Eu passei hoje correndo recados, mas consegui meu botim para a aula de dança. Minhas unhas estão frescas e minha roupa está pendurada ... agora eu só tenho que embalar. Mas primeiro vou dormir.

beijos

Mariamma

Golden Grove

Good morning babes! I left my purse at Jenelle’s place yesterday so I just biked over to get it and now I’m back at Naked Lounge waiting for my friend Caira. We’re having a little tea date in the park! Yesterday’s errands didn’t go quite as planned but I still got a lot done. I got a few things that I needed from Sephora, got some underwear from Victoria’s Secret, and then hit up the amazing summer sale at Forever 21. I definitely don’t need more clothes to bring but it’s perfect timing to shop for Rio because all the summer clothes are on sale this time of year! I got a red dress with little tie details on the arms and a white eyelet lace top. The dress was only $2 and it’s my favorite color! I couldn’t resist!! The last time I went to Brazil I packed so badly. I brought a bunch of things that I never ended up wearing … like bodycon dresses and six-inch heels haha. I never liked wearing those things but for some reason I thought I would there?? Rio is all cobblestone - so not so good for heels. Plus, wearing heels cuts down on one’s ability to partake in spontaneous adventures, and who wants that?! I feel like I used to buy clothes for an imaginary me and I’ve thankfully outgrown that. I’ve figured out what I like and what I feel best in and now I’m just coasting. The only problem is that this time I want to bring all these things I wish I’d brought last time and I don’t know if I’ll have room or how many suitcases to bring. One big one and two carry ons? One big, one medium, and two carry ons?? Is that excessive? Eek!

cheers to learning and living better and better

Bom dia babes! Eu deixei minha bolsa na casa de Jenelle ontem, então eu simplesmente pedi para ir e agora estou de volta ao Naked Lounge esperando pela minha amiga Caira. Estamos fazendo um cházinho no parque! Os recados de ontem não foram tão planejados, mas ainda tenho muito trabalho feito. Eu peguei algumas coisas que eu precisava da Sephora, peguei algumas roupas íntimas da Victoria's Secret, e depois acertei na incrível venda de verão na Forever 21. Eu definitivamente não preciso de mais roupas para trazer, mas é o momento perfeito para comprar o Rio porque todas as roupas de verão estão à venda nesta época do ano! Eu tenho um vestido vermelho com pequenos detalhes de gravata nos braços e uma blusa de renda branca. O vestido custava apenas 2 dólares e é a minha cor favorita! Eu não pude resistir !! A última vez que fui ao Brasil, fiz as malas. Eu trouxe um monte de coisas que eu nunca acabei usando ... como vestidos de bodycon e saltos de seis polegadas haha. Eu nunca gostei de usar essas coisas, mas por algum motivo eu pensei que iria lá ?? O Rio é todo empedrado - então não é tão bom para os saltos. Além disso, usar saltos reduz a capacidade de participar de aventuras espontâneas e quem quer isso ?! Eu sinto que eu costumava comprar roupas para mim imaginário e felizmente eu superei isso. Eu descobri o que eu gosto e o que eu sinto melhor e agora estou apenas indo embora. O único problema é que desta vez eu quero trazer todas essas coisas que eu gostaria de ter trazido da última vez e não sei se vou ter espaço ou quantas malas levar. Um grande e dois carrega? Um grande, um médio e dois carregamentos? Isso é excessivo? Eek!

aplausos para aprender e viver melhor e melhor

Mariamma

Hummingbird Feeder

Top - Princess Polly Boutique

Good afternoon babes! I’m sitting in one of my favorite little coffee shops in downtown Chico called Naked Lounge. Matcha latte on the wood table to my left, J. Cole in the headphones, and familiar faces on steady rotation through the big front windows. This doesn’t feel like home anymore though … I didn’t feel like this last time I was home. But last time was very brief and all I did was see the people who make me feel grounded here. Out and about with a lot of time on my hands and suddenly this place feels smaller and I feel bigger. Big fish, small pond ;) not to toot my own horn or anything haha. I miss Long Beach already but I am so excited for Rio in just two short weeks! I can appreciate the slower pace of life in a small town, but I guess I’ve become at home in the hustle. I had a really nice dinner with Julia last night at Crepeville. We talked from 6:30 ’til 11 pm! Lots to catch up on. And that’s why I’m home! To have quality time with the people I love before this next chapter. 

Boa tarde babes! Estou sentada em uma das minhas cafeterias favoritas no centro de Chico, chamada Naked Lounge. Matcha latte na mesa de madeira à minha esquerda, J. Cole nos fones de ouvido e rostos familiares em constante rotação através das grandes janelas da frente. Isso não parece mais o lar, no entanto ... Eu não me senti assim da última vez que estive em casa. Mas a última vez foi muito breve e tudo o que fiz foi ver as pessoas que me fazem sentir aqui. Fora e com muito tempo em minhas mãos e de repente este lugar se sente menor e me sinto maior. Peixe grande, pequeno lago;) não toot meu próprio chifre ou qualquer coisa haha. Tenho saudades de Long Beach, mas estou muito animado para o Rio em apenas duas semanas! Eu posso apreciar o ritmo mais lento da vida em uma cidade pequena, mas acho que me sinto em casa na confusão. Eu tive um ótimo jantar com Julia na noite passada em Crepeville. Nós conversamos das 6:30 às 11 da noite! Muito para pôr em dia. E é por isso que estou em casa! Ter tempo de qualidade com as pessoas que amo antes do próximo capítulo.

bjs

Mariamma

Back in Chico

I'm back in Northern California! I had an eventful drive home ... a pick-up truck isn't a great idea at 75 miles an hour with your whole life in the back ... and I'll leave it at that. I got home at four in the morning, said a brief and tired hello to my mom who had waited up for me, and then slept 'til almost noon today. Today we unpacked the truck and returned it and then headed to the 105th birthday party for the Chico Women's Club. My mom has been a board member for this historic group of women since 2002 and she makes me proud with how articulate, driven, and respected she is among the other members. She made a massive cake for the celebration, the largest version I've ever seen of her famous chocolate cake, decorated of course in flowers from the garden - a family tradition.  We dropped the rest of the cake off at the local homeless shelter before taking a quick dip in the creek nearby. I only had my nice nude heels with me so I walked to the creek barefoot which was a hot and stony path. My feet are feeling a bit raw. They used to be so tough! After eating a dinner of salad and tofu in the backyard we headed to the movies to see Crazy Rich Asians. It is such a good one! I feel like I packed a lot in considering I slept almost half the day away! It feels good and relaxing to be home, especially after a bit of a hectic move. 

happy homecoming 

Estou de volta ao norte da Califórnia! Eu tive uma viagem movimentada para casa ... uma pick-up não é uma ótima idéia a 75 milhas por hora com toda a sua vida nas costas ... e eu vou deixar por isso mesmo. Cheguei em casa às quatro da manhã, disse um breve e cansado olá para a minha mãe que tinha esperado por mim, e depois dormi até quase meio-dia de hoje. Nós descompactamos o caminhão e o devolvemos e então fomos para a festa de aniversário de 105 anos do Chico Women's Club. Minha mãe é membro do conselho desse grupo histórico de mulheres desde 2002 e ela me deixa orgulhosa de como ela é articulada, motivada e respeitada entre os outros membros. Ela fez um enorme bolo para a celebração, a maior versão que eu já vi de seu famoso bolo de chocolate, decorado, claro, em flores do jardim - uma tradição familiar. Nós deixamos o resto do bolo fora no abrigo desabrigado local antes de dar um mergulho rápido no riacho próximo. Eu só tive meus saltos nus agradáveis omigo assim eu caminhei para o riacho descalço que era um caminho quente e pedregoso. Meus pés estão um pouco crus. Eles costumavam ser tão durões! Depois de comer um jantar de salada e tofu no quintal nós fomos ao cinema ver Crazy Rich Asians. É tão bom! Eu sinto como se eu tivesse embalado muito em considerar que dormi quase a metade do dia! É uma sensação boa e relaxante estar em casa, especialmente depois de um movimento frenético.

feliz regresso a casa

Mariamma

Bay Area

This weekend I headed to The Bay to visit my friend Xtina and see Solange play a life altering show at the Greek Theatre. Christina and I danced together in high school so we go way back. I stayed with her in Oakland and we did a lot of exploring - visiting Lake Merritt, Berkeley, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Golden Gate Bridge, and took a dance class (that I am still SO sore from) in the Mission District. We ate really well along the way too. All in all it was a pretty perfect weekend. 

xoxo 

Mariamma

Solange photo cred to @shelbymayes, @itgoesanandanand, and @rchlstl <3

Zavalapalooza

This past weekend I headed North, very North, for Max and Jenelle's wedding. It was so amazing to be reunited with the crew for such a special night - celebrating two people that make each other really happy :). The wedding started at 3 pm, in the blazing Chico sun, and was full to the brim with heart-felt speeches, big smiles, drinks, the infamous El Paísa taco truck, and so many dance moves! I also got to allot practically a whole day to visiting with my sissy. My dad's side of the family is coming down for Thanksgiving but my sister has school (college!) so she's the only one I won't see again in a month. I love that girl. I'm currently in a coffee shop in Santa Monica, killing time before participating in a paid research study on meditation that my friend Elly told me about. I'm curious to see how it goes!

xoxo 

Mariamma

Upper Park

Here is a little flashback to a day in the sun and water with my friend Acacia and her puppy. Upper Park is the upper half of Bidwell Park that runs through Chico and up into the hills. It frames a creek that travels through town. Lower Park is lush and green with a tight-knit canopy that keeps the vines and moss green below. Upper Park on the other hand has dry, rustling blonde grass and a canyon of lava rocks where the creek runs through. The water was still pretty cold - it warms up in July - but we managed to swim upstream a bit and have a little picnic and sunbath on a little rock ledge. I've taken so many photos this month that it's hard to find time to upload them all! I love this 'problem'!

<3 

Mariamma

Thursday Night Market

There are quite a few things that make Chico summer so wonderful, and Thursday Night Market is surely one. Every Thursday evening a few streets downtown are blocked off to make way for the throngs of people who come to shop at the booths and stands along the sides. There is anything from produce to clothes, to homemade soaps and food trucks. The city plaza is at the end of the street and there you can find a fountain that keeps kids cool and entertained while different community performances take place on an adjacent stage. This week there were hula dancers! I went with my mom this past week and we strolled around, watched the dancers and my friend Jesse who was singing and playing guitar in-between a couple booths. It was a lovely little evening that ended in getting a little saucy with my mom at a jazz bar afterwards. My mom is the cutest. 

<3 

Mariamma

Chiquito

Summer is magical and I am gulping it down.

I feel really lucky to be in Chico, my hometown #2, at this pivotal moment when the creeks are warming and the college students have left. Us locals get to take over what is rightfully ours ;). The sun is warm on some days, perfect for walks in the park under the epic oaks. And other days it's hot, perfect for whole afternoons spent at swimming holes.

Summer is medicine and I am gulping it down. 

xo 

Mariamma

Silver Dollar Fair

It's become tradition in my friend group to go in a big posse to the Silver Dollar Fair in Chico, and despite moving to LA last year, I've managed to make it every year for the festivities. There's something magical about the junk food, the janky rides, and warm summery nights. 

cheers to good friends and sloppy times

M 

Zavala Wedding

What an awesome weekend! I got to go home to Northern California for my dear friends' wedding. It was an absolutely magical evening. Weddings are always happy and fun, but this one was especially beautiful. Oh how I love love! I was so happy to see all my friends and spend the night dancing away under the oaks and the ridge. And of course, there were lots of funny occurrences that made reminiscing this morning at brunch quite fun. That being said, I need to go to sleep because I didn't do much relaxing this weekend and I've got to get up early mañana.

Congratulations Shaylyn & Zane! 

xo

Mariamma