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

Birthday Back Home

Photos by Jenelle Zavala

Dress - Thrifted (and tailored by my Mamma moments before this little shoot <3)

As you may have seen on my Instagram, I went home to Chico, CA for my birthday last week. I was unsure what I wanted to do this year for my birthday but this last-minute decision worked out beautifully! Last year I was tucked into the Montana mountains. It was the perfect place to reflect on the year I had just had and the year ahead of me. I didn't want this year to be anything less and thanks to my beautiful Mamma and lovely friends it was a perfect day. I kind of feel like I was 27 for multiple years, even though it flew by in other ways. Birthdays are opportunities to check in. They're mile markers ... Are you where you thought you'd be? Do you want to do more? Less? Create a new path even if it requires hacking your way through with a machete? Haha 

cheers to new years 

Mariamma