tamarindo costa rica travel guide: part 1

last summer we decided to take a big trip with the excuse that it was the year of our thirtieth birthdays. our neighbors christy and erik were in! erik's birthday is a couple of days after mine, so our excuse bases were covered. we knew we wanted to go to costa rica, but had no idea where to start. after doing one of my yoga videos, i googled where it was shot and came across tamarindo. we all liked the idea of staying in a surf town (who didn't want to be a surfer after watching blue crush?) so that was decided. next we searched trip advisor to find our hotel. after reading the glowing reviews of hotel arco iris and it's owner richard, we booked our rooms.

the hotel was set back from the beach, so it was a little bit of a walk, but perfect for burning off the rich food we were eating! the walk allowed us to explore the area, but was a bit dusty due to us traveling during the dry season. the weather was perfect and we were told that it hadn't rained in three months. i really liked that we were secluded in the hotel. it was the perfect place to relax. we saw so many beautiful birds and i was able to get a glimpse of a family of howler monkeys!

the rooms were made up of a collection of little bungalows, both connected and free standing. everything was very clean and the bathrooms were really nice. tamarindo is on a septic system so no flushing of the tp. that definitely took some getting used to...

we really loved arco iris (rainbow), the only downside being that our bed was a little on the hard side, but it's not like we wanted to sleep all day. i couldn't wait to wake up and soak up all that costa rica had to offer. the staff was amazing and we felt completely safe and cared for.

stay tuned for part 2- eating & shopping (aka my favorite thing to do on vacation)

back home

after a blissful few days away, we are back home. i could not wait to get my hands on this girl. i've realized that going on vacation is so important. sam and i did years and years of staycations and it's just not the same. we fell in love with the costa rican attitude. it is super contagious. i feel so relaxed and recharged. i'm putting together a travel guide that i'll share with you guys next week. for now i'm easing back in to yoga and eating well. after eating things like: "nachos as big as your a**" and drinking my fair share of pina coladas, i figured it was time to try my first cleanse. will let you know how that turns out!

have you ever done one? do tell.

have a wonderful weekend! i can't believe this burst of spring we've had in the south. buds on everything. we need to start our spring vegetables!

p.s. here is a great handout on super foods you should know about.

greetings from tamarindo

thank you so much for your birthday wishes! it meant the world to me to get such sweet messages while we were away. sam and i have been having the time of our lives celebrating with our friends in costa rica. i can't wait to tell you all about it, but for now...

PURA VIDA

guest post: dr. jennifer conway

{photo taken by hamilton wetzel, my favorite shopping tool}

today i am so proud to welcome dr. jennifer Conway. jen is my good friend and is a wellness consultant that specializes in nutrition response testing and designed clinical nutrition. she believes that lifestyle and food choices are paramount in the healing process. i have learned so much from Jen and am so happy that we are friends. she has inspired me in so many ways to make changes in my life. today she has whipped up a post on healthy grocery shopping tips as well as she's included this shopping list! thanks jen!

If you are looking for ways to improve your health, the first stop is the grocery store. but before you grab your reusable bags and head out the door, it is best to have a few goals in mind - or better yet, write them down!

Instead of fulfilling the needs of your cravings, desire to feed your family in ways that nourish and strengthen their minds and bodies. Educate yourself on foods that heal and it will change the way you think about and shop for food.

Eating healthy can be more affordable than you might think. A study was just done that states you can meet the daily requirements of 4 to 6 servings of fruits and vegetables for around $2.50 per day (based on the average shopping experience).

If you eliminate snacky-junk food, packaged or pre-made foods and sugary drinks that will more than make up for the transition into eating healthy, fresh and even organic foods.

Getting organized will make this process more convenient and gradually make changes so that you do not get overwhelmed.

Here you can find a Healthy Shopping List. Give yourself a pat on the back for the things you are already doing! Then incorporate one new thing each week.

rebuilding your temple: week three

this week: food matters

homework:

watch it. it's available on netflix. let me know what you think.

ps i turn 30 today.

week one

week two

guest post: hiking in stilettos

i'm kicking off monday with an injection of spring! all week i'm going to be having some special guests sharing some awesomeness with you. without further adieu, i am so excited to have my stylish and beautiful friend ashley here with us today sharing her must-haves for spring. can i just tell you how much i love that striped top with the floral skirt?! thanks ashley!

When Lesley asked me to choose my top ten items for spring, I honestly had trouble coming up with ten! While it seems like a simple task, I try to focus on things I truly like, instead of what the current trends may be. Although many retailers and designers are gravitating towards a crisp white spring & summer, I'm still caught up in the following...

1&2 - Yellow stripes and a watercolor skirt {in combination!}
3 - A coral pink nail color or lip color
4 - Baby pink Aviators
5 - Vertical stripes
6 - A brightly colored belt
7 - Vintage wash skinny jeans
8 - Bubblegum pink Hunter wellies for rainy spring days
9 - 70's inspired platforms
10 - Green smoothies {a wonderful way to start the day!}


What are your top ten must-haves for spring?

xoxo,
Ashley from Hiking in Stilettos

happy.

1. this travel map spotted again on you are my fave. we have a big trip coming up, so i'm obsessed with all things travel.2. my little ray of sunshine along with the actual sunshine that has been shining away in the south. 60's and breezy. perfection. here matilda is holding my valentine's card to sam. she is obsessed with cards that play songs. my mom got her a dancing hamster card and they are in constant rotation.3. kate spade. love her. spring goodness with one of my favorite red heads: bryce dallas howard.4. thanks to my mama and jcrew i found a bathing suit i really love (make that two). matilda said, "mama, you look like a princess." can't make a girl feel much better than that. then she said, "but it's too small."5. this beautiful star clip. ultimate glamour. 6. this spring cleaning checklist from martha. loved hearing that i'm not alone in my flashing. also, love the great idea christy had about using a recipe box with "chores of the day." forgot my mama does that! check out the anti-american woman comment i got on that post.
honorable mentions: dinner with some of my favorite people tonight, getting my hair cut, more pampering with a pedicure, and excitement over a teddy bear picnic!
not making me happy: whiny, negative people. american apparel, and that's about it.
ps. what's making you happy?

clean day

{baileys by mail}

today with the help of this lady i cleaned most of my house. i left the windows open and scrubbed the floors. the entire house smelled like one big geranium. i even consolidated the box of padded mailers that has been sitting in a huge box next to my bathroom for months. woohoo! i have also committed to myself that i will break down the ironing board when i'm not using it. sticking to it.

so, i want to know your cleaning house tips. it is a huge pitfall of mine to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done, so i just put it off. however, i LOVE the feeling of a clean house. i remember my grammy talking about plotters and flashers. i am a flasher. i get in cleaning "moods" and go crazy, but these moods are few and far between. i want to be a plotter, plotting away at my daily tasks.

also, what are your favorite products? thank you in advance for indulging this terrible house keeper.

rebuilding your temple: week two

this week at rebuilding your temple we discussed food + exercise.

{photo}

oh exercise, we're not the best of friends, but we're getting there. i enjoy yoga more than i can say, so i have that going for me. this week we talked about peak 8 training. you can watch a video here and here.

notes of interest:

• the main benefit of peak 8 is that you work your super-fast muscles, which are never worked in typical exercise.
• this type of exercise increases HGH, which is $1300 a shot and you can get it for free! human growth hormone is anti-aging and helps you maintain optimal health.
• only do this type of exercise 2-3 times per week.
• your max heart rate = 220 - your age. you should reach 80 - 90% of your max heart rate.
• basic guidelines:

1. start with a three minute warm-up.
2. work hard at max effort for 20-30 seconds (walk, run, elliptical, etc)
3. rest or continue activity at a slower rate for 90 seconds.
4. repeat this cycle for a total of 8 reps.

food. God made vs man made.

{inspiring blog via you are my fave}

notes of interest:

• God foods are foods that God has created specifically for our consumption. these foods grow and exist in nature. your body instantly recognizes it and knows what to do with it.
• food by man: aspartame, splenda, fast-food, sugar, pasteurized dairy products, refined flour products. all of these "foods" are far removed from their natural state.
• there is no "grey area" in food. it's either good or bad.

scripture:

daniel 1:11-16 the message

i'm working on switching over to raw cheese and lowering my dairy intake. baby steps. i'm also working on appreciating and understanding discipline. here's some inspiration.

homework:

• wake up with water (week one)
• try the peak fitness program 2-3 times a week
• think about the life and health you want and take steps towards it
• add God foods to your diet and take out foods made by man wherever possible

have you made any life changes recently?

happy day of love

monday monday! here you are again rearing your little head. this weekend was mind-blowingly beautiful. a 10 on the mellish meter if you will. we had bonfire fun saturday night with some friends and then i woke up way too early to surprise my valentines with a heart-shaped pancake breakfast complete with a little surprise for matilda. i spent sunday at the tennis courts, watching the ducks and having lots of sun-filled conversation with jessie and her beautiful family. matilda was perfectly sweet and i was very aware of how beautiful it is to spend time together outside, just us. we walked along the trails at the park and she's just so curious, picking everything up and asking what it is. i just love her so much. meanwhile, sam and lots of friends went to play paintball for matt's birthday. sam was totally in his element. i love when he's happy. makes me happy. i met up with everyone for the paintball after party here! my dinner was amazing. there were veggie corndogs, i said no. every time i pass on something i would have normally devoured, i'm just amazed. it was fun, fun celebrating matt. he is very loved indeed.

happy valentine's day to all of you! i'm excited to share what i learn tonight with you tomorrow...

1000 posts!

who knew that starting a blog on a whim, would lead me here to my 1000th post almost three years later. as i went back through the past few years i was overcome with the main reason i blog: to taste life twice.







how else could i remember matilda making this face at a complete stranger at our favorite yogurt shop? i told him not to take it personally.

have a great weekend! it's supposed to be beautiful...

current obsession: internet shopping

{lauren moffatt}

first of all, if i had tons of money i would buy only lauren moffatt. it's like she snuck in to my brain and whipped up my dream clothing. seriously, those stripes! alas, i am not a rich girl so that won't be happening anytime soon. ok, so don't tell sam- well he reads this blog and although he doesn't comment, he'll see this and he has already seen the influx of packages arriving with my name on it- so, scratch that. i have been enjoying the pulse-racing-thrill of clicking on "check-out." i confessed to bachelor-inspired shopping, did you know there's a chick that finds all of the clothing these girls wear and posts them like the day after the episode airs? here she is. you see, after i had my sweet matilda i hated shopping for clothes. hated.it. nothing fit, and i felt so bad about my body. this is the first time in years actually, that shopping for clothes has been kind of fun. so, there you have it. i don't think that there is anything more fun than getting home to a little package, especially ones that come from here and here. what i still don't love is bathing suit shopping. if you have any recommendations please share.

eye spy

remember a while back i told you all about some flower girl dresses i was creating for a fall wedding? well, the beautiful bride sent over these gorgeous photos. sarah was a dream to work with and had such a great vision for her wedding and i felt completely honored to be a part of it! don't these little cuties make me look good?! see those darling twins, i am so excited to be sewing up their first birthday party dresses! makes me extremely happy.

in other news, i have a confession. i've been sucked in again to the bachelor. this bachelor sounds like a baptist preacher. you have to read this hilarious letter to the bachelor girls. ok, i have a second confession. i've already ordered two articles of clothing "as seen on" the bachelor. lawd help me!

rebuilding your temple: week one

{1./2.}

i like to keep my blog as a mix of different areas of my life as to not bore anyone BUT i just can't help but share my "rebuilding your temple" experience. i thought i would share with those of you that don't have access to a program like this what we are learning each week. so, every tuesday you'll get a recap from me as well as some homework via paul.

this week: water

rid your body of toxins by flushing them out with good, clean water (not tap). the goal is to drink 1/2 an oz per pound of body weight. this is something i definitely need to work on, so i'm right there with you.

paul suggests "waking up with water." this means drinking a liter of water right when you wake up. this energizes the body. he recommends drinking purified water at room temperature so that your body doesn't have to work too hard to maintain homeostasis.

notes of interest:

• water plays a role in every body function
• your body requires a constant daily supply in order to get rid of waste, otherwise all of the toxins just sit in your body
• have clear urine (body functions will be a part of these posts)
• try to avoid drinking water 30 min before meals, as well as during. this allows the enzymes in your body to properly break down the food. don't panic if you need a sip of water, just try and live by this nugget

homework:

• drink more water!
• make sure you're drinking filtered water
• use a bpa free bottle or stainless steel

*thirsty yet?

ps i was super excited to have some friends come out last night. makes me so happy to see people i love taking charge of their health!

super.

{1./2./3./4./5./6./7. /middle image}

how is your weekend so far? ours= really great. sam did his thing on the rifle range, i went to target. we ate my favorite burger here on one of my favorite date nights ever, where we also ran in to this pretty lady and her awesome husband. we watched this at our neighbors house. yikes. i kissed matilda about 12434353656564 times. that girl is talking up a storm. it's hilarious. the other day i was getting her dressed and she said, "ooh i like it mama, it's cute!"

we are making this tonight and are pretending to watch this. confession: neither sam nor i knew until this week that a. it was superbowl sunday and b. who was playing.

so, in honor of paul's class starting up again this week, i thought it would be fun to talk about some super foods that you need to be incorporating in to your diet. here's why:

1. garlic - sam and i say all the time that we could never be married to someone that doesn't like garlic. we put it in everything. this works out well for us. garlic is an anti-oxidant, a natural antibiotic, and has been used to fight everything from the plague to acne.
2. black pepper - stimulates digestion and wards off gas (chest bump). this spice actually helps break down the food it was seasoning. black pepper also has anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. the outer layer of the peppercorn helps break down fat.
3. cinnamon - cinnamon is the mamajamma. i put it in our oatmeal, greek yogurt, smoothies. this super spice has powerful anti-inflammatory components. it also helps lower blood sugar and is used to treat diabetes.
4. himalayan salt or real salt - good salt is no joke. we use real salt (the only difference between himalayan and real salt is that real salt is found in utah), which you can find at whole foods. unlike table salt, which is stripped of all of its nutrients and full of chemicals, real salt has 60 naturally occurring minerals. it's great for you and 1t is a cup of water can be used as a gentle cleanse.
5. ginger - helps fight ovarian and colon cancer, helps with nausea, headaches, and heartburn. it's also very popular for relieving morning sickness, but let's be honest sometimes nothing helps with that. we love making carrot ginger soup and ginger chicken stir-fry.
6. tumeric - tumeric is all the rage, friends. this herb is crazy awesome at healing cuts and burns, preventing and treating cancer, speeding up your metabolism, and is a natural pain-killer. see the rest of what this must-have spice is capable of here.
7. coconut oil - saved the best for last. i've talked about the importance of cooking with coconut oil here, but did you know that it treats dandruff and lice (ew)? coconut oil also aids in slowing down the aging process (sign me up) when applied topically. the oil can be used in massages to aid in relaxation. when ingested it resembles mother's milk (aka breast milk), works to speed up metabolism, fights cellulite, prevents heart disease and cancer, as well as viral loads in HIV patients. coconut oil fights infection and diabetes. it's the bomb. it's much cheaper if you buy it at the farmer's market. just make sure it's organic. according to dr. jockers, the average 150 lb human should get 3.5 T of coconut oil daily.

so my challenge to you this week is to start adding as much of these super foods in to your diet as possible. just start with one you like and go from there! hope to see some of you at paul's class tomorrow (feb 7th) night at 7:30 at stonebridge church on the marietta square.

love.

{1./2./3.}

oh valentine's day! the day of loooove. got any special plans? we don't really do anything too extravagent, but i love the holiday. it was my favorite in elementary school. i would obsess over what my valentine box looked like. was there enough lace? would i get a valentine from my fourth grade crush? sadly i think the answer was no. moving on, these are some pretty lovey things that caught my eye. isn't ban.do just quintessentially, 100% girl?! makes me happy. also, i wish that i was fancy and had nice underpinnings like these. this weekend sam will go shooting, i'm hoping to go here for the first time (i know, right?), and i'm dying to get to this exhibit. i also plan on sleeping in and reading. that's all.

ps. remember that life changing class i took last year? it's starting up this monday (feb 7th) at 7:30pm here. all you atlantans should come!

commoncreativ: creative atlantans

the interview i did with osayi is already online at commoncreativ's website. i was thrilled to hear that i had made their 50 most creative atlantans (me, really?). this new online magazine is for creative professionals and founded by the lovely kristina dutton and maria yanovsky. osayi did an incredible job at telling my story. i'm excited to see the rest of the list, makes me feel real good to be in a category with this guy. a big, heartfelt thanks to osayi for her kind words and for commoncreativ for the feature!

i do have to point out that it was not ms. paltrow who found me, i was commissioned by the fab annette joseph for the dress and cape. it was such a fun project, i love gwyneth!

hair nor there

this is how i wish i looked and felt today. i've been watching re-runs of satc on e! and am obsessed with carrie's hair when she's dating aiden and just broke it off with big. love all of the layers and the "bigness." also, i think nicole kidman's hair in the latest harper's bazaar is so airy and lovely. can you tell it's time for a cut? i wish i was adventurous as paige. isn't she/her hair so pretty?! well, i'm finally feeling like i am caught up for the moment. such a great feeling, which i'm sure will be over shortly!

i was interviewed a couple of weeks ago about changing our eating habits. you can read it here. speaking of interviews, nothing like getting one from a good friend. i met up with my friend osayi last night to discuss all things homemade grits. i always have the best time with her, torrential rain and all!

our favorite winter recipe: bison chili

alright folks, this is the end all be all chili. the first time i had this chili at my friend katie's house, i was a convert. chili has never really been my favorite, but this chili is so freaking good that sam and i make it once a week. it's sweet and spicy (if you add the jalapeno, which i always do). heaven in your mouth. you cook it in the crockpot, so it's a perfect sunday dinner (would be great for the superbowl this weekend). without further adieu:

bison chili
1.5 to 2 pounds ground bison (i usually do 1.5 of bison or grass-fed beef)
2 cans kidney beans rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 medium yellow onion diced
1/2 cup bbq sauce
1/2 ketchup
1-2 jalapenos (optional) diced
1 T oregano
1 T chili powder
3 T liquid smoke
2 T honey

brown meat with diced onion, then drain. add meat, beans and tomatoes to crock pot. then add the rest of the ingredients. cook on medium for four hours. enjoy!