adventures: costa rica, part 2

Even though the weather was hot and humid, that didn't stop us from getting out and exploring Playa Santa Teresa and the surrounding towns and beaches.

I had to rent a surfboard from the popular Denga Surf Shop. There are a handful of surf shops around, but this guy is the only shaper in the area. I traded in my 9' longboard at home for a 6'10" to try out on the faster waves in Playa Hermosa.

Because of the beach break, the waves were a lot faster and heavier than I'm used to in Southern California, but I loved being out in the wonderfully warm water for hours. Even the cows enjoy the beach!

Dinner would not be complete without a sunset, so what better place to enjoy it than at the popular Brisas del Mar overlooking the whole town and ocean. 

Next stop: Montezuma. This touristy little town was very beautiful and quaint, but I'm glad we didn't stay there because it didn't really feel like you were in Costa Rica. What are paved roads doing in town? 

From Montezuma, we wound along the coast on more dirt roads until we got to Cabo Blanco, the country's first nature reserve at the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Finally...monkeys (among other creatures)! We did the shorter hike through the reserve, which took about 1 hour. This is not the zoo--you enter into these animal's habitat, which is actually a little bit scary when you don't know exactly what all the noises you hear belong to!

hard to tell, but there is a huge spider in that right hole that i almost stepped on.
i can't imagine what spider season is like if this was the dry season!   

don't feed the monkeys 

some sort of badger--there was a herd of them traveling along the dried up river 

And of course, the day would not be complete without a sunset

pura vida!

getting there: costa rica, part 1

We were due for a vacation, so headed off to Costa Rica for eight days. Little did we know what to expect, and how long it would take us to get to paradise in the picture below. It was worth it.

The flight was easy--five hours from Los Angeles to San Jose. Getting out of San Jose alone took a good 30 minutes of zig zagging around to find "the" highway. Once we were on the highway, I thought, "No big deal--we'll just take this the whole way to the ferry, then get back on it when we get off the ferry, and take it all the way to the hotel." Not so much. The highway ended, and we found ourselves driving through lots of little towns. The main road to get to the ferry wasn't exactly the main roads we're used to. This main road barely had room for two cars to pass, all while trying to dodge dogs, children, bikes, and motorcycles. After a few wrong turns, we made it to the ferry. The crossing took about one hour. Once we got off the ferry, it seemed fairly straightforward--stay on this road all the way to Santa Teresa. Wrong again. "This road" ended up being a dirt road that wound along the coast for what seemed like five hours, but was probably two or three hours. The only paved sections were the parts of the road that were extremely steep. And the bridges were narrower than the roads, and barely fit one car. 

After passing many fields, forests, bungalows, Coca-Cola shacks, and cows, we started seeing signs for our hotel, Nautilus Boutique Hotel. 

After a few more dirt roads, we arrived in Playa Santa Teresa. The main road going through town was only a couple of miles long, lined with restaurants, small hotels, and large pieces of land--some with mansions on them, and others with shacks. The street was crowded with people, dogs, and motorcycles. 

Santa Teresa early in the morning

Our hotel was a beautiful oasis, with each guest having their own bungalow and patio surrounded with dense foliage. The owners were so welcoming, and everyone there so kind and helpful. 

Upon arrival, I immediately jumped into the refreshing pool

Olam, the vegetarian restaurant and favorite juice stop at Nautilus

Nap time

Enjoyed our patio every evening with a glass of wine

Every night, the whole town headed to the beach to enjoy the sunset. On our first night, we walked down the beach to a restaurant called Habanero to watch the sunset while drinking a margarita and eating the fresh catch of the day. I think I ate the fresh catch of the day and/or ceviche every day, if not most meals.

 

pura vida!

the best waffle recipe...ever

Not only are these waffles delicious, but this is the easiest recipe ever--and super healthy! Double or triple the recipe, then freeze the leftovers for easy heating up during a busy week. 

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana 
• 1 medium apple, peeled and cored
• 1 cup almond butter
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 T gluten free baking powder (or arrowroot powder)
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• coconut oil for greasing the waffle iron 

Instructions

• Puree apple and banana in a food processor or blender
• Use the whisk attachment on your mixer and whip almond butter on high for 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffed
• Add puree and remaining ingredients to almond butter and continue to whip until combined
• Grease your hot waffle maker (for each waffle you make)
• Use about 1 ladle of batter per 8-by-4 inch waffle onto hot waffle iron for 3-5 minutes until browned. Do not fill up the entire waffle maker, leave about 40% unfilled so that the batter can spread. If your waffle is soft or floppy, it's not ready yet so keep cooking for another minute or two
• Eat immediately or store flat in the freezer. Put in the toaster or toaster oven to reheat

bon appetit! 

Emma approved! 

what's your diet?

I have never understood the concept of "dieting." People diet for various reasons, but it stems from something you want to change about yourself. So...you "diet" for a given period of time, and it ends, and then what? Why does it end? You deprived yourself of certain foods, and when you reached your goal, you are suddenly done dieting. Most of the time, you go back to eating the same foods you were "dieting" from, and then gain back the weight you lost or a health problem you were trying to get under control. What was the point? Why the deprivation and hard work when it just goes back to how it was before you started the diet?

...Because I don't agree with "dieting, and I don't think it works. At all.

It might resolve something temporarily, but it's not a long term solution. There has to be a lifestyle change--a fix--something more permanent than losing 5 pounds only to gain it back when you eat a piece of bread when you are "done" with your diet. It's a vicious cycle that doesn't seem to end, and leaves you frustrated on a regular basis. The key is to find a way of eating and fueling your body properly where you don't feel like you're on a diet--where you feel great all the time, and where you're not depriving yourself of calories. At first it may feel like you're depriving yourself if you're used to eating certain processed foods and refined sugars, but once you detox from those things you will realize that eating properly will make you feel so much better than previously, so you won't want to go back down the processed path.

I'm not going to argue for a certain lifestyle change over another, but I want to talk about something that has helped me find a better balance in my daily eating habits, along with not fluctuating very much in my weight, having more energy, and minimizing cravings. Most people right now are calling it the "caveman diet," also referred to as "paleo." From what I've read, the GAPS diet seems to be very similar. There is also a book out called Wheat Belly that is part of this family. It's not just a gluten free way of eating, it also eliminates anything processed and refined (just because something is gluten free, doesn't mean it can't be processed). It focuses on real organic foods--grass fed meats, fruits & veggies, and healthy fats.

The main thing is to listen to your body, and stop fueling it with processed foods, chemicals, and genetically modified products. Stop giving your body fake energy. Once you start eating real foods, you will become more in tune with your body and will better know what it needs and doesn't need.

Whatever "diet" you start today, make it a lifestyle diet and commit to maintaining it from here on out. Enjoy a cheat meal or day once a week, and then get right back on track. You will notice the cravings subside, and you won't have a problem getting back on track the next day because you know how good your body feels when you are fueling it with the proper foods.

bon appetit!

summer in the marina

It's been a busy summer, and is going by entirely too fast. The beach has had more June gloom than normal, so we love it when the sun comes out and bask in it's warmth for as long as it decides to stay.

The colors of summer are my favorite--the sun shining on the sea gives it that warm inviting feel 

(even if the water is 60 degrees!)

Even the surfboard designs seem to be following the bright color trend!

You can always find crowds in the water, regardless of the weather

It's nice to curl up on the couch with some good coffee after a morning surf session

Emma loves the cool weather

Summer is a time for feasting on our favorite fresh foods and locally grown produce 

...and paleo carrot cake

...and birthday drinks!

A little trip to Deus Ex Machina satisfies both his and hers loves

And summer would not be complete without a beach sunset