The Good Life

Guys. I’m having seasonal depression already. Ok, not really but the post-vacay struggle IS real. We were gone for two weeks and I’m still not ready to join the real world. I posted a few shots of our trip on Instagram but wanted to share more with you here.

We started out in Orlando for the hubby’s Baseball Coaching Convention where luckily, temps were in the record highs for this time of year and I occupied myself by working on my tan at the pool while he went and did basebally things.

My favorite part of Orlando though was meeting up with Lauren from The Thinking Closet. I’ve been a big fan of hers for a while, and she was such a huge support for me when I was just starting out on my blogging journey.

We had brunch at this delicious little place and then wandered around West Elm and IKEA.

This girl is the best. And I have a shiny forehead. Already sweating from the Florida heat.

If you don’t follow Lauren already, you need to. She’s a crazy creative lady and just as fun in real life as she is on her blog.

Now onto the second part of our trip. My second home, Costa. Let me explain. When I was a senior in high school, we went on a family vacation to Costa Rica and visited an old friend that my Dad used to work with. He retired down there and opened up a bar/hotel called The Mariner Inn. With rooms priced at $29 you better believe we stayed a couple nights; even if there was a cockroach in our first room. I guess you get what you pay for 😉

One day he was going to look at some land with a realtor friend and asked if we wanted to come along. Beer in hand, he got in his car and we piled in behind him. After about 20 minutes of narrow, bumpy dirt roads leading up into the mountains (and praying we didn’t fly over the edge) we arrived at an empty plot of land overlooking the Pacific Ocean, just in time for the sunset.

The view sold my Dad and with his retirement not too far away, he made the best impulse decision we could have asked for. We fell in love with the country and the people and Casa Linda Vista was born in Potrero, Costa Rica.

Since the house has been built, my parents trade in their hats and gloves for flip flops and sunscreen for 3 months of the year. I admire my Dad for all his years of hard work and supporting our family and am so fortunate that he gave us this oasis to call home.

I mean, come on, who wouldn’t fall in love with that view? I’ve been lucky enough to visit a handful of times and this was hubby’s second time with me. A good friend from college and her boyfriend also came with us and it was so great catching up with them.

I’ll shut up now and let you enjoy the scenery 🙂

Sunset sipping on some fresh coconut milk + rum 🙂

I love all the bold and bright house colors.

Street meat at the rodeo!

This is our new friend, Fernando Jr. what. a. stud.

His Dad, Fernando, let me and my Dad ride his horse, Mariachi!

This guy. He had a fewwww too many brewskis and proved to be quite difficult to get rid of. He provided some solid entertainment while we waited for the horsies 🙂

Fresh limes from one of our lime trees!

So. much. fresh. fruit. everywhere.

Our view from yoga one morning.

Goofball <3

Friendly game of floating beer pong. I obvs won 😉

Papaya Pancakes!

Surfing in Tamarindo.

Amazing night watching a sea turtle lay her eggs.

Our rancho! Everyone who comes to visit brings something to hang up 🙂

Hiking up the mountain!

Meet Danger, my new bff. I wanted to smuggle him home in my suitcase.

And Tommy!

And this is Patricio! Their daddy. He watches our house. And is a pro with his machete. And we teach him how to play Sorry and Spoons. Love him.

My familia <3

Can’t beat it.

The pace of life in Costa is so much slower and forces you to relax and enjoy yourself, which we all need to do more of. I love the simplicity of their culture and it helped remind me of what is truly important in this life. I’ll always be grateful for being able to make these memories with my friends and family.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our trip! And now I’m gonna go make some guac and drink some coronas and pretend I’m still there.

PURA VIDA!