Something I really miss about home: me blender. This was E's Christmas gift to me last year, and on most days I make myself a smoothie in the morning and then again in the afternoon to wrap up lunch. Why are smoothies so good? It's the flavors and the....well, the smoothness! Sometimes I don't feel like sitting and eating a whole apple bite by bite, but put in in the blender and in moments you have an amazing drink.
I love making smoothies with fruit, juice and ice...nothing else, nothing too fancy. My favorite blend is papaya and orange juice over ice.
This morning however, I made a pretty yummy green smoothie that I thought I would share.
1 banana
1 apple, sliced
1 cup spinach
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup almond milk
Blend away!
Pura Vida...
Friday, October 26, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
the changing of the seasons
My blogging has slowed down as of late....I think it can be attributed to some changes in my life that I cannot yet disclose in detail. But things are certainly brewing.
One very welcome change has been the arrival of fall weather.
Of all the seasons, fall is my favorite. It has a certain kind of sad beauty...you have to appreciate the color, the leaves in their magnificent fiery colors, just before the break from the tree and fall to the ground, in preparation for the white, blank slate of snow that winter (hopefully) brings. Things grow cold...people tend to shrink from the cold, to try and shoo it away with central heating and hot drinks and soup. And we also seek warmth in these things...in a fireplace and a cup of tea and a bowl of creamy tomato soup, and we seek it in the company we keep, in the embrace of a friend or loved one.
Fall is nature's way of erasing spring's work for the stark calm of winter, and a way of driving us to seek warmth in comforting things and people.
I also love fall because it marks one of my favorite holidays...Thanksgiving.
To some extent you can say that Thanksgiving rivals Christmas, at least in terms of being with family and friends. The emphasis on gratitude, appreciation, harvest and feasting really appeals to me (and my taste buds...!). Christmas may take the cake as the biggest holiday of the year, but Thanksgiving and all it embodies has a special place in my heart.
And of course, November is still fall...!
Bring on the leaves, tea, sweaters and chilly days.
Pura Vida
One very welcome change has been the arrival of fall weather.
Of all the seasons, fall is my favorite. It has a certain kind of sad beauty...you have to appreciate the color, the leaves in their magnificent fiery colors, just before the break from the tree and fall to the ground, in preparation for the white, blank slate of snow that winter (hopefully) brings. Things grow cold...people tend to shrink from the cold, to try and shoo it away with central heating and hot drinks and soup. And we also seek warmth in these things...in a fireplace and a cup of tea and a bowl of creamy tomato soup, and we seek it in the company we keep, in the embrace of a friend or loved one.
Fall is nature's way of erasing spring's work for the stark calm of winter, and a way of driving us to seek warmth in comforting things and people.
I also love fall because it marks one of my favorite holidays...Thanksgiving.
To some extent you can say that Thanksgiving rivals Christmas, at least in terms of being with family and friends. The emphasis on gratitude, appreciation, harvest and feasting really appeals to me (and my taste buds...!). Christmas may take the cake as the biggest holiday of the year, but Thanksgiving and all it embodies has a special place in my heart.
And of course, November is still fall...!
Bring on the leaves, tea, sweaters and chilly days.
Pura Vida
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
when we last posted...
Hard to believe I haven't posted in over a month! But I guess that shows how busy I've been.
I have started working part time in the evenings, back at Catering. It seems I just can't leave, but coming back is so easy...no training required, flexible hours, I know everything there backwards and forwards. And I am making some money.
E came back on our anniversary, and things have been going well. Our stay here in the USA is at the 3 month mark, and naturally we are both feeling the pull of our beautiful Costa Rica...he will be leaving soon to return to work and see family before going back on board the cruise ship. In November I plan to visit for at least a week before he goes, to spend some time with him and see some extended family and friends.
For now I plan to return to the USA and continue working here, making money and being there for my Mom as she (hopefully) wraps up a very difficult chapter with her illness. She is still positive and hopeful, and that is a very important element in her making a full recovery. At times I can be very negative, but the positive attitude I think I inherited from Mom.
Two of my three brothers have celebrated birthdays, and we have taken the boat out several times this season, waterskiing and just enjoying the sun and water. Now summer seems to be blinking sleepily and making way for autumn, as the weather here has cooled down significantly and the leaves are starting to turn just a tad.
I am overjoyed to experience the fall season again and find myself greedily drinking tea and dreaming about baking desserts...in addition to shaking out various blankets and sweaters that have been stored in my closet. Also looking forward to everything pumpkin flavored!
Heaviest on my heart is E's departure. The time we have spent together here has resulted in many positive changes for us, and I feel much closer to him than I did before. Having this adventure together has been a great experience...and I know there are more adventures to come.
Bring it on.
Pura Vida
I have started working part time in the evenings, back at Catering. It seems I just can't leave, but coming back is so easy...no training required, flexible hours, I know everything there backwards and forwards. And I am making some money.
E came back on our anniversary, and things have been going well. Our stay here in the USA is at the 3 month mark, and naturally we are both feeling the pull of our beautiful Costa Rica...he will be leaving soon to return to work and see family before going back on board the cruise ship. In November I plan to visit for at least a week before he goes, to spend some time with him and see some extended family and friends.
For now I plan to return to the USA and continue working here, making money and being there for my Mom as she (hopefully) wraps up a very difficult chapter with her illness. She is still positive and hopeful, and that is a very important element in her making a full recovery. At times I can be very negative, but the positive attitude I think I inherited from Mom.
Two of my three brothers have celebrated birthdays, and we have taken the boat out several times this season, waterskiing and just enjoying the sun and water. Now summer seems to be blinking sleepily and making way for autumn, as the weather here has cooled down significantly and the leaves are starting to turn just a tad.
I am overjoyed to experience the fall season again and find myself greedily drinking tea and dreaming about baking desserts...in addition to shaking out various blankets and sweaters that have been stored in my closet. Also looking forward to everything pumpkin flavored!
Heaviest on my heart is E's departure. The time we have spent together here has resulted in many positive changes for us, and I feel much closer to him than I did before. Having this adventure together has been a great experience...and I know there are more adventures to come.
Bring it on.
Pura Vida
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
a year ago today.
Here we are, already mid-way through August.
I have started working again just in the evenings, because I still have to pay my bills. The last two nights have been good, though I will need some more time to get used to being on my feet so much. The job really does give you quite a workout...in some ways it seems that I can never escape, but it is also a relief to know that there is something I can fall back on, and a place where I will always be welcome. The people there watched me grow up, after all.
My Mom is doing better...she has high and low days, but lately she has been more energetic and I take that as a good sign. Still, I have no idea of when I can go home, but really I want to focus on enjoying this time I can spend with her and the rest of my family.
As we all grow older we seem to grow more apart as our lives become more our own, and not something we live all together under the same roof. I especially feel that way with my brothers, and I want to continue working on those relationships.
Speaking of relationships, a year ago today I made a decision that changed everything forever...I married E!
A year has gone by so quickly, but also so slowly. No denying that this first year has not been the easiest, but I have learned so much about what REAL love is and hope to continue learning and celebrating for many years more.
E is in the midst of trying to travel back here, and is haggling with the airlines. I hope to see him later today or tomorrow. Next year maybe we can celebrate together.
Breathing in the "pura vida," breathing out the malas vibras....!
I have started working again just in the evenings, because I still have to pay my bills. The last two nights have been good, though I will need some more time to get used to being on my feet so much. The job really does give you quite a workout...in some ways it seems that I can never escape, but it is also a relief to know that there is something I can fall back on, and a place where I will always be welcome. The people there watched me grow up, after all.
My Mom is doing better...she has high and low days, but lately she has been more energetic and I take that as a good sign. Still, I have no idea of when I can go home, but really I want to focus on enjoying this time I can spend with her and the rest of my family.
As we all grow older we seem to grow more apart as our lives become more our own, and not something we live all together under the same roof. I especially feel that way with my brothers, and I want to continue working on those relationships.
Speaking of relationships, a year ago today I made a decision that changed everything forever...I married E!
A year has gone by so quickly, but also so slowly. No denying that this first year has not been the easiest, but I have learned so much about what REAL love is and hope to continue learning and celebrating for many years more.
E is in the midst of trying to travel back here, and is haggling with the airlines. I hope to see him later today or tomorrow. Next year maybe we can celebrate together.
Breathing in the "pura vida," breathing out the malas vibras....!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
on my mind....
Here are a few of the things I have been thinking about lately.
New recipes.
Lately I have been on a healthy food kick, and my Mom hasn't done too much cooking recently, so I have been trying different flavors and foods out. My best dishes to date have been chicken with stir fry peppers and onions, bean salad, and baked penne pasta with peppers and pesto. Maybe I just never realized how much of a foodie I was, until I could flex my cooking muscles in the kitchen freely. It's been so much fun, and I want to try something with quinoa next...!
Te frio.
My little brother introduced me to the concept of mixing iced tea and lemonade...and it tastes just like te frio back home! Cue homesickness...
Thrift shopping.
This is the season where people clean out their closets, clothes go on sale, and everyone is bringing the jackets and sweaters out of hibernation. I have really had a hankering to go and poke around at a thrift store, in hopes of finding a nice jean jacket to compliment what I already have. You never know what goodies are waiting for you at your local thrift store.
Professions.
While I do not really have a profession, I have a lot of experience in customer service, hospitality and tourism industries. Some ideas of jobs I would like to do....
Concierge: This would be my dream job! I love making things happen for people, and I am pretty resourceful.
Event planner: Again, love this kind of thing! I picture an event from the decor to the ambiance to the tables to the location to the food...blame it on the caterer in me!
Interior designer: Just being back home and looking at my parents' house gives me all kinds of inspiration. Better ways to organize, decorate, paint, fix, etc. Something that has always excited me is the idea of buying homes and remaking them, a-la Home Makeover.
Short stories.
I shared with my friend, just the other day, that I am thinking of publishing another book of short stories. Lately I have been trying to write a little every day, and the subject matter varies greatly. No better way to stretch your imagination than to write...of all the professions listed above, I would want to be a writer more than anything else. And that is something I am trying to cultivate.
Man, so much goes on in my head...! This is just an outline, haha.
Pura vida.
New recipes.
Lately I have been on a healthy food kick, and my Mom hasn't done too much cooking recently, so I have been trying different flavors and foods out. My best dishes to date have been chicken with stir fry peppers and onions, bean salad, and baked penne pasta with peppers and pesto. Maybe I just never realized how much of a foodie I was, until I could flex my cooking muscles in the kitchen freely. It's been so much fun, and I want to try something with quinoa next...!
Te frio.
My little brother introduced me to the concept of mixing iced tea and lemonade...and it tastes just like te frio back home! Cue homesickness...
Thrift shopping.
This is the season where people clean out their closets, clothes go on sale, and everyone is bringing the jackets and sweaters out of hibernation. I have really had a hankering to go and poke around at a thrift store, in hopes of finding a nice jean jacket to compliment what I already have. You never know what goodies are waiting for you at your local thrift store.
Professions.
While I do not really have a profession, I have a lot of experience in customer service, hospitality and tourism industries. Some ideas of jobs I would like to do....
Concierge: This would be my dream job! I love making things happen for people, and I am pretty resourceful.
Event planner: Again, love this kind of thing! I picture an event from the decor to the ambiance to the tables to the location to the food...blame it on the caterer in me!
Interior designer: Just being back home and looking at my parents' house gives me all kinds of inspiration. Better ways to organize, decorate, paint, fix, etc. Something that has always excited me is the idea of buying homes and remaking them, a-la Home Makeover.
Short stories.
I shared with my friend, just the other day, that I am thinking of publishing another book of short stories. Lately I have been trying to write a little every day, and the subject matter varies greatly. No better way to stretch your imagination than to write...of all the professions listed above, I would want to be a writer more than anything else. And that is something I am trying to cultivate.
Man, so much goes on in my head...! This is just an outline, haha.
Pura vida.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
just visiting
Yesterday I made a day trip down to Cincinnati, OH to visit a good friend of mine from college.
Being so far away from people makes you realize what an effort it is to maintain a connection with people...and makes you realize who is worth the effort.
We had a great lunch at a little Taco place in downtown, and had some great guacamole and tacos (I had corn tortillas reminiscent of CR, and she had flour tortillas). Then we went downtown, walked around, stopped at a coffee emporium and I bought some Costa Rican coffee and we had a great chat with one of the employees about fair trade and direct trade, and got some refreshing drinks...then we shopped a bit, and at the end of the day I came home with 2 new pairs of sandals, a chopping knife, a shower caddy and some coffee, along with many good memories.
We had a funny moment in the coffee shop while talking about Costa Rican coffee, when my friend mentions that I live there...the immediate question following this comment is "Oh, what are you doing here?" and I go on to explain that I grew up in Ohio and am back just visiting...
The words "just visiting" give me hope, because I am still unsure of when I will return to CR. In some ways I am starting to feel homesick, missing the heat and stillness of our little house and the familiar foods and smells, and I know E is feeling the same way.
It is nice to be here and revisit my hometown...but Costa Rica is my home.
Pura Vida.
Being so far away from people makes you realize what an effort it is to maintain a connection with people...and makes you realize who is worth the effort.
We had a great lunch at a little Taco place in downtown, and had some great guacamole and tacos (I had corn tortillas reminiscent of CR, and she had flour tortillas). Then we went downtown, walked around, stopped at a coffee emporium and I bought some Costa Rican coffee and we had a great chat with one of the employees about fair trade and direct trade, and got some refreshing drinks...then we shopped a bit, and at the end of the day I came home with 2 new pairs of sandals, a chopping knife, a shower caddy and some coffee, along with many good memories.
We had a funny moment in the coffee shop while talking about Costa Rican coffee, when my friend mentions that I live there...the immediate question following this comment is "Oh, what are you doing here?" and I go on to explain that I grew up in Ohio and am back just visiting...
The words "just visiting" give me hope, because I am still unsure of when I will return to CR. In some ways I am starting to feel homesick, missing the heat and stillness of our little house and the familiar foods and smells, and I know E is feeling the same way.
It is nice to be here and revisit my hometown...but Costa Rica is my home.
Pura Vida.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Forward Motion- Relient K
My absolute favorite poem is by Robert Frost, The Road Less Travelled . For me this poem in many ways defines my life, and the "road" it has taken. There certainly have been many unexpected twists and turns.
Being back here in my hometown has been a good experience, especially spending time with my family and hubby. But my inactivity is starting to catch up with me, and I have to go and look for a job with the hours I need.
The longer I am here the more challenges I encounter...reverting back to the North American lifestyle, food, etc., friction with my family, financial challenges, job, materialism, toilet paper, friendships...the list goes on.
In conversation with my Dad a few days ago, I reflected that I am a very flexible person. Maybe adaptable would be a better word. It was meant in the sense that I feel that I came overcome anything, that no situation poses an impossibility. I am still trying to match the interpretation with the concept I have of myself.
To sum up, at this time I definately have to face several challenges. BUT, I know inside that I will be able to overcome them just as I have on the road that lies behind me. Because the only way I can go is...forward.
Pura Vida!
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