June 2010
29 posts
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Vegenista's Vegetable Enchiladas, "Costa Rica...
My Dad’s wife, Emily, is an amazing cook & is constantly whipping up something lovely in the kitchen. She deserved a night off & designated Monday as “The Vegenista Cooking Night.”
For some reason, I was craving enchiladas! I did not have my trusty repertoire of cookbooks on hand, or my usual source of ingredients or favorite tools, so I had to wing it a bit! I did a...
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Costa Rica Yoga Spa
Nestled in the lush mountains, just down the road from my Dad’s ranch, is Costa Rica Yoga Spa & I had the pleasure of getting a private tour! Owners Dan & Jill were gracious enough to met me take photos.
The Costa Rica Yoga Spa is located on a private ranch in Nosara, Costa Rica & looks out on both the Pacific Ocean & Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to yoga...
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Signing off for a bit....
I’m heading back up to the mountains & the land of no WiFi! I’ve had a blast around town the last few days! Hope you’ve enjoyed following my adventure thus far!
On my radar for the next few days: Miss Sky Canopy Tour & Costa Rica Yoga Spa.
Me & Amber in “The Mule.” This is how we roll around here!
Stay tuned for updates soon!
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"The Yoga House," Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
The thing that I love most about Nosara is the awesome little yoga community! There are a plethora of places that anyone - from the beginning yoga flirt, to the advanced yogi - can go to strengthen their practice.
This afternoon, I took a class at “The Yoga House” a much more modest studio than the Nosara Yoga Institute, but still intimate & lovely….
It really is like...
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Robin's Café, Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
I’d passed by Robin’s Café a few times while walking through Guiones & was finally drawn in by the allure of “Sweet Crepes & Costa Rican Coffee!”
Mmmm…home made ice cream & sorbet!!!
Super cute outdoor patio!
“Good Ol’ Costa Rican Coffee”
“Fruit Crepe with Fresh Mango”
As you may already know, I adore crepes,...
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Dinner with my Sister
My sister, Amber, is staying the night with me in my hotel! Yay! It’s awesome for us to finally have some real bonding time! We have different baby-mamas & didn’t grow up together, so this is really the first time in our lives that we’ve come together & gotten to know each other. She is awesome, & I love her!
This is how she arrived….
It’s been...
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Zen Café, Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
It’s done nothing but rain all day….So much for surf, sand & sun today. However, it gave me a chance to finally check out Zen Café!
According to Surfing Nosara, the owner, Ryan, opened the Zen about a year & a half ago after completing Yoga Training at the Nosara Yoga Institute. He decided to make the leap to Nosara permanently from his home in Austin, TX.
Zen is known...
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Nosara's "Organic Farmer's Market"
Trekked through the mud & got caught in the pouring rain…
For this….
Not what I was expecting at all…..
Well, this was about the extent of it!
“Carne y Carne.” Where is the produce??? A bunch of guys selling meat & a woman selling marmalade! So NOT Vegenista style.
This makes my Farmers’ Market back home look like “Nature’s...
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Healthy Markets in Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
While I’ve been in town in Guiones, I’ve had the chance to check out two cool local “mini” markets. Organic produce seems to be abundant here, but I was surprised & excited to see that healthy vegetarian & vegan foods are available, albeit limited.
First stop:
“Organico Whole Foods, Grocery & Deli”
I normally do not feel comfortable taking...
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Nosara Yoga Institute
I got up early this morning & decided to take a “Yoga Flow” class the ”Nosara Yoga Institute.”
It is about a 15 minute walk from my hotel, & can be accessed by the main road, or by a “footpath.” I used the footpath, which was a bit like trudging through a jungle, but it is all part of the experience!
I made my way though the sticky spiderwebs &...
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Dinner at The Harmony Hotel, Guiones, Nosara,...
When researching before my trip, I read about the restaurant at the “Harmony Hotel” & was so excited to see veggie sushi & vegan dishes on their menu. I was very interested in staying a night or two there, but it is considered “très chic” by Costa Rican standards, & my Dad secured a very good rate for me at “Casa Tucan.”
Much to my surprise &...
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Exploring Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am spending a few nights down at “Casa Tucan” at Playa Guiones in Nosara.
I am very independent & can be a bit solitary by nature, so I welcome this time to be alone & on my own terms. It will also get me out of my Dad’s hair for a bit (however, he so kindly told me that I have a “peaceful & graceful presence”) &...
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Casa Tucan, Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
Since my Dad’s place is a 30 minute drive down the mountain into town, he helped me arrange a nice little hotel room at the “Casa Tucan” at Playa Guiones in Nosara. Casa Tucan is owned by 2 brothers from San Diego, CA (where I live!) & also run “Safari Surf School” where I am hoping to take a lesson or two!
The hotel has a nice restaurant, pool, beach access...
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Lazy Days & Nights....
I’ve had an amazing experience so far in Costa Rica! I’ve been staying up in the mountains at my Dad & his wife Emily’s house for the past few days. It’s given me a real taste of what their life is like living here full time. For me, it is a totally different way of living.
The sun sets around 6:30pm & rises around 5am. Each day since I arrived, I wake early, do...
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Beach Dog Cafe, Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica
Yay! Wifi!
There is no internet access for me up in the mountains, so I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected - which I should really embrace & enjoy! I got super excited last night when I realized I can text from my phone for only 50 cents! I really miss my BFF, who I usually speak to & text multiple times a day! Love & miss you Annelise! Wish you were here!
Today, we came to...
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Finally, Nosara!
Arrived in Nosara after a really lovely drive through the Nicoya Penisula. My Dad lives in the mountains of Nosara in what is known as “Finca Doña Cielo” or “Miss Sky Ranch,” named after an Indian woman who resided there. The ranch “encompasses a 5000-acre primary rainforest wilderness reserve & the setting of an exclusive gated community of incredible private...
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The Adventure Begins...
or should I say the “adwenture” as my German driver, Gunter, would say! My Dad & Gunter arrived at my hotel at 9:00 a.m. & we got on the road. It is about a 3 hour drive from Liberia through the Nicoya Penisula to Nosara where my Dad lives.
Gunter suggested we stop at the “Panaderia Alemana” for some Costa Rican coffee & a pastry.
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I've Arrived!
Yay! My luggage & I successfully landed in Liberia, Costa Rica, I navigated my way to a taxi, & got to the Hotel Santa Ana in one piece.
Not bad for $40 a night, in Costa Rica!!!
Had a decent night’s sleep, woke up early, did some yoga & a morning meditation.
I’d say “Operation Bliss” is off to a good start! :)
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Pura Vida!
I am excited to report that I am now blogging from a little hotel in Liberia, Costa Rica! Thank goodness for free WiFi! I made it here in one piece, with all my luggage, yay!
Tomorrow morning, my Dad’s German friend will be picking me up & driving me to Nosara, where the real journey begins, & where I will be staying for the duration on my trip!
“Pura Vida” is a common saying in...
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"Sexy" Vegan Low Fat Vanilla Cupcakes with Fresh...
Oh Mama!
My sweet cousin, Kathryn, celebrated her birthday over the weekend & I thought it would be fun to surprise her at work with a little something sweet! Like I really need an excuse to make cupcakes, right? She just came off the Master Cleanse, so it only seemed fitting to try to make the lightest & healthiest cupcakes I could. Not to mention, I am going to be on the beach in a...
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Counting Down....
One week from today I will be in Nosara, Costa Rica, sitting on the beach reading the Yoga-Sutras & Bhagavad Gita, doing lots of yoga & sunrise meditation, contemplating the meaning of my life, making sense & letting go of all that has happened in the last year, & preparing myself for all good that is yet to come….
I am also looking forward to spending time with this fine...
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Browned "Butter" Pasta with Tatsoi
One of the things I love most about being a Suzie’s Farm share holder is being introduced to vegetables I have never tried. I’ve really been able to expand my palate & recipe repertoire! Never hurts to try something new!
In my last CSA box, I received a bag of “Tatsoi,” a dark Asian green with a distinct mustard flavor similar to bok choy. I love all greens, especially...
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MIHO Gastrotruck!
I’ve been hearing quite a bit about “gourmet” food trucks lately surfacing in L.A., NYC, Portland & Seattle, etc. San Diego is finally catching up to speed with the recent launch of the “ MIHO Gastrotruck!” I read about MIHO a few days ago & was so excited that they were going to be at a nearby neighborhood park during the “Art Around...
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Vegan Zucchini Bread
Summer is upon us & that means it is squash season!
It’s a good thing I love it, since I received a ton of it in my CSA box yesterday, then came to work today to find that my sweet cousins brought in bags full of zucchini from their lovely organic garden! I have more zucchini than I know what to do with! I guess there is nothing left to do but start cooking & baking!
Fridays are...
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Summer is Near!
Picked up my Suzie’s Farm share from the farmers’ market today! Yay! I am beyond pleased to report that after a lot of frustration & confusion, the Adams Avenue Farmers’ Market is here to stay & finally has a permanent home at John Adams Elementary School (35th & Adams Ave). This couldn’t be a more convenient location for me!!!
Looking around at the farm...
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Simple Weekend Detox
I’ve been totally overdoing it lately & I need a break….
My work & social calendars have been jam packed, & it is going to continue to be that way for the next few months. I think I am going to clear out a little time to take extra good care of myself this weekend - healthy eating, reading, meditation, afternoon naps, bubble baths & tons of yoga….
SIMPLE...