10 things I learned about Costa Rica while I was there (and yes #1 is more than embarrassing, but what am I, if not honest?! So fine…I’ll be straight with ya’ll!)

1. Costa Rica is NOT an island! Hmmmph, who knew? It’s nestled between Nicaragua (to the North) and Panama (to the South) in Central America with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other.

2. “Pura Vida” is not only the most famous colloquial saying of the people, but the words they live by. It translates to pure life. And they sure do know how to live. Happy, happy, happy. They are, by far, the friendliest people I’ve met on travels!

3. Costa Rica is a neutral country and has no army! Told you they were friendly

4. Costa Rica’s prime money making industry is tourism, followed by cash crops like bananas, pineapples, and coffee. And for the record…they have the HUGEST pineapples I’ve ever seen! Deelish!

5. There are lots of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans who have immigrated to Costa Rica and now call it their home. And after my little trip to see what all the fuss was about, I can’t say I blame them! Pura Vida, remember?

6. Costa Rica has 3 volcanoes and as a result some of the beaches are black sand beaches…cool!

7. Howler monkeys are loud!! Howler monkeys don’t sound much like monkeys at all and sound more like a savage beast out to get you…and then this cute little tiny monkey face appears and you feel foolish. True story.

8. Zip lining is fun. Yeah I’d never done this before I went to Costa Rica but everyone said it was a must while I was there. Ummm, okay fine. I zip lined 25 cables over 3 different water falls (and even swam in one waterfall!!). Yeah, they were right — AMAZING.

9. Iguanas are everywhere. The first time I saw one I thought it was the most spectacular thing and whipped out my camera so I wouldn’t miss capturing this reptilian beauty! I spent a good 20 min chasing the young (and deceptively fast) iguana trying to get his close up. When I was satisfied that I had kind of failed and there wasn’t much I could do…I packed up my camera and lenses, started walking and promptly found 12,000 friendlier iguanas. Oops. But at least I finally got an iguana shot!

10. The sunsets in Costa Rica are among the prettiest I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve never felt so small and awestruck by our amazing planet. If ever you need to clear your mind and cleanse your soul a Costa Rican sunset is all you need.

This guy’s name is Edward. He even smiled for the camera. Thank you Edward. I really like you. A lot.

This is what happens when you feel Pura Vida in your heart and soul…

What I wouldn’t give to be sitting in that chair right now.

This wouldn’t be an Emmy post unless I shared that I found two love birds on their honeymoon and threw them in front of my camera at sunset heehee ♥

Sunsets….le sigh.

Pura Vida,
Emmy

Headed to Costa Rica for the week so I won’t be answering emails/inquiries but I’ll be snapping lots of photos to share with you when I get back! And don’t forget the launch of the new site is just around the corner along with a really fantastic giveaway! So hang in there, I’m gonna go work on my “lounging by the ocean/pool skills” and I’ll be back in time for Valentine’s day! Smooches!

Sunrise at 35,000 feet over Los Angeles, California….beautiful. Le sigh.

Xoxo,
Emmy

There is seriously no better way to cool off in the summer than by getting in the pool…even better if you have a sibling to raft race with!

Hello Jordan and Yeimy! BBQs scream summer to me too!

Mmmm popsicles melting on a hot summer day! Thanks Julie and Melissa!

Now didn’t I tell you this post would make you fall in love with being a kid and summer time again? Pack your bags kiddos…let’s move into this happy place…

Xoxo

Best.Season.Ever. Also, I might be biased

KC I love the idea of feet in the summer! Toes free, soaking up the sun, thanks!

Nothing says summer like the 4th of July.

Fresh fruit is one of the many joys of summer…especially sweet strawberries ripening on the vine. Thanks Julie!

XOXO

“I’m leaving, on a jet plane. Don’t know when I’ll be back again…”

I wish you could hear me singing that. I have such a pretty voice. I pretty much sound just like the radio. Yes I do. Well I do when the radio drowns out my cat shrieky (<–is that even a word??) voice.

And I digress…I’ll miss you all, of course, and I apologize in advance if I’m a little slow to answer email, but I will get back to you as soon as I can, I promise! I will try and do some blogging along the way (depending on Internet availability) so stay tuned. Love and Happy Spring to you all! Oh and I promise not to sing anymore… until I get back that is.

I took a snow day last weekend with some friends and brought my favorite snausages with me. Now if you know anything about me, I absolutely HATE being cold. I abhor it. Fancy word, no? But seriously, I’m a tropical person. It’s in my DNA. I’m sure of it. My people hail from an island for crissakes! But every few years I have this urge to step outside my comfort zone and I dredge my little butt up and out to the snow to “enjoy” some snow activities. Yes I put enjoy in quotes. I’m a big fat whiney whiner. Did I mention I hate being cold? Ok good. With that in mind, I pulled out the snow pants and snow shoes and headed up the hill to find some snow. To my surprise, it turned out to be a perfectly lovely day! We went sledding, had a snowball fight with some rebel sledders, made snow angels, and it even snowed while we were there. It was quite picturesque. Ansel Adams-esque, even. And you know what? I guess I don’t hate the cold as much as I thought. In fact, I can’t even really remember being cold at all….gasp. Were we all really having that much fun? I guess we were.

This was right off the freeway. Can you believe it?

Sledding + Dog = Accident waiting to happen!

This is a snow dog snausage. That’s all.

I caught the snowflakes in my hand! Snowflakes are cool.

I ♥ California.

- Emmy Cube

This is Kuma’s pouting face. Mastered.

- Emmy Cube

I’m so behind on my blogging! Is it really already the middle of February?! How did that happen? I beg your forgiveness (really…I’m on my knees begging! Yes I am. If you were here you would see…I’m typing on my knees) and enjoy these two random shots…the sun setting in Sacramento and of course one of my most favorite snausages in the world…Sage! Class has started up again (yippee!) and I’m learning so much and experimenting a lot with my photos. I have been working on some really exciting new things over here and I can’t wait to share them with you…hang tight my friends!

Caught the sun in between the 20 billion rain storms to hit northern California the past few weeks.

Oh, this face…seriously? Yes, she’s serious.