Pura Vida!

WOW! What a dream! 

James and I went to Costa Rica in October with Shelf Reliance. 

I've been doing the business for a year now and I love it. 

When we arrived in Costa Rica and stood on the balcony of our bungalow, I was overwhelmed to realize the generosity of the company. i have never had someone pay me, offer me free stuff, and then send me on a trip too! 

seriously, What a DREAM! 

get ready for lots of pictures...cause i can't pick and choose just a few. 

(oh, and p.s. if you remember the last time james and i traveled outside the country. you'll be glad to know the traveling went MUCH smoother this time!) 

 markin' our spot on the black sand beaches!

next stop: 

The pool bar!

 lots of good times were had while downing our never ending (virgin) drinks! even became friends with the bar tender, Alejandro! 

 the Welcome Dinner...Fancy Schmancy! 

followed by karaoke and some line dancing!

..I ripped up this dance floor, i tell ya...

all those years of Stake Dances really paid off.

 It was SO FUN to be there with friends and family!! They seriously made it the best! 

 Nights weren't complete with out more dancing. 

Jason Budge (Co-founder of Shelf Reliance) and I were tearing it up with Gangnam Style after our Latin Dance class!

(it's true, i now know how to salsa like the best of em!)

the next day we took a kayak tour around (guided by ourselves) and found the most beautiful secluded beach! we spent the day body surfing the big waves, practicing our yoga moves on the beach, and taking some long walks in search for wild monkeys. it was so fun to play in the ocean. i'm not sure that there is to much in this world that is better than that. and james even got smacked in the face by a fish. (yeah, we don't believe him either)

 And where did this beautiful path lead us? you ask....

To a  MUD BATH!!

and then a GIGANTIC (well 400 meters anyway) Water Slide through the Rain Forrest! 

this was so sweet. I thought the Logan Aquatic Pool slide was fun, Oh-ho-ho...that little thing doesn't have anything on this bad boy! I hiked up 4 times for this sucker! 

 

(and yes, the helmets were definitely necessary!)

 

Next stop: 10 Canopy zip line...talk about exhilarating! 

 

(did i mention this was during the Hurricane? It rained hard the whole time...made the ropes slick, made the adventure more intense!!)

So of course, James decided to zip-line upside-down and twisted! CRAZY MAN of MINE!! 

 Surfing was next on the list. we LOVED IT! we went out with Jason and Lindsay Budge, Jake and Tayli, Amber Pearce and her husband and Dave Fairbanks! i was feeling a little under the weather but still caught me some nice waves! :)

 James had to move on to the short board...

life feels a bit unfair when you are married to man that is good at everything he tries!

 Jake and James...they could have stayed out there all.day.long. 

{we really should live by the ocean.}

 (oh, just a picture of a towel turtle!...the other animals were hard to depict.)

Our Balcony!

{there's something about a white robe that makes me feel rich and famous! haha.}

Our personal driver, Julio! He was a stud! even climbed up the tree to get us some fresh coconut... he cut them with his machete, and even had straws! talk about service.

 the boys and their "lovely bunch of coconuts!"

Man, I love a good day at the pool! After the hurricane past, it was nothin' but blue skies! and we soaked that up quick.

The resort had so many activites each day, and we were all about that! 

James and I signed ourselves up for "Exfoliation on the beach"! we had no idea what we were in for, but turned out awesome! 

first, you do some yoga moves which is always hilarious.

then we rubbed a mixture of fresh coconut, coffee beans, and coconut oil all over us. 

then you wash off in the ocean.

i gotta tell ya, my skin was SA-MOOOOTH!

 (not only did we smell like coffee...but we looked nice and bronze too! a bonus!)

the Goodbye Dinner.

 It was so fun to be on this trip with our good friends Jake and Tayli. and we are excited to be on every SR trip together from here on out! 

 Steve and Amy Palmer, Co-founders, Jake and Tayli, Me and James, Lindsay and Jason Budge, Co-founders! 

we had such a blast with these guys...and look forward to many more vacations with them!

 Holly's Team! 

These are some amazing people right here. i feel so honored to be numbered among them.

....and like after all the dinners...we went out to dinner after. 

cause hey, when the food is free why stop eating! :)

I loved every single second of this trip. 

can't wait to see where we're going next year! 

 Pura Vida! 

(living the pure life)