Summer Fun

 As we count down the last few days of summer break, I thought I'd share a few of the fun activities we've been partaking in so far.

It had been a few years since we played mini golf, so we decided that would make for a great family and budget friendly day out. 

Safari mini golf in Santa Ana

Right across the way is the trampoline park, Jump Center, which luckily for us was open that day. Most other trampoline parks are still closed due to the Coronavirus restrictions in Costa Rica so my boys had been waiting an entire year and a half to get their jump on. To say they were excited is an understatement.

Jump Center trampoline park, Santa Ana

Whenever we're on that side of San Jose, we always like to make a pit stop at one of our favorite places to grub,which is Olive Garden. Eating out as a family is one of our favorite activities to partake in and now that things are a little better, going out to eat is becoming more acceptable. Our dessert that evening was the always delicious zeppoli Italian donuts with chocolate dipping sauce.

The next activity we decided on as a family was roller skating. Skate World skating rink is super affordable and also pretty close to our house, which is a huge bonus. Plus roller skating is a fun and easy way to enjoy summer break. 

Skate World Skating Rink

The exciting part about not having school is time for more parties and this year, parties are back on the schedule which is very exciting. Spending time together with family at a birthday party is always a good idea.

And then there are the days we just want to go to the mall to browse and walk around and enjoy our time out without having any plans. With the world starting to open back up, most places are also opening their doors in the hopes of getting back to normal. This particular day, the arcade was finally open so we had to stop in for some fun and games.

Lincoln Plaza Mall, Moravia

I also took the boys to Chuck E Cheese as another fun family day activity but alas, I have no pictures. However, I took a quick snap afterwards at Dennys where we went for dinner.

We are definitely enjoying our impromptu summer break, trying to do as many fun activities as we can before the kids go back to school. We have one final activity planned before life goes back to "normal" and we have to get back to our regularly scheduled routines.

Low key Father's Day

 Leave it to my hubby to not want to celebrate the one day of the year dedicated to him and honestly I really don't blame him.

He is an amazing father and deserves to be celebrated every single day of the year. So when it comes to Father's Day, it really is just another day to him.  

He doesn't want the bells and whistles that can go into a celebration because he likes to keep things simple. So to satisfy his wish, we did absolutely nothing. 

Except that I still wanted to do something so I got him some delicious Japanese fusion food, his beloved salmon fried rice, and a slice of chocolate cake from one of his favorite patisserie. Happy Father's to my one and only

Thinking About The Future

 I've been thinking about the future a lot lately, about life and the fact that I am getting older. Not in a somber way but in a way that makes me want to live my life more. If 2020 thought us anything, it's how plans can change and life as we know it can take a drastic nose dive. So yes, I've been thinking a lot about my life and the future.

I want to live more. I want to enjoy life more. I want to do all the things now and get all the things now and see all the things now. Why wait? I realized I've been waiting to live my life on the outside for too long when I can still live my life on the inside too. 

Why wait for a special occasion to wear those killer heels or that amazing bag or that nice dress. Why not wear them while out running errands? After all, as a mom, running errands is a part of life, my everyday life. I can get so much more use out of my stuff if I use them for my daily life than if I wait for that special occasion. 

I am getting older and when I die, nothing will matter to me anymore. I won't be able to use any of my designer bags or fancy clothes. That is why I need to enjoy these things now while I can and I will. No more house dresses or headscarves all day for me either. I'm going to get dressed and fix my hair and my face, even if I'm just staying home all day. It's the little changes that can make a big impact and make life more memorable. Afterall, the phrase is so true, you only get one life to live so live if to the fullest.

Doing Fun Vacation Things

 While my boys are technically on summer break right now  I've been trying to plan a few fun activities for us to do. I really want to soak up this time off because starting mid July, when the kids go back to school, it'll be that much more work. 

It feels like a relief getting this unexpected time off but a little bit out of the ordinary for us. Usually summer break coincides with a dryer climate here in Costa Rica, which typically starts at the end of December. By January, when summer break is in full swing, the weather is usually gorgeous. 

This time of year is the rainy season and not much happens in June, but we want to make the most of it by soaking up as much fun as we can before the boys head back to school.

My New Wedding Set Upgrade

 It's been 8 years since we got married but 22 years of being on this roller coaster I call love. I could not ask for more out of a relationship because I get so much more than I give. Hubby is the most amazing man and so that is why I feel I get so much more than I feel like I deserve.

When hubby and I got married, I said I do with my beautiful $200 ring. It was everything I wanted in the price range we could afford. It was a halo setting in white gold and it sparkled like nothing I had ever owned. It was small and it was dainty, perfect for my slender fingers.

Over the years, I yearned for a bigger ring. Something more substantial and a little better quality. Not to mention, I no longer had a wedding band. The stainless steel wedding band I had ordered for cheap online didn't last and so I knew I wanted a new one.

I also just wanted to have something better. I wanted something bigger and more sparkly that had more worth. Bottom line, I wanted an upgrade. And hubby was more than happy to appease me. 

I am obsessed with my new wedding ring upgrade. It's not only much bigger at 2 full carats of diamond in a 10k white gold setting but it's also gorgeous. This is the most expensive and most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever owned. And not to mention how it sparkles! I am over the moon, the sun and the stars.

Far From Normal?

 I don't watch the news, so it makes it easier to stay oblivious in my little bubble. However, I do get fed the  news on occasion in small dosis on my social media pages, like Facebook, Youtube and Yahoo mail. In this capacity, I'm able to filter what and how much I choose to watch, listen to or read. 

The news distorts and uses fear tactics. They lie and manipulate. So by choosing how much information I intake, it helps my sanity and keeps me from freaking out too much.

Recently there has been a lot of talk on the latest spike in Covid cases in Costa Rica. Apparently it's bad, like the worse it has ever been and people are scared. The vaccine is currently available but not enough doses to go around and the government is trying to figure out how to get a handle on the new wave of coronavirus outbreaks. 

Not that I'm sitting over here in my happy little bubble worried at all. But with fear comes a whole lot of issues and it's the subsequent issues that worry me. I am hoping we get a handle on this virus enough to ease people's fears and calm the masses.  

If it's the vaccine people want then let them have it, without brute force of course. If we need to wear masks a little while longer, I'm on board as long as there is an end in sight. And if events still need to be postponed, then go ahead and postpone them temporarily.

What I am against, however, is shutting down businesses, mandating driving restrictions and curfews. We can be safe and get a handle on this situation without disrupting or destroying people's lives. Being compassionate and sensible is the way we go back to normal.

My Perfect Mother's Day

 I don't requiere much when it comes to my own celebrations. At this stage in my life, I tend to prefer more lowkey affairs.   So for Mother's Day this year, all I wanted was a day off. 

A day off from cooking. A day off from doing the dishes. Just a day off from my normal mommy duties.  That's really all I wanted. 

So to fulfill my wish, we ordered Chinese food for dinner from one of our favorite Asian fusion restaurants. And to top it off, my kids washed up all the dishes so I wouldn't have to. Of course, I had to ask but it was a nice little gift that I appreciated more than any store bought present. To make the day even more amazing, I was able to chill in bed for a majority of my Mother's day. Life just could not get better than that. Oh, and let me not forget how sweet my youngest was by picking me some hydrangeas in the morning. Let's just say, I love my life as a mom.