I found the website I was looking for!

I totally had a blonde moment... I did bookmark the website that allows people to donate to you through Paypal. It's called Chip-In. I created a Chip-In widget for us (above)! If you want to help out we are accepting donations though Paypal via the Chip-In website. Every little bit helps and we are grateful for every cent donated to help us acquire the lodge and make it a great research and development project about sustainable living off-grid!!

Ideally we would like to work with schools and universities to offer a place to stay for students doing research on sustainable living or something related. We want to be able to pay it forward and help as many people we can through this place and the community that comes together there! Our vision is one of unity and peace. We want to work together to make our life have very little impact on the environment and offer information and support to those who also would like to live an eco-friendly sustainable life. Thank you to everyone who believes in us and our vision and all those willing to contribute or be a part of our project! Please email me if you have any questions at all about this project or the property we would like to acquire for this project!

Coming up with the $$$

This post will be short, I have some work to get done. I just wanted to update you on our progress. Andy and I were discussing ways to come up with the money to buy the Sabalo Lodge in Costa Rica to turn it into a sustainable living community and it dawned on me that I had come across a website a while back where you can get donations for things like that. I couldn't find that website though. I searched and searched. However I did find another one and made us an ad. It's not set up as well as the other one, which I'm kicking myself for not bookmarking it! Well, check out the link, I must get back to work now. If you have any info on other websites where you can get donations or if you want to make a donation let me know! Every little bit helps! Thanks! Until next time!
Peace and Love
Spottie O'Keefe
a.k.a. The Hippie Pin-Up

Humid Heat vs. Dry Heat

As I'm sitting here pinning pieces of fabric together to finish the purses I started a month ago (yes I am a procrastinator but I'm working on that... eventually), I am thinking about our plans to move back to Costa Rica. All of our adventures from the 6 months we lived there before are running through my head. I remember when we first got off the airplane and stepped out of the air conditioned airport. The humidity hits you like a soggy blanket! The feeling quickly intensifies as you are bombarded by Taxi drivers competing to get you into their cab as well as many local entrepreneurs offering to help you with your luggage for a tip. Lovely people, one of the friendliest countries I've been to, although that doesn't really say too much because I've only been to Costa Rica, Canada and the US. Regardless they are nice people as long as you show them respect and don't act like a stupid American and respect their culture. Andy and I are friendly joyous people and never had any bad experiences with the locals the whole 6 months we were there. We even made some good friends even though our Spanish is terrible!

Back to the subject at hand: Humidity or Dry Heat. After finding our friend who told us he would be wearing a Hawaiian print shirt and to meet him at the pay phone, we paid the nice Tico who helped us with our luggage and we were on our way. By this point I didn't really notice the humidity anymore. We stayed at our friend's Bed and Breakfast which was air conditioned so that helped too. The next day we loaded up onto the Tracopa and were on our way to Golfito! The bus ride on the "Highway Of Death" was an adventure in itself and a whole other story! Now at this point I wasn't really thinking about the humidity just taking in the scenery and the culture of the whole experience. By our lunch stop I did start to notice the humidity due to the fact my shorts were sticking to my thighs. I never really had breathing issues with the humility except that first blast when we got outside the airport but that passed rather quickly. I didn't have a hard time breathing but my lungs did feel heavy. I lived in Florida for a year but the humidity there wasn't as noticeable as the humidity in Costa Rica. Being closer to the Equator or being so densely inhabited by vegetation might have something to do with that though. Come to think of it I was also 18 and very thin when I lived in Florida so that might have something to do with it also.

I actually prefer humidity, it just takes some getting used to. If you are physically fit it's not an issue in my eyes. We went down there kinda tubby so until we started eating the fresh produce and fish and living a healthier lifestyle we did have some issues with... um... chaffing in uncomfortable areas. Goldbond and baby powder became my best friends! Once we lost a bunch of weight we didn't have the chaffing issue anymore. The only thing in my eyes that I could see being an issue is that if things aren't properly ventilated you can develop problems like mold, fungus and rashes. The majority of the buildings down there are pretty well ventilated though so it was hardly an issue and if you are fit and wear breathable clothing rashes most likely won't be an issue either. Personally I think the humidity was good for my body. My hair was silkier and I really didn't need to use lotion either! I saved a ton of money not having to buy lotion as much! The humidity was actually a rather nice feeling once you got use to it, kind of like a warm bath!

Dry heat I don't care much for. I grew up and currently live in the desert of Washington state and lived in California for a few years mainly in the Inland Empire and Long Beach areas. Summers here in WA get up around 110+! I don't know about you but dry heat makes me sweat more! Things get dry and crusty if they aren't watered and tended to daily. At least where we are living right now has free irrigation so our landscaping and lawn stay nice. Can't say as much for my hair and skin though! Seriously, my hair is disgusting right now! Dry and brittle like no other! I feel like I have fine hay for hair. Some of that is due to previously dying my hair which I haven't done all summer because as soon as it got hot my hair turned to hay. My roots are pretty bad right now. I'm going to order some tattoo grade henna and try that. I got a tip from someone and they said it doesn't fade like red hair dye and it conditions your hair and can help fix split ends. (I'll write a review blog later about that for those interested.) Now as far as my skin goes I have really dry skin in the summer here. Lotion doesn't always help. I try to stay hydrated as well but sometimes I sweat it out faster than I can replenish it. Chapstick and lotion are my best friends right now, it being the end of July. I'm so glad we got a window unit this year, at least half of our house is cool. It also ads a little humidity to the air so I like it! Normally I'm not someone who has to have a/c but when it's over 110 and you live in an old house it feels more like 210! It's like being in an oven! To me humidity wins by a long shot in this battle! I'd take a warm bath over an oven any day! One of the many reasons Andy and I have chosen to move back to Costa Rica! More on that later.....Until next time!

Love and Peace,
Spottie O'Keefe
Pin Up (soon to be) In Paradise

What this blog is all about...

I am making this blog dedicated to my adventures in Costa Rica. My husband and I previously spent 6 months in Costa Rica and we kept talking about how we should write a book about all the crazy things that happened. Two years and some change have passed and not a thing has been written. Now, we have plans to move down there and this blog is going to be sort of a documentation of our adventures starting now with the plans of moving. We are determined so it will happen for sure but the "when" and the "how" are still to be decided........ In the mean time, in between updates on our progress, I will share stories and pictures of our previous adventure in Costa Rica. Eventually this will become more of a daily life journal once we get to Costa Rica and get settled. I hope you enjoy and maybe benefit from some of the things I write! Maybe some day I'll see you in paradise!! I'm also going to post links to positive messages that I think should be shared such as the last post of the video from Eden Sky. Enjoy!!

Eden Sky - 2012 We Are the Living Prophecy .mov

day to day

I don't know what the deal is but lately I have not been feeling like myself, I've been getting headaches and my eyes feel strange at times. I don't really know how to explain it other than that. I'm trying to remain positive and clear headed though. I'm finally getting my purses sewn up today. I think they will be done within the next few days. I have been procrastinating lately. A lot of it has to do with me feeling weird and also we have been busy with family coming to visit and stuff like that. Things seem to finally be leveling out. I was planning a yard sale this weekend to simplify my home environment and make a little extra cash. The yard sale is postponed until next weekend though because Andy's cousin is stuck on the other side of the state plus a friend of mine will be over there soon and I'd like to go see her so we will be heading there this weekend. In the mean time I'm going to do what I can and try to kick this funk I'm in right now.

A better day

Today was a much better day than yesterday. The sky was clear the sun was shining....I got some lunch with my sister and went to the park to eat. Then we did a little shopping and she came back to my house and hung out with me while I made some hair clips. Yay! This weekend is a big local car show called Cool Desert Nights and I wanted to have a bunch of flowers clips made to sell while I'm there. Not sure if I'm going tonight though, Andy is not feeling well. I think he just got overheated though, he was working on a van in the sun this afternoon. He is napping it off right now.

I didn't get much sleep again last night but it was mostly because I kept thinking about Costa Rica. For those of you who don't know Andy and I lived there for 6 months. It is an amazing place, especially our friend Raymundo's place called Dolphin Quest. Magical! If you ever get a chance to go stay at his place I highly recommend it, especially for those of you into living naturally. Check it out Andy and I want to move back there. It's starting to seem more like a reality now though, we are closer to getting some businesses set up here in the States so we will have income to live off of down there! Things are getting exciting. Last night I felt like that Disneyland commercial where the kids and the dad couldn't sleep because they were excited. All I could think about was what I want to do down there and what supplies I want to bring down there for Raymundo. And I'm super excited because if everything goes as planned we will be sailing down there this time instead of flying. A whole new experience and adventure!! We don't know how to sail as of yet but once we get our finances square we are going to go learn to sail from a very good friend we met down in Costa Rica the last time we were there. My life is so exciting! I love it! All of my fantasies are becoming realities, slowly but surely. All it takes is believing you can and positive thinking. Things also seem to be progressing a little faster now as well. Andy and I seem to be on the same thought pattern as well which makes manifesting our reality much easier. We both are asking for the same things and putting those thoughts out there in the Universe. Delete your negative thoughts and things will start happening for you too! I must get back to work and sew some purses so I can paint them and sell them! Yay!

Peace, Love and Light,
Spottie

unclear

Today has been a weird day. Nothing crazy happened but my head has hurt all day, I think it has to do with this strange cloud cover that I watched being sprayed into the sky last night. Who know's what is in the stuff coming out the back of the "airplanes" that blanket the skies with "exhaust". My head is very foggy today and I can't think straight. I also have this huge blemish on my cheek and I think it has to do with wheat. Ive been eating bread lately and don't usually. I think I'm going to stop eating wheat again. I'm really considering a raw food diet....

I don't really have all that much to say today. This week was hectic, Andy's sister was in town, Andy's cousin was staying with us for a couple weeks, we have 10 puppies growing daily, Andy's cousin (Nature Boy) helped me rip out the carpet in my living room....yeah hectic week. Maybe tomorrow I will have something more to say.

Until next time...
Peace, Love and Light,
Spottie

Major life changes

Dear readers,

I have been going through major changes in my life lately. I decided to create a blog just in case I might be able to share information, spread some love or help someone that needs encouragement. So far the major changes that have occurred in my life are some pretty good ones. I've been losing weight and getting healthier. I've lost 20 lbs in 2 months by eating right, doing Yoga and positive thinking. I eat mostly fruits and veggies. I am cutting out dairy (cheese and yogurt are hard to give up). The meat I eat mostly comes from the water (Fish, shrimp, etc.) or boiled eggs. I also drink a lot of Kombucha. I feel healthier! I haven't been sick in a long time too! I've been focusing on positive thinking and cutting out anything negative or anything with bad vibrations/feelings. It's helping me learn how to better manifest things as well. I've been extremely motivated with my life and it feels like I'm on the right track again! I have a little bit of free time between crafting/sewing/painting, Yoga/meditation, being a wife and housekeeper, and taking care of my dogs and their 10 new puppies to write a little bit each day (most days). The posts to come will be about things I'm thinking about, excited about, cool things going on in my daily life, and occasionally a link or review of something I like. I hope someone out there can benefit from my blog and encourage people that read my blog to interact with me, add me as a friend on Facebook or MySpace or whatever social networking sight you prefer. I hope to interact with interesting and like-minded individuals! Thanks for reading....

Love, light, and peace

Spottie O'Keefe