Over New Year’s I got to spend a magical time in Nosara, Costa Rica…We left around 4 am the morning after Christmas, and were in tropical paradise for about 8 days. It was a really special trip filled with yoga, meditation, self-reflection, great food and love!

Today I am going to take you through a photo journey of some of the amazing adventures, food and sights I got to experience on this trip, so you can vicariously live it yourself…

Once you get off the beaten track, Costa Rica has pretty limited road signs and dusty dirt roads. It’s key to learn a little Spanish to ask basic directions, and to get back to your ‘ol map-reading skills!

Costa Rica is a fruit lover’s paradise! Here’s what was in season when I was there. These limey oranges are pretty sour, so they make for a great salad dressing in place of lemon.

Being 8 months preggers (well 7.5 months during this trip), I was sure to bring some of my own supplies like raw, sprouted protein powder. I had them blend it for me daily with spirulina, dried goji berries and coconut water for a mid-afternoon snack.

It sure was easy to find quinoa (thank God)! I ate it pretty often, along with beans, veggies, lots of avocados and avocado dressing (pictured here), and little coconuts! Lots of hearty, plant-based choices available.

I got bedazzled for New Year’s! This is on New Year’s day, feeling powerful, pregnant and completely excited for the year ahead! I know I will look back at this photo in the future and smile, knowing my little 7.5 month baby in the womb was with me for this epic journey!

Every sunset was spectacular!

I also had the hotel blend me a Glowing Green Smoothie every morning! Pineapple and banana were the fruit components. They had a lot of greens available as well. Don’t be shy about asking your hotel also, when traveling, to make you a GGS!

Here I am with Shiva Rea! I was down there doing some of her yoga retreat. She is a beautiful soul and yogini pioneer.

I don’t usually eat so many legumes…but I ate a whole lot of them in Costa Rica (including chickpeas, pictured here), and they are a great source of protein for preggers women. I am eating more hearty food in general, including at lunch.   My yoga practice has dramatically changed. It’s a lot more yin. I stopped doing handstands and inversions (other than technically downward dog) right when I found out I was pregnant, at 5 weeks. It didn’t feel right for me personally. I think the beauty of yoga is that it can adapt and change to support you at any phase of life you are in!

The amazing kirtan singer Jai Uttal was also down in Nosara, and we went to two concerts, which were wonderful. I love bringing baby to as many kirtans as possible to hear/feel the good vibes from within!

Magical beach time! And wow…was it toasty down there! I love the heat, but Mama had to take some breaks on longer, super hot beach walks :).

Um, are you getting the point I was eating a lot of quinoa every day? :) Ha ha!

Here’s me and bub in my belly again! I have to say that I absolutely love being pregnant and I love my pregnant belly!!!! Here it is again!!! I’m more in awe now of the power of a woman’s body as ever before!

Ok, here’s something different to show you, food-wise. Those are corn tortillas, not wheat-baed pasta. They were baked with butternut squash and corn. It was pretty good…

More Glowing Green Smoothie! They made it a little frothy, but hey, it’s awesome to get some version of the GGS on the road!!

Everyone loves to feel the kicking baby, which has already turned head down and is getting ready for the big arrival in a few weeks!   Okay, I did eat a little bit of fried plantains- known as platanos. As you know that is a rarity for me, but I just had a few to sample! And they sure were yummy :).

Walking is my main form of movement now, along with some more gentle yoga. It’s great for toning the uterus! Plus I like to earth by walking barefoot right on the sand and getting in the earth’s healing energy.

If you had small “girls” up top before, as I did, and doubted they might really grow when you are preggers…I am here to tell you that they WILL grow! Trust me. :)

Remember that beans/legumes contain starch and protein and can combine either way. Here, they are paired with butternut squash, which is pretty delish.

Sunset must always be spent on the beach- an absolute must!!

I tried to extend my Costa Rican adventure as far as I could…so here I am on the plane home, still bedazzled :) and carrying some quinoa, beans and veggies from the hotel (Blue Spirit).

I had a lot of great time rejuvenating, rooting down, meditating, and feeling in touch with my peaceful center…all of which makes me feel really excited about OUR year ahead! I feel so inspired to offer you the best in the upcoming year. It’s going to be so fantastic for all of us.

Sending big love and lots of gratitude!!

Love xo

Kimberly