The Pura Livin Lifestyle
Living Well, One Day at a Time
For years, I thought living a healthier, happier life meant making big changes. I believed it was about finding the perfect routine, taking the dream vacation, or finally getting organized enough to have everything figured out.
Then I began spending more time in Costa Rica. Over the years, it has become a second home to me. I fell in love with the slower pace of life, the kindness of the people, the sense of community, and the way relationships seem to come before busy schedules. It wasn't one specific diet or exercise routine that inspired me. It was the way people approached everyday life with purpose, gratitude, movement, connection, and joy.
That changed the way I look at my own life.
I certainly don't do these things perfectly every day. There are mornings when I hit snooze, skip a workout, or enjoy a dessert I probably didn't need. Some days life simply gets busy, and I find myself thinking, "Tomorrow I'll do a little better."
I've learned not to chase perfection. Instead, I focus on progress. Every day is another opportunity to make one better choice than yesterday.
To me, that's what the Pura Livin lifestyle is all about.
It's not about living perfectly. It's about living intentionally. For me, every morning is a chance to begin again, and every small choice is another step toward becoming the person I want to be.
My Morning Begins Simply
One of my favorite parts of the day is the quiet before everything gets busy.
I always begin with a large glass of water before checking my phone or diving into my to-do list. After that, I usually make a cup of tea and take it outside to enjoy the fresh air. Every now and then I'll treat myself to a coffee made with oat or almond milk. It's one of those little pleasures that feels special without being complicated.
Whether I'm sitting in my backyard in Florida or listening to the sounds of nature in Costa Rica, those peaceful moments remind me to slow down before the day begins.
Connect Before You Consume
One lesson I've learned from Blue Zone communities is that connection isn't something we squeeze into our schedules. It's part of everyday life.
Before scrolling through social media, I try to connect with something meaningful. That might be talking with my husband over breakfast, sending a text to a friend, spending time in my garden, or reading something inspiring.
When I connect first instead of consume first, I find myself feeling more grounded for the rest of the day.
Calm Your Mind
Life can feel noisy, and our minds often feel even noisier.
One practice that's helped me is taking a few minutes every morning to slow down.
I sometimes use the Calm app for a short meditation or breathing exercise because it fits easily into my routine. It's something I'm trying to do more consistently. If meditation isn't your thing, that's perfectly okay. Maybe it's journaling, reading, sitting quietly outside, or simply taking a few deep breaths. There isn't one right way to to create calm. The important thing is to finding what works for you.
Move Your Body
I've stopped thinking of exercise as something I have to do and started looking at movement as something I get to do.
Some days I take a walk, play pickleball, or spend time working in my garden. Other days I stay home and do YouTube workouts, Tai Chi walking workouts, or simple strength exercises. I've also been trying to add hula hoop workouts back into my routine because they're fun and always make me smile. I used to make my own hoops years ago, and they have a way of bringing out the kid in all of us. Not every workout is long or intense, and honestly that's OK.
One of the things I admire most about the Blue Zone lifestyle is that movement is simply woven into everyday life. It's less about exercise and more about staying active in ways you genuinely enjoy.
Nourish Yourself Naturally
I genuinely love to cook. Creating healthy meals has become one of my favorite creative outlets, and I'm always looking for new ideas.
I love following food creators on social media, browsing cookbooks, and finding recipes that inspire me. Most of the time I don't follow them exactly. I'll substitute ingredients with what I already have or make small changes that fit my lifestyle. Healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
One of my favorite hobbies is baking sourdough. I enjoy experimenting with different recipes, trying new techniques, and discovering all the creative ways sourdough can be used. Every loaf teaches me a little more patience, and every bake is a chance to learn something new. My husband is certainly happy to be my official taste tester! One of the things I enjoy most is helping others get started on their own sourdough journey. If you've ever wanted to learn, I'd love to help, so feel free to reach out with any questions.
I also believe that one meal doesn't define a healthy lifestyle. If I enjoy dessert or eat something that isn't the healthiest choice, I don't beat myself up over it. I simply make the next meal a better one.
Progress has always worked better for me than perfection.
The Pura Livin Lifestyle
Over time, these simple habits have become more than a morning routine. They've become the foundation for the life I'm trying to create.
Live Simply
I've learned that the most meaningful days usually aren't the busiest. They're the days when I slow down enough to enjoy a homemade meal, appreciate a beautiful sunset, laugh with friends, or simply be present.
Move Daily
Movement doesn't have to be complicated. Walking, stretching, gardening, biking, pickleball, dancing in the kitchen, or a quick workout at home all count. Every little bit adds up.
Nourish Naturally
Healthy eating isn't about strict rules. It's about choosing foods that help you feel your best while still enjoying life. Cook more often, try new recipes, share meals with people you love, and remember that balance is more sustainable than perfection. To me, Blue Zone living isn't a diet. It's a way of life. It's about enjoying a mostly plant-forward way of eating, cooking with wholesome ingredients, sharing meals with others, and finding the balance that works best for you.
Build Meaningful Connections
One of the greatest gifts in life is connection.
Whether it's spending time with family, nurturing lifelong friendships, meeting someone new while traveling, or simply chatting with a neighbor, every meaningful conversation has the power to enrich our lives.
I've always believed friendships don't just happen. They grow through shared experiences, small acts of kindness, and making the effort to reach out. Helping people build community and meaningful relationships has become one of my greatest passions.
Find Joy Outdoors
Whether I'm sitting on a beach in Costa Rica, walking around my neighborhood in Florida, tending my garden, or simply drinking my morning tea outside, I always feel more grounded when I'm in nature.
Some of my favorite memories have happened outdoors. Many while traveling, and just as many close to home.
Keep Learning
I consider myself a lifelong learner.
I love reading, taking courses, discovering new recipes, learning about different cultures, exploring new destinations, and hearing other people's stories. Every place we visit and every person we meet has something to teach us.
Costa Rica has shaped the way I live, but I also love traveling throughout the world. Every culture offers a different perspective on what it means to live well, and I believe we become better versions of ourselves when we're open to learning from others.
Travel with Purpose
Travel has always been one of my greatest teachers.
Yes, I love discovering beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and charming towns, but what stays with me long after a trip ends are the people I meet, the conversations I have, and the lessons I bring home.
Travel has a way of slowing us down. It encourages us to step away from our daily routines, look at the world through a different lens, and appreciate the beauty of cultures, traditions, and ways of life that may be different from our own.
Some of my favorite memories have come from sharing a meal with locals, wandering through a farmers market, learning a new recipe, watching a sunset in a place I'd never been before, or simply sitting at a café and observing everyday life.
Travel also gives us something many of us need but don't always make time for: the chance to reset. It allows us to rest, reconnect with the people we love, spark our curiosity, and return home with a fresh perspective.
For me, the best trips aren't about checking destinations off a list. They're about creating memories, building friendships, embracing new experiences, and bringing home little pieces of the places that inspire us.
That's what I hope Pura Livin encourages. Not just traveling to see the world, but traveling to live more fully, connect more deeply, and carry those experiences into everyday life long after the suitcase is unpacked.
One Simple Question
Before my day gets busy, I like to ask myself one simple question.
How do I want to feel today?
Calm.
Energized.
Connected.
Strong.
That question reminds me to think less about my to-do list and more about how I want to show up for myself and for the people around me.
Living the Pura Livin Way
To me, Pura Livin is more than a name. It's a way of living.
It's choosing health without expecting perfection.
It's finding joy in simple moments.
It's slowing down enough to notice the beauty around us.
It's gathering around a table with friends and family.
It's nourishing our bodies with foods we enjoy.
It's stepping outside for fresh air.
It's staying curious, continuing to learn, and embracing new experiences.
It's traveling not just to see beautiful places, but to experience different cultures, build friendships, make memories, and discover new ways of living that we can bring home with us.
I'm still learning.
I'm still growing.
I still have days when I could do better.
But every morning is a fresh opportunity to begin again.
My hope is that Pura Livin inspires you to slow down, connect deeply, stay curious, explore the world, and create your own version of a life well lived.
Because living well isn't about perfection.
It's about the small choices we make every day, one day at a time.