Meet Christa Jimenez | Blogger and Store Owner – Pura Vida Moms

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christa Jimenez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christa, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
I do not operate from a fear-based mentality. I think traditional marketing and messaging around buying are based on fears- fear of being left out, fear of being left behind, fear of not having enough, fear of not knowing enough. I don’t buy it. I constantly tell myself over and over to take the big risk, that I AM enough and that I have enough to realize my potential and my dreams. This carries over to my business for sure- I run a pretty minimalist business that doesn’t rely on fancy tools or monthly subscriptions to do all the things. I don’t buy a lot of courses or monthly memberships. I really try to keep out all the noise and listen to my heart and trust my own judgment when making decisions about expansion. That mentality has carried over to my life as well- I am constantly getting “stuff” out of my house so that I can focus on experiences and enjoying time with the people I love as opposed to managing stuff. It helps me keep in check what I am buying and where I am spending my time- is it what I really want to do, or am I making the decision because I feel like I should or I’m afraid of the consequences if I don’t?

What should our readers know about your business?
Pura Vida Moms is a website and store dedicated to sharing Costa Rican food and culture in the US. I am super excited to have launched a store this month that sells Costa Rican food products such as Salsa Lizano and Costa Rican candies and handmade accessories such as hand-painted wood statement earrings and gorgeous silk handkerchiefs. None of our products are widely available anywhere else in the US. It’s so important for expats to have access to beautiful things from home, and I’m thrilled to provide this service. It has NOT been easy so far, but it has been extremely rewarding. I think what has helped me the most is to make sure never to give up, and to work smarter, not harder. Investing time in systems that streamline repetitive tasks has really helped me to free up brain space to make longer-term business decisions. What I most want people to know about my brand is that everyone involved with our projects loves Costa Rica, and we want others to as well! Whether you are a bilingual parent, family traveler or looking for new and interesting recipes, Pura Vida Moms has a lot of information. And I stay true to my Colorado roots with Colorado travel tips and recipes from the midwest too. Come visit us online- it’s a fun place to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well if you know me even a little you would know that the very first place we would go is Casa Bonita! I love Casa Bonita and it is the Denver place I have most missed during the quarantine. Then we would eat at Mango House, beers at Station 26 and walk through the Bluff Lake Nature Center and bike through Star K Ranch. For a week though, we would definitely stay a couple of nights at the Gaylord Rockies and do the pool, the Italian restaurant and the spa. I’d take my friends to La Rumba to dance salsa, to eat great food at Cuba Cuba, Comida in the Source, and to have cocktails at Avanti while watching the sunset. Then we’d head out of town to Estes Park YMCA to enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park and downtown Estes. We’d probably finish up in my hometown of Fort Collins- margaritas at the Rio, dinner at Big City Burrito and ice cream at Walrus.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without the support of key people who have mentored me along the way to get started, and those who check in with me to make sure I am doing ok. A huge shoutout goes to anyone and everyone who sees potential in a small business and takes the time to get us going and keep us running. That means the printer who gives us a bulk discount on 100 of something, or the postal employee who takes the time to explain shipping or the distributor who sells us our first small batch of product at wholesale. Thank you for seeing us and believing in us. A special shoutout to the customers who choose to support our businesses even when it is easier to buy from a big box store, or cheaper to order online. Thank you. On a personal level- my tribe is small. My family, by blogging BFFs Sara of Mom Endeavors and Melissa of Imagination Soup, and my web developer Reid from Dotting the Map. Thank you for dropping everything and helping me during my (many) crises!

Website: https://www.puravidamoms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puravidamoms/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PuraVidaMoms

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puravidamoms