Head over to Emoodji.com to discover your most-used emoji. You could win a dreamy beach getaway or free Old Navy flip-flops!
Who would've thought that one day using emojis would not only be accepted, but encouraged?
(Insert surprised smiley face here, plus cactus, a thumbs up, and the flamenco dancer for good measure.)
Earlier this month, Old Navy launched Emoodji, a website application that analyzes your emoji usage across various social media platforms and suggests your dream vacation and the perfect Old Navy flip flops to take on your getaway.
So how do you enter? Visit Emoodji, pick a social media channel and let the website work its magic! 10,000 people that try the website within the first 20 days of its release will win a free pair of Old Navy flip flops. Share your results on social media, and you'll be entered to win the dream vacation Emoodji suggested for you. Your six options include Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas, Costa Rica, Miami, Palm Springs and Tulum.
My suggested vacation was Cabo San Lucas, which has been on my travel bucket list since the moment I first learned of the existence of Lover's Beach.
I already have extremely positive associations with the word "Cabo" after visiting Cabo da Roca in Portugal. To be completely honest, I had never heard of Cabo da Roca before arriving in Portugal. Driving up the winding coastline of Sintra-Cascais, I would glimpse of the wide spectrum of spectacular blues of the Atlantic Ocean and wondered how this awe-inspiring beauty had gone undiscovered while my sweet husband and I were in the planning stages of our three-month adventure across Europe.
Cabo da Roca is the most western point in all of Europe, and it’s a sight not to be missed. Historical records dating back to the 16th century indicate that once upon a time, this site held a large fort, which played a vital role in guarding and defending Lisbon from pirates.
All that remains today, however, are a few rocks along with the lighthouse that still serves as a warning beacon for ships in the area.
However, instead of focusing on the lighthouse, the husband and I want to enjoy the (literally) breathtaking, panoramic views of the picturesque granite boulders and listen to the serene brutality with which the ocean waves crashed into the rocks.
I realize I start to sound like a broken record with every destination we’ve ever traveled being labeled as “surreal,” “exotic” and “breathtaking,” but these words pale in comparison to the raw, pure beauty of the relatively uknown world of Cabo da Roca. There are several places on earth that render the English language useless in terms of description, and this wild and majestic site was most definitely one of them.
The 16-th century Portuguese poet Luis de Camoes described Cabo da Roca as the place “where the land ends and sea begins” – a phrase that is now etched onto the Cabo da Roca monument.
Standing on the cliff edge jutting out 150 meters above the tumultuous ocean waves – mere steps away from a plunging death – I was suddenly overcome with a mix of feelings and emotions – gratitude for being fortunate enough to experience this rare and magical moment, wanderlust for a life of freedom, and longing for something I couldn't quite place my finger on.
The wild and unpredictable beauty of a scene I had so often imagined and was finally getting to experience brought out the nostalgist in me, and I spent several minutes contemplating the parallels between this manifestation of nature and the life awaiting for me at home.
I’ve noticed that the mind moves more freely in the presence of that boundless expanse, that the sight of it elevates the soul and gives rise to thoughts of the infinite and the ideal, which is perhaps the reason I stood motionless for a solid five minutes, despite the powerful winds.
Much like that inscription on the Cabo da Roca monument, that day will forever remain etched into my memory as one of the most perfect.
But enough of walking down memory lane... What are you still doing here? Head over to Emoodji, and you could win your own dreamy getaway or a pair of free flips flops! If you happen to miss out on the goodness, head to your local Old Navy on June 20 for their $1 flip flop sale!
Oh, but be sure to report back with your results, because it's about to get super fun with this complex, three-part question: Which dreamy getaway did Emoodji suggest for you? Which of the six destinations have you already traveled? And more importantly, which Old Navy flip flops will you be stocking up on, come June 20?