Why you should Venture out to your Local Farmers Market

Summertime is a great time for fun new adventures! Have you ventured out to your local Farmers Market lately? Here are just a few reasons why you should consider making plans to visit soon!

1. Support the Local Community

We’ve all heard about the push to support local businesses, but this also applies to supporting local farmers. When you buy from a local farmer, you support local growers and their families. The dollars that you invest in local purchases help local families thrive and encourage additional local vendors to participate. Sometimes giving back to your community happens through simply deciding where to shop.

2. Healthier Lifestyle Choices

So many sources say that when you go to the grocery store you should limit yourself to the outside perimeter of the store to stay away from processed foods and close to the fresh produce and whole foods. Well, at a local farmers market, you can peruse the aisles without guilt or self-imposed restrictions; it’s full of healthy options! Why tempt yourself with that Captain Crunch Berries box on the grocery store endcap when all you really came in for were the berries, like honeyberries? (Ya know— the real kind?)

3. So Many Options

Based upon the season, there truly are so many choices available for you to choose from. With so many options, you can rotate through different fresh foods, including many that may be native to your area and not available in larger chain stores. Pick up some produce you have loved for years and grab additional ones that you’ve never heard of before! Ever heard of a mouse melon, anyone? Also check out this list that was developed to help you know what you should never pass up when at the market!

4. Better Value

Eating healthy can be flat out expensive, but when you shop from local vendors it’s a much more affordable option. They don’t have the same kind of overhead expenses as larger stores. This means farmers can charge a fraction of the cost you would pay in the store, allowing you to purchase fresher options for a better price. #BetterValueForSure

5. Experience Local Culture

Having traveled all over the country, I’ve seen what both big cities and rural communities have to offer and let me tell you, you have a treasure of a farmers market in Dallas. It’s actually one of the oldest and largest food distribution centers in the country. With so many events, shopping options and vendors that come together to produce its own look and feel, it ultimately creates a unique culture of its very own. Why would you pass up an opportunity to experience a unique culture that provides a fun and healthy experience and ultimately saves you money?

Be sure to share with us about your favorite farmers market finds in the Facebook comments on our page!

There’s nothing like a frozen treat in the middle of a hot summer to really cool you down! We can all agree on that. Where we start arguing a bit is when we decide what frozen treat we want to enjoy. Do we grab some traditional ice cream? Perhaps a fancier gelato is what you’re in the mood for. There are those who say “they’re all the same thing” but those of us with more refined tastes know better!

If you want to dive into a deliciously diverse dippable dairy treat… look no further than this guide to assist you in your deliberating!

• Ice Cream – This treat needs no introduction! A summertime favorite for generations, ice cream can be enjoyed by the scoop, in a cone, in a bowl, or slurped through a straw as a shake! 20% cream, 10% milk, 100% delicious.

• Soft Serve – Perhaps this is a bit obvious… soft serve ice cream is ice cream that is soft. However it is different from regular ice cream in its presentation. Soft serve ice cream is dispensed from a machine that incorporates more air, therefore, the final product is not as hard as scoop-able ice cream.

• Gelato – (My favorite!) Way more luxurious-sounding than just “ice cream”, this Italian treat is much more dense than regular ice cream. This slow-churned treat also has less fat than regular ice cream! So, you can enjoy it all the more – pinky extended – because… it’s good(er) for you!

• Custard – Definitely not as delicious-sounding as gelato, custard’s key ingredient is egg yolk! The yolk is added to create a thicker final product.

• Fro-Yo – Perhaps not as outrageously popular as it was a few years ago, frozen yogurt is still an awesome option for those wanting a frosty summer treat! So, as the name suggests, yogurt is added to the ice cream mixture which gives the treat a slightly tangy taste. Yogurt also contains probiotics that help aid digestion, so there’s that! Another cool thing about most fro-yo places is that they tend to have topping bars where you can add nuts, sprinkles, or whole Oreos to the top of your fro-yo pile!

That was actually much tougher than I thought it would be… now I want some ice cream! But, which one?! I think I’ll get some stracciatella!

(That’s just chocolate chip gelato!)

We all have times in our lives when we don’t feel confident in our abilities, and that can really affect how we do in school and at work. It’s normal to be a little nervous before a big test or an important interview, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to increase self-confidence!

When we’re more confident in our abilities we get more done and are less worried about making mistakes or messing up. Of course we want to do the best we can in everything we do, but it’s important not to let the fear of failure keep us from achieving what we’re capable of! Here are six easy ways to increase self-confidence and make you look and feel more self-assured:

1. Pay attention to body language. Your posture says a lot, and many people don’t realize it! Even something as simple as standing up straight with your shoulders back and head high can make you both look and feel more self-assured.
2. Plan ahead and be prepared. Interviews, tests, and big meetings can feel scarier when we know we aren’t as prepared for them as we could be. Spending a little longer studying or running through practice interview questions can easily make you feel more confident and ready to do your best.
3. Dress the part. Unless there’s a specific dress code that you need to obey, you’ll feel more self-assured when you’re wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable and that fit well. Fidgeting because something is too small or too big or pulling on a sleeve or hemline won’t do your self-confidence any favors.
4. Focus on your strengths and accomplishments. Keeping in mind everything you’ve accomplished is a great way to increase your confidence by reminding you of what you’re capable of. When you feel like you’re struggling with something or are worried about making mistakes, remember everything you’ve already accomplished and believe in yourself!
5. Take criticism but stay positive. Constructive criticism is so important because it can help us learn from our mistakes. If someone gives you constructive criticism, don’t see it as a negative! Instead, take it as an opportunity to improve in that area so that you will feel more confident about it the next time.
6. Practice, practice, practice! Practice may not make perfect, but it can definitely help you feel more comfortable and confident speaking up in meetings or in front of large groups. Even if it seems scary, it does help to keep trying even when you don’t feel confident. Every time you succeed, take it as a reminder that you can do this!

You are strong.  You are beautiful.  You are important.  You have every right to be confident!

So you’re twenty-something … now what? Deciding what do with your life is completely overwhelming. You’re fresh out of college, landing your first job, and buying your first house.  In the midst of doing all of this, we self-proclaim our “adulting” status while paying bills, early morning wake-ups, and tight schedules.  With all this newness in our lives, it can be easy to lose sight of the fun in life.

We’re told to embrace our freedom, embark on adventure, and see the world.  All while we’re also expected to establish a solid career and become a working professional.  We strive to form new friendships and new connections while maintaining those old and true.  And lastly, we don’t want to let our parents down. We don’t want to let our boss down. And we definitely don’t want to let ourselves down.

So in an effort to make the most of this wild, confusing, but yet the most exciting time of our lives, below are 10 life rules to help you live a happier, healthier life as the amazing twenty-something you are:

1. Discover you. Your twenties are your time to be selfish. Take the time to discover you. Go watch a movie ALONE. Go on a mini-vacation ALONE.  You’ll uncover more about yourself than you’ll ever know – trust me.
2. True friends (and you know who they are) MATTER. A year ago, you and your besties roomed together, went to class together and hung out together ALL THE TIME. Now as you each start off on your own journey, it’s important to take the time to stay in touch. The same goes for your family. Text  your mom back, call dad and don’t forget family birthdays. You can get through the bad times and keep looking for better ones, as long as you have people who love you.
3. Perfection is overrated. Life is all about balance. Pizza for breakfast? Healthy salad for dinner. Stay out late on the weekends?  Hit the sack early on the week nights. You will kill yourself trying to define your life by a “can-do” and “cannot-do” list.
4. Take the time to REALLY take care of your body. Don’t just avoid your daily fast food run and call it good. Really take the time to care for your body. Eat healthy, exercise often, drink lots of water and get a good night’s rest … it all makes a difference.
5. Start saving money NOW. Stop wasting money. Impulsivity is fun, but it comes with a cost. Do you really need those new shoes? Money looks better in the bank than it does in your closet.
6. Conquer your fears. Get over your fears of rejection or failure. Take the chance. Explore new opportunities. Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
7. Listen and respect the opinions of others. Stop playing the hate card. Listen and learn as much as you can from others and more importantly learn how to forgive and forget.
8. Do good – help others. Find a cause you are passionate about, and immerse yourself in as much volunteer and community service as you can.
9. Take a ton of pictures. Repeat after me: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Stop avoiding photo ops just because you feel you’re “too big” or your outfit is not “just right.” Make memories and capture them, your future self will thank you.
10. Don’t take yourself or your life too seriously. We are all given ONE LIFE, that’s it! Embrace your challenges, heart-breaks, triumphs, and successes. Live your life fearlessly with #NoRegrets.