It’s the first of the month!

Wake up, wake up, wake up, it’s the first of the month! (So cash your checks and come up!) This just happens to be one of my favorite Bone Thugs-N-Harmony songs; it’s also a great reminder that today is a new day, a new month, and a clean fresh start! The first of the month is like hitting a big reset button. Whatever happened last month is done now, and we have to let it go. We have a brand new month before us with new goals, expectations, challenges. It’s really a good thing. It donned on me this morning that we get exactly 12 “reset” days per year, 12 chances to start over, learn, make changes. We really should make the most of them, right? Instead of just having a regular old Wednesday, let’s kick it up a notch and kick off the first of the month by setting an intention, working hard, and appreciating our awesome selves!

This morning in class, my amazing yoga teacher read a passage about being thankful for your life at all times.

“Every night before you lay down to sleep, take time to be thankful. Even if your day is terrible, be thankful for it. When you rise each morning, be thankful for all that you have and for this day because it will best day of your life. Through this unwavering gratitude, you will create the life you want. ”

The idea of gratitude not just when things are good, but also appreciating the moments that are not as good is very powerful. Even when something isn’t successful we can still take something away from our experience and use it later. That is something to be thankful for indeed.

Setting an intention is just like gratitude: it’s something to which we can return. We can check in with our thoughts and make sure they align with our intention. My intention for this month is to appreciate something different each day. It’s easy to get distracted when something disrupts the flow of our lives, but returning to our intention can help us refocus and live in the present. I often get bogged down by previous events and I struggle to move forward. Could be something I missed, forgot, or didn’t turn out like I wanted; whatever it is stays with me for hours, days, even weeks sometimes. When I worry about the past, I’m not living in the present. I’m missing out on all sorts of amazing things that are happening RIGHT NOW! Reminding myself to be thankful for something each day will help bring me back. No one’s life is perfect, but it’s ever-changing, beautiful, and important. Let your intention for the month reflect something positive and hopeful, this is the filter through which all thoughts will flow.

Now that we can set our focus for the month, let’s work hard and put that intention to good use! It’s June and tank top / maxi dress / short shorts / flowy skirt/ socks and sandals season is on our doorstep! Some people say that last weekend was the unofficial start of summer, I say we still have 19 more days to go. I mean, you are ALREADY READY for summer because you look amazing and beautiful right now in this moment! All you really need to do is put on your sun hat and go catch some rays. BUT if you enjoy breaking a sweat as I have come to, check out this awesome 10-minute total body workout that’s sure to boost your confidence.

Boom-here ya go! I’ve included some guidelines for modifying and intensifying below.

Minute	Exercise	Minute	Exercise
0:00 – 1:00	EASY Cardio!	5:00 – 6:00	HARD CARDIO!!!
1:00 – 2:00	Squat Jump (25reps)	6:00 – 7:00	Toe Rise to Squat
2:00 – 3:00	MED Cardio!!	7:00 – 8:00	MED Cardio!!
3:00 – 4:00	Oblique crunches right (20)	8:00 – 9:00	Static Plank Pose
4:00 – 5:00	Oblique crunches left (20)	9:00 – 10:00	EASY Cardio!

Cardio – These cardio minutes should increase your heart rate. Easy, Med, and Hard refer to your level of effort so pick an activity where you can vary the intensity. The impact can be high or low, as long as it gives your heart pumping; jumping rope, jumping jacks or running in place. Playing outside? You could do short track sprints. If you want something low impact, try air squats, or marching with high knees.

Squat Jump – start with legs about shoulder width apart and toes turned out slightly. Bend the knees, keeping your chest up, and drop your booty as low as you can without lifting the heels, on the way back up squeeze your glutes and push through the toes to give a little jump. Doesn’t need to be a giant leap, just shoot to get your feet off the floor. You can also work the same muscles without the jump, by squeezing the glutes and lifting your heels off the floor.

Oblique Crunches – Lie down on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and arms overhead. Using your breath, exhale and curl your torso upward while reaching hands to one side of your knees. Repeat for 1 minute before switching sides.The key is keeping your knees squeezed together and not moving throughout the exercise. If the full crunch isn’t happening, try going halfway or pulse it out while keeping your shoulders on the floor. If this is super easy, try to complete this exercise while hovering your heels off the ground.

Toe Rise to Squat- Start on the tips of your toes with legs together. Jump feet out wider than hips and sink your booty down low. Once you reach the lowest point, push through your the floor and return to a standing position on your toes. Make sure to keep your chest up the whole time. If the jump is too much, step out to the squat and back in to standing. If this is not challenging for you, intensify this move by adding another squat at the bottom. Still not enough? Jump from your wide squat onto one leg-just make sure you alternate legs 🙂

Let’s make this first day of June one to remember as we clean the slate and welcome the summer with a purpose. You have an awesome new workout to challenge your body, and a thoughtful intention to challenge your mind. When things start to get out of whack, worry not! You can always recenter, refocus, and get back to your intention. You my friend, are an ADORABLE BADASS, and you totally got this!

Favorites This Week: May 27th

Happy Friday! How has your week been going? I’m hoping for lots of fun and relaxation with family, but we’ll see if my two year old is on board with that. Wednesday night was an adventure in our house, so hopefully we won’t have a repeat. Have any tips for potty training at night? Enough about me, let’s get on to some of discoveries that have become favorites this week…

Enough talking about my week, but on to the regularly scheduled Friday favorites…

Do you have those songs that you love, but aren’t completely sure of all the lyrics? Oh, of course you do! We all have that song, or two, or ten that we stumble through parts of the lyrics. Now thanks to James Cordone we now know some of the tough lyrics from Gwen Stefani’s “Sweet Escape!” Thank you so much James Cordone for looking out for us all and getting to the bottom of this lyric question!

I’ve been a longtime Florence + the Machine fan, and would see her in concert almost any chance I could get. Then I learned of a teen girl with a life threatening condition had tickets to see Flo, but couldn’t go see her favorite perform, my heart was broken. Then the amazing team at Christopher House and Hospice Austin made it possible for Florence Welch and guitarist (Rob Ackroyd) to provide a private concert. Seein Florence on the big stage may have been the dream, but having her sit next to you and sing, is pretty remarkable too.

Have you heard of Primary yet? I recently stumbled upon their line of children’s clothes, and I’m in love! They’re all so classic and simple! I dare say they’ll be a go to for gifts and future clothing purchases for my little girl. FYI, this share is NOT sponsored, but I’d totally be a brand rep if they’d like to hook a blogger up 😉

I hope you have a beautiful weekend, that you take a moment to remember those that we have lost in the service of our country, and you’re able to make the most of this long weeken!

work your body, calm your mind

Phew-it’s WEDNESDAY! We are officially halfway through the week y’all! I never used to get excited about humpday, but I’ve created a little midweek routine and it’s really changing the game. For so many of us, our energy levels trend downward as the week progresses. In the beginning, we start fresh as a daisy; bright, strong and ready to take on the world. I don’t know about you, but usually by Thursday night, my daisy is flaccid and wilty and generally over it. I find myself stressed about what I have left to do, worried about what I didn’t do yet, and desperately trying to make it all come together. It doesn’t have to be this way though. If you are looking for more energy and a “less sucky” end of the week, I’ve got the plan for you. Working your body can actually calm your mind-using the energy you have inside will release stress, bring stillness, and create even more positive energy for the rest of the week.

The first part is an easy sell. It’s not uncommon for people to exercise as a way to relieve stress. While physical activity is a great way to take your mind off the things that are giving you grief, it can be just a brief distraction. Exercise becomes an outlet when you combine it with intention. If you have ever heard someone say they are going to “leave it all on the table,” you can assume he or she is delivering their very best and walking away knowing they couldn’t have given more. This is a powerful concept-entering a situation when you’re prepared, confident, and ready for a challenge is inspiring. When you “leave it all on the table,” the outcome doesn’t matter. The growth is in the journey, you’ve done the work and proved something to yourself. You can let go of the pressure and fear of judgment and appreciate your efforts.

The second part probably seems counter-intuitive. Using energy to create energy? It’s true that if I have $5 and then spend $5, I no longer have $5. Strangely your physical energy stores work the opposite way. Believe it or not, going for a brisk walk can refresh you the same as would a power nap. Next time you feel that I-ate-too-much-lunch heavy eyelid feeling, give it a try! Hop up and take a brisk 5 minute walk, you will feel better and more alert…Kinda cool, no?

So that’s the theory; using exercise to let go of stress and create energy. Why and how exactly do we need to apply it?

Let’s suppose we missed a whole week of work/life/etc. due to a vacation, illness, business travel, or some other reason. Upon return we usually scavenge for the critical points we missed and the rest is history. In a situation like this, it’s so much easier to let go of the past. We understand that the world kept turning while we were away and it would be fruitless to rehash every detail of our absence. It’s not like someone told us not to give a fig , but for some odd reason we are able to give ourselves a break and let it go.

Why can’t we extend this same forgiving attitude to our weekly to-do list? The stress we feel on Thursday about the stuff we didn’t get to on Tuesday seems justified and most of us keep trying to add a little extra here or there to stay on track. Maybe we don’t get enough sleep one night, skip a workout, or cancel something we were really looking forward to; either way we end up paying for it later on. We trudge onward losing steam all the while, and by the week’s end we are completely pooped. Raise your hand if you habitually make and then cancel post-work plans on Friday night because you literally can’t even!

We forget that robbing Peter to pay Paul still leaves somebody broke; trying to make up for lost time is the exact same flawed logic. The key to avoiding the end-of-the-week slump lies in cleaning the slate. Celebrating all you’ve accomplished so far and forgiving the things you haven’t can help you look forward with a sense or purpose instead of dread or defeat.

METHOD:

Step 1 – divide your week into two parts, the BEGINNING and the END. I work Monday through Friday so Wednesday is the middle for me. My friend Cait is a security guard and she works Wednesday through Sunday so Friday is midweek for her, you get the idea. Set your intentions on getting to the midpoint and get excited about tapping into your “happy.” Don’t worry about getting through the whole week, you’re journey is to the middle.

Step 2 – get “happy” with a fun activity. This should be something you look forward to, but something that’s also challenging. The key is to choose something that makes you feel good about YOU! This is a great time to leave it all out there as we discussed earlier, but it can be anything. Time, intensity, variety are all up to you. Some examples are squats for the duration of your favorite song, holding a plank, taking a bike ride with a friend, a pilates class. Not feeling physical? Try meditating, coloring, or preparing a new recipe. We are taking time to be present in our activity and celebrate our awesomeness, so feel free to give your body whatever it needs.

Think of each week as a road trip with the “middle” as your destination. This approach gives you two chances to get it right. You have the way there AND the way back with a checkpoint in the middle; a chance to learn, evaluate and make adjustments along the way. Reaching your halfway point destination is a big deal. You’ve done it! Your midweek “happy” time should celebrate you. A little time to say “thank you, me, for being so good to me,” to recharge before you start again. Once you get where you’re going, reflect on where you’ve been, you might need to change things up. The beauty of the road trip is that the way there can be completely different than the way back; the best part is that you have the freedom to decide what you need.

Going to Work When Your Kids are Sick

As a parent there are many tough moments mixed into all the beautiful ones. Many of us have experience those difficult ones; like the first time they cry from getting shots, the first time they get seriously injured, and the first time they get sick. But I believe what makes that last moment even more challenging is going to work when your kids are sick.
I keep waiting for the moment that it’s easier to walk out the door leaving my daughter in the care of someone else who loves her while I go to work. To date, that moment never gets easier, and I even dread the moment when it comes. When my little girl is feeling ill, there’s nothing more that I want than for her to feel better. If I can’t make her feel better, then I can snuggle with her until she does.

Unfortunately for me, today is another one of those days that I have to go to work while my little girl is sick. Fortunately my husband has sick AND vacation time through his employer, whereas I only have PTO (paid time off) to be used for both sick and vacation time. Since my husband has more time off, this means he usually stay home with a sick kiddo, and for that I am thankful.

On a day like today, I am most thankful that my daughter is left in the care of her daddy who loves her enormously, is chef extraordinaire, and is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. I know that without a doubt that my little girl will get nursed back to health with all the cuddles and care she requires.

I know that on a day like today, that not everyone is so fortunate to leave their child in the hands of their spouse, significant other, or another trusted family member. And for this my heart breaks. I can remember the days of my own mother being a single mom, and our neighbors who were single parents as well. They were were stuck with the choice of between going to work to be able to put food on the table and being there with their sick child.

Leaving your child in the care of someone other than yourself and balancing out the responsibilities of work and parenting is never easy. I’m certain leaving for work when your child is sick is not the hardest thing in parenting, but it most certainly can feel like it in the moment. For each person the struggle is different in varying degrees, but it’s a struggle none the less.

I hope the next time we have to wrestle with this situation, we will remember that we are not alone in the guilt and worry. I encourage you to let those that care about you know that you’re having a tough day being apart from your sick child. Most of all, I hope for a day when we don’t have to be stuck choosing between being with our sick child and going to work.

Favorites This Week: May 20th

Happy Friday! How has your week been going?

This week has been a full but good one for me.

Tuesday we volunteered at our church’s food pantry, and it was neat to watch my daughter volunteering as well. She has tagged along with her dad and I since she was itsy bitsy and bein worn in the ergo for the duration of our time there. Her role seems to be that of welcomer of other children. This week she noticed a child waiting with their dad, and she HAD to go say hi and give them a high five. It warm’s my heart to know she has this heart to welcome other kids during our time to serve others.

Wednesday kept the week rocking and rolling as I went bridesmaid dress shopping. I’m so blessed to have a friend that has a beautiful wedding color and good taste in bridesmaid fashion. Unlike some bridesmaid dress shopping trips that can be a shot to the ego less than flattering dress, this experience was filled with many cute dresses. Now begins the process of choosing.

Thursday was the end of this season of Grey’s Anatomy, but it ended better than I could have hoped. For the record, I have no plans of spoiling the episode or giving anything away if you haven’t watched it. So if you’ve watched Grey’s for multiple seasons you know how it ends with taking a hit to your heart and mind. This might be the first finale where I don’t feel like I’ve been hit by the emotions truck when it was over.

Enough talking about my week, but on to the regularly scheduled Friday favorites…

I loved Emily Henderson’s tips on how to style a bed like a pro. Do you have a strong eye for design or do you need help from a professional? I’m definitely the later, and thankful for girlfriends who have the eye.

Have you been sucked into the LulaRoe craze? I had fought it for so long, but resistance was futile. I had a co-worker had these amazing pineapple pants for sale, and I’m sucker for pineapples and black. Once I tried them on, there was no taking them off, well except for the fact I was in the work bathroom. Also, it turns out that my work wouldn’t find pineapple leggings as acceptable in our workplace (I’m thinking I need to convince them otherwise 😉 ). So off came the most leggings for the remainder of the work day, but right back on when I got home. So my advice on LuLaRoe is just give in and try it on, and start looking for your unicorn. You won’t regret it!

Have a beautiful weekend and make the most of your day!

more LOVE

There have been a lot of things posted on social media on a variety of topics that are really causing my heart to break. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve also seen many things shared that warm my heart as well. But what am I gathering from this range of posts is that we need… more love.

More often than not we feel this deep need to be right and make our point known to all. Whether we are pro-life, for gun control, planning to vote for Trum, pro-choice, hoping Bernie Sanders makes it on the ballot for November, against gun control, our hope that Hillary Clinton is our first female president, we all have a common need. We all need to know and be loved. It doesn’t matter how right or wrong we may be on a given topic, but it does matter how much love and kindness we show to the people we encounter.

When I think about all of this, I keep hearing the words “love one another as I have loved you.” It’s so simple, yet so necessary. Far too many people are going through challenges unknown to those around them, and the last thing they need in their darkest moments are words of hate, judgement or condemnation. Whether or not you are a Christian, I think we can get behind Jesus’ call to love one another. Deep within my bones, I believe it’s far better to step away from the keyboard, phone, and off our soapbox than to continue proving someone else wrong.

Would you rather be remembered for being right or for being filled with love?

“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.” – John 15:11-17 (NRSV)

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I’ve Been So Busy: Stopping the Glorification of Busy

How are you?

I’m great! How are you?

I’ve been so busy…

Sound familiar to any interactions you have had with anyone lately? I know it’s a conversation I’ve had quite frequently with co-workers and friends in recent weeks. At times I’m not so sure they’ve really been that busy, but feel like it’s what they believe they’re supposed to say. More often than not it seems like we’re competing to see who has been the busiest. This competition of busy is really just a glorification of busy. And it HAS TO STOP.

Rather than focus on being busy, let’s focus on a life that’s well lived. We only get one shot at this thing called life, so let’s not waste it on being busier than the person next to us. This past weekend I’d say that my weekend was incredibly full. Some may say that we were busy because we did something Friday night, most of the day Saturday and Sunday, but I dare say we were not busy.

My family and I spent Friday evening with my best friend sister from another mother, her husband, daughter, and fresh (1 week old) baby boy. As good friends and family should, we brought dinner over to them and hopefully good company too. We spent the evening talking, laughing (though not too much for the new mama…hello, stitches!), and snuggled with all the kiddos. My husband and I both commented on the drive home how full our hearts were after an evening spent with people I love so much.

Saturday was spent mostly outside with my daughter and we enjoyed our monthly small group/play date with friends from church. Next we were on our way for Safety Day, where my daughter’s eyes were wide with awe and excitement. She had the opportunity to see, touch, and sit in an ambulance, fire truck, state police helicopter, and more. Once we got home from our morning of fun and woke up from a well deserved nap, we were able to see the my husband’s finished handiwork. A frame for our raised garden bed, and a truck full of mulch. As a family we spent the late afternoon and evening spreading the mulch so we could finish all the yard work on Sunday.

Sunday began with worship at church and followed by our usual playtime with VHP’s church BFF before heading out to enjoy the rest of our day. We were then off to my in-laws to help them with some yard work. After working all over their yard, we enjoyed some yummy Chinese food, before all of us headed back to our house. There we wrapped up the day installing our raised garden bed, transplanting some irises and nandina, and spending lots of family time.

We may have done many things this weekend, but none of it would I regret or change. I truly believe that a busy life is full of of things we do and do nott want to do. More than anything, a busy life, is filled with things needing to be checked off our proverbial lists or calendars. All that we did this weekend were things I would want to pass up doing, because it was done with the people I love.

Are you ready to to stop the glorification of busy and focus on a life well lived with the people you love?

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You are Beautiful

HebrewDawn: How do you eat an elephant? Bite, by bite. — Bite, by bite.

How has your week been? I’m grateful that today is Friday, and to be back blogging with you. I’m sorry that we’ve been MIA this week, but we’ve both had some things going on personally that got in the way. We didn’t want to write a post for post sake, so we neglected you. I hope you can forgive us…

Every now then I find some things on the Internet, that I can’t help but share. Ready for a giggle to end your week? Check out the weird things women do with their girls. I can honestly say I haven’t intentially ate off of my mine, but I’m grateful for the food they’ve saved from hitting the floor.

Have you seen the previews for bad mom yet? I seriously hope it’s as funny as it looks. I hope this will be a funny way to remind us to have a little more fun on the journey of motherhood, and to stop stressing about “what we’re supposed to do” so much.

If you follow on Instagram, the above picture may be familiar to you. If not, I want to share with you what I shared yesterday. I have been hearing from too many ladies around me that they aren’t that pretty or that they’re not good enough. Each and everytime I hear this it breaking my heart. Why? Because each woman saying this is absolutely beautiful on the INSIDE and OUTSIDE. Do you ever find yourself saying this? If yes, stop it and begin something new. Each day look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that YOU are BEAUTIFUL. Continue doing this until you believe it deep in your bones. Do you have a woman in your life needing this reminder? Please remind them of that they are beautiful too.

Have a lovely weekend!

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Favorites This Week: May 6th

How has your week been? It’s been a very full week for me, and I cannot wait for this Mother’s Day weekend. I know that this weekend is not always an easy one for everyone, but I hope that we can shower the women in our lives with love. Shout out that you love the women who love and support you each and every day of the year. These women may be the one who gave birth to you, who chose to love, who raised you, or came into your life at the needed moment. These women may not have children of their own, and may be they do. May be you are the closest thing they will have to their own children. Whoever the women are in your life, I hope you’ll let them know you love them. I’m ever so grateful for all the women in my life that love me, and whom I have the privilege to love.

Speaking of love, it may have taken me until college to fully appreciate and LOVE living and growing up in Richmond, Virginia, but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I was giddy to see, and also made hungry, leaving that one of my absolute favorite Richmond restaurants was included on the list of best “hole in the walls” to try in Virgina. If you’re ever looking for a great Italian meal in Richmond, hurry your way to Mama Zu’s (just make sure to bring cash or American Express)!

Are you a Mo Willems fan? I’ve been a longtime fan since he released Knuffle Bunny, and I’ve only grown to love his writing more through his Elephant and Piggie Series. Sadly his last book in the series is coming out, but I can only imagine it will be just as great as all the others.

Do you like drinking sparkling water, seltzer, or mineral water? I do, and so does my family! BUT there’s been terrible press about it lately, specifically how it’s bad for your teeth. Thankfully, reports are coming out to debunk that lie and I’m so thankful! This article had some interesting information, and I love that when it was first invented by chemist Joseph Priestley, he titled his paper “Directions for Impregnating Water with Fixed Air.” I guess I’m a fan of drinking air impregnanted water

Have anything fun planned for the weekend? I’m looking forward to a picnic with my family, and some ladies that I’m lucky to love and have in my life.

Have a beautiful weekend!

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FOOD! Glorious food…

I love the Spring! Down here in the south the weather is warm but not too warm, people start heading outdoors again, the coats come off, the shades go on, and everything is so wonderfully green! My favorite part of spring, apart from not having to wear two layers when I go for a run, is definitely the produce! From asparagus and bok choy to radishes and strawberries, spring is a time for food; GLORIOUS food!
One of my foodie friends said something last week that totally describes my outlook on food and cooking. We were discussing the inherent conflict between enjoying delicious things and healthy eating;

“What’s an epicurean adventurer to do? Food is an endless culinary odyssey!”

Her words cracked me up, but I heard where she was coming from. It’s fun to cook and eat and share, but it seems that the foods we get excited about aren’t always the best for us. What’s more, there is a stigma that “healthy” foods will leave us unsatisfied. With all the food shaming, deprivation diets, and misinformation peddled around the interwebs, I’m not surprised this is the case. I mean I love kale, like really L-O-V-E the stuff, BUT if you told me that I had to eat it every day for lunch and dinner, I’d grow tired of it…quickly!

If variety is the spice of life, why is there such a great divide between food that taste good and food that is good for us? Should we feel bad for wanting to create recipes that nourish our hearts and minds as well as our bellies? Can delicious things really be healthy too?

Why, yes indeed! Healthy eating behavior should not be synonymous with deprivation. In fact, thoughtful choices can enlighten and expand the most discriminating palates. It’s a three part process: choosing foods that will taste their very best, investigating why we crave certain flavors and textures, and developing recipes that emulate those things. This will keep you satisfied without the dreaded Fear Of Missing Out.

I believe seasonal produce is the holy grail, if you will. Everyone can recall a time they encountered a piece of produce that was not in season; likely overpriced and under-ripe, it left your taste buds feeling a little sad. On the other hand, we can all remember a time when a simple strawberry or blueberry was the most delicious one we’ve ever tasted! Why? Probably because it came from a local farm, was harvested at the peak of freshness, and handled very minimally before reaching our plate. It basically boils down to two things; without farms there would be no food, and the closer the farm, the better the food.

ENTER: Trendy hipster locavore and her soapbox

Buying local seasonal fruits and veggies sets off a chain of positive reactions that benefits the individual and the community at large. At this moment (here in North Carolina at least) foods like leeks, new potatoes, and scallions are in abundance! You can find these on the grocery store shelves or at the farmer’s market at rock bottom prices. They are grown and harvested closer to you, the customer, so the supply chain is much shorter. Foods can be picked a little later, won’t require preservatives or chemicals to withstand long transit times, and will last longer on your counter top or in your crisper saving you even more money! Let’s not forget the yum factor.

The positive outcomes don’t end there; relying on your neighborhood farmer supports your community by invigorating the local economy, sustainable practices, and even job creation. We aren’t just talking fruits and veggies either. Local farms can provide a variety of meats, eggs, dairy products, grains and breads. Here in Raleigh, at the NC State Farmer’s Market we have our very own “Goat Cheese Lady” and let me tell you, it’s a beautiful thing!

Take advantage of the goodness that is right in your own backyard, or your neighbors yard, or maybe the farmers market. Here are some ideas to embrace the Spring harvest and tackle cravings.

Sweet/Sour – Strawberry Salsa
Ingredients:

1-2 cups of strawberries
1-2 lemons or limes
mint leaves

Method – Dice strawberries and place into a small mixing bowl, add the juice of lemon/lime plus zest, add freshly chopped mint, and refrigerate until serving. This recipe comes together in just minutes and is quite versatile. Try as a topping for yogurt or blended into a smoothie. Place in ice cube trays and freeze to add a sweet surprise to your iced tea. Feeling adventurous? Swap the mint for cilantro and add some red onion and jalapeno for a delicious topping for grilled chicken or fish.

Salty/Creamy- Fancy Roasted Veggies with Herbed Greek Yogurt

Ingredients:

1 lb new potatoes
2 large carrots
2 leeks
1 c greek yogurt
fresh herbs
olive oil

Method – scrub potatoes, cut into quarters, place on a baking sheet. Peel and slice carrots and place on baking sheet with potatoes. Just use the white and light green parts of the leek for this recipe. Inset a strainer within a large mixing bowl and add leeks. Thoroughly rinse, making sure to leave behind all sediment. (I like to swish the leeks around in the water with my hands and then lift the colander out-that usually does the trick) Pat dry and place on baking sheet with the potatoes and carrots. Toss everything with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 25 minutes; tossing halfway through to brown evenly. Meanwhile combine your fresh herbs with the greek yogurt.This is where it gets fun-let’s say you want a french take, add some tarragon or thyme. Feeling more Italian? Add fresh basil and parsely. Maybe you’re in a Mediterranean mood? Go with mint. If you have some lemon juice handy you can add it to amp up the flavor even more. To serve, simply top a scoop of roasted veggies with a dollop of the herbed yogurt. Try combining the leftovers of each for a picnic ready potato salad with an extra punch of protein!

Crunchy/Cool-A Pretty Crunchy Salad

Ingredients:

1 large bulb fennel
1 bunch red radishes
1 lemon
1 teaspoon white vinegar
olive oil

Method-Remove fennel stalks and fronds from the bulb. You can store for a future application if you like. Slice radishes and fennel bulb thinly (you can use a mandolin, if you have one.) Place slices in an ice bath for 10-20 minutes. While the veggies are taking a dip, combine the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Drain the veggies, pat dry, and toss with the lemon dressing. Voila! A colorful crisp and refreshing dish you can eat by itself or use to enhance other recipes. Add a scoop atop a bed of spinach or mix with some leftover quinoa. The vinegar and lemon in the dressing will pickle the vegetables and help keep them crisp. The flavor will intensify as the dish sits in the fridge, so this is a great make-ahead recipe.

Enjoy sharing these recipes with your family and friends. Bon Apetit!