Farmer's Market

Although summer doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, my summer started last week.  My philosophy is that if it hits 83 degrees for a consecutive three days, it's summer.  What better thing to do in the summer than visit the local farmer's market?  We haven't been there in quite awhile...I mean, who has time to relax, peruse, stroll, and dream up creative food/gardening endeavors?  Not me.  But I forced myself to slow down the other day, and I'm glad I did.

On a side note, if your farmer's market is open on the weekdays, go then.  In the morning.  Not only do you have more room to navigate with your double stroller because the rest of the world is elsewhere, but it is much more relaxing.  Except for the fact that all the vendors see you (I feel most comfortable as a wall flower) and offer you strawberry/peach/watermelon samples every 5 feet.  And you can't politely refuse and pretend you don't exist because your fruit-loving kids think that getting bite-sized juicy snacks from complete strangers every 30 seconds is the most amazing thing ever and have to sample EVERYTHING.  Sometimes twice.

Raleigh's farmer's market is open 7 days a week, year round.  There is an open air section and a closed building that houses scrumptious things like goat cheese, fresh squeezed lemonade, and candy in barrels.  There also is a butcher's stand there, but I just pretend like I don't see it.  I love meat, just not next to my precious Lemondheads and Atomic Fireballs.

Visiting the farmer's market tricks me into thinking that I can whip up delicious veggie dishes that my whole family will enjoy.  I mean, even the fiercest tomato hater has to admit these look gorgeous:

I still haven't figured out to do with all the leafy greens.  Kale chips are all the rage now.  Just can't imagine that eating a baked leaf tastes better than a Cool Ranch Dorito.  But if anyone has a good recipe, please let me know so that I can pretend that I'm a organic mama that feeds her kiddos kale chips.

The open air section also houses a wide assortment of plants and flowers that makes me want to pull on some gardening gloves.  In my attempt to beatify our new home, I purchased a few flowers and tomato plants, hoping that I magically developed a green thumb during the move.  

If you're in the Raleigh area, the farmer's market is a must see.  If walking around, looking at vegetation doesn't tickle your fancy, there are two amazing restaurants on the premise too.  One serves fried seafood.  Can't go wrong with that.

Frugal Friday: $8.89 Thrift Trip

As a result of moving to a new house, I had the opportunity to do much purging and simplifying of our "stuff."  I get such a great feeling when I pack up a box of things that we haven't used in ages and drop it off at local donation centers.

I also get a great feeling when I find good deals at these donations centers' thrift shops :)

$3.00 for a monthly greeting card organizer with pockets to keep cards.  A little more expensive than I was willing to pay, but well worth the $3.00 to not forget family members' birthdays and have to profusely apologize.

Super cute H&M skirt for $3.39.  Can't wait to make an outfit out of this!

My best deal was these Charlotte Russe shoes for $2.50 (originally $5.00, but the thrift store was having a 50% off sale...thrift stores have sales?).  It's hard to see in the picture, but these flats have sparkly silver stitching all around.  I used to be a grossed out by the thought of used shoes, but I figured that as long as they are in good condition and easily washable with a Clorox wipe and a can of Lysol, it sure beats paying retail.

Tasty Tuesday: Food Truck Rodeo

What's the best way to celebrate Mother's Day?  By exploring Raleigh's Food Truck Rodeo, of course!  Since moving downtown, I've been itching to walk to an event, and Mother's Day was the perfect day to try.  I've also been itching to eat from a food truck...don't know why the thought of eating food cooked out of a truck is so appealing to me.

So, we loaded up the girls and took a lovely stroll downtown to brave the crowds and try and decide which of the 40 food trucks would be our lunch spot.  We decided on the Olde North State BBQ truck, found a ledge to sit on, and dug in.

Happy Mother's Day to me!

The Food Truck Rodeo will be back on Fayetteville St. the following dates:

May 12th (12-5 pm)
June 9th (12-5 pm)
Auguest 11th (4-9 pm)
October 13th (12-5 pm)

Check it out!  What a fun way to experience downtown Raleigh and try some good food :)

Wordless Wednesday

East Asia: The Unreached

We made our trip to East Asia, and I haven't had time to process much.  A friend's question today prompted me to start putting some of my thoughts together, so I'll probably be posting snippets as thoughts come to me.

On our first trip out to one of the villages, we met this 84-year-old man on the left:

He was so excited to meet us, bring us into his home...

...and walk us up a mountain where we had a birds-eye view of his village.

We stopped walking hiking climbing and our team prayed over the village.  One of the things to hit me the hardest was the fact that there is an entire people group that hasn't even heard of Jesus and his saving grace.  NEVER HEARD.  Not like here in the States where everyone has at least heard the name Jesus or knows of a Christian and simply chooses not to believe.  Everyone living in the small houses dotting the valley were completely lost and didn't even know it.  And then it hit me how much God loves these people.

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

~ Romans 10:13-14 ~

And so the reality of the term "unreached" burrowed into my heart and set my perspective for the rest of our time in East Asia.