August | 2013 | Sunshine in my pocket

Archive | August, 2013

Carlsbad Farmer’s Market – A Feast for your Eyes

By KariV on August 14, 2013 in Favorite Things

Do you like fresh fruits and vegetables?! Well today I have quite a treat for you. I am taking you with me on a virtual tour of the Carlsbad Farmer’s Market in California! Ready, here we go.

I’ve been visiting San Diego since I was a kid, but I only found out about the AMAZING Farmer’s Markets they have over there just this past year. I can’t believe I’ve been missing all this goodness! Our last trip was just a few weeks ago and I really wanted to visit the San Diego farmer’s market, but we couldn’t make it on Saturday. Then I found out there are farmer’s markets all over Southern California on just about any day of the week (check out the list here). So on a beautiful Wednesday, we headed over to Carlsbad and found this little gem of an outdoor market.

Just take a look at these beautiful cherry tomatoes! There are quite a few pictures, so just take a deep breath and enjoy the amazing color and variety available here:

Radishes, Turnips and Zucchini.

I loved the variety: lots of beautiful flowers, organic eggs, mushrooms (types I’ve never seen before!), pastas, and candied almonds.

Isn’t it fun to look at piles o’ veggies? I love the produce department at the grocery store, but these organic, locally grown vegetables are just so beautiful!

There were herbs like dill, parsley, cilantro, thyme and basil. And you could even take home your very own strawberry plant!

Plums, nectarines, and peaches galore!

We found some goodies that we just couldn’t leave without. Flowers, kettle corn, strawberries, peaches, fudge, and Cheesecake in a cup (it was divine!) I know, I know, it’s all the sweet stuff…but we are on vacation here! Plus, we had already purchased our carrots, beets, celery, apples, kale and other delicious veggies to juice at the local organic market.

I hope you enjoyed this short tour of the Carlsbad Farmer’s Market. I’ve been to a lot of farmer’s markets and this just might be my favorite one to date!

Oh, and before you go…did I mention they had seafood too? Come back this week to see my absolute favorite (and simple) way to grill up market salmon. We like this preparation because it tastes as good (or better) than any salmon we’ve ever ordered at a restaurant! See you then. 🙂

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Dose of Sunshine Monday — 6 Steps to Mending a Broken Heart

By KariV on August 12, 2013 in Inspiration

A few weeks ago I had a friend tell me that her heart was broken. I’ve been wanting to write a bit about broken hearts for quite a while now. Do you remember that song with the words: “how can you mend a broken heart?” I don’t believe they even tell us how to mend a heart in that song! So today, I’m sharing 6 Steps to Mend a Broken Heart.

{First let me tell you that I’m not a therapist or a doctor, but I do know a thing or two (or twelve) about broken hearts and I’ve found all these tips helpful.}

1) Be kind to yourself! If you are broken, take it easy. No guilt, no judgements, just LOVE yourself by treating yourself to any (or all) of the following: bubble bath, pedicure, read a happy book, meditate, deep breathing. Repeat as necessary.

2) Talk it out. Gather a friend or two who will let you share your feelings. It helps to just get these feelings out and friends can be invaluable in helping you to get over it, see it in a new light, or just give hugs. (sisters, moms, and spouses work, too!)

3) Journal. Writing things down can also be very healing. Even if you write it down and then rip it up, throw it out, stomp on it, destroy it. Sometimes a broken heart comes with some angry or sad feelings, too…and journaling is SO good for releasing those. If you keep those feelings bottled up inside, it will just get worse.

4) Pray. Kneel down and really pour out your heart. You might be amazed at how this can change things for you. I keep a sign on my nightstand that says: “Prayer Changes Things.” And it does. It may not change the situation, but I’ve seen it change feelings, attitudes, outcomes, and more. I do believe that you can ask for your own miracle; miracles happen every day. Why not for you?

5) Chocolate. Nothing is better than friends, except friends who have chocolate. I’m going to share a secret: I ALWAYS have a chocolate stash at the ready for times I need it. This stash may not be good for my waist-line, but it sure is soothing for a broken heart! If chocolate is not readily available, sometimes maple donuts are the next best thing. 🙂

6) Exercise. It’s well known that exercise raises seratonin, which makes you feel happy. Find a form of exercise that you like and spend some time at it. Running, walking, weight lifting, yoga, cycling, sports. (AND This will help with #5 above!)

I hope this helps you or someone you love in a small way. Have you ever had a broken heart? What did you do that helped your heart? Sending hugs to all my virtual friends and family!

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Botanical Garden at Balboa Park

By KariV on August 7, 2013 in Favorite Things, Freebies

I have a great little vacation tip for you the next time you are in San Diego. And it’s *free! I love a family-friendly-and-free place to visit while on vacation. It’s the Botanical Gardens at Balboa Park.

This amazing garden has so many varieties of plants and flowers…some I’ve never even seen before. Take a look at how amazing this atrium is, too…all made of wood. It’s actually one of the largest lath structures in the world!

It was built in 1915 and it’s an amazing historical must-see building. There are enormous trees and plants growing, like giant ferns and this elephant leaf plant (I may have named that plant just now):

G was enthralled with it. And he also loved the polka dotted plants. He asked me to take a picture especially of him sitting next to them in his “I made this plant” pose. Hey, I don’t make this stuff up…that was his instruction to me! (Love this kid!)

I do almost* believe he made that plant…with that pose there. 😉
Take a look at some of the other beautiful plants to see at the Botanical Garden.

This place just might be a little magical. It’s a perfect garden for kissing (at least G thought so).

There’s a spot near the back of the garden that is growing an “Allspice” Tree and the bark smells so good…just like Allspice!

The boys especially enjoyed the “smelling garden” that had a number of plants and herbs that you could touch and smell. There was mint and basil, lemongrass and one that smelled like cinnamon. Even a plant that my husband thought smelled like dish soap!

There’s the boys smelling and touching the “smelling garden” plants! So entertaining. We probably could have stayed there for quite some time if a *little someone* didn’t need to use the bathroom! Ah, the life of traveling with kids, right? 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of the Botanical Garden at Balboa Park. Check out the tour of the Flower Fields at Carlsbad, too.

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Follow Me on Bloglovin’

By KariV on August 6, 2013 in Uncategorized

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I just linked my blog to Bloglovin, which is a way to follow blogs all in one place. It helps to see at a glance what has been published on your favorite blogs and then you can click through to check them out. I am still learning how to use this myself, but I think it will be a very handy tool! So, if you want to follow my blog using this convenient tool, click the link above and follow the instructions. Thanks!

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Dose of Sunshine Monday — To New Chapters

By KariV on August 5, 2013 in Inspiration

Hello, Monday. Today I want to talk about New Chapters.

School starts this week for us in parts of Arizona. Lots of changes are beginning for me and my family. It’s really the beginning of a new chapter for us. And I have to say, I’m not a big fan of change.

I am seriously looking at this new chapter with a bit of concern, worry, trepidation. And that’s when I have to pull back and remind myself that everything will be ok. To live in the moment. To enjoy life’s little gifts each day. There are going to be parts of this chapter that are glorious, delightful and very happy!

Then I came across this timely quote: