farmers market 5

i ran through the market wednesday morning! fall. sigh. it’s coming. the air is changing. there are lots of asian pears, a sprinkling of apples, and i’m staying committed to my plums, nectarines and peaches for at least two more weeks. i am not ready to let go.

1. fresh dates. have you seen them before?

they are grown in the coachella valley, where it is suuuuuuper hot. date palms are often grown near grapefruit trees, so you will usually see the farmers selling both. there are around 1,500 known varieties of dates worldwide, and the two farmers at the market carry about a dozen. my favorites are khadrawi dates. they are soft, chewy and taste like caramel.

most people are familiar with medjool dates, which have been trending in the stuffed date category. fill them with nut butter, top them with chocolate and finish with a bit of flaky sea salt. dates contain natural sugar, but many varieties have a relatively low glycemic index, so i recommend them to those who need a sugar fix without the blood sugar bum

2. fresh black-eyed peas in the pod. yes, black-eyed peas are actually beans! when you find them fresh at the farmers market, you have to shell them like peas. inside are the most beautiful creamy little beans with their signature black “eye.” they are tender, earthy and so much more delicate than the dried version. simmer them until just tender, then dress them with good olive oil, lemon and flaky salt.

3. calamansi. tiny citrus with a huge personality. they look like miniature, rounder limes but taste like a cross between a lime, mandarin and kumquat. tart, floral and ever so slightly sweet. squeeze them over anything that needs a bright little wake-up call, turn them into marmalade or add them to sparkling water. truthfully, i’m still figuring out all their uses. i just get so excited when i see them.

4. fresh jicama. if you have only eaten the dry, pre-cut sticks from trader joe’s, please try a freshly dug jicama from the farmers market. it is unbelievably crisp, juicy, HYDRATING and subtly sweet, somewhere between an apple and a water chestnut. peel away the tough brown skin, slice it thin or cut it into sticks, and eat it cold with lime and flaky salt. fresh jicama is a completely different vegetable. to me, it is the savory version of watermelon. my mom used to give it to us growing up, and i still loooooove it.

5. fairtime peaches. the peach that lets us hold onto summer for just a little bit longer. this very late-season yellow peach usually arrives around early september, but this year everything has been early. it is enormous, freestone and beautifully balanced between sweetness and acidity, with golden skin and a bright red blush from the sun. the grand finale of peach season.

   excuse me while i grab my tissue box. i’ll see troy and his family again when they return with the world’s greatest mandarin oranges this winter.

xoxooxoxox,

a

i thought this photo was dreamyyyyyyy.

1. red light screen protectors for my computer and phone. i have very sensitive eyes, and these have been a game changer. my eyes do not hurt nearly as much, and i feel so much better after looking at a screen AND it’s better for your SKIN. literal skincare while i work.

2. my favorite DÔEN cardigan is on an even bigger sale. it’s now $130 off! it’s cashmere, the colors are stunnnnnning, and it is such a staple. i have a few.

3. my favorite pair of jeans. they give you a very lifted bum and come in tall, regular, and petite. they really are my favorite. and my favorite pair of clogs are on sale.

4. a cooling mattress. i sleep hot, so my cooling mattress has made such a difference. i’m going to try the Chilipad too, which cools you from the mattress up and you and your partner and .

5. the t-shirt bra i always share. it doesn’t feel like i’m wearing a bra, but it still provides the greatest shape.

6. the new AG1 gummy vitamins. they now have their own eight-gummy daily vitamin set. i think they’re delicious, and they might be replacing the other vitamins i’ve been eating.

7. creatine and electrolytes in individual packets. i can throw them in my bag and add them to my water on the go. i’ve noticed a real difference in my sleep and muscle recovery after working out.

8. my travel toiletry bag. i keep it fully stocked, and it has so many pockets inside to keep me organized. i haven’t been home for a weekend in the last few months, and it has been perfection.

9. the bucket hat i haven’t taken off in months. apparently, you guys haven’t taken yours off either. beige and black. here is a $60 dupe.

10. my embroidered boat tote. i bring it everywhere for a weekend away, whether i’m traveling by car or plane. apparently, the price hasn’t gone up in 50 years, and it also makes such a great gift. i have this cute bandana tied to mine :)

the bed! big kid beds are officially in szn, i helped chose this cutie one of my friend’s daughter and a new cooling mattress for her too.

halloween PJs are already out and on sale! i love these cutie pumpkin jammies.

dinosaur and kitty cat 100% cotton t shirts. skater dresses in the cutest prints like this cherry. long sleeve cotton unicorn skater dress w pockets. boys striped tee shirts. bug st shirts. more striped t shirts

a polo and jeans. unisex striped sweater. collared sweatshirt matching one for mom.

100% cotton undies for girls and briefs for boys. organic ankle socks for kids.