Tips for Shopping a Farmers Market

Ready to shop at a farmers market? Find handy tips for what to bring with you to the farmers market, how to get the best deals, and how to find the freshest produce at farmers markets.

Farmers Market Checklist


Before you go:

Bring reusable bags. Tuck a few reusable shopping bags (with handles) into a pocket; merchants sometimes run out. And you'll be helping the environment.

Have cash on hand. Credit cards and checks aren't always accepted.

Dress for comfort. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather.

Pack a cooler. If you live far away, or plan to be at the market for awhile, bring a cooler for produce. Consider a wheeled cart or travel bag for bulk shopping.

Go early… Find out the market's hours and plan to arrive at opening time to ensure the best selection. Smartphone app Locavore and website localharvest.org provide market locations and seasonal hours.

…Or go late. Great deals are often available around closing. Many vendors will lower their price rather than haul their wares home. However, some may be sold out.


While there:
Don't buy the first thing you see. Make a lap to compare quality and prices.
Make your heavy purchases last.

Make Your Own Craft Clay

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This craft clay is easy to make, but requires the use of the stove, make sure children are supervised when making this craft!

Here's what you'll need...

• 1 box baking soda (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 11/2 cups water
• Sauce pan
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Plastic wrap 

Here's how you make it...

1. Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until it is too thick to stir with a spoon. 

2. Cool for 15 minutes, or until the dough is cool enough to touch. Knead it for about 5 minutes, or until smooth. Keep dough wrapped in plastic. 

Once you have molded it, it will take 1-2 days for the clay to dry. The length of time depends on how thick your craft is: If it is a flat ornament, it may only take 1 day, if it is thick it will take much longer. This clay can be painted with either Tempera or acrylic craft paints. 

My Son Loves Basketball Trading Cards

My son is a sports fanatic, but his passion goes the furthest for basketball. Can you imagine his excitement with the official start of "March Madness" today? He has his bracket all filled out and has already started tuning in to some of the games that were played today. Who do you think is going to win this huge NCAA tournament?

His basketball collection is really growing. He has autographed basketballs, jerseys of his favorite players from several different teams, and basketball trading cards. He loves going through them and seeing what players he has and how their seasons are going. There are some rookie cards that he has that are extremely talented players now. 

Fun Punch Party Recipes

Punch Recipes

When I have hosted parties in the past, I like to have a variety of drinks on hand.  

I usually put out some soda, beer, and some wine,

but by far, having a big bowl of punch is always the most popular thing at the party!

Jen’s Favorite Punch

2 BOTTLES OF GINGER ALE (2 LITER)

1 BOTTLE OF SPRITE OR SIERRA MIST OR 7UP (2 LITER)

1 HALF GALLON OF PINEAPPLE JUICE

APP. 1 LITER OF BACARDI RUM

1 JAR OF MARASCHINO CHERRIES (POUR IN CHERRIES AND JUICE)

Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl.  I also put an ice ring in this. I use pink lemonade made from frozen concentrate for it.  Just make the lemonade according to the directions on the can.  I put slices of oranges, lemons and limes in the ice ring.

 

Sparkling Fruit Punch

1 CAN (16 OZ) PINEAPPLE JUICE, CHILLED

1 BOTTLE (1 QT) CRANBERRY JUICE COCKTAIL, CHILLED

1 CAN (6 OZ) FROZEN LEMONADE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 BOTTLE (1 QT) CLUB SODA, CHILLED

1 PINT VODKA

Combine pineapple juice, cranberry juice and thawed lemonade in a punch bowl. Pour in club soda and vodka. Garnish with lemon slices. Makes 3 1⁄2 quarts.

Party On Punch

1 CAN (46 OZ) PINEAPPLE PINK GRAPEFRUIT JUICE DRINK

1 CAN (5 OZ) FROZEN LIMEADE, THAWED

1 QUART GINGER ALE, CHILLED

1 PINT VODKA

1 LIME, THINLY SLICED

Combine juice drink and limeade in a punch bowl. Pour in ginger ale and vodka. Float fresh fruit on top.

Fruit Punch

1 CAN (46 OZ) HAWAIIAN PUNCH

1 CAN (6 OZ) LEMONADE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 CAN (6 OZ) ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 PINT VODKA 1 ORANGE SLICED

Combine all of the above and chill two hours. Pour over ice in a punch bowl. Float fresh fruit on top.

Ruby Red Sparkle

1 PINT RASPBERRY SHERBET

1 CAN (12 OZ) PINK LEMONADE FROZEN CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 FIFTH ROSE WINE, CHILLED

1 FIFTH SPARKLING BURGUNDY, CHILLED

1 SLICED LEMON

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl. Mix well and chill. Before serving, top with spoons of raspberry sherbet and garnish with lemon slices.

Ice Ring

Fill ring mold half full with water or fruit juice. Freeze. Arrange fruit on ice and freeze until fruit adheres to ice. Fill mold with water or juice to top and freeze again. To unmold, dip mold in hot water until ring slips out easily. Float in punch bowl.

Kegel Exercise Instructions

For Ben Wa Balls, Kegel Eggs, Orgasmic Balls and Luna Beads

Kegel balls, are small weighted devices that can help strengthen a woman's vaginal and pelvic floor muscles. Strong pelvic floor muscles help prevent urinary and fecal incontinence. Many women begin doing kegel exercises without props, then move on to using vaginal balls or eggs to increase resistance and make the exercises more challenging. Other women use kegel balls for vaginal stimulation or to increase arousal. There are four basic exercises you can do with kegel balls.

Step 1 - Isolate your pubococcygeus (PC) muscle. This is the muscle your kegel ball exercises will work. Move as if you were trying to stop your urine mid-stream. The muscle you contract is the PC muscle. This is the motion you'll be making as you perform the exercises. It feels like squeezing or pulling the pelvic floor muscles up toward the lower back. Alternately, you can find this muscle by placing a finger in your vagina and squeezing down until you feel the PC muscle tighten.

Step 2 - Insert the kegel balls. Find a comfortable, relaxed position, such as sitting or standing, and gently push the balls into your vaginal opening. Stop just as they're completely in, don't press them to the back of the vagina or up near the cervix. Close your legs to help keep them in place as you position yourself for your exercises.

Step 3 - Perform the sitting exercise. Sit with your legs still closed. Isolate the PC muscle and use it to try to move the balls back and forth. If initially you can't move the balls back and forth, focus on squeezing the balls and holding it for a few seconds, then relaxing for a few seconds.

Step 4 - Perform the standing exercise. The standing exercise uses the weight of the balls and the force of gravity to make you work your PC muscle. Stand and position your feet shoulder-width apart. Use your PC muscle to hold the balls in your vagina. If you stop contracting your PC muscle, the balls will fall out. Perform this exercise three times per day, working each time to hold the balls in place longer.

Step 5 - Perform the squatting exercise. The squatting exercise combines elements of both the sitting and standing exercises. Place your feet as wide apart as you can. Bend your knees slightly to move into an easy squat. Use your PC muscle to both hold the kegel balls in place and move them back and forth. Move into a deeper squat to make the exercise more challenging.

Step 6 - Use the balls during routine activities. This is similar to the standing exercise. Use your PC muscle to hold the balls in place while you do housework, go for a brief walk or take a shower. Make sure you're strong enough to hold the balls in place so they don't fall out at potentially embarrassing moments.

Step 7 - Remove the kegel balls relaxing and letting them fall out or if they don’t fall out, by sweeping a finger into the vagina, behind the first ball and gently pulling downward. Wash with Shine foaming today cleanser. Rinse well and wipe with a soft lint free towel.