Beauty, Charm & Style

Oh summer, how I have missed you. The grass is greener, the sky is bluer and the sun is brighter.  Yeah, so bright I’m sporting SPF Billion.

And with summer time comes those wonderful local farmer’s markets.

A great way to buy fresh, local foods, farmer’s markets offer its shoppers a wide array of fruits, veggies, cheeses, flowers, breads, meats and fresh squeezed watermelon lemonade. Everyone should make an attempt to visit his or her local market at least once this season.

Lucky for me, every Wednesday the Austin Farmers Market is hosted in the park just a stone’s throw from my balcony. (No really, I could throw a stone at the market, and I throw like a girl)

Markets are great places to socialize, meet new people and hear great local music. Supporting a wonderful system of independent farmers and growers, you also get the opportunity to make good choices about the foods you eat.

Try seasonal fruits and veggies from local growers!

Yes, a Farmer’s Market can be intimidating.  Filled with crunchy hippies, some oddballs and organic crazed moms with baby strollers, a normal person like yourself may feel lost and helpless. Never fear.  Just remember these tips and try to have fun.

1. Not everything is sold at the market is organic, but a good deal is. The banner representing the farm will say if the food is organic, but f you still have questions, ask the folks working the booth.
2. Make a list before you arrive. Knowing that you need tomatoes, apples and basil will help you narrow your search through the many delicious booths.
3. Get to the market at the opening.  This is when leafy greens are at their best because they haven’t sat in the hot sun all day and not everything has been completely picked over.
4. Bring your own big shopping bag.  Make a statement with something handmade or just grab an old Trader Joe’s paper bag.
5. Try at least one new and mysterious food.  Maybe it turns out you LOVE kale. Plus the booth owners are usually great resources for ideas on how to prepare your new adventure food.

Fine your own local markets here, with Local Harvest.

Growing up with long hair leads to snarls, snags, rat’s nests and an unruly mane atop my sensitive scalp.  And after every bath, my mother would sit me down to brush out my locks, only to be met with one big mess.  As she worked her way through the tresses, I would scream, squirm, protest, plead for mercy and then end up just crying.

Once, when I was about 9, I clearly remember finding a huge rats nest in the back of my hair, and rather than risk the pain of the comb, I cut it out.  I took a pair of scissors and very rationally and unapologetically cut a chunk of my hair out.  And I would do it again.

But luckily, I’ve managed to find a detangling conditioning rinse that prevents any of these tragic hair deaths – Fresh Pomegranate Conditioning Hair Rinse.

Fresh Pomegranate Conditioning Hair Rinse

Passing the first test or smelling amazing, Fresh brand Pomegranate Conditioner smells lush, airy and as if it was delivered straight from heaven.  Working the conditioner into my ends and working my way up to my scalp, the conditioner feels light and weightless, and without the heavy consistency most conditioners have.

Even after I rinse and ring and towel dry, my hair smells amazing.  It is the hair you want when you’re cuddling up with your gentleman on the sofa and you just know he’s smelling your hair because he keeps kissing your head.  That’s what my hair smells like.

I used to think that to detangle my baby fine hair, I would have to use a heavy conditioner that coats my hair and doesn’t fully wash out even after a long rinse and leaves my hair limp and dull.  But once again, I have learned a lesson and found something worth sharing.

The Breakdown:

• 8.8 oz bottle
• $24.00 each
• Pomegranate extract and sunflower extract, safeguard hair from the sun and other harsh elements
• Doesn’t weigh hair down, anyone can use it!

Tips:

• I rinse my hair with cold water.  This may just be a way of waking myself up in the morning, but my hair feels softer throughout the day when I do this.