Emily, Author at nothing to do - hickory

Get the Freshest Picks: 5 Tips for Shopping at Your Local Farmer’s Market

Posted on May 30, 2023April 16, 2026 by Emily

There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh, locally grown produce straight from your local farmer’s market. Not only is it often more flavorful than the options available at grocery stores, but supporting your community’s farmers can help sustain their livelihoods and the environment. But with so many vendors and options, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why we’ve compiled our top five tips for shopping and supporting your local farmer’s market, so you can get the freshest picks and make the most out of your shopping experience.

Surf City – Wednesday, April 12th

Posted on May 1, 2023January 23, 2026 by Emily

The boys woke up excited on Wednesday for many reasons – the biggest of which was that their grandba, my mother, would be coming down to Surf City to join us. Since she wouldn’t arrive until later that day, I decided that we could go on a little adventure to a farmer’s market.

Surf City – Tuesday, April 11th

Posted on April 18, 2023January 23, 2026 by Emily

When I go on vacation, I like to find a good balance of eating out/eating at home and a good balance of activities – sometimes I have things planned for the day, and other times we simply just go with the flow. We are on vacation, after all, and my biggest goal is to always just spend time with my family, creating those memories.

Surf City – Monday, April 10th

Posted on April 18, 2023January 23, 2026 by Emily

The drive down to Surf City was blissfully quiet. My two boys (5 years old and 20 months old) each slept for half of the trip, albeit alternating halves. My dog, a 9-year-old blue heeler/husky mix, sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window in a bit of a panic.

For 5 hours.

Putting Your Garden to Rest During Winter

Posted on November 30, 2020January 22, 2026 by Emily

As the days cool and winter draws near, I like to put my garden to rest. Of course, we grow some kale here and there and usually our garlic is planted in October, but I use December/January/February to really take a step back from gardening. As much as I love gardening, it’s nice to have a respite from it, though I typically use that time daydreaming and planning the next garden.