Lena Hyde Photography: The Studio Journal

Can and I are HUGE Trader Joe’s fans…whenever we go back to San Francisco we load up two or three carts of all the foods we want to try! February 10th, the first Trader Joe’s opened in Florida, so we made the pilgrimage across the state to Naples for the wekeend. I have been waiting 10+ years for a TJ to open here and I am crossing my fingers and toes that they come east so I can get some of the fresh yummies and salads more than once in a while. There’s a facebook group if you want to join the cause~

Bonus: Supercar show at the hotel. Double bonus: nearby Italian Gelateria. Pretty great weekend with my buddy!

My friend Lindsay told me about the Sunshine Farm up in Stuart…she told me it had the most fantastic produce, eggs, meats, and cheeses and OMG was she right on! I drove up there with Erin today to take a tour and shop. We were like two kids let loose in a toy shop. This place is FANTASTIC!  I scored: goat milk, fresh eggs (check out the colors), fresh handmade mushroom ravioli, the most flavorful lettuces I have ever had in my life, a ton of other delic veggies and herbs, purple potatoes, dark local honey, just picked limes, microgreens, wagyu beef, fresh chicken, French butter, peppered salami, green veggie juice, and so much more! If you are interested in checking it out, you have to friend Farmer John Mackenzie on Facebook (seriously, do it!) and keep an eye on his posts throughout the day to see all the incredible goodies that are being delivered.

People, I know if you are not in south Florida this may not seem like a big deal. Believe me…this is a BIG deal. You cannot imagine the lack of selection in quality food here, we are almost 20 years behind California IMO in supply and demand for “real” food. Don’t get me started…but if you are local, GO! You can thank me with a bag of local romaine and some Pt Reyes cheese~

This is my kids’ favorite day of the school year, and I have to admit, it’s mine too…Our entire lower school is out on the big football field, representing the countries of the world their classes have studied all year long, wearing shirts they have made in art, and competing in events all day long. Each country (class) had their olympic feasts yesterday, with parents supplying traditional foods from each place and lots of fun little gifts too. Today, volunteers set up tents for each country as the sun came up, and manned them with parents providing snacks, water, and lots of encouragement. The day began the parade of nations, and the passing of the “torch” all while the band played Katy Perry’s “Firework” among other kid favorites, and then the salute of our flag. You could literally feel the excitement in the air with all the kids, teachers and parents coming together to support this fantastic program with all their hearts. It was pretty awesome.

Every year we take a day off and have a family field trip…to the South Florida Fair. This year, I think we saw everything: animals, exhibits, and of course the midway and all of its culinary delicacies. Such great family time!