Discoveries

Happy Tuesday, Everyone. A quick visit today, just to say hi & let you know about a couple of new discoveries.

First, yesterday's visit to Farmers Choice, a new produce grocer in Santa Monica at 3214 Pico Blvd., right next door to the Trader Joes. No website or phone number up yet, only this post.  Since Monday is the only day there are no local Farmers markets in our area, and because TJ's didn't have any more organic bananas, I ventured across the parking lot to check it out. (Here's a lovely shot of the parking lot entrance through the raindrops on my windshield.)  It was virtually empty -- just one other shopper and me, so I pretty much had the place to myself. My first impression was that it was clean and spacious. There was a display of well-priced organic strawberries and raspberries right at the entrance. I figured that was a good sign. I bee-lined for the organic section, which was fairly small (my photo was embarassingly blurry and not post-worthy, sorry), and some of it pre-packaged. When I asked the cashier if that was it for organic produce, she said they were waiting for more to come into season. (???) Ok.

I have some good things to say about Farmers Choice -- they carry just about every fruit and vegetable you might need. They carry some more obscure produce -- green plums, longans, star fruit, tomatillos. They offer yummy looking vegan desserts and some decent looking premade vegan soups and dressings, also a small fridge of Evolution juices. If you've ever been to Marina Farms on Centinela and Jefferson, this place feels kind of like that on a smaller, cleaner scale. There's room for this place to learn and grow if we as a community offer it feedback and encourage it's owners to stock from local farms.  

I'm happy to see a store full of produce, full of whole foods at reasonable prices on a street lined with fast food and where many of the stores are full of cans and packages of man-made "food". Any one making the effort to bring fruit and vegetables to the masses is alright in my book.  Unfortunately there wasn't a manager in the store when I stopped by, so I'm not exactly sure who owns the store or where they get their produce. I checked a lot of stickers and packages, but I didn't see a whole lot of local farms represented there. Next time I'm in, I'll request more local organic produce on their shelves. Bottom line: my heart will always belong to Farmers Markets. Shopping in the open air and handing my money to someone who I know had a hand in growing the food just feels like the best choice for me. I wish them the best and hope they will integrate more of our local goodness so that going to their store feels like a good choice too.

This post would have been devoted to Farmers Choice if I hadn't decided to try out a new yoga class today. It's discoveries like these that make life hum. I love Santa Monica Yoga for the "small, local business"-ness of it and the sweet owner and the low-key vibe. My favorite instructor teaches here and many of the class times are perfect for my schedule. Today's soggy morning made me decide to defer my morning beach run. I took the dogs for a walk instead and afterward, quite literally stumbled into one of the best yoga classes I've been to in a really long time. Some days, yoga works like magic for me. I feel absolutely transported. Most days things align, and I'm present for the most part, and I stay with my breath as best I as can. And then some days, there's transformation. Today was one of those days. I am so very glad I went and so very grateful to the wonderful teacher. If you're looking for a really great yoga class, I highly recommend Luke's class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45 - 12:15 at Santa Monica Yoga. I felt like a little celebration after class and headed out to the ocean for an afternoon run. Today felt like a present. 

My favorite quote from my Mindfulness Workshop on Saturday went something like this:

Your body is always in the present moment. It's your mind that goes elsewhere.

My teacher went on to say that as we meditate and practice tuning into our bodies, we learn live more fully in the present. I'm remembering that this week.  

Namaste.