This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for shopping at the Farmers Market, but all thoughts, purchasing decisions, and photos are my own! Do you guys have farmers markets in your area? Did you know National Farmers Market Week is coming up in just a few weeks (August 6-12)? I recently had the fortune of shopping at the Pike Central Farm Market  at Pike & Rose recently, and I fell in love! I love farmers markets because you get to buy fresh, local ingredients, and you often learn about businesses and foods that you might never hear of otherwise. I went with my good friend Judy. We stopped by after free yoga at the new REI and brunch at Owen's Ordinary . I wanted to pick up some ingredients I'd never cooked with so that I could make something different for dinner for the next week or two, and Judy was down for a stroll around the market. ...

A few weeks back, I bought myself a bike. I set a goal to drive to work less often on days where I don't have events or activities immediately after work. I could take Metro to work, but I could also commute by bike, which is even better for the environment, and better for my health. Plus, since I'm getting my indoor cycling certification next month, I wanted to get myself more comfortable on bikes in general.  I went to Performance Bicycle in Columbia, Maryland, and got a great deal on a low-end, functional, hybrid bike. The bonus was that it was in one of my favorite colors! ...