Community Blog

The staff here at So7 would like to wish you a very happy Labor Day! We hope you have a fantastic time with family and friends and that you have a chance to relax.  After all, it’s a 3 day weekend! No matter what you decide to do, we’re sure that you’ll have lots of opportunities to enjoy yourselves.

We would love to hear all about your holiday next week, so be sure to come back here and comment.  We would also love to see your pictures, so head over to our Facebook page and post them on our wall!

Happy Labor Day!

Happiness is often seen as somewhat of an anomaly – hard to figure out, acquire, and replicate.  But the truth is that happiness CAN be learned and reinforced if you know where to start.  Of course, that can often be the hardest part, right? Writer Gretchen Rubin once took on the challenge of studying happiness in an effort to manifest it in her own life.  What she found was that there are at least 10 ways that this can be accomplished.  Here, I will highlight a few, and when you are done reading you can go and check out her article, “10 Ways to Be Happier,” over at RealSimple.com.

Step 1: Start small.  Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew.  There will be plenty of time down the road to answer the deep questions.  For now, start with something basic like getting to bed at a normal hour.

The rest of the information Gretchen covers is more like principles than a prescribed schedule, but they are good rules of thumb:

• Fake it if you need to.  If you’re feeling low, try to do something to make you feel happy or at least attempt to act the part.  Studies show that you can actually act your way to happy.  Our actions can affect our thoughts just as much as our thoughts can affect our actions.  And smile!

• Think outside the box.  Don’t just do what you always do; find a new activity or hobby to occupy your time.  You’d be surprised at how well your brain reacts to surprise.  Even if you are not successful at your new task the first time, you will still be happier having tried it than you would be if you remained complacent and stayed stuck in your routine.

So what do you think of this, Parkside? Have you found any of these things to be true, or have you found your own methods for getting and staying happy?

Hey there, residents!

We love having you here with us at Parkside at So7! We would love some feedback on this blog about why you chose our fabulous community over all others. Was it our incredible location and views, spacious floor plans, or something else? We welcome your thoughts here, so take a minute and take this poll.  As always, if you have anything you would like to add, drop a note in the comments section!

Women of So7, listen up! This weekend, from August 28-29, you will be able to participate in VISIONS: Women’s Expo.  So for those of you who are looking for advice on careers, health, and finances, head on over to Dallas Market Hall.  No, it’s not right around the corner, but it’s well worth the drive!

The expo will take place on Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm.  In celebration of the end of Summer, over 300 displays of fashion, food, entertainment, and shopping will keep you occupied during the expo.  In addition, there will be tons of bargains, free facials, and free health and beauty screenings.

So take care of yourselves this weekend, ladies, and stop by the expo.  Your body and your mind will thank you!

Going to the farmers market can be pretty overwhelming.  I mean, there are TONS of fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses to choose from.  So many items that you don’t recognize but would love to try and more familiar foods than you can possibly fit in your arms or in a cart.

Here are some tips for how to navigate your way through in a productive (but not overwhelming) way:

1. Bring a list with you.  Just like at the regular grocery store, the more you plan, the more you are able to stay on task.  Walking into a store without a list is like asking to spend more.

2. Stock up on spices.  You can never have too many spices.  They can take two identical meals in totally different directions if you know how to use them, and farmers markets are the perfect place to find some great ones to experiment with that aren’t as familiar.

3. Buy a variety of foods.  Don’t just stop for the fruits and veggies.  There are lots of baked goods, juices, flowers, and more to bring home.

4. Try something different! As I mentioned earlier, you will have an unbelievable assortment of products at your fingertips.  Take advantage!

So the next time you stop by the Cowtown Farmers Market, hopefully you’ll consider some of these tips.   The market is in operation on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am – noon and this is a prime time to visit while the Summer is still going strong.

There is still a little time to enjoy an outdoor party or two before the cool weather makes its way to our area, and this is the perfect time to learn how to make a new drink.  After all, you will need something refreshing to cool you down after a day outdoors!

Here is a recipe that I stumbled upon today.  It is for a drink called an August Moon.  I have never heard of it before, but based on its ingredients, it’s got the makings of a hit! Try it out at your next cookout and let us know how your guests (and you!) like it.

Chef Tim Love knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to open his first restaurant - The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro – in Fort Worth in 2000.  Since then he has opened a number of other restaurants in the area.  The opening of Love Shack in the Stockyards followed, and now he has a restaurant off 7th street of the same name.

Love Shack has become a happening place where local bands come to play on a regular basis.  Tonight you can enjoy a performance by Brad Hines - a major fixture of the Fort Worth music scene – and tomorrow night you can catch a Mike Richardson show.

Chef Love has made numerous television appearances and was the winner of Iron Chef against chef Masaharu Morimoto during a chile challenge in 2007.  He has also appeared on other shows on the Food Network and has been written up in several publications including the Wall Street Journal and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Have you visited the restaurant yet? The menu features Chef Love’s spin on US western cuisine and incorporates everything from wild game to poultry and steak.  If you haven’t had the chance to sample some of his food, now is a great time to do so!

If you haven’t met Casey Donahew, allow us to introduce you.  Casey is a Johnson County native who got his start performing at Thirsty Armadillo and R Bar which, while now a distant memory, really served to mold him into what he is today.  Back in those days, he was out on his own sans a band for backup.  As he gained a fan following, he realized that this was exactly what he needed, and with that the Casey Donahew Band was born.

Casey and the band soon moved up to Horseman Club and other Fort Worth venues, and he put out his own record, titled “Stockyards.” Speaking of Stockyards, that’s where he will be on Saturday, August 20 – specifically at Billy Bob’s Texas - for what is sure to be a show to remember.  It will start at 10:30, and you can buy your tickets online through Ticketmaster.

If country music is your thing, make sure you stop by and see Casey and the band live.  If you haven’t been following them, it’s never too late to start.  Their newest album, Moving On, is currently on sale and can be purchased for – wait for it – $5 on Amazon.com.  Get your copy now in preparation for the show!

Will you be attending? If so, come back and let us know your thoughts after.  We’d love to hear all about it!

Ready for some laughs? There are a number of movies opening this weekend, including a new one from Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, and Michael Keaton – “The Other Guys.”

This story takes place on the streets of New York City, where two mismatched police detectives struggle with getting along until they are faced with the prospect of picking up a case that could very well turn into the city’s biggest crime.

Will they be able to get it together? We’ll just have to wait and see.  Take a look at this trailer and then get out to Movie Tavern this weekend to see it!

Friday, August 6…Be there or be square! The Cats will be playing Grand Prairie! But that’s not all.  Longtime coach Wayne “Twig” Terwilliger is retiring after a 62 year professional coaching career.  That’s a pretty impressive run!

The Cats will honor Twig – who leaves at the end of the season – on Friday with a ceremony, happening between the doubleheader against Grand Prairie.  Fans will receive a commemorative poster celebrating his career as both a coach and a Marine.

Just in case you can’t make it out to this game, here is where the boys will be for the rest of August:

August 2-5: Cats @ El Paso

August 6-7: Cats vs. Grand Prairie (Doubleheader on Saturday)

August 10-12: Cats vs. Pensacola

August 13-15: Cats @ Grand Prairie

August 17-19: Cats @ Pensacola

August 20-21: Cats vs. Grand Prairie (Doubleheader on Saturday)

August 23-25: Cats vs. Wichita

August 27-29: Cats @ Pensacola

August 31: Start of the American Association Playoffs

Let’s go, Cats!

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