The Official Blog of The GEM.

SHINE BRIGHTER. Our goal is to live better and be better.

Tag Archives: happy


40 Tons of Love For Mother Earth 🌏

Posted on by The GEM and currently has Comments Off on 40 Tons of Love For Mother Earth 🌏

At The GEM, our passion for green living goes beyond caring for our well-being. The all-organic, plant-based foods we love improve our health AND the health of Mother Earth — and we believe you can’t care about one without caring about the other! That’s why living green has been part of Our Creed since DAY ONE — and why environmental practices go beyond just eating organic. 


Celebrate Earth Day by ordering online for pick up now!


Did you know that last year alone, we composted almost 87,000 POUNDS of food waste?! That means we reduced our carbon footprint by 77,000 pounds!

Thanks to the awesome team at Recycle Revolution, the leading collector of post-consumer food waste in North Texas, we’ve helped nourish gardens, soil, and worm farms all around DFW and reduced our carbon footprint last year by almost 77,000 pounds. 

Since we opened our doors 10 years ago, we’ve composted hundreds of tons of food waste. We’re happy to pay for this service and to do what it takes to help reduce our impact on the environment. 

We know our community is a green community and we want you to be secure knowing that eating at The GEM is an Earth Loving act. By doing that, you’re also: 

  1. Reducing Greenhouse Gasses & Water Use : By eating mostly plants, you’re reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Did you know that almost 15 percent of greenhouse gasses are produced by meat and dairy industries? Farming plants also uses far less water than raising cattle, if you can believe it. 
  2. Limiting Pollution, Water Run Off & Soil Erosion: Organic farming benefits you, the environment AND the farm worker. Think about it, if you’re not exposed to harmful chemicals, neither is the person picking your food or the water that runs off the farm. The practices of organic farms also reduce soil erosion and greenhouse gasses and improve the quality of soil. 
  3. Recycling & Reusing Everything: Our kitchen reuses glass bottles. All of our packaging is biodegradable and recyclable — including our straws because every little bit matters! And we NEVER use styrofoam. And our recycling includes the more than 40 tons of food waste we pay Recycle Revolution to compost every year.

We LOVE how much our GEM community cares about being green. If you want to join us on our reuse and recycle train, we encourage you to find out more about Recycle Revolution’s programs. The local company is committed to helping individuals and companies recycle and compost everything they can. Now that’s GEMMY! 

Thanks for doing your part to keep Mother Earth GREEN. We wish you continued vitality and healthy habits this Earth Day, Earth Week, Earth Month and every day. Keep up the good work Earth and Happy Earth Day!


Celebrating a Decade of Peace, Happy, JUICE (& SO Much More!) 🎉

Posted on by The GEM and currently has 2 Comments on Celebrating a Decade of Peace, Happy, JUICE (& SO Much More!) 🎉

Holy guacamole, The GEM is turning 10 YEARS YOUNG!!! We can hardly believe it’s been a decade since opening our doors as the first organic juice bar in Dallas. What started as a simple idea between two disco soul sisters back in 2012 has blossomed into something more lovely and powerful than we ever could have imagined. And it’s taught us that no matter whether in life, love, disco or business, passion is always worth pursuing.


CELEBRATE #TheGEMTurns10 WITH A FREE IMMUNITY SHOT ON FEBRUARY 11TH


From a terrifying breast cancer diagnosis to hosting our first-ever popup, and to opening our second location, the journey to provide the best-of-the-best spirit, energy and juice to our glowing GEMs has been, in a word, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. 

We knew next to nothing about the restaurant business when we opened up shop ten years ago, but that didn’t hold us back. We dug in deep—learning, growing, and dancing along the way (and, of course, leaning on this wonderful community of ours). 

Read on for the top ten lessons we’ve learned on our GEMbarkment a decade later:

10 Lessons Learned After A Decade of #ShiningBright

  1. Dallas loves green juice. We have seen our GEM community grow into the most incredibly committed and conscientious health-seekers anywhere around. 
  2. Our Top 10 Health Rules are still the way to go. Nothing has changed. It still is all about a whole food, plant-based diet. (And if you don’t know, now you know.)  
  3. Focus attention on your own passions, do it with determination and grit, and things fall into place. Stay true to your values—and don’t be swayed by a new “opportunity” that strays from your mission.(Check out Our Creed to see what we’re all about!)
  4. Treat your customers (and staff!) with respect and kindness, and they will stick around for the long term. Some of you have been with us since day ONE! We have incredible staff that have been with us for many years (like, almost 10!).  We love them, and we love YOU!
  5. Disco balls and groovy music make for a fun workplace. We’re more than just healthy food and organic juices. We’ve created a place where positive energy flows freely—and we like to think it’s why we have the very best staff in town (and we know you agree!).
  6. Delicious smoothies don’t have to be loaded with added sugar, dairy or creepy additives. Our intention is to make the most delicious food and juice without compromising any health benefits
  7. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Especially when it comes to new health products, supplements, diets and fads promising to (insert desired outcome here). Always stick to what you know actually works: a whole food, plant-based diet.
  8. Those struggling with a health crisis can feel confident that they are getting honestly clean, organic healing foods and juices when they visit The GEM. We’ve met so many beautiful humans going through cancer. It has been a humble honor to get to serve you.
  9. Supportive, positive people make for the BEST co-workers. Daily work is WAY more fun and rewarding with people who intentionally set out to be positive and supportive. We really do have a blast doing what we do, together.
  10. We are beyond grateful for you, our O.G.s (Original GEMs!), as well as our new followers for your continuous support and outpouring of love. We’re here and open every day for you, and you never fail to show up for us! 

As a special “thank you” to all of our loyal GEMs, mark your calendars for Friday, February 11th at both our locations, where we’ll be giving out FREE IMMUNITY SHOTS, complimentary to ALL CUSTOMERS! 🎉


A Love Letter to My Disco Soul Sister

Posted on by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on A Love Letter to My Disco Soul Sister

Dearest MK (a.k.a. my Disco Soul Sister),

So often business can ruin good friendships. Yet with ours, not only has it endured, but our friendship has been forged into something truly extraordinary. When I think of the GEM, I think of, above all else, true FRIENDSHIP. 


“There’s nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” – Thomas Aquinas


Not only our almost 20-year friendship, but also with the people we have met throughout our relationship, the wonderful staff we have nurtured, and the life-changing friendships that have emerged from the creation of The GEM. I am forever grateful and constantly in awe of the blessing of it all.

What Our FRIENDSHIP Means To Me 

  • F is for FAMILY. You are my soul sister, a part of my family. And I adore that. F is also for FOREVER YOUNG: Flashy earrings, fun costumes, and first-rate dance routines.
  • R is for RARE. Your joy and kindness are truly RARE superpowers. It’s our company’s Religion now. Risk takers.  Some folks said no. But we did it!! Rainbows. And unicorns, and flower crowns. Just because it brings joy.
  • I is for IMAGINE The GEM as the beautiful force it is—something we never imagined.
  • I is also for ICONIC. The GEM shines bright for this entire community.
  • E is for EVERYDAY I get to play and giggle, cry and laugh with you. This Entrepreneurship EMPOWERS us to do great things. Not to mention our Executive lunches with Elevated Elixirs like juice and tequila. 😉
  • N is for NEEDLES & THE NEUROSURGEON. Our partnership = complete. 
  • D is for DISCO (naturally!). DW, Divine Dates, Diamonds, Dedication, and Discovering new things Daily. For a DECADE! The GEM is DESTINED for greatness. Hot DAMN!
  • S is for STARDUST, Seventies, Sequins, Snacks, Sunny, Soulshine. Supersonic Smoothies.
  • H is for HEALTH. Together we have become the mecca in Dallas for clean food, and crusade leaders for a Healing, HAPPY lifestyle. People want to know what WE think about health? Holy Kale! 
  • I is for Impressive. We STARTED the organic buzz in Dallas! Mic drop. Innovation and Inspiration to be better. Always.
  • P is for POSITIVE energy & PASSION for what we do.  It is the special ingredient that makes The GEM what it is, and who we are as a team. Prize winner. It’s what I am every day working with you, babe.

I love you more than you will know, and I am so very grateful for our beautiful creation. Love, friendship & another decade of disco

Leslie


GEM Gratitude. Want to Make a Difference? Join us November 19th

Posted on by diamondsonyourinside and currently has Comments Off on GEM Gratitude. Want to Make a Difference? Join us November 19th

We are driven to make a healthy difference at The GEM. One of our missions is to provide clean and healthy nourishment in a happy environment. We are driven to make people happier and healthier by offering healthy options AND hopefully enlightening you along the way to understand what and how healthy food makes a difference to your physical and mental well-being. We are GRATEFUL that we get to experience this every day!!

Making a differenceThat is why we love Feeding Children Everywhere. These folks, who just came to Dallas this year, empower and mobilize people to assemble healthy meals for hungry children and families all around the world. We LOVE that! And, we also LOVE that they are committed to provide the healthiest meal possible, made with real, nutritious and sustainable ingredients. That is an awesome commitment!

Their lentil casserole (yes! Lentils!) is easy to make and can serve as a full meal or as an addition to other foods. It is all-natural with no artificial flavorings and no creepy synthetic or GMO ingredients. And you know how important that is–and lentils for that matter!

They believe one person can make a difference but only with action—action that brings people together. SO, we invite YOU to come with us to help make a difference and assemble these food kits for distribution all over the world.

On Saturday, November 19th, Feeding Children Everywhere hosts the local, DFW Community Hunger Project. Held at St. Philips School, the organization plans to mobilize more than 350 volunteers to assemble thousands of kits in just one day.

These will be distributed right here in the Dallas area, making a difference to families that need nutritious food made with love.

Our GEM team will be there from 9 – 10 a.m. and would LOVE for you to show your GRATITUDE for your own abundance by bringing your smiling self, your friends or your family. For just a short one hour contribution of your time, you can make a healthy difference in the lives of others.

Sign now up by clicking HERE!








graphite or diamond??

Posted on by diamondsonyourinside and currently has 2 Comments on graphite or diamond??

Diamonds and graphite.  Chemically, they are made from the same element: carbon.  The difference is their ‘structure.’  Diamonds are hard, very hard.  Very difficult to break, crush or compromise.  Graphite is soft.  Think lead of a pencil. You use it to write another person’s thoughts down on paper. Diamonds are transparent.  Graphite is opaque. You know a diamond when you see one. They sparkle.  Diamonds have the highest melting point of anything.  It doesn’t take much to melt graphite.

Oh, and no one is ever proud of their graphite jewelry.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

The fork in the road for these carbon-based solids comes with pressure.  Extreme pressure.  The diamond is formed from this heat and pressure.  Graphite just stays stable, and does not transform.

What are you?

I have come to believe the challenges we face in life are the very things we are supposed to learn from and gain strength and knowledge from. That gives us the strength to help others conquer these same challenges.  Impervious to the pressure, diamonds continue to shine–sparkling from the inside out.  Be transparent–its healthier for everyone.  People like to know what you are made of.

Accept difficulties in your  life as a conductor that makes you HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER (Thank you, Kanye) People know diamonds when they see one.  What do people see when they look at you?  Do you feel sparkly?

Meditate.  

Be Grateful.

Exude happiness. Fake it til you make it if you have to.

Listen, I’ve had my own graphite days. It took a serious seismic shift to turn me around.  I conquered those challenges and found more positive in me.  And.  I have flaws.  Because, quite frankly, no one likes a perfect 10.