Tag: southern

My Favorite Farmers Market

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Since we moved to the country, I’ve struggled with grocery shopping. The nearest grocery store is 20-25 minutes away.

Thankfully early this spring, I stumbled across Me and McGee Market off Highway 70 in North Little Rock.

Via

It is a gorgeous little farm stand full of pretty flowers, fruits, veggies, local cheeses, jams and jellies, pickles, salsa, homemade breads and grassfed meats.

As a foodie, it is my happy place. I visit the market every Saturday morning. I have grown to adore the Me and McGee Family, and I look forward to seeing them every weekend.

Neva, the owner, takes care of me. While we’ve been on Whole30, she’s held back dozens of eggs for me. She knows me. Remembers my name. Ask me about my week. She and her daughter, son, mom and husband are what make this little market so magical.

They are real people. They are my kind of people. They value good food, real food. They value community. They are invested in our little rural community. Constantly trying to make it better. Bringing people together.

It’s a truly beautiful sight.

We need more Me and McGee’s in this world. Little mom and pop shops and markets geared towards getting people better foods. It’s important. And I’m passionate about sharing what Neva and her family is doing because it will change the world for the better.

If you are in the Central Arkansas area, I highly suggest you visit Me and McGee Market. You will fall in love with it.

Find the nearest farmers market near you.

What are your Saturday morning traditions?

Grateful Heart

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The weekend is for recharging your personal batteries. And that is exactly what I did.

I get so much pleasure out of spending time with people I love. We don’t even have to be doing anything. I just love the quality time.

Things I’m thankful for on this Monday.

Fields full of flowers. While to some, this would just be a bunch of weeds. But I enjoy looking at them. They fill a vast space full of life and give the butterflies a place to roam.

Taking a step back to appreciate the goodness around me is important to my mental wellness. It’s the little things, always.

Spending quality time outside with Annie. My sweet girl loves to be outside. She loves to lay in the sun on the porch. She loves getting to be lazy with me. Annie’s got those good weekend vibes going every single day.

Personal care is key for me. Thankful Beautycounter created amazing and safe products to help me live my best life. I use the Nourishing Skin Care line mostly everyday. But I take extra care over the weekend to make sure I’m putting my best foot (or in this case…face) forward.

I’m so thankful for all ways Beautycounter has changed my life. I’m able to promote a company I believe in, get awesome products for me and my friends and make a little money to put directly into savings.

It was a tough decision to say yes to Beautycounter, but I’m so glad I did it. And I only see good things coming from it in the future. Ask me how you can become a part of this amazing movement to better beauty.

What do you do on the weekends to recharge and cultivate gratitude?

Oven Roasted “Fried” Okra

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Okra is a staple of Southern summer suppers. And I buy as much of it as I can while the farmers grow it. It’s my favorite vegetable.

While the South may be all about fried foods, Whole30 is not. So we must improvise.

Meet Oven Roasted “Fried” Okra.

What you need:

  • As much okra as you want to roast, sliced into circles
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Cayenne, to taste
  • Garlic powder, to taste
  • Coconut oil, to drizzle
  • A sprinkle of almond flour, enough to cover and coat the okra.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine okra, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, coconut oil and almond flour.

Stir until okra is evenly coated. Spread evenly on baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until your desired crispiness.

It’s the closest thing to fried okra. And it’s amazing.

Mornings on the Farm

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When I was a little girl, I use to spend weeks at a time on my grandparents’ farm in Tennessee. I would go and stay, and then wail when my mom would come up to take me home.

As a kid, it was my favorite place. My grandparents would drop everything when I would get there. And we would play outside, ride four-wheelers, ride horses, go fishing. It was always perfect.

Fast-forward twenty-something years, and the farm still holds a special place in my heart. But getting to spend time up here is scarce. So I was super excited to get a stop-over here on our way to Nashville.

Who wouldn’t want to wake up here? Have coffee on the front porch? Couple minutes of journaling? Quiet time?

My Papaw’s been gone several years now. But whenever I’m up here sitting on the porch, I still feel like he is around. Watching over us. Quietly participating by keeping this place so beautiful.

I miss him terribly.

But visiting the farm always makes it a little better. Bittersweet. But a little better.

This place feels more like home than anywhere else.

So many memories. I’m so grateful to remember.

Steak Tabbouleh 

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Green Chef is killing it with their Paleo menu this week. 


I whipped this up in about 20 minutes after my one mile evening run. I loved the cauliflower rice mixture with tomatoes, cucumber, fresh mint, fresh parsley and a lemony vinaigrette. But I think it could have been better with chicken.  

Tonight’s one mile put the hurt on me. 

I’ve not been watching my pace. Just seeing what feels comfortable to my lungs and legs. 

I was much faster today without intending to be. And I felt every step. My calves hurt. My legs cramped up. I had multiple side stitches. I chalk it up to not drinking enough water (and the three very small cookies I ate before leaving work). 

Three days. Three miles. Things are on the up. I love these long summer days.