Farm Tour at Inspiration Plantation

Last Saturday, Everett and I, along with some friends from church, visited Inspiration Plantation for their monthly farm tour. I was in search of a local farm with sustainable and ethical farming practices whom I could purchase eggs, grass-fed meats, and produce from and my good 'ol friend Google brought me to Inspiration Plantation. I wanted to visit them to learn further about their philosophies and the layout of their farm and meet their animals. I thought it'd also be fun for Everett to check out the animals.

The tour consisted of walking through their 20+ acre field while the farmers, Jenn and Matt, gave a little info on the animals and their farming practices for them.

Everett and I held up the end of the group tour as he had trouble walking through the mud and dirt with his one-size-too-big boots so I missed a bit of the information that they had to share but we both fully enjoyed seeing the animals.

{You can see a few goats there in the middle of the photo.}

Everett LOVED the chickens and wanted to get all up in the coop but there was a lot (A LOT) of poop inside and we didn't have an extra pair of clothing.

A dozen organic eggs in the grocery store can cost you about $5 but Inspiration Plantation sells a dozen of their smaller sized eggs for only $3. They're not that much smaller than the regular sized eggs so that's what we've been purchasing. Also, if you volunteer to help clean their eggs, you get a dozen free for cleaning a certain amount, which we've signed up to do.

My husband missed this farm tour but I'm looking forward to having him come with us on the next one and I'm hoping to be able to snatch a little bit more info during the tour.

Roasted Kale Chips

I've been hearing about kale chips lately. Til recently, prior to when I made some kale soup a few months ago, I had no clue what it was. Kale is a green, leafy vegetable and is apart of the cabbage family. I've been hearing how delicious these chips are and have seen a few recipes on pinterest so I finally decided to make some. I purchased one bunch of organic kale for $3.49. For that price, I was able to make 2 large batches.

I began by washing each leaf separately and then peeled the leaves off the middle stem. Make sure to dry the leaves. I used a towel but a salad spinner works just as well. I then threw the leaves in a large bowl and drizzled some extra virgin olive oil with a few pinches of sea salt. I then placed some parchment paper onto a baking sheet and evenly laid out the kale.

Bake at 350 until the edges are browned but not burnt (about 20 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. They are oh-so delicious! They are lightly crisp, salty, and satiates any craving for a greasy potato chip. And the best part: they are full of protein and healthy for you! My husband, who doesn't like his vegetables, loved them. Enjoy!

Crunchy Tip #4 (Headaches)

Headaches are one of those nuisances that can throw you a curve ball and have you feeling off kilter during the day. At least for me, I wouldn't necessarily say they are painful but rather annoying and a bit disruptive. I typically don't take any ibuprofen to cure it and the first thing I always do when I get one is to drink a big glass of water. It is common for a headache to be a result of dehydration. Sometimes, water doesn't do the trick. In these instances, if you'd like a crunchy resolution, try ingesting some cayenne pepper. I'm not talking a spoonful but sprinkling some onto some food. If you're tough and wouldn't mind getting some hair on your chest, be my guest and take that spoonful.

Suggested foods include hummus, cottage cheese, or steamed broccoli or cauliflower. Really, it accompanies any (non-sweet) main dish and will add a little zing.


Another natural remedy is peppermint essential oil. Dab a bit onto your temples, close your eyes, and give it about 15 minutes. If you're looking for a place to purchase essential oils, I'd highly suggest getting them from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Try these remedies the next time you get bothered by a headache. Both are less expensive remedies to pain relievers you get at the drugstore and better for your body.

Homemade Granola Bars

I absolutely love granola. Anything with granola, I'm down. I received a scrumptious homemade granola cereal recipe from my mom that I'm anxious to try. I tried some of hers a few weeks ago and I thought it was some high-priced, fancy granola she bought at some expensive organic store but to my surprise, it was homemade. The best I've ever had.

I recently had an itch to make something with old fashioned oats in it and instead of the granola cereal, I decided to make some granola bars; something that Everett could enjoy as well.

What I like about granola bars is that you can make any variety and add in any of your favorite dried fruits or nuts. This time around, I made them with chocolate chips.


I used the recipe from weelicious.com and modified it a bit. The cooking time was too long though because mine came out way over done. They were delicious but on the hard, crunchy side. I was looking for something a bit more soft and chewy.

I had to throw some of it out because it was burnt and impossible to eat but it still made a decent amount.


There's so many granola bar recipes out there and I'm looking forward to trying out another one.