My Incredibly Happy Mind, Body, Soul, and Palate

We all get to the point where we just need a break. It can be a variety of things that break us, or it could be just one. Sometimes you feel like you have it all together, and then something reminds you that you don’t. It’s those times that you need to get away and put some perspective on the things that are causing you unhappiness. As always…perspective is the key.

With that being said, let’s catch you up on my recent adventures since it seems I haven’t posted in almost two weeks. Well, two to be exact.  This is a long one folks.  I didn’t feel it needed to be broken up.  I just let it flow out of me this morning.  Enjoy!

The first one, we have begun a new adventure in our fitness world. I will be the first one to admit I am not a skinny cook. I’ve got quite the curves – a little too many depending on what I ate the day before. *smiles* However, it has come time to improve life, and what better way to do it than to become healthier. We have begun…wait for it…you might want to sit down for this one…the P90X program. No, you can quit asking yourself if I am crazy. I think it comes with a stigma because you see all these super-fit participants on the videos, but it’s completely doable. I may not be able to do every single exercise perfectly right now, but as my trainer said before I embarked on this psychotic – oops, fabulous – mission, “Don’t be a hero.” Long story short, it has been 10 days now, and I do see a difference. Therefore, my body and mind are incredibly happy.

The second one, our day trip yesterday. Growing up, I don’t remember many beach trips. I mean a few memories stick out. But, our family wasn’t very “beachy”. As an adult, – ugh, I haven’t been liking this term very much lately – I have grown to enjoy the never-ending world that lies before me, across the ocean, that I have yet to enjoy. I just think to myself, Spain is right over there – and then I contemplate on how I will obtain money to even set foot on another continent. There’s things I want to do, places I want to see, people I want to meet! *smiles*

First and foremost on this excursion, parking was a beast. I never thought it would be so frustrating finding a parking place, then having to pay for the parking place that you just spent tons of gas on to find. It probably didn’t help that I had drank a bottled water on the way down, and had to use the lady’s room for an hour before we got there. After about 45 minutes – on top of the hour I had to go to the lady’s room, and the 3 hour drive – we found a parking place. We walked out onto the refreshing beach. Let me just say this…DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, do the Legs and Back P90X before having to walk in the soft sand. I don’t ever remember walking in the sand being so difficult and painful. Ridiculous people, ridiculous! But, I digressed and plopped my painful tail into my chair in front of the crashing waves.

Sadly, there are wildfires going on at our beautiful coast. You can certainly see a haze, and at some points I felt I could tell it was a little bit more difficult to breathe because of the air quality. Nonetheless, there was a brisk wind blowing, the sun was shining, and there was the random cloud covering as a low front moved through. Don’t worry, this redhead wore her sunscreen like a champ. Note to self: don’t spray the sunscreen in your face – it eventually runs into your eyes.

After my eyes cleared up, and I was able to bask in the beautiful sun like Cinder does at home, smell the interesting beach smells that make you wonder what in the world that was that just wafted by your nostrils, see the graceful seagulls as they randomly littered the beach with poop, and hear and watch the waves crash upon the sand leaving seashells rolling as the wave rolled back out, it was time to walk back to our car. There was nothing I dreaded more that day…the walk back through the sand. But, luckily, the hub found a closer road access that we made a b-line for. I feel like a bad dating ad – loves SHORT walks on the beach, and I don’t like Pina Coladas! *smiles*

COPPER PENNY!  YUM!

On the way into Wilmington, headed back home, I did a search through TripAdvisor on my phone for restaurants. This is where I HIGHLY recommend TripAdvisor for all of your travel review needs. Since I used to be told my hair was the color of a copper penny when I was younger, I felt compelled to choose the #5 of 154 restaurants in Wilmington…the Copper Penny. Their website boasts “Located in historic downtown Wilmington, the Copper Penny offers an eclectic mix of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches along with an extensive selection of mixed drinks and beers.” This was right up our alley! If we hadn’t of been looking for it, we would have missed their gorgeous historic blue building. This would have been a true shame.

I found two new loves in this pub….the coleslaw, and the DW Burger – sans hamburger patty. First up, the coleslaw. It was that crunchy coleslaw. It had crunchy ramen noodles in it. Yeah, some of you may have “heard” of this recipe. But, have you ever “had” this recipe linger around your taste buds??? Wow, is all I can say. The recipes I googled didn’t seem to be the actual make up of this recipe. But, this was the best coleslaw I have ever had, hands down, and I live in barbeque country. That has to say something! I will be on a quest for this recipe. Amazing!

Next up, the crazy combination of a burger I had. They had it normal, I made it crazy. Crazy can be amazing sometimes!  *smiles* No, I’m not a vegetarian. However, I am trying to cut the unnecessary fat where I can, and the black bean burger seemed delightfully tasty. This is what I ended up with. I chose their “DW” Burger with the black bean burger instead – black bean burger, with fresh jalapenos, crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, fried onion straws, and I added guacamole – which their guac is amazing as well – all on a delicately toasted Kaiser roll. I know this sounds a little crazy, but I wish I could describe how incredibly happy this made my palate. It was a taste explosion. I could taste every little morsel of flavor this burger packed. Would this be worth driving the 3 hours just for this pub? You betcha! Will we be doing this daytrip more often? You betcha! Dangit, I’m hungry now just thinking about it! Ugh!  Oh yeah, and can’t forget the Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding!  Contrary to the smells of the beach…I could smell this fresh out of the oven all day every day!  It tasted equally wonderful!  Yeah, I know, that just smashed all the fat I saved from not eating the hamburger patty.  Oh well!  My palate thought it was worth it! *smiles*

All in all, every ounce of this day made my soul incredibly happy. I can’t remember the last time that I laughed incessantly the whole day. It has a lot to do with the company beside you through the journey as well. And, I thank my hub for sticking by me through this craziness I have been inflicting upon him recently. Even foodies have rough moments…..

I wish I had better pictures for you of the coleslaw and burger, but it was dim, and the best my phone cam could do. Are you drooling for the Copper Penny yet?

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