Gourmet grilled cheese & cats

Friday night is typically soccer night during the spring. This past Friday was also my friend Ashley’s Fancy Feast House Party to help launch their new cat food with cheese. Ashley has a few cats including a white male called Sergio. Sergio is a bit unusual in that he will eat anything. ANYTHING. Tofu, popcorn, cheese, pretty much anything. Ashley and her husband Jeremy made gourmet grilled cheese for the humans with fun variations like Brie and blueberry, garlic toast and cheese, and pizza grilled cheese with marinara sauce. Gavin went with me and enjoyed a conventional grilled cheese cut like a cat. It was a hit with Gavin and as you can see in the photo, Sergio had to check it out too!

After enjoying our grilled cheese, Gavin and I got to meet five lovely 4 week old kittens and their mama cat. Ashley is fostering them for Feline Friends of Destin and they were found in the parking lot at Walmart in Santa Rosa Beach. I’m not sure why someone would just abandon their cat, but it was awesome of Ashley to foster them! Hopefully we can go back and see them again, this time with Riley.

Thank you for such a lovely time Ashley & Jeremy!

Destin Farmers Market

Last weekend Destin started its first farmers market. I was so excited to go that I was ready to head out at 7am. As I’ve said before, I am not a morning person, so this was a testament to how excited I was to go. Unfortunately, the market is from 9-1, so I had to wait a bit. I was most excited for the opportunity to get locally grown fruits and veggies, eggs and milk. I found everything but the milk.

Last week I found ginormous carrots, eggs, hydroponic lettuce, tomatoes and freshly baked breads. I didn’t remember to get a photo of everything, so you’ll have to take my word for it. This week’s conquest is pictured above. The tomatoes I found last week were so good that I went back for more. They are beefsteak tomatoes, so they are meaty and excellent on BLT sandwiches. The bread is excellent for breakfast or a snack and my boys love the chocolate chip variety.

There were more vendors this week than last week and it does appear still be growing. It is located in the Destin Water Users parking lot on Main St and in addition to bread and veggies, there is local honey, art, soap and assorted sundries. I highly recommend checking it out!

Karna Fitness

October of last year I won a $50 credit for Karna Emerald Coast via Facebook. I decided to use the credit and enrolled in the Monday night Restore the Core class. I figured it was a once a week mat based Pilates class and would be a great way to strengthen my core. I had just purchased a paddle board and wanted to get stronger on it. Little did I know what a life changer winning that credit was.

I completed the session and thoroughly enjoyed it. I even found a couple of my friends were going that I didn’t get to see very often. Getting to see them more frequently was a great incentive to keep going. When the second session ended, one of the teachers in my youngest son’s preschool class encouraged me to try the early morning workout program called Karna Camp. For the record, I am NOT a morning person. Not even a little bit. But Sara was so encouraging that I decided to give it a try.

Getting up that first morning at 5:15 was a bit like starting a new job. I slept poorly the night before because I was afraid I would sleep through the alarm. I was awake at class, but that was about it. I felt very uncoordinated and slow. But I made it through the class and the rest of the day was amazing. And productive. I was sore the next day, and the day after, but I was hooked.

Honestly, it took 7 weeks (!) before I stopped being ridiculously sore. I discovered Epsom Salt baths, copious amounts of Motrin and lots of bananas. I’ve been challenged more than I thought I could handle and I’ve grown in ways that I didn’t think possible. It really is about more than just working out now. It’s about growing, finding a healthy outlet for frustration, and changing the way my body looks and feels. It is also about camaraderie with a group of women I barely know, yet I am now somehow connected to. We challenge each other and push each other forward.

Most of the time we do our classes out on the pool deck overlooking the Destin harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. When it rains or is too cold we move the class into the ballroom. But we always meet. I’ve missed one Restore the Core class, yet somehow have not missed a single Karna Camp class. I’m not sure what has made me so consistent in attending except that I know that my body and mind need this time to work everything out.

It’s been a good journey so far and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. Preferably to a smaller jean size. 😉