drive to the cabin (i love the mountains!)

So far, our visit to Utah has been fabulous. I love it here. We arrived late Thursday night and woke up Friday morning to take family pictures with the Grafs, then had a delicious breakfast together at Magleby's Fresh. Michelle did Klane's and my hair in the afternoon, and we had a barbeque and hung out with the Hardings in the evening.

This morning we went up to one of my favorite places, the cabin. It was a quick trip to pick up tables and chairs for the lunch after Justin's farewell tomorrow, but I really enjoyed the drive up the canyon and seeing the cabin. The weather is so beautiful and the mountain air felt amazing and smelled so good. I couldn't stop smiling.

we're having fun playing with our new lens

can't wipe the smile off my face

oh utah, i've missed you

I love waking up to this lovely valley view from my window at mom and dad's house

and i love catching up with our little buddies.

why we like ddb

This week I dropped in on Klane at the office and had the good fortune to be there when there was free sushi! They have free food brought in at least once a week. I'm thinking we could get used to this. :)

showdown in chinatown

The Steve Nash Foundation put on an event to benefit underpriviledged children called the Showdown in Chinatown. They get famous athletes (basketball and soccer players) to come play a soccer game. They asked Calle to be one of their sponsors and provide all the gear for the players to wear. This was a HUGE opportunity for Calle to get some awesome exposure since there was tons of news coverage and big names there. Some of the players were Steve Nash, Claudio Reyna, Thierry Henry, Tony Parker, Javier Zanetti, Adrian Mutu, Chris Bosh, Ivan Cordoba, Grant Hill, and Giovanni van Brockhurst. (I hadn't heard of Thierry Henry, but watch this video of him and you'll see why he is super famous.)

Klane is one of the founders of Calle, a fashion clothing brand centered on core street soccer, but has been less involved over the past year since he wanted to focus on school and the ad agency world for a while. He still does some things for them, like designing their blog and online store, etc. So Calle asked Klane to photograph the event and catch all the superstars in Calle gear. We even got to go to the after-party at a ritzy Manhattan night club and party with all the celebs. :) We don't drink and the party wasn't really our thing, but it was fun to be there and see it all. Since Tony Parker was involved we hoped to see Eva Longoria (his wife), but she wasn't there.

Steve Nash / Thierry Henry sporting Calle at the hotel


Grant Hill being interviewed pregame


Tony Parker holding a Primero / Grant Hill wearing the pigeon



Thierry Henry signing autographs


The players sported the Via shorts and the Diego shirt. Tony Parker even played in the Rilo shoes, which were just released.


Tony Parker


probably someone famous, I don't know :)


Look how tall Chris Bosh is next to everyone! He looked funny playing soccer and wasn't that good. :)


Klane and I at the after-party


they auctioned this Calle shirt for like $700!


Nash in the crowd


Free drinks (we chose the Vitamin Water) / Husdon Terrace (the night club)

do you want fries with that?

Met Klane for lunch today. We were trying to decide a place when Klane got an idea and said, "Hey, want to try something weird?" Well of course! Weird food is much more fun than regular food. He brought me around the corner to this small deli that sells paninis in the funniest flavor combos. The guy behind the counter has a thick accent and you can't understand him half the time, but it's okay because he will just tell you what you're ordering. Klane walked in and the guy's like, "You'll have a #6." Sounds good! He then told me I was getting a #7. Klane's had chicken, american cheese, bacon and mayo, and mine had chicken, tomato, american cheese, honey mustard and french fries. Don't worry, I knew this was what I was ordering and had the power to change it if I wanted. It was fun to try something different. Gotta love New York.

dinner by candlelight

Tonight we had a wonderful candlelight dinner. We got our first electric bill and guess what? Even the electricity in New York is more expensive! Imagine that! I sort of thought all electricity was created equal, but what do I know? So we're conserving. Besides, who wouldn't want to have a dinner by candlelight with their lover anyway? It was very romantic.

Here's the recipe for the amazing pizza we had. I've finally found a dough that I like. And I've discovered the joy of fresh mozzarella. Oh! Be still, my heart.

bryant park and more interviews

I had another interview on 40th street this evening, so I stopped at Bryant Park and snapped a quick photo in the fading evening light before hurrying home for dinner. I just love this park, I think it's gorgeous. I should've lingered to take a few more photos of the carousel, the people filling up the lawn getting ready for the Monday night classic movie, the twinkle lights on the edges of the pavilions, the vines growing over the buildings, the fountain. I've got to get over my fear of people staring at me because I'm holding a huge camera, looking like a tourist. So what? I pretty much am a tourist.

The interview went well, the office was nice. They all have been really great. I just can't move forward with anyone because I don't have a license yet. And I found out it's going to take a lot (a LOT) longer than I thought for the state to process my application and get me the license. Like, six weeks longer. I won't be working till the beginning of August, people. I'm way bummed at the prospect of another month of having no purpose. But I guess I'm getting really good at job interviews in the meantime. ;)

happy father's day

I've been extremely blessed with an incredible father. Looking back over my life, I can see just how much I've learned from him and how he has impacted my life and the person I've become. I'm so grateful for that! My dad has made quality family time a huge priority even with a busy work schedule, taking us on vacations, going camping and hiking, regular FHE's, daddy-daughter dates, family dinners together, the list goes on. I'm so grateful to have a close relationship to my dad. He taught me how to waterski (and I taught him how to snowboard!), he taught me how to be a great assistant and led me into the career I'm in today, he taught me the value of hard work, he taught me about integrity through his example. He is such a generous person who gets joy from sharing and providing things and experiences for people. He always encouraged me to reach my full potential, and I always knew that he was proud of me, whatever I accomplished. I could say a lot more about my incredible dad, but I'll just say that I love him.

I love that when I married Klane I felt like I was gaining another family as my own. Klane's parents are top notch, and I really appreciate his dad Dave for raising his family the way he has. Dave made family time a priority, taking his family on lots of camping and hiking trips in southern Utah. The Hardings are a tight-knit family who love to laugh and joke together, because they've shared so much time and so many experiences together. Dave is also such a kind person. I've really felt loved and welcomed as his daughter (in law). He cooks a mean steak, taught Klane to ski, is an artist in the wood shop, and has done the Alpine Loop on his bike, which is just an insane accomplishment in my book. He's passionate about Apple computers and the Boston RedSox (I wonder where Klane gets it from?). I love Dave and I'm grateful to have him in my life and for the man he raised Klane to be.

Happy Father's Day!

corner bistro

This morning we went for a lovely run through Central Park, around the reservoir and back. We worked up an appetite and had a big brunch at home of eggs, bacon and chocolate chip pancakes.

But we weren't finished there. This evening we went to Corner Bistro in search of what we'd heard was a really great burger. The waiters probably spoke four sentences to us the whole time, but you get the feeling when you walk into this darkened corner bar that people don't come here for the customer service. They come for the food. We were seated by a guy motioning to get our attention, then signaling in the general direction of an empty table around the corner, which we went and found ourselves. The menu is displayed on the walls, with a minimal amount of items on it. But the burgers were so huge we could barely fit our mouths around them (see Klane above in the attempt), and we weren't disappointed by the taste. It was delicious and we had fun.

We wandered around in the rain a bit afterward. I love how different each part of the city is. Even the West Village is so different from the East. New York is really a place where you can just wander and be entertained with what's around the next corner.

out with the old, in with the new

And it's about time, too. As you can see, Klane's old phone has definitely seen better days. He is so excited and is synching his iPhone with the computer as we speak. Last night we were laying in bed and he said, "I can't sleep! I can't stop thinking about getting my iPhone in the morning!" He's cute. Happy birthday Klane!

cupcake challenge

Last night Klane said that after paying $2.75 at Butter Lane, he felt kind of cheated walking out with one little cupcake.

"But they're so delicious!" I said.

"How many cupcakes could you make for $2.75?" he retorted.

"It doesn't matter, I couldn't make cupcakes this light and fluffy and perfect," I said. He challenged me that I probably could, and reminded me that we would have more of them, and that they would be cheaper. Well, who am I to resist a challenge?! And if the outcome is cupcakes in any form, then why not give it a shot?

Today's agenda: recreate Butter Lane cupcakes. I was excited that it rained today, all the more excuse to stay inside and bake; one of my favorite things (aside from books and surprises, of course.) I decided to make my favorite combination: banana cake with cream cheese frosting. I looked up a lot of recipes online before settling on one that looked close.

Cream cheese frosting. My favorite. I'm happy there was extra.

The result? They were surprisingly close to the one at Butter Lane. And yes, a ton cheaper. They'd make me rethink a trip to the East Village.

Klane's response after the first bite: "I told you!"

Seeing them sitting there just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Check out the recipes on mrshardingcooks.

two of my favorite things: books and surprises

I received the most lovely surprise today. A package from my aunt Cherene with two books inside! It made my day. Thank you Cherene. I love you.

birthdays are some of the best holidays

house: decorated.
complete with drawings all over chalkboard wall.

gift: permission to take the plunge and get an iPhone.
also, favorite treats.

klane: extremely unbelievably excited.
(if anyone should have an iphone, it is definitely klane. those who know him will agree.)

dinner: caracas arepa bar. east village.

what is an arepa? delicious messy venezuelan goodness. worth the trip downtown.

dessert: cake and ice cream.

cake: butter lane. banana cake with peanut butter frosting. (i still like the cream cheese)

klane is sneaking a taste.

ice cream: australian homemade.

We would like to recommend the East Village as a cool place to eat and hang out. It is great.

Might I just take a moment and celebrate Klane on his birthday? Klane is amazing. Truly. He is one of the most talented, intelligent, dedicated people I know. He knows everything because he's a self-teacher and he loves to learn. He is constantly blowing me away with the new things he learns for work, with photography, about web design, about computers, about anything technological... he's a genius. People take it for granted and don't realize the reason he knows so much is because he cares enough to go out and learn it himself. I love that about him. He's also a deeply good person with true integrity, which is a rare quality, I think. He's caring and thoughtful. He is handsome. He's creative. I could go on, he's a lot of things. I'm just glad he's mine.