Turning 30: It's not so bad after all!

Well, the big 3-0 has come and gone and left me feeling...pretty much the same as I did on October 17! In fact, it was a splendid birthday; a day full of kind wishes, thoughtful presents, and expressions of love. And the celebrations will continue with a dinner date tonight as well as a Mad Men cocktail party Jeremy is throwing me at the end of the month! I'd say that turning 30 was a complete success!

My little 30x30 project, on the other hand, did not fair as well. I had wonderful intentions (as we all do), but...time got away from me, I was lazy, I was busy, I started strong and finished weak, I was pregnant....numerous excuses abound. I managed to cross off eight to-do items from my list of 30. It seems kind of lame that less than 1/3 of the list was completed. However, my 30th year lasts for another 364 days, and therefore I will strive to accomplish more as the year unfolds.

1. cross the Golden Gate bridge on foot or bike

2. eat breakfast on the beach

3. make Grandma Babchuk's cabbage rolls recipe

4. pay for a stranger's coffee in the Starbucks drive-thru

5. watch "The Wizard of Oz"

6. bake homemade bread

7. travel out of state or country (Seattle 3.19.11-3.21.11)

8. buy myself a bouquet of fresh flowers (irises 3.27.11)

9. plant a vegetable garden

10. paint in my living room/kitchen/dining area...maybe

11. finish reading the Harry Potter series before the last movie hits theaters in July (5.10.11)

12. fit my booty back into my favorite pair of jeans

13. write and mail a handwritten letter every week

14. purchase printmaking supplies and create an original lino-cut print (9.10.11)

15. go dancing (Paso Robles - 3.11.11)

16. refinish an old buffet/sideboard table for my dining area

17. volunteer (Serve Dei w/ Life Group 5.23.11)

18. scrapbook SF '10 & Seattle trips

19. hike in Sequoia National Park

20. go to a concert

21. deliver cookies to a neighbor

22. send our sponsor child, Rakib, six letters, notes or pictures

23. leave 30 sticky notes of encouragement in random places

24. eat at Dusty Buns Bistro (9.22.11)

25. do one pull-up

26. wash my car once a month

27. tip a server the full amount of my entire bill

28. go on a hot date to Ripe Tomato

29. roast a whole chicken (7.17.11)

30. take a yoga class


So here's to finishing my list before next year!

Dusty Buns

The sun was setting, the line was long, the patrons were hungry and the Dusty Buns Bistro was busy filling orders. Every Thursday the popular food truck can be found in front of Cafe Corazon on Wishon Avenue in the Tower District. On this particular Thursday evening, Angelica, Michelle and I met up to taste the gourmet sandwiches made with local, organic ingredients on fresh, homemade Dusty Buns.

I opted for the original Dusty Bun, a delicious combination of organic chipotle roast chicken with a sesame bell pepper slaw. A side of Bistro Fries, seared marble potatoes with a chili aioli dipping sauce, rounded out the meal. Even in Fresno's blazing late-September heat, it was definitely a meal worth waiting for.

August in Canada

Returning to Fresno after a week spent in the rolling green hills of Saskatchewan is always a tough thing. Don’t get me wrong, I like Fresno. I really do. But home is where the heart is, and my first home will always be Saskatchewan. Each visit is guaranteed to leave me feeling refreshed and relaxed. The prairies are one of my favorite places on earth. The expansive, deep blue sky stretches endlessly, making it feel as though you’re living inside a giant snow globe. The horizons are so clear and crisp, you can literally see for miles across the fields of crops and trees. The pace is slower, everyone waves to you while driving on the gravel roads (even strangers), there’s always a familiar face at the local cafe, friendly conversations are had while filling up at the gas pump, a fresh, homemade cookie is offered at the shoe repair store, every summer meal is sure to include a bounty from the garden and is enjoyed outside....it may sound like some Norman Rockwell painting, but it’s the small place on earth where I was privileged to grow up and where I love to return.

Anniversary Retreat

On July 20, Jeremy & I celebrated our 9th anniversary. Yes, nine years. I know, we’re an old married couple, minus the old part! To properly ring in our years of wedded bliss, we ventured to the Central Coast for a weekend away. Pacific Grove was the destination, the Gosby House Inn was our quaint bed and breakfast, low-60s were the promised temperatures, and relaxation was on the menu. After driving through the Pacheco Pass, the temperature reading in our car made a dramatic drop from the 99 degree heat of Fresno to the cool breath of fresh Pacific air. As we pulled in to Pacific Grove that evening, the sky was overcast, and it was 58 F. It felt like winter. We loved it.

Our time was spent walking, reading and eating. We excelled at all three. The seaside pathway that winds from Pacific Grove into Monterey affords expansive views of the ocean to the west and the quaint coastal houses to the east. On Saturday morning we headed out for a long walk and brought our books along, just in case we felt like stopping for a read. On our way back we found a quiet bench just off the path, perfect for reading, that looked over the rocky shoreline and dark waves below. I ended up reading an entire book in 24 hours and Jeremy made a sizable dent in his novel over the course of the weekend. It was perfection. Sprinkled in between our walking and reading, we ate amazing fish tacos at Peppers for lunch, and I savored a delicious plate of homemade lobster ravioli for dinner that night. We concluded our time away on Sunday with more walking and, of course, a tasty lunch to send us on our way home. The Red House Cafe served up unusual sandwiches that did not disappoint. My grilled cheese was a heavenly combination of Fontina cheese, roasted red peppers and artichokes on fresh bread with an olive aioli sauce. Yum.

I realize this may sound like a holiday fit for a 90-year-old, but we loved every minute of our lazy weekend away. It’s always such a wonderful feeling to escape the summer heat and retreat to the coast for a time.

Project Roasting, accomplished!

I've long held this crazy fear of roasting a whole chicken. I know to all those seasoned cooks out there, roasting a chicken is probably a standard part of Cooking 101, but to me it was a new culinary experience. I was intimidated by the entire process, from pulling the disgusting gizzard gunk out of the raw bird to ensuring that the meat was cooked all the way through without drying it out.

Before
After
On Sunday night, I donned my down-home cooking gloves and tackled the fowl with confidence. After a healthy salt & peppering and olive oil rub, I popped that baby in the oven and waited for the magic to happen. The timer went off 90 minutes later, and what went in to the oven as a pasty, raw hunk of Salmonella emerged beautiful, golden, crispy and fragrant. Paired with mashed potatoes, skillet corn and cucumber salad, we sat down to a delicious dinner. I no longer fear the roast chicken!

Dinner is served!

30x30

My 30th birthday is fast approaching. Six months and three days, to be exact. I'm honestly not dreading this birthday but am rather looking forward to my next decade of life. Many of my friends and my hubby are 30+, so in a way, I'll just be joining the "club."


In preparation for this momentous occasion, I've decided to make a list of 30 things I'd like to accomplish before the big day on October 18. You will not find anything grandiose or unattainable, like a trip to Paris or having a baby (because I know for certain those things are not happening before October!). Instead my list is filled with small items; some meaningful, others frivolous. And by posting it here on my blog, I'm holding myself accountable to actually attempt its completion!


I composed my list over a month ago, so there are a few items already crossed off. As I work my way through this list, I will be sure to post a picture and a comment or two. Wish me luck!


1. cross the Golden Gate bridge on foot or bike

2. eat breakfast on the beach

3. make Grandma Babchuk's cabbage rolls recipe

4. pay for a stranger's coffee in the Starbucks drive-thru

5. watch "The Wizard of Oz"

6. bake homemade bread

7. travel out of state or country (Seattle 3.19.11-3.21.11)

8. buy myself a bouquet of fresh flowers (irises 3.27.11)

9. plant a vegetable garden

10. paint in my living room/kitchen/dining area...maybe

11. finish reading the Harry Potter series before the last movie hits theaters in July (5.10.11)

12. fit my booty back into my favorite pair of jeans

13. write and mail a handwritten letter every week

14. purchase printmaking supplies and create an original lino-cut print (9.10.11)

15. go dancing (Paso Robles - 3.11.11)

16. refinish an old buffet/sideboard table for my dining area

17. volunteer (Serve Dei w/ Life Group 5.23.11)

18. scrapbook SF '10 & Seattle trips

19. hike in Sequoia National Park

20. go to a concert

21. deliver cookies to a neighbor

22. send our sponsor child, Rakib, six letters, notes or pictures

23. leave 30 sticky notes of encouragement in random places

24. eat at Dusty Buns Bistro (9.22.11)

25. do one pull-up

26. wash my car once a month

27. tip a server the full amount of my entire bill

28. go on a hot date to Ripe Tomato

29. roast a whole chicken (7.17.11)

30. take a yoga class

mmmm...Max's

Every so often, Jeremy and I love to hit up one of our favorite dining locations in Fresno: Max’s Bistro & Bar. I love pretty much everything about this place; walls adorned with artwork by Tomas Panzarino, a dimly lit room casting soothing shadows across the tables, a simple, yet elegant, menu, the sweet potato fries....

We stole a couple of hours for a quiet, leisurely date on this Thursday evening. Dinner consisted of the three scallop dinner (for the lady) and filet Mignon (for my handsome man). It was fabulous. So were the sweet potato fries.

Emerald City Adventures

Jeremy and I returned earlier this week from a three-day trip to Seattle, WA. Aside from frequent layovers in SeaTac airport when flying home to Canada, neither of us ever spent time exploring the city. It always seemed like it would be a perfect weekend getaway. Indeed it was.

Arriving early Saturday morning, we hit the downtown pavement just as the city was starting to rise and made our way to Pike Place Market for a hot breakfast overlooking the waterfront. Our breakfast of choice to properly kick off the seaside holiday: salmon hash. Yes, that’s right, salmon for breakfast. Served over a bed of oven-roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs, it was delish.

At 520’ above the city, the Seattle Space Needle afforded wonderful views of Elliot Bay to the west and cloud-covered mountains to the east. We definitely did not expect the sun to shine as much as it did for mid-March, but we gladly soaked up the warm rays (the air temperature was in the mid-50s, so still a bit chilly!) and were thankful for the miraculous lack of rain that weekend.

The Experience Music Sound l Science Fiction Museum is housed in an oddly shaped building next door to the needle. This museum had some really great exhibits, including Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound, the Sound Lab and a Battlestar Galactica exhibit. I won’t lie, I was pretty darn excited (some might say, frackin excited) to check out the actual props and costumes used on set of the SciFi series. I claim that I don’t usually enjoy the science fiction genre, but I believe Jeremy’s influences are rubbing off on me just a little as I really got into BSG (look, I even used the abbreviation like a true nerd.)

A trip to Seattle would not be complete without a visit to the famous Pike Place Market. Our hotel was a 5-minute walk from the market so we frequently found ourselves getting lost in the sea of vendors during our stay. With over 200 year-round commercial stores, 190 craftspeople and 100 farmers booths, the market stretches across nine acres and is a feast for the senses.

Pike Place Fish Market, situated at the entrance of the market right under the iconic sign and clock, beckoned passersby with lively shouts from the fish mongers as they tossed fish back and forth with each order. Colorful stalls displaying fresh produce were abundant in the market. I was especially pleased to find my all-time favorite apple, honey crisp, for sale at one stall! A common sight in and around the market was people carrying vibrant bouquets of flowers wrapped in brown paper. I could just imagine how happy the recipient of those beautiful flowers would be and wished I could take a bunch home with me too.

The decadent smell of fresh croissants, brioche and tarte aux poires beckoned us inside Le Panier, a french bakery that became a daily stop for breakfast. One bite of our chocolatine and amandine, paired with a steaming latte, and we were smitten.

A few doors down from Le Panier was Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, home of the “world’s best” mac and cheese. Yum!

The original Starbucks is located in Pike Place Market, with a endless line out the door and street performers entertaining the large crowds. A narrow store-front that only sold fresh-roasted whole beans when it first opened 40 years ago, the shop is small and dark with no seating inside.

A three-hour tour.....the grey clouds hung low over the horizon as we boarded the vessel for the Agrosy Lock Cruise, which would take us from the salt water of Elliot Bay and Puget Sound to the fresh water of Lake Union via Hiram Chittenden Locks. The narrated cruise was a highlight for me; learning about the goings on in the Seattle harbor and surrounding area, seeing all the boats docked in the harbor, watching the gates of the locks open and close and feeling the boat rise up to the fresh water lake, and snapping pictures of the “Sleepless in Seattle” houseboat.

We loved the city and walked miles in the Downtown area, exploring shops, tasting amazing food, sipping copious amounts of coffee...it was a wonderful urban getaway!

The ABC's of Kristin

I've noticed a few bloggers participating in this little time-waster and thought I'd join in! Here are 26 oh-so-important facts about yours truly...

A. Age: 29 and holding...I really can't believe I turn 30 this year. I'm not particularly dreading the big 3-0, it just seems very surreal that this is the last of my 20s!

B. Bed size: Queen. After eight years of waking up each morning with barely an inch of bed to spare, I'm sure Jeremy wishes we had a California King.

C. Chores you dislike: Cleaning the shower is the bane of my existence. And I'm not a huge fan of mopping the floor, which is very unfortunate since the majority of my house is tile!

D. Dogs: Nope. Growing up, my family always had a dog, but since I've been on my own it just hasn't happened. And let's face it, I'm not really an animal person. Maybe that makes me cold-hearted, I don't know? But I really enjoy not having to pick up another species pooh or having dog hair all over my stuff.

E. Essential start to your day: Breakfast. And kissing Jeremy goodbye before we leave for work. In that order.

F. Favorite color: I heart purple.

G. Gold or silver: I was always a silver person, but over the last few years I've gravitated towards gold by way of these amazing creations at Make Pie Not War.

H. Height: Just shy of 5' 10"

I. Instrument you play(ed): I play the piano. I'm pretty rusty right now, but I can do it. I took lessons for five years when I was younger and then again in college for a year. I don't consider myself overly gifted musically (I cannot play by ear) but am thankful that I do know how to read music and can plunk away at the old ivories when the mood strikes.

J. Job title: Customer Service Representative. I'm a jack of all trades in my office.

K. Kids: in the Hall. Just kidding. Yes, there will be children. No, I will not announce if and when we're "trying."

L. Live: Fresno, California. Despite the fact that this city seems to land at the top of every "worst of" list, Fresno has really grown on me. I've lived here for over eight years and it's home. Plain and simple. There are wonderful people here, the mild winters and warm summer nights are wonderful and it has an Anthropologie. What more could a girl ask for?

M. Mom's name: Cheryl, but most people call her Cher. She's an amazing mom. My dad refers to me as "clone 1" and my little sister "clone 2", which I consider a high compliment.

N. Nicknames: I'm "babe" to Jeremy, among other pet names that I will spare you from. An aunt and uncle always called me "Special K" when I was little, and as I grew older (and less special, perhaps?) I became "Miss K." I was "Babs" to my high school volleyball team. I can think of only two friends who ever called me Kris - that one just never stuck.

O. Overnight hospital stay: Thankfully, none. The biggest medical procedure I've ever had was getting my wisdom teeth removed.

P. Pet peeves: Slow walkers and slow drivers. "Move it or lose it, sister."

Q. Quote from a movie: Aside from the Dumb & Dumber quote I just used in the above post...."I don't think it's a matter of opinion, empirically you are attractive." ~When Harry Met Sally (Jeremy always says this to me whenever I complain about how I look. He's sweet like that.)

R. Righty or lefty? Righty. My mom is a lefty, and growing up we had a heck of a time cutting bread with her left-handed bread knife.

S. Siblings: I have a little brother and a little sister. Jay is 27 and Meg turns 14 this month. They're two of my favorite people, and I wish I saw more of them.

T. Time you wake up: Anywhere between 6 and 6:30 a.m. Now that the sun is coming up earlier I'd like move my wake-up time to 5:30 so I can start walking in the morning.

U. Underwear: A clean pair every day. That's all you need to know about my underwear situation.

V. Vegetables you don't like: I like veggies more than fruit, so this is a hard one to answer. Okra is the first gross vegetable that comes to mind. I'm not sure what it is and how to cook it, but the one time I did eat okra, it was pretty blah.

W. What makes you run late: The older I get the more punctual I am. And if you ever witnessed a Sunday morning at my parent's house, rushing to get everyone out the door and to church on time, you would know just how miraculous my punctuality is.

X. X-rays you've had: Annual dental x-rays and a chest x-ray for immigration purposes.

Y. Yummy food you make: I love to cook. I've managed to trick Jeremy into thinking that I'm a gourmet chef, but my secret is knowing how to read. Seriously, trying new recipes on a regular basis has really helped me develop a tasty repertoire of meals. My current faves: butternut squash rancheros with polenta, roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts (I could eat either for every meal), a great spicy bean and rice dish I recently found on a vegan blog and my old stand-by, balsamic Dijon chicken. Mmmm.

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I just visited the zoo a couple weeks ago with my friend, Jen, and I have to say that the giraffes and tiger are the coolest. And flamingos are stinky.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

It’s ugly here in the Golden State. Ugly, as in 45 degrees and raining. And the forecast is even calling for snow on the valley floor for Saturday morning! What the what? I’ve lived here for over eight years and have never seen a single flake. And although I grew up with white winters, I will be completely amazed to see it here in Fresno. I often chuckle to myself whenever the weather goes crazy here. People (native Californians) go nuts over the mention of temperatures dipping below 50 F and gusty winds and the possibility of snow. The mere fact that the local news channel has a “Storm Warn” system to alert us of impending “extreme” weather (ie. one 5-minute thunder storm per year and the occasional 20 mph wind) seems laughable. I would love for the people of California to experience a good, old fashioned Saskatchewan storm rolling in after a hot summer day in August. The blackest of black clouds appear on the horizon, the air turns frighteningly still and heavy, lightening flashes in the distance and the rumble of thunder creeps in, closer and closer. The angry wind arrives suddenly as the temperatures drop and the full force of the storm descends upon you. Sometimes there is rain, other times it’s just a dry electrical storm. I was always deathly afraid of the wind as a kid, which was unfortunate considering how windy it got in the spring and summer, but living in California has erased that fear. Mostly because it’s never windy here. And when the weatherman calls for wind, I know it’ll just be a nice breeze. And snow in Fresno....I’ll believe it when I see it!

Now, I’ll be the first one to admit that I am now completely climatized and become freakishly cold when the mercury falls below 70 degrees. My plans for tomorrow’s possible snow fall involve tucking myself inside our cozy house with lattes and scrabble games and movies and my book. But I can still pretend to be unfazed by this California winter storm like any other tough Canadian girl, right?

{People & Places 2010}