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}

Christmas + Disneyland = Magical

Darkness descended upon the crowd. Throngs of people pushed in on all sides, waiting impatiently for the moment to arrive. Mummers, laughing, hushed conversation swirled around us. The cold air pressed in on our rosy cheeks. Time passed slow like molasses. Then, with a start, the moment we were eagerly awaiting. Beautiful instrumental music filled the air, melody and notes combined to create familiar Christmas carols and songs. And as eyes turned toward the majestic castle, all stood with bated breath gazing at the dazzling explosion that lit the sky. High above Sleeping Beauty’s glistening abode, the fireworks showered the night sky like the opening scene of a Disney film. A dizzying array of brilliant white, red, green and blue light shone brightly on the pleased faces below. Squeals of delight and awe erupted as all who witnessed the sight glowed warm with Christmas delight and wonderment.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Taking our seat in the make-shift taxi, I noticed we were sharing the ride with a sweet family of four; mom and dad in the front seat, two young boys in the second, Jeremy and I bringing up the rear. The car wound its way through the adorable ride. Colorfully decorated scenes with Sulley, Mike Wazowski and Boo appeared as we rounded each turn, masterfully telling the story of "Monsters, Inc." Nearing the end of the ride, a life-size Roz, the dispatcher, stood to our right. With her clipboard in hand and cat eye glasses perched on her nose, she looked straight at our car and barked, “Young man in the second row....” The brothers immediately snapped their heads to exchanged a shocked look. Then the oldest boy turned back toward me, his large brown eyes unblinking and wide. A mixture of puzzlement and anxiety washed across his face as he struggled to understand exactly who Roz was calling to. With a grin on my face I looked down at him and said, “She was talking to you!” He gasped in astonishment and wheeled around in his seat. As we disembarked our vessel, I heard the young boy exclaim to his father in a breathless voice filled with wonder, “She was talking to me!” That, my friends, is the magic of Disneyland.