while perusing the clearance sections at Shopko {yes I really really hate this low lit, bad displays, lacking customers, store....however, it does have amazing clearance} with my sister Jen:

"Hey Katie"

"What Jen"

"Who is this guy"

"Adam Lavine, he's the lead singer of Maroon 5"

"Well whatever, this is they type of guy you should marry. We could make it work. How would you go about getting a date with a guy like that?"

and I think in a split second, well the first guy I married, didn't have a tattoo, didn't wear v-neck muscle t'-s, had a job as a financial analyst, never swore, and I was by far the tallest {and by tallest I mean prettiest} girl he'd dated. Maybe I should consider a tattooed, v-neck wearing, bad boy, who is the lead singer of a band. It could happen. So I thought about it for a good long while. Then while sitting in a waiting room a month later, I found this, and my hopes were dashed:

April Fool's: This year I am so so sick so there will be no pranking from me. My mother tried to get me and failed, she showed mercy cause I was sick, rookie move Teresa. However I saw this little ditty from one of my favorite clothing companies and thought it was hysterical! This morning they introduced their new "man skirt". 

Could & did: I don't really like presents. This is not a new thing to most, I know. I love to give presents but I really have yet to master loving getting presents. It just feels weird. So, in trying to kick this habit, I bought myself an early birthday present....

I could have bought this lovely love seat @ Anthropologie, but I don't have a house to put it in. I could have bought this tiny Tiffany and Co. necklace, but I don't have a place to wear it, and I think we all know I like my diamonds big!

I could have bought this Valentino bag @ Nordstrom, but I have a lot of bags and a pair of Valentino heels, and it didn't fit over my shoulder or match my pink satin shoes. 

I could have bought a lot of things, but I thought the present I would like most is.....a new stamp for my lonely passport. So I bought that....I leave soon

1983: I was at my uncle's place in Chicago last week, he has this little pic from 1983 in the guest room. (Yep that is me in the pink fuzzy hoody) 2013-1983....I am trying not to think what April holds for me.

"Hold please":There are the days when you love your profession as a pastry chef, and then there are the days when you do not. Staff is unbearable, recipes are failing, hours are humorously long, kitchen is too hot and the chocolate isn't setting, kitchen is too cold and the chocolate is setting before you can mold it! Those are the days, when you dream of answering phones or cleaning teeth.  

There are days when you love your profession as a chef, but you long for the days when your meager little paycheck will afford you not just 1, but 2! ring pops a month.  (Once again, most likely answering phones or cleaning teeth). 

Today was NOT this kind of day! Today was this kind of day:

(truffle honey mini ice cream bar dipped in 54% dark chocolate and brushed with a little gold, made and promptly consumed by me)

Best of Show: so a little while ago my partner in crime and dear friend, Ruth, was in search of a furry friend and seeing as ferrets stink, hamsters are escape artist, and cats are always getting hit by cars, she decided to go with a dog.  A pug to be precise. The breeders invited her to a dog show to meet their bitches {and no this is not a no no word. in the dog world this is perfectly acceptable and you hear about every other sentence} and knowing how much I love comedy, she invited me. And what an invitation that was. Upon arriving at the, Middle of Nowhere Fairgrounds, we saw about 200 of these: 

motorhomes complete with indoor kennels, grooming stations, and various, "I heart poodles/pugs/pomeranians" stickers slapped everywhere. Oh and yes most the license plates are personalized. PUGLUV, DOGLUV, LUVRPET etc. Grotesque misspelled tragedies. The fun didn't stop here. Oh no. Upon entering the industrial sheds we found ourselves: 

 

encircled in a cloud of Aquanet for dogs, choking on mouthfuls of canine hair from all the back combing of the puffs on the poodles butts. They say owners look like their dogs, never have I seen more prime examples then I saw here. Pair after pair of canine, homosapien mimicry. The man pictured above was one of my favorite. 

They had stages for when they won, they had cages for when they waited

this was our favorite. Pounds of Pugs. So reminiscent of the Brady Bunch beginning sequence is it not?

There were also booths so you could buy overpriced dog trinkets to clutter up your canine spectacle on wheels. It was quite the marvelous adventure. And made only wonderful by having someone to share it with. We laughed so hard we cried, once we got back in the car, about everything that occurred. The emotions when they won, the shattered universe when they lost, the language used, the outfits, the names of the bitches. Oh what a wonderful day it was.....and on a less frightening note, from this event, Ruth got a bitch of her own, but has promised me she will never have a motorhome for Oswin, or an Oswin shaped mood ring.

The Nest: I awoke this morning a bit confused, as one usually does in a new environment. It took only a glance at the floor in the hall, and I quickly knew exactly where I was, and I nuzzled in deeper into my feather pillow, and fell back asleep. I was in "The Nest", the 3rd floor bit of wonder at my uncle Mark's home. We call it the nest because there is a down comforter and down pillows and you feel like you are surrounded by birds when you sleep. NO that is morbid. And while true...that is not the reason. The reason is, that when you wake up....this is what you see:

Treetops. You awake in the treetops every morning. No other room in the house has this view, and as a guest you feel privileged for this ethereal start to everyday you are here. 

Travel: for me it is sometimes better known as, The Unfathomable Momentary Anxiety that ensues moments before I take that final step that will rip me from my comfort zone. I am a wild thing, a rambuncious sort with energy for 6, and control issues for 13. However, I am cautious on the inside, shy with the unknowns. I have much less of a sense of adventure than most would be led to believe. I go with what I "know". In every new city I find my constants: an art museum, a bakery, a body of water {if available}. I start with my constants, then when my figurative feet are wet, I venture into the unknowns. I must establish familiarity so I feel I belong, just a bit, then I can explore. Today is not a great unknown, just a little one. So:

Goodbye Rocky Mountains....

Hello Windy City

I am a little bit awful, I think. I walked outside today after work, and it was lovely. Sunny, 51, blue sky, I took a couple runs and I wanted it to stop. Stop the sun, stop the 51 degrees, I need more snow!After 6 years in DC I have missed winter :( I want more than just 2 months of: crisp powder crunching beneath my feet, snowflakes almost suspended in the glow of streetlights, the feeling of the chill air brushing my cheeks as I maneuver the various runs {thinking, "don't fall, don't fall, don't fall, I know you haven't done this in a while and you are skiing like you know what you are doing, but let's be honest here MK, you aren't that good any more, slow down and next time start with a green circle not a black diamond! and plus how embarrassing would it be to have to have ski patrol pick your sorry butt off the mountain where you work!"}. I need more winter! All of Utah is most likely cursing anyone who thinks this, because our winter was the coldest since the 1940's, but I still need a little more snow. I am revamping that nursery rhyme, "Sun, sun go away, come again another day, MK needs to ski!"

Auntie Katie: So I have 2 darling nieces, Bella (6) and Lilly (6), and a bruiser of a nephew, Toben (3). These little darlings are your typical bits of wonder, lots of questions, lots of energy, and no filter. No subject is too delicate for them, and so it should be. Our latest conversation went like this:

B: Auntie Katie, you don't have any kids

Me: Nope, I don't

B: Well you need to get married so you can have kids

Me: That is a good idea Bella, who should I marry? 

B: Um...{long pause} YOU CAN MARRY HAN SOLO!

Me: {trying to contain the laughter} Why would I do that?

B: Because he would be a good a husband and build you robots!

So there I have it, the new criteria......robot builder. 

Just so you get a little better of an idea who Belle Rae is, this is her singing the national anthem, which begins with, "Jose can you see" naturally.

While speaking to a group at Harvard Business School, Elder Anderson mentioned that it's always easier to see the Lord's hand looking back.  I agree, but I also think there are times when you see His hand every minute, of every day. I am a firm believer He is always mindful of us, but I think there are certain times when He bumps us to the front of the line, the ICU, the round the clock watch.  From about March 2011-Feb 2012 I think I was on that "list".   I am and was grateful for His careful nurturing, but thankfully those times are gone. Now I am just in the "normal" lot and if I am careful, I see His hand once in a while: 

• It came as an evening with Ruth, we had nachos and laughed so hard we cried 
• It came as a Taco Tuesday with the Melissa's, they never knew what was beneath the surface, they didn't need to, I just needed them to be there
• It came as a bundle of moving blankets and tape from Laura + 2 kids who showed up unprompted when I had no idea what I was going to do
• It came as extra muscles from Dave and Melissa when I knew I couldn't pack one more box
• It came as a hug and a, "I've been thinking about you" from Leigh
• It came as a text from a friend in Boston
• It came as a phone call after work from Wendy
• It came as in invitation from Devin and Stephanie
• It came as a relayed message from Teresa that @ the baby shower I missed, the Vanbibber crew asked about me and sent their love.

There are pages and pages and pages of examples in all of our lives, those listed were the first that came to my mind. I think everything happens for a reason and sometimes, without a shadow of a doubt, I am positive, He is behind it, He is the reason.

Snore: so I am watching a movie with a friend, I hear this weird noise and after a while I look at them and say, "do you hear that?" they are laughing.....they look at me and say, "are you serious? you are snoring!" after that I remember watching the movie but not really processing it.

And this was not the first time! This is my 3rd offense in the recent past of me snoring with my eyes open. I would like to thank Sundance for working me like a dog.

So I think I may have mentioned that I work a lot! So because of that I don't have many good stories :( and the ones I do have are about work! -or men :)- so here is more work:

{strawberry souffle, with strawberry "paper", and strawberry macaron, garnished with dark chocolate and spun sugar on the berry....that you can't really see}

Art: Yesterday another chef at work asked me why I thought the french hated the americans. Drawing on my decade plus love affair with the country and my few years living there, I could only think of one reason: for americans life is a race, for the french, life is art.

The french take hours to savor food, a break during the day for a nap, and then a long stroll as dusk approaches.

Americans drive-thru doing their best to keep the mustard of the dry-clean only's, when that afternoon haze sets in we pop a 5-hr energy or another espresso, and at night, we wind down with CNN, ESPN, or Fox News.

The french realize that life will happen and that not only recognizing, but savoring the small moments will be enough. Preserve the old, cherish tradition

Americans try to cram mass quantities of everything into every moment. Fast paced movies, enormous meals, if it's old tear it down, where is the newest trend....adopt it ASAP!

{mind you I realize these are almost naive stereotypical generalizations but you get the point}

I don't know if one way of living is better, there are certainly massive pros and cons to both lifestyles, however, I tend to err on the side of racing more than living some days, and I think I could use a little more life as art in my life.

Red Velvet: @ Sundance there are 3 ski shacks that we make treats for every morning. And every morning the the bearded rough and tumble employees who work there come to pick up their treats. Well all are rough and tumble except one, Creek Side Guy. He of course works at the Creek Side shack and I know his name but I refer to him as Creek Side Guy.  He is simply lovely, curly hair, giant smile, piercing teal eyes, 6'3", and he probably has a girl friend, but we shamelessly flirt with anything male that comes through the kitchen, because we have been there since 4am and it is the only fun we get. So, back to the story.....CSG comes in yesterday and this time he lingers. He says, "it is warm and always smells good down here, maybe I should come hang out here more often" ...and I am thinking, "yes yes yes hang out here!!" but I don't say that. In a nonchalant way I say, "whatever" and then I flash a little side smile and a wink. Good move right :). It is at this point I walk 2 steps and turn on the mixer {so he can see me work pastry magic} and in the anxious, I am so awkward and I generally suck at flirting, madness that was going on, I forget to check the mixers speed. And you guessed it, it is on high, I need it on low!, so when I turn it on, red velvet cake flies everywhere, but mostly on me, my face, my chef coat, my hair.  Smooth move MK. CSG laughs uncomfortably, and not knowing really what to do, he exits stage right.

Bacon: they asked for bacon so I gave them this: bacon infused whited chocolate mousse with raspberry gelee. Yep that is chocolate covered bacon on top. I think bacon is a bit over used and slightly too kitchy in desserts, but they asked for it.....and I kind of love how it turned out :)

DBD #6 Decorators Feast: Oh you thought they were done ?! silly you. So I know I said during February I would post about love, well this about the absence of love :) and it is so great. I think as long as I am single, I will continue to find dive bomb dates. I don't search for them, they find me. I think the universe knows I like a good joke. So last night....date was planned a few days in advance, he seemed nice enough via text, and then, I met him. Nice, so nice, like hummingbird food sweet nice, too nice. I could overlook that though :) Also 3 inches shorter than me and I was in flats. I could overlook that too :). He gave me a quick tour of his giant fancy house before we were going to leave for the movie, he had hand selected vinyl sticker quotes from Disney movies to go in every room! This would be hard to overlook :) He had a room custom painted and decorated as a nursery for when he got married and had a baby! This would also be hard to overlook :) There was more with the house, but the vinyl quotes and nursery are the highlights. So on to the movie.....wait why is he taking me down stairs? Wait, we are watching a movie here? Fine, I can overlook that. All of a sudden the movie comes on, Madagascar 3, it's a cartoon, and it isn't a joke, he seriously has picked this out!!! Can't really overlook that. I stay. 30 min into the movie he leans into hug me, smashes his cheek against mine, and I am thinking, "thanks for the free exfoliation, but really? if this is your big move, you should have shaved".  The cheek smashing is as far as it goes, when he is done, he takes my face in his hands and says, "it is taking all the restraint I have not to kiss you. I never kiss on a first date, it's a rule. I've only kissed 4 girls in my life and I would like you to be my fifth, just not right now". Hold up Casanova, you are 34 and you have only kissed 4 girls?  My, my, I don't think I can be your 5th. I am way too much for you. The movie ends, there is another long awkward hug, another cheek exfoliation, an offer for me to stay for a late dinner- that I politely decline- and then the best part. I go to put on my coat, my arm brushes the drapes, the top valence shifts a little and then he shoves me away from the drapes and says, "Whoa be careful. Those took me 2 hours to iron and position" I attempt to readjust the valence. "Whoa no no no I will get that, just don't touch anything." He goes in for one more hug, I go right for the door handle and say, "I think we are done here".  And thus ends another DBD story for your reading pleasure.

Ya Buddy : the Tree Room changes tasting desserts every week, last week I did a little of this. .... cabernet poached pear with a sugared phyllo crust, creme fraiche ice cream with caramelized hazelnuts, and a little balsamic reduction.  {the pictures are crude, sorry} I love fancy desserts.  

LOVE

February has begun, and so all of my post this month will consist of something to do with love......why? because valentine's day is my favorite holiday and I love love!! And here is a picture, the last one I took before leaving DC, with me and one of the 3 littles I love, love and miss every day!

I have mentioned it before, but I thought you might like to see what I see when I take, "mountain breaks". You see in the kitchen, you never sit down, you don't take lunch breaks, you don't do anything but scale, bake, boil, wash, rinse and repeat. Therefore, almost everyone smokes because it gives them a reason to walk away from work.  They clear their minds while clogging their lungs....I clear my mind while staring at these amazing mountains. {just look past the trucks}