Park City, Utah

We had a wonderful time celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary in Park City. It was the perfect combination of activity & rest and it was beautiful! I had never been to Utah before and didn't anticipate that the mountains are endless. They're HUGE and so pretty. There are too many pictures so I'll just include the highlights of each day & then give you the Picasa link to look at the rest at the end of the blog.

We flew out this past Saturday February 19th and got settled into our condo @ Park City Mountain Resort. Our condo was at the base of the mountain. It was SUPER convenient. We literally walked out our front door, down the elevator and skied to the chair lift. It had a ton of restaurants & stores (included our ski rental place). So we literally didn't need to leave from the resort if we didn't want to.

From Park City, UT


Sunday February 20 was our actual anniversary. We celebrated the day with some skiing & then went to a really nice steak restaurant that night. My Love wrote me the sweetest card & then recited a poem that he had written for me last Valentine's day. If I was more of a softy, I totally would have cried.
From Park City, UT

Monday was our relax day. We started the morning by taking the bus (which is literally right outside our front door) to Main Street. The local city buses are great & will take you anywhere (for free!). Main Street is where all the restaurants & shopping are at. So we literally just spent the morning walking down the street and taking pictures.
From Park City, UT

This is what Main Street looks like. Don't ya love it??
From Park City, UT

After an hour or so in the cold, we needed to warm up. So we went into the local bar (yes, at 10:30am). We had bloody mary's & mimosas and made friends with some locals. We sat & talked for 2 hours and had the best time. I kicked Todd's butt in shuffleboard and we chilled.
From Park City, UT

Our new friends (and locals) Howard & Jay. They gave us great recommendations and told us how wonderful Park City is all year long.
From Park City, UT
From Park City, UT

Afterwards we had lunch at Zoom (a Sundance restaurant owned by Robert Redford) and then we went to Amatsu for a couples massage. I typically do NOT like random people touching me but I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed that massage. My masseuse had the hands of an angel and I literally drooled like a toddler the entire time. Todd & I both needed that after a hard day of skiing on Sunday.

Tuesday was another day of skiing at Park City Mountain Resort. The sun was out & it didn't snow like it did on Sunday so it was easier to ski even though I couldn't hang. I only lasted 3 hours and to quit for the day.
From Park City, UT

So we ended early & headed to the hot tub. Can't beat that!
From Park City, UT

Wednesday was our last full day so we headed over to Deer Valley. Its another resort very close to Park City and has been rated the #1 ski resort in the world the last 4 years. It is absolutely beautiful and has a different feel since they don't let snow boarders on the mountain. Its also different in that they were HUGE resorts on the all along top of the mountain. You would take a ski lift and see resort after resort where as in Park City, the resort is at the base of the mountain.

A view from the top.
From Park City, UT

We had lunch at a brand new resort in Deer Valley, the Montage. It is absolutely incredible! We literally skied down to the resort and this was the view!
From Park City, UT

The resort & the restaurant were absolutely beautiful but not stuffy. We walked in from the slopes with all of our gear & snow boots and they welcomed us.
From Park City, UT

I had this amazing flat bread with prosciutto, arugula and aged Parmesan cheese. It something my friend Geraldean would have ordered & loved! I had to take a picture of it before I ate it because it was so pretty and it tasted dang good!
From Park City, UT

After warming up we decided to get back on the mountain.
From Park City, UT

That night we went back to the Montage for drinks before our dinner reservation. This time we took the bus to the resort! We walked into the Vista Bar & Lounge and were blown away by what we saw. It was a HUGE living room with a fire place, leather couches, artwork and sculpture. It was amazing! I wish my pictures would do it justice but they really don't. You're just gonna have to go there for yourself and see it one day.
From Park City, UT

From Park City, UT

When Todd was looking at places to stay, he looked at the Montage and soon realized that it was a "little" out of our price range. But we're thinking we could sell his kidney next year and stay at the Montage for a week! (Just kidding- or maybe not)

We ended the night with Fireside Dining at the lodge next to the Montage. Todd had found this restaurant during his research and it was awesome. It featured local European Alps favorites cooked in front of a wood burning stone fireplace. There are 4 progressive stations which yummy food at each stop.

The 1st fireplace was Swiss cheese melted on a plate. You took your plate & went over to the appetizer station where they served things like prosciutto, ham, strawberry jam and fig mustard.
From Park City, UT

2nd course included a variety of stews. We got rabbit & veal with mushroom.
From Park City, UT

3rd station was the main course which was a leg of lamb.
From Park City, UT

The 4th and final fireplace offered desserts such as chocolate, caramel, and white chocolate Grand Marnier fondues. The fondues were paired with your choice of apples, strawberries, bananas, cinnamon pound cake, almond biscotti, and chocolate chip cookies for dipping. Can you say yummy and totally stuffed!!??
From Park City, UT

From Park City, UT

We had a WONDERFUL time in Park City. We hope to go back there someday and this time we won't rent a car (since we got a speeding ticket 25 feet from the car rental drop off). Hey- you live & learn.

Here is the link to all the pictures.
Park City, UT

Make sure you have some time before viewing. There are over 300 of 'em! As you'll see, I'm really enjoying my camera.

See ya!
Candice

Read more...

A Year Ago

Todd & I will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary on February 20. We are headed to Park City, Utah tomorrow to celebrate. We’ll be bundling up & getting on the skis for a few days. We are so excited! Can't wait to show you the pictures when we get back.

Can you believe it’s been a year already? Seems like this year has FLOWN by and it seems like the wedding was yesterday. A reflection back on that day.

A year ago God fulfilled His promise of a mate to me

From COLOR

A year ago my mother's prayers were answered
From COLOR

A year ago my parents gave me my dream wedding
From COLOR

A year ago I made a vow that I will keep for the rest of my life. Til’ DEATH do us part
From COLOR

A year ago I become a wife
From COLOR

A year ago I made the wisest decision that I have ever made. To marry a man that loves me like Christ loves the church
From COLOR

A year ago my family expanded & I become a Craig
From COLOR

A year ago I learned ALOT about my new brother-in-laws
From COLOR

A year ago I got to dance with Rodney & wipe the tears off his eyes when I thanked him for being the best father (that he didn't have to be)
From COLOR

A year ago I threw the BEST party I have ever thrown (with the help of my wonderful wedding coordinator Laci Banks)

From COLOR

From COLOR

A year ago my life changed forever. I will be forever grateful to my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, for what happened on February 20 just one year ago.
From COLOR

Read more...

Nat

Tomorrow I will be saying Goodbye to my friend Nat. Nat & I have worked together for the last 4.5 years. She and her husband are originally from Miami, FL and have been in Raleigh for over 6 years. Leo got a job transfer and they will be moving to Lakeland, FL this weekend. Nat will be transferring to our NASS office in Orlando.

I heard it once said at a leadership conference that you don’t have REAL friendships/relationships if you don’t have conflict. Because if two unperfect people have a relationship and there is NEVER disagreements then the relationship is surface. Well if that’s true then Nat & I have a REAL friendship. We have made each other laugh and we have made each other cry. We have been there for each other during the good & hard times and we disappointed each other along the way. But through it all, we have remained REAL friends.

Before I met Todd, I involved Nat on every life decision I ever made. Nat went with me when I wanted to purchase my first home. I think my realtor thought we were lesbians. Nat went with me when I lost my mind and I thought having a dog as a companion was a good idea. I can’t remember if she was with me when I took that dog back 5 days later. Nat has had a sufficient impact on my life. The reason why this blog exists and the reason why I’m getting more into photography is because of Nat. She showed me that normal folks can take breath taking pictures that capture the life around us. Nat has been my friend & companion at work and I don’t know if NC Ag Statistics will be the same without her.

So as a tribute to my friend, here are some pictures from the past 5 years together in North Carolina.

Together, we have learned about agriculture in NC. Lots of pigs!

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Even Leo learned a little about ag along the way
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat was the master mind behind many dress up parties at work.
From Nat & Leo Going Away
From Nat & Leo Going Away

We experienced a lot of FIRSTS together. I was with Nat & Leo when they took their first ever camping trip at Jordan Lake. I was a little wiser & left that night before the rain came down and they literally got locked in the campgrounds! I don't think they ever went camping again after that.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

We went to Grandfather mountain together for the 1st time.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Hiking was my idea & I don't think Leo was too happy. (Don't worry he was just kidding!)
From Nat & Leo Going Away

I took Nat & Leo to their first country bar. This was Nat on the mechanical bull at the LongBranch. Hysterical to watch. I don't know if you can see me but I'm in the green shirt with the beadie eyes screaming "Hold on Nat! You can do it!"

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat was the one who challenged me to run my FIRST & ONLY ½ marathon. We use to train & run at Lake Lynn together 3 times a week. That was one of my greatest accomplishments. I can’t tell you how proud I was of crossing that finish line after 13.1 miles and Nat was right beside me.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat has always supported me in the many things that I’ve gotten myself involved in over the years. This was when she helped one Sunday at Bumper Crop along with our co-worker & friend, Teresa.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat, myself & Laci have been the 3 muskateers at work over the last 5 years. We have had lots of fun times together and have thrown lots of parties together.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

From Nat & Leo Going Away
From Nat & Leo Going Away

From Nat & Leo Going Away

Laci & I were there when Nat got her Masters in Financial Math from NC State.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

The 3 of us were in DC for a week one summer together & got to go to a Nationals baseball game.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

And most recently....
From Nat & Leo Going Away


Nat's baby shower was at my house before Mr. Nicolas came into this world. I think this might have been one of my mother's first baby quilts.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

We did prepping before the little guy came. We made those letters & were so proud of ourselves.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

February 23, 2009. The day Nicolas was born.

From Nat & Leo Going Away

From Nat & Leo Going Away

I babysat Nat’s crazy dog Pebbles for 2 nights. The night Nic was born Pebbles wouldn’t go to sleep until I let her in my bed. She gave me the saddest eyes and I think she knew that she wasn’t about to be the center of attention anymore. So I let her up. Pebbles is the only dog I have EVER let sleep with me in my bed.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nic become a big boy in North Carolina & is about to celebrate his 2nd birthday soon.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

The boys! You really can't talk about Nat & Leo's experiences in NC without Mike, Matt & Joe. Not only have they been good friends to Leo but also to Nat & Nic.
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat was at the SURPRISE engagement party the night I got engaged. I told her that Todd was acting weird & I thought he was going to propose that night. I’ll never forget her response “Who gets engaged on a Wednesday?” She had me convinced that it wasn’t going to happen that night. She was there when I walked into that surprise party. She got me!
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Nat & Leo started their lives, careers & family here in NC. I know that NC will always have a special place in their heart. Honestly, I don't know if its actually hit me that Nat is leaving. Nat has always been here so its going to be different with her not being in Raleigh. Although I am very happy for Leo's new oppurtunity and excited for them that they'll be closer to family, I am sad. No matter what ups & downs Nat and I may have had, she's been a GOOD friend to me. GOOD, TRUE, REAL friends are hard to come by. Those types of friends are REASONAL, not seasonal. Meaning that God put them in your path for a reason- to teach you both something.

Thanks Nat for being such a good friend! I wish you nothing but the best and pray God blesses this new chapter in your life that you are about to embark on.

Like the sign says, GOOD LUCK! WE'll miss you!!!
Love you!
Candice
From Nat & Leo Going Away

Read more...

About This Blog

  © Blogger template Shush by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP