adventure

All about Keira

4:29 AM

Once upon a time, I worked in Juneau, Alaska. The Summer of 2012 I was assigned a roommate who would also be working for HAP. It could have been a disaster. I could've had a pothead for a roommate. Really. 
Instead, I was blessed with a fantastic person and darling friend! 

We had crazy, amazing adventures on the West Coast so when we both found ourselves on the East Coast this summer, we had to have a reunion. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. A NY visit must. 
Our last selfie had been on top of Mount Juneau. Rooftop garden at the Met is good,  too. 

See what she did there?

Can you see the dragonfly hanging out with us? 

So much to see, so little time 

One of those was mine 

It was a goal of mine to eat a New York hot dog from a cart. Check!

Boats on the pond in Central Park (xoxo GG)

This is our attempt at getting frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. Line was too long for us. 

Got Sprinkles ice cream instead! This is their red velvet flavor. Not too bad. Not my favorite though. Also, I was warned not to eat the ATM-style cupcakes. I guess you can order your cupcake from outside. But only try it if you like your cupcakes stale. ;)

This midtown Hilton has some great stories. Not only is it the Hilton in which Keira has stayed for her model UN, but it is the same place where we share a special Larson memory. 

Last year, we flew into JFK for a quick weekend in Connecticut when Nick (BIL) got home from an LDS mission to Brazil. Our flight from SLC had been circling over Pennsylvania awaiting permission to land. We circled so long, we were getting low on fuel and were directed to Detroit to land and refuel. 
This part of the story is so that you know that we got to the hotel MUCH later that anticipated. Since we didn't check in, our rooms were probably given away so Bruce stood at the desk while the desk attendants attempted to find enough room for 7 of us that had arrived at 2:00am. The attendants whispered to each other, clacked away on the keyboard and then went 'in the back'. One guy came back and asked, 'Mr. Larson, would you be willing to be upgraded to the penthouse suite for no extra charge?' 

Yes! Duh. 

We grabbed our bags and followed an attendant to the correct elevator, got out at the highest floor and followed to the next elevator. This very small elevator opened only with our room key. What?
We stepped out into the two-story penthouse, gawking at everything. The spiral staircase. Modern art. The view. A secret bookshelf door that led from the study to the kitchen. There were huge rooms with canopy beds and plenty of room for us all. It was lush, spacious and amazing. Too bad we were only there for a few hours to sleep. 
We discovered that it used to be Lucille Ball's private apartment. Nbd. 

A dandelion fountain in front of the hotel. 

A rocking horse bush. By Jeff Koons. (He's a really big deal.....according to cabs across the city, fashion loves him)

We were running low on battery for our phones so we cheated the system and visited Grand Central Apple Store and charged our phones while we played games on the demo iPads. 

The Brooklyn Bridge at night is stunning. The brightest light out there is the Empire State Building. 

Downtown Manhattan

My man <3

Keira!!!!

We brunches at Kitchenette! It is cute and delicious! 

The strongest lemonade ever. But very, very real. Not a speck of powdered or artificial flavor in that jar there. 

Omelette was delish. Great biscuit (still love Ruth's Diner mile high biscuits more) and yummy potatoes!
This area is the public use area of the Hudson in which a volunteer group operates a free kayaking place! 

All volunteer operated means they run off of donations so bring a few bucks because it's worth it. They have everything you need: life jackets, paddles and the kayaks. If you're a kayaking veteran, be aware they don't have spray skirts so dress accordingly. You WILL get wet. 

Love him! 

We were taking fun group selfies until we realized we were missing the best back drop. 

There we go. 

One of those identical buildings out there (far left) is where we have been staying.


We were all funned out. Keira and Taylor got nice and burned. 

The classic touristy map 

Keira had Bellingham, Washington covered. 


Taylor and I pinned Utah county :)

Cannoli from Caffe Dante. L-E-G-I-T
We have been trying to eat our way through a list 'Best Thing I Ever Ate' from a good friend who is a major foodie. It's still ongoing. This list is loooong. 

Washington Square park gems. Yes, she made paper pigeons...

Keira's dream guy. Desperately looking for her all over the East Village. 

Vietnamese sandwich from heaven. I looooved it. Grilled pork, cilantro and pickled carrots. YUM! 

Taylor got the pork over rice. He said he still likes Oh Mai in Holladay, UT better though. 

Matchy matchy saltwater sandals in Times Square. 

This girl got soooo close to Keira on a subway car with broken A/C. At one point, she was mimicking Keira's posture. Cutie. 

I brought her out to the balcony as soon as she got here. The view took her breath away the first time she saw it. We had to go say goodbye here, too. 

Love you, dearest Keira!

Alaskan cruise

London Update

5:10 PM

I realize that people don't know anything about our most recent announcement other than the fact that we're moving to Europe. We made the exciting announcement via every social media network we could and then left you hanging!


Our big move to London, England is still several months away. Taylor will take part of the global Goldman training starting in July in New York. That's the beginning of our move eastward. After corporate training, Taylor will spend time with the group with which he was hired to work. We don't know how long that part of his training will take since they haven't had an analyst go solo to the London office before. 

We don't anticipate getting to London before August 2014, although we are both extremely anxious to get there! Our favorite hobby right now is LONDON. Learning about the city, seeing one of the coolest Instagram accounts about London (seriously, check out @london account. You'll cry), looking at flats to rent, and for me, planning outings to make the most of our time in what will be our home for a while. 

About how long we'll be there....hard to say. We're thinking at least a year and legally we can't be there more than 6 years without applying for permanent residency. So do not fret. We should be back...should be. 😉

We have connected with some wonderfully helpful people that try to answer all of our random questions that crop up as we prepare to move. We are so grateful for them and their patience. 

We have narrowed our apartment search to Zone One for transportation ease as we will not have a car over there. We have these high hopes to cycle to work. If we can brave the near-constant rain. I hope my time in Juneau, Alaska has prepared me this. 

We hope to live very near Hyde Park. Northwest, to be exact. 
 
Can you imagine this being our Sunday walk? Yes, please!
It's just too good to be true. I can hardly wait to be posting pictures I take personally of this beautiful place. 


Some of our dreams and goals for London are to go see what we can see and do lots of it. 

1. Get a view of London and the Thames river from the London Eye

2. Visit the LDS Temple in Surrey once a month. (That's about an hour and a half drive from central London)

3. Visit York! So pretty!

4. People watch in Trafalgar Square. 

5. Visit every single museum they've got! I might do most of this alone but I'm sure I could convince Taylor to come to a couple. Plus, they're free. Hello?! 

6. See where the Queen lives. And perhaps sneak a peek of the royal baby. Keira and Jilian will be extremely jealous. 

Many, many, many more adventures to be had. 

I can't be sure but I think this is part of the financial district that Taylor's office will be near. It really does look like Fleet Street. If you look down the street, above the woman's head, it looks like a sky ride connecting the buildings? I believe that to be two of three Goldman buildings in the area. 

We are very excited to see it in person. But there is so much to do before we get there! 

Taylor and I will graduate within a week of each other and then head off on a cruise (compliments of my grueling and difficult work as a tour bus driver for two consecutive summers in Juneau). 

Where shall the Princess cruise take us? Alaska, of course. Round trip from San Francisco. :) 

Bless you for making it all the way to the end of this long-winded post. If you have any questions, comments or requests for occupying our couch (that we might have to get with a pull out bed) in London, leave those below 😄




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