![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mathies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/iG3uMjwATvKFoJvWVfeM0w.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI’m happily married to my wife Lena, the pretty lady pictured above. Lena grew up in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. in 2007. She\u2019s a former high school math teacher turned Instagram lifestyle blogger who currently boasts of having over 1.7 million followers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We like to travel together as much as we can – Havana, Dublin, Berlin, Miami, Key West, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Atlanta, Vancouver, and all of the islands of Hawaii are just a few of the locations we’ve visited since getting hitched. One of our favorite places to visit is New Orleans. A few years ago we spent one whole month working from an AirBNB there during Mardi Gras, it was amazing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have two wonderful kids – Our daughter Maria – real-estate agent, super host, and successful mom of two, and our son Igor, who’s currently studying engineering at USF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a big sis, my mentor \/ model in life (and the brains of the family) – Laura Mathies<\/a>. She has a PhD in Genetic Engineering from Stanford University and spends her days reprogramming mother nature in her lab. (An interest in software programming seems to run in the family!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bit about me\u2014I\u2019m passionate about cooking! For me, it\u2019s a fascinating blend of chemistry and creativity, and I love exploring new flavors and techniques. My cookbook collection is enormous; it would truly blow your mind! The foothills of the Colorado Rockies in Denver Colorado is where I grew up. I spent my younger years plugging through snow drifts and exploring endless open fields. I do miss the snow covered landscape around Christmas time, but I really don\u2019t miss the cold – I prefer sun, sand, and warm weather. After high school I attended Florida State University to study Physics, but decided to pursue a career in computer science instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My folks originally met in Seattle, where my father was doing research at the University of Washington. Mom worked in dad’s lab as a research tech, where they hit it off and the rest is history. They moved to Denver Colorado in 1967 when my dad accepted a position at Saint Josephs Hospital to design and build out the hospital’s first blood chemistry lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photography is a passion of mine! I find myself pulling my phone out all the time looking for opportune shots. I hate complex cameras though, too much effort. Smart phones have really changed the landscape by giving amateur photographers like myself a tool we can work with. You can do amazing things if you have a good phone and an eye for a good shot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Outside of the kitchen, I have a keen interest in modern interior design. In 2015, I purchased a house in the Destin, Florida area and completely renovated it, embracing a minimalist modern aesthetic with a mid-century flair. This remodel was one of the most rewarding engineering projects I\u2019ve tackled. It challenged me to combine research, design skills, and creativity in a unique and fulfilling way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n