Challenge two!

Blogging challenge 2....... Sunday, January 2, 2011

The 2011 To - Do List

What would you like to accomplish this year?  What are the places you would like to visit in 2011?  What do you hope to check off your bucket list in 2011?

Here are a few things off my bucket list. I know that I did this a week or so ago for 101 in three years. Well mine as well use a few of those ideas. 

One. I would love to clean the garage top to bottom make it sparkle and shine. With out the hubs having to help me so when he drives in he can be be blown away! 

Two. Host a dinner party for a few close friends, a few of our favorite couples or just a hand full of my best girl friends. 

Three: Spend my next (34th) birthday in Las Vegas with the same couples that I have over for the dinner party... or just the girlfriends for a girls trip! 

Four: Take a photo of every places we have lived then put it in a photo book and give it to the "Hub's" for our 9th anniversary! We have moved alot so it will be a big picture book!!

Five: Have my own weekly radio show! 

Six: Go to the movies all by myself. 

Seven: Make and ride in 15 parades this year! 

Eight:  Make and sell things on Etsy! :) 

Nine: Become a Chamber member for 10 towns.

Ten: Be women of the year!! 

eleven:  Become a Mommy! 

Well I just love blog challenges and I found one from the Blog dare on Bloggy Mom's! It is always fun to keep the creative train a going so I am going to play catch up on this fun blog dare! 

So here is the first two posts that I am needing to get updated on. Saturday, January 1, 2011

Resolutions!   

What is your resolution for 2011?  Do you often make a resolution and not keep it?  What is the longest you have kept a New Years resolution?  What is your most often chosen New Years resolution?  What do you think about New Years resolutions?

Wow! This is a tough one to do there are so many goals both personally and professionally. I will try to be brief but bare with me for a second. 

I always say I am going to stop drinking diet coke. Cross it off my list and save that money for something else. I think that I am going to stick with it and the longest it has lasted is 16 days... then like a plane zooming faster and faster towards the earth until it crashes like a giant big ball of flames, that is me...... plus have you ever had that headache that goes with the stopping of drinking diet coke? I would rather be hit smack in the forehead with a freaking hammer. Although it makes it on my list every year. 

I want to make sure that I get my books ( I have 5 I am writing at one time. 3 are travel books.) I would like to have this done by my anniversary May 20th! 

Work on myself daily. Mind, body & spirit. In 2011 I want to become the person my "fur babies" think I am. Nothing in the world will love you more then your four legged family member. 

Do fun Kingstongirl events and truly do whatever I can to make sure that my Kingstongirl brand is four times more known. 

Not to put things off for tomorrow! I need to use my office and take the office hours and when I leave that room I am done with writing, reading and working. At the point I work on things for Kingstogirl from the time I get up to the time I go to bed. Only logging off cyber space when "Hub's" wants to use it to check his facebook. I give him an hour, then I start itching for the computer back. 

I want to make the friendship's that I have that much richer. Taking time to really let them know how much they mean to me. I am blessed to have them, they are the ones that make me a better person. 

I will stop having to be in control all the time & start remembering what "Hub's" always tells me. No matter what everything seems to have a way to work itself out. He is right and it seems like it always does. I also want to stop nagging! I do that to much. :) 

I want to make sure that I am more calm, I want to be a better wife. I know that I can improve on talking less listening more, tell him that I love him and how much his hard work pays off. In a time when two people have to work to make a house hold run, he not only let's me stay home and not work outside the house. Always telling me how proud he is that I get to be a freelance writer and a hotel reviewer. Telling me that he just loves to read my articles in the local newspaper then showing it to anyone and everyone around. 

Traveling more and more and seeing some more fab places. Also making sure that I make great new connections. 

I believe that this year is going to be the best year of my life. The ride is going to be wild and I can't wait to have you in the passenger seat in my little road trip! Oh and I am sorry if this makes you gag! 

Or that you are sick of hearing about it but..................................... I can not wait to be a mama! This is the year that it is going to happen. Can't get much better then that. 

The Hotel Review for the Hotel Alexis in Seattle.

My visit for our part two of our mini vacation in down town Seattle was another stay at a Kimpton property!  One of three in the down town area.  What a treat it was for us to be able to stay at  the Alexis,  that was recently named one of  Travel + Leisure's "Best 500 Hotels in the World" list.  A wonderful accomplishment that just stepping into the lobby you can feel and 
know why right away. 

Going to The Alexis during the holiday season, we were able to enjoy the extra lights, and all the extra touches that they put out for their guests, beautiful decorated trees & gingerbread villages make the lobby and hotel seem to sparkle even more!  Who would have thought that would even be able to be done? Then with the morning coffee that they have in the lobby they add Chai for the pour souls in Seattle like me that don't like Coffee! ( unless it is an extra extra white Chocolate Mocha!) Lord help me if I can taste the coffee....

A living and breathing work of art the Alexis which was recently renovated, is deemed a luxury boutique hotel that is fully committed to the arts community. Being a hot hotel it's so  Unique by displaying original pieces throughout the richly decorated guestrooms and public spaces. They make sure that each hotel visitor is truly going to enjoy every single hand picked artwork & the pieces that showcase the diversity and culture distinctive to the Pacific Northwest. 

While on our stay the Alexis had a few different events going on, the first was the The Alexis "Art Walk" which features art exhibits by local artists. The exhibit rotates every quarter and features various artwork.  In addition to the "Art Walk", the quarterly exhibitions feature works in the Gallery room as well as the Hotel Lobby,  The concept of a rotating art exhibit is beyond brilliant and can be found throughout the public spaces and along the "Art Walk," a hallway dedicated to fine art. This is highly popular with the locals and is known in the community for its exhibits. This Hotel takes this to heart proudly remembering that they are as much a staple in the community as the Pike Market & the Spaceneedle!  They always take extra time to put the Seattle community first! 

Speaking of "Art" the package that we got was the Picasso is coming to Seattle! Enjoy this landmark exhibit, Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris, with a special experience from the Alexis Hotel:

    * Deluxe accommodations

    * Two VIP tickets to the Picasso exhibit at the nearby Seattle Art Museum

    * 2 cocktails at the Bookstore Bar, inspired by the Picasso exhibit (non-alcoholic drinks available for children)

    * Chef Tiffany's 'Bleu Fries' (in honor of his blue period)

    * Complimentary keepsake poster from the Seattle Art Museum

*offer valid October 8, 2010 – January 17, 2011

 All packages include:

    * Hosted evening wine reception in the hotel's lobby

    * Morning coffee service

    * Choice of daily local or national newspaper

    * Plush terrycloth robes for use while in the hotel

    * Use of private steam room and fitness facility

    * Evening turndown service (upon request)

    * Shoeshine service

    * Concierge service

The front desk gave us our two tickets and with  our hotel umbrella & we bundled up & headed out to make it to the SAM. To see the artwork, home video's, hear the commentary and see the  photo's of Picasso was one of the biggest highlights of my entire life. Truly able to learn all of his lovers, children, & why his art changed to display his feelings. If you don't see this you will be sadly missing out.  Paring this and the hotel is simply the greatest package I have yet to see at any hotel I have seen!

Our room was so beautiful! Breathe taking to be truthful. A non-smoking room (All rooms are non-smoking) A king size bed with butter soft egyptian cotton linens & goose down comforters, two side tables, a lovely stand up shower with marble accents & premium bath amenities, that make you feel like you are home like the lovely terrycloth bathrobes or the hairdryer. Also I didn't remember my straight iron for my hair that night and they sent one right up! What a girls needs in Seattle rain!  It is so nice to stay at a hotel that remembers everything even the things you don't think of.  Another nice touch that they do per-request is their Turndown service with chocolates and daily weather report. 

There were two Flat panel LCD televisions featuring on-demand movies, one in the bedroom area one in the living area, along with a mini bar and a refrigerator. The "computer desk" was great as well as the high back swivel chair in front of it, other added touches from home were the iron and board, and cordless phones.  A lovely fireplace and a small but adequate mini library offered many great titles to thumb through on your stay.  A coffee table and a lovely couch in the living area,  An amazing view of 1st Ave, a delight to sit and watch the city lights twinkle & shine and the cars breeze by.   

I loved our room so much that I would have stayed in the room the entire time. Only leaving a few times to go to the two on site place to eat, drink & be extremely happy! 

The library bistro,  an artist and book lovers dream to dine at is reminiscent of a 1940s and 1950s style restaurant with high back booths, ten-foot high bookcases, contemporary copper and bronze checkerboard tiles and oiled oak floors. Their menu brings together local and seasonally inspired cuisine, with signature cocktails and a variety of American wines with a Pacific Northwest focus. Makes the visit a must to do if you are visiting a place to check of your Seattle to do list!

The bookstore bar, is a fun place that is filled with Shelves of books that line the walls near the ornate wood bar and create a comfortable reading room vibe. All the Diners can peruse the extensive selection of cookbooks (also available for purchase), as well as magazines and newspapers from around the country. An outstanding selection of single malt scotch, single barrel bourbon and international beers are offered for your enjoyment, a great place to hide from the rain and not leave the hotel grounds. 

Join the hotel guest with an experience only a hotel like the Alexis can bring to you, when you can  enjoy their nightly wine reception where you can not only meet other inspiring guests, but enjoy a glass of wine as you channel your inner artist by painting postcards to mail home. To explore that artist inside you is just another reason you will enjoy your time here.

Bring your "fur Baby or Babies" with you! You know how important bringing our Fur babies are to me! The Alexis brings it! This is one hotel that is fully committed to being  pet-friendly!  They accept any number of pets without size or weight restrictions and for no extra charge!!! yeah baby! This is a dream come true for all of us "Fur baby" Parents.  Upon check-in, all pet guests receive the following with our compliments:  * A designer doggie bed * A water bowl with distilled water * Complimentary pet treats They can arrange pet sitting services either with their friendly & loveable front office staff!  Or through one of their dedicated pet-sitting referrals, as you explore the shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants in the area! Now that is a 5 paw rating!  Special arrangements for special doggie in-room dining options, in addition to private sessions with a grooming service can be at your service...(both for a fee). What a great idea to enjoy a spa day for you and your "fur babies"

A few other things that you must know about The Alexis has is they have a 24 hour business center  complete with two computer stations and laptop hookup. Wireless high speed internet access in our private dining facilities Personalized room preferences and welcome amenities for Kimpton InTouch guest loyalty members, Full service Milagros SalonSpa on site, a renowned salon and day spa destination, Complimentary daily newspaper of your choice, overnight shoe shine, 24 hour room service from Library Bistro, Complimentary 24-hour fitness facility featuring state of the art Precor equipment and free weights, complimentary private steam room.  Full service Concierge staff along with Overnight valet parking $36 + tax, with in and out privileges (hybrid vehicles receive 50% off parking). A large Array of boutique shopping for your pleasure located on the main level of the hotel.  Also a green hotel! Ahhh my heart just skipped a beat! 

When you stay at the Alexis you are treated like that friend you can't wait for them to visit.  This is how they treat each of their guests. From the moment you walk into the lobby to the end of your stay when you check out you feel special. That you are a VIP guest. This is just one reason why Kimpton properties are some of my very favorite places to stay at! I can't wait to check out the hotel vintage plazza the third property in Seattle! 


Go check out a night at this wonderful hotel & tell them that Kingstongirl Sent you!