Know me monday.

I am going to do something fun that we will do each week so you can know Kingstongirl. The fall is filling up and we have some amazing things going on, Blogging is a funny thing, we tell our most intimate thoughts tor the people we don't meet in person as often as we would like to, but these people we feel safer to share our deepest feeling we write things down in anger, in sadness, always emotional and always showing my feelings, we know that we don't know them know them but I want to now who the person is behind all these wonderful stories that they share with us. The connection.......So here is a bit of getting to know me Mondays... Enjoy! 

1.  The thing that scares me the most is __________?
  the thing that scares me the most is that my writing will never bring me the most of what I want to bring. I have so many great dreams that I never truly be able to have my own book on the shelves of the many book stores.... that the books I am working on now with the ideas in my head without putting it from pen to paper. 

2.  Do you like nuts in your Chocolate Chip cookies?




No, I don't like to eat cookies that have nuts in them. I like most everything sweet but I only like white Chocolate Chips, with macadamia nuts & I like almonds in some of the things that I eat just not Chocolate chips. 

 3.  If you couldn't change the channel, what tv show would drive you from the room?
Nothing could keep me from watching Samantha Brown, She is who I want to be when I grow up! :)

4.  Pulp or no pulp in your Orange Juice?No pulp I like it smooth, I can't drink it unless I am trying to get my sugars up when I am about to crash, so sadly I do miss that favorite morning drink. Could they find a sugar free Orange juice? Please?

5.  Who do you miss the most?
I miss my sister, she has helped me in so many ways and introduced me to the thought process that I can get though anything that I put my mind to, that I if I have a dream then I can set my mind to it and make it come true with some hard work. She lives a few states away and I don't get to see her nearly enough as I wish I did. 

A conversation with Polish and shine cleaning....

A close family to my husband and over time they have become great friends of mine. I love these girls and they are two girls that will do anything for their friends and every costumer is treated just like one of their friends. Enjoy getting to know Heather & Hayley 
owners of Polish & Shine Cleaning!!!

1) How long have you lived in the area?


All of our lives, we were born in Bremerton and raised on Bainbridge. We Have lived in almost every city in Kitsap over the past 20 years.

2) How much family history do you have in the area?

Our Mother was born on Bainbridge in 1938. Our Dad came to Kitsap from FL in the 50's.

3) What is your favorite thing about the area?

The small town feeling, it is hard to go anywhere without seeing someone you know. There is not a lot of hustle and bustle but any service, store, and school are within arms reach. ~Heather

4)What would you change if you could about the area?

The constant additions of "big box stores". I think it makes it very hard for small businesses when they keep adding giant stores that Mom and Pop shops can't compete with. ~Heather

5)What made you start your own business?

Hayley and I are both Mothers, Wives, Etc. Heather is a Navy Wife who's husband is often deployed. She is also the mother to a special needs son and 3 other children. Hayley is married with 2 children and works part time at a vet clinic on Bainbridge. We were really looking for something that would allow us the freedom to work while being able to be available to our families as well.
We also saw a market for affordable house cleaners. Some of the prices out there are just too far out of reach for a lot of people. We wanted to be available to almost everyone regardless to income.

6)Where would you like to see your business be in 5 years?

GROWING! Hahaha. We would like to stay small and still be able to give personal attention to each client. It would be fantastic to be fully booked 5 days a week though.

7)What is the hardest part of having your own business?

So far, it has been trying to find clients and really get our name out there. When you are a tiny business starting from nothing, we just don't have the ability to pay for massive advertising or commercials. That's where we are hoping the "small town, word of mouth, everyone knows everyone", will come into play.

8)Where would you like our town to be in over the next five years?

Where it is now, without too much growth.

9)What is your favorite thing to do in our town?

We love to visit the parks, there are so many! Fay Bainbridge is one of our favorites. Girl's night's out are fun too, we all need a break and getting together with the girls is a great way to unwind.

10)What is your favorite Store in town?

I love consignment stores! I have four kids and a grandbaby on the way so any time I can get a bargain is great. Rock-a-buy is great and so is Fishline's store in downtown Poulsbo AND it supports a great cause! Hayley and I are both avid bargain shoppers.

11)Do you give to any local charities you work with?

We have are just starting out but would LOVE to work with Autism Walks and Autism Awareness. Hayley would say PAWS or the Humane Society as she also works with animals.

12) tell me anything you would love to share about your business.

We are affordable, 100% customer driven, and really do our best to make sure no detail is overlooked. We not only do residential cleaning but also, commercial, move out cleans and event clean-up. We have access to the bases as well. Our website is polishandshinecleaners.yolasite.com. You can request info or ask us questions on the "contact us" page. You can also find us on facebook!!!

Happy Monday Photography & A little bit sassy!!!!

This is a conversation between myself and Gretchen of Happy Monday Photography and a little bit sassy.

How long have you lived in the area?
This time? lol My family and I lived here from 2002-2007. We are a Navy family so we moved down to the San Diego area for awhile and returned to this area again last August. Unfortunately we will have to leave the area again next August. We look forward to retiring here in six years.


How much family history do you have in the area? 

None in the Kitsap area. I spent most of my childhood in Bellevue.

What is your favorite thing about the area?
I love the “small town” feel but the fact that it is close enough to so many different city type activities.

What would you change if you could about the area?
I take away to stupid Toll on the Narrows Bridge. :)

What made you start your own business?
I felt VERY strongly that I needed to be a stay at home mom. I have attempted many different home based business and was never successful because my heart wasn’t in it. Before my 3rd child, a baby girl, came along, my husband bought me my first “real” camera. I have been interested in Photography since I was a teenager but I fell in love with it when I started taking pictures of my children. My passion for creating images evolved when we were in California and after a year of portfolio building, Happy Monday Photography was born.

Where would you like to see your business be in 5 years?
I would like to be in a beautiful studio filled with the sound of little feet, belly laughs and lots of love. My goal is to have a boutique in the front where I can sell all my crafty stuff. :)

What is the hardest part of having your own business?
Its all up to me. Whether I succeed or fail, its on my shoulders. I love the challenge though, it keeps me on my toes and gives me the opportunity to continue growing artistically.

Where would you like our town to be in over the next five years?
I would love to see Downtown Silverdale become something more than buildings filled salons. It would be so great to have a bustling area filled with a nice variety of businesses, galleries, resteraunts, etc.

What is your favorite thing to do in our town?
Our family LOVES geocaching!!! Never heard of it? Check it out, www.geocaching.com. It is a real life treasure hunt and is such an awesome activity for families to do together.

What is your favorite Store in town?
Goodwill. I LOVE transforming wood furniture into perfect pieces for my house.

Do you give to any local charities you work with?
I make several different products with a Breast Cancer Awareness theme. I donate a minimum of 50% of the profits of those items to the Susan G Komen Foundation.

What is your business motto?
“Leave Boring at the Door”. I am a fun person and I want my clients to have a carefree, relaxed, candid and fun time when we are together.

Tell me anything you would love to share about your business.
I do this because I LOVE it. I love giving people the gift of Heirloom quality images. Lets have some fun and capture the important moments in your life, big and small.

Sometimes you only have each other.

A few weeks ago some family drama emerged like a wreaking ball it destroyed some amazing relationships but what it didn't do is destroy my relationship with my husband it made us closer. The time I have been taking away from writing has been so that I could nest in our new home and snuggle closer to my husband.

My hub's works. A lot. I work. A lot.We are about to have two beautiful baby boys born in January, who will fill up a super amount of whatever little time we will have left. Add that to bills that keep showing up every month. A almost 40 year old home that needs to be up dated and made into the home that we will raise those boys and our family in, it never has a day go by that goes with out a creak or complaint and the typical everyday American life. 

I realize how much I miss the man that I get to proudly call my husband everyday. The vows of "to love and cherish." that keeps getting drowned down with the "payment due" or the truth of "living day by day and paycheck to paycheck to paycheck. " 

So with the ideas of what we want our home to look like especially the yard. "Hub's" and I started to plan the entire landscape DIY projects.  We have started this out by a weekend a month to work on it. I don't work outside of the home and don't really feel that once the babies are home and safe if we will be more of my job to work around the house. We will tackle the shed remodel ( I am making it into my get away room and craft area, I think)  I was thinking back to all the projects that we have done together in the past. I think back fondly to the project that we did in our back yard in our first home in Kingston. 

We did a beautiful patio. 

I knew that we were in trouble when it took the whole day to place stakes and string to start the perimeter.  I would love to rewind and watch the funny arguments between us. Like any husband and wife the banter back and fourth wouldn't be funny in the moment but looking back it would be funny now.  It was almost evening by the time the two of us started the strong willed of the two of us would keep that banter going for hours. Then over dinner and cocktails we discovered that we were going to take a few weeks to get the entire section done.  We made trip after trip with a half a dozen gallon buckets along with a few kitty litter boxes filled with dirt  to the dump, then back to the house to fill more dirt and then back to the dump.....over and over again we were able to do load after load. 

The hum of the road, wind blowing in our hair, sunshine pouring through the window and the heat  feeling so wonderful warming our skin for a few seconds.  If we were able to close our eyes we would have felt like we were on a mini vacation for a few seconds. By day 7 of our 2 day project we had laughed and enjoyed our time together laughing and joking that we were to be the next HGTV show leaving his real life job to become the landscapers that we have now become. 

We had gained so much more then a patio we gained a togetherness that we were so blessed to have been a part of.  Him+Me= family. So every so often we walk the property with a notebook & pen and jot down our honey do together list. Allowing us to dream big and plan that mini vacation of staying home and building our relationship and value of our home. 

All the busy work....

I felt it in the air today... Did you? That first sign of fall? 

In Western Washington we have had the best two weeks of sunshine all summer. I love it so much! 

Until today! 

Then I wanted to go shopping for knee high boots & a wool jacket, sweaters and scrafts! 

Highschool football games.

Pumpkin patches.

I have so many things to look forward too.....

All the fall hotel reviews. 

Stay tuned for the two Hotel review next week when I am back 

to my Monday through Friday 

Reviewing and writing 

~ 

Off to pack it is moving day on Thursday!

It has been a while. I am so sorry!!

Hey there friends,

I have to start off by saying how very sorry I am about not writing in such a big span of time. So many changes have been happening lately that trying to take anytime to think straight let alone take the much needed time to write.
Summer is always busy but never like this.

We lost our Sophie girl a few weeks ago. I wrote in one of my last posts about how much she meant to us and how badly she was doing. A few days after that post she jumped of the sofa when "hubs" got home from work, it hurt her so so much that she couldn't even walk. So we made the most painful choice we have ever made to put her to sleep. This completely distroyed me and "hubs."

The next day in a fog, my mom and I went to Target, on our way back to the car I tripped over a curb and fell flat on my face, hurting my right foot, couldn't walk, or put any weight on it. A small break is what the Dr. said it could have been.

We are moving in less the 10 days and we are not even half way done un packing. Tomorrow will be a very busy day.

Having some major family drama. The drama has turned me and my life upside down. I feel like we have been handed a bomb and then left to sit and wait until it blows up in all of our faces.

So please forgive me for not writing as often as I should. I feel lost and a little out of sorts. We can only hope that this will pass so fast. I am so done feeling so broken and so out for control.

chrysalis Inn & Spa review........

Hub’s & I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful night at this beautiful Inn right on Bellingham Bay. Upon pulling into the Inn you feel a world away with the beautiful fountain that greets you. There was no hassle at check in - parking was easy and the entire staff was friendly. The gift shop right next to check in is full of every little thing you could want or need! I bought a birthday gift and a few cards to send to friends. 

The suite was very thoughtfully decorated, extremely comfortable, with a grand twin-sized window seat overlooking the water, while reading my book the view of the bay and the Alaskan State Ferry loaded cars and passengers as they prepared for their Friday night departure from Bellingham bay to Alaska. 

Fino wine bar showcases a graciously proportioned dining room with expansive views of Bellingham Bay. From the exhibition kitchen, the master chef will delight your palette with regional culinary treasures and distinctive wines from around the world. The extensive library of wines is available by the taste, glass, or bottle.

Savor a glass of wine by the fireplace, entertain a party in the dining room, or share an intimate dinner for two on the outdoor terrace.

The Chrysalis balances an inspiration from nature with the sophisticated styling and technology that distinguishes our region. We provide our guests an intimate haven in which to rest and restore during both personal and business retreats.

This place has an Expansive view of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. It also has a beautiful Waterfront location, with thirty four beautifully appointed deluxe rooms & nine luxurious suites with a Full service day spa, along with a nice

Wine bar & two different types of Meeting Facilities

With cozy throws and pillows, & the King size bed was so lovely with nice linens, with wonderful pillows and the most comfortable mattress. The deep oversized bathtub set beside the retractable wall, allowed for a peek-a- boo view of the stunning lights of the blood red sunset. To top it off, the plush bathrobes and inroom fireplace made this the ideal room for a romantic. This was a perfect place to re connect. 

The hotel thinks of the little details that you might never think of to pack for yourself, like leaving you a few paris of earplugs. You do have some slight noise when the train does steam through on occasion, the placement of the rooms make it absolutely more quiet then you would think of a passing train right under your hotel... Extra things in the room, a nice lounge chair, nice lighting, Complementary wireless internet and a morning newspaper; a very nice flatscreen TV and a great channel selection, with that said, I was very pissy that On Demand was turned off to use but the menu was active so you could see what you could have been watching. Knowing that on demand with comcast is free with the service it should be an option for the people staying here! I would have loved to gotten all caught up on my Reality TV shows! 

The mini bar items are normally high priced but the specialty snacks are outrageously priced- can't imagine they sell many of them, which was sad because I always get a sweet tooth in the evening and always try to buy one or two things to try and sample for the sake of the review ( that is at least what I tell the hubs!) Oh & the FREE morning breakfast was nice and fresh with a small variety of hot and cold choices for you to choose from. With a view of the bay that will have your writing home about

Chrysalsis Inn and Spa makes this a nice and short walk from the train station to the hotel, for being about 5 minutes away by friendly taxi, or a easy 20 minute walk on the private trail that leads you straight to the Inn &Spa’s door.

the Amtrak station is in the beautiful downtown area of Fairhaven, with its wonderful book stores, restaurants, and a special toy store is .2 miles by nice walking trail, and Bellingham is an easy, flat two miles the other way on another fabulous walking trail. This is a nice idea for you to come up from Seattle or even Portland. I love it because once you hit the Amtrak seat I’m in Relax mode, anyone that goes on the train trip will feel the same way so do yourself a favor and book your trip on the Amtrak when you come up to stay here.

A boardwalk runs from the hotel down across the water and into a great little park. At the end of the boardwalk is Woods Coffee shop. What a great afternoon stroll along the water all the while hubs was enjoying his latte & I a double scoop of Ice Cream.... The Dinner options were abundant and within walking distance as well. We hit the book store and got the new children's book, "Go to F*uck to Sleep" laughing the entire time, we also found a wonderful children's store and found my diaper bag!! There are trails that lead from the hotel into Fairhaven. What a cute town that we feel madly in love with.

Sadly we didn't have time to enjoy the Spa, but all the guests that stay here are able to use the shower and steam rooms. 

The Special packages for the Hotel that we will use this summer when we return would have to be The  Relax and enjoy your stay in a deluxe side view room with fireplace, walk-in slate shower, 2 person soaking tub, window seat, down comforters and spa amenities.

Or maybe the Kayak Adventure Package:

“This 3 hour paddle is one of the most scenic and varied available in the Bellingham area. We start out at the Wildcat Cove Boat Launch in Larrabee State Park. We travel north from there along impressively scalloped sandstone cliffs. We often see river otters, seals, cormorants, eagles, loons and oyster catchers along this relatively pristine shoreline. Our destination is Chuckanut (Dot) Island in beautiful Chuckanut Bay. This island is an archaeological site owned by the Nature Conservancy and well known for its visible shell miden (refuse from 10,000 years of native Salish people’s use). We can stretch our legs on its beaches and trails, before reloading our boats for the trip back to Wildcat Cove. If time and weather permit, it is also possible to visit petrified palm tree fossils and a bird sanctuary. A lot to see in a relatively short paddle!”

    The Wine package for all you wine lovers like Hubs and I.

     Tour Whatcom County's Wineries and stay at The Chrysalis Inn.

Discover Whatcom County's boutique wineries with Whatcom Wine Tours. Meet the wine makers, enjoy great wines and experience the beauty Whatcom County has to offer. Each tour includes lunch, a souvenir wine glass and a night at The Chrysalis Inn.

* Side View Deluxe Room $304* Full View Deluxe Room $314* Luxury King                Suite $384* Luxury Corner Suite $404

This Package is a great idea for the Girls weekend. When I do my Shopping weekend with the girls this fall this is the place and package I will be using! 

Our in-room party includes:

* One night stay in a Luxury Room* Manicure or Pedicure* Chair Massage* Champagne and Chocolates* Party Food* Spa Gift

You can also do a wedding package and a great honeymoon here would be amazing. I will come back here when I do my trips up to Bellingham. My sweet sister in law lives up here so it is always a plus when I can find a place to stay and enjoy seeing the family & with the rates so low this is a top on my list. 

I am so looking forward to going back there! I hope that you take the time to go up here it is so worth the trip. 

Tell them Kingstongirl sent ya!

Thank you to photobucket & the chrysalis inn & spa