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

A little lost.......

Things have been a little crazy lately. 

I want to first start by saying how sorry I am that I haven't been writing as much as I should. 

Things have been so busy around here. 

The past few weeks have gone by again so fast. 

We are faced with loosing one of our best friends. 

Our 10 year old Shitzu puppy.

Sophie aka Margret Goodrich

We got Sophie on our 1st V-day. 

We wanted to find a pet that we would have 

be in every sense of the word

"Our baby Girl" 

We looked for her and she was brought to us, 

we rescued her from a lady that couldn't stand her. 

( that was in the ad) 

So we had her and she had our hearts from day one.

In our life we have been able to do so much with Sophie...

Her favorite thing to do is go on car rides, 

especially when they end up 

at the beach. 

With Sophie we have gone on.....

Camping trips, 

Down the Oregon Coast..

To Colorado & Back.

To the Drive-in

When I have been sick she has sat with me, 

making me feel so much better, Every time. 

Taking long naps with me.

All our Friends and Family have fallen in love 

with her like we did. 

She has a Degenerative Disc Disease, 

she has been sick off and on the entire time we have had

her. 

In the past she has been hurting so bad that when we 

take her to the vet, they give her some med's and shots.

This time it is the worst I have ever seen her. 

We take her to the vet. 

They are going to guide us in the choice to 

give her relief or put her to sleep.

Either thing is completely heartbreaking........

She is my baby, She is my heart, 

My heart and my life will never be the same 

without her.

Once a fur baby grabs your heart they 

own it forever. 

I love you Sophie.  

A Conversation with Renee Brofsky

This Conversation is between Renee Brofsky 

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

A) No family history here, but my parents did move here when we became pregnant. 

Q) What is your favorite thing about the area?

A) My favorite thing about the area is the water! The views of the mountains, the water, and the lush greenery is incredible! 

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

A) if I could change one thing, it would be the weather. I get tired of wearing fleece and smart wool socks year round! 

Q)What made you start your own business? 

A)I started my Stella & Dot business in 2010 when my husbands work took a down turn with the economy. With three kids to support, we needed a little extra help. Since I love jewelry and meeting all kinds of women, Stella &Dot seemed like the perfect fit. But besides earning extra income, it has been an amazing opportunity for me to boost my confidence and have another purpose outside our family. Plus, it is so much fun! 

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

A)I plan on doing Stella & Dot as long as I can. I have a small team right now and plan on it continuing to grow! 

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

A)The hardest part of having my own business is juggling office hours and family. It can be challenging not jumping on a call or the computer when the kids are around! 

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

A) I love seeing our area grow. There are always fabulous new businesses and shops going up; along with new people.

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

A) There are so many great things to do in this area. My favorite thing is camping in our travel trailer with the family. There are so many gorgeous and fun places to explore! I also love to go treasure hunting at Goodwill. I always find great stuff! 

Q) What is your favorite Store in town?

A) It's hard to pick one favorite store in the area…I love Trader Joe's, Goodwill, the Bakery in Old Town Silverdale, Rumplenewskins and Indigo Plum in Poulsbo and Lilies and Eagle Harbor books on Bainbridge Island. 

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

A) I do work with the Helpline House on Bainbridge Island. I am a part of the birthday party program; making custom cakes for kids to make their birthday wishes come true! 

Q) What is your business motto? 

A) My business motto is this: "No great thing is created suddenly. There must be time. Give your best and always be kind." 

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

A) Stella & Dot is a newer jewelry company created by two women and named after their grandmothers; Stella and Dot. As her senior thesis at Stanford, Jessica Herrin created the weddingchannel.com and then sold it for millions. She loved jewelry and teamed up with Blythe Harris, who had previously designed for companies like Banana Republic and DeBeers, to create a direct-selling company with a modern twist. The boutique-style jewelry is set up in home trunk shows with no sales presentation, shipped directly to the customer 3-4 days after ordering, and offers generous hostess incentives (most end up with over $200 in free jewelry), and great customer service. Stella & Dot is regularly seen in InStyle, O Magazine, Marie Claire and Vogue and has been spotted on celebrities such as Penelope Cruz, Debra Messing, Rachel Ray, and Christina Hendricks. Stella & Dot has also raised over two-hundred thousand dollars from the sales of the foundation bracelets to three charities: ACCION USA, build On, and girls, inc. I feel so lucky to be a part of this amazing team!

Make sure that you tell Renee that Kingstongirl sent you to here. We will be working on a giveaway in September. Check out her webpage at the Stella and dot link in the sponsor section of this blog. 

A wonderful time at the Tolovana.

I have to say that I feel like I am coming home when I make that last turn from Seaside to Cannon Beach, then out for the right I see them the Haystack rocks, as if they are standing guard and protecting the beach.  Welcoming me in their own way home.

Whenever I get asked to come back here I just jump to the chance. One day I hope I will be able to call this place home or at least have a vacation house to spend long summer days playing on the beach, winter nights around a crackling fire with a nice glass of wine and a cozy chair reading a great book as I watch a wonderful winter storm filled with pounding rain, lightning and thunder with the waves crashing hard against the sand.

This time we would be staying at Tolovana Inn, I was so excited to come here. For a year now I have wanted to work on getting some time to spend here. This time I was able to bring my Mom. We always have a great time together, and for all the things she has done for me it makes me feel good to bring her to be my Thelma to my Lousie! Bringing her to Cannon Beach is even more special the two of us have been coming down here for girls weekends for years.

From the time we pulled into the Tolovana and after we checked in and having a wonderful experience with the front desk staff, they were wonderful with answering questions that I had with where to eat, where to play and what is a not miss for new things going on in Cannon Beach.

The ladies at the front desk told us that Tolovana Inn is a Cannon Beach lodging tradition! That this is one of the bucket list places for you to check out and stay at in Cannon Beach.  We stayed in an ocean front spacious suites it gave us plenty of room to enjoy.

The amazing view from our private balcony allowed us to truly sit back and relax by the gas fireplace. Our room had an extra room that when we stay in the next time comes with a extra hotel room that is connected.

Mom and I sat and enjoyed our 360 degree view of the ocean from the entire hotel room. Our room had a full living room sofa sleeper and two lovely leather chairs, with the lovely photography of the ocean on the yellow walls. Wonderful blinds, throw pillows and lighting. a flat screen TV and the gas fireplace, was the room that we spent most of our time in with the front screen door open just a crack to listen to the waves from the balcony. the views are spectacular!

The Kitchen (yes ladies and Gents there is a full size Kitchen!!!)! Dishwasher, oven, mircowave, fridge, counter space, all the extras for you to feel like you were home away from home. All the way down to the salt and pepper shakers and the toaster!! There is a large dinning room table and so much space for your family. Mom and I enjoyed bringing our own food to cook and make for breakfast and our dinners. We loved all the comforts of home.

Another bonus is the family style table in the dinning area of the condo,
it was a great extra to this condo. Every single detail they thought of to make a family feel right at home. It is a nice way to enjoy a family meal, keeping the cost down of eating out and enjoying your view of the Haystack rocks.

The full bath was spacious, and had a tub, the only thing that would have been better is if the tub would have been a soaking tub, although most people don’t mind it if they have one or not it is truly one of my favorite things to have in a hotel room. They even fold the towels like you are on a cruise ship!!! Totally cute!

This condo had a bedroom, a fold out hide a bed. The Room that has a queen size bed with a TV & DVD player, two side tables and a dresser. All of these added items were a bonus to a nice room. Then we found out that another room can be unlocked and you can have the entire side to share with your family. A two bedroom, two bath, with a full size fold out couch. 

While you are there do enjoy the indoor sea water pool, spa and sauna. You don't even have to miss your daily workout in their onsite fitness center. Don’t want to work out? You can enjoy the short and easy walk to the beach access to stroll along miles of the perfectly beautiful Oregon coast. Wait till the tide goes out and at the base of the haystack rock where you can explore the many tide pools While we sat on the beach making smofly a kite. Play a round of golf at a nearby course or visit the unique restaurants, galleries and shops of Cannon Beach.

This has to be the best place for me on the Oregon coast, experience the pure luxury of Tolovana Inn, a favorite among Cannon Beach lovers. All the treasures the community of Cannon Beach offers is in a nutshell you don't have to look any further to find the complete package at Tolovana. We loved our stay so much that we stayed two nights, paying for the second night. This is the first time I have ever done this. 

This truly was one of the best times I have had with my Mom and now that we are starting a family of our own, going here with my parents and the kids will be something we will look forward to doing our summer trip to the beach here as a family in this condo!! 

Welcomed back to the Inn at the four winds!

I was asked to come back to the beautiful  Inn at the Four Winds, "Hub's" and I were here last fall and now my mama and I were back!  The Inn is located just a short walk of only 9 blocks from downtown Seaside, the Prom escorts you to the center of the action.

Our only agenda was to relax and enjoy the landscape that Seaside has for you to watch.. The sunshine came out  for our trip and the water looked like sparkles that were dancing on the water, for me and my mom the best way to pass the time was on our very own and private balcony, being able to spend time with my mom and enjoying the sea glass colors of the ocean and watching the sun light sparkle and dance on the waves, along with a nice glass of wine and a beautiful sunset,  it was a perfect time for our  girls weekend. You do not even need to leave your room, with a small kitchenette, all your needs can be met right there, with onsite warm cookies, coffee, popcorn and a wonderful movie selection why would you need to leave, plus the front desk helps you find places that are delivered to your hotel room door! 

The gas fireplace was going, movie playing on the TV,  a wonderful bubble bath, mom and I were able to change our nail polish, catch up on girl talk, laugh, cry and do all the fun things that we are able to enjoy for a girls weekend.  I love that we can have a nice and relaxing weekend it was a nice to just de- stress. 

I'm already planning on going back to the Inn for a girlfriends weekend, I can not wait to share this amazing place with all of them. This is a place to come rest and relax to take some time just for you. Remember to make sure that you do not smoke or have pets with you. This is a property that you can't do either of these things and in a way this is a blessing because you don't have to think of anything else besides yourself or the smoke of someone that is staying under you creeping up thru the floor. This way you can really smell the sea air.

This is a perfect place to enjoy some much needed family time as well. Tell them at the Inn at the four winds that Kingstongirl sent you! Also they have different properties for you to check out and rent as well. So you can bring the entire family if you want to!