I'm in Puppy Love with KCMT

What a treat we were in for last Saturday when we went to the North Kitsap Auditorium. There  we caught up with latest KCMT production. This time they did their take on Disney's 101 Dalmatians! 

They did such a great job! These talented kids were beyond amazing.  I know that down the road many of these children will have a star on the walk of fame in Hollywood & realize their dreams of seeing their names in lights. I was able to go and see this play with the "hubs" My friend and her three kids. 

This was my first time to see The KCMT (Their website here! ) group in action. I have always heard great things about them, learning that this group has been around working with the talented local children.  The theater group has been together for over ten years now! 

This program is 100%  non-profit, an all-volunteer organization the goal for this program is to make sure it is available to all young people who want to participate, regardless of background or financial standing. The theater group produces three shows a year in addition to also running a fun and exciting summer camp. The cast on stage and off is mostly ran by children and they are able to walk away with knowledge that most spend years learning. The amount of love from the parents and adults give so much to the cast & to all of the children that are part of this is simply amazing. 

We were able to see the Cast B perform, they did an amazing job the cast mates I could hardly believe that they were so young & doing such an amazing job.  I can't wait to go next weekend to the Cast A, and see the other group as well. It is wonderful to see these kids work like a well oiled machine. 

The stage were bought to life from the very talented actors the story of Pongo who was played by Ben Taylor and Perdita played by Savannah Crosby they are a pair of Dalmatians who live with the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Dearly who were played by Ian Wisbey & Maya Adams. Along with their Nanny played by Chelsea Alberts, The dogs consider the humans their pets, but allow the humans to think that they are the owners! The opening act was so cute with the dogs and their masters doing the match up of looking alike, was so very sweet. 

Perdita gives birth to a litter of 15 puppies. One of the show stopper's was Cruella de Vil, played by Abigail COle, she did the grand slam with the intimidating and truly captured the feeling of being a very wealthy woman fixated with fur clothing,  her belief that all animals are worthless and should be drowned. Shortly after the visit, the puppies disappear. The humans fail to trace them but through the "Twilight Barking", a forum of communication in which dogs can relay messages to each other across the country, the dogs manage to track them down to "Hell Hall", the ancestral home of the de Vil family in Suffolk. Pongo and Perdita try to find the puppies' location with the help of Tibs the cat played by Jaclyn Davis, she get's them to run away under Jasper &Horace Curella DeVill's right hand men in her quest to getting the fur!  All the while Pongo and Perdita decide to run away and find them themselves, After a journey across the countryside, they meet the Colonel, an Old English Sheepdog played by Caleb Steinlicht who shows them Hell Hall and tells them its history. They learn that there are 97 puppies in Hell Hall, including their own 15.

Cruella de Vil appears and tells the crooks in charge of Hell Hall to slaughter and skin the dogs as soon as possible because of the publicity surrounding the theft of the Dearlys' puppies. Pongo and Missis devise a plan to rescue all of the puppies and escape. They are able to disguise themselves, they hide in the darkness and in the shadow of a plant.... getting them all into the van safe and sound. At the end of the play the entire theater knew what it was to be in Puppy Love. I know I am in love with all these cute Puppies. 

Next weekend they will be running this play April 15th thru the 17th. Check their website for times & brown paper tickets where you can get tickets before hand, They also have them at the door. You will not want to miss this or any other production that KCMT puts on. 

These children all demand your attention and you are not able to take your eyes off of all of the dogs, At one point I think that there was 101 of the puppies on stage at once. The acting along with the songs that they sang got caught in my head for days to now, I'm still sing the song     " Cuella DeVil."  Counting the 101 puppies that were in the cast was something that people all around me were also doing, it was fun to hear all the children around me getting swept away from this wonderful two hour 8 scenes production along with the perfect 15 minute intermission.  

This play that they put on is one that you don't want to miss and because of that you can enter to win two tickets to next weekends production. All you have to do is the following!

1) leave a comment on here.

2) Follow and come back here to leave a comment that you are following KCMT on Facebook

3) Same as above only on Twitter. 

4) tell me what play you would like to see them do next.

5) Extra points will be given if you Sponsor KCMT 

Fun Spring day for us in North Kitsap!

So Saturday was an amazing day! We started out at the opening day of the Poulsbo Farmers market! It was a bit cold but that didn't keep the large group of people that showed up in full force! It is always so fun to see so much of the community to come out and support all of our local events. 

Then we ran out to Kingston and was part of the 4th year in a row of the Kites over Kingston. I find it so fun that this is such an amazing tradition, I know it is a fun place to go and celebrate Spring! Each and every year it gets bigger and better. It is theses small town events that make our communities feel so much closer and more then just a community but that of an extended family, a closeness. 

Then we went to the book signing and reading of Ridley Pearson. Suzanne from Liberty bay books put it on and it was so much fun! This guy is so funny & listening to him talk about all the wonderful things he gets to do with Disney makes me a want to go there a little...okay maybe a lot, I have to say that I don't really read fast but with this book I was able to read them in 3 days and can not wait till the next book comes out! I love being lost in what this author puts on his pages. He was so fun to listen talk. 

After this we went to the KMCT play 101 Dalmations. Read tomorrow my complete review on this amazing play! :) Also you are able to earn two FREE tickets for one of this weekends up coming show! It is going to be a fun contest so check back tomorrow. 

If this is just a small taste of what this spring is going to be like then I think it is going to be a very fun filled Spring! 

I can not wait. 

The inn @ the Northrup Station.. review.

My first trip to Portland was 10 years ago with my now Husband, we had stayed at the Inn at Northrup not only falling in love with each other but falling in love with the city of Portland & this hotel. Now at the time that we stayed there it was only the one story adjacent to the small lobby the front desk. Still it was like a small budded flower, you saw its beauty already but you knew that as it still had to bloom it was going to be even more amazing as they added on the other two stories & sun deck.

The hotel is located in the "Nob Hill" area. The shopping is always amazing on the 23rd street, The Inn is conveniently located along Portland’s celebrated streetcar line giving you easy access, ask the front desk  for your free Portland Streetcar tickets when you check in. Just pull into the hotels free parking spots and go a little green never having to drive your car the entire time you are a guest here. 

There are art gallery's on Nob Hill and the nearby Pearl District you will find that of Portland’s  art and culture await. Boutiques and unique places to shop at, you can always find that special gift & explore "restaurant row", where you will find some restaurants that satisfy every craving!  More than 100 restaurants to be sampled, all within a 10-minute stroll from the Inn.


We went back to "our place" the yummy & wonderful place to eat at called  Bastas where we had their Calamari Fritti and almost the entire happy hour menu between the two of us, we tried just about one of everything, they have weekly specials so make sure that you follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Breweries are my husbands true love like most husbands, Portland is the brew pub capital of the world, with being home to dozens of nationally recognized award-winning craft brewers and the Inn places you within walking distance of some of these world famous Brews!!

Theater lovers, while here take advantage of Portland's theater groups and talented Actors, mention that you are coming to one of these and upon making reservations to stay at the Northrup just mention the Portland Center Stage event you will be attending you might just be able to enjoy a complimentary room upgrade!  Also just a hop on to the street car and you can explore and enjoy the Portland Art Museum that is always a popular destination.

The Northrup's history originally started when it was built in the mid 70s, the Inn was rediscovered and transformed by Portland architect Steve Routon.  The decor breathes life to the inn with the original artwork by some very talented local Portland artists. The retro inspired furnishings with the vivd color palate contribute to the eclectic ambiance. Making this one of the funniest hotels I have 
ever stayed in my entire life. This is a bright and bold hotel just like this city!

The vibrant lobby presents an arresting combination of color and artistry, not to mention the outrageously huge jars of mouthwatering candy that never seem to go empty. Satisfy your sweet tooth as you gaze up at the striking display of fused glass. Then belly up to the sleek street-side breakfast bar and watch the Portland Streetcar buzz on by! If you can close your eyes and imagine if Johnny Depp's take on Willy Wonka's character was to have designed a hotel in my mind this is just what it would look like! Wild, crazy and vibrant colors and the fun and wacky designs of shapes and sizes......

The Inn also has beautiful patios, balconies, & the rooftop terrace. An artistically landscaped rooftop terrace presents a wonderful setting for outdoor gatherings, with fun terrace tables and chairs, a BBQ that you can use after a trip down to  the neighborhood Trader Joe's. This makes it that more special for a family trip, cutting costs by using the BBQ & in room kitchenette. Another great idea would be a co-ed wedding party! This would make a perfect place to do a girls getaway or a guys trip. 


When we got to our lovely room, we were so overjoyed by the fact that we had a room that was so big, with a full kitchen, *even a dishwasher* The bed was so comfortable and the extra pillows and the couch.  "Hub's" started our trip by feeling a little off, by the time we got to the exit known by us as the "Great Wolf Lodge" exit he had to pull over and have me drive we got to the hotel and our room wasn't ready yet so we walked around alittle, went to the food truck alley and he got a few bites into his lunch and we had to go back to the hotel.  

We went back to the room, and I got chris into the bed and because of the way the room is set up it is comfortable enough to let him rest and for me to still enjoy the time away.... 


Feel safe in a city that I have no one I know in, I still felt safe enough to walk around. As he got the time to feel better I was able to really enjoy our room, the wifi and two TV's to watch, one in the bed area and one in the living/kitchen area as well. I took a long enjoyable bath, able to make tea in the kitchen area and the staff was so sweet to bring up cold medicine and lemon. They even told us where to get some great soup for "Hub's" to enjoy. 

Lot's of fun & Free extra's like their continental breakfast, Complimentary continental breakfast is served daily in the lobby from 6:30 to 9:30 am during the week and 6:30 to 10:00 am on weekends. The breakfast was great..yogurt, cereal, waffles, cereal, fruit, juices, teas, coffee, bagels OJ & Coffee! 

Free parking: Self-parking on the property is available for Inn guests on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free help from a bell attendant, Simply contact the front desk for assistance with your luggage.


Free turndown service will be provided upon request. Additionally, housekeeping is able to provide items you may have forgotten such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shower cap and mending kits.

   
Free business center: Our friendly front desk staff is available 24-hours a day to offer facsimile and photocopy services at a nominal fee. An internet connected PC with printer is available for guest to use at a nominal fee.


Free safe deposit boxes: Safe deposit boxes are available at no charge through the Front Desk.

Free wireless internet: Complimentary high speed wireless internet access is included with your stay


Step out the door and transport anywhere you need to go in Portland aboard the portland streetcar. The Inn @ Northrup Station has been a proud sponsor of the Portland Streetcar stop at NW 21st and Northrup. The Portland Streetcar is a convenient and eco-friendly form of transportation taking guests through Northwest Portland, the Pearl District, Downtown Portland, and the South Waterfront. Guests of the Inn @ Northrup Station receive complimentary (FREE) tickets with their stay.

The Inn @ Northrup Station has become known as a unique boutique hotel with a very distinctive Northwest Portland flair! & As Alice in wonderland fell down the rabbit hole when she got to wonderland she felt right at home, that is just how I felt at the Northrup Inn! 

A friendship that started by Grace... The Grace body care review!!

In October, while "Hub's" & I went down the Oregon coast we were lucky to meet up with an amazing mother daughter duo, I stumbled across their spa line at two of the "fur" baby stores one in Seaside & my favorite place on the coast Puppy Love. Not knowing at the time that they did a human line as well.  Talking to Natalie on the phone a few months back we clicked. The love that they have for their company and their faith.  

A company that is made from simple grass roots of an American dream. 

In a time when the Economy is going down, these ladies are taking their dreams and making them into reality! 

A few weeks ago when they sent me one of their products to try they decided to have me try the body polish! As I used this for the first time, I truly felt like I had a little Heaven on Earth! The places that I used it on my body felt so soft and smooth and the smell of it was to die for. I can't wait to use their other products!

Grace Body Essentials is a company that believes in changing the World.  Through speaking to the public, creating their natural body products, and working with a variety of charities,                                                              they are changing lives, one person at a time.

Some of their products include but are not limited to...

Whipped Shea Body Butter, 

Black Mud Mask, 

Paraben Free Lotions, 

Speciality Facial Bars, 

Lip Balms - 

at this time they are currently working to bring you 

an all Natural Hair Line!

It is a mother & daughter team that with their combined efforts run this successful business.  

As you can imagine being family isn't always easy,                                         add the fact that they are total opposites!  

Every day they come together with different ideas. 

sometimes making beautiful mistakes, 

Always bringing the best product to their 

clients, friends, and family.  

Grace Body Essentials goal is to use only natural ingredients,                           this includes organic, fair trade, and local.

Some of our ingredients come from Africa as well as Israel, and other places throughout the world.  

They have released the following lines....

Babies & Children - "Itsy, Bitsy Grace"

Fur Babies - " Happy Dog" (Dogs only at the present time)

Manly 

Woman

Their fragrances are personalized with custom orders.  

You can contact them through their website www.gracebody.com, 

phone if you have hypoallergenic concerns 

503 753-5361 

(they can meet your needs) Or if you are in the area call into 

The Custer House B&B - 

503 738-7825, 

where there is a boutique and you may experience the products.  

Because they are growing in leaps and bounds they have 

consultants through out the states.

If you would like information on being a consultant please contact them as well.

Alison & Natalie invite you to ....

"Reveal The Real You"

This is a company that is going places and going to those places fast. Do yourself a favor and be the first of your friends and family to fall in love with these fab products. Tell them Kingstongirl sent you to them.... This is the next hottest thing. Don't be left in the dust... 

Tell you something Tuesday..........

Well yesterday the spring around here is still in full swing, yes we have had rain but it was hit or miss and while that sun was out I decided that I would get out and clean some of my garden beds, I planted some flowers. This was what it looked like to start off.

Spring fever is hitting me hard and I have so much I want to do and so much I have planned. We have a breeze way between our house and our neighbors home, on this side of our yard, I have plans for a few kids toys and a picnic table. A great place that the little one I nanny & my niece and nephews when they come visit can play in the shade from the shadow of the two houses. 


I look forward to going to a few of the farmers markets in the next month that I can grow flowers & veggies. We had a wonderful garden last summer and the joy that we had when we were able to eat and share the wonderful veggies & fruits. This is something I'm going to try with container gardens so a trip to the library is in the near future plans. Being able to travel I see so many fun and wonderful things to landscape and try. 

 I'm in love with Lady bugs & they make the pops of red in the gloomy Seattle weather that we get to have off & on till summer.  We are going to do some entertaining and the yard is the perfect place to enjoy the long wonderful days of the summer near the sound. We can watch the city lights dance upon the water, the sail boats, ferry boats going from Kingston to Seattle to the fuel dock., & the tugs going in and out of the ports, once in a while we can watch the Eagles soar all from our deck on the front of our house. 

We have moved around a great deal, over the years that we have been married. I have only a few houses that I was in love with, of course the 1st one we made a home in together in Kingston, we both worked right down the street so it was great to walk to and from our home to work..  We then had another house in Hansville on Point No Point Road, we had so many wonderful ideas, but didn't have enough money to pull it off, the house was amazing and watching the ships pass by was always a delight & at night we would leave the sliding glass door open so we could read and listen to the waves.  After that we had a home again in Kingston & we loved this place in fact it was on property that when my family homesteaded here in Kingston they owned, buying a piece of that back was wonderful, for the past few years after we sold our home we have floated around and trying to find another home that I was in love with as much as those three houses were a hard thing to do, finally we found our home that we are in now & I'm in love again. We will be here for years to come if we have anything to say about it. 

I look forward to making this even more of our home. I can't wait to do things to this place that makes it feel like home even more. So we are working on the outside when its not raining and we are doing things to the inside when it is.  So on Tuesdays I will post about things to that we are doing around the house, what you are doing around your house and ideas on what we all are doing for the Spring Cleaning! :) 

Our stay at Hotel Vintage Plaza... the love affair continues....

9 1/2 years ago Hub’s and I went to Portland Oregon for our first time as a couple.  We were close to getting engaged and thought that getting away for a little romantic night would be a good thing for us to see if we could travel well together. This sparked our love to travel and a turning point in our relationship. “Hub’s” and I are always traveling. Going here or there trying new places exploring as many different North American places we can check off our been there done that list!  First on the top of the list is Portland.

As we started to drive more and more from Seattle the gas stations prices were getting higher and higher every time I past the gas station. $4.08 a gallon is more then milk, a case of diet coke, or a grande extra white chocolate mocha give me a break this sucks! If we had planned a little bit better the train would have been a great choice. Traveling from Portland to We then dropped by the bagel shop to grab a dozen along with some cream cheese, then a stop off at trader joe’s to go and get the picnic stuff. I like doing this because you can more then likely always have a room with a fridge. In case  we pack the cooler in the back seat. This always saves on the expense of eating out. which in Portland is always a food coma. 

So I decided that I needed to check out some digs in Portland I knew right away that I had to ask if we could check out another Kimpton property! You know my love affair with their hotels. My goal with the Kimpton hotels is to go to every single one of them! This is my dream and for the love I feel for this hotel I hope that they allow me to do so! ( *hint*hint*) We were told that this was the first Kimpton hotel that branched out of the San Fransico bay area. With that in mind as I looked around the hotel I could feel the bay area charm. 

Before we even made it to the hotel the front manager Ben emailed me to make sure that we were ready for our stay with them. We were greeted by the doorman dressed in theme, with their big smiles and warm welcome, they parked the car while we went to look around because our room wasn’t ready yet. ( It was 10:30 in the morning) When we came back our luggage was in the room and because it was our 10th anniversary together ( not married) they did a turn down service and had a bottle of  champagne & two glass waiting for our return. A very thoughtful thing to do.  These are the things that makes Kimpton stand out from other hotels. The attention to details that they show each customer that stays in their hotels feel, makes me question staying anywhere else. 

The boutique hotels that the Kimptons are known for is amazing and as always   their staff was absolutely wonderful. The lobby was warm and welcoming and a perfect place to hang out and enjoy their nightly wine tastings sharing and listening to wonderful stories from the other people that were staying there as well. We met one couple that was doing their travels from San Diego all the way to Seattle only staying at Kimpton properties. They had just left San Fransico, leaving very early that morning. It made me excited to be going there myself for us to enjoy a few of their properties in the bay area. I couldn’t be more excited. 

I highly recommend spending a little extra and book an Executive King Room.We stayed in their Deluxe King Guestroom feature custom furnishings in  shades of persimmon, cream and soft brown that create a contemporary, sophisticated atmosphere, yet not so contemporary that it isn’t relaxing.  Many rooms offer spellbinding city views,  pillow-top king-size bed, & a 37-inch flat panel LCD television, a work desk and chair, armoire with private bar and mini-refrigerator and as always the top of the line luxury bath amenities.  Our room didn’t have a view of the city but that of the hotel across the way,  I would have also loved to have a spa room and a little more wow! Not that this room wasn’t nice, I just wanted to try to experience what I have in Seattle at those hotels, they always seem to make the wow factor a one two punch. 

The next time I stay here these are the two places that I would have to stay in one of these rooms. The amazing and beautiful Starlight Guestroom. There are Nine of these type of rooms onsite this room is able to invite you to sleep under the stars!!!! The Conservatory windows overhead allow for stargazing from the comfort of your pillow-top queen-size bed. The Sleek modern furnishings make you feel like a celebrity. Although pets are not allowed in this type of room, this is still on my top ten list of rooms to stay in for traveling! Now if they could take me in to spend a night here my heart might just skip a few beats. 

Another room I would love to stay at is the Garden Spa Guestroom, 

there are only three of these special rooms in the hotel located on their 9th floor and include a pillow-top queen-size bed and 150-squarefoot outdoor cedar balcony with a 2-person chlorinated hot tub enclosed by a lattice privacy screen. I would love to sit in this hot tub with the “hub’s” while drinking one of Portland’s own micro brews and one of the wonderful Voodoo doughnuts and gazing out into the  skyline of the beautiful city of Portland. 

The location was amazing!!! The one thing I love when I stay places is to just park the car and walk everywhere else. This hotel made it possible for us to do this,  we could walk to everything, where ever you would like to go to. If you want to go someplace else that would be a little to far to walk you can hop on Portlands amazing transit system. I wish I could bottle it up and take it back up to Seattle with me, it would be nice to not have to own a car to get around they city area. 

 Onsite is the wonderful and highly award winning restaurantjust steps from the Vintage Plaza lobby, Pazzo. I honestly can't say enough great things about this place to eat at!!! They also give you a 30% off coupon for you to use while you are staying here to enjoy in Pazzo. Their menu brings together the Old World tradition with the rich and fresh foods of the Pacific Northwest. It has a stone wood-burning pizza oven that’s smells simply awaken your senses to the promise of a lovely and amazing meal.  That promise is kept with outstanding service and Chef John Eisenhart's creative food worthy coma. 

While we were there we enjoyed a few things on the fab menu, I had the GNOCCHI handmade potato pillows, wild boar sparerib ragú, with a side of yummy brussels sprouts and pancetta.  “hub’s” had the mouth watering RAVIOLI braised beef cheek-filled pasta, tangerine, black garlic along with the side of cardoncello mushroom sauté & a side of panissa, with truffle salt. It was a great experience and topped with bottle of a regional Italian white wine Friulano, a Le Vigne Zamo, Friuli, from 2008.  We didn’t have any room in our tummy’s for the desert menu so the next time we eat at Pazzo we will start with the desert menu first. 

 In addition to Portland's beloved Pazzo, you'll also find the casual Pazzoria Bakery & Café at Hotel Vintage Plaza. Pazzoria Bakery & Café is an authentic Italian café in the heart of downtown Portland. Let yourself be transported to Italy as you bite into Pazzoria's own artisan breads and pastries, made every day by hand. Treat yourself to, A mouth watering delicious variety of traditional Italian breakfast pastries perfect espresso drinks, freshly squeezed juices, Italian sodas, wine and beer. Whatever you are looking for this bakery has it for you.

We are so glad that we stayed at the Hotel Vintage Plaza it is still Green like all the other Kimpton Properties & just like their earth friendly ideas it makes me happy that  all their hotels care as much.   When I go back to Portland I will stay here, it is no surprise that my love affair continues......... Next time I will be bringing my "fur" babies with me, allowing us to experience the dog  friendly city that Portland is & the red carpet that the Hotel Vintage Plaza does for all their fur baby guests. My "Fur" babies deserve this!