Kimpton Hotel Review: Hotel Helix Does not Value Your Safety or Their Word

This is not a review, it is a letter to the public chronicling our experience with a Kimpton Hotel. 

Unfortunately, this is a negative experience that I do feel is valuable to share. As a small business owner, I do not believe in putting out bad press and it truly disheartens me that our experience has to conclude with this letter being put out into the public. The reasoning behind my motive is not to discredit the hotel, but make aware that people’s safety is NOT top priority at Kimpton and they will take back their promises once they know you are keeping quiet. I do not know about you, but integrity means a lot to me when doing business with a hotel. 

Upon entering The Helix at Washington DC we were excited. The hotel is modern, cool, and the staff seemed friendly and welcoming. Our room was larger than most standard rooms with the funky design motif true throughout. We arrived at 6:30pm on a Saturday in August. We had to unwind after our five hour drive from Long Island so we ventured out to find Good Stuff Eatery at about 7:20pm. We asked the front desk for directions, and we did not return until 9:30pm. We got ready for bed, and went to sleep. The next morning after getting ready we realized money was missing from our room. After going through our stuff several times we asked for a door check because we were not getting any verbal answers as to if anyone was in our room (like housekeeping). After door check it was discovered that at 8:30pm somebody left our room. Meaning somebody entered without a key, or was already inside. 

Naturally our skin crawled. This was appalling, scary, and everything in between. Panicked, the assistant manager (who gave us directions the night before and knew we were gone) stated ‘Sometimes our doors do not latch. We have been having trouble with the new system. Did you check your door?’ After that statement registering we said ‘Yes, the door closed behind us. We even pushed on it.’ His response came quickly ‘Well, you are safe, but, well, sometimes people drink too much at the wine bar and drunks could just come into your room if the door was unlatched. So it really could be anybody.’ 

I am going to let that sink in for you...

DRUNKScouldwanderthehotel&COMEINTOYOURROOMbecauseOURDOORSDONOTLATCH 

This obviously played in our heads like a scrolling marquee. 

So our money was gone. The money that we saved up for our anniversary trip was gone. Our room was broken into. Someone was within our personal belongings and took our money. The hotel’s doors don’t latch right. Washington DC is a crime ridden area. We were stolen from. Our doors do not lock right. We could be attacked. We were robbed. A stranger was in our room. Crime ridden. Safety. Unsafe. Robbed. Happy Anniversary. 

After a long day of a lot of mind clutter we decided we wanted to leave. Not only did we feel unsafe, but we felt unsatisfied with the explanations given to us by Hotel Helix. After expressing such discontent we were offered a suite. To that I pettily scoffed that staying in a suite would attract more crime - so forget it. We understood the hotel’s position and I tearfully packed up knowing my husband put a lot into the trip, and it was just time to go. The manager on duty was quite lovely. She did want to make it right but really could not. We left, ate dinner, and drove five hours home to New York. 

Kimpton did the right thing in refunding us for the trip. We were told that the insurance company would call us and most likely we would get our money back. While we did not expect it, we were happy that the effort was going to be made. 

The next day my Husband was contacted by the manager that was not on duty the day before. After a dozen apologies we were assured that we were going to be refunded in full. On top of that, he said that he did not want to bother with insurance and he would give us our stolen money back on our credit card. “We are happy to do it” he stated “Going through insurance is a pain, and we just want to make it right, so your money will be awarded back on your card.” We were thrilled. He added something else about if we ever stay at a Kimpton again it would be on them. Reassured and content we discussed our feelings of gratitude for the chain. I was contacted personally by another woman, who I sang praises to because we were being awarded our money back and the slate is wiped clean. 

Little did I know, I was putting my foot in my mouth. After a week of not seeing the refund my Husband e-mailed Kimpton. Apparently that ‘Stolen Money Refund’ was a manipulation. The reasoning we got was that ‘We got back the money for the trip, which equaled the stolen money, so we are even.’ This was not what we were told. Annoyed, I called for some further explaining. I got the run around. Please do not get me wrong, when our money was stolen I did not feel like I was owed anything. Whether the hotel was covering an inside job or a drunk wandered into our room I accepted the loss. But then, Hotel Helix told us they were giving us our money back. We were ‘so corporative and kind.’ ‘It was the least they could do.’ ‘Thank you for not calling the cops or making a scene.’ We were idiots to not call the cops and make a scene. 

What Kimpton was playing off as a miscommunication was a bold faced lie that they told us to keep us happy and quiet. When confronting them about the lie they shrugged it off. This dishonesty and lack of integrity now added to the fact that in a drug filled, high alert area their unsafe policies of low security (no cameras in the hallways upstairs) and non-latching doors. The tension heightened when they started to flip the script. ‘The money could have been lost’ she said ‘Someone may have been in your room, but how did they get in?’ she said. The rage rose within me. Everything they said previously swelled inside of me. Now I knew they would lie to save themselves. 

Kimpton believes in blaming the victim. So does their insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual. 

Shortly after I hung up with Kimpton my husband got a phone call from insurance. Their demeanor was extremely irritable. Laura*, at Liberty Mutual pretty much said we were out of luck. Listen, we did not expect insurance to come through. Especially when we heard it was Liberty Mutual on the line. Annoyed with the attitude on the other line, my husband asked Laura what would have happened if the door did not latch and a drunk wandered in and attacked me. She scoffed and said “We would lie about the doors latching and assure the public that it was the fault of the guests, and not the hotel. We accept no responsibility.” Quickly my Husband reminded her that we were TOLD the doors were faulty and ours PROVED to be, she responded “Someone was in your room, but how did they get in? I don’t care what you were told, our statement would read that our doors are fine and you were just looking for attention” “So you would lie?” “Yes, we would lie, because this case is not really worth our time.” 

Now, many of you probably have in your heads a few things. Some of you are upset about staying at hotel that does not value safety. Some of you are thinking it could have been worse and for us to get over it. Our attitude leaving the hotel was that it could have been worse, but we were uncomfortable but appreciated the efforts made by Helix to make it better. We left anyway because it was unsettling, our trip had a cloud over it, and really - our money was gone - what could we do? We were even more relieved when Kimpton told us that we would receive the full refund. We were so grateful for that. When they added the money that was stolen plus telling us they would comp Kimpton rooms for our next trip we were stunned. That was above and beyond. Unfortunately, it was a manipulation, a lie, and the tease of getting our money back hurt just as bad as it being stolen from us. The comped rooms I feel like is a total farce too. At this point would I even want to stay at a Kimpton? I am not sure I would. 

This whole incident got me thinking, is there anyone else out there that this has happened to? People who did not call the police (our BIGGEST mistake) to keep everybody else’s stay quiet and put their trust into the hotel? I hope not. Kimpton did say we could still file a police report, yet they started to tell us that our money was ‘lost’ and it was ‘unlikely’ to prove people we in our room even though there was electronic evidence. Pretty much, Kimpton was prepared to lie on the report to make us look bad. At first they seemed accommodating, but they were just another company hiding behind their suits. To me, they were covering up a potential inside job. 

All in all, Hotel Helix in Washington DC is unsafe. They will likely tell you their doors are on a ‘new system‘ - yes a new system that allows doors to not latch correctly. In an area with a poor reputation for safety, the cool decor matters less than the fact that you can get robbed, lied to, and it is approved by Hotel Helix. They will stand by their faulty locks and roaming drunks, and their insurance will lie for them to make it all go away. Your business is not valued - for the price I would stay elsewhere. Especially since they rob you for parking as well ($100 for two nights, yes everyone, Kimpton does not care about your well being at all).   

We love to praise the cool boutique hotels we stay at for our anniversaries, but Kimpton’s hotels will never be on our lists again. As nice, and as fun as they seem they are a bunch of two faced managers. While I know none of this was personally and it was only business and they need to protect themselves. Well, I need to protect myself too, and warn other young twenty something couples that you are in danger at a Kimpton, especially Helix in Washington DC. They may ignore these reviews, or they may release a statement to discredit us, but they know what really happened and our well being was not their main concern.

I truly wanted this entry to be cluttered with the cool pictures I took of Helix and DC in general. But, why would I advertise a place that I would warn people against. Hotel Helix and Kimpton should not be at the top of your booking lists. 

*Laura said that we could quote her on behalf of Kimpton and Liberty Mutual. She thought my threat was hallow when I said I would be writing something. If you have noticed I have not mentioned the names of the Kimpton employees (sans Jay) because they were nothing but lovely, even if they revoked promises, they always took our calls. I am not interested in putting their jobs in danger, I only want people to know that Kimpton as a company does not value honesty or safety. 

The Adventures of Stephanie Continue

My long lost blog. Hi, Hello. Wow. 

2012 was a lost year for this girl. Since my last post my life is completely different. I started this blog in sort of a bad place. I was not myself last year, and still I am slowly coming out of this funk I was in for far too long. You can see it in some of my last posts, a lot of circumstantial blame, a lot of walls I was putting up. 

After leaving my job at the Salon, I stayed in bed for two weeks straight. I barely moved. I changed my clothes maybe twice. It was the lowest point of my lifelong battle with depression. My grey sheets held me close while my mind unraveled my sense of self. For the first time Stephanie had no plan. 

I was terrified. 

After my two weeks of wallowing self doubt came about a month of self loathing. I am the meanest person to myself. I have never met somebody meaner than when I am talking to myself, especially then. My scared, self-hating attitude shut the world out in a really big way. There were many people in my life kind enough to give me little pieces of worth - and while I accepted, the kindness was on the outside of the wall I was leaning against. 

The story gets drawn out. And eventually I stand against the wall - while a new job opportunity presents itself to me. 

I am working with a group of people that without knowing it, brought me to a place where I have started to tear down this wall. 

I have been working so hard in coming back to myself - and within that, I want to start blogging again. 

On my 24th birthday I made many promises to myself, one of those promises was that I would work on being kinder to my reflection, and many more that I will keep inside for now. 

I have gotten 4 tattoos this year (YAY) and made new friends that finally let me lay some old friendships to rest. I am going at a good pace - join me again? 

I have no idea what I will write about - but I am going to get back to writing. 

Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Stephanie, it is very nice to meet you. 

Checking In

Working on getting this blog better (how many times am I going to make that promise?) but for now, look at this adorable photo of my Husband with Buster my Ceil & Poppop's tiny Yorkie who loves him: 

Update

Well it has been an interesting few weeks I can tell you that much. Steev and I started our date & recipe jars and pulled 'stay in and cook a new recipe' and a spicy chicken curry weight watchers dish. The dish was bland, we decided that if it were s stir fry with some better spices and without the sauce it would be pretty great. So we are going to rework it soon.

We pulled for the next week a trip to the bamboo forest and a braised pork shoulder. We were all set to make it happen when Steev's doctor scheduled him for back surgery. We had pre-op appointments and the surgery was to happen in 4 days from the doctor's appointment. Needless to say - our date jars have been put on hold.

The good thing about that is we will be doubling up once he is healed - 2 adventures a week? Ok, I will take it!

What also has had me sidetracked, is the fact that my Aunt Fran sadly passed away earlier this month.

How awesome is that photo? Seriously, my Dad's sweater is ridiculous but that is my Aunt with her Husband my Uncle Matt (on the left) and my Father (on the right). Aunt Fran unfortunately faced many obstacles in this lifetime. When I was about 9 or 10, she was diagnosed with MS. As her body gave up on her, she did not give up on life. In fact, she was on the dace floor at my wedding! Something she hadn't done in years...

I turned around and when she was there I was overjoyed. Aunt Fran loved to dance, and sing and laugh - her body kept her from a lot, but in that moment it was not holding her back. 

About a year ago, Aunt Fran was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Don't get me started. If any woman on this planet should be spared of such a thing, it should have been her. Because of the weakness developed by MS, the fight was not won. We lost her. 

It is so strange that funerals also create these wonderful memories. If you have a family like mine, we spend so much concentrated time together after a loss it is impossible not to feel ok for a little while. I think the only thing that gets you through something like this is each other. The funeral was hard. So hard. One of the most heartbreaking days I will ever experience. My Uncle said these beautiful words about his lost love - and he also made us laugh, just like she would have. 

The family I have is one of pure dysfunction filled with skeletons in every closet. A lot has happened to me inside of this family and it has hardened and angered me. I am working on letting go - and hopefully this year brings me and other family members peace because I do love them a lot. My cousins and I will forever remain close, because we promised, and because we keep our promises. 

It has been a doozy so far 2013. Steev is recovering pretty well, today I was supposed to pick up an extra shift at work but due to some kids being sick, and me being sick, I was told to stay home and rest. I love working for real people. 

I am hoping for my last W2 to come in the mail ASAP - Steev and I will file and then hopefully go buy our Prius C (SO EXCITED). 

Also, I think I am going to save up for the BOCES graphic design course, and web design courses - with us relaunching our Event Coordination business, these are skills I think I am in need of. 

Anyway this was a rambling non-cohesive post because I cannot wrap my head around a lot right now. Today will be filled with laundry and cleaning and then a meeting tonight. It is a much needed day for sure. 

The Lockout is Ending, But my Frustration is Not

When my husband texts me at 6 o'clock in the morning anxiety shoots through my body like lightening. I assume something terrible is happening since well if I text him any earlier than 10am ever it is an issue. But today, the text message read:

"Tentative Agreement Has Been Reached. Hockey is Coming Back" 

"Merry Little Christmas, Jesus was given the best gift this year"

Immediately I am overjoyed. The lockout induced depression that has been in this household has become unbearable. Normally, the NHL Season starts and the New York Rangers schedule sits proudly on our refrigerator. All plans made are around this schedule, and when I moved in with my Husband I kept a promise that I will never keep him from a Ranger game. Hockey is something we truly enjoy, and since 2008 I share in the love of the sport that my Husband so deeply has. Hockey is thrilling to me, the players in the NHL are true athletes. Who else can balance while skating backwards dodging hits while focusing on the puck? Nobody. And while my smile seems permanently strewn across my face an unsettling feeling creeps up into my system. 

While Hockey is Returning, You Will Not See Me at a Game 

My frustration started during the Playoffs last year. The Rangers were amazing. They were playing like we haven't seen in a long time and it was so exciting. Every game my Husband sat in the same spot watching our team as they did us proud, or not so proud. I will never forget the devastation that was caused by their loss to The Devils in the final rounds before The Cup. I was working, wearing my jersey in the middle of the mall talking to fans who stopped by to check to see if I was streaming the game at my post. I got home just in time to watch the game close out our fighting season and my Husband hung his head, went into the bathroom and shaved off his mighty playoff beard. The problem I had during this time was the fact that Playoff tickets could only be afforded by businessmen and tourists - true fans couldn't even sit in the 'blue seats' for the prices asked. We splurged on many trips into the Garden, in fact I did some rough math. Last year for the 2011-2012 Hockey Season, between my Husband and myself,  around $2,000 was spent on Hockey Tickets & Merchandise. This number is so high because of our splurging on The Winter Classic which obviously meant so much to us since it did top my Top 100 of 2012 list. We went to the NYR & NYK Double Header at MSG, a few games including one that lifted our spirits as we mourned the loss of Nanny (The Rangers killed the Panthers 6-1 on December 11th 2011. Nanny, a fan, never got to see the Blueshirts play at the Garden, this meant the world to us). And even with sentimental value we spent more than we could afford on a sport we loved just for the pure enjoyment we got out of it. 

And what did this estimated two grand get us? A f@*%!ing lockout. 

It almost seems silly when you detach yourself and realize how much you emotionally invest in sporting events and music. Even when I defended Jack White for his September RCMH Shows I had to smirk at how much we really take pride in things that we do not even participate in. I hit my head on walls when I stand too close to them, do you really think I can skate? No. My Husband can shoot a puck and strum a guitar but he isn't getting paid what these guys get paid. I have a serious issue when the fans, who make not nearly what the athletes or musicians make are the ones shelling out the dough and getting a cat fight in return. While in this Lockout, my best friend and fellow NYR fan reminded me of a prominent scene in one of the best movies ever made: 

It is true, is the NHL going to pay my credit card bills for the tickets I charged? Is the NHL going to apologize for showing that while I thought they were the only professional sports league left not fueled by green but by heart that I was wrong? Are they? No. They're not. The Rangers got robbed of a promising season, and fans got robbed of the escape they crave. 

Will I continue to buy knock off jerseys? Yes. Will I continue to tune in especially when this lockout is a distant memory (until Bettman pulls this shit again in 10 years)? Yes. Am I so over the moon excited to hear Mr. Sam Rosen's voice again - IT'S A POWER PLAY YES! Am I saddened and disappointed by millionaires fighting will billionaires? You bet your ass yes. 

But, I am leaving this entry opened ended as I will probably blog about The Rangers as the season progresses. I follow too many Hockey Blogs and get too invested in the games to not lend my two cents from time to time - when Twenty Something Stephanie gets a makeover as a blog in the upcoming months there will be a specific section for my Rangers loving. This entry is not filled with the facts and statistics I have been obsessing over because you will be able to find all of that elsewhere. When I have a Hockey specific section be prepared for me to throw those numbers at ya, this is meant for pure opinion - I will not be buying a ticket to MSG to watch the boys fly - I just can't. Because while King Hank is amazing - he isn't going to pay my bills is he? While I look forward to going back to see The Rangers in the famous arena, I am locking this season out and will be enjoying from home. 

With that said, LET'S GO RANGERS!

(is it too early for this shit? haha)

Nice to Meet You 2013

I woke up this morning actually feeling different - 2013 will be a year that I prove a lot to myself. I am really hoping I am up to the challenges I have put in place for myself, but I believe that I can. 

A lot of people ask me about my resolutions, this year I am keeping them to myself, but I will share the resolutions that Steev & I have put in place for ourselves. 

2013 marks 10 years that Steev & I are together. In April, we will celebrate 10 years of becoming a couple. Living together for the past 4 years & being married for 1 has brought us to face many new obstacles but together we have been able to overcome it all. 

So, to make light of all of the mess life has thrown at us, we have chosen to have some fun. Instead of being bored, we have decided to be excited. Instead of beating ourselves up for being unhealthy, we have decided to explore food!

We took 2 of our many Mason Jars and each wrote out 26 dates & recipes to pick out every week and experience together. I don't know his dates or recipes, he does not know mine, so every week we will be looking at something new! The dates range from old favorites to places we have never been before and only a few could involve food (we decided). The recipes was really fun, we took down our many cookbooks and picked out 26 ones we wanted to try. I picked a lot of Weight Watchers and Vegan Recipes (to mix it up) with a few Top Chef indulgences. I am really curious to see what he chooses. 

At the beginning of each week we will choose one paper from each and then pick a day of the week to follow through. This is something I am really looking forward to in 2013.

This blog will be going through a makeover also - I am purchasing Photoshop within the month and when I teach myself some tricks this blog will become a big kid blog! 2013 will be a fun year to document, project 365 will continue on my Facebook, and our weekly dates and recipes will be documented on here. 

Happy 2013 Everyone - What are your resolutions? 

And the beat goes on...

My Top 100 of 2012

Well, it is that time of year again. The time of year that I get more nostalgic than Summertime and sit and think about the last 365 days starting with January 1st and looking at all that has happened. I have to say 2012 was one of the most interesting years to date. Not as hard as other years, but not entirely easy either 2012 served many purposes. One major purpose was family. The next was my jobs and the list progresses. This is the 6th year of me blogging a top 100! My previous #1s were:

2007: Graduating from High School

2008: Moving out of Kings Park 

2009: Deleting my Facebook (<--- BAHAHAHA LOL idealistic Stephanie)

2010: Adopting Annie 

2011: Graduating from College (2011 was posted on Facebook, take that 2009 Stephanie)

Reading those makes me insanely happy. Even if there are people on there that aren't in my life anymore - whether it just be that we went in different directions or if the ending was ugly, it seriously doesn't matter. 2013 is a year I am really working on letting go of a lot of the anger I feel. I talk about it a lot but I know that inside, I hold onto everything. All it does is hurt me, the people who I am upset with don't feel this, so why should I? 

Also, I had the same blog URL for 4 years straight - WHAT?! I had no idea! Stephaniesays.wordpress.com CRACKS ME UP! It is so funny how you and your politics and ideas change over time - I can't even read some of it. I have come so far from 18 year old me, it makes me kind of proud. 

Well, the rambling must come to a close and the list must start! 

100. My photo wall, and everything it means to me. 

99. Panda. Effing. Garden. Chinese Food rules my life sometimes. And their fortunes are just the best. 

98. Pinterest and its all inspiring craftiness and lazy days. 

97. Our Ice Cream Maker - even if we used it only once (LOL) it was damn good!

96. Steev setting up Darts in our backyard and the silly great games that were played because of it.

95. Seeing The Hunger Games at midnight, dressed like professionals with our coffee about 10 years too late for the party. 

94. Being crafty (see 98) 

93. Craigslist.org for the free cool stuff and the hilarity it ensues. 

92. My ever growing collection of typewriters. They are everywhere. 

91. There seriously was a helium shortage this year. 

90. Antiquing and Auctions 

89. Thursday BBQs turning into 'Tim Gets Drunk and we Yell at Phil' Thursdays

88. Our friend the Fat Squirrel 

87. The Annie Lookalike 

86. The 'Drop Your Pants Here' sign in front of the St. James Cleaners. 

85. Streaming Netflix even though it is kind of disappointing. 

84. The Urban Decay Vice Pallet. In. Love. 

83. The Lobster Feast for Katie's Birthday 

82. My hair. Another great year for my hair. 

81. Our intense collection of Mason Jars & Old Bottles 

80. The kick ass Candy Buffet Nicole & I put out. 

79. 'Do you have a photo of the day yet? Can I be it?' 

78. Photo of the Day in general. Seriously, such a great tool for traditions such as this. Also, it is just fantastic to look back and say 'wow, a lot really does happen in a year'. Also, getting photos of everyone on their birthday, and if I remember at every outing is something I really cherish. We take memories for granted. 

77. 'Wedding Wednesday' in Jan. Jumpstarting our first year as CNO 

76. All of the clients we had and the days we got to share with them. 

75. Deciding that CNO is now to take a new direction. New name to be announced and website to be launched soon! 

74. Painting most of our apartment, the bathroom is the only room left! 

73. Our awesome new bedroom, I am finally proud of the work I have done in this place. 

72. Finishing our wedding albums. Making those scrapbooks were tough for many reasons. We came to terms with being not-so-happy with our wedding photos and just relished in the memories they captured. 

71. Auditioning for the Newlywed Game. We knew each other too well, weren't too crazy, and were unafraid to say whatever we felt. The funniest part was when Steev said he was 26 when he was still 25 and I called him out on it. We could have gotten a call back and missed it - but auditioning was fun enough. 

70. Perks of Being a Wallflower - the movie didn't really ruin anything for me. Instead it inspired a level of nostalgia that made me really, really happy. 

69.  21 Jumpstreet and laughing my ass off with Nicole

68. Seeing Jackie Hughes and meeting her wonderful Girlfriend Erinn - I want to see more of them in 2013 

67. Keeping in touch with that Good Ol' Jason Todd who seems to make it on the list every damn year 

66. Keeping in touch with all of my former educators, like Cruikshank & Flatty. Facebook is helpful in that department - and these educators becoming more like friends. 

65. Losing power with Hurricane Sandy. Yeah, it ruined our Salem trip and having no power is a bummer but quite honestly the 4 day break from life was pretty fantastic. 

64. I know we already mentioned clients, but Tom & Jessica's wedding was amazing and becoming friends with them as been truly wonderful!

63. The Hamptons Designer Showhouse with my Mom, Ceil & Freddy. It was pretty amazing. 

62. Seeing Tim Bradley again and having him over for some food 

61. Actually hosting many BBQs and dinners, I am hoping to host more in 2013 

60. Steev's iPad 

59. Kings Park Half & Half - The original. 

58. Liz's Rainbow Cookie Birthday Cake (oh my goodness so delicious) 

57. Finding out that bakery makes Rainbow Cookie Cupcakes 

56. Annie eating our Rainbow Cookie Cupcakes 

55. Annie being the biggest B on earth & Annie Shaming 

54. Seb's empalalas & his face when he opened his gun for Christmas

53. Our Christmas Decorations - our trees and tree filler and colors. 

52. Being a Stella & Dot Stylist for a hot second and all of the amazing jewelry. Then selling a ton of pieces for Christmas Money. Yeah, that's how I roll. 

51. Babysitting Maggie, it was so funny to have a St. Bernard in the apartment and Maggie is the greatest. 

50. Uncle Lou's 50th Birthday Party and his Butt Cake. 

49. The Coiro Brothers recreating that childhood photo. So great. 

48. The Tattoo Convention 

47. Liberty Tattoo Company in general - Dan always does the best work and so glad to see he has a great shop to his name now 

46. Taking Alyssa to get her first tattoo and her taking it like a champ! 

45. Bowling to send Mallory off into the Airforce  

44. Skyping Mallory & Her new Husband Keith in on Christmas Eve 

43. Meeting Aunt Eleanor & Cousin Cookie 

42. The knitting fiasco on St. Patrick's Day - too funny

41. Steev tiling our backsplash and it looking gorgeous 

40. The cutie Tess turning 2 and her great birthday party! 

39. Going to see the basketball man himself Big Steve play a game 

38. Moving Big Steve in to his new apartment. Furniture shopping with him and helping him out, pretty great stuff. 

37. My cousin Amanda's new apartment in all of its beautifulness. And her party saving our Halloween from totally sucking. 

36. Sam Pape 'Roomie' and her baby girl Giovanna being such a pretty little thing. From her Baby Shower to the Naming, it was great spending time with the Pape ladies! 

35. Saying goodbye to feathers and having 3 jobs in the course of a month. 

34. My job at Sivana, and then letting it go. 

33. Being unemployed for a little while. It really helped me figure some things out, or at least let me think about a lot of things. 

32. My new jobs as a Crisis Counselor  for Project Hope and a Daycare Assistant at Little Lotus are really great, and truly fulfilling.

31. Allowing myself time to figure it out. 

30. Allowing myself time. Period. 

29. Amanda the Florist (as she is known haha) getting engaged and being kick ass all the way around. Amazing flowers, amazing friend! 

28. Alexis & Keith and growing a friendship out of a professional relationship which is pretty damn awesome! 

27. Hurricane their cat, she may hate me, but she is really great. 

26. Chaos the cat, Vera the dog, and all of the other furry creators in our lives (Maggie, Beans, Bogey, Harlow, Skeeter, Betty, Boomer and Charlotte) always making us happy. 

25. I already mentioned Annie, but she rules. 

24. Uncle Matt & Aunt Vicky's Christmas Dessert Party 

23. Steev's Tattoo that is based off of our Lovemore Photo which is pretty amazing 

22. Watching Nicole Mastromonica participate in the Tough Mudder. Even if it meant getting sun poisoning I was so proud to watch my best friend kick major ass. 

21. All of our amazing friends (Big Steve, Jen Jacobs, Nicole, Michelle C. just to name a few). Whether super close or distant being in touch with all of you makes my world a better place. There is nothing better to me than a random Facebook message or text message from an old friend. 

20. Friends that are like extended family, Rose & Pat and their beautiful kids Guslie and Patrick, The Schafers, The Wellers, The Wilsons (beautiful baby Dean!). This was the year to have people like these in our lives. 

19. Rose Avella gets another number because she is the best Auntie anyone could ever ask for. Ever. So much you have done for my family this year Rose - I love you so much!

18. My beautiful cousins and all that they do for me. Really, cousins are the best kind of family. I wouldn't want to be Panama Jack anywhere else. 

17. Alyssa, Evan & Krystal's Graduation Party. Incredible. 

16. Going to Canada. 

15. Seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway. 

14. Eating at that Cuban Restaurant and seeing Demetri Martin. He was funnier live, seriously. 

13. Even though our Halloween Trip was ruined by the storm, seeing the cute trick or treaters made it worth it. 

12. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Eve with my In-Laws. It was such a blast making ugly sweaters and sharing. 

11. My new camera and the amazing images it helps me capture. Truly I am excited for 2013 and all of the memories I get to store. 

10. Steev lighting up over his new Phonograph. 

9. "LOOK IT'S PRUST" 

8. The NYR/NYK Double Header. Seriously an awesome day at MSG. #Endthelockout 

7. Our Chicago Trip, eating at The Girl and The Goat. I was sick, but loved every second of that city. 

6. Our cousin city trip.  Honestly I am the happiest when my cousins are here. All is right with the world when we are all together. I have this big ridiculous family and no matter what we all have a great time together. This year instead of being lost in a hallway we got screwed at Fridays and my cousin Ryan loves me enough to take a decoration from Bryant Park that I can use for my Christmas all year - I will totally remember this trip for that. I can't wait to hopefully go back this summer to have another city trip tradition. But, this year was great, because of how much my life is better when my cousins are here!

5. Seeing Jack White at RCMC. One of the greatest shows ever and probably my favorite musician of all time. I am a little obsessed. 

4. Meeting Andy Cohen with Liz! 

3. Our backyard. Steev worked his butt off chopping trees & clearing ivy. My Father was amazing in that he came in and helped with the materials. Then my cousin Dave, our friends, my brother and my Poppop all came over to help Steev lay out the patio on the hottest days of the year. Honestly so grateful for everyone in my life. I have the best Dad anyone could ever ask for and the best husband. Our backyard is so nice, I am so excited for a full summer with it next year. 

2. Our 1 year anniversary trip to Rhode Island. Being married a full year was amazing, Steev is the love of my life and this trip was too short and too amazing. The NYLO was ultra cool and the towns were so much fun. It was too hot, but we didn't care. Loved this vacation, the dinner that my Mom called and took care of as a present was delicious. 'I didn't know they served drinks in beakers'. We laughed so much. I really loved this weekend. 

1. The NHL Winter Classic in Philly. The year started with it, and nothing topped it. From 'I do apologize' to 'I think that is Patti Labelle' and then over to me screaming Speechless to Nicole with no voice - this was a memory of epic proportions. Steev and I were sick and disgusting but it did not mean we were missing our chance to sit in the freezing cold and watch a hockey game. The Rangers KILLED IT and kept us on our feet. We were gloating fans all the way. I loved this, LOVED THIS and would do it again in a heartbeat. But hey, the NHL decided to also be a bunch of pricks this year and demonstrate a lockout preventing me from more memories. Let's not see that again in 2013....

This year, this was truly a task! I actually had to think about it, when in previous years the list just filled itself. There was SO MUCH to choose from, meaning I am truly blessed. When it comes down to it, I have one big loud dysfunctional amazing family I would never trade in for anything else because really they are there for us no matter what. I have amazing friends, and an incredibly wonderful husband. I have a roof over my head and health insurance and sometimes at the end of the week we have no food in the house but always seem to be full anyway. In times like these, little things are what get us through, and lists like this just remind me how many big things I really have.

I hope that all of you in 2013 make an effort to store your memories. Not all of you will take a photo every day but make a point to make these memories. Go do something different with people you care about. On those nights you're doing nothing, call someone else up you know is doing nothing and bake cupcakes or rent a movie together. Make a point to be together but also take time for yourself. Know yourself enough to do something that makes you happy, or relaxes you every day and do not feel guilty about it. At every New Year we make promises to ourselves, try to only make one, and keep it.

Have a very fun filled New Years Eve, and a very beautiful New Year!