How to enjoy the last of summer with your family

Hard to believe it but the school year is already upon us once again! My husband Jay and I were able to participate in our daughter’s first-day experience as she begins a new year as a kindergartener in a new school, all very exciting, all a little nerve-racking for Reagan (and us parents!) alike. While it is an exciting time I know we are all a little sad to see summer go and want to still make the most of it before the seasons really start to change. Reagan and I have come up with some great ideas of things parents and their kids can do together after school or on the weekends to make the most of the rest of their summertime:

 

Take a day trip – Many people have already gone of their family vacation for the summer but that doesn’t mean a little weekend getaway is out of the cards! Whether you head to the mountains or simply pack a picnic and head to one of the great parks around Colorado, a day trip is a great time to have with your whole family.

 

Volunteer together – There are so many great organizations in Denver that could use a few extra helping hands before the weather gets too cold. Check online to find a place that suits both you and your kids and help make a positive impact on our community.

 

Find a free event to attend – Denver has so many great events for the family that are FREE to attend. A great website I like to check out to see what is coming up is https://www.denver.org/ or https://303magazine.com/ which both compile great lists on a weekly basis so you will always be in the know of when great free activities are around.

 

Get some yard time in – It isn’t cold yet and there is still plenty to do outside! If you haven’t already planted a garden it isn’t too late, we still have plenty of months ahead to enjoy some beautiful colors of a garden (this is a really fun thing to do with your kids!).

 

Go camping (as close as your backyard) – You can head to the mountains to have one last camping trip or you can even set up shop in your backyard! Set up the tent, have your kids invite some friends over and make sure to have some yummy snacks like popcorn and s’mores for the whole gang.

 

Enjoy an outing to the zoo or a museum – Your kids might already be heading out on some field trips but that doesn’t mean you can’t still go to one of the great museums or the Denver zoo with your family.

 

Make sure to spend some quality time with your kids before they head back to school. I know it is nice to get time back and some parents count down the days before their kids return to the classroom. But every day with your kids is a blessing, because they won’t be kids forever!

Born – a Kimpton Hotel opening in Denver’s Union Station on Tuesday, August 15th

Union Station certainly has seen a transformation in the past couple of years. From the actual station getting revamped, to the addition of retail spaces and restaurants and now condominium buildings like the Coloradan, the area is becoming one of the highlights of Denver.

 

Because this area is attracting more tourists and locals alike, it made sense that many hotels have been eyeing the area for their next endeavor. Well tomorrow, Tuesday, August 15th, Kimpton Hotels is opening their newest addition to the family, Born Hotel that will serve as Union Station’s most authentic urban refuge. This uniquely designed hotel is sure to please everyone with its distinct architecture and culinary details crafted to convey an elegant vibe. The hotel hopes to invite guests into a community of creativity, comfort and ultimately revitalization. With 200 guest rooms, this hotel was designed with a contemporary Alpine aesthetic – comfortable furnishings of Bavarian inspiration, soothing earth tone palettes and many elegant accents. Exposed concrete ceilings add an urban element which spacious bathrooms boast freestanding tubs in the suites and King Spa rooms. For those art lovers out there, this hotel is going to be on your list of places to stay with many custom pieces adorning the walls.

 

Some amenities to look forward to during your stay:

·      Kimpton Karma Rewards members get a personalized stay, $10 bar credit, free WiFi, exclusive offers and more, all while earning reward nights — it’s free to sign up, so join now

·      A yoga mat in every room

·      Daily hosted wine reception and complimentary morning coffee and tea service in our lobby

·      Complimentary hotel bicycles to use during your stay

·      Concierge services

·      Valet parking ($49)

 

You will also have two of the most anticipated restaurants right at your fingertips, Citizen Rali and Tavernetta. Indulge in the spirit of Colorado with aged cuts of local beef, pork, lamb, game or seafood caramelized over an authentic wood-fire at Citizen or enjoy Tavernetta whose food is deeply inspired by the cuisine and wine of all regions in Italy.

 

For those of you that might need to hold a meeting or even an event (such as a wedding), Born has plenty of spaces to accommodate your wants and needs.

 

The hotel is running some deals right now for their first guests so make sure to check out their website and if you can, head down to Born tomorrow for the opening ceremonies and a tour of this beautiful new hotel.

 

http://www.hotelborndenver.com/

Updates on Lakehouse & The Coloradan

As construction continues on Lakehouse and The Coloradan, I want to make sure to keep you all in the know of the progress that is happening. These stunning new condominiums are already going quickly so if you are thinking of getting in, now is the time!

Updates on the Coloradan – If you are a city person, this new spot if the place for you to live. Located in the heart of downtown Denver adjacent to Union Station, this stunning condo complex comes with everything you would expect from a state of the art facility. With work well under way, the Coloradan remains on schedule to open in Q4 of 2018.

·      With the bottom 4 floors of the building already in place (where commercial spaces and parking will be), construction is currently in “full-on” concrete mode with level 5 being 100% complete. Level 6 will be complete next week with the level 5 terrace, which houses the community garden, is beginning to take shape.

·      The crew has started installing concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls in the garage and coordinating in-wall mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

·      The exterior panels are currently being fabricated by Midwest Drywall located here in Denver and will be shipped to the site and installed on the building starting in September. From there, Douglass Colony will be installing the Terra Cotta panels from Germany.

·      One thing to know if you are thinking of buying a residence at the Coloradan is you must fill out a survey. Surveys are going to be sent out the week of August 14th so if you are thinking of putting your name in, make sure to contact me so I can get you a survey.

Updates on Lakeside – Maybe being in the heart of downtown Denver isn’t your still but you still want to be in an up-and-coming place then look no further then Lakehouse located right next to Sloan’s Lake. This 206 high-rise homes with options for penthouses, condominiums and row-home living.

·      NAVA Real Estate Development and Kentwood City Properties officially broke ground on Lakehouse in May 2017. The achievement was commemorated with fireworks and was quite a sight to see! Lakehouse effortlessly blends the beauty of Colorado with the convenience of urban living. Owners will enjoy a wide selection of lifestyle and wellness amenities with direct access to Sloan’s Lake.

·      Some features and amenities to take note of :

o   24/7 Attended Lobby

o   Community Lounge with Kitchen, Private Dining Room & Library

o   Expansive Outdoor Terrace with Lap Pool, Hot Tub, Firepit,

o   Mist Lounge & Barbeques

o   Wellness Center with Fitness Lab, Yoga Studio & Dry Sauna

o   Organic Urban Farm, Harvest Room & Juice Bar

o   Guest Suite

o   Aquatics Room with Equipment Checkout

o   Pet Washing Station

o   Bicycle Storage & Maintenance Station

o   Creative Worksho

o   Private Deeded Parking, EV Charging Stations & Storage Lockers

If you are thinking this might be the ideal place for your to settle in, contact me today and we can register you to receive updates and information as the building continues to grow.

The market is still a happening one and I know plenty of people who are ecstatic to see new condo buildings popping around Denver. Like I said earlier, they are going quickly because they are reasonably priced and some people are looking at them as investments for the future (real estate is the best investment in Denver). So if you are even considering one of these amazing spots, contact me today and let’s discuss your best options for getting the place of your dreams at either the Coloradan or Lakehouse!

How small changes can lead to big results

Have you ever noticed how “noisy” our days are? From the moment I wake up, my phone is already alerting me of emails and text messages I need to read, phone calls I need to return and appointments I need to get to that day. During the day, my phone and computer are both alerting me to social media posts and updates on listings and errands I need to finish before the day is over.

 

These days, we live in a society that is used to the everyday buzz and noise that surrounds us. Between our cell phones and our computers, we are never out of reach of anyone who wants to get in contact with us or getting a ding with the latest status update. It wasn’t that long ago that cell phones did not have the reach and pull they have today, we weren’t instantly reachable and we didn’t have easy distractions at our fingertips daily.

 

All of these distractions can be a nuisance throughout the work day and I know many people struggle with how to handle them all while staying focused at work and being productive. Recently, I have been working hard on being more present each and every day with my family, my clients and my friends. What I have come to find it the world will continue to be noisy with social media, notifications and emails but it is up to me to learn how to control that noise and also eliminate some of that noise.

 

One thing I have taken to doing is turning off all the notifications of my social media because I realized that when I saw them pop up on my phone or noticed my side bar dropping down to tell me the latest, it would immediately jolt me from whatever I was doing. There are studies about this behavior and the constant conclusion is our brains have a hard time refocusing once we’ve been pulled away by say social media. It can take our brain a while to get back on track so I work hard to keep those updates and notifications to a minimum.

 

In my industry, it can be hard with the amount of emails and text messages I get from clients and co-workers. As a real estate agent, it is imperative that I am able to answer any questions right away or be on call for my clients if they need to see a house or anything of that nature. But I also know, when I am with a client in person, I need to be fully there and so I either put my phone on silent or leave it at my desk. Every client deserves my full attention and having any small distraction around can pull away from that, and that’s not how any client should be treated.

 

I am currently reading a book called The Compound Effect, which has helped my career grow ten fold. It talks about how many small changes can lead to big results, even if you just change something by 1% and do it day by day in the end you will see much greater outcomes. For me, my listing marketing has improved, my follow up with clients has improved and all my relationships have improved. I'm working on cutting out a lot of the noise and focus on what is important, the relationships I want to make stronger, who I want to work with and making faith and family come first. I encourage you to also work on shutting out some of the noise in your life, starting with small things and taking it one day at a time. I promise it may not feel like much but eventually you will start seeing big changes, and good changes, in your career and in your life.