Happy Howl O Ween

The little grape made her debut at Bark Appy's Howl O Ween Party on Sunday. Unfortunately after trying to take bully sticks off the shelf in the pet store and relieving herself just outside Tail Waggin Pet Stop it was determined that Howl O Ween just wasn't her thing. (And she let everybody in a 5 mile radius know it)

Friday Funny

When you buy a new North Face jacket (kids size) and you discover a patch inside to write your name! #winning #sometimesicanwearkidsclothes

Think It Out Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

When you stop in DSM to visit friends and they feed you this beautiful cheese & meat platter with wine & good laughs of course! #winning #dearfriends #thanksB&K

Happy Anniversary Cubs Style

How can you NOT smile when you think about the Cubs in the World Series? I mean really? So fun! Two dear friends of mine were featured on the news tonight for their LOVE of the Cubs. Adorable and such a great pair!

Click HERE to see the news story!

#imwithher

Does that surprise you? Ha! I have a fun story to share. My dear friend Ashley and I were eating dinner a few Friday nights ago at C.Frogs in Prairie Village- amazing by the way. I left the main room in the restaurant to use the bathroom and got "wanded" when I tried to return to my seat. To be honest,  I was quite offended and had no idea why they would think I had a weapon on me. As I sat back down in our booth I shared with Ashley what happened. We proceed to ask the waiter who told us Tim Kaine was in the restaurant for his high school reunion (Rockhurst). Talk about two girls who were completely starstruck and nerding out on this celebrity sighting! The waiter loved our enthusiasm and helped us move seats and eventually get down to the bar so we were poised to shake hands and get a photo op.  Once again, birthday made!

Our waiter first asked him for a birthday greeting for me!

Cheers to hopefully the next VP of the USA!

#37

#36 was not my best year. #36 was a hard year. At times it was a pretty freaking terrible year. It was a year filled with a lot of change and painful moments. I ended year the year with a Plasmaphersis treatment. The first one in 6 months. I was pretty anxious to get the bad drained out, literally! I woke up on my birthday, you know, year #37 feeling pretty good. My mom was in town and we had plans to lunch, to shop and to do First Fridays. As we settled into Tavern at Mission Farms for lunch and sipped on some Kim a face popped up from around the booth. MY DAD! Never been so surprised in my entire life. I think I said about 30 times, "that's my Dad!" I was shocked and thrilled! Definitely made my birthday and helped bring in #37 with a smile. It was a fantastic birthday, surprise flowers from of a college bestie, exploring, wine, sushi, dessert and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have continued celebrating these past few weeks with dinner after dinner, glass of wine after glass of wine with those dearest and nearest to me. Like never before have I so cherished and appreciated the spirit of my parents, C/G, and my very special friends who have lifted me up and onto #37.  I am so grateful for the love & support. xoxo

Lunch @ Tavern with a SURPRISE visitor!

Spending the day at one of my favorite places, Somerset Ridge & Winery with some of my favorites!

Sunday Funday @Amigoni Winery

The Birthday Girls!

And to those who I did not get pictures with. Thank you for celebrating with me, making me feel good and making October SO FUN! Now to dry out and eat a few salads..... :)

Smell This

I feel like my house stinks more than it smells good. Being a dog owner and a dog sitter you never know what or where the odor might be coming from. *ahem Ries.  I came across a tip on Pinterest to help your house smell good. You mix laundry scent booster (I chose Purex Crystals due to an Ibotta rebate) and water and then spray all over. I have been doing this and while it smells awesome the scent does not last long. Have any other tips to help my house smell good?

KC Wineworks & First Fridays

I'm embarrassed to say that I have lived in KC for 13 years and never participated in First Fridays! So my since my birthday this year fell on a Friday, that was on the agenda. First stop was Thou Mayest for a cocktail since we learned KC Wineworks didn't open until 5pm. (yes, what?)  Apparently they open earlier on days other than First Fridays. KC Wineworks is tucked in the crossroads district and has a great sampling of wines.  Their vineyard is actually in Macon, Missouri.(close to my roots!) I really enjoyed their Crossroads White. We also sampled their Carmel Apple Sangria there. It was delish! Although sharing one was plenty as it was very sweet. Their space is really cute and hopefully they will be able to add some savory treats soon. I think at this time any food you order there comes catered from the Sundry (nearby) which is also delish.

Following a little wine tasting we headed to a gallery in the basement of Extra Virgin to see an opening. A little mingling there and it was off to Nara for some sushi! Two bottles of wine later and an uber ride was in order. It was a great first time at First Fridays. I will be back!

Flashback Friday

Recently I was watching a dear friends children and they reintroduced me to the "old school" Nintendo. Oh my gosh, so fun!  To their complete surprise I almost made it to Level 2. Brought back so many memories. I told them we got our first Nintendo from the JC Penney catalog and the looks I got back were hilarious. Did you know that Nintendo is releasing a new edition of the Nintendo Classic on November 11th for $59.99? Oh to have a Nintendo again!

Birthday Freebies!

I had the absolute best birthday! More to come but I wanted to get out my annual birthday freebies email! I crossed out the ones I did not get this year!

Lenny's Subs- Free sub for your birthday if you join their reward program.

Slim Chickens- their website indicates a free meal for your birthday for signing up for their emails but I have yet to get that one!

First Watch- Free Meal for signing up for their e-club.

Jason's Deli- sign up for their eclub and get $5 for your birthday.

Rally House- sign up for their emails and get 25% off one item.

Omaha Steaks- free chocolate cake and 10% off for signing up for their e-club.

Firebirds Wood Fire Grill- $10 off for your birthday for signing up for their email club.

Hamburger Mary's- free bottle of champagne if you bring in 6 or more people to celebrate your birthday!
Louie's Wine Dive- tell them it's your birthday and they bring you a bottle of vino to take home!
Newport Grill- Filet Mignon $40 value for your birthday.
Planet Sub- free sub when you sign up for their email club.

Fuddruckers- free burger coupon

Smokehouse BBQ- free sandwich for your birthday.

Marble Slab Cremery- $5 off a cake for your birthday.

Gap Factory- extra 15% off for your birthday.
Garnet Hill- $25 off birthday coupon.

J. Crew Factory- 20% and free shipping for your birthday.

Papa John's- 10 Papa Points for your birthday- (not entirely sure how that works!)

Ace Rewards- $10 off $50 coupon for your birthday.
Which Which- free sub when you sign up for their email club.
First Watch- free meal when you sign up for their club.
Potbelly- free cookie when you sign up for their e-club on your birthday.
Schlotzky's Deli- free sandwich when you sign up for their e-club.
Half Price Books- coupon for 15% off for your birthday.
Anthropologie- 15% off coupon emailed for your birthday
RA Sushi- sign up for their e-club and they mail you a 1/2 off for your 1/2 birthday
.J.Gilberts- one of my personal favorites- sign up for their e-club and they send you a $25 dinner certificate.
DSW- Are you a Rewards Club member? If so they send you $5 for your birthday.
Dickey's BBQ Pit- e club members get a free sandwich on their birthday.
Starbucks card holders- free drink coupon
Dunkin Donuts- e club members get a free drink coupon
Houlihans- a free entree coupon is emailed to you during the month of your birthday.
Noodles- a free rice krispie treat on your birthday. I was so disappointed with this one as it used to be a free dish!
Mongolian BBQ- for signing up for their e-club you get a free entree for your birthday.
Fox Restaurant Concepts (North)- e club holders get a coupon for a free dessert

KC Hopps Concepts (Blue Moose, Barley's) KC Hopps Reward Card Holders can earn a free dessert during their birth month. You must sign up for a rewards card at one of the restaurants.
Sushi House- $10 off $30 coupon during your birth month
Macaroni Grill- offer for a free dessert during your birth month
Cafe Trio- $15 off an entree on your birthday if you are a member of their e-club
CVS- $3 coupon on your birthday if you have a CVS Card
Seasons 52- free dessert on your birthday as a member of their e-club
Hereford House- $15 off an entree with the purchase of an entree on your birthday as a member of their e-club.
Tastu's- free entree with the purchase of an entree on your birthday as a member of their e-club.
Melting Pot- free chocolate covered strawberries for your birthday as a member of their e-club.
Old Navy- 10% purchase for your birthday by signing up to receive their emails
Red Robin- free dessert on your birthday as an e-club member
Ruby Tuesday- free burger on your birthday as an e-club member

Bravo- free entree for your birthday by joining their e-club.
Bristol- $25 coupon for your birthday if you sign up for their club.
Firehouse Subs- free sandwich on your birthday when you sign up for their e-club.
Jersey Mikes- free sandwich and drink on your birthday when you sign up for their e-club.
Banana Republic Cardholders- $15 on your birthday.

Container Store- Join their POP club and you get a birthday coupon
LaBodega- buy 1 tapa get 1 free for your birthday.

Most coupons have an expiration date within 2 weeks of your birthday. Some are good for a month!  Know any other great offers for your birthday? Send them my way!

Dog Lessons

I am overly tired and last night I got out the leash and little Miss about knocked me over in excitement. Several times I told her we weren't going very far and I totally think she understood, hence her peeing on every.little.thing for five straight houses. Had to make sure she had time to get it all marked. Dogs are smart. No doubt.

Boys Grow

My friend Chad was sweet enough to take me to Cena Fattoria which is a charity farm dinner for the organization Boys Grow recently. Held on the farm of Boys Grow with food provided by Lidia's KC on a lovely Fall evening it was the perfect setting!

Boys Grow is an organization that selects boys from the urban core for mentoring and entrepreneurship on their farm. They assist in all operations of the farm including growing crops and turning them into products.

The food was delish. If you have ever tried Lidia's KC you know what I'm taking about. My favorite just may have been the beet risotto.  It was a great evening for a great cause! Thanks Chad!

With Lidia herself!

I fed the goats and somebody was NOT too pleased with me when I got home. Apparently she must have smelled them.

Beet risotto 

Deep in the Heart of Texas

In mid September I traveled to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to see a dear friend and go to the ISU/TCU Football. What a weekend it was! The hottest football game I ever attended (or hottest quarter of a game I attended) and re-tracing some of my Texas spots brought a huge smile to my face. My next visit there must be longer! There was so much I wanted to do and not enough time to do it.

TCU has a very cool stadium. Just too bad it was over 100 degrees!

Sorry Mr. Lazard for the shenanigans that went on in the row behind you.....

Never a trip to Dallas without a stop in LaMadeline for some Tomato Basil Soup! Had to replenish my supply!

Liz introduced me to the Bishop Arts District in Dallas where we had brunch Sunday. What a cool area. I loved these succulents.

A quick drive by the Villas of Josey Ranch and #1425. I loved that apartment! Such great memories.

Until next time Dallas & I promise I won't wait so long to visit!

Friends of JCDS

Friends of JCDS has gotten some great publicity lately, too good to not pass along. They do so much good for the clients we serve.  Friends of JCDS is the non for profit side of Johnson County Developmental Supports.

Click here to see the video

Now is a more cruicial time than ever for the additional support for the state's most vulnerable population. Limited state resources have really hindered our population. Thanks for your support! BTW, Friends of JCDS is hosting Charity Bingo this Thursday at Hamburger Mary's in KC. Check it out!