Best Brunch Spots in KC
From buffets to BBQ twists to pumpkin lattes year-round, find your next favorite brunch spot here: Grand Street Café, Pinstripes, Char Bar, Chicken N Pickle, Eggtc., and The Corner Café.
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The Pizza Man
My husband LOVES Chicago style hot dogs with the works. Any time we are in the Windy City we need to make sure that one of our meals is hot dogs! I am happy to have found The Pizza Man in Lenexa where my husband can now go for his hot…
Read ArticleOur Week with a Dog
I’m not much of a pet person (as in, not at all). So it was in a moment of weakness when I agreed to dog-sit for my sister’s dog…
Read ArticleThankful Thoughts
I enjoy reading newspaper and magazine columns, especially humor columns. Dave Barry is one of my favorite national writers, while locally I have always enjoyed Joe Posnanski’s columns in the paper. Each year I loved to read Joe’s Thanksgivin…
Read ArticleThankful Thoughts
I was in St. Louis recently for my nephew’s birthday. My mom had a copy of last November’s KC Parent sitting out. When I inquired as to why she had that particular issue on the coffee table, she said she held onto it because she liked my ed…
Read ArticleThanking Teachers
With only a few weeks left of school it’s time to begin thinking about end-of-the-year gifts for teachers. As a teacher for 10 years I received all sorts of gifts from my students from the useful (gift cards) to the practical (notepads and co…
Read ArticleNovember Editor’s Letter
How did we get to November? I can’t believe Thanksgiving is upon us, and the holiday season is knocking on the door.
For the past 18 years, my dear mother-in-law has prepared and hosted Thanksgiving. And, unlike the Thanksgiving dinners I ate …
Read ArticleMarch Editor’s Letter
It’s March! I look forward to this month’s arrival every year. In my mind, it signals that hope (read that as warmer temps and longer days) is on the horizon. We’ve made it through the depths of winter, and spring is just around the corner! Yes, …
Read ArticlePumpkin Treats for Breakfast? Yes, Please!
For this week’s installment of pumpkin goodness, we’re going to focus on breakfast. Which, coincidentally is my favorite meal of the day (followed by dinner and then lunch comes in a distant third, in case you were wondering).
Read ArticleAfter School Pumpkin Treat
I made pumpkin granola bars for an after school snack. After my first taste, I would have said they were just okay, but, they grew on me. I liked them better the 2nd day and it was the perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee.
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When I was a child, my mom didn’t bake a lot, and she really didn’t make cookies or anything special during the holidays. But, my Grandma-now SHE was a baker. Every December I could always look forward to a batch of Grandma’s Swedish heirloom coo…
Read ArticleCheap Summer Learning
There are many easy (and cheap) ways to encourage learning at home while helping ward off summer slide.
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
Open Belly Book Give and Partake, the folks that brought you the Brunch Book (which I love), brings a new book perfect for food lovers...
Read Article5 Things Every Parent Should Know
Face it, there are A LOT of things we are expected to know as parents, and as you have learned, children don’t come with a manual—but they do come with a steep learning curve!
Read ArticleStock up on Freezer Meals
My girls and I took a day at the beginning of summer and spent it cooking meals. We froze the fruits of our labor so that I wouldn’t have to spend so much time in the kitchen cooking and could spend more of the time at the pool and outside …
Read Article5 Things Every Parent Should Know
Face it, there are A LOT of things we are expected to know as parents, and as you have learned, children don’t come with a manual-but they do come with a steep learning curve!
Read ArticleTime Savers
Once November arrives, life gets pretty hectic. So in the interest of saving time, I’ve recently found two new recipes that are quick, easy and yummy. I thought I’d pass them along and if you happen to have any great recipes that are super sp…
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
In honor of my last column, here’s the five best of the best from throughout the years!
Read ArticleAugust 2023 Editor’s Letter
In August of 2007, my older daughter started kindergarten. The day after, I began a very part-time job with KC Parent Magazine. In the 16...
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
Dorm Shopping Remember the easy days of grade school supplies and those awesome packs you could order that had everything you needed? Guess what—the...
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
Live Shows If you’ve been a KC Parent reader for any length of time, you know of my affinity for live musical performances. While...
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
I love all things pumpkin. So in the spirit of October, here’s a pumpkin-themed “5 Things!”
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
I love all things pumpkin. So in the spirit of October, here’s a pumpkin-themed “5 Things!”
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
Summer Moon CoffeeMy older and I went out for coffee recently and decided to venture off our beaten path and try someplace new. I’m so...
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
Live Shows If you’ve been a KC Parent reader for any length of time, you know of my affinity for live musical performances. While...
Read ArticleJuly Editor’s Letter
Welcome to July! Julie Collett put together a list of A-to-Z summer fun in Kansas City, so I thought I'd follow suit with my own...
Read ArticleKC Baby Editor’s Letter Summer 2023
When I thought I might be pregnant with my older daughter, I took several at-home tests that all came back positive. While I still had...
Read ArticleJune Editor’s Letter
Welcome, summer! My favorite season of all is here! Each year I look forward to its arrival, because from the lazy days of no school...
Read ArticleMay Editor’s Letter
For 16 years I've anxiously awaited the arrival of May and the end of the school year. On the last day of school, the girls...
Read ArticleApril Editor’s Letter
April has arrived bursting with events! It's the first full month of spring, and if Mother Nature cooperates, we'll enjoy so many fun celebrations! April...
Read ArticleKC Baby Editor’s Letter
As seasoned parents know, so many changes and transitions transpire during a child's first few years. One of those rites of passage for babies is...
Read ArticleMarch Editor’s Letter
Welcome, March! As I've written in the past, this is one of my favorite months for several reasons. For me, it signals that the end...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter February 2023
Welcome to February! Or, for me, the month when I always question why I don't move someplace warmer. By February, I am really done with...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter January 2023
Happy New Year! I trust you had a wonderful holiday season!For the past few years, instead of resolutions, I’ve made smaller, more attainable goals that...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter: Winter 2023
When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I worked hard to prepare my older one to become a big sister. We talked about the...
Read ArticleDecember Editor’s Letter
I knew there would be a lot of things to teach our girls. From potty training to how to hold a pencil to tying shoes,...
Read ArticleNovember Editor’s Letter
Parenting. I know it’s been labeled “the hardest job you’ll ever love” and that is so true! Wouldn’t it be nice when a baby is...
Read ArticleOctober Editor’s Letter
Eighteen years ago this month our home was blessed with the arrival of our younger, Ally. It’s hard for me to even type those words,...
Read ArticleFriday Night Fun
It’s Friday! Woot! Woot! I love the weekend and as you may know from earlier posts, I believe less is more, so we typically don’t have games or practices to hustle to and from on Saturday or Sunday. One thing I love is our Friday night traditi…
Read ArticleSeptember Editor’s Letter
Each September we celebrate Grandparents Day. For several years, my mom and dad took the girls to a nice restaurant to teach them the art...
Read ArticleAugust Editor’s Letter
I think if you ask most people—both kids and adults—what they fear, all would be able to come up with at least one thing that...
Read ArticleJuly Editor’s Letter
July brings our Birthday Party Guide AND a big birthday in our home!Twenty-one years ago, as my husband and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter: KC Baby & Maternity Summer 2022
My uncle served as our pediatrician growing up. We went to his office for yearly checkups, but if we came down with something or sustained...
Read ArticleJune Editor’s Letter
Welcome, June! You might be tired of my saying it, but summer is my favorite time of the year! I love almost everything about this...
Read ArticleMay Editor’s Letter
Parlez-vous français? ¿Habla español? Sadly, I can’t really answer yes to either. I took Latin, French and Spanish in high school but can only speak...
Read ArticleKC Parent Editor’s Letter April 2022
Ah, grocery shopping. Years ago when my girls were young, I used to see it as a mini-getaway in the midst of mundane days of...
Read ArticleKC Baby & Maternity Spring 2022 Editor’s Letter
My younger and I were talking recently about pregnancy and babies. She asked me if she cried a lot, to which I answered a resounding...
Read ArticleFamily Fun in South Padre Island
Though it’s still a spring break destination for those college kids with boundless energy who think the drive will be super easy, SPI is becoming a great destination to bring the entire family!
Read ArticleMarch Editor’s Letter
Welcome, March! I look forward to March every year for several reasons. I feel like once we’ve made it to March, we are well on...
Read ArticleJanuary Editor’s Letter
Happy New Year! I trust the holidays were happy in your home! Although I don’t necessarily enjoy the cold, short days of January, I do...
Read ArticleKC Baby Editor’s Letter Winter 2022
I’m sure you’ve often heard or even said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if kids came with an instruction booklet!” And yes, that would be nice!...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter December 2021
I think a lot of parents will nod their heads in agreement when I say that kids often receive too much during the holidays. Whether...
Read Article5 Things We Love Right Now
I love all things pumpkin. So in the spirit of October, here’s a pumpkin-themed “5 Things!”
Read ArticleNovember Editor’s Letter
Happy November! Seems like this year is just flying by! As we do each year when November rolls around, we focus on giving thanks...
Read ArticleOctober Editor’s Letter
It’s October, and in both my work life and personal life, it’s a birthday party month! Our October issue brings our expanded party guide in...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter Fall 2021
Both of my girls were thumb suckers. And I probably let them keep the habit a bit too long. Tori was 5 when she quit...
Read ArticleSeptember Editor’s Letter
Family dinners have always been a priority in our home. When the girls we younger, we only allowed one extracurricular activity per child at a...
Read ArticleAugust Editor’s Letter
Off to college, take two! My older is a 2020 graduate, and she’ll forever have the memories (or lack thereof) of the last quarter of...
Read ArticleJuly Editor’s Letter
This July marks my 20th year of being a mom. It feels so strange to think I will have a daughter who is 20. That’s...
Read ArticleSummer Editor’s Letter
When my older was born, I planned to breastfeed and assumed it would be something I’d easily get the hang of once Baby arrived. Well,...
Read ArticleJune Editor’s Letter
When I started high school, my mom told me I needed to join a sports team because she felt it was “good for everyone to...
Read ArticleMay Editor’s Letter
I’ve always viewed my mom as a strong person. She’s dealt with a lot in her life, including the sudden loss of her mother when...
Read ArticleApril Editor’s Letter
I was a homebody as a child. Although I enjoyed a sleepover with my cousins or at a friend’s house, I didn’t like being away...
Read ArticleKC Baby & Maternity Magazine Spring 2021 Editor’s Letter
Do you like surprises? I like them in the form of a surprise birthday party or a surprise trip, although I’m not sure I’ve ever...
Read ArticleMarch Editor’s Letter
For years, and even to this day, my girls would tell you that I love to run the vacuum. They make it sound as if...
Read ArticleFebruary Editor’s Letter
How are you when it comes to making a decision? Can you make one swiftly and then, once it’s made, not think twice? Or do...
Read ArticleKC Baby Editor’s Letter Winter 2021
I had a lot of apprehension about the onset of labor when I was pregnant with my firstborn. How exactly would I know when I...
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter January 2021
At the start of each new year, so many people's thoughts turn to resolutions and fresh starts. This year, in honor of my younger brother,...
Read ArticleGetting Happy by Giving Back
Happiness is something we strive for in our everyday lives and want for our families. How do we get and keep it? Where can it be found?
Read ArticleEditor’s Letter December 2020
I like to plan and prep for the holidays so that when December rolls around, I can relax a bit and enjoy the season. I'm...
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