Kansas City

Our first of several trips into Kansas

We used an invitation to a wedding in Kansas City as an excuse for a long weekend of new sights, local foods and a short visit with family. First up was an afternoon trip to Independence, Missouri, where we chased daylight and scouted for signs of ruts left in the ground from wagon wheels on the Oregon Trail.

The following morning, we headed out to Fair Share Farm in Kearney to pick spinach, learn about community-supported agriculture and eat carrots plucked straight out of the soil. We crisscrossed over the borders of Kansas and Missouri so many times during the trip that I lost track, and then it all came to an end with a night of dancing and drinking beneath romantic strings of lights.

The start of the Oregon Trail, behind the historic Bingham-Waggoner estate

Tangles of wire on the outskirts of Independence

Gas station Barbeque that lived up to the hype at Oklahoma Joe's

The amazing view of Country Club Plaza from our hotel balcony

Gorgeous greens in the high tunnel at Fair Share Farm

Marveling at the extensive beer selection (Deschutes!) at Grinders

Wedding rafters at the Hobbs Building

Jet Lag

Back to the airport and, this time, it's off to Kansas City! I'll be back next week with tales of Midwestern barbeque... 

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Confetti Christmas

I confess. I recently received an email from West Elm announcing that their Confetti System ornaments were "going, going, nearly gone...." and I (irrationally?) took the first opportunity possible to head down to the city store to stock up. I timed the trip to arrive right as the store was opening, and I pulled up to see a line of people winding around the storefront. 

I may or may not have had a mini internal panic attack at the idea of missing out on this exciting collaboration, only to find out that the line was for a Young House Love book signing and not for my beloved holiday decorations. Needless to say, there were baskets, tables and trees full of stock to pick from--and that's when I remembered that it's only mid-November. 

Not that I let that stop me.

Monkey Bread

What’s a girl to do when she wakes up on a lazy Sunday and her boyfriend randomly requests Monkey Bread? In my case, the answer is simple: pull up Pioneer Woman’s unbelievably easy recipe and get to work….

Because, often times, the boyfriend isn’t the only one wanting to pull off and eat gooey pieces of sugary, buttery goodness early in the morning. And sometimes, when you’re in denial that winter is creeping in, the only thing that makes the idea tolerable is an excuse to get out your snowflake plate.

Girls Weekend

Pausing to admire our new manicures and pint glasses in the warehouse

My best friend from grad school recently came into town for a long-overdue visit. She’s always up for adventure, and I was thrilled that she let me put together the weekend itinerary. I went for a mix of my favorite visitor-in-town standbys and threw in a unique destination new to me—Half Acre Beer Company. We were among the last few people let in to tour, and the day seemed meant to be. Unsurprisingly, food and drink played a fairly large role in our spree. 

Wishing a Happy Birthday to my favorite morning read before hitting the L to head down to Old Town

Getting excited for lots of laughs at the Second City show

Capping the night off with the best ribs in town (sans dancing)...

...and late night cupcakes, an incredibly thoughtful hostess gift brought all the way from Jilly's Cupcake Bar