Fall reminds me of..

some great memories growing up.   I don't even know why they were flooding my mind on my way home today... But I couldn't help but smile.

First of all... when I was little I thought that God changed the colors of the leaves JUST for my birthday.  :)  I've ALWAYS loved this display of God's beauty in nature.

My next door neighbor, Renee lived next to one another for 15+ years.  Several years when we were younger she would take me for a ride in her wagon for my birthday. We would stop at each pile of leaves on our walk around the block and we would pick out the most beautiful leaves we could find.  We would then put them in a zip lock bag and they would go under my bed until the next year.  When the next year came... we'd take the zip lock out and dump the leaves and fill it up with the new favorites  for the year.  I'm not sure how that little tradition got started... and to be honest, until today I had completely forgotten about this birthday activity.

Since I was thinking about Renee- I also started thinking about how we used to have this fancy gold envelop that had a velcro closure -- it was a gift certificate holder back in the olden days when gift certificates were not on plastic debit cards.  {I hear a gasp from all the youngins} So we would write notes to each other and hide the envelope around the outside of our 2 houses and to get the note- we'd have to find the hidden golden envelope!   Just makes me giggle b/c my love language via the written word really did start early!

I had completely forgotten about this memory as well.  I love when the Lord brings back special memories like these.

What memories come flooding back into your mind around this time of year?

lions, tigers and school decisions - oh my.

Making decisions about how to educate your children is very difficult and very personal to everyone I know.    However, whatever you decide: public school, private school, or homeschool is your decision.



Let me just say a few things up front:

1. I don't have kids YET
2. I do plan to have children at some point in the future {I can hear my parents breathing a sigh of relief}
3. I don't intend to offend anyone through the contents of this post-only to encourage and challenge myself and any others that feel so inclined to read along as I process via the blogsphere


No kids... ok, so why the post, Ray?

This post is not a response to any one thing that I have heard, read or observed... it is simply to express some concern about what the topic is doing to the church and to encourage those who will make, have made, are getting ready to make these big decisions regarding how to educate their children.  This post is for myself - one day I will feel the pressure that so many others are feeling to choose one method or another and I know I'll need to look back on this to challenge myself.  

I'm concerned, friends.

I'm concerned that we have let this decision about the way each family does school dictate the way we view one another.
I'm concerned that we've taken this schooling thing and let satan divide the church into 'segments' or 'cliques' {dare I say...} that are for or against one school decision or another.
I'm concerned that we have made it our personal conviction that everyone else must agree with and decide that the same schooling method is right for their family.
I'm concerned that to some, the method of schooling chosen for your family will somehow impact you eternity.
I'm concerned we've lost sight of the gospel in light of the area of schooling.
I'm concerned we've let satan convince us that one decision is more sinful or less sinful than another.
I'm concerned that we have forgotten that God is still in ultimate control and is bigger than any governmental regulation/trend....

Internet, those seem like really harsh statements... I truly hope that none of them are true.

You know whats funny about all of this?   I know several families that do homeschool, families that do private school, and families that do public school and they all do it well.  They respect other families for the decisions they make regarding school and they know that their decision is the best one for their family.  I have so much respect for these families... and I hope that when we have kids and make our school choice that we'll be just as respectful of what's best for everyone else's family.  So I want to give a shout out to those families that do it well.  I appreciate your understanding and your respect for each of the other school options out there.

Ok... some of you are dying for me to share so here is some background on me:

- I went to public school from K-10th grade and from 10th-12th grade I went to a small christian school in Kansas City. 


Some things I hope Scott and I will consider when making the schooling decision for our future children:

-I am not an educator.  I have a BS in Psychology and an MBA with an HR concentration.  I will be very helpful to my kids when they take psychology and business classes.  I will be able to talk with them about a SWAT analysis and how to communicate with different types of personalities.  However I did not spend my college/masters years learning how to teach others well.

-Assuming we will be living in the same area that we live in currently - we live in one of the top school districts in the tri-state area.  They are doing something right in regards to educating local students.

-I want what is best for my children.  I want them to learn how to deal with others well- people they like, those they don't.  I want them to be challenged to think critically, problem solve without giving up.  I'm afraid that I would be a softy - I think I'd let them give up too quickly or help make excuses for them.  

-I pray even now that the gospel will be central in our household.  I pray that Scott and I will be able to reflect the focus and importance of the gospel to our children.  Regardless of what school method we choose - the home is the place they will have the opportunity to see this lived out the most.  I pray that the living out of the gospel will be central in our household.

-I will ask myself.... what is my motive behind the choice I've made regarding my kid's education?  Am I motivated by an anxiety about my student being influenced by those in the world around them at school - so I make a certain decision to avoid my child interacting with those in the world at all {and oh-by the way helping my own anxiety while we're at it}.  Sheltering for the sake of my anxiety or fear for my child is in no way God-honoring.   Or am I motivated solely by my schooling experience and make a rash decision that isn't the best for our family.  Praying now that the Lord will guide my motivation, that the spreading of the gospel will be my motivation, that the 'making much of' God will be my motivation.

-We are called to be salt and light in the world.  I can't think of a better way to begin preparing my children for what it is like in the world than to send them to school where they are surrounded by it most days for 9 months out of the year while they still live with me.  Or if that isn't the best decision for our family, how will I be intentional to put my kids in settings where they are surrounded by the world to be the salt and light?  I can certainly decide to 'protect' my children from the world's influences by making their school decision for them.  However, once they leave my roof - head to college... get a job in the real world... they are now in the world and are no longer under my influence.  How will I intentionally prepare my children for being in the world even after high school?  I can't help but be thankful for all of the glimpses and influences of the world I experienced while I lived with my parents... I was able to go home and talk about and ask questions about those things.  My mom and dad did a great job preparing me to discern well once I left my childhood home.  I'm so thankful for them.

I hope this will be helpful for me later in life... When we are actually faced with making a decision.  While I'm fairly certain what that decision will be-- I pray now that God would align my desires with His will for our family.

work-randomness

So I don't talk a lot about my work - and I don't really plan on making it a regular topic here, so sorry to get your hopes up, Internet. #HRprobz

Today {like many other days} I am really excited about work.  Let me tell you - I really enjoy what I do.  I work in HR and I'm in love with all things: process improvement, reporting, auditing, process mapping, problem solving,  internal customer service, regulations, compliance, policies, and onboarding.  I love the challenge that comes with each of these things.

After about a year into my MBA I realized... I found my nitch.  I found my passion - HR.  It was a wonderful realization considering all through college (until my last semester, in fact) I thought I wanted to be a Biblical Counselor - planned to head straight to graduate school after I graduated.  I'm so thankful the Lord had another plan.  I always seem to like His plan-A best from the get go looking back.  Funny how that works 100% of the time... and about 95% of the time I'm convinced otherwise.

Back to HR - I'm in love.  {Don't worry - not the workaholic kind of 'love' - the respectful kind of work-love}

After 2.5 years in the industry, I'm seriously so excited about HR, I'm giddy.  Honeymoon stage?  Maybe... but I'm living it up.  I'm currently getting to learn new tools that we use every day, and getting to be creative with some internal websites.  I can't help but smile just typing those words.

So a little about my career goals {currently}:

*Disclaimer: this is not a contract of any sort.  The terms defined within this hereby written goal are subject to change at any time.  Also: other goals as assigned.* #HRhumor  {and I can hear the 'unsubscribe' button being clicked on a few computers even now...#sorrynotsorry}

My current short-term personal career goal is to learn as much about HR as I can in the first 5 years of my career.  Taking in the processes, policies, solving problems, auditing, and all things compliance.  I'm in a position to do just that... learn a TON about HR.  So excited about where I'm at.

While we're on the subject - I think I'd like to be in HR leadership eventually.  However, I tend to have the most respect for leaders who spent time dedicated to growing themselves in the midst of the everyday HR duties.  Investing in the tools, resources, and people-knowledge that surrounds them.  So I'm enjoying this stage of my career - getting to invest in my career growth and development.  Servant leadership is the style I hope to emulate one day.  I get excited thinking about leadership and being a part of the strategizing for the company, and HR specifically.

Internet, that is all I wanted to say.  I. love. my. job.

What do you do?  What are your favorite things about your job?

A few random thoughts...

1. I'm ready for fall.

2. College football has started, people! {MIZ!}

3. Interested as to why the Lord continues to put me in situations where public speaking is necessary?

4. Love sitting here on the couch with my love, blogging while he watches the first Monday night football game.  #qualitytime

5. Singing the words that normal people would say to one another is one of my favorite things to do. "Can you pass me that remote please?"; "Can I get a nurse over here?" {CPR dance... don't ask}

Photo creds: pinterest

6. I'm ready for fall.

7. Thankful for pictures. The way they capture specific moments that I would otherwise forget or let fade to the back of my memory.

8. Charlie absolutely loves his armpits to be rubbed.  I love this fact about my cat.

9. I really want to wear a dress tomorrow.

10. I heart cereal for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner.  I especially love how mason jars perfectly hold my milk so I can have cereal for lunch at work.  So basically I'm thankful for rubber seals.  #genius

11. Have I mentioned how ready I am for all things fall? {scarves, camp fires, boots, colorful leaves}

What are some of your random thoughts this evening?

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Libester Award!

Hey internet... I recieved my first ever blog award!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers, and my mom and dad for loving me, and my husband for putting up with my annoying love for taking pictures and documenting our life...

BUT really.... I am so honored to have been nominated by the sweet Kelly Jo over at The Dr. and The Mrs.  If you haven't visited her blog before - you totally should!  She is a brand new momma and I love reading about her life adventures.

Anyway, the Liebster Award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers.  Liebster is a German word meaning dearest. The award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who deserve recognition and support to keep on blogging.

Here are the "rules":

1. List 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you

3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 5 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each blogger's page and let them know about the award.

6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog!

11 facts about me:

1. I'm in love with this guy

2. This Z-MAN sandwich is probably my favorite BBQ thing to eat - EVER

3. My hair is my favorite feature

4. Coffee dates are potentially some of my favorite things

     4a. Vanilla Chai is a way to my heart

     4b. This is one of my favorite coffee date spots... #WhistleStop #DowntownLS

5. Took a painting class last summer... and I secretly loved every second of it... and can't wait to do it again!

6. I have the best brother a girl could ever ask for...

7. I have a really unique... loud laugh... #sorrynotsorry

8. Before I started dating Scott... I was NOT a cat person... now I can't imagine these two furry babies not being a part of our family!

9.  Cards are my love language... the way to my heart

10. SOFT iced sugar cookies are my weakness

11. I seriously love snow... LOVE it.

Whew... that was tough!  Now onto answering the questions Kelly Jo had for me.

Her Questions for me:

1. What is your favorite article of clothing?

I'm thinking that I really REALLY like scarves...

2. If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?

TIGER... duh #MIZ-ZOU

3. What is your favorite book?

Wow... this is really hard - currently Crazy Love by Francis Chan is still rocking my world even a year later

4. What is your dream vacation?

A mixture of Hawaii and skiing at Copper Mt. in Colorado

5. What are some of your pet peeves?

People that don't know how to drive... by far my biggest!  
People texting while driving... the funny part is that I can always tell when someone around me is texting and driving b/c of how similar they look to a drunk driver on the road... #DontGetMeStarted

6. What was your favorite movie growing up?

Aladin, The Wedding Planner, and Sleepless in Seattle

7. What is your favorite recipe to cook?

Fajitas... funny it is my favorite one to eat too :)

8. If you could hang out with one celebrity for a day, who would it be?

The Pioneer Woman - I think we'd be friends in real life.  She is sassy and sweet - oh and I'd beg her to teach me everything she knows about cooking that day.

9. What is one of your family traditions?

Christmas tree forrest AND Christmas Eve service... 2 of my favorites!!

10. What is your favorite season and why?

Fall!  It used to be because my birthday is in the fall... and when I was little I thought the leaves changed colors JUST for my birthday.  I love everything about how the air smells, how the wood burns in the camp fire, the way the leaves sound in the wind.... and lets face it... the way my hair loves the perfect climate during fall

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Hmmm... I hope to be a God-honoring momma... and I hope to be serving where the Lord desires me to serve... I plan to fall even deeper in love with my handsome hubby too ... 

Ok... so I tag the following bloggers:

1. Jen @ Confessions of Jenny

2. Jamie @ The Franzy Bunch

3. Laina @ The Life Is Beautiful Project

4. Candace @ Candace's Calling

5. Stacey @ Hope Handmade 

If you haven't visited their blogs- you totally should! These are some very talented ladies!!

My questions for these lovely bloggers to answer:

1. If you had a mission statement for your blog... what would it be?

2. What is your favorite feature about yourself?

3. If you could live in any decade... which would you live in and why?

4. What are your top 5 favorite things about your spouse?  If you're single... what are the top 5 qualities you are looking for in a future spouse?

5. If you could spend the day with a celebrity... who would it be and why?

6. Favorite disney movie?

7. What is your favorite hobby?

8. If you were given the chance... what 1 piece of advice would you give yourself at age 16?

9. What is your favorite thing about your christian community?

10. What is your favorite quote?

11. What is your biggest weakness and how do you embrace/deal with it?

life as I know it....

Hey there!

Life is a bit crazy busy right now but wanted to document some quick takes of what is up:

1. Tomorrow is our ladies event at Church... all of you are invited to join us for the evening!  We will be talking about Community: Serving the Church and Building Relationships!

Please see the details below:

Friday March 1, 2013 from 6:30pm-10:30pm cost for members is $5.00 or $2.00 for guests!

If you have any questions- feel free to email me directly or leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back with you as soon as possible.

2. Tonight we are decorating for the event tomorrow - stoked to spend some more time with these ladies

3. My brother gets married in a little over a week.  THIS IS CRAZYTOWN!  I am getting so excited I can't even stand it!  Can't wait until I officially have a sista-from-another-mista-in-law! {can you tell I'm excited?!}

4. I'm speaking a little at the ladies event tomorrow.  Whats funny is that as I've been preparing what I'm going to say - I wrote it all out 'blog style' as I call it. Something about writing as if it were a blog post makes things fall into the right places.  Anyway... as I've been writing it out there have been several moments where I wanted so badly to say "Dear internet..." or leave a hashtag after a comment.  So needless to say... public speaking isn't my thing... as you've read about here before.  Well the Lord is stretching me... and I'm excited for the opportunity.  So I hope I don't reference you or hashtag the heck right out of the room :)

5. We've had probably over 2 feet of snow over the last week or so!  I'm in love.  However.. I was super excited to be back in civilization today... my hair was excited to be given some attention as well

6. Jamie's birthday is on Saturday and I can't wait to celebrate with her!!!

7. Tomorrow is March, people?!  Can you believe it?!

8. I just think my hubby is so adorable when he studies... he is studying right now.  His cuteness is killing me!

9. Hmmm.. I'm so close to 10 I really need to get there....

10.  Ahhh... Tomorrow is Friday!

What is going on in your world this week?

snow day...

Dear Internet,

I heart snow.  Something about the biter cold air and the automatic peaceful atmosphere when there is snow on the ground... just makes my soul smile.  The way you can hear the snow hitting the ground because of the quiet.  Something about laying on the mattress of snow and looking up into the falling snow... Something about the way it forces life to slow down. The smell that snow brings.. oh it is all so so good.

I am also blessed to work for an organization that puts safety first!  AND give the tools necessary to work from home.  I am very thankful for this opportunity with weather like today!

Scott's work and school were closed... we had some quality time today.  He studied while I worked... and the kitties got as many cuddles as possible.  So after I got off work for the day we bundled up and decided to shovel the forever long driveway.

About 35 seconds into our time of shoveling... we were both done.  and starting to sweat!  So after I partially un-bundled I needed a hair tie... well I had snowy boots so I couldn't walk through the entire house to get one.  So I started a new trend.  Wow knew chip clips had so many uses?  Worked like a charm!

Of course we rewarded ourselves with some snow angel time... so. much. fun!

So when we were looking at houses to buy.... having a long driveway was on the list.... rethinking that one being on the list today. :)  

We may have decided that we'd do 1 3/4 of the drive way so we can both get out... but we didn't have to do every square inch of it... and it may or may not have been the side I was shoveling that was the 3/4.  But hey... I get some sort of wife award for helping shovel, right?!

Excited for the fun in the snow!  uhhhh... internet,  I didn't feel like makeup today. #sorrynotsorry

He is so cute it hurts me!

Oh... so I kind of like soup now... so I'm very thankful for Costco!  I am so thankful we had some of this yummygoodness in the fridge just waiting for a day like today.

Here are those cuddles I was talking about... Molly was in this exact position on Scott's belly probably 3/4 of the ENTIRE day! So. Adorable.

My view as of 8am this morning... the snow is now above that bottom vertical fence post thingy.  LOVE IT!

Guess what?! I hear tomorrow is another snow day!  YAY!

How did you spend your snow day?!

Jen and Walmart...

Went to Walmart with Jen... She feels a strong sense of entitlement to walmart because her family is from Arkansas- and I love her for it.  So of course we were looking for princess parking {parking lot stalkers}... We admit it, Internet.

{not taken during walmart adventure}

When we noticed a spot on the next aisle over we were on a mission to get it-- then we were almost to the end of our current aisle and we saw another car get it... Grrrrrr, right?!

So what did we do? Go to the next aisle anyway and drive around? Uh- not how we operate... We put that white focus in reverse and back up to wait for another spot... But had to stop and move forward because another car further behind us pulled out and was behind us wanting out of the aisle.... Lol.

So we went to the next aisle... For an open spot I saw during the reverse debacle .... Then we saw someone else putting things in their car- 2 spaces closer than the ealier spotted space... After a good 10 seconds we noticed she had a bunch of suff to unload?!?!

By this time we were laughing so hard we were crying and our smile muscles hurt so bad.

Needless to say.,. We were late to Launch by only 3 minutes bc of our semi-princess spot!!

So to top off the night... Jen was in one of her Julie Andrews kicks... And we sang and cracked up the entire way to launch!  I know you're wondering internet - yes... being in her 'Julie Andrews' kick also includes british accents.

"Raindrops on roses... Pickles and mittens"

{also not taken during walmart adventure}

Potentially one of those 'had-to-be-there' moments... but this was a memory I needed to document.

I love this girl.

100th Post...

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the internet all of my faithful readers... whether I guilt you into reading or you choose to read on your own.  I cherish each and every one of you... even those of you I have no idea follow me.

Internet, I have to admit that when I started this blog back in 2009 or 2010?  I only wanted to see how many 'followers' I could get on blogger.  I aimed to please any ear that would listen eye that would read.  I focused on silly, mundane things and didn't get 'too deep' for the fear of disappointing a lovely follower.  I think I even wanted to become a trendy blogger... one that earns a living by blogging and stays home, takes care of her kids, blogs daily, makes beautiful things (food and otherwise).  Pioneer woman started small too, right?

While who wouldn't love to earn a living by writing all about life?... I have changed the meaning and purpose of this blog since then {hope you've noticed}.  I will admit that I still love checking to see how many have read and/or commented on my blog... however, it isn't my driving force anymore.  I don't walk on my tip toes to blog only about 'surface' or 'mundane' or 'likable' things.

When I got done with school in August of this year - I gave my blog a fresh look.  I changed my title from 'Captivating Moments' to 'Living Life...'  I wanted to broaden my scope and write about what I'm passionate about.... community, faith, family, friends, real life, and food with the occasional sassy post, trip down memory lane or pinterest discovery (good and bad)!

I've been spending some time re-reading over some of my older posts and enjoying the memories.  It is so refreshing - I have loved looking back on old posts and re-living those moments.

So here it is... my 100th post in and hope to continue strong - Lord willing.

What drives you to blog?  What keeps you reading blogs - what draws you in?

Today...

I'm sending love the best way I know how...

things I wish were true about letters:

-stamps were free

-I received one everyday

-my hand never starts hurting from writing so much

-I could send my eye to capture one's reaction to getting one of my letters in the mail (in a very non-creeper kind of way)

-I could write letters for a living

-that this was everyone's love language (but not really... I like that we're all different... just work w/me here... stamps would be cheaper this way!!)

-I could create Halmark - 'fresh ink' cards for a living... these cards are seriously made after my own heart

-the passion for written letters would sweep the nation - again this would make stamps cheaper

What are your thoughts about letters?!  Wish list?

Let's Catch Up!

I've had a lot going on the last 2 weekends... and several events that are WAAAAAYYYYY worth sharing!

Let's start with Labor Day weekend... yes I'm going to talk to you about happenings from 2 weeks ago.  #sorryaboutit 

Might be old news to you-- but just be excited to relive these moments with me.

So it started on Friday August 31st at 5:30pm.  Scott, Jonathan, and myself started for our weekend adventure to Salem Springs, AR.  Yes... this is a place only worth visiting if you have someone there to see. :)  Lucky for you us... we did!  We were making the trip to AR to visit a few of our college friends (Troy, Danielle, and Cameron) who attend John Brown University. 

Our trip started off with some heavy traffic, but then it was smooth sailing... well at least for me- sitting in the back seat reading a good book and enjoying the rainy day.  Doesn't get much better than that...

 

Yes, internet, I do use a picture as my bookmark so it will encourage me to open the book again!  I used to need motivation to read-- so glad I'm over that stage of my life.  #collegetextbookburnout

 

We arrived around 9:30pm to our destination... Troy and Danielle's apartment, where Cameron met us.  They had made yummy tacos, guacamole, salsa, and all the fixin's.  It was adorable to see them being domestic together.. such newlyweds.  I love it!

 

Jonathan was at least paying attention when I said, 'Hey guys, let me take a picture'

Here is the proof that we did see the campus:

 

The campus was very pretty... and it was a perfect day to walk around outside!

And proof that we even attempted to break into the Art building....

After touring the campus from outside the buildings... we went to lunch at Zaxby's... a Chik-filA wannabe.  Close, but not really. #sorrynotsorry

 

We went to a shopping center and walked around for a bit... and of course had to try on sunglasses.  Internet... this is totally normal.

 

I found this adorable scarf at American Eagle that I can't really stop thinking about. Probably gonna need to find a way to add this to my bday/christmas wishlist.  Yes.. I've already started my wishlists for the year... don't judge me, internet.

 

After an afternoon of shopping and hanging out, we started our trek back home, with a few planned stops along the way.  We stopped in Joplin and were both encouraged and devastated by what we saw.  It has been over a year since the tragic tornado that took so many lives and scared so many others.  There are several things rebuilt, which is so encouraging.  However, restoration is still needed-- physically and more importantly- spiritually.  I was brought to tears as we drove through and prayed over the rubble.  

 

We then took an hour or so detour to stop in Springfield, MO on our way home to see Jonathan's sister, and our friend- Lindsey!  Of course, we had to eat at our favorite restaurant there in S-town... Mexican Villa!!! YUM!  

 

After dinner, we needed some sugar to get us through the last 2.5 hour home-stretch.  So we stopped at Braum's and while we were there... I found a new friend.  

Meet, Mr. Cart.  

 

It was all Jonathan's fault.. he asked if I needed a cart.  At that very moment... I did.  

I needed that cart to assist my ice cream journey.  So Mr. Cart and I stood in line patiently and ordered our ice cream.  Once we got our order... it all went down from there.  It isn't even funny to write it out... so I won't. Those of you that were there... and as slap-happy as I was, remember the events very well.  I would say this was truly a 'had to be there' moment.  But know that it was hilarious... and worth mentioning!

So we returned Saturday night and on Sunday we heard an amazing message from PBC.. not amazing as in 'oh that made me feel so good' (that's not how SWBC does church)... uhhhh no-- it was challenging, tear provoking kind of impact-actually.  Seriously... it rocked my world. Check it out here ... it was the 9/2/12 message.

After church we went to lunch and had a birthday celebration for Scott's Dad's birthday which it is always good to see his family!  We had some amazing BBQ at my 2nd favorite KC BBQ joint- Gates! Then some of Scott's mom's famous chocolate eclair cake.  Yuuuuummmmm!

Sunday night I had a reunion with some of my closest girlfriends.  It had been so long since we hung out together-- it is pitiful how long it had been.  If this post wasn't already too long.. I'd spend some time chatting about these ladies... but don't worry- it is coming.. so stay tuned!

Then on Labor Day we slept in and went to Santa-Cali-Gon Days to see our new friends, Corey and Ali! Corey is soooooo musically gifted and he had an hour on the gospel stage.  We were so blessed by the songs he wrote and blown away by his talent, and excited for an excuse to get a funnel cake!

  We have a double date scheduled so I'm sure you'll hear more about them later.

 

So-- I was going to update you on the happenings from this past weekend as well-- however I see this as a great opportunity to dangle a piece of bait in front of you which will make you come back to visit again to find out what happened!  #don'tgettooexcited

Have a great week, lovelies!

What did you do over Labor Day weekend?

Open the Gates...

Thinking of taking a trip to Kansas City?!  Want to try the best barbeque from the HOME of BBQ?! Well... let me share with you the top 3 barbeque joints in KC!

Top 3... in order:

1. Jack Stack BBQ

2. Gates BBQ

3. Oklahoma Joe's BBQ

Now... if you mention this order to Scott... he'd tell you I have it all wrong... his favorite is Gates!  Well tonight he was feeling the itching for some true KC BBQ... so we hopped in the car and went down to Gates!  It's a win-win for me... b/c it is right by one of my favorite features of Kansas City... THE PLAZA!

Don't worry... this isn't going to be a boring picture-less post... I had to bring Mr. Sony so that I could take you on our adventure! :)

So...In true "Show Me" fashion...

Tonight... we visit #2 Gates Barbeque!

A couple of things you should know beforehand:

1. the quote on this tray "Hi, may I help you?" That IS what they are yelling at you ... really it is.

2. They are not rude... they are just playing the part... Gates is KNOWN for this atmosphere... and knowing that before you visit makes the experience much better!

#3. You think you have the entire line to figure out what you want... not so much... they will continue to take orders way before you get to the counter... so be ready! - Don't be scared... really.

#4. TOTALLY. WORTH. IT.

Wow.... I know... I'll wait as you get a towel for the drool...

K.. glad you're back :)

THIS is my favorite thing at Gates. Single Turkey... and an order of fries.  Now.. this picture is actually of Scott's plate which is a Regular Turkey- which is WAY bigger than what I can handle... and we have to share the fries... look at that plate full! YUM!  

They have AMAZING smoked turkey... words can't describe...

Scott is totally and completely in love with their fries... he would describe them as "the perfectly crunch outside, with the smoothest soft inside"

Scott's first bite... look at that face... pure glee.  (k... it may not really look like 'pure glee'... but trust me.. it's there) 

#5. You'll need to be sure and have several of these...

Empty plate... on to the fries dipped in his favorite barbeque sauce.

Scott's tummy is full... MISSION. ACCOMPLISHED. 

What is YOUR favorite BBQ?