SIMPLYkc Magazine February 2020

Dream DRESSES FOR EVERY BRIDE

CONNECT WITH YOUR PARTNER THROUGH EXERCISE

FEB ‘20 | Vol. 9 No. 10

A GENEROUS POUR EXPLORE KANSAS CITY BREWERIES

PARENTING MOMS, YOU’RE NOT ALONE

BEAUTY

2020 IS ALL ABOUT THE EYE(LASHES)

FINANCE

HOW TO EARN PASSIVE INCOME

Beautiful teeth

Game chanGer

make a difference Regardless of age or position in life, a beautiful healthy smile can be a definite game changer! Attractive teeth can make you look younger, smarter, more successful, highly educated and healthy.

“Patients seek our services for various reasons,” says Dr. Ross Headley, “but the bottom line is always the same. People want to look their best and they want their teeth to function at an optimum level.”

Dr. Headley has been creating beautiful smiles for more than 20 years!

He is the only dentist in Kansas accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

12850 Metcalf Ave., Ste. 200 Overland Park, KS 66213 2

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Schedule a FREE consultation today!

913-491-6874 www.kcsmile.com

CONTENTS

THE LIST 7

28

ROMANCE

AROUND TOWN 10 A GENEROUS POUR

LOCAL GOOD EATS 14 HOME 16 HOW TO BE EC0-FRIENDLY AND SAVE SOME CASH AT HOME

IN FOCUS 18

PARTNERS WHO PLAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER

BE WELL 20

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HEARTBEAT

FINANCE 22

34

WHAT IS PASSIVE INCOME, AND HOW DO YOU EARN IT?

WHO WHAT WHERE 24

16

DR. CHAD BULLEIGH

DISH 26

THE CHOCOLATEY CULINARY ROAD OF CHRISTOPHER ELBOW

BEAUTY 28

2020 IS ALL ABOUT THE EYE(LASHES)

7 THINGS 30

7 PLACES TO GET CREATIVE IN KANSAS CITY

DEAR KACIE 32 10

A DRUM CONUNDRUM

FASHION 34

22

A BALLAD OF BEAUTY

PARENTING 40 MOMS, YOU’RE NOT ALONE

BECAUSE I SAID SO 44 OFFICE HUMOR

GOOD TASTES 46

CALLING ALL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LOVERS

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HAPPENINGS 48 APP OF THE MONTH 49 BREATHE. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO FEEL GOOD.

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Renewal

Passion

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

PHOTO BY JENNY WHEAT

THE MONTH OF LOVING …

CHOCOLATE I have a love/hate relationship with February. I love that it’s the shortest month of the year and one of the last winter months. But I hate that it’s cold and it never seems to end. However, I’m going to focus on what I enjoy about February.

I love Valentine’s Day. It is a great excuse to spread some love to those around you … and eat some desserts. When my kids were little, I enjoyed getting them cute gifts and baking heart-shaped sugar cookies. If you want to woo a special someone or spread love to the people you care about, we have ideas that will make sure your gift stands out this Valentine’s Day. One idea is chocolate from Christopher Elbow Chocolates (p. 7).

They make handcrafted chocolates, bonbons, confections, and more by fusing modern culinary artistry with a craftsman-like work ethic.

This year I am determined to give a little more love for the next 28 days rather than focusing on the cold. Knowing we are one month closer to spring makes it a little easier! And so does eating some chocolate.

Suzanne Steiner, Publisher

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THE LIST

WRITTEN BY REBECCA ANELOSKI

6.

5.

Romance The season for giving isn’t over yet! If you’re wanting to woo a special someone or simply spread love to the people you care about, these local stores will make sure your gift stands out.

7.

Ampersand

1.

ampersanddesignstudio.com 306 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO 1. Kansas City Stemless Wine Glass ($12)

Christopher Elbow

elbowchocolates.com 1819 McGee St., Kansas City, MO

4.

2. Roasted Almond Toffee ($18.85)

Made in KC

madeinkc.co 306 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO 3. Made in KC Tote ($80)

Massage Heights

massageheights.com 16808 W. 89th St., Lenexa, KS 4. Feb. Special: FREE Hot Stone Therapy with purchase of $100 in gift cards!

Pink Antlers

pinkantlers.com 11531 Ash St., Leawood, KS

3.

2.

5. Vintage Matches ($15) 6. Coconut Lidded Ceramic Candle ($28)

School of Sock

madeinkc.co 8231 Corinth Mall, Prairie Village, KS 7. Red and Navy Heart KC Socks ($13)

Rebecca Aneloski, the founder of the Depalo app and lifestyle blog Rebecca Marie (@RebeccaMarieBlog), is a proud Kansas Citian who loves to shop local. Although Rebecca enjoys seeing the world and has traveled to 17 countries, she’s thankful to call the middle of the map her home.

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PUBLISHER Suzanne Steiner suz@simplykcmag.com MANAGING EDITOR Brennan Hallock, Hallock Writing & Design editor@simplykcmag.com PHOTOGRAPHY Jami Marshall of Electric Imagez, Jenny Wheat of Wheat Photography, Samantha Levi of Samantha Levi Photography, Carmen Carver, J. Rieger & Co., Lifted Spirits, Studio 8183 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julie Burton, T. E. Cunningham, Rebecca Fischer, Madison Obermeyer, Brennan Hallock, Lesli Lundquist, Rebecca Aneloski, Ann Muder ART DIRECTOR Julie Faerman, Whoo Design ADVERTISING Gretchen McGraw, Sales 620.474.5859 sales@simplykcmag.com INQUIRIES SIMPLYkc Magazine 11730 W. 135th St., Ste. 116, Overland Park, KS 66221 913.209.9394 contact@simplykcmag.com simplykcmag.com

FASHION IMAGES PHOTOS • Beth Houts, Beth Houts Photography, 913.486.8120, bethhouts.com, @bethhoutsphotography BRIDAL GOWNS & ACCESSORIES • Emily Hart Bridal, 12450 Blue Valley Parkway, Overland Park, KS, 913.681.1500, emilyhartbridal.com, @emilyhartbridal @emmalinebridal MODELS • Braylin Stevens and Vienne Boucard with Voices &, 118 Walnut, Suite 120, Kansas City, MO, 816.753.4261, voicesand.com, @voicesandmodels STYLIST • Gretchen McGraw, @gretchen_kc HAIR • Summer Johnson, Master Stylist at Catered Beauty located inside Aspen Salon, 9926 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS, 913.909.9227, @summerjohnsonhair MAKEUP • Brittany Colgan, 816.509.8915, brittanycolgan15@icloud.com, @beautybybrittanycolgan BOUQUETS • Flowers by Emily, 5230 W. 116th Pl., Leawood, KS, 913.685.1188, flowersbyemily.com, #flowersbyemily SHOT ON LOCATION • Loose Mansion, 101 E. Armour Blvd. Kansas City, MO, 816.960.6501, @loosemansion

PUBLISHER’S NOTE IMAGE PHOTO Jenny Wheat, Wheat Photography, 115 W. 18th St., #200, Kansas City, MO, 816.695.9542, @wheatphotography WARDROBE Standard Style, 451 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO, 913.685.4464 HAIR & MAKEUP Katie Zehel, Oliver’s Hair Salon, Rosana Square, 7590 W. 119th St., Overland Park, KS, 913.338.2266, @olivershairsalon MAKEUP Jami Roth, @mua_jamiroth

SIMPLYkc Magazine is published monthly by Mach Publications, LLC. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of SIMPLYkc Magazine. All rights reserved. SIMPLYkc Magazine accepts no infringement or other responsibility for unsolicited or contributed copy, artwork, photography, or advertisements. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to omissions and errors. Opinions and statements in SIMPLYkc Magazine are contributed by authors and/ or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of SIMPLYkc Magazine.

Photography and material in the publication as well as design may not be copied or reproduced in any form without written permission. References for copy will be made available upon written request.

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All rights reserved. ©2020, Mach Publications, LLC.

BUY. SELL. INVEST.

We can help make 2020 the year you buy!

The 2020 real estate market is already booming, call us today for a complimentary market analysis and see how the Parsons|Mirakian Real Estate Team can get you into the home of your dreams.

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AROUND TOWN

A GENEROUS POUR WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON

Kansas City knows booze. Once nicknamed “The Wettest Block in the World,” Kansas City has again become a distillery boom town. We poured a glass at a few of Kansas City’s favorite distilleries.

J. Rieger & Co. 2700 Guinotte Ave., KCMO jriegerco.com There are certain Kansas City landmarks that everyone takes visitors to: Union Station, Liberty Memorial, a Kansas City barbecue joint, and J. Rieger & Co.—a whiskey playground built inside the century-old Heim Brewery Bottling building.

J. Rieger & Co. was founded in 1887

by Jacob Rieger, but it was closed during Prohibition. But Ryan Maybee—a bartender and restaurateur— and Andy Rieger—Jacob Rieger’s great-great-great-grandson—put the distillery back in business.

The moment you walk inside you are reminded that the distillery is a piece of Kansas City history. The massive distilling tanks can be seen from almost everywhere in the building and are a statement of what J. Rieger & Co. is good at—booze. J. Rieger PHOTO / J. RIEGER & CO.

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is set apart by the amount of space available to rent for events or meetings. One room is surrounded by whiskey barrels and one has cocktails on tap. You can have food catered or just bring the family for a Sunday brunch.

Lifted Spirits 1734 Cherry St., KCMO liftedspiritskc.com Kansas City loves Kansas City. Lifted Sprits loves Kansas City, too. So much so that they distill the community into their spirits.

Lifted Spirits begins the distilling process with red wheat from a single farmer in Wellsville, Kansas. Those strands of wheat are fermented to become vodka, gin, absinthe, or PHOTO / J. RIEGER & CO.

continued on page 12

OLATHE 15056 S. Black Bob Rd. | Olathe, KS | 913-768-7467

OVERLAND PARK 9540 Nall Ave. | Overland Park, KS | 913-257-5180

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AROUND TOWN CONT. PHOTO / LIFTED SPIRITS

to perfect the art of blending Irish whiskey with her own. Their Duffy’s Run Vodka was named one of the Top 10 Vodkas in the United States

by USA Today’s Best 10. And the Builders Botanical Gin is ... well ... peanuts and cracker jacks pair well.

PHOTO / LIFTED SPIRITS

wheat whiskey. The process is not a secret. In fact, the whole building is an incubator for education. The head distiller taught himself how to distill from seventeenth century French absinthe recipes. You are encouraged to watch, taste-test, and try their craft cocktails.

Derrick Neuner, production manager at Lifted Spirits, says, “The weird thing about the alcohol industry is you usually don’t know how your product is made. We’re transparent. It’s not a trade secret. We’ll show you and tell you everything.

It provides a great experience and great flavor.”

Lifted Spirits collaborates with the Crossroads district to bring the flavors of Kansas City into its spirits.

Coffee stout at Torn Label, brandy from KC Wineworks, and hops from City Barrel have all made appearances behind the cocktail bar.

And why not? Kansas City loves Kansas City.

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Restless Spirits 109 E. 18th Ave., KCMO Restlessspiritsdistilling.com What does the Boston Red Sox’ Fenway Park and the Kansas City Royals’ Kauffman Stadium have in common? They both pour Kansas City’s Restless Spirits gin in your cup. And guess what, boys of summer. That gin is made by a woman.

Michael and Benay Shannon are the founder and master distiller of Restless Sprits. They’ve created unique, award-winning Irish and American spirits since 2016.

The Shannon family immigrated from Ireland in 1853. Research showed Irish whiskey as the fastest growing spirit in the United States, so the Shannons decided to open their own distillery in North Kansas City.

Benay Shannon is a self-taught distiller. As a former high school science teacher, it didn’t take her long

Tom’s Town 1701 Main St., KCMO toms-town.com “Kansas City wouldn’t be Kansas City without Tom Pendergast,” says David Epstein, owner of Tom’s Town. “Kansas City has always been a party town. The day Prohibition started was the best day of Tom Pendergast’s life. The law didn’t apply anymore in Kansas City.”

If you’re from Kansas City, you know who Tom Pendergast is. If you don’t, open the door of Tom’s Town and you will be educated on the man that—in a boss sort of way—owned Kansas City. Under Pendergast, Kansas City ignored Prohibition and emerged as the “Paris of the Plains.”

Money, jazz, and spirits flowed in the open. How did Kansas City turn a blind eye to Prohibition? As Tom said, “The people are thirsty.”

Tom’s Town is the distillery where Kansas City walks in, grabs a cocktail, takes a tour, and learns about how Kansas City became Kansas City. And we’re still thirsty.

fine art

913.486.8120

bethhouts.com SIMPLYKCMAG.COM

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Crows Coffee is a locally owned and operated coffee shop open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Stop by our South Plaza, Waldo, or Red Bridge locations for a coffee, tea, housemade pastry, or breakfast burrito. Then stay for a glass of wine or beer! Visit our website for more information on live music, trivia nights, and happy hour specials.

SOUTH PLAZA - 304 E. 51st St. • 816.820.7502 WALDO - 7440 Washington St. • 816.820.8954 RED BRIDGE - 535 E. Red Bridge Rd.•816.820.5842 crowscoffee.com

Our food is simple, elegant, and honest. The menu is inspired by a combination of American, Greek, French, and Italian cuisines. Our commitment to freshness and quality is first and foremost, as we use the season’s best offerings, and buy from local farmers and purveyors whenever possible.

L ocal

7021 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS • 913.345.1111 yayaskc.com

Established in 2013, our goal is to serve award-winning craft beer and handcrafted burgers in a warm and casual setting. The Burg & Barrel experience is about more than just food, though. A sincere effort to educate our staff on all aspects of food and craft beer culture is the basis for our service philosophy.

The welcoming staff at Burg & Barrel go to great lengths to make guests feel at ease and well taken care of.

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4808 Roanoke Pkwy., Kansas City, MO • 816.437.7912 themonarchbar.com

GOOD EATS

The service team at YaYa’s consistently aims to provide the best service and complete guest satisfaction. We’re proud to be able to meet each special request of our guests, whether it’s food, beverage, or a special setting.

LEAWOOD - 5408 W. 151st St. • 913.444.0494 OVERLAND PARK - 7042 W. 76th St. • 913.444.0494 burgandbarrel.com

The Monarch is a social setting for the cocktail curious or drinks connoisseur. We practice the art of hospitality and refined service.

Creativity and precision reign in every detail from drinks to small plates.

The Monarch Cocktail Bar & Lounge is located in Kansas City’s historic Country Club Plaza area, and open Monday through Saturday 4 p.m.-1 a.m.

Burnt End BBQ is a fast casual BBQ restaurant located in Overland Park. They are the tastiest of the tasty! Come in hungry and walk out satisfied. If you can’t make it in... don’t worry! They deliver and cater. Burnt End BBQ can cater any event from a simple office lunch or an old fashion BBQ wedding. Come in and try the best BBQ in town!

11831 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS • 913.451.8888 burntendbbqkc.com

Forget what you think you know about food. We live to serve you chefinspired food made with fresh, local ingredients. We promise to buy and support seasonal, local ingredients first. If not local, we source from small family GAP-certified or organic farms, prime growing regions, artisan producers with fair trade partnerships. Fork or no fork, you can be sure you’re getting the highest quality, socially responsible ingredients possible.

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HOME

HOW TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY

AND SAVE SOME CASH AT HOME WRITTEN BY T.E. CUNNINGHAM

We reside in a socially conscious world today when it comes to preserving Mother Earth, and there is a lot each homeowner can do to help the cause beyond recycling. According to TreeHugger.com, a typical house wastes 30 percent more energy than an efficient one. The average cost to retrofit a home to make it energy efficient is about $10,000, but that is before any utility or government energy rebates—not to mention the yearly savings for the homeowner.

H

owever, if you want to work your way into it slowly here are five great tips for homeowners to be eco-friendly and save a little cash!

Water Conservation

The first and most obvious thing to do is make sure your home has no leaks or constantly running water.

Have you ever had a toilet that

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continually runs? That’s water being wasted, and it’s adding to your water bill.

You can also buy products that use less water—toilets, faucets, and showerheads. For example, if your showerhead can fill a bucket with 1 gallon of water in under 20 seconds, you don’t have an earth-friendly model. Replace it!

Finally, be careful about leaving water running while performing dayto-day activities like brushing your teeth, loading the dishwasher, and taking a shower.

Energy-efficient Lightbulbs

Lose the old, incandescent bulbs and use the more efficient CFL versions on the market. In addition to

saving energy, these bulbs also have the extra benefit of lasting longer—so less money on the energy bill, less money replacing them, and less time changing them.

Solar Panels

Adding solar panels can be financially beneficial and helpful to the environment, but they are a long-term investment. Currently, the payback period on installing these is around eight years, according to news.energysage. com. You should also check with your homeowner association (if you have one) before installing, as some do not allow solar panels.

Heating Changes

The first step in adjusting your heating situation is to make sure your house is well-insulated. The four main culprits of energy loss are your roof, walls, windows, and doors. Make sure these trouble areas have the respective weatherproofing needed. Another quick tip: wood and stone floors that are covered with large area rugs will hold heat better.

For both heating and cooling, you will want to install a smart thermostat.

These can be programmed to turn up or down at certain times of the day. For instance, why heat the house at 70 degrees all day if you are gone for nine hours of it? Let the thermostat drop it to 64 degrees during the day, and then begin heating it back up an hour before the first person arrives home for the night.

General Contractor Kent Fruits of Kent & Company explains that, “Smart home automation truly helps the consumer save money. Even the simple addition of a smart thermostat and LED lights can make a significant difference over time. We recommend all our customers make themselves aware of the options out there as they build or renovate.”

One final note on heating: it applies to cooking as well. Cut down on oven use, and don’t leave the oven door open longer than necessary.

Recycling

by recycling. But think about extrapolating this out to all areas of your household operations. Buy recycled products for your home whenever you can—anything from technology to toilet paper. Additionally, clean with natural cleaning products, which you can actually make out of vinegar, citrus fruits, and baking soda. You can involve your kids in making and using these cleaning supplies to help them think green.

Are you a coffee drinker? You can help by reverting to making coffee with the traditional drip coffee maker so you stop burning those individual plastic coffee pods with every cup of joe you drink via that fancy coffee machine that cost you $400.

Leading experts project that Americans spend around $130 billion per year on wasted energy. So think about how you, your family, your friends, your coworkers, and your neighbors can impact that number with the simple changes above.

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Additional local taxes and fees may apply. Rates and services may vary by location. Each Massage Heights Retreat is independently owned and operated. © 2020 Massage Heights

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INFOCUS

The fitness instructors from Traveling Trainers are able to work with all skill levels, as each workout is adapted to your needs and goals and tailored to your schedule.

PARTNERS WHO PLAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER

WRITTEN BY BRENNAN HALLOCK / PHOTOS BY JAMI MARSHALL

Right about this time of year is probably when your New Year’s resolutions are beginning to lose their appeal. The budget is becoming restricting, the diet may not seem as exciting, and the exercise plan is probably more intimidating than it was on Jan. 1. But this is also the month of love. We think about relationships during February, and relationships are often the key to achieving your New Year’s goals.

This is where Traveling Trainers comes in. Their mission is to bring customized, convenient, cost-effective, and certified fitness solutions to your doorstep. A trainer comes to your home or chosen location and keeps you on track with your fitness plan while working around your schedule and needs. If you don’t have fitness equipment, that is no problem. If you’re not able to make it to the gym, that is not a problem either. Traveling Trainers will bring certified personal trainers to the location you choose and

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work with you to achieve the goals you set.

The biggest reason this is ideal for this time of year, though, is that in addition to being able to enjoy the encouragement and instruction of a trainer, you can let a friend join too. Working towards a goal as a couple or with a friend greatly increases the likelihood of you actually achieving that goal.

Traveling Trainers allows you to let a friend join at no extra cost.

“We allow the second person to join for free,” explains Jacory Marshall,

who launched Traveling Trainers in 2017. “Not only the trainer holds you accountable, but also the second person—whether it’s a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, daughter, son, brother, sister—it doesn’t matter.”

One example of this is a couple who Marshall works with. The girlfriend, who is a cancer survivor, joined because she wanted to lose weight and get in shape. Marshall began meeting with her at her home at 5:30 in the morning for 30 minutes three times a week. Her boyfriend wasn’t part of the initial workout routine,

Traveling Trainers allows you to receive training in the comfort of your own home, and allows a second person to join at no extra cost.

but he began joining in as well, taking advantage of the ability to add an extra person for free.

“They had to first and foremost follow a nutrition plan we offer,” explains Marshall. He then tailored their workouts to focus on a cardiovascular routine. Within six months, they each lost 30 pounds. They have continued their workouts, and the boyfriend now sleeps better, has better breathing, and has increased strength. The girlfriend fits better in her clothes and has higher energy levels.

Brandi Houk Hodapp, a client of Traveling Trainers from Olathe, Kansas, says that over the years she has had gym memberships, fitness classes, home workouts, online videos, and more.

“None of them have gotten me to the point that Traveling Trainers has in my strength, changing my physique, and overall fitness,” she says. “I am seeing changes in my body that I wasn’t sure I would ever see again after 40.”

Location is not a problem either. Traveling Trainers is able to meet you almost anywhere in the Kansas City area.

“We go all the way out to Blue Springs and North Kansas City to the Legends and all the way down to South Overland Park,” says Marshall. But if you are not in the Kansas City area or if you are looking for an even more convenient option, Traveling Trainers is beginning to offer online training for people who are busy and on the go.

“I am seeing changes in my body that I wasn’t sure I would ever see again after 40.”

They are also able to work with people at all skill levels. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t stepped into a gym for years.

There are no minimum requirements to start your training program. “We make modifications based on what they can and cannot do. Our trainers are more than equipped to do so. Our trainers have to have national certification, one year of experience, CPR certification, and background checks,” explains Marshall.

If your New Year’s resolutions are beginning to falter or if you are looking for a special way to connect with your loved one this Valentine’s Day, you can try out Traveling Trainers at no cost.

Register online or by calling, and you will receive a free training session. If you mention this article, you will even get two weeks of training at no cost.

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BE WELL

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HEARTBEAT WRITTEN BY ANN MUDER

You may feel your heart pounding when you’re exercising or feeling stressed. But if your heart rate varies greatly without any change in activity, it can be a sign of an arrhythmia.

It adjusts the rhythm depending on how much oxygen or food your body requires. When you exercise, it speeds up your heart rate to increase blood flow to your muscles.

When you sleep, your muscles don’t need as much oxygen or food, and your heart rate slows down.

An arrhythmia occurs when the sinus node develops an abnormal rhythm or when the pathway is interrupted when traveling to the lower chambers, or ventricles.

Symptoms of Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat, meaning the rate is either irregular, too fast, or too slow. It’s caused by a problem with the electrical signals that control the pace of your heartbeat. In many cases, arrhythmias may cause no symptoms or a slight fluttering in the chest or neck.

In more severe cases, they can affect blood flow and cause fainting or even cardiac arrest.

“If you’re feeling any abnormal sensations, like palpitations, always mention it to your doctor,” says Mazda Biria, MD, electrophysiologist at AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery at Shawnee

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Mission. “While many instances are harmless, there are severe cases that require medical intervention to preserve heart function and blood flow to the body.”

How an Arrhythmia Happens In a normal heart, electrical signals are sent through the heart, top to bottom, to control each heartbeat.

The electrical pulses start in the sinus node, located in the right atrium (top chamber at the right side).

The sinus node works as a pacemaker to control your heartbeat.

There are two basic types of arrhythmias. Bradycardia is when the heart rate is too slow, and tachycardia is when the heart rate is too fast.

According to the American Heart Association, arrhythmias can cause a wide range of symptoms. For some people, they may just feel a missed heartbeat or a slight fluttering. Over time, bradycardia can lead to fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Tachycardia can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, both bradycardia and tachycardia can lead to cardiac arrest.

“If you have any episodes of passing out or feeling like you’re going to pass out, it’s especially important to see a doctor,” says Dr. Biria. “It can indicate

a more serious problem that can potentially lead to cardiac arrest.”

Who’s at Risk Arrhythmias can be caused by many different factors. People are more likely to get arrhythmias as they get older because of changes in the heart’s tissue. Medical conditions like high blood pressure and cardiomyopathy (weak heart) can also lead to problems with the heart’s electrical signals. Others are born with heart conditions that lead to arrhythmias.

“Each person is different,” says Dr. Biria.

“Some people may have an arrhythmia for many years, but don’t show signs of it until they’re much older. For some, a substance like caffeine or alcohol may trigger symptoms.”

Finding a Treatment Treatment will depend on the cause of the arrhythmia and the severity. “It could be as simple as lifestyle changes, like limiting caffeine and alcohol,” says Dr. Biria. “Other conditions may need more complex treatments, such as medication or pacemakers.”

Pacemakers can be used to control slow heart rhythms. Traditional pacemakers have wires, called leads, that deliver electrical signals from the device into the heart. Some patients may be candidates for leadless pacemakers, self-contained capsules that go inside the heart and don’t require a separate power source. The surgery is less invasive since it’s inserted through a small access in the groin and guided through a catheter.

Doctors can also treat arrhythmias with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is similar to a pacemaker but uses more high-energy pulses to help correct life-threatening fast arrhythmias.

“We have more options today to treat arrhythmia with fewer complications,” says Dr. Biria. “Your cardiologist can tell you whether your arrhythmia puts you at risk for any medical conditions and the treatment options best for you.”

AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery at Shawnee Mission offers quality cardiovascular care close to home. For more information, visit AdventHealthKC.com/ heart.

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FINANCE

WHAT IS PASSIVE INCOME AND HOW DO

YOU EARN IT? WRITTEN BY BRENNAN HALLOCK

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T

The definition of passive income varies, but it usually means money earned with little to no effort on the part of the person receiving it.

This could be a business you own but don’t work in, a rental property where you’re the owner collecting the money and someone else is managing it, or an investment where you just collect the dividends. It sounds like a dream come true to have money flowing into your bank account without working for it, but there is more to earning passive income than simply getting money without working. Here are a few steps to start earning passive income and be less reliant on your 8-5 job.

Steps to Earning Passive Income • Change your mindset.

The first step is a change in the way you think about your money. Many people only consider the immediate future when thinking about finances. If you plan and budget your finances more than a month ahead, you’re doing well. But you need to start thinking even more long-term than a month. Passive income is not achieved overnight.

There will be goals that have to be set and completed to get you to the point where you are no longer actively working for the income.

• Get your own financial house in order. Marc Shaffer, princi-

pal for Searcy Financial in Overland Park, Kansas, says to start earning passive income, you need to do some foundational work on your personal finances. “In order to access opportunities for passive income, you need to have yourself set up for financial stability. You need the ability to meet liabilities and living expenses through another income before you start investing in something that can produce an income but has the potential for loss or setbacks,” he explains.

This includes getting a grip on your debt and how you’re going to pay for it, making sure you have an emergency fund set up, and establishing a consistent stream of income that covers your living expenses.

• Take inventory of your assets and liabilities.

The next step after you have your basic finances in order is to take inventory of how you are able to finance a passive income opportunity. Shaffer explains that you should take inventory of where you are at from a financial standpoint, understand where you have assets and liabilities, and then get a good understanding of what your budget is. This is so you can determine what percentage of your budget can be put toward purchasing something that produces passive income, such as a business, stocks, or property.

estate, you need to look at the trends of appreciation for that property. This will help you estimate your earnings should you decide to sell it someday.

“Some people may not take into consideration homeowner expenditures,” explains Shaffer. “Maybe in the first year of homeownership, the place needs a new roof or the A/C goes out. Now it’s still getting passive income, but not enough to pay for the maintenance of the property.”

Another potential issue is if someone decides to buy stocks or an asset without first setting up an emergency fund. If they lose their job or have a medical emergency they may have to liquidate those stocks in a market that isn’t doing well.

Passive income can be a powerful tool when done right.

The dream of money flowing into your bank without working for it is attainable, but you must make sure to take your time, be prepared, and research your decisions. Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to achieving your financial goals.

• Choose your method of passive income.

There are numerous ways of earning passive income, but you will have to decide what works best for you. Obviously some will have larger barriers than others. Purchasing real estate or a business can cost a lot of money and be a big risk, but there are many ways to earn a passive income without nearly as much risk or investment.

“Lately, it’s been interesting to watch people take advantage of Airbnb using a room in their house,” says Shaffer. “In certain areas of town where it’s more accessible or people want to stay there, that’s been one way to turn the house you’re already living in into a way to make more money.” Some other ways people earn passive income include index funds, real estate investment trusts, blogging/ vlogging, or being a business silent investor.

• Determine the viability of the passive income.

It normally takes some time to earn money with passive income, and there are many factors you must consider when deciding what kind of passive income you would like. You need to evaluate whether your passive income opportunity will pay for itself over the long-term.

“You should have a good understanding of the expected return on your passive income to determine if it is worth the cost,” explains Shaffer. “Some of that is unknown, but that is something you want to have a good idea of.”

For example, if you plan to make money by renting out property, you will need to purchase real estate. And if you are considering purchasing real

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, o h W

PHOTO BY JAMI MARSHALL

WHAT, WHERE Meet Dr. Chad Bulleigh

Who: What:

DR. CHAD BULLEIGH Smiling—everyone does it, but not everyone thinks about it.

But Dr. Chad Bulleigh thinks about your smile. Dr. Bulleigh, who graduated with top honors and as class representative, is the owner of Bulleigh Orthodontics, which has three locations in the Kansas City area.

Giving you a perfect smile is his passion, but he also dedicates his time to several “smile” charities in Kansas City. These include Smiles Change Lives, an orthodontic program providing discounted braces for kids in need; Operation Smile, a program providing surgeries to children born with cleft palate; the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce; and the Dental Public Health Children Outreach Program.

Find more information about Bulleigh Orthodontics at bulleighortho.com

Where:

FAVORITE PLACE TO DINE Kansas City has so many great choices when it comes to dining out. My favorite restaurants are J. Alexander’s, Tavern, Jose Pepper’s, and Oklahoma Joe’s—that’s just Joe’s now, right?

FAVORITE SHOPPING I’ve never found a golf store I didn’t like.

FAVORITE HIDDEN GEMS National WWI Museum and Memorial. While not hidden, I love how well it depicts the past and how it pays homage to those who sacrificed for our freedoms.

FAVORITE PLACES TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS I like to take guests to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Chiefs and Kauffman Stadium to watch the Royals. Those top the list. We are very lucky to have both professional football and baseball teams here in Kansas City. It’s fun and exciting to share the amazing community support.

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DISH

THE CHOCOLATEY CULINARY ROAD OF CHRISTOPHER ELBOW WRITTEN BY T.E. CUNNINGHAM / PHOTO BY STUDIO 8183

Christopher Elbow’s website says, “The road to making the world’s finest chocolate and chocolate confections wasn’t a short one.” That’s an understatement.

Elbow began as a line cook at the Lincoln Country Club in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he attended college. From there the Liberty, Missouri, native set out on a career adventure, logging cooking credits with some of the culinary elite, including time working in restaurants run by renowned chefs Emeril Lagasse and Jean Joho. He returned to Kansas City, though, to join the team at the American Restaurant, which has boasted some of the industry’s most brilliant talent.

From there he opened his own company producing handcrafted chocolates, bonbons, confections, and more—if you are craving it, he’s probably making it! Christopher Elbow Chocolates fuses modern culinary artistry with a craftsman-like work ethic to create beautiful, dec-

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What sets apart your chocolates?

The combination of sourcing worldclass chocolate and ingredients, taking an artistic approach to the appearance of our bonbons, balancing the chocolate with unique flavor combinations and an endless drive to craft world-class products are the primary keys to our success.

We also strive to innovate new flavors and designs, so we always can surprise and delight our customers, which has been instrumental in our longevity.

How do you stay inspired to make new creations? adent expressions of flavors from around the world.

What inspired you to start your own company?

I always had the desire to own my own business. For most of my early career, I wanted to own a restaurant. However, once I was bitten by the chocolate bug, my focus shifted to starting a chocolate company.

Creating new chocolates and confections is my favorite part of the business, so I try to take as many opportunities as I can to do that.

We try to release new flavors or products several times throughout the year and on all major holidays.

What’s your favorite culinary indulgence?

I have so many, but I have to say pizza. I have a wood-fired pizza oven at home, and I obsess about

striving to make the best pizza I can.

Everywhere I travel, I research and seek out the best local pizza places.

Why is a gift from Christopher Elbow Chocolates the perfect Valentine’s Day gift?

Someone has to put a lot of care and thought into purchasing our choco-

lates as a gift. Giving chocolate is a cherished, time-honored tradition, but giving a gift of our chocolate goes above and beyond the everyday chocolate and puts much more meaning behind the intent.

What’s your favorite thing about Kansas City?

Kansas City is such a great city, especially right now. We have experienced so much growth over the years since we started the business, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Kansas City is on par with some of the greatest cities in the U.S.!

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BEAUTY

2020 IS ALL ABOUT THE EYE(LASHES) WRITTEN BY MADISON OBERMEYER

F

rom excessive contouring to a DIY lip-plumping challenge à la Jenner, the beauty trends of the past decade made quite the statement. But as the end of 2019 drew near, it was clear the beauty industry had reclaimed its own skin, with makeup-less makeup tutorials flooding social media.

Whereas beauty has been seen as a corrective tool in the past, today it is largely seen as a way to take natural beauty and amplify it—and eyelash extensions do exactly that. Voluptuous or feathery, elongated or cat-eye; the promises on mascara packages are loaded with results more wishful than an adult snow day. But what if you didn’t have to deal with mascaras or subject your eyeballs to any sort of medieval-looking torture device for the sake of a slight curl? We spoke with brow and lash artist Lina Montenegro to find out why 2020 is big on big lashes, what getting eyelash extensions is really like, and how to achieve longer lashes at home.

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“Eyelash extensions are one of the most popular beauty tricks of celebrities,” Montenegro says. “The extensions rejuvenate your look, help reduce the expression of tiredness, and give you that put-together look at all times. Once you use them you won’t ever want to go back!”

Montenegro explains the benefits of eyelash extensions include not only eliminating the need to wear mascara and other eye makeup but also helping save time in your daily routine and creating a more dramatic look with minimal effort. The most important part of any lash extension session, though, is discussing the details with an artist you trust to ensure the results will be in line with your expectations.

“I always ask clients if this is their first time using extensions, and if so I explain the different designs and styles, talk about my recommendations for length and thickness, and show them pictures of other client’s lashes or review other examples they have seen that they like,” Montenegro explains.

A typical eyelash extension session will take two to three hours for new full sets, depending on the style of eyelashes chosen. “There are classic, hybrid, or volume styles, with different custom features depending on the client’s desired look,” Montenegro says. “In order for the eyelashes to remain full, the client must return every two to three weeks for a refill. This session typically lasts one to one-and-a-half hours.”

Asking questions; discussing health, allergy, and skincare needs; and using visuals of your desired outcome will ensure a positive first experience, Montenegro advises, especially when it comes to allergies. “It is very important to identify if the client is allergic to cyanoacrylate, an ingredient in many glues,” Montenegro explains. “If they are allergic we can select glues or procedures that don’t pose any risk of reaction. Making my clients feel safe and confident about the procedure is my number one priority.”

After getting eyelash extensions, clients

are recommended a set of rules which include brushing and washing the extensions daily (but not wetting the eyelashes in the first 24 hours); not using oily makeup around the eyes; avoiding scratching at the eyes, pulling the eyelashes, and sleeping on the stomach; and never, ever wearing mascara or curling the eyelashes.

“Naturally, some of these things are easier to follow than others,” Montenegro allows, “but these steps will ensure that clients get the best retention possible.

If clients wish to remove their lashes for any reason, they should do it with a professional so as not to affect the natural eyelashes.”

For many, the worrisome effect on natural lashes can be enough to resort back to a tried-and-true drugstore mascara.

However, the key to maintaining healthy lashes lies in the technique. “The proper method of application is crucial to ensure lash isolation to prevent the eyelashes from sticking together,” Montene-

gro says. “What is true is that eyelash extensions accelerate the growth cycle of the eyelashes, which is why refills are needed every two to three weeks.”

Do you need more time to digest the rules of extensions and wipe out your worries about rumors of ruined lashes?

Luckily for you, Montenegro offers several natural options for those wanting strong, healthy lashes in the meantime.

Just take a peek in your pantry or medicine cabinet for ingredients that can help lengthen and strengthen lashes, like castor oil, olive oil, green tea, or chamomile tea.

Eyelash extensions may be the hottest beauty trend yet, but it’s important to remember that beauty and health go hand-in-hand. Maintaining a healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and avoiding stress will help create a glowing backdrop for your beautiful lashes—or whatever beauty trend is set to storm social media next.

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7 THINGS

7

PLACES TO GET CREATIVE IN KANSAS CITY 1 Get

your artistic juices flowing.

Partner painting and prosecco (or any wine of your choice) for a night of art with friends. Join a class or schedule a group outing to Pinots Palette or Arts and Carafes for a relaxing night creating a masterpiece and, if you prefer your wine mulled, warm memories!

2 Put a spin on things.

Sometimes the best way to get in the creative spirit is to get your hands dirty. Relax into a night of throwing pottery and head to the Belger Arts Center or KC Clay Guild, where you’ll be encouraged to get messy while creating the perfect finished product.

3 Look at things in black and white.

If you don’t always see the big picture in color, try your hand at writing poetry, short stories, or maybe even a novel! The Writers Place offers workshops, readings, youth and adult programming, networking, support, and more for all writers and readers alike.

4 Think outside the box.

Have you ever felt in a creative rut? Sometimes all it takes is to

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literally get out, and at Breakout KC you can do exactly that!

You never know what creative breakthrough will come of this brain break!

5 If you feel at your most creative in the kitchen.

When thinking of cooking, normally one thinks of following the rules, the recipe, or whatever your grandmother told you to do. Give yourself the chance to get creative in the kitchen at The Culinary Center of Kansas City, where your creations will be almost too pretty to eat!

6 Where mic drops are welcome.

Do you need the encouragement of an audience to truly feel creative? With Slam Poetry KC, you have a chance the first Wednesday of every month to wow a live audience with your creative genius.

7 Develop a pixel perfect afternoon.

If pen and paper aren’t your storytelling medium of choice, rewrite the rules in your favor! Flyover Indies, a community of KC-based game developers, helps members develop their own video games, board games, card games, and more.

Ready player one!

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r a e D

KACIE A DRUM CONUNDRUM

My son was dying to take drum lessons, so we signed him up and bought him a practice pad. A few weeks later he doesn’t want to practice and says he hates playing the drums. What should I do? Should I force him to stay with it because it’s important to learn commitment, or let him quit and figure out something else he’s passionate about?

Make him quit! Who wants to listen to that? Okay that was a joke.

Don’t come at me, Battle of the Bands.

You didn’t mention your son’s age, but I’m guessing he’s old enough to realize the value of money. If a toddler is bored with a toy, you don’t tell the toddler to keep playing with the toy. You can’t tell a toddler anything, really. They own you. But to teach your eight-year-old about commitment is a little easier.

Quitting isn’t always a bad thing. Quitting may mean he cares about himself and his feelings. But that said, you could also use this opportunity to teach your son about money and finances. A drum practice pad is not cheap. You could ask him to do some chores around the house to “pay off” the drum set. Forcing your child to do anything will most likely turn your child against you—even if it’s playing drums. Trust me, as children get older, they learn commitment on their own. It’s life.

If you have any questions you’d like Kacie to answer, submit them to contact@simplykcmag.com.

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FASHION

Love Struck

Local designer Emily Hart is bringing brides a touch of whimsy and romance for their perfect day

EMILY HART BRIDAL 12450 Blue Valley Parkway Overland Park, KS 913.681.1500 emilyhartbridal.com

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Photography / Beth Houts Models / Braylin Stevens and Vienne Boucard with Voices & Stylist / Gretchen McGraw Hair / Summer Johnson Makeup / Brittany Colgan Bouquets / Flowers by Emily

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PARENTING

MOMS, YOU’RE NOT ALONE FINDING SUPPORT THROUGH JOINING A LOCAL GROUP WRITTEN BY REBECCA FISCHER

I

f you’re a new mom, joining a social group may be the last thing on your mind. Finding a break to take a shower or a nap is probably higher priority. And surely you’ve been told many times that being a mom gets easier as the days go by. But in the meantime, finding other moms to bond with might just be the support you need to help you get through and add some fun to the mix.

That’s what happened to Meredith Paranjothi. Paranjothi was an older first-time mom, and most of her friends either had school-age kids or had decided not to have kids at all.

Feeling isolated, and in an effort to connect with other new moms, she began attending baby massage and storytime groups.

“That’s when I met Wendy and learned about Fit4Mom,” she explains. “I’m so grateful, because it literally changed my life. It was critical for me to get together regularly with other people who weren’t getting enough sleep and were forgetting to eat—you know,

because you’re just putting everything into this new little life.”

If you’ve seen a group of moms with their youngsters in strollers, you were probably witnessing a Fit4Mom class.

They have various indoor locations so they can meet year-round, including Oak Park Mall at 9 a.m. before stores open, but as the weather warms they’ll begin having more classes outside. Indoor classes involve power walking mixed with various exercises and stretches.

The outdoor classes are similar but typically more energetic. “Plus we get the bonus of fresh air, sunshine, and a chance to shake off those winter blues,” says Paranjothi. “And there’s singing to the kids, reading books, and playing with toys. We keep them involved and entertained. Some new moms have never heard these songs, or all the verses of these songs, so that part is fun for them too.”

Are you not interested in fitness? Neither was Paranjothi when she first

continued on page 42

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PARENTING CONT. joined. “Honestly, I just wanted to meet people. I could only talk to my husband about how hard my day was so long before his eyes glazed over,” she laughs.

It takes a village ... or a community

Fit4Mom began in San Diego and has been in the Overland Park area for almost 20 years. Paranjothi joined in 2011 and became owner when Wendy, the previous owner, left in 2013.

If you’re worried you might not make it to class on time, don’t sweat it.

Paranjothi says as long as they’re not singing the goodbye song for the day, come! There’s always playtime for the kids afterward too. Some moms even stay after class to play in the park or just hang out or shop with the other moms.

“It’s definitely come as you are,” she

says. “Having somewhere to go to escape the monotony at home can be very motivational and just help you get through the day. Get up, get ready for class, have class, eat lunch, and it’s nap time!”

As an added bonus, groups that involve your child provide built-in babysitting. Fit4Mom is open to all moms, not just new moms.

There are a variety of other local classes and groups for moms to find the support they need. Overland Park Regional Medical Center offers a weekly breastfeeding support group that provides moms with support and resources to help them enjoy this special time with their baby. Plus, there’s an opportunity to meet other moms who share your experience.

Single moms should check out The Single Mom KC, whose purpose is

to “bring hope to single mothers by removing shame and reproach, transform the negative statistics that often surround fatherless children, and educate others to know how to effectively strengthen and support single mother families.”

Meetup, Nextdoor, and Facebook also provide great opportunities to connect and bond with local moms.

Paranjothi encourages moms to make the effort to connect. She says joining Fit4Mom was one of the best things she’s ever done for herself and for her daughter. “They say it takes a village, and it’s true,” she says. “We’re a real community. I’ve made so many friends, and my daughter has too.

In fact, her best friend is from the group. They’ve been friends since they were five months and sevenand-a-half months old. It’s been so much fun!”

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BECAUSE I SAID SO...

OFFICE HUMOR WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON / PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA LEVI

H

umor is a tough category to write. What is funny to me may not be funny to you. Also, there are different styles of humor: slapstick comedy, dark humor, sarcasm, satire, parodies, standup jokes, witty humor, your-mom jokes, your kid’s knock-knock jokes.

There’s also office humor. And bathroom humor.

Life took a turn recently and I found myself starting a new full-time job in an office. On the first day of my job, my boss gave me a tour of the

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building. We passed the men’s and women’s restrooms.

“And here are where the restrooms are located. These are the only bathrooms we have in the building,” he explained. I quit.

Okay I didn’t quit, but I wanted to quit 10 minutes into my full-time job. One women’s restroom for a medium-sized office building? Maybe I can hold it all day, I thought.

I can’t hold it all day. The coffee machine brews extra hot and I need a minimum of four cups. Do you know what happens when you can’t

hold it all day? You go a lot. So you sit staring at the sign that reads, “Please make sure your waste goes all the way down the toilet. Thank you, Management.” And while you’re sitting you make a list in your head how your company can make restroom improvements. This is for you, HR!

Get rid of the 1-ply toilet paper.

The amount of toilet paper you have to pull out to make a proper toilet paper wad is more expensive than just buying the 2-ply. I might as well bring my own 2-ply roll for a luxurious bathroom experience.

Invent a self-locking door that can only be unlocked from the inside by washing your hands, Karen.

I saw your shoes. I know it was you.

Yeah, you may have hand sanitizer at your desk but the handle, Karen. The handle. I can’t work with you!

Hang a sign that says, “No talking in the bathroom.” There are people sitting and waiting for you to stop chit chatting about what you brought for

lunch and just leave. Talk all you want at your cubicle, at the front desk, or the break room, but in the restroom do your business and leave.

Add a white noise machine.

Chit chat doesn’t drown out noises—body noises. A white noise machine in each stall should be able to drown out the plop into water or the long stream.

have them at work too? If we’re going to share toilet seats, we can at least give others a courtesy spray.

I’m not asking for much, HR. You could say, “Grow up, Julie. Everyone uses the restroom.” Yeah, it’s everyone! Everyone who I can’t make eye contact with. Office humor and bathroom humor: it’s not funny.

Add bathroom sprays in every stall.

We all have them at home. Can we

Julie Burton is an Overland Park mom, writer, K-State lover, and bacon-hater. She is a blogger and contributing author to the humor book, But Did You Die?: Setting the Parenting Bar Low. Burton’s also been named one of the Today Show’s “funniest parents.” And yes, she really does hate bacon. Please don’t drop her as a friend. Follow Julie at: julieburton.blog • facebook.com/julieburtonwriter • twitter.com/ksujulie • instagram.com/ksujulie

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GOOD TASTES

CALLING ALL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LOVERS

WRITTEN BY LESLI LUNDQUIST / PHOTO BY CARMEN CARVER

Did you know the chocolate chip cookie was discovered in the 1930s by Ruth and Kenneth Wakefield?

They owned the Toll House Inn where Ruth would prepare delicious, home-cooked meals to be served to her guests. One day, she cut a bar of Nestlé® Semi-Sweet Chocolate into tiny bits and added them to her cookie dough, expecting them to melt. Instead, the chocolate held its shape, and a favorite was born.

I can only imagine Ruth’s reaction to the following cake recipe, adapted from Barefoot Contessa, How Easy Is That? cookbook. I think she would have served this at the Toll House Inn.

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Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake SERVES 12

Ingredients

Directions

2 cups cold heavy cream 16 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 recipe of baked homemade chocolate chip cookies* S haved semisweet chocolate, for garnish

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar, coffee liqueur, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine and then slowly raise the speed until it forms firm peaks.

* NestlÊ Toll House is our family’s favorite.

To assemble cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat in an 8-inch springform pan; cover the bottom as much as possible. (I break some cookies to fill in the spaces.) Spread onefourth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of the cookies on top, lying flat and touching, filling in spaces,

followed by another fourth of the cream. Continue layering cookies and cream until there are four layers of each, ending with a layer of cream.

Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan.

Sprinkle the top with the shaved chocolate, cut in wedges and serve cold.

If you want to get a headstart, prepare your favorite chocolate chip cookies and freeze them until needed for the cake.

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HAPPENINGS FEB 1 Kauffman Center Presents Squirrel Nut Zippers and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7:30 p.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 2 Super Bowl Sunday Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers 5:30 p.m.

Go Chiefs!

FEB 8 KC Cornhole Series Tournament 1 No Other Pub, 1370 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO kccrew.com/events/kccornholeseries/

FEB 5 Kauffman Center Presents TEDxKC Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 6 p.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 6 Miranda Lambert with Special Guest Randy Rogers Band and Parker McCollum Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7 p.m. sprintcenter.com FEB 7 First Friday in the Crossroads Crossroads District, Kansas City, MO kccrossroads.org/first-fridays FEB 7 First Friday Film Festival Crown Center Shops, Level 3, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO After most galleries have closed musicaltheaterheritage.com FEB 7 26th Annual Women’s Sports Awards Celebration Kansas City Convention Center Grand Ballroom, 1502

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FEB 8 2020 KC Brew Fest Union Station, 30 W. Pershing St., Kansas City, MO 1 p.m. eventbrite.com FEB 8 Harlem Globetrotters Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 7 p.m. sprintcenter.com

FEB 5 Post Malone with Special Guests Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 8 p.m. sprintcenter.com

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Wyandotte St., Kansas City, MO 11:30 a.m. eventbrite.com

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FEB 8 Kansas City Symphony Presents Woman’s City Club Charitable Foundation Young Artist Competition - Final Round Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 11 a.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 9 Kauffman Center Presents Michael Feinstein and Special Guest Storm Large Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7 p.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 11 Judy Mood and Stink The Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 9:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. follytheater.org FEB 12 KC Chamber Orchestra Presents Enchanted Romance The Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO 7:30 p.m. follytheater.org

FEBRUARY 2020

FEB 13 Let’s Make Chocolate! Happy Hour and Chocolate-making Class Hy-Vee Arena, 1800 Genessee St, Kansas City, MO 6 p.m. kccrew.com/events/chocolate FEB 14 One Billion Rising KC Crown Center Square Fountain, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7 p.m. onebillionrising.org FEB 14-23 Kauffman Center Presents Kansas City Ballet’s Swan Lake Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO kauffmancenter.org FEB 14-MAR 1 Merry Wives of Windsor Olathe Civic Theatre Association, 500 E. Loula, Olathe, KS olathetheatre.org FEB 15 Tyrese with Special Guests Joe, Ginuwine, Avant and Brownstone Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Bolvd., Kansas City, MO 8 p.m. sprintcenter.com FEB 15-16 Kansas City Symphony Presents Valentine’s Weekend with Leslie Odom, Jr. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 8 p.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 15-29 Theatre for Young America Presents Miss Nelson Is Missing City Stage, in the lower level of Union Station, 30 W. Pershing St., Kansas City, MO tya.org/show/miss-nelson-ismissing/

FEB 17 Presidents Day FEB 18 National Geographic Live Presents Andy Mann, Photographer & Filmmaker: From Summit to Sea Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7:30 p.m. kauffmancenter.org FEB 22 Celebrating Survivors: American Heart Association The J KC, 5801 W. 115th St. Overland Park, KS 1-4 p.m.

DeEtta.Lee@heart.org FEB 25 59th Annual Greater Kansas City Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast Grand Ballroom, KCMO Downtown Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO 7:30 a.m. pppr@kc.rr.com FEB 28 WCRA Royal City Roundup Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 7 p.m. sprintcenter.com FEB 29 Biblical Theology Workshop for Women Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 5001 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 8:30 a.m. nancyguthrie.com/biblical-theology-workshop FEB 29-MAR 1 PBR: Professional Bull Riders Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO sprintcenter.com MAR 4-8 Kansas City Auto Show Bartle Hall, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO 5-10 p.m. kcautoshow.com

APP OF THE MONTH

BREATHE.

THE SIMPLEST WAY TO FEEL GOOD

The gist: Taking a few minutes

every day to focus on your breathing has proven to reduce stress and promote a relaxed body and mind.

These moments add up to new habits. In marketing for the free meditation app breathe • meditation timer, it is stated that, “The simplest way to feel good is to just breathe,” and this probably best sums up what the app is able to do for you. breathe • meditation timer is one of the simplest apps around, and it’s free, yet neither of these diminish its value. Just watch as the orange orb increases in size and then decreases.

As it increases, slowly inhale, then begin to exhale when it begins to get smaller. Set a daily reminder (it’s quiet and unobtrusive), add your name for personalization (including sweet daily messages like You are valuable, Rebecca!), and you’re all set.

The app provides four set techniques: calm and connect, relax and sleep, concurrent breathing, and box breathing. There’s also an option to customize your own breathing exercises, which consist of inhales, optional pauses, exhales, and optional pauses—round and round—for a time period you set. When used regularly, a simple, effective app like breathe. can go a long way in establishing a more stress-free life. breathe • meditation timer is available on Apple or Android.

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Cancer Survivor.

Summit Climber.

When Rick was diagnosed with cancer, the hardest part was finding a way to tell his family. He made the choice to fight — for them. It was an uphill battle, but Rick made it to the top of the mountain. There he left cancer behind — and never looked back.

AdventHealth.com