It’s here, it’s finally here! Today the brand spanking new IKEA Home Furnishings opens in Kansas City! Everyone knows I’m a pretty big fan, since we fell deeply in love at my first IKEA experience in Newark New Jersey almost 10 years ago. I’ve been patiently waiting for the Sweedish furniture giant to come to Kansas City, but honestly, I never really thought it would happen. I mean, a Trader Joe’s AND an IKEA?! Could we be so lucky!
This past weekend Trent and I were lucky enough to attend a special “Friends and Family” day at the new store, so we got a sneak peek of all it’s awesomeness. I also forced Trent to buy a stupid number of stools for our house, which I tried and failed to put together myself. I’m sure I’ll be spending plenty of time at IKEA in the near future. Did any of you check it out yet? What do you think? I mean, furniture and meatballs?! That’s a win-win, people!
When I was about 7-years-old, I took my first horseback riding lesson. I had been a typical horse-crazy girl, but after that first lesson, my love for those giant animals skyrocketed. I would spend every waking moment at the barn, grooming lesson horses, mucking out stalls, riding out to the pasture to gather up the horses and bring them back to the stable…I loved it. I thought I’d end up riding horses for the rest of my life, maybe owning my own stable some day or teaching lessons. Even though that didn’t exactly happen as I’d planned, it’s been pretty wonderful to watch my kids learn how to ride the past few months. For her birthday this summer, Lucy asked for riding lessons, and she got her wish! She spent the summer riding at Peeper Ranch, the same place I rode when I got back into the saddle a few years back. Even Tate got to take a mini-lesson, and while we thought he’d be afraid, he had a ball! It’s a pretty wonderful thing, watching your kids love something you loved so much at their age. We’re taking a break from riding for the fall, but Lucy is already begging to go to horse camps and workshops at the ranch over the holidays and spring break. I might need to make her muck out a stall or two to earn her keep, but I have a feeling I might end up a ranch mom, with a minivan full of dirty boots and smelling of leather saddles. Sounds pretty perfect to me.
At the opening of summer WAY back on Memorial Day, I attended a backyard BBQ with a few friends and their families. Yes, the company was totally fun, but what had my heart racing was the food! I am not what one would call a master chef (or just “a chef” or “someone who can cook”…more like “prime minister of boxed mac and cheese”), but I love having friends who can whip up a good meal, especially when they share with me! One friend not only made an amazing dip that I parked myself by for the entire party, but she also brought these incredible s’mores bars. After some unfortunate and unattractive begging, she passed on the recipe, and I’ve made them several times over the summer. They are easy to make and a huge hit! Even though summer is technically over, I plan on bringing these to a few tailgates this fall, and I will probably have to make extra batches for me to keep in my fridge just in case I’m in need of a s’mores fix!
S’Mores Bars
2 sleeves of graham crackers
1/3 cup sugar
1â„2 teaspoon sea salt
2 sticks of butter melted
1 package milk chocolate chips
1 package mini marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9×13 with foil, grease foil. Grind crackers in food processor. Mix crumbs, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Set aside about 1â„2 cup of mixture. Press the rest evenly into pan. Cook in oven for about 12 minutes. While crumb crust is cooling, melt chocolate chips. Pour chocolate over crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle marshmallows over chocolate, press lightly into the chocolate. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mix. Broil for about a minute. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Try not to eat the entire pan in one sitting, but if you do, I won’t tell anyone!
IKEEEEEAAAAA!!!
/0 Comments/in Fun, Kansas City /by MeganIt’s here, it’s finally here! Today the brand spanking new IKEA Home Furnishings opens in Kansas City! Everyone knows I’m a pretty big fan, since we fell deeply in love at my first IKEA experience in Newark New Jersey almost 10 years ago. I’ve been patiently waiting for the Sweedish furniture giant to come to Kansas City, but honestly, I never really thought it would happen. I mean, a Trader Joe’s AND an IKEA?! Could we be so lucky!
This past weekend Trent and I were lucky enough to attend a special “Friends and Family” day at the new store, so we got a sneak peek of all it’s awesomeness. I also forced Trent to buy a stupid number of stools for our house, which I tried and failed to put together myself. I’m sure I’ll be spending plenty of time at IKEA in the near future. Did any of you check it out yet? What do you think? I mean, furniture and meatballs?! That’s a win-win, people!
Horse Crazy 2.0
/0 Comments/in Lucy, Parenting, Photos, Tate /by MeganWhen I was about 7-years-old, I took my first horseback riding lesson. I had been a typical horse-crazy girl, but after that first lesson, my love for those giant animals skyrocketed. I would spend every waking moment at the barn, grooming lesson horses, mucking out stalls, riding out to the pasture to gather up the horses and bring them back to the stable…I loved it. I thought I’d end up riding horses for the rest of my life, maybe owning my own stable some day or teaching lessons. Even though that didn’t exactly happen as I’d planned, it’s been pretty wonderful to watch my kids learn how to ride the past few months. For her birthday this summer, Lucy asked for riding lessons, and she got her wish! She spent the summer riding at Peeper Ranch, the same place I rode when I got back into the saddle a few years back. Even Tate got to take a mini-lesson, and while we thought he’d be afraid, he had a ball! It’s a pretty wonderful thing, watching your kids love something you loved so much at their age. We’re taking a break from riding for the fall, but Lucy is already begging to go to horse camps and workshops at the ranch over the holidays and spring break. I might need to make her muck out a stall or two to earn her keep, but I have a feeling I might end up a ranch mom, with a minivan full of dirty boots and smelling of leather saddles. Sounds pretty perfect to me.
Endless Summer S’mores Bars
/0 Comments/in Blond, Fun /by MeganAt the opening of summer WAY back on Memorial Day, I attended a backyard BBQ with a few friends and their families. Yes, the company was totally fun, but what had my heart racing was the food! I am not what one would call a master chef (or just “a chef” or “someone who can cook”…more like “prime minister of boxed mac and cheese”), but I love having friends who can whip up a good meal, especially when they share with me! One friend not only made an amazing dip that I parked myself by for the entire party, but she also brought these incredible s’mores bars. After some unfortunate and unattractive begging, she passed on the recipe, and I’ve made them several times over the summer. They are easy to make and a huge hit! Even though summer is technically over, I plan on bringing these to a few tailgates this fall, and I will probably have to make extra batches for me to keep in my fridge just in case I’m in need of a s’mores fix!
S’Mores Bars
2 sleeves of graham crackers
1/3 cup sugar
1â„2 teaspoon sea salt
2 sticks of butter melted
1 package milk chocolate chips
1 package mini marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9×13 with foil, grease foil. Grind crackers in food processor. Mix crumbs, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Set aside about 1â„2 cup of mixture. Press the rest evenly into pan. Cook in oven for about 12 minutes. While crumb crust is cooling, melt chocolate chips. Pour chocolate over crust and spread evenly. Sprinkle marshmallows over chocolate, press lightly into the chocolate. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mix. Broil for about a minute. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Try not to eat the entire pan in one sitting, but if you do, I won’t tell anyone!