Wondering what to do this Fourth of July in Kansas City? Well, the people of KC certainly know how to celebrate our nation’s day of independence. They have a number of different events you can attend and, of course, many of them feature fireworks.
More than 20,000 people attend the annual Parkville Fourth of July Fireworks and Festival every year. Things start on Tuesday morning with a parade followed by an all-day carnival at English Landing Park. At 9:30 p.m., fireworks are shot off over the Missouri River.
Berkley Riverfront Park is host to the KC Riverfest, one of the most popular fireworks shows in the KC Metro. There are a number of things to do before the fireworks show, but you don’t want to miss the grand finale. This fireworks display is actually choreographed to live music!
Worlds of Fun, one of Kansas City’s popular theme parks, will be hosting its own Fourth of July celebration. This event is one of the longest running annual fireworks show in Kansas City, and it all starts around 10 p.m.
For those wanting to spend a little time with nature before watching fireworks, the Booms and Blooms Fest at Powell Gardens is exactly what you want. Stroll through the beautiful gardens, maybe even take a picnic dinner, before settling near the lake to watch the fireworks. This event is actually held on the third, not the fourth, so you can attend it and then plan to see another fireworks display on Independence Day.
Finally, Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is another amazing Fourth of July event full of funnel cakes, a free concert, and a huge fireworks display that is one of the biggest in the area. It all starts at 4:00 p.m. and lasts until 11. Note that parking is a concern with this event, so be ready to walk.
It’s a foregone conclusion that sending your mom flowers on Mother’s Day is a great idea. What isn’t such an easy decision is picking the flowers to send. Sure, there are a number of different arrangements specifically designed for Mother’s Day, but many of these bouquets use different flowers. Which ones are right for your mom? Here are a few tips for selecting the perfect flowers for your mother.
Is she a girly girl? Some women are more into pink, bows, and hearts than others. If your mom is what many would call a girly girl, she would enjoy any arrangement that features a cute animal, bright pink and purple flowers, or other traditional “girl” type things.
If, on the other hand, your mom loves gardening or working outdoors, you might want to look for a live plant or an arrangement that she can later plant outdoors. This has the extra advantage of giving her a gift that will last for years instead of only a few weeks or so. Every time she sees the lovely plant you got her, she will think of you. If you want to get her a traditional bouquet, however, you might want to go with one that comes in a rustic basket and features bright blooms like sunflowers.
Anyone creative or artistic will like arrangements made up of very colorful flowers or exotic flowers. You can also pick one of the wilder or expressive vases instead of a traditional glass vase. Ask your florist to really get creative here or look at mixing and matching some flowers that you don’t traditionally see together.
If you know your mother’s favorite color (and every child should!), you can always base your flower selection around it. Selecting flowers in that color and surrounding them with complimentary colored blooms can make the decision process easier, especially if you have a trained florist helping you.
These tips should get you started on the right path to selecting an arrangement that fits your mom’s personality. If you need more help, consult with your florist. He or she an help you create a custom-made arrangement that is perfect for your mother.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and we’re all out searching for that perfect gift for mom. But why do our moms mean so much to us? What is it that makes Mother’s Day one of the most important holidays on the calendar?
First, there’s the obvious: our mothers gave birth to us. Without them, we wouldn’t be in this world. It only makes sense to honor the nine months and hours of labor (sometimes intense, painful labor!) that they went through to give us life.
Another reason why our moms mean so much to us is that they spent years nurturing and raising us. Some of us grew up with our moms staying home to raise us. These moms spent their days cooking, cleaning, and taking care of all our needs. Other moms went out into the workforce and made certain our lives were as comfortable as possible by earning a paycheck. Still others had that which is nearly impossible: be a single mom. These moms had to both be the breadwinners and had to do their best to raise us with sometimes little help from others. No matter which type of mom you had, they worked very hard during the early years of your life.
Moms sacrifice a lot, but they also take great joy in their job as a parent. They love us unconditionally, and for that, they become one of the people who mean an incredible amount to us. They provide us comfort when we most need it, they cheer us on, and they’re always there with a kind word and a hug when we most need it. Of course, they also aren’t afraid to discipline us when we most need it or let us know when we’ve stepped out of line, but that’s part of what makes them so special—even when, as rebellious teens, we “hate” our parents, we still love them deep down because they’re just doing what’s best for us.
It’s because of these many reasons and much more that our moms mean so much to us. Don’t forget your mom this Mother’s Day, and don’t forget those who have been like second mothers, either. Any woman who has nurtured you, supported you, and provided you with all the love and comfort you need should be honored this Mother’s Day.
This week is Administrative Professionals Week, and it’s the time of year for executives and other office members to thank their hard working secretaries and other administrative professionals. But what exactly do these administrative professionals do for you?
The short answer: everything! Administrative professionals are often key personnel in your office. Here are just a few duties administrative professionals perform on a daily basis:
- Answering the phone. Administrative professionals are usually the first line of contact with your office. As such, they not only have to answer basic questions but they also usually end up dealing with upset and unhappy customers, too! They also have to make all of those unpleasant outgoing calls that you don’t want to make, such as canceling meetings or letting your wife know you won’t be home for anniversary dinner.
- Coordinating events. Someone has to make certain all of your guests have registered for an event, and that someone is usually your administrative assistant. He or she also has to deal with catering, space rental, entertainment, travel and accommodations for out of town speakers, room setup, and much more. Basically, without an administrative professional, you’d be left to handle all of the small details of an event yourself. Do you really want to spend your day deciding what color napkins to use for an awards banquet? Probably not.
- Scheduling. When you look at your calendar and see all of those meetings and appointments you have, you may think it’s a miracle none of them conflict with anything else you have going on. Well, it’s not a miracle—it’s just the attention to detail and hard work of your administrative professional. It’s their job to make certain you’re not double-booked and that you have enough time to get from appointment to appointment. They often have to coordinate schedules for your entire office, which is no easy task.
- Fixing the copier. While it may sound like a small thing, what do you do when you’re copying something and there’s a paper jam or the toner is low? Chances are, you go straight to your administrative professional and ask him or her to fix it! Administrative professionals often serve as the first line of tech support, handling small, easy to fix problems with office equipment and even computers. If they can’t fix it, they know who can, and they make the appropriate calls to get your technology working.
- Tracking expenses and income. Administrative professionals are also often tasked with entering all of your expenses into the ledger. This means they have to know accounting and the computer programs your office uses. It also means that they are in charge of telling you when you can’t spend any more money, which is not a fun job!
- Doing it all. Finally, administrative professionals may end up picking up any other odd job that needs done around the office. This means they have to be highly flexible. An administrative professional needs to know how to do everything from making coffee to faxing documents to creating large spreadsheets and detailed documents. It’s not an easy job and when done well, no one really notices. However, for those who have worked with a bad administrative professional, you know just how important it is that they know their job. Great administrative professionals take a disorganized, inefficient office and make it into a well-oiled machine!
Administrative professionals work very hard all year around. They are often the key contact people for major events and the day to day operation of your business, plus they are the people who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Since 1952, businesses across the world have honored these hard-working individuals during Administrative Professionals Week.
Administrative Professionals Week is the final week of April. This year, that’s April 18 through 24. While it’s appropriate to show your appreciation all week, April 21 is specifically set aside as Administrative Professionals Day, so if you’re going to send your administrative assistant flowers, that would be the day to do it.
In addition to surprising your administrative professional with a large, bright bouquet of flowers, you may also think about taking him or her out to lunch, giving them a day off, or surprising him or her with a party.
There are several different flowers and traditions associated with the Easter holiday. Here are just a few of them.
Flowers:
The Easter lily is, of course, the traditional flower of Easter. Easter lilies are generally white and represent goodness and purity. For Christians, the Easter lily represents the purity and perfection of Jesus.
Another flower that is often given or used during Easter is the passion flower. It generally lasts for about three days, which correspond to the three days that Jesus spent in his tomb. The three stamens of the passion flower also represent the three crosses on the hill or the three nail wounds of Christ.
Other flowers that are used during Easter time for decoration are azaleas, tulips, and daisies.
Traditions:
One of the most traditional events of Easter is, of course, the Easter egg hunt. According to traditions, the first egg hunts may have been held back in 3000 B.C. by the Persians or the Egyptians. They also colored and decorated eggs as a way of celebrating the first of spring.
The Easter bunny originated with the pagan festival of Eastre, a goddess. Her symbol was a rabbit. Easter baskets are used to collect eggs during egg hunts, but traditionally, Easter baskets represented the area where the Easter bunny laid its eggs.
Two other animals are generally associated with Easter: the lamb and the chick. The lamb is another symbol of Jesus, while the chick breaking out of its shell is a representation of his resurrection.
If you live in Kansas City or are going to be visiting the area around March 17, you might enjoy getting in on some of the great St. Patrick’s Day events going on in the city. There are a variety of different traditions that KC has for celebrating this Irish holiday, and while some of them do include drinking green beer, there are activities for the entire family as well. Just don’t forget to wear your green or you might get pinched!
The biggest event, of course, is the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. It takes place on the day itself, March 17, and it starts around 11:00 a.m. It’s scheduled to last until 1:00 p.m. or so, depending on how quickly the various floats and such move. The parade follows the traditional route down Broadway from 33rd Street to 43rd Street. This year’s Grand Marshal is Irishman Ian Byrne, the lead singer for The Elders and the owner of Byrne Custom Woodworking.
There are a number of different pubs and bars holding St. Patrick’s Day events, of course. One of the most popular is Kelly’s Westport Inn. Their traditional celebration is full of live music and other fun entertainment. You can enjoy a pint at the bar or go out on Randal’s Rooftop, a large open deck that provides quite a view. Other places to hang out include O’dowd’s Little Dublin, Mike Kelly’s, the Gaf, and Lew’s. All feature live music and other entertainment.
For those who really want to party, the Martini Corner’s Street Party offers up five different bars and music all day long. It’s held at 31st and Oak and promises a great time for anyone who loves dancing. Likewise, the Power and Light District will be holding their Shamrocks and Shenanigans party starting at 6:00 a.m. with their Kegs and Eggs event.
Men, have you felt like (or been flat out told) that you failed at Valentine’s Day? This holiday can be one of the most frustrating for guys because it seems like it’s a minefield. Forget flowers? You may be sleeping on the couch! Got her chocolate? Well, she eats them, but then she complains that you’re making her fat. Uh-oh…is there any way to win? Yes! This year, don’t disappoint her. Instead of focusing on what you get her, focus on the feelings behind each gift and activity.
Going out to an expensive restaurant for dinner, for example, may be an OK event, but what if you spent the time cooking her favorite meal? That shows several things. One, it speaks to your knowledge of what she likes. Two, it shows that you’re willing to put in a little extra work to woo her. It also gives you the chance to really show off your romantic side by sitting a table that features roses, candles, and good china (or at least something other than paper plates).
Getting a gift to go with your bouquet of flowers (and yes, you should definitely send her flowers or bring a bouquet home with you) is a great idea, but again, the more personal the gift, the better. If she likes stuffed teddy bears, great, but if she doesn’t, don’t pick one up just because it seems like you should. Some women would rather get a box of chocolates, although if your significant other is dieting, this may be a bad idea.
No matter what you do, don’t just do something because it seems traditional and expected. Go out of your way to really think about each and every thing you plan for this Valentine’s Day. Incorporate little touches like her favorite flower, favorite wine, or favorite activities. Or do something unexpected. For example, plan a romantic scavenger hunt that starts when she comes home and finds a single red rose with the first clue attached to it. The clue could have her searching the bedroom for a gift and the next clue. This clue might send her to a store where you’ve pre-arranged to have another gift waiting. The clue there could send her to meet you at a restaurant for dinner. It’s fun, different, and shows that you’ve put a lot of thought into Valentine’s Day.
Valentine Miche Pink Cori
Choosing flowers for Valentine’s Day may seem like a no-brainer to most people—send roses! While a bouquet of a dozen red roses is very traditional, it’s sometimes not very personal. In fact, some people really don’t care for roses at all. In that case, what do you do? Here are a few tips for choosing the best Valentine’s flowers.
Tip #1: Make it personal. If you know your significant other doesn’t like roses, don’t get roses. Instead, get his/her favorite flower. The more you can show how much you know your partner, the better. Make your flower arrangement as personal as possible.
Tip #2: Don’t wait until the last minute. Florists are going to have extra flowers on hand for the holiday, of course, but you still risk not being able to get what you want if you want until the last minute to order your bouquet. The sooner you place your floral order, the better. This is especially true if you do want a bouquet of red roses—they often sell out very quickly.
Tip #3: Get a potted plant instead of cut flowers. There are several reasons why plants make good Valentine’s gifts. First, men often appreciate them more than flowers. Second, they last much longer. Third, plants can be seen as a representation of your growing love for each other and something you can both enjoy for years to come…as long as you don’t get a plant that’s too hard to grow!
Tip #4: Buy your partner a packet of flower seeds. If your significant other loves gardening, create a gift basket of flower seeds and various gardening tools. The two of you can plant these seeds together and watch them grow. Again, it’s another physical representation of your growing feelings for each other, plus it’s a fun activity to do after Valentine’s Day.
Tip #5: Ask your florist for help. Florists are very creative people, and they can come up with some wonderful and non-traditional arrangements for any couple. If you’re just not sure what flowers to get, ask for some help from an expert. You’ll be amazed at what a great florist can create.
Everyone knows that flowers have power. The sight of a bright bouquet can cheer us up even on the gloomiest of days, while the scent of certain flowers can bring back happy memories from our childhood. However, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, the power of flowers shifts to the romantic.
Harnessing the power of flowers to make your Valentine’s Day perfect doesn’t have to be difficult—most women, for example, will find a bouquet of a dozen red roses sufficiently romantic. However, the traditional rose may not really show off your romantic self. There’s not a lot of thought to put into roses, after all. While you can’t go wrong with them, there may be a different arrangement out there that better says “I love you” to your significant other.
If you do want to go with roses, think about the color. While different roses mean different things, you don’t always have to believe in these meanings. Yellow roses may often mean friendship, but if your significant other loves the color yellow, he or she may appreciate them more than red roses. A mixture of different colored roses can also break with tradition while still being incredibly romantic and showing off your creative side. One idea would be to mix your favorite color with his/hers to create a bouquet that represents both of you.
Mixing roses with other flowers can create a different and visually stunning arrangement. For example, surrounding red roses with purple larkspur, pink tulips, and some lavender orchids can highlight the roses and really make them stand out. Lilies also look great when mixed with roses.
Of course, you might want to go with a completely different flower to express your romantic self. If you know your significant other’s favorite flower (and you should!), a bouquet of these flowers may say much more than roses. It would show that you know your partner’s likes and dislikes, which can go a long way in a relationship. Tulips, orchids, lilies…any flower can be made into a great Valentine’s Day bouquet.
You may want to add something to the bouquet as well. Balloons, stuffed animals, or perhaps even a small box of chocolates can accompany your Valentine’s Day arrangement. Just remember that the best way to express your romantic self is to truly be yourself and give flowers that have meaning to both you and your significant other.
Follow Us on Twitter 
