I love you, Kansas City

I think there's a lot to be said about loving where you live. Sure, you can live somewhere and be content... your family is there, you have a job there, maybe... but to truly love it... that's the stuff! I was born and raised in Kansas City. I've spent my entire life going on elementary-school field trips to see The Nutcracker at the music hall, attending sporting events at Arrowhead and Kauffman, visiting the Nelson, walking around the Plaza, eating BBQ, and bragging to everyone that I share a hometown with a president (thanks, Harry). Growing up here, I always said that I couldn't wait to get out - to go somewhere else for college, to go somewhere great and accomplish great things. I always said I would move to Chicago or New York; I would leave here.

And now I'm an adult.

I have a husband, a career, a home, a pet... Things are different. I am not young and praying to get out anymore. I'm happy to be right where I am, and I'm not exactly sure when that happened for me. Perhaps it was after I moved away to attend school in another city. Columbia was my dream college town, but I loved it far too much to stay permanently. Perhaps it was after I moved to small-town America, Chillicothe, and taught for a year. I found myself loving the people I was surrounded by, but feeling stuck and detached from the world around me. Perhaps it was when I fell in love with the greatest human that exists. When you love someone deeply, experiencing things with them makes those things even better. I couldn't say for sure when, but somehow, I've fallen in love with Kansas City.

 

  

Changing the brand here at the blog was a big step for me. We had been Polka-Dot Chronicles (PDC) for three years, and that's a long time to hold an identity before changing everything. I've never liked being stagnant. I've never liked not being inspired. By changing the brand, I feel like this blog can be more about what I love - Kansas City, food, sports, life - rather than my every day happenings and health issues. I'm in the process of mapping out a blogging schedule for the rest of the year so I can consistently deliver you guys QUALITY CONTENT. Here are a few of the upcoming posts that you can be watching for:

• RECIPE: Lemon Brussel Sprouts
• RECIPE: Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• SPORTS: Kansas City Royals in the World Series
• SPORTS: A "Home" Chiefs game in London
• BOOK REVIEW: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
• EDUCATION: Becoming a Standards-Based Classroom
• PERSONAL: New Roommates

Thanks for investing in me and my vision for this blog. I think the future is bright for us all!

- Kimberly

Chiefs Games + Coffee Cups

It's been a while since I've had the time (or desire) to sit down and write out a full post. Last week, while on Facebook, I came across the new advertisement page and blog for an old friend of mine's new business, Willow Branch Designs. Reading through her new webpage and blog, I found myself inspired to write for the first time in a long while. So here goes; Polka Dot Chronicles is now BACK and we've got a new brand! KDinKC is up and running!

Since my stint in the ER back in early September, this have been CRAZY HECTIC. Between work responsibilities, family matters, etc., I will admit that finding time to do basically anything else has been difficult. Just in these past few weeks, Ben and I have only had dinner together a handful of times - which is more than we thought we would. They say that the first couple of years being married is the hardest because you're adjusting to being a "WE" and probably are transitioning in other areas of life (career, friendships, etc.), and if I'm being honest, for me, LACK OF TIME is the hardest part. Ben is the greatest - super supportive, loving... I just don't see him nearly as much as I would like.

Anyway... you guys don't really want to hear how great I think my husband is. Obviously I think he's great because I married him. Let's get to the real of it. What has been happening in my life since we last met two months ago?? Here is a short photo recap so that next time, we can get to the think of things!

As you probably have already guessed, I get to spend time with my most favorite people at sporting events, usually. Having a Chiefs season ticket is a blessing and a curse, wherein I get to see people I love on Sundays and sometimes the team pulls out a win.

When Ben's mom was in town for a weekend, we were able to do a few fun things to show her the city - Ren Fest, WWI Museum, and the Plaza Art Fair. Since then, we have really tried to stop and spend our extra moments together. Whether that's pizza and a movie, grocery shopping, whatever... This is proving to be extra important as we make some major life adjustments.

You see, due to some unforeseen circumstances, our 14-year-old cousin is now living with us. This had obviously changed the dynamic of our home life, thrown us into a guardianship role, and also helped us to realize how much we have to offer a child (and each other). While we won't be adding anyone else to our home any time soon, we're excited for when that day comes. Picking out bedding, attending parent-teacher conferences, and even disciplining and checking homework assignments has been pretty fun. Mark my words, I'm sure there will be days when it isn't fun though.

I think one of the things that we're all really excited about in KC is that the Royals advanced to the World Series for the second year in a row! My brother and I were lucky enough to score some tickets from my co-worker (at face value!!) to game 5 of the ALDS and we had a blast.

My hope for KDinKC as we move forward is to run a lifestyle blog that showcases places to visit, restaurants to eat at, etc. while also chronicling the events of my life here in this beautiful city. Thanks for following along!