a perfect KC weekend

This past weekend was one when I went to bed Sunday night in love with my life.

Friday we went to Theatre in the Park with a picnic of carry-out food from Ingredient, my new favorite place. Their leaf salad with strawberries, pecans and oranges is heavenly. And the show is only eight bucks each to get in, making it the perfect date.

{Hello! Gatsby moment!}

Our night was temporarily spoiled by the family next to us who were less interested in Annie and Mr. Warbucks and more interested in drinking, smoking and screaming at their wives. Pretty sure all three things are outlawed. At one point our drunken nemesis yelled at his wife that perhaps they should "have another f--- kid so we're happy." This is rockstar parenting at its best. Not to have our date spoiled, we tattled twice. And eventually dad of the year was escorted out by three cops.

Saturday I woke up and ran five miles. Considering it was very hot and very humid, and my water consumption was quite low this was a bad bad idea. As I got into downtown KC, I was weaving in and out of side streets to avoid the beating sun and secretly hoping Shea was worried about me enough to come pick me up. He was not.

We immediately went to the Lenexa BBQ contest because nothing cures heat exhaustion and dehydration like a little sun! We got free barbecue and then paid for frozen custard because have I mentioned that it was H-O-T?! Next year we're applying to be judges.

That night we went to Starlight Theatre to see Little House on the Prairie with my parents after a dinner of margaritas and enchiladas. Perfect ending to a perfect day.

Sunday we stopped by the Power and Light Art Fair and ended up buying this for a very discounted price. We're putting more of this art on our future Christmas lists!

Art, two live musicals, a barbecue-gorging festival and running. Look at us being all cultured.

the people we call gatsby

Every time we walked out our condo front door, there they were. 


In their fancy cocktail dress and dapper suit. Always looking perfect. If they did wear jeans, they cost more than my car. One time they were on their way to a baby shower with the most perfect looking gift bag and hand-painted gift tag and I had to wipe the drool from my chin.


They were never in over-sized sweatpants and t-shirts. They probably didn't OWN t-shirts. Definitely not ones from pub crawls.


Mrs. Gatsby always had perfect blonde hair with perfect loose curls. Mr. Gatsby was thin, but with just enough perfect muscle that his suits fit perfectly. Their condo was probably perfect, too, like a William Sonoma ad. They were the epitome of young and fabulous.


We always imagined they were going to fancy wine and cheese parties. Or vacationing in whatever was Minneapolis' version of the Hamptons. They probably went to brunches with mimosas and brought home fresh flowers for their bedside.


Every time we dressed up, we said "ooh, we're like the Gatsbys." Or when we ordered a cheese plate and had champagne sent to our table, "this is what the Gatsbys do!" 


We took wedding pictures that are slightly Gatsbyish. And we danced to Gatsby-like songs.

We don't even live next to the Gatsby couple anymore. Now, we just enjoy saying things like, "Hey let's do something Gatsby this weekend."


So instead of sweatpants and Netflix, we go to a wine bar. Or dress up for dinner, even if it's not required.


And next year, you will find this Gatsby couple here.