Work Hard Play Hard

This will just be a mini post as I have been super busy working at my job that helps me afford to travel! Sometimes people ask me if I am retired because I travel so much - but I definitely still work full time! Right now that's what makes me able to travel and when I retire I plan to do even more hopefully.  

This past week was one of my favorites in Kansas City - Restaurant Week! 

Lots of cities do a Restaurant Week - New York City does it twice a year. It's a great way to try restaurants that you haven't been to for less money. I was in NYC last year during the January week and it was great! Tons of restaurants participate - 2 courses at lunch for a set price and 3 courses at dinner. Part of the money is donated to charity - bonus! Since I have been so busy working I didn't get to as many spots as I would have liked - but did make it to The Grill at Park Place for dinner and had deviled eggs for my first course, salmon and asparagus for the second course and key lime pie for dessert - all delicious!  

I also tried a place in my neighborhood that I have been wanting to check out called The Sundry. I love when places are doing something different - and The Sundry is a farm to table restaurant that also is a grocery store of sorts selling from the vendors they use in their restaurant. It has big community tables to eat at and daily specials.  

I had the Cuban Panini and bought the homemade granola bars to take home. Both delicious! 

I have been on a movie roll this year and saw 2 more that were excellent. "Hidden Figures" and "20th Century Women." Thought they were both great! I am in good shape for the Oscars - just need to see a couple more which I will try to do before the end of February. So many great movies this year - glad I don't have to pick the winners. 

My theme for 2017 is The Year of Reading so I am on book number 2. 

A pretty quick read but I am enjoying it as it's about a culture I have no first hand knowledge of. 

Heading to Phoenix very soon and can't wait to see the sun! It has been nothing but foggy and gloomy for what seems like the entire month of January in KC! So check back in for fun in Phoenix! 

Happy New Year!

2017!! It's going to be a great year! I love New Year's Day - and I'm certainly not alone. I have been seeing great Facebook posts the last few days about the new year being a chance to start fresh - a blank page that each of us has the ability to write for ourselves. To me it is the adult version of the first day of school. My new planner is the equivalent of new school supplies. And I don't care that EVERYONE is using some type of computer or phone planner - I LOVE my paper. And new pencil - since flexibility is key! 

My Franklin Planner - tried and true for years! 

I don't make resolutions anymore. This is my 6th year of choosing what I like to call a "theme" for my year. The difference to me is that a theme is something just a little bigger then a resolution, and has had greater impact on my overall happiness and satisfaction with my life. The first year I chose the theme - Travel. My goal was to go somewhere every single month the whole year - some big trips and some long weekend trips. I achieved that goal - had a wonderful time - and confirmed to me that my love of travel is not a passing fancy. Year 2 the theme was - Explore Kansas City. I bought a travel book about KC and worked my way through the book exploring the neighborhoods, museums, restaurants and special attractions. It enriched my love of Kansas City and now I focus on all the new exciting places opening it seems every week here. Year 3 - Give Back. I know that I am truly fortunate and blessed to have what I have, so I looked for opportunities to give back more to the community. I got a lot more involved in my church, volunteering at the Nelson-Atkins museum on a regular basis, and tried to be more aware of little things I could do for people that I encountered that I could help in mostly small ways. The pastor at my church says when people need help God sends people not angels, so I try to be more aware of when he might be calling me to help someone. I liked that one so much I did it for Year 4 too! Year 5 - the year I turned 60 I called the Year of Patti. That was this past year - 2016. It was also the Chinese Year of the monkey. That didn't seem to me to be a coincidence so I combined the two into The Year of Monkey Business for Patti! Such a fun year! Letting go of worrying about things I can't control and just doing more of what makes me happy.  So I have been thinking about my theme for this year and I have it. The Year of Reading. I love to read but don't set aside time to do it. I read when I get in bed and then I'm so tired I can only stay awake for 10 or 15 minutes. So this year my plan is to read for an hour before I get into bed - and I have set a goal of 25 books. Here is the first one and I already love it!

Set in Charleston, SC which I visited in Sept. We actually saw the home this book took place in as it's historical fiction.  

I started shopping at a new place in town that I think fits in well with the New Year's resolution idea. It's called Eat Fit Go, and it's healthy grab and go meals that are delicious. There are currently 2 locations in the metro - Hawthorn on 119th and Roe and Corinth at 83rd and Mission, but plans to open quite a few more pretty quickly in other areas. Worth checking out if you are interested in eating healthier but don't have or want to shop and cook. It's really designed to take home and microwave but they do have a small eating area and a microwave if you want to stop in and eat right there. 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks available. Most of the items are gluten free. Calories, carbs and proteins all listed and everything I have tried has been really good. Fresh not frozen so the expiration dates are important. 

I started 2017 with a 6 mile run - because if you're a runner it's pretty much mandatory. The KC Track Club sponsors a free New Year's Day run from the Overland Park Athletic Club that is always well attended and fun, and doesn't start till 10 AM - bonus!!  So I met a bunch of my KC Express Running group there to get our first miles of the year done together.

It was chilly but such a pretty course along the Indian Creek Trail. I took a picture of the girls on a beautiful bridge right at one of the water stops. 

Then we headed across the street to Tous les Jours, a great french bakery that is actually open on New Year's Day. Really delicious pastries that are very inexpensive.  

Very little food left on those trays! 

Then a couple of us made a spontaneous decision to go see the movie LaLa Land  down the street without even taking showers. The movie was really great - we all found it very entertaining - but I feel sorry for the people in the theater sitting close to us! Do more of what makes you happy - just living my theme! 

This past week I also tried out the new Cafe Europa in Union Hill. The original is still in Crestwood at 55th and Brookside Blvd - and you can't go wrong eating there. The Crestwood area really reminds me of a little European town with it's quaint restaurants and shops, and if you haven't been there go. Union Hill is a redeveloped area just south of Hospital Hill and I was excited to see Cafe Europa was opening there.  

Love the space! They have a coffeeshop/bar on one side and restaurant on the other. Lots of great windows. 

They are known for having great food and desserts and the new location will not disappoint. Jane and I both loved our lunch items and the staff was very friendly.  

Broccoli miso soup for both of us, vegetable salad for me and chicken salad for Jane. We shared the famous lemon cake - worth every calorie! 

I saved the best for last - my travel destinations for 2017!! At least what I have planned so far!  

Phoenix/Scottsdale for a long weekend running a race with friends. 

The island of Kauai to do some major hiking with my family! 

Hiking to Machu Picchu! Doing a 6 day trek from Cusco - training has begun! 

Lake Tahoe - more hiking with friends. Looks spectacular! 

Indianapolis - another long weekend running a race with friends. 

Back to NYC - at least once - maybe twice!  

There are a few other things in the works but these are booked. So check back when you have time and I'll do my best to make you feel like you are there! Hoping you make your 2017 exactly what you want it to be!!