THE SOURDOUGH SPOT: How a bread-making class kneaded a sense of community THE KC DIRT COMMUNITY INSPIRES US TO RUN, NO MATTER THE WEATHER
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Wellness Advisors: Receive personalized plans created by experts committed to your success.
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75+ Group Fitness Classes Weekly: Stay motivated with a variety of classes tailored to every fitness level.
Hello, 2025!
Welcome to the new year! We love starting off the beginning of the year with our health and wellness issue, reflecting on ways to start our year off with intention.
This month, we actually feature not one but two stories by local high school students as a partnership with the Northland CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program. The year-long program takes junior and senior high schoolers from throughout Clay and Platte counties and pairs them with local businesses to give the kids experience in professional skills. This is my third year working with the CAPS program, and this year, I worked with four high schoolers — Joey Droptiny, Katie Ericksen, Mahtab Hadjian and Katelin Mansell — to produce two stories for our January issue!
I always love working with these young students and this year is no exception. They pitched their ideas and then interviewed subjects and wrote and edited the stories and even took photos. Together, they produced two magazine stories, start to finish! They worked on the profile of Harmony Lane candles and the story of local wreath maker, Maryam Hadjian. It's so rewarding working with these students and I love the sense of community it brings and the fresh, young perspective. There is definitely talent in this group!
Also this month, we've got two stories about closeness and connection fostered by communities here in the Northland. Writer and photographer Jennifer Kirby takes us outside in the cold to talk about exercise this time of year with the KC Dirt Community, and writer Reilly Atkins looks into the bonds that local bakery The Sourdough Spot is forming with their sourdough classes.
I hope your January is filled with wellness and intention and is the start of an amazing year.
Until next month,
KATIE CURRID, EDITOR @NORTHLANDCITYLIFESTYLE
January 2025
PUBLISHER
Katie Bode | katie.bode@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Katie Currid | katie.currid@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Reilly Atkins, Katie Ericksen, Mahtab Hadjian, Jennifer Kirby
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joey Droptiny, Mahtab Hadjian, Jennifer Kirby, Katelin Mansell
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
inside the issue
Wrapped Up in A Bow
The
The
business monthly
A ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Edelbrand Pure Distilling Unveils Urban 6-Row New World Gin
Edelbrand Pure Distilling, a premier nano-distillery from Marthasville, Mo., known for its dedication to traditional Swiss distilling methods, proudly announces the release of Urban 6-Row New World Gin , a limited-edition gin commemorating its 10th anniversary. With only 15 cases of this exclusive gin available from the first production run, Urban 6-Row New World Gin is available at select retailers in Missouri. For more information, please visit edelbrandpuredistilling.com or contact Edelbrand at info@edelbrandpuredistilling.com.
Photography by Edelbrand Pure Distilling
Explore Oakhill, an independent private school in Northland Kansas City, where students thrive and potential unfolds. From Pretoddler (18-months) through Grade 12, our community empowers growth, values uniqueness, and inspires excellence in every student
From Learners to Leaders
Day School will seek diversity in its student body and welcome enrollment by students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. It prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of any protected category under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), specifically, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation, gender or sex, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, ancestry, nationality, national origin, religion, color, mental or physical disability, age, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in Oakhill Day School’s educational programs or activities.
Scents of Family
CANDLE COMPANY HARMONY LANE USES CLEAN INGREDIENTS IN THEIR FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS
ARTICLE BY KATIE ERICKSEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEY DROPTINY, MAHTAB HADJIAN, KATELIN MANSELL
Bridget Smith and her family
The crackling of a wick on a cozy morning fills living spaces with a comforting aroma; timber, cashmere, the smell of a fresh batch of laundry or fruity, uplifting scents such as apricot, and orange. Scents that smell like home. There’s nothing greater than family, and for local business Harmony Lane, that’s what they believe — specializing in bringing these candles of various scents, colors, and aesthetics to homes around Kansas City with their family-run business.
Bridget Smith and her family create hand-poured candles for Harmony Lane using a high-quality blend of coconut apricot wax that is toxin-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and cruelty-free with cotton-braided wicks. Their fragrance oils are also free from carcinogens and other toxins.
Bridget started the business to help support her daughter, Ava.
“Harmony Lane was motivated to help Ava with her goals in basketball and its expenses,” says Bridget. “We started fundraising for friends and family and eventually turned into a business.”
As the Harmony Lane business grew, they started selling outside of just friends and family. Their priority was creating clean candles for others while getting their whole family involved in the business.
“I’m at the stage in my life right now where my kids are my priority as a mom,” says Bridget. “My youngest goes around and smells everything and hypes me up. It’s fully a family effort.”
The family helps package the candles in their house and sends them off to other homes. In the future, they’d love to have a storefront. Home is where life happens so they want their candles to be a part of the memories your family makes, too.
You can find Harmony Lane candles at the Liberty boutique, The Copper Canary , located at 12 N Main St, Liberty or online at coppercanarymarket.com . You can also order candles online at harmonylanecandles.com or find them on Instagram at @harmony_lane_candles
Harmony Lane, named after the road where Bridget and her husband lived when they first started their family, has many different candle scents. Here are some of our picks that are perfect for a cozy winter day at home:
• Granny's Marmalade
• Cider Night
• Golden Hour
• Bourbon and Butterscotch
• Mocha Mint
WRAPPED up IN A bow
Maryam Hadjian is surrounded by bows constantly, from her living room carpet by the blazing fireplace, to the busied kitchen island during dinner. She folds mesh and ribbon diligently as her beloved Turkish soap operas play from the living room. Wreaths are weaved to life in her humble abode, which is also filled with her bustling family. Her native language of Farsi is spoken all around her, embracing her with familiarity. Ribbon over ribbon, wrapped up in a bow. Wreath-making brings Maryam home.
A 48-year old Persian woman, Maryam had always been enthralled by the arts. Throughout her youth, she loved drawing flowers and making crafts. She attests this love of art to her father, Mohammad Reza, who devoted his career initially to being a florist. His designs covered her childhood home in Iran, bringing elegance and life to their lower-class household. Maryam fondly recalls one of his favorite displays featuring roses hanging upside down as a chandelier at a wedding. It was no secret to anyone that this was Mohammad’s calling, but in a war-torn country with deteriorating living conditions, he knew his displays wouldn’t put food on the table for his wife and three kids.
“My dad never went back to that,” says Maryam. “He did truck driving for the government just to have a steady paycheck for us.
The owner of wreath-making business Creations by Papyon finds inspiration in her Iranian childhood
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAHTAB
HADJIAN
Financially, back then, a lot of people were poor. They were worried about their dinner, [or] if they could even send their kids to school.”
Eventually, Maryam immigrated with her newlywed husband to the United States in 1997. Enticed by new opportunities, she settled down and started a family in suburban Kansas City. She secured a job as a nutrition service manager for the Park Hill School District, where she still dutifully serves today. But although Maryam found joy in serving the students and staff of the district, she always felt something missing.
“I was always very artsy,” says Maryam. “When I was younger, I used to do lots of crafts. I actually watched a Facebook video and I thought ‘Oh, that’s cool, I think I can do that,’ and I did it, and I started to really, really like it.”
Maryam’s love for the fine arts shone through, and her life would change significantly when she discovered the process of wreath-making. What started off as just a fun hobby would slowly transition into an incredible business venture.
Creations by Papyon (papyon means bow in Farsi) officially began in Maryam’s dining room in 2021. While Maryam found wreath-making to be therapeutic, she quickly recognized the struggle of simultaneously balancing all of her ventures with the added weight of this new business.
“It is hard to have a full-time job, to be a full-time mom, and a full-time housewife,” says Maryam. Despite the rocky start, she persisted with her passions, soothed by the comforting weaving and folding of each ribbon. She continued her craft, honing her skills. This perseverance through the work/life balance led Maryam back to her biggest core value: family.
While the birth of the Papyon business could arguably be traced back to Maryam’s crafty childhood, she couldn’t help but admire her family now as they joined her in her business venture.
“My family helps me, just tolerating the mess I create everywhere,” says Maryam. “My husband helps me with the financial parts, my daughter helps me with the colors and designs.” Maryam also reminisces on establishing her business. With her husband at her side as they signed the paperwork, she couldn’t stop smiling.
“It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s exciting,” she says. Family has always been at the forefront of Maryam’s mind, as well as the heart of her business.
Today, Maryam continues her wreath-making. It brings her to a home she no longer lives in; her old, weathered house in Iran full of her father’s flowers. It brings her to a home she wants to know more of;
investigating her inner artist and letting her skills shine. It brings her to a home she loves; maintaining the business with her family. Although she doesn’t own a storefront yet, she plans to continue working towards it, her loved ones supporting her every step of the way.
“I am happy with the outcome of what I’ve done,” says Maryam. “Just leaving everything behind and coming here — the outcome has been amazing.”
You can find Maryam’s wreaths on her Facebook page, Creations by Papyon, or reach out to her at creationsbypapyon@gmail.com
COLDWEAT H ERMOTION
THE KC DIRT COMMUNITY STAYS ACTIVE, EVEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER
KIRBY
“Movement is directly correlated to quality of life.”
The KC Dirt Community is a female-led inclusive trail running group that doesn’t let any kind of weather slow them down. Their four leaders, Ashley Baker, Kelly Kardon, Kim Olson and Theresa ReyesCummings, are marathon and ultramarathon runners. They found each other in this supportive running community, which was once named Mud Babes. Being a part of this group is about more than being fit. It’s a way of life.
Each of the KC Dirt Community leaders have hundreds or even thousands of miles under their belt. They have run 10k and 50k races, half marathons, marathons and ultramarathons. However, each of them began simply. Ashley was looking for a hobby and community. Theresa began
running to establish new habits in her life. Kelly wanted to be part of a hiking group. Kim began by going on walks during her lunch break. Their simple beginnings have become incredible journeys.
Their success stories are staggering. For example, Theresa ran a 50k every month the year she turned 50 years old. She has trained for long races by running all night. Additionally, Theresa ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC.
“It’s the only lottery I’ve ever won,” she says.
Through that experience she met and ran with Billy Mills — the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. It was such an energizing experience to her that she walked another five miles at the end of the marathon.
“There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.”
It would be easy to feel intimidated by such accomplished athletes. However, part of their commitment to one another is that they never leave a runner behind. They don’t judge beginners, and they don’t pressure them to keep up with the ultramarathoners. Through the KC Dirt Community, they have found a familial kind of support. In fact, Ashley has not only formed lifelong friendships through the group, she also met her husband. The support they give to one another is rooted not only in helping everyone reach their goals but in their understanding of how important movement is to everyone. We know mobility is essential for mental and physical well-being. However, the real test comes once the weather turns cold. In the wake of the holiday season, it’s not uncommon to seek comfort and warmth over outdoor exercise, which can be particularly challenging to those who love outdoor activities.
More important than the effect immobility has on our waistline is the effect it has on our overall quality of living and lifespan. Aside from the medical conditions caused by excessive sitting — such as obesity, hypertension, back pain, cancer and cardiovascular disease — immobility can cause mental wellness issues such as depression, which is already a concern for many during the winter months. Also, reduced physical activity combined with shorter daylight hours contributes to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for approximately 5% of the U.S.
population. Even if you don’t fall into this group who experience SAD, many people feel slumps in their mood, productivity and overall happiness.
The popular Netflix documentary “Live to 100: Secrets of Blue Zones” explores five of the world’s blue zone areas (Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya and Loma Linda) and the factors that contribute to the health of the citizens. Blue zones are locations that have the highest number of centenarians in the world. The people who live in those five locations share three important factors: a plant-based diet, natural movement and human connection. Many of them were older than ninety and continue to stay active by walking hills, gardening and dancing or other exercise.
Movement is directly correlated to quality of life.
Ashley, Kelly, Kim and Theresa have expert advice for embracing the cold so you can stay mobile all year. You may know the saying, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” The key is to dress in layers. Bundle up if you’re hiking. If you’re running, keep in mind that it will feel 10-15 degrees warmer once your body warms up. Pockets allow you to store layers.
Keep your hands and feet warm with gloves that double as mittens and wool or synthetic socks. Also, look for gloves that have a place on the thumbs to specifically wipe watering eyes or running noses in colder temperatures. Buffs, neck and shoe gaiters as well as handkerchiefs around your wrists
and neck will keep the chilly air from creeping in. Wear running skirts over your fleece-lined leggings to keep your bottom warm. Top it off with vests, headbands and beanies.
Buddy up with a friend to stay motivated. Set yourself a goal and give yourself grace. Do it for yourself; not others. Be willing to change gears and do something else, like a video or core work. It doesn’t all have to be big. Make yourself get out there. You’ll be glad once you do.
ARTICLE BY REILLY ATKINS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID
A Knead for Community
The Sourdough Spot provides more than just bread — their classes bring people together
During the pandemic, many people decided to adopt a pet or purchase a jungle of houseplants to keep them company. Maegan Vaughan got a sourdough starter. She had always been interested in sourdough baking, but with newly found extra time, she dove in. She tried and failed at growing her own starter from scratch before purchasing one from Homestead and Chill, a blogger she followed. That starter is still the one she feeds and uses today. For most of human history, sourdough was the only way to bake bread. The process relies on the fermentation of a
“starter,” a mix of flour and water, which is then colonized by naturally occurring yeast and bacteria from the air. The starter is then “fed” by the addition of more flour and water, and the mature “discard” can be used to leaven breads, pancakes, cookies, or other baked goods.
Maegan likes to feed her starter with organic whole wheat flour from local miller Marion Milling.
“The starter loves the fresh flour, it makes my bread better,” Maegan says.
Sourdough’s unique fermentation process touts a wide variety of benefits when compared to commercial bread. It has a lower glycemic index, can be easier on digestion, and has a higher quantity of vitamins and minerals.
“If you eat a loaf of bread other than sourdough versus sourdough, the digestion is completely different,” says Maegan. “I can attest to that. It makes the best food. The living starter adds so many vitamins and probiotics to whatever you add it to.”
Maegan loved that bread was a catalyst for connecting with people during a time when that was more difficult during the pandemic. “It was my way
of communicating with people,” she says. “I loved doing it and I wanted people to try my bread.”
Maegan’s pandemic hobby grew quickly into an at-home bakery, The Sourdough Spot. She sold out of bread quickly each week, and began to scale up her operation. She purchased tables for workspace, a mixer, and a bread oven to turn her garage into a full-scale operation to bake loaves not just for porch pickup, but for local markets and her fledgling Etsy store.
After just a few months, she needed to scale her business further and sought out a commercial kitchen where she could bake bread for markets in Missouri and teach classes in a space of her own. Her attention immediately turned to the Iron District, a North Kansas City gem that operates food, drink, and retail micro-businesses out of shipping containers. It was a perfect fit. Not only was the rent in her budget, but she was familiar with the area from her experiences at the North Kansas City YMCA. She took the plunge and hasn’t looked back since.
Maegan continues to operate The Sourdough Spot out of her big green shipping container at Iron District. She loves that she has a commercial CONTINUED >
“There’s something more here than just sourdough. It's a gathering of people.”
kitchen, that she’s able to sell food like sandwiches and soup, and that she’s able to continue sharing her love of sourdough baking through classes.
Participants at Maegan’s sourdough classes participate in the entire sourdough process in just three hours, taking a journey from beginner to baker.
“A lot of people come to class nervous,” says Maegan.
“It’s my joy to help calm people’s nerves. It’s not as difficult as people make it seem on the internet! We get our hands dirty, it’s fun. I love hearing everybody’s reactions to the dough. People leave class telling me, ‘You’ve helped me simplify it.’”
Maegan splits the class into two loaves – one loaf that participants start from scratch to finish at home,
and one that she starts for students. This ensures that everyone taking the class is comfortable with the entire process before they try their hand at doing it entirely on their own at home. They measure, mix, fold, add inclusions, score, and even bake loaves by the time they leave class.
“We basically finish up the large loaf in class,” Maegan explains. “It’s ready for your fridge. You just have to bake it. The small loaf, you just have to finish it up at home that night.”
Taking a class and learning to bake sourdough is a wonderful way to fill the cold, dark winter months.
“I knew it was important to keep classes going during the winter because it’s a great thing to do when you
If you'd like to learn to make sourdough bread with Maegan, you can sign up for a Sourdough 101 class! The Sourdough Spot will be hosting classes in January on Friday the 10th, Saturday the 18th and Friday the 24th. Find the links via @ thesourdoughspotkc on Instagram or email Maegan at sourdoughspot@gmail.com.
have nothing else to do. People can learn a new skill, take it home, try it out, and do it a lot,” Maegan says.
For Maegan, teaching the classes isn’t just about bread – it’s about community. She’s watched students bond over their newfound love of baking. Some even stay in touch after class, keeping their bond as alive as their starter. She wants to share her love of this ancient practice, get folks out of their comfort zones, and get more people baking their own bread at home.
“There’s something more here than just sourdough, it’s a gathering of people,” Maegan reflects. “You realize how close we all are. Sometimes people know each other or make friends. It’s a good time.”
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the value of slowing down, learning something new, and connecting with those around you. Sourdough baking offers a rare opportunity for all three –and, as Maegan promises, you’ll have delicious bread to show for it.
You can visit Maegan and buy some of her bread, sandwiches or soups at The Sourdough Spot inside the Iron District at 1599 Iron Street in North Kansas City. You can also pre-order bread online at https://thesourdoughspot.com . Reach out to Maegan on Instagram at @thesourdoughspotkc or via email at thesourdoughspot@gmail.com
smart SWEETS
The beginning of the year is packed with inspiration and motivation to get back on track after a sweet-filled holiday season. It can feel extreme, and it also can be depleting to cut oneself off from everything indulgent after weeks of eating favorite sweet and savory recipes. For sugar lovers who believe going cold-turkey feels intimidating or overwhelming, nutrition-packed desserts are a great way to stick to healthy food goals without the guilt.
Nutrient-Rich Dessert To The Rescue
ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN
This recipe is a classic favorite. If you cut the bars into 16 pieces, they are around 270 calories each. They are very filling, packed with healthy goodies and taste, oh so delicious. If you can’t finish them yourself (it makes a lot!), bring samples along to your next workout class to share the love. Your accountability group will be asking you for the recipe! These come in handy for a quick breakfast on-the-go or an afternoon snack. You’ll want to taste these out of the oven once they cool a bit... simply scrumptious.
Combine:
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
• 2 cups oats
• 2/3 cup of your choice of chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2/3 cup raisins
• Optional: chocolate chips as desired
• Optional: add additional seeds or nuts on hand such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
Notes: Boil quinoa at a 2:1 water to rice ratio. For estimating, 1/3 cup of uncooked quinoa yields 1 cup cooked quinoa.
Add this mixture slowly to combine:
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until when the edges get golden brown. Bake in a 9x13-inch glass dish. After they cool, slice and enjoy. Keep them covered to maintain freshness.
Quinoa BREAKFAST Bars
Frozen PEANUT BUTTER Bites
Danger ahead: this snack is amazing. It’s the easiest of the bunch and also satisfies a sweet tooth craving. This can be whipped together in just 5 minutes and makes just a small amount. Feel free to take creative liberty here with your amounts, but if you make it to this recipe, they are around 90 calories per bite.
1. Cut a banana into 8-10 small slices, around 1/2 inch each.
2. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter (or your choice of nut butter) on each banana slice.
3. Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate chips or caramel over each bite.
4. Freeze for 15-20 minutes and enjoy!
Pro tip: A dash of sea salt flakes on top of these can be *chef’s kiss.*
These are great to keep on hand in the freezer all weeklong. Once they set, add them to a closed container to keep the bananas from browning.
Late night snack cravings are real! When finding yourself rooting through the cabinets for a sweet fix, these protein cookie dough bites are a great way to curb temptation. This recipe yields around 20 small bites, which can be cut into small squares or rolled into dough balls. Each bite is around 105 calories. If you find the dough is a little too dry, add a dash of milk as needed.
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (or alternate nut or sunflower butter)
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Chocolate chips as desired
Pro tip: Use mini chocolate chips and for a dash of savory add sea salt flakes on top. Once combined, store the bites in the refrigerator in a covered container to keep them moist.
Protein COOKIE DOUGH Bites
MIXING HEALTH AND FLAVOR
A Delicious Mocktail to Savor Without the Alcohol.
ARTICLE
BY ANGELA BROOCKERD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
• 5 tablespoons pear juice
• 1 tablespoon rosemary simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
• sparkling water to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO MAKE ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP
Combine sugar and water in a pot and cook over medium heat. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and toss in rosemary sprigs. Cool Completely.
HOW TO MAKE ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
Pour pear juice, rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water into a glass. Add ice and garnish if desired.
GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
THYME SIMPLE SYRUP
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup fresh thyme
GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/3 cup thyme syrup
• Ice
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP:
Combine water and sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and add fresh thyme and steep.
HOW TO MAKE GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL
Rim glass with sugar if desired. Fill glass with ice. Add 3 tablespoons thyme syrup to each glass and fill up with 1/2 cup grapefruit juice and approximately 1 cup sparkling water. Garnish.
WIZARDLY BUTTER BEER
INGREDIENTS
BUTTER BEER
• 2 liters of creme soda
• 2 tablespoons butter extract
• 2 teaspoons rum extract
CREME TOPPING
• 7 ounce container of marshmallow creme or fluff
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon rum extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the rum extract and butter extract to the 2 liters of cream soda. Close lid and gently mix. Prepare the topping by combining the marshmallow creme, whipping cream and rum extract. Beat on high for a few minutes until peaks appear. Add a few tablespoons of whipped topping to the bottom of glass. Pour cream soda over topping. Enjoy!
2025
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
ALL MONTH THROUGH FEBRUARY 17TH
The Rink at Zona Rosa
Zona Rosa | 11:00 AM
The Northland’s outdoor ice rink is back at Zona Rosa this winter season. The Rink at Zona Rosa is open daily through February 17 for public ice skating, pond hockey, special events and more. A skate session pass is $12 (children 3 and under are free), plus skate rental (or bring your own). Hours vary. See zonarosa.com for more details.
JANUARY 8TH
Cooking for Weight Loss
Virtual | 6:30 PM
Learn how to prepare healthy and nutritional meals and enjoy the company of others who share the same goal. Explore cooking with vegetables and delicious alternatives with Total Weight Loss Center's registered dietitian, Jackie Roth, MS, RD, LD. Free event. Register at nkch.org/Class or call 816.691.1690.
JANUARY 14TH
Stress and Its Effect on the Brain
Virtual | 12:00 PM
Find out more about the physiological changes that occur in the brain during stressful situations. Ideal for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between stress and brain health, this presentation promises valuable insights for both personal and professional development. Presented by Stephanie Ramirez, MA, CCC-SLP. Free event. Register at nkch.org/Class or call 816.691.1690.
JANUARY 24TH-25TH
Reel Liberty Film Festival
B&B Theatres, 1903 Victory Drive, Liberty | 4:30 PM
Introducing a new event from the Liberty Arts Commission - Reel Liberty Film Festival, presented in partnership with B&B Theatres and Visit Liberty. The festival will showcase noir and neo-noir films and attendees can expect film introductions, live music performances and retro-themed cocktails. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit libertymissouri.gov/2767/Reel-Liberty-Film-Festival
JANUARY 28TH
Breaking the Curve: How to Combat Tech Neck
Virtual | 12:00 PM
Discover the causes and effects of Tech Neck, and how simple adjustments to posture and ergonomics can promote a pain-free lifestyle in a tech-driven world. Presented by Kyle Christopher, DPT. Free event. Register at nkch.org/Class or call 816.691.1690.
FEBRUARY 1ST
Chocolate Tour
Historic Downtown Excelsior Springs | 11:00 AM
Nothing says February quite like chocolate! Join us in Downtown Excelsior Springs for the 20th Annual Chocolate Tour! For just $25 you can sample scrumptious sweet treats at over 25 participating locations and have all-day access to the trolley courtesy of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Inc. For more info, see visitexcelsior.com/chocolate-tour
At Liberty Hospital, every detail matters. As soon as you walk through our doors, you’ll notice our commitment to excellence. From life-changing moments to personalized everyday care, we believe great health is for everyone, and we provide premier experiences with every interaction.
For high-quality healthcare in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, the exceptional experience you’re looking for is here at Liberty Hospital – where the joy of great health is waiting for you. Learn more at libertyhospital.org.
