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SHINE BRIGHT IN SUMMER’S HOTTEST STYLES

Matching sets, simple silhouettes and nature-inspired colors are stand-out stars of the season. Finish your look with playful gold jewelry and you’re ready to shine!

SCOOBIE

23 on the Mall Prairie Village, KS 913.602.8268

Photography / Beth Houts Model / Claire Franklin with Hoffman International Model & Talent Agency Hair / Jen Matthies Makeup / Bibiana Carrasco Shot on location / Prairiefire, Overland Park

FREE ADVICE

WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON / PHOTO BY JAMI BOWMAN

Don’t you love Facebook memories? They’re like an open diary of events, photos, cute little things your kid did. All things you forgot about because you’re getting old and can’t remember anything before 2020. It’s like a welcome little flick of a memory taking you back to yesteryear. It might even have good advice you forgot about too. Here’s some free advice from 2018: Don’t microwave catnip.

Free advice (and I hope you take it).

THE INTERNET IS FULL OF LIES. YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT MICROWAVE CATNIP!

Sure, plant a garden and watch it grow. You can plant your own catnip for your cat. You’ll also attract every cat in the neighborhood, but who am I to judge? Maybe you like seeing cats roam outside your window.

But no, Google, you cannot speeddry catnip leaves in the microwave for two minutes.

You want to know what happens when you put freshly picked catnip leaves in the microwave? The microwave will make a weird noise and your 12-year-old will yell “FIRE!” You will jump off the couch, trip over your 9-year-old running for the door saving only herself.

You will trip over a dog. You’ll yell at your spouse on the toilet to “PINCH IT OFF! FIRE!” You’ll open the micro-

wave full of orange flames and whack the burnt catnip leaves with a kitchen towel. You’ll cough on smoke as the tiny firepit of catnip leaves go out.

The kids will continue to scream “FIRE!” outside, but it doesn’t really matter because your neighbors are used to this kind of commotion. They’ll walk outside, pull out a lawn chair, sit, and wait for a firetruck and Facebook post.

Your spouse will come running into the kitchen confused, squeezing his butt cheeks so hard his face looks like a chipmunk. You’ll tell him you got the fire out and called 911 this time. I say this time because, like I said, the house is full of commotion. He’ll turn around to finish wiping himself and then you’ll pull out the phone to warn the public: DO NOT MICROWAVE CATNIP LEAVES!

And then you’ll get a text message from your 12-year-old daughter, still outside: “It’s lit, fam.”

Julie Burton is an Overland Park mom, writer, K-State lover, and bacon-hater. She is a blogger and contributing author to the humor book, But Did You Die?: Setting the Parenting Bar Low. Burton’s also been named one of the Today Show’s “funniest parents.” And yes, she really does hate bacon. Please don’t drop her as a friend.

Follow Julie at: julieburton.blog facebook.com/julieburtonwriter • twitter.com/ksujulie • instagram.com/ksujulie

Come check out our new menu! Glow from the inside out.

We’re here to please them all. Billie’s Grocery will bring mostly organic, nutrient-dense whole eats and treats to the community’s ever-growing health food scene. COME VISIT US TODAY! ONLINE ORDERS

Order full cakes, catering, box lunches any inquires: eatwith@billiesgrocery.com Cooking classes or if you want to teach with us: cookwith@billiesgrocery.com

3216 GILLHAM PLAZA, SUITE 100, KANSAS CITY, MO 816.638.4400

We specialize in Wigs & Alternative Hair Pieces

• Medical Hair Loss • Hormonal & Age-Related Hair Loss

We also carry:

• Compression garments: arm sleeves, tights, knee highs, thigh highs, leggings • Fashion & sleep caps in a variety of styles, colors, and fabrics • Wig care products

Call 913.634.1050

to schedule your private appointment!

12020 Blue Valley Pkwy. Overland Park, KS redpoppykc.com

Founder, Diane Joy Bender, Certified Wig Master & Medical Grade Compression Garment Fitter for over a decade. 27 year breast cancer survivor with over 40 years experience as a Licensed Cosmetologist.

THE COMPLETE SALAD

WRITTEN BY GINA REARDON / PHOTO BY MELANIE MCDOWELL

Have you noticed the emphasis on well-being lately? If the past year of coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that being comfortable, healthy, and happy is an ideal we should all strive for in all areas of our lives. And this does, of course, include wellness. As much as I love enjoying meals or foods that fall into the category of “special occasion,” I find especially gratifying the fresh flavors and textures of foods I know are truly good for me, including “superfoods.” When I am powered by a healthy diet, I feel virtuous and deserving of those indulgences that pop up from time to time.

I was sorting through my catering recipe archives this past weekend and stumbled on this entrée salad that encompasses all the essentials I love for a healthy meal and emotional well-being … because it is so colorful! Eat the rainbow, they say. Here, your superfoods are fresh salmon (Omega 3s), dark leafy greens, blueberries, and olive oil. As an option, add a handful of nuts and go for the gold. Enjoy!

Balsamic Glazed Salmon with Baby Spinach, Mango, Blueberries & Citrus Vinaigrette

Ingredients

Citrus Vinaigrette

1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest 3/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

Salad

1 firm ripe mango, peeled and cut into long slices 1/2 each red pepper and yellow pepper, cut into julienne slices 2 eight-ounce pieces center-cut salmon fillet, skinned 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 3/4 pound baby spinach, coarse stems discarded 4-6 ounces fresh blueberries, rinsed Optional: 1/2 cup lightly toasted pecans, almonds, or pepitas

Directions

Vinaigrette

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice and zests, add olive oil in a very thin stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (I like to use a shaker ball to quickly emulsify the lime juice and olive oil.) Pat salmon dry and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Season salmon with salt and pepper. In a 12-inch non-stick skillet, heat oil over moderately high heat until hot (but not smoking) and sear salmon in batches 30 seconds on each side, or until just cooked through. With a metal spatula, transfer salmon to a plate. Add balsamic vinegar to skillet and simmer over moderate heat until syrupy, about 3 minutes. Return salmon to skillet, turning to coat with balsamic reduction.

Salad

In a large bowl toss spinach with vinaigrette, peppers, and salt and pepper to taste. Mound spinach on a platter (or on individual plates) and top with salmon and mango. Sprinkle spinach salad with blueberries.

SERVES 4

Gina Reardon, former owner of Catering by Design and culinary philanthropist, leads the KC team for No Kid Hungry, culinary professionals and community members focused on supporting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. Funds raised help connect the nation’s 16 million low-income children with more school breakfast, lunch, and summer meals.

DearKACIE

DATING A CROWD

I’m divorced and I’ve been dating my boyfriend for about a year and a half. My kids still don’t like him. They tell me he’s fine but they won’t acknowledge his presence, and even worse they ignore his little girl too. I don’t know what to do. They treat my ex’s girlfriend the same way.

I’m going to spare you the lecture I hear everywhere: “Don’t introduce your boyfriend to the kids unless it’s been X days, months, years.”

You should introduce your boyfriend or girlfriend when you feel it’s appropriate. Probably around the time you’re becoming a serious couple. Don’t let others’ judgment bring you down. You decide how to parent your kids.

That being said, it’s not uncommon for children to make your dating life, oh ... let’s just say more uncomfortable than dating already is. Here’s my advice:

Don’t argue with your kids. Ask your kids why they don’t like your boyfriend. Maybe they just don’t like change. Or maybe they’ve seen you get hurt once and don’t want to see it again. Have a serious Full House heart-to-heart.

Give your children a little grace when it comes to bringing the boyfriend around, but don’t hide him completely. As much as it may seem like they do, your children don’t get to tell you how to live your life. Your happiness is important too. And please—you can’t just toss good men away like a carryout container.

Do not give your children grace with ignoring his little girl. That is not okay. She’s in the same situation as your kids, and having her dad’s girlfriend’s kids treat her poorly is unacceptable. Have a serious discussion with your kids about treating the little girl better. They can ignore your boyfriend, he’s an adult, but they shouldn’t ignore his kid too.

Good luck! Divorce, dating, and co-parenting are not easy. It’s always a good idea to reach out to a therapist for your kids as well.

If you have any questions you’d like Kacie to answer, submit them to contact@simplykcmag.com.