Love and Lattes: Mom and Hailey take on KC!

 

Last summer, Hailey and I began what I hope will become a tradition; restaurant hunting in the best city in the U.S.....Kansas City! If you are interested in last year's post click HERE and HERE to see our adventures last summer.

Hailey is so lucky to get to grow up as our city continues to grow and improve and I am so lucky to get to sit across from her and listen to her and her thoughts on life. It's pretty much the best thing a mom could ask for!

My hope is to inspire other moms to start traditions like this of their own. I realize that coffee shop hunting might not be for everyone, but I bet that every parent could find something special that they can share with their child; a walk, an activity you both share, movie nights...the list is endless!

This year's focus was on coffee and brunch.  Here goes our list with our reviews! You will see our ratings separately because we each have different life experiences that made our thoughts different. My job as a mom isn't to mold my child into a mini version of me, but to give her the confidence to be herself! I LOVE watching her become

GINGER SUES

Ginger Sue's, Liberty, MO. This is a THE place to go for breakfast on the historic downtown square. Great pancakes, bacon and lattes! There is always a line for their good home cooking.

Laura: 4 stars because it's fattening and hard to say no to pancakes! But it really is very good!

Hailey: 5 stars because not only do they have great food, they have great coffee and it's close to home. It's comfortable.

THOU MAYEST

 Thou Mayest: Coffee Shop in the Crossroads KC next to Grinders.

Laura 5 Stars: It will be tough to find a place that can top Thou Mayest. The atmosphere is amazing, cozy, lots of seating options including an outdoor patio. The coffee is a normal price with a top off station before you leave. They serve you with a little jug of milk instead of handing you the entire gallon or having milk sitting out for hours. 

Hailey: 4 stars just because it's second to Morning Day Cafe because Morning Day is closer to home and more comfortable for her.

Found these murals on our way home from Thou Mayest!

ODDLY CORRECT

Oddly Correct Coffee in Westport.... Their main business is supplying coffee to other cafes and restaurants.

Laura: 2 stars: Yes it's odd because when I ordered a $4 drip coffee they said that was fine but they don't have milk or sugar for it. And yet they make latte's?  It's a "hip" place but not really comfortable.

Jay: 4 stars

Hailey: 4 stars

DOUGHNUT LOUNGE

Doughnut Lounge in Westport.Weird doughnuts and coffee cups without a handle!

Laura 2 stars. I love doughnuts so it's hard to say no when you are there. The coffee cups are awful but it's still a somewhat fun place. They do serve alcohol too.

Jay: 4 stars. He said it was good but pricey

This was a savory treat from Doughnut Lounge. YUM!

MORNING DAY CAFE

It's not right without including Morning Day Cafe on the Liberty Square!

Laura 4.5 stars This place is quirky and the atmosphere is fantastic! They also have a cute outdoor patio!  It does sometimes take a long time to get your coffee and although the menu is very unique and healthy it's still can pretty high calorie. Try the Tres Tacos for lunch and their breakfast potatoes and eggs for breakfast!

Hailey: 5 stars

ROASTERIE CAFE

We ended up at the Roasterie Cafe in Brookside because Bella Napoli and One More Cup (in Waldo) were both closed on Memorial Day. Oops!

Laura 2 stars. Boring, yuppie, young people. Just not that interesting.

Hailey 3 stars. It was yummy but boring.

CORNER RESTAURANT

This morning my 19 year old son, Cameron, asked if he could go with us one of our adventures so I looked at my list and picked something it thought he would like. Corner Restaurant in Westport was a great pick! Both kids had eggs with mix-ins of cheeses/meats and their yummy has brown with a side of toast. I have the most magnificent BLT with egg ever! YUM! 

Laura: 5 stars

Hailey: 3 stars because they only had black coffee and no fru fru drinks. Food was good but not a huge variety.

Cameron: 4 stars

CHEZ ELLE

Chez Elle is near Blue Bird Bistro and Westside Local and occupies the old Summit Theatre Building.  We love the location and the concept but you do have to order at the front and take a number which created a long line. We LOVED the crepes and the coffee was great as well! They had a lot of employees serving food and cleaning up, arranging tables etc... I think that if they used them as servers things might run more smoothly. 

OPERA HOUSE FOOD & COFFEE EMPORIUM

There are several things I love about Opera House in the River Market. First, the location. It's sits on a corner where you can usually find good parking. It's near the streetcar which is just fun, the coffee is great and so is the food! The atmosphere is big and open yet cool and funky! You have to try this one!

QUAY COFFEE

I'm including Quay Coffee because we went there last summer and really liked it, but I went back this summer with my neice and although the atmosphere was like a library and the seating and lighting were nice, I was shocked at my $4.50 coffee. Sure it's all pretty when they make it their fancy way, but if I wanted fancy coffee I'd order a latte. That said, I did enjoy sitting outside and watching the streetcar!Laura: 3 stars because it was expensive and crowded with people  working on computers. But I liked the location and atmosphere.Hailey: 3 stars for the same reasons. 

Yes, I vacationed alone!

"You're going by yourself?" they said.
"Yup! And I can't wait!"

I had this conversation several times with my friends and family. I completely understand their surprise. I mean, who would I talk to? Who would I eat with? Would I feel scared?

Ever since I was young, I've preferred doing a variety of activities alone. I have no idea why I'm like that. I know that I'm an "extroverting introvert",  meaning I extrovert very well, but I'm exhausted by it, therefore making me an introvert.

Social activities exhaust me. Teaching school exhausts me. Vacationing with family and friends exhausts me. I love all of these things, but they tire me out. So when my family recently went to Breckenridge, Colorado with a few friends, I found that I was doing a lot of the planning, organizing, packing and feeding a large group. And it was WONDERFUL! I loved it! Actually it is in my top 5 favorite vacations! But I didn't get to do some of the things I wanted to do and I was tired coming off of my cracked ribs from a bike fall. So, when we got back to Kansas City, and it was a million degrees, and I couldn't bike or get outside I asked my hubby if I could go by myself back to Breck for a few days. I would have loved for him to come too but that was not possible because of his work schedule.

But he said, "YES!"

He knows how much I love to travel and research and explore! So I was stoked to start my vacation alone. Adventures were in my future and they did not disappoint!

But I learned a few things too.....first and foremost, three days alone is my absolute limit! I couldn't wait to get home and hug my family. They are my favorites!

So here are my vacation pictures because words cannot accurately describe all of the fabulous things I got to do in 3 days in Breck........Alone.

First adventure: Figuring out the Denver transit system. Got my ticket, headed to Union Station downtown and had just enough time to grab a coffee and get back to the airport. I learned that there are no stops along the way other than parking lots. It's a true commuter train but what a great option for people living in Denver!

My condo was amazing. It was a one bedroom studio and this is the view from the balcony! I could lay in bed and see the mountains! This is one of my favorite things! I could leave my door to the balcony open at night and listen to the river going by! It was also just above Mi Casa mexican restaurant where I had lunch the first day. I brought back 2 jars of salsa for Jay because it was so good!

It was hard deciding where to eat in Breck! I did a lot of research but sometimes you have to go with your gut. This was a great healthy find called Park and Main!

Cuppa Joe coffee was on Ridge Street another great find. Ridge street is just one street off of Main Street and is definitely more of a local feel! This was my view while having breakfast and coffee.

Breck stores are full of great finds for travel gear. I found an awesome dress to travel with in summer and a pair of trail shoes which came in handy!

At the top of Swan Mountain. The first time I did this a few years ago, Jay texted me from the top saying it was pretty steep and I might not make it. About 30 seconds later I saw him and I think he was pretty surprised! I did it again on a bike not set up for me and in the second chain ring out of three because I didn't realize it had three!

Jay suggested that I swing by Keystone as a quick 5 mile side trip on my 40 mile ride. Wow was it worth it! It was such a nice secluded ride along the river!

My favorite coffee shop, The Crown! Nicest people, cozy and great coffee!

Lake Dillon Marina

Yes I dined alone! By night three I wasn't interested anymore but this was after my long ride at KENOSHA Steakhouse which has a spectacular deck out back!

Just outside my condo.....I'm kind of "Granola-y" in y head wrap, glasses and flannel....but I love it!

Carter Park Trail was my favorite and I can't wait to hike more next summer! I didn't want to go too far by myself but it was beautiful! 

Sawmill Trail was an easy hike but so pretty! Check out the picture below of the river and then the bridge! It ends up at a lake where I just sat and watched a chipmunk play for a while.

The free gondola up to the play park at Breck. I didn't stay too long...it was a little like a county fair up there!

To bike or not to bike?

Me and my mule friends on
the trail from Breckenridge.

I was pedaling pretty hard as I was ascending to the top of the hill. I could tell the car behind me was too close, I turned to look, saw his mirror and got disoriented and fearful and in a split second, BAM! I hit the curb, flew over the handlebars and was on the grass by the sidewalk. I hit my fist on the grass in anger because I was riding my brand new bike. I got up, no damage to the bike but the left side of my chest hurt and I knew things would be sore the next day. I mentioned this on Facebook and got many many kind thoughts coming my way, a few people very worried for my safety and some genuine questioned exactly how they should drive when encountering a cyclist. Oh and then the one I deleted from someone that mentioned she was sorry, but in a bike vs. 2 ton hunk of metal she was going to win. So right. I thought it was time to write something about this.

Before I was a cyclist, I was a driver. I have always been polite and understanding with cyclists knowing that they are also allowed to be on our roads and are just out for some exercise. Before I began cycling myself, I had a cyclist yell at me and hit the hood of my car with his hand after I crested a hill and found myself right next to him. I couldn't see him to know to put on my brakes and follow.  This was a horrible road to be on, and yet if I had hit him it still would have been my fault. I needed to be a better driver with respect and awareness to the cyclist.

However, that new attitude didn't help me when I was in Florida on a 40th birthday trip with my mom. We were on our way home after being at the beach and I was waiting to make a left on a 4 lane road. I waited for traffic to clear and made my move only to end up hearing a loud bang and having my vision obstructed by a PERSON on my hood. Unless that has happened to you I can tell you the feeling is indescribable. Everything was in slow motion.

I yelled to my mom that I was sure I had killed this person. I was hysterical and then suddenly calm. I got out, saw a man yell, "I'm a paramedic, I'll call 911" with his phone in the air. People came to the side of this person and I was afraid. I called Jay from the middle of the road and told him very calmly that I needed him to listen closely to what happened and tell me what to do. I had visions of being taken away in handcuffs to jail and not seeing my children for a long time.

I explained to him: "I was waiting to make a left across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. I was in the far-left turn lane. I saw a cyclist in my rear view mirror a while back and paid it no mind. I turned left and she came at me on my hood from the left side. I never saw her until she was on my hood."

Jay: "So you are saying she turned left BEHIND you onto the other street?"
Me: "Yes....she took her left turn from behind me trying to get to the street first".
Jay; "That's illegal. It is her fault. You did NOTHING wrong."

So I built up my confidence after than conversation and walked over to the woman. I didn't know what others were thinking and figured they thought it was my fault. The woman was bleeding from her head because she was not wearing a helmet. She was saying weird things like, "I'm okay, I just got hit by a train the other day." So, I put my hand on her jeans and prayed out loud for her.

Later the police officer questioned me, several witnesses stepped up for me and then the officer told me that this woman is a known drug addict and a repeat offender. I'm fairly certain she was under the influence at the time of the wreck. I was not issued any citation at all and was told I could leave the scene. But I can tell you that you don't walk away from that without some emotional scars.

So, yes, I can speak from experience, You do NOT want to hit a cyclist and you do NOT want it to be your fault. And in most cases, it WILL be your fault. Like any other issue, there are bad seeds in every group. There are bad drivers, bad teachers, bad doctors, bad cops...the list goes on. But for every bad one that screams in offense, there are many more that are good!

The cyclists that I know would do anything for me! I had a flat when Jay was out of town. He called two people and they both showed up within minutes of each other and practically fought to give me a ride home.When they heard I had been run off the road and hurt myself they were angry like parents often are! They "like" all of my recorded rides on STRAVA even if it's a slow ride or a short ride. They are like family in many ways.

So when I was run off the road last week and cracked my ribs, I was upset and scared and angry.

No I cannot ride on the sidewalk. I tried this theory the other day on my first outing here in Kansas City since my fall. I was going almost 25 mph...on a sidewalk...not exactly what a pedestrian wants to encounter. There were streets I had to stop at to be sure I crossed safely. The whole experiment was ridiculous. So I went back to the road. I had my bright rear light on, my bright shirt and I road a little way from the curb to make it easier for drivers to see me....IF they are looking. One car got too close, hit a pothole and I got soaked, but not hit.

I read this article on bike safety and hope that if you read it as a cyclist or a driver you will see the many ways we can all be safer. I myself will be making a few changes such as buying a mirror and headlamp and sticking to streets with bike lanes (of which there is exactly ONE in my area) and wide shoulders.

Shockingly, Las Vegas is a GREAT
place to ride! It is incredibly bike friendly!

If you don't exercise you won't understand. If you do exercise you probably think I should try something else. But think about why you do what you do. Hopefully you like it. I choose cycling because I love it and it is the one exercise I can do without pain in my knees or feet.  I love that it only takes me 10 minutes to get to a farm with beautiful horses or to ride on a small road with small farmhouses and land. Sure, I walk, I do 9 Round (kick boxing) and I swim some, but my favorite and the one I get the best workout with is cycling. And I do it for more than exercise! It truly makes me happy!

So next time you become frustrated on the road with a cyclist, please just keep in mind, that like any other group, there are idiots out there.  There are some that want to make a point and have a chip on their shoulder about drivers. But the rest of us just want to get our workout in and come home safely.

After my bike wreck this past week, we went on vacation to one of
my favorite places to ride; Colorado. The trails are safe,
people are bike friendly and the air is cool and crisp! Despite
my cracked rib, I was able to ride from Breckenridge to Frisco
and have lunch at the marina. It was a great place to get
back on the bike after a wreck.