by Sharm | Mar 16, 2016 | Articles, Health, Lifestyle & Technology, Shopping, Style
The Whole Foods Market Beauty Week 2106 (March 16-22) is a dedicated week that celebrates the Whole Foods Market Whole Body Department, featuring the largest selection of clean beauty products with the highest quality standards and brands.
In celebration of Beauty Week 2016, Whole Foods Market is offering deep discounts on select natural and organic beauty products. From March 18 to 20, all facial care products will be 25 percent off regular price.
The real highlight of beauty week is the beauty bag release.
Whole Foods Market Beauty Week Beauty Bag Photo Courtesy of Whole Foods Market
On Friday, March 18, stores will offer limited edition “hello, beauty” bags for $15 a piece. The bags are made by Riji Green, which is a business committed to ending human trafficking. Valued at $80, each bag includes products from Acure, Burt’s Bees, derma e, Dr. Hauschka, evanhealy, Mineral Fusion, MyChelle, Pacifica, Trilogy and Weleda.
There are a limited number of bags so make plans to get yours early while supplies last!
Being a Whole Foods Ambassador has a few perks and getting a sneak peak at this beauty bag is one of them. Trust me your going to want to get your hands on one of these.
Items in the bag include:
· Dr. Hauschka® Soothing Cleansing Milk .34 oz
· Derma e® Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask .5 oz
· Acure Pore Minimizing Facial Scrub 1 oz
· Evanhealy Rose Geranium Facial Toner HydroSoul 1 oz
· Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + ml
· MyChelle® Perfect C Serum .17 oz
· Mineral Fusion® Lash Curling Mineral Mascara (Gravity) .57 oz
· Burt’s Bees® Sunset Cruise Lip Stick .12 oz
· Weleda Skin Food .34 oz
Just as I shop Whole Foods Market for nourishing foods for inside my body, I also shop the whole body department to nourish the outside of my body as well! Some of my favorite products include the Everyday 365 Shampoo, Body Wash and Conditioner. Whole Foods Market Lip Balm, Whole Foods Market hand lotion, Burt Bees everything, Alba Botanica, Pacifica and Earth Science just to name a few.
I wish to thank Whole Foods Market for supplying me with a gift card so I can nourish the outside of my body! I am in desperate need of a facial moisturizer and looking forward to the 25% off sale coming up March 18-20! I will see you there!
by Sharm | Feb 21, 2016 | Articles, Food & Drink, Kansas City, Restaurants, What You're Missing KC!
February is American Heart Month and KC can residents can participate by dining out and eating heart-healthy. Thanks to Shawnee Mission Health’s (SMH) partnership with several area restaurants, diners will be able to order dishes that are deliciously good for the heart.
Throughout the month of February, Grand Street Café, Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Barley’s Brewhaus, Story, Tavern at Mission Farms, Tavern in the Village and YaYa’s Euro Bistro will offer dishes that are low in fat and sodium and other ingredients that may increase risk of heart disease.
For each heart-healthy dish enjoyed by consumers, these restaurants will donate 10 percent to the Shawnee Mission Heart & Vascular Center to support various programs throughout the community, including CPR education in schools, women’s heart health and more.
The heart-healthy dishes being featured by SMH’s restaurant partners throughout February include:
· Roasted Beet Panzanella Salad with spiced cider braised apples, candied walnuts, goat cheese, toasted walnut raisin bread, arugula with an apple cider vinaigrette (Grand Street Café, Lenexa and Plaza)
· Superfood Kale Salad with Grilled Salmon with tender kale, carrots and cherry tomatoes tossed in homemade sesame soy ginger vinaigrette, topped with soy ginger quinoa, blueberries, dried nori and grilled salmon (Blue Moose Bar & Grill and Barley’s Brewhaus Kansas City metro locations)
· Arctic Char with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, broccoli, jasmine rice and a mushroom cream sauce (Story, Prairie Village)
· Fresh Grilled Salmon topped with pineapple salsa over a bed of sautéed kale and quinoa with grilled asparagus and red bell peppers (Tavern at Mission Farms and Tavern in the Village)
· 5 Grain Idaho Trout Salad with quinoa, amaranth, kaniwa, millet, farro, curry vinaigrette, lacinato kale, baby spinach, orange supreme, blood orange gastique, roasted butternut squash and grilled Idaho trout fillet (YaYa’s Euro Bistro, Overland Park)
![~Giveaway~ AMC Movie Tickets and New Menu at AMC Fork and Screen]()
by Sharm | Aug 14, 2015 | Articles, Food & Drink, Giveaways, Kansas City, Restaurants, What You're Missing KC!
AMC Fork and Screen
The AMC Fork and Screen in Olathe has created a new menu with offerings that are far from the popcorn, candy and soda that used to be the normal movie going fare.
You know we have all been there when going to the movies and trying to struggle with when to have lunch or dinner and still make it to the movie on time. Now, with AMC Fork and Screen you can have both!
The AMC Fork and Screen is family-friendly movie theatre-restaurant featuring upgraded seats with a menu that will knock your socks off as well as a full cocktail bar with seat-side service at the push of a button.
Forget about just limited choices of finger foods for your dining options as the new AMC Fork and Screen Menu features gourmet burgers, fresh salads, healthy quinoa bowls, decadent mac and cheese, tacos and more.
I recently had the chance to attend a tasting and screening event and was blown away by the new menu at the AMC Fork and Screen and of course enjoyed the fun of seeing a movie.
The Chef at the AMC test kitchen in Leawood is always working on dishes that use fresh ingredients as well as keeping up with current food trends which is how the Grilled Chicken Quinoa Bowl made it to the new menu at the AMC Fork and Screen in Olathe.
AMC Fork and Screen Chef
This Mediterranean inspired dish consisted of grilled chicken, rainbow quinoa, roasted asparagus, tomatoes, feta cheese, fresh basil and a house-made lemon vinaigrette. The salty feta paired nicely with the asparagus and tomatoes and the fresh basil really added another level of flavor.
Seriously, I cannot believe the dish I just described came from a movie theater! This sounds more like something I would have ate a swanky place on the Country Club Plaza or downtown somewhere. Wouldn’t you agree?
Other items we sampled were:
Wedge Salad Cups: At almost every steakhouse in America you will find a wedge salad on the menu and AMC has taken the steakhouse flavor of this classic wedge salad and wrapped up in a lettuce cup which makes it easy to eat.
AMC Fork and Screen Wedge Lettuce Cups
Gumbo Mac and Cheese: The 4 adult mac and cheese creations include traditional, Mediterranean, bacon gouda and gumbo and will bring out the kid in all us. The gumbo had a nice kick with the jack cheese sauce, andoullie sausage and sweet bell peppers.
The Royal Burger: All of burgers at AMC are made of a custom blend of ground chuck and brisket and served on a toasted brioche bun. You can also upgrade to a bison burger for $2. The Royal Burger consisted of a flavorful patty topped with house-cooked bacon, brie cheese, caramelized onions, baby arugala, fig jam and royal sauce. The combination of the smokey bacon, salty brie and sweet fig jam was excellent. This was my favorite dish out of everything I tried and again, a dish that reminds me of something I would have ate swanky restaurant and not a movie theater. Check out the recipe for this burger below.
AMC Fork and Screen The Royal Burger
After the tasting ended we were able to order an appetizer and entree to enjoy during the movie. I chose the Buttermilk Biscuit Poppers. These garlic cheddar biscuits served with a honey butter are another great sweet and salty combination.
garlic cheddar biscuits
My entree was the quesadilla with grilled chicken, three cheeses and poblano peppers. Guacamole and sour cream are served on the side along with chips and pico de gallo. This dish was large enough to share and could rival any Mexican restaurant in town. Unfortunately I did not get a pic as this dish came after the movie started.
This was my first experience with dining on a full meal while in a dark theater. I loved the food but did find it a little tricky at times to get my bite just right in the dark.
The menu is served all day long and right now given the hot summer we are having and with a kids menu also available, I am thinking moms all over town are going to love the AMC Fork and Screen. What a way to beat the heat, entertain the kids and feed them lunch all in the same venue. I certainly know I would have taken advantage of something like this when my kids were little!
If you arrive early to the movie, enjoying a cocktail at MacGuffins Bar and Lounge is a must! Located inside the theater, this space is great for meeting up with friends or enjoying a drink with your date and features a variety of beers, wines and specialty cocktails.
Since this was an invite only event the theater was not crowded and I did not notice the servers coming in and out to serve the guests. I am looking forward to attending the theater again as a regular patron to see if a more crowded theater is distracting.
I have two AMC movie passes and a popcorn and Coke pass to giveaway courtesy of AMC. To enter just comment below If you have been and please share what you liked about it and if you have not been, please tell us why you want to go!
Feel free to like and follow What You’re Missing KC! It would be most appreciative! Contest ends August 28 at Midnight. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified via email, so please leave a valid email with your entry.
Royal Burger
Royal Burger Recipe
1 Burger patty cooked and seasoned
2 Tablespoons caramelized onions
3 Thin slices Brie Cheese
1 Brioche Bun
1 Tablespoon butter
2 Tablespoon fig spread
1 Tablespoon Russian dressing
1/2 Cup baby arugula
2 Slices hardwood smoked bacon
Cooking Directions
Butter both the top and bottom of the Brioche Roll.
Toast Bun until dark golden brown, and warmed through.
Melt Brie Cheese over the cooked Burger Patty
Presentation
Spread Russian Dressing on the bottom Bun
Place Arugula on top of the Russian Dressing
Place Burger Patty with Brie on top of the Arugula
Top the burger with the Caramelized Onions
Place Bacon on top of the Onions
Spread Fig Jam on the inside of the top Bun
Top the burger with the top Bun
Don’t forget to enter the movie ticket giveaway. Visit AMC for more information on locations near you.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Jul 20, 2015 | Articles
UP2 by Jawbone
The UP2 by Jawbone – Review
I recently had the chance to try out the Up2 Fitness Tracker by Jawbone courtesy of Verizon Wireless. I got to use the band for about a month before sending it back so I had plenty of time to get a feel for how it worked and compare it to the UP 24 band, which I already own.
I decided to wear both devices at the same time to see if the steps registered any different and compare the other features of each device.
While wearing the band during my morning workout the Up24 band registered 1,477 steps, while the new UP2 registered 1,685 so a difference of 208 steps there.
If you don’t have either device yet here is my list of the pro’s and con’s of each,
Syncing: I liked the Bluetooth syncing capability on the UP2 opposed to the plugging into the headphone jack that is required to sync with the UP24.
Charging: I actually like the way the UP24 charges. I found if was easier to plug into the toggle versus the UP2 where you have to align the charging contacts and then make sure it is bent up or hang off the edge of something so it does not pop off the charging unit. However, the UP24 band has a charging cap you have to keep track of.
UP24 by Jawbone
UP2 by Jawbone
Battery Life: Both devices seemed to have about a weeks worth of battery life.
Design: I like the sleeker design of the UP2, however the clasp is much harder to fasten so although the UP24 is a bit wider and in design I like the ease of being able to slip it off and on.
UP2 by Jawbone
UP2 by Jawbone
Sleep Mode: I liked the ease of putting the UP2 into sleep mode through the UP app and it can also be put into sleep mode by taping on the device. The UP24 band requires a tap on the end of the wristband which is easy as we’ll but has no app capability for sleep mode.
Tracking: Both devices track steps, sleep and food similarly. The UP2 band does have a few extra features including smart coach which learns your habits it also allows you to set reminders, alarms and offers motivating tips.
UP2 by Jawbone
UP2 by Jawbone
UP2 by Jawbone
I like the idea of the UP2 band giving me a few extra steps as well as the additional app features and if I did not already own the UP 24 band, I would enjoy using the UP2 fitness tracker and highly recommend it.
For more information on ordering, pricing or specifications on the UP2 band check out the Jawbone or Verizon Wireless websites.
![~Giveaway~ AMC Movie Tickets and New Menu at AMC Fork and Screen]()
by Sharm | Jul 5, 2015 | Articles
Menu at The W
The W is a new speakeasy type bar that just recently opened in downtown Lee’s Summit. The owners of this new space happen to be my niece and her husband.
I feel like I am a Great Aunt to The W as I have watched them renovate the space for the last two years. Literally everything in the space was done by hand including all the tile, brick, woodwork, lighting, hand hammered copper bar top and even the tables are handmade out of old bowling lanes pulled out of the Heart Bowling Alley that was located in Kansas City.
I know I may sound a little biased and be bragging about all of the handwork of the space, but once you go, you will get it! The attention to detail is amazing and the prohibition error decor they have acquired truly makes the space.
Once you get over how amazing The W looks, the drinks will keep you there and keep you coming back.
Craft Bartender Michael Strohm
Michael Strohm is the head craft bartender at The W and uses fresh local ingredients as well as house-made syrups, bitters, spices and unique liquors to make the amazing cocktails.
House-made Inebriated Vanilla Bean Liquor
The menu changes weekly and drinks are based by what is in season and always includes a Fresh Farmers Market Cocktail, made with the ingredients found from the market that week. The most recent cocktail was a delightful concoction featuring Beet and Blueberry infused S.D. Strong Gin, lemon juice, lavender and tarragon infused honey and Lions Tooth Dandelion Liqueur.
Weekly Farmers Market Cocktail
With strawberries in season, The Spifflicated Sheba has been a popular drink featuring farmers market strawberry syrup, wood and salt merlot infused sea salt, homegrown basil, Old Tom gin, lemon juice, egg white from locally sourced eggs and pink peppercorns. The sweetness from the strawberries and tartness from the lemons compliment each other beautifully on this drink.
Spifflicated Sheba
The W requires a reservation to get in and is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations can be made via text to 816-287-0000.
The W Entrance
The W is located at 6 1/2 S.W. 3rd Street in downtown Lee’s Summit and in true Speakeasy fashion, the entrance is disguised as a doctors office and features the nameplate of O.C. Woods M.D. from the early 1900’s.
If you have a great food find in KC, email me.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Jun 30, 2015 | Articles
Nokia Lumina
The cool people over at Verizon Wireless has graciously loaned me the Nokia Lumina 2520 with 4G LTE for the summer and in return I get to give you the scoop on it.
At the end of each month, I will let you know what cool features I have found it has, what I used it for, why it was helpful and anything else I feel like you might need to know.
I have only had the tablet for a little over a week and have not had too much time to explore it so my June report will be rather short. I am looking forward to the rest of the summer with this tablet. I am used to an iPad and the Nokia Lumina is Windows based so it will be an adventure on learning how to operate it and compare the two.
Cool Features: Mix Radio. Similar to Pandora this is a music app that pre-loaded on the device and allows you to pick your favorite artists. The app then plays that artist along with similar other ones. It is also has Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook which makes it a portable PC. Other apps are Skype, Xbox, daily news, stocks and few more I need to explore.
What I used it for: Well, like I said I have only had it a few days so for the most part I have been using it as entertainment. Watching Netflix on it, listening to the Mix Radio and checking email now and then. I am looking forward to hooking up the compatible keyboard so I can blog on the go!
Nokia Lumina
Why it was helpful: The headphone jack made it easy to plug into out speaker system so I could listen to music throughout the house. I know this may sound a bit too personal, but I really hate laundry. When I find myself with piles to fold, I pass the time by watching Netflix. This handy portable tablet made it easy to take to the laundry room where I could finish my folding chores.
I know this is a pretty brief account for such an intricate tablet. Good thing I have the rest of the summer to dive into it more!
Looking forward to checking in with you at the end of July!
Sharm
