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The Blog
A little real estate, a lot of local love. This is where I share advice for home buying and selling, stories from clients I’ve helped along the way, and the places and people that make Kansas City feel like home. You’ll find local business spotlights, neighborhood highlights, and some personal updates from life with my family.
My hope is that you leave with a helpful tip, a new place to try, or a little inspiration for your own home and community.
Local Spotlight:
Meadowbrook Park
Meadowbrook Park is one of my favorite spots to recommend, and fall is such a beautiful time to visit! Its central location in Prairie Village makes it an easy meetup spot from around the metro. I love to meet friends for playdates here or to enjoy a morning walk around the trails.
I also love stopping at The Market at Meadowbrook, which is a favorite for coffee, lunch or catching up with friends or clients. The park hosts community events and activities throughout the year, such a great spacious venue! And the Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse is a great option for hosting your own celebration, shower, or gathering. I'm so glad they turned this space into something beautiful and useful for the community. Highly recommend!
Want to start a tradition on your block?
Here’s what works for us:
Keep the food simple. We provide burgers and hot dogs, and everyone brings sides, desserts, and drinks.
Make it a communal effort. Neighbors contribute tables, chairs, tablecloths, and tents. You don’t need to own or organize everything yourself!
Check with your city about closing the street. We contact ours ahead of time to request barriers so the kids have room to ride, run, and play. Ask early about your city’s process and timing.
Let go of making it perfect. The point is to spend time together. Pizza and beer or lawn chairs and morning coffee can be just as meaningful.
Knowing the people around us has made living in our home so much more special. A block party is a simple way to turn familiar faces into friends and build a little village right outside your front door.
How to Throw a Block Party!
We hosted our third annual block party in September, and I’m pretty sure it’s my kids’ favorite day of the year! Most of our block (about 24 houses) comes out for an evening of food, catching up, and kids running around like it’s a ’90s summer.
Our neighborhood was built in the ’50s and ’60s, and some of our neighbors are original owners or grew up here and later took over their parents’ homes. They’ve shared stories about how close everyone used to be, including the block parties that hadn’t happened in years. When we moved here four years ago, we wanted to help bring that tradition back.
Now, our driveway and the street in front of our house become one big gathering spot, with neighbors of all ages and kids ranging from four months to 12 years old. We truly have THE BEST neighbors, and everyone helps make it happen.
The Power of Staging
Below are before and after photos from my recent listings that I helped stage. Staging makes a big difference when selling your home, and I will continue to encourage my clients to invest in staging. Sellers almost always ask me “Is that the same house?!” after staging is complete. It can be a game changer for sellers.
