Valerie Stark
A firm believer that the Midwest is all that and a tator tot casserole, Valerie moved to KC after graduating from Mizzou in 2013. She’s been married to her husband Josh since 2015, and together they’re raising an adorable, tiny human firework named Finnian (1). Valerie spends her workdays making funny greeting cards while Josh wins at the stay-at-home-dad game by teaching Finn words like “yee-haw” and helping him style his Snapchat filters. When she isn’t tracking down a new place to drag her family to, you can find her blasting showtunes, sharing (very poorly) wine with friends, reading, listening to true crime podcasts, or near cheese. You can’t find her playing kickball, so don’t even try. Valerie, Josh, and Finn shoot for put-together, but settle for put-on-pants—and they love every second of their reasonably-chaotic life.
Stay-at-Home Dads are Actually Magic
I was at a happy hour with a few work acquaintances when someone asked what my husband did for a living. I smiled and said he was a stay-at-home dad. "Oh," they said.
To be...
Mocktails for Mamas: KC Bars & Drinks for Your Next Sober Happy Hour
When I was expecting my first child in 2018 and hadn’t yet announced my pregnancy, fate played a cruel trick on me: It inspired my coworkers to host a holiday happy hour at TikiCat.
TikiCat...
From Night Owl Mom To Morning Person
I am not an early bird. In all honestly, I’m probably not a night owl either, but instead some form of permanently exhausted pigeon, as artist Gemma Correll would say. But, dang...I would give...
Lessons from Being a Work-from-Home Mom
OK, working mamas. Mute your Slack channels. Take your break. Hide in the closet from your kids. Let’s check in. How are we doing?
I personally can’t believe it’s been a year since I started...
We Made It to Valentine’s Day 2021… Now What?
After almost a full year of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S., we’ve made it to Valentine’s Day again...the last semi-normal holiday we had in 2020. And if you still have the same Valentine you...
How to Be Happy
“How to be happy.”
The search suggestion flashed on the screen as I was navigating Pinterest. I hadn’t started to search for “how to be happy.” I really planned to type in “how to be...
A Holiday Letter Worthy of 2020
It’s that time of year again! No, really…check the calendar. I know it feels like we’re still on day 4,329 of Apriltember, but bells are a-ringin’, cash registers are a-dingin’, and choirs best not be...
Kansas City, I’m So in Love: Local Anniversary Gifts
If you follow the tradition of gifting each other themed anniversary gifts, local Kansas City businesses offer some great options to make your celebration one to remember. Listen, this year has been no joke—and...
31 Ways to Celebrate Fall in KC During a Pandemic
Fall is by far my favorite season. Sweaters, cider, leaves, a ridiculously large stockpile of Halloween candy — what’s not to love? This year has been rough for so many reasons, but I am clinging...
5 Children’s Books That Will Teach You Something New, Too
National Book Lovers Day is August 9th, and what better way to celebrate than finding some new children’s books to read with your budding bibliophile?
Reading with adults is often the first way kids can...
A Kansas City Summer Staycation
Let’s be honest: 2020 has served up a hot, steamy buffet of disappointment, cancelling everything from school to scheduled vacations. Whether you were planning on taking a summer trip and cancelled because of COVID-19...
Fighting Mom Guilt Post-Pandemic
When the COVID-19 quarantine first started and I realized I’d be working from home, I was hit with a wave of mixed feelings, much like the rest of the KC community. There were the...
The Great Quarantine Cooking Show
Like so many other parents-to-be, I went through all the traditional stages of pre-baby worry when I was pregnant with my first child in 2018. Will I be a good mom? Will I be...
Thanks to Coronavirus, You’re a Homeschool Teacher Now
Congratulations! You’ve just graduated from the University of Corona with a degree in Home Education and an emphasis in What Do I Do Now? Should you unroll that diploma, you’ll find it’s actually just...
Coronavirus Can’t Stop the Easter Bunny
When I think of Easter, I think of my grandma.
Wait, that doesn’t sound right. Let’s start again.
When I think of Easter, I think of Jesus--and THEN I think of my grandma. I spent many...