Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Kansas Is Beautiful!
I love my state. I adore my home! Kansas is amazing. Today, the weather was beautiful. Its about 60 degrees outside right now. How wonderful is that? It is the perfect temperature and I love it! Kansas has some pretty special days. California is the same all year round (for the most part) but Kansas has seasons, high and low temperatures and after it being pretty cool the past few days, this weather is worth celebrating. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful day!
Cute Small Towns and Cities of Kansas
Here is a list of some of the many small towns in Kansas. Links to their websites and population stats (as of 2012) are here as well! These little gems are adorable!
Junction City, Kansas - Population: 23,353
http://www.junctioncity-ks.gov/
Independence, Kansas - Population: 9,483
http://www.independenceks.gov/
Maize, Kansas - Population: 3,420
http://cityofmaize.org/
Seneca, Kansas - Population: 1,991
http://www.seneca-kansas.us/
Kirwin, Kansas - Population: 171
http://www.cityofkirwin.com/
Elk City, Kansas - Population: 326
http://www.skyways.org/towns/ElkCity/index.html
Chanute, Kansas - Population: 9,119
http://www.chanute.org/
Junction City, Kansas - Population: 23,353
http://www.junctioncity-ks.gov/
Independence, Kansas - Population: 9,483
http://www.independenceks.gov/
Maize, Kansas - Population: 3,420
http://cityofmaize.org/
Seneca, Kansas - Population: 1,991
http://www.seneca-kansas.us/
Kirwin, Kansas - Population: 171
http://www.cityofkirwin.com/
Elk City, Kansas - Population: 326
http://www.skyways.org/towns/ElkCity/index.html
Chanute, Kansas - Population: 9,119
http://www.chanute.org/
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Homede Trail/Energy Mix Recipe
Feeds 2-4 people:
1/2 cup Cheerios
1/2 cup almonds or peanuts
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup M&Ms
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup cranberries
1/2 cup pretzel sticks
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Wizard of Oz: Kansas Mention
The mention of Kansas in the classic film The Wizard of Oz is nothing short of memorable (listed number 4 in the top 100, in 100 years of films). Everyone knows that quote, right? If you don't, here are the exact words that Dorothy speaks when she first arrives in The Land of Oz: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Here is the link to the top 100 movie quotes in the past 100 years. Notice that this quote is listed as number 4, for obvious reasons:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years..._100_Movie_Quotes
Here is the link to the top 100 movie quotes in the past 100 years. Notice that this quote is listed as number 4, for obvious reasons:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years..._100_Movie_Quotes
Fall in Kansas
Sorry for not posting anything in a while. I have been very busy lately!
Fall in Kansas is very pretty. There are a lot of things about this year that are the same as always, but then there are a few things that were unusual for this season.
Usually, the fall is pretty mild. Temperatures in the 30-50 degree range, commonly. Sometimes a little higher or lower. This year, there were several days of odd weather. We had almost a week of 70-80 degree days. It felt so nice, but so hot. I actually wore shorts, a week before Halloween. That is pretty unusual for Kansas. Now the weather is turning back to typical, as it was about 51 degrees for the high today.
The leaves are what make the season feel real. All of the trees turning so quickly. Some have no leaves at all, while others are still half green. By the end of the week, I expect to see about 80% reds, oranges and yellows. The green will be few and far between. In less than a month, there will be no leaves on the trees. They will cover the ground and I will have to rake them. What looks like millions of leaves from the trees in my yard is actually the entire neighborhoods. Our house seems to catch each leaf that blows down the street.
As the football season ends, basketball season will begin. The weather will only get colder, and I suspect there will be snow before the end of November. Last year we were blessed here with a mild, nearly snow free winter. This year, I have a feeling we'll not be so lucky.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Worlds of Fun: Coaster Reviews
First, some background on Worlds of Fun. I've been going to WOF for years and years and I've been so many times that I have a hard time critiquing the roller coasters. I don't see much wrong with any of them! They are perfect in my opinion, I mean, I grew up riding the TimberWolf! So each 'review' will be things that I happen to love about each coaster. There's more than I listed that I love, but there's no room for a novel. But I will tell you what I can about each coaster and paste a picture of each one so you can see (roughly) what each one is all about.
Just so you know, I'm not a real coaster critic. I just want to explain and show why the coasters are so amazing!
Patriot - Built in 2006
Rating: 5 stars
I love:
-The initial drop. The twist in the downhill makes it unique and it gives you a moment to see the view before you turn into the drop.
-The inversions. There are plenty and they aren't wimpy either. The feeling of being totally upside down is so intense and the Patriot makes you feel weightless. Some compare this coaster to the feeling of being able to fly, and its true.
-The coasters' cars. You will feel safe with the shoulder harness and the seat belt. Its secure and I like that my feet dangle as well. It adds to the feeling of flight. .
TimberWolf - Built in 1989
Rating: 4.5 stars
I love:
-The short lines. Usually, this ride has the shortest line out of all the coasters. Why? I dunno, some people are crazy and dislike this ride for NO reason! I love it!
-The curves. They are deep and tight, while others are wide and sloped. Either way, this roller coaster has the best curves and turns I've ever experienced.
-The long ride. It lasts around 2 minutes, and it goes by pretty slow. Its a long coaster and it is definitely worth every second of the wait.
Mamba - Built in 1998
Rating: 5 stars
I love:
-The bunny hills. Super fun. Hint: the camera is located in the middle (nearer to the end) of these hills so pose for a picture!
-The first drop. I always brace myself! Its extreme! The feeling is insanity, and pure desire for it to be over, but the adrenaline is fantastic and its worth the scare.
-The long, downward turn. I always put my arms up and I love it!
Prowler - Built in 2009
Rating: 5 stars
I love:
-The speed. It feels like your in a movie, running through a forest. There is little to compare it to.
-The smoothness. Most wooden coasters are a little rough but this one is fairly smooth. It has gotten tougher since 2009, but, it is still the smoothest wooden roller coaster I have ever ridden.
-The initial drop hill isn't just straight down, its slightly curved to the side and unexpected. I was thrown off guard the first time I rode it, but, I love the hill.
Boomerang - Built in 2000
Rating: 3 stars
I love:
-The uniqueness. Sure, this coaster is duplicated and renamed for many other theme parks, but, to me, its very special. I mean, what other coaster's lift hill works like this that you can name?
-The twists. This ride isn't very long, so it has to have some great features in the small space. All the inversions make up that the ride has a short duration.
-The colors. I love the colors of the track and the train. So bright and pretty.
Spinning Dragons - Built in 2004
Rating: 4 stars
I love:
-The spins. Its what makes it more than just a kiddie coaster. The spinning can get pretty extreme, and its very fun.
-The curves. They cause your car to spin while your at an angle. Its very fun.
-The train's design. You can see the people who your riding with sitting across from you. Very fun during the ride.
Just so you know, I'm not a real coaster critic. I just want to explain and show why the coasters are so amazing!
Patriot - Built in 2006
 |
| The Patriot animated view. Shows most of the the complex inversions. |
I love:
-The initial drop. The twist in the downhill makes it unique and it gives you a moment to see the view before you turn into the drop.
-The inversions. There are plenty and they aren't wimpy either. The feeling of being totally upside down is so intense and the Patriot makes you feel weightless. Some compare this coaster to the feeling of being able to fly, and its true.
-The coasters' cars. You will feel safe with the shoulder harness and the seat belt. Its secure and I like that my feet dangle as well. It adds to the feeling of flight. .
TimberWolf - Built in 1989
 |
| The TimeberWolf view from the side. The hill is prominent in the background. |
I love:
-The short lines. Usually, this ride has the shortest line out of all the coasters. Why? I dunno, some people are crazy and dislike this ride for NO reason! I love it!
-The curves. They are deep and tight, while others are wide and sloped. Either way, this roller coaster has the best curves and turns I've ever experienced.
-The long ride. It lasts around 2 minutes, and it goes by pretty slow. Its a long coaster and it is definitely worth every second of the wait.
Mamba - Built in 1998
 |
| The Mamba with emphasis on the height of the first drop, 200 feet. |
I love:
-The bunny hills. Super fun. Hint: the camera is located in the middle (nearer to the end) of these hills so pose for a picture!
-The first drop. I always brace myself! Its extreme! The feeling is insanity, and pure desire for it to be over, but the adrenaline is fantastic and its worth the scare.
-The long, downward turn. I always put my arms up and I love it!
Prowler - Built in 2009
 |
| The Prowler's initial drop hill with a slight curve. |
I love:
-The speed. It feels like your in a movie, running through a forest. There is little to compare it to.
-The smoothness. Most wooden coasters are a little rough but this one is fairly smooth. It has gotten tougher since 2009, but, it is still the smoothest wooden roller coaster I have ever ridden.
-The initial drop hill isn't just straight down, its slightly curved to the side and unexpected. I was thrown off guard the first time I rode it, but, I love the hill.
Boomerang - Built in 2000
 |
| The Boomerang showing a train going around the loop. |
I love:
-The uniqueness. Sure, this coaster is duplicated and renamed for many other theme parks, but, to me, its very special. I mean, what other coaster's lift hill works like this that you can name?
-The twists. This ride isn't very long, so it has to have some great features in the small space. All the inversions make up that the ride has a short duration.
-The colors. I love the colors of the track and the train. So bright and pretty.
Spinning Dragons - Built in 2004
 |
| Spinning Dragons, side view of one train taking a plunge while twisting. |
I love:
-The spins. Its what makes it more than just a kiddie coaster. The spinning can get pretty extreme, and its very fun.
-The curves. They cause your car to spin while your at an angle. Its very fun.
-The train's design. You can see the people who your riding with sitting across from you. Very fun during the ride.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Worlds of Fun: The Haunt
I visited Worlds of Fun on Saturday evening for the haunt. It was my 2nd time visiting for the haunt and I was impressed again.
Here are my reviews of the 3 scare zones I went through:
Outlaws Revenge
Rating: 7/10
I went there right away because the cowboys are often funny and never seem to target me. I'm easily scared, so we all huddled in my group and were trying to make a plan for the night. They didn't come near us once except to say, "You have to move along. No standing around please." But if they had, it would have been creepy and funny because they would have slid and scraped the ground near our feet. I think if we had embarked further into this haunt zone***, we would have had more fun, but it was busy and we were just one group of people they didn't target out of SO many.
London Terror
9/10
It was silly at the beginning. The people had fake brittish accents that I enjoyed, and some were just delirious, not scary. But I did get suprised many times by loud noises and people popping out from behind corners and out of fog. That is why I gave it the 9 rating! It was scary! My adrenaline had a lot of peaks. Near the end was where the werewolves appeared. They were the scariest thing I'd seen all night. I looked away because, as I said earlier, I am easily scared. I enjoyed this one, and had gone the year before. It was better this year and I liked it alot.
Fright Zone
8.5/10
It begins near the Boomerang and you walk through thick fog and you can see them appear right before they scare you. Its quite fun but very scary! I saw so many different characters, it was a hoot. I loved it! It was unpredictable which made it all the better. You didn't know WHAT was going to come out of the fog, except you knew SOMETHING was going to.
Overall Rating: 8
Why I rated the 8 overall for the haunt:
-It was spooky, scary and unpredictable.
-The effects weren't cheesy. The fog, costumes, masks, props and buildings were realistic. It felt real.
-It was fun! The lines weren't so bad, and you didn't have to wait in lines to be scared. The multiple zones, of which only 2 I visited, are always there if you don't like the lines.
***
haunt zone - a spot in WOF where there are no lines or walls. Its just a specific area of the park set aside for a theme. you walk through it on your way around the park.
Here are my reviews of the 3 scare zones I went through:
Outlaws Revenge
Rating: 7/10
I went there right away because the cowboys are often funny and never seem to target me. I'm easily scared, so we all huddled in my group and were trying to make a plan for the night. They didn't come near us once except to say, "You have to move along. No standing around please." But if they had, it would have been creepy and funny because they would have slid and scraped the ground near our feet. I think if we had embarked further into this haunt zone***, we would have had more fun, but it was busy and we were just one group of people they didn't target out of SO many.
London Terror
9/10
It was silly at the beginning. The people had fake brittish accents that I enjoyed, and some were just delirious, not scary. But I did get suprised many times by loud noises and people popping out from behind corners and out of fog. That is why I gave it the 9 rating! It was scary! My adrenaline had a lot of peaks. Near the end was where the werewolves appeared. They were the scariest thing I'd seen all night. I looked away because, as I said earlier, I am easily scared. I enjoyed this one, and had gone the year before. It was better this year and I liked it alot.
Fright Zone
8.5/10
It begins near the Boomerang and you walk through thick fog and you can see them appear right before they scare you. Its quite fun but very scary! I saw so many different characters, it was a hoot. I loved it! It was unpredictable which made it all the better. You didn't know WHAT was going to come out of the fog, except you knew SOMETHING was going to.
Overall Rating: 8
Why I rated the 8 overall for the haunt:
-It was spooky, scary and unpredictable.
-The effects weren't cheesy. The fog, costumes, masks, props and buildings were realistic. It felt real.
-It was fun! The lines weren't so bad, and you didn't have to wait in lines to be scared. The multiple zones, of which only 2 I visited, are always there if you don't like the lines.
***
haunt zone - a spot in WOF where there are no lines or walls. Its just a specific area of the park set aside for a theme. you walk through it on your way around the park.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Kansas City fun facts
-KC has a population of 2.1 million
-KC has more BBQ restaurants, per capita, than any other city in the US
-Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison KS, located north of the KC metro
-In 1905, Helium was discovered in a lab at KU
-Witchita KS is home to the first Pizza Hut restaurant
-President Harry S. Truman was a KC Missouri native, who spent most of his life in Independence Missouri. The Truman Library can be found in Independence as well as Truman's home museum.
-More than 200 fountains can be found in the KC area, so, KC is known as the City of Fountains
Thank you to these websites!
http://awesomeamerica.com/kansas/
http://www.visitkc.com/this-is-kansas-city/overview/fun-facts/index.aspx
http://www.kcpremierapts.com/about-kansas-city/kansas-city-facts.html
-KC has more BBQ restaurants, per capita, than any other city in the US
-Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison KS, located north of the KC metro
-In 1905, Helium was discovered in a lab at KU
-Witchita KS is home to the first Pizza Hut restaurant
-President Harry S. Truman was a KC Missouri native, who spent most of his life in Independence Missouri. The Truman Library can be found in Independence as well as Truman's home museum.
-More than 200 fountains can be found in the KC area, so, KC is known as the City of Fountains
Thank you to these websites!
http://awesomeamerica.com/kansas/
http://www.visitkc.com/this-is-kansas-city/overview/fun-facts/index.aspx
http://www.kcpremierapts.com/about-kansas-city/kansas-city-facts.html
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Kansas Crossword!
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| Thank you to www.puzzle-maker.com for allowing me to create this puzzle. I do not own the program used to make the puzzle, only the words and hints. Comment below for answers! |
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The Jayhawk
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| The basic information on one of the most famous mascotts in Kansas history, and in the midwest: The Jayhawk Thank you KU.edu.com! Credit all to you. I do not own this!!! |
Kansas Wordle
This is a Wordle I made for Kansas. Please excuse the awkward print screen version! haha!
Kansas: State Information
State Capital: Topeka
Largest City: Wichita
Area: 82,282 square miles (15th largest state in the US)
Population: 2,688,418 (as of 2000. 32nd most populous state in the US)
Major Agriculture: Wheat, soy beans and corn
Counties: 105 total
Nickname: Sunflower State
State Song: Home on the Range
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Animal: Buffalo
State Insect: Honeybee
State Flower: Sunflower
State Tree: Cottonwood
Became a State in: 1861
Flag:
Largest City: Wichita
Area: 82,282 square miles (15th largest state in the US)
Population: 2,688,418 (as of 2000. 32nd most populous state in the US)
Major Agriculture: Wheat, soy beans and corn
Counties: 105 total
Nickname: Sunflower State
State Song: Home on the Range
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Animal: Buffalo
State Insect: Honeybee
State Flower: Sunflower
State Tree: Cottonwood
Became a State in: 1861
Flag:
Friday, September 14, 2012
Worlds of Fun
Worlds of Fun has been open for 40 years, this upcoming season (2013). I've been visiting Worlds of Fun for 12 years of my life and as long as I can remember, I've always had fun. I will be posting a lot about Worlds of Fun because it is a gem of Kansas City. Its truly a quality theme park with safe rides, good themes, epic coasters and great things for people of all ages.
I will be visiting Worlds of Fun in the near future and am SO excited! I go once every year or sometimes twice, but I am especially excited because it is the beginning of the Halloween Haunt, the event that starts in mid September and continues through Halloween. Its every Friday and Saturday night from about 7pm thru midnight (or so). More on that later though.
If you live near KCMO, then you have got to visit WOF! Its about 40 minutes from Olathe KS and 20 from Lees Summit. Sure, the drive is a little bit lengthy, but its nothing most can't handle. And in the end, is completely worth it.
Heres a quick tip: Buy your ticket and/or passes for WOF from Price Chopper. They sell tickets for around 12 dollars cheaper than at the door. That is best if your buying 1 or 2 tickets. BUT, if you plan on going in a large group or as a family, then WOF offers some GREAT deals for that including meal deals where you pay for food ahead of time and you get all access to the park. Check the website for details. Its posted on the right side of this page with the other links. More to come on wonderful WOF:)
I will be visiting Worlds of Fun in the near future and am SO excited! I go once every year or sometimes twice, but I am especially excited because it is the beginning of the Halloween Haunt, the event that starts in mid September and continues through Halloween. Its every Friday and Saturday night from about 7pm thru midnight (or so). More on that later though.
If you live near KCMO, then you have got to visit WOF! Its about 40 minutes from Olathe KS and 20 from Lees Summit. Sure, the drive is a little bit lengthy, but its nothing most can't handle. And in the end, is completely worth it.
Heres a quick tip: Buy your ticket and/or passes for WOF from Price Chopper. They sell tickets for around 12 dollars cheaper than at the door. That is best if your buying 1 or 2 tickets. BUT, if you plan on going in a large group or as a family, then WOF offers some GREAT deals for that including meal deals where you pay for food ahead of time and you get all access to the park. Check the website for details. Its posted on the right side of this page with the other links. More to come on wonderful WOF:)
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Fly Over State
You may have heard a Jason Aldean song, or never heard of him at all, but he mentions Kansas in two of his most popular songs: "Fly Over States" and "Shes Country". Hearing my state in those songs makes me overjoyed because it feels good to be noticed, even if its only in the second verse of a country song, but the fact that we (Kansans) live in a fly over state? NEVER! But, it is true.
What is a fly over state? Well, its all the states that people forget about, the states that aren't located on the coasts, aren't located near large bodies of water and states that don't have HUGE mountains or famous cities. Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas (:, Montana, Nebraska and North & South Dakota are good examples. Some might think Colorado or Michigan, but they aren't fly over states in my mind.
The flights to NY and Cali are packed full of celebs, tourists and business people. What do they see when they look out of the window, flying over the Midwest? I hope to find out one day. I want to know what people say about Kansas. We farm a lot of wheat, soybeans and corn. It's true, and I love that about Kansas. We produce 15% of the wheat crop for the USA. We're #1, actually. So, we are important! We are the hometown of famous Dorothy from the classic film The Wizard of Oz, but what else? Anyone? Anyone? There is SO much that Kansas has produced, and is famous for. I'm talking people, values, agricultural products and attractions. We have a lot to offer!
I can't wait to tell you about Kansas. I love my state and am proud to live here. I hope you learn a little something when you visit this blog because I want Kansas to be shared with everyone! Thank you!
PS- I never said that people don't value Kansas, but I do hope that people will value it a little more as they read this blog.
What is a fly over state? Well, its all the states that people forget about, the states that aren't located on the coasts, aren't located near large bodies of water and states that don't have HUGE mountains or famous cities. Oklahoma, Indiana, Kansas (:, Montana, Nebraska and North & South Dakota are good examples. Some might think Colorado or Michigan, but they aren't fly over states in my mind.
The flights to NY and Cali are packed full of celebs, tourists and business people. What do they see when they look out of the window, flying over the Midwest? I hope to find out one day. I want to know what people say about Kansas. We farm a lot of wheat, soybeans and corn. It's true, and I love that about Kansas. We produce 15% of the wheat crop for the USA. We're #1, actually. So, we are important! We are the hometown of famous Dorothy from the classic film The Wizard of Oz, but what else? Anyone? Anyone? There is SO much that Kansas has produced, and is famous for. I'm talking people, values, agricultural products and attractions. We have a lot to offer!
I can't wait to tell you about Kansas. I love my state and am proud to live here. I hope you learn a little something when you visit this blog because I want Kansas to be shared with everyone! Thank you!
PS- I never said that people don't value Kansas, but I do hope that people will value it a little more as they read this blog.
Welcome!
As a new blogger, I hope to have others view my blog and get something out of it.
This blog is all about:
*everyday tips for anything and everything
*learning about Kansas City and all it has to offer
AND
*reviews of everything: from amusement park rides to books to movies
I hope whoever reads this will enjoy my posts. I will try to post at least every week. I will make a post soon telling about myself so you will have a good background of who I am. Thanks!
This blog is all about:
*everyday tips for anything and everything
*learning about Kansas City and all it has to offer
AND
*reviews of everything: from amusement park rides to books to movies
I hope whoever reads this will enjoy my posts. I will try to post at least every week. I will make a post soon telling about myself so you will have a good background of who I am. Thanks!
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