Oprah’s O magazine brings its “Live Your Best Life” mission to Kansas City

Oprah’s Live Your Best Life mission is coming to Kansas City, Mo., with a day of interactive lifestyle seminars featuring some of Oprah’s best pals and well-known, hand-picked experts.

O You! will be Oct. 24 at the Kansas City Convention Center. Experts include Gayle King, O, The Oprah Magazine’s editor-at-large; New York Times best-selling author and O’s resident life coach Martha Beck; interior designerNate Berkus; political strategist and author Donna Brazile; make-up artist Ross Burton; O contributing editor Jancee Dunn; weight loss specialist Jim Karas; television host and O columnist Suze Orman; cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz; organizational management guru Peter Walsh; and Stacy London, co-host of TLC’s “What Not to Wear.”

Tickets are $99 and went on sale June 24.

week 1: Hallmark Employee Card Challenge

For the next six weeks the employees here at Hallmark are doing the Hallmark Employee Card Challenge. We're going to send a card every week to friends, family, kids and grown-ups.

For this week’s challenge (7/20), the challenge is to “Encourage a kid with an unexpected card.” Take a minute to celebrate a win, build confidence, encourage, support and make a kid smile. Send an encouragement card today and create a memorable moment in the everyday life of a kid you care about. It’s a small gesture, but an unexpected card can have a big reaction.

You can send a card too! It's the biggest little thing you can do.

Off-the-Wall Film Series

It's Friday night and I'm in my apartment downtown with the window open, no TV on and I hear these loud voices outside. And I remember... it's the film series at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch.

It's 'Off-the-Wall Film Series' on the third Friday evening throughout September on their rooftop terrace. The free shows start at 8:45 and they provide free popcorn.

I can see it from my window...

Click here to learn more.

Whoop Dee Doo Art Collective

Whoop Dee Doo was created by a group of Kansas City Artists in 2006 as a way to promote the arts community in our city. It has now expanded into a faux public access variety fun show. They dance, have fun, learn cool things, play games, and perform skits by Kansas City's talented community. All the events are kid-friendly, and costume encouraged.

Whoop Dee Doo Live Filming November 2008 La Esquina (short) from Whoop Dee Doo on Vimeo.

Our local NPR station recorded a little interview with Jaimie and Matt (The Hosts) about Whoop Dee Doo. & I recently discovered their Vimeo videos. Check them out!

KC's Sprint Center Ranked Among the Top Venues in the World

Yup, you read that right -- The 2-year-old Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City was recently ranked No. 14 on the list of the world's top venues. It also ranked No. 5 in the U.S. venue rankings. Check out the full article here.

ELLE Decor goes to Kansas City!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the InterContinental

Check out the great article in ELLE Decor this month featuring Kansas City!

Also quoted is Hallmark's very own David Jimenez. I especially enjoyed the last page of the article where they showcase the "Essential Kansas City." If you haven't been here to visit yet, what's stopping you?

(Thanks to Mimi & Meg for bringing this article to my attention!)

Hallmark on Twitter

Hey! Are you on Twitter?
Then you should Follow Hallmark!

Tell your friends about it, you might even get in on some instant deals and discounts!

Take the Kids to KC

Last week, there was a great article on CNN.com about Kansas City being a perfect summer vacation destination for the whole family.

The article highlighted Hallmark's own Kaleidoscope, where kids can let their creativity shine through craft projects of all kinds, and the Hallmark Visitors Center, where you can learn the rich history of Hallmark and see how greeting cards are created.

Other highlights in the article include: Fritz's Railroad Restaurant, The College Basketball Experience, Science City, and Schlitterbahn Vacation Village.

You can read the full article here, or just come visit us in KC!

Oh, and because summer vacations always remind me of sending postcards back home to my friends, I found some cool vintage Kansas City postcards to share...Enjoy!











To browse more postcards, visit the Kansas City Public Library's Flickr Photostream.

Free Friday Night Flicks at Crown Center 2009

I saw a poster today for the free movies at the Crown Center.

Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and head to the Free Friday Night Flicks at Crown Center. Films will be shown on the huge outdoor screen on the Crown Center Square located across from the Crown Center Shops July 3rd - August 14th, 2009. Admission is free and the movies begin at around 9pm. Concessions are also available.

Free Friday Night Flicks 2009 Schedule:
July 3rd: 'The Sandlot'
July 10th:'Men in Black'
July 17th:'The Karate Kid'
July 24th: 'Dr. Strangelove'

Colbert Record

Wednesday night on the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert had Tom Hanks on the show, and they used one of Hallmark's Mother's Day recordables to record a message for the troops (among many other weird things). See it below:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Tom Hanks Care Package
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Stephen Colbert in Iraq

All care packages should include Hallmark cards... and puppies.

i just read that Tom Hanks has actually recorded some of these cards for real too. here.

Happy Friday.

A ROARING 20s WEDDING SHOW

Join The Wedding Hive as they present a 1920’s inspired Wedding Expo – The Bee’s Knees! This one of a kind event takes place at Terrace on Grand (1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO 64108) on June 11th from 5:00pm – 8:30pm. The Wedding Hive has gathered Kansas City’s finest independent wedding vendors for their biannual summer wedding exhibit.

Should be lots of cool inspiration whether you're already married, not getting married any time soon, or getting married! The first 100 guests through the door get a complimentary, tasty beverage!

West 18th Street Fashion Show

Exciting! I almost forgot that the West 18th Street Fashion Show in the Crossroads is tomorrow, June 6th. at 8pm.




This year's theme as you can see on the poster is Summer in Space. The free show will feature 18 collections from a select group of local and national designers:

Clothing Designers

• Andrew Hansen
• Abigail Carolina
• Georgianna Londré Buchanan
• Ari Fish & Peggy Noland
• birdies
• Jessy Bergmann
• Jovana Mirabile
• Joscelyn Himes
• Katie Coble
• Julie Potratz & Rebecca Taylor
• Lacey Doherty
• Lindsay Rae Miller
• Rachel Rolon
• Nataliya Meyer
• Sovannra Yos
• Sára Emami
• Shannon Bailey
• Spool*

Jewelry Designers

• Rachael Marie
• Coki Bijoux
• Erica Voetsch

It will be great! Check out the website for more information & their blog.