54th Street Grill

Ate here in Kansas City, MO. It was good service and they had several good options for non-dairy meal. I enjoyed it a lot. All in all, I say: EAT IT

Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, MO

They had several famous pieces of art in their permanent collection. They have booklets for kids at each section to get them into the art as well. The building on the inside is gorgeous with its marble, granite, and gorgeous wood. The architecture is just breathtaking. All in all, I say: VISIT IT

Gates BBQ

Unique to Kansas City, MO and a sweet BBQ. When you walk in it reminds me of the Varsity with someone yelling at you for your order. It was very good - I do prefer a more smoky BBQ, but this was good. All in all, I say: EAT IT

Mummies of the World Exhibit

Saw this at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. I have seen the Tut exhibit, the mummies at Carlos Museum at Emory, and some in a couple of other museums, but this was cool. They show different kinds and why they are the way they are. There are hands on things for kids and it was just really well planned out. Very informative. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Ted's Cafe Escondido

A Mexican joint in Kansas City, MO. They had a lot of options for non-dairy. The chips, tortillas, and salsa were fantastic. The employees were nice and attentive. All in all, I say: EAT IT

The Perfect Husband

This is the first book in the FBI Profiler series from the author that wrote the DD Warren series. It's an ok 1st book for this series. A woman must learn how to defend herself because her serial killer husband has escape from prison and is coming for her and her daughter. All in all, I say: READ IT

Into the Water

Paula Hawkins new book - she wrote Girl on a Train. Half a dozen of my friends have read this and everyone thinks a different character is the killer which proves Hawkins is a great writer. I didn't realize who the killer was until the very last chapter. It was a quick read and each chapter is short and from a different characters point of view. Well written. All in all, I say: READ IT

Lara Bar

These snacks are non-dairy, gluten free, fair trade, non GMO, vegan, and awesome. I have had lemon, apple, and peanut butter - and they are delicious. You have to try them - there are dozens of flavors. All in all, I say: EAT IT

Maudie

In theatres now and based on the true story of a Canadian Folk Artist. It was filmed in Newfoundland, so the scenery is gorgeous. Sally Hawkins (Paddington 2) and Ethan Hawke (Tonight at Noon) star. I found it very engrossing - I probably won't see it again or buy it - but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed watching them act and seeing a unique love story and a unique life unfold. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Bold Type

On Freeform and definitely made for millennials. IMDb writes, ""The Bold Type" is inspired by the life of "Cosmopolitan" editor in chief, Joanna Coles. The show is a glimpse into the outrageous lives and loves of those responsible for a global women's magazine. Their struggles are about finding your identity, managing friendships and getting your heart broken, all while wearing the perfect jeans to flatter any body type."Melora Hardin (The Office), Sam Page (Walking the Dog and other Hallmark movies), and Dan Jeannotte (The Good Witch) are the only 3 people I recognize. All in all, I say: SKIP IT if you're over 30.

Gypsy

Naomi Watts (The Glass Castle) is a therapist who pretends to be other people in order to meet the people her patients talk about. For example, she sees one guy who is having trouble getting over his ex, so she goes out and becomes friends with his ex. It was just disturbing - I'm sure maybe it's deep and metaphorical or something, but it was too far out there and made me uncomfortable. Billy Crudup (The Flash) stars as her husband. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it's on Netflix.

Deep Water

An Australian tv mini-series I saw on Netflix or Amazon Prime. IMDb writes, "When the mutilated corpse of a young man is found in a beachfront apartment in Bondi, Tori Lustigman and Nick Manning are assigned the case. Is this brutal murder a domestic, a robbery gone wrong, or a gay hate crime? As other ritualistic murders occur, they discover the killer is using THRUSTR to procure his victims. Any local using that app is now at risk and it's a race against the clock to catch the serial killer before he strikes again. With mounting evidence to suggest the perpetrator has killed before, Tori and Nick start digging through old investigations. The discovery is shocking. In the 80s and 90s they uncover up to 80 possible murders of gay men in NSW - unexplained deaths, 'suicides' and disappearances. Many of these killings were linked to gay bashings by youth gangs, a blood sport that went largely unpunished. As they meet more victims from the uninvestigated past crimes, they become convinced that the current killer is somehow connected. In reopening the cold cases the detectives reveal the hidden truth about the past murders and uncover critical evidence leading to the serial killer. In doing so they finally give closure to the victims' families by bringing the killers, both past and present, to justice.".Noah Taylor (Preacher) and Yael Stone (Orange is the New Black) star as the cops. All in all, I say: STREAM IT

Sim City Buildit App

This is another app - I found this in an advertisement from the Design App. And now I can't stop. You get a ton of stuff to start you out and you just build from there. You make things, move things, and slowly build a city. You can go as far as you want with it - joining trade alliances or unlocking a future aspect which allows you to be attacked by giant spiders. I have just done basic - with parks, schools, hospitals, and trying to keep my population 100% happy is my goal. You can visit other mayors cities and see how light or how crazy you can get. I don't pay for anything - I just earn the in game stuff and login once a day to get free stuff. I like designing and re-designing a city. All in all, I say: TRY IT - if you do - my town is Moonshadow.

Design Home App

I was looking for an app where I could just design a home or rooms or something - just for fun. The best app I found is through HG-TV - it's a game kind of - it's more like a contest. They have rooms for you to decorate to win in app prizes. You can get in app money and furniture. Of course like most apps they want you to spend real money to get more cool stuff. If you are patient and do a room a day and login in once a day for 15 minutes or so you get some free things. It's a light, fun app. I don't pay for anything and have just enjoyed the break from reading. All in all, I say: TRY IT

Oasis

An Amazon Prime pilot - only one episode available as Amazon decides whether or not to make it a full fall season. I hope not - this was supposed to be a science fiction movie, but ends up be a jumbled mess of a religious movie. Richard Madden (GoT) is a chaplain that goes to a space colony after his wife dies because he former best friend asks him too. People start dying from hallucinations which may be religious based and who cares because you don't like any of the characters. The one well known actor dies. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Christmas Cure

Hallmark has Christmas movies in the summer too!!! Brooke Nevin (Perception) is a doctor who must decide between a big city hospital or a small town clinic where the love of her life lives. Patrick Duffy (Dallas) also stars. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I love Hallmark Christmas movies.

War for Planet of the Apes

The last of the trilogy prequels to The Planet of the Apes. War is just that. Men - Woody Harrelson's (Shock & Awe) character in particular is out to kill all apes. As Apes fans we discover why the human in Planet can't talk, why Cornelius is the way he is, and how man was so demolished, and something else I don't want to give away in case someone wants to watch the movies in timeline order instead of release order. Same characters as the other two - well, those that lived. Steve Zahn (Blaze) joins the cast for some much needed comic relief. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Here Alone

This is a zombie movie of sorts. It was on Netflix or Amazon Prime. A young woman after the loss of her husband and daughter lives - more like just survives - in the woods. That is until a man and his teenage step-daughter stumble into her camp. It was fast moving zombies - and really it was more about grief and loss. All in all, I say: SEE IT , but not to get a zombie fix.

I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore

IMDb writes, "When a depressed woman is burglarized, she finds a new sense of purpose by tracking down the thieves alongside her obnoxious neighbor. But they soon find themselves dangerously out of their depth against a pack of degenerate criminals." Melanie Lynskey (Heavenly Creatures) and Elijah Wood (The Trust) star. It just got more and more strange and irritating. I had to stop about half way through. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Moana

A Disney, Polynesian Princess. Disney takes an origin myth of sorts from the culture and makes it into a musical. I got bored with the songs. Dwayne Johnson (Baller), Jemaine Clement (Legion), and Alan Tudyk (Serenity) do some of the voices. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - but I don't like these kinds of movies. I'm sure if you have kids you should see it - bet you already have.

iBoy

A British Netflix movie about a young man living in the housing projects. He has a crush on a girl in his class. After she is assaulted because her brother won't join a local drug gang he fights back in a creative (and unbelievable) way. It's a little choppy in the editing. Miranda Richardson (Stronger), Maisie Williams (GoT), and Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful) all star.  All in all, I say: STREAM IT

Younger

On TV Land but I feel like it use to be on Freeform. This is a Darren Star (Sex and the City) production. So, it's a half hour drama/comedy about a 40 something year old woman who pretends to be in her 20s in order to get back into the work place. Sutton Foster (GA actress from Bunheads) stars. Debi Mazar (Entourage) and Hilary Duff (Gossip Girl) also star. It's a little hard to believe - a little over the top - but only about 20 minutes with no commercials, so an easy summer binge. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Spectral

A science fiction movies on Netflix. There is a war in a fictional European city and American soldiers are dying not by enemy hands but by a supernatural force. It is discovered that when a research facility is bombed the man made creations escaped and starting killing. James Badge Dale (13 Hours), Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns), Bruce Greenwood (The Papers), and Max Martini (Fifty Shades Freed) all star. It was cheesy. It also gets a little sloppy toward the end. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Prime Suspect: Tennison (IN UK 1973)

This is a mini-series prequel on the character Tennison that Helen Mirren made famous. Stefanie Martini (Emerald City) plays Tennison. The episodes that aired on PBS center around her first days on the job and the solving of a young girls murder. It seemed slow and boring honestly. I found I didn't care about any of the characters much. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and just watch the original Prime Suspects.

My Favorite Wedding

Hallmark writes, "Potential Northwestern fellow Tess Harper lasers through her best friend's wedding planning like the star doctor she hopes to soon become. In fact, Tess puzzles through any problem - provided it's not her own. When she meets divorce lawyer and groom's best friend, Michael, Tess maneuvers around him like a gurney in the emergency room until she discovers this best man has a few moves of his own.
- Written by Hallmark". Maggie Lawson (Psych) and Paul Greene (A Perfect Wedding) star. It's predictable, but not bad for a lazy summer day. All in all, I say: SEE IT