At the Waffle House with down-home Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones glows with an inner beauty that makeup can’t buy. I think that’s why people ask if they can take a picture with KCTV-5’s “Better Kansas City” co-host. There’s something down-home about her. She’s a sports fanatic, and she loves to laugh. Despite her superstar glam, she’s everyday people.

Frosty drinks are oh-so cool

Anything pink with an umbrella or sugary rim is dismissed as girly and lightweight. But summer spirits are my favorite. When you’re landlocked like we are, who doesn’t want that beachy feeling that daiquiris, margaritas and coladas bring? Here are some of my favorites.

Dare to: Ride a roller coaster

I know it’s real when the seat belt buckles and the lap bar comes down. I’m locked in a four-passenger car set on a track spanning 1,345 feet. There’s no turning back, but my back is turned. I chose the seat that doesn’t look the five-story ascension in the face. But I can hear the rickety sound of the climb, and my fingers curl tighter and tighter around the safety bar until my nails dig into my palms. The pain reminds me that this is not a nightmare. It’s happening.

Red Dirt Shop: A call for change, with cellphone cases

Everywhere I go, I find brands with a conscience. Maybe it started with Toms shoes and their popular One-for-One movement — buy a pair and a pair goes to an impoverished child. Now giving back through purchases has grown beyond holiday charities and thinking pink. It’s year-round.

SkyRobics: Jumping in, staggering out

I decided to scope out SkyRobics at Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park in Shawnee. A class that people are packing in at 9 on Saturday mornings must be a party. Why else would a place typically reserved for children’s birthdays, field trips and kiddie fun offer several classes filled with adults throughout the week? Because it’s a kick-ass workout, that’s why.

The pursuit of God, without judgment

The story of the Rev. Scott Chrostek, the pastor at Church of the Resurrection Downtown and the author of “Pursuit: Living Fully in Search of God’s Presence,” spoke to me because he wasn’t judging me. He was sharing his journey and the steps he took to live a faithful life.

Don’t hate them for loving ‘My Little Pony’

When “My Little Pony” returned in a reboot, it was meant for little girls. But guys liked it too. And suffered for it. They call themselves “bronies”: bros who like ponies. Online, they are often called gay slurs and perverts. Now a new documentary, “Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony,” shows the guys in a better light.

Twin Peaks hotties raise the bar

Yes, it caters to men, but the new Olathe sports bar Twin Peaks could easily be a girls’ night out if you’re the kind of girls who would enjoy the Victoria’s Secret fashion show so much more if it was directed by Tina Fey and Chelsea Handler.

Spring for these feel-good messages

Here’s the thing about spring cleaning: It’s not just about dusting windows and waxing floors. It’s a time for a new, feel-good attitude. And lately, everywhere I look there seem to be gifts to help us get there. There are books, cards, bracelets and more.

Her gay dad makes her proud

Erin Margolin’s life changed at 15. Her dad stood before her, legal pad in hand. Sure, he was a lawyer. But a prepared statement at home? Odd. Her mother started to cry. This was not about cleaning house. This was the cleaning of her father’s closet. Erin’s dad dropped a heavy truth on his kids: He’s gay.

They know the sole of the city

Why is everyone leaning on the cash-strapped city to keep kids busy? Parents have to step up. And we as citizens do too. Enter KC Sole, a collective of 20-somethings who love kicks and Kansas City.

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