Joanna Goodman
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What to Expect, How Long It Takes, and the Cozy Details That Make It Magical If you’re looking for a winter tradition that feels peaceful, beautiful, and genuinely worth bundling everyone up for, the Powell Gardens Festival of Lights might be the most charming holiday walk in the Kansas City area. Every year, the gardens […]

There’s something magical about Kansas City in December — the way even the busiest parts of the city slow down just a tiny bit, the way the cold air feels softer when you’re bundled up and on the hunt for the best lights. Every year, my family makes a whole evening or two out of […]

The Smallest of Saturdays means the world to your local businesses when you choose to celebrate the holidays by pouring back into your own city’s families – our small businesses! Think small this Saturday and shop local. I’ve gathered some favorites from a few of our city’s neighborhoods and towns for you to enjoy, wander […]

Many Kansas City families have called it a tradition for as long as they remember. The Plaza Lighting! What began as a small strand of 16 colored Christmas lights, lit on December 25th, 1925, has grown into a major holiday tradition. Those first lights were hung above a doorway of the Mill Creek Building by […]

Christmas is coming — and if you’re anything like most Kansas City moms, you can already feel that mix of excitement and overwhelm creeping in. There’s the shopping lists, the decorating, the class parties, the travel plans — and somewhere in all of it, that quiet hope to slow down and actually enjoy the season. […]

Every year is different, but right about now is the time we’ll whip out our family recipes or Pinterest dreams and start thinking about Thanksgiving, including the meal we’ll serve and gather around. Whether you’re planning to cook the whole Thanksgiving feast from scratch, go for a hybrid with some homemade sides and some ready-to-go, […]

I’m not good at gate keeping some of my favorite locations that Kansas City has to offer for your photo sessions. If you’re a photographer, take it and run with it. Every photographer will see and photograph differently in each location. If you’re one of my mamas (or hoping to be) – just know I’ve […]

If you’ve been dreaming of family photos that feel relaxed, beautiful, and real, the good news is — you don’t have to go far. Lee’s Summit and its surrounding areas are full of locations that give us the best of both worlds: stunning backdrops and easy access for families (no hour-long drives or tricky parking!). […]

By Joanna Goodman It started out as a spoken dream from the front seat of the family car. The abandoned brick and mortar on the corner was begging for use, stirred an idea, and expressed itself in a mother’s word. Opening up shop together was always a possibility. The three sisters in the backseat knew […]

By Joanna Goodman Whether you have a mother, are married to one, or ARE one, Mother’s Day is a day that deserves celebration! Your motherhood seasons grow and change. No matter which one you find yourself in, this season is worthy of reflection. Mothers around you are worthy of your encouragement. Mothers who love you […]