The Eco+Logical Soirée is a new and exciting way for modern parents to connect with top-notch, eco-conscious companies.

You are invited to attend the FREE soirée on May 19, 2012. Drop by anytime from 6-9pm at the New Birth Company 9209 West 110th Street, Building 36 Corporate Woods, Overland Park, KS.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the mission behind some of the best products and services Kansas City has to offer while enjoying the company of other moms like you and The Soft Landing Team.

A Fun Gathering with a Purpose

• Enjoy a laid back evening with local wine tasting by Rowe Ridge Vineyard (featuring Kansas grapes – who knew?) and hor d’oeurves provided by The Freedom Chef and The Local Pig (we’ll have organic Earth Mama tea for pregnant mama too!)
• Schmooze with other amazing moms while you soak in the relaxing atmosphere of the New Birth Company
• Connect with high quality, mission-driven companies offering products and services for your family
• Live music by a local violinist

And you won’t want to miss the amazing Grand Prize Giveaway worth over $1,000!

• A hand-painted portrait by Pamela Williams, Fine Artist (a $650 value)
• Carpet cleaning for 6 areas and a hallway from Voorhies Cleaning Systems (a $250 value)
• A tutu basket featuring fairy wands, crowns and bows – all handmade by local moms from the Mommy Shop (a $100 value)
• A baby proofing consultation from Itsabelly (a $99 value)

It’s time for our first Macaroni Kid Mother’s Day Gift Guide.  If you want to make May 13th extra special for your mom, grandma, BFF or even for yourself, our gift guide is full of great ideas for all different moms in all price ranges. I personally hand-picked and love every gift listed!  And I will have to send this link to my hubby (hint hint).

The best part is when you purchase these gifts, you support local small business owners! If you like our guide we would love for you to give a  thumbs-up “like” on Facebook by clicking the button on the top of this page.

Celebrate Mom with one of these great ideas:

If you are looking for some “me time” this week, here are a few events going on in the Overland Park area.

Monday, August 8

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Ice Cream Social

7-8:30 p.m.

Blue Valley Baptist Church

8925 W. 151st Street, Overland Park

Learn about MOPS at an ice cream social without the kids!

Tuesday, August 9

Supper Club at Whole Foods Market

6-7:30 p.m.

6621 W. 119th Street, Overland Park

$10 includes, plant-based meal

Janell Greeley talks about the benefits of reflexology. $5 for a 10 minute mini-session.

Wednesday, August 10

5-9 p.m.

Girls’ Night Out at Apricot Lane Boutique in the Oak Park Mall.

Refreshments, D.J. and 20% off regular priced items. Cash in your unwanted gold and silver too.

Thursday, August 11

5-8 p.m.

Back to School Fashion Show at Two Chic Blvd.

16070 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park.

Drinks, Appetizers by 77 South, Desserts by Smart Cookie Bakery, and new fall lines.

Saturday, August 13

Planning Your Nursery at Pottery Barn Kids

Town Center Plaza

10 a.m.

We are thrilled to offer Gail’s Scoop fans a discount to see Sugarland at the Sprint Center. The 2011 Incredible Machine Tour kicked off yesterday.  There will be one Kansas City show:

Sunday, August 7 at 7:30 PM

SAVE $19.25 per ticket! Receive a $42.50 ticket for just $23.25*

To purchase discount tickets click here.

Special Offer code: gailsscoop

Notes to consider:

• No TicketMaster fees will be added to the order. The only additional charge is a $1.25/ticket TicketFast charge. Purchased tickets are delivered via e-mail to print at work or home.
• Offer expires August 3, 2011. (While supplies last/subject to availability)

Contact Kerri Troyer from Sprint Center at 816.949.7175 with any questions.

GREASE™ at the Kansas City Music Hall, Feb. 22-27, 2011

The movie GREASE™ debuted in 1978, the year I was turning 14. For those of you who were around then, you remember it was a BIG deal!  I can’t be more thrilled to be checking out tomorrow’s opening show for date night!  I already have the songs in my head and images of a young John Travolta.

The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASE™ will give eight performances, February 22-27 at the Music Hall.  Tickets are on sale at the Music Hall box office and all Ticketmaster locations or call (816) 513-5000  for more details.

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko’s world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n’ roll celebration of growin’ up, cruisin’ with friends and goin’ steady. The new production of GREASE™ features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture, including “Sandy,” the Academy Award nominated song “Hopelessly Devoted to You,”  “Grease” and “You’re the One That I Want” – both of which were #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list.  These songs will be heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”

Eddie Mekka will star in the tour as DJ “Vince Fontaine.”  Eddie is best remembered as Carmine Ragusa “The Big Ragu” on one of my all time favorites, the hit TV classic, “Laverne & Shirley.”

Performance Schedule

Tues., Feb. 22^nd – 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 23^rd – 7:30 p.m.

Thurs., Feb. 24^rd – 7:30 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 25th – 8:00 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 26th – 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Sun., Feb. 27th – 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.

Sunday,Feb. 20^th 12-4pm at the Ritz Charles in Overland Park

Shop the latest trends, hottest new accessories while enjoying adult beverages and pampering beauty services!  Plus 20 prize drawings for clothes, jewelry, local boutique gift cards, and more!

All in one hot spot, Haute Market Shopping Party!  21 & over event so leave the kiddos at home.

Tickets are $10 each in advance. $15 at the door.

For two days Gail’s Scoop subscribers get $2 off tickets!

Just enter 2scoop at check out!

Hurry, offer expires Sun. 2/13 at 5 p.m.

If you have any energy and money left to shop there are tons of bargains out there. Here  is our A-Z list of sales.

All of the following are valid today, Sunday 12/26 unless noted.

Amazon: Lightning deals and Aeropostale: $5 T-Shirts

Banana Republic: Extra 25% off . Use code “BRSALE25″

Carter’s: Super Duper Clearance Sale and Children’s Place: Monster Sale

Drugstore.com: End of Season Sale

Ebags: Winter Sale and Eddie Bauer: Winter sale

Famous Footwear: Buy one, Get one 1/2 off

Gymboree: Semi-Annual sale

Home Depot: Amazing winter on-line sale

Ice: After Christmas Sale

J. Jill: Additional 25% off entire order and J.C. Penney: After Christmas sale

Kohls: After Christmas Blitz, plus use your Kohl’s cash.

Loft: 50% off entire purchase. Use code “SALE50″

Michael’s: 3-Day specials and Macy’s: After Christmas Sale

Nautica: Winter Sale

Old Navy: After Holiday Sale

Piperlime: Lime Tag Sale

QVC: Holiday Clearance

Rei: Holiday Clearance

Staples: Computer Sale and Sears: Doorbusters

Target: Clearance and ToysRUS: Sales and Clearance

Ulta: Buy 2, Get 2 Free

Vera Bradley: Winter Sale

World Market: Holiday Clearance

eXpress: After Christmas Sale

Yoox: Fall-Winter Sale

Zazzle: After Christmas Sale

HAPPY SHOPPING!

I am getting ready for my first holiday party of the season…hmmm, what to wear…what to wear?

This is a guest post from Anna Mc Connell.
It’s the Holiday Season, time to catch up with our friends, family and colleagues and attend the many Holiday parties we have accepted invitations for. There are many end-of-year expenses to consider, entertaining, gift giving and sometimes travel. You will want to look appropriate, stylish or glamorous without breaking the bank. Organization is the key!

Make a list of all upcoming events as well as the kind of events you will be attending.  You may have an office function, a play, or be hosting a pot-luck dinner with friends.  Are you planning a family reunion or will you be traveling out of town? All these events may be different in style from very casual to formal. Even for the casual outings, you may want to glamorize a bit. Trade in the bulky daytime purse for a clutch. Heels always elongate your silhouette, but if you choose to wear flats, there are some wonderful styles this winter.

Make an inventory of all your holiday clothes. Consider the black pants, Little Black Dress, white shirt, shawl and all accessories. Remember accessories will show off your style and personality. Statement pieces will dress an outfit up or down and make for excellent conversation.

Try clothing combinations that you have never tried before and mix and match the different items. You may be able to wear the same outfit for several occasions. The little black dress with a shawl for the office event can also be worn to attend a play with a belt, a jacket and heeled boots.

If you find you do not have what you need in your wardrobe, perhaps you can borrow. You may have a friend that has exactly what you need. If not try the consignment stores - Nu2You (Leawood- KS) and Her Majesty’s Closet (Prairie Village – KS). Purchase something that will complement your wardrobe that you are certain to wear again. Choose more glamorous fabrics such as lace, chiffon, satin, silk, sequins or velvet. During this Holiday season, the major brand stores will also have promotions and sales.

Ann Taylor wrap blouse This blouse can be paired with a short or long black skirt as well as with evening trousers. You will wear this again with a suit or with a pair of dark wash jeans and a long cardigan sweater.

Chicos Sequin tank top. You can pair this tank with any evening or daytime outfit.Under a blazer or cashmere wrap cardigan.

White House Black Market silk charmeuse peasant blouse.  You can wear this with a black pant as well as with dark wash jeans, or later in the year with white pants. The blouse can be worn off the shoulder as well as on.

J. Crew Calista cami – This blouse can be worn for evening, office or casual wear, all year round.

Various clutches from a wide price range are available at Zappos.com

Statement piece necklace from AMCC Sales

Whatever you decide to wear for your parties, be comfortable and confident.

Enjoy your holidays!

Anna Mc Connell is an image and wardrobe consultant and a jewelry designer.  Contact her at Amcc-image@hotmail.com or 816.322.0686. http://www.twitter.com/FrFashionista

We are reviewing all the local store websites and Facebook pages to post all the local deals for you.  Review our “For the Ladies” calendar for all the deals!