Gentleman (and some of you ladies too), it is that time of year again.  The 2010 NFL season is right around the corner and fantasy football fanatics around the globe are dusting off their charts and graphs, hoping to put together the right combination of player that can deliver them the highly coveted title of Fantasy League Champion.

Hopefully McCluster can make some big plays during his rookie season!

While the  Kansas City Chiefs don’t have much offensive firepower, they have a couple sleepers that you might want to consider, just in case you’d like to add a little “home team” flavor to your roster.  Here is a short breakdown of the players on the team that might be able to help bring you a win…

QB, Matt Cassel – he’s a potential fantasy sleeper.  He threw 16 touchdowns for the Chiefs last season, however he needs to become more fundamentally sound.  Cassel missed a lot of open targets last year.  He’s a No. 2 fantasy QB now, but he should get better.  Maybe you can take him in the second round and cross your fingers.

WR, Dexter McCluster – the rookie wide receiver could pile up some stats this year, as he will line up at receiver, running back and see time at quarterback in the Wildcat.  He’s probably a No. 3 or 4 Fantasy wide receiver and worthy of  a mid-round pick.

Does anyone have any other good fantasy football info or tips to share?  I can’t wait for the season to start!

(Photo Credit: kcchiefsblog)

I know 3D versions for both the movies Jaws and Pirahna are due out eventually, but I think Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore will actually be the first official 3D movie starring animals.  Can’t wait to see dogs jump out of the screen.  LOL.

The movie is actually a sequel to a 2001 comedy. Kitty Galore is a spy who hatches an evil plan for world domination.  Sworn enemies (the cats and the dogs…duh) must unite in order to eliminate this new breed evil that Kitty possesses.

Cats & Dogs looks like cool family movie that the kids will enjoy.  It opens this weekend, so I’ve posted a trailer here, as well as movie times for theaters around Shawnee: Westglen 18, Phoenix Theatres Legends Stadium 14 and Cinemark Merriam

Green Zone

Academy Award® nominees Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum) reteam in this action-packed thriller. Damon stars as Roy Miller, a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region. Also starring Academy Award® nominees Greg Kinnear and Amy Ryan.  Rated R.

Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)  said that Green Zone is “one hell of a thriller.”  That’s pretty much all I need to hear to gamble a dollar (plus tax) on a movie.  If it’s not good, I won’t feel like I’ve wasted all my money.  I’ll plan to rent it this weekend.  Maybe you can do the same and tell toe community what you think.  The closest Redbox kiosks to Hampton Woods are at McDonald’s (16210 W 65th St), Wal-Mart (16100 W 65Th St) and Hy-Vee (13550 W 63Rd St).

The ASPCA estimates that it costs nearly $400 a year to maintain a pet.  There is of course, food, vet visits, vaccinations.  If you live in an pet-friendly apartment community like Hampton Woods, you may have to pay a small additional fee to help keep the facilities in good shape.  It’s not a great deal of money if you love your furry friend, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to save a few bucks if we can.

Here is one way that you can save money on pet care…

Spend a little to save a lot. “The biggest mistake owners make is not keeping up with routine preventive care,” says Dr. Louise Murray, DVM, director of medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and author of Vet Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Protecting Your Pet’s Health. “People forgo $15 vaccines, then their pets get $2,000 infections.” Never skip core vaccinations, annual checkups, flea-and-tick treatments, heartworm drugs, or spaying/ neutering—they save thousands down the line. Swiping wet gauze or a pet toothbrush over your animal’s teeth daily will even help stave off serious disease.

If you think this is a helpful tip, you can read this article in its entirety at WomensDay.com.  Feel free to share your own cost-saving tips for pet owners!

(Photo Credit: examiner.com)

Most of us love a good beer, don’t we?  But how many of us casual beer drinkers know the proper way to taste and savor it?  Sure, wine tasting is immensely popular for some, but some of us beer drinkers know a thing or two about the fine art of tasting.  For those that would like to know more, here’s a shortened “how-to” guide..

1. Look
   Raise the beer in front of you.  Describe its true color, its head and its consistency.
2. Agitate
   Swirl your beer gently in the glass.  This will pull out aromas.
3. Smell
   90-95% of what you experience is through your sense of smell.  Breath through your nose with two quick sniffs, then with your mouth open, then through your mouth only.  Enjoy its bouquet.
4. Taste
   Sip the beer but don’t swallowit immediately.  Allow it to wander and explore your entire palate.  Try to detect any sweetness, salty flavors, acids and general bitterness.  As a beer warms, its true flavors will pull through, become more pronounced.

For more detailed information about how to properly “taste” a beer, check out the BeerAdvocate website.  And when you’re ready to put your new skills into pracice, you can always take a tour of the Boulevard Brewing Co. in downtown Kansas City (2501 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108), not too far from Hampton Woods.  They’re the largest specialty brewer in the midwest and they have a free 45 minute tour of their plant that includes a sampling session at the end of it.  You may even already be familiar with their offereings.  Besides some terrific seasonal offerings, their selections include Bully! Porter, Lunar Ale and Dry Stout.

If you’re a Shawnee, KS resident, give yourself a pat on the back!  Why?  Because Shawnee was just ranked as #17 on CNN/Money Magazine’s list of the Best Places to Live in 2010!  How great is that?  Here is what the magazine had to say about our city…

Taking a walk through Shawnee Town is like walking back through time to the city’s roots as a farming center. The annual Old Shawnee Days celebration commemorates its western heritage with a carnival, a parade, food vendors and arts and crafts.  Shawnee also has a modern side: It’s within commuting distance of jobs in Kansas City, and Bayer HealthCare and other businesses are right in town.  There’s plenty of shopping, restaurants, an indoor family entertainment center, and more than 560 acres of parkland.

Of course there are other reasons that Shawnee rankes so high on the list.  According to CNN/Money, compared to the rest of the Top 100, Shawnee’s…

• median family income ($93,289) is higher than average
• sales tax (only 5.3%) is lower than average
• job growth from 2000-2009 (26.7%) was higher than average

Shawnee’s statistics for air quality, crime and commute times were also better than average.  More of a reason to make a prime location like Hampton Woods Apartments your home.

(Photo Credit: City of Shawnee)

You need a reason to go see Despicable Me (besides it being probably one of the funniest 3D animated movies you will ever see)?  How about the fact that the voices of nearly every hot comedian in Hollywood is used in the movie, including Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand (from Get Him to the Greek), Will Arnett and Ken Jeong.

This movie will probably be the family hit of the summer.  Make sure you don’t miss it.  Here are movie times for Westglen 18, Phoenix Theatres Legends Stadium 14 and Cinemark Merriam.  Enjoy!

Living at Hampton Woods apartments gets you used to having the good life right at your fingertips.  Swimming pools, vaulted ceilings, WiFi access, tennis courts, covered parking…who would want to give all of that up?  Not many.  But sometimes it’s important to reconnect with nature too.  You know – get outdoors and sit by a campfire.  I think that it’s especially important for kids.  Every child should have some great outdoors experiences to look back on.

So how about registering for The Great American Family Campout at Shawnee Mission Park.  It takes place July 31 – August 1 and it promises to be a lot of fun for all those who attend.  Just think, you’ll get to sleep under the stars in one of the most beautiful parks in Johnson County and the metro Kansas City area.

In addition to spending a night under the stars in Shawnee Mission Park, you will receive passes for admittance to Shawnee Mission Park Beach and Pedal Boat Rental.  Also, you will receive tickets to The Theatre in the Park’s production of “Cinderella“.  And as a special bonus, you will receive early admittance to each show.

For more information and to register for the campout, visit the event website or contact Rob Knaussman via e-mail at Info@jcprd.com.  You can also reach him by phone at (913) 236-1250.

I just learned that in the Kansas City metro area, there is one of the largest adult kickball leagues in the midwest.  The league is called Kansas City BIG BALLS Kickball and they look like A LOT of fun.  They play on Sundays in the spring, summer and fall.  In fact, the summer league just recently began and it’s not too late to join.  They’ve always got room for more players.  It’ really looks like a great way to get out the house, hang with some friends and even get a little excercise.

I checked out their website and it looks like most of the games are played at the Blue Ridge Soccer Complex (128th & Blue Ridge Boulevard, Jackson County).  You can also call 314-565-9441 for more info.

As a kid, kickball was that one game that everyone had fun playing.  It’ s like a combination of softball and soccer.  Well, if you liked it as a kid, you’ll probably love it as an adult.  Just now after a game a when you’re all sweaty, instead of heading to fourth period math class, you can head to the bar to grab a few beers with your teammates!

(Photo Credit: Joe Marinaro)

Fourth of July without fireworks is like peanut butter without jelly, apple pie without vanilla ice cream – you get the idea.  It’s just un-American.  With that being said, I’m here to make sure that you know where to take the fam (or a nice date) this weekend to celebrate the 234th birthday of our great country!  Here are a couple options…

Where will you catch the fireworks?

 Their 4th of July events kick off at 4:00 p.m. and run throughout the eveing.  The fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m.  There’s a free concert and my favorite part…funnel cakes!  This will be one of the biggest displays in the metro KC area. 

 KC Riverfest (Berkley Riverfront Park between the Broadway and Paseo bridges) 

This annual event is like the “supershow” of metro area fireworks displays.  Events start on July 3rd and culminate on the 4th with fireworks at 10:05 p.m.  The fireworks are even choreographed to live music.  There are also different events for the kids.  , but great entertainment and things to do for the whole family.  Cost is $6 ($5 if you buy the ticket online) and kids under 12 are free. 

Surely one of those two options will work for you.  Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your weekend!