As baby boomers (who happen to also be sisters) we have been natives of the Kansas City area for most of our adult lives. As kids growing up at a time before there were computers in every home, cable TV with hundreds of channels or a Starbucks coffee shop on every corner, it seemed we were taking the less obvious approach to solving our childhood problems. It might have been figuring out a clever way to supplement our allowance, by using our marketing and communications skills to sell the neighborhood kids lukewarm lemonade and stale leftover holiday candy. Or maybe it was utilizing our entrepreneurial skills to set up a neighborhood "zoo" where we charged admission for a tour to see our stuffed animals strategically placed in the trees and lined behind the backyard fence. All of this just to avoid doing homework or being completely bored.

We have somewhat different personalities and have taken different career paths. But we still have the important things in common—like our sense of humor, a mutual respect for family and friends, enjoying a good bottle of wine and good conversation with sisters and friends about everything ranging from pantyhose, to nightmare bosses to world news. We both like discovering new secret spots and finding out the "inside scoop" on just about everything. But the one area we both really have in common is our desire for making things simple! Having too much information, not enough information, wrong information or simply not having a comprehensive source where we can get the information ---makes us crazy! So for the first time since our childhood and after leaving our corporate hamster wheels, we have once again pooled together our business experience, communications skills, creative juices and fondness for Kansas City to form a business "sistership" and bring you it's all about kc KIDS (IAAKCK).

Welcome to it's all about kc KIDS (IAAKCK). Our mission is to be Kansas City's comprehensive online tool for parents who want the 'inside scoop' on those less obvious… and sometimes obvious resources and ideas they need to manage their kid's lives.

Growing up in the 60’s, the activities available to kids were limited. We could ride bikes, play dress-up, and build tents over the clothes line in the backyard. It wasn't uncommon to find us using our imaginations to lead a neighborhood talent show, plan a wedding between Barbie and Ken or conducting a tea party that included a new batch of mud pies made in the alley behind our house. Bottom line---if we couldn't create our own fun there weren't too many other options. Even the after-school activities were limited. Boys had basketball and softball, but girls had no organized sports. Their options were restricted to piano or dance lessons. And when school was out for the summer, kids basically had the park or the swimming pool. Otherwise, they were stuck inside for endless hours watching Captain Kangaroo, playing house or driving their mother,s crazy with those two dreaded words, "I’m Bored!"

Nowadays there is an entire "kid" industry. There are activities and lessons of every kind, an abundance of childcare options, pediatric specialists of many types, educational opportunities galore and even stores just for kids! And unlike the mothers from a generation ago, who had to rely on the phone book and word of mouth from friends or another parent for important resources or new ideas related to kids/families, we don’t have that problem today. Instead, there are so many sources with just bits and pieces of information, its hard stay on top of them all. Just figuring out the best places to look is frustrating. In fact, it was out of personal irritation to find a common kid activity along with the time consuming effort of searching multiple publications that only had bits and pieces of information, that IAAKCK was created. Kansas City needed it's own single comprehensive tool that provided parents a place to find kid related resources and discover new ideas.

Parents today are much too busy with work, car pool, family obligations and endless soccer games to comb publications and research all the options for kids. That is why IAAKCK is the one place, families can go to zero in on the local kid related resources available or to simply look for those less obvious… and sometimes obvious ideas they need. Whether it's an activity to help decrease the number of times hearing the words "I’m Bored", a unique spot for a birthday party or a new place to send the kids for summer camp ----- you can find it at IAAKCK! And when you’re trying to locate a childcare facility, a pediatric medical specialist or even a math tutor, we have that too. IAAKCK can even help a teacher or scout troop leader with ideas for planning a field trip or group activity.

We know there is no better source than a close friend for getting information, but it's always good to have a back-up plan. That is why we hope it's all about kc KIDS will become like a new best friend. The friend that is always there – right art your fingertips, who helps simplify your life and always has the "inside scoop" on a new groovy idea for your kids.

Happy hunting,

Valissa (CKO) and Vicki(CHO)

P.S. We hope you will share this site with your friends and to visit our other website, it's all about HER, (www.itsallabouther.com) where you can find the "inside scoop" on the less obvious and sometimes obvious resources that are of interest to Kansas City area women.

WARNING!!!

If the "About Us" summary and background was enough to bore you to tears, we suggest that you stop reading now! Otherwise, if you have nothing better to do, and want the inside scoop on IAAKCK company officers, feel free to read on at your own risk!

THE 'INSIDE SCOOP' ON VALISSA SMITH

VALISSA SMITH–CO-FOUNDER and CHO (Chief "KID" Officer) Valissa spent most of her childhood daydreaming. And dreamers typically have no idea what they want to be when they grow up because their imagination is endless and often unrealistic. But that didn't stop Valissa. When she watched Captain Kangaroo on the black and white set back in the 60's no one ever told her that she couldn't be on television, so that's where she ended up for 23 years

As a Broadcast Journalist, Valissa was always looking for a more creative but balanced way to tell the story. The television news industry works well for an entertaining, people-person, gotta-have-both-sides-to-the-story, kind of girl. Once, she bought 100 Weebles, moved them around like chess pieces on the newsroom floor to demonstrate to viewers how a political caucus works. She even followed a mother's pregnancy through birth at a midwifery center out in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. She received an award as the first reporter in Kansas City to crawl through a burning house to demonstrate how to get out alive. Digging up the "inside scoop" and sharing it with everybody else is what really floats her boat. The case was true when Valissa was a "weather girl" in the early '80's in St. Joseph, Missouri; a reporter, producer and weekend anchor in Syracuse, New York; and a prime time anchor in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was even true when she stepped outside "the box" for a short time to represent AIM Institute, a research, development and training company for professionals. But her most memorable stint of diggin' up the dirt was eight years as that lively, fun-spirited morning show co-host at the CBS affiliate in Kansas City.

After chasing one too many ambulances, Valissa decided to leave television. That's when she started daydreaming again. This time, about spending the first summer ever hanging out with her daughters. But major frustration set in when her attempt to track down a simple summer kid activity turned out to be like Heraldo Riveria's investigation of Al Capone's vault… empty! After conducting a massive search by who-ya-know, telephone and the world wide web… Valissa decided there had to be a better way to find what she was looking for. It was out of her major frustration that it's all about kc KIDS was created.

Now, Valissa is the co-anchor of a business that uncovers the less obvious and sometimes obvious resources and information in the Kansas City area. It's her way of creatively bringing to you the late-breaking and investigative "inside scoop" that pertains to Kansas City kids and their families, and Kansas City women.

CURRENT CAREER
Chief "KID" Officer (CKO) for VSquared Productions, Inc. the parent company of it's all about kc KIDS and it's all about HER;freelance reporter and media trainer; voice over & video talent; public speaker and event emcee; board member and volunteer for various Kansas City organizations.

RETRO MEMORIES
Daydreaming for hours from the tree house that dad built; jumping to Jack LaLaine every morning with her mother; wondering why Mr. Greenjeans' pants were in black and white; introducing her Twiggy doll to Barbie, Ken and Midge; riding her pink, banana seat bike down to the "Little Store" for a Slo Poke; wearing clothes covered with miles of rick-rack; roller skating on the back patio with a pillow buckled to her buns; and daydreaming through another episode of "Lost In Space."

THE "INSIDE SCOOP" ON VICKI SMITH

VICKI SMITH–CO-FOUNDER AND CHO (Chief "HER" Officer) While most kids in kindergarten declared a more typical career ambition, Vicki was sure by the age of five that she would be a psychiatrist. Of course, the other kids had no idea what that was and quite frankly didn’t care. But it was an early indication of her curiosity, intrigue and desire for the "inside scoop" about the human mind and what makes people tick. So it was no surprise when she decided to focus much of her undergraduate and graduate studies on psychology and communications.

Personality profiles might characterize Vicki as "life's administrator." The kid in charge! (somebody in the neighborhood had to break the tie between 'Kick the Can' and 'Red Rover') Leadership, organization and creativity are as easy to Vicki as breathing. And attention to detail is like a sixth sense to her. Let anyone, including a younger sister, sneak into her bedroom, lift one item off her dresser then place it back--- and Vicki would bust them every time.

For personalities like Vicki's, working is seldom a question. In fact, it serves them well. And that is what Vicki has spent the past 25 years doing. Her education coupled with her personality was a perfect fit for the career path she took. Whether it was working for a not-for-profit organization as a counselor and manager of group homes for special needs clients, leading the communications department of the largest propane distributor in the country, marketing the products of a major telecommunications company or serving as Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing for a Fortune 100 energy company--Vicki has had plenty of opportunities to utilize her psychology and leadership skills. Just attempting to figure out all the chaos and personalities she dealt with daily in the workplace, naturally kept her skills sharp. But when corporate America hit tough financial times and her company elected to shutdown the division she worked in, Vicki was forced to reassess whether trying to maneuver through the orange cones of the corporate world was really her cup of tea. So after having 25 bosses in 25 years she once again tapped into her psychology background and business skills to start her own freelance marketing, consulting and idea generation business. But it was during this time of transition that Vicki had an Aha! Moment. It hit her that women in Kansas City needed an online service where they could go to look for those resources that are of importance and interest to them. That’s why it’s all about HER was created.

Now Vicki utilizes her psychology and marketing background to provide the "inside scoop" to women and families in Kansas City.

CURRENT CAREER
Chief "HER" Officer (CHO) for VSquared Productions, Inc. the parent company of it's all about HER and it's all about kc KIDS; managing her own freelance marketing and consulting business (PivotalDecisions) and serving as a board member and volunteer for various Kansas City organizations.

RETRO MEMORIES
The torture of the Tony home permanents that her Mother gave her sitting at the kitchen table; being the first girl in class to wear a red vinyl mini skirt with her red vinyl maxi coat and a pair of go-go boots; the original Barbie doll she still has pristinely stored in its case; going to the drug store soda fountain after school for a Cherry Phosphate, rolling her hair on juice cans in order to achieve the perfect “do” and sitting in front of the black and white television set watching the Beatles’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, watching Neil Armstrong take the first step on the moon and watching 500,000 hippies at the largest rock concert ever…Woodstock.