Celebrate the Sweet Life with the American Cancer Society!

Next Tuesday, July 22nd, the American Cancer Society will host their annual "Celebrate the Sweet Life" dessert tasting event benefitting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The event will be held at the Mellwood Arts Center from 6:30pm to 9 pm. 

The event will include assorted desserts, dancing, music, a silent auction and “sweet boxes” containing mystery items and gift certificates. 

A fun night that mixes desserts with raising money for breast cancer research? It can't get any better than that, right?

Well, yes it can!  Our friends at the American Cancer Society are offering ten lucky HerKentucky readers a pair of tickets (one ticket each for you and a guest; $50 value) to the event! You can win by entering below.

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The HerKentucky Kentucky Pride Swag List

State pride is having a moment.

It seems that, everywhere you turn, local makers and purveyors of style are taking localism to its logical next step -- products proclaiming a home state, home town, or just their sense of home.

I've got to tell y'all, I can't get enough of these. I've always proclaimed my allegiance to the Bluegrass State, and it's no surprise that I'm stockpiling taking part in this of-the-moment trend of regional pride. Here are a few of my favorites.

Old Try's Kentucky Regions T-Shirts

                 

Here in Kentucky, our regions have such rich and unique cultures. I love these shirts that proclaim the region from which the wearer hails. The Old Try is an amazing North Carolina-based company that is, quite literally, a "Mom & Pop" store; the husband and wife owners recently welcomed a gorgeous daughter. I love the quality of my Bluegrass shirt, and am already planning to order a few more to commemorate the various parts of the Commonwealth that I've called home. (I'd advise ordering this shirt a size up from your regular fit.)

Kentucky T-Shirts from The Prickly Pear Boutique

Kentucky means many things to many people. Whether you immediately think "Bourbon", "Derby" or "Home", the Prickly Pear Boutique in Middletown has the right shirt for you! 

Unbridled Spirit T-Shirt from Bourbon & Boots

Look, y'all, it's our second-favorite Kentucky Tourism slogan! Find this shirt at Bourbon and Boots.

Kentucky Spellings T-Shirt from Kentucky for Kentucky

All the different ways that our earliest inhabitants spelled the state's name (which means "dark and bloody ground") before settling on "Kentucky." Anyone who suffered through grade school history classes here in Kentucky will get it.

And, of course, there's HerKentucky readers' favorite way to keep the Commonwealth close to their hearts: 

The Kentucky State Love Necklace from Southern Belle Glitz

Y'all love this product. I love this product. And, this time, we're giving y'all a chance to win a gold-tone necklace with a Kentucky-shaped pendant. Same rules as before, and you're eligible to enter through the end of May.

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Good luck, and let us know: How do you keep Kentucky close to your heart?

Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace Giveaway

Remember a week or two ago, when I reviewed the Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love necklace?

Well, the review hasn't changed -- I still love being able to wear a little piece of the Commonwealth. However, we had a slight change in plans that I think one of y'all will like a lot.

We never heard back from the winner of the Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace, so we're trying it again. Now through Friday night at midnight, you can enter to win this gorgeous piece.

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Southern Belle Glitz Kentucky State Love Necklace Giveaway!

I love the Commonwealth of Kentucky a lot.

Well, of course I do. My friends and I have been blogging and pinning and facebooking and instagramming about the Bluegrass State for nearly three years now. 

I was so excited to find a Georgetown-based company called Southern Belle Glitz that lets me take my love of the Commonwealth with me wherever I go!

The State Love Necklace is a gorgeous, delicate little outline of the state of Kentucky. (They have a few more states, if you're so inclined...) I love wearing this -- it draws so many sweet compliments, and it looks great with everything!

Receiving a package from Southern Belle Glitz is such a special treat! When my beau told me that "a large, pink package" had arrived in the mail, I knew it would be great, but I had no idea how much care Natalie takes with every order. The packaging is so fun, and even includes a quote from Harry Winston!

I just know y'all will love this necklace as much as I do, so HerKentucky has partnered with Southern Belle Glitz to give one lucky reader a Kentucky Necklace of her own!

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(Southern Belle Glitz is an April sponsor of the HerKentucky blog. I received a State Love Necklace for review purposes. All opinions are my own.)

The 2014 HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland Springtime Style

Every spring, we get a ton of questions from readers; they all send some variant of the question "What should I wear to Keeneland?"  Now, if there are two things I love, it's shopping at local Kentucky boutiques and taking in a day of horse racing. I asked a few of our favorite Lexington-based boutiques to help us sort out the Keeneland Dress Code.

If you're going to stay near the Paddock -- General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room -- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys often opt for khakis and polo shirts, and women can wear slacks. These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer to be seen. The Peppermint Palm suggests the Richelle dress -- available in pink seersucker, as shown below, mint green seersucker, or fun Lilly prints to brighten up your day at the track.

If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.   The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses/pantsuits for ladies. During the week, many professionals take long business lunches in these areas, as is reflected in their dress code. This Lilly Pulitzer Pearl shift from the Peppermint Palm comes in a versatile white lace that allows you to pair with a sweater or blazer for the area of your choice.

The members-only Clubhouse similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden. Most of all, remember to look nice because you'll see plenty of people!

AJ's Casuals suggests this Hunter Bell lace dress, DVF clutch, and Carol Bader Designs fascinator for a fancy day on the upper levels.

To coordinate with your Keeneland ensemble, we're thrilled to offer one lucky HerKentucky reader a seersucker bow clutch purse designed by our own Italian-trained handbag maven, Elizabeth Elfen! I love this bag for a day at the track, a summer wedding, or any time you want to add a little Southern sass to your ensemble.

Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below and tell us what you're wearing to Keeneland this spring, and check in Thursday when we answer a pressing question about Keeneland style!

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Win a Kentucky Derby Hat from Goorin Bros!

Derby is only 24 days away, y'all!

Can you believe that it's already time to plan your Kentucky Derby outfits and finalize your plans for Derby Day?

Goorin Bros Hats wants help you get ready for Derby with a hat from their Kentucky Derby Hat collection.

Established in 1895, Goorin Bros has carried on the tradition of authentic family craftsmanship for five generations. This year, they want to help one lucky HerKentucky reader get ready for the Derby in style!

The winner will choose from the Ms. Churchill Straw Boater

or the Mrs. Perfecta Straw Floppy Hat.

We'll pick a winner on Monday; you can enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. 

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Just tell us, what are you wearing to Derby?

Heine Brothers Coffee Giveaway!

This holiday season, I'm thankful for so many things. I'm thankful for the exciting new opportunities that my beau and I have undertaken. I'm thankful for the cute house we found in Louisville's St Matthews neighborhood. And I'm thankful for HerKentucky -- the wonderful friendships I've made through this blog and the amazing readers who follow along with us here on the blog as well as on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

So, today, I'm saying thanks to all my Louisville-area friends with a little giveway. 

I love my new neighborhood, and I love a good cup of coffee, so I'm giving one HerKentucky fan a $20 gift card to Louisville's favorite coffee spot, Heine Brothers' Coffee.

You can enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. The contest runs now through midnight on Wednesday the 27th.

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What are you thankful for this holiday season?