Mama Knows Best: Heather C. Watson

If I had to narrow down the single best piece of advice my mama ever gave me, it would be this:

"People basically do what they want."

I love that advice. It takes away so many flimsy, half-baked excuses. It reminds you that we are responsible for our own words and deeds. It cuts right to the chase. There's no room for BS, and it applies in so many situations.



Thanks to my mom for giving me this great reminder that sugar-coating things isn't always the best solution!
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Mama Knows Best: Lori Cheek

With Mother's Day coming up, we thought it would be fun to ask our writers, friends, and favorite Kentuckians to share the best advice their own mothers ever gave them.

Photo by Kim Preston Photography 

Kentucky native online dating entrepreneur Lori Cheek shared her mother's words of wisdom:
Remember that "doers" get their toes stepped on.
Lori continues, "It's been pretty helpful building my startup over the past four years. I've worked very hard at building Cheek'd and my business means everything to me, which leaves me extremely sensitive and vulnerable at times. When my feelings get hurt, I remember those simple words I learned as a young child and that I've just got to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, keep my chin up and bulldoze forward. It's really given me the ability to put things into perspective when dealing with all kinds of different personalities while trying to succeed as an entrepreneur."

{Thanks so much to Lori for sharing this great advice with us!}
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Mama Knows Best: Silas House

With Mother's Day coming up, we thought it would be fun to ask our writers, friends, and favorite Kentuckians to share the best advice their own mothers ever gave them.

via SilasHouse.com
Writer, musician, and activist Silas House's mama passed along the most timeless advice of all. Silas told us:
She told me to treat others as I'd want to be treated. The Golden Rule.

It doesn't get any simpler or more true than that.

{Thanks so much to Silas for sharing with us!}
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Mama Knows Best: Laura Bell Bundy

With Mother's Day coming up, we thought it would be fun to ask our writers, friends, and favorite Kentuckians to share the best advice their own mothers ever gave them.



Lexington native actress and singer Laura Bell Bundy's mama provided her with some gracious advice. From her turn as Elle Woods on Broadway to her role on Hart of Dixie to her anthem of Bluegrass State Pride, Kentucky Dirty, this gorgeous performer has won tons of fans with her Southern charm. LBB tweeted us:
My mom always said "Be nice and friendly to EVERYONE!" #southernhospitality

That's great advice we can all use!

LBB in Legally Blonde, via The New York Times.

{Thanks so much to Laura Bell Bundy for sharing advice with us!}

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Mama Knows Best: Jon Carloftis


With Mother's Day coming up, we thought it would be fun to ask our writers, friends, and favorite Kentuckians to share the best advice their own mothers ever gave them.
Image via JonCarloftis.com

Gardener Jon Carloftis shared this advice:
Momma always said be true to yourself and never forget where you are from. It's been pretty good advice in New York.
I've had the pleasure of interviewing Jon, and I have to say that he is one of the most unassuming and down-to-earth people I've ever met. You'd never know that he's designed gardens for celebrities and major corporations. When he talks about family, friends, and his passion for gardening, he sounds like a smart, talented guy from Laurel County who followed his dreams. I think he took that good advice to heart.

{Thanks so much to Jon for sharing his mother's great advice!}
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Mama Knows Best: Miss Kentucky Jenna Day

With Mother's Day coming up, we thought it would be fun to ask our writers, friends, and favorite Kentuckians to share the best advice their own mothers ever gave them.


Reigning Miss Kentucky Jenna Day passed along some great advice from her mama, telling us:
Mother's best line is "If you're getting kicked in the butt, it means you're out front." Never let others' opinions weigh you down!
Jenna is gorgeous, smart, humble, and talented -- she's a senior at the University of Kentucky, where she studies vocal performance and political science. In addition to her studies and her duties as Miss Kentucky, Jenna's a member of UK's Alpha Delta Pi chapter and the spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Kentucky Proud program. I think it's safe to say she's way out front!




{Thanks to Jenna for sharing these words of wisdom with us!}
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Mama Knows Best: Sarah Stewart Holland


One of the best pieces of advice my mother ever gave me was about men. Her standard phrase was

"Men are just desserts - not the main course!" 

She didn't want me to find my value or happiness in men. Instead, she instilled a sense of independence and confidence in me as I was growing up.

I thought it was great advice and decided to share it with the editors of Real Simple magazine when they asked for the best pieces of motherly advice. It was a great Mother's Day present when they picked my entry for the May 2006 edition. My mother now has it framed on her wall!


~ Sarah Stewart Holland

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