HerKentucky's Holiday Wish List for the Sports Fan
Great gift ideas for the Kentucky native and sports fan on your holiday list!
Here in Kentucky, we love our college sports teams a lot. Our loyalties are pretty intense, and we never tire of finding new ways to rep our teams. Here are the HerKentucky picks for the very best gifts for your favorite sports fan!
Tervis Tumbler Water Bottle. I LOVE mine; I carry it everywhere. This UK Logo bottle will please any Wildcats fan!
Kentucky Wildcats Business Card Holder by Louisville Stoneware. What a fun way to bring your team loyalty to the office with you! Contact Stoneware for customization options.
Tipsy Elves UK Ugly Christmas Sweater. They call it "Ugly"; I think it's pretty cute. Either way, it's the most unique piece of Kentucky Wildcats swag I've seen in a while. (Available in ladies' and men's styles!)
Louisville Stoneware U of L Cardinals Salt and Pepper Shakers. The cutest Cardinals I've ever seen, and a perfect keepsake for your favorite Louisville fan.
University of Kentucky needlepoint cufflinks by Smathers and Branson. So preppy and cute!
Louisville Cardinals Women's Red Metallic Thread Scarf. Stay warm at the Belk Bowl!
Clayton & Crume L1C4 keychain. This is simply adorable. Heavy canvas twill affixed to high quality leather and made right here in Louisville.
For the ridiculous UK fan who has everything, how about a Rupp Arena replica dog bed? I can assure you that I'd be getting these for my own dogs if they made 'em big enough.
This EKU Tervis Tumbler is perfect for the Colonels fan on your list. I think Santa may bring this one to my dad...
Tickets to the UK - U of L Basketball Game. It's a long-shot, I know. The tickets are astronomical. But, something tells me that this game will be worth it. If you find any good leads, let me know.
U of L Fingerless Gloves. How cute are these?
A Trip to the Bahamas to watch WKU in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. If that isn't feasible, then how about the sweatshirt for the event?
Clayton & Crume #BBN keychain. So nobody forgets you're part of Coach Cal's #lafamilia.
Louisville Cardinals Needlepoint Flask from Smathers and Branson. The cutest way to sneak a nip.
We're so excited to give away a few of these amazing presents to lucky HerKentucky readers. Clayton & Crume has provided us with a UK keychain and a U of L keychain, and Tipsy Elves sent us a ladies' sweater! Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below!
Good luck, and Happy Holidays from HerKentucky!
HerKentucky's Holiday Wish List for the Bourbon Lover
The best holiday presents for bourbon lovers
Most Kentuckians have at least one serious bourbon lover on their holiday gift list. Many of us have plenty of bourbon lovers who'd just adore a present that celebrates Kentucky's signature spirit. Here are the absolute best pieces of bourbon swag I've seen this year; I'm sure the folks on your holiday list would agree!
Grandpa's Cough Syrup Needlepoint Flask, Smathers & Branson. What a hilarious way to transport a little nip!
HerKentucky's Shot of Bourbon Tee. If you'd rather be somebody's shot of bourbon than everybody's cup of tee, we've got the right shirt for you!
A bottle of 23 year-old Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve. Why not shoot for the good stuff?
Drink More Bourbon, Y'all Leather Coasters by Clayton & Crume. These are gorgeous, high-quality waxed leather coasters with an important embossed message.
Subscription to the Bourbon Review. The best way to keep up with the latest labels and trends in bourbon.
A bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve. This high-corn and rye blend is getting great reviews.
I'd Rather Be Drinking Bourbon Mug, Louisville Stoneware. This is on my own letter to Santa this year. Why not serve up your morning coffee with a shot of truth?
An individual bourbon barrel with your favorite team's logo, Bluegrass Barrels. Dispense your favorite blend from a unique tabletop barrel.
Bourbon and Bad Decisions Tee, Bourbon Built. Y'all, I just love this. It gets straight to the point.
23-Year Pappy Long-Sleeved Tee, Pappy & Co. If you can't give a bottle of Pappy, this gorgeous shirt is the next best thing.
We've teamed with some of our very favorite Kentucky-based brands to help you (or your favorite bourbon lover) out a little. We're offering y'all three exciting bourbon swag giveaways. You can enter to win a Bourbon & Bad Decisions tee, a Pappy & Co long-sleeved tee, or a set of 4 Clayton & Crume leather coasters using the Rafflecopter widgets below.
Cheers, y'all!
‘Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!’ (KFC's Christmas in Japan!)
‘Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!’: Japan's tradition of KFC for Christmas Dinner.
I love Christmas. A lot.
Basically, from the moment the Thanksgiving turkey is divided up into meat for hot browns and bones for stock, I'm all about twinkly lights and cheering on Dreamy Prime Minster Hugh Grant as he tells off the creepiest of American Presidents, Billy Bob Thornton. The entire month of December, I'm high on bourbon balls and tinsel. Today, I learned a factoid that takes my Christmas obsession to the next level.
Did y'all know that EATING KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN IS A CHRISTMAS TRADITION IN JAPAN?
Let's say that again: EATING KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN IS A CHRISTMAS TRADITION IN JAPAN. Sorry to shout, but this makes me unbelievably happy.
It seems that, in 1974, Kentucky Fried Chicken's Japanese Operations (the chain is known simply as "Kentucky" in Japan) was struggling, one million yen in debt, when they unveiled a simple advertising strategy: ‘Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!’ ("Kentucky for Christmas!"). Now, forty years later, many Japanese people pre-order a catered KFC meal to celebrate the holiday.
In a country where less that 1% of the population is Christian, and poultry dishes aren't all that common, Kentucky Fried Chicken has established a kitschy American Christmas tradition. I love the Kentucky connection to the Japanese holiday. I mean, my granny always made fried chicken for Christmas Eve; why not celebrate with the Colonel's famous version of the same dish?
Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii, y'all!
Finding the Right Thanksgiving Outfit
Finding the right Thanksgiving outfit is always tricky.
Thanksgiving and I have a bit of a history.
I love the idea of a holiday centered around giving thanks and feasting with loved ones. But, I always feel that Thanksgiving suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. Is it a fancy day of feasting or a casual day of food and football? Do you pull out a nice outfit for the family photos or, like Joey Tribbiani, do you look for stretchy pants to accommodate the day's indulgences? Do you make a quick trip to visit family for a day or two or do you celebrate with friends in your chosen town? Seriously, pull yourself together and figure out what you stand for, Thanksgiving.
Of course, I'm joking. Thanksgiving is about celebrating all the ways in which we've been blessed; we give thanks for the bounty with which we've been blessed. We visit with our loved ones and we reflect on the year.
"The Pilgrims' Progress", Life Magazine's Thanksgiving cover 1914.
But that still doesn't mean I know what to wear. In fact, I never feel like I'm going to get it right.
I always feel like I should wear a basic sweater dress and tall boots. A classic, elegant autumn outfit, right?
If I dress up that much, though, I find myself among folks who are wearing yoga gear and sneakers. It's comfortable, for sure, but it never feels right for a holiday to me.
I always decide on an outfit that's pulled-together, but casual. Jeans, a scarf, a nice sweater, and boots. Something that says "I'm here for a holiday, but I can still walk the dogs or help with the dishes."
Besides, isn't it more important to focus on the feast and fellowship than the ensemble?
The HerLouisville Guide to Fast and Fun Holiday Shopping
I have decided that this is the year that my holidays will be stress-free. This morning, I awoke to over two inches of snow on my deck and decided that, if it's going to look like this, I'm going to decorate for Christmas a little at a time. On my schedule and at my leisure. Yes, it's the first time I've ever broken the "Wait Until After Thanksgiving" Christmas decor, rule, but I want to enjoy the season.
My yard on November 17th!
I also want to enjoy the season by making my holiday shopping a fun event rather than a stressful chore. Over on HerLouisville today, I'm sharing my plan for fast and fun shopping.
What is your plan for tackling the holiday season this year?
21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday
Three years ago, my husband lost his job two weeks before Thanksgiving. The parting was unexpected and traumatic and it forced me to re-examine many things about our lives. Most importantly, it forced me to re-examine my favorite time of the year, the holiday season.
That year I celebrated Christmas without consuming and I learned that fancy Christmas cards, a giant Christmas tree, or big holiday parties are not essential to a happy holiday.
The next year we were in a better financial position and consuming again entered into the equation. However, the consciousness I experienced that special year led me to celebrate with a newfound intention. Last year, I took all the lessons I learned about what does and does not make a special holiday season and joined forces with my dear friend Nurtured Mama to offer a very special e-course on achieving peace during a chaotic time of year.
21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday consists of 21 days of emails beginning December 1st and running through Winter Solstice on December 21, as well as membership in our 21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday Facebook group.
This course is basically like an online holiday season life coach and support group.
Imagine starting your day with a dear friend who just wants the happiest holiday season for you. Or how would you like to share your morning coffee with a friend who gently asks "Are you taking good care of yourself?" or has conveniently scoured the Internet for quick and easy Advent ideas to make you feel like a Christmas queen with minimal effort?
That's us!
Nurtured Mama and I have written gentle reminders and inspirational ideas on how to decide what holiday memories are important to YOU, how to capture those Christmas moments that come and go so quickly, how to keep the consumption and indulging to a healthy minimal, how to simplify gift giving, and much, much more!
We tackle everything from the emotional, like how to deal with difficult people during an already stressful time and how to embrace the romance of the season, to the practical, like simple gift DIYs and easy traditions to start tomorrow.
Nothing is required. You can give as little or as much energy to our suggestions as you want. What WE want is to make this holiday season brighter, easier, and yes more peaceful!