Happy Birthday, Miss Dolly!
Celebrate Dolly Parton's birthday with purchase benefitting Imagination Library!
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Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19, 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children born to a subsistence farm family. Dolly's family may have been poor, but she had dreams of doing something great. "I went to bed hungry many nights as a child," she's said. "It was a Dream that dressed me up when I was ragged, and it was a Dream that filled me up when I was hungry. Now it's my Dream to see that no child in this world ever goes hungry." When Dolly began making money as a singer and songwriter, she and her husband Carl Dean provided for her younger siblings. As much as her prolific songwriting career -- she just was awarded two Guinness World Records for her long-lived success -- Dolly is known for her amazing sense of humor, over-the-top style, and her kindness.
Now, y'all know that I'm basically obsessed with Dolly not only because of her amazing songs (Jolene is my favorite!) and her amazing films (9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias both had a huge impact on my early life!) but also because of her graciousness and kindness. I love that she's embraced all her fans and made Dollywood an inclusive, LGBT-friendly workplace. I love that she's providing preschool children around the world with books through the Imagination Library. And I love that she never forgets where she came from. Robert Harling, who wrote Steel Magnolias, recently recalled Dolly's amazing attitude on the film's set in a Garden and Gun article. While the film's other ladies were complaining about wearing heavy Christmas sweaters in the Louisiana heat, Dolly kept her cool, both proverbially and literally:" The women were dressed for Christmas, and Dolly was sitting on the swing. She had on that white cashmere sweater with the marabou around the neck, and she was just swinging, cool as a cucumber. Julia said, 'Dolly, we’re dying and you never say a word. Why don’t you let loose?' Dolly very serenely smiled and said, 'When I was young and had nothing, I wanted to be rich and famous, and now I am. So I’m not going to complain about anything.'" I mean, that's a lesson we could all take to heart: remembering the blessings we actually have.
Draper James Dolly Tee
To celebrate Dolly's birthday, our friends at Draper James are donating all of their online and in-store proceeds for the day to Dolly's Imagination Library. Y'all, this is seriously one of the coolest initiatives ever. Miss Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to provide books to the children of her hometown Sevierville, Tennessee. Dolly's mission to ensure that children had access to high-quality, age-appropriate books, regardless of household income, was designed to honor her own father, whose circumstances in the Appalachian hills of Tennessee led to his never learning to read or write. Over the past 22 years, the Imagination Library has mailed more than 100 million books to children in Australia, Belize, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. This service is completely free to the recipients, y'all! Over 1600 communities are served, and over 1.1 million children have registered! Here in Kentucky, there are over fifty Imagination Library affiliate programs. You can register your child aged 2-5, regardless of household income, if you live in an area supported by the Imagination Library.
I LOVE my What Would Dolly Do tee from Draper James, and I want the tote bag so badly. Celebrating Dolly's birthday AND helping kids have access to books sounds like a win-win reason to order it, doesn't it?
Do y'all love Dolly as much as I do? Tell me your favorite Dolly song or role in the comments below!
What to Buy on the L.L. Bean Winter Sale!
Classic, preppy staples on the January 2018 LL Bean Winter Sale!
(This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small per-click commission on some product links at no additional cost to you! Thank you for supporting HerKentucky.com!)
I love L.L. Bean, especially in the winter. Their footwear, flannel, and pajamas really are the best I've found. And, through tomorrow (Thursday the 4th), L. L. Bean has an additional 25% off all sale prices! I love this sale because there are so many things that you can use right now! Here are my picks for stocking up!
Slippers and House Shoes
Bean's slippers are the absolute best. I got Bob a pair of the flannel-lined leather slippers for Christmas; they've been the perfect thing for this cold weather snap! I've had my Wicked Good Camp Moccasins for a couple of winters now -- it might be time to stock up on a new pair!
Tote Bags
I love the open-top Boat & Tote for carrying odd- or over-sized items, or for daily errands. Order one to keep in your car. Trust me, it will cut the time you spend toting groceries/ Target run purchases in half! The Large bag in Mulberry is under $30!
Tees and Tanks
I LOVE the Unshrinkable Layering Tank. I have this in white and grey, and I wear it under everything from sundresses to sweaters. You can always use a few more plain tees to wear under sweaters and sweatshirts!
This sale is great, and it's made even better by Bean's free shipping! Let me know if you find any good deals - but don't forget it ends soon!
How I Shop the January 2017 Lilly Pulitzer After-Party Sale!
Fashion blogger tips for shopping the Lilly Pulitzer After-Party Sale!
(This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small per-click commission on some product links at no additional cost to you! Thank you for supporting HerKentucky.com!)
I'm sure that most of y'all know that the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts Wednesday morning, January 3rd. If you frequent fashion blogs, especially those with a preppy twist, then you've seen the basic tips, and you know to have your login and payment info ready. But, I have a few of my own tried-and-true after-party sale tricks to help you get exactly what you want in a hurry!
1. Visit the Palm!
This year, Lilly stores are getting a head start on the sale fun. You can shop the sale starting tomorrow, Tuesday the 2nd, as soon as your store opens! In Louisville and Lexington, we have the Peppermint Palm; both locations are filled with a great selection and the absolute friendliest sales staff!
2. Search by Style
The first thing I do when I get into the Lilly Sale is to search by style. For me, there are two Lilly pieces that always fit perfectly, hold up well, and generally work for my life. I start any Lilly sale by searching for those pieces: The Elsa Top and the Skipper Popover.
The Elsa Top
This is always the first thing I search for when buying Lilly. It's a silk blouse that can work with anything from jeans and shorts to skirts and tailored trousers. It often runs a little large, so I have a two-size range in this style. It's a popular style, and it goes quickly, so I search for Elsa tops, determine if there's one in my size (or my mom's) that I want, and make my first purchase.
The Skipper Popover
After I've assessed the Elsa situation, I move on to searching for Skipper Popovers. This is like a dressy, French Terry sweatshirt. There are a few variants on that style now, so "popover" is probably a better search term than "Skipper." Either way, this is my second favorite search, because I wear these tops year-round. I look for my size (and, again, my mom's!); I like to buy these so that they're a little large.
3. Search by Print
After I've looked for my favorite pieces, I search by print. If there was an absolute favorite print that I loved in the previous few months, I'll scan the sale for it. For example, during the January 2017 After-Party Sale, I looked for Psychedelic Sunshine, a print from August/ September 2016. I usually don't like to buy more than one piece in a particular print, but this one is so special that I wound up getting an Elsa and a midi skirt (I'd bought the Sophie dress when it was new in the stores!)
4. Shop by Size
After these searches, I finally search by size. I look for my size in tops, dresses, and skirts. I check what's available for my mom, and for my little nieces. And, I try not to buy more than we all need!
I bought my niece's first Lilly dress on the August 2015 After-Party sale!
5. Check Back In!
Because it is so hard to get online at the stroke of 8 on Wednesday morning, the Lilly Pulitzer crew has really gotten smart about pacing the sale. New styles will come on the site as the sale progresses. This year, they've announced that the sale will last three days rather than two. I promise, if y'all want to shop, you'll be able to!
Good Luck, and let me know what y'all find! How do you shop the After-Party Sale?
The HerKentucky Guide to Black Friday
Five great Black Friday sales
I know, I know. Y'all have seen a million, zillion Black Friday promos. And a trillion blogs about where you should shop. I won't waste a ton of your time; just wanted to alert you to five of my favorite sales!
Draper James
The Scoop: 25% off site wide with code Merry. (And 25% of all sales today goes to Girls, Inc.)
What to buy: Stock up on holiday party dresses for yourself and fun holiday gifts for your friends!
L.L. Bean
The Scoop: 25% off Bean Boots today with code Friday25. 20% off clothing and outerwear through Tuesday with code Thanks20.
What to buy: Classic Bean Boots. Holiday pajamas.
Pomegranate, Inc.
The Scoop: 50% off site wide today only with code Special50
What to buy: Table linens for holiday gatherings; cashmere blend ponchos.
Quest Outdoors
The Scoop: 20% off in-store and site wide with code FryDay2017
What to buy: Barbour coats and scarves!
Stoneware and Company
The Scoop: 10% off site wide with code BlackFriday10.
What to Buy: Classic Bachelor Button place settings. Christmas pottery.
What deals are you shopping today?
The HerKentucky Guide to L.L. Bean Boat & Tote Bags
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When the holidays roll around, my biggest worry is always packing. I don't pack lightly, and I always need another bag. L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bags are the bags I grab again and again for everyday travel. They're durable, have classic styling, and they can be ordered with a monogram! Here's a handy guide for which L.L. Bean bag to use in any situation!
I am obsessed with the Leather-Handled Boat & Tote for use as a casual purse/ work bag. It easily holds a laptop and an agenda or notebook. It's so perfect for on-the-go work or everyday errands.
The Medium Zip-Top Boat and Tote is great for carrying a hostess gift, the dogs' leashes and gear, or a change of clothes.
The Large Zip-Top Bags are ESSENTIAL, y'all. These actually slide in under the carry-on restrictions for most airlines. And they hold everything. They're perfect for a day or two of clothing change/ basic toiletries. Be sure to go with the long handles so you can carry these on your shoulder!
LL Bean Zip-Top Boat and Tote Bags | Draper James Lexington Leather Pin
The Large Open-Top Bag is FANTASTIC for oversized gear. I also love it for carrying bagged groceries in from the car!
Happy Traveling, y'all! Don't forget that all L.L. Bean is 25% off through tomorrow!
I Wish I Were In Lexington Weekend
Packing checklist for a trip to Lexington, KY for Keeneland and Kentucky Wildcats games!
I really wish I were in Lexington this weekend y'all! It's the ultimate autumn trifecta: A UK basketball game, Keeneland racing, and a UK football game. I can't make it there, and I'm feeling homesick, so I've put together the ultimate "I wish I were in Lexington" road trip checklist!
Photo Details: Striped UK Tote bag c/o Pomegranate, Inc. Open Top Large Boat and Tote, Zip Top Large Boat and Tote, Leather Handle Boat and Tote -- L.L. Bean. Black Lab Needlepoint Keychain c/o Smathers and Branson. Hunter Original Tall Glossy Boots
It's the best weekend of the year to take in all the best that Lexington has to offer!
Photo Details: Alex and Ani UK Bracelet c/o Alumni Hall; Bourbon & Boweties Basketball and Football Bracelets
The first stop on the Big Blue tour would be Friday afternoon's #seeblue day at Keeneland, showcasing the UK Cheer and Dance Teams, the Band, and the DanceBlue initiative!
Skirt and top: A New Day at Target; Pearls c/o Versona; Tory Burch Boots c/o Sassy Fox Consignment
Then I'd stop for a quick work break
and head out to the first UK Basketball game of the season.
Photo Details: Elbow Patch Tee c/o Gameday Couture; American Ragg Booties at Macy's.
Saturday morning, I'd go with a dressier look for a Keeneland Dining Room
Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top and Cashmere Sweater; Talbots Wool Skirt; Kate Spade Shoes via Stella's Resale Boutique
Of course, tailgating is the next item on the agenda! I'm sure lots of folks I know will be out to see the big rivalry game versus Tennessee!
The forecast calls for a cold, rainy night, so I'd dress warm!
Are you headed to any of the weekend festivities in Lexington, or are you enjoying from afar like me?
Draper James Hold Your Horses Capsule Collection is Back!
Just a little heads up, y'all! The Draper James "Hold Your Horses" Capsule Collection is back in stock! I know y'all loved these items at Derby time, and the collection is back and improved for Fall Keeneland/ Breeders' Cup/ November Churchill Downs season!
This tote is on my must-have list, and the tee gets so many compliments every time I wear it! The hat would be soooo perfect for the little autumn getaway I'm dreaming of lately!
Click here for $20 off your Draper James online order!! Happy Shopping, y'all!!
