Small Business Saturday (and all season) in Lexington

Did you know that for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, about $68 stays in the local economy compared to only $43 if spent at a national chain? 

Here in Lexington, we have a great organization called Local First Lexington which advocates for shopping local all year long. To bring Small Business Saturday into focus and to encourage shopping local all holiday season, Local First Lexington is having a "Shift Your Spending" Challenge.

Between November 19-January 1, shop at Local First Lexington merchants and save your receipts. Once you have 10 local receipts, you can enter the challenge here and be entered to win $500 in gift certificates to local businesses!

Need some recommendations for members? Here are my top 10:

1. Coffee Times Coffee House: Coffee, tea, and gifts
2. Lexington Beerworks: Great spot to take out of towners for a brew, or to get your home brewing supplies
3. West Sixth Brewery: Get the IPA
4. Good Foods Market & Cafe: Local and organic food and awesome hot bar
5. The Morris Book Shop: Super cute book shop with a great selection
6. The Crushed Violet: Best place to get a fragrance 
7. Bluegrass Barkery: My pup's favorite store
8. Street Scene: Amazing vintage boutique
9. Columbia Steakhouse: Get the nighthawk, and don't skimp on dessert
10. Room Service: Furniture and accessory consignment - have gotten a couple great pieces of furniture here

Where will you be shopping locally in Lexington?

Small Business Saturday: Shop Prestonsburg

Here at HerKentucky, we're all about shopping local. We love to support the small businesses that make our Kentucky towns unique and awesome. This holiday weekend, we're doing all we canto support Small Business Saturday by patronizing our favorite local stores. We hope you will too! -- HCW

If you find yourself in Eastern Kentucky this weekend, I highly recommend a trip to Prestonsburg's Court Street. Downtown Prestonsburg is really flourishing lately; cute new stores are nestled alongside longtime favorites. Shopping in Prestonsburg is so different than it was when I was a kid, even though Billy Ray's hamburgers are as great as ever. If you're shopping in Prestonsburg today, you should definitely stop by Daffodils and Lad n' Lassie.

Daffodils is an adorable little boutique that always has the perfect gift. You can find a pair of TOMS, a precious little throw pillow, or even a new outfit. As my six year-old cousin would say, "I need to go to Daffodils to get a new charm for my Pandora bracelet!" Everything there is cute and oh-so-girly!

Lad n' Lassie has been the place for kids' clothes in Floyd County since the 1960s. When I was a kid, we always made a special trip there to pick up my tights and leotards for cheerleading and gymnastics. I was always mesmerized by their collection of Madame Alexander dolls. These days, I love picking up presents for local baby showers at Lad n' Lassie. It makes me feel so connected to home!

Where are y'all shopping for Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday Shopping

Here's a true confession for you: I'm not much of a shopper. I dislike crowds, I dislike trying on clothes, and I dislike pushy salespeople.

With all of that in mind, plus the fact that I really like sleep, there's a very slim chance that you'd ever find me joining in the madness and mayhem of Black Friday. (I also really hate the new trend of of pulling employees away from their families on Thanksgiving Day so mega corporations can have a few more hours of sales.)

Last year, though, I got on board with the idea of Small Business Saturday. I got turned onto the idea of a day dedicated to shopping in locally owned stores when I got an email from American Express touting a $25 statement credit for purchases from small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Saving money and supporting my community? That's a deal I can get down with!

I've preregistered my AmEx card and will be visiting some new small businesses and going back to some old favorites. On Saturday, I plan to buy some gifts for myself and my family and friends from:

• Larkspur Press - a specialty letterpress print shop in Monterey, Kentucky. I love their broadsheets and special editions of Kentucky authors' works (Wendell Berry, Ed McClanahan, and more).
  
• Poor Richard's Books - my local bookstore will see some purchases for me and family members. I'll likely stop in for my favorite Chai Latte at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe next door.
  
• Finally, to counteract the roughly 4000 calories I ate on Thanksgiving Day, I'll be heading to the local running shop, Cool Comfort Shoes, to buy my favorite running socks and check out their deals on Uggs and Sperrys (I may give in to the Uggs fad. Uggh.).

 Where will you be shopping this Small Business Saturday?

Woodford Humane Black Friday

Black Friday.

The very words send chills up my spine. I have no desire to get up in the middle of the night and fight the crowds for a half-price TV or sweater, thank you very much. Today, however, Woodford Humane Society is running a Black Friday sale that I can certainly get behind. All approved applicants can adopt a black dog or cat for free.

Now, as y'all know, both of my furbabies have dark coats. I spend a good portion of my days sweeping up black fur. And it just breaks my heart when I hear that darker dogs and cats are far less likely to be adopted from animal shelters. Dark-coated dogs are more likely to be seen as menacing or ill. A lot of times, they simply aren't adopted because they don't photograph well. Not to go all Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercial on you, but this is a heartbreaking phenomenon.

From rescue to pearls...

Here at HerKentucky, we're all about pets. Among our seven writers, we have ten dogs, a cat and a turtle. We always believe there's room for one more. So, if you have the means and the inclination, please consider celebrating Black Friday with the amazing folks at Woodford Humane. Tell them Max and Sophie sent you.

The Holiday Breakfast Buffet

Thanksgiving isn't my favorite.

I never quite know what to wear. The menu is the same year after year. And there's Thanksgiving's ongoing battle with Christmas. It seems Thanksgiving brings out my most neurotic tendencies.

Easter Breakfast

When I think of Thanksgiving, I also think of all those times we waited and waited to eat. When we were kids, there was always this sense that "there's no need to eat when we'll have all that food." But, you know, Thanksgiving dinner wasn't until 1 or 2. That's a long-assed time to wait.

Christmas Breakfast

As an adult, I often find myself at my parents' for the holidays. I've fallen into the habit of preparing a holiday morning buffet. Easy recipes I make time and again. Things everyone loves. It's a great way to start the morning, and you don't have to wait so long until the big holiday meal. Sometimes, I make a quiche. Sausage balls are always a good call. And country ham biscuits (always on Sister Schubert's rolls!) are everybody's favorite.

This morning, I put together the traditional buffet. We talked UK basketball. And we eased into the holiday. It was a great start to the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from HerKentucky!

Did Somebody Say Jello?

It's just not a southern holiday until somebody makes something with Jello.

Like Megan, I am blessed to have grown up with a grandmother who's an amazing cook. As my granny has gotten older, however, she hasn't been able to cook like she once did. She still quilts like a boss, but she's no longer able to cook.

This year, she asked for my help in making her cranberry salad. This concoction has three packs of Jello, and is the most Thanksgiving-y thing around. There aren't many of us who actually eat it, but it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without this dish on the table.

Nan's Cranberry Jello Salad
3 packs strawberry Jello (cherry works, too.)
1 cup sugar
3.5 cups hot water
1 Red Delicious apple, peeled and diced
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1 cup pecans
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can crushed pineapple (use the juice, too!)

Mix together Jello and sugar in large bowl. Pour in water and allow to thicken slightly. Stir in other ingredients and pour in flat-bottomed dish. Let chill overnight.

Boom. Thanksgiving in a dish.