New Year, New Reason to Make a List!

I'm a mighty big fan of lists. I love making them. They make me feel so organized and ready for whatever it is I'm making the list for. 

Of course, usually once the list is actually made, I feel a weird sense of accomplishment just for making the list and then I lose interest. It's a problem.

One of my most favorite authors, Victoria Schwab (who has an amazing book The Archived coming out in January which is beside the point but I can't help but tell you because amazing), posted a link on Twitter yesterday to her own list of "101 Things to do in 1001 days."  The list comes from DayZeroProject.com, a goal-setting website that's free to use. That gives me a little less than three years to accomplish the things I choose to put on the list.

And being the addict that I am, of course I'm all over this. 

As it turns out, coming up with 101 things to do is pretty daunting. I'm trying to think in terms of life goals, rather than my usual "Empty the laundry basket"- and "Pick up some Cherry Coke Zero"- type goals.

As I start to create my list, I'm focusing on two main things: writing and traveling. I thought this might interest you because a lot of my travel goals are Kentucky-related. I'd like my 6-year-old daughter to get to know some of the cool things to be found in the state that she lives in, just like I did when I was a kid. So obviously, a few easy Kentucky attractions are on my "Must Do" list, such as visit Mammoth Cave, go see The Stephen Foster Story, and go watch UK play in a Final Four game (because we all know that'll happen again in the next three years anyway). Aside from the normal Kentucky activities, I'm using a book, Kentucky Curiosities, to help me find other lesser-known places to check out.

My list isn't complete yet, but I'll be adding to it over the next few days. Feel free to take a look, and if you decide to make one, please link it in the comments. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for my list!

My 2013 Kentucky Resolutions

Well, my 2013 Kentucky resolutions are going to sound a LOT like my 2012 Kentucky Resolutions. Let's revisit shall we?

1. Visit Mammoth Cave. A national park and the longest cave system in the world - not to mention just about two and a half hours from my house - Mammoth Cave seems to always be at the top of any list of Kentucky tourist attractions. I'm not quite sure how I escaped childhood without a single field trip there but I plan to remedy that this year. 
2.  Become a Kentucky Colonel. One of the most humiliating moments of my life was when I worked for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. One of the interns found out I was from Kentucky and exclaimed, "Are you a Kentucky Colonel?!? I am!" He had never even been to Kentucky. He was from NEW JERSEY. Oh, the shame. 
3.  Visit Bubbleland. The Kentucky Bend fascinates me. I'm not saying a visit would be life-changing but it's close and seems like something you just gotta see. 
4. Try Col. Bill Newsom's Aged Kentucky Country Ham. This recently popped up on a essential Kentucky list in Garden and Gun. One of the few culinary experiences in Western Kentucky, it seems crazy I haven't tried it yet. 
5.  Go to Tater Day in Benton. Every cool kid in my high school skipped school to go to Tater Day. I'm not sure why I never went except that I wasn't that cool. Well, there's nothing to stop me now and I love sweet potatoes.

Y'all, if it weren't for my beloved Nanny this year would have been a COMPLETE and TOTAL bust. Up to about a week ago, I hadn't checked a single stinking thing off the list. Luckily, I have the best grandmother IN THE WORLD and for Christmas she presented me and my husband with our Kentucky Colonel certificates. I literally squealed. 

Need photographic proof?

I have to say if I was going to pick one thing to check off my list this would have been the one!

But still! Time to step it up. My husband went to Princeton about a thousand times for work and there is NO reason he couldn't have brought me back some ham! And Bubbleland hasn't gone anywhere! And was I REALLY too busy to miss Tater Day.

No more.

This is the year! I'm will NOT be reposting this list again. 2013 is the year!

~ Sarah Stewart Holland

Game Day Shrimp and Grits Casserole

Please forgive the horrid iPhone photo.

Having people over for the Big Game today?

This shrimp and grits casserole is amazingly creamy and hearty and only takes about 30 minutes to prep and cook. The shrimp comes out so tender! It's also a great way to showcase Kentucky Proud ingredients like Weisenberger Mill grits, Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese, and your favorite Western Kentucky country ham.

• 2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
• 1/2 cup Parmesan or other hard white cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp, coarsely chopped
• 4 oz country ham, diced
• 2 tablespoons dried minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (or less, to taste)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine milk and broth in saucepan; bring to a boil. Add grits and about 1/4 teaspoon salt to pan. Stir constantly, cooking about 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese, butter, and cream cheese. Stir in remaining ingredients; salt and pepper to taste. (I like this quite spicy, but you may want to cut down the cayenne and garlic.) Pour into greased 11x7" baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until set.

There you go. Game Day ready. The Cats or Cards serving pieces are your call.
(Serving pieces via Louisville Stoneware.)

Ten Great Things about Basketball in the Commonwealth

There have to be at least one billion articles out there about today's big game.

It's a rivalry, you know. A big one. We're only a few months removed from last spring's big Kentucky-Louisville Final Four game. The 'Cats are defending their title as 2012 National Champs. The highly-ranked Cards have gotten plenty of buzz as title contenders this year.

via The Boston Globe.

And, you know, we all have a side. Most Kentuckians are obsessive fans of one team or the other. (My girl Sarah well knows that her disinterest places her in the minority.) We picked our sides early in life, and we're sticking to them.

This year, I'm just not feeling the hater vibe that's all over the internet. My house will be decked in blue, while more than a few of my friends will be sporting their red. And, that's that.  The Commonwealth has enough great basketball to go around. So, in the spirit of sportsmanship, here's five great things about each basketball program.

Five Great Things About UK Basketball:
1.  Coach Rupp -- The Man in the Brown Suit. His 42 year tenure at Kentucky holds the record for the fifth winningest head coaching stint of all time.
2. Basil Hayden -- Although sadly not the namesake of Beam's small-batch 80 proof, Hayden was the leading scorer in the 1919-20 season, and Head Coach in 1926. He lived to be 103 years old.
3.  Mr. Keightley --  The bench still doesn't look the same without Mr. Wildcat, who held the position of Equipment Manager for 48 years.
4. Sam Bowie -- In 1984, the all-star Wildcat center was drafted ahead of UNC's Michael Jordan.
5. Dan Issel -- He scored 53 points in a single game, wearing quite possibly the world's shortest shorts. It's an amazing accomplishment.

Five Great Things about U of L Basketball:
1. The Yum! Center -- A truly amazing, state-of-the-art arena and a welcome addition to the Louisville skyline.
2. Wes Unseld -- A first round draft pick in 1968, Unseld followed up his pro basketball career with a stint as Head Coach of the Washington Bullets. Perhaps the greatest Card to ever don the Red and Black, Unseld went on to found a private school.
3. Denny Crum -- Coach Crum's name is synonymous with Cardinal Basketball. During his thirty years as U of L's Head Coach, he was named National Coach of the Year three times.
4. Pervis Ellison -- With 2000 career points and 1000 rebounds for the Cards, Ellison was one of the driving forces of 1990s college basketball. An overall number one NBA draft pick, he went on to an 11 year pro career.
5. The 1948 NAIA championship, the 1956 NIT championship, and the 1980 and 1986 NCAA championships. U of L is the only school to hold titles for three different major post-season championships.

Are you wearing Red or Blue today?

New Year's Eve

What are you doing New Year's Eve? 

Fancy: Dress- French Connection, Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

Dressy- Top: Vince, Shoes: Sam Edelman

Casual- Sweater: Markus Lupfer, Jeans: Rag/Bone, Shoes: INC Macy's

New Year's Eve events in Kentucky (click for info): 

Louisville

Lexington

Elizabeth Elfen Designs

Elizabeth Elfen Designs brings a little Kentucky charm to the Big Apple. Transylvania alumna Elizabeth Elfen Johnston's eponymous handbag line is as glamorous and charming as its namesake. Elizabeth currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her well-dressed foot and ankle surgeon husband, whom she's nicknamed Dr. Hotpants!

Elizabeth was kind enough to answer a few questions about her designs, her personal style, and her Old Kentucky Home. She's also offering a custom bag for one lucky HerKentucky reader!-- HCW

Tell us a little about yourself.

At Woodford Reserve

I was born in New Orleans, LA and moved around to Virginia Beach, VA and St. Louis, MO before landing in Paducah, KY for my first year of high school. There, I fell in love with Kentucky’s elegance and southern charm and continued on to Transylvania University where I started, with the best intentions, as a premed/biology major. Whilst at Transy, my love of creating art grew and I graduated with a B. A. in Studio Art. After graduation, I moved to Florence, Italy to study 
Footwear and Accessory Design at Polimoda and reveled
 in the glamorous Italian lifestyle. Upon graduation, I moved to NYC and
 worked with my favorite fashion houses HOLLYWOULD, Lorelei NYC 
and Amanda Pearl.

To build upon my love of handbags, I went to work at an exclusive
 contemporary handbag manufacturer and immersed myself in all things
 pertaining to handbags! After a yearlong stint in the factory, I set out 
to make my own feminine contemporary clutches that add a touch of
 approachable glamour to one’s everyday life and night!

How did your company come about?

During my time at the factory, I noticed a void within the contempory handbag world. Everything just seemed so masculine, functional and lacked glamour. Because of this, I formed my company, Elizabeth Elfen, in 2011 to add a more feminine and glamorous 
touch to today’s contemporary handbags. I am inspired by old Hollywood glamour 
and a love of practicality and I strive to make clutches that go from 
brunch with the girls to après dinner drinks later that evening,
 all with the quick adjustment of your strap.

Bourbon or Beer?

With an actual pair of Dorothy's Ruby Slippers!

Maker’s Mark Manhattan straight up and extra frosty!

Coffee or Tea?

Is champagne an acceptable answer? [ed. note: Always! -- HCW]

Favorite spots in Lexington?

Cheapside Bar and Grill, Keeneland, Gratz Park Inn and Ramsey’s

Favorite things to do in NY?

Turning non-Kentuckians on to the culinary masterpiece that is the Kentucky Hot Brown. Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain has a great one.

Favorite Fashion Advice?

Fit is everything for everyone. When my husband and I started dating, he was wearing things that weren’t right for him, i.e., unfitted jeans, cargo shorts, ill-fitting hooded sweatshirts…. I could go on and on. I knew that he was a keeper, so I put in the time to outfit him in things that fit him properly. We put him in some better fitting jeans and got him some shorts that showcased his rocking calves and now he receives compliment after compliment!

Elizabeth has graciously offered one HerKentucky reader a custom handbag! Working from her classic 10" by 5" and 1.25" shape, she'll collaborate with you to design the perfect bag for you. It'll even be named for you! Just enter the Rafflecopter drawing before midnight on Christmas Eve!

a Rafflecopter giveaway