Summer Inspiration

As the weather heats up and the colors get brighter, I'm feeling inspired by all thing summer, particularly those little pieces of the season that are distinctively Southern or distinctively Kentucky.

~ Sarah Stewart Holland

WHY Louisville? Because I'm Too Far From Home, That's Why.

Just last week, our middle son turned six, and he received a bag of hometown treats from his Aunt Debbie. Frankly, I'm a little jealous.

While not an exact replica, I love this nod to the Belle of Louisville.

Although not a Louisville native, I am a native of the original 502 area code. To this day, I feel some disdain for that 270 interloper.

I noticed this sticker in the bag:

I was immediately curious, so I decided to do a little research. WHY Louisville, as you would expect from any business founded in the proudly quirky Highlands area, specializes in "locally designed shirts and accessories, art prints, books, cards, unique gifts, and general curiosities."  The original location is on Bardstown Road, and there is a newly opened store on Market Street, which is in this NuLu place that was pretty much just Joe Ley Antiques and the Mayan Café when I was around. Again, a little jealous. Luckily for those of us far from home, we have the interwebs! So come along and go shopping with me at whylouisville.com.

I need this:

But I'll need that heart to head west quite a bit... KY Home by Kenny Andreozzi

And this:

Perfect to remember my first Louisville home, the outrageously underpriced and oversized Eagle's Eyrie apartments on Lower Brownsboro, across from Pat's Steakhouse. Hello, choo-choo... Clifton/Crescent Hill Print by Madpixel

And this.

Because outside of my four year stint in Lexington, I had never lived away from a river until we moved here to NC, and I can hardly stand it. Need a river rushing by. But honestly, having the ocean two hours away is ok, too. River City Ladies by Andrew Spalding

Not from Louisville? Never lived there? Don't care because you think Louisvillians are in favor of secession from the rest of the Commonwealth? Nah. But you can still support Kentucky artists and rep your home state!

Seen on flags in each of the Commonwealth's 120 counties 2 Legit 2 Quit by WHY Louisville

Or how about showing some love for the Greatest?

You can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in this shirt! The Greatest by State Champs

After browsing, I know I will be doing some shopping at their online store. What catches your eye at WHY Louisville?

Wildcat Service Dogs

I recently heard about the most inspiring thing, y'all.

State Farm's Neighborhood Assist Program provides grant money to deserving charities in all 50 states. The Kentucky charity that just received a $25,000 grant from State Farm combines a couple of my very favorite things -- UK, dogs, and helping others. Wildcat Service Dogs is a training organization based at the University of Kentucky which pairs service dog puppies with college students who train the dogs. The charity's description from the  WSD website does a great job of telling their story:

Wildcat Service Dogs (WSD) is a newly formed service dog training organization at the University of Kentucky that is dedicated to training assistance dogs and raising awareness about the laws that protect them.  All of our dogs are owned by WSD, and upon graduation from our program, they will move onto advanced training at an advanced training organization.

All WSD dogs are raised by college students, who are responsible for the socialization, training and housing of a service dog puppy for up to 2 years.  All of our trainers go through a rigorous selection and basic training process prior to receiving their puppy.  All trainers are required to attend weekly training sessions and monthly socialization outings in addition to writing a weekly progress report.

Wildcat Service Dogs was founded in the spring of 2011, when University of Kentucky (UK) student Katie Skarvan received an assistance dog Goldendoodle puppy to train.  While attending classes at UK, several students approached Katie and asked her how to get involved in the puppy raising process.  A few months later, a second student received a dog to train through this program.  The name of this student is Jennifer Hamilton, and the dog that she raised was an Australian Shepherd x Poodle mix.  The organization grew from there, and WSD officially registered with the University of Kentucky in August of that same year.

This is just amazing, y'all. I mean, college students helping dogs who help the community. What an amazingly deserving cause. And what initiative for college kids to undertake this! And they help gorgeous puppies like Chevy

and Jackson

 grow up into caring, responsible dogs that help people who need them.

Thanks so much to Wildcat Service Dogs for the great work they do for the Central Kentucky community and thanks to State Farm for letting us know about the grant. You can donate to WSD here, or learn more on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Who's inspiring y'all lately?

Finding Inspiration

May is all about Inspiration here on HerKentucky. 

Last week, our writers posted about the mothers who'd inspired them and the many ways that Kentucky has inspired their own parenting decisions. As we planned the editorial calendar for the rest of the month, we talked about additional ways to spotlight the Kentucky women who've inspired us -- mothers and daughters, graduates and brides. It's a really well put-together plan; I'm quite proud of it. Speaking of which, did you see the awesome blog entry I wrote yesterday?

No, you sure didn't. Because I've, as my grandmother would say, run plum out of inspiration. I just have nothing to say. For a "word girl", as my editrix at Ace calls me, that's a bad situation indeed.  Recently, I've been working on a novel, a couple of freelance projects, and some essays. And, for the past few days, they've all been on hold. I just have nothing to say. I'm in serious need of inspiration.

I've been thinking a lot about inspiration lately. As a writer, I find that my work is intimately tied into my geographical surroundings. I write more about traditions and history when I'm in the mountains, and my work is ever-so-slightly lighter when I'm in the city. If I leave a piece incomplete in transit, I have trouble making the parts match tonally. As a writer, I'm obsessed with the implications of regionalism. It's not surprising that I count Mr Faulkner and Pat Conroy as literary heroes. Simply put, I think that "Place" is the key to most stories. (By the way, who wants to road trip to Nashville with me next week to go see that Chinese-American New Yorker who wrote a bluesy novel about the Mississippi Delta, which he's never seen? He's doing a Q&A at Parnassus, and I have so many questions for him.)

I take so much inspiration from the accents and customs around me and the landscape that frames them. Maybe I shouldn't try so hard to force inspiration; maybe it's just there. Maybe it's all around me if I just sit back and observe. Makes sense, right?

The other day, I stood in my mother's yard with my iPhone for several minutes, trying to capture the perfect photo of a butterfly in the lilac bush. It was patient, and so was I, and eventually the whole thing came together in a stunning fashion. 

But, you know, the other handful of pictures were pretty damned good as well. And, if the butterfly hadn't fully opened its wings, or if it had never turned to just the right angle, it still would have been a beautiful and perfect moment. I suppose I should look at inspiration the same way -- the perfect circumstances may never arise. The perfect inspiration likely isn't out there; maybe there are plenty "perfectly good enough" moments to kick me into gear. 

What about y'all? Where do you find your inspiration?

The HerKentucky "What You Really Wanted For Mother's Day" Wish List

Happy Mother's Day, y'all!

I hope y'all woke up to homemade cappucinos and little blue boxes from Tiffany's.  But, you know, you probably didn't.

Whether you're a mother (to children or pets!) or a daughter, you deserve something special today. If you didn't get the present you want, you should treat yourself to something nice. We asked two of our favorite Lexington shops to suggest ways for you to pamper yourself, and they came up with ideas that I think you'll all love.

AJ's Casuals suggests lotions, candles, and a new pair of Jack Rogers for spring. I adore those pink ones, don't you?

Peggy's Gifts suggests this vintage Chanel button jewelry. How stunning is this?

So, after church and brunch, y'all should run out to Chevy Chase and do something for yourself. You deserve it!!

Thanks to AJ's and Peggy's for all their help! And don't forget to stop by our {Mother's} Day linkup to tell your Mother's Day story. Have a great day, y'all!

{No member of the HerKentucky writing staff was compensated in any way for this post.}

HerKentucky Mother's Day Wish List

If, like me, you're still shopping for a Mother's Day present (I promise it'll get done today!!), then you likely fall into one of two camps. You're either a terrible procrastinator,or you're waiting for just the perfect gift to emerge. I'm probably a little guilty of both -- I've saved up the shopping duties for a day when I'll already be running a bunch of errands and I just couldn't bear to mail it in with yet another box of Godiva truffles. 

I assume that I'm not the only one who's still shopping, so I contacted a few of my very favorite Kentucky shops and boutiques for last-minute Mother's Day present suggestions to share with HerKentucky readers. They came up with some unique and amazing products that I think your mom will love. There are a few that you'll probably want to pick up for yourself as well!

Herend from L.V. Harkness

Downtown Lexington's L.V. Harkness has such a delightful array of classic gifts. Everything in their store is fabulous, and the Herend Porcelain is no exception. The Herend Baby Shoe in Pink or Blue, or the Herend Just Hatched Figurine in Raspberry are great ideas for a mom-to-be or a new mom! 

Mother's Day pics from For Friends!

For Friends! has been one of my favorite little shops since I was a teenager buying Vera Bradley luggage in their old Lexington Mall location. Let's not focus on how old that makes me, though. Instead, take a look at their whimsical Mother's Day wishlist -- from picture frames to stemware to precious stone bunnies, they have a gift for every mom's taste!

Vera Bradley from Daffodils

Daffodils is my favorite little hometown store. They're such a fun pop of color on Prestonsburg's Court Street! Daffodils suggests that you treat Mom to a Vera Bradley bag and get rewarded with a gift with purchase cosmetic bag trio!

Lilly Pulitzer scarf from The Peppermint Palm

The Peppermint Palm  -- with locations in Lexington and Louisville -- is another "must-shop" for me! The Peppermint Palm suggests a Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf for your Mom, and I have to agree. These are just the most fun pop of color you'll ever wear, and the silk/cashmere blend is the softest, lightest material. Mom will wear it again and again, and you'll ask to borrow it more than once!

Pearl Triple Cluster earrings from W &  M Custom Jewelry

Y'all know that all the HerKentucky writers just adore the gorgeous designs of W & M Custom Jewelry. The ladies at W & M think that Mom will just adore these Pearl Triple Cluster earrings, and I tend to agree -- they're delicate and fun, and a great twist on traditional pearls!

Leather Jacket from Blink

Louisville's Blink Boutique features gorgeous, trendy pieces. The Blink staff recommends the Venette Leather Jacket by Joie and Hidden Hills Straight Leg Jean by Paige for mom-style that's anything but frumpy!

Thanks so much to L.V. Harkness, For Friends!, Daffodils, The Peppermint Palm, W & M Custom Jewelry, and Blink Boutique for helping out with this post! 

What's on your Mother's Day Wish List?

{No member of the HerKentucky writing staff was compensated in any way for this post.}

Happy {Mother's} Day from HerKentucky

I don't usually give Mother's Day too much thought. We get a little gift for my mom, and one for my granny. There's a special meal or two. Usually a trip to the Red Lobster. And, usually, one of those church services where they hand out gifts to the oldest, youngest, and most prolific mamas. And that's that. By Sunday night, the whole exercise is over for another year.

This year, I've thought a lot about Mother's Day. Maybe it's more than my own WASPy approach to the holiday, which generally entails finishing up family obligations as quickly as possible so I can get home to a glass of wine and an episode of Mad Men. Like virtually every other American woman who has Internet access, I recently ran across this article about the emotional impact of Mother's Day on non-moms. Normally, I'd nod my head and go on. But, for the first time, I really thought about those women who'd love to be celebrating on Mother's Day, but aren't.

Recently, one of the dearest people in my life suffered pregnancy loss. It seems like so many friends and acquaintances have experienced similar heartbreaks lately. I know that so many of them would love to wear the $5 Wal-Mart orchid corsages that proudly proclaim "I'm a Mama on my way to church on the Second Sunday in May!" Something so simple and tacky is, for many, the symbol of a dream come true.

Sometimes, Mother's Day is a celebration. It's the weekend that all the kids come home to visit and bring sweet, if impractical, presents. But, for so many others, Mother's Day carries a profound sadness. There are the women who want desperately to become mothers and those who've lost children. There are women who've had to say goodbye to their own mothers, those who serve as tireless caregivers for sick or aging mothers, and those who don't have a relationship with their mothers. There are so many women out there who are carrying around burdens we can't see. I wish that HerKentucky had the budget to send a dozen roses and an hour-long massage to them all. Instead, we're extending well wishes to y'all in a way that takes some of the hard-and-fast tradition out of the holiday. We wish a Happy {Mother's} Day to you all. It's a little softer, a little less technical, and a little more inclusive. 

Whether the holiday brings sorrow or joy, we want to hear how you're doing. You deserve the spotlight for a few minutes. All of you. Those of you who are moms, who dream of becoming moms, or who've decided motherhood isn't for them. Those of you who'll be celebrating your moms and those who are missing your moms.  While we can't send you all a present, we'd love to hear your {Mother's} Day story, be it happy, bittersweet, or just plain stressful. If you have a blog, please feel free to post there and add a link to the linkup gadget below. Or, you can share what you like in the comments section below.

Most of all, know that the HerKentucky team wishes you all a Happy Day!