Giveaway: Social Club Dinner

What do you get when you combine a mystery location, food and music, a chance to wear a mask, and help benefit a local charity? You get Social Club Dinner.

Social Club Dinner is a night filled with food, friends, music, and a little bit of mystery; the location of the event is announced 4 hours before the the festivities begins. As guests descend upon the secret location music fills the air, and a large public dinner party under the stars unfolds. These dinners have brought 1,000 people or more in other cities, so we're excited that it's coming to Louisville.

The event is July 26th, and the theme is MASQUERADE! (For any of you other Revenge fans who automatically think about Victoria Grayson's party, I'm with you.) The local charity partner hasn't been announced yet, but a portion of the event earnings will stay local.

You have to request an invitation to this event since the locations and details are kept secret. You can request an invite from their website, and also check the end of this post for a chance to win 2 tickets!

We know how to do Derby in Kentucky - let's show Social Club Dinner how we do masquerade! Here are a few food ideas:

Hot Brown Casserole (because we love a Kentucky spin)

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Tarts

Masquerade Cookies (cute + delicious)

For table decor, you could go with masks, feathers, flowers, or more. I bet the ladies at Dee's Crafts (my favorite craft store in Louisville) would have some amazing ideas. I'm thinking some sort of masquerade topiary covered in glitter, though everything I ever think of tends to be covered in glitter, so maybe more thinking is needed on my part.

Want your ticket to the Social Club Dinner? We're giving 2 away! 

To enter, leave a comment below: What food and/or decor ideas do you have for this event? 

For additional entries, you can do any of the optional items in the widget below. Entries close 5/29/13 at 11:59pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Inspiration in Silence and Space

Sometimes, when I'm feeling completely drained and uninspired, I have to get away from everything.

When I moved to Lexington (pop: over 300,000) from Lancaster (pop: under 4,000), I was enamored with Lexington's abundance. Whatever Lancaster had, Lexington had more. People. Cars. Buildings. Schools. Libraries. Stores. Cars. Farms. Parks. Gyms. Restaurants. Cars.

It took about two years for that to get really, really old. I still enjoy the things Lexington has to offer, but every now and then, I need to escape it. I have to find a way to get out, even if it's just for a day. I crave silence and space, and a reminder that life really is fairly simple. 

I love road trips for this very reason. I get to be alone in my car with my thoughts and my music, and it gives me time to recharge. I found a song several years ago that so perfectly describes the feeling I get when I finally have some alone time, and I'm sharing it with you here now. 

All At Sea by Jamie Cullum (excerpt)

I'm all at sea where no one can bother me.

I sleep by myself. I drink on my own.

I don't speak to nobody; I gave away my phone...

Like a warm drink that seeps into my soul, 

Please just leave me right here on my own.

Later on you could spend some time with me,

If you want to, 

All at sea.

You guys. Giving away my phone and going back to a time when I could actually disappear from everything for a while is kind of my dream. 

Sometimes I get so caught up in life--the day-to-day routine of things where I go to bed at night and can't remember a single thing I did that day--that I sort of lose myself. Writing is one way I keep in touch with who I am, but sometimes I'm so lost I can't even put words together.

One of my favorite road trips is the short one to my childhood home. The hundred-year-old farmhouse and five acres of land I grew up on is only about forty miles from where I live now. Everyone who knows me is well aware of my love affair with my parents' home. It's the most beautiful, peaceful place I've ever known. 

The constant activity of my days can make time pass entirely too quickly. As I get closer and closer to home, everything slows down--the minutes stretch on forever and the houses move farther and farther apart. 

That front porch is the only place I can be completely alone without shutting any doors. I do my best thinking there. The solitude gives me a chance to remember who I am and what's important to me. I can't sit on that porch with that view and not take a moment to appreciate everything I have. It's so easy to get lost in the minute details of life, the things that won't make a difference a month or year from now, and I find myself just trying to make it from one day to the next. The peace and quiet found on my parents' porch inspires me to be the kind of person who doesn't get so caught up in looking forward that I forget to stop and truly enjoy the present.

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.}