I love birthdays. I love every single thing about them. I love the chance to celebrate something both ordinary and special - the passing of another year. I love parties. I love gathering for one common cause. I love getting dressed up. I love themes. I love singing to someone. I love cake. I LOVE presents.
I LOVE. IT. ALL.
So, here we are celebrating HerKentucky's second birthday by getting (virtually) dressed up and giving away presents and I can't help but get a little misty eyed and reminiscent as I do on all birthdays.
It seems like only yesterday I got an email from Heather entitled "An idea (or about 40% of one...)".
Hey ladies--
Last week, while I was writing (well, I was swimming and avoiding a deadline, but that's beside the point...), I was hit with an idea.
Y'all are among my very favorite bloggers/ writers. And y'all love our home state as much as I do. How would you feel about taking part in a blog project?There you have it. The birth of HerKentucky.
What I'm envisioning is a site for and about Kentucky women bloggers (natives, expats, or transplants...), on which we could blog as little or as often as we like. ... In the loosest sense, we'd be blogging about Kentucky and Southern life, but mainly just about our experiences. You could write about the topics you currently blog, or use the space for a totally different dialogue.
So, what do you think? Do you have suggestions for other participants? Ideas for a title?
We all responded with a resounding "YES!" and the rest was
I share all that to say. We all love HerKentucky and we have all been instrumental to its success in our own special way. But... on birthdays, you celebrate the mamma as much as the baby and the mamma of HerKentucky is Heather.
Thank you, Heather. Thank you for having this fantastic idea. Thank you for sharing it with us. Thank you for organizing and editing and promoting week after week and making HerKentucky the glorious testament to the Bluegrass State that it is.
Have some cake, girl. You've earned it!
~ Sarah Stewart Holland
Louisville Stoneware 2013 Komen Birdhouse
Y'all know that I just love Louisville Stoneware. I've been collecting for as long as I can remember, and I just love the mix of elegance and whimsy that it adds to my kitchen.
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| 21C Penguin Birdhouse Salt-and-Pepper Shakers? Yes, please! |
Now, they already had me at "locally-produced for two centuries", but in recent years, Louisville Stoneware has given me yet another reason to love their product with their Komen Birdhouse Collection. For the past five years, Louisville Stoneware has created a gorgeous piece of birdhouse art in conjunction with breast cancer awareness month. A percentage of the proceeds from this birdhouse will go back to the Louisville chapter of Komen for the Cure, helping women right here in our community!
My beau and I attended the unveiling of the Fifth Annual Komen Birdhouse earlier this week. Let me tell you, that event made me fall in love with Louisville Stoneware all over again!
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| I NEED the pink fleur-de-lis julep cup!! |
(No member of the HerKentucky staff was compensated for this post.)
JV Clothiers Giveaway!
Calling all parents of boys! Every time I see a children's clothing store, I sigh a little as I look at all the adorable girls' clothing, and then I trudge on over to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy more Under Armour for my boys. Sound familiar? Well, the fine folks at JV Clothiers have caught on and are creating some truly fine apparel for our boys to sport on game day (or any other day, as demonstrated below)! They make fantastic polo shirts, shorts, and belts, and they were kind enough to send some to Will. He looks a little extra cute in these, I think. Here's a peek into our morning:
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| Well, it isn't exactly breakfast at Ramsey's, but... |
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| ...OH! Hi there, Mom! How are you doing? No, no. I said, "These clothes make me look so fancy." |
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| Stylin', profilin', and repping the Cats in ACC Country |
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| Check out the little details that make these clothes so perfect! |
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| Time to break out the UK flag, Mom! |
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| Too big for the stroller. Gotta go greet my fans! |
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| Time to intimidate all opponents with my impeccable style. |
Did you know that...
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| ...seeing your gear will have your friends making 3 goggles? |
Or that...
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| ...every girl's crazy about a sharp dressed (pint-sized) man? Will had an exciting day decked out in his JV Clothiers duds! I am pleased to report that the quality of these clothes will not disappoint, as each piece held up to Will the Busy Boy's climbing, rolling, and dirt tests. I love knowing that I can dress my kids in such adorable UK clothes and will certainly be placing a matching order for Will's older brothers! SEC fans, you will definitely want to check out our drawing. And what luck for all my local friends who love UNC or NC State, as you will find your teams on the roster also. Want to win some JV Clothiers gear for one of your own boys? Enter our giveaway below. Good luck! |
Birthday Party Attire!
HerKentucky is turning two! So I styled the perfect party outfit for you! A few years ago, I famously told the Vice President of Merchandising for Victoria's Secret's accessories that "I always dress like I am going to a party, because you never know when you will be invited to one!" Our V.P. enjoyed the comment very much and said that it was sound advice. I think that birthday parties are special, so your outfit should be special. We are not trying to over shine the birthday celebrant, but your ensemble should say party!
This birthday party is all about Kentucky and cobalt or UK blue, as I like to call it, is everywhere this season. Just add a black blazer and some black caged heels and you are ready to party! You can pick up this adorable dress here.
I always look for pieces that can go the distance. This blazer is party perfect, but will also take you from football tailgating to March Madness. You can grab your go-to blazer here.
You can wear these heels with everything this fall. Add black opaque tights when Kentucky turns into a winter wonderland. You can get these pretty pumps here.
For a more casual option, grab your dark skinny jeans, add this adorable ruffle shirt in UK blue and top it with your new favorite blazer. Add the pumps or flats of your choice and don't forget your party hat!
If you are feeling bold, you can replace your dark skinnies with leopard denim leggings. Meow! Add a pair of high heeled boots or pointed toe pumps and you are ready to celebrate! Pick up your fancy fall leggings here.
What do you wear to a birthday party? Do you dress up or are you more casual?
This birthday party is all about Kentucky and cobalt or UK blue, as I like to call it, is everywhere this season. Just add a black blazer and some black caged heels and you are ready to party! You can pick up this adorable dress here.
I always look for pieces that can go the distance. This blazer is party perfect, but will also take you from football tailgating to March Madness. You can grab your go-to blazer here.
You can wear these heels with everything this fall. Add black opaque tights when Kentucky turns into a winter wonderland. You can get these pretty pumps here.
For a more casual option, grab your dark skinny jeans, add this adorable ruffle shirt in UK blue and top it with your new favorite blazer. Add the pumps or flats of your choice and don't forget your party hat!
If you are feeling bold, you can replace your dark skinnies with leopard denim leggings. Meow! Add a pair of high heeled boots or pointed toe pumps and you are ready to celebrate! Pick up your fancy fall leggings here.
What do you wear to a birthday party? Do you dress up or are you more casual?
Happy Birthday, HerKentucky!!
One day, back in August 2011, I was sitting by the pool, trying to make a tight deadline. Instead of focusing on the article I needed to finish, though, I started thinking about my girlfriends. Specifically, I thought of my Kentucky girlfriends. They're an accomplished group of women -- doctors and lawyers and teachers and business women. They balance careers and families and still find time to help others and look good. They hail from every corner of the Commonwealth. And they're not afraid to share their opinions.
Pretty soon, I was emailing a group of friends and acquaintances -- women whom I knew from school, work, and social settings. I asked them all a question that people either love or hate:
"What if we started a blog that tells our stories?"
As we began brainstorming ways to tell our experiences with the Bluegrass State, I had only one request: Everything can't be "lovely"; in fact, that kind of preciousness is what we should avoid. Instead, let's tell sincere stories that allow our love for Kentucky to shine through. I knew we were in for an interesting ride as we started discussing design. As we talked about possible headers, the suggestion of an equestrian motif came up. Sarah quickly noted that horses and equestrian life are really only a Bluegrass region thing; they don't symbolize every corner of the state. It was the first of many times that a HerKentucky writer reminded me that there isn't one unique Kentucky experience.
Over the past two years, the HerKentucky writers have used this site to provide interesting insights into their own Kentucky experiences. We've heard of small-town restaurants and festivals as well as life in Kentucky's biggest cities. We've talked sports, colleges, and current events. We've picked up new writers, while others have gone on to other opportunities. And we've created a site that makes me very, very proud.
I feel fortunate to count the HerKentucky writing team among my dearest friends. The hard work they've put into the site can be seen in every post, and the stories they share are simply priceless. I am so glad that I put off writing an article two years ago; it made the deadline tough, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Happy 2nd Birthday, HerKentucky! Thanks to all of our writers and friends who have encouraged the site. Most of all, thanks to all of our readers who've stuck around to hear our Kentucky stories!
HerKentucky Turns 2!
Today's our birthday, y'all!
Today marks two years of the HerKentucky blog. Every member of our writing staff is so thrilled and humbled that y'all stop by to read our posts and visit our social media sites. It's so wonderful to know that y'all love the Commonwealth as much as we do!
I wish we could all sit down together for a glass of bourbon and a cupcake today. Since that's a little difficult to manage, we've partnered with Louisville Stoneware to bring one lucky HerKentucky reader a stylish way to enjoy her favorite drink.
The Louisvilke Stoneware Mint Julep Cup is so fun, and its logo gets straight to the point.
Here's what our friends at Louisville Stoneware would like you to know about this item:
Located in the heart of Bourbon Country, and with a history of making whiskey jugs, it’s only natural for Louisville Stoneware to have a line of Julep Cups.The exact origins of the Mint Julep are unknown, but it is said to have originated in the southern United States during the eighteenth century. U.S. Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky introduced the drink to Washington, D.C., at the Round Robin Bar in the famous Willard Hotel. It was also the favorite drink of American author William Faulkner. The Mint Julep is best known as the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, a position it has held since 1938, with Churchill Downs making over 120,000 for Derby fans each year.Chill your Stoneware Julep Cup in the freezer for at least 30 minutes – it can be stored there permanently if you like. With a slightly flared rim, this cup is perfect for slow sipping – the only way a julep should be enjoyed. For an authentic Julep-sipping experience, we suggest following the recipe on our Julep pitcher. Cheers!Your stoneware can be safely used in the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer. Just remember to allow pieces from the dishwasher to cool before refrigerating. Likewise, you should allow refrigerated piece to return to room temperature before washing. As with any stoneware item, extreme and sudden variation in temperature may cause cracking or breakage.
You can enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget. The winner will be announced on Monday, September 16th, and you can look forward to more HerKentucky birthday fun throughout September!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much to Louisville Stoneware for partnering with HerKentucky to bring y'all this giveaway. No member of the HerKentucky writing staff was compensated in any way for this post. Check back throughout September for more celebrations, giveways, and fun!
Photo Fanatic: Celebrations Frozen in Time
A couple of years ago, I went to a blogging conference where I encountered the Smilebooth. The event of the night was a party celebrating the release of The Lorax. There was so much happy commotion coming from one side of the room, so my friend Holli and I checked it out.
It's a photo booth, but taken to the nth degree of fancy. You stand in front of the fun backdrop and see yourself on a big screen. You get a remote control, and snap away. As you're snapping, the images all went to an iPad where you could peruse them when you were done. From there, you could email it, Tweet it, or Facebook it. Boom. Instant gratification and really fun photos.
When it comes down to it, photos are the way we tend to remember our lives. For special events or just well-planned soirees, I'm a fan of hiring a photographer. Obviously for most events, the Smilebooth is cost prohibitive, though I found a few Kentucky events that had the Smilebooth. Here are the things needed to set up your own photobooth:
Have you ever set up a photo booth for an event? How did you do it?
When it comes down to it, photos are the way we tend to remember our lives. For special events or just well-planned soirees, I'm a fan of hiring a photographer. Obviously for most events, the Smilebooth is cost prohibitive, though I found a few Kentucky events that had the Smilebooth. Here are the things needed to set up your own photobooth:
- Camera: Obviously you need to capture the photos, so set up a camera at the appropriate height and for the width of the background. Having a remote shutter release is great if you don't have someone on hand to snap all the pics. If you have a fancy schmancy camera that can connect to a TV, you can connect it for people to preview their photos when they're taken.
- Backdrop: Fun, festive backdrops are awesome. Make one by securing holiday garland or streamers to a wall or drop cloth and hanging. Or you can purchase backdrops from Etsy if there's something you're really going for. I love the backdrops that have texture to them. Here's an easy tutorial for a backdrop made of plastic table cloths.
- Props: This is where things get fun. Make or buy props. Funny hats, stick moustaches, balloons, feather boas, picture frames, and more. Lots of Etsy sellers have great prop packs.
- A gallery: You want your friends to be able to access and share the photos, so upload them to a gallery after the event. You could use Flickr, Picasa, Smugmug, or even just Facebook.
Have you ever set up a photo booth for an event? How did you do it?