Raising Ms. President Louisville Event

Raising Ms. President, the documentary by Kentucky native Kiley Lane Parker, is an inspiration to all of us here at HerKentucky. For me, it stirred up long-forgotten dreams of serving as a legislator or a lobbyist. For Sarah Stewart Holland, it was a call to action to begin her political candidacy. 

More important than our own reactions to Ms. Parker's film, however, is the message of getting girls involved in the political process. Whether or not they ultimately run for office, it's such an important message for young women to know that they can get involved. 

If you'll be in the Louisville area tomorrow night, I encourage you to attend the viewing of Raising Ms. President at the Brown Theatre. Following the film, Ms. Parker will lead a roundtable discussion, and you can learn more about the ways that Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana and Louisville Girls Leadership are preparing the young women of our communities to be the leaders of the next generation!

If you go:

Where: Brown Theatre, 315 W Broadway 
When: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 @ 7:00 PM
Price: All ages $15.00 || Student tickets $6.00 (not available online)

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours

Follow Your Dreams Friday: Elizabeth Elfen Johnston on Moving to Italy to Study Footwear and Accessory Design!

I went to Transylvania University as a fresh-faced girl that, like so many before her, wanted to be a doctor. I had been in pursuit of this dream my entire life. A childhood friend's dad even gave me the nickname Dr. Elizabeth. I had wanted to become a plastic surgeon, as it combined my two loves, art and medicine. Somewhere along the premed track, I decided that it was not for me...or Physics decided that it was not for me, who can remember? It was so long ago...so I switched my art minor to an art major. I was excited about this new direction, but my parents were hesitant. They rightfully asked me what I was going to do with an art degree? I told them that there were so many options and that I would find a new life plan soon. After that conversation, I started to think about what I really wanted to do with my life. I looked back at what my other passions had been and quickly discovered that shoes had been there all along.

My obsession with shoes started at an early age. I still remember getting my dad in trouble because he bought me white and silver LA Gear high tops with silver laces and his assignment was to help me pick out a pair of all white shoes for school. As a teenager, I would go to the mall and look at shoes for fun and before I would make any shoe purchase, I would pour over the design. I always wanted to change just a little something! So it hit me. I should design shoes for a living! And just like that, a new dream was born. 

With my new dream in tow, I started to look over my options with one of my favorite Transy professors, Kurt Gohde. We found a program in NYC and one in Florence, Italy and I immediately decided that Italy would be the place for me. I had always wanted to live abroad for an extended period of time and I loved the program. I would be learning from the best and touring luxury factories across the Italian countryside. What more could a girl want? Ooh La La!

So Kurt and I set a plan in motion. After graduation, I would take a semester off to learn Italian at UK and then venture to Italy the second semester for a foundations of fashion design course at my new school, Polimoda. 

The shoe that got me into the program! 

From there I interviewed with the footwear and accessory chair and was accepted into the program for the following year. It was a wonderful experience. I designed shoes, but also took courses on how to make their patterns. I toured Ferregamo's factories and learned about the history of footwear from the curator of Ferregamo's museum. I was in shoe heaven in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I also reveled in the food and loved every minute of my experience. 

Enjoying La Dolce Vita! 

Upon graduation, I parlayed my training into an internship in NYC and then landed a job as the assistant footwear designer/production coordinator for a company that provided the footwear for Victoria's Secret. Yes, they have shoes...you should really check them out! 

A fast fashion shoe created in Illustrator for VS. I have come a long way since that first shoe! 

Due to the economic situation at the time, I was let go with Louboutins...true story and possibly the working title of my memoir!  It really wasn't the worst way to go! After a few months, I found a position at a luxury handbag factory where I worked as the liaison between designers and our sample makers and helped coordinate production for several large well known luxury brands. It was a fun fast paced job and there was never a dull moment! 

This position gave me the courage to start my own handbag line with hopes of one day adding a shoe line as well. I absolutely love making my bags by hand and while I have not debuted a new collection in quite some time, I have been making several bridal bags and bridesmaids bags for friends and family and I have been loving the results. Now that Scott and I have moved to Toledo, Ohio (I am always up for an adventure!)  and I  have more time on my hands, I have been working on a new collection and I could not be more excited to share it with you.  I am hoping to launch it some time in March or early April on my etsy site! Let's just say that there will be lots of seersucker,  pastels and bows. It is going to be a Southern girl's dream come true!  Ooh La La! 

Singing for Our Lives: A Guest Post from Erin Wathen

Erin Wathen, the sassiest Lady Preacher I know.

My friend and sorority sister Erin Wathen, of the fascinating blog Irreverin, is back with a gorgeous take on the recent KY All-State Chorus hotel performance that became a bit of an internet phenomenon. For more of Erin's stories of faith, sass, Southern values, and Lady Preacher-hood, check out her blog and her Facebook page. -- HCW

I’m not sure how it started, or when. But at least since I was a young’n, and probably a good many moons before that… each year, several hundred high school students would gather at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville for Kentucky All State Choir. (Yeah, that’s how we rolled, y’all. A glimpse of my wild and crazy youth right here). 

That hotel is about 20 stories high, with a large open-air atrium for a lobby. You can look up from the ground floor and literally see the door to every guest room, surrounding you on every side. And UP. So far up. When you are a kid from the holler—even if you’re a relatively well-travelled kid from the holler—that’s an impressive structure. 

On that first night, every year, we would all stream out of our rooms… Still giddy from the long bus ride, the first glimpse of a city skyline, and the prospect of 3 days in a hotel with NO PARENTS… We would all come out and stand along the balcony railing. A dozen at first, then a hundred, then five hundred. And somebody, somewhere, would start singing. 

There was a standard fair, you know, to the high school choir routine. My Old Kentucky Home. The Star-Spangled Banner. 16 Tons. The Lion Sleeps Tonight. And whatever the audition piece was to get to All-State that year… These were all songs that every high school music nerd in the state knew, in 4-part harmony. It’s fun in the classroom. It’s cool on the bus. But singing into an open air atrium in surround sound… Astounding and marvelous. 

Now, the sad news was that the All-State Choir event took up the whole dang hotel and even spilled over to other places down the street. Which means that nearly every person in the building, at the time of this miraculous performance, was taking part in it. Occasionally, the new front desk employee, the hapless downtown tourist, or the first time parent chaperone would look up in startled delight. But for the most part—we were singing to the choir. (Which is much like preaching to the choir, only more musical). Fast forward 20 (yikes) years. There are cell phones. With video recorders. There’s youtube. Vimeo. Facebook, Twitter, and a planet full of people who are desperate for small glimpses of inspiration, joy, and spontaneous community. Add to this scenario the confluence of this year’s All State Choir gathering with the first night of the Olympics. And suddenly, this decades-old belting of the national anthem becomes a ‘patriotic tribute,’ an ‘internet sensation,’ and a ‘viral high school flash mob.’ 

A flash mob?! Is that what that was? 20-some years ago, we didn’t know that term. We didn’t have cell phones with cameras. We were just kids on a trip. We were just singing into the void. 

Thing is, I watched it anyway. Last week, I watched that same anthem trickle down from 20 stories high, 20 years later. And it sounded just the same. Two decades removed, however many thousands of voices later, the song itself has not changed. Maybe seeing something from your youth, played out live when you are just this side of 35, lends significance to a memory you’d long filed away. Or maybe the real shift comes when you view it from a more global perspective, with about a million other people. This is the power of public witness: the added weight of meaning that an event takes on when processed by a larger audience. 

Isn’t this why we do faith in community? Because the little glimpses of the holy that we might catch in our every day lives are sacred. But when we share them with 2 people, or 20, or 200, they become that much more significant. They bear that much more meaning, and become a lasting part of who we are, both individually and collectively. Suddenly, one small thread of melody takes on tonal complexity, a life of its own. Eventually, you’re not just the choir singing to the choir anymore. For that moment, you are the word made flesh. A community of God’s people, giving life to many through the voices of a few. 

But to tell you the truth, I hadn’t thought about our ‘flash mob’ performances in years, cool as they were at the time. No, what I remember most about those kinds of trips are, like I said, the bus ride. The journey from our home holler to a far (to us) removed city, and a glimpse of who we might be some day. I remember how the cheerleader/church kid/pageant queen/skateboard punk lines diminished as we moved out of town, and as we sang together. I remember the complex love triangles that seemed to play around the edges of that freedom, but never really amounted to much. I remember years when somebody’s parents were splitting up, or somebody was in any other manner of crisis. I remember the homework that we promised to do on the bus, forgotten the minute we rolled past exit 41. I remember having my wallet stolen one year but somehow being sustained by friends, in the form of late night pizza and vending machine runs. (Luckily, we were not sophisticated enough to sneak beer into these things. That would’ve been expensive). 

And I remember how singing in this suddenly much larger circle of strangers was powerful, significant, possibly even transformative…but somehow, not nearly as important as the people who would ride the bus home with us. Maybe sometimes, you need the distance from home–and the space of about 20 years– to realize that. 

I’m grateful for the recent public witness to something that was so formative and meaningful for so many of us. The truth is, the epic viral nature of the ‘flash mob sensation’ did not make it a shared experience. This is a song we’ve been singing forever. In fact, I like to think we are all still singing into the void. Still singing for our lives.

7 Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

Today we have a great guest post from Colene Elridge, aka Coach Colene. 

Are you “over” this winter? From school cancellations and delays, to sloshing through snow, it’s easy to fall into a funk in February. Don’t get down, though, as there are simple things you can do to ease cabin fever. Here are my seven tips to help you make it through the rest of the winter with a positive outlook:

1. Slow Down. Bears hibernate for a reason, right? This is the season right before the great awakening that is spring; use it to do your best work… the work on yourself. I tend to go 100 miles a minute, but winter forces me to slow down a bit. What do I do with my “extra” time? Read, bake, go to movies, and catch up on TV shows. 
2. Treat Yourself. I’m a firm believer that we all deserve a big slice of happiness! Rewarding ourselves with a bit of a treat is incentive enough to keep us moving until spring. I buy loose-leaf tea and local honey and savor every sip of it. I’ll spend time with friends who make me laugh. What small ways can you treat yourself? 
3. Exercise. I do hot yoga, so it’s easy for me to go in the winter because it’s hot and feels like a bit of a vacation from the cold. We all know exercising is good for you, so take some time to work up a sweat. Your mindset, and your spring and summer clothes, will thank you! 
4. Wear something bright. Don't feel like you have to wait until spring to wear bright colors. They will help boost your mood and add a bit of pep into your wardrobe. 
5. Get rid of stuff. Go through your house and get rid of things you don't need, use or love. This act of making room for spring will get you in the right frame of mind for a new awakening. Make sure you donate and/or recycle the things you can. You'll feel good about the extra space and giving to those in need. 
6. Embrace the cold. Make an effort to go outside to take in the crisp air and get a bit of sunshine. The vitamin D is good for you, plus you can take in nature’s splendor. 
7. Do something you've been putting off. Use this time to do something you've been procrastinating about. Frame pictures, knit a scarf, call an old friend to catch up. Pick one thing and tackle it! 

About Coach Colene: Colene is a dynamic trainer who offers an interactive and innovative approach to learning and development. She is a Success Coach who works with individuals and organizations that aspire to "Be More." Colene is also a human resources professional and certified mediator. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University and a Master’s degree Sullivan University. You can learn more about Coach Colene here. 

Which of these will you embrace to help beat your winter blues?

Appalachia Proud

You know when you hear an idea that is so simple -- so brilliant -- that you can't believe somebody didn't think of it before now?

Here on HerKentucky, I've shared many stories of growing up in Appalachia. As I look back over so many essays and blog posts I've written about my Eastern Kentucky childhood, I realize that two themes have surfaced time and again: the need for a diversified economic base in Eastern Kentucky's Appalachian region and the delightful fresh-from-the-farm food that we love back home.

Sunflowers from my aunt's Floyd County garden.

I'm certainly not the only person who's noticed those two facts. But, like the old Reece's Cup commercial said, somebody finally put those two great tastes together. Yesterday, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer announced a new marketing initiative called Appalachia Proud: Mountains of Potential. An offshoot of the Kentucky Proud brand, Appalachia Proud will connect the dots between the area's economic needs and its amazing agricultural potential.

I am so excited to see Appalachia Proud branding on local products in and around my hometown. I can certainly attest that the best tomatoes and beans in the world are grown in Floyd County, Kentucky. I can't wait to see how these and other local products are showcased by the Appalachia Proud branding. It's been so amazing to watch the Kentucky Proud incentive transform the way food is served across the Commonwealth.  I always enjoy finding new ways to try Kentucky Proud products -- my favorite Vietnamese restaurant here in Louisville serves Pho with locally-sourced beef -- and I can't wait to see how products from the Eastern Kentucky mountains find hip new incarnations!

Tiny tomatoes in my mother's garden.

I am so impressed by the Appalachia Proud initiative. It's far more than just a brand to stick on locally-sourced products. It's a well-designed plan to effectuate real economic change in the mountains. It's a sustainable project that seeks to train a new generation of farmers and provide a long-term impact on a fragile economy. Here's hoping it blossoms!

Kentucky Olympian Dallas Robinson

At my house, we've been glued to the Winter Olympics for the past couple of weeks. It seems the TV (and the DVR) keeps finding its way back to Sochi. As is the case every fourth winter, my beau is all wrapped up in curling. We've both watched biathlon with the opinion that it simply looks like the most fun sport ever. And, like most of America, I've been charmed by the amazing commentary (and fashion choices) of Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir. But, the real story of the Olympics, at least at my house, has been Dallas Robinson, Kentucky's own Olympian.

Now, I've been a sports fan my whole life. I grew up around hard-core sports fan guys. My dad, my brother, my cousins, and, later, my beau all taught me that sports stars aren't heroes. That quote from Charles Barkley about not being a role model has been tossed around my dinner table more times than I can recall. But, you know, I've had the opportunity to talk with Dallas a little through the magic of social media. I've read a lot about his journey to Sochi. And he IS a hero.

Dallas Robinson is a soldier and an athlete who has worked toward the ultimate goal of Olympic competition for years. He quit a lucrative sales job to train. He's been a coach and mentor to young athletes across Central Kentucky and is currently Assistant Track Coach at Georgetown College.  He blogs from Olympic Village with a message of tolerance and humility. And, he stays true to his faith, constantly reminding us of his belief that God is first, we are second. 

Here at HerKentucky, our motto is "Follow Your Dreams."  We couldn't be more humbled or more proud to hear of this Kentuckian who has pushed so hard to follow his dreams of Olympic greatness.

This morning, in Day 2 of the Two Man Bobsled event, we'll be cheering for all the US teams, but especially for USA-3, the combo of Dallas and Nick Cunningham. It's great to know that there really are still heroes out there!

You can follow Dallas on Twitter at @DRobUSA

Get Fit(ted) with Fleet Feet Sports!

For me, getting to the gym is always a process. Usually, it goes something like:

Step 1. Thinking about going to the gym.

Step 2. Remembering that Jennifer Lawrence quote about how she prefers the couch to a workout.

Step 3. Remembering that I am neither Jennifer Lawrence's age nor blessed with her build.

Step 4. Putting together workout clothes at the last minute.

Step 5. Pulling and tugging at ill-fitting leggings and jog bras the entire time I'm on the treadmill.

Now, there's probably not a lot I can do about the whole "not being J-Law" thing. The old sports bras, however, I can (and probably need to) change. And, right here in Louisville, there's something I can do about it this weekend.

All day (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.) Saturday February 15, Fleet Feet Sports is hosting a Valentine's Day Bra Fit Fest. They're offering bra fittings and apparel specials along with champagne and chocolates!

If you bring in a gently used bra to donate to Free The Girls: Fight Human Trafficking and receive 20% off a new bra. You can learn more about the Bra Fit Fest on its Facebook event page.