Seersucker Kentucky Cocktail Napkin Giveaway!
Weep no more, my lady! HerKentucky is giving away a set of these adorable blue seersucker Kentucky cocktail napkins just in time for Derby! One lucky winner will receive one set of eight cocktail napkins from Elizabeth Elfen and they will be delivered by Friday, May 1st. Just in time for your Derby Party! Your mint julep has never had it so good!
The hemstitched cocktail napkins are a blend of cotton and linen and measure 6" x 6". They will be packaged as pictured.
Go Local Box Review and Giveaway
Review of Go Local Box subscription service.
Have y'all seen Go Local Box?
It's a subscription service that brings the best locally-produced products from their Louisville manufacturers straight to your door. Founder Jay Vasse works with local vendors to curate a themed monthly box, which can be yours for only $35 per month. There's no strings -- you can cancel or skip a box at any time -- and the items are pretty fantastic.
Go Local Box sent me the April (Derby-themed) box, and I just loved it! So many wonderful items; it was like a mini-Derby Party in a box!
The April 2015 Go Local Box includes:
- A Derby Pie tart
- Bourbon Truffles from Art Eatables
- A Kentucky Derby Candle from Craft41Love
- Mint Julep Mixer from Old Honey Barn
- Bourbon Sugar Scrub
- Horseshoe Pendant from Woodwear by Andrea
That's a pretty fabulous assortment of products. It would make a fantastic present for your favorite homesick Kentuckian, or would be a great way to help yourself to the latest locally-made products. The customer service is pretty great, too. When my box arrived with a broken candle, Jay dropped off a new one at my front door that evening. I can't guarantee he'll deliver that same level of service for everybody, but he assures me that if there's anything amiss with your shipment, he'll make it right!
We've teamed up with Go Local Box to provide one lucky HerKentucky reader with a three-month gift subscription. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!
Good luck, and have fun shopping locally!
Blogger {view} Wednesday: Jennifer Johnson of Pages of Style
Interview with Lexington KY Fashion Blogger Jennifer Johnson of Pages of Style.
Today's Blogger {view} Wednesday interview is with Jennifer Johnson, the Lexington-based fashion blogger behind Pages of Style. Jen always has the cutest accessories and a fun attitude toward styling her outfits. Thanks so much to Jennifer for chatting with us!
Tell us about yourself.
I'm a mom, a wife, a pharmacist. I blog in my spare time which isn't much but I love it! I feel like I do a little bit of everything!
How did Pages of Style get started?
I had done some blogging in the past and had always wanted to start my own fashion blog so I finally got up the nerve to stop dreaming and do!
What's your favorite thing about Kentucky?
I'm proud to be from Kentucky, it's probably one of the most beautiful states in the country. I love the southern hospitality, people are just more friendly here, feels like family and home.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a blog?
Stay positive and don't give up! There will be ups and downs, there's a definite learning curve, but if you love it stick with it. Be yourself and don't compromise just to fit in. Reach out- there are so many amazing bloggers right here in Kentucky! Always be kind and follow through on your commitments.
1. Cats or Cards? I have family that are Cards fans but die hard Cats fan right here!
2. Louisville or Lexington? Lexington, it's home
3. What’s your favorite bourbon? Maker's Mark
4. Where’s your favorite local restaurant? There are so many good ones! I think it depends on my mood. Right now I'm hooked on Limestone Blue.
5. What’s your favorite local shop? That's too hard! I honestly can't pick just one, plus there are so many good ones that I haven't even made it to yet. Right now I shop a lot at Morton James and Omar + Elsie.
The HerKentucky Guide to Benedictine
Kentucky's iconic cucumber-and-cream-cheese spread
Benedictine is one of those iconic Louisville recipes that the rest of the world just hasn't caught onto yet. Come springtime in the Derby City, though, you're bound to see the cucumber-and-cream-cheese sandwich spread on several serving tables.
Benedictine was invented by Jennie C. Benedict, a Louisville native food critic, cookbook author, and caterer. Over the years, Miss Benedict owned a soda fountain and a tea room, and she developed a spread to accompany cucumber sandwiches. The following is said to be her original recipe:
Jennie Benedict's original Benedictine recipe
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsps. cucumber juice
- 1 tbsp. onion juice
- 1 tsp. salt
- A few grains of cayenne pepper
- 2 drops green food coloring
These days, most folks go for grated cucumbers and onions in place of the juices and omit the Easter-egg green color. Some folks add dill, creating a distinctly tzatziki taste; others add a little mayonnaise or sour cream to thin the spread down for use as a sauce.
Of course, Louisville-area hostesses are often short on time as the Kentucky Derby draws near, so I asked some local ladies in the know for advice about Benedictine, and found that a lot is up to personal taste. One friend known for her own terrific Benedictine recipe and fabulous Derby parties admitted that, in a pinch, she'll pick some up from Plehn's. Others mentioned Karem's Liquor and Deli, Divinity Catering, Home Cuisine, Uptown Cafe, Paul's Fruit Market, and Ladyfingers for their pre-made spread needs.
Benedictine and Bacon at Stevens & Stevens.
The serving style for Benedictine sandwiches is also a matter of some discussion. Some folks prefer a dainty tea sandwich served on white bread, while others are devoted to a darker bread like pumpernickel. And, of course, there are plenty of folks who like their Benedictine in combination with other sandwich fixings. My personal favorite is the Benedictine and Bacon from Stevens & Stevens Deli. (which is, inexplicably, listed on the vegetarian menu...)
Whether made from scratch or purchased pre-made, served in a dainty sandwich or in a healthy dollop with bacon, Benedictine is a classic taste of the Kentucky Derby that you’ll crave every spring!
My Kentucky Tee
Review of My Kentucky Tee subscription service.
Have you heard of My Kentucky Tee?
It's a wonderful subscription service that, for $15 a month, sends a fun Kentucky-themed t-shirt straight to your mailbox. When you sign up, you get the 1792 Starter Shirt, a gorgeous, soft heathered charcoal shirt that commemorates the year of the Commonwealth's founding as well as our state motto.
Once you're signed up, you'll also start receiving each month's tee. I was so thrilled to get started in April, because the "Weep No More" shirt is simply stunning.
That's another great benefit of the My Kentucky Tee Service. If you are a subscriber and your friends or family just love a specific shirt, you can check to see if there's an additional shirt available! Just email 1792@mykentuckytee.com with your tee size & the OK to charge your card on file for $15. If you've not subscribed to Tee of the Month, go to www.mykentuckytee.com, sign up & then email them! {Today, April 20, is the last day to order a Weep No More shirt!}
Check out HerKentucky's Instagram later today -- we may just have a surprise for you!
Thanks so much to My Kentucky Tee for commemorating the Commonwealth in such a cool way, and for providing products for review!
The HerKentucky Guide to Lilly For Target
I love the bright, preppy prints of Lilly Pulitzer. So, when the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collaboration was announced, I was naturally pretty excited. Here's the plan of attack I've devised.
Step One: Plan your Favorites. I've scanned through the Lookbook a few times and decided which items I'm interested in. This is important because it cuts down on impulse buys. Know what you want, which prints you like, and what styles will flatter you. The collection will sell out quickly, so you don't want to waste valuable time. I suggest making a list so you don't forget anything.
My own wish list includes
Scarves -- I know I'll wear these. Lilly scarves are my favorites, and at $20, you can't beat them.
Palazzo Pants -- Love these prints; they just look so fun and festive for summertime. And, at only $28, they are great to wear anywhere!
Maxi Dress -- As a general rule, I don't go for strapless dresses. However, I find that Lilly shift dresses run a little short on me, and I figure this can be paired with a cardigan or shirt for a fun look that breaks up the head-to-toe Lilly look. Love the print, love the price.
Stackable Mugs -- these just look like something my Great-Aunt Marie would have bought in Florida in the 1960s. They'd be a fantastic hostess gift, if you could bear to part with them.
Step Two: Shop Online
Now that you know what you want to buy, log in to Target.com sometime in the wee hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning. All Target will say is that it goes live "sometime very early Sunday morning", which is being hit with guesses of everything from midnight to 4 a.m. If the most recent Lilly Pulitzer online sales are any indicator, expect slow sites, rapid sellouts, and crashed servers. For an optimal experience, make sure you have your Target account current with the appropriate credit/ debit card, and your shipping address. And don't forget that you get free shipping on a $25 minimum apparel order!
Step Three: Tackle the Stores. They'll be open on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. in your time zone. Expect a line and an event. I'm not going the "look for out-of-the-way stores" route; others swear by it. I have no idea who's right. In any event, here are all the stores in Kentucky and adjacent areas.
Target Store Guide for Kentucky
- Eastern Kentucky: It's kind of the bane of my mom and my existence that there isn't a Target in Pikeville or Hazard. This needs to happen ASAP. As it stands, we trek to Barboursville, WV or South Charleston, WV (I'm trying to convince someone in my family to head out there Sunday morning to scope out the selection!) A lot of my Southeastern KY friends and family go to Knoxville as well.
- Lexington: There are two stores in the LEX, the Nicholasville Road adjacent store at 131 West Reynolds Rd, and Hamburg at 1940 Pavillon Way.
- Northern Kentucky: If you're in the NKY, go to 1100 Hansel Drive in or 160 Pavilion Pkwy in Newport.
- Louisville: Here in the Derby City, there are plenty of Targets, which is good, because I know a lot of Lilly Lovers in town! Check out Bashford Manor at 3600 Mall Rd, Dixie Highway at 9070 Dixie Hwy, Jeffersontown at 4640 Taylorsville Rd, Jefferson Pavilion at 7311 Jefferson Blvd, Middletown at 12975 Shelbyville Rd, Springhurst at 4101 Towne Center Dr, and St Matthews at 4174 Westport Rd.
- Elizabethtown: E'town's Target is at 1631 Ring Rd.
- Owensboro: The Owensboro Target is at 5151 Frederica Street.
- Henderson: Head over the river to 4000 1st Ave in Evansville, IN
- Hopkinsville: Clarksville, TN is your closest Target
- Paducah: Paducah People in the Know tell me that Marion, IL is the place to go.
Happy Shopping, y'all! Can't wait to hear what you find and what you love!
The links in this post contain affiliate links and HerKentucky, LLC will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on the link.
Hitting Barre Class Milestones at B.YOU!
When you reach the 100 class mark at B.YOU fitness, the studio celebrates by giving you a little present -- a bracelet with a B.YOU charm -- and by posting your photo across their social media channels. For the first time in my life, 100 classes at my fitness studio sounds like a fun goal rather than an arduous task. I'm still pretty far away from that 100-class mark, however, I did hit some pretty significant milestones of my own in class this week.
On Tuesday, I completed my 20th class. Now, for most folks, that's a pretty standard attendance record after they've belonged to a gym or studio for a couple of months. For me, it's life-changing. When I joined B.YOU in February, I was in severe pain from a back injury. Slowly but surely, the shakes, burns, and stretches of B. Barre classes helped me build core strength and decrease my pain levels. It doesn't hurt that the classes are so enjoyable, with wonderfully supportive instructors and participants. Yesterday, as I was leaving class, my instructor, Jessica, complimented me on how much my form had improved. It was a really big deal for me, considering that I couldn't walk without pain only a few short months ago!
I love the the "Yes, You Can!" attitude of the instructors at B. YOU. The attitudes of the instructors and the women in classes are always so supportive and encouraging. There isn't the competitive vibe that you see so often in exercise classes -- the classes are quite challenging and we're all doing the best we can. It's a great place to get fit and connect with a group of wonderful women. I hope to see y'all there as you set a few milestones of your own!!
{This post is brought to you by b.you Fitness!}
{Please note that I am speaking only from my personal experience. I am neither a medical professional nor a barre instructor. I was advised by my physician to work on core strengthening.}