The HerKentucky Guide to Shopping Lilly Pulitzer Sales
Shop locally for great sales!
If you're a serious Lilly Pulitzer shopper, then I know you've heard about the big After Party sale that's starting this Monday. Now, the after-party sale is great, and I've scored some good deals there. Buuuutttt.... it has a tendency to have long lines and a bit of a "break the internet" feel.
As a longtime Lilly lover, I'm going to let y'all in on my very favorite Lilly Pulitzer shopping secret, and it's right here in the Bluegrass State: The Peppermint Palm, Kentucky's very own privately-owned Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, with locations in Lexington and Louisville. No insane online hassles, shopping locally, and often getting far better buys. What's better than that??
In fact, some of my very favorite deals of the summer have come from the Peppermint Palm! Here are a few examples:
Sophie Dress
I found this Lilly Sophie Dress at The Peppermint Palm back in May. It retailed for $138; while it was still full price online, I found it for under $80 at the Palm!
And, let me tell you, I've more than gotten my money's worth from this dress! I've worn it to bourbon distillery tours, charity events, even a shotgun shoot! It's amazingly comfortable, has an SPF 50+ rating for sun protection, and can be dressed up or down with different shoes and accessories! (My mom got the same dress on sale at the Palm and has worn it to baby showers, work events, and even my cousin's med school graduation!)
Younger Woman's Club of Louisville End of Year Toast
Woodford Reserve Distillery Tour
Original Makers Club Shotgun Shoot and Southern Supper
Ali Dress
I LOVE this dress! It has been my go-to all summer! While it was still $98 online, it was 40% off at The Palm!!!
This may be the most flattering everyday summer dress I've ever owned. With three quarters sleeves, a deep-but-not-too-deep v-neck, loose bodice, and shirttail hem, this has been perfect for everything from a pool party to a morning of art at 21C! I've legitimately thrown this dress on with sneakers, sandals, and dressy flats for a ton of different summer looks, and every.single. time. someone stops me to tell me how cute my dress is!
Ali Dress + Art at 21C's Penthouse! (Kentucky necklace from Elva Fields)
Marlowe Dress
I'm just in love with this blue striped Marlowe Dress! When it was still $98 online, I got it for under $70 at the Palm!
Happy shopping, y'all! Remember to always shop locally first!!!
The Nineteenth Amendment's Kentucky Roots
In the 1920s, many Kentuckians were living rather rural and agrarian lives. The Commonwealth was the nation's top producer of tobacco, while Eastern Kentucky coal camp towns were transforming the Appalachian economy in response to a growing demand for coal-fired energy. The Bluegrass State's biggest cities were headed in exciting new directions: empowered by electric streetcars, Lexington expanded to include the Ashland and Bell Court suburbs, while Louisville would soon establish itself as a Prohibition-era playground for flappers, bootleggers, and even a gangster or two.
But did you know that 1920s Kentucky was important to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave American women the right to vote?
The issue of women's suffrage has an interesting history in Kentucky. As early as the 1830s, some Kentucky women were allowed to vote in school board elections. The Women's Suffrage movement in Kentucky was championed by Laura Clay and her sister Mary Barr Clay, the daughters of famed abolitionist Cassius Marcellus Clay. The Clay sisters became fervent women's right advocates when their parents' divorce left their mother homeless and without agency. Laura's work was so tireless and far-reaching that she even became the first woman to be nominated for President by a major political party. Her work as founder of the Kentucky Woman Suffrage Association focused not only on the right to vote, but also on women's rights to property ownership and financial agency.
Soon, women's rights leaders like Laura Clay found their hard work being rewarded as national support of suffrage movements took hold.
On the first day of the 1920 Kentucky General Assembly, Kentucky ratified the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution by a margin of 72 to 25 in the House and 30 to 8 in the Senate. Less than a month after taking office, on January 6, 1920, Governor Edwin P. Morrow, a Somerset-born Republican and former U.S. Attorney, signed the Bill into law. Kentucky was one of only four Southern states to approve the amendment, which went into effect after Tennessee followed suit in August of that year. The 19th Amendment was incorporated into the Constitution on August 26, 1920.
As with all revolutionary legislation, the 19th Amendment was met with immediate litigation. In Leser v. Garnett, 258 U.S. 130 (1922), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the amendment's validity. The legal opinion, written by Louisville native Louis D. Brandeis, found that the amendment was properly ratified by the states and was, therefore, legally adopted.
Today we celebrate the ninety-sixth anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and thank forward-thinking Kentuckians like Laura Clay, Mary Barr Clay, Edwin P. Morrow, and Louis Brandeis for helping ensure the voting rights of Kentucky women. Thanks to these and other brave Kentuckians who have ensured freedoms and equal rights for Kentucky's women!
Why I'd Insist That My Daughter Participate in Sorority Rush
How sorority recruitment prepares young women for professional life.
This time of year, I always start thinking about sorority recruitment. It's one of those things that, for former sorority girls like myself, are simply unavoidable. Warm (or sometimes not-so-fond) memories of skit practice, of those girls whom you just knew would make wonderful sisters, of the tense voting sessions, the long afternoons of decorations, and the seemingly impossible task of finding the perfect t-shirts. It's been a rite of passage for American college women for decades. And while for many it holds the hellish connotation of boot camp or medical residency, it's something that I believe that all college women should undertake if their circumstances possibly allow.
I've said it, time and again: If I had a college-age daughter, I'd insist that she at least go through rush. I'd prefer that she join a sorority, and I'd really prefer that she join my sorority, but she definitely should rush.
I know how that sounds. Really, I do. It paints me as a silly, antiquated Southern woman, somewhere between a Eudora Welty character and Suzanne Sugarbaker. Maybe even the ladies in The Help*. But, hear me out. There are some really valuable lessons -- both personal and professional -- to be gleaned from the recruitment experience.
Me, circa a million years ago.
If, indeed, college is really about fully preparing a student for both life and the professional arena, then rush is the first true skills-based interview many young women will ever undertake. Think about it:
- Well-qualified candidates know that it's more than just applying and showing up. They take pride in their applications, they solicit letters of recommendation, and they find a way to stand out on paper. They tell a cohesive story that accentuates their strengths and, often, puts a positive spin on their weaknesses. They seek out alumnae to recommend them when possible. They put together a package that, hopefully, stands out to a chapter.
- Potential New Members quickly develop their very first elevator pitches. Over the period of a day or two, rushees learn to market themselves as highly sought-out candidates for an organization. Successfully selling oneself as a potential fit for an organization -- be it club membership or a dream job at a corporation -- requires a delicate balance of ego, humility, assertiveness, and grace. In a society that often tends to shut out women's voices, recruitment can provide a rare girls-only arena for developing the skill of selling oneself as a candidate.
- It's a great lesson that you can't trust everyone. Professionally and personally, you may think you've made a great and lasting impression, only to find that either (a) you actually haven't made that great of an impression; or (b) the person with whom you spoke was being disingenuous. The more savvy young women become about trusting people, the more likely they are to safeguard themselves. Learning that you can't take everyone at face value is a skill that naive college women need to process as quickly as possible. An unfortunate experience with a disingenuous sorority woman is, relatively speaking, a pretty mild starting point for this lesson. Which brings me to my last, and perhaps most crucial point.
- It's often a great learning moment about rejection and disappointment. Nobody gets everything they want out of life. We aren't all Beyoncé or Kate Middleton. And, for the oddest of reasons, rushees usually get cut from chapters during recruitment rounds. And, most of them will go on to get rejected by a dream medical school or employer at some point. It's a hard lesson to learn, but the earlier you start picking yourself up, the less likely you are to be devastated by future rejections. Or, maybe the rushee loves a chapter, but ultimately walks away from the recruitment process because money is tight or her schedule simply doesn't allow time for sorority membership. It may teach her to question her whether her "dream" law school or internship or job is, in reality, the right fit for her. That's a pretty darn good skill to have on hand.
If you think of sorority recruitment as a mini-boot camp for future entrepreneurs and professionals, doesn't it just makes sense to get a foot in the door?
*The author of The Help? Totally my sorority sister. As are authors Elin Hilderbrand and Joyce Carol Oates. Phi Mu has a special level of recognition for all of our sisters who are published authors, the Augusta Evans Wilson Literary Society. #lifegoals
How to Eat Lunch Like a Louisville Local
"Where should I eat lunch in Louisville?"
It's probably the email, text, Facebook message, etc., question that I get the most often. What are the tried-and true favorite spots for lunch in Louisville? Where are the hottest new restaurants in the Derby City? Where can I grab a quick bite in a particular Louisville neighborhood?
That's quite a question, y'all, but I've narrowed it down to thirty of the very best. Click here to download a printable version, and let me know if you agree with my choices!
Downtown
Dine with the penguins at Proof on Main.
J.Graham’s Café at the Brown Hotel
Home of the Hot Brown.
The Brown Hotel, 335 W Broadway
Sun-Sat 7am – 3pm
Proof on Main
The best burger in Louisville.
21C Museum Hotel 702 W Main St
Mon-Thu 11am - 1 am; Fri 11am - 2 am;
Sat 12 pm-2am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Mussel & Burger Bar
Don’t miss the truffle oil steak fries.
113 S. 7th St
Mon-Thu 11 am – 9:30 pm; Fri 11 am – 10:30 pm;
Sat 12 pm – 10:30 pm; Sun: 12 pm – 8:30 pm
Main Eatery
The Blue Plate Special is always great!
643 W Main St
Mon-Fri 11 am – 2 pm; closed weekends
Atlantic No. 5
Don’t miss the latte!!
605 W Main St
Mon-Fri 7 am – 4 pm; closed weekends
NuLu/ Butchertown
Brisket sandwich at Feast BBQ
Grind Burger Kitchen
Order the Southern Burger!!
829 E. Market St
Tue – Sat 11 am – 10 pm
Butchertown Grocery
Have the BLT!
1076 E. Washington St.
Wed – Sun: 11 am – 10 pm (Sat & Sun brunch 11 am – 3 pm); Closed Mon and Tues
Ghyslain on Market
A macaron and a French press are a must!
721 E Market St
November - March: Mon - Sun 9AM - 8PM;
April - October: Mon - Sun 9AM - 9PM
Feast BBQ
Have the pork cake appetizer, mac & cheese or collard greens!
909 E Market St
Tues-Thurs 11 am -10 pm; Friday-Sat 11am-12am; closed Sun-Mon
Royal’s Hot Chicken
Louisville’s only legit Nashville-style hot chicken. Don’t miss the fries and cheese grits!
736 E Market St
Tues-Thurs 11:30 am-10 Friday-Sat 11:30 am-11 pm; closed Sun-Mon
Royal's Hot Chicken is a Louisville can't-miss!
Old Louisville
Seafood Lady
Amazing Cajun seafood! Portions are huge!
617 W. Oak St.
Wed, Fri, and Sat: 11 am – 9 pm; closed Sun-Tues and Thurs
Buck’s Restaurant & Bar
An elegant Old Louisville institution!
425 W Ormsby Ave
Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm, 5-11 pm; Sat 5-11 pm; closed Sun
Ollie’s Trolley
You need an Ollieburger!
Mon-Fri 10:30 am – 4:25 pm; closed Sat & Sun
Germantown
The Post
Fabulous New York Style Pizza!
1045 Goss Ave
Mon -Wed 11 am – 12 am; Thurs- Fri 11 am – 2 am; Sat 12 pm – 2 am; Sun 12 pm – 12 am
The Highlands
Bacon & Benedictine from Stevens and Stevens Deli
Gralehaus
Fabulous espresso beverages!
1001 Baxter Ave
Mon-Sun 8 am – 4 pm
Stevens & Stevens Deli
You don’t want to miss the bacon and Benedictine sandwich!
1114 Bardstown Road
Mon – Sat 10 am – 4 pm; closed Sunday
LeMoo
Reserve the Louis Vuitton booth!
2300 Lexington Road
Mon – Wed 11 am – 2 pm; Thur- Fri 11 am- 10 pm; Sat 10 am- 3pm, 5 pm – 11 pm; Sun 10 am- 3pm, 5 pm – 11 pm
El Taco Lunchador
The chicken mole taco is superb!
938 Baxter Ave
Mon- Thurs 11 am – 9:30 pm; Fri 11 am – 10:30 pm; Sat 12 – 10:30 pm; Sun 12- 9 pm.
Molly Malone’s
Famous fish and chips!
933 Baxter Ave
Mon – Sun 11 am – 4 am
Fish and Chips at Irish Rover
Frankfort Avenue
The Irish Rover
Order fish and chips and a pint or seafood pie!
2319 Frankfort Ave
Mon-Thurs 11:30 am – 11 pm; Fri-Sat 11:30 am – 12 am; closed Sun
Blue Dog Bakery & Café
Fabulous salads and breads!
2868 Frankfort Ave
Tues-Sat Bakery 7-am-4 pm; Tues-Fri Lunch 11 am – 2 pm; Sat Brunch 9 am – 12 pm; closed Sun and Mon
North End Café
Go for all-day breakfast!
1722 Frankfort Ave
Mon 8 am – 2:30 pm; Tue- Thurs 8 am – 9 pm; Fri- Sat 8 am – 10 pm; Sun 8 am – 9 pm
El Mundo
Louisville’s favorite tacos!
2345 Frankfort Ave
Mon 5-10 pm; Tues – Sat 11:30 am – 10 pm
St. Matthews
namnam cafe
namnam café
Fantastic Pho!
318 Wallace Ave
Tues – Sat 11 am – 2:30 pm, 4:30 – 9 pm; Sun 4-9 pm; closed Mon
Coals Artisan Pizza
Wood-fired pies with regionally sourced ingredients!
3730 Frankfort Ave
Mon – Thurs 11 am – 10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am – 11 pm; Sun 12 – 9 pm
Cheddar Box
Don’t miss their country ham sandwich and pimento cheese!
3909 Chenoweth Square
Tues-Fri 9 am – 6 pm; Sat 9 am – 4 pm; Closed Sun and Mon
Local Chains
Impellizzeri's Pizza
Shiraz Mediterranean Grill
Go for the hummus!
3501 Poplar Level; 205 N Hurstborne; 2210 Holiday Manor Suite 1; 237 5th St; 4614 Chamberlin
Hours vary
Bristol Bar & Grill
The green chili wontons are everyone’s favorite!
1321 Bardstown Rd; 614 W Main; 300 N Hurstborne Pkwy
Hours vary
Impellizzeri’s
Incredible deep dish pizza!
110 W Main; 1381 Bardstown Rd; 4933 Brownsboro Rd
Hours vary
Wick’s Pizza
The calzone is amazing!
975 Baxter Ave; 2927 Goose Creek Rd; 12717 Shelbyville Rd
Hours vary
What are your favorite lunch spots in Louisville?
Make-a-Wish #BIGwishgala
This weekend, my friends and I attended Make-a-Wish Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana's Big Wish Gala.
Several of my friends from the Younger Woman's Club of Louisville are Wish Granters for Make-a-Wish, so I'd heard about some of the amazing opportunities that local kids had been granted. Still, I wasn't prepared for how amazing and emotional it was to hear the Wish Kids talk about getting to visit Tahiti or meet Apple's Tim Cook.
The Gala was truly lovely (and trust me, I go to enough of these things that I'm pretty hard to impress!) The Seelbach was an elegant backdrop for dinner dancing, and raising money. In fact, the event raised over $184,000 for Make-a-Wish!
I love that Make-a-Wish helps make dreams come true for children with life-altering diseases. I was particularly moved by how many of the wish kids and their parents described the Wish as a time to "just be a kid" or a time to "not have to think about cancer." So many of us take our health and good fortune for granted; it was sobering to hear the Wish families talk about the gift of normalcy that their children had been granted!
If you'd like to make a time or monetary donation to Make-a-Wish of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, please visit their website. Also, please take a moment to watch this video of a precious toddler from Eastern Kentucky who wished to go to Disney World.
Special thanks to Shircliff Publishing (and their unofficial mascot, Willie!), for sponsoring our table! It was such an incredible night to hopefully help wishes come true.
More about Make a Wish:
Bourbon Chocolate Chunk Cookies
It's National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, y'all.
Now, that may or may not be a real thing, but the fact that chocolate is amazing is definitely real. In fact, did you know that ihe Aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of Quetzalcoatl, the God of wisdom, and the seeds had so much value they were used as a form of currency?
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day seemed like a good excuse to make a batch of chocolate chunk cookies. I used the basic Nestle Toll House recipe, and added a Kentucky kick with a few teaspoons of Maker's Mark.
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons bourbon
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups chocolate chunks
- 1 cup chopped pecans
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
For more HerKentucky chocolate recipes, check out:
Louisville Stoneware for Pleasant Hill Pottery
A few months ago, I won an Everything But the House auction for an amazing set of vintage Louisville Stoneware luncheon dishes and bowls. Now, I've been collecting Stoneware for as long as I can remember, but this is one of the most unique designs I've ever seen. According to the mark on the bottom of the pottery, it was made for Pleasant Hill. Of course, I knew that Pleasant Hill is the home of Shaker Village -- I certainly took in more than a few grade school field trips there -- but I wanted to learn a little more about the pottery and the Shaker Tree of Life logo.
The familiar Tree of Life on the front of the dishes was, of course, a variant of the orange-and-green logo that's represented Kentucky's Shaker Village since the property opened to the public as an inn and restaurant in 1968. A little more research told met that the stylized Tree of Life logo dates back to an 1854 painting by Shaker folk artist Hannah Cohoon. Mrs. Cohoon, perhaps the most famous painter of the short-lived Shaker religious and folk art movement, painted many variants of the Tree of Life theme. (For a fascinating take on Shaker iconography and art, read this New Yorker article.)
My research into this awesome pottery pattern got even more interesting when I posted photos of a piece to Instagram, and got some comments from an IG follower who works at Stoneware. She showed photos of the pattern and the branding marks to a longtime Stoneware painter, who dated these pieces to the late 1980s or early 1990s. How fun that social media, online auctions, and a little research could piece together the story of these fun dishes!
