I Wish I Were In Lexington Weekend

I really wish I were in Lexington this weekend y'all! It's the ultimate autumn trifecta: A UK basketball game, Keeneland racing, and a UK football game. I can't make it there, and I'm feeling homesick, so I've put together the ultimate "I wish I were in Lexington" road trip checklist! 

Photo Details: Striped UK Tote bag c/o Pomegranate, Inc. Open Top Large Boat and Tote, Zip Top Large Boat and Tote, Leather Handle Boat and Tote -- L.L. Bean. Black Lab Needlepoint Keychain c/o Smathers and Branson. Hunter Original Tall Glossy Boots

It's the best weekend of the year to take in all the best that Lexington has to offer! 

Photo Details: Alex and Ani UK Bracelet c/o Alumni Hall; Bourbon & Boweties Basketball and Football Bracelets

The first stop on the Big Blue tour would be Friday afternoon's #seeblue day at Keeneland, showcasing the UK Cheer and Dance Teams, the Band, and the DanceBlue initiative!

Skirt and top: A New Day at Target; Pearls c/o Versona; Tory Burch Boots c/o Sassy Fox Consignment

Then I'd stop for a quick work break

and head out to the first UK Basketball game of the season.

Photo Details: Elbow Patch Tee c/o Gameday Couture; American Ragg Booties at Macy's.

Saturday morning, I'd go with a dressier look for a Keeneland Dining Room

Lilly Pulitzer Elsa Top and Cashmere Sweater; Talbots Wool Skirt; Kate Spade Shoes via Stella's Resale Boutique

Of course, tailgating is the next item on the agenda! I'm sure lots of folks I know will be out to see the big rivalry game versus Tennessee!

The forecast calls for a cold, rainy night, so I'd dress warm!

Are you headed to any of the weekend festivities in Lexington, or are you enjoying from afar like me?

Dolly Parton's I Believe in You Benefits Imagination Library

I seriously love Dolly Parton, y'all. 

Reese Witherspoon knows what's up.

I mean, she's a mountain girl with big hair who followed her dreams and forged her own path. She basically drew a road map for me.

Of course, beyond her timeless songs (there really isn't a serious argument against my belief that Jolene is the best song ever written...) and two of the most iconic movie roles ever (Doralee and Truvy, obvs), there's Dolly's commitment to treating others well, sharing her good fortune, and generally doing the right thing. Dolly has been vocal about her support of marriage equality. She gave millions of dollars Gatlinburg-area families the funds to help them get back on their feet after devastating fires claimed their homes. 

And then there's the Imagination Library. Y'all, this is seriously one of the coolest initiatives ever. Miss Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 to provide books to the children of her hometown Sevierville, Tennessee. Dolly's mission to ensure that children had access to high-quality, age-appropriate books, regardless of household income, was designed to honor her own father, whose circumstances in the Appalachian hills of Tennessee led to his never learning to read or write. Over the past 22 years, the Imagination Library has mailed more than 100 million books to children in Australia, Belize, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. This service is completely free to the recipients, y'all! Over 1600 communities are served, and over 1.1 million children have registered!

Here in Kentucky, there are over fifty Imagination Library affiliate programs. You can register your child aged 2-5, regardless of household income, if you live in an area supported by the Imagination Library. I love the fact that my little niece receives a monthly Imagination Library book! She already loves books, the alphabet, and reading, and she's showing every sign of having some seriously big hair of her own. It’s a pretty good start for a little mountain girl!

If you love Miss Dolly (and childhood literacy) as much as I do, then you should check out Dolly’s new children’s album, “I Believe in You” which is available in stores today! All proceeds from the album benefit the Imagination Library. There’s even a special edition CD package that comes with a children’s book based on Dolly’s song Coat of Many Colors. What a cute Christmas present!

Here's to big-haired mountain girls who know what they want, and who always exhibit grace and kindness on their journey!

Love Dolly as much as I do? Shop the Draper James What Would Dolly Do collection! This tee might be the most-complimented item I own! 

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Today is National Gumbo Day. That might be the best holiday I can think of for football season, chilly evenings and, well... any autumn day! I made a big batch of chicken and sausage gumbo last night. I love this recipe because it can be as easy or as elaborate as you'd like it!

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

• 2-3 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
• 8 links andouille sausage, sliced
• 2 bell peppers, diced
• 3 ribs celery, diced
• 1 white onion, diced
• 1 bag frozen 
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, mashed
• 1 bay leaf
• Cajun seasoning
• salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• Louisiana hot sauce
• chicken stock (recipe below or use one box of stock with additional water as needed)
• 2 cups dry rice

If making own stock:

• Skin, drippings, and bones from cooked chicken
• 2-3 garlic cloves, mashed
• 1 white onion, sliced in half
• 4 ribs celery, including tops and leaves
• 2 carrots
• 8-10 cups water

1.  Place chicken breasts and thighs in glass cooking dishes. Bake on 425 until skin is golden brown and meat is cooked through, about 35 minutes. (Breasts will take longer to cook than thighs.)
2. Allow chicken to cool somewhat, peel skin and remove large bones that can be easily separated. Place chicken in stand mixer with paddle attachment and blend on medium low speed until chicken is shredded. Pick through for any remaining bones.
3. If you're making your own stock, add all stock ingredients to a large stockpot, bring to a rolling boil, then allow to simmer for 1 - 1.5 hours. Strain and skim fat from top.
4. In Dutch oven, brown sausage in olive oil on medium-high. Remove meat and set aside, leaving fat in the Dutch oven. Add butter and allow to melt on medium-high heat.
5. Make a roux by reducing heat to medium-low and adding flour to the fat mixture. Stir constantly until the mixture is the color of milk chocolate. (If your roux burns, throw the mixture away and start it over with butter and olive oil and flour!)
6. Add onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic, onion, and okra to the roux mixture; saute until vegetables are tender and onions are translucent.
7. Add reserved meats (chicken and sausage) to mixture and cover the mixture with chicken stock (homemade or purchased). Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 2-3 hours, seasoning with Cajun seasoning, bay leaf, and and hot sauce to taste.
8. About twenty minutes before serving, prepare rice according to directions on package. 
9. Serve gumbo over a heaping scoop of rice.

Happy Gumbo Day, y'all!!! 

Draper James Hold Your Horses Capsule Collection is Back!

Just a little heads up, y'all! The Draper James "Hold Your Horses" Capsule Collection is back in stock! I know y'all loved these items at Derby time, and the collection is back and improved for Fall Keeneland/ Breeders' Cup/ November Churchill Downs season! 

This tote is on my must-have list, and the tee gets so many compliments every time I wear it! The hat would be soooo perfect for the little autumn getaway I'm dreaming of lately!

Click here for $20 off your Draper James online order!! Happy Shopping, y'all!!

The HerKentucky Guide to L.L. Bean Boots

Autumn is my favorite time of year to stock up on L.L. Bean. I can't get enough of their  Bean Boots and Boat and Tote Bags. They have such classic styling, quality construction, and a fun, preppy style. They're seriously items that never go out of style, and that I find myself reaching for over and over.

I love my Bean Boots because they're so durable and waterproof. I use them for everyday errands like walking the dogs or walking through our often-leaky basement as well as to stay warm and dry in wet weather and blend in with the fall foliage.

L.L. Bean 6" Bean Boots

The slip-on mocs are even good for summertime errands like yard work, and since they're made of rubber, they clean up so easily!

L.L. Bean Boots Rubber Mocs

A word about sizing: these boots are meant to be worn with serious socks, so size down significantly! Half sizes are advised to order one and a half down!  I wear an 8.5 in most shoes; I own a 7 in both of these pairs!

Here are a few of my favorite current LL Bean Bean Boot Styles!

The HerKentucky Guide to Keeneland Style

Tomorrow is the first day of Keeneland's Fall Meet, y'all! Now, Lexington in October is the absolute prettiest scenery you can hope for, and the Fall Meet is my absolute favorite. And, in all the years I've been writing about Kentucky, the question I get asked most often is "What should I wear to Keeneland." Here's a handy guide to help you crack the Keeneland Dress Code.

When someone plans to attend their first race at Lexington's storied Keeneland Race Course, I ask three questions to help them plan their wardrobe and Itinerary: "Where are you sitting?"; "What are you doing?"; and "Will the weather cooperate?" As you'll see, those three questions factor into every piece of your Keeneland experience.

1. Where are you sitting? 

This is the most important question to help you gauge your Keeneland wardrobe and experience is where you'll be sitting. 

If you're going to stay near the Paddock --General Admission, Grandstand, or Equestrian Room-- there's no need to dress up very much.  Guys often opt for khakis and polo shirts, and women can wear slacks or skirts. You're actually dressing for a horse race in these sections.  These are the areas nearest the track itself, and people are truly there to watch (and bet on) the horses. With that said, don't be surprised to see a lot of dresses and sport coats in the lower-levels.  In recent years, a culture of dressy tailgating (think Steeplechase) has popped up among college students and twenty-somethings, and the second floor (General Admission) Sports Bar often resembles a campus bar or fraternity semi-formal.  While the dress code says "casual", there's plenty of Vineyard Vines ties and Lilly Pulitzer sundresses to be seen. 

If you'll be dining in the upper-level, enclosed dining rooms-- The Lexington, Kentucky, or Phoenix Rooms-- then expect to dress for a business event.  The Lexington and Kentucky rooms -- dining rooms often reserved for business and social gatherings-- have a "business formal" dress code; these areas require men to don a coat and tie, and skirts/dresses/dressy slacks for ladies.   The Phoenix Room-- another reserved dining room-- is "business casual", requiring collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses or pantsuits for ladies. 

Wear to the Dining Rooms

The track's members-only turf club, the Keeneland Clubhouse, similarly requires coat and tie for men and dressy pants/skirts for ladies.  I find that a skirt suit or a dress paired with a pretty cardigan or wrap is always appropriate for the upper levels.  In general, if you'd wear it to church or a business meeting, you're golden.  

Wear to the Clubhouse

2. What are you doing? 

That seems an odd question; you'll be watching the horse races, right? Well, there's a little more to it. Are you going to walk frequently from the paddock to your seating area? Then you don't want to wear high heels. Will you be tailgating? Then you might want to wear wedges or wellies. The same applies to your parking space! I like to suggest a small handbag or clutch; you don't want to have your hands full with an oversized bag! 

3. Will the weather cooperate? 

Pretty often, Keeneland attire is a day-of decision. October in Kentucky is a pretty tricky weather situation. It could easily be 80 degrees one day, and 50 degrees the next. You’ll need sunglasses, of course, but also potentially a sweater or wrap or a sundress, depending on the day you visit. It’s really easy to get dehydrated on a sunny autumn day at Keeneland. Remember to drink plenty of water, especially if you’re imbibing, and don’t forget the sunscreen!

Most of all, remember to enjoy what I’m sure will be a pretty wonderful day at the track!

National Coffee Day!

Today is National Coffee Day! I have to say that, at HerKentucky Headquarters, Coffee Day is a whole lot like that tagline for Shark Week; we live every day like it's coffee day.

Because we put down a whole lot of java at my house, I wanted to pay tribute to my very favorite cups in Louisville.

Of course, there's Please & Thank You. Strong lattes and some the best baked goods in town. 

And then there's Sunergos, the beans that fuel my own French presses. I'm partial to the Mexico Chiapas blend.

And, of course, there's my neighborhood Starbucks, which serves as my office away from home, my cappuccino connection, and generally the place that keeps me caffeinated! 

Happy Coffee Day, y'all. Today and every day. Who keeps you caffeinated?