The January 2021 Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale
Lilly Pulitzer Sale favorites!
Happy Lilly Sale morning, y’all! It’s time for the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale! I’ve heard a rumor that my favorite dress of 2020 will be on sale for under $60! Here are a few other staples I’ll be shopping today!
The Elsa Top
I love a classic Elsa top — a silk tunic that works with everything from jeans to suits! These are such a staple, and you can usually find them at a good price on the After-Party Sale!
Skipper Popover
The Skipper popover is a more refined and versatile version of a sweatshirt. I wear mine everywhere, and always look for them on the Lilly Sale!
Maxi Dresses
I always look for Maxi Dresses on the Lilly Sale — I love being able to wear them through most of the year!
Let me know what y’all score on the Lilly Sale!
Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls
A family recipe for the classic Kentucky bourbon ball, made with Maker’s Mark.
In my family, it isn't Christmas until somebody makes a batch of bourbon balls. This recipe, passed down from my Great-Aunt Marie, is the most popular recipe on HerKentucky!
Because the bourbon isn't cooked down, the candy retains the taste of the bourbon used. I think it's pretty important to use a rich wheated bourbon like Maker's Mark to retain the sweetness of the dough. Bourbon balls made with a rye blend bourbon (think Early Times or Old Forester) tend to add a bitter note. The paraffin wax is totally optional — it makes a smoother, shinier shell to the candy. Since this is an old family recipe, I include it, but it really goes back to the days when high-quality baking chocolate wasn’t readily available and the wax was needed to help make the chocolate adhere.
Maker’s Mark Bourbon Balls
This recipe yields between six and seven dozen bourbon balls.
1 to 2 cups good bourbon whisky (I use Maker's Mark)
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 to 1 cup whole pecan halves (optional)
1 two-pound bag of powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
2 bags Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate chips
paraffin wax
Place 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped pecans in shallow bowl. Pour Maker's Mark over nuts, immersing completely. Cover and let soak 12 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pecan halves in shallow pan and toast lightly for about ten minutes.
Cream butter in stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Combine bourbon-pecan mixture with just enough powdered sugar to form a stiff ball. Refrigerate to let stiffen slightly.
Roll dough into small balls.
In double-boiler (or a sauce pan placed over a cooker full of boiling water), add a third to a half a bag of semisweet chocolate chips and, if desired, a small shaving of paraffin wax (no more than 1/4 cup). Heat until just smooth. Dip dough balls into the chocolate mixture. The key is to coat them quickly and make small, frequent batches of melted chocolate.
Place bourbon balls on wax paper to cool. Top each with a toasted pecan half, if desired. Results are better if you leave them to cool at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator.
Download the recipe card!
The Black Friday Sales I Shopped Today
The best holiday deals for holiday gift-giving — or to keep for yourself!
(This post contains affiliate links; I will receive a small commission on any purchase you make by clicking through the links below, at no charge to you. Posts like this keep the lights on at HerKentucky!)
I hope y’all had a safe and lovely Thanksgiving, and that you got a little holiday shopping done, if you were so inclined. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Black Friday finds; most of them could make great gifts or would be pretty wonderful to keep for yourself. I also love that a lot of retailers are extending the “Black Friday” window so that we can safely shop at a distance and online! Here are a few of my favorites!
Draper James
The Draper James sale is absolutely fantastic. Everything is 30% off through Monday, 11/30. I love that they’ve kept last year’s Angie plaid pieces — such a classic red tartan — and added the new Georgia plaid. Shopping for yourself? Pick up holiday plaid or velvet for Christmas (or at least for your holiday card photo…). Shopping for presents? You can’t beat cozy sweatshirts, sweaters, and Christmas ornaments!
For you
For them
Kendra Scott
I will never not share this photo of the time I met Kendra Scott. She’s so lovely and unassuming that it made me love her brand even more!!
Kendra Scott is 30% off through Monday, 11/30. I love giving pieces of Kendra jewelry as gifts — they are so delicate and versatile at a great price point. Don’t tell my oldest niece, but I’m eyeing the heart necklace as one of her presents!
For you
For them
L.L. Bean
L..L. Bean is 15% off through Tuesday 12/1. I love their sweaters, pajamas, and fleeces. It’s also a great time to stock up on Boat & Tote Bags , Bean Boots, and throws for everyone on your list!
For you
For them
Lands’ End
Lands’ End has extended their up to 50% off sale — it’s a great time to stock up on fleece, PJs, slippers and throws!
Macy’s
I love Macy’s for home goods — the absolute best place to stock up on sheets, towels, and cookware! — and their cashmere sweaters are my very favorite!! It’s a great time to stock up on things you’ll need all winter, or to give great gifts!
Nordstrom
You can’t beat Nordstrom for luxe favorites and great gifts! And, if you buy yourself a Barefoot Dreams blanket, I won’t tell a soul!
Target
Let’s just admit it. We’re all going to shop at Target this season. You’ll need Christmas lights. Those Our Generation dolls are so incredibly cute. And I live in their cardigans and joggers.
Happy shopping, y’all!
Draper James Gingham Sweatshirt
Navy gingham for fall from Draper James.
Sweatshirt: Draper James (25% off this weekend!) | Jeans: Lauren (old) | Tote: Draper James x Land’s End (oid) | Shoes: Tretorn
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m really only wearing comfortable clothes these days. Words like “lounge” and “athleisure” describe my style lately, and I’m strangely okay with it. I absolutely love this Draper James Gingham Sweatshirt; it’s so cute that it would even fit in with the normal-clothes world. The best part is that everything at Draper James is 25% off through Sunday, so you can pick this up in a couple of colors (I’m also in love with the light pink!) or in the DJ signature magnolia print!
I’m also wearing this Vote, Y’all tee from Draper James as frequently as possible. It’s a fantastic reminder that this election is so important!
The Draper James sale is online and in-store, and includes almost every full-price item. Their fall dresses are some of the dreamiest prints I’ve seen in a while. I just love the colors and prints, and I may just have to find an excuse to dress up in one of these!
Happy shopping, y’all!
{This post contains affiliate links; HerKentucky LLC will be paid a small commission for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the reader.}
The H Word, JD Vance, and Appalachian Identity
JD Vance ain’t from around here, and the Hillbilly Elegy trailer is a trainwreck I don’t want to see.
{This blog post contains commissionable links to my Bookshop affiliate account. I receive a very small commission on your purchase, at no cost to you. That said, I ask that you please don’t buy Hillbilly Elegy; don’t give that work or its author any more power. I frequently add more fitting books to the Appalachian Voices page of my Bookshop storefront.}
Growing up, there were a handful of words that under no circumstances were my brother and I ever allowed to say. There were the usual ones, the ones that probably got y’all in trouble with your parents as well, and then there was the H word. You know the one. Well, at least if you grew up like I did, in 1980s Eastern Kentucky with educator parents, you know the one: Hillbilly.
“I’m proud of my hillbilly, white trash background. To me, that keeps you humble; that keeps you good. And it doesn’t matter how hard you try to outrun it. If that’s who you are, that’s who you are. It’ll show up once in a while. ”
The message was clear: yes, it’s a pejorative term for people from the Appalachian region. Yes, people say it about us, both behind our backs and to our faces. But if we allow ourselves to play into the stereotype, then we’re giving them power over us.
Now, I’ll admit that, over the years, I’ve played with dropping the H-bomb myself. Isn’t that what taboo words are for? I was taking back the idiom, as they say. Besides, Miss Dolly Parton embraced the term, and who am I to question Dolly? But, anytime I did use that word it was always with the sense that “I can say it because I am one. Y’all can’t.”
The truth of that word, whether taboo or reclaimed, remains constant: it’s a “them and us” mentality. Appalachians are, by definition, sheltered. Our geography and our culture sets us apart. We learned a long time ago not to trust outsiders. A few may come to help — Mrs. Alice Lloyd comes to mind, as does Mary Breckinridge — but most come to exploit us. Because of the cycle of exploitation and ridicule, we’ve learned to protect ourselves from outsiders. My grandfather grew up on the campus of Alice Lloyd College in the 1930s and ‘40s. He often told a story about when he was 17 and Mrs. Lloyd found work a group of local Knott County boys on a Massachusetts cranberry bog. When a Boston reporter interviewed my Poppy and his friends, they purposely defied all expected stereotypes by speaking perfectly enunciated, grammatically-correct English. Similarly, a few years ago when a UC Berkeley professor profiled my brother about his remarkable career in coding, our entire family proceeded with extreme trepidation until she won our trust. Call it us vs. y’all or call it insular behavior, if you ain’t from around here, we don’t quite trust you.
Last thing I’ll say about JD Vance is I also grew up in a holler with moonshiners, coal miners and all the stock hillbilly characters. Venture capital has also put money in my pocket. Difference between him and me is that I don’t consider myself superior for “rising above it.”
— Heather Watson⚜️ HerKentucky (@HerKentucky) October 14, 2020
In one of the very first posts on this blog, I mused that, every few years, there’s some documentary or photography exhibit or TV show that reinforces all the old, hurtful stereotypes. Of course, I’ve been pretty vocal about my own Appalachian identity and my loathing of these pandering displays over the years, so it wasn’t exactly surprising that yesterday, when Netflix dropped the first trailer for the film adaptation of J.D. Vance’s best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, a lot of people texted, tweeted, or Facebooked to ask my opinion. I certainly have one, that much is for sure.
Mr. Vance is an Ohio native who was raised in part by his grandparents, natives of rural Breathitt County, KY. Hillbilly Elegy tells the story of a difficult childhood: Mr. Vance and his sister were abandoned by their father and, later, by their drug-addicted, frequently-married mother. He spent time in Middletown, Ohio, a steel town outside Cincinnati, as well as with his grandparents in Breathitt County. After troubled high school years, Mr. Vance went on to a stint in the Marines before matriculating at Ohio State University and Yale Law School. He went on to a Silicon Valley venture capital career before settling into a million-dollar Cincinnati home. Elegy tells the story of his tumultuous childhood, shaped by his iron-willed grandmother and the cycles of addiction, violence, and poverty so common to Appalachian families. The love among Vance’s family members, even in hard times, is apparent, and his Mamaw is a wildly compelling character. His academic and professional success is impressive. But, Mr. Vance is way too self-satisfied in his telling of rising above his humble beginnings and his analysis of Appalachian culture smugly oversimplifies so much.
Hillbilly Elegy experienced tremendous success when it was released in 2016, reaching the top spot on the New York Times Bestseller List and securing Oprah’s recommendation. Many viewed the work’s analysis of blue-collar rural Americans as a key to understanding the paradoxes of that demographic’s support of then-Presidential-hopeful Donald Trump. Suddenly, his tale of personal success had a very coded message about the politics of the disenfranchised. And, it seemed a launching pad for Mr. Vance to embark upon a career as a conservative pundit and potential political candidate. It also pissed off a whole lot of Appalachians. Mr. Vance’s analysis of Appalachians’ perceived laziness (“many folks talk about working more than they actually work.” and financial instability (“We spend our way to the poorhouse… Thrift is inimical to our being.”) are cruel and antiquated, painting all hillbillies with the broadest possible brushstrokes. Faced with these ad hominem attacks on our very existence, Appalachians have, in the four years since Hillbilly Elegy’s publication, responded with more nuanced and reasonable books of essays. We’ve also collectively shouted that he ain’t even from around here.
The brilliant singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson — himself an actual native of Jackson in Breathitt County, and not just a sometime visitor — mocked Hillbilly Elegy by calling it “Tuesdays with Meemaw” and noting “I’ll give this to J.D.- like so many coastal elites that have come to eastern Kentucky to point out all its problems, much like them he offered no solutions, but just found a way to get f—ing paid for it. Twice.” My own view has always been that Mr. Vance is like the kid that every Appalachian youth has encountered - the one who comes down from Ohio to go to Vacation Bible School with his cousins and tries to tell us how backward we are. Yes, your Mamaw lives here, but you don’t, kid. You don’t get to claim “insider” status on telling us how to live.
My paternal grandparents receiving degrees from Eastern Kentucky University, 1961
In the four years since Hillbilly Elegy’s publication — four years since I started reading the book, then gave up and disgustedly put it in my neighborhood Little Free Library because I just didn’t want it around me — I’ve thought a lot about my own Appalachian experience in contrast with Mr. Vance’s. I didn’t live through generational abuse and trauma. I was fortunate to have parents who worked hard and treated my brother and me well. I was fortunate to come from folks who had access to higher education. My relationship with my own tough-as-nails Appalachian grandmother isn’t traumatic or fraught. I’ve had kinfolk who made really great personal and professional decisions and others who haven’t. I chose to leave the holler; my brother has built a fascinating career in our hometown. I know Appalachian folks who, like Mr. Vance, have gone on to Ivy League law schools. I can count at least three folks from my hometown who currently work at the Cleveland Clinic. I have friends who’ve stayed in Appalachia and enriched our community as schoolteachers and policemen. And I know a few folks who don’t seem to do much of anything. I don’t really judge their worth by their resumes or their bank accounts. One group is neither inherently lazy and irresponsible nor categorically commendable. I didn’t grow up in the cartoon of Mr. Vance’s Appalachia, and I don’t particularly want to hear his commentary on my homeland.
So, to answer the question asked of me yesterday, I won’t be watching Colorado native Amy Adams and Connecticut-born Glenn Close in an Oscar-bait, poverty-porn denigration of my homeland. I don’t need to laugh at gorgeous and talented actresses in cringeworthy hillbilly garb. Maybe I’m continuing the exclusionary cycle of us vs. them that keeps Appalachia secluded or maybe, once again, I’m shielding myself from harmful outsiders.
All I know is that we real hillbillies will be over here savoring the lyrics of Dolly Parton, Sturgill Simpson, and Tyler Childers instead.
The Best Bourbons for Beginners
A friend recently texted me with one of my very favorite questions to answer: “If I wanted to try (and like) bourbon straight up, what should I try?”
Now, of course, my first thought was “how awesome is it to first experience bourbon as an adult who isn’t starting off by over-indulging in something cheap or by mixing it with Coke?”, then I started thinking of a few tips.
1. Start with a lower-proof spirit
Proof is, of course, the measure of alcohol by volume. The proof statement on a bottle of alcohol is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume. So, for example, a 90 proof bourbon is 45% alcohol. If you’re starting to taste bourbon straight, it’s probably easier to start with something that doesn’t have an overwhelming alcohol burn. This will help you experience more of the flavor of the bourbon and give you a better appreciation of your preferences. I’d suggest something in the 80 to 90 proof range.
My top picks for low-proof bourbons that provide a complex and delicious flavor profile are Basil Hayden’s (80 proof) or Old Forester 86 Proof. Entry-level Four Roses (formerly known as Yellow Label) is a good sipper at 80 proof, and Cooper’s Craft, at 82.2 proof, provides a good introduction to the fruity and floral notes of its older siblings in the Brown-Forman lineup, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve.
2. Look to something that works with your flavor profile.
It always astonishes me when someone tells me that they “don’t like bourbon”, because there’s such a huge spectrum of flavors available in various bourbon expressions.
If you like sweet flavors, a bourbon with a high wheat content like Maker’s Mark or Larceny will be a good starting place. The strong vanilla and brown sugar notes of Woodford Reserve are also always great for those of us who have a sweet tooth!
If you tend to choose more savory flavors, a higher rye content is good. Buffalo Trace and its big brother Eagle Rare are a great starting point, as is Michter’s US*1. Knob Creek is another great bourbon that provides a full, spicy flavor.
3. Don’t be afraid of water.
A drop or two of water is an easy way to lightly dilute your bourbon and open up its flavor. Make sure you use a pure, clean water (nothing messes up a nice drink like a weird-flavored water or ice cube!). You’ll be able to really taste and appreciate your drink while making it a little easier to drink.
Cheers, y’all!!
Magnolia Aesthetics PDO Thread Lift Review
Facial filler alternatives provide immediate, minimally invasive treatment for lines and wrinkles.
I’ve partnered with Magnolia Aesthetics to provide HerKentucky readers with honest reviews and let you know about the latest services and promotions. Magnolia Aesthetics is located at 149 Chenoweth Lane in Louisville’s St Matthews neighborhood. You can keep up with all my Magnolia reviews on their HerKentucky Partner page!
Remember that scene in Steel Magnolias where Truvy tells Shelby “Honey, time marches on and sooner or later you realize it’s marchin' across your face!”?
Over the last couple of years, that’s felt less like a quotation from one of my very favorite movies, and more like a bit of a fact. I started to notice that the lines from my nose to my mouth — the nasolabial folds — were becoming more prominent. While I’ve been pretty fortunate to experience minimal wrinkles and lines into my 40s, I did want to address this area before the damage got worse.
Here’s my scary, mostly makeup-free “before” photo. You can see some very definite lines in this area.
When I consulted with Kimberlie Mobley, the co-owner and injection specialist at Magnolia Aesthetics, about these lines, I was adamant that I did not want to do something as invasive as fillers. As with my Botox treatments, I wanted to keep my face looking as natural as possible while giving it a bit of a “tuneup.” Kimberlie explained the PDO injection process, and I agreed that this was the best option for me.
A PDO thread lift is a minimally invasive facial rejuvenation procedure in which thin sutures of polydioxanone, a biodegradable synthetic polymer, are injected into the face. These “PDO threads” degrade in about 6 months’ time. The threads work by stimulating collagen production; this results in firmer, younger-looking skin. I saw results within 3-4 days on my first treatment and immediately upon my second round/ touch-up treatment.
I don’t love needles, and I especially don’t love having anyone mess with my face in a way that could make me flinch, so I asked immediately about the pain level. I was reassured that it wouldn’t be awful, and that was my experience. I would characterize each injection as feeling like a bee sting. There is slight swelling for about 24 hours, and I did experience a mild bruise with one of the injection sites. It was not a prohibitive level of pain, and I’d certainly undergo the procedure again!
Thread lift results improve over several months. You can expect the results to last up to two years. The downtime is minimal, but I’d schedule a week or so before an event where you want to look your best.
I’m so thrilled with my results, y’all. My lines look significantly softer and less dramatic. The PDO lift process took five years off my face in one process that took less than an hour! I would recommend this for anyone who wants to march time back off her face just a little, while still looking natural! I received my PDO treatments in early August; I can certainly see results after seven weeks or so! I could really tell the difference in this recent photo.
Thanks so much to Magnolia for partnering with me on this post. Visit Magnolia Aesthetics at 149 Chenoweth Lane in St Matthews, give them a call at 502-632-2244, or email them to set up your PDO thread treatments today!
You may also be interested in: