Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Our little pumpkin!

and Woody the Sheriff!

I went to DC and all I got was this lousy engagement ring...

Happy Monday morning everyone! Ok, so maybe you're not happy it's Monday morning. I'm not particularly thrilled about being at my desk this morning as I'm tres tired, but alas, I can't keep vacationing forever. As mentioned last week, I took a little extended weekend up to our nation's Capitol to visit with some friends and do touristy stuff. Also on the agenda (of which I was blissfully unaware) was getting engaged! Yep, the rumors are true. Life just got a whole lot sweeter here at the Bluegrass Trifecta. :)

Our Engagement Story

We arrived Thursday afternoon and had dinner with friends that night. Their location is convenient to the Mall and after dinner, they suggested we go for a walk down to the Kennedy Center. They had been there just earlier in the week and you can walk out onto the terrace and see into Virginia, see the monuments, etc. Awesome, right? Obviously, there was some scheming afoot.

I Coulda Been a Contender

I. Love. Movies.  I Oscar-watch, I have an embarrassingly large DVD collection, I peruse IMDB daily, and if you make me miss the trailers, I will cut you.  I become mildly obsessed with my favorite movies, and could watch them a million times and never get bored.  Documentaries, independent films, drama, action... I love them all. Except for scary movies. Or torture porn - ew.

One of my very favorite things to do is to go to the movies by myself.  Don't worry, I have friends.  But there's nothing better, for my money, then getting a big bag (or tub, I'm not judgy...) of popcorn, a delicious Diet Coke, and watching a great movie on a cold afternoon.  No one bothers you, you don't have to consult with anyone else about what to go see, and you get some precious, quiet "me" time.  This beloved activity happens most often this time of the year - during football season. While Andrew watches his Bengals, I head to the theatre.

Image from Oscars.org

This is by far one of the best times of the year to love movies.  It's almost Oscar season!!  From October to December, studios release what they believe to be their best films - their Oscar contenders.  A film must be released before midnight on December 31 of any given year to be considered for Oscar the next calendar year.  Due to the benefits of the recency effect, many studios save the best for last, to keep their movies fresh in the minds of the Academy voters. So - get thee to the theatre! 

I have, in the past, always tried to see all the Best Picture nominees before the big show.  Recently, this has become more difficult, as the Academy decided to nominate 10 films instead of 5.  Still, I make the effort. If you want to join me on my quest, or just love good movies, I'll be presenting some to you as they come out over the next few months.  Check out what films you can go see this weekend that are already generating "Oscar buzz":

Daily Reads

Below are the top five websites you should be checking daily.  Just go ahead and add to favorites.  You won't regret it, friends.

1.  http://pinterest.com/  This little gem of a site allows you to create "boards" for organizing things you find on the Interwebz.  From interesting DIY projects (remember?) to outfit ideas, this site is perfect for brainstorming and finding new ideas.  Start today!


2.  http://www.shopruche.com/index.php  Ruche began as a "mom and pop" operation for distributing affordable clothes to the masses.  Their tops and dresses are so unique and, for the most part, super cheap.  The key to this site is checking daily.  No seriously, the products sell out very quickly so, if you see something you "need", I suggest you go for it.

3.  http://kentuckysportsradio.com/   Ok, spoiler alert--only add this to favorites if you like UK sports.  Actually, I take that back.  While the site is solely dedicated to giving you all of the latest information regarding UK athletics, the writers are hilarious.  The site is highly entertaining and informative.  What more could you want?  Oh, yeah.  The head dude is a Transy grad.  Go Pioneers.

On the road again...

I guess technically, I'll be in the air and not on the road, but I'm going on another adventure this weekend. I'm headed to one of my favorite cities - Washington, DC! Washington has a special place in my heart for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I'm a giant nerd. But my first trip on an airplane, at the tender age of 5, was to DC and I still remember it. I've also been told a million times over how I jumped up and down on the bed of our hotel, fell and knocked myself out, but that's a story for another time. (Apparently this was quite alarming to my mother - sorry Mom!) Despite the love I developed at a very young age, I didn't find my way back until I was 19. The good news was I got to live there!



The summer after my sophomore year of college, I interned with my U.S. Congressman and it was the best "job" ever. I got to sort constituent mail (not glamorous) and give Capitol tours to visitors to the city (best part, hands down). As a huge nerd, I  just appreciated all the history I got to walk around and see every day. Plus, there's just all this energy, even when Congress isn't in town. I mean - that's where laws get made! Exciting stuff...ya know, for nerds. I even contemplated moving there after law school, but just couldn't leave my old Kentucky home.  However, I always love a trip back to the big city that doesn't really feel like a big city.  I think it's the lack of skyscrapers that makes it feel like a town. It just also happens to have millions of people in it...no big deal, right? So in preparation for the trip, I've made a preliminary list of the stuff I'm going to get into while visiting.

The Bluegrass Conspiracy

On our drive home tonight from dinner, I lamented how much I hate Halloween, as we passed houses in our neighborhood that have sprung up cemeteries in their front yards overnight, and hung scary ghouls from their trees.  Of course, Halloween is Andrew's favorite holiday... so he doesn't know what my problem is.  Honestly, I just don't like scary stuff.  I have a photographic memory, and everything I see gets burned into my brain.  I can't get rid of those images once I've seen them.. and frankly, I'm quite the pansy.  I will never forget my friend Mark convincing me to go see "The Exorcist" when it was re-released several years ago.  When we left, I told Mark that we should probably go to church, and pray.  Just to be safe.  And oh man... that scene where she walks all reverse-crab down the staircase? I die.

Mr. Tumnus as Robin Hood

That being said, there are plenty of things to like about Halloween... candy, drink specials and cats wearing hats.  Also, I love a good intriguing, slightly creepy story.  So I thought that Halloween week would be the best time to discuss "The Bluegrass Conspiracy".  Who doesn't love a good conspiracy? Not familiar with the Bluegrass Conspiracy?  Allow me to enlighten you.  Please, step into my darkened room, lit only by extremely drippy candles.

Or maybe just come to this new paragraph.  The book, "The Bluegrass Conspiracy" was written by Sally Denton. Before we get started, I mean no infringement upon her book, and I encourage you to pick up a copy at any fine local bookstore.  So.. here we go:

DIY Days

On Saturday, I (with a bit of help from hubs) decided to tackle a project I found on Pinterest a few weeks ago. I absolutely love DIY adventures--especially when they involve industrial materials and canvas. What more could you want?! Also, it feels really cool to go in a hardware store and pick out washers as if you're really going to tackle a big plumbing project. No one has to know, kids.

Supplies:

2-pack 16X20 canvas = $9.97
2-pack 8x10 canvas = $7.97
1 can gloss spray paint (in Peekaboo Blue) = $3.87
1 tube Gorilla glue super glue = $2.24
1 box of 100 3/8 inch washers = $4.96
1 box of 100 1/2 inch washers = $7.63
1 box of 100 1/4 inch washers = $3.94

Total cost of project = $40.58 (with plenty of supplies to spare)

The original project suggested a 24x32 canvas but, for our purposes, we needed something a bit smaller.

So, to start, I did something my mother-in-law probably wouldn't like-I spray-painted canvas. She's a very talented art teacher who can do amazing things with some acrylics and an open canvas. I, however, was looking for the quickest option and spray-painting seemed to fit the bill.

We went with a light blue, but the options are endless as far as colors go. I'm planning to do a set for friends with a really bright, modern color. Don't forget, you could totally give this canvas a proper painting with acrylics--the color would likely be much richer and you would have many more options. I simply wanted a quick fix for a busy Saturday.

Next, I had to decide what I wanted on the canvas. Because this art is going over our bed, we thought a monogram might be cool. So, we chose to make a large "p" on the 16x20 canvas and an "e" and "f" on the two smaller ones. Tip: It's a bit difficult to get the washers placed just right on the first try. I sat them all out and played around until I got them how I wanted. My OCD tendencies kicked in a little bit, but please note: the beauty of this project is that anything goes. It's whatever looks good to you. So, for the first letter, we have...

Friday Funday

It's that time again! Back by popular demand,  it's Friday Funday and I'm gonna tell you about some fun stuff to do in Lexington and the surrounding area this lovely weekend. Get your pens and pencils ready...or your iPhones or however you're taking notes these days. (But don't take out your iPhone if you're at dinner. Megan will find you and punish you...wait - how are you reading this at dinner? Stop!) Moving on, here's my top 5 for this weekend.

1. Keeneland. Duh. If you don't know what I'm talking about, do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to the start of our blog (here and here) and read why you should spend at least one afternoon here. The ponies don't run on Monday or Tuesday, so get your gambling fix on the weekend. Oh and dress warmly. It's always about 10 degrees cooler inside at the track than it is outside. Brr!

2. Fright Nights at Jacobson Park. If you're into scary stuff (I'm not), check this out. The webpage has a scary dude holding some sort of crazy metal implement and staring at this woman and her kid. That's scary enough for me. You check it out and let me know how it is. (But I'm still not going.)

Commonwealth Stadium, Photo from here

3. University of Kentucky Football v. Jacksonville State. The Cats kick off at noon and I know what you're thinking - "but post time is 1:15!" I get it. The team has had a rough go of it lately and it's hard to get excited about football, especially since basketball season is gearing up. (See more about that here and here.) But hear me out. Noon games really give you the opportunity to expand on the traditional tailgating themes of brats and beer. We'll be having breakfast casserole (from a crockpot, Megs!) and mimosas at our tailgate. Get creative and cheer on the Cats.  They need all the help they can get and it ought to be pretty easy to find tickets.

4. The Horse exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park. If you haven't been to the Kentucky Horse Park, you should go. PLUS, they have a world-renown exhibit opening this weekend. This particular exhibit chronicles the relationship between horses and humans over hundreds of years and promises to be interesting and entertaining. If you check this out, please let me know. I want a full report, since I'll be catching this one before the exhibit leaves town.

Photo found here

5. Disclaimer: my last suggestion is only open to a limited number of  folks. That's because it's my (and Megan's) 10-year high school reunion. Yep, it has been that long. No, I don't feel that old. Megan and I will be dancing to old music, looking at old photos and having potentially awkward conversations with classmates we haven't seen in 10 years. On the up side, we scored some pretty killer drink specials for the occasion. It's gonna be awesome.  We're still trying to decide who will wear the pink and who will wear the blue, but I think we can all agree we're gonna rock those dresses. And who doesn't love a good half-up hairdo? No one, that's who.


So let me know if I've missed something amazing and fun. Meanwhile, we'll be sure to update you on all the fun and awkwardness from our reunion. Happy Friday, everyone!

Techetiquette

Technology madness

So, I'm gonna go ahead and admit that sometimes, I watch MTV.  Yes, yes... I know.  But I'm guilty.  Teen Mom, The Real World (yes, that's still on) and True Life are some of my guilty pleasures.  I will now and forever deny any knowledge of Jersey Shore.  And that's all I'm going to say about that.  Anyway... last night I was perusing the latest episode of True Life.  It was called "I'm a Textaholic."  There was a girl on the show who sent over 14,000 text messages per month.  Think about that for a minute.  That's 466 texts PER DAY.  Needless to day, this girl had major issues with her family and friends - and she had carpal tunnel.  From TEXTING.  I know - crazy right?

I don't think that many of us text that excessively, but watching that show made me think about how much we all rely on and use our technology.  They are, to a certain extent, an extension of our own selves.  I would be willing to bet that your phone is within arms reach right now.  We talk to our friends, our family, our employers via email, text and phone calls.  Everyone has had that moment when you realize, GASP!, you left your phone at home.  You feel lost.  Out of touch.  What if something is trying to text me!  What if someone has something super important to tell me!  What am I going to do? PANIC.  THAT'S WHAT.

Autumn Albums

Music is a huge part of my life.  At any given moment in our house, you'll find the hubs on the guitar, me on the piano/keyboard, and various other people providing vocals.  I just love music.  Quite honestly, it was music that brought me to Frank.  And I like that.  From this point forward, every now and again, I'll try to provide some updates on new music and maybe even guide you in the direction of some tunes you must have to survive.

Pic from www.pitchfork.com

Today's must-have Autumn album is Ryan Adams' Ashes & Fire.  I know what you're thinking, "But Em, the past few RA albums have been total crap."  Yes, I would have to completely agree.  In fact, "total crap" would be an understatement, in my opinion.  Truth is, I think he completely redeemed himself with Ashes & Fire.  If you liked "Heartbreaker" or "Gold" (and I think we all did), buy this album.  You know those Fall days when the weather is cool and rainy and all you really wanna do is cuddle up and listen to some tunes?  This album was made for that day.

Now.  I sort of wish I could make a solid, Fall playlist for each and every one of you.  It makes my heart happy to think of my friends rolling down the street listening to mixes I made specifically for them.  So, while I might not know you all personally, I've created a short playlist for you to enjoy during this amazingly beautiful, Kentucky fall.

Exercise and Me: A Tale of Woe

I went to my first zumba class tonight. I know, I know, I'm so 2000 and late, tardy to the party, etc. I can't help it. This girl just couldn't bring herself to go out in public and shake her hips (without the assistance of a couple of drinks). And there were totally moments tonight when I looked in that large mirror at the front of the room and thought, "Seriously? What in the heck am I doing here? I look ridiculous."



I have as much rhythm as the guy in blue...it's bad.
Image from home.messiah.edu

I blame my sister, mostly. She convinced me that I needed to get back on the workout wagon (true) and that zumba would be a great way to start it (the jury is still out). Let's keep in mind that she's had two kids and not only reached her pre-pregnancy weight, but is creeping perilously close to my weight. I am about 5 inches shorter than she is and have zero kids to blame for my weight gain. Woe is me.

Over the past year, I've been trying to win the Battle of the Bulge (not to be confused with this Battle of the Bulge) or what I've affectionately dubbed the war with my waist line. I think most women in their twenties can identify with this. If you can't, you're either (a) lying or (b) the beneficiary of amazing genes and destined to be my mortal enemy. For some people it's super easy to incorporate exercise into their lives. I am simply not one of those people. I love all things sedentary: watching movies, my desk job, sleeping, lying on my couch, sunbathing, etc. You get the picture. So if I have my choice between napping and sweating on the treadmill, I think you know where to find me. Also on the list of things I love: food. You can see how this is a bad combination.



My preferred place
Image from everything2me.net



Not me - there is no smiling when I'm on a treadmill
Image from http://scienceblogs.com/

Last winter I reached my heaviest weight ever and decided enough was enough. I joined the local YMCA and enrolled in their "Move it or Lose it" program. I worked with a trainer and a team (Biggest Loser style) for 12 weeks. I lost 15 lbs. It was pretty amazing. I was in the best shape of my life. Fast forward 6 months and I'm back to my lethargic ways and almost back to my pre-YMCA weight. FAIL. And with my 10-year high school reunion only 5 days away! Eeps!

So this landed me in the Monday night zumba class at the YMCA. Imagine me fidgeting nervously, arms crossed, then uncrossed as we waited for the class to begin. Now picture me moving my hips like yeah and bobbing my head like yeah. Okay, maybe you don't want to picture that. It's understandable. I'm an amateur at best. Buuut, I'm also a convert. It's true. Zumba is legit. I got a crazy good workout. I broke a sweat. I looked like an idiot. It was really a perfect end to the day. Maybe by the end of this I won't look like a total idiot dancing but the real hope is to slim this waistline.

What about you? Do you have crazy good genes or do you feel my pain? Are you lazy and love food? Have you figured out a way to lose weight without exercising? Please comment and tell me. Otherwise, I'm going to have to keep exercising.

Along Came A Spi..... HELP!!!!!

To say that I am a "little" afraid of spiders would be like saying that Elton John is a "little" fabulous.  I am, in fact, absolutely and completely morbidly afraid of anything that even resembles or looks like it once resembled a spider.  I’m so afraid of spiders, that I couldn’t even bring myself to look for photos of spiders to put on this blog.  So, here’s a photo of a cute kitten instead: 

I iz not a spider.

Wasn’t that better than a photo of an ugly arachnid?  I think so too.  I can actually trace my fear of spiders to a school bus incident when I was in kindergarten.  No joke.  I’ve tried to get over it.  I once saw a talk show where they brought a woman on who had the same fear I do.  They did this totally messed up therapy where they made her to go a lab and let spiders crawl all over her for like half an hour, and then said she was cured.  I bet that woman is somewhere right now curled up in the fetal position, crying her eyes out.  I tear up just thinking about that.  

There is one "spider" I will tolerate:

Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig, does whatever a Spider-Pig does.

Big Blue Madness

In an earlier post here, our dear friend, Megan, alluded to an unspoken holiday we celebrate here in Kentucky.  I'm here to tell you that today is yet another widely-celebrated holiday--Big Blue Madness.  Due to NCAA mandates, basketball teams are not allowed to hold their first full-time practice until October 15th.  Clearly, today is the 14th...I know.  The NCAA allows teams to have a bit of a party to welcome in the practice season.  In Kentucky, though, this is far more than a party.  In fact, hundreds and hundreds of people camp out for many days just to secure tickets to watch.  I love Kentucky.

Ok, we all know that dudes think they know everything about everything when it comes to sports.  That's fine.  I can't give you tons of details about hockey or even college football, but I can certainly tell you pretty much all you need to know about the 2011-2012 UK Men's Basketball class.  After reading, you'll be able to hang with any dude who wants to strike up a UK convo--you'll probably even show him up.  Be prepared.

I'm going to run through a few must-know players.   

First, Terrence Jones. He's a returner from last year who seriously considered the NBA draft.  He recently commented that he chose to come back because he wants to bring Kentucky its 8th National title.  Love him already.  He's a strong post player who has put on about 25 pounds (pure muscle, of course) during the off season.  Plus, he's fun.  See?

Other important returners are Doron Lamb (top 3-point shooter on this year's team) and Darius Miller (the solid, leader of the team).

The Promised Land

This isn't a religious post, but I did have a bit of a religious experience two weeks ago. If you'll remember, I talked about IKEA here and the big trip we were planning. My plan to live inside the IKEA store didn't quite pan out but the four hours we spent there should hold me over for at least another month.  Wanna hear about all the cool stuff we got?  Of course you do.

You know about my present living situation (discussed here), so you're probably wondering - why bother going to a huge furniture store? You're living in your sister's basement and paying $84/month for a storage unit with your actual furniture in it. Yeah, I know. Admittedly not one of my more logical choices of late but (a) we were going to be in the neighborhood (Yay! Belated birthday trip to Cincy!), (b) I can get all sorts of ideas about my future home and (c) they have waaaay more stuff than furniture. So now that I've justified my insanity and you've (hopefully) stopped judging me, let's move on.

I went with the intention of obtaining some new bedroom textiles (I've been sleeping under the same duvet for 3 years), some picture frames (they have the BEST deals) and maybe a few fun kitchen-y type items. I'll just say with those goals in mind, my trip was a RAGING success. I also succeeded in getting LOTS of ideas for my future home. So there you are, Judgey McJudgerson. SUCCESSFUL TRIP.

Here's what we ended up leaving with:

Image from www.ikea.com

This is the OFELIA VASS duvet cover, scored for the low, low price of $39.99. Now, if you've ever purchased a duvet cover, you'll know that's a great price for a queen size duvet cover, particularly one that comes with two pillowcases. I paid $90 for my last one and it didn't even include pillowcases. If you've never purchased a duvet cover, I'm happy to spread the duvet gospel. Isn't that right, Ems? I purchased it in grey and I'm digging it so far. I figure the neutral color will allow me to accent with whatever color I want in my new bedroom. That's right folks, new bedroom. I'm an optimist. Bear with me. Plus, in the meantime, Nardia and I are really enjoying sleeping under it. But wait - there's more!

Adultness

This year, I knew for certain that I had become and adult... and that there was no turning back.  How did I know this magical transformation had occurred?  Let me illustrate for you.  I wanted this:

Corona, anyone?

And instead... I got this:

So fresh and so clean, clean

That's right.  Instead of a beach vacation, I got new carpet.  For about a week, I was totally okay with that.  We really, REALLY needed new carpet, and bonus - the house had "new car" smell for a few days.  I especially enjoyed vacuuming it and getting those awesome lines that only new, clean carpet can produce.  But then, the realization of what had happened started to sink in.  I had made a serious error.  Carpet?  Over a relaxing week at the beach?  Who was I?  WHAT HAD I BECOME?!?!?



"Ireland, I am coming home..."

Yes, I just quoted a Garth Brooks lyric.  Don't judge.  The song goes on to say, "...I can see your rolling fields of green and fences made of stone....I'm coming home, Ireland."  The song is a bit cheesy, but I can honestly say I know where ol' Garth is coming from on this one.

You see, I chose to spend the second semester of my Junior year at Transy in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  I was studying politics at the time and, well, they take politics pretty seriously in Belfast.  I hopped on the plane by myself and went to stay in Northern Ireland for seven months.  I lived on a hall with all Irish students (with the exception of a few English ones here and there) and had the time of my life.  In fact, when it came time for me to head back to America, I really didn't want to leave.  I completely immersed myself in the culture and made lifelong friends.  I also gained 20 pounds, but we'll get to that. *Sigh*

As life would have it, I'll be going back to Ireland in four short weeks.  I'm looking forward to many, many things and, as you might have guessed, most of them involve food.  First of all, though, I'm looking forward to seeing my friendies.  Four of my closest friends while I lived there will meet us in Belfast for the best reunion I can imagine having for a while.  I might just sit there in silence and listen to them talk the whole time--I have missed that accent! (We say "how now brown cow."  They say, "high nigh brighn kie."  I didn't take a single note for the first three weeks of classes.  Totally clueless).  So yes, I can't wait to see my old buds.

Having said all that, if you know me at all, you know that I'm also looking forward to the food.  Since a new Trader Joes will soon be coming to Lexington, you can all have the heads up on the top foods to purchase from the Ireland aisle.  First, Cadbury Flake.

Doggy Style

 

Nardia in her lifejacket - stylish, no?

 I hope you didn't think I was going another route with this post. I just thought it was time you all met Nardia. The Bluegrass Trifecta believes in equal time, and since Ems already posted on her furry brood, I thought I'd even things out with some gratuitous pictures of my adorable dog. Ta-da! Isn't she awesome? That isn't rhetorical, but if you're struggling for an answer - it's an emphatic yes. Anyone who has met her (and not endured a thunderstorm or fireworks with her) would agree. Oh and no, she's not a pitbull, in case you were wondering. She's my 30 pound lap dog, who is a Staffordshire Terrier/Pitbull Terrier mix. And I love her. :)

Nardia and I joined our lives 5 years ago last month. She was around 2 years old when we met, so she's creeping up on 7 years old now. (Don't tell her I revealed her age! She will be mortified!) The guy I was with at the time dragged me to PetSmart, insisting we get a dog. I was resistant to say the least. Not because I'm not an animal person, or even a dog person. I had no less than 6 dogs growing up. I had just as many cats. (We had a farm, lots of room for them to roam.) But I had never really had a pet that we kept inside the house, basically like another member of the family. That was all about to change.

We saw her there in her cage and she walked toward us. He swears she locked eyes with him and they had that magical moment. Whatevs. We got her out and played with her. I made him go home and do research on her size, needs for space, food, etc. I thought this might change his mind. Fail. He was just as insistent. We went back 3 hours later and picked her up. The folks at P.A.W.S. (Paris Animal Welfare Society) were just awesome. P.A.W.S. does regular adoption days in Lexington, so check them out. Nardia was already kennel trained, house trained and knew how to sit when we adopted her. Basically, I hit the adopted dog jackpot. Read on to find out why.

Fall Into Keeneland

Image from Keeneland.com

Today is Keeneland’s Opening Day for the Fall Meet, an unofficial holiday in these parts.  There is no place more beautiful than Keeneland in the fall.  We here in the Bluegrass state love our horses… and there’s no better track in the world to watch world class thoroughbreds run like they were born to do. 

Image from Keeneland.com

This year is Keeneland’s 75^th Anniversary!  I could fill up this blog with all the reasons I love Keeneland, and why you should too.  I think that would only cater to a really small niche audience... so instead I'll contain myself.  Instead, I'm going to let you in on a little "insider knowledge".  Some lesser known awesome things about Keeneland.

Her Majesty and Ted Bassett,
Keeneland's President at the time

Fall Meet is very different from the Spring Meet with regard to having "big races".  In the Spring, everyone is jazzed up for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.  Keeneland showcases some of the horses that may end up in the Derby during the Spring Meet in the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes - one of the "proving ground" races leading up to the big dance.  This stakes race is the biggest race Keeneland hosts all year. That doesn't mean that the Fall Meet doesn't have some impressive races, and even more impressive thoroughbreds running in them.  One race of note is the "Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup".  This race is run on the turf, and is named in honor of Her Majesty, the Queen of England, to commemorate her private visit to Central Kentucky in 1984.  That year, the Queen attended this race, and presented the trophy to the winner.  It is extremely prestigious that Her Majesty would personally attend a race at Keeneland, and that she sees fit to race her own horses at the track.  The Queen is a big horse racing enthusiast... and she clearly knows where to go to get the goods.  God save the Queen! And her amazing hats. 

Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland
October 1984

The Keratin Cure

Here's the deal, kids.  I have terrible hair.  Excuse me, Sir Charles, I have turrible hair (hurr?).  When I was younger, my hair was gorgeous!  It was long, naturally blonde, and had the biggest, most beautiful, loose curls you could ever imagine.  Then, I hit puberty.  I'm really not certain how this monumental event can possibly affect your hair, but I choose to blame puberty for my hair downfall. 

So, at age 13, my hair started turning this awful shade of blonde--think khaki pants...or muddy water.  It gets worse.  Suddenly, my big beautiful curls turned into a wiry, frizzy, corkscrew-curly mess.  No one in my family has curly hair, so I was left all alone to deal with this horrible mop.  So, I did what any self-respecting teenager would do--I wore my hair in a ponytail every single day of my 8th grade life.  Sad, I know.

I finally found a hairdresser who could help me at least manage the situation.  I stopped fighting the curl and just went with it.  Now, don't get me wrong--I love curly hair.  It's easy, fun, and super cute.  I just can't seem to really pull it off.  So, for ME, I typically only wear my hair curly if I'm running late for work or if I want to make the hubs super happy for a day.

I also think my hair problems stem from the whole 'wanting what you don't have' thing.  In law school, I distinctly remember times when I would be in my bathroom straightening my hair and my roommate (naturally straight hair) would be in her bathroom trying desperately to make curls.  Needless to say, I'm in no way dissing the natural curl.  God gave it to me for a reason, and I still rock it from time to time.  For me, though, it was time for a change.  Insert this magical product.

image from folica.com

Now, many of you may have read about the dangers of straightening treatments such as the "Brazillian Blowout."  This product by Keratin Complex is very different.  It is not harmful to your hair and does not contain the dangerous amounts of formaldehyde found in the Brazillian treatment.  My hairdresser (Abra, I love you soooo much!) uses the Express version of this product on me. Rather than tell you the benefits, I'll just show you. 

This is my hair before the Keratin Express treatment: 

And after:

Yeahhhhhhhh.  I know.  After my first treatment, I was able to straighten my hair in about 12 minutes.  Compared to an hour and a half the day before, I was pretty pleased!  My hair can still curl after using the product, but the curl is far less frizzy and unruly.  Now I can sweat, get caught in the rain, and even endure a 99% humidity day (the Kentucky special) and not worry about having crazy hair.

There are many different types of treatments available if you're interested.  I choose the cheapest one that allows you to wash your hair in eight short hours.  More intense versions are available but, of course, they are more expensive and force you to wear your hair super straight for up to four days.  If you've ever had a Keratin treatment or similarly tried to straighten your locks, I would love to hear your story!  Hit up the comments section and we can solve the world's hair problems one sentence at a time.

Listen gals, we are all in this hair situation together.  From extensions and straighteners to bad hair cuts and color (color--don't get me started)... we must share our pain and our triumphs so we don't lose our minds. Or our hair.

Sparkly Sequin Shoes

*That title is for you, Megs. 

My shoes are awesome today, if I do say so myself.  Sis-in-law, Meg, got them for me, but I've waited until today to bust them out.  Sometimes a good shoe can really turn your day around.  

Boom. 

I'm envisioning these with skinny jeans very soon!  That is all, friends.  I will start making real posts soon, I swear.

Beer... It's Not Just for Dudes

I used to be one of those people who would only drink beer when I had no other option.  I’d settle for a Bud Light when there was nothing else, or when I’d already had enough other libations to cause me to not care anymore... if you know what-ima-sayin’.  I even lived in the mecca of beer production (Europe generally), and never touched the stuff.  I was a vodka girl, a cocktail girl, a wine girl… but never a beer girl.  Then, that all changed.  Hello, my name is Megan, and I’m a beer snob.   

Andrew is, affectionately, a beer nut.  He knows (and loves) everything about it, even down to the science of it – as he is now making his own brews out of our humble abode.  His enthusiasm is infectious, but at first I was skeptical.  Honestly, I thought beer was for gross boys, and not for me, with my discerning palate.  I was seriously limiting my ability to enjoy post-Prohibition America. 

Franziskaner Fancypants

Much like how you start with smoked salmon Philly rolls when you eat sushi, you can start out “safe” with beer.  “Franziskaner Weissbier” sounds pretty fancypants, but don’t be intimidated.  If you’ve ever had a Blue Moon, you’ve had an American version a German wheat beer.  Franziskaner is a more sophisticated flavor and experience than Blue Moon is, and it’s a great introduction to the lighter flavor and subtle complexity that is this genre of beer.  Man, that last sentence was awfully fancypants too, wasn’t it?  Well, I told you I was a snob. 

Think Pink!

So for those of you who don't know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you were wondering why NFL players were sporting hot pink skull caps, wrist bands, towels and cleats yesterday, it's because they too, are promoting the cause. This is a cause that became near and dear to me when I was still in college. The mother of the guy I was dating was several years into her battle with breast cancer when we met - at the Race for the Cure in Lexington. My interest piqued, I got involved with the local affiliate through the Office of Community Service at my alma mater, Transylvania University. I started out by helping coordinate volunteers for the annual Race for the Cure. Six years later, I am in my final year of coordinating volunteers for our 15th Annual Race for the Cure and I wanted to take a moment to implore you to do a few things...because I'm greedy and because I care about our readers.

1. Know your risk. There are many risk factors for developing breast cancer, so educate yourself. Also, don't assume if you are young, male  (insert other demographic here) that you are immune. Breast cancer affects both men and women and is showing up in younger and younger people.
2. Know your breasts. You are your first line of defense. Do monthly breast self-exams and follow up with your doctor when you notice changes. 
3. GET MAMMOGRAMS!
4. Support breast cancer research.  I am partial to the Komen foundation and will be happy to tell you all about why you should support this particular organization (75% of the funds raised stay in the local service area, 5-stars from Charity Navigator, contributed more than $1.5 billion to research and has developed educational materials that reach into 200 countries, etc.)
5. Touching off on that last one - do the Race for the Cure!  Or donate!  Or volunteer!  No really, volunteer.  I'll make sure it's really fun for you. 

Wrapping up, if you're in Lexington and if you haven't participated in the Race for the Cure, you're really missing out. It is one of the most magical experiences and a true celebration of hope for all those battling breast cancer. We'll be at Centre Pointe the morning of October 15th, if you want to join us in working toward a world without breast cancer.