In the pursuit of healthy, radiant skin, many of us explore various skincare treatments. Among these, chemical peels have gained popularity for their ability to rejuvenate and refresh the skin. Recently, Tam and I had the opportunity to experience a chemical peel at Golden Aesthetic Atelier and we loved it!

Nestled in the heart of Chevy Chase, Golden Aesthetics Atelier stands as a beacon of beauty and wellness. Upon entering the serene ambiance of the clinic, we were greeted by friendly staff dedicated to providing personalized skincare solutions. Their commitment to excellence and professionalism immediately put us at ease, setting the stage for a positive experience. Their atmosphere is modern and swanky with pops of emerald and sapphire hues, plated on a rich, black backdrop. Simply exquisite.

Before undergoing the chemical peel, we had a thorough consultation with skincare expert Jordyn Bush, who is also a nurse practitioner, aesthetic injector and co-owner of Golden Aesthetic along with Kaitlyn Hubert. These women are total boss babes! Jordyn's extensive experience coupled where her wonderful bedside manner, assured us we were in excellent hands. She took the time to understand our skin concerns, medical history, and expectations from the treatment. This personalized approach reassured us that the chemical peel would be tailored to address our specific needs, ensuring optimal results and safety. We encourage you to take a look at Jordyn, as well as the rest of the teams bios, by clicking this link. Impressive indeed!

As we settled into the treatment room, which looked more like a comfy retreat, our anticipation mingled with excitement. Jordyn meticulously explained each step of the chemical peel procedure, demystifying any apprehensions we had. With gentle precision, she applied the peel solution to our skin, initiating a subtle tingling sensation. Despite the initial tingling, the experience was remarkably comfortable, thanks to the expertise of Jordyn. During the treatment, we appreciated the soothing ambiance of the room, which enhanced the overall relaxation experience. Throughout the process, Jordyn remained attentive, ensuring our comfort and well-being at every stage. Her professionalism and skill instilled confidence in us, making the procedure feel like a rejuvenating ritual rather than a medical treatment.

In the days following the chemical peel, we eagerly awaited the unveiling of the results. There were a few days of peeling and minimal to no makeup, but as our skin shed, we could see the transformation. True to their promise, Golden Aesthetics delivered exceptional outcomes. Our skin appeared noticeably smoother, less red and with a renewed luminosity that garnered compliments from friends and family. Moreover, we noticed a reduction in fine lines and blemishes, further validating the efficacy of the treatment. Why hadn't we done this sooner?! (And by the way, I hate pictures of me with no make-up but you can totally see the difference. At our age, we need all of the help we can get!)

Beyond the visible improvements, the chemical peel also enhanced the overall health of our skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalized. With each passing day, the results continued to evolve, affirming the transformative power of professional skincare interventions.

Our experience with a chemical peel at Golden Aesthetics, was nothing short of transformative. From the personalized consultation to the exceptional results, every aspect of the journey surpassed our expectations. Under the expert care of their skincare specialists, we not only achieved a radiant complexion but also gained a deeper appreciation for the artistry of skincare. To the right is a picture of us one week after our chemical peel. Just in time for our visit to the Appy Awards!

If you're seeking to rejuvenate your skin and embrace a newfound radiance, we wholeheartedly recommend Golden Aesthetics Atelier. Their commitment to excellence, combined with their innovative skincare solutions, makes them a trusted destination for all your beauty needs. Step into Golden Aesthetics and discover the transformative power of professional skincare today. Your radiant glow awaits! Stay golden!

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For more information, follow Golden Aesthetics on Facebook and Instagram!

I have a confession. I love really nice hotels. I haven’t always been able to stay at well-appointed hotels. In fact, motels were often where I stayed anytime I had the luxury of traveling somewhere outside of Kentucky. But then I started staying at nicer places, and once you do so, you can’t really go back. If a hotel has a historic past, I’m even more on board.  Luckily, there’s a historic hotel that has all the frills I love and it’s right here in Kentucky. It’s The Galt House Hotel. 

The idea of a hotel along the river in Louisville dates to 1835, and in fact, two different hotels were built along the riverfront. The first one hosted notables of the day like Abraham Lincoln and Charles Dickens. A fire destroyed it in 1865, and the second one built on the site closed in 1919 after facing financial trouble. In 1972, the current version of The Galt House was resurrected by developer Al J. Schneider as part of a renewal project of downtown Louisville’s riverfront.  The hotel now consists of 1310 guest rooms thanks to the addition of the East Tower that was added in 1984, and it’s Kentucky’s largest. Three years ago, the hotel underwent a massive $80 million renovation and having been to The Galt House a few times before then, I was anxious to take a tour and spend the night there.  It was everything I had hoped it would be, and here are five reasons why you should love The Galt House, too!

1. It’s beautiful.  Thanks to that renovation I mentioned earlier, everything is bright and new.  We stayed in one of the Parlor Suites in the West Tower and it was very spacious.  The two-room suite has plenty of room to spread out, and it has two bathrooms (something you really appreciate if you’re traveling with a companion). The real standout, however, was the spectacular view of the river.  

2. Location, location, location.  If you're doing anything in downtown Louisville, like seeing a show at the KFC Yum Center, visiting the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum, or Whiskey Row, this is the place to stay. Another popular spot to visit is 4th Street Live and it's just a short walk away. If it’s cold or if you’re wearing high heels, there are plenty of ride-sharing options to get you there fast. One of our favorite places to visit there is Howl at the Moon.  It’s a piano bar that welcomes all ages to join along in the fun. There are also plenty of food options available. 

3. Speaking of food, that's another reason to love The Galt House because they have seven restaurants and lounges, including Swizzle, which is where we had a spectacular meal.  Swizzle is on the 25th floor of the West Tower and it's inspired by 1940's Louisville.  It has panoramic views that you can easily take in because the dining room rotates.  Wine Spectator awarded them an Award of Excellence this year, and the food was tremendous. They offer the usual suspects: steaks, seafood, and pasta. They also bring around a candy cart.  (Who doesn’t love a candy cart?) Their tag line is sexy, swanky, social, and I would agree with all those adjectives.  It really is ideal for any special occasion or date night.

If you’re looking for other dining options, there is Walker’s Exchange that offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a weekend buffet. The Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar was voted #1 bar and restaurant by Trip Advisor, and there you can sip on Kentucky’s finest spirits while enjoying their bites menu. The beautiful Conservatory Bar is billed as Louisville’s “longest” bar and it’s in the atrium connecting the two towers.  With an array of TV’s and plenty of seating, this is where you want to hang out for any ball game. If you’re going to an event at the KFC Yum Center, you need to stop by the Down One Bourbon Bar that is located on Main Street at the corner of the property. They pride themselves on fast service and strong whiskey.

No matter what you’re in the mood for, the Galt House has a dining option for you, three out of four which were voted best restaurant in Louisville.  Not too shabby! 

4. Pelo West Spa.  The Galt House also renovated their spa and it’s fantastic. There's graffiti art on the walls, everything is dark and moody...just what you want when you are looking to unwind and indulge in some self-care.  They offer several massage options, including couples massage, and each one comes with a complimentary 30-minute sauna session. They have a full-service hair and nail salon, so they will have you looking and feeling your best.

5. It’s the simple things. For some reason, higher-end hotels have started charging for Wifi and no longer have coffee makers in the rooms. This is not the case at the Galt House. They proudly offer both. I don't know why this makes me so happy, but it does. Who wants to stumble downstairs in your jammies with your hair all a mess just to get a cup of Joe so you can come back to life?  Trust me, nobody wants to see me before I’ve had a chance to get myself together. 

All in all, it’s easy to see why The Galt House remains an icon in Louisville. A lot of thought has been put into every detail and the staff is more than happy to accommodate any of your needs. For these reasons, it’s at the top of the list of places we recommend when visiting Derby City.  If you’ve never visited, you’re in for a real treat, and if you’ve not been in a long time, make a return visit. You will be so happy you did!

Some Photos Courtesy of https://galthouse.com/gallery

As we get deeper into the holiday season, the time for buying gifts is shrinking, and fast. To help you out, whether you need ideas of what to ask for or what to buy for the tech lover or reader in your life, I've created this gift guide! Look out for more gift guides coming soon for things like beauty, clothing and homewares. Let's get into it!

For the one who loves technology:

Most people use headphones of some sort during their week or if you're like me, daily. Below are some headphones that have great reviews or that I have personally used and would recommend!

Headphones:

If you want over-the-ear headphones, the Philips H4205s are a great option coming in at $50 and are on Amazon Prime. If you want to invest in headphones, there are the Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones coming in at $350.

If you're looking more for earbuds rather than over-the-ear headphones there are also plenty of options. First off, the Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) are a great pair that will last, I've had my 2nd Generation ones for over two years although they are pricy, being $180. Another option for a lower budget is the TOZO T6 Wireless Earbuds which are $46 on Amazon and have great reviews and thousands of buys.

Smartwatches:

If anyone in your life has an older smartwatch and needs an update or has been wanting one, now is the time! Here are a few options.

This Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation is supposed to be just as good as the newest generation and is a great foray into owning a smartwatch! It comes in at $250 which is pricy but not crazy in the world of tech for a new watch.

Another option that may be preferable if your recipient is not an Apple user is the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 which comes in at $200. Again, pricy but most quality smartwatches are over $150 so definitely an investment!

Drones:

While a drone may not be for everyone, someone who loves to make videos or try out new tech may be interested in one! A drone is a fun foray into something new and not crazy expensive to try out. One option with great reviews is the RADCLO Mini Drone with Camera. Although it still comes in at $80, it should be a good-quality drone to start a new hobby.

For the readers:

E-Reader:

If your gift recipient is anything like me, they love to read, and what better way to start the new year off with than a new book or way to read! I recommend the Kindle Paperwhite is is $140 on Amazon. I have had mine for over a year and absolutely love it. You can get a Kindle Unlimited subscription which is normally $10 a month and gives them access to thousands of books for free! I use my Kindle multiple times a week and have saved not only money spent on books but also space in my house. It's also much easier to travel with if they like to read a lot on vacation. If they have a library membership they can also check out e-books through their Kindle.

Book Recommendations:

Below, I have links to many books, mostly from Amazon but there is also a website called Book Outlet that often has these or other titles for half off so check that out as well! While I have read some of the following, many were pulled from the New York Times' Bestsellers List so they come highly recommended.

If the person you're buying for is into Thrillers, there are so many out right now with lots of great reviews! Frieda McFadden (most of which are on Kindle Unlimited!) has a bunch to choose from so here are a few I've heard amazing things about: The Housemaid, The Inmate, Never Lie and The Housemaid's Secret.

If they're more into biographies or memoirs there are so many new ones out that sound amazing! With biographies, picking something about someone they like is a great way to choose so here are a few in different categories,

Beauty/Business: Glossy by Marisa Meltzer

Pop Culture/Music: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

General Life Lessons/Self Help: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Sports/Shoes: Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Na

Pop Culture/Life Lessons: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Womanhood: Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Business: The New New Thing by Michael Lewis

Sports/Hockey: The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey

Music: Jimmy Buffet: A Good Life All the Way by Ryan White

If they prefer a romance there are tons of new ones out right now by popular authors.

For a romance set in the past: Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston

For a cute little romance: The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

For a second chance romance: Happy Place by Emily Henry (I recommend all of her books!)

If you're looking for a different fiction book, here are some options for that:

For the history lover: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

For the fantasy lover: The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss

To follow up with the TV adaptation: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

If they love a family drama: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

If they like a dystopian universe: Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

I hope this helped y'all have a few more ideas of gifts to give the people you love, or even snag for yourself. Happy Holidays and look out for more gift guides!

If you stay in Lexington for the holiday, here’s a round-up of places you can eat at or order parts or all of your meals from, one more thing to be thankful for.

First of all, starting with desserts. Looking beyond the Kroger Bakery, we have Missy’s Pies and La Petite Delicat depending on your tastes. A classic pumpkin pie can be ordered from Missy’s a few days in advance or you can choose to include a bit of French culture in your dessert by getting specialty macarons from La Petite Delicat.

Photos courtesy of La Petite Délicat / Facebook

For the rest of your meal, The Fresh Market and Whole Foods offer main dishes and an array of sides for ordering, with both having options for dietary restrictions. If you’re looking to shop locally you can look to Critchfield Meats or Minton’s which both have meat, sides, and sometimes dessert options available for order.

As far as restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day there are a few great options. First we have Cru at The Summit at Fritz Farms or Frank & Dino's which are both more of an adult only Thanksgiving in my opinion. Family friendly wise, Good Food Co-Op will have their hot bar open for early to late lunch and Bella Notte is also open. If you plan to dine out, most places are only taking reservations so plan ahead!

We hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving with whomever you celebrate! The Buds are thankful for you!

Today, I'm going to share with you two of my favorite soups to get you prepared and excited for colder days.

My first favorite, and a classic, is baked potato soup. I typically use a simple recipe and just top it with cheese and bacon bits. Pinterest has a million recipes and I've found one that's great every time. It hails from The I Heart Naptime Cookbook by Jamielyn Nye. The recipe makes about eight servings and doesn't take too long to make either so it's perfect for a quick but filling meal. The most recent time I made this we used a bag of frozen hashbrown chunks, thawed, to cut down on the prep time of the potatoes and it was still fantastic!

BAKED POTATO SOUP:

Ingredients:

-4 potatoes (with or without the skins is up to you, maybe try the hashbrown trick!)

-8 slices of bacon

-4 tablespoons of unsalted butter

-2 cloves of minced garlic

-1/4 cup of yellow onion

-1/3 cup of all-purpose flour

-2 cups of low-fat milk

-1 cup of half and half

-2 cups of chicken stock

-1 teaspoon of salt (add more depending on your taste)

-1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt

-1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

-1 cup of mild cheddar cheese

-1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese

-1 cup of sour cream

-optional: fresh chives for a garnish

Instructions:

1. Pierce the potatoes a few times with a fork and microwave them for 12 to 15 minutes or until softened. Cut them in half and let them cool. If you want to remove the skins now is the time to do so. After cooling, cut them into chunks.

2. While the potatoes are being softened in the microwave, cook your bacon until it's crisp. Once it's cooked, lay the bacon on a paper towel-lined plate to cool and drain the excess grease. Save about 1 tablespoon of the grease for later.

3. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the bacon fat, onion and garlic and continue to cook it until the onion becomes tender (around 2 to 3 minutes). Whisk the flour into the pot slowly and continue to stir for a couple of minutes. Then slowly add the milk and half and half while still whisking. Whisk the mixture until it becomes smooth, then add the chicken stock. Bring it to a light simmer and whisk in the salt, pepper and garlic salt. After combined, leave the pot at a light simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes or until it's thickened.

4. If you want to garnish your bowl with cheese and bacon, set aside 1/4 cup of each. Stir in what's left of the cheese and bacon and add the sour cream. Next, you'll remove the pot from the heat and add the chunks of potato you've already prepared. You can mash the potatoes a bit, break them into smaller pieces or leave them in chunks.

5. Serve your soup! You can garnish with the leftover cheese and bacon and add chives if you wish.

Here are some pictures from when I made it recently!

One of my other favorite winter meals is chicken and gnocchi soup. I found this thanks to Olive Garden's version of it and then found a recipe online. I usually enjoy it with some kind of breadstick to get the full effect. This can be paired with a salad as well to get in more veggies and to have more soup leftovers after the fact. I also think it would be great with a white wine if you're feeling it! This recipe is pulled from the Taste & Tell blog and offers many other recipes if you're looking for more inspiration. Their blog has been mentioned in many other publications, so you know it's good. This recipe makes six servings so if that won't give you leftovers, I recommend doubling it because you'll want more!

POTATO AND GNOCCHI SOUP:

Ingredients:

-2 tablespoons of butter

-2 tablespoons of olive oil

-1 cup of diced onions

-1 cup of diced celery

-1 cup of diced carrots

-2 cloves of minced garlic (use fresh garlic for a fuller flavor)

-1 teaspoon of fresh thyme

-salt and pepper to taste

-1/4 cup of all-purpose flour

-2 cups of chicken broth

-4 cups of half-and-half

-2 cups of cooked chicken, this can be shredded or cubed (I also like to use a rotisserie chicken for this)

-1 pound of gnocchi cooked according to the package's directions

-2 to 3 cups of chopped baby spinach

Instructions:

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat up the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Then add the carrots, celery, onions, garlic and thyme to cook until they have softened (between 5 and 10 minutes). Season your pot with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Stir in the flour and cook it for a couple more minutes. Slowly add and whisk in the chicken broth (be conscious of any browned bits at the bottom and scrape them up to incorporate them). Slowly whisk in the half-and-half then stir in the chicken. After combined, bring the mixture to a simmer and leave it to cook for about 20 minutes.

3. Add in the cooked gnocchi and chopped spinach. Cook until the spinach is wilted.

4. Serve your soup! You can add more salt and pepper as you see fit and enjoy!

Lexington has so many local coffee shops that I have loved trying out over the past few years, so I have a few recommendations!

First off is my favorite, Chocolate Holler, located on Old Vine Street. I usually get an iced or hot chocolate and add espresso to make it actual coffee. They have an array of flavors that change a tad between seasons, currently, they have both a chocolate chai and a pumpkin pie flavor along with their typical menu. If you want a small snack they also have incredible Oreo balls that I recommend.

Another coffee shop I frequent is Old School Coffee, located on North Mill Street. They have their usual menu with caramel, white chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut flavored drinks. Old School luckily does have a drink of the week special that features more seasonal beverages. Recently they've had a toasted almond latte, a coconut brown sugar chai latte and a bourbon maple latte. If you plan to go, look at their Instagram to see what their drink is for that week.

The third coffee place I'm going to recommend is Third Street Stuff & Coffee, located on North Limestone near Transylvania University. They have a good variety of syrups you can use in your coffee to really customize it which is great if you're picky like me. I recently went to check out their fall options which includes a salted caramel apple latte they refer to as the "bobbing for apples latte". On their flavors list they have everything from maple spice to toasted marshmallow which can be added to any coffee. I opted for a hot hazelnut mocha because I love hazelnut in the fall and I went on a particularly chilly day so it called for a hot drink.

Lexington has such a good array of coffee shops, and most are consistently good, but these are my picks for fall-specific drinks. Let us know if you try any or have recommendations for us to try!

Happy Fall!

Olivia

First, let's talk about activities.

I love pumpkin carving, despite being seriously lacking in physical art skills, and it's an easy and fun activity for a big or small group of people. Another possibility is drawing on small pumpkins with Sharpies. If you prefer less mess this is absolutely the way to go.

Stop by whichever grocery store you frequent, grab a few pumpkins of your choice, and get creative!

Another activity that I love is going to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch, so why not make the plan and go on the 26th? I try to go at least once every fall just to get into the spirit and be able to walk around in a comfy sweater. There are a few options in Lexington for where you can go and each has its own special draws. I love walking around and smelling the warm apple cider and apple cider donuts, and getting to buy pumpkins somewhere local is always a plus. Some orchards also have animals that are great for keeping kids entertained and having fun as well as hayrides or mini rollercoasters. Although it may be less pumpkin-centered, it's still fun no matter what age. A couple in Lexington that I've been to are Evan's Orchard and Cider Mill and Eckert's Orchard, both were great experiences!

After activities come my favorite aspect of pumpkin, pumpkin flavored food.

For me, as soon as there's a slight chill in the air I'm ready to bake pumpkin bread. The great thing about pumpkin bread too is that you can choose add-ins to personalize it to your taste. Whether that's throwing in chocolate chips so the kids will eat it or adding in walnuts for a little crunch, it'll be good with anything. My family has always used the Paula Deen recipe for pumpkin bread which calls for add-ins, but we have always made it plain.

Pumpkin food is also rampant in Trader Joe's right now, they have biscotti, squash and pumpkin pasta sauce, even mochi! I've tried their pasta sauces and one of my favorites was the harvest medley they put out this fall. I even found pumpkin-shaped pasta noodles recently at HomeGoods if you want to go all out. There's also the classic Pillsbury sugar cookies that have shapes on them based on the season, although they aren't pumpkin flavored the jack-o-lantern ones are a perfect sweet treat to pair with a Halloween movie.

My final recommendation is a pumpkin drink, specifically coffee. I enjoy the pumpkin cream cold brews from Starbucks or if you want to make it at home you can mix milk with a little pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. If you aren't a fan of coffee, try a pumpkin chai tea latte, it still has a great fall flavor and if it ends up being warm you can get it over ice. A lot of local coffee shops like Old School Coffee and Chocolate Holler have their own specialty pumpkin coffees that are great for a fall day.

Even if you end up doing something small, I hope you have a little something to treat yourself or your family on the 26th this year!

Let us know how you celebrate!

That being said, it can be difficult to find inspiration or recommendations for what to wear, especially if you're looking to shop local or build it from your own wardrobe. This is where I'm coming in to help!

I went to three boutiques in Lexington to find pieces for gameday to help build outfits as a reference for you to build your own outfits. My goal was to find pieces that can be worn for multiple occasions with things from your closet while remaining within the UK color scheme. Think variety and versatility with an emphasis on Kentucky blue.

I started at Peacocks & Pearls before venturing to Mac + White and lastly, Ada & Lo so let's dig in and see what all they had to offer!

First up is tops which is what I found the most of at each place.

The striped collared shirt would be great with light-wash denim or white denim, whether that be in the form of pants, shorts or a skirt. This top can also help transition to fall and through winter by adding a cardigan over top or leaving it open and putting a plain white t-shirt underneath. What I like about this top is that it can be worn many different ways, throughout different seasons and it has a timeless silhouette. (Found at Peacocks & Pearls)

Now we have a cute, short-sleeved blouse with ruffle detailing. I love the neckline on this and the puff of the sleeves but since it does have more to it, I'd stick to a simple bottom. Again, I suggest a neutral color pant or something with a subtle pattern like a black and white pinstripe. (Found at Ada & Lo)

The blouse to the right is similar to the one above but is a lighter material, so perfect for those lingering warm games. This would pair well with a neutral-colored bottom like the one above. Since the color isn't quite as rich and the details are not as intense as the previous blouse, I do think you could wear this with a more patterned bottom but I would still stick to a neutral-colored pattern. (Found at Peacocks & Pearls)

The next tops are similar but with slightly different details. To the left is a more frilly, feminine turtleneck while to the right is a classic turtleneck. I personally love a turtleneck in winter and both of these can be worn for more than just game day. I would pair it with white, black or grey on the bottom. If you want to spice it up, however, I am fully behind you. Try it with a pair of patterned pants, keep reading to see an example that would be great with either of these! (Both are found at Peacocks & Pearls)

To the left is a perfect building block for an outfit, a neutral color without extensive detailing while maintaining a pretty silhouette. I like the idea of putting a blue button-up shirt underneath and leaving it untucked with light-wash jeans and a fun sneaker. Add a ponytail for practicality and to show off some earrings and you're set. Another way to style this would be to put it with fun blue pants, I imagine a bold stripe or gingham. It's also great to transition into fall and winter because you can wear it over a long-sleeve or on its own. I would even wear it during the summer with denim shorts to do errands. (From Ada & Lo)

The cardigan to the right may be my favorite of the options for tops honestly. I love a cardigan moment and the white edges on the color and down the front are a classic-looking detail I'm obsessed with. I would put a plain white T-shirt underneath and add your favorite pair of jeans and a white sneaker for a perfect comfortable but stylish game day outfit. For a colder game, substitute the white T-shirt for a white turtleneck, and it's done! (Found at Peacocks & Pearls)

To round out the tops, I included game-day-specific options in case you want something to wear just for the occasion. Each of these could be paired with blue jeans or a blue pant and would be the perfect way to spice things up for a game against a big opponent (Tennessee or Alabama anyone?). (Left two are found at Peacocks & Pearls, right is found at Ada & Lo)

Moving on from tops, let's look at pants!

These are two pairs of patterned pants that I think could pair well with a blue shirt of some kind, maybe pull out that UK T-shirt you have in your closet. They also would both look great with a half-tucked blue button-up or one of the tops seen above. I love a pair of patterned pants to spice things up and these can probably be worn to work as well! (Left is found at Peacocks & Pearls, right is found at Ada & Lo)

The last section of clothing I'm going to share is dresses!

First up is this navy, collared shirt dress. I love navy for game days and the silhouette of this dress is flattering on everyone. Add a white cardigan over top and some fun bracelets and you're set! I'd love this dress with white sneakers or brown boots as the weather gets cooler. I think this dress could also be good with a tight white turtleneck underneath if you need a little extra warmth! With this dress, accessories can be so fun and eye-catching to jazz it up for the game or you could go simple and classic for everyday wear. I think this would also fare well for a fall day at Keeneland!

(Found at Ada & Lo)

This dress has a similar vibe to the previous one but is more on par with being UK blue. I love the sleeves and pleats at the bottom, it adds just enough oomph to an otherwise plain dress. I'd style it the same way with white sneakers or brown boots and fun accessories. I'd pull your hair up to let the collar have its moment and add a dangly earring to finish it out.

(Found at Mac + White)

To the left, we have another blue dress, this one with an imprinted pattern and long sleeves. This dress would be great with brown or black boots, I like riding boots specifically for this one. For accessories, I would keep it more minimal and classic to fit the vibe of the dress and, if needed, layer a long coat over top.

(Found at Peacocks & Pearls)

This is only a taste of what boutiques in Lexington have to offer as far as game day apparel is concerned. Hopefully, now you have a few new ideas to try if your wardrobe is feeling stagnant on Saturdays! If you end up buying anything from this post or drawing inspiration from it, leave a comment on one of our socials to let us know!

Go Cats!

Olivia

When planning your trip to northern Kentucky, our pick of best place to stay is hands down Hotel Covington. Named the No. 1 Hotel in Kentucky in 2022 by US News and World report, it is located in Covington, Kentucky. This hotel has preserved the historical charm of what was once home of the region’s largest high-end department store while turning it into a comfortable and modernized space that has become a wedding destination because of its picturesque courtyard and event space. The rooms are spacious with expansive windows and heavy velvet curtains perfect for blocking out the light so you can achieve optimum rest. An extra-nice touch to each room is the fully stocked fridge and tray of carefully curated snacks that you might be in the mood for during your stay. Slip on one of their fluffy robes and enjoy the bath amenities from Labottega’s Grown Alchemist, challenge your partner to a game of Uno, or divine your future with the good ole-fashioned Magic 8 ball.

Day 1:

Arrive at the Hotel Covington in the late afternoon and unwind in your room or enjoy a glass of champagne at the beautiful bar at Coppin’s which pays homage to the original name of the building.

When you’re ready to explore, head out the front door; no need to get your car or call an Uber because another benefit to making Hotel Covington your landing pad is its close proximity to the vast array of shops, restaurants and bars. Across from the hotel on Pike Street you will find several shops including Hometown Vintage where you can take a walk down memory lane and perhaps purchase a piece of history. It doesn’t hurt that it’s right next door to Ripple, a wine bar featuring vintages from all over the world, that you can pair with their snacks and petite entrees that change seasonally.

You can continue walking down Pike Street, take a left on Washington, and another left on W 7th Street to come back down towards Hotel Covington. You will pass by the Braxton Brewing Company that has a rooftop bar with music at night where you can dance the night away under the stars.

If you’re a bourbon lover, a short walk up Madison Avenue to E 8th Street will land you at Revival Vintage Bottle Shop. Here, you can be schooled by one of their bourbon experts and have a tasting experience unlike any other. They have bottles dating back to the early 1900s. Revival is just one of many stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the B-line, Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon tour.

After shopping, you will be hungry for some delicious food, so grab an Uber for a short drive to Newport where you can eat at a place that has been given the distinction of having the best fried chicken in Kentucky by Southern Living Magazine. It’s called the Purple Poulet and it is a must. You will be tempted to just order the fried chicken, but that would be a mistake as the entire menu is packed with scrumptious dishes that will take you from the South Carolina low country to New Orleans with its Cajun and Creole foods. Hopefully, you go with friends so everyone can order something different because you don’t want to miss out on anything they serve at the Purple Poulet. The environment is warm and inviting and the service is impeccable.

You will be stuffed after dinner, so you can waddle your way over to Prohibition Bourbon Bar located just a half a mile away on Washington Avenue, also in Newport, and have a nightcap to cap off your first day. Another stop on the B-line, this bourbon bar boasts the world’s largest collection of bourbon and rye whiskeys, including all those Pappys everyone is coveting. Only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, you will need a reservation, so be sure to book in advance of your visit.

Return to Hotel Covington and fall into the luxurious bed, exhausted but happy with how much fun you've had...and it's only day 1!

Day 2:

10am – Riverside Food Tour. One way to get an authentic feel for a city is to take a food tour. These usually combine two of our favorites, history and eating. Riverside Food Tours in Northern Kentucky is ready and eager to share with you the best places to eat and sightsee with 10 different three-hour tours offered seven days a week. Their knowledgeable and friendly tour guides will be your local connection, showing you off-the-beaten-path spots that you might otherwise miss. Along the way, you’ll meet new friends as you journey along the streets. Having always been curious about Covington’s Mainstrasse Village, this was the ideal tour for us. This easily walkable stroll took us to six locally owned restaurants in this quaint German Village, and we learned about the architecture of the houses, the history of the area, as well as the famous 100-foot tall Glockenspiel that you see every time you drive up I-75 from Lexington to Cincinnati. Since you’re walking along at a leisurely pace, you’re able to digest some of your food, and that’s a good thing! It’s a lot of food! You most certainly will not leave one of their tours hungry.

Visit Newport on the Levee in the afternoon. Newport on the Levee is a multi-level entertainment destination that includes the award-winning Newport Aquarium. The aquarium is ideal for families, but even the adults will feel like a kid again if they take the Behind-The-Scenes Tour where you can help prepare treats for the animals, and maybe even pet some of the local celebrities! The inner zoologist in you will be ecstatic. Mill around afterwards and take in the beautiful riverbank and skyline of Cincinnati. There are lots of picturesque spots to kick back and relax.

Dinner at MRBL. Speaking of picturesque views, you will be blown away by the views from atop a building on the banks of the river in nearby Bellevue when you dine at MRBL, a steakhouse offering an exceptional dining experience. This place is romantic and chic, very upscale, without being ostentatious. The night we were there, we were serenaded by a jazz musician, and as the sun sank lower on the horizon, we indulged in mouthwatering steaks, the freshest sushi, sipped wine, and ordered not one, but two desserts…the quintessential special occasion dinner.

End day 2 with a nightcap at Knowledge Bar & Social Room at North by Hotel Covington, a sister property to Hotel Covington, and conveniently located right next door. Knowledge is named for the horse that John Coppin (remember, the Hotel Covington building is in the former Coppin’s Department Store building) made his fortune on. It’s Covington’s hottest new bar and it’s easy to see why. The décor is opulent and sexy with a one-of-a-kind lighted art display. You will find lots of lounge areas to sink into while you were peruse their massive list of craft cocktails, champagne and wines from around the world. Complimentary snack boards are a bonus. Sit back and relax and call it a night or…

Head over to the Braxton Brewing Company’s rooftop bar for a night of dancing under the stars. Voted one of the best rooftop bars in Cincinnati by WanderCincinnati.com, you can enjoy over 20 beers on top, an impressive cocktail menu, lots of seating, and a huge living plant wall. You will find a mixed crowd, so feel free to let it all hang out on the dance floor. When you’re too tired to shake it, rest easy as your hotel room is only a 2-minute walk away.

Day 3

If you’re an early riser, you will probably need a little sustenance at 7am. Head over to North South Baking Company on W Pike Street and grab a cruffin. Don’t know what a cruffin is?

Well, it’s a mix between a croissant and a muffin! It’s the most delicious thing in the world and will go perfectly with a big cup of joe. You will return to your room temporarily satiated as you get ready for your next event of the weekend…brunch! Seems like these days, it’s all about brunch on Sundays. There are several places to enjoy brunch in Northern Kentucky, but if you crave atmosphere as much as food, you will love The Standard. The Standard is in a former gas station, but you won’t find stinky gas pumps and a grease monkey named Gomer. What you will find is delicious and quirky food, super cute décor, large-scale outdoor games, and friendly staff eager to make your day as bright as their art.

And speaking of art, The Standard isn't the only place full of fun art pieces. Before returning home check out the other art installations in Northern Kentucky, including large-scale murals. Coming soon...the aliens are landing! A giant intergalactic art installation will be installed at the Midtown Parking Garage in Covington, and it will be out of this world! For more art fun, visit Northern Kentucky Art Tours | NKY (nkyarttours.com) to find a list of different art tours you can take.

Food, history, shopping, fabulous dining and beautiful art; you can see why Northern Kentucky should be on your must-visit list this fall. No matter if you're wanting a girlfriends' getaway, a romantic rendezvous, or fall break with the kids, meetnky will help you plan your trip. All you have to do is visit their page to discover more itinerary ideas. Visit Northern Kentucky, have a blast, and be sure to tag #meetnky in all of your pics!

Kenwick Table had their grand opening back in 2021, but I just recently had the opportunity to stop by and try it. The coffee shop and wine bar is located just off Richmond Road at 201 Owsley Avenue in a quaint gray building featuring a front wooden awning.

The inside is a rustic industrial vibe with a section at the front left open for their Open Mic Nights and themed night performances, such as this previous Wednesday’s Grateful Dead Night. The song “Box of Rain” set the tone for a chill and comfortable scene with a community table right next to the ordering counter.

The workers were kind and helpful when deciding what to order and quick with preparing each as well. Pair the workers with the other patrons and you have a match made in heaven, the casual atmosphere giving way to socializing between both friends and strangers while enjoying the live music or even studying.

The menu boasts more than just beverages, including soups, sandwiches and pastries such as chocolate croissants. Kenwick Table has a wine, beer and cider list that would satisfy most and if you don’t find something your taste there, you’ll certainly find it on their specials board that has mixed drinks, often featuring Kentucky liquor brands. If you have a sweet tooth like me, I’d recommend the Orange Cream Cider. A friend of mine had it and let me try and I almost walked back up to the ordering counter!

While the coffee was great, I tried an Iced Mocha and can’t wait to try their Matcha Latte next, the seasonal drink menu’s Cranberry Cava was everything I wanted in a fall transitional drink. Described as “zesty sparkling wine with a splash of cranberry,” it was refreshingly light and a good early fall beverage, considering Kentucky’s back-and-forth weather most Septembers. I enjoyed my drinks and food on the back deck to take in the scenery and dig in!

The food menu is nothing to be looked over, however. I had the Pimento Cheese Croissant with the Tomato Bisque, a combination I highly recommend. Kenwick Table also has platters with hummus and veggies or crackers, grapes and chicken salad, something that would pair well with one of their varieties of wine. Thursday through Sunday they also include a charcuterie board that looks magnificent; yet another reason for me to return and try out more of the menu.

They’re open every day of the week with their shortest day being Sunday and their longest days being Friday and Saturday. If you have the chance to go before the fall menu changes, definitely do it. I'm planning on trying the Caramel Apple Soda next time!

If you ever find yourself needing a quick cup of coffee or a light meal, give Kenwick Table a visit and let us know what you think!

Cheers!

Olivia

Do you remember where you were Tuesday, September 9, 2011 at 8:46 am when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York?

Do you remember where you were approximately 20 minutes later when the second tower was hit?

And do you remember where you were over the course of the next few hours when the world’s 4th/5th tallest buildings crumbled to the earth in sheer seconds?

I remember. My guess is you do, too. I am extremely ashamed to admit my first reaction was annoyance. Please let me explain. I was working in Atlanta at the time, 7.5 months pregnant with my daughter and I was leading a critical financial meeting. As Corporate Controller, I was preparing for maternity leave and it was imperative it went well. So when I heard a knock on my office door, I was super irritated. Geez! I am trying to work, people. Don’t they know when a door is shut it means P-R-I-V-A-C-Y?

So I yelled out, “I am in a meeting”. There, that should take care of it! But the knocker persisted. Knock. Knock. Knock. Damn, get the hint already. This better be good I thought to myself. “Come in,” I finally said and even though my face expressed total exasperation, it did not deter the intruder from announcing the news. “The World Trade Center has been hit by an airplane.”

Silence.

Now, you think that statement, in and of itself, would have been enough to stop me in my tracks, but unfortunately and embarrassingly enough, I admit that my reaction sucked. I said out loud, “Wow, that’s a shame. Hopefully, there aren’t too many injuries.” WTH!!! Maybe to this day, the single, dumbest statement I’ve ever made. And with a “go away” look on my face, I thanked my co-worker for the news and then asked her to close the door behind her so I could resume my meeting. As bad as that moment was, I had not registered the enormity of it, most likely because I felt no direct impact on my life. With all of the violence and destruction in the world, I had become desensitized. Living in Atlanta, with one of the highest crime rates in America, I had become especially immune.

Not 20 minutes later, the second knock came. You think I would have sensed the pattern by then, but I was too self-involved. With the same frustrated voice, I barked out, “What?” allowing the chance for the person to enter but letting them know they better have a good excuse for this second interruption. And of course they did. As she delivered the second segment of the story, my heart sank. Tears welled up in my eyes. What was wrong with me? How could I have been so cold? What was happening? Are we going to war? What’s coming next? The questions went on and on… but the last one I remembered most… “What kind of world am I bringing my daughter into?”

This tragedy now had direct meaning. It was personal.

I did next what most Americans did. I watched hour after hour of horrendous news footage about America’s biggest tragedy, from the love stories of those lost, to the mass devastation, to the unbelievable heroics of our first responders. Americans were glued to the TV, the radio, to the news and now, to each other. It is single-handedly the most bonded moment I can recall in American history during my lifetime. Being an American became a priority, patriotism was revered, communities united and everyone seemed to love everyone. As bad as it was, there was some good in that instant.

Flash forward 16 years later and it seems like a million years ago. That sentiment of American brotherhood feels lost. I won’t get political as it’s not the point of this article, but our 9/11 bond has dissipated. As current day Americans, we’re oppositional, divided and combative. I am not judging the reasons nor belittling the battles, only mourning, with sad disposition, the death of our comradery.

A week and half ago, Tam and I got the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center 9/11 memorial. To say it was breathtaking, is a colossal understatement. For once in my life, I was completely without words. Resting on 8 acres, there sits two massive waterfalls (the largest man-made structures in NA), serving as footprints of the towers. There are approximately 3,000 names of the men, women and children killed in the attacks, etched on bronze parapets surrounding the twin Memorial pools. The World Trade Center website describes the memorial below. “The display of these names is the very heart of the Memorial. The design of the names parapet provides a direct relationship between the visitor, the names and the water, allowing for a feeling of quiet reverence between the visitor and the Memorial.

Names are stencil-cut into the parapets, allowing visitors to look through the names at the water and to create paper impressions or rubbings of individual names. At night, light shines up through the voids created by each letter of a name.”

There is so much to say about that visit that I could write a 1000 page book on it and it would not be enough. Even more difficult would be finding the right words. From the “Survivor Tree”, to the beauty of the Oculus, to the glory of the One World Trade Center building (Freedom Tower), there is so much to take in, to see, to experience. But here is the thing. My experience is my own. It belongs to me. While we all share common emotions about that day, the impact to us is unique. Seeing the memorial took me back to that moment when I was only weeks away from bringing my only daughter into this world and the fear I felt for her. She is 15 now. I am lucky; my opportunity to be a mother was not denied. I often wondered if there were pregnant women in the towers or on the planes, trying to make their escape, fearing for their unborn children’s lives. So today, I decided to Google it. And yes, there were. In fact, there were 10 pregnant women who died that day. Today I pay homage to them and their unborn babies:

Dianne T. Signer

Jennifer L. Howley

Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas

Jennifer L. Howley

Helen Crossin Kittle

Vanessa Lang Langer

Patricia Ann Cimaroli Massari

Renée A. May

Sylvia San Pio Resta

Rahma Salie

May they forever rest in peace.

I hope everyone has the opportunity to visit the World Trade Center Memorial. There is nothing like seeing it in person to remember. As I looked out over the serene pools of water, I recalled that day vividly. I remembered how grateful I was to be alive, to be an expectant mother with a chance to raise her daughter; I remembered how terribly sad I felt for those who lost their lives and the families devastated by these losses; I remembered how in awe I was of those people who unselfishly gave their lives to help; but mostly, I remembered how proud I was to be an American. I still am. I hope I never forget that.

Ever.

#NeverForget

Fore more facts and stories, please visit www.911memorial.org/memorial

#WTC #911 #4thofJuly #NewYorkCity #American #patriotism

Hi everyone, I’m Olivia the new intern here at Kentucky Taste Buds! I’m originally from Knoxville, Tennessee but I’ve had the privilege to call Lexington home for the last few years as a now senior at the University of Kentucky. I grew up next to Appalachia and as I got older, even visiting Lexington thanks to my older sister going to UK before me. I have a true love for southern comfort and community and can’t wait to dig in a little deeper in Lexington.

I’m currently majoring in journalism with a minor in French language so I love writing and learning about different cultures. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France this past spring and fell in love with the city and Europe as a whole. I’m a bit of a history nerd so I thrived being able to go to so many new museums and monuments through my travels (I could quite literally talk about it for hours but I’ll leave it at that for now). Aside from school, I’m an avid reader and media consumer, from podcasts to music to films and more. Especially as fall approaches, I’m getting prepped to start rewatching Gilmore Girls and bake pumpkin bread so look out for fall specific content!

On UK’s campus I am also involved in the student media organization KRNL as both a contributing lifestyle writer and the online content editor as well as being a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Thanks to both of these organizations I found my community in Lexington and now, hopefully, through my contributions to Kentucky Taste Buds, I’ll be accepted into your community as well.

I absolutely love living in Kentucky, from the excitement of Keeneland in the spring to the hope for a football win in the fall, I can’t get enough. I’m sure most of you all feel the same so I think we’ll get along swimmingly.

I couldn’t be more thankful to be involved here at Taste Buds and to be able to share what I learn through my last year of school. I’m excited to eat, travel, dress, and walk with y’all through life this semester as I work with Tam and Leigh. Expect to see more from me soon!

Once a year, there is a pilgrimage that many people make all across this great nation, one that harkens back to a simpler time and is a slice of pure Americana. It's time for the state fair! Having never attended our own Kentucky State Fair, Leigh and I set out to experience this spectacle for ourselves and, boy, are we ever glad we did!

Kentucky's State Fair, lasting 11 days, is held every August in Louisville, Kentucky at, oddly enough, the fair grounds adjacent to Freedom Hall. Originally organized in 1816, the fair was moved from city to city until in 1907, Louisville was chosen as the permanent location. Over 600,000 people attend and there is something for everyone, young and old alike. From our perspective, you could probably spend 11 days taking in all the exhibits, music, food and activities that surround it. We only had one afternoon, so we will give you the CliffsNotes version.

After arriving and paying the $10 parking fee and $10 admission, we parked the car and proceeded to the entrance. (Tip#1 Buy tickets/parking pass online ahead of time and save some money.) It was a beautiful, sunny day with temps in the low 80's, so perfect weather for our outing! The first tent we noticed, or should I say smelled, was called the Great American Cookout. It being lunchtime, this was the ideal location to start our tour. Everyone talks about how good fair food can be, and they are completely accurate in that assessment! This being Kentucky, a state known for its tremendous farms providing bountiful crops, beef, pork and fish products, how could you go wrong? I had heard from several people that the pork sandwich was not to be missed, so I went with that, and Leigh, a cheeseburger connoisseur, went with a Kentucky Proud burger. There were plenty of tables covered in red and white tablecloths and folks sitting down to enjoy their lunch. We saw plates piled high with homemade potato chips, French fries, brats, BBQ, etc. Digging into our food, we were tickled pink that it all tasted as good as it smelled. Talking with the those around us we heard that the other menu items were delicious as well! Okay, time to move along to another important aspect of the fair, the animal exhibitions and competitions!

Leaving behind the delicious aroma of food cooking, we approached another building that had its own unique smell, that of manure and barnyard animals. Quite the contrast, for sure! Entering this giant space we saw throngs of people, some of which were leading around adorable lambs on leashes. The lamb competition was currently underway, so we took a moment to take in the action. In the ring were about 15 young people each "showing" their lambs. Curiously, we watched as the handlers, dressed in denim, boots and plaid shirts, many with rhinestone-studded belts, held their lambs' heads and expertly arranged the lambs' legs so that they attained the perfect posture for judging. The judge, in his cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans, walked up and down the line and called out the ones he felt met the standard. We had no idea what exactly he was looking for, but those in attendance were all tense with anticipation to see which one would be declared the "best in show". The final ones were awarded a blue ribbon and the lambs were then escorted out of the ring and into the waiting leashes of the owners, hopefully to enjoy a tasty treat of some sort for all of their hard work!

Adjacent to the lambs were hundreds of pens, about 6 feet by 3 feet with one to two pigs or swine, all doing one of my favorite activities, taking a nap! They were all different colors and sizes, but not knowing anything about pigs other than what we learned from one of our favorite books, Charlotte's Web, we sought out the assistance of someone in the know. We came upon Jonathan from McLean County (Owensboro area), in western Kentucky, who was there with his family which was showing approximately nine animals that day. We asked Jonathan if there was a difference between "swine" and "pigs", and he informed us they were interchangeable terms, but that he just called them "hogs". He told us that his daughter had been "showing" hogs for several years and that this was a hobby for their family. The state fair is the World Series event for these animal exhibitors and the winners of some of the events can take home several thousand dollars in prize money! Wow! Although, considering how much money they spend on the care of these animals, as well as the cost of transportation and lodging to the fair and other events, this is definitely a labor of love and not an income-producing venture for most participants. It's obvious, however, that what these families and children are gaining in time spent together and life lessons learned, the experience is truly priceless. Leigh and I learned a lot from Jonathan about pigs, and we also learned that this exhibit hall is not the place where you want to be wearing open-toed sandals. (Tip #2 - bring some boots.) Beyond the pigs were scores and scores of cattle, all being washed and groomed, awaiting their turn in the ring. The owners and their families were camped out beside of them lounging, eating and talking shop with one another. We realized how much more to this is involved than meets the eye. It's not all glamorous, and requires lots and lots of hard work!

Needing some fresh air, we left behind the smell of animals, and moved back outside to the midway area of the fair. In doing research for our adventure, I came across an article that talked about things to definitely check out, one of which was Freddy, the 18' farmer and representative of Farm Bureau Insurance. Heck, he even has his own Facebook page. Well, sure enough, he was hard to miss standing outside of the main entrance to the exhibition center. Clad all in blue (our favorite color; Go Cats!), he greeted and spoke with everyone who passed by, much to the chagrin of the little kids who approached him, not quite understanding how this statute was able to see and talk to them. The fair is a magical place! Continuing on our way, we came upon a row of other food vendors, but one in particular caught our eye. Y'all, this vendor was serving all things fried! Yes, sir, we stepped right up and ordered something we at first thought might be kind of gross...a fried Twinkie! They also offered Oreos, Snickers, Reese's Cups, and a biscuit, so it was a hard decision. A few moments later, the gentleman dusted powdered sugar on our golden creation and we moseyed on over to the karaoke tent to listen to some music and taste our delicacy. It was really quite good! Reminiscent of a funnel cake, it was crunchy on the outside and ooey-gooey on the inside. The perfect fair treat, although I would recommend not eating one just prior to riding the rides over in Thrillville.

Thrillville is the area of the fair that houses all of the exciting and vomit-inducing rides, as well as the old-fashioned take- your-chance games. We found lots of families with young children waiting in line to ride their favorites. Leigh and I, however, are not big ride-goers, so we opted to walk past each and specify the reason why we would not get on that one. Example, "I can't take things that spin around and around" or "It scares me to be so high off the ground". You get the idea. But we thoroughly enjoyed watching others take advantage of the many different opportunities and said a prayer for each of them as they got on board. Bless their hearts! One thing we foolishly agreed to do was pay a very nice gentleman $5 to guess our age. Big mistake! Big! (Tip #3, avoid the take-a-chance games, it's not worth your self-esteem.)

Finished with the thrills of Thrillville, we noticed a large group of people in metal bleachers taking in a highwire act, so we stopped to see the performance. Interestingly, it was the famous Flying Wallendas, the circus act known for performing highwire stunts with no net! And true to form, there they were, up on a wire, balancing precariously on chairs and getting up on one another's shoulders with nothing but hot concrete underneath them. Leigh and I cringed and had to look away several times as we thought for sure we were going to witness a death, but we had two nice Kentucky State Troopers beside us that had seen the act several times over the course of the fair and they assured us the Wallendas really could do the stunts without falling to their doom. They were right! The crowd congratulated the performers with thunderous applause and Leigh and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when they finished! That was enough excitement for one day!

Wrapping up our visit, we knew we had to go back inside the exposition center to see all of the vendors with their myriad of things to buy, eat, wear or learn about. If shopping is your thing, then this is your area! Hundreds of booths were lined up row after row with tons of nice people just itching to tell you about their products, and some offering free samples. You could buy a mattress, furnish your outdoor living space, get a custom t-shirt or license plate, change your internet provider, get a necklace for your cat, sample and purchase some super hot garlic pickles (pickle lovers' heaven), learn about raptor rehabilitation, meet a psychic, or buy some socks! Anything and everything you could ever want or not need is all there together and we had such fun walking up and down the aisles perusing the different items. (Tip #4 - take plenty of cash unless you definitely don't want to buy anything.) There were several things for kids to do, including the KSP Safety City where kids could hop on tricycles and drive around a course to learn about obeying traffic laws (important for future drivers), and where they could get up close and personal with animals, the favorite being the duckling slide. We could have watched those ducklings all day!

Our last stop and unfortunately one place that we didn't get to spend much time in is the section of the hall dedicated to the different counties of Kentucky. Each county had its own booth manned by residents that offered brochures and advice on what's good in their county. We were blown away by all of the fascinating opportunities that lie within Kentucky's borders. Brochures in hand, we left the fair vowing to make the pilgrimage back to Louisville next year to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Kentucky State Fair...and to get some more of those deep-fried Twinkies. This year's event runs through Sunday, August 27th. Click here for more information.

#KentuckyStateFair #cows #pigs #Louisville #FlyingWallendas #Twinkies

We are known for our bluegrass music, BBQ and bourbon. Every year, we hold a BBQ festival where the best cooks fire up their smokers and showcase the amazing and unique barbecue flavors of our city.

We have a lot of good pork and beef barbecue, but our secret sauce lies in our barbecued mutton and burgoo. Mutton is sheep over 1 year of age and is used for meat. The mutton is served chopped or sliced and has a been cooked over a hickory-smoked fire pit.

Burgoo is a soup-style dish that contains a mix of mutton, chicken and pork. Each restaurant has their own style of burgoo and use a range of vegetables such as carrots, beans and potatoes.

Are your taste buds ready? Let's dive into the list of the best BBQ restaurants in Owensboro that will satisfy your hickory-smoked cravings.

It’s time to break down all the BBQ restaurants in Owensboro and find the best one. Let's go!

Moonlite Inn BBQ

Moonlite Inn Bar-B-Q is the most famous barbecue restaurant in Owensboro. It is well known and has been a staple restaurant in the area since 1963. Past presidents and famous celebrities have often visited.

Moonlite Inn Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, Kentucky

The restaurant has been selling delicious mouth watering barbecue on its buffet for decades. It has earned many awards and become a top barbecue destination in the Western Kentucky area.

It’s known for it’s hickory slow cooked barbecue meats including pork, mutton, beef and chicken. All are seasoned with a variety of spices and homemade sauces.

The menu features a variety of meats, sides and desserts. However, if you plan on going to Moonlite (which I highly recommend you do), then you must get the buffet to get the full experience.

Moonlite has a large buffet with a variety of sides and meats.

The buffet is full of southern sides including green beans, mac n cheese, mashed taters and more. The meats include sliced brisket, chopped pork, chopped mutton, chicken and more.

My recommendation is to try small portions of each side and pace yourself so you can try the unique and delicious flavors of it all.

And trust me, you’ll want to save room for the hot blackberry cobbler with a scoop of ice cream. There’s plenty of pies, banana pudding and cobblers after you finish your main course.

With the family friendly atmosphere, the delicious and flavorful food, I recommend Moonlite BBQ as the best BBQ restaurant in Owensboro. It’s also my personal favorite and I love to eat there when I’m on that side of town.

Ole South Bar-B-Que

I’ve only visited Ole South on a few occasions but every time I leave fully satisfied.

The buffet is not near as large as Moonlite and there isn’t as many selections.

I do think Ole South doesn’t get the credit that a lot of people give it. I guess that’s why it’s known as “Western Kentucky’s Best Kept BBQ Secret.”

However, everyday when I drive by, the parking lot of jam packed of folks. When I’ve been inside, we typically have a small wait as the building isn’t large itself and the tables are tightly packed together.

Don’t let the small buffet and possible wait times scare you. Ole South has a really good selection of tasty meats including pork, chicken, mutton and beef. The buffet is filled with all the southern sides you could ask for.

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que

Old Hickory is the oldest barbecue restaurant in Owensboro, having been serving delicious meats since 1918. It has won Pitmasters awards and been featured in many magazines and TV shows.

This one is a close contender to the best barbecue but doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Old Hickory Bar-B-Q has been serving smoked meats since 1918

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que serves a variety of meats including pork, chicken, beef, and mutton. Sides include cole slaw, green beans, potato salad, baked beans and more.

They do not have a buffet like Moonlite so you are tied down to one entree.

The meats are smoked daily over a hickory fired pit, giving the barbecue it’s famous tenderness and taste.

Old Hickory Bar-B-Que serves a vinegar based BBQ sauce and a lot of folks don’t like that. If you are not a vinegar BBQ sauce fan, then I suggest you stay away from it.

Other places to get BBQ in Owensboro

City Walk – BBQ pork sandwich

Lure Smoke Shack – BBQ ribs

The Miller House – Bourbon BBQ Chicken

Conclusion

As you can see, Moonlite BBQ is my personal favorite for the best BBQ in Owensboro. The huge selection on the buffet of their sides and smoked meats cannot be beat.

Owensboro is famous for its BBQ, bluegrass music and bourbon. If you are in the area and looking for a local BBQ restaurant, I hope this list helped you out.

For more about Owensboro, check out https://www.owensborocityguide.com/best-bbq-in-owensboro/.

The Barnsley Resort is situated just north of Atlanta among the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 3,000 pristine acres, tons of outdoor activities, fine dining, a spa and pool, it was the perfect spot for our annual girlfriend getaway. Leigh and I fell in love with the place the minute we saw their Instagram page and knew we had to visit.

The Barnsley Resort consists of a 55-room Inn, 37 unique storybook cottages that range from one to seven bedrooms, as well as a 9,000 sq ft event space called Georgian Hall. The various accommodations make it ideal for corporate gatherings, family reunions, and destination weddings. While the resort officially opened in 1999, it is steeped in history dating to the 1840’s when Godfrey Barnsley, an Englishman who became one of the 10 most affluent men in the South, built a manor house for his wife who unfortunately died before its completion. He went on to complete the mansion and elaborate gardens and it stayed in the Barnsley family until 1942. The romantic history can be felt as you walk the grounds, and the beautiful, serene setting invites you to come and sit a spell and reconnect with nature.

Driving down the tree-lined road to the security gate, we noticed the Jim Fazio-designed golf course to the left. It almost made me wish I played golf or at least take my turn behind the wheel of a golf cart. Is there anything prettier than perfectly cut grass? Once we were warmly greeted by Mike at the guard shack, we traveled along the winding road to the Barnsley Inn. The Inn reminded me of a large English country home with a covered portico and beautiful brick. Stepping into the lobby, I got some Downton Abbey vibes as behind the beautiful wood desk was a wall of room keys elegantly displayed. The exposed beams and winding staircase with a pleasing color palette of warm browns and accents of blue and beige made us feel like guests in someone’s exceptionally large home. We were once again greeted by friendly staff who gave us our room card (sadly not a key like the ones hanging on the wall), and we ventured down the hall to check out our room.

Entering our double queen room, we fawned over the luxurious linens on the beds, the tiled bathroom and expansive shower, the mini fridge and coffee station that is an absolute necessity when we travel. Knowing that it was my birthday the following day, the staff had left us a bottle of wine and some fine chocolates with a card expressing their wishes for my special day. How nice! We knew right away that this place offers something so desperately needed these days…graciousness and warmth.

Once we settled into our rooms, we eagerly set off to explore the grounds of this pedestrian-friendly resort. It’s obvious that a lot of attention has gone into the layout of the property and as we walked along the pathways, there was something beautiful to see everywhere you looked. We passed an adorable brown cottage that had a babbling brook running next to it and after referencing our map we discovered this was the Outpost Cottage where you can check out bikes, paddles for canoes, fishing poles, cornhole bags, and can shop for supplies. A bit further down Lily Way and on the right is the Beer Garden complete with picnic tables, low-hanging lights strung from the trees, and a fire pit. At the next intersection, we came upon Downing Way with its greenspace running down its center, and the English cottages lined up along both sides. Every so often you would see another fire pit and we were told that the staff comes around daily to scoop out and restock the fire with wood and will even light it for you so you can roast your smore’s that they also provide. That’s what I call service!

By following along the road, we were able to locate the Woodlands Grill, one of three dining options on the grounds, the others being the outdoor Beer Garden and the Rice House (closed as of the writing of this article). No matter where you dine, you can be assured the food will be garden to table. In fact, many of the vegetables come from gardens right on the premises. For all of you wine lovers out there, they have an extensive wine list, and they offer craft beer and spirits. If you want something from the Woodlands Grill, but don’t want to leave the sanctity of your room or cottage, don’t worry because all you have to do is pick up the phone and they will deliver to your room.

After returning to our rooms to relax and dress for dinner, we returned to the Woodlands Grill. Again, we were greeted warmly and escorted to our table in the beautiful dining room. Dinner was everything we expected and more! When you go, be sure to order the pimento cheese beignets. You can thank us later. The steak au poivre was the best I’ve ever had with a side of potato puree and charred corn. The only thing you will regret is not bringing a bigger appetite because you will want to try all the things. We feasted as we watched darkness descend over the golf course knowing tomorrow, we would get to enjoy even more of the Barnsley.

I have to admit it was hard extricating myself from the super soft and cozy bed the next morning, but just like a child on Christmas morning, I knew there were great things in store for us so off to the luxurious shower with its lavender mint body wash I went. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so we returned to the Woodlands Grill, but this time sat on the screened-in patio and watched golfers begin their day on the course. We lingered over breakfast the way you’re supposed to, with multiple cups of coffee, and plotted out what we wanted to do that day. The beauty of the Barnsley is you can do as little or as much as you prefer. Since we only had one full day here, we knew we wanted to get on those adorable bikes and tour the grounds, including the manor house ruins. We also had to work off all the calories we had consumed at breakfast, so that we wouldn’t feel like beached whales during our afternoon massages at the Spa.

The bike riding was such fun! Leigh and I hadn’t been on bikes in years, but as they say, “It’s like riding a bike”, and we quickly remembered how to maintain our balance as we exercised our legs pedaling along the gravel pathways. Fortunately, most of the terrain is relatively flat, so no great exertion was required. Coming around the bend and seeing the ruins of the old manor house took my breath away. Extreme care has gone into making this the most pleasing “ruins” one can imagine. The roof is gone, so natural light abounds, and you get a feel for how magnificent this place had been. The gardens out in front of the house include a fountain and circular paths spilling over with beautiful flowers and bushes. Once we finished our tour, we biked on over to the Barnyard where we met the resident farm animals. There were goats and a donkey, and we read that there were other animals that are brought in at different times. The animals were so friendly, all wanting a scratch and probably hoping for a snack. We saw the gardens and the archery course that were stationed nearby, along the banks of a serene pond. The ponds are stocked, so bring a pole or get one at the Outpost and you can try your hand at reeling in the big one.

Following the path on our bikes, we rode past the pond, up a little incline, past the Barnsley family cemetery, and on around until we found some hammocks just begging us to come swing. Lying in the hammocks was so relaxing and we could have drifted off to sleep as we gazed up at the canopy of trees and listened to the birds chirping, but we knew we had to get to the Spa for our appointment.

The Barnsley Resort has a top-notch spa that offers an array of services including facials and massages all guaranteed to put you in a peaceful state of mind. We opted for their Salt Serenity massage that included Himalayan hot stones. They have separate lounges for men and women that you can relax in before and after your treatment, along with showers, steam rooms and sauna. Taking time to indulge in these therapeutic services is a must when staying at the Barnsley. If you want to create the same experience at home, you can purchase the same products…professional masseuse not included.

Relaxed and rejuvenated from our outdoor excursion and spa treatment, Leigh and I geared up for my birthday dinner which we knew from our prior evening at the Woodlands Grill was going to be amazing. If you are celebrating a special occasion, be sure to advise the staff when making your reservation. I promise you every single person will be made aware and will go out of their way to acknowledge it. Talk about making a girl feel special! The dinner was simply delicious and just when I thought I couldn’t eat another bite, out came a trio of desserts complete with a candle. I know you’re not supposed to divulge your wish, but this year my wish was that I can return to the Barnsley Resort next year and do this all over again. We finished up our perfect evening by walking over to the Beer Garden and listening to some live music under the warm glow of the lights, smelling the scent of campfires and laughing as we recounted our day and our attempt at getting in and out of the hammock. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday!

The next morning it was sadly time to check out and head back to Lexington. We lamented over the fact that there was still so much to experience. We hadn’t gone canoeing, taken our shot at the Beretta Shooting Grounds, hiked the 11 miles of trails, fished, done archery, played golf, lounged by the pool, or gone horseback riding! This can only mean we will have to come back to this little haven again and again. Our girlfriend getaway was truly made exceptional at the Barnsley Resort. If you are planning a fall getaway, you need to look no further than the Barnsley Resort in northern Georgia. It is a place offering something for everyone with so much to see and do that it will become your go-to resort year after year.

Footnote: As of the writing of this piece, we are still experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. We can assure you that the Barnsley Resort makes your safety their top priority. There are hand sanitizing stations throughout, masks are required indoors, and reminders to keep socially distant can be found throughout the property. For true peace of mind, book one of their cottages for your stay. The Barnsley Resort is also pet-friendly, so all members of your family can come and enjoy the great outdoors.

I recently read an article about the importance of girlfriend getaways. It made such an impression on me that I sent it to Leigh and our BFF Jerri. We all agreed that we needed to get together soon and reconnect as it has been months since we were last together. The problem, of course, is nailing down everyone's schedules and coming up with some dates; then there are the questions of where to go, how long can we get away from kids and work, how much is it going to cost, etc. But why we do think we need to go to San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale or Napa in order to have the perfect girlfriend getaway? Why not go to...Burlington, Kentucky?!

Don't be shocked. If you think about it, it fits the bill. After all, what do you want out of your time with your buds? There are some fundamental ingredients to a good getaway, and exotic location doesn’t have to be the main one. Let me break it down for you to show you what I mean.

1. The accommodations should be luxurious and clean. The Willis Graves B&B, even though the main house was built in the 1860's and the cabin in the back dates to the 1830's, it has every modern amenity you would expect in a fancy hotel: steam showers, jacuzzi tubs, sumptuous bedding, plush robes, a Nespresso machine to make yourself the perfect cup of coffee or tea, and cable TV. When I say the beds are comfortable, that is an understatement. The beds are like clouds, and they envelope you in folds of soft fabric while you drift off to sleep. You also don’t want the place to smell like Grandma Sue’s attic and be filled floor to ceiling with dolls. (Yikes!) The cleanliness level of Willis Graves is of the highest degree. No harsh chemical smell, either. The fact that it is such an old dwelling is also so special. You don't get that from a Holiday Inn. As a lover of history, I couldn't help but imagine all of the people who have slept under that roof and strode across the well-worn wood floors. Oh, the stories those walls could tell!

2. Activities are optional. Sometimes when girls get together they want to do lots of activities. We believe retail therapy is good for the soul, so shopping is high on our list of things we like to do. Art galleries, wine or distillery tours and museums all can add to filling up some extra hours. However, sometimes we like to do nothing more than lay around, eat chocolate, drink wine, and have that deep, meaningful conversation that you don’t get at home with the kids running around and never-ending chores calling for your attention. The point is we like to have options. Do a lot of stuff or nothing at all. At Willis Graves, you can visit The Ark Encounter, tour Boone County Distillery which in 1897 produced 4 million gallons of whiskey a year, shop at either the Florence Mall just up the road or travel in to Cincinnati, and then there’s the quaint community of Rabbit Hash that has a dog for a mayor and an adorable General Store. You can fill up your time doing all sorts of stuff! OR, you can sit by the fire pit at Willis Graves in mahogany Adirondack chairs, cuddled up in a blanket, roasting s'mores while sipping wine and reliving the glory days of ol’ with your besties. It’s the best of both worlds!

3. Good food is a must! I’m firmly of the belief that anything I don’t have to cook is delicious, but if your standards are a bit higher, then one thing that is a must-have is good food, and this is one criteria that sets Willis Graves apart from the rest. The innkeeper, Jennifer Goodman, is a Williams Sonoma chef, so rest assured she knows what she’s doing in the kitchen. This is the first bed and breakfast that I have been to that gives you not only a three-course breakfast, but also let’s you choose from different items within the courses. Have a food allergy or aversion? Just let her know and she will create something just for you! Mixed fruit parfait topped with her handmade granola, broiled grapefruit with light brown sugar topped with a luxardo cherry, and pears poached in mulled wine topped with homemade honey vanilla yogurt are your choices to start off with. Follow that up with bananas foster French toast topped with caramelized turbinado sugar, a farm fresh egg sandwich the size of your plate, sides of thick-cut slab bacon, or a mushroom and sausage quiche. The only problem you might have is finishing all of the delicious food set before you. Not only is the food divine, but it’s served in a beautifully appointed dining room with crisp white linens, fine china, fresh flowers, and a cozy fireplace while music softly plays. It’s a terrific way to start your day! Jennifer also has items you can purchase to take home with you like her handmade granola, and my favorite, the sea salt walnut chocolate chip cookies. These are the same cookies that she has waiting for you in your room. What a nice touch!

And although dinner is not included at Willis Graves, they provide you with a fantastic option by being in very close proximity to the Tousey House Tavern, a historic home that serves up an elegant, but never pretentious dining experience. You can take your time and linger over southern staples like fried chicken, pork chops and, of course, bourbon. Hopefully, you can see now why Willis Graves B&B in beautiful Burlington, Kentucky is the perfect girlfriend getaway. So grab your gal pals and book your stay today. You will be so glad you did!

P.S. Willis Graves was voted one of the most romantic bed and breakfasts in the state of Kentucky, so it’s also a great destination to celebrate an anniversary or for a romantic rendezvous.

#WillisGravesBedandBreakfast #Burlington #BedBreakfast

Louisville is a special place for me and Tam. So many wonderful moments have been spent in Kentucky's largest city, and we have been saddened by the struggles this great town has faced over the last few years. Downtown Louisville, much like other large cities in America, has worked very hard to keep the doors open and travel steady through Covid. It's been almost two years since Tam and I have booked an all-night stay in Derby City and I decided it was time to return. A few weeks ago, I reached out to an AirBnB that caught my eye called The Pres, at 713 West Main and let me tell you, it's extraordinary. In fact, it's now one of my top 5 places to stay in Kentucky and here are four simple key words to explain why.

1. Penthouse. Need I say more? Have you ever stayed in a penthouse before? Not me. Penthouse by definition means "an apartment on the top floor of a tall building, typically luxuriously fitted and offering fine views." That is exactly how to describe The Pres at 713 West Main. Located on the fifth floor of a beautifully restored historic building located in the heart of Museum Row and overlooking panoramic views of the Ohio River, this lavish loft has unbelievable access to one of Louisville's prettiest and best-known landscapes. I just can't explain how glamorous it was to relax on the immense rooftop patio sipping on bourbon and watching the Belle of Louisville cruise by. I honestly felt like I was in another world. It was my favorite part of staying at The Pres. In fact, we cancelled our after-dinner plans just to return to the penthouse patio and lounge by the water. At night, the view is even more spectacular.

2. Luxury. Everything about The Pres at 713 West Main is grand. From the time you walk off the elevator into your own personal sitting room to opening the door to the floor-to-ceiling windows which showcases the serene river, this open-concept studio is upscale Southern luxury at its finest. The 713 décor is sleek and refined, infused with the warmth and easiness of Bluegrass traditional charm. The interior combined mediums of masculine leather, geometric accessories, and soft linens to create a light and airy ambiance. Perfection is the best word to use here.

3. Amenities: The owners at 713 West Main leave no stone unturned when it comes to making clients feel at home. Their fully-stocked kitchen houses everything you need for an AirBnB stay and some additional items that you can't help but appreciate like Starbucks coffee and Kentucky Hot Trail Mix for those late-night munchies. They also provide a phone charger which may seem simple until you realize, like me, you left your phone charger at home. The plush bathroom provides enough oversized fluffy towels to keep you dry morning and night, and most importantly, a well-lit vanity mirror which at our age is a critical component to the beautification process. The shower contains top-notch body products and strong water pressure. (I just can't stand hotel shower heads that sprinkle rather than rinse.) The king-size bed is super soft with foam pillows conducive to rendering a good night's sleep. The loft also comes with a washer and dryer in the event you need to do laundry.

4. Location: 713 West Main is located in the best part of downtown Louisville. Across from 21C Hotel and Proof on Main Restaurant and next to the Muhammed Ali Center, there are so many things to do! From The Frasier History Museum, to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, KMAC Museum, Kentucky Science Center and more, guests will enjoy close proximity to everything good in Louisville. On the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and in the heart of Museum Row, you can visit one of many distilleries, Fourth Street Live or check out one of several incredible restaurants, including Morton's Steakhouse, Jeff Ruby's and Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse. And if you really want to experience quintessential Louisville, take a quick 10-minute Uber ride to Matt Winn's Steakhouse nestled atop of Churchill Downs, our newest and favorite Bluegrass restaurant.

In summary, I can't say enough good things about 713 West Main five-star AirBnB. In fact, I am not sure there are words to adequately describe the wonderful experience I had. Staying at The Pres is a momentous event, not something I will do often, but certainly something I will do again. 713 West Main offers more than just the Pres, they also have The Churchill, Cassius Quarters, The Longview and The Main Suite which accommodates anywhere from 2 to 13 people and are equally as awesome.

713 West Main and is not an ordinary affair. It's something you do for special occasions such as a birthday, a girls' weekend, an anniversary, a golf weekend, a bourbon trail getaway, or bachelor/bachelorette party to name a few. Each floor offers its own unique experience for any type of event, but keep in mind you can also rent the whole house for family events or a wedding celebration. And if you are truly lucky, you can also secure this one-of-a-kind space for distinctive events such as The Kentucky Derby or Thunder Over Louisville where you will have the best seat in the house!

As you can see, there are several reasons why you should visit 713 West Main but the most important one is to treat yourself and/or someone you love to something unique and remarkable. Oftentimes, we travel far and wide to escape and unwind, but there is no better place to do it than right here in Kentucky at 713 West Main. I promise you will love it. Now, go be good to yourself, live your best life and book your stay today!

I would like to extend a big thank you to the lovely ladies at 713 West Main for hosting us and making our stay one of the best to date. I highly recommend 713 West Main!

Today is Memorial Day, a day as Americans we pause to reflect and honor those military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Along with this sacred tradition is another ritual that many in Kentucky and parts down South observe along with Memorial Day, and that is known as Decoration Day. (Without doing extensive research on the topic, I am unsure as to whether this practice goes on in other parts of the country as well. So please write to us and tell us if you know!)

My parents are both from Eastern Kentucky, having moved first to Louisville and then to Lexington shortly after they were married. They make annual pilgrimages, however, back to their respective areas to "decorate" the graves of their kin. This process, to an outsider or even a know-it-all teenager as I once was, seems completely bizarre. Why on earth would you take a whole day to drive crazy, winding roads to traipse up the side of a mountain (okay, maybe just a very steep hill) and put silk flowers (not cheap, by the way) on the graves that no one even sees except maybe once a year? Well, I'll tell you. It's out of respect and tradition.

In their article, "Decoration Day: A Memorable Tradition", Stephen Douglas Wilson & Myriah Snyder state, "the holiday itself has its origins in the pre-Civil War South when families, and even whole churches, honored the dead in late spring or early summer. Decoration Day occurred in the rural South's calendar after spring planting, but before long summer days required extensive hoeing and maintenance of the crops and livestock." It's a great article and I urge you to read it if you're a history geek like I am. (http://www.bpnews.net/37911) This coming together of local church congregations to gather at the cemetery and have a time of remembering, singing and "having dinner on the grounds" is a tradition in which I would have loved to have participated.

Last year, as I traveled with one of my teenage sons and my parents back "home" Memorial Day weekend, I took some pictures to help solidify the memories that time has a way of eroding, just as the etching on the old tombstones themselves erode and fade away. You can see from these that it is not an easy task and there is always the possibility of encountering wildlife, and I'm not talking about cute little bunnies!

Along the way, I got to listen to my parents tell me stories of their youth. I try to pay more attention now than I did when I heard these stories as a kid. Time seems to be speeding along as quickly as the miles on this arduous trek and I'm eager to log each one into one of my mental filing cabinets. I should probably have taken notes, but I get extremely motion sick and I didn't want to push my luck. After visiting each cemetery (we went to three), cleaning off old debris, and installing new flowers, we managed to finish our tour of duty and make it in one piece over to the Dairy Queen for some much needed sustenance. Another two hours we were back in the driveway of my parents' home, weary but satisfied that we had done something "good" and made some precious new memories as we reflected on loved ones long since passed.

I'm so thankful that Decoration Day is part of my family's traditions and if you want to go next year, give me a shout...and be sure to bring your garden hoe!

#DecorationDay #MemorialDay #Love #Family #ActsofService

As a child of the 70’s, I grew up on TV, and every Saturday at 10:00 was one of my favorite Aaron Spelling productions, Fantasy Island. The premise of the show was an island in the Pacific welcomes guests to live out their fantasies. Ricardo Montalban was the mysterious Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, would run to the top of the bell tower, ring the bell, and utter the famous phrase, “The plane! The plane!” to alert staff that guests were arriving. The show was entertaining, to say the least, and it covered the gamut from someone trying to track down Jack the Ripper to a guest simply wanting to be reunited with a loved one. One thing was certain, the people paid big bucks to come act out their fantasies, and it usually did not go as the guest planned. For a young person, like myself, I thought the idea of this show was just out of this world. If only it could happen in real life!

Fast forward to 2020. The world is currently suffering through the Covid-19 pandemic with most of the world’s population in quarantine and the economy in the tank. As of the date of this writing, things are slowly opening back up in the United States. People are emerging from their home sanctuaries to a changed world, one where masks are worn, six feet of distance must be maintained from others, and a cough or sneeze can cause slight panic to those around you. Now, more than ever, I think we could all use a fantasy, and FantasyStays.com can be your Mr. Roarke.

At FantasyStays.com you will find a huge database of unique Airbnb options across the globe. Is your dream to sleep among the treetops in a treehouse and pretend you’re Tarzan and Jane? How about traveling to Middle-earth and staying in a hobbit hut? For game lovers, a house with the largest word search, a giant Lite-Brite wall, a residential escape room and an actual TV game show studio complete with buzzers might be the perfect setting for your next family reunion. Or maybe you want to be Jacques Cousteau and go underwater to sleep among the fishes. These are just a few of the amazing adventures you can go on. Recently, Leigh had the opportunity to stay at the Game of Thrones-inspired room here in Lexington, Kentucky, and for a die-hard fan, it is a must-do. Here's what she had to say.

"Most of us Game of Thrones fans have had at least one or two or a hundred moments where we imagined ourselves in the world of Westeros, what it must be like to drink an ale with Tyrion or ride high like Daenerys on a dragons back, or snuggle with Jon Snow on the coldest of nights at Winterfell. While those desires will never be realized, there is a place you can visit and revel in the Game of Thrones magic.

This past February Tam gifted me a night's stay at the Game of Thrones suite through FantasyStays.com. Overjoyed and completely surprised, I booked my night's stay for May, not knowing, of course, that a pandemic would be in full force. However, a May stay-cation during COVID-19 could not have been better timing, especially in the plush and unique GOT fantasy suite.

From the red velvet curtains to the magnificent wooden bed fit for a king, this room screams GOT. Medieval-style weaponry adorns the "tree of life" fireplace while a caged dungeon rests beneath the bed. The super lux bathroom is covered in wall to wall black marble, with a center floor inlaid compass grasping your focus. There is a must-experience steam shower for two, a custom coffee bar with touch-screen access to your favorite cafe brews, an old-world armoire hiding away a collection of "romantic" games, plus a cabinet full of snacks and drinks. Simply perfect. So much detail done right!

The GOT suite is located in downtown Lexington among several of the city's finest restaurants, shops and bars. Establishments are just footsteps away, but you can also hop on the Airbnb's bicycles to explore. It's hard to adequately convey this one-of-a-kind experience. It's something you must see and feel for yourself. It's definitely one of my favorite places I have ever stayed and the best part is, it's just minutes away; I can go back anytime! The cost is super affordable and it makes the perfect gift.

Thank you to Fantasy Stays for such a mystical and unforgettable evening, and thank you to Tam for the world's best birthday present ever!" - Leigh

This is not a shocker to those who know me, but I have never considered myself the outdoorsy type. Don't get me wrong, I do like some things such as rainbows, sunshine and butterflies. I love the ocean (although I don't dare get in it - Jaws lives there), flowers and cocktails on the patio, but honestly, that's about it, which is ironic, because I do love being outside. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. I am just not an adventurist nor do I like being "one with nature". In fact, just the opposite. I hate being dirty, therefore, not a big fan of dirt. If a bug lands on me, I promise you I will scream. Don't do that bugs... really. I don't do outdoorsy activities like water skiing, swim in non-chlorine bodies of water or hike up mountains. In fact, I don't do anything that could result into death by bear, snake or other wild critter. Nope. I am perfectly happy in my safe environment.

So it's kind of funny that I decided to go camping this weekend, although technically not my idea. In fact, if it wasn't for KyTasteBuds, I never would have agreed to go. As we've stated over and over, the purpose of KyTasteBuds is to get out of our ruts and go places, do things we never have before. By the time we get to midlife, we have established a pretty lengthy list of don'ts, some of which are justified, some inherited, but most are decisions based around our comfort levels. Ain't nothing wrong with that until we wake up one day and question why we're bored. Could it be that we've spent so much time defining who we are that we have forgotten to explore who we can be? That's what I think, at least for myself, which is why I said yes to an activity I was pretty sure I wouldn't like. It was an experiment, so to speak. And let me tell you what I learned.

The weekend started off establishing a base camp at the Pulaski County State Park located on Cumberland Lake in beautiful Nancy, Kentucky. I knew something was wrong when my boyfriend Steve showed up with a truck bed FULL of "supplies" and there I was with a mere back pack. Coming from a girl who took 5 suitcases on a cruise, I really should have been better prepared. I knew he was bringing the essentials like tents, sleeping bags and food, but what the heck was all this other stuff? As I helped Steve unpack the truck, I had many "aha"moments that Steve patiently shed light on. It sounded a little like this:

1. Flashlights - To see at night. Oh yea, that's a good idea.

2. Bug Spray - Duh? You'd think that would have been item number one in my survival backpack.

3. Hatchet - In case we needed to chop wood for the bonfire. Or... if I had to kill a bear.

4. Speakers - I do like to listen to music in the outdoors. Next time, I am bringing a mic for karaoke. Did I just say next time?

5. Toilet Paper - Wait, there are no bathrooms?

6. Chairs - True. Standing all night might get a little tiresome.

7. Pillows - For sports shops everywhere, you should make a sleeping bag with built in pillows. Preferably, Tempur-Pedic.

8. Tennis Shoes - For some reason, I thought we'd be sleeping on a beach so I only brought flip flops. The blonde hair is real, my friends.

9. Games - Only so much time you can spend looking at one another before the fun runs out.

10. Hand Sanitizer - to get the dirt and bug splat off your hands before dinner.

Once we unpacked and erected the tent, which btw, I was of no help - we headed for the lake. A beautiful day of sunbathing on a boat sounded great to me. I will say I discovered many 'o things that afternoon. For example, I will actually swim in a fish-infested lake when it's 96 degrees outside. In fact, I probably would have swam in a vat of anything liquid-ish that day. It was HOT! Oh, and when using sunscreen, don't mix and match techniques. Spray or lather but not both. Results will vary. Also, tubing is not like being pulled by a wagon. My butt is still hurting from the 6-foot-in-the-air bounces off the water (okay, maybe just six inches). Jet skis are not as cute as I thought. They are fast, deadly speed machines. Warning: do not ride behind boats, my friends, unless you want to tempt death! There's this thing called the wake. Lastly, everything is truly better with wine. (Okay, I already knew that one.)

I will have to admit, the day was so much fun, more than I even expected, and seeing my daughter laugh and have fun in a way she doesn't do at the movie theater or the mall, was well worth the outdoor affair. By sunset, we cruised back to shore and I helped dock the boat. By helped, I mean I handed Steve the car keys. We headed back to camp and grilled out hotdogs and s'mores which is honestly in my top favorite foods of all time. I was so hungry I actually picked up a stick and cooked my goodies on it. A stick guys... like from a tree. We then took a stroll by the lake, gazed at a flock of ducks, (they fall into the cute critters category) and took pics of the sunset. We headed back to camp, sat by the fire and played music. We talked about the fun things that day and I spent a lot of time bragging about myself and the progress I had made. Somebody's got to do it! It came time for bed, and after one final bug check, we zipped ourselves in the tent. I laid down on the most uncomfortable surface ever and fell asleep in 2 minutes tops. I did wake up to critter sounds that I later found after thorough investigation, were just falling leaves landing on the tent. I also took a midnight potty break, minus the potty. Not my fav moment, but it did give me a chance to stare at the stars and my, my, were they gorgeous. Breathtaking. It's not every day I see that view. It prompted me to say a little prayer, thanking God for the beauty surrounding me. I felt lucky, and for a brief moment, I was officially "one with nature". And you know what? It felt pretty good! Kentucky beauty is like no other.

Well, I sweated the rest of the night because it was like a sauna in our tent. But the good news is, I lost five pounds. And even though I didn't get a wink of sleep, the morning sunrise over the lake was well worth the sleepless night. After a morning walk, we packed up the tent and gear, and this time, I am proud to say, I knew how to dismantle. I watched; I learned; I grew. I was as dirty as Pig Pen in the Peanuts comics; I was tired, hungry and craving my bed, but I smiled the whole way home. It was fun. Not all of it, but most of it. Yea, I did it!!!! My daughter's pic below sums it up best.

I camped.

I lived.

I actually loved it.

(Okay, I really, really liked it.)

And I can't wait to do it again.

Thanks to the Gibson family for a great weekend!

#camping #LakeCumberland #PulaskiCountyStatePark #tubing #boating