Getting lucky in Kentucky

On Saturday morning, after a really sketchy hotel breakfast, we got all dressed up for the day’s biggest attraction, Keenland. Keenland is held through the entire month of October, and we had timed it to hit up the races on opening day. The drive from UK campus is only about 10 or 15 minutes, and again, the scenery is mind boggling.

We stood in bumper to bumper traffic on our way to the parking lot, but once we got there, we were quickly to our seats. The grounds of Keenland are….*am I becoming a broken record yet?*….goregous. I just couldn’t get over the sweeping views of red, yellow, and oranges. We all loaded up on some mimosa’s and put in our bets for the first two races.

None of us were big winners, but we all got into it. It’s a really great way to spend a gorgeous fall day.

After the races we got Nellie all stocked up on groceries at Kroger, and then headed back to the hotel to freshen up for the night.

We lived it up like college students though. Pitchers of beers, non-stop nachos, wings, burgers, and sweet potato fries with this TDF marshmallow dipping sauce.

After dinner, we took all the youngin’s back to the hotel to pregame and play a few drinking games.

Nellie has seriously the best group of girlfriends and I couldn’t be happier with the way her college life seems to be turning out.

On Sunday, our flight which was supposed to leave at 10, didn’t take off until 3…so that was quite obnoxious, but we tried to make the best of it (after I spent the first hour bitching and complaining.).


Being delayed is a very humbling experience, because there aint a damn thing you can do about it.






*read humbling = my biggest pet peeve in the freaking world. 

Tyrrell's do Kentucky

After a super short flight, we landed in Louisville and headed right in the car for a one hour drive to Lexington.

The color of the trees in Kentucky are absolutely beautiful so the drive was so scenic and lovely, and made me feel happy to be visiting in October.

I do not miss dorm bathrooms.



Once we picked up Nellie (who was a little overwhelmed with the pressure) she took us around her seriously gorgeous campus and to her sorority house, Delta Gamma.

Nellie literally knows everyone on campus. No matter where we were walking, or driving, people were waving, honking, yelling, all just to say hi to this cute little yankee.

We dropped my dad off at the hotel so us girls could do some shopping.

Look how sweet this memorial was at the Apple store.

I picked up a few treats from J.Crew and we headed back to our hotel to freshen up for dinner.

For dinner we went to this amazing restaurant in downtown Lexington called Portofino. We had a few bottles of wine, a good amount of tears, a few shouting matches, and really good food.

Families are not perfect, and mine most definitely is not. We typically put so much pressure on each other and vacations to be absolutely perfect that emotions boil over and someone typically ends up crying.

We hashed it all out before breakfast Saturday morning and everybody was back to good spirits. No one was willing to let a spat ruin a weekend where the 5 of us were together, so I think we made up for it by and large with a great day on Saturday.

 

Deets on that to come tomorrow.

Off we go!

As you read this me and my family  I are heading down to Kentucky for a weekend of horse racing, mint juleps, and some much needed fun. It's been a while since just the 5 of us spent quality time together...we're well overdue.

On Friday we land in Kentucky around 9am, so after we check into our hotel we are going to check out Nellie's dorm, tour the campus, and go to her Sorority house. For dinner we are either going to try Portofino, or another restaurant whose name has escaped me but serves traditional southern food. Any KY girls out there have good recommendations for us?

 On Saturday we are going to Keenland! It's opening weekend in Kentucky and I cannot wait. My whole family loves horse racing (okay....maybe its just the drinks and gambling), and what better place to watch the races than Keenland? Plus, I love any good excuse to whip out a big hat.



I'm really hoping to just enjoy every minute of this mini-getaway. Work has been shittastic and I really need to get out of Chicago and get some fresh air.

Hope you all have a great weekend. See you Monday!

i swoon

I was showing my mom my boards on Pintrest and she asked me if I had pinned all of my decor inspirations in the same day?

I hadn't, I've been building the folder for months. She said, isn't it funny how you are drawn to the same type of styles....without even knowing it?

She picked up on a lot of subtleties in my inspiration images, that I never had.

There is a lot of continuity in what I like which I think is good.

Have you noticed that a lot of your images is in your inspiration folders look similar?

Clearly I know what I like - texture, warmth, layering, neutral colors, patterns, and straight lines.

Since I know I am drawn to those design basics it's easier to add elements to my own house to elevate the design in my own house. Kind of like my post yesterday, I don't want Pintrest to only inspire me in my online life...I want it to have in impact in reality! 



One day...right?


p.s. check out all of my boards on Pintrest here.

Trying

I need all the advice I can get...

Pintrest Vs. Reality

On Saturday, after being sick all week, I woke up determined to be productive. I literally jumped out of bed and got right to making my to-do list.

I love Pintrest, but I get annoyed if I don't actually apply the inspirations to my real life, so I decided to take charge. I decided I would take a stab at some of the yummy recipe's I've found.

First up: Gooey Cake Batter Cookie Bars

I followed the very simple recipe from Lovin' From The Oven and they turned out amazing. Even the batter is TDF.

• 1 1/4 cup funfetti cake mix --> I used white cake mix
• 3/4 cup AP flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 5 heaping tablespoons sprinkles of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8 x 8 inch pan.
2. Cream both sugars, butter, vanilla, egg, and egg yolk. 
3. Gradually mix in flour, cake mix, and baking soda until just mixed. Stir in sprinkles.
4. Spread batter evenly into greased pan.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until top is lightly browned and middle still jiggles slightly. Cool completely before cutting.

I brought them over to my cousin who recently gave birth to twins and they seemed to be a big hit. I will be baking these again.

I got these really fun containers at CVS for $1.00

Joel and I stayed in on Saturday night and watched an obnoxious amount of football, so I made it okay by making a really yummy dip.

I didn't want to feel too guilty...especially since I was snacking on all the other goodies I made throughout the day, so I took a stab at Alicia Silverston's Kind Diet, Guac Bean Dip.
 

• 1 16-ounce can of refried beans
• 3 large avocados
• 3 tbsp. of fresh lime juice
• 2 8-ounce containers non-dairy sour cream
• 1 packet taco seasoning (I use Bearitos, but if you are avoiding all white sugar, make your own mix with chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, hot paprika or cayenne, and salt)

• 1/2 cup(s) of diced mild green chiles, drained

• 1/2 cup(s) of sliced black olives, or more if you like
• 5 tomatoes, chopped

• 2 cup(s) of shredded vegan Cheddar cheese



Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Spread a layer of refried beans in the bottom of an 8 inch by 8 inch quart glass baking dish. 

3. Pit and peel the avocados, and place in a bowl. 

4. Mash the avocados together with the lime juice, and spread on top of the refried beans
5. Stir together the sour cream and taco seasoning, and spread over the avocado.

6. Sprinkle the chiles over the sour cream, and top with a layer of black olives.

7. Add the tomatoes, and sprinkle with the cheese.

8. Heat the dip for 15-30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is a bit melted.

9. Serve warm or at room temperature.

I made a two different pumpkin cupcakes, so my house is pretty much over flowing with deliciousness.

 Ohh....and to top off a "sweet" weekend, I got to spend the entire day with these two...