Art in the Alley - Greensburg

Tomorrow, May 17th, marks the 10th anniversary of Greensburg's annual Art in the Alley celebration. Every May, vendors from across Kentucky (and sometimes Tennessee) set up in Greensburg's most "charming" alley and sell their own unique and handcrafted products of all kinds.

I absolutely adore the concept of Art in the Alley--I only wish it could happen more often! It's a chance to support locally owned and small businesses (my favorite types of business) and stock up on jewelry, scarves, paper goods, and countless other items you absolutely won't find in stores.

This year, I'm so excited to be attending as a vendor and not just a customer....although, I'll make sure I take some time to shop the other 40 vendors that will be there. KileyinKentucky will be there selling note cards and a few hand-painted prints to continue raising money for The Children's Miracle Network and Prayers for Paxton. My friend and fellow crafter, Audrey, is joining me at my booth to sell her fabric flower broaches and take donations for CMN and Prayers for Paxton as well.

This sign makes me feel so professional! Thank you to Signs Unlimited for making my logo look so darn spiffy.

As for my inventory, I'll be bringing my most popular note cards, the original floral print cards, with three different messages available.

                    "Thank you"                                "Thinking of you"        "You make my world happy"

 
I've had a lot of fun (and a little stress) with my hand-painted prints. My perfectionist side screamed "NO!" the whole time, but finally, I settled on three of my favorite designs. I'm still touching them up so they will be perfect for tomorrow (no procrastination here!), but I did snap a picture of the one I had the most fun with! Of course, it wouldn't be me if I didn't have some Kentucky-themed things available. You'll have to visit my booth to see those!




If you stop by Art in the Alley tomorrow, you'll get something of mine whether you like it or not! I was asked to draw a simple but sweet map of Downtown Greensburg to be passed out to out-of-towners detailing historical sights, restaurants, and shops within walking distance of the celebration. Here's a look!

I am headed off to get everything organized for tomorrow (and get a manicure...thanks mom!). I'm so excited to take part in tomorrow's celebration and raise some money. I hope to see all of your shining faces, even if you just stop by to say hi!

Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram tomorrow for lots of pictures!

So, I went to the Kentucky Derby....

And I have a story, a really good story, I want to share with you. I've waited all week, so incredibly excited to put my Kentucky Derby experience into words, but of course...when it comes time to spill, I don't even know where to begin. And, I begin into this knowing nothing I say will do justice to the kind of day I had.  

In short, I began the day as a (pageant) Queen, then I met a (real) Royal Prince, drank a mint julep while watching the Derby from the finish line, and came home with the most magical story.

All the hats before the Red Carpet

I'll begin. Ramsey (remember Ramsey?) invited me to walk the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet with her as Miss Kentucky titleholders. In all reality, I could stop here, describe that experience and leave you with a wonderful story. But, I won't. :)




However, the Red Carpet experience was awesome! Thank you to DeDe Cox for allowing us to have those moments in the spotlight. I managed to sneak in a few pictures with famous faces!

With Terry O'Quinn (aka: John Locke) from 'Lost'

With Miranda Lambert

When Ramsey and I reached the end of the Red Carpet and became regular people again we met back up with our fabulous friend, Todd! (Miss Central Kentucky and Miss Kentucky Committee Member) Ramsey, Todd, and I had made plans to spend the day together--guaranteeing a good time no matter what.

The three of us stood around talking and taking pictures with passersby. We didn't expect it, but the sashes we wore had drawn people's attention. All afternoon we were stopped for picture after picture (no complaints) and fielded countless questions about our titles. Before heading to our next destination, we stopped for one more picture with a group of sharp-dressed men. They had all the usual questions:  

"What do these titles mean?"

"Where is Monticello?"

"When is Miss Kentucky?"

"How can you be best friends when you have to compete with each other?!"  

Next, a question I couldn't answer.

"You know who you just took a photo with, don't you?"

I said, no, glancing back at the gentlemen he was referring to looking for a clue that might give away his identity.

"That's the Prince Albert of Monaco."

"As in Grace Kelly's son, Prince Albert of Monaco?"

"Yes."

I once googled pictures of Grace Kelly on the internet, in awe of her timeless beauty, imagining one day I would wear a dress like this on the Miss America stage or my wedding day. Now, I'm shaking hands with her son, a Prince.
...little ole me from Greensburg, Kentucky.

Grace Kelly in "the dress"

Next thing I know, I am on the Skye View Terrace with Ramsey, Todd, and the Prince of Monaco. He wanted to treat us to the "real" Derby experience, something we thought we had already gotten, but no. We simply had no idea. The Terrace was packed with celebrity housewives, country music stars, professional athletes, pro team owners, and household names I probably passed right by.

And here I am, little ole me from Greensburg, Kentucky. 

As the day progressed, the three of us learned what we had been invited to be a part of. I was a participant of a longstanding and very delicate tradition. A legacy started by John B. Kelly, brother of Grace, that began with a trip to the Kentucky Derby with friends and fraternity brothers. They made it back to the Derby year after year after year and, 69 years later, the sons and grandsons of those men are still traveling to Kentucky on that first Saturday in May, keeping the tradition alive.  

And here I am, little ole me from Greensburg, Kentucky.

I snacked, sipped a Mint Julep, took a few pictures for Map Dot, Kentucky, and watched the races. Standing on the balcony with Todd, he looked at me once and asked very seriously "how did we even get here?" I didn't know, but it was beginning to feel less and less strange.

Looking back on it, the longer I spent wandering the Terrace and getting to know the personalities and life stories of these incredible people, the theme of my day went from "little ole me" to "we're not that different." I found I had things in common with each person I spoke with; small details, but important ones nonetheless. I didn't feel the pressure to impress or be someone who I wasn't. And so, I was myself the whole day: Kiley from Greensburg, Kentucky, enjoying the 140th Annual Kentucky Derby.

We lined the Terrace Balcony to await the running of the Derby and sang My Old Kentucky Home, (I will admit, I got a little teary-eyed). As soon as the race began, it was over, and California Chrome had bested the rest in the most exciting two minutes in sports. I saw him cross the finish line, I was just close enough to see the smile on the jockey's face as he realized what was happening, and I saw it all with two of my best friends, Ramsey and Todd...oh, and my new friend, Prince Albert of Monaco.

I went to bed with all the details buzzing around in my head. Ramsey and I shuffled through them as we fell asleep, and I had intentions of including them all. As the week passed and I made the swift return back to the reality, the thing I remember the most is not the people I met or the titles they had. It was how much fun I had with Todd and Ramsey, and how, as Ramsey said, it wouldn't have been the same with anyone else!

Map Dot, Kentucky

When Cory Ramsey asked me how I take my coffee, it was then that I knew we would be friends.

Ramsey, born in Hickman, Kentucky, population 2,000, was raised as a true country boy fishing on the Mississippi River. His love of the outdoors, especially the scenery of his home state, stayed with him through college at Western Kentucky University. Some years after graduating when Ramsey was working in Bowling Green he got the news that he was being laid off. Not knowing what to do with this newly found free time and unsure of his next step, he stepped outside.

"I just picked up and went. I was hiking all the state parks, finding new trails, spending hours online looking at where I could go and... just start driving."


What began as a way to actively kill time got social media all a-buzz. Ramsey's past in journalism gave him the voice, marketing skills, and the contacts to build a large social media following and put his name and brand out in state publications.
"All of this led to writing for the state tourism blog, Get out Kentucky. I was the original blogger when that first started up. I worked with Frankfort there. But when they caught wind of what I was doing with my free time, it turned into something bigger."
Cory started visiting state parks as a VIP writer/blogger (aka: livin' the dream). He was then featured in Kentucky Living as somewhat of a state celebrity...we found his face on a magazine in City Hall!

"KET found out about it and put me on with Dave [Shuffett]. I stay in contact with those folks...there's always a possibility of doing something with them in the future."

And this is where the "Map Dot Stuff," as Ramsey casually refers to it, begins.

"It was kind of a spin-off of the hiking. As I began traveling, I saw that Kentucky is predominantly small towns; little map dot places. When I contrasted that with what I saw in the way of Kentucky Tourism in Frankfort, it didn't match up."

What Ramsey noticed was that the nationally-promoted Kentucky "brand" didn't fit with what he had observed first-hand in his travels. The recognizable "face" of Kentucky is horses and bourbon, two really lucrative and unique assets to our state. While the image adds an air of prestige to the Bluegrass, Ramsey's campaign was to pull the focus back to the tiny dots on the map.

"Let's create this alternative to show what else is out there."

Just as the idea for Map Dot, Kentucky was forming, Ramsey, now employed in Bowling Green, was balancing a non-negotiable 7-day work week with traveling the state...not for the faint of heart.

"Psychologically, I needed a break. I would take mini-vacations every morning. I would get up, hit the road, act like I didn't have to work, and at about noon, I would circle back around to Bowling Green and clock in."

After doing that for several months and having snapped approximately 2,000 photos from his travels, he created the Facebook page that would celebrate the "Map Dot towns." He launched Map Dot, Kentucky.

"It launched and struck gold. Since August, it has gained 7,000 followers. It go so big that I couldn't do it alone, so I involved three of my friends and now it has taken on a reality show set up... We are a road-trippin' crew goin' places. We head out in the morning, take pictures of road signs along the way, find someone, get a story, snap a few more pictures, and put it on the Facebook page."

As easy-breezy as he makes it sound, Ramsey and his crew are doing something important. The pictures and stories he posts connect with people on a deeply emotional level. The sense of community Map Dot, Kentucky has created is different than any other widely popular Kentucky-themed brand.

After our chat, Cory and I took the camera and went on a walk. He is an old pro at posing for photos, and I got a little bit bossy with my "Stand there! Smile. Move left. Stand here! Ooh, let's go here next..." But I think he enjoyed himself!

Tomorrow, I'll be attending the 140th Annual Kentucky Derby for the first time in my 23 years as a Kentuckian! I'll be in correspondence with Map Dot, Kentucky for live derby coverage and I couldn't be more excited.

Follow Map Dot on Facebook and Instagram (mapdotkentucky) to keep up with Derby Coverage and beyond. Ramsey and his crew are posting photos every day as they continue traveling across the beautiful Bluegrass.

Kentucky in the Spring / #NoFilter

Letters, Lists, Random 5 Friday

There's no other way to say it: Morale has been down on my end. Spring has sprung, but I've been in a funk. I am tired, my to-do list is analogous to the Universe ... never-ending and somehow growing every second, and my recent "vacation" threw my normal routine for a loop that I have yet to escape. My calendar is full and all I want is another break.

Just as I'm becoming frustrated with myself  for saying "yes" to so many commitments, I search through a notebook on my night-stand and come across a letter I wrote to myself in November. It was kind of, maybe, exactly what I needed to see.

This letter hit the nail on the head. 2013 Kiley was very intuitive of what 2014 Kiley would need to hear. I chose to share this with you because this letter names no names, and I think it's applicable to everyone, no matter what your current situation is.

Today, on Good Friday, I find myself focusing on that last part.

"Today I'm grateful for: A heater in my office."
This is definitely something cold-natured me would be thankful for in late November, but why did I feel the need to count my blessings that day, but have forgotten to do so 80% of days since? Was that heater the only thing good enough to wake me up to how fortunate I am? 

That inspired me to tweak my Friday To-Do List. This is a general map of a day in which I have surprisingly few things to do. But, I'm following it very diligently.

Hopefully my to-do lists will look a little more like this in the future.

Random 5 Friday

1. I didn't bring a jacket to work today. I MAY have had the heater on for a little while this morning, but that's because City Hall is cooler than the outside temperature! This has been a LONG time coming, fellow Kentuckians....amirite?

2. My mom took the sweetest, simplest picture. It makes me smile!

3. Does this mean I should start eating Krispy Kreme more often? I THINK IT DOES.

4. This is the best and most useful list. My favorite is no. 31! (You may recognize it from a recent #100HappyDays instagram post)

5. I will be selling cards at Art in the Alley in Downtown Greensburg on May 17th. More about that later!!!

Have a Fantastically Good Friday, a Super Saturday, and an Extraordinary Easter! (Morale may be down but cheese-factor is UP.)

The Top 10 Questions Pageant Girls Get (Outside the Interview Room)

Most of my readers know by now that I compete in pageants. So, I guess that makes me a “pageant girl.” Currently I am in the final stages of preparation for my last year competing in Miss Kentucky America. I have been involved in the Miss America Organization for close to 10 years, and I would do it all over again if given the chance—I would relive all the losses, all the miles run…and walked…in heels. I’d soak up all the embarrassing moments, the nerves that, for me, have only gotten worse with time, and all the hours I spent at the piano even though it was the LAST place I wanted to be. Why? Because of the friendships I have made, the invaluable experience I’ve gained, and the confidence I’ve developed since being an out of shape 13 year old with glasses and braces. 

All of that is to say… I love answering your questions about pageants. Really, I just love to talk. You kind of HAVE to if you want to be a force in the interview room—the place where the competition is really won. And, if you’ve never worn a crown and sash out and about, you may not realize how uninhibited the public is with their questions. In the past, I have found everyone wants to know the same thing.

I wasn’t sure if this was my sole experience or if other pageant girls felt this same way. So, I asked! 

With the approval of a few pageant friends from across the United States, I think I’ve put together a pretty accurate list.  

A few of the girls who helped me out! Thank you all!

.........................

All of THIS is to say…I am a firm believer in “there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.” If I met an astronaut, I guarantee you I wouldn’t pop off even ONE question he hadn’t gotten before. Each profession or hobby comes with it’s own stereo-type and set of expectations. This list is meant to inform and aware you of what questions we not only get the most, but what answers you might hear. 

Let’s get started!

1. Do you know that girl that gave that embarrassing answer at that pageant that was on TV that one time?

Answer: Nope! I don’t. I sure wish you could see that for her one-time flub, there are countless young women knocking it out of the park every time! Next time you’re asked about current events on nationally broadcasted television, don’t choke! Or we’ll continue to relive the most embarrassing moment of your life 7 years later.

2. Some variation of: When do you start your diet? Guess you can’t eat a lot, huh? When do you stop eating? Are you eating enough? When do you get to really eat again?

Answer: I prefer not to call it a diet. I am simply changing what I eat to a healthier set of foods that help me build muscle and shed unhealthy fat. I eat the appropriate amount of calories my body needs to sustain energy through a long and busy day of school/work (for many girls, BOTH), a workout, talent rehearsal, and the errands we all have to run. I stop eating when I’m full and I aim for the recommended amount of protein, carbs, and healthy fats my body needs per meal. I eat 3-5 times a day, and if I turned down dessert at dinner, it’s probably because I had one with lunch. If my stomach growls, I reach for fruit, nuts, or a realllllly yummy Quest Bar. There are a box of thin mints stashed in the back of my freezer and I love a lean and juicy hamburger just as much as the next girl. As for that last question…ummm…my next meal?

3. If you win Miss Kentucky, you’ll go to Miss USA, right?

Answer: No, but the titles can be very confusing! I will go to Miss America. Miss USA is a different system of pageants, with a different set of requirements, run by a different set of people. 

4. Ok, so if you win Miss America, you’ll go Miss Universe?

Answer: Once again—quite confusing. Miss USA goes to Miss Universe. Miss America stays right here… (cue ‘Merica joke)

5. Are pageant girls catty? *This may be the most asked question of all time*

Answer: *This may be the most disappointing answer of all time* No…they aren’t. In fact, half of all my friendships were made through the Miss America Organization. Thanks to the National Sweetheart Pageant, I have friends in ~40 states! (ROAD TRIP!) That’s not to say there aren’t unpleasant or unfriendly contestants….just as there are unpleasant or unfriendly people walking the streets. For every “catty” pageant girl, there are at least 15 that are as sweet as pie. 

6. No offense…but you don’t really look like a pageant girl. 

Response: None taken! I know exactly what you mean by “pageant girl” — a parody that television and movies have run RIGHT into the ground. If anything, thank you for letting me know my makeup is natural, my hair can make it under the clearance bar at the McDonald’s drive-thru, and my tan (if I even have one) isn’t fake and/or orange. 

7. Do you ever wave like this? (I watch as they display the classic, cheesy “beauty queen” wave)

Answer: Let's be real... I’ve definitely practiced it in the mirror. But trust me, I looked as ridiculous as you probably felt when you showed me. I like to call my awkward, floppy-hand wave the “peasant waggle.” 

8. Is your crown real?

Answer: It’s actually a hologram. I KID! It’s okay to laugh, I used to wonder the same thing! It’s not “real” in the sense that you mean it, but it sure is pretty. Want to try it on?

9. Any quote or reference to Miss Congeniality, Toddler’s and Tiaras, or Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Answer: Deadpan look….followed by a quote of my own. I make fun of those things just like you! It’s FAKE! 

10. Why do you do pageants? Doesn’t that take the focus away from school and/or work?

Answer: Yeah, sometimes it does. That’s when the art of prioritizing and organizing come in handy. Pageant preparation is time-consuming and sometimes very exhausting. But at the end of the day, it’s worth it. I am a more self-disciplined person than ever before, which helps me excel in both educational and career fields. I know how important time-management is and how impactful first impressions are. I have the ability to switch gears at the drop of a hat, and can keep a smile on my face in the midst of chaos. I am paying for college and supplying myself with communication and networking skills not learned in the classroom. Oh, and I’ve also supplied myself with a closet full of outfits perfect for a determined young woman ready to take on the world. It may have taken me a little while to strike the perfect balance, and it’s not perfect every day, but I think I’ve got this one on lock. 

I hope you've enjoyed something a little different this week! As always, thank you for reading and I'll catch ya next Friday!

Doc Shuffett

This week has been wonderful and sad and wonderfully sad all at once. 

There are a million and one things I could focus on, but only one thing I want to talk about.

Since last Saturday, I have battled with what this week's post should be about. There were many things it could be about, but I knew what it would be about. Thursday, March 27th, I leaned down to let my Popadoc kiss my cheek for what I knew would be the last time. I flew to New York on Saturday, and dreaded the inevitable call I would get to tell me Popadoc had left this world and entered another.

Since then, I have written a few different versions of my own Popadoc tribute. Whether in my head, at the airport, or at my desk, none of them felt "right." They were either too sad or too long or too detached. In the few days since my grandfather has passed, I haven't yet found words to describe him with all of the love, sensitivity, and respect that he deserves. 

In October of last year, my cousin Dave, host of KET's Kentucky Life, did a segment on my Popadoc. I watched it today for the first time since it debuted. Within seconds, I was in tears. Sad tears mixed with grateful ones, as I can't describe how thankful I am to have such a recent and real depiction of my grandfather at my very fingertips. 

So, today, instead of battling myself over the "perfect" tribute, I want to share with you the 5-minute video I must have watched 10 times today. It won't take you long to see why he was so loved and why he will be so missed. 

My Popadoc is easily one of the greatest men I have ever known, and I am confident no one I encounter will ever match him in wisdom, sensibility, or work ethic. I am lucky to have only happy memories of my grandfather as I continue to keep searching for the certain words that will rightly convey my connection with him. But for now, I'm going to watch this video again. This time, I'm going to smile instead of cry. 

Have a lovely weekend and I'll see y'all next Friday...