Random 5 Friday

Hey y'all! 

I have taken a cue from Michelle at It's A Small Town Life and chosen to do a "Random 5 Friday" for today's post. From what I gather, it is a collection of 5 random things you want to share with your viewers ... on a Friday. :-D

Here goes:

1. Southern Belle Glitz.  To put it simply: they are amazing. I recently made my first purchase there and I haven't taken this Kentucky state necklace off since! Not to mention, their packaging makes you feel like a Queen! They have SO many cute Kentucky-themed accessories, but they also have incredibly adorable and affordable pieces suited for all occasions. Visit their website at www.southernbelleglitz.com

2. 100 Happy Days: This project has been flooding my newsfeed and I am so happy to be participating. If you need a daily mood-booster or simply want to document all the awesome little things you find to be happy about, you must do this! Follow me on instagram (username: kileyinkentucky) to see my #100HappyDays as they happen. Sign up for the challenge here. 

3. Children's Miracle Network Fundraiser Update: I have raised $72.00 for CMN since I began selling notecards through my etsy store. I have had 3 more orders this past week....and will have new designs coming out in the next week. Keep an eye out!

4. On the horizon: MS Awareness month begins March 1st. My best friend and MS Warrior, Ramsey, will be featured (complete with video interview--and OMG SLEEPOVER)! Look out for her on March 21st! 

5. It's A Small Town Life: If you don't follow this blog, you should! Michelle is the first real blogger I was ever exposed to. She makes the most minute details interesting and captures the Kentucky countryside so beautifully. Check her out at www.itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com

I'll see y'all next week!

A Short Trip Down Memory Lane + Osborne Wedding

Hello and Happy Friday! I have been looking forward to this week's post for over a month---ever since I ran into Hayli Beth Davis (as she was then) at Jury Duty. It is truly hard to believe that we are grownups, old enough to be taking off work for things like Jury Duty; "old enough" to be changing our last names and planning for babies. I don't know if I'll ever feel old enough for any of that....only time will tell. 

Seeing Hayli was a wonderful surprise and brightened my whole day. We whispered about her upcoming wedding and I had a million questions about how her new career as an elementary school teacher is going. 

A few nights later, I sent her a quick message asking if I could document little details of her big day for my blog. Much like she did when her (now) husband got down on one knee, SHE SAID YES!

Before we get to the wedding part, I had to take y'all down memory lane. Memory Lane meaning...the depths of my Facebook photos. I traveled all the way back to 2009...aka The Glory Days...to our senior year of high school when the only events we planned were prom and homecoming.

From L-R: Laura, Hayli, Val, me, and Sam at Class Night

As much as it PAINS ME (look at my chubby baby face) to post this picture, it is iconic in our friendship. We were often told we looked like fraternal twins!
P.S. Hayli, you are every bit as pretty as you were in high school!

This was a Student Council photo shoot held on the famous Buckner Hill. We were excused from school to take photos for the yearbook. Hayli is in the gold, looking so Girl Next Door.

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

Ok! Trip is over. We've come back to the (recent) present....when Hayli and Jordan got engaged. The awesome Brittany Dile, of BDile Photography, signed on to do her engagement and wedding day photos. I think she did a pretty excellent job capturing Hayli's style and personality. 

I don't know Jordan, but I adore the way he is looking at her in this one! They make the sweetest couple.

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

Now fast-forwarding to February 15, 2014. Hayli + Jordan become husband and wife and Hayli Beth Davis (HBD) becomes Hayli Beth Osborne (HBO). PRIMETIME, BABY! (pun intended)

I arrived at the venue, my best friend Val in tow, on Lemon Bend Road an hour early. It was a chilly day, but the sun was shining and that was enough to make it the perfect day for a wedding. We walked in and this sign was the first thing I saw.

It was painted by the Bride herself....I may or may not be stealing this idea for my future wedding (many, many moons away).

These jars were lined with the most unique buttons! They hung in two rows, making an aisle for the guests as they entered, and later, the wedding party.

I'm calling this one the "Shabby Chic Chandelier." It was made by my 5th grade science teacher, Ms. Lisa Curry. The blurry picture was not on purpose, but I kept it because it shows how soft the lights were in real life. 

The guest book station. I loved the programs and the little details that made it delicate, feminine, simple, and country all at the same time; a hard balance to find, executed to perfection.

Yes, there was a horse :)

Gorgeous Val is not used to being in front of the camera, but the horse took an interest in her and I had to capture the moment(s).

The Band is back together! (Minus Laura)

I'm not an official photographer and it didn't feel right to snap any pics during the actual ceremony. So, I asked Brittany Dile if I could share some wedding day photos with my KileyinKY viewers.

Take a look and read through a short interview with the new Mrs. Osborne :)

KileyinKY: How long have you and Jordan known each other?

Mrs. Osborne: Forever!

KileyinKY: Was it love at first sight?

Mrs. Osborne: I didn't give him the time of day at first, because I didn't think he was my "type." But after the first date I was hooked! We've been together for 5 years.

KileyinKY: What was the hardest part of planning a wedding?
Mrs. Osborne: I wanted a very simple country wedding. It was difficult to talk everyone into the simplicity I wanted...some things I could really care less about.

KileyinKY: What are you most excited about as Mrs. Osborne?
Mrs. Osborne: I'm excited to simply be married to my best friend...and hopefully, move my clothes into his big walk-in closet!

KileyinKY: Do your students call you Ms. Davis or Ms. Osborne?
Mrs. Osborne: They still accidentally call me "mommy" on a daily basis! But, I couldn't stray from Ms. Davis this year. I'll start over as Ms. Osborne next year!

 Thank you for letting me share in your big day, and letting me share it with the world!

A special thanks to BDile Photography for allowing me to use your amazing photographs. If I were a fraction of the photographer you are, I would be in business myself.
If you'd like to see more of the Osborne Engagement or Wedding photos, or to see more of Brittany's work click here.

Greeting Cards for sale on Etsy!

Hello! Happy Friday and Happy Valentine's Day. I hope your week has been as productive and harmonious as mine has been. If not, TGIF. Actually--no matter how good my week has been, it's always TGIF.

Today is the day my Greeting and Thank You Cards go on sale. I talked about it in last week's post and have been very busy at work getting them ready for you. (I didn't realize I was such a perfectionist...it's a lot of work being detail oriented!)

Besides the making of the cards, the biggest step was to open up my very own shop on Etsy. Until my products are in stores, this will be an easy way to make some sales!

Remember, my primary reason for doing this is to raise money for The Children's Miracle Network. My goal is to raise $300.00 by July 1st. All profits made from these cards will go toward that $300.00 fund! And I am more than open to surpassing that goal. I will sell as long as y'all are buyin'!

There are 2 cards for sale starting today!

You may recognize this design from last week's post. I decided I liked it better in blue! What do you think?
You can order it here (in customizable colors)!

The second design:

This Thank You Card is great the way it is or be customized to convey any message you would like.
It can be purchased here.

My official logo appears on the back of each card.

My official Etsy store can be found by visiting www.etsy.com. Once you arrive at the site type "KileyInKentucky" into the search bar....my little shop should appear!!

More details about the cards (size, number per pack, custom designs) are included in each item description on Etsy.

At the moment, I am working on two really colorful and fun designs. As always, I will keep you updated as they are finished and ready for sale.

I will be personally donating your funds to my donation page on The Children's Miracle Network website. After the first donation is made, I will include a link so you can keep up with my progress and watch the numbers rise!

I hope that many of you will take advantage of this time to not only replenish your collection of thank you notes, but to make a donation to The Children's Miracle Network through me. I couldn't think of a better cause to put my time toward!

*To quickly acknowledge Valentine's Day and give a shout out to my favorite boyfriend, here is a picture of the card I mailed him this week!

Here's to you, Daniel, for not passing judgment when I tell you what I had for lunch and include that I put copious amounts of tabasco sauce on it. You are truly the best!

Now, to spend my Friday night in a state of relaxation! Tomorrow, I'm off to a wedding and a reunion with my very best friend. I hope your Saturday is looking as bright as mine. Love y'all! See you next week.

I thought all week...still no title.

Happy February: The month of love. This month I am celebrating birthdays of best friends, a little day called Valentine's Day, and a wedding I will be documenting on my 2/21 blog post. Good things happening this month!

February is also the month I begin fundraising for The Children's Miracle Network. For the past two years, I have raised money for CMN through my participation in the Miss Kentucky Organization. In 2014 I have raised $100.00 but need $300.00 more to meet my goal of $400.00.

I have gone about fundraising the same way in years past, and, I'll admit: I haven't quite put my heart into it. No one likes to ask for money, even if it is for a good cause! In order to alleviate some of my reservations about fundraising in the usual way, I am doing something a little different this year.

Instead of simply asking for money, I want to give something tangible to each person who donates. This can be viewed as a purchase, a gift, a reward, or a symbol of your donation. However you want to look at it, it's all for the kids!

First, I wanted to create art. But that is a very, very daunting, time-consuming, and risky task.

No worries, though...it all fell together with a doodle.

very blurry picture of said doodle

I drew these flowers while watching a UK game on the couch. When I had completed the drawing, I looked at it and thought "this looks like a thank you note I would want to buy." And that's where it started.

My mom has always taught me how important it is to write thank you notes. Why it took me so long to truly understand the reward in receiving a small note of thanks, I'm not sure. But since the day it finally "clicked," I have kept a drawer full of thank you notes and make it a point to write at least one each week.

My original idea was to create a line of one-of-a-kind, original, hand-made thank you notes. I so enjoy purchasing, sending, and receiving cards that are unique, personalized, or have been touched by someone's own pen or paintbrush. There's nothing more special than that.

But, because I had a flood of ideas hit me all at once, I am going to make holiday, birthday, encouragement, sympathy, and "just because" cards as well.

I began working on my templates last week. It has been a slow and frustrating process because I want them to look perfect. But, I'm going to have to get past that because only computers can produce perfection....and computers are what I am working against.

This canvas holds the design for a greeting card, but I will be selling canvases like this in all color schemes and with personalized  texts

As it stands right now, I have 3 designs ready to take to print. As soon as they are ready to go, I will have them available for sale, with more to follow. I will most certainly keep you updated on prices, number of cards per pack, and where they can be purchased. However, one thing is certain: 100% of proceeds will go to benefit CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK.

Okay, I gotta get to work!! Can't wait to see y'all next Friday, Valentine's Day! Have a wonderful week, friends. Oh, and because this is the month of love, I LOVE YOU ALL.

KENTUCKY, Y'ALL.

Happy Friday!!! It's been a trying week, but I made it. 

First things first: for all of you that follow kileyinkentucky....THANK YOU. You truly keep me going. This blog is quickly becoming my happy place and I'm thankful for the 1000~ of you who keep coming back each week. 

Now, for all the negative that has been presented to me in 2014, a couple of wonderful things (big and little) have happened. 

One of them I am saving for next week. 

Two of them, I will talk about today:

1) A happy surprise that arrived on my doorstep

2) The amazing finished product of something I have anticipated for months

Let's begin.

KENTUCKYFORKENTUCKY

As you have seen or heard previously, I am a huge supporter of "KentuckyforKentucky." If you want to know more about them, visit their website here. Take a look at their videos, but especially peruse their merchandise. They sell one-of-a-kind, original designs in t-shirts, prints, bumper stickers, post-cards, greeting cards, and much more!

I contacted KYforKY when I started kileyinkentucky to express my admiration for their brand and to tell them how excited I was/am to become an advocate for small-town Kentucky.

Hannah LeGris, your response was so encouraging and for that alone, I give 1 million thank yous!

But then you went above and beyond and sent me some free stuff. Encouragement is great, but you can't argue with free stuff. 

These awesome bumper stickers haven't made it to my car yet because I don't know what my Mamaw would think!

Love these postcards. But will probably keep them to myself ;)

Last but not least, one of their most popular items...the "Y'ALL" shirt. Here I am, modeling it in a warehouse on my lunchbreak ;-) (time-management at it's finest)

My gratitude for you is endless, KentuckyforKentucky! Y'all kick ass! (Sorry, Mamaw)


"THE SONGS WE USED TO SING"

A really cool thing happened last November. I was asked to be a part of a music video. What you may not know about Greensburg is that this place is music video GOLD. We have beautiful, untouched countryside, a cute down-town, and countless helping hands ready to volunteer their whole weekend free of charge. Blake Judd, of JuddFilms, is a Greensburg native and has relied on his hometown for many country music videos. Todd Tue, of Milk Productions, isn't from Greensburg, but I'm going to make him an honorary citizen....because this video truly showcases how breathtaking our little Kentucky town is.

"The Songs We Used To Sing," by Possessed by Paul James, is an Country/Folk/Americana song that was perfect for the location.

I am not going to give away ALL the secrets because I don't want to take away from the storyline. But, every person in this video is from Greensburg or Campbellsville. In addition to that, the hair and makeup artist, choreographer, and some of the volunteer staff are from Greensburg as well. If that wasn't enough---some very kind Greensburg-ians donated their cabin, their home, and cooked a feast for everyone on set. It was an amazing experience and I am infinitely proud of the final product. 

Oh, and meet my boyfriend, Daniel. 

He came home early from NYC (where he is an actual actor!) to be my music-video boyfriend.
Also, because we used my car to film, and because I love both the photo and memory, these two items are still hanging on my visor.

The song debuted on CMT, YouTube, and VH1 yesterday!

Click here to view the video through CMTedge.com!

Happy viewing.....see you next Friday!

Uncle Trent

Here's to the man who bought me my first gun and taught me how to shoot. He sat through the 6-hour gun safety class with me simply because he wanted to. He sacrificed Saturdays, made and purchased targets and extra bullets,  navigated his truck into impossible places, and continually went without earphones so I could become "a good shot."  It is hard to convey how important this is to me,  but of all the things he gave me, this was the greatest gift possible; the gift of self-defense, a constant sense of responsibility, safety, and the empowerment that comes with knowing how to protect myself. 


And, I will certainly miss hearing your unique philosophy on every topic under the sun, accompanied by a comical story at my Mamaw's dining room table. Our family will never be the same.  


Everytime I shoot a gun--hopefully ever only for recreation and practice--I will be thinking of you and Saturdays at the river. This isn't the rose-colored, sugar-coated picture some hope to leave behind, but YOU know that is one heck of a legacy.


Love you, Uncle Trent!!!!

A day with Ms. Day, Miss Kentucky 2013

7:55 AM

I arrived at the middle school as Jenna was stepping out of her car. In a black pea coat, dotted tights and heels, she looked impeccable as usual. The car window as her mirror, she balanced the coveted Miss Kentucky crown atop her head and secured it with bobby pins. Standing in the parking lot, 26 degree wind cutting right through my leather jacket, I felt like a little girl watching a princess get ready for a royal appearance. (Or, in Jenna's case…watching the Republican Nominee prepare for a Presidential Debate.) 

I was happy to see Jenna's mom, Leslie, had accompanied her for the day. In my pageant-world experience, girls become just as fond of the mothers as they do their remarkable daughters. I led them both inside the school, my old stomping grounds, and into the office. Jenna signed her name to the visitor's sheet. In passing, I saw what she had written in the "reason for visit" box: Motivating Kids. 

Once inside the gymnasium, Jenna removed her coat to reveal a chic tan dress with black lace details. She draped the rarely seen black Miss Kentucky sash over her shoulder. It looked like it was made for this very ensemble. The 6th grade class trickled into the gym and noisily whispered to each other, eyes remaining on the lady with the crown.

"We have Jenna Day, Miss Kentucky 2013, here on sabbatical from the one and only University of Kentucky. Please give her your full and undivided attention as we only have 15 minutes with her this morning." 

I took a seat on the bleachers beside her mom, camera at the ready. A hush fell over the crowd of students the second Jenna took the microphone. 

"Hello, everyone. Are you awake yet?" 

"Noooooo…." the kids said in unison. 

In this short 15 minute talk with the 6th grade class at Green County Middle School, Jenna talked about having been bullied at their age. I was just as surprised as the students to hear she hadn't always been the confident, put-together, successful young woman appearing before us. She sang a sample of "My Old Kentucky Home" in her classically trained voice, and before I could blink it seemed her time was up. 

Some students rushed back to their classroom, but a few hung behind to catch a moment with Miss Kentucky. I watched from a distance, toying with my camera, while a 6th grade girl approached Jenna. 

"How did you deal with the bullying?" the student asked her quietly. 

I didn't ask Jenna to share her response, but she later said "Lots of people want to know about my Miss America experience. But, there are much more important things I'd rather talk about. Miss Kentucky doesn't just go to Miss America....she comes home to a very challenging full-time job. " 

9:00 AM

I led Jenna into the Green County Intermediate School, a school for 3rd-5th graders. The office staff looked delighted when she handed them an autographed picture with a message neatly written in permanent marker. 

"We'll send a copy home in the students' backpacks this afternoon. They will love that!" 

We followed the vice-principal into the gym where Jenna stepped behind the curtain on the stage. The soundtrack to Frozen was playing through the speakers and, knowing Jenna’s love of music, specifically, Frozen, I could picture her backstage twirling in her heels and singing the words loudly. I have yet to confirm whether this actually happened, but I am going imagine it did!

The entire student body flooded the gym and sat on the floor, organized by class. Jenna popped her head from behind the curtain and the kids let out a perfectly synchronized gasp. Clearly, this was not the typical guest speaker they had expected. 

Her message for the younger kids was quite different than her first appearance of the day. She used a backpack filled with visual props to entertain and teach the students. These props represented things she does in her every day life to ensure success. She encouraged the students to do the following:

1. Take care of your brain

2. Take care of your body

3. Have a heart for others

4. Stand up for yourself and believe in your dreams

5. Be the best YOU you can be (1=100%)

The kids were not only engrossed in the lesson, but so was I. No matter the age, these tips are pretty darn relevant. I was reminded how easily I forget that there is only one Kiley like me in the world, and I owe it to myself to use that power for good.

When her time was up, Jenna fielded questions and gave a future Miss America system competitor advice on how to minimize pre-interview jitters. We left the Intermediate School right around the time our stomachs began to growl. 

10:00 AM

With 2.5 hours to kill before her last and final school appearance, Jenna, her mother, and I sat down for early lunch at Longhunters Coffee & Tea Co. We indulged in coffee, crepes, and several types of chocolate desserts, but we also had a much-needed chance to talk. I asked Jenna a few questions about her year as Miss Kentucky. To read the official interview and view more photos, click here. 

12:30 PM

Jenna's last appearance of the day was at the Green County Primary School, where my mom is a 1st grade teacher. The entire school had already assembled in the gym when we entered. 

I will tell you this: If you want to feel like a celebrity, walk into an elementary school side-by-side with a pretty girl in a sparkly crown. Half the kids will bombard you with questions..
"Do you know her?!" "Are you her SISTER?!"

The other half will be quietly in awe of the girl with the crown. Their heads will move in unison as they follow her across the gym floor, not even blinking for fear they might miss something. 

Jenna's last message was simpler yet, relating easily to these kids, as young as 4, that the things in her backpack would ensure them more success in their bright futures. 

The kids gasped and ooh'd and ahh'd and laughed and asked all the right questions when prompted. I was very impressed with Jenna's ability to keep the attention of not just these young children, but the attention of each student she had spoken to that day. 

For those of you who didn't know, I was 1st runner up to Jenna at the Miss Kentucky pageant last June. Which means, this entire day, I kept thinking…. "This was almost me." As much as I wanted to win the title, on Tuesday, I got a big taste of exactly why the judges selected Jenna instead of me. I wasn't ready then to do the job Jenna has done thus far. As Miss Kentucky, Jenna has opened new doors for the next titleholder, with an estimated 60 new schools ready to book Miss Kentucky 2014 in the days following her crowning this July. She has worked with State Representatives in Frankfort, defended and protected Miss Kentucky's paid job as a spokesperson for the KY Department of Agriculture, and of course, made our state proud with a top 15 placement at Miss America in September. Not to mention, she has spoken to 18,000 kids since August.

Safe to say...I think she's a pretty cool gal. You go, Miss Kentucky! Can't wait to see what you do with the remaining months of your reign...and beyond!

On her trip back to Louisville, Jenna stopped in Hodgenville to visit the birthplace of a famous Kentuckian: Abraham Lincoln. 

See you next week!