Lexington Party and Sample Sale for sizes 10+
The clothing comes from Gwynnie Bee, which is a monthly subscription clothing service that I'm obsessed with. The sample items being sold are gently worn rental inventory but all have been thoroughly inspected and cleaned. Best of all, everything will be $20 or less!
Shipwrecked at the Circus in Louisville
Over 60 years later, Tuners Circus is still performing annually with shows including people of all ages who train throughout the year at Louisville Turners. This weekend and next, Turners is having their annual Circus, themed "Shipwreck." Come out to enjoy daring feats by aerial artists, fire performers, jugglers, and more! This is their primary fundraiser for the year and is a fun experience for the entire family.
- Show dates: March 14, 15, 20, 21 or 22 at 7:00pm and March 16 or 23 at 2:00pm
- Cost: Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, available by contacting Turner Circus at www.turnercircus.org. Tickets purchased at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for children
- Location: 3125 River Road, Louisville
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: My Story
In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED).
I didn't really understand what binge eating meant, I just told myself that I had no self control and was lazy and ate too much. The turning point came when I could understand:
Eating disorders are serious illnesses, not lifestyle choices.
More of my story can be found at Ladies' Home Journal online. To learn more about eating disorders or to find help, visit NEDAwareness.org.
7 Tips for Beating the Winter Blues
Are you “over” this winter? From school cancellations and delays, to sloshing through snow, it’s easy to fall into a funk in February. Don’t get down, though, as there are simple things you can do to ease cabin fever. Here are my seven tips to help you make it through the rest of the winter with a positive outlook:
- Slow Down. Bears hibernate for a reason, right? This is the season right before the great awakening that is spring; use it to do your best work… the work on yourself. I tend to go 100 miles a minute, but winter forces me to slow down a bit. What do I do with my “extra” time? Read, bake, go to movies, and catch up on TV shows.
- Treat Yourself. I’m a firm believer that we all deserve a big slice of happiness! Rewarding ourselves with a bit of a treat is incentive enough to keep us moving until spring. I buy loose-leaf tea and local honey and savor every sip of it. I’ll spend time with friends who make me laugh. What small ways can you treat yourself?
- Exercise. I do hot yoga, so it’s easy for me to go in the winter because it’s hot and feels like a bit of a vacation from the cold. We all know exercising is good for you, so take some time to work up a sweat. Your mindset, and your spring and summer clothes, will thank you!
- Wear something bright. Don't feel like you have to wait until spring to wear bright colors. They will help boost your mood and add a bit of pep into your wardrobe.
- Get rid of stuff. Go through your house and get rid of things you don't need, use or love. This act of making room for spring will get you in the right frame of mind for a new awakening. Make sure you donate and/or recycle the things you can. You'll feel good about the extra space and giving to those in need.
- Embrace the cold. Make an effort to go outside to take in the crisp air and get a bit of sunshine. The vitamin D is good for you, plus you can take in nature’s splendor.
- Do something you've been putting off. Use this time to do something you've been procrastinating about. Frame pictures, knit a scarf, call an old friend to catch up. Pick one thing and tackle it!
Which of these will you embrace to help beat your winter blues?
Follow Your Dreams Friday: Emily Sandford of Authentically Social
Today is the third installment in Follow Your Dreams Friday, and features me! Here's the weird third-person bio for those who want a little intro:
Emily Sandford is the blogger behind Authentically Emmie, a healthy living and plus size fashion blog that has been featured in Ladies' Home Journal, All You, Shape Magazine, the New York Post, Prevention Magazine, Skirt! Magazine, Business Lexington, and more. She is also the owner of Authentically Social, a social media marketing consultancy for health/wellness, fashion/beauty, and lifestyle companies. Founded in 2012 after eight years of traditional brand management experience, her results-oriented social media, blogger outreach, and community management plans have earned Emily clients across the United States. She is the Website Chair for the Junior League of Lexington and serves as Communications Chair for AAF Lexington. She received her undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Kentucky. Emily and her husband David reside in Lexington with their airedale terrier, Lilly.
Last week, I had one of those out-of-body experiences that left me wondering, "how did I get here? Can I pinch myself?"
Growing up, I was taught that to be successful, I needed to be a doctor. If not that, then maybe a dentist. After that, being an attorney was a good route. If nothing else, goodness gracious, at least get your MBA. (Not criticizing parents, just scene-setting.)
My completely underwhelming performances in math and science nixed the first couple of options. I am not big into confrontation, so being an attorney wasn't really desirable either. As an undergrad at UK, I got my degree in Integrated Strategic Communications (ISC) with a focus in advertising and public relations. I had dreams of moving to a big city like New York or San Francisco and being a super-creative type at an ad agency. But that didn't really fit either since I had a Kentucky boy in my life who was firmly planted here. Plus, I was creative, but not THAT creative.
After working for a few years in marketing for a local company, I thought it would be good to get my MBA. I was accepted into the one-year accelerated MBA program at UK, which was structured around supply chain/logistics, product development, M&A, and accounting. I read lots of business books and case studies, and thought that the ultimate career entailed being a "lifer" at a company. We called these people "IBM'ers" as this was the culture of many who work at IBM - they would stay with the company for their entire professional careers, being rewarded with steady pay increases, a decent retirement plan and health insurance, and at the end of it all, a gold watch for loyalty and service.
Speaking at MBA commencement
So how did I end up at an invite-only conference in the Hearst Building in Times Square (thinking "O EM GEE! IS ANNA WINTOUR IN THE BUILDING!?)? Or how did I end up with a 6 page spread in Ladies Home Journal talking all about myself and my weight? Or sitting on a Skype call every Friday afternoon talking to one of my favorite companies ever about content ideas for their page of 100K+ Facebook fans? *pinch* Yep, still here.
There's not a lot to the story, honestly. After graduating with my MBA, I worked at a few companies in corporate marketing positions. They were good, but I was unsettled. Work started to create a feeling of dread in my stomach. Yet, I never thought there were other options. As an outlet for my weight loss efforts after being rejected from The Biggest Loser, I started blogging and got into social media. I loved the interaction and human connection. To grow my blog traffic, I took my marketing and business background to track performance of my social channels. I reached out to one of my favorite brands for a blogging conference sponsorship, and they loved the outcome so much that I've been working with them ever since on their social media and marketing.
The stress from my corporate job was taking a toll on my health, especially when I was working long hours at nights and on weekends with what I called my "side hustle," blogging and managing others' social media accounts. My doctor advised me to make some serious changes after adrenal fatigue and it gave me an out: leaving my corporate job - the one I always thought I wanted - would be good for my health.
It's been over 2 years since I made the leap and I haven't looked back.
There are some key lessons I've learned as I've tried to follow my dreams:
- Your dreams can (and will) change: The good and bad part of being self-employed is that you control what you do. We're human, and your interests will change over time. You may try something you thought would be amazing, but then find it doesn't fulfill you. This is where the pivot comes in - don't be afraid to change direction. Doing so will only make you more motivated and excited for your work. That motivation and excitement is what will make you feel fulfilled and also fuel your bank account when channeled appropriately.
- Being a slasher is okay: I am a blogger / writer / social media consultant / entrepreneur / speaker / designer / whatever. This doesn't mean I'm scattered, it means I'm multi-passionate. Embrace being a multi-passionate entrepreneur and find ways to make it all work together. You'll often find new business opportunities or come up with amazing ideas you wouldn't have if you had stayed within one silo.
- You must say NO in order to make room for the opportunities you want: My biggest lesson in 2013 by far. Being self-employed, there are no guarantees where the next client will come from. So we have the tendency to say yes to ALL THE THINGS! and end up overwhelmed, burned out, or just plain bored with some of the work. Saying "no" doesn't mean you're turning away money - it means you're giving yourself the opportunity for something much better to come along.
- There is never a right time to make a leap: Some people say you need to have a year's worth of expenses saved, and others say they'll make a change when their kids grow up. There is no right time - sometimes you just have to jump. With my health scare, I used to joke that I was pushed into entrepreneurial waters, but in actuality, I made the choice despite feeling like I was incredibly unprepared. Best decision ever!
- We are absolutely, unequivocally, our worst enemies. Self-doubt is a momentum killer and anything you can do to prevent it is worth it. This is much easier said than done, so surround yourself with examples of success. Did a client send you a nice email? Print it out and put it next to your desk. I just picked up this big thing to hang in my office so I can look at it when I have doubts about myself or abilities.
If you want to hear me yammer about my decision to leave the corporate world to strike it out on my own, check out this Launch Yourself podcast. And if you're tired of hearing about me, the podcast has several other amazing interviews with those who have followed their dreams.
The HerKentucky Interview with Adrienne Jones, Founder of coveRumps
You know when you see something that is so brilliant you wonder why you didn't think of it? That's exactly what happened when I saw coveRumps by Kentuckian Adrienne Jones. They literally cover your rump when you want to layer or get extra length from your top. They're super cute and can be worn so many ways from workout to weekend. Check out our interview with Adrienne below, and then enter to win your own coveRumps!
HK: Tell us a little bit about yourself? Are you native Kentuckian?
AJ: I am a native Kentuckian, born in Pineville. I currently reside in Lexington where I moved after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University. I am a wife and mother to two beautiful daughters. As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to have a career in the fashion industry and own my own business. I still can’t believe I’m finally doing both & I couldn’t be happier.
HK: What exactly is a coveRump? What inspired you to create them?
AJ: A coveRump is a layering piece for women. I like to refer to it as an accessory, or ASS-essory! It functions in so many great ways, not only by helping women achieve a layered look without all the bulk, but also provides just the right amount of coverage to the rump area when wearing leggings or workout pants with tops that are a little too short. coveRumps complete an outfit, by adding dimension and color. They are fun, fashionable and functional! I was inspired to design coveRumps from a need of my own. I was tired of tunics and wanted to wear shirts with my leggings, but found them to be just too short, making me feel self-conscious and too exposed. I just knew there had to be a product already on the market, but found there was not. It didn’t take long to get my business plan together and turn my idea into a business.
HK: What’s the best part about being a business owner?
AJ: The best part about being a business owner is the freedom. I make all the decisions that work for me and my business; I love that! I also love having enough freedom in my day to pick my children up from school, as well as attend school parties. I absolutely love being able to surprise my kids once a week and join them for lunch… priceless.
HK: What advice would you give to Kentucky women wanting to start their own business?
AJ: My advice to all women is to go for it! You only live once. Believe in yourself and have passion about what you’re doing. The passion will drive you through the struggles, and there will be struggles in starting a new business. Keep a positive attitude, even when facing obstacles… tomorrow is another day.
HK: What can we look forward to in 2014 for coveRumps?
AJ: 2014 is going to be a great year for coveRumps! I’ve been testing out a new avenue: in-home trunk shows. Our test markets have proven successful and we are very excited to add this fun way to shop. We are also attending more retail shows in 2014; check our website, www.coverumps.com and our coveRumps Facebook & Twitter accounts for event information. I’ve been sourcing new fabrics also, we want to focus on some fun prints to add into the line. I’m excited about the potential 2014 holds for us.
Quickfire Round:
- Bourbon, martinis, or beer? Martinis
- One bucket list item: Visit Paris, France
- Favorite way to spend a Friday night: My favorite way to spend Friday night is at home eating pizza and watching a great Disney movie with my little family. We do this every Friday night and it never gets old.
- Celebrity/Personality you’d most love to see wearing coveRumps? Well, I’m not going to be picky… I would LOVE for any celeb/personality to be seen wearing coveRumps. But if I did have to choose one, I would say I would love to see it on Bethenny Frankel or Kelly Ripa. Both are strong working mothers with talk shows that reach millions.
Giveaway:
Want some coveRumps of your own? Enter below to win 1 of 2 coveRumps. Winners can choose their preferred style. Enter before midnight, 12/21/13.
Kentucky Traditions: Southern Lights
- Personal Vehicle (Sunday - Thursday) $15.00
- Personal Vehicle (Friday and Saturday) $20.00
- Extended Van $30.00