Things I don't Need

In this month's edition of things I definitely don't need, but are so dang cute, here's what I found on the ole' internet while searching for a departure dress for the wedding!

La Rosa Camilla Dress found on ShopBop. For that price though, no thanks. Womp womp.

I need this dress like a hole in the head. I am obsessed with all things embroidered these days...

And this little do-dad. A camera that you can check via app to say hi to your furry friend while you're at work. We feel so guilty that Maggie has to stay in the basement while we're at work. Maybe this would ease the guilt???

This adorable Tory Burch top, at the low low price of $250! So cute, but not worth the price for something I'd wear a few times.

Anyway, that's what I've been drooling over these days. Hope everyone has a happy Thursday!

Husband to Be Gift Guide

Let me preface this post with a disclaimer: this gift guide is super tailored to my husband to be, an avid outdoors man and nature enthusiast. If camping ain't the thing for your dude, feel free to move along :)
Drew's birthday is a mere 12 days before our wedding, so I'm combining his wedding gift from me into his birthday present as well. I know that sounds super lame, but dude, this wedding stuff is not cheap. And Drew is the kinda guy that doesn't want a whole lot of stuff anyway, so I doubt he will mind.

So in this collection there are a few things he will be receiving, and a few things he won't. You know, just so there is some element of surprise!

Every man can use a nice medium weight rain jacket. This one from Marmot should do the trick. Plus it's on sale at REI. Just in case I want to buy it. Who knows, it'll be a surprise! 

A nice new pair of binoculars is another good gift for a guy that loves to be outdoors, or maybe just spy on his neighbors. Either way works. 

New cuff links in the shape of your state are always a nice gift, even for guys that don't get dressed up very often. These might come in handy if you have an upcoming wedding or something like that, ahem.

Wool sock, a Contigo water bottle, and a Leatherman watch also seem to be super handy to have when hiking around mountains, say in the Pacific Northwest. Just an idea.
So anyway, good luck to all you shopping ladies looking for a gift for your hard to buy for hubby. I'll let you know how some of these turn out.
Or maybe I'll forget to blog about it, and you can assume he liked them. Happy Thursday!

Tales of a Weekend Warrior

For some reason the title of the book, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is stuck in my head. I'm not even sure if that's the correct title, but holla if you remember that Judy Blume classic! I loved her books back in the day.

Anyway, this weekend was another one packed full of fun and wedding planning and events! Friday night we laid very low since no one at our house slept more than 4 hours on Thursday night. Sleep regression is real folks, and it doesn't care how old your kid is.

Saturday morning came a bit too quick, but we made it out the door in time for a soccer game for Silas and Drew and a trial run for wedding hair for me. We also spent quite a bit of time over at Drew's house getting it ready to put on the market before coming home to get ready for a night out!

We headed over to Lexington to eat dinner at Willie's Locally Known for BBQ and a Hackensaw Boys show. Pictured above, us awake and out of the house after 9 pm on a weekend. Hurrah!

On Sunday afternoon, my lovely Aunt Beth hosted the most perfectly wonderful Tiffany & Co. themed bridal shower for me! It was so great to see some of my friends and family and to eat all of her awesome treats!

{How cute are those door arrangements?!?!}

{Super sweet treats, complete with the new monogram!}

{Pretty spread before food}

Everything was so perfectly put together and so incredibly thoughtful! I had so much fun, and can't wait to get married and use all these awesome gifts!

25 days, y'all!!!

The War on Sleeping

Please forgive my absence from the blog while I sleep for a year. Last night was a rough one at Ol' Casa de Sass in the Bluegrass. We will return to our regularly programmed (err, not so regular, that is) blogging sometime next week when I'm not delirious.   In the meantime, enjoy this picture of our sweet pup, who has no trouble sleeping in the new house at all. Or anywhere. Or anytime. Have a great weekend, y'all!!!

A Graduation for the Ages

For those of y'all that haven't followed this blog or the one I had prior, you may not know that I have a brother with Downs Syndrome. This year, he turns 30, and last night he did something that we never dreamed possible. He graduated college. 
I don't think there are enough words in the English language to express my sentiments and how incredibly proud I am of him. He completed a three year program through Down Syndrome of Louisville in conjunction with our local state community college, JCTC, called College Connections.
Through this program, Will attended regular curriculum classes at JCTC for three years, earning grades based on the same required classwork as his "regular" classmates. The kid graduated with a 3.75 GPA, beating the family record of everyone except his mom and cousin. And frankly, I couldn't pick a better person to claim bragging rights to the highest GPA.
My bubbaloo was beaming from ear to ear, and so were the rest of us. It's hard to express the incredible feeling of success that we all feel right along with Will as he received his college diploma. It was just simply awesome. 

{Before the ceremony}

{Receiving his diploma}

{Right before his quick thank you speech}

{Officially official!!!}

I'm not sure if all Downs Syndrome organizations have programs like this one in every area, but check here for helpful links and resources in your community.

A Weekend in Review

It's Tuesday morning and I am still worn out from this weekend, and it was worth every second!!! We started our weekend off with a bang and a concert at my favorite venue, Iroquois Amphitheater, to see Trampled by Turtles. The show was awesome, and the weather was wonderful, although it did get a bit cooler by the end of the show. I was just pumped it didn't rain.

Saturday was Derby and we had a bunch of stuff planned with Silas. We started with the Frankfort Derby Breakfast complete with an adult tricycle race called Pedal for the Posies. It's absolutely hilarious! My uncle's dog, Rusty, was the unofficial judge and can be seen here with the winner's garland. Rusty is quite the local fur covered hero around Frankfort, and always makes an appearance at public events.

{Rusty, aka Russelford, aka the furry mayor of Frankfort}

{Silas was brave enough to pet this corn snake, but only after Drew and I did.}

Later that day, we headed to our beloved Keeneland to watch the Woodford Turf Classic, and of course, the Kentucky Derby!!! Unfortunately, the weather didn't hold out and it rained most of the time. But it didn't stop us from celebrating Drew's middle brother, Sam, and his horse winning the Turf Classic!!!! Sam has just struck out on his as a horse trainer after almost 15 years of working for other people. He is doing absolutely awesome, and we couldn't be prouder! Winning the turf race on Derby is a HUGE deal, and it was so much fun to watch!!!

{Baby's first Mint Julep! Just kidding, no babies were given bourbon for the making of this photo. That's my soon-to-be nephew, Tripp. Isn't he the cutest???}

{Family fun before the big race!}

{Sam's winner, number 8, in the Woodford Turf Classic!!!!}

Sunday we spent honoring our mama's by having brunch at Mussel and Burger Bar in Louisville with my mom and then cooking dinner for Drew's side at home.

{How much is that baby in the window?}

  The whole weekend was an absolute blast, and we are super worn out, but it was certainly one we will remember for awhile! What did you guys do for Derby?

Pre Derby Festivities

Here in Kentucky, the Derby is a national holiday. Especially in Louisville! When I was in high school, we always had the Friday before Derby off to go the Oaks (the fillies race the Friday before Derby.) Although I don't get Oaks day off as an adult working in Frankfort, I do usually get invited to the track the week of Derby by a vendor. This year was no different than the past few years in that it rained most of the week leading up to the big race. We still had a lot of fun picking some ponies, making bets, and even cashing a few tickets. If you ever get a chance to come to Louisville for Derby, TAKE IT! It is a truly unique experience, and the whole state is alive with anticipation and excitement! Drew and I had a great time yesterday, despite the cold, rainy weather and I promise you will too!

This year, I think I'll be betting on the 6 horse, My Man Sam, in honor of my future brother in law, Sam, who has started his own horse training company! He's doing awesome, so I'm guessing a horse that has his name in it (even though it has nothing to do with him, ha ha) might be a good pick!

If you aren't a huge horse racing fan, I dare you to watch the "Horse of a Lifetime" video about Triple Crown Winner, American Pharaoh, and not get a bit teary eyed. (FYI, you have to scroll to the bottom of the page to latest videos.) Or is that just me that does that? Hopefully it can show some of the Kentucky spirit we have for the horse industry (and also isn't illegal to share???)

Who's your favorite this year?

Bacheloretting!

It's been almost a week since my bachelorette party this past Saturday, and I'm still reeling from all the fun we had!!!

My BFF Beth was so incredibly generous and sweet and went above and beyond to make this night so much fun and so PRETTY!!!  She started with this awesome floral crown in lieu of a sash or tiara. She knows me too well! It was so dang gorgeous that I decided to preserve it and save as a keepsake!

{Maggie was allowed to attend the girl's night, but was a bit upset that we weren't planning to nap all night in celebration.}

{Dinner at Bourbon on Main, complete with selfies of Brooke and I}

{Yummy mimosa cocktail courtesy of my friend Natalie! And look at the pretty yellow begonias that Beth brought! Loved them so much that I planted them in pots on our patio.}

{Hostess with the Most-est, Beth!}

{Lots of laughs with my friend Jennifer}

{Creepy head tilt from me, great pic of most of my girls!}

We had sooooo much fun and a ton of laughs! I didn't make it up past midnight, but I did wake up feeling pretty darn good for an almost 35 year old that had a couple of glasses of wine the night before! 

Countdown to the big day: 37 days!!!!

Thanks to everyone that came and especially to Beth for arranging the perfect bachelorette party! Couldn't love you guys more!!!!!!