Hello, Stranger

Hello, friends. Nearly a year has passed since I've shared with you, but I hope you can welcome me back with open arms. As we all live and grow, I'm sure we can agree that time seems to escape even faster than the year or month before. I can certainly say this is true in my world. Many things are changing and I hope to be able to share them all with you as we continue our trip around the sun. 

 Feel free to pop in and leave me a little "Hello!" or a little diddy about who you are and your blog. I would love to get to know you! 

  Until next time, may your day be full of magnolias, bourbon and a little Southern Sophistication!

Smiles for a Rainy Day

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Hope everyone is staying safe and dry. With a good portion of the country being hammered by storms, I though we could all use a little pick me up. 

Warning! The picture I'm about to show you may boggle your mind and send you into stitches. I've seen this guy not once, but twice on the interstates around Nashville. Luckily, both times I was in the passenger seat and was able to snap a photo. 

Look closely. There are two dogs with goggle/face masks on!

On another note, I've got my assignment for Atlanta Yankee Belle's Staycation Swap. I can't let you in on who I have, but am very excited. I realized I didn't post anything on my dream "staycation," so without further ado, here it is:

My ideal staycation in Nashville, Tennessee would be one of the following:

1.) An afternoon/evening at Arrington Vineyards. In the spring and summer, Arrington Vineyards has live jazz music and tastings. Visitors bring baskets of snacks and blankets or chairs and enjoy great wine and the live entertainment.

2.) A weekend evening spent at Yazoo Brewery for tour and tasting. What's not to love about good, local beer?

3.) An evening of music at the Bluebird Cafe. {E and I had our first date there :o) } This is where many great musicians/ songwriters get their start. Among the many, Garth Brooks was first "found," at the Bluebird. 

4.) A Nashville Sounds Ball game. Hot dogs, baseball and a guitar shaped scoreboard! Yes, PLEASE!

5.) Any local, trendy restaurant outing would be ideal. I'm a self confessed foodie and love trying new things! Especially at local restaurants! {Nashville Originals}

I'm looking forward to seeing what my "staycation" has in store! Hope y'all are too!

Until next time, may your day be full of magnolias, bourbon and a strong umbrella and rain boots!

Friday Fancies #9: Hoppy Easter

Hoppy Easter, y'all! Linking up with {av} again for Friday Fancies. If you haven't participated, I recommend linking up. It is soo much fun and half way addicting. What's not to love about creating a dream outfit! This week I put together an Easter weekend look. Daffodils were my Papaw's favorite flowers, so this one's for him! If you look closely, you'll notice I have two handbags. I couldn't choose, but because this is Friday Fancies, I picked both! Don't you just LOVE the Tory Burch bag?

Hoppy Easter by S_Sophisticate featuring yellow prom dresses

Be sure to link up next week for a SPECIAL edition of Friday Fancies featuring: THE ROYAL WEDDING GUEST outfit, followed by the Kentucky Derby!

Lots of exciting events to look forward to!

Until next time, may your Easter be full of magnolias, bourbon and safe travels!

Keeneland Recap

Race to the finish!

Since this week seems to be the official Southern Sophisticate recap week, I'll continue with my recap of another recent adventure; Keeneland. Following the Maker's Mark tour, we proceeded to Lexington (Kentucky). AKA GOD'S COUNTRY...no joke. If you've never been, go. It's B-E-A-U-tiful!! Imagine the prettiest rolling hills and horse farms you can and multiply it by 20. Lexington is simply gorgeous and is the epitome of thoroughbred racing. 

E's first Keeneland Experience

I was a little worried when I woke up on Saturday morning because the weather was not in our favor. Nonetheless, we proceeded to the track in our best spring attire. While most would tailgate before entering the track, we didn't really have the option. By the time we got out of the car and snapped a couple of pictures, the drops began to fall. We decided to proceed into the facility and wait it out. All in all, it was a good decision. By the second race, the torrential downpour came to a halt and the thunder and lighting were swept away. God was ready for some horse racing...and racing we did. By the third and fourth races we had got into a groove and had won back everything we spent. I used the rest of the afternoon to show E the premises (rain free) and catch the rest of the races. 

Me, Pucky and MAS in the tunnel

I felt lucky to take in two of my favorite jockeys in action, Kent Desormeaux, best known for riding Real Quiet and Big Brown straight to the winner's circle at the Kentucky Derby. I also saw Julien Leparoux who broke the record at Churchill for riding six winners on a single card. I can HARDLY wait for the Kentucky Derby in two short weeks! 

I told you I have a soft spot for "older people."

We ended up staying at Keeneland tailgating until around 8:00 that night. The weather was wonderful and we couldn't get enough of the fresh, Kentucky air. I cannot wait to make it back to Keeneland in the fall.  If you've never been, consider going, but I warn you. Once you go, you will have to come back every year! It's enchanting!

After a LONG day of racing

Thanks to MAS for being a LOVELY host and to Pucky for being a great travel companion. Love you ladies!

Post-race tailgate. My favorite picture of the day. Typical

Until next time, may your day be full of magnolias, bourbon and preparation for the Run for the Roses!

Maker's Mark Tour Recap

I've delayed this post because I didn't have pictures to accompany. Without further ado, I give you photographs and details of my MAKER'S MARK TOUR!

*The tour is free.

*Dipping your own bottle costs anywhere from $6.00 all the way up to $48.00.

*It is a magical experience-soo worth your time!

Entry into the "The Still House."

Outside of the Still House. I believe it has something to do with
 the natural water they use in the distilling process. I won't tell all.
Let's just say it has to do with limestone.

Every building on the premises has these red bottle cut-out shutters..

This barrel was filled in 1954. It is located in the entry area of the Still House.

Mash tub tank.

Inside look at the Mash tank churning away.

12' self-sealing cypress buckets that contain the "sour mash."
Each tub holds 9,300 gallons of sour mash....in which they let you dip your finger into for a taste.
No worries-it hasn't been heated yet.

Copper Kettles/Tanks to help "sanitize" and cook the whiskey/mash.

Labeling line conveyor

Barrel Warehouse. All Maker's Mark barrels are aged for at least six years.

E and me in the Barrel Warehouse.

Our FREE samples of Maker's Mark original and Maker's Mark 46.
My attempt at being artsy.

Sweet Betty, our tour guide.
I have soft spot for tour guides.

E geared up, dipping his bottle like a pro!

Dipping my bottle.
Goggles, apron and gloves are required.
A Maker's Mark employee can dip about 25 bottles a minute.
It took me 15-20 seconds for one!

E and me with our charred oak barrel planks on the "Whiskey Creek" bridge.

Barrel Warehouses hold anywhere from 15,000 -20,000 bottles. They are painted black
to attract heat and assist in the aging process.

Our crew.

Prom 2011! Ha! JOKES! I actually sent the barrel wagon postcard to my sister! 

Genius Maker's Mark logo designed by Bill Samuel's wife.
(You'll have to go on the tour to get the story!)

The sun shines bright on my OLD KENTUCKY HOME!
SIMPLY. LOVELY

Until next time, may your day be filled with magnolias, bourbon and a tour of something GRAND!

Let's all BONNAROO and Have a Good Time!

As June approaches and more bands are set to take the stage of the tenth anniversary Bonnaroo Music Festival, I find myself contemplating whether or not I should attend. Last year was my first experience with a major music festival...one that involves three nights of camping and ridiculously miserable weather. It was AMAZING. I never thought of myself as an outdoorsy/music/hippie kind of gal who would enjoy something like this, but I did. My eyes were opened to so many different things and I saw some AMAZING shows: Stevie Wonder, Flaming Lips, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, Jay-Z, Tenacious D, Medeski Martin and Wood John Fogerty and soo many more! The performances put on at live music events are hard to top, and Bonnaroo is no exception.

While the line-up was not everything I wanted it to be, I am starting to realize that the performers who will be on the farm in Manchester, Tennessee will be giving me the once in a lifetime chance to see them. One performer I cannot stop thinking about is Dr. John. Dr. John actually "coined" the word Bonnaroo during his album Desitively Bonnaroo. His N'awlinz style jazz is incredible. The word, Bonnaroo, is a Cajun word for "good stuff," or "let's all have a good time!" I am thinking I want to go and "HAVE A GOOD TIME!"

Along with Dr. John, some of the other performers I'm interested in seeing include: Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Lil Wayne, Loretta Lynn, Gregg Allman, Girl Talk, The Strokes, Old Crow Medicine Show, Grace Potter and many, many more.

Bonnaroo 2010

Other than the performances, being outside with ZERO amenities for four days is cleansing. It's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and be a part of something that brings soo many people together to share experiences that will be recalled for years to come.

If Bonnaroo isn't your thing, at least head over to Ben and Jerrys and try the Bonnaroo Buzz ice cream. It is TO DIE FOR!

What do you think of this years line-up? Will you be attending? Have you been in the past? Share your BONNAROO stories with me! I want to hear all about it!

Until next time, may your day be filled with magnolias, bourbon and Bonnaroo! 

My Library Epiphany.....

I was in the public library yesterday during my lunch break trying to quickly pay my late fees and check out the last of the Dot Frank Books I've yet to read when, I saw the most precious little girl waiting in line with her mother. I'm not really a "kid" person, so when I notice a child it's unusual. This little girl caught my eye. She had on a classic pink dress and a pink flowered headband. Her dirty blonde hair was thick and long, as were her beautiful eyelashes. Yet, what caught my attention most, was not her angelic features or her future prep look, it was the way she was taking in the world around her. Her little eyes seemed very focused on each and every "thing" she saw. She seemed as though thoughts were racing through her mind and wonder filled every ounce of her. Her innocence connected with something deep inside of me as she took out a small spiral notebook and began to draw. I couldn't tell you what she was drawing, but through the series of images she flipped through to arrive at a blank page, I figured out that she had been drawing pictures to help her remember things she's seen.

I thought about this as the librarian checked out my new books. At what point in life do we forget to take the time to truly see?  We are so burdened by the busy schedules we have along with the things that we want that we fail to take in the details of life. I realized, in the library, that I needed to be more like the little girl. I need to stop focusing on the go-go-go of life and focus more on the details of the things going on around me. Each and everyday, God provides us with billions of sites, sounds, smells, tastes and experiences. It is our job to remember to take each for what they are truly worth. For a few minutes in the library, I did just that. I urge you, and remind myself, to take the time to do this every day. I think we will be surprised what our eyes, minds and hearts are able to experience.

Until next time, may your day be filled with magnolias, bourbon and great joy!