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    Home » Kentucky

    The sun shines bright….

    Updated: Apr 26, 2018 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 6 Comments

    As the song goes…

    Photo Gene Burch Photography

    “The sun shines bright on my Old Kentucky Home”….

    May is a spectacular month to be living in the bluegrass state. Aside from the beautiful flowers and trees that are in bloom, the first Saturday in May is reserved for the Kentucky Derby. The most exciting 2 minutes in sports!

    At the Oaks race in 2010

    I’ve mentioned before that I grew up in Salt Lake City, but am happily a resident of Louisville, Kentucky for 16 years now.  I’ve always tried to “bloom” where I was planted and embracing all the good things that Kentucky has to offer is part of that to me.

    Last year I did a series on my blog to celebrate the Derby…. With the Derby coming up next week I thought I’d do a little round up of the ideas that were shared.

    First if you’d like to learn a little bit more about the Kentucky Derby…

    Read this

    As always the book is MUCH better than the movie…

    and speaking of movies….

    I absolutely LOVE this movie!!

    Then “celebrate” the derby you can:
    Make this:
    Lucky T-shirt
    or this:
    Go Baby Go Banner
    or this:
    Winning Colors Table Topper
    or these:
    Jockey Silks Placemats
    and you need to eat:
    A Kentucky Hot Brown
    and don’t forget your Hat!!
    Make your own Derby Hat Tutorial
    Click here for a “shortcut” to take you to all the Derby posts at the Polkadot Chair!
    And a few other things from other places in cyberspace:

    Since the Derby is the “Run for the Roses”.. I’ll be wearing this:
    Red Rosette necklace from Allorah Handmade when I go to the Oaks next week. (the Oaks are the races the day before the Derby… a fun alternative if you can’t snag Derby tickets)
    Traci has been up to her tricks again and has these Amazing Derby themed necklaces in her shop. Grab one now, and you can still wear it for the races!
    Kentucky Derby Festival
    links to all the fun stuff going on around town during Derby week. If you are thinking about checking out the city  Derby week… go to this site! Great info on all the events! They have a really good varieity of stuff to do..
    Kentucky Derby Party
    Free evites, recipes & games
    Kentucky Derby .com
    History, Horses, Photos… the whole enchilada
    Blog Links
    Mostly MEllen..
    One Pretty Thing
    Links to lots of fun craft ideas!!
    This year’s Derby Round up
    Last year’s Derby Round up

    Derby Hat cookies on Bakerella (okay she calls them Easter bonnets, I think they’d be so cute as Derby Hats)

    Race horse cookies @ Bake @ 350

    Gifts
    Taste of Kentucky
    Derby Pie, Kentucky Bluegrass, Order Derby Prints (like the one on the napkins from earlier)
    Coton Colors Pottery
    Cute hand painted pottery, not just derby stuff & a cute blog with fun party ideas…
    Have fun watching the race next Saturday May 7th and cheering on your favorite horse!
    oh, since I have your attention!! Don’t forget you’ve still got time to enter to winn $100 Visa Gift Card from Tropicana!!!

    More Projects You May Enjoy

    • Sparkly Lucky T-shirt; a Kids DIY Kentucky Derby T-Shirt
    • A day out at the Country Living Fair
    • Quilt Inspiration from Shaker Village
    • Summertime Inspiration

    • Share
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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heather says

      April 29, 2011 at 7:06 am

      Love it all! Hopefully this year we wont have a total washout at the Derby with all the rain we have had.

      Reply
    2. Rachel says

      April 29, 2011 at 2:27 pm

      I love Derby time! It means spring is really here.

      Reply
    3. Susanne says

      May 01, 2011 at 12:13 am

      LOVE LOVE!!!!!

      We were stationed at Fort Knox (my oldest was born there!!) and I just fell in LOVE with KY. It was SO beautiful there and I really just adore everything about it.

      Derby is such a fun time of year!!! 🙂

      Reply
    4. pinkstilettos says

      May 01, 2011 at 8:33 am

      Oh My…you live in my neck of the woods! I live in Louisville too! Are you going to the Derby this year?
      Daisy~

      Reply
    5. Susan says

      May 02, 2011 at 10:16 am

      I just found your blog and am so excited to see that you are living in Louisville now! I just moved here with my little family back in August. My husband is attending the dental school!

      We are so excited about derby and experiencing all of the festivities! We love it here in the Ville and it’s nice to see someone else from the West living here! Thanks for all your cute ideas and your blog.

      Susan
      http://www.lookhartphotography(dot)blogspot(dot)com

      Reply
    6. ~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ says

      May 02, 2011 at 3:50 pm

      I just found your blog too and would love to be at the Derby and see all the sights. . .someday. Love the name of your blog is there really one? I adore anything with polka dots. It’s so nice to meet you.
      ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

      Reply

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    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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