Gravitating to black and red

Ruffle Tee: The Limited

Pencil Skirt w/Kickback Pleats: The Limited

Bronze Croc Sandals: Via Spiga

Black and red is my go-to color combination, so much so that I have really tried to forbid myself from buying solid tops or bottoms in either color. However, sometimes you just see an item that is so fabulous, you aren't able to resist so there is no use trying. These two items fit that bill.

I got a call and mailed invite (can you tell they know I am weak?) asking me to stop by the new Limited store in the Mall St Matthews in Louisville to receive 50% off an outfit. You didn't have to ask me twice! Although I already own 3 black pencil skirts, two of them are really fading and needed replacing so when I found this one with the cute pleats in the back (I tried to take a picture but they didn't show up but see the link), I was sold. And this tee with the ruffles down the front just made me smile. Alas my 50% off outfit!

What color combination do you love and gravitate to?

Weekend -- Ally: Kentucky Derby Spectacular

Wow! What a great weekend! And by weekend, I mean Thursday through Sunday :) Friday I didn't go to the Oaks - I was too sketchy about it raining (which it didn't) so my friend Jessica, who was visiting from Paducah, and I went to Makers' Mark Distillery for a tour. I'm an Ambassador for Maker's Mark (heh) so I was able to dip a special bottle - so much fun!

Sweater: Old Navy

Jeans: Gap

Flats: Liz Claiborne

Awesome apron, sleeves, gloves, and glasses: Maker's Mark

Bottle of sweet, delicious bourbon: Maker's Mark

If you'll look closely, you'll see the bottle doesn't have the signature red wax on the neck yet. I was just about to dip it.







Taking a dip! It's way harder than it looks!!













Excuse the blurriness of this next photo. I was in a HUGE rush out the door and only had time to snap one pic.

Dress: JCP

Hat: no idea what brand, bought at TJ Maxx of all places

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

It's possible Jessica and I made a trip to Zappos. It's also possible I bought two new pairs of shoes. I cannot confirm or deny this information, but I do mysteriously have two new pairs of CUTE shoes :)










Some more pics from the weekend:
Me, Erin, Tracey, & Megan. We had front row seats right by the track - so fun.












With Tracey. That's the starting gate behind my shoulder.












Just rounding the last turn and on the straight stretch to the finish line. SO EXCITING!!












While I didn't pick the winner (I had him boxed with a horse who didn't win - boo!) I did pick the show horse (Musket Man) so I picked up $12! All in all, I was up $1.80 for the day - breaking even or better is ALWAYS good!!!

This was an awesome time despite the precarious weather - I can't wait for next year!!!

Happy Oaks Day!

Jacket: CAbi (Spring 2008)

Cami: CAbi (Spring 2008)

Knit Dress: CAbi (Spring 2007)

Skinny Belt: Old Navy

Pumps: Pleaser

It's the Friday before the first Saturday in May which means it's my favorite Louisville holiday-- The Kentucky Oaks! For those of you not from the area, the Oaks is the second biggest day of racing behind the Kentucky Derby. The Oaks is the race for the top 3 year old fillies only and is really "Louisville's Day at the Downs." The Derby is fabulous -- yours truly was a Kentucky Derby Festival Princess in 2001 but that's a whole other post and story-- but it is full of out of towners. The Oaks just feels more local. You, your cutest hat and outfit, and 100,000 of your closest Louisvillian friends.

This is NOT my Oaks outfit. I actually wore this to work earlier in the week but backdated posts so you would have one today since I wont be able to post. I will be attending the Oaks and promise to take pictures though! Hopefully the weather will cooperate better than last year! In 2008 (pictured below), Ally, Jamie and I, along with our friend Kim, attended and had great grandstand seats, 3 rows from the track, halfway down the stretch. Unfortuately, we only saw one race before the skies opened and it stormed for 4 straight hours while we hid under cover and then just gave up and left to watch on tv. The weathermen lied and said scattered thunderstorms. Still not quite over it.

Crossing my fingers for clear skies for Oaks 2009! I wont be in the grandstand this year so won't be quite as glammed up but will be in the new Infield Club which is being compared to a more casual private sports bar atmosphere. I promise a full report back--and Oaks/Derby fashion analysis of course!