tops in lexington magazine february 2015

February 2015 • PRICELESS

the money issueLenders • Lawyers • Lovers

18 FEBRUARY 2015 | TOPSINLEX.COM

25 Out & About

26 TOPS January Preview Party I

28 TOPS January Preview Party II

30 Adult IDD Christmas Party

32 The Bourbon Classic Christmas Party I

34 The Bourbon Classic Christmas Party II

36 New Year’s Eve I

38 New Year’s Eve II

40 UK Basketball Action I

42 UK Basketball Action II

170 Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service 2014 I

172 Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service 2014 II

174 Martin Luther Kin, Jr. Day Celebrations I

176 Martin Luther Kin, Jr. Day Celebrations II

178 Progressive Dinner to Benefit the Lexington Philharmonic I

180 Progressive Dinner to Benefit the Lexington Philharmonic II

182 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Holiday Affair

184 Lexington Art League Gala

210 TOP Shots

TOPS AROUND TOWN

Captions for event photos are typically provided to TOPS by the event organizers. We do our best to check names and spelling…but we are all human and make mistakes. Please contact [email protected] with any corrections and we will make note of it in the next issue.

184

174

170


IN EVERY ISSUE

The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of our editors or publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, TOP Marketing Group accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from the reliance on information in this publication.

All images contained in TOPS in Lexington Magazine are subject to copyright of the artist or photographer as named, but not limited thereto. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.

44 Sports: We Can Talk About “IT” Now

47 Posh Paws: Pet Insurance

48 Etiquette & Entertaining: Party Possibilities Galore

97 Gardening: The Valentine Rose

128 Fashion: Loving Leggings

130 Luxurious Living

164 Parties: Celebrate Your Little Ones

165 Family: Love Languages for Grownups

168 What’s New

186 TOP 5 Dining: Romantic Dining

189 Recipes: Valentine’s Day Breakfast in Bed

196 Weddings: ‘Something New’ and a Silver Sixpence for Your Shoe, Too!

198 Lesley’s List

200 Lex & The City

205 Save the Date

19897

128

TOPS Around Town


NEW YEARS EVE I

As 2015 arrived, Lexington brought in the New Year with a plethora of great parties and events ranging from family friendly parties to cocktail hour at Lexington restaurants and bars. The end of 2014 was a celebration to remember for the people of Lexington!

Photos by Ron Morrow, Jim Burgett, Estill Robinson, Woody Phillips and Keni Parks

Scan here to see all the photos for this event at

topsinlex.com

TOPS Around Town


NEW YEARS EVE II

Merry makers rung in 2015 in style! New Years Eve in Lexington was � lled with gatherings featuring great music, food and drink. There were a wide variety of parties to join, ranging from family friendly parties to cocktail hour at some of the � ner downtown Lexington restaurants and bars.

Photos by Ron Morrow, Jim Burgett, Estill Robinson, Woody Phillips and Keni Parks


topsinlex.com

TOPS Around Town


UK BASKETBALL I

It has been no surprise that the University of Kentucky Men’s bas-ketball team has led a successful � rst half of the season. With the guidance of Coach Calipari, the team has worked their way to the top while being divided into two well-known groups: The Blue Pla-toon and The White Platoon. The boys are number one ranked and have been in-a-class-of-their-own as they have been undefeated thus far in the season.

ukathletics.com

Photos by Keni Parks, Michael Huang, and Woody Phillips


topsinlex.com

It has been no surprise that the University of Kentucky Men’s bas-ketball team has led a successful � rst half of the season. With the guidance of Coach Calipari, the team has worked their way to the top while being divided into two well-known groups: The Blue Pla-toon and The White Platoon. The boys are number one ranked and have been in-a-class-of-their-own as they have been undefeated thus far in the season.

TOPS Around Town


UK BASKETBALL II

The University of Kentucky Wildcat’s men’s basketball team is hold-ing strong this year. The team is in-a-class-of-their-own, wowing crowds with their defeats. They are thus far ranked number 1 in the SEC with an undefeated record. Led by Coach Calipari it is no surprise to the city of Lexington that these boys are doing us proud. This � rst half of the season is keeping Wildcat fans on edge for the rest of the year.

ukathletics.com

Photos by Keni Parks, Michael Huang, and Woody Phillips


topsinlex.com

Etiquette & Entertaining


In February, the shortest month of the year, there are more holi-days than in any of the longer months. Anyone who enter-

tains often will attest to the fact that theme parties are the easiest to plan. It is the theme that coordinates the colors, decorations and foods. It also adds an element of surprise and excitement to the party. The cold drabness of the winter needs to be left at the door when the guests enter a theme party.

What qualifies February as a “Party Month”? It is not just the holi-days in the second month of the New Year but the additional party possibilities as well. A February party can celebrate Super Bowl, Groundhog’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Lin-coln’s Birthday, President’s Day, Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year, and a U.K. Wildcat Party. Suggestions for some of these parties are:

GroundhoG’s day Party – On the invitation, ask guests to wear brown. Have guests make hats out of brown paper bags to be worn during the party. Decorate with enlarged poster-size pictures of the guest of honor, the Groundhog! Prepare pieces of paper with different times. Put them in a brown hat. Have each guest write their name and time they think the ground hog will see his shadow. Draw out one piece of paper which will determine the correct time. The person who guesses closest to that time wins a prize. The prize could be a six-pack of decorated brown bottles of beer. Cover the table with a burlap cloth. In the center, place a

square of heavy plastic. Mound dirt or potting soil on the plastic hollowing out a hole in the center. Place a stuffed animal resem-bling a Groundhog in the hole. Votive candles randomly placed on the table complete the look. The menu could feature brown foods creatively presented. Possibilities are Black Bean soup, small sand-wiches on dark brown bread and chocolate mousse. Once you be-gin thinking along the line of a brown party, ideas spark.

Valentine’s day Parties have been recog-nized with red roses and heart-shaped cakes. Changing the party into a costume party offers a different focus. Have guests and their significant other come dressed as “Two Great Lovers”. Parades and prizes always turn into memorable moments. To select an interesting seating arrangement at the table, cut out a red paper heart for each guest. Then cut the heart into two pieces with angles, curves, etc. Give one half piece to each person while the other half of the heart is at a place on the table. Guests match their part of the heart to the one on the table. Random seating then takes place.

WashinGton’s Birthday Party could be set up as an actual birthday. Instead of cake, serve a Cherry Pie cut with a hatchet instead of a knife. Use signage to show the house as Mt. Vernon, the hostess as Martha and the host as George. Costumes for Mar-tha and George would add a fun note. Further research will reveal other historical references.

lincoln’s Birthday Party will provide an-other historical research project. The party or a por-tion of the party could be held at the Mary Todd Lin-coln House. With the many Todd-Lincoln ties in the

Lexington area, the party would be an ideal Scavenger Hunt Party.

Presidents’ day Party – Have each invitation designate the name of a President or President’s wife. Then, the guests would arrive dressed as the assigned person or with a sign noting a fa-mous quote from the assigned person. The menu should feature foods liked by some of the Presidents. Small signs would identify the foods. For example: Washington’s Cherry Pie, Regan’s Jelly Beans, Kennedy’s New England Clam Chowder and Lincoln’s Chicken Fricassee.

With nine party possibilities in Febru-ary and 28 days, all you party people can throw a party every three days with one day left over to plan for a March party. Have Fun!

by Sue Ann TruittEtiquette & Entertaining Consultant

Party Possibilities Galore

Mortgage Loans


Buying a new home can be a stressful adventure; now, add-in “shopping for the right mortgage loan” and you’ve got yourself a full blown panic a� ack!

Shopping for the right mortgage loan is one of the most important steps in becoming a new homeowner. Who has the lowest rate? How much should I pay in closing costs? Should I get a � xed or adjustable rate loan? How much cash do I need up front? How much of a payment can I a� ord? All of these questions can be an-swered during what is called a mortgage pre-approval. Most banks o� er this service; more importantly, realtors will love you when you show up with a pre-approval le� er in hand stating how much you can a� ord to pay for a home and you’ve already gone through some of the preliminary screening; i.e. credit rating, income vs. debt calculations, etc.

So, what happens if you � nd your dream home before you’ve been preapproved? � e sellers have accepted your o� er and you now have thirty (30) days to secure � nancing. Here comes the “panic a� ack”!

Here are some tips on what to do and what NOT to do when ap-plying for a mortgage loan.

1. Contact several banks and/or mortgage companies to obtain rates, � xed and variable (ARM) rates. Shop aggressively to get the best deal! A � xed rate will not change for the life of the loan and variable rates will/can change up or down, depending on the structure of the loan. If this is your “forever” home, then you probably want to go with a � xed option. If you don’t plan to stay in the house for longer than 5 – 7 years, an adjustable rate might save you some money on interest. Keep in mind though…rates will go up; it’s just a question of when that will happen.

2. Calculate how much of a payment you can a� ord. A good lender will counsel you on how much that is. � ere are numerous � -nancial calculators online that you can use also. Very helpful! Don’t forget to consider how much you spend on utilities, gro-ceries, gas, vacations, etc. A good rule of thumb is your total debt should be no greater than 40% of your total gross income, monthly. If you want to include your property taxes and home-owner’s insurance in your mortgage (escrow), this will increase your monthly payment. Refer to your Good Faith Estimate (GFE).

3. Know how much of a down payment you can a� ord. Some lend-ers require 20% of the home’s purchase price as a down payment.

by Billie Dollins

You’ll need a mortgage � rst!

Mortgage Loans

FEBRUARY 2015| TOPS MAGAZINE 55

However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20%, sometimes as little as 5%, depending on the structure of the loan. Lookout though, if 20% isn’t paid down; some lenders will require you to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the buyer fails to pay. This can sub-stantially increase your monthly mortgage payment. Ask about all the lender’s programs.

4. Know your credit score! You can obtain a copy of your personal credit report from major reporting agencies; i.e. Equifax.com, TransUnion.com or Experian.com. They will charge a minimal fee ($12 -$15). Review your report carefully and make sure any mistakes, missing or outdated information is corrected prior to applying for a mortgage loan. Get any changes/corrections in writing. Your lender will require this. Generally, a credit score of 720 or higher is considered strong; under 660 is looked upon as weak and may lead to you paying a higher interest rate.

5. Before signing for the loan, your lender is required to provide you with a full, detailed breakdown of all costs associated with the mortgage loan (GFE). This is very important as it will show you how much the loan will cost you in fees and how much you will need in cash, at closing. Home loans can have many fees, such as loan origination, underwriting fees and broker fees. Watch out for “no cost” or “low cost” loans because they can have higher interest rates. Ask for an explanation of any fee that you do not understand. Some fees can be negotiable, always ask! You will hear the word “points” which are fees paid directly to the lender and are often linked to the interest rate. You can pay more points to get a lower interest rate. Weigh your costs vs. actual interest savings before making this decision. Each “point” equates to 1% of your mortgage balance. While points are often rolled into your loan and have a minimal ef-fect on monthly payment, they do increase the overall cost of the loan.

6. Be prepared to provide a lot of documentation to verify what you are saying on your application. The lender will look at your previous financial records, so make sure you have them in order before sitting down to apply for the loan.

• Copy of W-2 form for the most recent two years of employ-ment.

• Year-to-date paystub(s)• Most recent two years 1099’s for retirement/social security/

commission/VA income.• Divorce decree for alimony or child support, if applicable.• Copies of complete individual federal tax returns covering the

most recent two year period.

• If you are self-employed, copies of complete business tax re-turns covering the most recent two year period.

• A copy of the homeowner’s policy or binder showing proof of insurance for one year.

• If purchase, you will need a sales contract signed by all parties.

Doing your homework before applying for a mortgage loan can be a bit overwhelming, but following these tips can make the pro-cess much easier. A good lender will spend time with you because they want your business. He/she should explain the many financing options available. Remember to shop, compare, ask questions and understand what you are being told!

Fair lending is required by law! The Equal Opportunity Act pro-hibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of the a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, reli-

gion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant’s income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. The FDIC website offers a very good Mortgage Shopping Worksheet at fdic.gov/con-sumers/looking/. •

Love Your Lender

FEBRUARY 2015 | TOPS MAGAZINE 57

First Security BankHAMBURG BANKING CENTER, 2352 SIR BARTON WAY | 859.899.8880WELLINGTON BANKING CENTER, 345 RUCCIO WAY | 859.410.6560

FIRSTSECURITY.NET

Lance J. Lawrence, SVP/Lexington Market Exec.

Addam Lewis, VP/Retail Market Manager

Ryan M. Cooper, VP/Commercial Lending

Nathan A. Bay, Mortgage Loan Originator

Not pictured, Gesela Flesher Brown, Mortgage Loan Originator

On January 2, First Security Bank opened its second location in the Lexington market at Ruccio Way. � e Owensboro, KY. based

bank has di� erentiated itself from larger competitors with its focus on relationship banking and the ability to make credit and other business decisions locally.

Lance works extensively with real estate professionals and business owners. A graduate of Georgetown College, Lance has over 15 years of lending experience and is a member of the LBAR, HBAL, and Com-merce Lexington. “We are in a competitive industry, and it means a lot

to me that our customers choose First Security for their � nancial needs,” says Lance.

Addam played football at Concord University and has been a lender for 15 years. His civic involvement includes the Reach Program, MBA, YRB, and LBAR.

Ryan has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Kentucky and be-longs to Commerce Lexington, DLC, and HBAL. He has 14 years of experience in community and regional banking. “I have a great relation-ship with my clients, and I work hard for their success,” says Ryan.

Nathan has a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Kentucky. Nathan has 18 years of banking experience and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and the Hope Center of Central Kentucky.

Gesela is the newest member of the First Security Bank team. “I have been lucky to learn from others in my 20+ years in lending through community involvement, education, and networking,” says Gesela.

Love Your Lender


Cooperative Business ServicesPerry Dunn, Assistant VP of

Business Development859.543.2507 | 2557 SIR BARTON WAY 40509 | CBSCUSO.COM

Perry has 23 years of bank experience with 17 years in commercial lend-ing, including small business and middle market commercial credit. His

experience covers investment real estate, owner-occupied real estate, SBA, revolving lines of credit and equipment � nance. CBS provides commercial � nancing in partnership with area credit unions. “What separates CBS from the others is the ability to handle large, complex deals and completing them in a timely and honest manner,” he explained.

Perry is commi� ed to being successful as a father, husband and business leader in Central Kentucky. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, snow skiing and coaching youth sports, as well as a� ending his sons’ sporting events

Amerifirst Home MortgageBryan Dollins

Branch Manager859.368.8790 | 2039 REGENCY ROAD

AMERIFIRST.COM

Bryan has been a lender for eleven years. For the last two and a half, he has been working with AmeriFirst, a stand-alone

mortgage banker commi� ed to doing business the right way. � ey pride themselves on establishing quality relationships with clients. “We feel like every time we are able to � nance a home loan, that in some small way, we are a part of the family that just bought their dream home,” Bryan explained.

In his spare time, Bryan enjoys taking bike rides in the moun-tains. His favorite TV show is “Two and a Half Men”.

NMLS#62611

Love Your Lender


Prime Lending859.554.4216 | 424 LEWIS HARGETT CR. SUITE 120 | PRIMELENDING.COM

Prime Lending specializes in new home loans, re� -nancing, and renovation loans. � eir caring sta�

helps make the process easy for clients.

Abdul strives to provide a wonderful life for his family by helping other families obtain the dream of homeowner-ship. “I believe the road to a great life starts at home and I want to help pave the way,” he said.

Vee has been a lender for 7 years. She believes that treat-ing people with respect and appreciation goes a long way in this industry.

Seldon is a seasoned loan o� cer who gets a great deal of satisfaction helping her clients. Seldon said. “� e great-est compliment I can receive is my loyal referral base.”

Forcht BankJill Shirley

Banking Center Manager859.263.6809 | 3358 TATES CREEK ROAD

FORCHTBANK.COM

Jill has recently joined the Forcht Bank team and is excited to bring her 15 years of lending

experience to her customers. She has a passion for helping her clients achieve their goals and dreams. In doing so, she aims to help them save time and money while simplifying their lives! Jill considers herself to be hard-working and loyal, two quali-ties that certainly help her give her customers an excellent banking experience.

In her spare time, Jill enjoys exercising, playing word games and listening to and playing music–she can play the drums! She particularly enjoys classic rock.

Seldon Sullivan, Sr. Loan Officer

Abdul Muhammad, Production Mgr.

Vee Pryor, Mortgage Loan Officer

NMLS#455467

NMLS#436167

NMLS#716225

Love Your Lender


BenchmarkBrad Hacker,

Certified Mortgage Planner, 859.977.5239 | 1084 EAST NEW CIRCLE ROAD

BRADLEYHACKER.BENCHMARK.US

Brad has been in the business for over 13 years. He specializes in help-ing clients select the mortgage that best � ts their overall � nancial

plans and goals. � is level of comfort is why his clients are extremely loyal and satis� ed.

Benchmark is built on integrity, honesty, accessibility, a� ention to detail, and extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry. Brad is proud to help his team meet these goals every day.

In his spare time, Brad enjoys gol� ng, hunting, � shing, reading and spending time with his family and friends. Brad considers himself a huge UK fan. He and his wife have two daughters.

Traditional BankShawn Woolum, Assistant VP

859.225.2197 | ZANDALE BANKING CENTER 2197 NICHOLASVILLE ROAD | TRADITIONALBANK.COM

Shawn joined Traditional Bank in 2014 to oversee lending and deposit op-erations at their new Zandale Banking Center. He brings over ten years of

experience to the position, as well as a motivation to help others. “I love being a community banker,” he said. “� is profession allows me to meet so many great people, build relationships and have a positive impact on people’s lives.”

In his spare time, Shawn enjoys playing sports, � shing, hunting, gol� ng, cook-ing, spending time with family and a� ending UK sporting events. He says his proudest accomplishment is being the father to two wonderful children.

NMLS#22435 | KyLic. 9457

Love Your Lender


Benchmark David Willoughby

Certified Mortgage Planner859.977.5933 | 1084 EAST NEW CIRCLE ROAD

DAVIDWILLOUGHBY.BENCHMARK.US

Benchmark Mortgage is a core values-based organization, focusing on achieving success through maintaining and improving client re-

lationships, remaining dynamic, reaching for excellence and maintaining a positive a� itude. � ey emphasize placing relationships above all other things. � ey base their business on preserving and strengthening all cur-rent and future client relationships.

With 16 plus years of experience as a Certi� ed Mortgage Planner, David specializes in VA, FHA, RHS and Conventional home loans. His family motivates him; he and his wife have seven children and � ve grandchil-dren. In his spare time, David enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, including the UK Wildcats.

BenchmarkMarty Preston, Partner 859.967.1777 | 1084 EAST NEW CIRCLE ROAD

MARTYPRESTON.BENCHMARK.US

Marty, a UK alumnus and father of 4, became the � rst Certi-� ed Mortgage Planner in the state of Kentucky in 2004. He

and his team use their extensive � nancial experience and expertise to ensure that each and every client can maximize their savings by tailoring the loan to the � nancial goals and needs of their family.

When it comes to choosing a mortgage, Marty advises, “� ere are a lot of moving pieces people are not aware of so it is essential to have an advisor in your corner who understands the market and how to position you to save money.”

NMLS#20984 | KyLic. 8567

NMLS#20146 | KyLic. 8536

Love Your Lender


Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.Dana Back-Pack, Branch Manager

859.621.0169220 LEXINGTON GREEN CIRCLE STE 130

LOANSBYBACKPACK.COM

Love Your Lender


Dana is an accomplished mortgage lender with over 15 years of experience. Her areas of ex-

pertise include FHA, VA, Rural Housing Service and Kentucky Housing Corporation lending, in addition to conventional and jumbo loans. She specializes in customizing mortgage solutions and working with fi rst-time homebuyers for low down payment programs.

“My experience and industry knowledge assures my customers a smooth transaction from pre-qualifi cation to closing,” Dana said. “I take great pride in having a stellar reputation and have been fortunate to have worked with outstanding people and companies throughout my career. I’ve learned to always have the client’s best interest at heart and appreciate their relationships fi rst and foremost.”

Dana was recently named Branch Manager for Fairway Independent Mortgage’s fi rst Kentucky location. Th ey proudly operate in 46 states and are currently rated the 5th largest lender in the nation.

In her free time, Dana enjoys riding cross-country with her husband on their Harley-Davidson mo-torcycle. Th ey are proud members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, which supports those who have defended our country. She also enjoys collecting stamps on her passport, experi-encing other cultures, reading on her Kindle and spending time at the beach with friends.

NMLS#71942

Road to Retirement


by Barbara Meyer

What you need to know and how to plan.

The concept of retirement as we know it has its be-ginning in the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century. At that time, work was much more dependent on manual labor, and without modern mandated safety standards and conditions, older workers had to retire simply because they couldn’t physically per-form the work at their former levels. Retirement once represented an ending, whereas now it’s simply become the next phase in life, a phase that can be exciting and fulfilling—if planned for properly.

Today, people gradually transition into retirement, cycling be-tween jobs and retirement activities, often continuing to work part time at existing jobs while traveling, taking classes, consulting, or even starting new small businesses. Sound good? It can be, but before you start thinking about retiring, you should be thinking about how you’ll save for it, and you can begin right now.

Don’t Rely on An outDAteD RoADmAp

A common, and dangerous mistake is to assume that since your parent or grandparent received a company-sponsored pension, a gold watch, and health insurance for life from a company that took care of everything upon retirement, you will too. Another mis-conception is that if you have worked all of your life, you can just rely on Social Security to cover your retirement needs, even if you have to live on a fixed income. “Today’s retirement planning must be very specific, fluid, and flexible”, says Bruce Hanks, president and CEO of Wealth Management of Kentucky, Inc. “Most people now have to rely on only what they can defer in their company’s 401K, IRA, or investments/savings.” Changing economic times and employment trends have eliminated the pensions of previous generations, and those that can still get healthcare must pay the biggest portion of those premiums. The increasing rate of inflation


TOPS Cares


HOW YOU CAN HELPKey individuals involved in this organization include Executive Director Analisa Wagoner, cofounder Jenni-fer Monarch, and Board Chair Amy Wickliffe. Follow-ing is their Top Priority Wish List:

•Size 16+ clothing, conservative in color and style, appropriate for interviewing with a would-be em-ployer, as well as ‘wearables’ to work once hired.

•Long sleeve button-down shirts in all sizes—black and white—for those women working in the hospi-tality field.

•Scrub tops and bottoms, any and all sizes needed for individuals who are seeking employment in medical facilities or child care.

•Black no-skid ladies’ shoes for clients whose new-found employment requires standing on their feet for a significant amount of their work day.

•Black neck ties for hospitality workers.

•Donations of portfolios for clients who will be tak-ing resumes, letters of recommendation and ways to showcase their creative work to prospective employ-ers.

•Work appropriate shoes in sizes 10+.

Donations are accepted by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They are sorted and earmarked for the Suiting program, deemed inappropriate for the workplace and donated on to other partner organiza-tions, or selected for one of their quarterly sales; the proceeds of which go directly back into funding their programs.

They are also looking for mentors; local women who have the time, patience, and willingness to work with qualified job seekers who really need and would great-ly appreciate gaining insights from individuals who un-derstand how important self-confidence is when one is interviewing for a badly needed job.

According to Wagoner, “If you’ve got mentoring or hu-man resources experience—on any level—we’d wel-come you as a volunteer in our Career Center. Nothing is as impactful for those we’re working to help as being able to sit down and discuss their hopes, expectations and fears for entry or re-entry into the job market with someone who has experience to share!”

Contact: Analisa Wagoner, [email protected] or call 859-231-7848. You can also visit their website, dressforsuccess.org/lexington or find them on Facebook.

Board Chair Amy Wickliffe noted that while all donations are appreciated, job appropriate new, or nearly-new items for women are especially wel-comed. “As our very first client said, “When you look good, you feel good” and the clothing in our boutique reflects that sentiment, enabling our cli-ents to put their best selves forward when they are finished being suited. They walk out with a new found confidence and energy, much more pre-pared to land that new job.”

According to Analisa, “We are truly blessed by the outpouring of support we have received from the community. As a young organization, we are in need of job appropriate attire for our women, supplies for our Career Center, and volunteers to help us make it all happen.”

Although this amazing organization is locally based and operated, it’s one of 139 Dress for Success affiliates throughout the world. The Lexington organization was approved as an affiliate in 2012, and has become a highly regarded source of hope and inspiration, positively changing lives since opening its doors. •

The Law & You


We live in a nation of laws, which dictate how we work and socialize with others. As a profession, lawyers go back to

ancient Greece. Governments throughout history have had laws as their foundation, with lawyers helping to interpret those laws and uphold the courts and legal systems. From making purchases to our personal relationships, laws guide our actions. We all want to follow the law, but it takes knowledge and experience to truly understand it. � at’s where the experts come in.

Just as a� empting to repair your car engine or � x your home fur-nace without having knowledge in those areas is potentially dan-gerous, in many instances trying to navigate complicated laws also invites disaster if done without the help of a lawyer. If you’re considering starting a business, buying a home, ge� ing a divorce, writing your will, or any other of life’s milestones that involve legal guidelines, you should � rst consult an a� orney. Laws change continually, and it’s important to work in conjunction with some-one who is not only up-to-date on them, but who is trained to understand how they can be in-terpreted in a wide range of dif-ferent circumstances.

Since so much is riding on a favorable outcome, it’s vital that you have legal representation that’s trustworthy. But why is it that the lawyers have garnered a reputation for being anything but? Mostly because exaggerated portrayals of them are entertaining in spite of being inaccurate.

Who comes to mind when you think of lawyers? For every A� icus Finch, the a� orney in “To Kill A Mockingbird” who de� es racism by defending an innocent African-American man accused of rape in a small Depression-era Alabama town, or the not-so-dumb fair-haired a� orney Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde” who cleverly and stylishly defends her client in a murder trial, entertainment is packed with lawyers who lack their noble qualities. In the stage musical and sub-sequent movie “Chicago”, sleazy superstar celebrity a� orney Billy Flynn doesn’t let the fact that his client actually is guilty of a murder charge stop him from razzle-dazzling his way to an acqui� al. � e ruthless, mob-controlled Memphis law partners serve as the villains

themselves in “� e Firm”, and the legal team in the television show “L.A. Law” have more personal and romantic problems than the cli-ents they serve.

Even the lifestyles of real lawyers seen in media with their outlandish personal entanglements and extravagant incomes are also not a re-� ection of the lives of most a� orneys. While many are well compen-sated for their time, expertise, and contributions, typically lawyers would cite helping people and ge� ing them through di� cult times

of their lives in a way that changes them for the be� er as their calling. � e practice of law can be “the grind of all grinds” — stressful, demanding, and requiring long hours and loads of paperwork. Lawyers must be knowledgeable about a number of di� erent sub-jects, detail-oriented, � exible and open-minded as laws evolve to meet the needs of changing so-cieties; such as new ones regard-ing the environment and digital privacy. Not to mention lawyers must be highly sensitive to the emotions that their clients are fac-ing at what is o� en the worst time of their lives – anger, desperation, fear and despair.

A LAWYER’S LIFE

Most people think that all lawyers work in courtrooms every day, but there are actually far more work-ing in o� ces than in trial se� ings. While a day in the life of a lawyer may involve time litigating a case, on other days of that week they might have consultations with clients or mediations with opposing counsel. � at doesn’t include additional days spent researching and writing briefs, preparing responses, le� ers, demand packages, mo-tions and other duties involving their cases.

Lawyers are dedicated to their clients and subscribe to � duciary duty, which means that they cannot allow their own interests, or those of another, to interfere with their representation of their client. A� orney-client privilege isn’t simply a � gure of speech—lawyers cannot disclose what you tell them to anyone, from those in the courtroom to the police, if you tell them in con� dence. In most states, a person taking the bar exam must undergo a moral character and background check in order to be eligible.

by Barbara Meyer

The Law & You


It’s no easy feat becoming a lawyer, and law school ap-plications far outnumber open spots. Becoming a U.S. lawyer requires a four-year degree (English, pre-law, or political science are popular), followed by three years of law school, then passing the bar exam.

Familiar Faces in law

What do singers Andrea Bocelli and Julio Iglesias, actor John Cleese, artists Henri Matisse and Wassily Kandin-sky, sports figures Howard Cosell and Steve Young, and political leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela have in common? They all earned law degrees.

Successful lawyers are passionate, goal driven, prepared, witty, competent and caring. As both involve public speaking, a desire to help others, and a thorough knowl-edge of our judicial system, it’s no wonder that politics and law go hand-in-hand. 25 of our 44 presidents have been lawyers, including Barack Obama, a 1991 Har-vard Law School graduate and former professor at the University of Chicago Law School. First Lady Michelle Obama is also a lawyer who also earned a law degree from Harvard Law School, and met her husband when they were both working at a Chicago law firm.

Types oF law

Laws are intertwined into all aspects of our lives, and the many different areas of law necessitate lawyers who are experts in those specific areas. Here are some of the more common ones, and the instances in which they’re used:

Family law: divorce, separations and annulments, child custody, and child support.

Business law: starting a new business or partnership, basic business matters including taxes, mergers and ac-quisitions.

labor law: advice and representation of you or your business in union matters, workplace safety issues, and compliance with government regulations like OSHA.

estate planning: property management, wills, probate and estate planning.

immigration: representing parties in citizenship and naturalization procedures.

intellectual property: helping you to establish trade-marks, patents, and navigate copyright regulations.

real estate: assisting you while selling, buying, or rent-ing a home or business, or developing properties or working with zoning issues.

personal injury: representing you if you’ve been injured through intent or neglect, and helping to file workers’ compensation claims through employers.

criminal law: proving your innocence or negotiating a plea bargain if you are accused of or involved with a crime. Criminal lawyers will provide representation for you should your case involve going before a judge or go-ing to trial. They will also help you to prosecute some-one who has committed a crime against you.

Do-iT-yourselF Doesn’T work

Thinking of going it alone in court in order to save money? Think again. If you act as your own attorney, be aware that while it is legal to represent yourself, judges and courtroom personnel are not allowed to give you advice, and you will be held to all the same standards as an actual attorney, including following procedures, meeting deadlines, and completing paperwork. When there are potentially serious financial or personal risks at stake, the cost of an attorney is a worthy investment that could drastically increase your chances of a favor-able outcome. Lawyers also know the politics and per-sonalities involved and how to focus on the important issues. Each county and each judge can be very different and knowing the system that you are dealing with and the inclinations of the judge on the bench is absolutely vital if you want to achieve the best result possible.

reaDy To geT sTarTeD?

To find the right lawyer, begin by asking family mem-bers, colleagues or friends to recommend one, or by searching through your state bar association. Your com-munity may have a referral service to help, and your em-ployer may offer a pre-paid legal services plan that you can join. Legal clinics, which typically center on stan-dard services like wills and traffic offenses, may charge less than traditional law firms for services.

While you may have a right to free legal representation in certain criminal cases, you do not have a right to a lawyer free of charge in civil matters. However, there are legal assistance programs offering inexpensive or free legal services to those in need, though there are usually strict guidelines for eligibility, such as military status.

In the popular 50s television program that bore his name, L.A. criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason relent-lessly targeted and interrogated the real guilty parties to free his falsely accused clients. Out of almost 300 cases, Mason lost only three, and he got one of those reversed on appeal. Many people thought that he was a real person and called California law firms trying to hire him. Mason is a fictional character, but when life puts you in difficult and challenging situations involving the law, you can similarly find an experienced lawyer of your own who helps their clients address and success-fully handle them. Show some love for lawyers and get an expert in your corner. •

Andrea Bocelli

John Cleese

Henri Matisse

Howard Cosell

Mahatma Ghandi

Gardening


by Michelle RauchGardening Enthusiast

The Valentine RoseI have a confession—I have never been a big fan of Valentine’s Day. The realist in me always saw it as an overly commercialized day full of hype to boost candy, card, and flower sales. Sure, it’s nice to get flowers on Valentine’s day, especially when everyone around you is getting them, but I am one who appreciates the unexpected. How about flowers, just because day? Now that would be special and memorable. With that confession aside, here’s a look at the his-tory of the day and it’s gift of choice, the rose.

The origins of Valentine’s Day are about as reliable as a garden’s productivity on any given year. There are theories. The tie between mid-February and love dates back to a pagan fertility festival. It has been said that the day was derived from the namesake of a 5th century priest named Valentine, who defied his ruler and still per-formed marriages for young men during a time when it was pro-hibited. It was believed focused soldiers were needed without the temptation of love, therefore they should not wed. Valentine was sentenced to death on February 14th. Prior to his fate he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and sent her a declaration of his love and signed it “from your Valentine.” Other theorists believed February 14th was the beginning of the mating season for many birds. Love was in the air.

The rose is believed to have been the flower of choice for Venus, the Goddess of Love. The red rose, specifically, stands for strong romantic feelings. Wherever the roots of the day were planted, it’s a tradition with some mind boggling statistics. I have compiled a list of fun facts. My list of sources includes the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Valentine’s Day may be just one day, but the numbers will tell you it’s big business around the world for flower producers.

•The majority of flower buyers on Valentine’s day are men, although one study found that 15% of women in the United States will send them-selves flowers on this day.

•California produces 60% of Ameri-can roses.

•The majority of cut flower ship-ments are imported from South America. Colombia leads with 536 million stems (67%). Ecuador is a distant second with 194 million stems (23%).

•U.S. ports of entry for shipments of imported cut flower imports: Mi-ami and Los Angeles.

•The top cut flower imports are Ros-es, mixed bouquets, and Dianthus.

•More than 200 million roses are sold in the U.S. during an average year.

My most memorable Valentine’s Day was my freshman year in college. My 19-year old boyfriend “WOWed” me

with a dozen red roses, a box of chocolates, a bottle of Dom Peri-gnon and two Baccarat crystal cham-pagne flutes. Memorable alright, but I dare say my young suitor was simply out to make a flashy impression based on how much money he spent. Little did he know I am a fan of affordable mixed bouquets. Flowers are nature’s loving gift to us all and food for our soul. I suggest they adorn your desk to be enjoyed all year long.


TOPS IN

EQ

UIN

E

Filly of the Month:Lynn Pedigo

Structural design and interior de-sign aren’t usually a pair of talents for one person to have, but Lynn Pedigo has both. She can plan houses from the outside in, with an eye for the details of space plan-ning as they relate to the structural aspect.

Horse barns are houses, too. Pedigo has served on the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation’s board of direc-tors since 2008 and was involved in the barn-building process at the Horse Park for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. She made sure the cupolas were in scale with the barns, for example, and that other exterior and interior details were correct. � ree of the four barns have been built. “Eventually they’ll be connected with an overhead roofed walkway to get the horses from the barns to Alltech Arena,” she said.

� e barns are 128 feet by 185 feet. Each can hold 112 stalls. “We de-signed the barn so the stalls are not permanent,” she said. � e stalls can be assembled in any con� guration–or no stalls at all so a barn can be used as a riding ring or as an event venue.”

Pedigo has worked on projects with quite a few horse farms in the Blue-grass, including Bluewater Farm, Idle Hour Farm, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Patchen Wilkes Farm, Pine Knoll Farm and Summer Place Farm. She won a silver award in 2013 from Quali� ed Remodeler magazine’s national competition for a whole-house remodel she did for Patchen Wilkes Farm. She has also designed for clients in Chicago and Califor-nia, aw well as in Fort Lauderdale and Bal Harbor, Florida. She also designed the house that Coach Calipari bought.

When Garry Milton purchased the double lot on Richmond Road, he and his wife called Pedigo. “I sketched something out, an Itali-anate style,” she said. “� ey fell in love with it.” She drew the design for the house plans and helped the couple get the � nishes done. � ey sold the house a year or two later, and that’s when the Caliparis moved to town and bought it.

Pedigo was having lunch at Dud-ley’s one day, and John and Ellen Calipari were si� ing nearby. At her friend’s urging, she stopped by their table to say she had drawn the plans

By Kathie Stamps

From Bluewater Farm to Coach Cal’s House...Lynn’s career has spawned some impressive designs.

FEBRUARY 2015 | TOPSINLEX.COM 119

TOPS IN

EQU

INE

By Kathie Stamps

Lynn Pedigo (Pictures by Keni Parks)

for the house they bought. “He shook my hand and said thank you,” Pedigo recalled. “I said, if there’s anything about your house you would change, what would it be? He said, there’s not enough closets, and laughed. I said, there’s never enough clos-ets.”

A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, Pedigo went to UK, where she majored in Interior Design (a� er taking Political Science courses and � irting with the idea of becoming an a� orney). She graduated in 1987 and stayed in Lexington, as so many do. � en she went to work for Cravens & Associates. “I fell in love with the architecture stu� ,” she said. “I drew all of his projects for him, with his over-sight.” In 1990 she started her own company, Pedigo Design, making her business 25 years old this year. She is certi� ed by NCIDQ, the National Council for Interior Design Quali� ca-tion.

In the early days, she handed out a brochure to new-home builders at job sites, in subdivi-sions like Hartland and Dog-wood Trace. She drew home plans for Mac Crawford and oth-er builders. Over the years, her list of builder clients has included Atchison Heller, Padge� Construction, LCM Management, Bob Myers and Phase IV Contractors.

AutoCAD wasn’t around yet when Pedigo started out, so her hand-drawing skills were meticulous–and still are! She makes sure every detail is correct in the line weights: the closest lines are dark, while lines in the background are lighter to show distance.

She chose not to learn computer-aided design so� ware. “I was already well-established by the time that rolled in,” she said. “Ev-erybody likes hand drawings. It hasn’t hindered me.” She scans her drawings and emails them to clients. She has a full-time interior designer on sta� , Ben Deaton, who helps manage job sites and han-dles a lot of the furniture, drapery and other design aspects. Each

semester she keeps an intern or two busy, always from the Uni-versity of Kentucky College of Design. “I pay them and they get credit,” she said. Pedigo Design started 2015 with 23 projects in various stages of progress.

When clients meet with her be-fore they have a builder in mind, Pedigo puts together a package with drawings and speci� ca-tions for lighting � xtures, � oor-ing, paints and appliances, and sends the package out for bid. “I try to think of three builders,” she said, “and match personali-ties with the client.”

When she is drawing plans, she meets with people in their cur-rent house to see the art they like and their day-to-day living style. “When I’m drawing, I’m thinking about the type of peo-ple they are and the way they like to live,” she said. “When when they speak to you about what they want, if you’re listen-ing you get it.”

� ere are certain homes in Chevy Chase with faceli� s that Pedigo Design had a hand in. “My dormers are something that people notice,” she said. “It

has to be the right scale and the right proportion to the house.”

She loves to cook and does her own home canning. Her knowledge of the culinary arts helps Pedigo design kitchens for cooking pros. She’ll o� en create zones for one cook or two, and for congregating guests... or a very di� erent design for those who don’t know their way around an oven. “If someone’s not a cook, you want to design a kitchen to help them, not make it more di� cult,” she said. “It needs to be convenient.”

When she’s not at her dra� ing table in downtown Lexington, Pedi-go enjoys spending weekends in the country with a friend on his � oroughbred horse farm. She grew up on a beef and dairy ca� le farm in Glasgow, so she’s quite comfortable living o� the land. “You can’t take the farm girl out of me,” she said.


TOPS IN

EQ

UIN

E

trainers as well as up-and-comers. Each competitor employs their own techniques and training methodology, but all make a lasting connection with their horse. � e collection of untouched geld-ings hailing from Texas are released into the arena, and their in-nate beauty is a striking sight to behold of gleaming coats, � owing manes and � ashing tails. Each horse is then paired with a trainer, and the metamorphosis begins.

� ese 3-year-old colts are transformed almost as is by magic into responsive, well-behaved horses by the guiding hands of their trainers under the watchful eye of the crowd over the course of three days. With a � nal test at the end of the competition, the competitors are judged not only on their display of skill, but HOW they achieved their results.

� e enormous e� ort required to present an event of this caliber every year is the price that Tootie and her colleagues willingly pay to bring the dream to life. � eir approach has, in e� ect, carved out a unique niche in the highly competitive world of horse training that is termed “colt-starting” in this event’s vernacular.

� e stories of the sweat, grunge, heavy hauling, and just plain old hard work of the people responsible for this competition are just

part and parcel of it, the makings of memories. � e humble be-ginnings of yesteryear as compared to the current extravaganza is a testament to the perseverance and dedication to a group of people invested in a philosophy that promotes the understanding of the horse’s ways.

ALL ABOUT THE HORSES

One of the most well-known Quarter Horse ranches in the United States, 6666 Ranch has been recognized as an AQHA All- Time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses. As a partner with Road to the Horse, each competitor hand picks the horse of their choosing to work with throughout the competition.

6666 Ranch keeps many of the horses for work on the ranch, and the geldings that are selected for the Road to the Horse are horses that have the potential to be a part of the “cowboy string” at the Four Sixes Ranch. � is string helps manage the cow operation that involves thousands of calves and is a huge part of the Ranch’s operation.

� e powerful presence of horses has always been an integral part of Road to the Horse. � ese creatures have played a pivotal role.


TOPS IN

EQU

INE

Commi� ed to the vision of � e Road to the Horse and its’ long-term success, Tootie Bland is a dreamer that knows how to make them come true.

PAST WINNERS OF ROAD TO THE HORSE

2011 - Pat Parelli, Chris Cox, Clinton Anderson

2012 International:

1. Team Australia - Guy McLean & Dan James

2. Tean Canada - Jonathan Field & Glenn Stewart

3. Team USA - Craig Cameron & Pat Parelli

2013 - Dan James, Sarah Winters, Guy McLean, Obbie Schlom

2014 - Jim Anderson, Antoine Cloux, Jonathan Field, Dan Steers

Horse Park Calendar of Events

THE KENTUCKY AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE

Friday, February 6, 2015 - 10:00am to Saturday, February 7, 2015 - 5:00pm

Alltech Arena

Horse Sales, L.P. and � e Kentucky A� er Christmas Sale, Inc.

� e 2015 edition of � e Kentucky A� er Christmas Sale will be the 30th consecutive year that this sale has been in operation and the � rst event of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry season. During the sale, a large selection of Tennessee Walking horses are available for purchase from pleasure and trail horses to show

horses and broodmares. “Each year the � nal portion of the auc-tion is reserved for our Spotlight edition. � is is a group of show horses that have achieved exceptional success in the show ring. Over the years the Spotlight edition has o� ered many World Grand Champions and Reserve World Grand Champions. It pro-vides a unique opportunity to purchase some of the most accom-plished and capable horses in our industry.”

www.horsesaleslp.com

H’ARTFUL OF FUN

Friday, February 6, 2015 - 7:00pm to 11:00pm

Alltech Arena

Living Arts & Science Center

“An annual fundraiser, celebrating its 25th anniversary, H’Artful of Fun supports the creative and educational arts and science programs provided by the Living Arts & Science Center for over 40,000 Central Kentuckians each year.

� is year’s H’Artful of Fun event will be held at the Alltech Arena Exposition Center at the Kentucky Horse Park on Friday, Febru-ary 6, 2015 at 7 p.m. From feathers to sequins, from bright colors to lively entertainment, the LASC’s “A Night in Rio” will set the stage for a fun-� lled, unique evening of fabulous entertainment, delicious appetizers and desserts, wine, beer, bourbon tastings, and incredible art.”

[email protected]

www.lasclex.org/index.php/events/hartful

Photos Courtesy of Road to the Horse

Fashion


by Beth ParkerFashion Blogger/Stylist

seersuckerandsaddles.blogspot.com

We are well into the chilly weather meaning we are well over the chilly weather, am I right? I was chatting with some girlfriends and we’ve pretty much all decided we are all done with dressing for these frigid temps. Sadly, however, us gals still have to look presentable but just really aren’t in the mood for trying to get all creative with our winter wear. So I have a solution, ladies. Leggings. Oh they’re so darn good, they’re so versatile, they’re so affordable, and they’re everywhere. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Sequin LeggingS

One would think these are only for New Year’s Eve but I tend to disagree. I see no problem sporting these sparkles year round. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner—how fun to toss on for a little dinner for two be it with your beau or your best girlfriend. Little tip to downplay the shine—sport them with some sneaks and the look will instantly become more casual.

“Leather” LeggingS

Any by leather I mean faux. If there is one legging to own, these would be it. They go with just about everything. Chunky knits, button down blouses, ponchos, anorak jackets, heels, flats, sneaks, you name it, these guys will complement tons in your wardrobe. And bonus, ladies, they’re super slimming and slenderize your figure!

Cotton LeggingS

These are by far the most comfy of the three in addition to being the most casual. These are kicked up a notch with the tuxedo stripe down the side which adds a fun graphic element. Like the leathers, these guys will go with everything. How about tossing them on with an over the knee boot? They’re equal parts comfortable and diverse.

While I would love to say we only have a month or so more of the chill, something tells me it’s here to stay for a bit. Make getting dressed in the morning easier (and more stylish) by upping your legging game. Remember, add elements of detail, be it stripe or sequin; toss on sneaks instead of heels, or try a textured ‘leather’ pair. Either way you go, I guarantee you’ll feel comfy and polished…and WARM!

photos by Kristin Tatem

Loving Leggings

Tour of Homes


From the foyer, we take the center stairway up a half level and into a

multi-purpose office and lounge. Mul-lins placed a working desk in front of the room’s broad arching window, which is dressed in sweeping crimson curtains. Mullins notes this room is also used for family time, as evident by the large caramel couch and herring-bone print tufted ottoman included in the heart of the space

To the right of the foyer, I’m amused by a slender French door, which opens to a library resembling Old World Eu-rope. The enchanting room is decorat-ed with a coffered ceiling and sliding ladders that skim across walls of wood custom-built shelves. The room feels like it belongs in another place and time, but serves a practical use for the homeowner today.


Tour of Homes


Returning to the foyer, we progress toward

the center of the first floor, passing through an elabo-rate Venetian archway that introduces a sophisticated dining room. The elevated ceiling with two layers of molding is highlighted by a contrasting ceiling tone. The dining room is com-plete with a sleek 10-seat dining table, a front win-dow trimmed in silk black and white printed curtains and a gold-trimmed im-ported black buffet.

Past the dining room, the natural flow of the home leads to an open area expos-ing a series of Venetian style columns setting off the liv-ing room. At the core of the open area, and adjacent to the living room, a glass-encased wine cellar holds a thousand bottles of wine collected by Mullins. At this point in the tour, we step down from the hardwood onto the beige carpet of the living room. The formality of the space is emphasized by the coffered ceiling and faux finished sage walls, which are trimmed in white railing. It’s impossible to overlook the massive cast stone fireplace, which was imported from Mexico. A bronze sectional couch and two Victorian style uphol-stered sitting chairs com-plete the living room.

Tour of Homes


Far walls of the kitchen are assembled with cream

cabinetry finished with elabo-rate molding. Matching corner cabinet sections with glass fac-ings are incorporated for china display. A pair of oversized, dra-matic bronze chandeliers hover over an 18-foot, two-tiered granite countertop, comple-mented by stools upholstered in an olive iKat print. On the right side of the room, a section of the granite workspace pro-vides a view out to the property.

Tour of Homes


Turning the corner back toward the great

room, Mullins gestures toward a light and refresh-ing sunroom soaking up natural light and warmth through two walls of glass panels with sliding doors, which open to the up-per level deck. In warm weather, the room serves as a transitional area guid-ing guests toward the lav-ish outdoor settings. The sunroom continues the home’s theme of detail-driven refinement with its quatrefoil print accent wall and four comfort-able linen sitting chairs. The porcelain tile extends from the sunroom onto the outside deck, which is furnished with a set of lounge chairs tossed with pillows matching the wall print from the indoor sec-tion.

“It’s really nIce havIng a glass of wIne whIle lookIng over the pool”

Parties


by Deanna TalwalkarParty Planner Extraordinaire

February is a sweet time of the year to celebrate your youngest loved ones. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean just roses and

boxes of chocolate. Break up the dreary, cold winter months with some fun, love inspired activities for your children. The following ideas will help make your February full of many hugs and kisses.

Love Messages

You can tell your kids how much you love them with a simple daily message. This is a great activity to do, even for your teenagers. Every child loves to hear what makes them special, even if they do not ad-mit it. At the beginning of February, cut out 14 paper hearts and write something you love about your child on each one of the hearts. Start-ing on February 1st, tape one heart to your child’s door in the morning

before they wake up each day until Valentine’s Day. It’s a simple way to start the day with a reminder of your love.

a sweet treat

A White Chocolate Strawberry S’mores Parfait is super simple to whip up for a Valentine’s snack or Valentine’s dessert. Both kids and adults will enjoy the flavor combination of strawberries coupled with white chocolate. If you use skim milk, it’s a pretty light dessert, making it an indulgence you can feel good about!

To make the dessert, mix 2 cups of cold milk and 1 package of white chocolate instant pudding mix according to package directions. Chill pudding for about one hour. Crush approximately 4-5 graham crack-ers. Place graham crackers in bottom of four small dishes, dividing equally. Roughly chop 1 cup of strawberries Top graham crackers with strawberries. Cover strawberries with prepared pudding. Top with plain or toasted heart shaped marshmallows.

showing Love to others

Valentine’s Day can be a time to encourage your kids to perform little acts of love for their loved ones or others. To help out loved ones, kids could do a chore for their sibling or grandparents. If you have family or loved ones that live out of town, kids could mail a hug to that person. To mail a hug, have kids trace each of their hands onto construction paper and cut them out. Cut a piece of ribbon about 36 inches long and staple or glue the hands to each end of the ribbon. Write a little message of love to the recipient on the hands.

Small acts of kindness for are a great way to introduce service for oth-ers. A few simple ideas include handing out boxes of conversation hearts to grocery store cashiers, post office employees, and other work-ers, while out running errands; taping a couple of dollars to a movie rental machine so someone can enjoy a free movie; or write a note of encouragement to a classmate, friend or someone who might need a little lift.

Making vaLentines

Encourage your child’s inner artist in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Instead of purchasing Valentine’s Cards, have children make cards using art materials you have on hand. Materi-als such as construction paper, paper doilies, fabric scraps, ribbon, paint, but-tons and stickers can all be used to make Valentines. Set out supplies and let kids have free reign to design their own mas-terpiece. Kids will love having the free-dom to create a Valentine and you’ll be surprised with their creativity.

Celebrate Your Little Ones

Photo & Styling by Mirabelle Creations

Family


by Hallie Bandy

Motherboardoverv

If your new year’s resolution was to rekindle some ro-mance, maybe it’s time to rethink your love language. And your budget.Because, you know, adult life happens.

There once was a young, hopeful ‘Me’, enamored with romantic notions of husbands who came home with flowers and sparkly keepsakes for special occasions. Mature ‘Me’ has come to terms with reality, and it involves budgets and necessities.

Instead of flowers and jewelry, there are vacuums. And yard tools. And new tires for the car. And the occasional sick pet.

I certainly don’t mind when my husband shows up with superflu-ous tokens of affection, but I’m here to tell you: there is some true romance involved in the nitty gritty of every day life.

A wise friend warned me, once you set up housekeeping; you see departments in Sears you never knew existed. That friend was right. And the crazy thing is, my husband and I find ourselves walking hand-in-hand into these places, listening intently to customer as-sociates explain the difference between the base and deluxe models of a power tool, or show us the features of newer appliances.

Here’s the thing—in grown-up love language, buying the deluxe power tools screams, “I love you.” And let me ask: Is there anything more attractive than a man who just got a great deal on a new kitch-en appliance?

Our marriage works well because we own our portions of the real-ity bargain. It is quite romantic in a mature sort of way.

Home improvement speaks to me, which means my husband never has to purchase sheets or towels, or select paint colors. Our mar-

riage survived a joint effort at wallpaper installation very early on, which led to an immediate “never again” resolution. (There are some things we bear alone as an expression of love. Wallpaper is certainly one.)

And here is the best part for me—nothing speaks to my husband quite like a trip to a warehouse store.

Because there is no place I would rather NOT be. The massiveness of such places overwhelms my introverted self, but his inner shop-per shines bright.

He loves that it’s big. The store is big. The products are big. The shopping carts are big. And sometimes he needs two of those big shopping carts to stock our home with the necessities. He combs the aisles for big savings.

And I love that he goes. I love that we have a six-month supply of toilet paper. I love that we have enough zip-lock bags to pack all our belongings should we suddenly need to move. I love that I didn’t have to push a 200-pound cart full of 124-ounce cans of tomatoes through the mile-long maze that is the ware-house superstore.

And when he comes home and unloads all those great big packages, I love him!

Now, if we can just figure out who speaks the language of cleaning up after pets, I think we can live happily ever after.

Love Languages for Grownups

Relationships


I remember my first romantic date with Mister Man like it was yes-terday. I teased my hair making it extra large, put on a sassy little red dress, stuffed my bra with a pair of running socks and treated myself to a new set of acrylic nails. I must have looked like Dolly Parton, looking back in retrospect. But he didn’t seem to mind. Mister Man picked me up right on time and escorted me to a lovely little French restaurant downtown. I ordered a glass of red wine and he opted for a bourbon and coke. The candle in the center of the table provided the perfect glow as we gazed into each other’s eyes. Conversation flowed freely and I was pleased beyond words with his fantastic sense of humor.

Sitting at a table beside us was an older couple. They were dressed sharply and it looked as if the woman spent as much time getting ready as I had. Although I was fairly cer-tain she didn’t spring for the running socks. She, too, was drinking a glass of red wine and her husband appeared to be sipping on a scotch and rocks. I did note that for the entire hour two hours that we sat side by side, the cou-ple barely spoke. They didn’t look angry or frustrated; it just appeared that they had nothing to say.

Based upon their ages, it was entirely possible that they had been together for fifty plus years. Quite an accomplishment! But I was certainly taken by the lack of conversation. They did look at one another sweetly and when she stood to go to the power room he pulled her chair out and tucked it back in upon her return. But why didn’t they speak I wondered?

The after dinner coffee finally broke their silence. “Excellent coffee,” uttered the woman. “I was thinking the same thing.” replied the man. And that was it.

Perhaps years of life together, took away the words. Perhaps they sim-ply knew each other so well that little was left to say. Was this a good thing or bad I pondered?

Mister Man and I have been together exclusive since that first date. A few months back he took me to the same little French restaurant for the first time in many years. My hair was not quite as tall as it had been that first evening and I opted for a nice shirt and jeans. Needless to say,

I left the running socks in the drawer where they belonged. I ordered a red wine and he chose iced tea. The food was just as good as I remem-bered.

Half way through our fabulous dinner something very alarming oc-curred to me. Our conversation was quite sparse. Particularly com-pared to the young couple sitting beside us who were talking a mile per minute. They were clearly fascinated by each other and information could not come fast enough.

At first I felt envious and downright concerned. But it also occurred to me that I felt strangely comfortable with the silence. Perhaps just being in the company of the man who knew me better than anybody was

enough. It felt peaceful, safe and actually refreshing. With incredibly busy schedules, meetings, and phone calls, I realized that sometimes the closest you can feel to some-one is in silence.

I pointed out the young cou-ple to Mister Man. “Do you remember when that was us?” I asked. “Do you miss those days?” “Sometimes, I suppose.” he replied. He continued,”It was like having a beautiful present that was to be carefully unwrapped.” “Does anything in particular stand out to you about that

night?” I asked. Mister Man began laughing. Literally almost snorting with laughter. “What!!” I sharply replied. “What is so funny!” He fi-nally gained his composure. “The socks.” “Huh?” I had forgotten about the running socks. “Well, one of them was…uhhhh, peaking out all evening.” I was mortified. We both laughed for the duration of the din-ner, reminiscing the early days of our relationship.

Although the newness had worn off, it was replaced by something that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Time. We were on our way to earning what that sweet old couple had. Perhaps another forty years down the road we might not even need the words. We would just know. And I was determined to embrace each moment of conversation, laugh-ter…and silence. by Buffy Lawson

Relationship Veteran

Comfortable Silence

Weddings


When embracing the “Something Old, Something New” theme in your wedding plans, there are two elements that tend to get

brushed aside by the bride. First, many just default to their wedding gown as their “Something New”. Of course it is, but take that one step further to make “Something New” something special. Second, most brides don’t realize that the saying completes with “…and a silver Sixpence in her shoe”! The sixpence is a good luck token represent-ing wealth and financial security, even if it was originally just worth six cents.

FeaTure YOur NeW INITIalS FOr SOmeThINg NeW

To add thoughtfulness to your “Something New” with your wedding gown, have your new initials embroidered inside your wedding dress. Depending on your dress, it may be easier to do it at the hem, and this way you can show it to friends and family during the reception. my favorite place for this is just inside the back closure, or in the front near your heart. go ahead and have it embroidered in blue for double good luck.

DebuT YOur NeW INITIalS aT The recepTION

To show off your “Something New” initials to all your guests, incorporate it into your reception décor, from a bright light dis-play with gobo lights, to monogrammed napkins. I love glasses etched with your new initials, and to keep that budget in mind, have them made for just the wedding party, or the two of you.

The SIlver SIxpeNce

You can’t just pick up a sixpence anywhere, but they are readily available on the web and on ebay. here is an important hint for the sixpence in your shoe. place it in your shoe under the arch of your foot where it will bother you the least. under the ball of your foot or heel has the potential to make walking and danc-ing miserable after a couple hours. Or after you walk down the aisle, take it out and put it in your new husband’s pocket. You can also super glue it on the sole of your shoe in the rise near

the heel, which opens up the pos-sibility for a very cute photo.

Take The SIxpeNce beYOND YOur ShOe

Your sixpence doesn’t have to be a shoe-in. Drill a hole in a sixpence and loop it into your bouquet, then you can wear it as a pendant later on. ready made silver six-pence pendants and necklaces are

available online, and through artisans on etsy.

YOu are YOur SOmeThINg NeW

a wedding is an important rite of passage, and gives you a point of reference to begin anew. all eyes will be on you, a new ‘mrs.’ if you are old fashioned—oh, that’s ‘Something Old’ too!

by Marsha KollerWedding Consultant

‘Something New’ and a Silver Sixpence for Your Shoe, Too!


Lex In The City

Even though the show is all about the tremendous work of the film industry, we are just as excited about the red carpet. Fashion and the Oscars have always gone hand in hand. Some of the most memorable gowns in history floated down the Academy carpet and we are certain this year will be no different. While we will miss Ellen and her record breaking selfie skills this year, ‘Gone Girl’ star Neil Patrick Harris is taking over hosting duties on February 22nd on ABC. With his talent and charm we are no doubt in for an entertaining three hours.


Lex In The City

Every February and September, fashion designers are scurrying about putting together their ready to wear collections. New York, London, and Milan will all show their Fall 2015 best starting on the 12th, with the undeniably chic Paris following shortly after in March. This will mark the first season in New York that Peter Copping will show his efforts as creative direc-tor for the late and unforgettable Oscar de la Renta. Copping left the elegant house of Nina Ricci last fall and has some very big shoes to fill. As for the runway, you can plan on seeing even more of model “it” girls like Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, and Kendall Jenner strutting their stuff. We are mostly looking forward to what trends will be all the rage for Fall. Will it be bold colors? Fringe? Capes? Check out our fashion week coverage online throughout February to find out.

Save the Date

206 FEBRUARY 2015 | TOPSINLEX.COMAdd YOUR event to our online calendar for FREE!Visit TopsInLex.com /calendar_submission.php][

Wags and Drags to benefit the Scott County Humane Society6p-10 The Grand Reserve

Walk for Warmth10a-12p Phoenix Park

THEATRE7 SATURDAYPeter and the Star Catcher2p & 8p Lexington Opera House

Hanfu Fashion, Dance and Ancient Music7:30p-8:30p Singletary Center

19 THURSDAYThe 39 Steps7:30p UK Guignol Theatre

21 FRIDAYI Love Lucy Live!8p Norton Center

22 SUnDAYChuggington Live! The Great Rescue Adventure2p Lexington Opera House

Señora Tortuga2p & 4:30p EKU Center for the Arts

26 THURSDAY42nd Street7p Lexington Opera House

LIVE MUSIC7 SATURDAYGregory Porter7:30p EKU Center for the Arts

12 THURSDAYLexington Old-Time Music Gathering7p ArtsPlace

13 FRIDAYSundy Best8p Lexington Opera House

Tchaikovsky & Crouching Tiger7:30p Singletary Center

17 TUESDAYRAINN: A Tribute to The Beatles7:30p Lexington Opera House

21 SATURDAYLexington Philharmonic PB&J10a Aviation Museum of Kentucky

24 TUESDAYThe Hot Sardines7:30p EKU Center for the Arts

27 TUESDAYCameron Carpenter8p Norton Center

EnTERTAInMEnT7 SATURDAYSpecialty Store Sale Spectacular!9:30a-4:30p Oleika Shrine Temple

Kentucky Sport, Boat & Recreation ShowLexington Center

The Kentucky After Christmas SaleKentucky Horse Park

8 SUnDAYKentucky Sport, Boat & Recreation ShowLexington Center

11 WEDnESDAYAlton Brown Live: Edible Inevitable Tour7:30p EKU Center for the Arts

Greg Morton7:15p Comedy Off Broadway

18 WEDnESDAYThe Price is Right: LIVE7:30p EKU Center for the Arts

Save the Date

FEBRUARY 2015 | TOPS MAGAZINE 207[ Visit TopsInLex.com for our full calendar ]

Guy Torry7:15p Comedy Off Broadway

21 SaturdayJim Gaffigan8:30p Singletary Center

22 SuNdayCKYO Teen Arts Concert7p Singletary Center

27 FridayGLAA Las Vegas Night6p-10p Marriott Griffin Gate

New Home and Remodeling Marketplace4p Kentucky Horse Park

26 thurSdayHenry Cho7:15p Comedy Off Broadway

28 SaturdayKodo7:30p EKU Center for the Arts

LEarNiNG10 tuESdayBale Boone Symposium: Legacies of the American Civil War7p UK William T. Young Library

11 WEdNESdayThe Artist’s Way: Nurturing Our Creative Life6p Joseph-Bell Booksellers

12 thurSdayAn Evening with Ben Carson7:30p-9p Norton Center for the Arts

14 SaturdayChinese New Year Celebration4:30p-9p Lexington Opera House

18 WEdNESdayBlack History Convocation10a-12p Lyric Theatre

SPOrtS7 SaturdaySnowball Series Mounted GamesKentucky Horse Park

8 SuNdaySnowball Series Mounted GamesKentucky Horse Park

10 tuESdayUK Men’s Basketball v LSU7p AWAY

14 SaturdayUK Men’s Basketball vs South Carolina2p Rupp Arena

15 SuNdayAKC Dog Test and Dog Tracking Dog Excellence Test8a-4p Kentucky Horse Park

17 tuESdayUK Men’s Basketball vs Tennessee7p AWAY

21 SaturdayUK Men’s Basketball v Auburn6p Rupp Arena

KHSAA State Wrestling ChampionshopKentucky Horse Park

25 WEdNESdayUK Men’s Basketball v Mississippi State4p AWAY

28 SaturdayUK Men’s Basketball v Arkansas4p Rupp Arena

Snowbird DressageKentucky Horse Park

tops in lexington magazine february 2015

Documents

lexington philharmonic

lexington magazine

people of lexington

preview party

party possibilities

whats new

event photos

family friendly parties