Monday, March 4, 2013

Lauren and Lauren do Louisville

This past weekend we had the chance to take a short trip to Louisville to celebrate my dear friend Lauren's birthday. I was lucky enough to meet Lauren 3 or so years ago when I started training for my first hula-hoop marathon. We were assigned to be on the same training team. Our friendship really blossomed when we realized during a Sunday morning training that we both went out on a date that week with the same dude. We both really disliked him, but the funniest part was that he thought we were the same person. Both Lauren, both sassy, both hula-hoopers. No wonder Lauren had a strange first date - the dude thought he was on his second!
But here we are three years later. She's engaged to the wonderful and incredibly funny Matt and me cohabitating with the Steve. I don't think I would have been able to get to my current place in life without Lauren's friendship. She helps me calm down when I'm being super uptight and she can always make me giggle. I'm super lucky to have found her!

On Saturday afternoon we drove up to Louisville. We stayed at the Galt House, which was a pretty nice hotel. What we didn't expect was that Kid Rock was playing a concert next door at the KFC Yum! Center and apparently all his fans had booked a room at the Galt House as well. I have never seen that much Bud Light, tube topped women in 30-degree weather, or camouflage sweatshirts in one location. There was even something in one of the ballrooms called "The Kick Ass Redneck Party." I did not attend.
On Sunday we went to the abandoned Lynn's Paradise Cafe to shoot some photos. Lynn's was the place where everyone told me I needed to eat when I visited Louisville. I was too late, as the establishment shut its doors this January with no explanation. I was bummed that we couldn't eat there - but I was still pretty stoked that we could take pictures with all of the kitschy stuff they have in their parking lot!
Ok, I know I'm wearing white socks with flats. I'm not super happy about this fashion choice but it was freezing out and this was the only pair of socks I had with me on the trip. Lauren was much braver than me and wore her cute flats sans socks.
Lauren's Outfit
Sweater: H&M
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
This is yet another piece of cat clothing I picked up from Modcloth. I love the mint color and the pattern of sweet white kitties. The fit is just baggy enough to hide the food baby that I acquired from Cuban food lunch.
How wonderful is this claw necklace? I won it last month over on The Charley Girl (I love her blog SO much!). It's from Midnight Riders and is a recycled bullet talon! I'm so in love with this piece- I'm even wearing it again today!


My Outfit
Top: Modcloth
Jeans: J Brand
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Midnight Riders

17 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. That is too funny about the guy you both went out on a date with!! I mean, too bad it had to be so awkward and such a bust, but I think that getting a strong friendship out of it is more worthwhile anyhow.
    That restaurant looks amazing. What a bummer that they closed!! It makes a great backdrop, regardless. So colourful, as I have come to expect from your outfit posts!

    --Erin
    Predictions for the Past

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    1. Oh that guy was terrible! He spent our whole date talking about how much he hated his ex-girlfriend. How she "stole" his music career and all his friends. Bitter much?

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  3. HA! I love stories about great friendships beginning because two ladies have some awkward good-fer-nothin' dude in common. This one takes the cake, though. HOW could he possibly have mixed you up? And HOW many Laurens have you collected over the years? :D

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    1. Oh, lots of Laurens :)

      I have no idea how he confused us, but I guess he just focused on the facts. Both Lauren, both hula hoopers, both live on the East side.

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  4. Hahaha, you guys are so cute and fun! Can I just say that it's one of my life goals to see a show at the KFC Yum! Center? Because it's called the fucking KFC Yum! Center. I can't even handle it. I must go.

    xo Michelle
    creaturetype.com

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    1. I feel like seeing Kid Rock at the KFC Yum! Center would be the only way to do it. I can't think of another "artist" that would draw such a crowd.

      How far is it from you? Would it be doable for you to go for a weekend?

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  5. I'm really sorry to hear that place is closed, it was great! We stopped there on a recommendation from Jamie of Owl Really on Louisville places to hit last summer and it was absolutely adorable. One of the best things about it is the outdoor decor, though, and it looks like you guys didn't miss out on the photo shoot opportunity! These photos are so fun.

    Also, Kid Rock and his fan base descending on an unsuspecting pair of Laurens = priceless. I bet there were some camera-worthy moments!

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    1. The strangest part was that the restaurant looked the same inside. Like, it could be operational if someone just went in and turned on the lights. The gift shop up front was still full with merchandise. I need the scoop on Lynn.

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  6. Y'all are so adorable! Love the outfits. Looks like a fun day, even though the place was closed. Funny, as I was just thinking this week about sweeping Jeremy away for the day this week and heading up to Louisville since it's relatively close and we've never been. Any food or other visit recommendations?

    xo,
    @

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    1. YES YES YES!

      We went to 610 Magnolia for dinner on Saturday and it was amazing. They are only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights though. We grabbed some really good Cuban food at Havana Rumba. And we got a drink at the Silver Dollar, which is owned by the Patterson House people!

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  7. This is such a cool place for a photo shoot, such a shame the place has shut! Love these photos!

    Your story about how you both dated the same guy is brilliant, he obviously has a thing for girls named Lauren who like to hula hoop!

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    1. Is it wrong that I wouldn't mind if the front of my house looked like this? I mean, who doesn't love brightly painted concrete bears?

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  8. I love that shirt! And those flowers are just insanely beautiful.

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  9. oh wow- that is the best friendship story ever! So hilarious! Love how colorful this pics are, and again, I can't get over how much I love your hair :) When we visited my brother-in-law in Nashville we went up to Louisville for the night and of course drank mint juleps.

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  10. oh my heart! for a second i thought maybe it was back open! when i closed my brother in law sent me a local paper article about it, i wish i could find the link! it was something about employee complaints and it made it sound like there were all kinds of violations!

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