blue ribbon beauties.


{shop the blue ribbon beauties: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7}

Back home in Indiana, the last Wednesday of July always falls during the county fair. 
For most of you city folk, the county fair is just a place to people watch and eat fried food. 
{I will admit that I definitely partake in both when I attend, don't worry.} For me, 
the county fair represents a little slice of Americana that will forever be a part of me. 

Why you ask? I participated in 4H for 12 years! The fair was the big "shindig' where we 
showed off all the hard work we put into our projects any given summer. I did a lot of 
projects which sound goofy in retrospect {hello gift wrapping!}, but I will say that many of 
the skills I learned in 4H are still with me today. Not only did I learn how to manage my time, 
I discovered my passion for photography, design, and creative writing and really cultivated my
craftiness. It may sound like something country bumpkins do, but 4H really is pretty fabulous :)

{little old me posing with my photography project in my pre-{av} days at my final state fair as a 4Her in 2004}

Today's post was most definitely inspired by the blue ribbons being handed out back 
in Jackson County, Indiana this week :) {and you know I love that rich cobalt hue!}

So...tell me:
Which of those blue ribbon beauties is your favorite?
What experience from your youth helped shape you?

Have a fantastic Wednesday! xoxo {av}

P.S. Endless thanks to those of you who have entered the lovely bfrend giveaway
Don't forget you can up your chances by creating a Friday's Fancies post this week :)

P.P.S. If you're in New England and you're not signed up for rendez-vous: new england,
you better get registered! Lots of fabulous ladies are already on the list!

25 comments:

  1. Love this post and those cobalt flats!

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  2. My favorite color!!! I love every piece.

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  3. Love the TB flats and the gorgeous earrings! I am registering today after I get my act together, can't wait!! xo

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  4. more beautiful earrings! and that bracelet is so cute!

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  5. i need that love bracelet! i also love this post. i can't answer your 2nd question, because there are too many things to choose from. ;)

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  6. My hometown's fair was definitely the highlight of the year with the best(bad for you food) growing up. I definitely miss going each year! My favorite have to be those gorgeous earrings. Such a perfect color!

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  7. we didn't have 4H, but i definitely was a science fair nerd. and debate team. and drama geek. sadly, i could keep going, but i totally agree - those experiences helped me develop skills and learn what i like/what i'm good at.

    also LOVE those earrings.

    xo

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  8. I love the little love bracelet. You are so creative in your posts. You surprise me everyday!

    When I was growing up I swam. I started summer swimming when i was 6 and started swimming year round when I was 10. I swam all through middle school and high school with 5:45 AM practices 3 days a week, everyday until 6 after school, and Saturday mornings. It taught me discipline, the necessity of hard work, how to set achievable goals, and the importance of a team. It also helped me stay in good shape and out of trouble. :)

    So cool that you did 4H and learned all of that from it. I don't know much about the program because my school didn't have it.

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  9. this was so cute! i was a girl scout when i was little. i don't think it really helped shape me - i was just in it for the cookies! :)
    i love the blue and the idea of a county fair. it's not a northeastern thing. the flats especially are so beautiful!

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  10. I think those earrings are my fave. I love the cobalt trend. I found some really gorgeous pointed cobalt ballet flats at Zara's website that I may just have to check out in person next time I'm near a store.

    I definitely do not think 4H is for bumpkins. I never did it myself but my high school (with 3000+ ppl) had a huge 4H program and I loved going out to the barns on campus and visiting all the animals.

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  11. We didn't have 4H but that's San Francisco for you.

    Love the blue Tory Burch flats!

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  12. Gosh, loving all of these blue items...specifically the flats and earrings!

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  13. I always kinda wanted to do 4H but never did...so go you! ;) Also my fave blue ribbon beauties (I have two) are the #1 earrings and #6 necklace! Great picks!!

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  14. I love the color! The earrings are my favorite! I never did 4H but rode horses for a long time when I was younger but had to stop in the middle of high school. It definitely helped build my confidence early on.

    Becca
    http://blondeslogic.blogspot.com

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  15. I wasn't a 4H kid, but I DID spend two summers in a choir that performs all around the Ohio State Fair. I lived in dorms on the fairgrounds for three weeks both summers! Fairs will always hold a special place in my heart.

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  16. ah I don't know what piece I want the most?? The bracelet? The clutch??

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  17. I've been missing county fairs like no one's business lately-they're not nearly as well liked in San Francisco as you'd think!

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  18. Ah, state fair time is definitely approaching here, too! Gotta agree about cobalt; it's so lovely--especially on those flats.

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  19. Those earrings and bracelet are so fab. I need them in my jewelry box. :) great post.

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  20. I have those Tory Burch flats in bronze and they're really great. Totally comfortable and really easy to wear. I love them in cobalt, too.

    legallybrunettekate.blogspot.com

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  21. I want that bracelet! Those earrings are gorgeous.

    I did 4H, too! It was something that I did with my grandmother. I have very fond memories of our time we spent together.

    P.S. You have not aged a bit! Not that you are old and should be aged, but you still look like the same.

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  22. I love the drop earrings!

    Yeah, 4H! I was a 14 year member. It totally helped shape me into the person I am now. I developed my love for photography, cake decorating, baking, and all around craftiness through 4H. Not gonna lie, I loved those purple ribbons more than the blue. :)

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  23. Love cobalt! My sister was in 4H and I remember being so jealous of her, lol. I need those Tory Burch Eddie Flats in this color! :)

    xo lamb loves

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