A Day At The Races

I was a guest of America's Best Racing for this event. All opinions are completely my own

It's hard to even to know where to begin on this one. I think this may be one of the longest posts ever, so just stay with me. There will be a lot of pictures of ponies and my fucking sweet hat so I'm sure you'll be fine.

I guess I'll start with my outfit. Cuz, let's be real. When an ambassador from America's Best Racing emailed me, it's the first thing I thought about. I decided on a dress and a pair of my favorite heels but those were just accessories. The main event was my hat/fascinator.

It was actually my grandmother's from when she went on her honeymoon! It only had white feathers but I added the green and pink so that they would match my dress perfectly. I think it came out pretty great!

The ride from Hartford to Saratoga wasn't shouldn't have been a long one but we went on the wrong highway. It's ok because it was still only about 2 1/2 hours away. 2 hours if you take the correct route. That's the same to Boston and less than NYC! And let me tell you, it's just as fun as either city.

As soon as we got off the exit, there seemed to be a buzz in the air. Maybe it was the traffic. Maybe it was the excitement. Maybe it was the day drinking happening near by. Regardless of what it was, it was infectious! I mayyy have done an "I'm super pumpedddd" dance in the passenger seat..

We walked up to the entrance gate to meet the ambassadors for America's Best Racing, who would be our hosts for the day. Kindaaa in love with the scene already. Flowers, gorgeous day, historic race track, awesome outfits and horses. UM. YES PLEASE ALWAYS.

We were met by Mary Frances, who could NOT have been cuter and she gave us our tickets and we were off! (that's racing jargon for we got started. SO GOOD AT THIS) She showed us to the Carousel Bar which was a legit carousel turned restaurant and bar. Cool as shit, I know. We ate some lunch, had a drink then Chip (who was an incredible host!) Took us down to the track.

At the track I was amazed at the different types of folks around. I mean I guess the closest thing to compare it to is a casino. There are incredibly well groomed, clearly wealthy attendants and on the other end of the spectrum, there were people in trucker hats, crop tops and jorts. Apparently you can bring coolers in. How great is that? Day at the races and BYOB. Duh. Better by the minute right?

We saw the first race of the day (there were 9 total!) on the monitors up in the Carousel Bar. The second race we watched from the rail. It was SO FUCKING COOL. I mean we were right there! I learned there are actually more than just the dirt track. Some of the races are run on turf which is just grass but weird right? Some horses are better on dirt, some on turf. Who knew?

After watching that race, the girls we were with and I decided to be more invested in the next few races. AKA we were gonna do some betting.

The first race I bet on, I picked the horse because I liked it's name. I can't remember what it was. Something along the lines of Dancing Princess I believe. Really tho. But I won nothing. Boo. I wasn't even that upset tho because cheering for your horse is really fun! It's like it's kindaaa yours for those 14 seconds.

After we all lost, we went back to the bar to "hydrate" and learn how to actually bet. Jose, another ambassador, taught me how. It looks SUPER complicated but it's not. Believe me, if I can figure it out, anyone can.

After placing my first bet, we went down into the paddock. If anyone reading knows riding horses, you'll be thinking big yard, fenced in, a few horses grazing. Naht a race track paddock. This is where the horse come to show off a bit. They walk around, impress betters, get saddled up and the jockeys hop on. We met some great people while in the paddock who definitely knew their stuff. There were jockeys, trainers, owners, buyers and us. Again, fucking cool. Side note: someone make me a business card cuz I totally got asked if I had one.   I don't.

After a tour around the paddock it was back to the track. We watched another race, and I won $20.50. NBD GUYS. I picked the winner. No one even helped!!

There was a lot more walking around, a lot more betting, a lot more cheering and then Chip asked if we wanted to meet a jockey. Um, well, YEADUH. We went to where the jockeys walked back from the race. We met Javier Castellano. He was the one who won me the money too (thanks budddd) He's made $12.8 million and won 21% of the races he's ridden in. B A N A N A S. He was super nice. And, of course, short. I feel if I wasn't wearing heels he'd still be taller than me. Maybe I should start training to be a jockey..

yeaa his eyes were closed. WHATEVS GUYS.

After the 9th race of the day it was almost time to call it quits. But before we did that, we went back to the America's Best Racing tour bus for some brewskis and bonding over puppy pictures.

It was super hard to leave, especially knowing the festivities would continue all weekend long! Saratoga is celebrating 150 years this year which is incredible. Also, fun fact, Chip told us that "Bill the Butcher" from Gangs of New York was based on the real guy who founded Saratoga!

I will definitely be making my way back to the races sooner rather than later. It was an incredible time and our hosts knocked it out of the park. Wrong sport but you get it. I have to say going to a race without them won't be the same but there is so much fun to be had I seriously doubt I'll stay away for too long. It's not a old rich white dude's sport anymore! In fact, my best friend's boyfriend had a group of college buddies at Saratoga that same weekend. They go every year! If you have a track near you, even if it's a bit of a drive you gotta go. At least try it out. Win a little cash even!

I will now end my novel of a post but I do want to send a big thank you to Chip and the other ambassadors and America's Best Racing. It was a day to remember and repeat for sure.

Be sure to follow along as they tour America's best race venues on twitter, instagram and facebook. They also have a whole website and blog that you guys should check out- find it here.

Dead Beat Kitten Mommy, Katie Qué

Today I am leaving my blog in the hands of Katie. I found Katie through, wait for ittttt, Tom. Yup. Tom went to college with a kid who is good friends with Katie and would repost her blog on his facebook. Once I started really blogging Tom mentioned I should check her out. So I did. And I stalked loved her. And now here she is. Talking about her kitten and her super great kitten mom skills


Hello future internet friends!

I'm Katie Qué (pronounced "K", like the Spanish word for "what." See that accent there? It's very ethnic. I however am not ethnic at all, but I wish I were. This parenthetical is getting too long.). I've been blogging for a while now but this is my first time ever writing a guest post. I feel very very lucky that Adriana trusts me on her blog what with my bad-fucking-habit of swearing. So thanks, Adriana.

Since I'm obsessed with my asshole angel of a cat, Boo, I thought a tall tails post would be the best way to start off my guest posting career.

Boo.

However, before I do that, I want everyone out there to know that there is more to me than just cats. At this point in my life the only time any of my friends post on my Facebook wall is when they have discovered a new cat gif or feline performance art (seriously though: http://www.circuscats.com/). But I do a lot more than sit alone in my apartment with my cat, ok? I also drink. And eat cheese. And, every once in a while, I even talk to someone of the opposite sex. So what I'm saying is that I'm a very well rounded person.

You should also know that, despite my obsession with Boo, I'm kind of the worst pet mom ever. I leave him alone for days on end; I come home drunk and ravenous; and then I try to buy his love with treats and toys.

Can't buy me love.

But as any deadbeat mom will tell you, that never works. In fact, it only causes more problems. For instance, Boo now has a catnip dependency. The other day, he hit that shit so hard that he became totally paranoid and was absolutely terrified of going in my room. For a while, I thought this was because there was a mouse or something horrible hiding under my bed, but after thoroughly investigating my room, my roommate and I determined there was nothing there.

Ghost busters.

Ultimately, we decided that Boo was just having a bad trip, so naturally, I then screamed at him, "You're high! You're high in my house!" So often I remind myself of Babs from Teen Mom. 

Anytime an episode like this happens, my roommate says, "It's going in the book." And by that she means Boo's inevitable memoir, which will be aptly titled, A Child Called Boo. Look for it in stores circa 2016. 

anddddddddddddd that's why I love Katie. Go stalk the shit out of her. (I did and that's why we're friends) Find her at all these social media outlets because she's real social. Mostly.

twitter // facebook // instagram

Grab a button and link up your posts about your

 pups, kittens, bunnies, lizards, birds and hamsters!!

Tweet your post with #talltails

THIS IS NOW OFFICIALLY A WEEKLY LINK UP!!

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Oops It's Monday

This weekend was full of awesome stuff but it's not here because blogger was being a bitch last night. I promise I'll tell you all about the amazing day I had at the Saratoga Race Track on Wednesday and tomorrow is Tall Tails so get that shit ready!

I also wanted to mention I got some new pretty faces on my side bar so check them out! There will be some introductions very soon.

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekends and prepare to be innundated with emails while I catch up with comments both on my blog and one's I'll be leaving.

And since you can't have a post without a picture, here's Lil being awkward and adorable.

Meet Merk

So y'all know I'm off being fancy as fuck at a horse race with my big floppy hat and my VIP passes to mint julep city. While I'm gone I want you to meet Merk. She's great. She's funny, adorable and has a dog I would totally trade Lil for. I mean whaaaa?


1 introduce yourself!

My name is Merchon and I am the little blogger over at Merk and her Mastiff. I am from upstate New York, but for work I get to travel all over! I am actually really excited to set up some blates! Hit me up if you're interested!

2 why did you start blogging?

I graduated with a teaching degree, but wasn't able to find a full time job. Back in November, I started working for my Dad's company as a sales woman. I was excited/nervous/anxious/doubtful/pumped about starting a new job in an area I didn't have the slightest clue about, so I thought I would write about it. In my company, there are very few women, so I thought it would be interesting to write about it from a young females perspective. It became pretty boring pretty quickly, so now I write about all sorts of stuff, which normally includes an obnoxious amount of pictures of my dog.

This is Beef, my 2 year old St Bernarnd/Mastiff. He is my furbaby, and I am unapologetically obsessed. Probably why I was immediately drawn to the wonderful lady I am guest posting for.

3 what's one thing all your readers should know about you?

My advice to anyone is to travel to Europe. Or to travel alone. OOOR to travel alone to Europe. Like I did last summer. Literally the most amazing experience of my LIFE. seriously do it. Now. Through Contiki. They are incredible. NOW!!

4 what's your favorite post you've written so far?

Sometimes I have a turn a little Dr. Phil, sometimes I wish I was a fitness blogger, and in my head my posts tend to be a lot funnier than when they actually come out. The post I am most proud of and also had the most fun doing was this post, where I ranked the sexiest athletes. I did my due diligence and researched as many sexy athletes as I could find, then had to decide which were my favorite. Such a tough life as a blogger.

My second favorite post was actually my guest post from my sister, here. She is the real writer of the family. She has such a way with words that I could only dream of. She is also living the life that so many of us who graduated college have lived. She just got a job as the write for a news anchor. You go girl!!

5 who would you want to be your celeb BFF

My first thought is Lauren from the Hills. Only because #retroMTV has been on. Nerd alert. On second thought, Beyonce is my celeb crush. Partially because she is with Jay Z. Not gunna lie, if he walked in with a ring, I would be all like "Ryan who?" Sorry that is awful.

6 who are your daily reads?

If you haven't read Venus trapped in Mars, drop whatever you are doing and read it now. I got into blogging thanks to Mama Laughlin and Skinny Meg, and I die every time I read It got weird.

7 what's your most used movie quote?

"You shut your mouth when you're talking to me!"

can't help loving wedding crashers.

8 what's the best part about having a dog?

If you locked your best friend and your dog in your trunk and opened it 3 hours later, who would be the happiest to see you?

9 what's the worst part about having a dog?

Would it be weird to order a professional pooper scooper?

Beef has the worlds worst farts. Hand DOWN.

10 what's the most important thing you have in your purse?

Well, I am broke, so it is not money.....

I would die if any one stole my Micharl Kors wallet. My boyfriend bought it for me and I wish my boyfriend was Michael Kors. sorry...... I love everything he comes out with.

I would love to see you over on my little blogish sort of thing if you like what I have said. Let me know and I will check you out as well. Thanks for listening to my randomness!!

What's Left Of Summer

You know what makes me depressed? Staying in on a sunny day.

I mean working in an office on a nice day kills everyone's soul a little but I'm talking weekends. Or holidays that everyone in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere (yes. the whole world) gets off except my company. Or when Tom's super lazy and won't get out of bed for 19 hours except to go to the bathroom (that's not even an exaggeration of this past Sunday.)

I got blog stuff to do. Enough that I could spend an entire day doing it. Enough that I feel like I should spend an entire day doing it. But then I think to my wayyy-too-pale-for-August self,

I need to get outside.

p.s. yesterday was my 100th post! {insert party horn and salsa lady emoji here} wooo!

I've found that if I stay in for too long on the weekends Monday's are horrific. Like get nothing done, hate on myself a bunch, be so cranky even wine can't fix it, horrific. And then the trend continues during the week because I sit at my desk and stare out my window. Which has the blinds mostly drawn because of the glare. wompwomp.

view from my chair. sick life I know.

I think all this bleckk  has translated to my blog. I feel like I'm not performing at 100% and that's dumb. I have so many to-do items that I keep letting more build up. So sorry for being lame but I'm not gonna suck anymore.

I am blaming it on the amount of time I have to be indoors. I'm not meant to be indoors. It's not like I'm trying to go camping and hiking and shit. I'm talking out by a pool with a drink in my hand. Or out in the backyard playing with Lil while literally anyone is BBQing.

I'm wearing a bathing suit I swear.

I should not be a resident of Connecticut. It's fucking cold here. It snows here. And unless it's December 24, 25th or 31st snow should hang out with it's friend Alaska and leave me the fuck out of it.

SO I've resolved to do more sun related activities.

That means beach, BBQ, wine tastings, walks/runs with Lil, picnics, beers at baseball games, weekend trips. And guess what I'm doing this weekend? ALL OF THAT. Literally all of it. I'm so pumped about it. I mean wekeend trips I'm kinda half assing since we have two day trips planned instead of one getaway but whatever guys stop raining on my sandy, boozy, burger parade. Actually that sounds like a horrible parade. Well, really it just sounds like a horrible burger.

WINE PICNICS = LOVE

ANYWAY a very quick explanation of tomorrow's fun. I have Merchon from Merk and Her Mastiff guest posting!! She's super cute and she has an adorable pup to match. And the reason I have her guest posting is because I got an incredible offer to be a VIP guest at a Saratoga horse race by the amazing people at America's Best Racing. I'm SO PUMPED. I have ridden horses all my life but I've never been to a race. And I will be meeting jockeys and betting on horses and wearing a floppy hat all day!! I'll be back Monday with the recap!! Also I'm gonna make a fancy hat so we'll see how that goes.