On Sunday, I did something that really scares me. I invited dozens of people to my home, my sanctuary. Since moving into my new old house, there hasn’t been a shortage of first time homeowner obstacles. Having been struggling with anxiety pretty intensely over the past year, the thought of opening my home and all its problems up to friends and strangers alike was far from enticing. The Lexington blogger community has grown tremendously over the past few years. We’ve been struggling to organize meet ups, both formal and informal, so being the fixer I am – I rashly offered up my house as a space to convene.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you might remember last year’s epic Blogger Brunch. The event was truly glamorous and really worked to highlight some of the great work of bloggers and local businesses in the area. While the event was a huge success in our eyes, it was perceived as somewhat exclusive by the larger creative community. It’s difficult to pick and choose attendees when limited by space and resources in a community of so many visible creatives, and, after some research, I found we scared away many restaurant venues if asked to host 30+ people on their dime. My home seemed like the perfect compromise to welcome in everyone and have a comfortable space to get together. If you’re authentically making your way as a Kentucky blogger, you have a friend in me and space in my home.
The Details
That bash itself was a blast. I really wanted to call it a brunch, but there was no way I could do last year’s event justice and the late afternoon start time didn’t really lend itself to the name. I opted to tackle food myself and have guests bring a shareable beverage since I was asking them to travel out to my little town. No one needs lukewarm buffalo chicken dip upside-down in their passenger’s seat. Thanks to Good Foods Co-Op, I was able to make the most indulgent charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, and fruits all from local providers. We also used some of the local meat and cheese to make a lavish baked potato bar. Talk about a crowd-pleaser! I hands-down will suggest a baked potato bar for any large event that needs to keep prep easy and costs low. On the bar, I provided a spread of deli meats, shredded cheeses, onions, garlic, sour cream, and more to make spuds piled high. We finished off the meal with my favorite – Frank’s donuts – and a homemade cake. Gifts for attendees include confetti party poppers from Kendall Rae & Co (a BIG hit), accessories from More Than Your Average, and t-shirts provided by Shop Local Kentucky.
Hold on for the commentary – you knew it was coming. I’m “a realist masquerading as a cynic who is secretly an optimist.”
Building Community
Amidst the good food, gifts, and glitter, I was able to stand behind my camera and watch valuable relationships among local creatives blossom. Women of all ages and backgrounds were able to come together to celebrate their shared interests and struggles. If letting people into my home with air conditioning that just couldn’t keep up and my dog child who acts starved for attention meant helping build a network of people who are genuinely here for each other, I’m in. Even in my own small knit creative community in Central Kentucky, there’s tension. As with any market, there are a lot of people working in the same creative industries, setting the same goals, and pursuing the same client base.
Despite living in the golden age of community over competition, there are still hurt feelings and spilled milk tears as far as the eye can see. Living your life publicly and constantly sharing it on social platforms for critique and consumption isn’t for the faint of heart, but we can be there for each other when the going gets rough and when we revel in our big wins. Solidarity can be forged online, but it is truly nurtured in-person with enough tone and body language the internet simply can’t give us. I’m after fostering a community of creatives that is ready to rally behind your successes and hug you through the hard times with trust and empathy plentiful, on and offline. We still have some work to do, but I’m really proud to have a hand in getting us there.
