blue ribbon beauties.

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

{county fair image source}

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!