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I have a confession to make: In all 23 of my southern-living years, I only attended one polo match. Yet, in only year 4 of my Midwest residency, I have over half a dozen under my belt! How’s that for ironic, Alanis? Since living Indy, I am now fully versed in chukkers and mallets, have perfected my divot-stomping technique, and am the proud owner of one well-polished Pretty Woman award. Therefore, while I was, admittedly, a late starter to this fabulously preppy sport, I would venture to say I am now sufficiently qualified to impart both wisdom and style to any interested neophyte reader. The Basics Polo is a team sport with the object of hitting a small, white ball down a grassy field through the opposing team’s goal posts using a long wooden mallet. A polo team consists of 4 players, each riding their own pony. The game is broken down into 7-minute time periods called chukkers, and each match has between 4 and 8 chukkers. Aside from this brief foundation, the main rule to remember is that each time one team scores a goal, the play switches directions, and the scoring team aims for the opposite goal from which they just scored.  The Venue A polo field is roughly 9 times the size of a football field. Virginia has options all over for public polo-watching, but the one I’m most familiar with is in Crozet at King Family Vineyards. They have matches every Sunday during the summer at 1 p.m. As for Indiana, the place to go is Hickory Hall Polo Club in Whitestown. Hickory Hall has matches all summer and well into fall. At Friday night matches, referred to as Polo at Sunset, spectators pull their cars right up to the sidelines and picnic on blankets and lawn chairs brought from home. For the more formal Saturday matches, known as Polo on the Prairie, you park your cars at the front gate and sit on the sidelines to enjoy the match. Many local organizations have private tents and bring a catered spread; these are typically invite-only and located on the right sideline (facing the barn). The left sideline is more for individuals and families, and there is usually a kids’ area available for any little ones to play. Chairs are provided. The Dress When you think of polo attire, the first thing that typically comes to mind is Julia Roberts in her brown and white polka-dot dress and matching hat. Well, Pretty Woman was spot on, and Polo on the Prairie is the real-life version of this. A light sundress and large sunhat are staples for most women in attendance, and sometimes I like to take it up a notch with crisp white gloves or a lacy parasol. As for the men, you will definitely see a few seersucker suits, but it is equally appropriate for the guys to come in colored or critter pants; a nice, preppy button-down; and a skinny or bow tie. On especially hot days, a nice polo T-shirt can replace the button-down, and a classy pair of madras shorts can replace the pants.  Polo at Sunset is much more casual, and really, anything goes. Most people wear jeans to these matches, however; the cover photo on my About Me page was from a Polo at Sunset match my family and I attended, so dressing up is also appropriate. Quick story about this photo: Not only did this appear in the Indy Star last summer, but a few weeks ago, when Mama O&O was visiting, we took her to her first Polo on the Prairie match. A few girls were passing out magnets to advertise Hickory Hall’s upcoming annual fundraising event, Polo and Pearls. We each took one and dropped them in our purses, but Mr. O&O actually looked at his magnet and noticed the photo on it was this very photo, featuring us! Magnet celebrities! HA! This made for a great laugh, and we quickly called the girls back over to take home a few more of the mementos. The Attractions Polo at Sunset doesn't offer much more than the match itself, but there are several additional draws at Polo on the Prairie. One of my favorites is the silent auction, which is located under a tent on the right sideline as you walk in. Additionally, the famous half-time divot stomping is a must. Hickory Hall plays music, and the crowd dances and stomps around the field for a great time. Just be sure to avoid any steaming “divots” – you won’t want to stomp on those!
The most enticing attraction, though, is the fact that a different local charity hosts each match and benefits from all the proceeds. This includes the $20-per-car entry fee, all silent auction earnings, and any private tent sales. It is truly a great way to give back while enjoying a match. Based on the charity hosting, some will provide extra attractions that vary match to match, including the following:
 The Events Aside from the typical Polo at Sunset and Polo on the Prairie matches, there are two special events each year.
 My Polo and Pearls outfit here is totally vintage and cost less than $35! That is about all you need to know about polo! For any of you out-of-staters, I am quite confident Google can help you find a local polo match, but if not, a road trip to Whitestown, Indiana, may be in order. It is truly a great way to spend a casual Friday night, or make an all-day special event of it on Saturdays, all while giving to charity. The next scheduled match is Friday, August 29, at 5 p.m., benefiting the political leadership development program Lugar Series. Let me know if you go! Best,
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The venue is split into two sections: bookstore in the front; pub in the back. The used books are ripe for browsing, and if you buy your reading material there, local adult- and family-literacy organization Indy Reads receives 10% of the proceeds. The pub section has more of a warehouse-like atmosphere that could stand to add some warm tablecloths and wall decor, but they have clearly perfected their beers. The At the Mountains of Maltness pilsner went down velvety smooth and paired perfectly with a sweet and salty pile of Broad Ripple Chip Co. potato crisps. Their menu also offers a variety of literature inspired small plates, ranging from a Fair Oaks Farm Gouda and Hamlet sandwich to a kid-friendly Very Hungry Caterpillar PB&J.
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So yes, my book club reads more than wine labels; we read beer labels too.
But in addition to sharing this literary pub find with you all, I have a rather large task at hand that I’d like your help with: I must choose a book! After much thought and a little help from my newly-reactivated Goodreads account, I have narrowed down the choices to two lucky contestants:
 | Waterland by Graham Swift Waterland appears to be a work of literary historical fiction about a middle-aged history professor (and his ancestors) who is questioning everything he knows. It won the Booker prize in 1983 and sounds like a unique, haunting read. |
 | The Bone People by Keri Hulme My colleague recommended this with the disclaimer that it is pretty heavy (beyond its 450-page heft). It purports to be an unusual piece of contemporary fiction about love, child abuse, and mystery. The first reviewer on Goodreads mentions she read this book 11 times, which indicates either incredibly poor reading comprehension or a pretty darn compelling story line. |
Which one sounds best to you, either by experience or just by the summaries? Vote for your favorite by commenting below and I’ll tally the votes on Friday and reveal the winner!
Until we read again,
Victoria
8/11/2014 4 Comments
Whales are In
This weekend, I attended my third nautical-themed baby party in the past 4 months, and yesterday, I received an invitation to a fourth in September. My colleague is also starting to plan her son’s Sharknado-themed second birthday party. Who knew the ocean was so popular?! But the great thing is, each party has surprised me with a new, creative way to make sea creatures out of food.
Let’s begin with party #1. This was a first birthday party for a friend’s daughter, which I actually thought was really unique, considering that the other three sailing guests of honor were boys. Plus, navy and pink go wonderfully together. The mom had been planning this event for about 6 months, so it was pretty amazing. My personal favorite detail was a display of single-serving blue Jello "fish bowls." She also provided water bottles labeled “Sea Water” and sent pretty adorable invitations. We left with gold fish favors and a smile.
Let’s begin with party #1. This was a first birthday party for a friend’s daughter, which I actually thought was really unique, considering that the other three sailing guests of honor were boys. Plus, navy and pink go wonderfully together. The mom had been planning this event for about 6 months, so it was pretty amazing. My personal favorite detail was a display of single-serving blue Jello "fish bowls." She also provided water bottles labeled “Sea Water” and sent pretty adorable invitations. We left with gold fish favors and a smile.
Party #2 celebrated a friend’s son’s first birthday and equally blew me away. The mom wrapped silverware in napkins tied with Life Savers and string, and she made the cutest croissant tuna-salad sandwiches into crabs with toothpick googly eyes. She completed her display with a variety of homemade sea creature cookies and a glass jar full of gumball “sea pearls.” I actually didn't see any ocean repeats from party #1, which I appreciated – it’s always more fun to see new ideas! The one thing both birthday parties did have wasn't related to the theme, but it was one of the best ideas ever: a banner with one photo from each month of the baby’s life. As a guest, this was so much fun to admire and see how the baby grew and changed over one year. I recommend doing this at every first birthday party!
The whale cookies were so good I couldn't wait until after the picture to take a bite!
My mother-in-law hosted party #3, a baby shower for Mr. O&O’s sweet cousin, which meant I got to help! MIL O&O asked me to bring deviled eggs, and because I knew it was sailing themed, I took it upon myself to oceanize them by adding cheese sails to make “boats.” I was feeling pretty good about myself, until I got there and I saw that A. MIL O&O had already purchased paper sails for my boats (which looked a lot better than my cheese ones) and B. Mr. O&O’s other cousin (who happens to be a new mom) had carved an entire watermelon into the shape of a whale, filled it with fruit, and had also made sea creature lollipops out of chocolate. Deviled eggs boats didn't seem so crafty after all.
 |  I even piped the filling! |
Now, if watermelon whales and chocolate sharks weren't enough, this same cousin also hit it out of the ball park with her present. One of the cute touches this shower invitation included was a request for guests to bring a “whale of a tale” so baby Bennett could arrive into the world with full bookshelves. My go-to baby shower present is always books, so this was easy for me. I love giving classic baby lit books, which are frequently on Groupon, and they usually go over well with the crowd. Well, Watermelon Whale cousin took this book request to a new level. Among other things, she presented the expecting mom with the three following books:
- A custom book that incorporated personal details — such as the baby’s name, his aunts and uncles names, and his home town — into the story itself
- A memory book with places for Mom to jot down quick observations about baby each day for 5 years
- A homemade baby’s-first-year scrapbook with pages themed for each month already decorated and ready for Mom to insert pictures as she takes them
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I have never seen a better baby shower present. I am definitely stealing this idea for the next shower I attend, nautical or not! But now that I have my present idea, what on earth am I going to wear to my next sailing shower? I am running out of ocean dresses!
 Party #1 |  Party #3 |
Ahoy,
Victoria
8/8/2014 4 Comments
Bringing Housewarmings Back
Mr. O&O and I went to dinner at our friends' new house Wednesday night and we were totally blown away at how they've transformed it in a few short months. We had a blast chatting about all of their DIY projects, new neighbors, and furniture wish list. All of this house talk reminded me that moving is a huge deal! It is crazy expensive, requires a massive amount of time and effort, and is downright stressful. It is also a major life milestone, especially if it is a house. However, think about how we treat other life milestones: It is a given that expectant mothers celebrate with baby showers and blushing brides have bridal showers, but how many housewarming parties have you attended or purchased presents for, by comparison? New movers are just as excited, stressed, and in need of love and gifts as parents and newlyweds, and it’s time to take a stand!
First of all, to you movers out there, do yourself a favor and throw a housewarming party! People want to see your new digs, and it is a great way to announce your new address, get to know your neighbors, and give back to the people who likely helped you move. Understandably, after having just moved, throwing a party may not be the first thing on your list. I not-so-fondly recall the massive amounts of cleaning, unpacking, painting, DIYing, and furniture shopping I crammed into 2 months so I could have something to show at my own housewarming party, but A. I am a crazy person and B. It was SO worth it. I am a huge fan of working hard first so you can enjoy and relax after the fact.
First of all, to you movers out there, do yourself a favor and throw a housewarming party! People want to see your new digs, and it is a great way to announce your new address, get to know your neighbors, and give back to the people who likely helped you move. Understandably, after having just moved, throwing a party may not be the first thing on your list. I not-so-fondly recall the massive amounts of cleaning, unpacking, painting, DIYing, and furniture shopping I crammed into 2 months so I could have something to show at my own housewarming party, but A. I am a crazy person and B. It was SO worth it. I am a huge fan of working hard first so you can enjoy and relax after the fact.
Two of our biggest projects we completed in less than 4 days (with help) when we first moved in
But crazy isn't for everyone, and people get that. Don’t feel obligated to obtain perfection before inviting everyone over – as long as your home is clean and presentable, there are places for people to sit, and you provide food and drinks, your friends and family will happily come celebrate. Also, here’s a tip for making it legit: Send invitations! Paperless Post has some darling ones, many of which are free.
Now, for all the old friends or new neighbors of movers out there, give your new home-owning friends some love! If you've ever moved, you know how meaningful a small, special something can be when you are overwhelmed with empty rooms to furnish and boxes to unpack. Let me emphasize the word “small.” It is definitely not necessary or expected to go all out; a little will go a long way! One of my favorite housewarming presents was a personalized address stamp, which Paper Source happens to have on sale right now. Another classic gift is a set of luggage tags. Kate Spade has some darling ones you can write the new address on, or Shutterfly will personalize theirs for you. If you want something a little more personal, Etsy has some really unique ways to utilize a picture of a house. Mr. O&O and I just presented our friends with a custom sketch of their house. You can also get a hand-painted picture of the house on a Christmas ornament. On the flip side, if you are simply looking for something to take to a new neighbor’s house to welcome them to the neighborhood, try wrapping a bottle of wine in a new dish towel.
Now, for all the old friends or new neighbors of movers out there, give your new home-owning friends some love! If you've ever moved, you know how meaningful a small, special something can be when you are overwhelmed with empty rooms to furnish and boxes to unpack. Let me emphasize the word “small.” It is definitely not necessary or expected to go all out; a little will go a long way! One of my favorite housewarming presents was a personalized address stamp, which Paper Source happens to have on sale right now. Another classic gift is a set of luggage tags. Kate Spade has some darling ones you can write the new address on, or Shutterfly will personalize theirs for you. If you want something a little more personal, Etsy has some really unique ways to utilize a picture of a house. Mr. O&O and I just presented our friends with a custom sketch of their house. You can also get a hand-painted picture of the house on a Christmas ornament. On the flip side, if you are simply looking for something to take to a new neighbor’s house to welcome them to the neighborhood, try wrapping a bottle of wine in a new dish towel.
The sketch of our friends' new house from the Etsy vendor
Do you have any go-to housewarming presents you love to give or favorites you've received? Leave me a note with your ideas!
Ciao,
Victoria
What a weekend to start a blog! First off, I am literally typing this in the few hours between parading around at a polo match and picnicking at an outdoor Shakespeare play. More to come on those later, but I just couldn't wait to post about my truly amazing find Saturday morning from the Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace (IAVM).
Before I reveal this treasure, let me first tell you that I am not normally the vintage type. I typically prefer a more contemporary style. However, Mama Overdressed & Overeducated made the journey from Virginia to Indy this weekend to spend some much-needed mother-daughter time together, and she requested a trip to the IAVM, so I happily complied. Not to mention, my two lovely friends, Liz and Laura, were hosting booths there, and I relish any excuse to see their smiling faces. So, purses and umbrellas (foreshadowing alert) in tow, Mama O&O and I set out this drizzly morning to explore some vintage attractions.
My first fun find was a pair of sailboat cuff links for the husband. Mr. O&O had recently mentioned both a desire to pick up sailing and a need for more cuff links. Coincidence? I think not. And mind you, I bargained these bad boys down to a whopping $5. Done and done. However, this was nothing compared to what Mama O&O stumbled upon for me next.
Ever heard of an umbrella purse? Well, they exist, and they are nothing short of darling. This adorable bag is waterproof, matches my Kate Spade wallet to a tee, and oh yeah, it has an umbrella slot, for events JUST LIKE THIS ONE – rainy, outdoor, shopping events, that is. And any other event that may require an umbrella. Or a cute purse. Or both. Especially both.
Before I reveal this treasure, let me first tell you that I am not normally the vintage type. I typically prefer a more contemporary style. However, Mama Overdressed & Overeducated made the journey from Virginia to Indy this weekend to spend some much-needed mother-daughter time together, and she requested a trip to the IAVM, so I happily complied. Not to mention, my two lovely friends, Liz and Laura, were hosting booths there, and I relish any excuse to see their smiling faces. So, purses and umbrellas (foreshadowing alert) in tow, Mama O&O and I set out this drizzly morning to explore some vintage attractions.
My first fun find was a pair of sailboat cuff links for the husband. Mr. O&O had recently mentioned both a desire to pick up sailing and a need for more cuff links. Coincidence? I think not. And mind you, I bargained these bad boys down to a whopping $5. Done and done. However, this was nothing compared to what Mama O&O stumbled upon for me next.
Ever heard of an umbrella purse? Well, they exist, and they are nothing short of darling. This adorable bag is waterproof, matches my Kate Spade wallet to a tee, and oh yeah, it has an umbrella slot, for events JUST LIKE THIS ONE – rainy, outdoor, shopping events, that is. And any other event that may require an umbrella. Or a cute purse. Or both. Especially both.
So, how much did this vintage gem set me back? A mere $15! I can’t remember the last time I bought any purse for less than $50, not to mention a stylish (yet functional) umbrella purse. A quick Google search tells me that Marc by Marc Jacobs once sold an umbrella purse for either $320 or $250, depending on where you’re looking. Or, in 2008, I could have purchased one (brand unknown) for the bargain price of $825. I don't see any available anymore. I’m feeling pretty darn good right about now.
And just as a bonus, I also picked up a jumbo strand of faux pearls for $4, a Jackie O pillbox hat for $5, and a 50’s pink polka dot dress for $10 at this amazing vintage mart.
And just as a bonus, I also picked up a jumbo strand of faux pearls for $4, a Jackie O pillbox hat for $5, and a 50’s pink polka dot dress for $10 at this amazing vintage mart.
Some quick takeaways:
Have I mentioned I’m a vintage sale convert?
- Vintage marketplaces have more than just home décor; they have clothes and accessories too.
- If you put time and effort into it, you can find some great stylish vintage fashion accessories.
- Vintage marketplaces have said accessories for great prices, which are all up for negotiation.
Have I mentioned I’m a vintage sale convert?
Xoxo,
Victoria
| This week at the Junior League of Indianapolis 2014-2015 kickoff meeting, “Kid President” asked a room full of women chowing down on delicious MCL catering, “What do you want to teach the world?” Swallowing my bacon-topped mac ‘n’ cheese, I really pondered this. What do I want to teach the world? First, I supposed, I had to determine what I was even qualified to teach. Of course, editing came to mind, but that is my day job, and the world already has Grammar Girl. I mean, who can compete with her anyway? Then there are the altruistic things, like faith, leadership, morality, literacy, teamwork, and world peace, but I feel like those things are hard to teach and are more ingrained in a person’s character (although ideally some of those virtues would still shine through). “So,” I ask myself, “let’s get real. What am I actually good at that people want to learn about?” Begin brainstorm: Writing. Planning parties. Decorating. Being classy. Crafting. Reading. Matching. Hosting. Picking out the perfect outfit. Carrying out a theme. Making things look pretty. Traditions. Learning. Loving others. Analyzing literature. Gift-giving. Eating! Cooking (sometimes). Pinning. Organizing. Shopping. Okay, wow, this is a pretty long list! I pat myself on the back – oh jeez, being humble isn’t on there, is it? (Sheepish grin.) Now the question is, “How do I combine all of these fabulous qualities into one cohesive teaching and sharing medium?” Enter blog idea: Overdressed & Overeducated. For the stylishly smart. A literary lifestyle blog, complete with a hodgepodge of event-appropriate ensembles, perfectly planned parties, and a book review here and there. So, it’s not world peace, but can’t people benefit from a little social-appropriateness-turned-social-amazingness?! Plus, I already have a backlog of parties and events to post about, so here’s to fabulous ideas and brilliant outfits! |
Cheers!
Victoria
Author
I'm a Virginia-native uprooted to Indianapolis to marry my husband and start our sweet family of 4. As an overdressed editor, I love planning parties and good reads.
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