You're Invited!!

*UPDATES IN RED

Highlowaha.com's 2nd Annual

Taste of USA 2009

September 12, 2009

9:00am - 4:30pm

Assumption High School
2170 Tyler Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40205

Enter through the Tyler Lane Side Doors

If you are lost or need directions our local contact is Super Star Laura 502-494-6334.

In fact, if you call Laura ask, "Is this Super Star Laura?"

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

*A random item from home.
*Your favorite craft item.
*An item that you would like to package for a RAK. Be sure this item is light weight and approximately the size of your fist.
*Your patchwork. Don't have any patchwork started? Please email us at info@highlowaha.com so we can bring you something to get you started.

*Email your favorite song to info@highlowaha.com ASAP.
*Positive Energy.

Schedule:
9:00am - 10:00am Welcome & Introduction
10:00am - 11:00am Group Activity
11:00am - 12:00pm Strengths Quest
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch Adventure: We are going to Lynn's Paradise Cafe!!! Will a couple of you locals be prepared to drive us? Take a gander at their menu so that when we get there we can order, explore and get back in time for our afternoon. Their prices are not on the menu but I've been told most items range at $10. Bring cash for you lunch.
1:30pm - 2:30pm PRDesigns Creative Greetings Demo
2:18pm Reader call in. Win a prize!!
2:30pm - 3:30pm Cookie Piping & Flooding Demo
3:30pm - 4:15pm RAK Packaging Demo
4:15pm - 4:30pm Wrap It Up

Hopefully, some of you will be able to hang around and go to dinner with us to keep the fun rolling. We are staying at 21c in downtown.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you!!!

Elite 8

The Elite 8 are the first 8 people to commit to coming to Taste of USA on Saturday, September 12th in Louisville, Kentucky.

We are putting together the items that will be included in the Elite 8's welcome bags and they are sure to be great!

Elite 8 Members include:

Cassie P.

Robin

Tera

Treye

Ashley

Stacie

Peggy

Nicole

Congratulations ladies and Treye!

This is going to be a fun time!!!

Meet us in Kentucky!

We have chosen a date.

September 12, 2009

in Louisville, Kentucky!

Stay tuned as the details develop.

Freedom Rocks!

And, Kentucky from the Freedom Bracket has run away with it!!! Claudia, Heather, Katie and I will head to Kentucky in September for a fun-filled day of Highlowahaing. That's a new word. I just made it up. You're coming too! Just think about it- all of our blogging friends in one room! Start thinking about your upcoming birthday parties and celebrations and bring them to Taste of USA. We'll brainstorm the ideas for you. Let me hear you get excited!

We'll start working out dates and exact locations soon. Labor day weekend is out so we'll press on from there. The only thing I know for sure is that once we find the location someone needs to scout out a Starbucks because I'm sure there is going to be lack of sleep and I will need a coffee! Or two or three.

Every Vote Counts!

Today is the finale of Taste of USA!

Where do you want to go?

From the Freedom Bracket:

Kentucky

From the Independence Bracket,

Ohio

And from the Liberty Bracket,

Indiana

Vote over there--->>

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!

Today in the Liberty Bracket we have the 19th state to join the union, Indiana with the 11th state, New York. New York came close last year. Will they be able to pull it off this year? They have some stiff competion with Kentucky and Ohio advancing to the finals.

I was about to have a fit when I saw Indiana's state bird was the Cardinal! It's a conspiracy, I tell you but New York broke the streak by having the Brook Trout as their state bird.

Let's check the map. (Does anyone else hear Dora Explorer or is it just me?) All I can think of if New York wins is New York City. I'm not sure how much crafty-community blog business we would actually get done with so much to do and see but it would be a fun trip. As for Indiana, where would we go? Indianapolis? Well, heck! Louisville, Kentucky is smack-dab on the border and Kentucky is in the finals! Hmm...

Go VOTE! ---->>>over there-->

It's Independence Day!

Today, in the Independence Bracket we have heavy hitters, Virginia and Ohio! The 10th and 17th states respectively to enter the Union.

Let's check the map! Would Virginia's destination be Richmond? Many moons ago, I spent the weekend in Norfolk. Maybe there. What about Ohio? Tera and Treye, where are you? Are we coming to you this year? It's the three C's. Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati- which is actually in Kentucky! Too confusing.

Okay, and I need that big mouth bass from Fancy Flours over here! All four states that have entered the semi-finals have the same state bird... the cardinal. I don't know, but something is fishy!

Vote! Over there------->>>>

Let Freedom Ring!

Today's battle is in the Freedom Bracket and is between our 21st state, Illinois and our 15th state, Kentucky. The Land of Lincoln battles the Bluegrass State. They share the Cardinal as their state bird and they are neighboring states so this should be a good battle. Let's look at the map.

I'm guessing that if Illinois wins the best place to fly in is Chicago but we could fly into St. Louis and drive over to somewhere fun in Illinois. And, we have the same situation with Kentucky. Would we fly into Louisville where we already have a lot of readers or would we fly into Cincinnati and drive to Kentucky?

Can you answer these questions for me? Between these two states, where do you want to go? And, I'm not just talking state... what city, town or farm?

Please don't say camp grounds, please don't say camp grounds! Don't mind me. Go vote!

Over there---->>>>

The quiet before the storm...

Happy Friday everyone. Here's where we stand. There will be no voting today. We will resume our semi-final round next Tuesday with voting for one bracket only.

Tuesday will be the Freedom Bracket:
Kentucky will duke it out with yesterdays winner Illinois.

Wednesday will be the Independence Bracket:
Virginia will battle it out with yesterdays winner Ohio.

Thursday will be the Liberty Bracket:
Indiana- state de la Cassie- goes up against New York.

The winners of the above competitions are our winners of each bracket. Taste of USA will be decided on Friday between those three states! Got it? Good!

Now go have a great Memorial Day weekend with your peeps!

I feel ick.

This is going to be short because I'm not 100%.

Plain and simple.

Vote over there------>>>

Freedom Bracket:
Georgia or Illinois

Independence Bracket:
Ohio or Arizona

Liberty Bracket:
Oklahoma or New York

Round 3 and Oopsie!

Today will be a little different in the Independence and Liberty Brackets because of two things. 1) Louisiana and Virginia tied on May 15th and the winner of those two is supposed to go up against Alabama. 2) Because someone (me) wasn't paying attention and typed Tennessee instead of Indiana. You would rather go to Tennessee than West Virginia but they weren't even in the same bracket. Yes, that was a heavy sigh you heard.

So today in both the Independence and Liberty Brackets you will be deciding between three states. Make it count.

Round Three!

Freedom Bracket: Would rather go to Kentucky or California?

Independence Bracket: Choose between Alabama, Louisiana and Virginia.

Liberty Bracket: Will it be Texas, West Virginia or Indiana?

Vote over there---->>>>>

Peggy and Robin actually read the Monday post and entered a poem for a drawing and Peggy you won! I'm off to Hobby Lobby to find my magical item. I hope it's still there but if it's not there's lots of other magic that I can choose.

Where do you want to go?

Closer and closer we creep to a winner and a treat! We have some super competitors today! Let's get ready to VVVVVooooooooote!

Freedom Bracket:
Iowa or Arizona

Independence Bracket:
Florida or Illinois

Liberty Bracket:
Mississippi or New York

Vote over there------>>>>>>

I am kicking myself for not squeezing in sometime yesterday to update the brackets. I'm going off the notes in my Planner Pad. I do know that we will have a winner next Friday!!!

Monday Madness

Welcome back loyal readers. Did you see that Survivor Finale last night? JT- you gotta love him! I still wish Brandon had won. Coach is still an idiot. I liked Sierra last night, too. Well now, let's get on with our little contest. Don't forget you're voting for where YOU want to go because you're coming to Taste of USA right? Right?

Freedom Bracket:
Ohio or Tennessee, oh, where will it be?

Independence Bracket:
Georgia or South Carolina, will it be here or there?

Liberty Bracket:
Kansas or Oklahoma, as long as you come to party with us, I don't care!

Vote Over There----->>>>

Write your own poem in the comment section and be entered into a drawing for something from Hobby Lobby... it's kind of like door #1 or door #2 but it's a whole store for me to choose from... I kind of know what I have in mind but I'm not sure if it's there so, you'll just have to wait and see!

Rounding out the week

We finished up Round 1 on Tuesday and started Round 2 on Wednesday. Here are this weeks results:

Advancing to the second round were:
Tennessee over Missouri 8-5
South Carolina over Montana 8-5
Oklahoma over Wisconsin 9-4
Iowa over New Hampshire 7-4
Florida over Nevada 8-3
Connecticut over Mississippi 6-5
Then we started Round 2 and the victors were:
Arizona over North Dakota 13-0
Illinois over Wyoming 10-2
New York over Rhode Island 9-3
Alabama over Pennsylvania 10-7
Kentucky over Maine 16-2
Texas over North Carolina 10 -8
California over Michigan 9-5
Tennessee over West Virginia 13-1

And how did this happen? We have our first tie! Virginia and Louisiana tied 7-7. The rules will have to be written on a tie and I will get back to you on what I am going to do about that.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Good Times

That's what I've been having and that's what we'll be having at Taste of USA 2009! Where do YOU want to go?

Today's contestants are:
Freedom Bracket:
Lousiana or Virginia

Independence Bracket:
Michigan or California

Liberty Bracket:
West Virginia or Tennessee

I'd write more but boy am I tired from having all these.... GOOD TIMES!

Ding, Ding, Ding! Round 2

We've made it to Round 2 everyone- wahoo!

------->>>>>VOTE>>>>>

Freedom Bracket:
Pennsylvania or Alabama, where do you want to go? We went to Pennsylvania last year... will Alabama be able to beat them Pennsylvania today?

Independence Bracket:
I wasn't surprised Kentucky won over Maine with all the readers that we have there but I was surprised that Arkansas won over New Mexico. So can Arkansas win over Kentucky?

Liberty Bracket:
Up in the Liberty Bracket is Texas and North Carolina. North Carolina just barely squeaked by Colorado last week. Will they be able to take over the Lone Star State?

VOTE----->>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Whacky Wednesday

Take a whack at voting over
there---->>>>>>

and while you're at it whack your brains and tell me where you think we should go in each of the following six states. If you enter the cities you would like us to go, you will be entered in a drawing for some yummy Starbucks!

Freedom Bracket:
North Dakota or Arizona

Independence Bracket:
Wyoming or Illinois

Liberty Bracket:
Rhode Island or New York

Good luck my friends.

Just the Vote...

Hello! Happy Boring Tuesday. Time to eliminate 3 more states. Go ahead.

VOTE over there-------->>>

Freedom: New Hampshire vs. Iowa...where?

Independence: Nevada vs. Florida...what happens in Vegas or Mickey Mouse!

Liberty: Mississippi vs. Connecticut...you tell me...

VOTE over there -------->>>

What Road Will We Take?

This week we will be continuing with Round 1. Thursday begins Round 2. Saturday's post updates you with our current winners.

Don't forget, you are voting for where YOU want to go! Please consider joining us for a fun-filled Saturday in September!

Freedom Bracket:
Missouri or Tennessee? What would the be? The St. Louis Arch against Nashville? Hmm...
VOTE ------------------->>>

Independence Bracket:
Montana (That's you MT Kelly) up against South Carolina. Uh oh. A bunch of us wanted to visit Charleston and Savannah... will this be our chance?
VOTE ------------------->>>

Liberty Bracket:
Wisconsin- oh the Cheese Heads! Football season will be in full swing... would Matt be willing to give up Struble Suds for a Saturday? And it's competitor is Oklahoma- the land of Margaret.
On your mark, get set, go vote!
VOTE ------------------->>> Polls will open when I get them posted in the morning... around 6:30am CST.

First Week Round Up

Thanks for voting everyone! We eliminated 15 states this week and it looks like people are favoring the east coast and midwest.

Freedom Bracket:
Pennsylvania will meet Alabama on May 14
Louisiana will meet Virginia on May 15
Ohio advanced to the second round and will meet the winner of the Missouri/Tennessee match up.

Independence Bracket:
Kentucky will meet Arkansas on May 14
Michigan will meet California on May 15
Georgia advanced to the second round and is set to meet the winner of Montana/South Carolina that is being held Monday.

Liberty Bracket:
Texas goes up against North Carolina on May 14
West Virginia competes against Indiana on May 15
Kansas will battle it out with the winner of Wisconsin and Oklahoma that is scheduled for next Monday.

See you on Monday!

Pick Your States Not Your Nose!

Ha! Ha! I crack me up. Friday! Friday! Yay!

5th day of voting and after today you don't have to come back until Monday when Round 1 will continue. But let's focus on today.

Vote 3 times over there --------->>>>

Freedom: Ohio vs. Maryland
Tera and Treye are in Ohio, right? Hmmm.... Can Maryland crab cakes take over Tera and Treye in Ohio? We shall see.

VOTE OVER THERE---->

Independence: Georgia vs. Vermont The peach battles maple syrup! I know, let's pour some maple syrup on grilled peaches! Did I just make that recipe up?

VOTE OVER THERE------>

Liberty: Massachusetts vs. Kansas The home of the Boston Tea party battles the largest ball of string... sing it loud, sing it proud- where do you want to go?

VOTE OVER THERE-----> cha-cha-cha... I'll give you a recap tomorrow. Isn't it liberating to be silly. Go ahead. Try it!

Where Do You Want to Go? Hmmm?

We're blogging over at Highlowaha! Come join us. Don't forget you're voting for where you are willing to go to meet us for our fun-filled day!

Vote 3 times. Over there----------->

Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana
Vote over there------------------------>

Hey, I'm not doing ALL the work. Of those six states where do you think the most viable and fun place would be to go. Disneyland. I'm just saying, Claudia!

Voting will last until approximately 6:00am CST or until I change it in the morning.

Day 3 ~ Where will it be?

Vote in the sidebar 3 times ------------------------>

Freedom: Utah vs. Louisiana
We'll be busy as bees in the Beehive State. Salt Lake City is really the best place to fly into and we could trek up the mountain to see my old stomping ground Park City and it is beautiful there. If Louisiana wins, then the only place I can even dream of is New Orleans! Here come the saints, bom, bom, bom, bom. Sing it with me. Here come the saints

Vote ---------------------------->

Independence: Washington vs. Michigan
Both are Northern states. One on the West Coast. One in the mid West. When you say Washington, all I can think of is Seattle! Space Needle. Pikes Market. Lots of yummy, fresh seafood. When you say Michigan, I think Detroit. When you say Detroit, I think cars. When you say cars, I think I want a new one. Who's going to win this round?

Vote ---------------------------->

Liberty: West Virginia vs. Minnesota
I've got music stuck in my head today... right now I hear John Denver singing, "West Virginia, Mountain Momma, take me home, country roads..." Thank goodness you don't have to HEAR ME singing that! Whew. And for Minnesota... no. Wait. No. I don't have a song for Minnesota but we could go to Minneapolis! Where do you want to go?

Vote ---------------------------->

Voting will be from 7:00 am to 6:00 am (CST) tomorrow.

Where do you want to go?

Voting will be from 7:00 am to 6:00 am (CST) the next day. Unless I oversleep. Or forget. Then it will be later.

Vote in the sidebar 3 times ---------------------------->

Freedom: Alabama vs. New Jersey
The Heart of Dixie or the Garden State? This isn't the East vs. West that Julie and Tera were planning. It's more of the North vs. South. My favorite place in Alabama is on the shoreline near Gulf Shores but New Jersey has some coast line, too. Let's see- we have a few choices with Alabama- Birmingham, Mobile or Montgomery, I think. For New Jersey, would we fly into Newark? Or would fly into NYC and head over to New Jersey?

Vote ---------------------------->

Independence: Arkansas vs. New Mexico
The Land of Opportunity vs. The Land of Enchantment. That is one tough choice! Arkansas would most likely see us in Little Rock. And, New Mexico would maybe be Albuquerque or Santa Fe. I'd like some Enchanting Opportunity please.

Vote ---------------------------->

Liberty: Colorado vs. North Carolina.

The Rocky Mountains vs. the Blue Ridge Mountains- peak to peak! If Colorado was to win we would surely be visiting Denver. North Carolina would probably be Charlotte or Raleigh. What do you think?

Vote ---------------------------->

Now, I'm just throwing out suggestions so feel free to chime in and suggest a city in these states!

First day of voting.... where do you want to go?

Voting will be from 7:00 am to 6:00 am (CST) the next day. Unless I oversleep. Or forget. Then it will be later.

So, where do you want to go?
Vote ---------------------------->

Freedom: Pennsylvania vs. Nebraska
How will reigning champ do against the cowboys of Nebraska? Last year we visited a rainy Philadelphia. If Pennsylvania was to win again would we try Pittsburgh? Or, could we be having our meeting collecting wildflowers in an open field of Nebraska while hunting windmills?
Vote ---------------------------->

Independence: Kentucky vs. Maine
We have a lot of readers in Kentucky while I think Maine has very few to none. Will we hit the home state of Heather and Katie or will be dipping into Maine's lobster feast?
Vote ---------------------------->

Liberty: Texas vs. Delaware
The big Lone Star State battles Delaware. Heck, we could probably visit a bunch of state if Delaware wins. If Texas wins we could host in here in our hometown of the DFW metroplex or we could head south to Austin and visit Chaotic. Don't forget about Woodside Farm Creamery that we learned about last year... it's in Delaware and you know how Claudia loves ice cream. I mean... who doesn't?
Vote ---------------------------->

Rolling out the Rules

Taste of USA 2009 voting will begin on Monday, May 4th. It's going to be fast! It's going to be furious! It's going to be FUN! So jump in and vote! There are 3 brackets:

• Freedom,
• Independence,
• Liberty

We have eliminated two states - not because we don't want to go there, not because we don't love them but because we had to eliminate two to make the brackets work. And, being realistic, it would be tough for us to go to Hawaii or Alaska. (sigh. Okay, I'm over it. Let's move on.) The winner will be decided when each bracket has one state standing. Those three states will battle it out for the title of Taste of USA 2009 Champion! The final vote is scheduled for May 29th.

The states have been seeded so that states that visit Highlowaha the most are not competing until later rounds... if another state doesn't knock them out first. There will be 3 polls on the side bar Monday through Friday, one for each bracket.
Over there --------------->

You are voting for where would you like 2009 Taste of USA to be held? Where would you be willing to go to meet us? We want you there with us!

ROUND ONE
Monday, May 4th:
Freedom: Pennsylvania vs. Nebraska
Independence: Kentucky vs. Maine
Liberty: Texas vs. Delaware

Tuesday, May 5th:
Freedom: Alabama vs. New Jersey
Independence: Arkansas vs. New Mexico
Liberty: Colorado vs. North Carolina

Wednesday, May 6th:
Freedom: Utah vs. Lousiana
Independence: Washington vs. Michigan
Liberty: West Virginia vs. Minnesota

Thursday, May 7th:
Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana

Friday, May 8th:
Freedom: Ohio vs. Maryland
Independence: Georgia vs. Vermont
Liberty: Massachussets vs. Kansas

Monday, May 11th:
Freedom: Missouri vs. Tennessee
Independence: Montana vs. South Carolina
Liberty: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma

Tuesday, May 12th:
Freedom: Oregon vs. Virginia
Independence: Idaho vs. California
Liberty: South Dakota vs. Indiana

Wednesday, May 13th:
Freedom: North Dakota vs. Arizona
Independence: Wyoming vs. Illinois
Liberty: Rhode Island vs. New York

Mark Your Calendars!

Taste of USA 2009 will most likely start in May.

Where will Highlowaha go this year?

Who will join us?

Stay Tuned!