Did You Know Sarah Loves Dallas?

Pardon me if I'm a little all over the place today, but I'm really excited because just one work day separates me, CB and a flight to Norfolk, Virginia to spend 6 days at my mom's beach house! Although it is a 6 day long trip, I've managed to only use 3 precious vacation days at work. Please tell me I'm not the only one that gets a thrill out of planning long trips by only using minimal work vacation time?? It makes me feel like some sort of work vacation day sorcerer. 

Ok, yeah that might just be me.

Although CB and I have been to VA Beach together, this will be our first trip when the weather wasn't projected to be 52 degrees and rain. 

(I think that the weather is still calling for rain all weekend, but I'm trying to pretend to be oblivious to this right now...) 

I've got a couple fun little things to share with you guys, so I am going to do my favorite post to write (read: easiest post to write) a lovely little numbered list! 

1. I was featured in this month's issue of D Magazine! Click HERE  for the full interview! 

D Magazine is easily the most popular local Dallas magazine, and I tend to use their facebook page like my entertainment bible. For the very first time, they decided to pick a "subscriber of the month," and they picked me! 

I got to tour their offices, which were so gorgeous. Their office, located right in the heart of downtown, was bright, open and had fantastic downtown views. They had these adorable bikes that anyone could take whenever they just needed a break. BIKES. IN THE OFFICE. WHAT? Jealous - party of one. 

2. The Relish Fan of the Week! 

If you like coming to my blog for Fan Friday, just go and subscribe to The Relish RIGHT NOW. They send an email out every Monday, featuring everything you need to know from the sports world for that week. Following them on their social channels is pretty awesome too, because they post breaking news throughout the week. I'm digging what they're doing, and I have no doubt you will too. 

3. CB Won $500 to Bella and Chloe Shop

If you followed my snaps this weekend, you'll know that I had my first invite to an event for my new Instagram account Dallas Love List. In true CB fashion, he made a B-Line to the raffle ticket sales. One thing you should know about CB is that he buys any and all raffle or lotto tickets he can get his hands on. He rarely wins, but tells me it's not about winning, it's about the thrill of imagining what you'd buy if you did win. 

Well, then they called his name for the GRAND PRIZE. We were a little drunk... FREE WHISKEY... and you guys should have seen us in that shop with $500 burning a hole in our pockets. Neither of us shop at places where $500 gets you 5 things, and I swear we looked like drunk Beverly Hillbillies bopping around that store with excitement. 

LOLZZZ. Losers. 

I got a hat, new sunnies and a vintage ring (show on the band of the watch above) that for some reason reminds me of Veenie. CB got that great watch which is made in Deep Ellum and new brown shades. Safe to say we are BEACH READY thanks to that giveaway.

Also, I'll never make fun of his raffle ticket purchases ever again. 

4. Diet Bet || 30x30x30 update

I joined a diet bet about a month ago, and it ended last night at midnight. I got on the scale to weigh this morning and I was 0.7 pounds away from winning. ZERO POINT SEVEN. ARGHHHHH. ARGH ARGH ARGH. I worked so hard this month, that is frustrating. I have until Thursday at 11:59pm to weigh in though, so fingers crossed I can dehydrate myself down to 0.7 pounds lighter between now and then.  

JK I wouldn't do that..............

I do have to say I am frustrated, I feel like I worked my butt off this past month. 

:( 

5. Dallas Love List

I'm stupid excited about this new insta account. You probably picked up on that by now though...

-Read more about what the heck I'm talking about: HERE

I started it purely for selfish reasons and I'm excited about it purely for selfish reasons. I want free stuff and I want free stuff to come in the form of food, cocktails and events invites. 

So sue me. 

Plus, I'm having a blast doing it. CB and I have started branching out with restaurants and bars, trying a ton of new places in the past few weeks. I set a goal of 1,000 followers before I board the plane to VA Beach tonight. Fingers crossed I get there. 

I would highly recommend you guys start your own instagram account for your city, it's so fun and different -- way less stressful -- than a personal/blog instagram account. When it comes to Dallas Love List, I don't care what anyone else is posting, and I don't find myself comparing my account to anyone else's. See.... fun, right? So go start your own! 

OK THAT'S ALL I GOT. OFF TO THE BEACH WE GO!

Well, after a full workday that is.....

The Loss of My Hero

Due to recent events, it occurred to me that there was one woman who shaped my life more than she will ever know. She won't know, because I've never actually met this woman. She was a role model, a motivator, a fire cracker. She was the best who ever lived at what she did. She is the reason I chose the college I chose. Honestly, in some ways, I guess you could say she shaped my life to bring me to where I am today. 

I'm of course talking about the legend, Pat Summitt. When I was a kid, basketball was my life. I grew up watching Pat coach, and I'm not going to sugarcoat this, she was absolutely terrifying. There were so many times I swore up and down that we were all going to see her head literally explode from anger. To this day, I cannot believe that never happened. 

She was scary, but her players loved her. As intimidating as she must have been, I can't imagine the swell of pride that one must feel upon receiving her praise. Her players then and now would do absolutely anything for that woman, the woman who is still to this day, the winningest coach (yes, both men and women) in NCAA history. In 38 years as a coach, she never once had a losing season. 

Pat Summitt is the reason I went to the University of Tennessee, which was the greatest 4.5 years of my life. As a kid, I of course dreamed of playing for Pat. As it turned out though, you need more than a 3 point shot -- think height, speed, agility, stamina, heart, aggression, defense, perseverance, dedication -- to play for Pat. All I could do was shoot... and I had a bit too strong of a lust for pizza. 

For those of you that don't know, in 2011, at the age of 59 Pat Summitt was diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia and was forced to retire from coaching. I've dealt with my fair share of death of people close to me, but I've never experienced a family member go through what must be unbearable memory loss. I cannot imagine what that must feel like to have your own mother/friend/sister not recognize you. 

I wrote this post while Pat was still alive, but this morning I woke up to an alert from ESPN informing me my hero had died. I'm just really sad today. 

I'll end with a story I heard about Pat on Mike and Mike this morning. She boarded a flight several years ago and, when a flight attendant walked up to Pat and started sobbing.

Pat of course asked what was wrong?

The flight attendant told Pat that when she was a little girl she was in a wheelchair after an auto accident, and was told she probably wouldn't walk again. Pat had come up to her on the sidelines of a game many, many years earlier and told her to never let this chair define her future. You can do anything you set your mind to.

Pat, you will forever be one of my greatest heroes. You taught me that Tennessee is the greatest University of all time, that a woman can do absolutely anything she wants to do, that you can make someone pee their pants just by a single stare and that Geno Auriemma is quite literally the worst human on the planet. 

J/K on that last part. Except not J/K. 

RIP Pat. 

The Story of Elba

Veenie and Sarah's vet adventures, volume 543! 

Veenie and I traveled the 8.7 miles to Hillside Vet Clinic yesterday because she had been projectile vomiting everything she had eaten for the past 24 hours. This post isn't about Veenie's health though, I have a million others of those from the past two months if you'd like to read them instead. 

No, this post is about this little old lady that I met at the vet yesterday. Veenie and I didn't have an appointment, so we had to just go in and sit and wait for an opening. Here lately, there is nothing I cherish more than just sitting with Veenie doing nothing, so I was happy to sit and wait as long as was necessary. Veenie hopped up into my lap and sat down quietly while every other dog in the joint was going nuts. 

I sat down next to this little old lady with a walker and a purple nightgown on. I never got her name but we will call her Elba. (I dunno... Elba seems fitting). 

Elba watches as Veenie hops into my lap and quietly twirls around to get comfortable, then plops down. Elba leans over to me and says, "Wow, she's so calm and quiet. So well trained!" 

If this were a cartoon, and I had milk in my mouth, I would have spit that milk all over the floor from laughing so hard at the "so well trained" comment. Veenie is the exact opposite of trained, but she wasn't feeling so hot so I guess, to Elba, she seemed like an angel. 

Elba leaned over and told me she used to have a teeny tiny Pomeranian who would snuggle in her lap the way Veenie was snuggling in mine. Elba said she wanted nothing more than to snuggle her Pomeranian in her arms. I of course had already noticed this, but Elba did not have an animal with her. 

As Veenie and I sat waiting, Elba and I chatted about all of the big dogs that were there that day. Elba told me that she was petrified of the large ones and I told her I could certainly understand that, but they're usually sweeter and more snuggly than the small ones! 

A poodle walked out and Elba got a little emotional. 

She told me she also had a tiny poodle pup that was best friends with her Pomeranian. She then said, "I want another dog so bad, but they all die and I cant' take it. I cry every day, I cry so much. I want another one but I can't cry any more. I wish they'd all just live forever, but they don't." 

Man oh man. As someone who has spent the last 2 solid months paranoid and petrified of losing Veenie, that really got me. That was so so terribly sad. 

Elba stretched her hand out to pet Veenie's head, and Veenie offered Elba her paw in the sweetest possible display of affection. Elba then insisted that Veenie come home with her. I giggled, then thought, wait, is Elba here just to watch puppies come and go? 

I asked her where her animal was, and she launched back into the story of her Pomeranian and Poodle. I didn't want to confuse her or anything, so I let it go but felt insanely sad that she came to the vet's office just to watch puppies come and go. I told Elba about a story I had read online where shelter doggies go visit nursing homes, and how beneficial it is for all parties involved. 

She told me how lonely she was without her babies around anymore. 

I heard the name "VENUS" called and I told Elba how much I had enjoyed talking to her, and that she could take Veenie home if she paid the outstanding bill at the end of the visit. 

Later that night I thought about what she said, about wanting another pup so bad, but not being able to take the grief that will come along with it one day. As much as I adored Elba, that is not how I feel. No matter if I have Veenie for 14 more years, or if it's 14 more hours (lord help me) I would have adopted her again and again and again. That dog brings me pure joy, every single day of my life. I'd take her and General, grief and all, again and again and again. 

When I came out, Elba was gone. I asked the receptionist if the lady with the walker came by everyday. She told me, "Oh, No!! She was with her daughter who had a cat that was getting microchipped!" 

I left with Veenie, relieved that Elba was loved. 

Networking + Oyster Shells (Plus, A Giveaway!)

I have this problem. 

(Well, besides the fact that I start every snapchat with, "Sooooooooooo...")

I'm petrified of networking. It is frustrating because I live for a party. I love to throw a party, I love to attend a party, I just like the word... party! So why am I so terrified to go to networking events, something that is essentially a party? 

In the event that I psych myself up and actually go -- rather than bailing last minute -- I become a total weirdo. Not the cute, "Oh my, I have so many adorable quarks" kind of weird. More like the, stand in the corner with my hair covering my face trying to blend in with the plants lined along the wall so that maybe no one will notice that I'm there and I can make my exit.

Why am I so bad at this? I went to a blogger event a few weeks ago at Lululemon and I could not have been more awkward. First mistake, there was no alcohol at this event. I don't know why I agreed to a booze-free blogger event. When I walked in the door, everyone was already in groups so I acted like the most interested Lululemon shopper of all time. 

I then tried to psych myself up for joining in a group's already-in-progress convo. I swear it looked like I was trying to work myself into double dutch. One step forward, one step back... repeat x12. I eventually grabbed like 8, $70 tank tops and headed to hide out and kill time in the fitting room. 

Do you think I'm ridiculous? Well, I don't blame you. I think I'm ridiculous too. 

It is just so damn frustrating that I'm like this and can't seem to break it. Why can I be the life of any party I go to, but be so cripplingly shy at a blogger or networking event? WHY? 

Point here is that I have another event to attend tonight. Tonight's event is at my favorite Dallas hotel, The Joule, and more in my comfort zone -- but not just because there will be booze. Ok, wait, yes, that's exactly why it's more in my comfort zone. 

Tonight's event will be my first official event representing @dallaslovelist which gets me super excited. Attending events, parties, sporting events, festivals and new restaurant openings is the exact reason I started this new account, so here's hoping my excitement will out-weigh my nerves. I guess I was just hoping to get to attend these events with CB, not solo! Ah well, baby steps right?

Plus, I'm much more comfortable jumping into a convo about cool things to do in Dallas (the theme of tonight's event) than I am jumping into a convo about fitness. FITNESS WHOLE PIZZA IN MY MOUTH, AMMMIRITE? 

But Dallas.... Dallas I can always talk about! 

----

Before I sign off today I'm super excited to introduce you to a new jewelry boutique that you're going to be OBSESSED WITH. Angie, who has been a blogging friend of mine for as long as I can remember, started a new, beautiful collection of oyster shell necklaces called Sweet Bay Society. Every oyster is locally harvested from the Apalachicola Bay region in Florida, cleaned and artfully hand painted by Angie! Plus, 5% of every sale is donated to Friends of the Reserve, a non-profit organization whose members provide assistance and support to the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve’s goals and programs. 

Angie is offering everyone an additional 10% off through the month of June by using the code "summertime"! 

I've got my eye on this one which would be AHHHMAZING for the 4th... and you know anything yellow is my kryptonite. 

Now, how about you win one for you and a friend??!!

Just enter below to win two necklaces, one for you and one to give to a buddy! Plus you'll have the chance to earn another entry via Instagram later today! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Huge Blogger Template + Custom Design Sale

Seeing as you have the internet, you'll know that today is the first day of SUMMER! This Summer I have a ton of trips planned, which is the biggest reason I'm not skipping out on Summer fun this year. CB and I leave for Virginia Beach next Wednesday night, and will be planning on staying in and taking it easy until then to save up some extra money. 

With that said, I've found myself with some extra time on my hands at night and on the weekend! I want to HAVE A FULL CUSTOM BLOG DESIGN + TEMPLATE SALE! I almost never do this, but for the next 48 hours, all of my templates and custom blog designs will be 40% off!!!!! 

At this very moment, I don't have a waiting list for custom blog designs or for templates!! First come, first serve. My templates all include FREE INSTALLATION as well!! The colors can also be changed on MOST of my templates. I've listed them all below, and denoted those that have customizable colors! 

*NOTE*

ALL TEMPLATES INCLUDE FREE INSTALLATION!!!

Use Code VTIMSALE at checkout to take 40% off everything in my shop! 
*offer expires June 22 at 10am CST

Fashion Junction

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live! 

Collective Dots

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

Stripes Cross Stripes

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

Style For Miles

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

Yellow Rescue

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

All Of The Love

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

The Happiest of Hours

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

This Sick Blog

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

Splatter Brained

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

Slide it to the Left

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

Pastels and Paint

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

Goal Digger

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

Click HERE to see it live!

The Light House

Reg: $39 Sale Price: $23.40

*Colors CAN be customized
Click HERE to see it live!

The Errything Custom Blog Design

Reg: $179 Sale Price: $107.40

Most Recent Custom Blog Designs
Click HERE to see FULL PORTFOLIO!
The Girl Who Loved to Write

Dani Arizona

If you have any questions at all on the process or whatever, don't hesitate to leave a comment below or shoot me an email! Sale prices will END Wednesday at 10am!! 

15 Items You Need In Your Life for July 4th

Anytime there is a major holiday coming up that requires a specialty outfit, I always forget to order what I need until the very last minute. By that time it's too late to order online, and I'm left shopping at Party City, scraping through what crap has been picked over by the rest of Dallas. This happened to me on St. Patrick's day and I ended up spending 3x as much to get it shipped to me overnight. 

This year, CB and I are going to VA Beach to see my mom for the July 4th week. Since I'll have CB to act and dress totally ridiculous with me, I thought I'd start my holiday shopping now, rather than waiting until there is nothing cool left over. 

I started browsing Amazon and quickly realized how awesome everything I saw was, and how you guys must have it too or you will die. I've rounded up my favorites for your July 4th 2k16 BASH! Order now, while everything is on prime, while everything is cheap and before it's too late! 

Just a little reminder- if you wait too long, those items that have free prime shipping go *poof* and disappears. Happened to me on St. Pats. 

1. American Flag Cape Socks || $7.95

Shut up and take my money. 

2. American Flag Scarf || $13.99

Well that's just a lovely scarf...

3. Beer Holding Fanny Pack || $16.95

Own it. Love it. Recommend it. 

4. Honestly Hungover Tank Top || $24.95

Hair of the dog.

5. American Flag Dog Bandana || $9.99

General rule of thumb, your dog should always look cooler than you. 

6. Reagan Bush 84 Trucker Hat || $8.99

A throwback. Bonus points if you weren't born yet. 

7. Back To Back World War Champs Hat || $14.95

Winners get to do what they want. 

8. Flamingo Floating Coasters (12 Coasters) || $16.88

Stop it right now. I can't deal. Nothing screams I LOVE AMERICA! like a flamingo. Right?

9. Swan Float || $19.99
 Stop looking at me. 

10. One Dozen Patriotic Rubber Duckys || $7.59
Make it two dozen and you've got yourself a deal. 

 11. Ahhqua Bar || $39.99
How have I made it to year 29 without ever experiencing an Ahhhqua Bar? 

 12. Emoji Poop Raft || $29.95
Please CB, please buy me this.

 13. Emoji Beach Balls || $11.11
ERRR MERRR GERRRRDDDD!!

 14. Waterproof iPhone Case || $8.99
DO IT FOR THE GRAM. (I assume actual dolphin results may vary) 

15. Slush Mug || $14.45
Turns any sweetened drink into a SLUSHIE!!! HOOOOO LEEEEEE CRAP. 

Is there anything you've been eyeing that you can't live without this July 4th??!?!?
Any fun plans?