6 Ways To Maximize Your Team Fandom When You Live Out of State

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FootballFanGame #FiredUpFans

It has been SIX YEARS this Labor Day since I moved to Dallas from Tennessee. I haven't been immersed in my beloved college town for six whole years, but that doesn't mean that my fandom is any less. On the contrary, absence does certainly make the heart grow fonder but, I've learned a few tips and tricks along the way to bring my college team's spirit right here to Dallas. I'm teaming up with my friends at Dr Pepper and Walmart today to bring you some tips on how I maximize my  team's fandom living out of state.

Rule One || Make a playlist to kickstart your Gameday. 

This should feature songs that make you feel like you're in college all over again. Songs that bring you back to your roots. A lot of times you can even track down mp3's of your team's actual marching band performing live. I like to include my team's fight song, some songs about the state of Tennessee and some of the classics I remember belting at the top of my lungs while we played corn hole in the hours leading up to kickoff. 

Anything that takes me back, I add it to the list and play it first thing in the morning while I watch sports coverage of the day's games.

Rule Two || Utilize Your Alum Club

Who wants to watch the games solo? Or even worse, who wants to watch your games at a restaurant with potentially the enemy team's fans. I sure as heck don't. 

Instead, I joined our team's alum club here in Dallas. We all meet as a group to watch the games. All of the tables have pom poms, they do giveaways for apparel during halftime and the proceeds go to the alum club organization. 

I can scream at any decibel level I desire and not get judged because you're a screaming nutcase. 

Rule Three || Convert Your Friends

This rule is crucial, or else you might need to consider finding new friends. If your friends don't like your team, convert them. It's like the opposite of if you can't beat em, join em! 

Since my team isn't in-state, it was an easy sell. We aren't rivals, so they are now able to root for their team - AND - for my team! Win win! Everyone comes over to our house to watch my team's games, and we also watch theirs. It's a win win. 

Rule Four || Know The League

What do you do in the morning when you're getting ready for work? Listen to music? Nothing? Zone out to infomercials? Or God forbid.... watch the news (gasp!). Start getting ready while sports news is on your television. You don't have to actually watch sports news twelve times in a row, like a dude, to get something out of it. Listen, do your makeup, glance up occasionally when they're doing the top 10 plays of the day.... voila, you'll start the day armed with all of the sports knowledge you really need to be the best fan possible.

Rule Five || Follow Your Team On Every Social Platform 

Being out of state, you miss out on the pulse of your school's town. Following them on social allows a BTS glimpse of how it feels to be right in the thick of things. Also, go a little deeper and find some beat reporters (basically reporters who ONLY write about your team) to follow on social. Watch their Instagram stories before you get up and get your day started, it'll get you hyped for game day.

Rule Six || When it Doubt, Grill It Out

If all else fails, throw your own dang party! It's your party and you can scream at whatever defensive back that you want to. When you throw a tailgate in your own backyard it's way more comfortable anyway, and you can BYOD (bring your own dog - both of the hot and K9 variety). Veenie and I are prepping for our big season kick off party where all of our friends are coming over to celebrate. We have about 6 couple friends who all bring their dogs and we have a howling good time. Puns all intended. 

I like to pop over to Walmart for all of my tailgate needs, especially if there is any kind of grilling involved. The season kickoff tailgate is always my favorite because I'm not yet annoyed or depressed by my team. The season kickoff tailgate is good food, good times and SMILES all around with all of our friends hanging out, playing lawn games and cheering on our teams. Talk to me about smiles come November, we'll see if I'm still grinning from ear to ear - LOLS!

For this tailgate I got the essentials: Dr Pepper® - the official drink of college football fans, Kingsford® Original Charcoal which is super easy to light and always maintains consistent flavor, and Hidden Valley® Ranch Dressing, which is perfect for salads, veggies (I picked up cauliflower) and even meats!

You of course NEVER EVER want to be grilling while the game is on, but a little pre-kickoff hot dog and Dr Pepper never hurt anyone! This is why I love shopping at Walmart, I only had to make one stop and I got everything I need for our party and friends that come over in a matter of 10 minutes. Less time shopping, more time to put my game face on! Once kickoff hits though, all bets are off. I'm inside, on the couch with LASER FOCUS. No calls pls. Unless Veenie is calling, I always answer for Veenie kisses.

Can you smell the sweet scent of football season from these pictures? Burgers, dogs, the sound of the Dr Pepper can popping open and all of our friends screaming while watching the game in our living room. We had the most fun take a big whiff y'all, football !

Happy football season, friends. May your wins be prevalent .......... unless you're playing my team that is.

Are you ready to fire up your gameday???
Find new recipe ideas and get inspired and FIRED UP for gameday by clicking HERE! 

His and Her Small Bedroom Closet Makeover with The Container Store Organization Studio in Dallas

I am the least organized person in the history of the world. Ok, maybe that is dramatic but I'm certainly the messiest, least organized person in blog land. Everyone else seems to have a tidy nook for every trinket. I, on the other hand have a ton of trinkets that are usually thrown all over the floor. We live in a remodeled old house with old bones and old-style tiny master bedroom closets. The space is small and the organization is non-existent. Thanks to the Organization Studio which is only available at The Container Store’s new Next Generation Store in Dallas, they helped me complete revamp, organize and maximize my small master bedroom closet and makeup desk.

Before I jump into the actual insane transformation that The Container Store managed to pull off for me, you need some background on me as an organized, tidy person. 

I was that kid in school with the messy desk that got called out at parent teacher conference. I have always been messy, it's just in my blood, part of who I am as a person. 

In my 31 years on this planet, I've never actually had a system in place to help with my messiness. I've been to The Container Store in the past but never really taken it seriously past getting a couple of hangers for my skirts or a bin to use in the bathroom. 

Their Northwest Highway location across from North Park Mall got a massive, tech savvy makeover and debuted their new Organization Studio. This studio was MADE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. It's made for the person who walks into The Container Store, lovingly admires all of the organization tools, but then gets overwhelmed because they have zero idea how to execute.

SPECIAL: When you make an appointment and meet 1-on-1 with an Organization Expert by 10/31, mention code ORGSTUDIO10 at the register for 10% off the in-store purchase of your solution (exclusions apply). 
*Disclaimer: This is only available at the Northwest Highway store in Dallas

Here's how it works: 

1. Identify an area of your home that's a challenge to keep organized. 

For me that was all of it but for the sake of time we'll say the master closets and my makeup area. Oh, and did I mention I married someone as unorganized as me. Yeah, CB is in the messy boat with me. 

2. Upload Images and Describe Your Challenge

You can do this all on their Organization Studio website! 

3. Meet One-On-One 

This is all totally free. You'll meet an expert in store (we met with Chris!) who will analyze your space from the photos and challenges you described, then offer a complete solution with a variety of their products. 

I didn't have to do any of the hard work which was figuring out WHAT it was I need to get that small space organized. I just had to physically tackle the project. Chris picked out everything she knew would make my life easier, from a place to my shoes, to extra (stylish) storage everywhere, and a place for every last item. 

It was REALLY COOL! 

Ok let me show you what we did! 

MAKEUP AREA

CHALLENGES: I had no storage at all. Everything was thrown everywhere and it was a giant mess. Anyone who saw that in person would seriously be disgusted by me. I'm SORRY GUYS I AM JUST CHALLENGED WITH ORGANIZATION! 

Chris saved the day by suggesting this acrylic makeup organizer which gave me a place for everything from eyeshadow to lipstick and makeup brushes. If you get ONE THING to help you with your makeup area, get that. 

BEFORE whoa boy

AND AFTER! 
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOW

|| PRODUCTS USED ||

Style Station Pro for Hot Tools || Large Acrylic Makeup Organizer Clear

Large Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer Clear || Medium Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer Clear

Medium Short Luxe Acrylic Modular Drawer Clear || Medium Plastic Storage Bin w/Handles White

HER CLOSET

CHALLENGE: My closet is tiny with no place for shoes. I had the shoes on crappy shelving I had from my very first apartment. It looked like a terrible mess. 

BEFORE

AFTER

voilaaaaaaaa

and saving the best for last....

HIS CLOSET

CHALLENGE: CB is me in guy form. Drew had the largest collection of incredibly assorted wire hangers I'd ever seen. He also was holding on to super old clothes that needed to be donated. ALSO - I was blown away by the number of items he felt compelled to hang on a hanger. 

We were able to move tons of shirts to the drawers to free up room so he could actually see what clothing he owned. 

This "after" shot certainly packs the most bang for your buck! 

BEFORE

AFTER 

IT IS SO GOOD GUYS!! 

|| PRODUCTS USED ||

White elfa Wide 7-Runner Frame White, elfa Wide Mesh 1-Runner White and elfa Wide Mesh 2-Runner White, with elfa Wide Melamine Top White

White 2 Tier Stackable Mesh Shelf

4 Shelf Shoe Stacker in White

Joy Huggable Hangers

Farmhouse Storage Box and Cube

32 compartment drawer organizer

Linen Drop Front Sweater Box and Purse Box

So, how did we do?!?!!? Thank the lord for two people. One, my mom who helped me tackle this project while she was visiting last weekend.... and Chris from The Container Store Organization Studio! 

Stay tuned because there's one more project I'm going to tackle for you guys, my office! 

Have you been wanting help with a project but didn't know where to start? You're in luck because The Container Store has so graciously offered 10% off an in-store purchase to my DFW readers when you make an appointment and meet 1-on-1 with an Organization Expert at the Northwest Highway store in Dallas by 10/31! Just mention code ORGSTUDIO10 at the register for the discount (exclusions apply).

Thank you so much to The Container Store for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.