Dallas

#MelLovesMunger: The St. Patrick’s Day Festival

- Melody

 

Since moving to Dallas, I’ve tried to involve myself in any festival that sounds remotely interesting to me. I can’t remember a time in my life where I’ve participated in or celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve never had green beer, never seen any Irish people step dancing,  and barely even remember to wear green. On the actual day this year, I accidentally wore the single piece of green clothing I own. It was turquoise, but still. But a festival where even all the news outlets tout street drinking? I’m down. I convinced my friend and neighbor Cait to experience it with me. Who knew it would be a day of firsts for us?

By our apartment, we’re surrounded by bus stops. The train station is a little over a mile from us so we decided to try that first since it’s quicker than the bus. We drove to the station and waited with all the others dressed in green lugging coolers. If we’d have known it was that legit we would’ve brought our own cooler. Next year…

We took the train up to Upper Greenville and got a front row spot watching the parade complete with drunk women yelling in our ears for beads and free koozies. Ahh, Dallas…

We did get free Monsters though. So…that’s something.

That guy is my new BFF.

This is my friend neighbor Cait! AKA my partner for the day. Are you really surprised that I wore green lipstick? I’d honestly wear it to the office if I knew it wouldn’t freak anyone out or that I wouldn’t be putting myself in the line of fire for strange comments. C’est la vie. (spelled that right without Googling! Yay!)

After the parade, we stopped back by the apartment for lunch and to change into sweaters and jeans. We really underestimated how cold it was going to be that day. We then took the bus back to Lower Greenville and bar hopped for the rest of the day. Also had Steel City Pops twice. (Whoops. Would’ve had it again too.)

That guy is also my BFF.

At the bar where this rooftop photo was taken, there was a fight literally right in front of where I was sitting. It was all very exciting watching someone who was nearly fall-over-drunk slow motion punch another dude in the face. 10/10 would see again.

Thank you, Cait, for coming with me and experiencing so many new things with me! Love you, neighbor!

 

 

xx

 

 

My First Rap Show

- Melody

Last Christmas, Rudy was going to get she and her boyfriend concert tickets. It was between a Lil’ Wayne show in Bossier City or a Future and Ty Dolla $ign show here in Dallas. I (cleverly) tricked her into telling me which one she personally would rather go to so I could get those tickets. So, being the perfect oldest sister that I am, bought all three of us tickets to see Future and Ty Dolla $ign last month.

 

He did not disappoint.

If you’re like me and have no idea who Future or Ty Dolla $ign is, Future has done such classics as Jumpman with Drake, Where Ya At, and Big Rings also with Drake. Also, Future is REAL cute.

Ty Dolla $ign has done…well, you can look them up. Fyi? They’re real explicit. *cough* *cough*

ANYWAY. If you have a chance to go to a rap concert, just GO. Being crowded by hundreds of other people and being forced to jump or be crushed is THE GREATEST THING EVER. Pro Tip: Get there early and get towards the front. It’s less fun if you can’t even see the stage. Also, maybe know more than two songs so you can actively participate.

Also? Be sure at the end of the show there’s a confetti cannon.

 

Actually, anywhere you go make sure there’s a confetti cannon.

 

10/10 would recommend a rap concert. Especially with your best friends/sisters. 0/10 would recommend waiting over an hour to get out of the parking lot because they’ve got the back alley blocked off for the artists. But at least we got to see them get on their tour bus.

If you come to Dallas and go to one, hmu. I’m good company! Swear. Plus you can stay in my house. My couch is a great sleep couch. 🙂

 

xx

Dallas Bucket List: Method Coffee

- Melody 1 Comment

method!

HOORAY! FINALLY after months of hearing about this place and Cait raving about their flavored lattes, I visited Method. Cait and I have a biweekly (early) morning coffee date and until now have frequented the hot-dude magnet coffee shop Houndstooth in Knox/Henderson. (Seriously. Go there on a Wednesday morning. Literally DOZENS of hot dudes hanging out drinking coffee. It’s so weird.) We liked that location because it opens at 6:30 AM giving us plenty of hang time before I have to leave for work. BUT! Now that we live three doors down from each other in our apartment building we can get somewhere much quicker and have just as much time together, since Method doesn’t open until 7:00 AM.

Doesn’t hurt that the outside wall is super ‘grammable.

 

I’ve still got a ways to go on my coffee bucket list, but I’m SO happy I finally hit this place up! If you’re in the area, be aware that they close at 5 on weekdays and 6 on weekends. IT’S MADNESS THEY CLOSE THAT EARLY. Cait and I recommend their lavender latte or ANY of their seasonal lattes. Right now they have a jalapeno mocha and rosemary honey. Srsly.

 

 

xx

Sister Crop Top Day

- Melody

Approximately 1,000,000 years ago I bought this crop top at Target and thought, “omg how cute a striped crop top can’t wait for summer.” And then 1,000,000 years later give or take a few days I saw it in my closet. Unworn. Mocking me every time I slid past it to get to a different shirt. One that was, how should I say, uncropped.

It just so happened that on that day, my two sisters were in town and each had brought their own crop top. CROP TOP FATE. With that and the fact that weekends are the only time I can wear such a thing (offices really frown upon midriffs. Who knew?) I popped the sucker on.

Oh yeah, I got my nose pierced. Did you know that?

 

I won’t lie to you. When we walked into Gold Rush Cafe I felt insanely over dressed and like I was trying too hard. But when you stop thinking like that and instead think like I’m the best dressed in the room your perspective shifts and you really stop caring about the person that might stare at you for a couple seconds. (SPOILER ALERT: No one did! Dallas rules.)

Turns out nobody really gives a crap if two inches of your cute belly shows. And why should they? They’re not the ones that are you. You are you. And before I get too Dr. Suess on you, just wear a crop top, k? They’re cute and cool and actually super flattering with the right bottoms. Can’t wait to pop out a couple others I’ve got for this hot weather.

 

xx

PS! Have you seen this article on Buzzfeed about a girl that wears a crop top for seven days and documents people’s reactions? It’s eye-opening.

Dallas Bucket List: Rooftop Nights

- Melody

LG

 

I’m really not sure where my obsession with rooftops began. Really with all outdoor spaces. One of my requirements for an apartment here was that it have a porch or patio or balcony. (Thank you, Jesus, for giving me one!) I follow a photographer on Snapchat that lives in Deep Ellum, a mile and a half or so from me, and has the most gorgeous rooftop in her loft building and she CAN SEE THE SKYLINE SO CLEARLY and it kills me. #loftgoals

bffbff

Since I got my haircut Friday (YAY!) I was feeling sassy and needed to go out. Kalie and I found a poppin’ rooftop in Lower Greenville and drank Pimm’s while watching the tipsy people balance on the sidewalk.

Remedy

Skyline!

You see those lights in the distance? Yeah. That’s the skyline. I swear it’s so much closer than it actually appears! It’s no Deep Ellum loft rooftop, but it’ll do. For now.

 

xx

Dallas Bucket List: Texas State Fair

- Melody 1 Comment

corndog

 

Early last fall I made a Dallas Bucket List! I mentioned on that list that I had a trip planned for the Texas State Fair, a place I had never visited. I’ve never really been a fair or amusement park person, but our work team was taking October 1 off and riding the train down so I was a fair person that day. I know, my life is so hard.

My favorite part of all fairs and amusement parks is, duh, the food. Also all of those CRAZY AMAZING neon lights make for some pretty great photos. Alas, neon doesn’t show up in the bald face sun so I settled for taking selfies with Big Tex and cotton candy the size of my torso.

Big Tex!Big Tex butt

Would you believe me if I told you I took this and sent it to everyone with the caption “Big Tex butt”? Because I did.

By the way, Big Tex, like, MOVES and TALKS. And thank god the people I was with warned me. But I still got scared.

Who’s Big Tex? Big Tex is the Texas State Fair mascot that wears giant Dickey’s clothes and boots with the Texas state flag on them. And a giant with the derpiest voice that tells you the time. He caught on fire a while ago and I wish I’d have lived here then. To look out my balcony and see a giant cowboy on fire would’ve had me checking for the rapture.

corndogcotton candy headcorndawg

THE FOOD OMG. This is the best corn dog I’ve ever had.

umbrellas

We didn’t ride any rides, because that’s not what the fair is about. We strolled around checking out the car shows, seeing a cheesy dog trick show, and eating our weight in sugar and carbs.

 

Long live state fairs and cotton candy the size of your torso.

 

 

xx