dallas Archives - Audrey JoAnn | Content and Copy Writer

Some of my very favorite memories in life are the simplest moments.

I look so fondly back on times when I get to curl up in bed reading a good book with dim candle- and lamp-light illuminating my bedroom in golden flickers, soft music playing through speakers in the background. I cherish also the quiet road trips I’ve taken with my sweet man, Piper curled up in the backseat, through Texas Hill Country with the sun dropping toward the horizon and tunes crooning through the radio.

Others are the times — rare, but precious — when John unhitches his guitar from its wall mount to surprise me with a rendition of one of my favorite songs that he’s taught himself to strum.

Not to get too mushy (or is it too late?), but when he played Vance Joy’s “Mess is Mine,” I literally cried. OK, maybe I didn’t bawl, but I did well up. Instances when my heart is so touched that tears come to my eyes are few and far between. But seeing the man I love playing the melody to a song that I feel so adequately sums up me and him brought me such indescribable joy, really, that all I could do was cry.

Music plays such a deep and visceral part in my most adored memories, and I think that’s true for everyone. A song can put you right back in a place you were at years ago, can’t it? Live music especially brings lasting memories with those you enjoy it with, and that’s why I’m so enthralled to be able to give away the gift of an amazing concert here in Dallas on Friday.

Vance Joy is headlining, preceded by Elle King and Jamie Lawson. Vance, obviously, holds a dear spot in my heart, and I know and enjoy some of Elle’s mainstream songs. Jamie, though, I didn’t know until I YouTubed some of his songs yesterday. His voice, as expected as an opener for Vance Joy, is heavenly. All of their sounds are, to me, magical and uplifting, and I’m excited to bring someone the experience of seeing them live!

Here are the details to win TWO tickets to the show:

Follow ME (@frecklesandfigs) on Instagram.
Like my post on Instagram of the photo above (posted this morning).
Tag 3 friends who live in the Dallas area who love live music (especially Vance, Elle, or Jamie)!
BONUS! Repost my photo on Instagram for TWO additional entries!

Contest closes Thursday at midnight; winner will be announced first thing Friday morning.

The concert is Friday night, March 11, at 8 p.m. at the Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie. Thank you to AEG Live SW for sponsoring this giveaway!

Today is my birthday, and here is the outfit I wish I was wearing at work this fine Wednesday. But alas, my downtown office housing the works of magazine makers has, well, not a strict dress code by any means, but I don’t think they’d appreciate my waltzing in wearing a crop top, even if today does mark my 24th year of being alive. Plus, I’m sick, and I don’t care if you’re Khloe Kardashian: no one likes to dress up when they’re sick. So you can currently find me in a slouchy sweater and minimal makeup carrying around Kleenex like it’s an accessory. Turning 24 is lovely so far.

Anyway. I want to talk about rules today — specifically, breaking rules — because I think that’s an okay thing to do sometimes. I am a scorpio, after all. We’re the rebels, aren’t we? Even though I’m not brave enough to break dress code today, here are 24 rules that I encourage everyone to break every once in a while, and that I’ve almost certainly* broken in the last near-two-and-a-half decades.

1. Have more than two drinks on a date. Just be careful with red wine (wine-stained teeth are rarely a good look), and have your date drive.

2. Play hooky from work — or “take a personal day,” if we’re being all grownup about it.

3. Wear white after labor day and, really, whenever you want.

4. Take a financial risk if you truly believe it will pay off.

5. Don’t brush your hair. (Honestly, sometimes it looks better.)

6. Send double texts. Send triple texts!

7. Eyeball your measurements when baking. (My grandma will be disappointed in you, but go forth and conquer those cookies your own way this one time.)

8. Watch an entire series on Netflix in a weekend.

9. Take a 4-plus day break from working out.

10. Pay for your guy’s meal, and then high five him for breaking gender stereotypes.

11. Bring out the sandals or wedges in cooler months (barring that you live in, like, North Dakota like my sister; if so, abort mission STAT), and boots or booties in warm months.

12. Plan a trip the day before you take it.

13. Post an imperfection on social media.

14. Speak before thinking, or more aptly, over-analyzing.

15. Go to an event or restaurant alone.

16. Buy the shoes without checking your bank account first.

17. Paint a piece of furniture a bizarre, standout color.

18. Take an extra-long lunch break.

19. Talk while chewing; sometimes, we just have something really imperative to say and it needs to be said right now.

20. Drink beer before liquor.

21. If you like it but it’s “off-trend,” purchase it anyway.

22. Have a free day where you don’t worry about anything you eat. One day won’t ruin your goals.

23. Wear two, three, as many patterns as you think looks nice (a la the outfit on this here post; oh hello, lace, floral, and faux snakeskin).

24. Have ice cream for breakfast. Especially on your birthday.

*Almost certainly: because a rule breaker must never completely incriminate herself. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that junk.

A big thank you to my great gal pal Sarah Cook for capturing these photos! If you live in North Texas and need a bomb photographer, holler at your girl (me, at audrey@audreyjoann.com) and I’ll happily introduce you.

Crop top: Solemio (so old: similar here and here) // Pants: Old Navy (old: similar here, here, and here // Stilettos: Charlotte Russe (old: similar here and here) // Body chain: gift, similar here and here

Vance Joy, Elle King, + Jamie Lawson in Dallas on Friday (Win Tickets!)

Breaking Rules In My Birthday Suit

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