That One Time I Met Taylor Swift

I know! 

I have drug this recap out to three posts now and I am finally getting around to how I met Taylor. Really, thank you for not yelling at me.

Catch up here and here before reading this post. If you wanna.

So, last post I left you hanging with how we were chosen for Club Red and how meeting Taylor went.

So here goes...

I guess I should explain what Club Red is for those of you who aren't obsessed with Taylor. After almost all of her shows, Taylor has a Club Red. Club Red is basically a meet and greet but it lasts a little longer and only a select few are chosen from the crowd. Inside Club Red there is pizza, Cokes, candy, and several of her costumes are displayed from previous tours. About 20 to 25 people are chosen for each show. You are chosen from the crowd by Taylor's mom, Andrea, or someone working with her. You can be chosen for many different reasons but being a crazy fan is helpful. And, apparently, it doesn't matter where you are seated because we were at the very very top and were still chosen!

During The Lucky One, mom, Alyssa, and I were singing along and waving around our sign. By this point I had quit thinking about Club Red and was enjoying the concert. This lady came up to us and was talking to mom so I leaned in to see what was going on. Neither of us could hear her at all so I just smiled and said, "yes". You know, the way you do when you have no clue what someone is saying. I thought she was asking to get by or something. 

Then I heard her say the magical words, "You are going to meet Taylor after the show!" 

Y'all.

Que the hysteria. I was a mess. 

I started crying immediately, put my hand over my mouth, and shook my head in disbelief for a long time. I remember looking at my mom, telling her we got to meet Taylor after the show and mom saying, "Ohh, Whitney's gonna cry!"

Damn straight I was going to cry.

 I had been thinking about this moment for quite awhile, reading other people's stories about getting into Club Red, and looking at their pictures in envy. I couldn't, and still can't, believe that we were chosen! Out of 12,000 people, we were picked! It was the most excited I have ever felt. I called Garrett at work and left him a message telling him that I was going to get to meet Taylor. I was crying in that message. He has it on his phone still but I have yet to listen to it. I'm generally not that excitable, so to feel such intense emotion that was uncontrollable was crazy to me. I'm a pretty calm person most of the time.

The Lucky One was only the 5th song, so we still had quite some time to enjoy the concert. I wonder if they did that on purpose, choosing us during The Lucky One? I remember my mom saying, "We're the lucky ones!" Still makes me giggle. 

Alyssa and I couldn't stop grinning and intermittently getting teary eyed and saying, "oh my God!" 

Even though I look scared in this picture, I wasn't. I had so many emotions running through my head and I guess this is the face I make when that happens. 

See those red bracelets? Those mean Club Red.

I had seen so many pictures of that little note. To be holding my very own was surreal. Mom held it at one point and pretended she lost it. Goober.

After the concert we met in section 23/24 with the other people who had been chosen. The lady that chose us explained the rules to us:

1. Take as many pictures as you want until Taylor arrives. After that, put your camera up.

2. You are allowed one picture with Taylor per group.

3. Taylor will sign one thing per person.

We were led through the foyer and across the way to the building where Club Red was. There were security around us so that no one could sneak in and there were fans outside asking if they could go in. Words can't express how lucky I felt to be in that line!

We were the first ones in line, so we got some good pictures.

Taylor's cat Meredith.

Dresses from her Speak Now tour:

The girl that had chosen us from the crowd was in there as well so I went up to her, thanked her multiple times, and asked her what got us chosen. She said that Andrea, Taylor's mom, had seen our sign during Ed Sheeran and had sent her to get us! 

And then...they announced that Taylor was about to come in. I had been pretty nervous the whole time and when they said that I got even more nervous. Taylor came in, as well as Andrea, and said hi to the room and went to the first group. We weren't supposed to go up to her, they said "she will come to you." So, we just waited until it was our turn!

I approached Andrea and told her that we were the ones with the "MEOW" sign and thanked her multiple times for choosing us. She said that she had thought about moving us up to the very first row but decided to save us for Club Red instead! I asked her for a picture and told her thank you several more times. 

Us with Taylor's mom!

Goodness! I can't believe I get to type this: 

and then we met Taylor!!

She came up to us said, "hey guys!" and gave each of us a big hug. It wasn't just a wimpy side hug either. It was a full on hug. I may or may not have made Garrett recreate it so that I could show him the kind of hug we got. I did. 

We talked about how awesome she was that night, that I was going to her Denver show as well and would be in the 4th row, Paris and Belgium, that she was excited for the Dallas show because it was going to be big, and a couple of other things I can't remember. She told us she liked our shirts and cat ears,  I told her that I had made her a shirt but, like an idiot, I had left it at Alyssa's apartment. Figures. She said I got credit anyways. 

She asked if we wanted a picture and we got these with her:

She is TINY! I know she looks skinny on TV but I swear she is even skinnier in person. She was the same height as Alyssa and I! : ) During our picture I said, "You are SO tiny!" She was like, "well thank you! Thank you for saying that." She was also so pretty. I swear that girl is flawless.

Then she asked if we had anything we wanted her to sign. We each had her sign our Tshirts.

We each got one more hug and then she was on to the next group. I swear it seemed like about 2 seconds total! She was really nice and seemed kind of quirky to me which made me like her even more. 

After the last group, Taylor headed out to her tour bus and we were on our way home! The whole time we were there I kept telling myself, "Be in the moment. Take it all in." I felt like I just couldn't. It felt surreal and like it was a dream. I know that sounds cheesy but that's how it felt. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and to have shared it with my mom and sister. It was fun seeing them get excited and I think they now have a better understanding of why I always advocate for Taylor.

Oh! And this happened:

Taylor's guitarist Grant saw our sign! : ) Exciiiiting.

This Sunday, Garrett and I are going to see her in Denver. He surprised me with VIP tickets for Christmas last year and we are going to be in the 4th row. I am so unbelievably excited! So, I apologize in advance for the amount of Taylor pictures you have been, and will be, seeing from me. Thanks for sticking with me! : )

Summer Splash Swap!

Hey guys!

I am taking a break from my Taylor Swift recap to announce that I am partnering with some wonderful ladies, Meighan and Allie, to bring you the Summer Splash Swap! 

Hosted by:

Heavens to Meighan

Tales of a Twenty Something

Keeping Up With The Cyperts

The Rules:

1.  SIGN UP!  Be sure to sign up below using the Google form.  We will announce the swap partners by June 10.  If you want to do the swap, make sure you sign up by June 10, that is the cut off date! 

2.  GO SHOPPING!  We want you to buy your swap partner a bright, fun beach towel.  Along with the towel, buy your partner lots of goodies that they can use at the pool, the beach or just out in the sun! 

3.  DON'T GO NUTS!  Try to keep the spending limit around $20.  If you want to spend more, feel free!  But you don't have to go crazy spending tons of money on the goodies.  Wal-Mart and Target have so many miniature goodies in the travel section that would make great box fillers!  Please remember:  the $20 limit does NOT include your shipping cost.

SIGN UP HERE!!!

The Best Day. Like Ever. Part 2: The Concert

Hi sweet friends!

I have been recapping my trip to Austin/my amazing experience with Taylor Swift, so if you haven't read those two posts, check them out! They will get ya all caught up.

After getting ready to head to the concert, and taking pictures with the cool things outside {like Taylor's trucks}, it was finally time for the concert to start. I was literally shaking with excitement. I had already told both my mom and sister that I would probably cry and that they couldn't laugh too hard. It's a crazy and surreal feeling to see someone in person that you have been a fan of for so long. To be in the same room with them and to breath the same air. Crazy I tell ya!

At this point I was feeling pure excitement. Grinning from ear to ear with tears in my eyes. 

*I just realized that there are going to be spoilers in this post. So, if you are planning on seeing her show and don't want to know details, maybe don't read this post just yet.*

Taylor opens with State of Grace. 

She is standing behind a huge red curtain for the first few lines of the song and then the curtain falls and there she is! {Sidenote: On Sunday Garrett and I are going to see her here in Denver and we will be in the 4th row! Looking at that second picture, and seeing how close we will be...I can't even.}

After State of Grace is Holy Ground.

She had flying drummers and all kinds of dancers and lights going on. In the middle of the song she bangs out a drum solo. It was badass.

Next is Red. 

As you can see, I took some of these pictures from the Frank Erwin Center's Facebook because they were actually able to get good pictures. Lucky people that can bring in nice cameras!

How gorgeous is she?

You Belong with Me was next and was one of my favorite performances of the night because it was quite a bit different from the original song. I won't go into detail, it was just different and neat.

The Lucky One was next and boy was it our lucky song! During this song we found out that we had been chosen for Club Red! I hate to do this again, but if I don't this post would be way too long. So, I'm leaving it at that and will explain what Club Red is and what happened in my next post. But let me tell ya', it's exciting!

During "22" she makes her way through the crowd to a second stage where she performs several songs as well as a "secret song" at each venue. It's just her and her guitar. In Austin she played Safe and Sound which is a song she wrote for The Hunger Games. She dedicated it to the people in Oklahoma who had just suffered a horrible tornado.

This isn't my video, but I wanted to share it.

Super sweaty and gross from dancing around and singing the whole time. Plus my eyeliner was close to nonexistent after the tears I cried when I found out we got Club Red.

Tay flew across the audience while singing Sparks Fly on her way back to the main stage.

Then, one of my all time favorites of her's, I Knew You Were Trouble. Production wise, this song was my favorite. She starts off wearing this white ball gown and during the middle of the song rips it off and has on a black corset top with black shorts. I love the dramatic costume change, and she looks hot in that little black number! 

White ballgown:

A very blurry sexy black corset:

Several songs later, All Too Well was played. Pretty sure that is my favorite song off of the Red album and the performance of it is perfect. She plays the piano and sings with such emotion in her face and voice, it really is amazing. 

Again, not my video, but if you want to check it out {you won't be sorry!} there ya go! 

A couple more songs and then the finale, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

The finale was awesome! Red confetti everywhere!

At this point I was getting SO nervous! I knew in about 30 minutes I would be meeting Taylor which is something I have daydreamed about so many times. No, I am not a 12 year old girl, I promise. 

 And because I have alot to say about Club Red as well as quite a bit of pictures from it, I'm going to leave you hanging one more time. I keep doing that don't I? 

The Best Day. Like Ever. Part 1

You guys!

I've been thinking about this post and what I would say and how long it would be for the last week! So, I apologize in advance for the length, this is gonna be a long one. I won't be mad if you just scroll through and look at the pictures. 

Yesterday I wrote all about my Austin trip! Well, I left out Tuesday because that day gets it's very own post. This one. : )

Tuesday was magical.

Tuesday was the Taylor Swift Red Tour concert.

After finally finishing our sign for the show {we had been up literally all night!}, mom, Alyssa, and I started getting ready.  I had known exactly what I was going to wear, down to the 13's on my hands, red nail polish, and cat ears, for a long time. I had daydreamed many nights about how this night would go. 

About a month ago, Garrett and I went up to his workplace late one night and made t-shirts. I thought of exactly how I wanted them to look and he made them real. We made three Austin T-shirts and two Denver T-shirts. One of the Denver shirts was for Taylor in case I got to meet her. 

 It took us around 4 hours to make all of the T-shirts but afterwards I had exactly what I had envisioned. *Thank you honey for doing all of the work and for making something I had in my mind a real, tangible thing! You are perfect!*

Alyssa, mom, and I in our shirts! : ) Yes, one side of my hair is curled and the other is not. My dad thought he had to leave for Cabela's right that moment and since he was taking the picture I had no choice. 

The sleeve:

 Come Back, Be Here is one of Taylor's extra songs on her Red Album. It's good, listen to it if you haven't!

It was like prom. Getting ready and mom taking pictures!

I got the cat ears idea from Taylor's 22 video. She wears them in that video.

The concert didn't start until 7 but I wanted to get there early. We left Alyssa's apartment at 3 and were there by 3:30. I told ya I wanted to go early.

Diet Coke recently partnered with Taylor so there were people handing out Diet Coke for free! Score! There were also different posters/signs with Taylor's Diet Coke campaign pictures.

Us with our sign!

I guess now is as good a time as any to explain our sign. Yes, it says MEOW. No, it doesn't stand for anything, it's just meow. One night, while daydreaming about this concert, I thought of this idea. I was scared to tell anyone because I knew no one would understand. Alyssa was like, "ummm, I'll try to think of something else" when I told her. Bless her heart. She came around though.

My explanation: Taylor loves cats. All three of us love cats. It's unique, hadn't been done before that I had seen, and would get us noticed. So there you have it.

Meow.

After our Diet Coke drinking, we walked around the venue to see Taylor's trucks. I don't care who you are, these trucks are cool. How many people have 30+ trucks with their face on the side?

Coolest trucks I have ever seen.

Taylor's tour bus was parked near the venue door so we waited as close to it as possible in hopes of catching a glance. And, let's face it, we had time to waste.

This guy guarded the door the whole time and we never saw her. We did see her mom Andrea though! 

At 5:30, the doors opened. We got in line early and were some of the first people inside. There were all sorts of booths set up. Keds, Wonderstruck, all kinds of Taylor related goodness.

We took this picture at the Keds booth for a chance to win pit passes. We didn't win.

A photographer for the Frank Erwin Center took this and it ended up on their website, so I stole it.

After exploring for a bit, we headed to the arena and found our seats.
The very top in the very last row.

Mom and Alyssa tested out our sign.

I went and explored a little more before the show started. This is as far as they would let me get to the stage since I didn't have floor seats.

After Ed Sheeran and before Taylor. I didn't get any pictures of Ed because I was saving all of my camera battery for Taylor. : ) 

Annnnd....that's where I'm going to leave you hanging. I didn't realize this was going to be so long. So, tomorrow, I'll post about the actual concert.

Thanks for hanging in there, I know I talk alot.