HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.

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Articles written by: Sarah

C and C

This Thursday us girls had a little Cupcakes & Champagne action.

We threw in some knitting, Domino’s pizza tracking, and singing made up songs to strangers on Chatroulette for good measure.

Despite the fun, it just wasn’t my night:
a) I forgot my cupcakes at home.
b) the champagne I bought was rotten.
c) ants got to the cupcakes before I made it back home.

Don’t worry.
We had back up.

Also, I received some very exciting news this week, which I’ll share after some photos…

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As for my good news, I’m going to Maui in just 11 days!
I was invited to attend a few days worth of meetings in Hawaii, but I’m managing to get some relaxation time in too. It’s always been a dream of mine to go and this was just the perfect opportunity. Only bummer is that I’m going all alone!

Here’s my hotel, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

Maui!

I’ll leave you with a tip I overheard from a little Bleubird
Pebbles is making cupcake cereal! I need some… now, please.

Cupcake Pebbles!

Products I Love: Allegiant Air

Okay, so maybe it’s not a product per say, but Allegiant Air is a company and I love it… a lot.

allegiant

For the past three years some of my good friends and I have taken a girls trip to Las Vegas every fall – all thanks to my favorite discount airline. Without Allegiant, we would have never gotten such a sweet deal year after year. For example, last September it cost us each $300 for roundtrip airfare (with direct flights from XNA), shuttle to/from the airport, and three nights hotel stay at Paris.

Pretty amazing, right?

I’m pouting as I type this, but I don’t think we’ll be able to go this year. Instead, I’m going through my old photos from previous trips and reminiscing. Enjoy…

Las Vegas girls trip #1
2007

This trip was just Laura and me.

Vegas 2007

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Vegas 2007

Vegas

We dined at N9NE Steakhouse (as we do every year)

Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

We danced at JET.

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Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

Where we saw Perez Hilton.

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We shopped.

Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

We explored.

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Vegas 2007

Vegas

Vegas 2007

We went to Madame Tussauds wax museum.

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Laura & Hugh

Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

Vegas 2007

We just had a fantastic time…

Vegas 2007

Las Vegas girls trip #2
2008

One year later, our party grew from just two of us to seven girls!

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

We had an amazing experience at LAX.
Free table service, private room, and our own bouncer.

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Vegas 2008

Las Vegas girls trip #3
2009

…and then there were six!

Vegas 2008

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

LMFAO at Tao

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

Mmm. Another dinner at N9NE.

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

2009 Las Vegas Girls Trip

In 2009 also took advantage of Allegiant Air’s direct flight back to Fayetteville during two different work trips.

Touring the M Resort

M Resort

M Resort

Red Rock Resort & Green Valley Ranch

Red Rock Resort

Green Valley Ranch

Red Rock Resort

Red Rock Resort

Limo ride

Limo ride

Stayed a night at Palms Place Suites (ammmazing)

Cheese!

My own full suite

Bathtub in my bedroom

Suite at Palms Place

The bathroom keeps going

Bathroom in my suite

View from my wrap around balcony

View from my balcony at Palms Place

My suite at Palms Place w/ fireplace

Bath overlooking the strip. PS - I'm not really bathing.

We toured several of the specialty suites & clubs at the Palms

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa - The pool!

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at Palms. All original artwork from the mansion

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at Palms

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at Palms

Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at Palms

Hardwood Suite at Palms

Hardwood Suite at Palms

Ghostbar at Palms

Playboy Club

A few nights at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay

THEtp

View from THEhotel rooftop bar

My mom met me in Vegas :)

Mom & me at the Luda show

and we watched Ludacris perform by the Palms pool

Ludacris show at the Palms pool

Ludacris show at the Palms pool

Ludacris show at the Palms pool

Relaxing

Worn. Out.

THEhotel lobby

For my last trip, I was invited out by Harrah’s to attend a three day event.

My room at Caesar’s Palace

Las Vegas / November 2009

An amazing reception on the roof of PURE

Las Vegas / November 2009

Las Vegas / November 2009

Las Vegas / November 2009

They took us to see Bette Midler…

Las Vegas / November 2009

…and on a helicopter ride complete with champagne.

Las Vegas / November 2009

Las Vegas / November 2009

Las Vegas / November 2009

Las Vegas / November 2009

Gorgeous dinners too.

Las Vegas / November 2009

It was lovely.

Las Vegas / November 2009

So this might seem more like an “I really love Las Vegas” post and, in a way, it kind of is. But without Allegiant Air, I wouldn’t have most of these memories… and I’d have a lot less photos in my Flickr account.

So thank you, Allegiant.
I hope to fly away in you someday soon!

Pretty Weekend

It’s Sunday, so that means it’s time for three things:
Take out from Slim Chicken’s
a Lifetime movie marathon
& a weekend recap blog post.

Friday night we took it easy and doggysat our friends’ dog, Bowsie. This crazy little creature is a Bichon and Pug mix that was rescued by Bryan and Jenny and is quite a looker (and licker).

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Sadie had a blast with her slumber party pal, but was a bit confused about it all.

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Saturday morning was pretty lazy, but by noon Todd and I were off to do some thrifting and to see some glass blowing in the country. Todd’s stepdad, Ed, runs Red Fern Glass, a hot glass studio where he makes gorgeous chandlers, sculptures, and more. He has an annual Glass Blow Out around this time every year and this one marked the 25th anniversary of Red Fern Glass. Of course the art is amazing, but so is his property.

Pretty drive

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Thrifting adventure

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I found a cute vintage knitting carrier for a buck!

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Vintage summer sandals for 50 cents (in my size, which is rare).

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Don’t put heavy on here!

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This is one of my favorite thrift stores ever. Green Forest, Arkansas.

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What a selection of name pins. Tammi, Mildred, Micky, Tonya, & more!

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Headed to the Glass Blow Out…

The property is at the end of a long dirt road

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Todd stopped to help two turtles cross the road.

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Finally, we were there.

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Little garden house
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This use to be Todd’s grandfather’s truck

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The actual studio

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Best Chill Zone ever.

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We headed back towards Fayetteville…

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… where I then headed out with GL.

We met up with friends at Kingfish, where more than enough photos were taken (thanks to my camera being passed around).

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We played a few rounds of Knockoff

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I won!

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After closing our tabs, GL and I decided we weren’t quite ready to call it a night.
We went across the street to the Walton Arts Center Rose Garden and snapped a few more pictures, taking full advantage of the camera’s self-timer.

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Silly girls.

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This reminded us of Stitch & Bitch, so of course we took even more pictures.

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I don’t know why, but we saw a fresh bagel in the garden and it made us laugh.

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Although we were pretty hungry, we didn’t eat it.
Instead, we each got a hot dog from the hot dog stand on Dickson.
Soooo good.

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It got crowded quick. Some randos jumped in for a shot.

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After stuffing our faces on the sidewalk, we headed home.

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Now that my friends is what you call a weekend.

Wisteria Lane

Here are just a few photos of my week…

The Wisteria in our chill zone is pretty amazing right now.

Wisteria in our Chill Zone

My afterwork hours were spent sitting under the blooms playing Words With Friends.

WWF

And hanging out with my friend Brandy.

Brandy & me

Heart

Friday arrived and I celebrated the start of the weekend with some fun girls and overpriced Mexican food.

orange candy

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running with the bulls

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Saturday was spent with more friends, summer brew, and playing two rounds of Celebrity.

summer brew

summer brew

summer brew

summer brew

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summer brew

summer brew

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summer brew

summer brew

summer brew

summer brew

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summer brew

summer brew

summer brew

And now Sunday is here and it’s as lazy as can be.

Morning Baby Bear

Tonight, I’ll finish the weekend off with The Pacific and Treme on HBO.

Hope your week was just as good. ♥

Bacon Day 2010

Oh lordy lou. Saturday was a long, long, great, long day.
It was Bacon Day.

Pretty sure that my body is still recovering from all the little piggies.
Let’s just let the pictures do the talking…

Girls heading over to the action.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon in everything…

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Even bacon in faces.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

I made bacon rice krispie treats.

Bacon Day 2010

Relaxing and eating and relaxing and eating.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

And being grossed out.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

And then the Star Wars Bacon AT-AT showed up!

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Nick with his creation.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

More hanging out and being silly.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

The sun started to go down but the fun stayed for awhile longer.

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

Bacon Day 2010

We ended the night at Smoke & Barrel with Epiphany and Gina Gee.
Their song 5 Dollas will be stuck in your head for days.

Bacon Day 2010

And that, my friends, was Bacon Day.
I’ll leave you with one side note:

I was a vegetarian for over 12 years. A few years ago I started craving one kind of meat. Bacon. That’s what did me in. It’s powerful stuff.