February really had me in a funk between the gray skies and rainy weather, and I was not feeling like myself. But I made a New Year’s resolution to make 2018 a year where I focused on self-care and being my own biggest cheerleader. So I am keeping my resolution, and last weekend I took a trip to WinStar to totally recharge my batteries!

Tripp, my wonderful boyfriend (you may have read about him here and here), bought us tickets to see OneRepublic at the Global Event Center back around Christmas, so I was thrilled when I remembered we had them, and on St. Patrick’s Day weekend nonetheless! They’ve been one of my favorite bands for a long, long time. I remember listening to them on the CD player in my car when I was learning to drive more than ten years ago!

When I realized the tickets fell on St. Patrick’s Day (lucky me!), I went ahead and booked a hotel room for Friday and Saturday night so we could make a weekend of it.  We enjoyed dinner before the concert on Friday night at Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse — it was SO yummy — and then took in the show.

We stayed Saturday for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including a few green beers and testing our luck at some electronic games. I got lucky and won a couple hundred bucks and promptly decided to cash out! Tripp is still trying to get me to play poker with him, but I am nowhere close to his skill level.

It was an amazing weekend with a mix of fun festivities, relaxation, good food and great music. I highly recommend planning a weekend just like it for yourself, and maybe your weekend will be even luckier than mine!

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

The post A Lucky WinStar Weekend appeared first on WinStar.

Lindsey and I spent hours decorating our house in fall décor and whipping up our Thanksgiving dishes in the kitchen. Before we knew it, our house smelled like pumpkin pie, warm bread and green bean casserole. Every guest brought over their favorite dishes to complete our Friendsgiving meal and Tripp offered to bring the turkey – it was fried with Cajun spices and ah-maz-ing.

Tripp and I have been dating for a little over two months, and not all of my friends had met him yet, so this was the perfect opportunity to introduce him to a few more.  Tripp and my friend, Joel, share a love of country music so they were talking about all their favorite musicians. Joel mentioned he loved Willie Nelson and that for his birthday last month his parents got him 6 tickets to his show at WinStar, and he wanted for us to all go together. I’ve started listening to country music, and Willie Nelson is a legend, so of course I was excited to go. A trip to WinStar would be the icing on the cake for this year’s Friendsgiving.

The next day, we all headed to Thackerville to let the good times roll. Tripp played poker with the boys while the girls decided to check out the Lightning Link Lounge. It was so cool! We ate at Capisce Ristorante Italiano, and let me tell you, it was fantastic.

Willie Nelson gave the performance of a lifetime. It was a show I’ll never forget and I’m so glad I got to experience it with my closest friends. This Friendsgiving was extra special and full of sweet surprises. I can always count on my friends and trips to WinStar to make my days even better! This spontaneous adventure was just what I needed.

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

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Today, I am sharing my 2017 fall bucket list! It’s not too long, but it is jam-packed with all of my favorite fall activities. Plus, I’ve included a few once-in-a-lifetime kinds of things, so obviously I can’t pass those up. So, without further ado, my fall bucket list:

1. Go Apple Picking — I can’t wait to go apple picking this fall! It’s a tradition that my sister and I do every fall and it has to be number one on the list. It’s such a sweet feeling to walk through the rows of the trees together each year.
2. See Nick Offerman Live — There is so much live entertainment at WinStar this fall, but I am over-the-moon excited to see Nick Offerman at the Global Event Center this month. You might remember from my Galentine’s Day post, I am a big Parks & Rec fan, so this is truly a dream come true.
3. Visit a Pumpkin Village —Tripp (my wonderful boyfriend who I met at the World Long Drive) is excited to visit the pumpkin patch and pumpkin village at the Dallas Arboretum this fall. He’s never been before, so I’m thrilled that I can take him to experience the autumn wonderland!
4. Go to a Cowboys Game — Living in Dallas, it’s hard to imagine fall without Cowboys games. I’ve never been to a game before (don’t worry, I’ve been to plenty of watch parties) so I know this is the year.
5. Learn to Play Poker — I’ve never been a big gamer or poker player. Tripp is a poker player though, and I hear he is pretty good at it. Learning at least one poker game would be fun and I can’t wait to beat him at his own game. If you have any poker tips, please send them my way!
6. Get a Head Start on Holiday Shopping — Potentially the most daunting item on my list, I need to get a head start on Christmas shopping this fall. I am such a last-minute planner, so this is a must-do. My mom had her eyes on a couple of purses at Le Fleur Boutique at WinStar. Thankfully, that’s one person I can buy for this fall!

I know it’s not very long, but it’s all about quality over quantity, right? I would love to hear about your fall plans and any tips you have to help me plan! Share with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

The post Whitney’s Fall Bucket List appeared first on WinStar.

It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The course was essentially a crazy-long driving range painted like a grid and lit up with stadium lights. The competitors swung their drivers at more than 150 mph down the course. Justin James won the men’s competition and Sandra Carlborg won the women’s. Sandra was the cutest – she wore all pink and looked like Golfer Barbie. Plus, she smoked some of the guys’ drives! The championships were televised on Golf Channel, too! There were so many people there and the atmosphere was exhilarating! It was all so cool and very out of my element, but it was a great experience.

We were there for the women’s and the men’s competitions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, so we stayed at WinStar Hotel. Plus, all my friends and I played at the WinStar Golf Course on Wednesday morning. I’m not good ­–at all– but the clothes are cute and I’m trying to challenge myself by learning new things.

I know the lights, 400+ yard drives and fancy championship belt are all enticing, but you haven’t heard the best part… I met a guy. It seems silly to share it with you here, but I’ll probably be writing about him in future posts, so hang with me!

When we went golfing on Wednesday, we saw one of the men’s championship competitors with a very cute friend. They came over and started chatting with us. The friend, Tripp, also lives in Dallas and is a pretty decent golfer himself. Tripp started giving me a few pointers while we were on the course and he ended up hanging with us all night at the championship. We had so much fun together watching the event and eating delicious food from the food trucks; we even got to enjoy an amazing concert by country music star Colt Ford. That evening, he asked me to go out with him the next night in Dallas and we’ve gone on a date every night since! It seems quick and a little crazy to be putting this on the Internet, but y’all, I am smitten. He’s different than me in the best ways and I am loving every minute we’ve spent together.

So, that’s that. I went to the World Long Drive with a few friends for a break from a hectic couple of weeks at work, and I left with tons of knowledge about the coolest sport I had never heard about and a date!

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

The post Whitney Goes to the World Long Drive Championship appeared first on WinStar.

A few weeks ago, some of my girlfriends from work and I were planning a road trip to a Realtor’s conference. (I know, it probably sounds boring to you, but we loved it!) As we were planning, I realized we would drive by WinStar on our way back home to Dallas.

It didn’t take much to convince my friends that we needed to stop at WinStar that Friday night. I knew there would be something going on that we wouldn’t want to miss. Plus, the beds are really comfortable and after a long day in the car nothing sounds better. When I called the hotel to book our room, they told me about the Weekends After Dark pool party and helped me reserve a VIP cabana! See what I mean? Luck was totally on our side.

The Weekends After Dark pool party was amazing! It’s a 21+ pool party at the Resort Pool with a DJ, dancers and great music. The theme for the weekend was Safari Nights, and they even decorated with safari decor! My friends and I all thought it was a great way to let loose and have a little fun after driving and being at the conference. It lasted until midnight, and we stayed until the very end!

You may have read about my upcoming trip to experience Keith Urban and Steven Tyler and the Loving Mary Band at The Colosseum at WinStar, but after the Weekends After Dark pool party, I may be planning another visit for the Cowboy Up themed Weekends After Dark pool party in September. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

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You might remember my mom from my post about our trip to the spa earlier this year. She’s truthfully the world’s best mom. She bought us tickets a while back to see Keith Urban at WinStar. I’m glad she did because the show sold out quickly! Returning to the topic of summertime music – I can’t think of anyone I’d rather listen to in the summer! The show is at The Colosseum at WinStar which is an outdoor venue that holds almost 10,000 people. They’re hosting the Professional Bull Riders: Built Ford Tough Series at the Colosseum on September 2 and 3 as well. So cool, right?

My mom and Larry will meet me at WinStar the last weekend in August for the show. They’re bringing their recently remodeled Airstream from Tulsa and staying at the WinStar RV Park. (Aren’t they so cute?) I, however, will be staying at the hotel and enjoying the Resort Pool all weekend.

While my mom and I go to Keith Urban, Larry is planning on spending the evening at the golf course. He wasn’t going to join us for the trip, but when he heard that Steven Tyler & the Loving Mary Band are playing the night before Keith Urban, he immediately volunteered to come and buy us tickets for that show as well. Of course, I won’t turn down tickets to a show, so we’re staying for the full weekend!

We are so excited for our Colosseum weekend! My playlist of summertime favs is playing and I am already daydreaming about seeing Keith and Steven. We’ve been joking that our girls trip for my birthday has turned into an anniversary trip and I’m just the third wheel. I sent them this anniversary-themed blog as a joke, but it was actually helpful and provided some great restaurant and activity suggestions.

I’d love to see you at WinStar in August! If you haven’t bought your tickets for Steven Tyler & the Loving Mary Band or the Professional Bull Riders: Built Ford Tough Series yet, buy them now! It’s going to be amazing.

The post A WinStar Colosseum Weekend appeared first on WinStar.

I am a sucker for a good love story (not a surprise if you read about my obsession with “The Bachelorette”). Heather and Danny are a perfect match. She was the calmest bride I have ever seen, and Danny was so helpful all weekend. Talk about an awesome guy! I’d been looking forward to standing by Heather’s side as a bridesmaid for months and it did not disappoint!

The entire weekend was pretty perfect. The wedding party arrived at WinStar and checked into the hotel on Friday afternoon. By 2:30 p.m., we were all out at the pool and enjoying the beautiful weather. After a while, we realized Heather’s mom lost the bride’s earrings! (You can’t have a wedding without one major drama, right?) So all the girls headed to Le Fleur and found Heather the perfect earrings. While we shopped, the guys headed over to WinStar Golf Academy for GEARS 3D swing analysis.

That evening, we all met up for the rehearsal dinner and drinks. The convenience of everything being in the same place was a game changer for us. We were able to enjoy all of WinStar’s amenities – the pool, spa, restaurants and more – and be close to all the wedding activities. We never even had to leave the resort.

The day of the wedding was nothing short of perfect. Heather treated us all to the Head, Hands & Feet treatment at The Spa at WinStar, and the groom and groomsmen played a round of golf, fresh off their lessons from the pros at the WinStar Golf Academy. We all got ready for the ceremony in the afternoon and headed over to the Convention Center.

The WinStar Convention Center is unlike anything I have ever seen. Take it from a girl who has been to her fair share of weddings, it is the best wedding venue in the North Texas area. Everything from the staff to the décor was incredible. The ballrooms were beautiful without any decoration, but once they set up the linens, china and flowers, it was truly stunning. It seems like it was built just to host gorgeous weddings. The staff was so attentive to the bride and her family and anticipated their needs. I could go on and on about how great everyone at the Convention Center was. The celebration outdid every expectation we had. Heather deserved an amazing wedding weekend and WinStar delivered!

If you are looking for an amazing wedding venue in North Texas or Oklahoma, take my advice and work with WinStar. Someday (hopefully!) I’ll be planning my own wedding here. That’s how much I loved it!

The post A WinStar Wedding appeared first on WinStar.

With that confession out of the way, I’m excited to share my plans for this season. My living room has been home to many watch parties over the years, and we’re all gearing up for another “The Bachelorette” season premiere! When I met my mom for a day at The Spa at WinStar a few weeks ago, I got really nostalgic about all the watch parties we’ve had. She threw the best watch parties for the first few seasons when my sister and I were in high school. “The Bachelorette” is a family affair.

Next week, I am pulling out all the stops to make this the best premier party yet. I created a bracket with all the guys’ names and faces, and I already have ten friends committed to playing in our bracket challenge each week. Think fantasy football but with a lot more drama, dresses and romance. Plus, Rachel is such a babe–  she’s from Dallas (right in WinStar’s backyard!) and a successful attorney. We can’t wait to see if she finds love!

I’m starting to plan decorations and food for the party too. Red wine, champagne, cookies shaped like roses and a lot of chocolate are all on the menu so far. We’re ready to kick off season 13!

I’d love to hear about how you’re preparing for the premier! Share with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@WinStar_World).

Interested in reading more from Whitney? See more here.

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Honestly, it’s a recent obsession, as in just last week when the other Realtors at my office forced me to play along and make a bracket for the tournament. But hear me out on this – it’s so much fun. I have never been a sports-obsessed kind of girl. Embarrassingly, I picked a few of the games on my bracket based on which team had the best colors, but watching the games with friends and learning more about basketball has been surprisingly exciting. The statistics and research my friends know about different teams is impressive.

I’m planning to head up to WinStar this weekend to watch some of the Sweet 16 games at Palladium with friends. We walked through during our girls trip last month and it looks like the perfect place to watch the games and catch up with friends. Plus, I know there’s great shopping and food once the buzzer sounds for halftime. I’m can’t wait to take it all in at WinStar!

I’d love to hear how you’re getting into the madness, and who you picked to win it all! Share with me by tweeting and posting with #WinStarWorldCasino.

Interested in reading more from Whitney? Read more here.

The post Whitney’s Guide to March Madness appeared first on WinStar.

If you’ve ever watched Parks and Recreation – the classic Amy Poehler NBC show – you already know about my favorite holiday, Galentine’s Day! Galentine’s Day is celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day and is the perfect opportunity to get together with your best girlfriends and have fun. In the words of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler’s character in the show), “It’s only the best day of the year!”

I’ve been in need of an escape from the craziness of work, and Galentine’s is the perfect excuse to make it happen! With friends meeting at WinStar from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, I’ve started planning to make the most of our time together. It’s going to be so fun to see my best friends together in one place.

The drive to WinStar from Dallas isn’t that bad at all, and I’ve already got the perfect playlist together for our Carpool Karaoke session! I just booked a corner suite for us; it looks perfect for a group of girls to get ready for a night out. Now we just have to decide where to relax, eat and have fun!

I was thrilled that WinStar has such amazing shopping and restaurants! The menus of the restaurants look awesome. We may want to eat brunch all day! Just kidding (kind of). The Spa at WinStar looks dreamy. I foresee Saturday beginning with great food, followed by a long day the spa to treat ourselves. That’s all I have planned so far, so I would love to hear your suggestions for the rest of our weekend.

I would love to see you tweet and post using #WinStarWorldCasino to share your advice and show how you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day this year! I know it’s going to be the perfect weekend getaway!

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