Award Season

Award Season…my favorite time(s) of year!  While the awards are always exciting, I’m a total girlie girl and love watching all the glamorous dresses hit the red carpet.  Normally I’m watching on my couch, in my sweatpants, while eating some form of unhealthy food, but this year was a big change for me. 2016 was the year I got to get off the couch and in on the action!  It’s also the year that I discovered the most amazing gem in Nashville…The Showroom.

I was incredibly excited to walk red carpets and perform at the BCMAs and Nashville Universe Awards, but one of the first things that crossed my mind was, “What in the world am I going to wear?”  If you’ve ever gone to look at a formal dress, you probably know that you can break the bank pretty darn quick.  A friend of mine had been tagging The Showroom Nashville in her Instagram posts, and I loved all of the outfits.  When I checked out their account, I realized that you have the option to RENT or BUY the outfits and dresses.  It’s like Rent The Runway, except it’s an actual store front!  When I returned the last two dresses, I realized I’m going to be constantly on the lookout for events to attend so I can have an excuse to rent a fun, funky, or fancy outfit again!

First stop…the British Country Music Awards in London!

Red Carpet Look Dress: The Showroom Nashville Shoes: Christian Louboutin Ring: David Yurman Bracelet: Chloe + Isabel

Performance Look Romper: The Showroom Nashville Shoes: Christian Louboutin

After an amazing week in the UK, I headed back to Nashville for the Nashville Universe Awards!  It’s because of your votes that I was named Female Vocalist of the Year, and I am SO SO thankful!  Both dresses I wore here were once again from The Showroom Nashville!

 

Happy shopping…or renting!

-SB

Running on the Road

I’ve really been trying to get my blog game going again.  #FAIL pretty much describes my blogging up until now (famous last words…seriously, just read some of my previous blogs).  The hardest thing for me is always figuring out what to say…or how to say it that’s not boring and stiff.  I had a long time to think on my run today (99 minutes to be exact) and decided that my run was exactly what I’d  chat about to kick off the new blog era. If you hate all things athletic, trust me I was right there with you for a lot of my life.

I absolutely love my job, but one of the biggest struggles with life on the road is not scheduling time to workout.  Not to mention after late night shows and 6am flights, I would rather watch Netflix than get out of my sweats and drive to the gym.  Boys used to be my motivation to hit the gym in high school, but as a sleep deprived adult I’ve had to find new ways to motivate myself!

Up until 2011 I HATED running.  I’m not sure all caps stresses it enough.  The only time I’d run more than a mile on my own was after a break up in college.  Don’t ask what came over me, but on New Years Day in 2011 I woke up and decided I was going to run a half marathon.  I went outside that morning and ran (well…let’s be honest it was more of a run/walk) 2 miles.

Here we are nearly 5 years later, and I’m gearing up to do my 3rd half marathon.  This probably isn’t much of a surprise to you if you follow me on twitter.  While it’s hard to hit the gym…or FIND a gym while you’re on the road, running is something you can do just about anywhere!  All you need are you running shoes and clothes….and for me my iPod (I guess we just call them phones these days), running band, and ear buds are a must too.

I’ve been lucky to run in some gorgeous places across the world, and today was no exception.  I’m staying with friends outside of London near Dorney Lake.  I had a long one, 10 miles, today.  So, scenery was a must!  Destination running is one of my guilty pleasures!

You probably can’t tell after the 5 paragraphs above, but I’m a less in more kinda girl when it comes to blogs.  So, I’ll leave you with this…find something that you enjoy.  Whether it’s a kick boxing class, hiking with your pups, renting a bike and exploring, or heading out for a run, get our there and move!

Stay tuned for more in fitness, fashion, music, and life at home and on the road!

Love – SB

Food for the Hungry

You may have seen posts on my social media over the past week talking about Food for the Hungry. It’s a little challenging to explain everything in 140 characters, so I wanted to fill you in on what’s going on! I have some friends that introduced me to Food for the Hungry (FH) several weeks ago. After doing my homework and meeting with the staff at the Nashville office, I knew I wanted to be a part of what FH is doing.

Food for the Hungry is a faith based organization who’s mission is to get children around the world sponsored and build sustainable communities in the process. They’re currently in 36 countries. By sponsoring a child you provide them with food, clean drinking water, education and healthcare. FH provides you with updates and if at any point you would like to travel to meet your sponsored child, they will help set it up.

I have made it my personal goal to get 10 children sponsored each month. I realize you may give in other ways or may sponsor children through other organizations; however, if it is on your heart that you’d like to give by sponsoring a child with FH, you can head to FH.org/SaraBeth or come and speak to me at a show. I’ll have packets at my merch table.  You can also help by spreading the word to your friends and family.

Together we can make a difference.

US friends can sponsor a child here FH.org/SaraBeth

(UK link is coming.  Please let me know if you need a link from a country other than the US or UK)

Got my kids packets today! I'll have these at my shows/online. For info or to sponsor go to https://t.co/63X3WRvirJ pic.twitter.com/Ac3SFD7Zgm

— SaraBeth (@SBSwags) November 13, 2015

Let’s talk about June 21

I’ve already failed.  I (kinda) promised y’all a post a week, and it’s been a good 3…or 4 weeks since my last (and first) post.  Thank goodness for you avid readers it happens to be a rainy afternoon here in Nashville, and I don’t want to fight the rain while walking to my car.   Seems like the perfect time to hole up at one of my favorite coffee shops, talk to everyone on twitter, and write.  These posts are for y’all, so I figured twitter would be the best place to request blog topics!  @NickCorradino was the first to respond, and I know there are lots of @TateStevensCtry fans out there – so let’s talk about June 21! 

I’m excited to say that I will be opening for Tate Stevens, X Factor Winner, in my home state of Texas at the Crosby Fair and Rodeo!  When you ask how I feel about this, I have all the stereotypical answers (I mean it is Tate Stevens we’re talking about); however, there is something else that I find so incredible about Tate Nation.   They are honestly the BEST fans ever!  They are such a welcoming group!  Tate tweeted about our show a few weeks ago, and I got so many encouraging messages and tweets from his fans.  Thank you all for that!  

I feel like I’ve overused the word “surreal” lately, but that is one of the best ways to describe my life.  Lucky, blessed, grateful, loved…my friends, family, and fans have all contributed to this.  It’s each of you gets me through even the hard days with a smile on my face.  Being asked to open for Tate is another one of those surreal moments.  Out of all the talent from Texas to Tennessee and everywhere in between, I am honored that I was selected for the spot.  I can’t wait to meet him and all the fans out there in Crosby!  See y’all there!

 Buy Your Tickets Now! (shameless plug)

For all things SaraBeth….SaraBethMusic.com

Oh hey bloggers…

In true Jordan Swagerty fashion, my brother has done it again.  His MLB blog got me thinking that I should probably try this.    Love it or hate it – I need to warn you that I do have my fair share of sarcastic moments!  I’m sure they will surface at some point!

For those of you who aren’t satisfied by a simple picture or 140 character post, then this is for you.  Don’t get your hopes up too high, but I’m almost promising a post once a week.  I also welcome your suggestions for topics!  This is for you guys after all!  I came up with the incredibly original topic for Post #1 all on my own – The Choice to Do Music. So…here’s a little behind the scenes in my world.

Every kid has a dream – big, small, realistic, crazy.  Mine was incredibly realistic.  My dream job was to be a nurse.  Here is your proof (back from when I had the strangest mix of favorite foods…)  

I was crushed to find that nurses didn’t really wear cute, white, halloween style outfits with red crosses or fun hats.  Beyond that I am also squeamish at the sight of blood, and would rather be anywhere in the world but inside a hospital.  Time to rethink the dream.  Clearly, the next option on the dream list at the wise old age of 4 was to be a pop star.

I always enjoyed music, but I never looked at it as a realistic career choice.  There were always people that I perceived to be better than me – and they were!  For example, Alyssa Fox, who was nominated with me for “Most Talented” my senior year at Garland High School (and got the well deserved win), is now playing Elphaba in the musical Wicked on Broadway!  My boyfriend in college made it to Hollywood week of American Idol.  How do you compete with that?!  It’s easy to just agree when the world seems to be telling you that you can’t.

My story is a true testament that God has a plan for your life that it much greater than anything you could have imagined.  Sitting in business classes at Baylor University (Sic ’em), I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  Everyone told me I would figure it out, so I sat around and waited for life to magically come to me.  I graduated with a 4.0 and was still clueless as to where I was headed.  My one escape and constant was always music.  When I studied, when I ran, when I was driving…I was always listening/singing.

After graduation I decided I should give back and combined my passions – music, travel, and kids – and taught music in Cabarete, Dominican Republic.  When I got back to the US,  I remember thinking that maybe my dream wasn’t so crazy.  But it’s scary to give up comfort and security and venture into the unknown.  Business made sense; there’s a bottom line.  Music, on the other hand, has no right or wrong.

After my younger brother (@JordanSwagerty) was drafted to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, I was encouraged and inspired.  He had spent his entire life just loving to play sports just like I had spent my entire life loving to sing.  It was an easy choice.  Follow my passion.  No one wants to wake up in 10 years and think “What If…”.

For all things SaraBeth…just click here!