Buckle up because I just had the wildest rodeo experience in Houston, and guess who we bumped into? None other than the rap legend himself, 50 Cent! JK— he was really far away on a spinning stage but at least I can confidently say I was in the same room as him! And damn his show was good.

As we strolled into the rodeo grounds, the excitement was palpable. The smell of fried everything wafted through the air mixing with the unfortunate smell of cow pies. I can’t believe we actually got used to the smell by the end of the day but we did! We started off by visiting the livestock and merchants. Yes, they were in the same place and no, it wasn’t as weird as you would think.

4H kids and farmers were holed up with their animals waiting for their event to be judged. We saw cows and pigs and little wee lambs. They were so freaking cute as long as you forgot they go to slaughter after this. I also saw my first longhorn up close and personal. They are definitely some of the coolest cows I’ve seen, and they’re huuuuge.

The merchant goods and outfits of rodeo-goers were gaudy AF. The only thing I was tempted to buy was a mink fur coat… until I saw the $3000 price tag 😳 The only thing I ended up taking home was a head full of inspiration for my next fall collection. Get ready for all the fringe and cow hair my friends! Don’t worry too much, they will still be the classic Middleyak designs we all love.

But enough about that – let's talk about the main event: 50 Cent. As the sun dipped below the horizon and the stage lights flickered to life, the crowd erupted into cheers as the man himself stepped onto the stage. Decked out in a white suit, 50 Cent brought the house down with his electrifying performance, spitting fire rhymes and getting the crowd hyped up like never before.

And there we were, in the midst of it all, rocking our hats and leather boots like there was no tomorrow. Sure, we might have stood out like a sore thumb, but hey, that's the beauty of the rodeo – it's a melting pot of cultures and styles, where anything goes.

As the night wore on and the music filled our souls, I couldn't help but reflect on the sheer magic of the moment. Here we were, a group of pharmacy besties, coming together to celebrate the joys of music, camaraderie, and good old-fashioned fun.

And as we rode off into the Texas sunset, hearts full and memories to last a lifetime, I couldn't help but tip my hat to the Houston Rodeo for giving us an experience we'll never forget.

So here's to embracing the unexpected, chasing our dreams, and making memories that'll last a lifetime

XOXO,

Marissa