Names: Blair Flowers Butler, Ellen Flowers, Janie Flowers

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: M Streets and Uptown

Company/Title:  The Perennial Style, fashion bloggers; Blair in commercial real estate, Janie in engineering, and Ellen in blogging

When did you move here? From where?
August 2007, from Dothan, Alabama

What made you Say Yes to Dallas?
As three sisters born within three-and-a-half years, it’s no surprise we were basically raised as triplets. We’ve been through so much together over the years, and we’re lifelong best friends. We always danced in recitals together, joined the same cheer team, left for boarding school together, traveled together – so when Blair decided to enroll at SMU, it was only a matter of time before Janie and Ellen followed.

Though we never dreamed of staying in Dallas after college, we’ve absolutely fallen in love with the city and region.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
The Dallas Region is made up of so many different neighborhoods and suburbs. Janie and Ellen both rent in Uptown, and Blair owns a home in the M Streets. There are so many great areas – each with their own personality and charm – to consider when looking to rent or buy.

Some of our favorite neighborhoods to consider if you’re moving to Dallas: Uptown, Knox-Henderson, M Streets, Devonshire, Highland Park, or Victory Park.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?
One of the most common misconceptions about Dallas is that many people consider the city and region to be just like what they saw in the original Dallas TV show. While you will find guys rocking a pair of cowboy boots with a tuxedo, big Texas curls and turquoise jewelry, or friends heading out to their ranches to hunt on the weekends – Dallas also has a sophisticated, urban feel that radiates glamour everywhere you turn.  Dallas is constantly expanding, growing, and changing, and we don’t see it stopping anytime soon!

What is your passion, and how does Dallas help fulfill it?
When we first graduated from SMU, we all got heavily involved in the Dallas young professionals scene. With Blair in commercial real estate, Janie in engineering, and Ellen in blogging, we were able to expand our professional networks as well as our social circles. With volunteer organizations such as the Dallas Regional Chamber Young Professionals, Salvation Army Echelon, Red Cross YPA, and Young Texans Against Cancer, we were able to volunteer with a number of great causes, as well as meet so many wonderful people our age in the city and region. We also joined the Dallas Slipper Club and Cotillion Club, where we made so many new girlfriends, gave back to great charities, attended galas, and co-mingled with the guys groups Young professionals can join so many wonderful organizations in Dallas, making it easy to make great friends who share the same interests.

Tell us about the work environment here.
What we love most about Dallas is that it’s a city and region of opportunity. The area is home to a range of companies from Fortune 500 to nonprofits – and of course, fashion as well. Dallas constantly ranks as one of the top 10 cities for job opportunities, as well as job growth. Additionally, Dallas millennials are making about $800 more than the average US millennial household. What we find so inspiring about the city and region is the drive of the people here. Being surrounded by so many go-getters keeps us motivated, and we love following the success of so many of our fellow Dallasites – especially fellow SMU grads Amber Venz and Baxter Box of rewardStyle.

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
We love taking advantage of outdoor activities. To unwind after a day of work, we love running on the Katy Trail, which spans from Victory Park through Uptown to Highland Park. It’s a great trail for exercise, plus we always run into so many friends along the way! We also love swinging by Klyde Warren Park during the week for one of their free workout classes – or a bite to eat at a food truck or Savor.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
Dallas is home to two major airports that offer easy and affordable flights to SO many places. As three sisters who previously drove HOURS from our hometown just to catch a flight, having direct and affordable flights right around the corner makes traveling (and travel blogging) SO simple! As for transportation, driving in Dallas is fantastic – very little traffic, easy to navigate, and parking is simple. For those of you that have lived in other major cities, you’ll understand why this is so important. 

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
Aside from the hustle and bustle of the city and region, Dallas has a small-town feel. Now you may wonder how a city and region as large as Dallas can feel small, but as the years go on, it’s amazing how everyone seems to be connected. We rarely meet a “stranger” in the city and region, as we can always seem to find a common factor with everyone – whether it’s where they went to college, who they’re friends with, what neighborhood they live in, where they go to church or which pilates studio they frequent. Because we grew up in Dothan, Alabama, it’s nice to find a big city and region that still has that welcoming charm – not to mention the same Southern hospitality, with a slight Texas twist.