This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dr Pepper®. The opinions and text are all mine.

You guys know I have a steadfast love for some very particular things in this world and am nothing if not opinionated. Simply put, I know what I like and am very loyal to those things that give me joy. And if you were to ask me what two of my favorite things in the world are, the following would rank pretty high up there:

Summer in Los Angeles

&

Dr Pepper

Countless times I’ve shared my undying love for summer in the City of Angels – the pier concerts, museum picnics set to live jazz music, outdoor movie nights with food trucks, wine tasting in Malibu, and hotel happy hours. The list goes on and on and on. It truly is the best city to experience the season, and it makes me fall harder for LA every passing year. I could conceivably visit the beach, the mountains, the desert, and the vineyards in one long weekend – pretty magical right?

But beyond the endless opportunities for fun in the sun (Vitamin D + fresh air are my saving grace), the extra daylight this time of year gives me ample time to connect with friends who live across the city. Everyone is so busy, spread out (LA traffic is not a joke), and living in such small apartments that organizing one big group event outdoors is the perfect opportunity to catch up. So how do I like to celebrate? By getting a bit of friendly competition going with outdoor games (Ladder Golf or volleyball to name a couple), relaxing on the beach, and drinking some refreshments to cool off. Because nothing says summer like getting your blood pumping outside, feeling the sand and ocean spray on your skin, and drinking that good, good Dr Pepper.

Let me present you with 3 hard pieces of evidence for my love of Dr Pepper:

1. The first 23 years of my life, my liquid consumption was 95% Dr Pepper. This is fact and absolutely not an exaggeration. I am a Texas girl through and through, and THAT is our drink of choice.
2. I once owned a Dr Pepper bicycle. Yes, a real life-size bike. You heard that right.
3. I have been carrying a Dr Pepper key lanyard daily for the past 6 years. Just in case I need a reminder for how much I love it.

The addiction is REAL, y’all.

So when Dr Pepper asked me how I’d kick off the summer season (and sent me this sweet bottle shaped pool float), I was ecstatic and naturally grabbed loads of Dr Pepper from Walmart to share my love with friends (because that’s just what you do, right?). Dr Pepper actually released some new Pick Your Pepper packaging with cool designs by millennials, for millennials, so that just ups your summer party hosting skills by like, a million (I’m not a mathematician, but that sounds accurate). Easy party hacks? Grab some quick snacks (potato chips and fresh fruit) and throw some fun straws in your drinks; everyone will basically think you’re Martha Stewart.

Want to throw your own summertime soiree? When you buy Dr Pepper at Walmart this summer through August 15, you can upload your receipt at http://bit.ly/2pts8Qo, and you too can get this cool Dr Pepper float I’m featuring here and/or other prizes:

Spend $5, get a unicorn beverage holder inflatable

Spend $10, get a Walmart e-Gift Card worth $5

Spend $20, get a 6 pack can/bottle holder with ice pack

Spend $40, get a Dr Pepper bottle shaped bool float

Uhm, free stuff for buying something you already love?! I see nothing but positive, glorious, wondrous things here. So, get yourself over to your neighborhood Walmart, stock up, and HAVE FUN. It’s warm! The sun is shining! And spreading joy is what sweet, sweet summertime is all about, isn’t it?

#PickYourPepper #Walmart

What’s your favorite summertime activity? I can’t WAIT to start checking off my annual summer bucket list.

-wonderland sam

imdb.me/samanthalee