November 2012 - The Blonde Side

Farewell to Movember

Zoltan Mesko playing his part in Movember (photo via Stacey James)

Farewell to Movember with Zoltan Mesko.

Today is a sad day. We bid adieu to an entire month of watching grown men painfully, yet thoughtfully, grow out an abundance of facial hair just above their upper lip, all in support of Movember. [Yes, the same reason Aaron Rodgers decided to join in, not because he became an Uncle over Thanksgiving.]

It’s a month I seriously covet in the most hardcore way. A) My birthday happens to fall in this great month and B) I seriously dig moustaches. Or at least I thought I did.

While said upper lip facial fur may not turn me on quite the same way Magic Mike does, a guy with a heart of gold and a desire to help a good cause certainly does. Meet Zoltan Mesko, punter for the New England Patriots. Joining the ranks of the other ~854,288 hipster-looking Mo Bros, Mesko has joined the Movember campaign, after prodding from his agency.

What I quickly learned about growing a moustache (not to be confused with a mustache) is that even for the average Joe, it’s a tough feat to pull off, whether it’s for charity or not. Now imagine being on primetime television each week and having 40,000+ followers on Twitter to comment on this newfound facial epidemic. Ensue critics. And questions.

But that’s exactly the point. Movember, involves men known as “Mo Bros” who become real-life walking billboards for the nonprofit by growing out a moustache for the month in addition to joining an internet-based team to raise funds in addition to awareness.

Really getting into the spirit of it, Mesko updated his Twitter avatar to help raise awareness and bait his followers. “I took a picture [by Stacey James] before the game and tweeted it. It was posted on the Patriots Facebook and instagram pages, and it got a lot of hits. I even stroked it to play the part,” he adds. According to the Movember website, on average, a man with a ‘stache touches it approximately 760 times a day. I guess that’s better than touching something else that many times…

One of Mesko’s Twitter followers, @ChrisWarCraftsent this Tweet after Mesko posted his new avatar in which he lovingly stroked his new fur: “You look like Liam Neeson playing a role as a French pedophile. How do you even function in public without getting arrested?”

Twitter Image

Mesko just laughed it off. And then retweeted it of course. “I’m kind of into the whole self-deprecation thing,” the 6-foot-4 goofball added.

As Mesko told me, “First off, I just can’t pull off a moustache, I don’t have a face for it nor the facial hair genetics. As long as you call yourself out and admit that it looks terrible, then you can quickly get into the reason behind it.”

And Mesko is not afraid to call himself out, in public, and on multiple occasions. Even his Mo Bro page clearly states his motivation and inept ability to grow out a proper ‘stache:

Zoltan’s Motivation

“To prove that despite a genetic flaw in my facial hair growth, I can still look….well…terrible.”

Of course, his motivation reaches well beyond plain hilarity. “My grandma passed away from breast cancer last year. Cancer affects all of us, whether it’s female or male – prostate is one of the more treatable versions as well as testicular cancer, which Movember raises awareness for,” Mesko explains. “It’s definitely important to me.”

Back to the funny part.

“The best way to approach cancer is to laugh in its face. Let them laugh at how creepy I look, that’s OK. If you like self-deprecating kind of humor or if you’re a jokester, then this campaign [Movember] is for you. But it’s definitely a commitment. Thirty days to do anything is a long time,” Mesko says.

“It’s not something that’s attractive; it’s the cause behind it. That’s really the only reason I’ve committed myself to it. You don’t appreciate the commitment level until you grow this ugly facial hair,” he laughs. “My girlfriend isn’t very fond of it, but she likes the cause. She’s threatened to buzz it off mid-sleep – that’s kind of scary to think about. If I do it next year I’ll probably go more comical– like a Fu Manchu,” says Mesko.

So next time you go judging (or tweeting) a book by its cover, or a man by his facial hair, ask if he’s doing it for Movember or some other notable cause. Concern should only be raised if in fact he’s driving a windowless van or he’s appeared on an episode of To Catch a Predator.

Who knows? Maybe when Mesko closes out his impressive football career, the producers of Law & Order SVU will hire him. It’s clear he can look the part.

In all seriousness, felicitations to Mesko and all the other Mo Bros out there for making this stellar commitment in hopes to change the face of men’s health in the most literal sense. Hope to see your furry facial friends back next year.

Be sure to follow Mesko’s hairy hilarity on Twitter.

Note: This post is part of The Blonde Side’s Momentum Challenge series to interview one active player from all 32 NFL Teams within the short time frame of 34 days. Zoltan Mesko and his creepy ‘stache crosses the New England Patriots off the list.

To see this full article in its original format, check out CBS Man Cave Daily.

November 30, 2012/by Jayme

Fighting Malaria

Soccer

Macoumba Kandji of the Houston Dynamo (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)

Dynamo star who overcame malaria fights for something bigger than MLS Cup, David Beckham

Nothing But Nets, a global, grassroots campaign that raises awareness and funds to fight malaria, got the kind of start not even the most talented writer could script — unless of course your name is Rick Reilly. Back in 2006, the then-Sports Illustrated columnistwent to his attentive audience and asked for help, “I’ve never asked for anything before, right? Well, sorry, I’m asking now.”

Like many, Reilly realized an imminent need for something and wanted to see just how powerful his voice was. His mission was to help kids who were dying at unprecedented numbers from malaria, a disease spread by just a single mosquito bite. A simple inexpensive net would prevent the spread of the disease and in turn save thousands of lives.

His request was simple: “Donate $20. Bang. You might have just saved a kid’s life,” was the closing line to the article, which later proved to be life changing for so many.

Statistics show that a child dies from malaria every 60 seconds. Kandji was one of the lucky ones.

Nothing But Nets (NBN) was born and the campaign has continued to remain strong, thanks in part to many folks in the sports world. One Houston athlete taking a stand is Houston Dynamo forward Macoumba Kandji.

Kandj is no stranger to the devastating disease and he is asking for help that goes far behind the game even as he prepares to play one of the biggest games of his life — the MLS Cup vs. the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Kandji, who goes by “Mac”, volunteered to be a spokesperson for the NBN campaign because he knows firsthand the effects of malaria. At the age of 14, Mac was hospitalized for malaria. Born in Senegal and raised in Gambia, Kandji knows malaria is a sad truth for many kids growing up in those areas and throughout Africa.

Statistics show that a child dies from malaria every 60 seconds. Kandji was one of the lucky ones, not only overcoming the disease, but also becoming a professional soccer player with one MLS title already under his Adidas belt.

Macoumba Kandji of the Houston Dynamo (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)

Having already scored four goals this season for the Dynamo, Mac is now focusing on two kinds of nets — one he hopes to kick a goal in against the star-studded LA Galaxy (you might have heard David Beckham is playing his last game for them), and another that can save the lives of millions of children throughout Africa.

‘What they [NBN] do is just amazing. I told them my story and that I wanted to help. I want to do everything I can to help the kids in Africa and protect them,” Kandji says. “They are saving lives.

“As human beings, we should all want to help and I’m asking my fans to do whatever they can to help protect kids so they don’t have to go through what I went through as a kid.”

Sobering Statistics

There are more than 200 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 600,000 of those infected die from the disease, mostly in Africa. Children under five are at greatest risk — accounting for more than 90 percent of deaths from malaria. The World Health Organization reports that half of all families in sub-Saharan Africa have at least one bed net, and malaria rates have plummeted by more than a third in the past decade.

Nothing But Nets provides everyone — from students to CEOs, bishops to basketball players — the opportunity to join the fight against malaria, a leading cause of death among children in Africa, by giving $10 to send a net and save a life.

“As human beings, we should all want to help and I’m asking my fans to do whatever they can to help protect kids so they don’t have to go through what I went through as a kid.”

“Sports is part of Nothing But Nets’ DNA,” says Chris Helfrich, director of Nothing But Nets. “Mac Kandji understands firsthand what it means to suffer from malaria. Having a soccer star like Mac spread the buzz in support of our campaign means that many more fans will join the fight against malaria and protect families in Africa from this deadly disease.

“Helping is so simple: It just takes $10 to send a net and save a life.”

While passionate and very much focused on helping NBN as an official spokesperson, Mac is also still fully focused on the championship trophy.

“Once we got in [the playoffs], we just started beating teams,” he says. “This team is really strong and deep.”

This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.

November 30, 2012/by Jayme

Owen Daniels

Football

Owen Daniels Plays Football and Loves House Music

Owen Daniels: For the Love of House Music

A funny thing happens when you tell a professional athlete that you’re willing to interview him about whatever he wants. Without pressure to talk about a recurring and nagging knee injury, a recent bad play Chris Berman probably called him out on repeatedly, or some negative slant the media is currently overanalyzing, what happens is pretty awesome: they usually loosen up and show a really fun side; sometimes an unexpected one.

That’s what happened when I sat down with Owen Daniels, tight end for the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-3 Naperville, IL native who rocked an awesome dirty blonde side-part and dressed head-to-toe in Jordan was given the green light to talk about whatever his heart desired. His 7-year tenure with the Texans, his recent engagement to a gorgeous Houston attorney, what his chances of a second Pro Bowl are, any riffs on the team, etc, but Daniels chose to gush about his love for house music.

To read this full story about Owen Daniels and his love for the beats and house music, click over to Man Cave Daily.

November 28, 2012/by Jayme

Tight End’s Guide to Houston

Football

Owen Daniels and fiance Angela Mecca (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)

A hunky tight end’s guide to Houston: Owen Daniels reveals where he hangs and his secret hip-hop cred

he 10-1 Houston Texans are stronger than ever, tied for the best record in the entire NFL, and, for the first time in their 10-year franchise history, part of the overanalyzed talk of being one of the Super Bowl favorites. Houston, the city, is also on a high, having taken the No. 1 spot on the Forbes list of America’s Coolest Cities To Live not so long ago.

According to the Forbes’ article, “cool” was based off Merriam-Webster’s definition of “very good; fashionable.”

Tight end Owen Daniels, the guy many consider to be the most social Texan (with apologizes to Connor Barwin), feels that Houston most definitely fits that description. Daniels, one of the main weapons in the Texans offense with 47 catches for 555 yards and six touchdowns, says that even if his football career eventually takes him elsewhere, Houston is where he plans to continue to call home.

I sat down with the 6-foot-3, 249-pound, newly-engaged tight end, who was dressed in all Jordan, and asked about all this new hype for his team and his city and the stereotypes synonymous with Texas.

“I’ve always been a rap/hip hop guy . . . I’m from the mean streets of Naperville, Illinois.”

The 30-year-old Daniels, who has spent all seven seasons of his NFL career in Houston, admits the pickup stereotype is “so true.” “I swear there’s gotta be one pickup truck for every car that’s out there,” he says. “I don’t know anywhere outside of Texas you’ll see so many pickup trucks.”

The Chicago-area native quickly debunks one popular misconception though. “I don’t think Houston is as country as people think,” Daniels says. “It’s a big city so you get every walk of life here — it’s a great mix of people. It’s not all cowboys and big teased hair.”

When asked to describe Houston in one word, Daniels claims he does not have a “great vocabulary” but chooses “sprawling.” “Even as big as our city is, it’s always growing and so spread out,” he continues.

Tight End, Owen Daniels (photo via Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)

This is one professional athlete who actually really knows the city he plays in. Here is Owen Daniels’ Visitors Guide to Houston:

Where to stay: Hotel ZaZa

Best Place to Shop: I don’t love shopping, but my girlfriend goes to Tootsies for dresses. I don’t mind the Galleria as long as I have some direction and know what I’m going for. I need to have a plan. I can’t just walk aimlessly through that massive place.

Texas Meal Must: Barbecue, Steak or Mexican? They gotta go barbecue. I like Mexican food, but don’t crave it like I do barbecue.

Best Barbecue: Goode Company next to Armadillo — it’s the most consistent.

Best Mexican: El Tiempo on Richmond — they’re all OK, but that’s the best one.

Best Steakhouse: No doubt, Del Frisco’s is my favorite spot to eat. Arthur (Mooradian), the GM there is amazing. I always get a filet, medium. You gotta go with the mac and cheese too — it’s a jalapeno mac and cheese with bacon in it — it’s so good!

Best Brunch: Empire Cafe

Best Sports Venue: Obviously Reliant Stadium. The atmosphere is crazy and we have the No. 1 fans.

Best Opponent to see at Reliant: Any divisional game

Best Bar/Spot for a Celebration: If you want to go all out, go to Roak on a Saturday night. Good people watching and a pretty good atmosphere.

Best Part of Town: I don’t think the Montrose area gets talked about enough. I think they’ve got great places to eat and cool bars.

Best Place for a Cocktail: Anvil is a good place to grab a cocktail if you’re looking for something other than beer or vodka.

Best Local Beer: Love me some St. Arnolds!

Best Date Spot: I love dinner at Mark’s.

Best Radio Station: The Box (97.9). That’s the best morning show that Houston has to offer. Rod Ryan (from The Buzz) emcees my charity events, so I like him a lot too.

Fave Musician from Houston: I’m kind of embarrassed I don’t know who all is from Houston, but I know a lot of good music comes from here. I guess I’d go with Bun B — I’m on this house kick lately. I’ve always been a rap/hip hop guy . . . I’m from the mean streets of Naperville, Illinois.

Best Music Venue: I think House of Blues is cool because it’s always intimate but my favorite shows I’ve seen have been big concerts at the Toyota Center. I went to (Lady) Gaga there and it was awesome! I went to Watch the Throne tour too — that was probably the sickest show I’ve been too.

Best Local Charity: Owen Daniels’ Catching Dreams Foundation of course! We try to help critically and chronically ill children in Houston and their families. I think what makes us unique is that we not only focus on and support the patient, but their siblings and families as well.

We have “Owen’s Locker” on the 10th floor at Texas Children’s with tons of entertainment like radios, DVD players, PSPs and other stuff to help entertain them while they are there.

Daniels has already secured his spot in franchise history becoming only the second Texan (behind Andre Johnson, who has 10,714 yards and counting) to reach 4,000 receiving yards in his career.

“I think he’s physically the best he’s been,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak has said of Daniels’ season.

Presumably that has something to do with putting forth 110 percent effort on the field and knowing all the best spots in Houston to refuel.

This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.

November 27, 2012/by Jayme

MOMENTUM Challenge

Football

The Blonde Side’s Momentum Challenge

Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me. (The graphic to your left would lead you to believe I turned 32 today, but that is not the case, read on…).

Another year has passed and what can I say other than I’m L-A-Z-Y. Lazier than even Matt Leinart. This year has plum wore me out, but like last year, I’m going to make the most of these next four weeks and create a challenge for myself, which will likely stress me out and give me carpel tunnel.

Last year I set out to do The Blonde Side’s 30 Before 30 – asking 30 awesome athletes for interviews. I got quite a few, but the point was to get this column going (momentum, if you will) in a good direction. IT WORKED.

So this year I’m back presenting The Blonde Side’s MOMENTUM Challenge.

My goal: Interview a current player from each of the 32 NFL teams and write an article. Oh, and do it all by December 31,

That’s just 34 days. Time is clearly not on my side (just like the Eagles o-line), but it’ll push me to use my resources and secure great interviews. I’m not afraid of such a lofty goal, and it’s giving these 32 guys the platform to talk about whatever they want on or off the field. I promise you it’ll be interesting and I only break promises to ex-boyfriends.

We all need momentum from time to time. I’ve had some great articles published with ESPN this year, but I still need to keep pushing harder. So here goes…

Here are the interviews I’ve secured thus far (prepare to be slightly underwhelmed…for now). Stay tuned for updates and the articles here on The Blonde Side, and pulease leave a comment with suggestions/contacts to help me meet this ridiculous goal.

Other Big News: This entire series/column will run as a feature with Man Cave Daily.

Arizona Cardinals: Sam Acho

Atlanta Falcons: Corey Peters

Baltimore Ravens:

Buffalo Bills:

Carolina Panthers:

Chicago Bears:

Cincinnati Bengals: Devon Still

Cleveland Browns:

Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Armstrong

Denver Broncos:

Detroit Lions:

Green Bay Packers:

Houston Texans: Owen Daniels

Indianapolis Colts:

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Kansas City Chiefs:

Miami Dolphins:

Minnesota Vikings:

New England Patriots: Zoltan Mesko

New Orleans Saints:

New York Giants:

New York Jets:

Oakland Raiders:

Philadelphia Eagles:

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Saint Louis Rams:

San Diego Chargers: Antonio Garay

San Francisco 49ers:

Seattle Seahawks: Greg Scruggs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Tennessee Titans:

Washington Redskins: Aldrick Robinson

In hindsight it would have been fitting to have done this challenge for The Blonde Side on my 32nd birthday…

Thanks to Melissa Sims for creating yet another amazing graphic for The Blonde Side!

Update – it’s now January 7, 2013 and The Blonde Side didn’t even come close to meeting this lofty goal. Better luck next year, but A for effort? Maybe? Thanks to all the great athletes above and to Man Cave Daily for running this feature. Look for big things from The Blonde Side in 2013. #promise

November 27, 2012/by Jayme

Fit Session at lululemon

Fitness

The Blonde Side’s Warm Welcome

A few weeks ago I had the awesome opportunity to partake in a fit session at the lululemon at the Houston Galleria. As much as I already knew I loved the brand, I had yet to own a single piece. Perhaps it was the price, which felt a little hefty for clothes I would literally work up an intense sweat in, or the fact I grew up as a Nike chick, but nevertheless, I was invited to try on some pieces and give feedback on their products.

I probably tried on every single piece of women’s clothing at the store – from yoga apparel (I don’t even do yoga), to lounge-around wear, to running products (which were of course my fave). Just in tank tops alone I probably tried on 35 different variations including racerbacks, extra long tanks, racing length tanks, ones with built-in bras, ones without, neon, striped, you name it and I tried it on.

Luckily I’m a sucker for running in tank tops. It’s not that I have ridiculously toned arms like Madonna, it’s just more comfortable for me. I ended up purchasing the First Base Tank, $52, which is made of a lightweight and inherently moisture-wicking Rulu with a four-way stretch that moves with you. Clearly a plus when you’re on the move.

The other great feature that Kelly, the bubbly blonde team leader who was working with me, mentioned were the flat seams that prevented chafing: a must for long-runs. As the website says, “We wouldn’t build a house without laying a strong foundation, and we feel the same way about our winter run outfits. We designed this tank as the first layer to keep us toasty no matter what weather comes our way.” This tank was a clear choice the second I found out it doubled as a base layer, which is perfect for the upcoming snowboarding season.

The Blonde Side’s New lululemon Outfit

Something I had never heard of before was the “anti-stink Micro Diamond Mesh” which is strategically placed in high-sweat areas to keep you so fresh and so clean. It wouldn’t have been a day in the life of The Blonde Side without the ridiculous questions that come out of my mouth when Kelly tried to explain the anti-stink due to the “silver” that was woven in the shirt. “Silver, like my necklace,” I asked pointing to my Texas pendant like a small child. Indeed a blonde moment, but we quickly moved on: pants.

I also fell in love with the wunder under crops, $72 (mostly because they had the garnet color to rep my Florida State roots), but also because of the unparalleled comfort they offered the second I put them on. Although they’re made for yogis (again, not me), I couldn’t resist the purchase thanks in part to the gusset, which is defined as: “Drumroll please: gussets are the unsung heroes in the fight against our infamous foe camel toe. These diamond-and-triangle-shaped pieces of fabric are sewn between the legs for greater freedom of movement and to prevent tight fitting shorts, pants, or crops from riding up.” Yes, a drumroll was in fact necessary for that steadfast and awesome definition. What an invention! I had never heard that such an invention existed to hopefully rid the travesty of camel toes across the world.

The tight fit of the wunder under crops “makes it easy to check alignment and the calf-length leg allows us to hold onto our ankles easily in Dancer pose,” and there’s even a hidden waistband pocket to hide your keys or cards while working out. No wonder these are one of their core items and come in a variety of colors.

My fit session didn’t stop there when it came to pants. Again, I tried on at least 20 different versions, lengths, reversible options all kinds of materials, all designed for different athletic practices. While it was fairly time consuming, it really was worth trying on all the different options. It was clear within seconds what products had the four-way stretch, which is what I needed most for running.

The run speed short, $54, was definitely my favorite purchase. Not only were they ultimately comfortable, they didn’t ride up and they were actually stylish. As someone who takes lunch meetings and boards airplanes in workout gear on the regular, these shorts were taking my fashion status up a notch. Maybe two.

The Blonde Side’s lululemon Fit Session

According to the lulu website, “the fabric is extremely lightweight and moisture wicking to keep us feeling breezy and comfortable during hardcore sweat sessions.” The shorts are also cut to perform with vents at the back for breathability and split legs for freedom of movement. The speed shorts are also chafe resistant with flat seams to help prevent sweaty, sensitive skin from getting irritated, which is another plus for us runners, especially those of us with bigger/muscular thighs. Having already run a 10k in my new speed shorts, I can attest that they will probably fit all sized legs and are worth a try.

All the products at lulu are preshrunk twice so the clothes won’t get smaller – always something to consider when purchasing new clothes, especially workout clothes which get washed 3 times more than other clothing.

After everything, I ended up with four great pieces. Pieces that I’m already obsessed with. Pieces that my boyfriend reminds me that just because they are “anti-stink” doesn’t mean I need to wear them day in and day out. I guess I know what’s on my Christmas list this year! #hinthint

Another positive note I learned during my fit session – for us short gals (I’m barely 5-foot-2), the store offers complimentary hemming.

Lululemon at the Houston Galleria is a very active group of men and women, inspiring us in ways we all need. Be sure to check out their FB page and go to one of their events – I’ll probably see you there!

November 26, 2012/by Jayme

Girl Around Town Holiday Guide by The Blonde Side

Girl Around Town SPORTY Gift Guide

Media

Girl Around Town Holiday Guide SPORTY gift ideas by The Blonde Side

The lovely ladies (Leigh and Mary) over at Girl Around Town contacted The Blonde Side to contribute to their annual holiday guide for the 2012 holidays. The fashionable gals were looking to add a sporty element to their already fashionable gift ideas for pretty much anyone.

Clearly I live (and work) in all things sporty and us gals need gifts too, right? Why not ask someone who loves and knows sports and leads an insanely active lifestyle (moi)?

To see the full guide, click here (The Blonde Side’s Sporty stuff is on page 37, but definitely check it all out).

November 19, 2012/by Jayme

Interactive Running Game(s)

Fitness

The Blonde Side’s Running Game(s)

I do not like running. Let me start there. I am at best, an average runner. As I was debating an afternoon run a few weeks ago, I realized I needed some form of motivation. Something way beyond my usual Google search of hot and athletic chicks, so I turned a little impromptu game, making my run interactive by posting questions and polls on my social media channels. Once people started paying attention and providing feedback, I was pretty much forced to run. Which really was my only goal.

Here’s a look into my interactive running game:

1. I posted a poll on my Facebook page, asking friends/fans where I should run. I gave them two options – 3-mile loop around Memorial Park or running up and down my parking garage and stairs for 30 minutes.

The trick here was I gave everyone only 30 minutes to respond, that way I wouldn’t lose steam and could still manage to push my self out the door. As soon as the responses were in, I’d tie my Brooks Pure Flow shoes and take off. The poll semi-backfired because out of 64 votes, about 30 of those were for new options I didn’t post including suggestions of new running trails, a running club, a local CrossFit gym, etc, so it kind of skewed my results.

The awesome part about this? When the founder of Brian O’Neill’s Running Club suggested I head out to his club later that evening, another avid runner saw the post. She had never heard of BON, so I had the easy chance to introduce her to one of my favorite local running clubs. The power of social media and network sharing.

The other awesome part? One of my friends, a much better runner than I, suggested I run around the Bayou, a place I had never really heard of. Once I checked it out, I quickly added it to my list of local places to run. Not a bad FB survey, right?

2. I played a Pandora gamewith the Justin Bieber channel. My game went like this: every time a female artist came on, I had to

The Blonde Side’s Interactive Running Game with Justin Bieber

pick up the pace and run closer to a 7-minute mile as opposed to my 9-minute regular pace. But the joke was on me – only onemale song came on throughout the course of my 30-minute run. I guess it was a sweaty blessing in disguise. I posted this tidbit of hilarity on Twitter and got a ton of responses from other Pandora miscues. Apparently Biebs sounds more like Carrie Underwood, Ke$ha, and Demi Lovato than any of his male counterparts.

3. Instagrammed a collage of photos with the caption, “where did I run today?” Of course leave it to the blonde to run somewhere other than the 64 votes suggested, but I chose to head to Rice Village (it made more sense traffic-wise at that time of day).

The collage wasn’t entirely recognizable since I went through campus as opposed to staying on the regular runner’s path, but a number of people quickly guessed my spot. The post had over 20 comments and a few were from past Houston residents who had moved away saying how much they missed it here. A few of my followers asked if I was in need of a running buddy, so another plus!

What weird things do you do to help you get through a run?

Be sure to follow The Blonde Side on social media: The Blonde Side on FB, on Twitter and instagram: @jaymelamm

The first picture above is from the Nike+ app – I highly recommend it for a multitude of reasons.

November 19, 2012/by Jayme

Bear Down

Football

The Blonde Side t-shirts in Chicago

CHICAGO — Being at Soldier Field on Veteran’s Day. Let that sink in for a minute.

Regardless of the outcome of the game between the Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears on Sunday night, all 62,410 fans in attendance, whether wearing navy and red or navy and orange, cheered for the country’s servicemen and women. Walking into the stadium, on all sides, fans were met with a simple but powerful message and reminder:

SOLIDER FIELD

Dedicated To The Men And Women Of The Armed Services

Flying out of Houston Hobby Friday morning, the airport was packed with enthusiastic Texans fans. If there’s one thing for sure about this Houston Texans team, fans travel well. And the team is good. Really good.

If there’s one thing for sure about this Houston Texans team, fans travel well. And the team is good. Really good.

Barret and Desiree Ortega were sporting their custom-made Texans T-shirts. The front read: “Howdy. ‘Chicago Blows’” with a Texans logo in place of the “o”.

The back read: “Dang auto correct – ‘Windy City.’”

The duo agreed it was a mutual creative idea; Desiree made the shirts, but Barret came up with the quote.

“We go to an away game every year but this one has to do with Veteran’s Day. He’s [Barret] in the Marine Corp and Solider Field has got to be one of the coolest places to spend this special day. Being from Houston, we wanted to go where it’s cold and we’ve been season tickets holders since Day one,” Desiree said holding her husband’s hand.

“Make sure you tell people we’re here proudly representing the Yellow Lot,” Barret added, referring to a popular tailgating spot near Reliant Stadium.

Barret and Desiree Ortega show off their sweatshirts before heading to Chicago

Mass appeal

Based on my trip to Denver back in September, I knew that Texans fans travel in masses. Eight home games clearly isn’t enough for some fans and while the team takes their show on the road, fans tag along for the fun. And the bragging rights being in the midst of all the gridiron action.

I began to wonder – are all these Texans fans BFFs (and why wasn’t I cordially invited?) or is there some underground fandom even I’m not aware of? And then I ran across a Facebook post from the ever-so-awesome Stephanie Stradley and the pieces started to fit together.

Stradley is a fan blogger (she goes by TexansChick) and at least for this Chicago game, drafted an “unofficial” Texans itinerary for the thousands venturing into the Windy City. To ensure the “travel in packs” mentality was in full effect all weekend, Stradley, with the help of some serious fans, itemized a traveling fans dream checklist.

To ensure the “travel in packs” mentality was in full effect all weekend, Stradley, with the help of some serious fans, itemized a traveling fans dream checklist.

She fully detailed what color to wear to the game (Battle Red), what bars fans would be at on Saturday night (including drink specials a link to the bar and address), where to meet if you want to partake in the group picture, and a simple yet friendly reminder that “the line between enthusiasm and obnoxious can be very thin.”

Her goal was to make sure Texans fans showed up strong and, more importantly, had a great time and respected the Bears fans in their house.

Texans fans at Soldier Field

Thanks to unrivaled tailgating and bloggers like Stradley, Texans fans have been bonding over beers and tough seasons for a full decade. Now, they finally have something to cheer about. The teams have only met two times prior to this season, so it was a no-brainer that Chicago would be a big game. A primetime battle of two talked about defenses, a great city and an even greater team – one finally worth traveling for.

I ran into Mike Stephens at the Pony sports bar Saturday for a huge A&M watch party. Mike flew into town with seven of his friends for Sunday’s big game.

“I am here with friends that I’ve known for 30 years, and because this will be the best game of the year. Two 7-1 teams. Outstanding. Great football, great friends, great city,” he said.

Too cool

Inside Soldier Field, the crowds were loud and bundled up. With pouring rain and temperatures in the 40’s, most Texans fans were covered head-to-toe in warm gear, a poncho (or trash bag) and multiple Texans branded apparel items. But there was one Texan who wasn’t afraid to show a little skin. In the first quarter, a Southern little blonde sporting a Texans midriff and unseasonably tan skin, flexed her muscles for the Jumbotron, getting fans riled up.

Just before heading into the raining tailgating festivities, I ran into Monica Rojas, another Houston fan. “Watt Ya Know About Them H-Town Peeps?” she kept saying to all the opposing fans, including the ESPN radio guys broadcasting live inside Jimmy Greens.

“Can’t wait to get home to Houston and thaw out. My draws are frozen and my fingers and toes are numb, but winning in Chicago’s house and celebrating with my fellow Texans fans was the greatest. 8-1! #bullsonparade.”

“We’re here trying to show Chicago how us Texans fans roll. We have family that lives here but we love and support our Texans – home and away. We are predicting the Texans are 8-1 after tonight baby!” Rojas said.

And she was right. Both teams entered Sunday nights’ game, the one many referred to as a preview for Super Bowl XLVII, at 7-1, but only one team left 8-1. The Texans, still the team to beat across the league, continue to be undefeated against Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears (with an all-time record of 3-0).

Looking at the front row of the lower bowl, I’m a TEXAN, WE ARE TEXANS, and other Texan-logo flags were strategically placed for all the viewers at home to see. Texans are proud.

A Texans fan on a mission, Patrick Reyes marks Chicago as just another stop on the away schedule.

“The game was ugly but I don’t think I could have had a more appropriate Chicago experience. The weather, the fans and a defensive battle. Great win for our Texans. As long as we win, I don’t care how we play. Next stop for me, New England on December 10th,” said Reyes who plans to utilize Stradley’s helpful tips along each stop.

Another avid fan and season ticket holder, Justin Capetillo, managed to type out a Facebook message even with frozen fingers after the big win. “Can’t wait to get home to Houston and thaw out. My draws are frozen and my fingers and toes are numb, but winning in Chicago’s house and celebrating with my fellow Texans fans was the greatest. 8-1! #bullsonparade.”

Ty and Sharon Coburn are celebrating more than just a franchise record-setting team.

“We are here celebrating our anniversary and it’s funny because it’s the Texans 10-year anniversary and it’s also our 10-year anniversary. Last night’s win was priceless. The win just completed our amazing weekend. I was wet from head to toe and Ty kept telling me ‘hang in there darling’ – it’ll all be worth it. It was amazing. We were sitting around some really grouchy Bears fans, but we had a great time,” said Sharon Coburn.

“Last night’s victory validated who we are – we are THE team,” said Ty.

I’m sure every other Texans fan, whether in Chicago, Houston or elsewhere agrees with Ty’s sentiments.

This article was featured on Culture Map, Houston’s Daily Digital Magazine in the sport’s section.

November 12, 2012/by Jayme

Sports & Moustaches

The Blonde Side

CLICK HERE to download and share The Blonde Side’s Movember Infographic.

My love for “moustaches”: On my 16th birthday, all I asked for (because I’m a brat and already had a car) was that my dad shave his moustache. He’d had it since I could remember and it was more of a “dare” rather than a present. Just one of those sixteen-year-old moments where you see how far you can really push your parents or how much pull you truly have in the family lineup. We were in Key West celebrating the milestone birthday with my best friend and my dad walked out of his room in the condo without a single hair on his face.

Ew, grow it back. Now. Daddy.

Those were my immediate words. As if he could take a deep breath and the hair would magically rest upon his face again. Luckily for all of us, my mom especially, his ‘stache grew back in a matter of days and we were back to business as usual. I knew then that moustaches had a special place in my cold little heart.

My love for sports. Aside from being freakishly awesome at basically every single sport, I’ve had a natural love for playing sports since the day I was born. I was born to play with balls. My love for watching sports wasn’t as natural, but it came early on. As a child, anytime I got in trouble my punishment was being sequestered in the family room while my mother flipped through magazines and my father watched sports on TV. It was almost always NFL, baseball, Nascar, golf or tennis. As a troubled child, I spent many-a-days on that microfiber couch and after a while I gave in and started taking an interest.

Why did Jeff Gordon run into another car and why are you screaming bad words at him dad?

Who is that weird looking tennis player with crazy hair dad? (The answer of course was Andre Agassi.)

What’s the difference between a false start and off-sides dad?

Why would Joe Gibbs go for a field goal instead of going for those few inches for a first down? He seems like a wuss, right dad?

Soon, I was a natural. I knew it and loved it. The sixth-grade boys came to me for sport’s trivia. A rare breed for many little girls, but my family embraced it.

My love for being a do-gooder. I don’t really know where this started, but I’m sure glad it did. Somewhere along the line, I realized I needed to payback some bad karma so I co-founded Charity Chicks Houston with a dear friend. Over the course of the four years Charity Chicks has been around, I’ve come to know and support some amazing charities, both locally and those with a national or even international reach.

When my two worlds (moustaches and do-gooding) collided and I learned about Movember, I was ecstatic. What started as 30 Mo Bros in Australia back in 2003 has morphed into a hipster whirlwind of 854,288 ‘staches grown last year for Movember. I wanted to help the cause and be part of the MOvement, but surely I wasn’t (thankfully) going to grow facial hair. I wanted to put all three of my loves of facial hair, sports and do-gooder stuff all into one nicely packaged thing to do my part, so here I am.

A few fun facts: the average man has a 2-inch long moustache and weighs approximately 2lbs. On average, a man with a ‘stache touches it approximately 760 times a day (better than touching something else…).

Jarod Kintz probably said it best when tying the moustaches and sports theme together, “The Nike Swoosh logo would make an interesting mustache…”

Check out the attached infographic, read the facts, join my team and share the hell out of this information. Use it on your own FB page, post it to Twitter, blog it (just be sure to give The Blonde Side credit and a link back) and help one little blonde girl change the face of men’s health. On and off the field.

Wanna partake in the hairy fun? Join The Blonde Side’s Movember team. Girls and guys are both encouraged to join (the Mo Sistas are there for support, the Mo Bros gotta grow). Can’t join, but wanna throw some money to a good cause? Donate to my page here.

The awesome Movember infographic was created by the lovely and talented Melissa Sims [Melrose Designs].

November 4, 2012/by Jayme