October 2015 - The Blonde Side

Modern Vintage Boutique

The Blonde Side rocking taupe fringe-heels from Modern Vintage Boutique alongside comedienne Heather McDonald

I won’t straight up lie and tell you I’m a fashionista or even that I put a ton of time into my wardrobe, but from time to time, I do like to step up my fashion game and share some products, stores and websites I find along the way (especially ones that have fringe and good prices!).

This time, it’s Modern Vintage Boutique (MVB), which I found on Instagram (see…those countless hours of clicking and liking finally paid off!).

The prices are incredibly reasonable (right now they offer FREE SHIPPING on orders of $100 or more) and the customer service has been outstanding (they even repost a lot of your photos on social media if you tag them!).

They are constantly getting new arrivals (which can be extremely dangerous for your wallet), but most of the stuff I’ve ordered from there has been great.

My two favorite items are the above pictured fringe heels, which I am rocking next to my comedic girl-crush, Heather McDonald (and yes, she complimented me THREE times on these boots!). The fringe heels are only $52, and are perfect for dressing up a simple little black dress or basic outfit (which is usually my style). Feedback: They are pretty comfortable considering the style, but not ones I’d want to walk a mile in.

*By the way, if you ever get a chance to see Heather McDonald perform LIVE, definitely do it. She happened to be playing right next to our hotel in Fort

Date night maxi dress from Modern Vintage Boutique

Worth and we snagged great seats at a great price, last minute. And she was even funnier in person.

I also got this tie-dye maxi dress from MVB (pictured to the right) and it has made for the best date night dress I own. It’s super casual and comfortable (light-weight cotton, perfect for Houston temps), but is form-fitting and shows a lot (maybe too much for some!) cleavage. Feedback: I actually have my straps safety-pinned in the back to keep it from falling lower (and I wear my hair down, so you can’t see the pin).

I also got a pair of their hombre leggings (similar to these, but mine were full-length, not capri), and they are amazing for travel days or my SPX reformer classes at Sculpt Fitness. Feedback: they fit a little funny in the crotch area, but I typically wear long shirts that cover, so they fit and look great! I wore these on The Blonde Side’s road trip to Atlanta and absolutely loved them! They don’t have seams so they are extra comfy.

Note: the products at MVB sell out quickly, so if you see something you like on the site, don’t delay. Happy shopping!

October 27, 2015/by Jayme

Ray-Ban GIVEAWAY

Contests

Win these Ray-Bans, thanks to Coors Light

Thanks to our thirsty and tailgating partnership with Coors Light, we are at it again with another giveaway – this time a brand new pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses.

The contest will run today only (Friday 10/23) from 8a – 5p CST. Simply comment on the FB post and be sure to LIKE The Blonde Side – it’s that simple!

We’ll pick one lucky winner to rock these shades and notify you via Facebook.

Note: if you don’t have Facebook, you can also enter by leaving a comment on this post.

Want to stay up-to-date with all the contests, giveaways, events and articles at The Blonde Side? Simply sign up here and we’ll pretty much be besties after that…

October 23, 2015/by Jayme

Longhorn Fan Hall Of Fame – GO VOTE

Blog

Vote for my buddy Rodney in the Fan Hall of Fame w/ the Longhorn Network

When I moved to Texas, I was quickly faced with a big decision: either root for the Texas Longhorns or root for the Aggies. (Yes, I realize now in 2015, maybe Texas Tech or TCU would have been a good choice, but I digress…)

At the time (and probably still so), I didn’t have a dog in the fight for either Texas team, but one of the first people I met in this great city was Rodney (goofy face pictured to the left).

There’s a funny thing about Rodney – I can pretty much bet money on it that if you ever see this guy, he will ALWAYS be wearing some variation of burnt orange – the lovely team color of the Longhorns. (How his wife talked him out of wearing burnt orange in their wedding still shocks me, to be honest.)

The first time I tailgated in Austin was with Rodney and his buddies – The Four Hornsmen. Those boys and their wild antics and oft times unrequited love for their team made me a fast fan of the Longhorns. Over the years I’ve come to know this group of guys pretty well and they’re a great group that loves their team and treats their friends and family (and even visiting teams) with much respect and love.

We all know at least one team fanatic (or maybe you are the team fanatic!) and we all know how much love, sweat, and tears – not to mention money, travel, dedication and sometimes heartache

Rodney and his beautiful wife Missy – and yes, The Blonde Side in a UT shirt courtesy of Rodney!

goes into a team love – so do me a favor and go help Rodney and his boys out in this Texas Longhorns Fan Hall of Fame. You can vote for The Four Hornsmen (that’s him!) 3x day (’til 10/25). You might know other crazy fans in the vote, but if you don’t, do me a favor and cast a few votes for these boys – they’ve earned it!

Brought to you by Longhorn Network & sponsored by The Texas Boot Company.

October 22, 2015/by Jayme

Eddie Jackson and BBQ

Football

Eddie Jackson (Photo: Courtesy Food Network)

Eddie Jackson’s Still Primetime With His New Series ‘BBQ Blitz’

From football to food trucks, life after the NFL takes different turns for different athletes. For Eddie Jackson, it’s taken him back to primetime on the Food Network for his new six-episode series BBQ Blitz, which debuted in early October. The show finds Jackson traveling the country to pit local BBQ bosses against each other.

Jackson first joined the food world as a private chef, food truck owner and personal trainer. He proved to be the ultimate culinary champion during Food Network Star, known for his charismatic personality, charm under pressure and spectacular cooking skills. His former fame as an NFL star didn’t hurt either.

His take on food combines his southern background with his passion for rich and bold flavors, which consistently distinguished him with the viewers and judges. Jackson grew up in Texas and owns a Caribbean grill-inspired food truck and gym in the Houston area, where he currently resides.

Here’s our exclusive Q&A with the former football star and forever foodie:

Man Cave Daily: What’s life been like since you retired from football?

Eddie Jackson: It’s been a while since I retired from the NFL, but since then it’s been all about food with me. I’ve always been into cooking and food since I was child and once I left the game, I realized that I had the love for food and the ability to cook to take it to another level.

MCD: What do you miss most about football?

EJ: By far I miss the camaraderie. There’s nothing like going into battle with your boys. You train for weeks together, so you naturally become close and then going into battle and getting a victory is priceless.

MCD: Tell me about your love for food–where did it start?

EJ: My love for food started at a very young age. I can remember helping my grandmother in the kitchen making biscuits. And then later my dad teaching me the ins and outs of the grill on our little apartment patio. I love creating unique dishes on the grill.

MCD: Describe your perfect tailgate–the menu, the drinks, the music, etc?

EJ: The perfect tailgate would have one-hander foods like wings and sliders–because you need a free hand for cold beers! Each person at the tailgate should come up with four-5 songs, then combine them to create the perfect tailgate playlist.

MCD: With all the great cities you’re visiting for BBQ Blitz–what do you look for in BBQ? Is there a certain ingredient that stands out, do you like it spicy?

EJ: I’ve visited some amazing cites for BBQ Blitz and what I’m most interested in is creativity. BBQ-ing is not just baby back ribs or pulled pork–I’m looking for something so unique that viewers can hopefully get inspired to try something new when they crank up the grills and smokers. Grilling is the earliest form of cooking–you just have to be willing to step outside the box. I’m a sucker for spice. I’m a Texan and we like it spicy. You can always win me over with a nice kick of heat.

MCD: Tell me about your food truck in Houston?

EJ: My food truck is called Caribbean Grill by Fit Chef. We put a Caribbean twist on barbecue and grilling–like ginger pork tacos or rum glazed ribs. I spent a lot of time in south Florida while playing for the Dolphins, so I wanted to bring some of that flare with me to Texas. I focus on doing events with my truck, but you can find it parked behind my gym Fit Chef Studios during the week. We do healthy lunch options as well as make fresh juices.

MCD: Lastly, any bold Super Bowl predictions?

EJ: Hmmmmm…I’m predicting the Pats to win it all again. Brady is playing with a vengeance!

This article originally ran on CBS Man Cave Daily. Click here to see the original article.

October 16, 2015/by Jayme

FitFit Review

Blog, Fitness

Pants from FitFit based in Austin

Everyone has that one “thing” they spend too much money on or trying to keep up with the latest trends. For some it’s purses or shoes, but for me – it’s active apparel and workout wear, since that’s pretty much the only thing you ever see me in. (Seriously, my online dating profile clearly warns men that I’m always in yoga pants.)

On a recent visit to Austin for the X Games, I was introduced to FitFit, which is a line of unique, bold active apparel. And of course I fell in love. Not just with the designs and bright colors, but the feel. These are the softest pants I’ve ever put on my body.

Based in Austin and made in Brazil, the leggings are perfect for yoga, running, spin, barre or even lounging. One of the hottest new trends in active apparel, the vibrant leggings from FitFit are not only breathable, comfortable and fast-drying, but also stretch and fade-resistant – so they can stay in your closet longer. And did I mention how comfortable they are?

The pants (the only thing I’ve tried so far) fit really well – a lot of yoga/running pants give me

TRX Training at Sculpt in Houston with FitFit pants

muffin top (yes, I am blaming the actual pants for that), but these fit snug around my waist as they should, but not too tight and stay in place. I’ve done as much as a six-mile run wearing these and they don’t fall down or sag like a few other brands I’ve tried – they are perfect.

They have been perfect for my HIIT sessions at Sculpt Fitness, as well as TRX, yoga and SPX.

Probably not great for my wallet, but I love the fact they come out with as many as 10 new prints every 6-8 weeks. That way you can stay up on the trends and keep yourself motivated during those harder workouts.

If you order online (they are in a few locations locally in Austin), there is a flat fee of $6 for shipping within the US, so stock up!

Lets face it – sometimes your workout gets boring, but that doesn’t mean your workout pants have to be.

October 1, 2015/by Jayme