It’s Thursday and just so happens to be a day that ends in y, so naturally us Texans are thinking about margaritas. And since I’m obsessed with champagne, this Sparkling Margarita recipe is so on point, I had to share.
Plus, Cinco de Mayo is coming up, and one can never have too many champagne or margarita recipes.
In a cocktail shaker combine half of the tequila, lime juice and agave nectar with plenty of
Sparkling Margarita Recipe via bhg
ice. Shake for 5 seconds and strain the mixture into three glasses. Repeat with remaining tequila, juice, and agave nectar. Top each serving with sparkling wine. Add a lime peel strip. Add additional lime juice to taste. Makes 6 servings.
Ok, your turn, what are your favorite drink recipes? Leave a link (or directions) in the comments below, please!
Not only did I finally get to check out one of Houston’s hottest new seafood spots, I was able to do it in style – OMARKASE style.
Named after PESKA’s very young and very talented (very funny, too) chef, Omar, this is a Thursday night eight-course dinner + drink pairing that will blow your mind.
The event, which takes place every Thursday evening, by reservation only, is a unique and unprecedented way to try out features that aren’t on the menu. You know the kind – the ones chefs are dying to create, but the restaurant isn’t creating new menus for another few months?!
You’ll be sat at a table with other food lovers (what better way to get to know your Houston neighbors), unless you book a reservation for you and a bunch of friends, which happens quite often, and the chef and his team will bring out new features that pair well with unique cocktails, wines and even beers. Chef Omar will interact with you, get your feedback, and if you’re lucky, he’ll sit down and have a drink with you after all his hard-work has been eaten.
Next time you’re in charge of making Thursday night dinner plans – whether with clients or to surprise your sweetie – this will put you at the top of your game with whoever you invite. I promise.
If you are interested in attending an Omarkase dinner or a private event, Dante Laugier, the event manager, will take great care of you. Call him 832.215.8736 or email him dante@peska.us.
The Blonde Side at Pearland Golf Club at Country Place | Outfit: Lizzie Driver
Living in the burbs (just temporarily), I realized one of the perks are all all the great golf courses I know have access to, which is amazing!
Last week I played a round at the newly renovated Pearland Golf Club at Country Place, and I’m hooked. Certainly not because I played well on the course, because I did not, but it’s just an amazing spot right in the heart of my new ‘hood. And they say practice makes perfect, so you’ll probably see me there quite frequently!
Aside from the beautiful and newly renovated 18-hole course, I loved the overall vibe there. But you’ll probably laugh at me. It’s a semi-private course (memberships available, but it’s still open to the public) and in the midst of a 55+ retirement community. Those are my people. They are so friendly, not in a rush, and always eager to talk with you and be present (I didn’t see a single cell phone amongst any of the regulars!). The members are proud of their course, as they should be, and they are a treat to greet on the course, at the driving range, or grabbing a beer or burger at the clubhouse. Quite a few of them talked about their favorite new features of the course, what to watch out for, etc.
If you played the course before, you have to come check out the upgrades – it’s definitely more challenging and the ponds and other things they’ve added is downright stunning. Those beautiful ponds also happen to be the new owner of about ten of my lost golf balls, too.
The club also offers some pretty unique events that I hope to partake in very soon – things like couples golf (that could be torture for some of us though, right?), tournaments and much more. The club is definitely appealing to female golfers – whether you’re new to the game (PS – come take lessons with me and Izzy, the GM!), or a seasoned pro. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a course with more females throughout, it was definitely refreshing. And a reminder that I’m nowhere near as good as 99% of them.
The course is open to the public and just 15 minutes from downtown Houston (off 288), so even if you don’t live in the burbs like I do, it’s an easy place to visit.
Pro tip: come hungry and get a fat, juicy burger at the Tee Box Grill. It’s super cheap, has won some incredible awards, and lives up to all the hype. (Read: well worth the calories.)
PS: if you’re a female golfer (or know one), check out Lizzie Driver (what I’m wearing in the photo above) for the absolute most amazing golf clothes, ever. Check out the blog post I did on their line a while ago.
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As a writer, it’s fitting to say I have a story to tell. It’s my job. I share my feelings (the icky ones, the embarrassing ones, the “did she really just admit to that” ones on social media, the heartbreaking ones, etc.) – sometimes too much.
But you don’t have to be a writer to tell your story. And I’ve been around long enough to know that everyone has a story worth telling.
As simple as J + state of Texas may seem, it tells a huge part of my life, and after moving to Texas more than a decade ago, you can never show too much Texas flair.
With all of the approaching holidays, (Easter, Mother’s Day, March Madness – yes, that’s a holiday for many of us) KEEP Collective has so many designs to help share your story – whatever that story is. And these make great gifts for you or your loved ones.
One of the things I love about KEEP Collective is that each of the keys mean something. Everyone has a story to tell- happy, sad, good, bad.
What story will YOUR KEEPER tell? Check out their website and get in touch with my friend Sarah (linked below) to place your order. Fun story – I actually met Sarah at SXSW – friends fo’ever (with lots of stories!).
I’ve always been a big fan of handwritten thank you notes and March Madness, so this contest that AT&T is running for the Final Four is at the top of my list.
Tell a friend, family member or co-worker “thank you” for something special they did for you and you could win Final Four – Houston tickets for you and that friend.
Simply go here to enter and good luck! (To you for winning the tickets and your favorite NCAA team!)
Plus, I have to admit, an intense basketball game is a great way to step up your friendship with someone.
Since I said this contest is at the top of my list, it only seems logical I enter as a way of saying thank you to someone in my life (trust me, I owe a lot of thank you’s).
I would say thanks to my friend Jo Neiter for her genuine excitement to collaborate on things as a team of female entrepreneurs and just always looking out, whether it be sharing ideas or contacts, collaborating on sports-related graphics, or just being an encouraging friend. Plus she’s blonde. And since this column is called The Blonde Side, that certainly helps.
Jo’s kind of the jane-of-all-trades in the friendship world – the one who’s up for pretty much anything – a run around the park to burn some calories, a brainstorming session, networking events, and most definitely a fun gal pal to attend any sporting event with!
Follow along on social media with their hashtag: #PayItFourward
*This was a sponsored post. The Blonde Side is in no way part of this contest or selecting the winners.
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(this is an old bracket, 2016 teams haven’t been decided yet)
March: 5 Things to Try This Month
Each month, I’m going to blog about five things I am going to try throughout the month – and I encourage you to try them too. (Obviously some of these may only be geared towards girls, like pain your nails, etc. but you get my drift.)
Consider it a way to break your normal mold, to try new things, be adventurous, better yourself and just overall expand your horizons.
The Blonde Side is a sports column, so of course, I’m going to suggest you make a March Madness bracket. I have created a FREE bracket with CBS sports – there may be a prize at the end, TBD, but it will be fun and super bragging rights. And I seriously don’t care if you pick winners based on team colors or if it’s a city you don’t like. Just check it out.
Pay someone a compliment or write a thank you note. My best version of this is to write an actual handwritten note, but I realize many of you will refuse to do that (hello, guys), so I’m giving you variations. Too often we get caught up in complaining (myself included), so write a friend or colleague a thank you note or offer a word of encouragement (i.e. there should be no other point than to say thank you or job well done). Maybe it’s as simple as saying something nice to someone on social media (in a non-flirty/creepy way) or sending an email to a restaurant thanking them for the good service (mention your server by name so they get the credit they deserve!).
Get into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and bake something fun. And no, I don’t care if
Image via thenovicechefblog.com
you’re Irish or not (just don’t pretend you are on the day of). Here are a few Lucky Charm recipes from Huffington Post, and of course you can search Pinterest for more ideas as well. And please show me what you made – I love little projects like this, plus I’m a sucker for a sweet treat! I think this is the one I’ll try to make – it looks easy enough, right? Just want to brag – I’ll actually be in Dublin over St. Patrick’s Day, so there’s that.
Go play tennis. The thing about tennis is that it’s usually free (you’d be surprised how many free courts are near you or maybe at a friend’s apartment complex) or at least super cheap. For instance, at Memorial Park here in Houston, you can rent a court for a few bucks and rent a racket and balls if you need. Or invite a friend who already has the gear so you can save money that way. Some sources say you can burn almost 450 calories during just one hour of tennis.
I’m a writer, so this one should be a no-brainer as far as a suggestion, but READ. Seriously, spend 30 uninterrupted minutes (as in, turn your phone off or leave it inside and go read outside), and it can be anything you want. Try to keep from reading on your laptop or on your iPad because you’ll be tempted to log into FB or leave a comment on a blog or something. Grab a magazine, an old book you used to love, or even print out a few articles on the web and read those.
Even though I don’t read a lot of “girly” blogs, shout out to Lauren Conrad for giving me this idea.
So what are the five things on your list this month or what did you check off that I listed above?
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TRX Training // Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography
A lot of people ask how I work out & stay active since I’m always traveling (each year I spend between 100 – 260 days on the road), so I wanted to quickly share three of my favorite fitness secrets:
1. THIS “Hit The Deck”game that is by far my favorite (and you can usually kill a good workout in 15 mins)
2. TRX Training – love them, obsessed. Hook them up to a parking garage (check), a palm tree (check), in your garage (check) and much more!
3. The new IGNITE DVD from Women’s Health – many people probably don’t use DVD’s anymore or have DVD players, but my laptop has a DVD slot, so it’s easy to take on the road with me. Purchase yours today.
Now it’s your turn – what are your tricks to staying fit – whether during a busy week or while traveling?
Kareem Jackson – The Cover Story for March 2016 Sports Issue // Photo: Maximilliam Burkhalter
Kareem Jackson: Football, Fashion, and Now Family Man
If you live in Houston, odds are you’re familiar with KAREEM JACKSON. Jackson is heading into his seventh season as a cornerback for the Houston Texans and he’s not shy when it comes to his passion on the field or showcasing his impeccable sense of fashion. But recently, the Georgia native has added a new title to his world: father.
Jackson says there are a lot of “cool moments” that come with being a new dad. The coolest he says is the rush to get home to spend time with his daughter. “It’s just amazing that every morning there’s this little girl there and she looks so much like me. It just amazes me to see her every day – it’s to the point where I can’t wait to leave the stadium or get home to see her,” he says.
One of the main things he wants to teach his daughter is exactly what his parents worked so hard to teach him: work ethic. “My parents instilled a great work ethic in me and hopefully I can do the same. I believe if you want something you have to go out and work for it. That’s something I definitely want her to know growing up,” Jackson says.
Jackson has also taken his love for fashion and his methodology of going after what he wants to the
Texans Kareem Jackson // Photo: Maximilliam Burkhalter
next level with his brand new line, Fly Guy, starting out with athletic wear pieces. “I figured I can cater to the guys I’m around the most and hopefully progress into something bigger than just athletic gear. I had an opportunity to design some shirts and hats last year for the team, and they did really well in terms of sales in the Go Texan store. I just said this is my opportunity to run with it and that’s what I did with Fly Guy,” the cornerback explains.
The new dad admits he’s very hands-on with the line, from start to finish, including trips to LA where he handpicked the fabrics and colors. “I like to put a lot of my attention on it during the off-season because once the season rolls around I just like to focus on the games.”
“I want to be attached to every thread, everything that’s being done,” he says.
Outside of football and fashion, Jackson admits one of his biggest indulgences is travel and hints that next on his bucket list is either Tahiti or Bora Bora, potentially for his honeymoon with his fiancé Amber. Jackson says they like to reserve Fridays for date nights, which usually involves a movie (they are big fans of comedies) and a nice restaurant. He says it’s their time to talk about the week and just be with each other. “I just kind of let her talk about whatever she wants to talk about, and try and listen,” Jackson says. Very wise relationship advice, indeed.
WE ASKED JACKSON TO FILL IN THE BLANK: I wish more people in the world would think before they speak.
To see the original version of this story (or you can pick up the FREE copies all over Houston and touch and feel the real paper of this story!), click here.
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One of the nation’s most prominent and exciting sporting events hits Houston April 2–4 at NRG Stadium, returning to Houston for its second time in a six-year span and for the third time in the city’s history (1971: Astrodome; 2011: NRG Stadium). It’s a highly publicized and sought after event the city is ecstatic to host, for many reasons. Whether you’re into basketball or your alma mater makes the Big Dance, you’ll want to get in on all the action.
The Final Four is expected to bring 70,000 out-of-town visitors and approximately $150,000,000 in direct spend to Houston. Just a few reasons the organizing committee is pulling out all the stops to make sure it’s a hit.
“The Final Four is one of the most exciting events a city can host. Houston was a great host in 2011, and we know we’ll be an even greater host in 2016, as our city has that much more to offer this time around. March Madness will culminate here, and all eyes will be on our city. We’ll be ready, and we’re looking forward to showing the world what a great place Houston is,” says Doug Hall, President and CEO of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee.
The big weekend isn’t all about basketball either. Be sure to check out the March Madness Music Festival, which is a FREE concert series that takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday and features both local and national acts. Past artists include Fergie, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, The Zac Brown Band, Imagine Dragons, Kings of Leon and Kenny Chesney, just to name a few. Upcoming acts for 2016: TBD.
Fan Fest is also a great interactive sports “extravaganza” perfect for families, complete with
Illustration by German Arellano
basketball exhibitions and fan games, handson championship experiences, youth clinics and more. A Kids Zone is filled with interactive games, a 3v3 tournament and special appearances with former NCAA players and coaches as well as other sports personalities. Cost: Adults – $10, Kids 12 and under – FREE.
Many sports fans don’t know about the huge community component that comes with Final Four hosting duties, like Read to the Final Four where third graders at 68 HISD schools will participate in a bracket competition literacy program, and Super Four Course, where students from University of Houston gain behind-the-scenes training and access, working closely with staff from the NCAA and Houston Super Bowl Host Committee.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BY THE NUMBERS:
300+: NCAA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INITIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION
68: NUMBER OF TEAMS SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
52: NUMBER OF TEAMS ELIMINATED AFTER THE FIRST WEEKEND OF COMPETITION SWEET 16 AND ELITE
8: NARROWING THE TEAMS DOWN FOR BIGGER MATCH-UPS
3,500: NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE CITY’S ANCILLARY EVENTS
2008: THE YEAR HOUSTON WAS AWARDED HOSTING DUTIES FOR THE 2016 FINAL FOUR
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR ENDS IN HOUSTON – DON’T MISS OUT ON ALL THE EXCITEMENT BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT.
2015 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS: DUKE
2016 NCAA’S MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS: ______
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spend 30 uninterrupted minutes (as in, turn your phone off or leave it inside and go read outside), and it can be anything you want. Try to keep from reading on your laptop or on your iPad because you’ll be tempted to log into FB or leave a comment on a blog or something. Grab a magazine, an old book you used to love, or even print out a few articles on the web and read those.
