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How To Move Like A Pro In 8 Easy Steps

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Moving tip: do any and all shopping (grocery, plants, toiletries, etc.) AFTER your move

Over the years, I’ve moved my fair share. If I’m being honest, I think moving is one of the most daunting tasks around, yet I seem to find myself in the same stressful predicament. 

I relocated to Houston in 2006 for a job with the Houston Astros and have since bounced all around the Houston area, but I definitely have to say that Montrose is my absolute favorite. I’ll get more into why I love living in Montrose, but for now, I wanted to share 8 tips on how to move like a pro. 

Tips for moving like a pro in 8 easy steps: 

1. Use an Apartment Locator

Growing up, my mom always said, “let your fingers do the walking.” Now as an adult, I totally get it. Sure you could jump in your car and visit 10 different apartments in your desired part of Houston, but many of them may not have one bedrooms available at the time of your move in (or whatever your needs may be), may not be pet-friendly, may not offer any move-in concessions, etc. In my experience, using a knowledgeable apartment locator will help weed out any properties that don’t fit your specific needs and they’ll be able to set appointments for tours, find out about leasing incentives (which is something I strongly recommend). When I chose to move into Encore Montrose, they were offering two months free, which prorated my rent to a much more manageable amount. So basically I got a nicer apartment (bigger than I needed) for an even lower rate. 

2. Think of Moving as an Advantage/Positive

I knew I wasn’t going to renew my lease at my old apartment months before I began looking for a new one. The thought of moving all my stuff (I may or may not be a hoarder) was completely consuming. About 60 days before I was scheduled to move out, I pulled out all my half-used bottles of face cream, facial masks, samples from Kiehls and more and kept them on my bathroom counter so I would remember to use them. It was glorious because it was like self care had become part of my daily routine now – imagine that. I also took the time to merge bottles (travel bottles of shampoo that had accumulated, etc.) so not only was it more manageable to go through, but it was a little less stuff to move. Same goes for all those 3-wick, super expensive candles I was using for a “special occasion” – I started using it all and felt like a pampered princess.

3. Get Drunk

Totally kidding (sort of), but being a hoarder doesn’t discriminate what you stock up on, and wine (particularly rosé) was in abundance in my home. Stop waiting for the perfect time to savor that $20 bottle of wine (hey, I ball on a budget, don’t judge and to be totally honest, I think a $12 bottle is a bit pricey) and drink up (wearing your face masks and burning all those fancy candles, see tip #2). Also, do you know how heavy bottles of wine (in bulk) are? It isn’t fun to move, plus they are breakable, so drink up and restock when you move into your next spot. Invite friends over, especially for the next tip.  

4. Declutter

Once again, as a hoarder, I realize I have way too much for one person. I used moving as an excuse to get rid of stuff I didn’t wear anymore, stuff that had holes or looked too worn and even duplicates of things. The best part about getting ahead of the game for this one is you’ll have time to post your stuff on Craigslist or Facebook in hopes of selling it. I actually posted a few Instagram stories of my Texans stuff and sold about 70% of it within 24hrs. This gives you time to post multiple times (I’ve had success on Craigslist renewing my posts so it shows at the top), meet up to drop off stuff and get at least a few bucks for it. Also, I donated about 20 bags worth of stuff to Goodwill Houston. (I love learning about worthy organizations to donate stuff, so leave a comment below if you have any you recommend.)

5. Transfer Prescriptions and Forward Mail (Tip: BEFORE)

The sooner the better, because I don’t have a lot of faith in USPS. It’s obviously much easier to stay with the same pharmacy (i.e. moving from one HEB to another where it’s a seamless process), but the easiest way if you’re transferring to a completely different pharmacy is to get the business card/contact info of the old place and give it to the new one. Again, they will do all the work for you (they want your business, so don’t stress trying to do it on your own). 

6. Get FREE Boxes

A little known fact about me – I’m pretty cheap. Unless it’s an alcoholic beverage or coffee, I think spending money on iced tea or a soda at a restaurant/fast food is a waste of money. I hoard all the travel sized beauty products at the nicer hotels I stay at to avoid buying more. And when it comes to buying boxes that you’re just going to rip up and throw away – no thank you. So many people told me to buy boxes and I just wasn’t having it. I learned a few tricks when it comes to locating boxes, which was clutch during my move. For places like HEB, Kroger and Target, if you call the night before (around 10-11p) and ask them to hold boxes, they usually will. Someone told me this little tip and I thought they were lying or the manager would forget to put them to the side, but I can verify as it worked a few times and I didn’t have to pay for any of them. (The manager at Target had them loaded up in a shopping cart with a post-it with my name on it and they were quality boxes.)

7. Transfer Utilities (When Possible)

Courtesy Photo, Encore Montrose

Instead of signing up for all new service (and getting your credit reran, etc.), I’ve found that transferring utility services usually is the way to go. They already have your billing and credit info on file and it usually saves you a connection fee, which can be up to $150 for electricity sometimes. Pro tip: when transferring services, ask for any loyalty rewards (my electricity provider is sending me a $50 Visa gift card as a thank you, but if I hadn’t asked, they wouldn’t). Another benefit for this is that my electric provider knew my estimated usage each month and was able to recommend a less expensive plan. 

8. WiFi 

Working from home, this is a big one for me and it’s never an easy process. Luckily, Encore Montrose has complimentary WiFi in common areas and it reached to my apartment, so I wasn’t completely out of the loop, and their Resident Lounge area is so posh and comfortable, I didn’t mind working from down there one bit. Also, my boyfriend was kind enough to give me his DIRECTV password so I was able to watch my favorite shows on my iPad (but I needed the apartment WiFi). I also downloaded a bunch of Netflix shows before my actual move, so I had that too. Even if you don’t have Netflix, ask a friend to borrow their password and head to a Starbucks and download some shows so you have stuff to watch. 

This is part of a sponsored blog series with Encore Montrose. I am sharing what I love about living in Houston, and specifically Montrose, plus all the tips, tricks and amenities along the way. These luxury Montrose apartments are currently offering two months free and the best part is that we get to be neighbors. Drop a comment or email if you’re interested in touring or stop by Encore Montrose and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Or you can call them at 281.843.1578.

September 27, 2018/by Jayme
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/MovingTips.jpg 2048 1536 Jayme https://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.png Jayme2018-09-27 14:15:582018-10-02 17:36:43How To Move Like A Pro In 8 Easy Steps

I Tried CoolSculpting in Houston and Here’s What Happened

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DaVinci Body Sculpting in Houston

In full transparency, I wasn’t sure I was going to share this experience. The main reason is I’ve always had major skepticism when it comes to any sort of treatments or products that offer “quick fixes.” My dad taught me long ago when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. But in this case with CoolSculpting, it wasn’t. 

 

I entered the doors of DaVinci Body Sculpting with a misguided attitude. It had come highly recommended from a friend, but I still had my doubts. I’m so skeptical about stuff like this — I even take my own before and after photos, because I wanted to make sure the photos hadn’t been doctored/edited in any way (I once had a bad teeth whitening experience where they posted my photos and claimed my teeth were 12 shades whiter and was so mad I didn’t take my own before pictures, so I learned my lesson). 

 

Founded in 2017, DaVinci Body Sculpting was started by cosmetic surgeon and liposuction surgery specialist, John Bergeron M.D. and his wonderfully pleasant wife Lori Lemon Bergeron.

 

The place is decorated beautifully, and I was immediately greeted by Phoebe at the reception desk. She was kind and warm, asking if I needed anything, if I had questions and totally eased my mind from the first minute. Then I met Lori and Suzanne, two of the most down-to-earth and knowledgeable women around. 

 

Here’s Why CoolSculpting Isn’t a Quick Fix and Why I Trusted DaVinci

I visited DaVinci mere days before heading to Mexico and was hoping my abs would magically look more chiseled and I’d look a little “slimmer.” Nope. They didn’t even try to lie to me. Lori told me I probably wouldn’t see results for at least 30 days and it could take up to 90. She said if my main goal was to drop a few pounds before Mexico I should go on a juice cleanse and CoolSculpting wasn’t a fit. I was bummed about Mexico bikini pics, but my interest was piqued. 

 

She also told me I likely wouldn’t see major results. Again, I’m not overweight by any means. During my free consultation, I pointed out a few areas I wanted treatment and once again, Lori and Suzanne told me no. The more areas you treat, the more it costs, and they still told me no. I wanted to do my upper abs (right under my rib cage), which is an area I’ve always been self-conscious about and they told me it was all muscle and the treatment wouldn’t take and I wouldn’t see any results there. We decided to focus on my lower abs and my flanks as I had some heavy asymmetry that the CoolSculpting treatments could correct and even out. 

 

What Exactly Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive and highly advanced fat reduction treatment that uses

My CoolSculpting Houston Experience

cold temperatures to freeze and destroy fat cells (destroying fat cells sounds amazing, right?). In simple terms, it targets and reduces actual fat by literally freezing it to death. Read more about the science behind CoolSculpting. There is absolutely no down time (as in I met a friend for happy hour and dinner immediately after and was back in the gym the next day).

 

My other hesitation about posting my CoolSculpting Houston  experience was that I take a lot of pride and spend quite a bit of time working out. I’m certainly not overweight, but I did have some areas (and asymmetry in my “flanks” – aka love handles) that I wanted help on. I was also afraid of judgment from my readers. Why can’t she just workout harder? Maybe her workouts aren’t as good as she says. Maybe she doesn’t need to drink so much wine or should cut down on carbs and save money. Those were the thoughts running through my head. 

 

But then I realized – I don’t care what people think of my workouts or what treatments I get. It’s my body and I’m quite proud of all I’ve accomplished when it comes to staying in shape, pushing myself to meet goals and doing research on beauty and cosmetic treatments like this. 

 

What Made Me Decide To Get CoolSculpting in Houston?

The short answer can be summed up in two words: stubborn fat. I’ll be honest; I didn’t know there was an actual thing (as in medical terms) as stubborn fat. If anything, I figured stubborn fat referred to my obsession with donuts, but it’s a real thing. 

 

So What Is Stubborn Fat?

Again, I pride myself on how hard I work at the gym. That certainly doesn’t mean I couldn’t work harder or eat a more clean diet, but there is such thing as stubborn fat. 

 

Not only did I do my own research before committing to the treatment (I came back after my free consultation so I had time to think about it), but the ladies were incredibly knowledgeable on so many aspects, including stubborn fat. Did you know there are many different types of fat that all respond differently to diet, exercise, lifestyle and more? That’s where “stubborn fat” comes in. Because stubborn fat (subcutaneous fat as it’s medically known) gets less blood flow than other kinds of fat, it’s harder to burn off in the gym, no matter how many crunches you do. The higher density of alpha-receptors also make it more difficult to burn off, which also gets released at a slower rate, so you can probably see where it gets its name from, right? (I learned a lot about stubborn fat and its release rate here.)

 

To be honest, they were almost just as skeptical in treating me as I was in scheduling the appointment. Lori repeatedly asked what my “goal results” were and what I was expecting. She wanted me to be happy with the outcome (as all good business owners do) and I totally respect her shared mentality – don’t overpromise and under deliver. 

 

I encourage you to check out CoolSculpting Houston for yourself (and read their CoolSculpting Reviews) and I highly recommend Lori, Suzanne and Phoebe at DaVinci Body Sculpting. They are so friendly, non-judgmental and they won’t sugarcoat things for you. Consultations are free and just 30 minutes. If you decide to go through with any treatments, mention my name (Jayme or The Blonde Side) and receive $200 off any treatment.

 

What Was the Actual Treatment Like?

The treatments were as painless, easy and non-invasive as promised in all the commercials you hear. Some take as little as 30 minutes (for me, one area was a suction that took an hour and 15 minutes), and you’re completely comfortable the whole time. From a plush robe, WiFi, snacks and drinks (yes, even alcohol if you want), three TVs and your own personal room, it wasn’t a dent in my day like I expected. I was still able to send and read work emails, watch TV or listen to a podcast, and once it was over, I got dressed and headed out to dinner. My treatment areas were a tiny bit tender and remained red for a few hours – so as long as you don’t plan to wear a crop top afterwards, it’s business as usual. (If you are an easy bruiser, I suggest investing in Arnica topical treatment, just in case.)

 

My Personal CoolSculpting Results

Again, full transparency here. Though the results weren’t guaranteed to be drastic, I did see a pretty decent change for the better in my physique, especially around my love handles (or muffin top area as people like to call it). I also noticed the asymmetry in my flanks (same area) had balanced out a lot more. 

 

Also, one thing I absolutely love is that they stand by their treatments. When I came in for my 90-day results (remember, not an overnight fix), I still saw a little asymmetry in my left side flank. Lori and Suzanne both agreed (though it was minimal) and didn’t even bat an eye for me to come in for another treatment. Also it was at no charge. I even asked if I was some special magic unicorn who didn’t have to pay for an extra treatment and they assured me they would do it (and would for any client) for any of their clients. Remember, they want their clients to be 100% happy with their results (and in turn brag to their friends, getting new clients). 

 

Perhaps there was also a tiny placebo affect of feeling more confident, and that wasn’t necessarily from the treatment. Working with the gals at DaVinci, they were major advocates for positive self-image and super complimentary of my body. Again, they weren’t pressuring me to do the treatments or promising viral-worthy before and after images. 

 

In Conclusion, Do I Recommend CoolSculpting?

Yes, in my experience, it’s definitely worth the free 30-minute consultation to see if CoolSculpting is a fit for you, and take my word – I’m incredibly impressed with the results and entire process.

 

Who Wants a CoolSculpting Houston Discount?

You’re in luck! After your free consultation, if you decide the treatment is right for you, tell the gals you know me (either The Blonde Side or Jayme works) and receive $200 off your CoolSculpting treatment.

September 24, 2018/by Jayme
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/HoustonCoolsculpting.jpg 1080 1616 Jayme https://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.png Jayme2018-09-24 12:19:112018-09-25 10:14:11I Tried CoolSculpting in Houston and Here’s What Happened

Four Seasons Houston Spa (Win a Tata Harper Skincare Bundle!)

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Win a Tata Harper Skincare Bundle Worth $225 / Four Seasons Houston

Not all Fridays are created equal, so let me tell you about my Friday at Four Seasons Spa in Houston— here’s a spoiler alert for those with a short attention span – the Tata Harper Serenity Ritual body treatment/massage (with Tristan) was one of the best I’ve had in Houston.

Another spoiler alert: comment on this post for a chance to win an amazing goody box from Tata Harper (and see our Instagram contest to enter again!). Contest valid 9/19/18 – 9/21/18 – commenting on this post enters you FIVE times to win this amazing $225 gift set.

But back to my glorious Friday…My afternoon began with a quick and easy valet at Four Seasons Houston, followed by a sun-filled afternoon at their pool deck with a split of Ruffino (in a cute little koozie, perfect for the ‘gram), surrounded by some amazing talkative people and then I headed inside to the spa, where I met my new best friend (her name was Tristan and she was ahhh-mazing).

Perfect pool + spa day at Four Seasons Hotel Houston

I’ve been to the Four Seasons Spa many times (in Houston and others cities) and this treatment was by far one of the best.

My Treatment

Serenity Ritual: Polished Perfection For Supple Skin (80 min. / $250.00)

Experience total relaxation with this comforting ritual. A top to bottom buffing with our powerful biodegradable Body Scrub leaving skin smooth, supple, and perfectly polished.

Slip into a sense of peaceful serenity during a soothing massage with a luxurious Body Oil for a complete sense of rejuvenation and well being. 

After that, I took full advantage of the steam room and the relaxing area to read my book (I get all my books at Amazon for super discounted prices, even though I absolutely love local bookstores too) before heading back down to valet. I promise, if you plan your spa treatments right, you can enjoy almost a full day of serenity and pampering for the cost of a massage, glass of rosé and a tip for valet (spa guests have access to the pool before or after treatments).

I love learning about new massage techniques and the products they use, and was blown away by the effectiveness (and amazing smell!) of the Tata Harper products they use at the spa. Don’t forget, comment on this post for a chance to win a Tata Harper goody box worth $225 – and you don’t have to be in Houston – they’ll

Win this Tata Harper gift bundle from The Blonde Side + Four Seasons Hotel Houston

ship to you!

More about Tata Harper’s 100% natural, anti-aging skincare line:

  • The brand began when Colombian-born Harper parlayed her industrial engineering degree to reinvent the beauty industry after a cancer diagnosis within the family.
  • Many of the brand’s product ingredients are comprised of highly effective plants and herbs cultivated on its Vermont farm.
  • All formulas are free from synthetic fillers, and pack between 9 and 29 active ingredients in every product.
  • Products are manufactured in small batches to ensure freshness.

To continue the natural treatments at home, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Houston carries the same Tata Harper beauty products used in their signature Tata Harper facials, allowing you to take that self-care up a notch in the comfort of your own home! Self care has become incredibly trendy over recent years and for good reason.

Comment below to enter to win…

September 19, 2018/by Jayme
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ACS_0227.jpg 4032 3024 Jayme https://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.png Jayme2018-09-19 09:00:432018-09-26 12:31:28Four Seasons Houston Spa (Win a Tata Harper Skincare Bundle!)

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