Pet-friendly Montrose (Houston) Apartments

Denali loves Encore Montrose

Denali and I are a package deal. Denali is my 15-year-old super grumpy, totally deaf and blind, overweight chihuahua. And to be frank, he’s probably more high maintenance than me.

Having a Montrose apartment that is dog-friendly (as in, one that actually loves dogs, not simply tolerates them) is incredibly important.

Here are some pet-friendly reasons I love living at Encore Montrose:

  1. There’s a huge dog run and pet spa. Denali loves his time to roam around and enjoy fresh air just like you and I, so this is a great spot (and it’s completely gated, so it feels super safe and easy late at night).
  2. The main reason I have a balcony is because of Denali (as pictured above). I wish I had a huge house with a big yard where he could soak up the sun all day long, but this is the next best thing, especially when the weather is nice. I leave the patio door open and he comes in and out as he pleases, and it’s quite nice for us both.
  3. There are tons of other friendly dogs on site. Not that he plays with them, but it makes me (as a dog owner) feel comfortable and always at home with him. (I’ve traveled to many hotels that claim they are pet-friendly, but we are both looked at as a nuisance, which never feels great.)
  4. Our Montrose neighborhood is walkable and a beautiful way to enjoy Houston. We live right next to Black Hole Coffee, which is surrounded by unique homes and plenty of space. We are also just a few streets away from Rice Village and Rice University and if you’ve ever been around those tree-lined streets, you know how gorgeous it is. Denali doesn’t “get out” often, but when I want some fresh air and sunshine for myself, it’s an easy place to take him.
  5. They just created a Pet of the Month contest, and Denali is dying to win.

This is part of a sponsored blog series with Encore Montrose. Did you know these pet-friendly Montrose apartments offer a “champagne tour”? Champagne makes everything better, especially when it comes to moving and a yearlong commitment. Encore Montrose is offering major move-in specials, including up to two months free rent, so don’t miss out. Shoot me an email if you’re interested in touring or stop by Encore Montrose (4508 Graustark Street) and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! 

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6 Reasons to Get a Massage Now

6 Reasons to Book a Massage Now | Hiatus Houston Massage

If there is one thing where I take the whole “treat yo’self” mentality to new levels, it’s getting massages. I’m a firm (no pun intended) believer in massages and think they provide major wellness benefits especially as working out is a huge part of my life.

I’m an H-circle member at Hiatus Spa + Retreat in Tanglewood and have shared why I love massages at Hiatus in the past, but for this post, I want to share why getting massages is advantageous (no matter where you go).

6 Reasons to Book a Massage NOW (and Regularly):

  1. Massages help reduce the effects of some bad habits. For me, I don’t stretch as much as I should when I run and workout, and I need a massage (and even stretching from time to time) from a professional. I also spend a lot of time on the computer (hello, like right now), so my hands and forearms actually need to be worked out. If you’re on your phone a lot, you probably have something called tech neck and your neck needs help. Trust me – we can’t break all of these bad habits overnight, but regular massages help alleviate some of the longterm and negative effects.
  2. Reduces stress and anxiety. This one is simple. And if you don’t have stress of anxiety in your life, please write a blog post on how and I promise to read it. Because almost all of us are stressed to some degree. Plus, there’s some science behind massages helping alleviate this (i.e. lowers cortisol levels and increases serotonin and dopamine).
  3. Helps your immunity. If you get deep tissue or swedish massages, it promotes the movement of lymph and basically keeps things going.
  4. A chance to disconnect. I’ll admit getting off my phone and disconnecting is difficult for me, but for the 50 or 80 minutes you’re getting a massage, you’re forced to just breathe deeply and relax. It’s seriously so good for you.
  5. Deep breathing. Going along with #4, when I get massages, it’s the only time I really focus on deep breathing, which has numerous benefits for your overall health (mental and physical). It may be an expensive way to take deep breaths, but it’s well worth it for me. Plus, it feels good and helps me take that “self care” mentality into other areas of my life. I love long showers after a massage or challenging myself to drink obscene (which you should) amounts of water afterwards, etc.
  6. Helps boost productivity. There have been many studies that link a boost in productivity and creativity to massages. Read this Forbes article on why Executives Should Book Massages Now. 

Also, read 5 Reasons to Get a Winter Facial now.

So now that you’re ready for a massage, be sure to use code JaymeHIATUS20 when booking at any of their locations to get 20% off! 

Click here to score more discounts at other spots too.

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Galentine’s at Encore Montrose

Dani & Andrea (FaceForward Makeup) at Encore Montrose Girl’s Night

I never imagined I’d be one throwing a Galentine’s Party (I usually prefer to sulk around the V-Day holiday), but I did and it was a blast!

Did you know February 13th is officially marketed as Galentine’s Day? I thought it was just an idea, but it’s an actual day for celebration, and I for one am all about celebrating my gal pals any day of the week. 

I love having friends over and just gabbing over some wine and more (y’all know Infinite Monkey Theorem is my favorite wine). So I decided to invite some friends over and told them to bring business cards to network and just hang out – showcase our love for one another. We played games (include Mad Libs for adults, which was hysterical), indulged in way too many baked goodies, took selfies, boomerangs and more girly things (see below).

A few thank you/love notes:

Thanks to Encore Montrose for letting us use the amazing Club House. We

Encore Montrose Galentine’s Party

had plenty of room for Prosecco Pong (oh yes!), gathering and talking, eating and drinking, etc.

Thanks to Kendra Scott for donating some amazing pieces of jewelry for raffle items. I fully support and appreciate businesses who give back. The Rice Village Kendra Scott store donated the items, so GO SHOP THERE!

My friend Andrea with FaceForward Makeup and Tanning gave out some free makeup lessons and applications and showcased her brand-new line of makeup. I have long supported this gal and so proud of her new line!

Best Houston Dentist: Dentistry of the Oaks

My friend Katie (Dr. Stuchlik ) at Dentistry of the Oaks donated the wine glasses. Not only is she a good friend from years and years ago, she is my dentist and I highly recommend her and her brand-new practice over near the Houston Heights (on West 34th St.).

My pals at Orangetheory Fitness Houston donated some free workout cards too, so I’m trying to talk some friends into a sweat sesh soon. Stay tuned on that!

This is post is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose. I am using the blog to share what I love about Houston, and specifically Montrose, plus all the tips, tricks and amenities along the way. These luxury Montrose apartments are now offering some great leasing specials. Drop a comment or an email if you’re interested in touring or stop by Encore Montrose and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you!

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OTF Midtown: Now Open

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OTF Midtown: Now Open

I’m not one that’s all into the New Year/New Me concept, but I do love the fresh start of a brand-new year. Whether you have goals to be a more patient and tolerant person (yes, those are at the top of my list) or want to lose a few pounds or create a healthier lifestyle, the start of a New Year (or even month or week) is a great reason to get motivated.

For me, fitness has always been a part of my life and over the last two years, I have become a major fan of Orangetheory Fitness (OTF).

I love the science-based HIIT workouts at OTF, and I love the coaches who also push me when I think I’ve completely emptied my tank, but I also love the amount of locations. In Houston alone there are 13+ and more coming and within two miles of my Montrose apartment, there is West University (my usual location), Bellaire (been a few times) and the brand-new Midtown studio, which is the newest location inside the loop.

Having multiple locations helps me for various reasons. Depending where I’m working

OTF: Midtown Studio Now Open

for the day (i.e. a coffee shop or business meeting), I can easily schedule a class on the app at any of the locations and go there. If one of the studios is full for the 3p class, odds are other studios may have openings, so I don’t get a “pass” for skipping the gym that day. I have a few friends that also go to OTF, so if they want to work out (two of them go to Midtown), I can take a class with them and grab coffee or happy hour before or after. I’ve found it’s usually helpful to workout with a buddy. Also, when I’m traveling, there are OTF studios pretty much everywhere, so it helps me stay in a routine.

Reasons To Check Out Midtown OTF:

  • The Midtown are is very pedestrian friendly and accessible for walking/biking, especially if you live in one of the nearby apartments! Plus it’s in an area with lots of great coffee shops and restaurants, perfect if you’re like me and want to catch up with friends after working out together.
  • The Midtown studio is one of the largest OTF studios in Houston so you’ve got plenty of room to do your burpees and jump squats, plus the studio is configured in one big square making it super easy to switch between stations!
  • Coaches Sarah, Michael, Macy and Courtney are super high energy and make the workouts fun.

Also, if you’ve never tried OTF, your first class is FREE. And yes, it helps if you drop my name when you sign up at the studio. If you’re in Houston and want to try it out together, drop me a note and let’s see if our schedules match up.

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ACQUA February Specials to LOVE

February ACQUA Med Spa Specials

I’ve blogged about my recent amazing experiences at ACQUA Med Spa, especially my recent lip filler experience with Braidee. Well guess what? It’s February and they are all about spreading the love – in the form of amazing specials and discounts.

Check out a few of these February Houston Med Spa specials below:

  • $100.00 off all fillers for February to get that perfect valentines pout
  • $250.00 off a package of Votiva
  • 10% off a package of 6 laser hair reduction treatments (I had this years ago and yes, it takes about 6 treatments for the best results and no, it doesn’t really hurt!)
  • During the week of 2/11/19 – 2/15/19, take advantage of $10/units of Botox – but there’s a catch – you’ve got to bring a friend who is new to ACQUA (and then you can both go out for drinks and selfies afterwards!), so win-win.
  • As always, mention me (Jayme or The Blonde Side works) and you’ll get 20% off any other services (not on top of the specials above, because they’re already amazing specials)

Schedule your FREE consultation by calling 281.480.1200. They have three amazing injectors on-site (Braidee, Alexis and Arika) and they’re all equally awesome, plus Kendra does on-site CoolSculpting as well! 

If you have any questions about lip fillers or Botox or anything else, let me know in the comments or shoot me a message. I love finding out the info and am happy to share it! I know most people are hush-hush about these things, but not your girl over here!

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FREELANCE + SPORTS + TRAVEL + FITNESS
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CREATED BY JAYME LAMM