Super Bowl Hair Trends: Houston

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Super Bowl Treats: Petite Sweets

IMG_6270Step up your tailgating style with tasty and custom-made goods from Petite Sweets. This is the spot that I always get my football sweets from and they are always a hit!

If you’re looking to impress someone during your football watch party, this will definitely do the trick! And since neither the Eagles nor the Texans are going to be playing, my focus has shifted to the other important thing during the Big Game: FOOD.

Here is just a sampling of their football offerings, in time for the Super Bowl being hosted here in Houston:

– Football Shaped Cake Balls
– Football Shaped Cake Pops
– Football Shaped Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treat
– Texas Shaped Chocolate Dpped Rice Krispie Treat  (will have photo tomorrow)
– Football themed Cupcakes, Cakeballs, Macarons
– The week of Super Bowl we will have team colored macarons
Customers can pre-order or come in the week of Super Bowl and we will have products on the shelves for pick up.
Petite Sweets is located just a few miles from my home at The Millennium Kirby I absolutely love being so central to so many of my favorite Houston restaurants and bakeries! SPONSORED
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Marshmallow Oreo Cookies: The Best Cookie Recipe Ever

Photo via TheGraciousWife.com

Photo via TheGraciousWife.com

Seriously, I can promise you (if you like Oreo Cookies, especially) this will be the best cookie recipe you will ever see. And it’s pretty dang easy to make too.

Here is the recipe for Marshmallow Oreo Chip Cookies, taken directly from TheGraciousWife.com. You should definitely check out her website for tons of other delicious recipes – you won’t be disappointed. (Seriously, her recipe has been shared more than 84k times, so you know it’s good!) 

INGREDIENTS

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4-ounce package Cookies ‘n Cream pudding mix, unprepared
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2¼ cups flour
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 1 Jumbo Hershey’s Cookies ‘n Cream candy bar, chopped
  • about 8-10 Oreos, coarsely crushed

INSTRUCTIONS

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.
  • Add eggs and vanilla and mix again.
  • Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture, along with cocoa powder and pudding mix. Stir until everything is fully combined.
  • Fold in marshmallows, chopped candy bar, and crushed Oreos.
  • Chill dough for about 15 minutes.
  • Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and shape into balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet (and I DO mean greased. None of that wimpy cooking spray. You’re going to have to break out the butter and slick it down because marshmallows are sticky!) 2 inches apart.
  • Bake at 350° for 8-11 minutes.

*Note, for some reason finding Cookies n’ Cream pudding mix has been really hard lately, so I used a white chocolate pudding mix and ground up (majorly so it was almost powder) 8 Oreo cookies to make my own variation.

This post is part of my “learn and love to cook” resolution for 2017. I love living at The Millennium Kirby because of the massive kitchen, to test out and eat up these great recipes. Y’all already know anything with Oreos is a win in my book! SPONSORED

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Win Houston Super Bowl Tickets

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Win Houston Super Bowl tickets with a test-drive at BMW of West Houston

Win Houston Super Bowl tickets with a test-drive at BMW of West Houston

Hey guys, just a quick hello (gearing up for a trip to Westin Grand Cayman in the morning for a new travel story), but with all the talk about the Houston Super Bowl coming (your calendars should already be marked for February 5th), I wanted to share two fun and easy way to WIN TICKETS TO THE SUPER BOWL.

Simply stop by BMW of West Houston for a test-drive this month (January 2017) and be entered to win tickets to the big game. If you buy a car, you’ll get SEVEN entries for tickets. But really, how hard is it to swing by and jump in one of the fastest, hottest cars of Houston for a chance to win tickets? Sounds like a win-win to me.

You can also swing by any of the Jerry Built locations and be entered to win. Seriously, I was stuffing my face with a delicious burger the other day and noticed how easy it was to enter, simply by logging onto their Wi-Fi. Click here for more info and the official rules.

*Also, just to be clear. The Blonde Side is just sharing these chances to win Super Bowl tickets and is no way affiliate with the contests or ways/chances of winning them. Best of luck!

Speaking of which, any Super Bowl LI predictions from y’all?

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ThrIVe Drip Spa

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

I don’t often buy into fads, but with the same token, I love trying out new things. Especially when they offer quick and easy benefits to your health and overall appearance. Recently I had the chance to check out ThrIVe Drip Spa, located in Houston.

While they mostly do IV therapies, their menu of offerings is quite unique and one I had a field day analyzing and trying. IV therapies (think the kind to cure those extreme hangovers) have been around for quite some time, but most of the early adopters were the super wealthy, elite and celeb-types (none of which describes me).

ThrIVe is unique because they offer other premium services that are affordable alternatives to plastic surgery, like photofacials and injectables. Also, their entire staff is incredibly well-versed in everything you could possibly need to know (trust me, I tested them quite intensely). Many services produce similar results and they take the time to find out about your skin type, your exact needs, etc.

I also tried Forma for the first time, a procedure I’d read about in the major

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

magazines, but sounded painful and sort of crazy when I’d read about it. It’s a skin tightening treatment for your face and neck (which as I age, is a must!), and is not painful or invasive, which was a pleasant surprise. I was glowing and plumped almost immediately (this is the only kind of plumping I want, trust me!).

I’m also secretly dying to try Body FX, which is basically the same treatment, but for cellulite areas. And well, I’ve got a trip to Grand Cayman coming up, so we might have to check that out!

They offer a number of drips, so you can literally “pick your poison” so to speak, but my top is the Myers Drip, which is the original vitamin cocktail that started it all. It’s a powerful blend of vitamins and minerals designed for IV use by Dr. John Myers (aptly named, right?).

Since Dr. Myer’s discovery, doctors worldwide have used, recommended, and “prescribed” Myers’ Cocktail to help treat a broad spectrum of health conditions.

While I don’t see myself becoming a regular for drips, I do see myself getting a Myers fix right before every trip. My immune system basically hates me, and this powerful blend of vitamins helps prevent me from getting sick thanks to changes in environment, lack of sleep, different altitudes, etc. The drips take only 30 minutes and you get to relax in the most swanky, serene environment (see pic above).

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Holiday Hosting Tips

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography

I’ve shared before that I’m not really a hostess with the mostest. I blame my mother, honestly. Hear me out – my mother never really hosted parties or family events – we were always going elsewhere. I know how to be polite and always (ALWAYS) bring a bottle of wine, and send a thank you note afterwards, but when it comes to hosting people in your home, I’m still learning as I go.

Here are a few hosting tips I’ve learned, just in time for the holidays:

  • Don’t run out of wine – just don’t. It’s not like you won’t drink anything that’s leftover from a holiday gathering, so plan ahead.
  • Keep the menu simple – I love my “drool: food and drink” Pinterest board for ideas.
  • Have enough seating! I love that my Lexington Sectional from Apt2B is super big and comfy, so we can fit a lot of people on our couch, comfortably, which is key. We also have extra seating and our desk chairs can easily blend in with our living room furniture, so even though it’s an apartment, we have quite a bit of room. Entertaining in tiny spaces is no fun – trust me!
  • Create a bar area. This way guests can make their own drinks (or pour from a pre-made
    Holiday hosting at its finest

    Holiday hosting at its finest

    pitcher of cocktails) so you’re not playing bartender the entire time. If you’re not doing alcohol, set up a water, soda or hot chocolate station and put some effort into it to make it inviting.

  • It’s all about the ambience. I’m a big fan of candles (obsessed, really) – get a seasonal candle and turn on some holiday tunes (make a playlist ahead of time) and call it a day! Even if you don’t own a ton of holiday decorations, invest in some. If you’re hosting any kind of party – New Year’s Eve, Birthday, Christmas, etc. you need decor to help keep it festive. It’s worth the small investment and if you plan ahead, you can usually get some good deals.
  • Make it an open house. Especially if you live in an apartment or are fearful of being overwhelmed with too many people at once, create an event from 6p -10p and tell friends and family to drop by anytime during that window.

Obviously there are about a million tips we have all learned from hosting holiday parties in our homes, but those are some of my top tips. What about you – do you have any hosting tips to share or a go-to appetizer or champagne cocktail?

One of the reasons I love living at The Millennium Kirby is that it truly feels like home. I think a “home” is a feeling, and being able to host friends and family – during the holidays or not – is part of making it a home. [SPONSORED]

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What’s In Your DVR?

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography

I have no shame in my game admitting that I can spend hours upon hours on the couch – even on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon – or worse – when I have free tickets to the Texans game across the street but my couch feels much more conducive to my day.

For starters, I have the most comfortable couch, EVER. And there’s plenty of room for my boyfriend and my two dogs or just a ton of blankets and the remotes. Either scenario works for me. (Bonus – they even white-glove delivered my couch, so that part was easy too!)

So now that I’ve told you my dirty little secret about spending hours on the couch, let me share what usually fills my DVR (and remember, this is a no judgement zone).

  • Any and every episode of every city of the Real Housewives franchise. I know a lot of people “lose respect” for me because of some of my TV choices, but I’m totally OK with that. Life is too short to worry what other people are watching, amiright?
  • Still stuck on Bravo, Vanderpump Rules is a crazy obsession of mine.
  • WAGS – I’m partial to the original version, but I watch Miami too.
  • Of course, we record and rewatch all the Texans games – it’s important for when I do guest TV and radio to keep up-to-date with what’s going on (though it’s usually the same story – our quarterback sucks and he has no o-line to protect him…).
  • Any law or criminal shows – like Law & Order SVU, Chicago PD, Chicago MD, Chicago Fire, Criminal Minds, etc. I pretty much watch them all.
  • Dateline – yes, this is probably my favorite. You know we’re getting comfortable (or is it lazy?) in our relationship when we’re totally cool making dinner at home and watching a new Dateline. Speaking of which – I can’t wait until Friday already!

What about you – what’s clogging up your DVR? I dished, now it’s your turn!

Even though it’s still “just an apartment,” living at The Millennium Kirby really feels like home. I love spending time on my couch, watching TV and having friends over more than I have in a long time. [SPONSORED]

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Décor Ideas For The Win (Apt2B)

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography (table: DIY project, furniture: Apt2b)

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography (table: DIY project, furniture: Apt2b)

This post is an adaptation from a blog collaboration with Apt2B, from “The Couple in 2D”

I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but somehow I was born without the fashion, makeup, cooking or creating and decorating gene. I can throw a softball faster and further than most, I know more plays and schemes for the NFL than most, but when it comes to decorating my apartment, I am at an utter and complete loss. And now that we have moved into The Millennium Kirby, which is an uber chic apartment complex in Houston, I want the furniture and decor to really be on point.

So I did what any normal girl would do – I spent hours and hours scouring the Internet. And here’s what I found – I like a lot of random stuff including, but limited to: pale colors, bold colors, whites and nudes, bohemian and Texas and ranch-inspired things.

Needless to say, my tastes are all across the board, but here are some things I found helpful during the decorating process:

–       I find a lot of inspiration on Instagram and there are so many great bloggers and photographers out there. Even if they don’t tag or link where they bought a product, I’ve had luck just asking. I even created a “my home” folder in my phone, saving screenshots so I don’t have to search for them later. This helps when I’m consulting with friends who are good at this kind of stuff (see last tip).

–       Speaking of finding inspiration on Instagram, I used a photo I had saved and took it to my local hardware store to make (believe it or not!) my own kitchen table. (I’m still shocked.) The table was made with a wooden round top (I got it at Lowe’s) and hairpin legs (which I had never heard of but ordered online). I just asked around and figured out how to make the table, which ended up costing less than $100, total, and gave me an insane amount of pride. Admittedly, it wobbles a bit, but I think that just gives it character.

–       I learned to get over my fear of crossing multiple “themes” for my home, because guess what – it is my home. If I want to have a clean, crisp sectional in cream, I can easily add and change the accent colors each season, or every year, etc. I have a very modern theme from my pieces I got from Apt2B, but I wasn’t afraid to throw in a cow skull as my main décor piece. I also saw a cool idea on Instagram to glue flowers onto the skull head, so once I can convince my significant other into defacing our beloved skull, it’s on!

–       Faith is very important in our household, not just to each of us individually, but as a couple. I have

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

found reading a Bible verse or positive message each day helps me keep calm (usually!), so I knew incorporating a verse into our décor was a must. Though it took hours finding my exact piece, you can search Etsy and find scripture and calligraphy on pretty much anything. Some of my favorite Bible verses include Genesis 35:3, Jeremiah 29:13, Exodus 14:14, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 Peter 1:6 and so many more.

–       I also used the Internet to get rid of some furniture and décor we didn’t need or want anymore. I’ll admit, it took a lot of effort to repost (Craigslist for example) until things got sold, but the extra cash and space in the apartment was really worth it. Of course, you can always donate to a local worthy cause or search a fun DIY furniture hack/project on the Internet. We also had a lot of duplicate items we didn’t have room for (two dish sets, two Keurigs, etc. that needed to be sold or gotten rid of).

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography // Mirror: Apt2b

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography // Mirror: Apt2b

–       I decided to pick one small area of the apartment and crown it as my “favorite little place.” The vain human in me just so happened to make it a “selfie station” with my Taft full-length mirror (in walnut) and added a graphic bath mat that says “You Look Good,” which I put right smack-dab in our living room. As a full-time blogger, photos and selfies are an essential part of my job, so this not only fits my style, but it helps make my job easier too. My boyfriend won’t ever admit it, but I know he loves it too, posing with the dogs with the readily-available caption you look good.

–       Pinterest, of course, is a no-brainer when it comes to finding décor ideas and inspiration. And of course APT2B has some incredible pins. And although it has nothing to do with furniture or décor, I’m a big fan of hosting friends for football games, so this Super Bowl Sunday board was one of my favorites. Here is my personal “House Inspo” board – with things I want and need now, and others that I need to be a millionaire to afford. Always a dreamer.

I also had to have a talk with myself (well, truth be told, my boyfriend initiated it) to remind me that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s true; I wanted to snap my fingers and magically transform my apartment exactly how I wanted it, but it just wasn’t feasible – financially and with our hectic work schedules. So we are taking it one day (or project) at a time.

Being a responsible adult and getting new big-girl furniture is part of the “new me” living at the Millennium Kirby. [SPONSORED]
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Houston Brunch: Café Azur

Photo: David Tong for Café Azur

Photo: David Tong for Café Azur

Café Azur is a cute little spot in Montrose I had the pleasure of brunching at this past weekend.

Brunch is pretty much one of my favorite things, and Café Azur did not disappoint. It has the absolute cutest little set up – the kind you want to stay at all day and drink mimosas and snap photos. That can’t be just me that does that, right? 

Though the brunch menu is small, it’s mighty. It’s got classic breakfast/brunch options and then some a little more intense, like a Duck Confit (which I had and loved!) or Ox Cheek, to name a few. Both sound incredibly exotic and adventurous, but both are fittingly perfect for the Houston brunch scene. And both were easily washed down with a few cocktails.

And of course you can’t do brunch without brunch cocktails, which include:

BLOODY MARY

Fresh tomato juice, signature house spice mix and juices, two select vodkas, celery foam 12

FRENCH 75

Hennessy cognac, fresh lemon juice, turbinado sugar, Brut Champagne 14

MIMOSA

Fresh orange juice, champagne 10

BELLINI

Fresh white peach purée, strawberry, champagne 11

Then for dessert, either finish it off with a Crepe Suzette – or another Bellini. I won’t judge – or better yet – go for both! It’s the weekend, so live a little.

Now I can’t wait to check out Cafe Azur for a date night spot. So stay tuned!

Since moving into The Millennium Kirby a few months ago, brunch back “inside the loop” has become my thing again. Oh how I missed it, and how nice it is to live so close to so many of Houston’s best restaurants. SPONSORED

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How To Lazy Sunday

Couch: Apt2b (Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography)

Furniture: Apt2b (Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography)

Some people just don’t know how to be lazy and useless – and I kind of feel bad for them. Since I’m so good at being lazy, especially on Sundays, I thought I’d dedicate a post sharing exactly “how to lazy Sunday.” Feel free to add your thoughts in the comment section below.

Full disclosure – I try to go to church every Sunday, so my “lazy Sunday” usually begins once I’m home from church.

Put on comfy clothes. During NFL season, I love wearing an old Eagles sweatshirt, even though it remains around 80 degrees in Houston. I’m a sucker for ugly and baggy sweatpants, but I will always pretend I’m wearing amazing yoga pants when I just lounge around. I don’t know anyone with two dogs who wears nice yoga pants when just being lazy – do you?

Grab a pillow and a blanket and get comfy on your massive couch, big enough for two people if you must share.

Bring snacks and water to your coffee table, so you don’t have to get up, except to go to the bathroom or refill your snacks.

Keep your phone charger nearby, so you can recharge if you start playing too many games or checking your fantasy points.

Or better yet – turn your phone off. You’re being lazy, right?

If you’re watching football, be sure to record the game (or games) you’re watching. If you get comfortable and lazy like I do, you will definitely end up falling asleep for at least an hour. So record the games so you can quickly scan back and see any big plays you missed. If you’re not in to sports, start recording Lifetime Movies and fast forward through the commercials – you’ll be able to knock out at least four good movies on a Sunday afternoon!

Order pizza or takeout. I’m a big fan of FAVOR (it’s a delivery service) – if you haven’t already, download the app and get your favorite food (even cookies!) delivered straight to your doorstep.

Move your entire setup to your bedroom and call it a night. 

Boom – now that’s how you lazy Sunday, is it not?

Since I moved to The Millennium Kirby back in August, being lazy on Sundays has really become my jam. I have no problem getting comfy and wasting the entire day – getting ready for the new week. SPONSORED

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CREATED BY JAYME LAMM