[Yay for a blog taking time to state the obvious.]
Maybe life is more than just “Netflix and Chill?”
But all kidding aside, Netflix has become a part of many people’s lives, including my own. Who am I kidding? I’m kind of obsessed with it (I am just now watching Breaking Bad…).
I’ve heard for years that everyone has their own love language, and this infographic (courtesy of Netflix) kind of makes me think my love language is, well, Netflix?
And apparently “Netflix Official” is a thing. Maybe even bigger than the whole “In a Relationship” Facebook status…
According to a recent Netflix survey, 51% of respondents feel that sharing their Netflix account is a very big step toward a ‘serious’ relationship. And, a majority say that they wait until they are dating exclusively to do so.
Some additional highlights from the data include:
65% of respondents engage in some sort of negotiation on picking shows, with 35% of those trading show for show (“watch one of mine, and I’ll watch one of yours”).
Stream Together, Stay Together. Among the top reasons why couples watch shows or movies together:
60% of Netflix members say that it’s simply more fun to watch shows together
58% say that they bond with their significant other over Netflix
30% like learning new things about each other through shows
See here the entire fun infographic outlining these ‘streaming’ stages by the numbers. What are your thoughts? How many of you share your Netflix password?
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-05-at-10.27.24-AM.png416438Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-02-05 10:31:262016-02-05 10:36:49Netflix: All The Love
Entrepreneur Excitement Blog Series #6 – The Foodie Chef with Morgan Jankovic
We’ve all been guilty of it – stalking someone on social media. Whether it’s a hot guy or girl you’ve got your eye on, or just someone with good fashion taste, or maybe it’s someone like Morgan Jankovic who is constantly making you wish you were born with the innate ability to perform in the kitchen.
Check out The Blonde Side’s exclusive interview with this deliciously talented gal who likely shares the same DNA with Martha Stewart and every other good cook in America…
The Blonde Side: Tell us who you are?
Morgan Jankovic: Morgan Jankovic, Personal Chef
TBS: How did we meet?
MJ: We met through Instagram when you asked for my chicken pot pie recipe!
Editor’s note: which is amazing, by the way!
TBS: Tell me about your job?
MJ: I’m a personal chef who makes personalized, healthy weekly meals most of the time. I also make cupcakes & cakes for birthdays and cook intimate dinner parties.
TBS: Since I talk about fitness and being on the move so much, what’s an easy (healthy) recipe you can share? (By easy, I mean less than five ingredients, for us rookies…)
TBS: You run your own business (which is the point of this series!) – what was the final straw to say “I can do this on my own?”
MJ: I was working at a corporate job and felt very boxed in and under challenged. I had been cooking for a customer before that position and finally realized I could do it full-time. It was really scary but with the support of my husband and family, I was able to do it!
TBS: What’s your driving force behind running your business? I know firsthand it’s hard as balls, but what keeps you going?
MJ: My customers. They need their weekly meals and it gives me great pleasure to be able to provide healthy fulfilling meals to them!
TBS: Best advice you’ve ever been given but ignored?
MJ: Kiss, keep it simple stupid. It’s the truth!
TBS: If there was a reality show about you, what channel would it be on?
TBS: A magazine, website or author you can’t put down?
MJ: Are podcasts included? If so, Serial is amazing. I can’t. stop. listening.
TBS: Look in your bag right now – what’s the most random thing in there?
MJ: A bunch of receipts. I end up putting them in a folder but usually forget to take them out for a few days. It makes for a messy purse that I’m not proud of.
TBS: 2016 is here – what’s ONE goal you have?
MJ: When I first started my business my husband put a picture of Dory, the fish, from Finding Nemo, in our bathroom. It had her tag line “Just keep swimming” and was a true inspiration to look at everyday. I highly recommend looking at a saying daily that inspires you. So, my goal is to just keep swimming!
TBS: Favorite part of your job?
MJ: Making my own hours though I end up working odd hours too. I don’t mind doing it!
TBS: Moment you are most proud of?
MJ: Taking the leap to open my own business and quit my consistent paying job.
TBS: You have two plane tickets anywhere in the world: where are you going and
TheFoodieChef.com – Check It Out
who are you taking?
MJ: I love to travel! My husband and I really want to go to Argentina! We’re looking into planning a trip soon.
TBS: Fill in the blank:
MJ: I wish more people in this world would be more open minded and understanding. There’s nothing more cold than an uncompassionate person.
TBS: For me (and most sports fans), Sunday Funday is all about football. What’s your perfect Sunday look like?
MJ: Grocery shopping for Monday’s big cook and watching the Texan’s with my husband.
Sponsor: Though it stands to reason being such an outstanding chef, Morgan can probably whip up things just as tasty as all the local menus, but everyone loves a night out a good restaurant. Chefs can be a tough crowd, but Tarakaan, Houston’s premier Asian fusion bistro and lounge would be up to the challenge. Located in Midtown (2301 Main Street), Tarakkan offers a peaceful restaurant setting, with a huge focus on food. If you’re looking for more high energy, definitely hit up the bar area. Note: Tarakaan is only open for dinner, except for Brunch on Sundays.
Know someone we should profile in this Entrepreneur Excitement Series? Leave a comment below or shoot us an email – jayme @ theblondeside [.] com.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Screen-Shot-2016-02-01-at-1.46.57-PM.png631869Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-02-02 08:01:072016-02-01 18:25:17EE Series: The Foodie Chef | Morgan Jankovic (6)
This originally ran in the print issue of LOCAL Houston Magazine for February 2016. Click here to see the online version.
Being the fourth largest city in the United States, it should go without saying Houston produces some quality stuff – ranging from food, design, innovation and more – not to mention some of the hottest sports apparel and fitness brands on the market. Here a few we LOVE.
By Jayme Lamm | Illustrations by German Arellano
Eugenio Kettelsen: ENGN
ENGN Tennis Apparel is a clothing company that produces quality activewear for the sports aficionado. The brand was founded in 2010 with the intention of providing sportswear of the finest materials while promoting the popular sport of tennis. The name ENGN symbolizes the drive and motivation of the human body to excel, and the three colors of the logo represent the surfaces for the grand slams of tennis. www.engntennis.com
Leslie Denby: Shop DYI DYI: “Define Your Inspiration” is an activewear and lifestyle apparel brand with the perfect fusion of fashion, performance and function. Whether you’re inspired by a maximum intensity sweat session, strength training or a rejuvenating yoga class at your favorite Houston spot, DYI designs apparel specifically for your state of mind.The DYI brand brings together fashionable clothing and healthy living in a unique way. www.shopdyi.com
Annie Montoya: Asana Pants
This brand started with the purpose to help raise awareness and money for The American Epilepsy Foundation, because of the founder’s own diagnosis with epilepsy 10 years ago. Thanks to the disciplines of yoga and meditation, Montoya has learned to create and live a better lifestyle. What started as selling pants to friends and family out of the trunk of her car, progressed to trunk shows (The Houstonian Club and Saint Vincent de Paul), to yoga studios and soon to launch her brand new website – stay tuned. www.asanapants.com
Travis Drake: Running Game Clothing
Running Game Clothing is a Houston-based sports apparel brand providing unique and relevant game-day gear for the city’s sports fans. With a fashion-forward approach designing fan gear, RGC apparel is sure to stand out from the crowd. And it’s not just fans falling in love with the brand – Houston Texans players have been spotted wearing it and it’s even made appearances on NFL Network and HBO’s Hard Knocks. The brand is timely and pays tribute to special occasions, like their Holy Toledo shirt honoring the passing of Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton. www.runninggameclothing.com
Michael Porter and Brice Wiley: The Republic Clothing Co.
The Republic Clothing Co. was founded in an effort to promote, progress and instill pride in the city of Houston. Their apparel features a mix of original designs (Home Town, The 713) and classic artwork (The Summit, Home Run Spectacular) inspired by Houston, its culture and its people. Look for an expansion of their officially licensed UH (Go Coogs!) apparel in 2016 and new looks of their popular “Home Town” design, worn by the likes of J.J. Watt. www.therepublicclothingco.com
Joey & Jaime: Joey & Jaime
Joey & Jaime is a local brand dedicated to creating a sense of Houston pride and community. Inspired by transplant Houstonians (like the founders), they began with the intention of creating conversation. Thus, sparking new friendships and making Houston an adopted home. They will be introducing their new 2016 S/S line this month. This year is especially interesting because not only will they be retiring some of their Houston staples but it will also be the first time they design apparel that transpires beyond their signature city roots of Houston. www.joeyandjaime.com
Entrepreneur Excitement Blog Series #5 – DYI with Leslie Denby
I often use the word incestuous when I talk about Houston, and people automatically think it’s a bad thing. The dating world aside (I’ve dated too many of my friends exes on accident…), that’s actually one of the things I love about Houston.
I have met so many great people and learned about so many businesses because of the “small town” feel of our city. Forget that it’s the 4th largest city in the country – if you’re someone worth knowing or a business worth bragging about, the word will spread. And that’s exactly how I met Leslie Denby at DYI Define Your Inspiration. Supporting Houston businesses is a big deal to me, but when it’s a locally owned athleticwear company that I’m obsessed with, I seem to take this supporting role to a whole new level.
Check out The Blonde Side’s exclusive interview with this amazingly talented woman who is making her mark on Houston one pair of yoga pants at a time…
The Blonde Side: Tell us who you are?
Leslie Denby: Leslie Denby: Owner & Designer at DYI Define Your Inspiration
TBS: How did we meet?
LD: You were walking in to LOCAL magazine and our office is next door at Spring Studios.
TBS: Tell me about your job?
LD: I started out partnering with my brother Henry Richardson – Owner of DEFINE Body & Mind. I was the Retail Buyer for his studios, and we wanted to develop a clothing brand of Athletic and Athleisure apparel that women and men could relate to and love! The idea behind the brand is to “Define Your Inspiration.” Working out and life in general isn’t just one thing— some days your body needs a high intensity sweat session, some days you need some yoga or stretching and some days you just want to look good in some lounge wear! We design and pick colors based off of this too! Sometimes you may feel like a badass and feel like knocking yourself out with a boxing session— what better way to get inspired than putting on a badass pair of black and white marble legging to get you inspired. Other days we feel like Barre Beauties! Put on our pink and be ultra feminine. I have a fashion background – and live in activewear – so it only made sense to dive in to this business! I began designing apparel for his studios, and we decided to branch out and sell to many other stores around the US! Now, I am 100% Owner of the company, and it’s the most amazing thing to watch this brand transform into something incredible!
We started out designing here in Houston, but manufacturing in Los Angeles. It was pretty challenging communicating back and forth with the factory– some of our pieces would come back not like I wanted them. I decided if we were going to do this, I needed to oversee manufacturing and quality– that’s when I bought our first sewing machines. We began testing the waters– and now we have 16 employees and an entire factory producing all of our clothing here locally in Houston. We’re doing everything ourselves, designing, printing our own custom prints on our pants, cutting, sewing, finishing right from our warehouse. We just signed a lease for a 10k sq foot building in the Heights to produce our product, so we will be moving from our little spring street studio office soon!
TBS: Describe your personal style?
LD: I’ve always been into Athletic and Athleisure apparel– thats why I’m so glad its on trend now — and I hope never going away! I’ve always loved watching fashion and trends. My style is sophisticated, classy, but relaxed. Thats exactly how we design for DYI. We want people to live a healthy lifestyle by moving and being active — but we live in such a busy world- that going from studio to streets, or on a run and then off to the grocery store is important. Squeezing in 20 minutes or an hour of an activity, but then being presentable and sophisticated looking as you go about your day is what we want for women!
TBS: If you had to pick one product from your line that is perfect for the busy girl-on-the-go, what is it?
LD: Our Pants! Our Pants have great fit, fabric and fashion! The busy girl can transition them day to night literally and be so comfortable and chic while doing it. Dress it up or down. Almost every piece we make is made to transition this way! People are really going crazy over them because they feel so great, not to mention cute!
TBS: What does supporting not only local Houston folks mean to you, but specifically other women?
DYI: Winter Marble Signature Tight
LD: Supporting the Houston Community is huge for me! I grew up here and my entire family is here. My family has Houston Businesses and it was time for me to make my mark. This city is truly awesome. I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. We have the best of the best here, and now it’s time for us to bring the best of manufacturing and apparel to the area. When we go to shows in Los Angeles or New York, sometimes people are surprised we are a Houston, Texas Brand. They don’t hear about this city as often as others — so it feels great to rep my city!
TBS: What’s your driving force behind running your business? I know firsthand it’s hard as balls, but what keeps you going?
LD: The people that come to work for ME, now keep me running things for THEM! We are a team and we love what we do. It’s hard work, but its a blast! I want to grow so that they can come to work everyday and feel good about what they are doing and make a good living for their families!
TBS: Look in your bag right now – what’s the most random thing in there?
LD: Probably a baby bottle. I’m a Mom of 2 girls — I have a 2 year old and 1 year old. I’m constantly trying to keep myself organized, but sometimes baby gear gets tossed in my purse and we’re on the go!
TBS: 2016 is here – tell me one goal you’ve set?
LD: We have some very lofty goals in 2016. I set some very high sales goals for DYI because I know we can get there. We are planning to grow a lot this year and stand out from the crowd. It’s going to be difficult, but everyday we push the ball down the field a little more and we’ll get there!
TBS: Favorite part of your job?
LD: Designing! We design collections based on how we are feeling inspired that season! So collections and colors are always looking a bit different based on the vibes we are feeling. I am a sucker for black and white — I’ve always loved wearing all black — so every season we have a small “Black & White” Collection that always look chic, sophisticated and sporty!
TBS: You have two plane tickets for anywhere in the world…
LD: I would be on a beach with my husband. It doesn’t really matter where – just if I could sit with a good book on a beach – I would be in Heaven.
TBS: Fill in the blank:
LD: I wish more people in this world would be able to have their dream job and wear activewear to work! It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing what you love!
TBS: For me (and most sports fans), Sunday Funday is all about football. What’s your perfect Sunday?
LD: My husband is a big football fan! My perfect Sunday would be cooking a nice dinner for my family, while the sounds of football are on the TV, playing with my 2 little girls and knowing my husband is at peace watching sports!
TBS: Do you want to offer a discount to The Blonde Side readers?
LD: Yes! Use code: theblondeside at checkout for 10% off.
TBS: Tell us where we can purchase your stuff?
LD: On our website, and we are in DEFINE Body & Mind studios, Luke’s Locker, The Houstonian, Good Space Pilates, and many other places around Houston, but the full collection is online! We are thinking about opening a retail store soon!
Sponsor: Life can’t be all work and no play – it needs to be a balance. Balance out your hardcore workout routines here in Houston and your busy schedule at work or home with your kids with an amazing meal at The Durham House. One of the hottest and most unique spots in Houston, this is a great place to wind down with friends for a cocktail or catch a romantic meal. Just like a lot of our entrepreneurs in the series, The Durham House is always shaking things up – be sure to check out their brand new menu!
Know someone we should profile in this Entrepreneur Excitement Series? Leave a comment below or shoot us an email – jayme @ theblondeside [.] com.
How I sunk that putt with feet in that position is beyond me, BUT I DID
Earlier in January, I got to check out La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa located about an hour north of Houston, right past Lake Conroe.
We headed up there for a wedding and decided to stay the weekend, to make it a fun and romantic little getaway.
Our weekend was great. Friday night was super chill with room service (some of the best pizza I’ve ever had and that is no lie!) and downtime. Saturday the guys went out to golf, the bridal party hit up the spa and I of course hit up the Fitness Center. Then we had the beautiful wedding Saturday night and golf on Sunday. One of the things I love most about living in Houston is many great destinations and getaways are so close, just like this one. I can’t wait to hit this spot back up for a day of sunshine and golf.
Thanks to my new partnership with Callaway coupled with my desire to be extremely and obsessively competitive in everything I do, we decided to spend Sunday afternoon on the golf course.
The full travel review and article will post on GirlsGetaway.com soon, so stay tuned. If you have golf course recommendations (local or beyond) or hotel resorts The Blonde Side should check out, be sure to leave a comment or email us.
Here’s a quick (less than one minute) YouTube video of our stay at La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa.
One of the things that I obsess about living in Houston are all the chances for charitable giving, the fun events and the good causes that surround our great city. Seriously, it’s 24/7 and I have to choose wisely which ones I partake in, which is why I’m excited to announce this one in particular.
The Avon 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer hits Houston on April 23rd & 24th. Yes – it’s a TWO DAY EVENT and I’ve got my electrolytes and power bars ready to get me going for the full two days.
Over the course of two days, we’ll be walking 39.3 miles all for a good cause.
How’s this for a crappy statistic: 40,000 people will die from breast cancer in the U.S. this year.
AVON 39 is a challenge. AVON 39 is an attitude. AVON 39 is a weekend like you’ve never had before. On the road to 39, no matter how far you walk, you’ll crush fear, doubt and breast cancer – one persistent step and donation at a time.
Help stop this statistic from rising and come be part of the Power of 39 and walk with me in Houston this April! (Note: as of now, I don’t have a team, but if there is a lot of interest to start a team for THE BLONDE SIDE, let me know and we can do that.)
This post is part of the Women’s Health Action Heroes series.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screen-Shot-2016-01-25-at-4.40.01-PM-e1453761656506.png294498Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-01-25 16:43:502016-01-25 16:45:52AVON39 HOUSTON Walk to End Breast Cancer
Entrepreneur Excitement Blog Series #4 – Bright Sky Press with Lucy Chambers
The first thing I noticed after I settled into my move to Texas (nine years ago) was how much Texas loves itself. Texas takes great pride in all things Texas, and since then it has truly bred a “shop local,” “do local,” “live local,” “love local” mentality in me.
So it stands to reason as a writer that I would fall in love with Bright Sky Press, a Texas book publisher, and that’s where I met their publisher and all-around awesome gal Lucy Chambers.
Here’s just a sampling of why I wanted to not only work with Lucy and Bright Sky Press (stay tuned for our upcoming children’s book I co-wrote with NFL veteran Wade Smith for The Wade Smith Foundation), but why I wanted to share her entrepreneurial spirit with y’all.
“We live in a community so rich with every kind of talent imaginable, and buying, hiring, eating, sharing, promoting all things local keeps the world from becoming a cheap, cookie-cutter place.” – Lucy Chambers
Check out The Blonde Side’s exclusive interview with this highly talented book-dealing Texan…
TBS: Approx. how long we’ve known each other/how did we meet?
LC: We have known each other almost a year. We met when you reached out to Bright Sky about Wade Smith’s children’s book that you have written with him, and we started talking about how important the education message was for young athletes.
TBS: Tell me about your job?
LC: Bright Sky was founded in West Texas in 2001, and celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Originally focused on Texas history and culture, when I became a partner in 2008, we began expanding the definition of Texas to include the vibrant and diverse reality we see in Houston. We publish trade books, as well as providing all publishing services, and we provide a custom experience for each author. Our goal is to ensure that each book shares the author’s message with the most appropriate language, look and feel, in the most beautiful volume possible. We put a great deal of energy and heart into every project.
TBS: Describe your personal style.
LC: I would say that I am bookish but not highbrow. I have a real love of helping people share their stories, and the combination of getting to know a wide variety of people, spending quiet time with their manuscripts, and learning so much new information makes this work a real joy. I get very enthusiastic about books and the power they have to help the world. I think sometimes people expect a more intimidating or judgmental person when they hear my job title, and they will often apologize for their grammar. I just laugh and explain that I’m here to help. So I would hope my style is accessible and encouraging—at least that’s my intention.
TBS: Since this is a sports + fitness + travel column, what books would you recommend for our audience? Which ones jump out to you and why?
TBS: What athletes (Houston based or not) have you worked with?
LC: Years ago in New York, I had the opportunity to work on Nolan Ryan’s autobiography Throwing Heat as an editorial assistant. Since then, I have worked on lots of other baseball books, including Lenny Dykstra’s Nails and Jane Leavy’s novel Squeeze Play about a fictional Washington Senators team. At Bright Sky, we published the Astros history book, Deep in the Heart: Blazing a Trail from Expansion to World Series and it was a real joy to work with long-time announcer Bill Brown and Authenticator Mike Acosta. We also published Houston Baseball: The Early Years, a wonderful book by Mike Vance that shows how fascinating baseball history is and what a part of the fabric of the city’s life it has been. We’ve done some other interesting baseball history books, 1939 and Baseball and the Baby Boomer by Talmage Boston. As for other sports, I’ve worked on golf and lacrosse books. Sports are such a wonderful metaphor for life that they are a natural fit for books.
TBS: One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to read more – uninterrupted (turning off my phone!) – do you have any tips on how a busy person can read more?
A full bookshelf at Bright Sky Press – all about Texas and their authors
LC: Read three books at a time. Keep one by your bed, one in your car or bag, and one in your bathroom. Take more baths—the tub is an excellent spot for reading and you can’t use your phone because you don’t want to accidently drop it in the water—lots of downside there. Get co-workers reading the same book, because it makes it a social activity, too. When you go out for coffee, take your bag/car book and take time to read while you drink your coffee. Read books that excite you, not that other people think you should read. Reading is like voting—you don’t have to share your choices with anyone if you don’t want to. And last, I would say read for a variety of reasons—entertainment, enlightenment, education—and never be afraid to put a book down if you don’t trust the narrator or you are not getting anything out of it. There are too many wonderful books out there to spend time with one that is not providing you something positive.
TBS: You run your own business (which is the point of this series!) – what was the final straw to say “I can do this on my own?”
LC: Life is too short to follow other people’s dreams. This is the work I believe I was put here to do, the talent I was given to share. This organization gives me the opportunity to share it in the ways I believe matter most.
TBS: What’s your driving force behind running your business? I know firsthand it’s hard as balls, but what keeps you going?
LC: Books have been an incredible gift to me in my life, and there is a magic to them. If they are not made well, they lose a great deal of the magic. Even if no one else but the Bright Sky staff and the author care about the attention we pay to all the myriad details of the book, we have created something of lasting value. Every time I read a review of one of our books or hear a story about how one has changed a life—a reader’s or an author’s—I think about what would have happened if we had thrown in the towel at any one of the points where the work or the business became difficult. A little like George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” there have been many different and subtle Clarences who have let us know that even when it might not seem like what we do matters in this big, fast, modern, electronic world, it does.
TBS: Best advice you’ve ever been given but ignored?
LC: Don’t give your talent away for free.
TBS: If there was a reality show about you, what channel would it be on?
LC: PBS. I’m a little quirky.
TBS: Favorite sports teams?
LC: Astros, Texans, and sometimes Rockets.
TBS: A magazine, website or author you can’t put down?
LC: Diana Gabaldon
TBS: Look in your bag right now – what’s the most random thing in there?
LC: A Navajo badger fetish. And my missing calculator—thank you for getting me to look.
TBS: Most embarrassing/random thing in your Google search history?
LC: An interview I gave about posing nude for a book jacket. When I was much, much younger.
TBS: 2016 is here – tell me one goal you’ve set?
LC: 10,000 steps every single day, and making time for the other fitness pursuits that opens up.
TBS: Favorite part of your job?
LC: Learning what people really care about.
TBS: Moment you are most proud of?
LC: When you publish books, it is hard to be most proud of a single one. They are like your children, and I am proud of all the books for different reasons. There have been many times when I have realized that I was able to help an important story make its way in the world and be understood and appreciated because of the quality of editing and design of the book that carried it, and I have been very grateful and happy.
TBS: You have two plane tickets for anywhere in the world: where are you going and who are you taking?
LC: To the Lake Country in England to hike and read with my husband.
TBS: Fill in the blank:
LC: I wish more people in this world would consider how their actions affect others.
TBS: For me (and most sports fans), Sunday Funday is all about football. What’s your perfect Sunday look like?
LC: Hot tea, church, brunch with latte, fire in the fireplace, game on television, dinner cooked outside.
Lucy Chambers – Publisher/Partner at Bright Sky Press
TBS: Do you want to offer a discount to The Blonde Side readers to encourage them to read more?
LC: Yes, I would be happy to offer 40% off any of our titles. USE CODE: bsp_discount for 40% off all titles – valid until 2/14/16.
Sponsor: You’ll never catch me traveling without a good book (remember, Lucy recommends reading three at a time). Speaking of traveling or simply trying to find quiet time for reading, consider a staycation at the lovely Hotel Sorella in CITYCENTRE. Picture this: curled up with a good book and a large glass of wine. SOLD. The sleek bar and lounge also makes for a great reading spot (mostly because of their gorgeous fireplace) or post up at their rooftop infinity pool overlooking CITYCENTRE’s central plaza outfitted with luxe loungers, custom lanterns and draped cabanas. Just a few more reasons to love Houston (and boutique hotels, which are my favorites!).
Know someone we should profile in this Entrepreneur Excitement Series? Leave a comment below or shoot us an email – jayme @ theblondeside [.] com.
Roi Alan: Stylist/Owner at Tease Color & Style Bar in Houston
Entrepreneur Excitement Blog Series #3 – Tease Color & Style Bar with Roi Alan
Since I write a blog that uses my hair color as a descriptor, it should go without saying that I take my blonde very seriously – especially who I put in charge of keeping me blonde (no, it’s not all natural folks).
The man behind my coveted hair color? Roi Alan – Owner/Stylist of Tease Color & Style Bar located off Richmond and Kirby in Houston. Throughout my years of hair coloring and moving around the U.S., finding the perfect stylist has always been at the top of my list, and I seriously count my blessings for meeting Roi. Not only does he give me the best and longest-lasting blonde, he has become a friend over the years and someone I truly admire.
When I first met Roi, he was working at another salon. Like most stylists, they always gab about wanting to open their own salon, so I took Roi’s ramblings of “his future salon” with a grain of salt. Fast-forward just about a year later and his dreams became a beautiful and amazing reality when he opened Tease with his business partner (and equally talented) Travis Player. Together, these two guys rule the hair-colored streets. Take a look at our exclusive interview with Roi Alan:
The Blonde Side: Approx. how long we’ve known each other?
Roi Alan: We met 4 years ago through mutual friends.
TBS: You’re sitting next to a 5-year-old on an airplane and they ask what you do for a living…
RA: Do you like playing with scissors and coloring all over the lines? That’s what I do all day.
TBS: Tell me what’s unique about your job?
RA: I have the ability to make people who come sit in my chair with real world problems and issues feel great about themselves when they spin around and look in the mirror.
TBS: Do you have any funny or unique Jayme moments to recount?
RA: I love how she is able to draw people in, she has a glow that makes everyone want to be around her.
TBS: Describe your personal style:
RA: When it comes to hairstyles I like to be more conservative, but my personal style is much more fashion forward.
TBS: The most underrated thing about Houston?
RA: Houston is always looked over; people act like Dallas is the big city in Texas. We have world class dining, amazing nightlife, brilliant museums, a better football team and me.
TBS: You have the tough job of keeping The Blonde Side, blonde. What’s important for those who dye their hair blonde to remember?
RA: Being a blonde isn’t something that just happens over night, and it isn’t for everyone. There are so many different tones and shades, so you have to make sure your stylist picks the correct one for you.
TBS: Give us one hair hack that will literally change our lives?
RA: A leave-in conditioner that has a heat protectant like Nectar Thermique is vital. I can’t tell you how many times I have had girls sitting in my chair that had melted off hair from flat ironing without one.
TBS: What does supporting local Houston folks mean to you?
RA: It means the most. I always try to support local businesses because owning a business is hard and being successful is harder. I would rather take care of my neighbors then save a few dollars.
TBS: You run your own business (which is the point of this series!) – what was the final straw to say “I can do this on my own?”
RA: I felt like I was putting so much work and effort into someone else’s company and unable to achieve the vision I had for myself.
TBS: What’s your driving force behind running your business? I know firsthand it’s hard as balls, but what keeps you going?
RA: My vision, it’s the salon I’ve always wanted, not just for me but for my clients.
TBS: Best advice you’ve ever been given but ignored?
RA: To compromise – it took me a long time to realize that I don’t always have to get my way.
TBS: If there was a reality show about you, what channel would it be on?
RA: Cartoon Network!?! HAHA No, probably E! or Bravo
TBS: Favorite sports teams?
RA: Texans of course
TBS: A magazine, website or author you can’t put down?
RA: Oprah, she’s done it all and been successful in everything.
TBS: Personally I’m not a huge believer in New Year’s Resolutions, but I am one for
Roi chatting it up with another happy client
setting goals. What’s your next immediate goal?
RA: To better utilize the space we have at the salon, in order to allow for more employees. We will start renovations early this year.
TBS: Last big purchase you made?
RA: Well I didn’t purchase them, but my brother brought me back a pair of BRIGHT red Prada Hightops that are sure to stop traffic!
TBS: Moment you are most proud of?
RA: The opening day of the salon, we only had 3 weeks to fully build out an empty space so it was a CRAZY 3 weeks, but once the first clients were in the chairs it felt amazing.
TBS: You have two plane tickets in the world: where are you going and who are you taking?
RA: Bora Bora, I would take Travis Player, my best friend and business partner.
TBS: Fill in the blank: I wish more people in the world wouldsmile.
TBS: For me (and most sports fans), Sunday Funday is all about football. What’s your perfect Sunday look like?
RA: Starts off with brunch at La Strada, then Chrome in the afternoon, with the night ending at Escobar. If they were all still open of course. : (
Be sure to mention The Blonde Side at your next visit at Tease for a discount on your first service!
Sponsor: One of the things Roi loves most about the great city of Houston is the “world class dining,” and one of our favorite restaurants PESKA certainly fits that bill. Having received rave reviews all over the map, PESKA is a great spot, especially if you’re looking for a new brunch spot – $45 brunch (includes UNLIMITED mimosas and sangria). Need I say more? Definitely go check out this Houston hot spot and all the unique creations from Chef Omar Pereney.
Know someone we should profile in this Entrepreneur Excitement Series? Leave a comment below or shoot us an email – jayme @ theblondeside [.] com.
OK…so I wanted to make the title semi-sports related, so there you go. But in all seriousness, 2016 is going to be my year.
Wait, quick poll – who doesn’t say that every. single. year?
OK – we’re all on the same page.
As the New Year approaches, I remind myself to be realistic with my goals. I’ve always been pretty good about that, but especially as January 1st hits, I don’t want to start the year with disappointment if I miss a goal I set too high. (A University of Scranton study suggests that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s goals, so we’re not alone…)
In a nutshell, here are some of my goals for 2016. As friends/family/readers, help hold me accountable for these and I’d love for you to share what your big goals are.
Financially: For those who don’t quite understand the world of freelancing, let me put it in simple terms: I have no idea how much money is coming in each month, if any. I have had clients simply not pay after the work has been done, I have had clients cancel our monthly blogging arrangements three days before, and I have had websites shut down literally overnight that not only erases my work, but doesn’t pay me for the work I was right in the middle of. I have had assignments stolen from me and I have had articles cancelled and not run because photographers didn’t submit photos. It’s seriously a hard-knock life when it comes to freelancing + bank accounts.
With that being said, financial goals are HARD for freelancers, but I’m going to try and be reasonable.
I want to make $10k more than I did in 2015. (So if you’re hiring, HELLO!)
I want to pay off remaining credit card debt (should be by February).
I want to save $700/month. I know that sounds like an arbitrary number, but I have my reasons.
(For all my other freelance and small-business owner friends, check out these top resolutions via Entrepreneur.com.)
Be Brave and Active: I feel I’m already pretty brave and more active than most, but like all things in life, there’s always room for improvement.
I want to try something new each month. This can be as simple as a new restaurant in town, a new workout trend, or a new adventure. I’m leaving this one pretty open-ended, but this will help boost my creativity and not feel like I’m in a rut. I plan to keep a journal of all the “new things” from each month and recap. We’ll see if that actually happens though…
Growing and sharing my faith is a goal in 2016
Positive Thinking: I’m positive I want to be more positive in 2016. I want to start each morning with a positive thought. If that sounds simple to you – congratulations.
Faith: I want to grow my faith with God. Not only do I want to grow it, I want to share it with others.
Share: Being a creative individual is an attribute not everyone has, and sometimes I forget that and take it for granted. I absolutely love volunteering and working with kids, so in 2016 I want to volunteer to teach creative writing classes, whether at a local school or library or a non-profit.
Walk it Out: Although I’m proud to be an athlete and decent runner, I want to start walking more in 2016 – and not just for the sake of burning calories (although, what a bonus!). I can count on one hand how many walks I went on with friends in 2015 and guess what? Every single one of them was a great time – it was a great way to learn more about Houston and to reconnect with a friend.
Read: As a writer, I’ll admit it’s hard to read. I have this rush of guilt that I should be writing, not reading someone else’s work. But that has to stop. Each week, I plan to read for an hour – uninterrupted. No cell phone, no to-do lists, nothing – just reading. I love this article on how busy people can find more time to read more.
The truth
In the Kitchen: More about my upcoming move later, but with a kitchen I actually have room to maneuver in, I have no excuse not to cook more. I want to try one new recipe each month and cook at least 3x a week. If you have suggestions for great websites/blogs for recipes, let me know!
Memoir:The time has come. Actually, the time came a long time ago, and then circled back, then did it all over again, but now I’m serious. I wrote a hilariously self-deprecating memoir two summers ago when I moved to Hawaii and it’s just been sitting on my computer. If word documents could rust, this would be completely rusty and dangerous to touch. Mark my words – my memoir will be picked up by a literary agent in 2016. I realize this will be hard work, but I’m ready for it.
Hawaii: There’s no other way to describe this one, except for the simple fact I will step foot back on the North Shore this year. If you’ve ever met me, you know I moved to Hawaii for four months in 2013 and it was by far the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. Hawaii is my happy place, and you better believe I’ll be hopping on a plane for a visit back.
If you’re looking for more reading on achieving New Year’s goals and hacks and tricks to doing it, I loved this Lifehack article. Here’s another great piece from ABC News with top resolutions and apps to help get you there.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/IMG_6831.jpg574437Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2016-01-01 09:55:272016-01-04 10:01:062016 field GOALS
My year-end recap has kind of become a thing – not that a lot of you care, but it’s always a time of reflection to write down the up’s and down’s and share them. Not to mention serve as a reminder to myself of things that went wrong and praise the things that went right.
I looked back at some of the goals I set for 2015 – I pretty much failed miserably at all of them. But that’s just part of life as our needs and wants change. And guess what? I’m totally OK with that.
One area I did hit the mark was travel. In 2014 I spent 262 days on the road and it wore me the hell out. I vowed that 2015 would be about traveling to bigger places I’ve never been, and hopefully out of the country more. Prior to 2015 I had only been to Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas. During 2015 I had the chance to visit Belize (x2), Bermuda, Spain, Honduras, Cozumel and Mazatlan (an incredibly unique area of Mexico).
This was another one of those years I can’t look back unequivocally and say this was a great year or a bust. As per usual, it was right in the middle, as I imagine many would say.
I definitely went through some pretty tough stuff this year – some of it too personal to share – but I can tell you it wasn’t all great. Sadly, 2015 reminded me there are still people out there that just completely suck and try to tear down your reputation and career. It’s a hard concept to grasp that small-minded people exist, and not just that, but you let them in your life. But it’s life. And we all have to deal with it – unfortunately. And hopefully learn from it.
Since October, I’ve also battled some pretty gnarly health issues, which remain
Bye Felicia
unresolved. That doesn’t make for a pleasant year, but going through these tough times, I have realized who really cares about me and how thankful I am to have these people in my life. People that would drop anything and wait TWO HOURS in line at Krispy Kreme because you were craving it after surgery. Thanks Jennifer.
2015 wasn’t all bad. Here are a few highlights:
One killer thing that happened was that I was granted the opportunity to be the guest editor for the first-ever sports issue for LOCAL Houston Magazine. In 19 years in business, I was their first guest editor EVER. Not only was it a learning experience, it was humbling.
I wrote a book. Not the memoir you’re all anxiously awaiting to read, but a children’s book with NFL veteran, Wade Smith, which will benefit The Wade Smith Foundation. The book is due out in print in March and I am beyond thrilled with this project and how it took shape.
Women’s Health Magazine named me a “Bona Fide Fitness Queen,” which was pretty badass and a huge compliment.
I secured some great new sponsorships and partnerships – one I’m really excited about heading into the New Year is working with Callaway Golf. Before you ask – I am not good. But that’s the point – I’m going to learn.
Greetings from the beaches in Spain
Believe it or not, I went on another cruise, even after my terrible incident with the Carnival Triumph a few years ago. And I had an absolute blast. Not only was it a blast (and I got a great tan), but I met some of the best girlfriends I could ever ask for. These girls will surely be friends for life, and for that I am so thankful. Even if we would have been forced to use red plastic bags, we would have figured out how to have fun.
I took a much needed and incredibly beautiful trip to Belize to reset my mind, my body and my goals and intentions. It’s a ladies-only trip that happens twice a year and I highly recommend it. (I also have a discount code if you’re interested – email me.)
I’ve already got one of the biggest and most unique projects of my career (the entrepreneur version of it) lined up, and I’m excited to share that VERY SOON.
So thanks to all of you that helped get me through 2015 – and for those of you that tried to bring me down – BYE FELICIA.
Travis Drake: Running Game Clothing
