I am SO bummed they don’t come in a size small (which is odd because the NFL keeps tooting its horn that 50% of NFL fans are female and we ALL know females love theme parties the most), but I digress.
If you’ve got an ugly Christmas sweater party this season, get yours here – you’ll be the talk of the town.
Which one do you think is the ugliest? Or the funniest? The Alabama one looks legit (even though it’s still Alabama…).
Got a Texans fan in your life? As holiday shopping is approaching, I thought I’d help you out by sharing Fanatics.com, where A TON of Texans (and other college and pro) licensed apparel is on sale. Ladies, Mens, Children, dogs – they’ve got it all.
Jingle BALLS – Houston’s best holiday part/charity event
The date has been set for our third annual Jingle BALLS – mark your calendars for Thursday, December 11 from 7-10:30 pm at Gage Lounge in Midtown.
The Blonde Side is SUPER excited to announce this year’s co-host as Morgan ‘Moe’ Dean, former Texans cheerleader and just all around awesome gal (and yes, she’s blonde too!).
Admission to get in: please bring one (or more!) balls to donate to the Ronald McDonald House Houston. This has been our charity partner all three years because they have been able to happily use every dollar and ball we’ve donated in the past to their Santa Store. The Santa Store is a room where parents can pick out gifts for their sick children as well as their siblings, since holiday shopping usually isn’t on their mind during these tough times.
Dress code: no strict dress code, but we want it to be fun! Come in your favorite football gear, add some glam, slick back your hair or whatever, and come on!
Drinks: two complimentary drinks, specials TBA & lite bites
Saturday was my last day attending Wanderlust Austin and I’m truly sad to leave the new practices I’ve learned and the new friends I’ve made.
I started off the day by attending Chelsie DiPaolo’s Flow & Float, Yoga on a Boat class. DiPaolo teaches with such ease and authenticity, you’d wish she lived in your city to lead your daily practice. This early morning session was a great way to show the non-locals just how active our city is. The trail around Lady Bird Lake was heavily occupied with runners and walkers and the lake was filled with rowing teams perfecting their own fitness practices.
Next up was Meditation 101, led by Ashley Turner, where we “flexed the muscle of focus.” The class had a good mix of hardcore meditators and first-timers (myself included). The session took place on the outside deck, the highest place of Wanderlust Austin, offering up a pretty awesome vibe and view of the surrounding city.
“Look 360 degrees around and really take it all in,” Turner instructed. Having taught yoga for 15 years, and going back to get her Masters in Psychology, it was clear that diving in and going deeper was something very familiar to Turner. She’s a nurturer for understanding things (and people) in life, and rightly so.
“Meditation is about getting into a relationship with our minds,” she said. When she meditates, Turner said, it’s her way of sharpening her tools and banking her much-needed self worth for those times when life throws you a curveball. Because we all know curveballs are an inevitable part of life.
My last, and perhaps favorite, class of the festival was Hip.Hop.Yoga with instructors Ashley Clauer and Jo Kutchey.
When any soundtrack starts with The Fugees’ Killing Me Softly, I’m a BIG fan. Add to that a unique yoga practice from two of the most awesome chicks in Austin along with the option to add your own elements, style, and pace, and you just may have found your “true north.” Which is what we were are all after, right?
The past three days at Wanderlust Austin have taught me a lot. Not just about yoga and the sense of community it fosters, but about myself, my limitations and my goals in life. A big thanks to all my new friends and mentors. I’m excited to keep up my practice during my travels and when I arrive back home in Houston.
Hope to see some of you next year and at Wanderlust O’ahu!
This post originally ran online at Austin Fit Magazine. Check it out there to see more photos and links.
The Blonde Side’s Jayme Lamm with former NFL player Keith Mitchell
Things are getting real.
I started Day 2 with Wanderlust co-creator Schuyler Grant’s Kula Flow: Hips, Hearts & Hands class. Kula is Grant’s signature style of yoga that integrates the breath-based flow of Astanga yoga with the precision of Iyengar to create a deep, sweaty (ok, super sweaty), transformative mind/body experience.
Her signature style is a pretty big deal. The 10 a.m. class was filled to max room capacity.
Grant uses instructions like “use full imagery,” when talking about movements, body parts, and breathes as well as cues like, “surrender completely,” which is a popular mantra in all practices of yoga. Grant was hands-on as she went around the room, showing participants what ‘surrendering completely’ actually meant.
“How high you go is up to you,” was my favorite line during Grant’s session as it’s not just applicable to yoga, but to all of life. And the class was set perfectly to the chill tunes of DJ Taz Rashid, who was stationed in front of the class.
Next on my schedule was the crazy popular AcroYoga for Beginners classtaught by Mateo J. Daniel, with tunes by Happy Happy James. AcroYoga is clearly a thing all over the world, and yogis are chomping at the bit to learn the basics. By the end of the class, many had found themselves as stable bases (on the ground) while others were happy and willing flyers (in the air). This practice illustrated the importance of trusting and communicating well with your partner.
What quickly became clear in this class was that each person has their own style and limitations. And that’s okay. In fact, that’s what a good practice entails—learning your own style and moving along and growing with it. Another vital life lesson: “It’s important to come home, come back to center and sit back up, ready to do it again.” Sure, Daniel meant yoga, but it applies to so much more.
I’m pretty confident every attendee of this class was more than ready to do it again. The class was a great bonding experience.
Next up was my personal zen moment taught by former NFL player Keith Mitchell for FOCUS: Foundation and Expression. Have I let the cat out of the bag that I’m more of a runner than I am in tune with yoga practices? Because if not, now’s a good time to make sure we’re clear on that.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES GUIRY, WANDERLUST AUSTIN
Dare I say it? Keith Mitchell may have made me believe in (and perhaps become obsessed with) the potential of yoga. After class Mitchell scolded me for not informing him I was just in the beginning stages of my own personal yoga practice. “You would have been my [class] favorite,” Mitchell told me as he talked about his love for teaching others.
One of the songs on his playlist went something like this: “I am not the mistakes I have made. I am not the things that caused me pain.” This song played as we went into Savasana—the lying down, meditative state that ends a yoga practice. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt a more zen moment.
I don’t mean to compare religion to yoga because I take religion very seriously, but I feel it’s an accurate emotional parallel. When I go to church and get inside my own thoughts—my prayers, being truthful to myself about myself—it’s an un-earthly, cleansing feeling. And that’s how I felt during Mitchell’s class. I felt like it was a personal moment where I could forgive myself and feel renewed and cleansed and free to just start over. Every breath felt like a new moment in life, and I was reminded that it should be treated as such.
Afterwards, I took a brief peak into the class Rock n Roll Flow with Vinnie Manno to see what all the hype was about. Because, who doesn’t love Rock ‘n’ Roll?
“There’s a moment when you switch your perspective—when you’re more into feeling than thinking,” Manno said.
I finished off the long and soulful day with Kurt Johnsen’s Workout and Wine Down, which of course featured a wind down from all your practices session followed by a glass (or two) of wine. Johnsen is the host of Yoga for Life on Z Living TV, so crowds and cameras are his thing.
Stay tuned for my last post from Wanderlust Day 3 tomorrow (the festival officially ends on Sunday) and follow my adventures on Twitter: @jaymelamm.
This post originally ran online at Austin Fit Magazine. Click here to see the original post with more Wanderlust Austin photos.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES GUIRY & CHETAN PATEL, WANDERLUST AUSTIN
Finding your true north – it’s probably easier said than done, but it’s most certainly a journey.
I am by far one of the most athletic people in my group of friends. I’m not tooting my own horn—it’s the truth. And I work hard for it. But being at Wanderlust Austin for the kickoff events on Thursday, I realized that “most athletic” doesn’t mean most flexible or healthiest or most centered or most at peace with my body or life. It just means I’m athletic. And I’m probably missing a bunch of those 1 percents that make up one’s true north.
Thursday was a short day, but it started with an amazing açai bowl from Blenders and Bowls. It seems that’s how pretty much everyone’s day started.
I take pride in calling myself a runner, but I’ll be honest – sometimes it just sucks. So if someone was going to tell me in two hours why it doesn’t have to suck, I was game. As a former college athlete, running was our punishment and Chris McClung (a former soccer player himself) totally got that. It was interesting to hear his journey from a wannabe runner to now well-established coach.
“We are born to run,” McClung said, as he related running form to stories of his three children. “We’re are all runners at our core,” he said, mostly targeting us naysayers who wouldn’t necessarily classify ourselves as runners.
I don’t consider myself a very good runner, but can I still call myself a runner? According to McClung, yes I can.
A few highlights from McClung’s morning clinic:
There are 3 things that need to lead your runs: Purpose, Community and Variety. Ask yourself why you are running? McClung said running just to lose weight isn’t a good reason or purpose. Good reasons, he said, could be: competitive drive, connectivity to nature, a de-stressor, or bonding with friends. Those are things that give you a purpose and keep you going.
A runner for 14 years, McClung admits it took him five years to fall in love with the activity. It certainly wasn’t love at first sight, especially for us former collegiate athletes. “I encourage you to find others to help with the accountability. Try joining a running club.”
McClung had a great response to those who think running is boring. “Running is only boring if you make it boring.” That’s where adding variety to your running routes or trails comes into play. McClung warns not to run the same loop over and over again as it gets monotonous.
STFD: Slow the **** down. When we run too fast, we tire too fast and lose interest. Simple.
In running, leave your ego behind. For me, I need to realize I’ll never be that amazing softball player again and that I may not be as good at running as I was at softball. And I need to be OK with that.
“Slow” is a bad word—there are only degrees of fast. “After all, you’re still running faster than anyone sitting on the couch,” McClung said.
Liz Davis is one of those people who simply exudes happiness. Even her wild hair looked happy. She was awesome. Whatever it took to make her so happy, I wanted to learn it, so I dove right in. Davis told us right off the bat that her father always said, “you need four hugs a day for maintenance and ten for personal growth.” So guess what we did a lot of during our hike?
That’s right, hugging.
Throughout the hike, Davis instructed us to “live in the now,” citing how easy it really is to do, even in our own cities. She told us we were going on a sacred, confidential walk and then asked us to pair up with a partner.
Her advice to us on the hike: Be present.
One of the first questions Davis asked my hiking partner and I was, “When’s the last time you felt real joy?” I told my new friend it was last summer when I picked up and moved to Hawaii to write a book. I told them how much better of a person I had become and how it had allowed me to forgive myself for things and learn more about myself. Then my partner said something pretty incredible: “My advice to you—since you can’t go to Hawaii everyday—is to do more Hawaii things in your everyday life.
How simple, yet genius.
Davis ended the session by reminding us all that, “It’s never too late to live your life.” A huge group hug ensued.
Other Highlights from Day 1 of Wanderlust Austin
The tents and shopping outdoors. I was a big fan of all the discounted Spiritual Gangster apparel and the free chair massages offered by Z Living to help us recoup after our sessions.
Friday is a big day for my schedule, so check back here for Day 2 Diaries. Thanks for reading, and Namaste Y’all.
This post ran online at Austin Fit Magazine. Click here to see the original article with more great photos.
As of right this second (I guess depending on where you live in the world and time zones and all that), there are 68 days left in 2014.
It’s crazy, because over the past few weeks I have heard multiple times, “Starting next year I’m going to ___,” or “My New Year’s Resolution will be ____” and I kind of want to punch these people (gently of course) in the throat.
What’s wrong with the 68 days still left to be lived before the new year actually kicks off?
A lot can happen in 68 days. It’s too early in the morning for me to do any research, but I would imagine you could lose a bunch of weight and develop some intense abs, you could start eating clean, you could save up a few bucks, you could start volunteering at a local charity, you could donate old clothes, you could start smiling more, you could be nicer, you could take cooking classes – those all seem to be reasonable things you could do in the next 68 days. There is no need to wait. I sound like an infomercial right there, but it’s true dammit.
I’m not a numbers girl, but I am. That probably doesn’t make much sense. As in, I am not good at math, especially fractions and percentages and such, but if you put a number in front of me in the form of a goal or “days left,” then I’m on it.
So here is my promise and my challenge to you. I’d LOVE to hear what goal you set for yourself in the remaining 68 days of 2014.
I’ll start – my year end goal is to find a literary agent or publisher to get my book out. I made a HUGE leap to pick up and move to Hawaii last summer to write a ridiculously funny memoir (honestly, Chelsea Handler may offer me a job as her ghost writer once she reads it), but if I’m being honest, I haven’t worked very hard to find an agent.
So the quote above is extremely applicable to yours truly – never hope for it more than you work for it. I want my book to be published more than you could ever imagine, so it’s time to get to business and get it done. As I’ve said since day one: it’s too good not to.
Now it’s your turn – comment here with your goal. I’d love to hear it – no matter how big or small it is – remember, 68 days is still a lot of time left on the clock.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/131498-Never-Hope-For-It-More-Than-You-Work-For-It.jpg640640Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2014-10-24 05:58:272014-11-19 10:59:3868 Days: My Year End Goal
You see great lululemon running tights. I see the most perfect Philadelphia Eagles gameday pants.
I’m pretty sure I have a super power. It may not be a super power many consider actually useful, but it’s a colorful super power I’m proud of nonetheless.
Are you ready to hear my super power? I see colors in gameday mode. Seriously, that was it. That’s my super power.
It’s happened a million times. I’ll be shopping with a friend and she’ll see this maroon’ish Alternative Apparel maxi dress (pictured bottom right) and think it’s the perfect dress for her upcoming cruise, but you know what I see? A Florida State gameday dress that can be paired with either gold wedges, flats or flip-flops with the final addition of an arrow flash tattoo or two and some other gold jewelry and boom – you’re FSU gameday ready. (Which trust me, is WAY better than a cruise anyways.)
I can look at an awesome royal blue seamless tank top and think, “This is perfect for a Kansas City Royals game” and call it a day. But once you add orange anywhere into the equation, then I hate it because it looks like a Florida Gator vomited on it and all of a sudden it’s ugly. Seriously, you see regular colors, I see gameday colors. I suppose it’s both a blessing and a curse.
So now that I’ve clarified my personal super power, it’s time to get something off my surgically enhanced chest. I fully respect many (my apologies not all) fashion bloggers out there, but I’ve noticed an increased number of “gameday fashion guides” and “tailgate trends” and I find them ridiculously misleading and inaccurate.
There is a reason I don’t blog about child carseats. You know what that reason is? BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE A CHILD, NOR A CARSEAT. And if you’re looking for pros and cons on particular carseats and you take my advice, YOU ARE AN IDIOT. Not to mention now I’m terrified for your soon-to-be-child.
Alternative Apparel – you see comfy cruise dress, I see gameday. GO NOLES
But you know what you probably should come to me for advice on? Considering I’ve gotten up at the butt-crack of dawn for a 6a NFL tailgate (multiple times) and stood out there in blistering 105 degree temperatures drinking Bud Light all day, scarfing down various meats on sticks, using port-o-potties and throwing perfect spirals to friends in the parking lots, I think I’m pretty well versed in what to wear and what not to wear to a tailgate. So the silly little fashion blogger who says Christian Louboutins are the perfect gameday shoe for Texans games and tailgates (you know, simply because they have red on the bottom) is an idiot and so is the fashionista saying a $700 burnt orange cashmere sweater should help you kick of Longhorn Football IN AUGUST. Just like the above parent looking to me for carseats.
You can put all the thought in the world into a tank top and skinny jeans with wedges for a game at Lambeau in the middle of December, but guess what, you will actually die of frostbite. As in death. Either that, or your big ugly puffer jacket will cover your entire “well-thought out” outfit anyway, so you’re better off sticking with a green and yellow hat or headband or scarf to show your pride. You’re better off sticking with someone who has gone to a game at Lambeau in December.
I have sat courtside for an NBA All-Star game, so I can promise you that the little fashion guide that tells you to don a leather miniskirt with a low-cut tucked in gray tank for a Brooklyn Nets game will be HYSTERICAL (not to mention dangerous) when a player dives for to keep the ball from going out of bounds and knocks you and your leather mini back a few rows. It’s not practical. And you and your Britney will end up on national TV. (If you click the link for “Britney,” note it’s the second definition I am referring to.)
I will say all my time spent in gameday apparel, at tailgates and on the courts and fields has caused me to step up my fashion game a little, but I will still always be practical. If I’m on the Club Level meeting with potential sponsors, I may decide on a pair of comfortable wedges, or if I’m running around the tailgates passing out koozies and signs for The Blonde Side, I will more than likely be wearing appropriately colored Chucks.
Note: I have bought many non-practical gameday color-inspired items I’d never wear to a game, but still allows me to show my team pride at an event. I’ve even worn a dark green cocktail dress with black heels to a wedding, because those “friends” were mean enough to have their wedding on a Sunday during the season. I didn’t think a Junk Food Eagles tank would have been appropriate, so it was my only other option. And you better believe each and everytime someone complimented my dress, I gave an Eagles score update.
End rant.
Now it’s your turn: what bothers you about these gameday trends or fashion posts? What have you seen at a game that you’ve just absolutely loved or hated?
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-23-at-8.45.35-PM.png381280Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2014-10-23 21:18:032014-11-19 11:01:12My Colorful Super Power
The Blonde Side’s selfie with the Traveling Texans at MNF in Pittsburgh
My second visit to the great city of Pittsburgh was just as amazing as my first (last year for the FSU/PITT game), if not better. Having grown up on the East Coast, I’m rather disappointed I waited until the past couple years to check out this fun city.
Although a short visit, I headed to Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon (via Southwest) to meet up with some Texans fans for the much anticipated Monday Night Football game, which was supposed to go a little something like this…it’s going to take more than a towel to stop JJ Watt, however, to our disappointment the Steelers played pretty well. And to the shock of most of the NFL world, the Steelers actually showed up for all four quarters. Kudos to them now 4-3, while the Texans sunk to 3-4 (but it’s still early in the season).
Here are some highlights of my Pittsburgh visit, where I stayed, ate, and partied. Perhaps use it as a guide next time you visit and if I missed any good spots, leave a comment so I can add it to my next visit. Because there will be a next visit.
Lodging: Cambria Suites: I stayed at the same spot I stayed last fall – it was a tiny bit further than most of my friend’s hotels, but with their free and accessible shuttle, I literally was only a few minutes away. I wish I had been in town to catch a Penguins game (never seen them), as my hotel is literally a stones throw away from the arena.
The hotel is clean and simple, and has everything you need (including a mini-fridge in the hotel and a Keurig) and the fitness center is definitely on point.
Bars: I spent pretty much my entire 30 hours in bars. Before you get all judge-y on me, know this – I was supposed to stay in Pittsburgh until Wednesday so I could enjoy the city more (after the MNF debauchery had subsided), but a last minute opportunity led me to Kansas City to catch Game 1 of the World Series. I get it – tough life.
Bettis – I would venture to say I spent more time in this one spot than anywhere else. It’s the same owner group as the Texans Grille, it was a good easy-to-find meeting spot, the food was good and the Bud Light was cold. What else do you need? Plus, shots just kept coming and coming. The cheeseburger sliders and Steak Tip Salad were incredible – better than pretty much any bar food I’ve had – and trust me, I’ve had a lot.
Redbeards – Another place I have been before, still great like last time. It was a little more low-key than Bettis’ but still very fun. Football on the TVs and friendly bar staff.
Flatheads – (On E. Carson Street) – Definitely a younger looking-to-party crowd and just over the bridge (as if there aren’t 492 bridges to decipher from…). Great local selection of beers and I heard the food was amazing, but had already eaten so I can’t speak firsthand.
Primanti Bros – Before everyone says, oh I love that place!!, I do not. I have never actually eaten here, so directly after MNF we headed over to Market Square, which is walking distance from Heinz Field. We checked online and it said it was open until Midnight and when we walked in at 11:39, not only was the kitchen already closed, the overweight dude in camo cargo shorts with an obvious chip on his shoulder was a complete jerk. Here’s the thing – if you closed the kitchen early (which as a business owner, I am not a fan
Outside Heinz Field, ready to watch MNF
of), that’s fine, but BE POLITE about it. A simple, “sorry guys, we already closed the kitchen down tonight, come grab us tomorrow,” would have sufficed. It wouldn’t have filled my belly, but I wouldn’t be writing this right now.
And it gets better – I sat down and chatted with a guy from LA who was eating and we were catching highlights on the TV above his table. The large man came and turned the TV off rather aggressively, then when I left goes, “thanks for interrupting his meal.” The funny part was the guy from LA (whose meal I had supposedly interrupted) looked at him and informed him that I did not interrupt his meal. Awkward. Weird. I was in a Texans shirt, so that could have pissed him off, but YOUR TEAM WON and I was trying to give you money. Oh well, I still hear it tastes good, but I’ll spend my hard-earned-barely-there paycheck elsewhere.
Delucas – This is a hole in the wall diner well known for breakfast, located in a historic part of Pittsburgh. We waited in line Monday morning next to a handful of other Texans fans for an extremely greasy/perfect for a hangover meal. The line looked a lot longer than the actual wait and it has a huge menu.
Meat and Potatoes – I didn’t get the chance to make it there this trip, but I wish I had. If you head to Pittsburgh, THIS is where you need to go for dinner. It is amazing. That is all I remember from last time. Make reservations if possible.
Transportation: For the most part, we used Uber, which was easy, except after the game when none were available. Pittsburgh is a pretty easy and walkable city, so that was a plus and of course I had access to Cambria Suites complimentary shuttle, which was never more than 20 minutes away.
Run: A great city for a run (or walk) and a chance to take in all the beautiful rivers, bridges and just all around scenery. For a few tips and trails, check out this local Pittsburgh Running Group.
Photo Opp: In true Traveling Texans form, a massive group of Texans fans met up at Points Park to take a group photo. The Texans even sent along staff to hand out goodies to the hardcore fans. Nice touch Texans, nice touch.
Heinz Field: A fairly new stadium, just 13 years old, Heinz Field is a beauty. The black and yellow are pretty aggressive (the colors, not the fans) once inside, and I had the opportunity to sit in the club level (Section 236), which had a full bar, no lines for food and a great view of the field.
Oh…we did make one more stop, late night Sunday – hopefully my mom and dad already stopped reading this, but we went to Blush (strip club). I’m a fan of these establishments once in a blue moon, but I would steer clear of this one. Sorry Blush employees, but I speak the truth.
Thanks to Pittsburgh, their fans and businesses for showing this Texas girl another good time. Will definitely be seeing you in the near future!
Grab your New Balance running shoes for two great races – one great day!
Well, we’re really not going anywhere, except in Houston. But it’s for a good cause so that’s almost as good!
Join The Blonde Side on Saturday, September 27th as we start our day with the Women’s Health Run10Feed10 (10k) starting off Washington. It’s a great race – for every signup, TEN kids right here in Houston are provided meals. You get lots of fun stuff (coveted and limited edition FEED bags!) and get to hang out with me (and other awesome people).
Then, later that night, join me for the Blue Cure Night Run (5k) – this will be my first ever night-time run. Blue Cure is an organization I’ve always supported and hope you will too, as it helps raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.
To sign up for the Run10Feed10 – go here and USE CODE WHLAMM for $5 off registration.
To sign up for the Blue Cure 5k, go here and USE CODE LAMM for $5 off registration.
Please share with other runners and do-gooders in Houston!
*And since we’ll wrap up Race Day on Saturday night, lets hang out in our sweaty lululemon clothes and drink Bud Light – cheers to a well spent day.
