Sports Uncensored on Fox26
The Blonde Side is pumped to announce a new sports segment on Fox26 here in Houston. The show airs every Thursday during the 5pm news hour. Here is the link on the Fox website to see all the past Sports Uncensored segments.
Remember, The Blonde Side has ZERO training for on-camera stuff, so try to hold your judgement just a tiny bit. Please.
Do you have ideas for future segments? Email us: jayme[at]theblondeside[com] – we always love feedback.
Sports Fashion: 12 Tips on how to Dress for the Game
You’ve got the tickets in hand and you’re ready to strut into that NFL stadium or College Game Day, but now you’re stuck figuring out what to wear.
First – let me be clear – I am by no means a fashionista or whatever term those TJ Maxx commercials have so cleverly coined. But, I do go to a ton of sporting events and have pretty much figured out what to wear in any situation and more importantly, what not to wear. Sometimes, as a member of the NFL media, I have to abide by their rules and that usually means I can’t wear team logos and have to be a little dressier than I’d like for a game.
My favorite football team is the Philadelphia Eagles, and sometimes I want to dress up my outfit, so I found an awesome Kelly Green (the team color) blazer from Urban Outfitters, and I also have a pair of green Uggs. Although nothing on me says Eagles, it’s clear who my team is. Here’s a little help that’ll take you from pre-game and tailgates all the way to overtime:
Determine the weather (this should be a no-brainer for most humans venturing outside). If there’s a chance of rain, perhaps avoid a white t-shirt or your favorite leather bag. Rain is tricky, so don’t forget to ask yourself what shoes will hold up in puddles or if there’s a chance your brand new tank top will bleed.
Is the stadium/arena/ballpark indoors? Does it have a retractable roof? If so, you may be able to ignore the first point regarding weather, but it can also help you plan. If it’s 98 degrees outside, but the ballpark has AC, don’t sweat it. (Get it?)
Is this an NFL stadium where the new handbag policy is in full effect? Keep in mind that even if you’re going to a college game at an NFL stadium, you may still have to forego your coveted purse, but unfortunately, each stadium and team (when it comes to non-NFL games) has a different policy. If your only team gear is your customized clutch, you may want to rethink the total outfit.
Will you be tailgating? Even if it’s a primetime 7pm game, your friends may want to get there five hours early to drink a few Bud Lights and grill some brats. That’ll change your wardrobe. Don’t wear 5-inch heels if you plan on throwing the pigskin around the parking lot.
Are you in a suite or in a player’s section? If so, think twice (maybe even thrice) about wearing rival gear. I was in a suite at the Houston Texans game last week with a sign that politely reminded guests that opposing team gear was not permitted in the suite, and if so, they’d be asked to leave. Imagine how embarrassed you’d be if you were asked to leave! Being ejected from the game is never fun.
Don’t, under any circumstance, wear unrelated fan gear. If the Lakers aren’t playing in this particular NHL game, you needn’t wear a Lakers jersey. Or hat. Or t-shirt.
If you choose to wear any team apparel (especially with a player’s name), be prepared for a fan to challenge you. They’ll ask questions to see how big of a fan you really are. If you don’t care, no worries, but it’s likely fans will heckle you. Loyal and crazy fans (myself included) take extreme pride in their team – consider this a friendly warning.
Speaking of apparel, if you don’t have any licensed team gear, don’t panic.You can always choose to rock the team colors instead of a branded New York Knicks t-shirt. See what color the team wears (a quick Google search of the team logo should do the trick) and put together a fashionable ensemble from stuff you already own. Sometimes you’ll see trendier and fashionable gals wearing a pair of blue skinny jeans, a white top and orange accent jewelry (that outfit works for the above Knicks for example).
Get creative. If you don’t already own any licensed team apparel and aren’t interested in purchasing any, don’t worry. If you want to root for Florida State, but don’t want to wear cheesy blinged-out earrings they’re selling in the campus bookstore, opt for dangly feathered ones in team colors or even arrows to go with the whole Florida State logo and theme. It’s still obvious who you’re rooting for, but the accessories are multi-functional and can be worn elsewhere, even “out of season.”
Speaking of team colors, if you choose to go rogue and wear nothing spirited for your team, you may want to do a quick check of what the opposing team’s colors are. If the Eagles are playing the Cowboys and you don’t want your clothes to root for either team, you might reconsider that navy and silver racerback you just bought from Neiman’s, because that surely screams Cowboys fan.
If your seats are really high, forego heels and skirts/dresses.Climbing up all those stairs will allow fans to check you out instead of that double play.
And lastly, be comfortable.That’s the biggest rule no matter what you’re dressing for. You could be stuck there for overtime, so wear something that feels good to you.
—–
Check out The Blonde Side on FB and let her know what you’re wearing to the game! To read this full/original article on GirlsGuideTo.com, click here.
KIND bars
As a sports and travel writer, I’m always on the go. Sometimes that means I forget to eat, or I eat at totally random and inconvenient times. I’m an athlete and always training for something, so not eating means one thing = grumpy blonde.
And no one likes grumpy blondes.
Recently I was turned on to KIND bars, and when I say turned on, I mean it in a serious way.
There are over 22 varieties to choose from (my absolute fave is the peanut butter and strawberry), and they also have 6 Healthy Grains snackable clusters that are just as tasty.
I love KIND Snacks for many reasons:
1. They actually taste great. I wouldn’t lie about food, trust me.
2. They have ingredients you can pronounce, which in today’s world, is a huge plus.
3. They are convenient to keep on hand when you really need a snack. I keep at least one in my laptop bag (as long as it’s not chocolate, it won’t melt in this Texas heat), it’s small enough to keep in my fanny pack when I’m hiking through my favorite places in Colorado or Jackson Hole (yes, I do in fact wear a fanny pack), you can eat it while driving without being a danger to others on the road, and it’s easy to eat on planes in case I forget to eat in the midst of rushing to and through an airport.
4. The branding. I’ve said this before – I’m a sucker for good branding. Advertising was my major in college, so I really love a good brand. Seriously, just go peruse their website and you’ll see. That’s where I pulled this awesome Henry James quote from (and there are others).
Henry James quote
5. Along with branding, they have this #KINDAwesome hashtag they are splashing around on social media. Don’t believe me? Check out the Do The Kind Thing tab on their website and see for yourself…things like helping a firefighter rebuild his home.
All around, this brand is amazing. No, I don’t work for the company or get paid to write this, but stay tuned, I hope to be hosting a contest for The Blonde Side readers very soon. For now, just go check out their website or reach out to them on Twitter and use the #KINDAwesome – talk about your favorite NFL play from this week or what your favorite non-profit is doing in your area.
(Oh, and I’m not the only one loving KIND snacks – NFL guys like Tony Gonzalez, Colin Kapernick and Tim Jennings are big fans too.)
lululemon goes business casual
Yes sir (ma’am), you read that right.
The popular lululemon brand, known in the past for yoga and running clothes, has now added a line of business casual clothes (still with tons of functionality).
While I’m still a B-I-G fan of the comfortable workout gear (which admittedly I wear entirely too much of and have in every shade of neon) for running and traveling, the new line is actually pretty cool. I wasn’t sold at first glance, not by a long shot.
My first thought was, lulu selling work clothes? yeah right.
Then I remembered how every time I have a work event, whether it’s on the field interviewing players or heading into a meeting, how I desperately wish I could throw on some neon wunder unders, a low-cut tank and get business done. Obviously that’s a no-go. You can’t walk onto an NFL field in tights. At least you shouldn’t. Ever.
And the driving force behind wanting to wear this gear all the time is of course the comfort factor. I love to be comfortable. It’s my thing. Maybe that means I’m getting old? So imagine your favorite comfortable clothing line coming out with some business casual attire with the same comfort level? Pretty amazing to think about, right? Right.
In this picture, at the lulu store at the Houston Galleria, I’m wearing the Uranite Pant (currently sold out online, so go check your local store ASAP), which sells for $128 and a casual white blouse.
The pants are made of a breathable fabric, Teque St, with a four-way stretch for comfort and are very similar in look and feel to your favorite skinny jeans. You can roll up the cuffs if you’re a shorty like me, or take advantage of lulu’s free hemming services available at the store. As for the pants, most people (myself included) needed to go up a size, so be sure to try them on.
lulu staff helping dress me in the new Urbanite wear
The shirt comes with this saying, which I love: It’s business up front and party in the back for this shirt. Like most lulu pieces, there are extra functionality aspects, including the ability to undo the shaped hem in the back for extra movement, and it’s made from a moisture-wicking fabric that won’t wrinkle (hello new favorite travel shirt!).
And of course, on my dome I’m rocking the charming twist headband in navy and white ($12) for a little extra flair.
What’s the lesson we learned today folks? We already know not to judge a book by its cover, so don’t judge an outfit by the hanger, deal?
My new favorite lululemon addition are their golf clothes for women.
Post may contain affiliate links but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
MNF: Texans at Chargers (Photo by CatchLight Group)
One of the best parts (ok, it’s THE best part) about writing The Blonde Side is that I go get to go to some of the best games the NFL has to offer. Last week, I was lucky enough to head to beautiful San Diego and catch the Houston Texans beat (barely) the San Diego Chargers.
Thanks to some great friends and business contacts, we got sideline passes. For my first time at Qualcomm Stadium, this was quite the perfect experience!
To top it off (besides the win and the cold Bud Light, of course), one of my favorite photographers, Michelle Watson of CatchLight Group was also in San Diego snapping great photos for Culture Map. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Michelle on some amazing assignments here in Houston, so it was great seeing her on the field. AND she snapped some great photos, like the one above.
Check The Blonde Side’s FB page to see all the other photos she got!
On the Red Carpet with Skip Bayless
By far one of the coolest moments since launching The Blonde Side in 2010 was attending and BEING CREDENTIALED at the 2013 ESPYS! Seriously typing that and I still get goosebumps. Imagine LeBron James, Mr. Belding, Ray Lewis, Destinee Hooker and Lolo Jones along with hundreds of other amazing athletes and celebrities ALL IN ONE ROOM.
In one night I got to meet (and kiss on the cheek) Eric LeGrand, Mr. Belding cut me in the hotdog line and Gabby Douglas told me she liked my shoes. Oh, and I had a serious chest-bump with Maria Sharapova’s security guard on the floor of our hotel.
I wrote two articles on my experience for CBS Man Cave Daily, click on the links below to read them and warning: you will be jealous. I’m jealous I’m not there right now again!
Man Cave’s ESPY Red Carpet Moments [Mostly Uncensored]
23 Things That Only Happen At The ESPYS
Stay tuned friends, I seriously plan and hope to be back on the Red Carpet in 2014.
Perfect summer reading in Hawaii (or anywhere)
As a writer, there’s this feeling deep down in my being that makes me feel a pang of guilt when I sit down to read. Why? Because I’m a writer and 9 times out of 10, I feel I can write better stuff than the junk I’m reading. But like all things in life, there’s always an exception to that rule.
The exception to this rule comes in the form of Drink, Play, F@#k, written by the ever-so-funny Andrew Gottlieb.
As some of you know, I spent the past three months on the North Shore of Oahu, writing my very own book. In the early stages of my trip, I ran across this book (how I ran across this book is actually pretty funny, but I shall save that for a rainy day because it involves a douchebag ex-boyfriend).
Gottlieb’s book was a reminder that we can lay it all out on the line, even if that means you’re opening up doors for people to judge you. That’s just the name of the game at this point, and my book will most definitely align the stars for judgement to be cast upon me in many directions.
The gist of the book is a year-long sabbatical this guy takes after his nagging and good-for-nothing wife cheats on him and leaves him for another man. In search of trying new things and sort of replaying the “what if” card, Bob Sullivan visits Ireland to Drink, Las Vegas to Play, and Thailand to F@#K and then lives to tell about it all.
When my book finally does come out (any publishers out there want to talk!?), it will be very similar to this format, minus the whole divorce gone wild thing. The language is slightly foul and crude, but Sullivan captivates you early on and makes you wish you too had the balls to do what he’s doing. Thankfully, I found my Lady Balls not too long ago and am on this same sabbatical.
Check out this book on Amazon now.
Seriously though, publishers who aren’t afraid of a funny gal with a limited filter, let’s talk.
The Blonde Side’s Picks in Red, White and Blue
America: The Home Team We Can All Root For
(Can I get an Amen right there?) Every once in a while The Blonde Side has the honor of guest posting on Girl Around Town, and here’s the latest – a fashionable post with some of the best red, white and blue patriotic wear in time for the upcoming 4th of July.
#2 (lululemon), #7 (Molly Brown Swimwear) and #10 (Von Zipper Liberty & Libations collection) are my absolute faves – go check them out.
To see the whole post on GAT, click here.
(And this is just solid proof right here that badass women can and should work together and support one another. Thanks to Leigh and Mary at GAT for allowing me to contribute to their already awesome site.)
Miami REHEAT shirts for sale
For a limited time (as in this week only), The Blonde Side is selling a Miami back-to-back REHEAT tank (ladies) or tee (mens). Please place your order and spread the word to any other Heat fans! The shirts are $30 and include shipping and are super soft and a great brand: Alternative Apparel.
Ruby & The Blonde Side
This one time I went running with a dog.
That was the last time I went running with a dog.
Her name is Ruby, and she’s a golden retriever and lab mix. She’s cute, but still a puppy. I should remind you I have a 23lb teacup chihuahua, so running with a dog is not really my thing. For obvious reasons. I’m not sure if my pup is 23lbs because I choose not to run with him or if I choose not to run with him because he’s 23lbs. But that’s neither here nor there.
Ruby’s owner, Sally, said she’s “good to run with,” so naturally I took her word for it. Here’s what good ole Sally forgot to mention:
1. Dogs (not unlike humans) poop when they run. Thankfully Sally had a poop bag tied to the leash, but when I went to pick it up pushing my hand through one side, there were holes in the bag (yup, visual). And there were six construction workers standing by staring at me. That was awkward for multiple reasons. Oh, and there wasn’t a trashcan to be found anywhere.
2. As a puppy, Ruby liked to bite her leash, pulling it away from me, thinking it was a game. I’m not the best runner to start with so all my focus needs to be on actually running, not an animal. This in turn, shortened the leash, making it an awkward length between the two of us causing me to stutter-step behind her. Perhaps ideal for cross-training, but nothing else.
3. Running on the bike path in South Lake Tahoe, it never failed that when a bike passed in either direction, Ruby tried to chase it. The same went with squirrels, leaves, trash, and so on. I guess the bonus here was that my pace was quickened against my will.
4. We ran across a homeless man laying in the bushes and in true Lassie form, Ruby ran over to him, before I had even noticed there was in fact a human on the ground. I’m not sure who was more frightened by this act, him or me, but it surely wasn’t Ruby.
Ruby’s clearly in charge here
5. If there is anything, I mean anything, interesting on the ground (say like a half eaten apple), Ruby will swiftly veer to one side pulling you along just to eat it, without warning.
[Today’s running accessories: I ran in my favorite New Balance 1400s, my lululemon speed shorts & my #nolimits tank, listened to the “No Doubt Radio” station on Pandora to kick it old school, ran a 8.3mph pace and finished 1.75 miles using the Nike+ running app before promptly returning the animal back home. Ruby however made a bigger mess drinking her water when we got home though. Go figure…]
FREELANCE + SPORTS + TRAVEL + FITNESS
COPYRIGHT 2019, THE BLONDE SIDE
CREATED BY JAYME LAMM