Top Amazon 7/8 Leggings Under $30

If you’re like me and most of the world, your orders from Amazon during this pandemic have greatly increased. As always, I appreciate any “link love” you can give me when shopping at Amazon or other websites.

And this month, my picks could double as an Amazon Quarantine Package, because all of these products have been used and abused over the last few weeks. Anyone else struggling to get into a routine or are you already pretty solid?

Here are my Top 5 Amazon Picks for April:

1. Kamo Fitness High Waisted Leggings 7/8: I absolutely love the fit and feel of these high waisted leggings, but my favorite part is the 7/8 length, which fits me perfectly. These are under $30 and are free shipping and free returns for Prime members. My only complaint: it only comes in two colors, otherwise I would stock up!

2. HP OfficeJet Pro All-in-One Wireless Printer: This has been a game changer for me, especially working from home. I used to think printers weren’t worth the hassle, but this is ideal for all my Poshmark shipping labels (I can even print straight from my phone), plus I edit most of my work the old-school way with pen and paper. This wireless printer is under $160 and worth the time alone that I saved having to run to the FED Ex print shop every day to print out labels and work contracts. It’s also super easy to unplug (just one plug into the wall) when you aren’t using it, so it doesn’t look clunky or take up extra space, though it’s pretty small.

3. 6-Sided Dice for At-Home Workouts: Another key piece of our quarantine life are home workouts and these dice are a great addition. For less than $14, these offer a unique and hard-hitting workout option for at-home workouts. My advice when using these is to set a goal (i.e. roll them 20 times) or use them at the end of your workout for a “bonus round”. Sometimes you can get lucky and roll “10-second burpees” option, which isn’t enough of a workout for me, but other times you might get stuck with “90-second burpees,” which as you know is killer.

4. Everybody Writes (Book): If you’ve been following The Blonde Side for any amount of time, you know I’m a big book nerd. Ann Handley’s book was recommended by a LinkedIn connection, and it has so many great tips. Even if you don’t think you’re a writer, as the title states, everyone is. If you write emails or even short tweets, it helps reframe your thoughts to make more succinct messaging and has very actionable tips throughout the book. Having a few good books during quarantine is ideal.

5. Moroccanoil Hydrating Hair Mask: I have been obsessed with this highly-rated hydrating hair mask because of the restoration it has done to my heavily-colored hair, but also the amazing smell. Here is the product description: A five minute, deep conditioning mask that revives medium to thick dry hair. Infused with antioxidant rich argan oil and nourishing ingredients, it improves hair’s texture, elasticity and manageability.

This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. I also love Amazon because I only purchase Prime for free shipping and free returns, so if it doesn’t work out like you wanted, it’s easy to send back and get a quick refund.

Gal Pal Lunchdate in Houston: Goode Co. Seafood

Since I am still bouncing around from Denver to Houston on a regular basis, I justify eating all the best foods when I am back in Houston. This last trip, I added Goode Co. Seafood’s newest spot in Memorial, and it will definitely be on rotation for future visits.

It’s a massive restaurant with a cute center bar and they serve fresh seafood (as if the name didn’t already give that away). I love the Memorial City location, because it’s in the heart of the Energy Corridor, where I spend a lot of time visiting clients. I went for lunch with my dear friend Robyn, and it was a popular lunch spot for business locals.

Here is a sampling of some of their Goode Signatures:

• Whole Roasted Flounder
• Redfish on the Half Shell (I saw at least five orders of this get brought out during our lunch visit)
• Shrimp Etouffee
• Crabmeat Fettuccine
• Whole Stuffed Founder

It’s not all seafood, as some of their signature dishes include Backyard BBQ Chicken, Prime Ribeye,

Goode Co. Seafood in Memorial

and Seared Filet Mignon.

What we ordered:

We started with fresh oysters of course and those were on point. We also split the Seafood Gumbo. I’m not a huge Gumbo lover, but Robyn insisted I try it and I was quite impressed.

I kind of overdid it with the appetizers, though I regret nothing. I had an Ahi Tuna Salad with Avocado that hit the spot. Then we had a few desserts, because why not.

We had a great lunch date. Girl time is always a must in my life and visits to Houston, so is good food, and good cocktails. Their margaritas and wine selection are also worth the visit. If you’re in the area and not super hungry, I’d recommend grabbing a cocktail at the bar and a few oysters.

January Top Amazon Purchases

Thanks to everyone who has followed along with my Amazon top picks each month – these are all products I own, have vetted and would recommend (and some of my friends reading this may be getting these for the holidays!).

Here’s what I love from Amazon for January:

1. Matching Dog Collar and Leash: some of y’all know I got a french bulldog for Christmas (yes, I am OBSESSED) and love this matching collar and leash for him! Plus, it’s super cheap for the set, which is ideal.
2. Clarisonic Mia Prima Cleansing Facial Brush: I absolutely love this and have used it every day and night for the past three weeks, so I know it’s not a fad. It’s under $100, which is good for this type of facial cleansing brush and so far, it’s stayed charged since I got it (I’ve heard complaints from similar products they don’t stay charged, but have not had an issue with this one). Pro tip: I’d set an alert on your phone to remind you when to change the brush as that’s key to keeping your skin radiant and refreshed!
3. YETI Rambler 2-pack Wine Cups: Love these and that they come in a two pack so you can be matchy matchy with someone! I love this so much, I bought our house a set and gifted two of these as Christmas gifts, which everyone seemed to love.
4. The Lids: The lids don’t come with #3, which you definitely don’t need, but they are nice to have. It makes your wine cup a legit version of a sippy cup. If you’re on a budget, skip the lids, but they are also nice to have, so wanted to include them! Plus, Christmas or not, these make the perfect gifts and you can even get them monogrammed to make it a bit more personal.
5. Dyson Hair Dryer: Yes, I spent $400 on a hair dryer, but hear me out. It was a “let me buy it and see if I love it and if not, I’ll return it” kind of purchase, and guess what – I still have it! If you’re like me and hate washing and drying your hair, because seriously who has time for all that, then this is something you need to check out. Not only does it dry your hair faster, which is as major perk, it helps prevent extreme heat damage to protect natural shine; Air temperature is measured 20 times every second, keeping the temperature under control. So yes, if you care about your hair (especially those who color and highlight a lot), consider this purchase! 

Did you miss my November Amazon picks? My October picks also had some great picks that y’all loved, especially the shampoo (I’ve had two people message me that they are obsessed with it too!).

*Post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are true and my own. 

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston

One of our New Year’s resolutions is to spend more time out and about. It’s no secret I am QUEEN of homebodies. I could literally stay in and watch Dateline, ESPN, One Tree Hill or binge watch anything for days on end, but it’s definitely good to get out and explore with people you love.

First up was date night at The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston and it did not disappoint (this was Jason’s first time here and he dubbed it “an upscale Mexican restaurant with the best dessert he’s ever had in his entire life”).

Located off Post Oak Boulevard near The Galleria, it’s a bustling and authentic Mexican restaurant perfect for a date night, group dinner or celebrating something (we saw quite a few birthday celebrations and I fully support celebrating with potent margaritas).

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown serves strong and delicious margaritas, which you’d expect in Texas. I always go for the Skinny Margarita ($10), which was perfect and not overpriced like other Houston spots. Next up is either guacamole or queso, which is basically a rite of passage in Texas.

I had my usual for dinner – beef fajitas. I am not lying when I say they are the best in

Fajitas at Ninfa’s Uptown Houston, Photo: Kirsten Gilliam

Houston. One thing to note: here they only come in medium ($29) or large ($42) portions, so they are pricier than most, but well worth it (just talk your dinner partner into sharing and you’ll both be pleased and stuffed!). As for Jason, he went with the pork chop — at a Mexican restaurant, which I found odd, but he was happy to report it was one of the best he’s ever had.

Dessert was where this restaurant really shined, with the Tres Leches ($10), which was delicious and topped with marshmallow and flambeed to order. Jason ordered it and I basically begged him to share it. I would literally go back here just for that – it was that good.

A little about Ninfa’s Uptown:

This is where it all started, where Mama Ninfa first stuffed chargrilled sliced beef into a handmade flour tortilla and launched the national fajita craze. The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation…

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation was created by “Mama” Ninfa Laurenzo in 1973 after the death of her husband, John. She started by grilling skirt steak and serving it in tortillas from her family’s struggling tortilla factory. The resulting dish – “Tacos al Carbon” (which later became known as “Fajitas”) was the basis for Mama Ninfa’s legend in Houston and in the history of Tex-Mex cuisine. Mama Ninfa passed away in 2001, and in 2005, Legacy Restaurants purchased The Original Ninfa’s. After more than 40 years in business, The Original Ninfa’s opened up a second location and is more popular than ever. Both locations are still serving “The Best Mexican Food in Texas Since Texas was in Mexico!™”