How To Do A Pool Day Like a Pro

How to have the perfect pool day in Houston, at Encore Montrose

Not all pools (or pool days for that matter) are created equal. Growing up on the beach and with a pool in my backyard, I’d like to think of myself as an expert at pool and beach days. Perhaps I’m even part mermaid, who knows? So I’m sharing some ways to make the perfect pool day – whether you’re riding solo with a good book or inviting a few friends over to bask in the sun with you.

 

For starters, have a killer pool, like we do at Encore Montrose (pictured). There is so much space, so if you want to spend some time buried in a good book or with your headphones on, you’ll have peace, but if you want to turn up with some friends or meet your neighbors, you have that option too, thanks to the beautiful infinity pool. It also overlooks US-59, so being able to watch all the traffic gives you an even greater sense of peace.

Stay hydrated. Luckily my apartment isn’t far from the pool, but I always try to bring everything down in a first trip, including a huge bottle of water (it’s Houston, you’ll need it) and my favorite cans of rosé and spiked seltzers. I also try to bring a quickly made fruit salad, so I don’t have to run back and forth.

Tunes and/or a good book. Some days I can get lost in a good book for hours (Elin Hilderbrand books are my absolute faves), but other days I want to jam to some good music or even listen to a podcast and think of it as work. Make sure your headphones, iPad, speakers, ect. are charged and ready to roll for a few hours.

Sunscreen. This is not optional for me. I doubt you’ll look back one day at your wrinkles and say, “that pool day in Montrose sure was worth all these wrinkles.” Same goes for a hat and sunglasses.

The Perfect Frose.  It’s not a pool day without it, right? If you’re more of a tequila and champagne kind of person, whip up this Sparkling Margarita in a pitcher and head out in the sun. But remember to hydrate regularly, because yours truly is no longer a spring chicken!

The Company. Invite a few friends over and enjoy the day. Again, sometimes a solo pool day is exactly what the doctor ordered, but if you’re craving some girl time or good friends, invite them over for a fun afternoon in the sun. Also, don’t be afraid to ask them to bring something. “Do you mind bringing some beer or a small fruit salad?” Don’t think you have to do it all yourself. Plus, living at Encore Montrose, you are in the HEB delivery zone for free booze, via Favor, so take advantage of that! 

Shop My Perfect Pool Day Musts: 

Not that the Houston summer seems to be going anywhere anytime soon, but did you know the pool at Encore Montrose is heated? It’s not a huge infinity hot tub with jets, but they can heat it up to 82 degrees year-round, which extends pool season just a bit longer. Lucky us! 

This is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about this new Montrose apartment community. These luxury Houston apartments are located a few blocks off Montrose and are offering end-of-year leasing specials right now, so stop by for a tour and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Be sure to take a look at the infinity pool – it’s one of my favorite things about living here!

/by

Houston’s Best Manicure With A Cherry On Top

Cherry – The Mobile Manicure App

I’ve blogged about how much I love my Montrose apartment plenty, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that finding an app that sends nail technicians directly to my home for manis/pedis is one of my new favorite things.

Cherry is an on-demand mobile nail services app that is modernizing the nail industry, with the simple click of a button.

A few reasons I love Cherry:

  1. As mentioned, I am a home body. Everything about my apartment at Encore Montrose is cozy and it’s so much more comfortable than any nail salon (those massaging chairs never do anything for me, so I’m not missing out).
  2. I book the time that works best for me. And once I found my favorite nail tech, known as a Cherry Pro (Hilda, pictured), I can request her specifically and she shows up on time and ready to roll.
  3. I can make it a girl’s night or day and have friends over. You can “add a friend” to your reservation and drink wine, girl talk and more, which I find more comfortable than any other nail salon. No one can overhear your conversation, you don’t feel like you need to keep it down and you can choose what it’s on the TV or radio. If you plan to have more than a few friends over, or want to be outside, consider using the resident club room or taking the appointment outside in one of the courtyards or by the pool. The service doesn’t need water, so they can work from pretty much anywhere within your Montrose apartment community or home.
  4. It’s a Texas-based company – and you know I love supporting other Texas businesses.
  5. TIP: You can also schedule Cherry at your office. If you want them to come on your lunch break or schedule a team-building activity for a few of your top employees, this is a great and innovative way to do it.
  6. I’m able to spend more with with my sweet pup. Have a sleeping baby that you need to be close to? Same applies there.
  7. I’m able to catch up on TV shows, as pictured here, starting Gossip Girl, xoxo
  8. I can take a conference call if need be. I’m always weary to take important business calls at the nail salon (plus, I think it’s rude to other patrons), this way I’m pulling double duty, helping my time management.
  9. Once it’s over, I’m home and can carry on with my day. No sitting in traffic or driving home.

A few things to note (these aren’t negatives, but will make your process a lot

Cherry – Nails Anytime, Anywhere (in Montrose!)

easier):

  1. If you live in an apartment, provide detailed parking/finding you instructions. It will save time and energy having them walking around your apartment or not knowing where to park.
  2. They only bring a few curated colors to choos e from. For me, this works great. I personally find it overwhelming to sort through 200 colors, but if you are someone who needs an exact shade of jade, this may not be the option for you.
  3. They are slightly more expensive than your traditional nail salon, but there will always be an added fee for luxury and convienence. My only real “con” about the pricing is they charge $20 to remove your dip nails. A lot of women say they always pay a “removal” fee, but I guess I was lucky to never have before.
  4. Cherry is cashless – you pay via credit card from the app and same thing with tipping.
  5. I thought it would be awkward to have a stranger in my apartment doing my nails, but it wasn’t at all. If you want to talk, they will. If you want to watch TV in silence or take a call, they are fine with that too. Just remember to be courteous – show them where your bathroom is, offer them water, etc.

My typical “order” includes:

  • Dip Manicure / Classic Pedicure: $90
    (Nail and cuticle care, dip / classic polish, hand and foot massage)
  • Dip Removal: $20
  • Extended Massage: $10
  • Tip: 20% (up to you)

Cherry provides a way for all nail consumers to support working women that are proximate to them, making an impact in their own community (that’s us Houston!). Choosing Cherry is not just the more convenient choice, choosing Cherry means moving your own community forward, so it’s definitely a win-win for many involved.

Sure, there are a ton of good Montrose nail salons, but there’s something about being able to kick back on your couch next to your pup, in your own apartment, with your Netflix account that makes it an even more enjoyable experience.

Ready to book your first appointment? Use code BlondeSide for $10 off your first appointment for you and your friends! 

This post is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about my fun Montrose apartment. These luxury Houston apartments are offering a few leasing specials right now, so stop by and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Come for a private tour (don’t miss the pool!) and be sure to ask for the Champagne Tour.

/by

Blue Cure Event – Houston Charity Event – Sept. 28

Blue Cure Night Run in Houston: September 28th

If you’re looking for the hottest thing to do in Houston this month, look no further than the Blue Cure Night Run in downtown Houston + Zumba dance party.

Not only will it be an absolute blast, it’s for an amazing cause – raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer.

Sadly, I won’t be in Houston to make the event, but I’ve attended it a few times and I promise, it’s a terrific way to spend your Saturday night.

This is a really important race and cause near and dear to my heart. If you are in Houston on Saturday, September 28th, please consider signing up and bringing a few friends with you. 

When: Saturday, September 28th from 4-10p

Where: Downtown Houston

Register here and use code JaymeLamm for $5 off! 

For the ladies reading this — you probably already know the men in your life (dads, brothers, husbands/boyfriends, best friends, co-workers) are less likely to get checkups, so this is the chance to remind them that an annual checkup, which is usually covered by insurance, can save their lives.

For the men reading this — take a stand and show Houston that #MensHealthMatters. This is the chance to shine a much needed spotlight on men’s health all while having a good time.

From Blue Cure’s website: Arming our men with critical knowledge and information is key, and encouraging men to commit to action is our goal! The Blue Cure Night Run will shine a big bright light on men’s physical and mental health issues across Houston, Texas and beyond! Proceeds benefit Blue Cure’s prostate cancer and men’s health education and advocacy programs.

The Blue Cure Night Run is an untimed fun run, that takes place at Sam Houston Park, in front of a brightly lit blue City Hall. This family fun event will include music, dance, Zumba, yoga-stretch and healthy treats.

Today, 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancerin their lifetime. Yet research has shown that as few as 1 in 10 cancers are due to hereditary gene mutations. That means that as much as 90% of cancers come from environmental factors, such as diet, lifestyle, chemical exposure, and air quality. Blue Cure believes that we can make changes in our lives to reduce our risk of cancer and improve the outcomes of cancer victims.

/by

SPENGA FAQs

,

SPENGA Montrose FAQs

Going to a new gym scares me. I’m serious. I feel incredibly self conscious, have a hard time figuring things out and sometimes feel like I don’t belong. I have this fish out of water theory: you’re the newbie, afraid everyone there is already best friends and is judging you. Most of the time, that’s just in my head. It’s only happened at two gyms over the course of my time trying out gyms for the purpose of this column. 

If you’ve been following The Blonde Side or my Houston Instagram page, you know I recently started working out at SPENGA, in Montrose. If you’re looking to try it out, shoot me a note and let’s go together. There’s power in numbers. Or you can call and book an appointment and score a free class by using my name at the Montrose and The Woodlands locations only. 

SPENGA FAQ’s: What is it? It’s 60-minutes of a hardcore workout, split up into sections: 20 minutes spin, 20 minutes strength and 20 minutes yoga

Do I need spin shoes? Nope, use your regular shoes (but you are welcome to bring spin shoes).

Spin bikes scare me, is it scary? Spin bikes scare me too. True story – it took me TEN classes to learn how to adjust my bike. Luckily I wasn’t afraid to ask and all the staff gladly helped me each time (though I was probably super annoying!).

What do I need to bring? I have never been that person to bring a sweat towel to a gym, until SPENGA, so bring that. And water. And a positive attitude.

Do they have lockers? Yes, and use them. Never leave stuff in your car, especially in Houston! They also have showers so if you need to get ready for work or a hot date, you’re in luck.

Is this the only workout you do? As of right now, it’s the only class/instructor driven workout. I still do some at-home workouts, especially since I travel so much. But I also love that SPENGA is a franchise, so I plan to try their studios out near Denver over the next few months to help stay in more of a routine. Plus, since you’re getting spin, weights and yoga, it feels like I’m taking quite a few classes/disciplines. 

Can I try it? Yes, and as a matter of fact, if you use my name (Jayme or The Blonde Side works) when you call the studio in Montrose, your class is free. So take advantage of that! 

/by

My 3-Day Juice Cleanse Diary

,

Juice Cleanse Before and After Photos

I recently did a 3-day juice cleanse from Squeezed here in Houston (they ship all over) before an upcoming trip to Mexico. My boyfriend and I both did one — I was a tad reluctant, but since I had so many questions about what to expect, I thought I’d document my 3-day journey below:

Sunday

9a: (yes, I sleep in on weekends!) Woke up desperately wanting coffee, but LOVED the cashew milk that had coffee and a hint of cinnamon. I also took a “before” picture because although I’m doing this 3-day juice cleanse for a variety of reasons, I did pick the timing 5 days before my trip to Puerto Vallarta.

11a: Realized I hadn’t drank my breakfast yet. Mostly tasted like beets – though I love the taste of beets (oh yum with goat cheese!), drinking it is pretty weird for me.

1:40p: Sent a text to my boyfriend “I don’t think I’m going to make it.” Grabbed my lunch

My Juice Cleanse Diary

drink (1B) because I did read you aren’t supposed to wait until you’re hungry. All the TV shows I’m binging all have food. It’s not fair!

It feels a bit isolating — no coffee dates or brunches or having friends over for wine. But I keep telling myself I’m doing this to test my willpower as well as detox and reset my body. And to be frank, a cleanse is meant to clean you out. So I’m pretty thankful I didn’t schedule any plans or meetings, at least so far.

3:30p: Drinking IC and I am NOT a fan of green juices. This is the first juice that’s truly hard to get down.

4:22p: Only about halfway finished with this green juice. I can’t stomach it – literally.

4:36p: Finished it and not feeling great.

You can also read about my first juice cleanse five years ago. I stand by the simple fact “keep a bathroom nearby at all times.”

5:20p: Texted my boyfriend “no way I can do this. Need Cocoa Puffs. With pizza. And peanut butter.” Coiencidentally this is when my dog managed to put his blanket blocking the fridge because he knew how weak my willpower was. See photo.

7:48p: Hunger pains and venting to my boyfriend. He responded with: “If you can’t commit to a 3 day cleanse how can I expect you to commit to me?” Humor and sarcasm can get you through just about anything. 

9p: Time for my last juice (the activated charcoal one that looks the least appetizing), but really don’t want it. Feeling more juice overwhelmed and craving greasy foods more than actual hunger. It really didn’t taste bad, but had a uniquely gritty texture. I almost finished it, but didn’t.

10p: Stomach wasn’t too happy and definitely glad I live alone.

I’m glad a few people sent me messages on Instagram about the color of your juice matching your current bathroom situation. It helped confirm I was not actually dying, so that was comforting. 

Monday

9a: Woke up feeling fine, fingers crossed. Definitely missing my coffee.

10:30a: Feeling foggy and lethargic, but who knows if that’s due to the cleanse or just me being lazy on a Monday.

12p: I keep thinking I am forgetting to do something, but oh yeah — that’s eating! I’m used to pausing my workday for snacks or coffee or making lunch plans. I guess that should mean more time to get my work done. So far no cravings or major hunger, mostly boredom. Hope it stays that way.

12:40p: Must be in a fog — shook my juice because they seem to taste better (maybe?) and the lid wasn’t on completely. So now I have a beet and kale flavored and color-spotted couch. Awesome.

4p: Heading to workout at SPENGA Montrose. Feeling like I have plenty of energy, so we’ll see how this goes!

5:45p: Workout was way harder than I imagine — barely made it through the spin portion.

6:20p: First headache starting to set in. I wonder if it’s lack of food, water or rosé?

7:07p: Really jealous listening to my dog crunch on his food. Feels quite inconsiderate. Ok, maybe I am hungry. Cravings are more like it. I lit a pumpkin spice candle so I could at least smell something yummy. Today’s first green juice wasn’t as bad as yesterdays since it was sweeter, but not sure I can stomach the last one of the night.

9p: Minor headache turning into a bigger one.

9:45: Craving rice and shrimp and bread and everything.

Tuesday

8a: Woke up feeling fine. Today is the last day, giving myself some encouragement to push through.

9:30a: Drank half my cashew milk. Feeling nauseous, headed to Spenga for another workout. This could be interesting.

5:45p: Today hasn’t been bad but I miss eating. Hunger is setting in a little.

6p: How early is too early for bed since I can eat when I wakeup?

7p: I think juices on Day 3 are the worst.

Wednesday

11:20a: I know my cleanse is over but I am not hungry. I have sipped on coffee and had a bite of a granola bar. Weird but good. Also took my “after” picture.

As you can see from my before and after pictures, I don’t notice a huge difference, but a little less bloating. I’m quite impressed with myself for being able to push through those hunger pains, especially from day one. So far (it’s only Thursday), it has made me more cautious about what and how much I ate and don’t seem to be super hungry. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Remember, juice responsibly.

/by

My August Top 5 Amazon Picks

My Amazon Shopping Cart

I have definitely stepped up my online shopping game thanks to the ease and speed of Amazon shopping, though I’m still undecided on if this is a good or bad thing.

So without further ado, here is my 2nd post sharing my monthly favorite Amazon picks.

  1. Lumify Redness Eye Relief – This stuff is almost too good to be true. I suffer from severe allergies (or sometimes just a small hangover that makes my eyes a little red and tired), so these quick and easy-to-use drops are a game-changer. My friend Braidee turned me on to these and she uses because she has contacts and they make the whites of her eyes brighter, but I can attest they work for those of us without contacts too. It’s a must in my beauty routine.
  2. Air Fryer (hello homemade donuts and chicken wings!) – I kept hearing all the rave reviews about air fryers (but hello, chicken wings are meant to be eaten at sports bars, right!?), and now I’m on board. They are so much easier to use and it’s kind of fun practicing with things in the kitchen you never thought you’d attempt.
  3. Sea Salt Spray for my Hair – This is a must for my beachy waves and i truly love the smell too. It adds the perfect texture to my hair and it’s another must have at home and during all my travels.
  4. Dictionary Hidden Safe – I am a book nerd, so this covert dictionary that acts as a safe for some hidden valuables is awesome. I hope I didn’t just tell my little secret if anyone gets into my apartment!
  5. Black Crop Mesh Jacket – My friend Ashlee (she is one of the new badass

    Amazon Crop Mesh Jacket

    instructors at RIDE Indoors) was wearing this jacket the other day and I immediately sprinted to Amazon to copy her style (she always has the best style). It’s the perfect piece to go over your two-piece set before or after a workout or just to run errands and look more fashionable than frump. And did I mention it’s just $25 (and you get free returns if it doesn’t fit or you’re not as obsessed with it as I am!).

Did you see my Amazon picks from last month?

This post contains affiliate links.

/by

9 Ways to Create Happiness Right Now

9 Ways to Create Happiness

I’ll be the first to admit that happiness doesn’t come naturally to me, certainly not all the time. Some days I just wake up a little sad (or angry that my alarm was so rude), or whatever it might be and sometimes find myself having to work at finding happiness. And if I can’t seem to find it nearby, I have to work hard to create happiness. As cheesy as it may sound, it’s the truth.

It’s super important to get out of your grey-aired funk and find happiness and here are some of my personal tried and true methods for creating happiness, right now:

  1. Exercise and endorphins. There is a Legally Blonde quote that will always stick with me, no matter how old Id691fbb8cc7d8d367123f4c68990480a get. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands,
    they just don’t.    ” But in all seriousness, exercise does make you happy and there are oodles of science and studies to back it up. Talk about an instant mood booster. This is also why finding a Montrose apartment with a beast of a gym is a top priority for me. Encore Montrose has a two-story gym with all the latest equipment. And even if you have 20-minutes, you can do any of these at-home workouts.
  2. Pick your battles. I am so guilty of obsessing over a work email that felt disrespectful or a situation that in the grand scheme of things, truly doesn’t matter. I’ve learned that giving myself a 5 – 10-minute break to see if I’m still amped up and then proceed from there. A lot of things will anger me or frustrate me, but I have learned I need to choose wisely over what I will allow to affect me and voice to others. Talk about a work still in progress.
  3. Biting my tongue. I have realized this is key for me and goes right along with #2. Even though sometimes I will feel justified in speaking out or telling someone how I feel, I know it doesn’t always serve a purpose. I know my parents told me to think before I speak a long time ago, but I’m just now realizing it.
  4. Simplicity. Clutter and disorganization are a major cause of unhappiness and often times cutting out some of the clutter will lead you to much happier times. Whether at work or home, create a soothing and amazing space that allows you to relax and revel in some downtime. Here are some primers on how to have the perfect cozy night in.
  5. Don’t cheat sleep. If you’re suffering from FOMO, realize that sleep is a key to happiness. Unless you’re some rare breed of human who can happily operate on no sleep. I’m the rare breed that if I’m lacking sleep or food, I’m an angry individual (so consider yourselves warned).

  6. Photo and DIY: Studio DIY

    DIY girl’s night. Seriously. I get this sounds cheesy, but it’s worked for me. Having any excuse to get together with a good girlfriend or two (I have anxiety when too many girls get together at once, swear) and doing a little DIY action is super fun. Wine should be included, obvi. Here is my Pinterest DIY board, for a few ideas to start you off. Or if you want an afternoon out, consider doing a mural tour with these Montrose Houston murals. I try to have a friend over at my Encore Montrose apartment at least every other week, just to check in with each other, cook dinner, drink wine and maybe do a DIY project. This could also be a guy’s action movie night, steak night with the boys, Bible study, etc. Just spending quality time with quality people will do wonders for your mood.

  7. Take action. Just thinking about being happier or things that will make you happier rarely work. Take some action and do something. If you’ve been dreaming of a beach vacation, start saving and book a ticket. If you’ve been salivating over that new restaurant, figure out how to get a reservation and dress up and enjoy the evening. Take a page out of Nike’s book and Just Do It. (Unless it’s something harmful or illegal, then maybe don’t.)
  8. Chug some H20. You’re probably thinking you’d rather chug champagne or a cold beer, but honestly. You should know by now that water cures pretty much everything. It’s another one of those instant mood boosters, plus it makes you feel full (so you won’t feel the urge to gorge on a donut) and is great for your skin!
  9. Turn on the tunes. Taking a page out of my mom’s book, good music, which we probably all define differently can really turn your mood around or let you work out your anger or sadness. That’s one reason I love living alone and having my own apartment. I can crank up my favorite Pandora station and just work through my stuff.

To get serious for a minute – I do believe all of the above can help you create happiness, but like I said, I know it takes work. I lost my best friend to suicide and know that “drinking water” or jumping on the treadmill isn’t the answer to serious and ongoing depression. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help or consider getting on meds if you’re feeling sad or lonely. Let people know you need them.

There is a hotline you can call 24/7: 1.800.273.8255.

Happiness is also loving where you live and your surroundings, that’s why I love living at Encore Montrose. This is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about this fun Houston neighborhood. Our Montrose apartments host regular resident events, which I also think is key to happiness. Meeting your neighbors and loving where you live is so crucial to overall happiness. These luxury Houston apartments are offering leasing specials, so stop by for a tour and tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you! Hurry and here’s my pro tip – ask for the Champagne Tour.

/by

Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero 2019 Feature

,

Jayme Lamm | Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero 2019

I am so excited to be back as a Women’s Health Action Hero and loved that the popular mag interviewed me (along with about 40 other badass women across the country).

This is my 7th straight year (since the program’s inception) that I have been chosen as a Women’s Health Magazine Action Hero. We get to be some of the first to try and share new products (related to beauty, lifestyle and fitness) and the best part is the community I’ve built with the other powerhouse females in the program.

Women around the country who all strive to maintain an active and well-balanced life. Sometimes that means beast-mode workouts like what I do when I’m in Houston at SPENGA Montrose, sometimes that means indulging in my favorite wine or champagne, and sometimes that means finding 20-minutes worth of barely-there motivation to workout at my apartment gym, Encore Montrose (as photographed above). Do you see how perfect this gym is in my own building? There should be zero excuses to workout!

SPENGA Montrose, if you’re not familiar, is the only workout to place an equal emphasis on all three essential elements of fitness: aerobic, strength, and flexibility.

I love my at-home workouts, thanks to our two-story gym at my brand-new Montrose apartment, but sometimes it’s hard to find the right motivation. Encore Montrose even hosts Saturday boot camps or yoga events from time-to-time, which is great for connecting with my fit-minded neighbors and helping me do something productive on days I feel a bit lazy. It’s all about living my best life at my Montrose apartment.

If you’re in Houston and you want to try SPENGA with me, just shoot me a note and let’s plan a workout together FOR FREE! You can also call the studio directly at 713.588.2315 and mention my name (Jayme or The Blonde Side) for a FREE workout class – you’ll love it!

This is part of a sponsored series with Encore Montrose, sharing what I love about this fun Houston neighborhood. These brand-new Montrose apartments have a few leasing incentives now, but be sure to check out their two-story gym (with a private spin/yoga studio on the 2nd floor) during your tour. Be sure to tell them Jayme (or The Blonde Side) sent you during your tour too! 

/by

4 Reasons to Treat Yourself to ACQUA MedSpa

Houston Clear Lake MedSpa

The older I get, the more stress gets to me. It’s not something I like to admit, but it’s the truth.

The comparison game of social media and my friends that seem to be doing better at their jobs or family life or whatever it may be can be overwhelming at times.

I’ve become a huge advocate of surrounding myself with people who lift me up as well as making time to take care of myself. That’s why this post about my favorite Houston MedSpa is two-fold (well, actually it’s three-fold if you check out the August specials below).

4 Reasons to Treat Yourself to Houston’s Best MedSpa:

  1. When you stress, everything in your body, including your skin. Sometimes a super powerful and relaxing Hydrafacial does the trick. I had a Hydrafacial with Alexis a few weeks ago and it was exactly what I needed. I travel to and from Colorado quite a bit and was noticing my skin was starting to look and feel pretty dull. Afterwards, my skin was literally glowing and felt incredibly refreshed, plus any time with Alexis is always pure joy.
  2. Speaking of spending an hour with Alexis, anytime spent there with the gals at ACQUA is amazing. They all happen to be blonde (but I’m not partial, haha, I swear!), but they are so positive and uplifting. I’ve been going there long enough that I consider these girls my friends. We talk about life, relationships, travel and of course, skincare. It’s always a breath of fresh air to see them.
  3. We are rolling into the last quarter of 2019. If I had to guess, we probably all had some sort of “practice self-care” on our list of New Year’s Resolutions. As the saying goes, “self-care isn’t selfish.” It’s a must. Whether you have a busy corporate job, are a mom of three, an entrepreneur, or something else that describes you, it’s imperative we take care of ourselves. Consider this your friendly reminder that the holidays will be here before you know it and you don’t want to miss out on any excuse to practice self-care as we roll into the fall.
  4. Use a visit to AQCUA as a much-needed reason to reconnect with someone. Perhaps you and your partner need some quality time together or you need to thank your sister-in-law for helping with back-to-school shopping. Whatever it is, book your appointments together. Even if you get completely different services (i.e. Houston BOTOX vs a refreshing Hydrafacial), let them know when you book that you want to arrive early or hang out for a little after your appointment to catch up. They’ll have champagne and snacks for you and you guys can relax over complimentary bubbles while getting in some quality time!

And, check out their August specials while you still have a few more days:

  • Buy 20 units of BOTOX, get 5 units free
  • Buy 1 syringe of Juvederm, get $75 off
  • You and a friend can both get $25 off a chemical peel (bestie peels FTW!)
  • $200 off PRP Hair Restoration Treatment

Don’t forget, mention Jayme before any service and get 20% off (not valid on current promotions). This goes for injections, fillers, BOTOX, stocking up on your favorite Skinceuticals products and more. All your consultations at this Houston MedSpa are always free and you’ll love the girls there. Guaranteed.

/by

Houston’s Best Gyms & Fitness Giveaway

, ,

Need to get your workout game back on track? Still trying to find the perfect gym/studio that fits your needs? Don’t sweat it — I’ve teamed up with some of Houston’s BEST fitness studios and gyms (and Clean Juice in the Heights) offering a variety of classes and workout routines and we are giving you AND A FRIEND a giveaway you can’t skip out on.

To officially enter the giveaway, go to this Instagram post to enter. For a bonus entry, leave a comment below. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, August 2nd at 5p CST.

Here is what we’re giving away, along with a little information on all the studios we teamed up with:

SPENGA Montrose Houston

SPENGA: Giving away a 5 pack of classes for you and a friend.

At SPENGA you get cardio, strength training, and flexibility all in a 1 hour class! SPENGA is the only workout to place an equal emphasis on all three essential elements of fitness: Cardio, Strength, and Flexibility. We promise you’; look netter, feel better, and move better. This unique workout combines Spin + HITT + Yoga all in one amazing 60-minute workout. Our studio is complete with luxurious appointment, DJ-inspired beats, and a cast of great instructors. This workout isn’t just designed to get you fit– it’s design so that you can be in the best shape of your life. Read about my personal experience at SPENGA, and remember that if you don’t win this contest, you (and a friend) can schedule a class FOR FREE by name dropping Jayme/The Blonde Side.

RYDE Houston Fitness Studio

RYDE: Giving away a 1-month membership for the winner and a friend to both of their studios.
​RYDE is the next generation of indoor cycling — with top-of-the-line equipment, premium amenities, and unparalleled service — this is so much more that just a 45-minute full-body workout. 
Discover the next generation of indoor cycling. RYDE embodies the essence of invigorating fitness, unparalleled service, and maximum burn in a luxurious boutique environment. Featuring exhilarating music and highly skilled instructors, you will be inspired to exceed your goals, RYDE after RYDE.​

Ride Indoors in Houston

RIDE Indoor Cycling: Giving away 5 classes for you and a friend.

The mission of RIDE is provide a platform where people feel accomplished, liberated and joyful. The best workouts are fun. And we believe that when people enjoy their workout they find strength in their body, realize clarity in their mind and begin to welcome fitness as a lifestyle. As they see their bodies change, they see anything is possible and they see their lives change too. We are in the business of making people feel good, on and off the bike, in the studio and at the front desk. We are here to welcome everyone to our Tribe…to RIDE.

Revolution Studio: Giving away 4 free classes for you and a friend.

Revolution Studio – Houston Yoga and Cycling

At Revolution Studio, we hustle, flow and get RIPPED with purpose — each class is designed to help you achieve your strongest, leanest you — you’ll be moved by the experience and by each other. Our innovative cycle program, creative Vinyasa yoga classes, and epic high intensity interval strength training are the perfect compliment to each other, just ask our Warrior tribe. We’ve intentionally crafted our schedule to create the opportunity for you to take your favorite classes back-to-back, or better yet, make it a triple! Trust us, you’ll push yourself to the limit regardless of which class you take – whether on the bike, on the mat, or getting RIPPED, we guarantee your sweat session at Revolution Studio will leave you feeling inspired, empowered and transformed. With our vibes high, we bring the lights down low and turn the music up so you can Clip In. Rock Out. Flow Hard.®

VORTEX in Houston

Vortex: Giving away one week unlimited for winner plus friend.

Vortex is Houston’s luxury boutique fitness studio. A pure, no holds barred, un-adulterated fitness experience featuring RIDE, our signature cycling class, and RIP, the heads down, gloves up boxing class. Vortex features one of the most advanced lighting and music scene for your workout and is guaranteed to make you sweat.
Row House: Giving away one month unlimited for you and a friend.

Row House in Houston (Bellaire)

Row House is a low-impact, inclusive, team oriented workout designed to build muscle, torch calories, and strengthen your core in just 45 minutes. Rowing, redefined. At Row House, get ready to jump into an immersive, energetic indoor rowing class that blends low-impact cardio, resistance training, stretching, and rhythm-based rowing. We take the stigma out of rowing, and prove that people of all ages, sizes, and physical limitations can learn to row and achieve a level of accomplishment that is both physically beneficial and personally rewarding.

Clean Juice (Heights): Giving away a $25 gift card for you and a friend (to help refuel after

Clean Juice in Houston Heights

all these tough Houston workouts!).

Clean Juice Heights is an USDA Certified Organic juice bar located in the heart of the historic Houston Heights, right off of Heights Boulevard and 11th street. 

All of our smoothies, juices, açaí bowls & toasts are made with the highest-quality, organically-sourced ingredients so that you know exactly what you are putting into your body.

We’re dedicated to promoting a healthy way of life in our Houston community, so you’ll always find us participating at various health and wellness events all over the city!

Stop by Clean Juice Heights for a light lunch, breakfast or post-workout meal. When you visit, be sure to ask about our cold-pressed juices and cleanses!

Contest is not affiliated, associated or endorsed by Instagram. Winner must comply with all rules and regulations listed by each individual studio/partner. Expiration dates, waivers, etc. may apply. 
/by

FREELANCE + SPORTS + TRAVEL + FITNESS
COPYRIGHT 2019, THE BLONDE SIDE
CREATED BY JAYME LAMM