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G.H. BASS MAINE TRIP (LOOK 3)

Posted on July 13, 2016

As beautiful as Vinalhaven, Maine is, there actually wasn’t much to do being that it was the off season. In trying to explore new places, Nathan thought this little bridge would be fun to hang out on for a little bit. We took the opportunity to take some shots, hang off the side of the bridge, look over and spot fish and buoys and throw some rocks in the water. Nathan was obsessed with buoys on this trip and he was on a mission to find one that he could bring home and keep. We eventually found one for him that we bought when we stopped in Portland on the way home. I decided to try something a little out of my comfort zone with the wide legs…a style that’s not really my norm, but I’m a big fan of. I’m honestly still not really sure if I liked the way the overall outfit worked out or if I’m just not used to seeing this kind of look on myself, but I wanted to try something different! I went for a military inspired look with this fantastic olive Diesel jacket….one of my go-to colors right now! I’m always inspired by the military look. I paired it with a pair of wide-leg khakis that have a high crop and a high waist. I decided to play with the style and show off my white American Apparel socks with these classic black laced G.H. Bass shoes (unfortunately, they’re no longer available online). I love the combination of all the neutral colors and how all the pieces worked together to give it the style I was looking for. Looking back, I wasn’t 100% in love with the fit of everything and feel like I should’ve went with a more fitted white tee. I would love to hear any comments on the look: Did you like it? Would you change it? Have you ever thought an outfit looked good in the mirror, and then saw yourself in photos and didn’t think it looked as good? Curious to hear your thoughts! (P.S. My wife thinks I’m nuts and thought it looked equally as good in the photos as it did at the time lol) I am really digging how these laced up weejuns can go with almost any look though! They’re a nice change than going with your normal slip-on weejuns. I really dig the details at the ends of the laces on these…I really feel like small details are what separates a basic piece with a quality piece. My wife was actually also rocking a pair of G.H. Bass weejuns. They’re the Jaclyn Tassel Weejuns in Black and White. So jealous of these! They actually do make them for men’s with a crepe sole, but were out of my size! 🙁 I’m hoping they get them back soon though because that’ll definitely be my next G.H. Bass shoe that I pick up!

G.H. BASS MAINE TRIP (LOOK 2)

Posted on July 1, 2016

During our GH Bass Vinalhaven, Maine trip, we were by the water a lot. My son loved exploring, climbing and playing on the rocks. He was having a blast so it was pretty easy for my wife to snap some really cute shots of us together. I just love chunky sweaters, especially cardigans. I decided to keep it casual as Nate and I hung outside the cabin and played around on the rocks for a good chunk of the day. The view from here was amazing! I paired this cozy and cool Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply sweater with a pair of ripped jeans and my GH Bass Decker Camp Boater’s in the dark brown color. Slip on shoes are just so easy to take on and off and always feel so comfortable to me. I love the contrast of the dark leather and the light colored sole and they’re a good mix of both dressy and casual – easy to pull off with most looks. The leather on these is stiff enough where it feels like a good leather but not overly stiff where they’re uncomfortable…I just love them. Pair them with some loose-fitting, cuffed up jeans, for that easy-going but clean look! More GH Bass looks to come 🙂

Family Reviews Style Travel

SKATEPARK SUNDAY WITH BROOKS HERITAGE

Posted on June 26, 2016

When it comes to sneakers, I have always been into vintage style running sneakers. When I saw the Brooks Heritage Men’s Beast 1, it immediately took me back to the 90’s…which is a good thing, because I loved that era! I feel like I haven’t been skateboarding since then, so when I put these on, I figured let’s really bring it back and grab Nate and my board and hit the skatepark. I threw on some black comfy joggers and a black oversized jersey shirt, to keep it comfy but cool. I went through a phase were I didn’t wear socks with sneakers at all, and now any chance I get to add socks to my look I’m on it. I figured a plain pair of white socks would really bring out the 90’s vibe with these Brooks Heritage Sneakers. And, since I’m probably going to skate like s***, I might as well look like a boss (lol). I have to admit, I was pretty stoked and nervous to get back out there. I haven’t been skateboarding since forever, and even back then I wasn’t even that good! 🙂 It was actually pretty fun cruising around and I definitely think it’s something I’ll be doing more often. My son, absolutely loved it! I was able to put him on the board hold his hands and pull him around the park. His balance was so on point, I was even able to pull him up and down the ramps and quarter pipes and he was fearless. Being back at the park definitely brought back some memories. There’s not as many photos of myself actually skating, because lets face it, there were very little that were blog-worthy (lol). Overall, I really dig the vibe the Brooks Heritage Men’s Beast 1 kicks gave my outfit. I’m a big fan of the way they bring out the retro in their line. You can never go wrong with a pair of vintage looking sneakers!

Family Style Travel

G.H. BASS MAINE TRIP (LOOK 1)

Posted on June 22, 2016

I was lucky enough to get invited to one of my favorite shoe brands’ fall photoshoot in Maine (G.H. Bass). I couldn’t have been more excited to take on a road trip like this. We opted in to drive rather than fly so we could make some stops in Maine to explore on the way home. The shoot took place on an island off the coast of Maine, called Vinalhaven (ferry required). The night before the shoot we drove to Rockland, Maine, where the ferry departs from, and stayed at a quaint little Bed and Breakfast, with a cute little room and delicious food – it was my first time eating stuffed french toast and it was YUMMY! The next morning we caught the ferry, which was pretty exciting since it was my son Nate’s first time on a boat – he was in awe! I have to admit I was pretty excited myself, as I had never been on a ferry before, especially one I could drive my car onto. We sat on the top deck the whole way – we couldn’t believe how gorgeous the views all around were on the way to the island. Once we reached the island we met up with the crew, who had already been there shooting the day before. We followed along to one of their shoot locations – a beautiful rock quarry that has a cool story with it’s ties to Brooklyn – the granite mined there was actually used for the Brooklyn Bridge! It’s a huge hangout in the summer – where you can actually go swimming – it was way too cold when we were there but I would’ve loved to have done some cliff diving and rope swinging if I had the chance! It was super fun exploring around with my wife and son….I’m a little jealous of my wife’s boots – I really dig the G.H. Bass Kerry Boot (she’s rocking them in one of the pics). I’m a firm believer that boot season is all year round – if you can get creative with your outfit! I’m also a huge fan of monochromatic looks. I paired the Combat GH Bass Ranger MOC II Lyndon High Boot with a pair of hiker style shorts, an olive t-shirt, an olive parka and an olive 5 panel hat. To throw in a splash of color, I picked up a pair of pink tube socks with you guessed right, olive stripes…lol. The Ranger MOC is probably one of the most comfortable boots or dare I say shoes I have ever worn. The saw tooth sole helps with that and also gives the boot that little bit of edge that I like. The height of the boot is perfect and I like to wrap my laces around the top of the boot before tying. It’s definitely a boot that looks great but you also don’t feel like you have to pamper them and can take them off the pavement! And we did – with a tons of exploring. Stay tuned for look #2!

Reviews

BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA

Posted on June 10, 2016

I got an early fathers day gift this year from Baxter of California. My son loves getting things in the mail, so my wife told him it was a Father’s Day gift for me and that he could help her wrap it. I received their Pomade Mixer Kit, Under Eye Complex, Herbal Mint Toner, and the Flammable – White Wood 2 Candle.

I love gift sets, I think its the best way to try out different products without having to buy the full sized version at full price without knowing if it’s exactly what you’re looking for. I also get to share the different Pomades with my son (who, by the way, has much better hair than me..lol). I also like that now I have different pomades to achieve different looks depending on how I want my hair that day. Every so often it feels good to change it up a little. My personal favorite so far is the the clay, I like my hair to look dry-ish but still have a good hold.

I love burning candles at the house but am not really into fruity smells. My favorite scent to burn is the evergreen that you normally burn during Christmas. We usually start burning it in fall untill the end of winter. The Flammable – White Wood 2 Candle doesn’t smell anything like that..lol but it does give me the same kind of feeling when the scent is in the house. It smells like fresh wood mixed with a subtle scent of a tobacco pipe. It’s NOT like a cigar or gross smelling tobacco but that nice smooth, maybe with a hint of vanilla, type smell. This candle smells AWESOME!

Being that I’m an electrician and 35 years old, turning 36 this year, I’m finding it more important to take care of my skin, especially my face. At work it can get pretty dirty, and all the elements of being on the job can take a toll on your skin. The herbal mint toner is a perfect astringent to keep my face clean. It smells great…actually exactly the way its described in the name, like herbs with mint. It’s alcohol free so it doesnt have that harsh smell and it doesn’t burn when you use it. Man oh man how I hate seeing new wrinkles on my face..lol. Growing up I was always told I had a baby face and was told that I looked young for my age. I still hear it, but when I look in the mirror I don’t see that baby face anymore. To help get that baby face back I’m using the under eye complex. My wife showed me her application technique to apply…lol first dab, dab, dab under and around the eyes and then gently rub it in (just in case you couldn’t figure it out, like me the first time). It doesn’t really have a smell…just similar to regular lotion. It feels the same as lotion when you apply it and when it dries it just leaves you with a subtle tighter feeling…hoping it’s already working!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GET 20% OFF, FREE SHIPPING & GUARANTEED DELIVERY BY FATHER’S DAY WITH CODE BAXTERDADS.

Stay active on my Instagram as I’m going to be doing a Baxter of California give away coming very soon! All opinions expressed in this review are of my own in this collaboration with Baxter of California.

Family Style Travel

FAIR DAY IN My #MSXEVERYWEAR BY MICHAEL STRAHAN

Posted on May 24, 2016

Carnival season is here and this kid loves carnivals – so we got to bring him to the first one of the season this past weekend. Being a dad, one of the most important things I look for in clothes is comfort. When I’m out with my son Nate, you can bet that it won’t be a casual day out and I’ll definitely be active, whether I want to be or not! Michael Strahan and his design team nailed it with this MSX by Michael Strahan Tech Knit Bomber Jacket I picked up from JCPenney. It’s clean enough that I can wear it with a pair of dress pants and sporty enough to wear with sweats and kicks. I really like that the pockets have zippers so I can put my wallet and phone in them when I’m chasing Nate and I don’t have to worry about anything falling out of my pocket (I’m known for losing them both on the reg..lol). I went for a clean, casual look, and gave it a subtle retro vibe with my Raybans. If you like a more fitted look I do suggest going down a size. I usually where a medium and the jacket I got is a size small and it fits perfect! This is actually Michael Strahan’s second apparel line and is inspired by his authentic style and his active lifestyle as a father and one of America’s most recognizable athletes and media personalities…and I was lucky enough to have met him at his collection launch event!

Style

SPRING TRAINING

Posted on May 10, 2016

Once the winter ends it’s time to get back on track with the gym and clean eating in order to lose that winter bloat! Master Class Apparel reached out to me to try some of their new gear and it couldn’t have been better timing. I’ve been hitting the gym at least 5 days a week and on weekends I try to get outdoors with my son. We bike, kick the soccer ball around, play frisbee or play crazy imaginative play games where Nate tells me what to do lol I’ve been wearing their gear to the gym and just recently wore it for our family bike ride…and I’m definitely a fan! It was a pretty warm day (unlike lately) when we did a few mile bike ride and my wife kept asking me “Aren’t you warm in those pants?” I wasn’t. The material kept me cool and dry the whole time. I love the look of layering their compression tights with their signature shorts…and you can’t go wrong with a muscle shirt that is designed for style, comfort and moisture-wicking! I’ll definitely be getting a lot of use out of their gear all summer long. I may even try wearing these compression tights as a base layer when I ski in the winter :p

Family Style Travel

FALL FASHION IN #MYEASTLANDSHOES

Posted on November 20, 2015

One of the most depressing times of the year can be when the summer comes to an end, but it shouldn’t be because there is so much to look forward to in the following months! September is the start of apple picking and apple cider donuts (yum!), October has pumpkin picking, fall festivals, Halloween and to me is the start of boot season. Almost every weekend towards the end of September and throughout October we go to different farms to either do some apple picking, pumpkin picking, or just to try different donuts lol. So far my favorite donuts are from Vera’s Fruit & Vegetable Market in Cold Spring, with Fishkill Farms as a close second. When my family and I went to Fishkill Farms I broke out my Levis denim jacket with the sherpa lining. You can never go wrong with a denim jacket – with this one the sherpa lining just lets you extend wearing it into the colder temps. I have been wearing Eastland’s since high school. For me and my friends it was the go-to boot and still is for me. With all the different collections like the Made in Maine, 1955, and Mark McNairy I’m able to have different styles for all my different looks. I recently received these 1955 Sherman boots from Eastland and thought this was a perfect time to break them in. I already owned a pair in suede so I knew I was going to love them and was eyeing the leather for a while. The vibram sole makes this boot comfortable while giving the boot a rugged look. I also really like the height of the boot and the rich color – just a classic everyday boot to have!

Reviews Style

STYLE FEATURE FOR AEO

Posted on November 20, 2015

I feel like I haven’t had much time to keep the blog current lately! Working full time, owning a house, and having a family with a 3 year old – I don’t have much down time now-a-days! My blog may not always be updated on the regular, but I definitely keep my Instagram account fresh – so make sure to follow me @BlueCollarPrep! Last month American Eagle reached out to me to style their Men’s Flex Cafe Denim – pretty cool! Check out the full post featured on their site HERE!

Reviews Style

JOHNSTON & MURPHY

Posted on September 4, 2015

Lately I’ve been inspired to add some more dressier pieces and shoes to my wardrobe. I like to stop by Nordstrom from time to time to check out the newest shoe trends. Johnston & Murphy reached out to me just at the perfect time! I was super excited to get the chance to style their Allred Penny Loafer that’s sold exclusively at Nordstrom. Not having many dressier shoes, adding a classic silhouette to my wardrobe was a good way to start my loafer collection. These Johnston & Murphy 1850 ‘Allred’ Penny Loafers are made of Italian calfskin. I really dig the subtle variations of brown tones in the shoe. With it’s color and classic, clean style, you can definitely rock these out with a more casual look or dress them up even more with a suit. They fit comfortably and are true to size. I paired my J&M Loafers with a navy pair of slacks from Zara – my new favorite store for men’s pants, and a denim button down…always a big fan of throwing denim in the mix! My Calvin Klein vest is actually from my wedding day! I don’t get a lot of reasons to dress up like this in my day to day, but when I do get the chance, it definitely makes you feel good about yourself – all spiffy! I’m going to have to find more opportunities just to get dressed up lol Make sure to check out these Johnston & Murphy Penny Loafers at Nordstrom, or their full collection at www.johnstonmurphy.com!

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