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LAYERS OF INC INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS

Posted on June 29, 2016

This is probably hard to believe or maybe if you know me, not so hard, but I actually don’t own a suit! Well I used to not own a suit. I never really had any where to wear them or a need for one. The only time I wore one is when I had a wedding to attend. The last one I purchased was actually for my own wedding back in 2010. I was a little larger at the time so it no longer fits me and I was definitely in the market for one. When I got the chance to partner up with INC (exclusively sold at Macy’s), I figured it was a great chance to grab some suit pieces. I actually really love dressing up in suits! I feel like there’s so many different ways to style a suit and so many accessories you can add to them to make them unique. I don’t really have any of those accessories just yet, but be sure to be on the look out for some as my suit collection grows! I decided to go with their INC Easton Blazer and their INC Easton Dress Pants…I thought it would be great for summer. What really stood out to me about this one, was the the length of the pants and the hemmed cuff – they fit and fall perfectly. Sometimes it can be hard to find pants that are the right length. I decided to keep it clean and light and paired it with their INC Cason Short-Sleeve Shirt in White. It’s very comfortable and is made with cotton and linen which gives it a little different texture than your normal plain white button down – it’s a tad stiffer, which makes it stay and look cleaner. My wife actually told me she thought it was going to rain today so I brought along their INC Parker Hooded Raincoat…another piece that I didn’t previously own until today. I actually like the idea of using the rain coat as an alternative to wearing the sport coat with it. You’re still able to have a clean look but it gives it more of that casual feel. I kept it clean and sporty with a pair of slip on white Vans. You should already know how much I love my slip on sneakers and shoes! (#ad #INCinternationalconcepts)

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!

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.

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!

Reviews Style

BROOKS HERITAGE

Posted on August 28, 2015

I was really excited that Brooks reached out to me to style a new pair of their sneakers from their Heritage collection. I knew they had well-known running shoes but wasn’t really aware that they had casual footwear – which is right up my alley because vintage trainers are one of my favorite style sneakers. The Men’s Vanguard from their Mother Nature collection is super lightweight and very comfortable. I really dig it’s silhouette and the versatility to be able to dress them up or down. These classic colors really play into that retro vibe that I like. My style overall is mostly casual so I styled them in that classic, school-boy look, but I can definitely see myself rocking these with some fitted slacks, a plain white tee and a sports coat…I’m a big fan of mixing dressy with casual and these are the type of kicks that would work well with that look. I’m going to keep my eye on this brand as I’ve noticed they’re been doing some limited edition collabs with other companies and being a big sneakerhead, I like to get my hands on those exclusive pieces! If you’re in the market for some classic kicks with a throwback vibe, definitely check out Brooks’ Heritage Collection. I’m a big fan!

Reviews Style

MY PERFECTLY TAILORED TEE

Posted on June 29, 2015

Every wardrobe needs a good old tee – or a bunch of them in various colors and different fits. I think I have more plain white and grey tees than anything else. When you find that perfectly fitting t-shirt (whether it’s long and scoop neck or shorter with a v-neck) I almost always want to buy more than one just in case I don’t find it again! It’s good to know that won’t be the case anymore now that I’m familiar with the website Son of a Tailor. They create your perfectly tailored t-shirt – such an innovative and perfect idea! There’s 2 tee base options to choose from in 4 different colors (white, black, blue and deep blue). From there, they walk you through all the measurements you’ll need to take according to either your favorite tee or your body-shape. I actually based my measurements off of a few different tee shirts I already owned. I took the neckdrop from one and added a few inches for a deeper drop, took the length from another and added a few inches for a longer fit, and adjusted my body measurements accordingly depending on the fit I was looking for. Pretty dope that I was able to customize the tee to fit exactly like I wanted! To take the customization to the next level they provide free monogramming of 3 initials on the bottom right of the tee. I got BCP stitched on mine – my first BCP labeled shirt – and definitely not the last. Overall the tee is a great quality and of course, the fit is perfect! Son of a Tailor also provides Free Worldwide Shipping – which is pretty amazing…no one likes spending money on shipping especially if it was for 1 t-shirt purchase – so with it being free it’s a no brainer. Get 15% Off Your First Order Now With Code BCPTEE! Can’t wait to get a white one next. I might be customizing this fit a little differently this time around. Any questions on the measurements I went with for my black one feel free to email me!

Reviews

BADRICK’S

Posted on January 28, 2015

Another month into the beard and I finally found a barber who knows how to shape it up. I had to get rid of my last one because they just weren’t getting’ it! This month I decided to add a few more products to my beard routine. I got the Badrick’s Beard Kit which includes Da Balm, Mug Scrub and LSB (Lock, Stock & Barrel) Bar. They hit their packaging right on the head – it’s super simple with a vintagy feel. The LSB Bar is pretty cool because you’re able to use it all over your entire head…you can wash your face, hair & beard all with the same bar of soap. This stuff smells absolutely amazing. You really cannot get a better smelling anything! I honestly think it should be a candle lol. The tobacco & vanilla scent definitely leaves your beard smelling good – it smells just like you would think plus a fresh, clean smell. Next up I use the Mug Scrub. This helps with flaky skin, clogged pores and embedded facial hair. I used to use my wife’s facial scrub, but now it’s nice to have a manly product to use on my face! The fragrance is almost the same as the bar of soap except it has a little deeper scent to it. I use this the same days I use the bar of soap (probably about 3-4 days a week). I use Da Balm right after the shower when my beard is still slightly damp. I was skeptical of it at first due to its thickness and because it was so different than the oils and previous moisturizers I’ve used. It appears as a beard paste but its a lightweight balm used to promote beard growth and eliminate dryness & redness. I really like the way it leaves my beard feeling. This scent is called Natural Organic Tee Tree Oil – the one thing I do wish, is that they were able to capture the Tobacco & Vanilla smell in this balm…just because I love it so much! This alone can be used as an oil, but due to it’s healing properties I use this after the shower, at night ,before bed. Between my Stubble & ‘Stache cleanser & conditioner, Badrick’s soap, scrub & balm and KillerBearOil oils & comb, I’ve got a nice collection of guy products in my stash to keep this beard growing strong! A big thanks to all these companies for the support! Without these products this beard would’ve been shaved off by now lol Check these guys out!

Reviews

STUBBLE & ‘STACHE

Posted on December 10, 2014

4 weeks ago I started to participate in No-Shave November. The first 2 weeks were rough until I realized I needed some products to help with the itch. I started out with some beard oils from Killer Beard Oil and while looking for other beardcare products came across Stubble & ‘Stache, who sells a beard wash & conditioner – that I thought would supplement well with my oil use. It was cool to see that they make a face wash tailored for men with a beard, as well as a conditioner. The guys at Stubble & ‘Stache (who founded the company in honor of a fallen US Marine who was known for an epic beard) hooked me up with their Beard Care Starter Kit, that includes the ‘face & beard wash’ and the ‘face moisturizer & beard conditioner’. The beauty of these products is that they’re both 2 in 1. Both your skin and your hair need to be cleansed and moisturized, so they scientifically formulated products to target both. The face wash has a lemony/pine smell with a hint of menthol. It’s a thin gel-like consistency that just pours out on it’s own – no need to squeeze it! Since my beard is not that thick yet I found you don’t need a lot to get a good lather. After you rinse your face you’ll be left with a cool, tingly feeling from the menthol in the wash – it actually feels really refreshing. Once my face is dried I apply the conditioner to my beard and entire face – remember it’s 2 in 1! This is kind of new to me – since I’ve never really moisturized my face before – probably like most guys. The conditioner is scent free, which is nice since I usually use this before I go to bed. You can use their conditioner as your beard oil, but I’m finding their products work really well in conjunction with my other oils. I usually only wash my face in the shower when I get home from work and moisturize right after (they recommend washing your beard around twice a week), but I use my KBO oils whenever I leave the house, since they’re scented! If you’re looking for some good beard care products definitely check out Stubble & ‘Stache – besides quality products, they donate 15% of their profits to those suffering from the mental wounds of war. How could you not want to support a company that gives back to our vets! /// BEARD UPDATE /// My beards getting long enough where it’s not just stubble on my face anymore – I think I can actually call it a beard. Although I’m still using my boar brush I’m finally able to get a comb through it. I’ve found that if you’re going to have your barber shape it up, make sure you guys are on the same page! After all this itch and time growing this thing, if he doesn’t understand what you want he could set you back. I have yet to find a barber who just gets what I want! I’m not used to seeing myself like this so I’ve definitely had a few moments where I just want to shave it off…but I’ve come this far, so I’m going to stick it out until I get it to the length I want and then I’ll decide if it’s a keeper. Beards are supposed to make you manlier, meanwhile I’m starting to have more products than my wife and am starting to have a skincare routine LOL

Reviews Style Travel

HUDSON WHISKEY

Posted on November 25, 2014

Been wanting to take a trip up to the Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery for awhile now, so I finally made the trip up to Gardiner, NY with my family and my cuz. I wanted to take the tour and check out how they make and distill their Hudson Whiskey and other alcohols. The tour starts with you checking in at the beautiful store where they sell their merchandise…from whiskey to coasters. The store has a very rustic feel and is decorated nicely with the perfect ambiance for the distillery. After checking in, you go outside on the deck with your group and tour guide (our guide was Lyon) where he gives you the history of the company, starting out with how the owner’s idea went from “Bunks in the Gunks” to the first distillery in NY since the prohibition. To kick off the tour of the grounds you start in a barn at these massive metal canisters where the mash ferments. You then move on to the room that houses the big copper distills. It’s pretty cool that they’re still using the very first distill that the founder, Ralph Erenzo, started his business using. We continued the tour into the bottling room where there is a little assembly line for filling, corking and labeling. We were lucky enough to be one of the last tours to be shown this original room, but due to their growth, they’re soon moving to a larger building to up production. We finished the tour with the best part – the tasting. Unfortunately, by law, you can only try 3 different alcohols out of their selection, which included different whiskeys, a vodka, a gin, and a few other selections. I tried the Corn Whiskey, Baby Bourbon, and the Maple Rye Whiskey. I ended up bringing home a bottle of Baby Bourbon and Corn Whiskey to enjoy at home! I would’ve cleaned house and probably bought damn near a bottle of everything if I didn’t have the wifey with me. *Side note to all the men out there…I love doing things with my wife but on trips like this maybe keep them at home so you can actually clean house lol (just kidding, you need a designated driver lol) I didn’t even know they made anything else besides whiskey, but I am def glad I know now. Besides loving their bourbons I am now a huge fan of their gins and vodka! Though I have never actually used them myself I also like their bitters and plan on adding them to my next purchase. I have only recently discovered my love for whiskey, so I have not ventured on to making drinks – been just drinking them straight up to get a nose and taste for them. If you take the trip up here, I highly recommend you stop by their restaurant, The Gristmill, after your tour. I truly cannot wait to go back…as a matter of fact, I already have a date with my cousin to do so. Their menu ranges from chicken wings and burgers to steaks, ducks, lasagna, and rack of lamb. They all have their own little twist to make them different from the norm. The bartender, totally drawing a blank on his name, was very personable and one of the best cocktail craftsmen (which he called himself lol) I have come across. He definitely earned the title! He made the best tasting cocktails by far and also some of the wildest. I told him I wanted to try a couple of different types of drinks. He started me off with a drink that had garlic in it, which was surprisingly good! After that I tried a drink with tequila and cilantro…which might be the best drink I’ve ever tried. He was doing everything from putting actual smoke in drinks for flavor and had a ton of his own bitters on the bar to use. When we visited, we sat at the bar with a good friend of mine, Gable, who works at the distillery as a distiller and brand ambassador and is also the son of one of the owners, Ralph Erenzo. He walked us around the restaurant, which has an amazing history and a lot of cool, vintage features. He took us downstairs and showed us some of the original parts of the mill. He also brought us out back and showed us the working dam that’s also part of the restaurant. Nathan enjoyed asking him a bunch of questions lol Now I could’ve went on about more of the history and tastes but I don’t want to give everything away and want to make sure you get the same great experience I did on my first visit!

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