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Soccer Season Begins With Flipp

Posted on September 26, 2017

This post is in partnership with Flipp. All views and opinions are my own.

With the warm weather coming to an end and the long days of sunshine slowly getting shorter, the end of summer can be a very depressing time of year. However, this September was VERY exciting (and emotional) for us, because our little boy started kindergarten! And by exciting, I mean for Nate…for me it’s more of just sadness. I’m excited for him, but it’s also just a reminder that he’s getting older and starting this new big boy chapter in his life. Lucky for me we had lots of back-to-school shopping to do to help cheer me up. I’m curious if I’m the only dad who actually enjoys this part of it! LOL

With most of Nate’s new clothes shopping complete, we just needed to pick up some equipment for his first year of actual soccer. Last year it was more practice drills with hands-on help from the parents, but this year he’s on a little team with real practices and real games! He’s very excited. It also means he’s going to need some official equipment. I recently teamed up with this amazing app, Flipp, to show you how I handled finding exactly what Nate wanted at the best prices. Talk about perfect timing! The app takes all of the circulars you receive at home (or don’t receive!) and brings them to one digital space. Think of all the time you can save by just opening up the app and finding all the deals from your favorite retailers right at your fingertips, and not having circular after circular scattered across your counter-top! Browse by retailer, by product category, or by discount offered…no matter which way you Flipp it, Flipp helps you find the best deal across multiple retailers. Whenever I’m in a store and find an item I usually try searching it online to see if I can find it cheaper, but now that I have Flipp, it can handle all of that for me!

You can even store all your reward cards in one place so you don’t have a wallet or keychain full of cards. Once you find the deals as well as any additional coupons you want, Flipp gives you the ability to just clip them right to your loyalty cards, or get money back via rebate. I must introduce this app to my mom and mother-in-law who are still carrying around reward card keychains from 1999! LOL

We used Flipp for our back-to-school soccer season shopping. Nate was able to pick out his cleats, shin guards, and a hat that he wanted for soccer and then I was able to go on the app and figure out where I could purchase them for the best prices. He’s officially all set for his first week of practice, and we saved at least $30 by using Flipp to find the best deals.

Apparently my son also thinks that when you just click an item in the app, it will magically be shipped to our home, (no $ needed) so he asked for us to download Flipp on his tablet as well so he can browse for soccer balls! LOL

Download the free Flipp app today for iOS or Android and let us know how you used it to help you save for back-to-school activities!

Family Reviews Style

Coordinating in Camo With @OldNavy

Posted on September 22, 2017

Well, it’s officially fall! The weather is getting cooler and the leaves in NY are starting to change. I wasn’t ready for it, but now that it’s here, I’m excited about switching up the wardrobe for fall. Nate and I recently took a trip to Old Navy for some fall looks. Nate is really into camouflage right now, and I must say he’s right on trend! (LOL) Camo can be one of those patterns, if done correctly, can really boost your outfit and give it a unique look. It can also make you look like you’re about to go hunting, if you wear too much of it! When it comes to camouflage, I like to try and only have one piece in my outfit…keep it simple. I know I’ve said it before, but I love coordinating my looks with my son. He just makes everything look cool, including me! (haha) We took it to the streets of NYC in our coordinating Old Navy outfits. I love how cool Nate looked in his all black outfit. He wore the black Old Navy Karate Skinny Jeans (currently on sale!) and this iconic Old Navy Run DMC t-shirt. I’m not going to lie, I kind of want both of these pieces for myself. I used to have the same t-shirt back in the day. The camo Old Navy Canvas Utility Jacket, which he loved, really looked good with the all black look. He cannot wait until it gets cooler out and he can wear this to school with his camo backpack! He was definitely a little show-stopper on the streets in this outfit. I went a different route and wore the camo Old Navy Slim Khakis and kept it light with the other pieces. I went with a monochrome look with the shirt and jacket. The Old Navy Slim-Fit Flannel Shirt, in the Creme De La Creme color, is super soft and comfortable! It looked really good with the clean look of the Old Navy Twill Coach’s Jacket in a similiar color. I feel like the lighter color and the clean silhouettes of these top pieces slightly dressed up the casual vibe from the camo. I completed my look with shoes in a similar color to the tops, and of course a classic tight-roll to the pants. I can’t believe how often I tight-roll my pants now-a-days! (LOL) I really love how the outfit came together! Comment below and let me know what you think! Having camouflage pieces in both of our outfits is just another way Nate and I can match without having the exact same pieces on. It’s so cute how Nate’s now getting to that age where he has opinions about his clothes and what he’s wearing. It melts my heart that he’s eager to find something similar to wear to match his daddy. 🙂

Reviews Style

Grooming With Kiehl’s

Posted on September 17, 2017

Getting older sucks! The only thing worse than getting older is looking older. Growing up I took looking young for granted. You probably can’t tell now, but I used to have a baby face — at least that’s what everybody used to tell me! My father always looked young for his age as well — at least that’s what everybody used to tell him! LOL His era didn’t have the luxury of all of the great products we have now. So, growing up, I never knew the importance of taking care of my skin. This may sound a little strange, but, I never actually used to wash my face until a few years ago — I just thought the shampoo from my hair, the leftover body wash, and some water was good enough. (I know, please don’t cringe) I guess I just though soap was soap! I don’t plan on using product on Nathan quite yet (he’s only 5), but I do want him to at least know how to take care of his skin and how important it is. The more he sees me doing the right thing, the more likely he will hopefully continue to follow in my footsteps. He’s already curious with some of my grooming routines.

With so many products on the market, finding a grooming kit with all the right products working together nicely, makes it easy and a lot less intimidating. It also saves me from having to go to the store and figure out which combination of products I need. The Kiehl’s Nourishing Shampoo + Conditioner is tough enough to get out all of the concrete, plaster and other dust that I come in contact with at work or just the normal muck from traveling around the city shooting. It has a great woodsy eucalyptus smell which is a nice change from the stuff my wife buys. For years I used what my wife bought and most of the time my hair smelled like a pina colada…Not Cute. LOL

All that dust I work around, being out in all of the elements every day, plus being by the pool and beach all summer long can really dry out and take a toll on my face. I honestly feel like this is the first year where I’m starting to see that age on my skin! The Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing face wash gets my face clean without over drying, and, I can’t afford for my skin to become any drier. (I think it’s getting drier as I age). This is also the perfect face wash to get your skin ready for a shave.

Now, if you’re using normal shaving cream, you’re doing it all wrong! In my opinion, there’s nothing better than using the Kiehl’s Smooth Glider Precision Shave Lotion. You get a much better and smoother shave and there’s less chance of irritation – I haven’t used regular shaving cream in years. As I’m writing about it, this may all seem like a lot, but these are steps you’re probably going to take anyway, so if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it right – and with quality products with natural ingredients, from a brand that’s been around since 1851.

To finish my routine, I use the Kiehl’s Facial Fuel. It’s designed to help resist the effects of the elements and re-energize the skin without leaving you feeling oily.

Last but not least – you have to protect your lips just as much as your facial skin! My wife hates when I have chapped lips — and I have them a lot. When I do, it means 2 things: I’m probably going to steel her lip balm (which I do and then always seem to lose it – whoops LOL) and when she kisses me, it’s going to be against dry, rough lips. It would be irresponsible for me not to use the Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 to keep these lips in tiptop shape — if not for me, for the wife. 🙂

At 37, I really wish I would’ve started taking care of my skin much earlier, but I guess better late than never! Now to hide all the quality products and keep my wife from steeling them on me! If you’re a guy in the market for some new products, or need a good place to start to get on the road to starting to really take care of your skin, definitely give the Kiehl’s men’s line a shot!

This post is in partnership with Kiehl’s. However, all views and opinions are my own.

Family Reviews Style Travel

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

Posted on September 15, 2017

This labor day I partnered with the Mandarin Oriental, Miami to take the fam on an extended weekend getaway. It was perfect timing! Nate was starting Kindergarten the Tuesday after we got back, and Sarina (my wife) and I were a little stressed, so we were in need of a little distraction from reminding us that our little man is growing up. The hotel is located on Brickell Key and is only 20 minutes from Miami airport and only a 10 minute walk from the Brickell Shopping area – which makes it super convenient. Since this was Nate’s first time in Miami we did do a little exploring, but now after looking back and spending the weekend at the hotel I honestly don’t think there was a need to leave the hotel at all! LOL We were perfectly content spending all day in their gorgeous pool. The pool had an infinity vibe and was right on the bay so you could see the ocean and city skyline directly in front of you. It was a beautiful open space, surrounded by a row of tall palms on one side, and the architecturally sleek hotel building on the other. We especially loved it because the pool was open until late! We love ending our vacay days with a family night dip! The pool area also had a Jacuzzi hot tub and the Oasis Pool Cafe. With a hit of a button you could have one of their super friendly staff come over and take your order, while you jump back in the pool. They would let you know when your food was ready or come right over and hand you your mojito or pina colada wherever you were. Talk about service! On the grounds they also had a private beach area, with cabanas, lounges and plenty of outdoor seating. Since it was the bay where boats were coming in, you couldn’t swim, but it an added perk to get right up near the water’s edge, surrounded by tons of palms overhead, with an amazing city view. Nate loved just digging in the sand and watching all of the luxury yachts coming in at night. We stayed in the Skyline View Suite and the room had everything. When you walked into the suite you entered the living room area which had a chaise couch, desk, built in cabinets with a flat screen TV, and a stocked bar with all of the necessary goodies and my favorite – the Illy espresso machine. The room also had a bedroom, master bathroom with a stand-up shower and tub, another half bathroom and a balcony that wrapped around from bedroom to living room and had gorgeous views of both the city and bay. The first day we were at the hotel we just hung out at the pool for most of the day. We honestly didn’t want to leave the pool, so we ate lunch at the poolside restaurant, where I had these delicious Asian style ribs, accompanied by a very tall pina colada. After lunch, I had some quiet time at the spa. I felt bad leaving my wife and Nate, but they continued having a blast at the pool. It was actually really nice to tune everything out and just unwind. I definitely passed out during most of it. After the spa and pool, we then got dressed and headed to their in-house restaurant, Yaku by LaMar. We had some cocktails on their outside patio, and I ordered some muscles as a pre-dinner snack! Since we were with Nate we knew we weren’t going to get to experience the real night-life so it was nice to get to hang out on the patio with a cocktail and listen to some music before dinner. I let loose a little and think I might have scared Nate with my dance moves. He has yet to appreciate my two step! LOL Once we sat down for dinner at LaMar I had one of the best culinary experiences of my life. I met with the super-talented chef, Diego Oka, who comes from an Asian and Peruvian background and has come up with some of the most delicious Peruvian dishes I have ever tasted. I’ve had Peruvian food in NY before, but nothing has ever come close to this. After chatting it up with myself and my wife, he offered to prepare a little something for us to taste each of the dishes on the menu. And since my wife mostly eats chicken, he even tailored her dishes around chicken, so she could still try the flavors. You could really feel his love for cooking. Diego had a way of talking about and romancing the food, that actually made my wife try dishes and flavors she normally would never have tried. Some of my favorite dishes were the Lomo Saltado and the Conchitas A La Parmesana. They tasted just as good as they were presented. Hands down – best dinner experience ever! On Saturday, we woke up early, enjoyed a morning dip and some pool time before heading over to the Frost Museum of Science. It’s always nice when an area we visit has something like this for Nate. He loves museums, aquariums, and any hands-on children’s center. Taking some time out to take him to something he really enjoys makes our trips a little more exciting for him and always helps make it feel like a complete vacation. The museum was excellent! It was very hands-on, with lots of interactive exhibits. We also got to see some fish, sharks, and other aquatic animals – which my family is always a fan of. Nate is all about space and the planets, so we also took him to the Earth IMAX movie, which he of course loved. After the museum we took a quick drive over to the Wynwood walls area to take a quick look at some of the artwork and check out the area. If I’m ever back in the area, and I hope I definitely am, I would like to spend a little more time in Wynwood. It looked like a very cool area! At this point, and with the Miami heat, we could not wait to get back to the Mandarin Oriental, Miami pool. The pool was so nice and relaxing that whenever we left we found ourselves all just saying to each other that we could not wait to get back. We stayed in the pool for as long as we could until it was time to get ready for dinner. We spent the night at the lobby bar and lounge, MO. Again, just what we needed! There was a Cuban Jazz band playing and we ordered food and cocktails and just melted away. If you decide to visit, make sure you go to MO’s Bar + Lounge and order the cucumber blah. It was by far the best drink on the trip. I cannot wait to make these at home! I was a little nervous it might be awkward bringing Nate to the bar/lounge area but because he was behaving so well, it was not a problem at all. He likes watching live music so he was intrigued. Nate just sat there with us adults, and his little Shirley Temple and just stared at the musicians in awe. It was such a relaxing and cozy night with the fam. Once again, before we went to bed, we went back to the pool for a night dip! On Sunday we started the morning (yep, you guessed it) back in the pool! LOL We then headed to the LaMar Sunday brunch. And by brunch, I mean BRUUUUNCH. There were two rows of food. One row had things like sushi and ceviche, and the other row had hot food like BBQ chicken and steak. Also included was a Peruvian rice – which I could literally eat every day. THEN…you also got to order something off of the brunch menu! I ate and ate and ate until I could literally burst. It was insanely good and insanely filling! LOL There were also unlimited cocktails from the brunch menu. And it wasn’t just your normal bloody mary’s and mimosas, there were custom cocktails included. I forget the name of the drink I had but it was made with cucumber and it was delicious. I love cocktails that are made with cucumber – they are just so refreshing! Now onto the dessert! They were all so elegant. It was a selection of bite size sweets that was served on a tower tray. One dessert even had a beautiful edible flower on it which I dared Nate to eat and surprisingly, he did! After brunch we rolled ourselves over to South Beach so we could show Nate the beach and the strip. We spent about an hour at the beach, took a quick dip, and then walked the strip. Nate was a huge hit down there. I think with his little shaved blonde haircut, and his beachy swagger with his Adidas slides and Raybans everyone looked at him like he was a little celebrity. LOL Every person he walked by or that passed him would turn there heads and give him a compliment. I thought it was hysterical…but he was oblivious LOL. He loved all the fancy cars and bikes that passed by on Ocean drive. Before leaving we all had to have one of those jumbo pina coladas you see spanning across the entire strip. Though South Beach might not really be for me anymore (it was a little crazier than I remember), it was nice that it was only a 25 minute drive away and that we could share another experience exploring with Nate. We just love exploring new places as a family! After a few hours we were ready to get back to that pool at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami. It was our last night there so we wanted to make it last. We stayed in the pool for as long as we could, and then ended the evening in their private beach area watching the sun go down and the yachts come in. It was a bittersweet night. It’s never fun when a vacation comes to an end, but Nate was starting to get excited about school the following day. After some city views on the balcony, we all snuggled in the king size bed before heading out the next morning. It was such an amazing weekend. The luxurious hotel, the over-the-top staff, the memorable food, and the pool we started and ended our days in, combined into the perfect experience and really made our extended weekend trip, feel full and complete. We all had a blast! Thank you Mandarin Oriental, Miami for such a warm, welcoming and memorable stay! Nate is already asking us When are we going back to Miami?!

If you’re looking to visit Miami, definitely consider staying at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami! Click here and get 15% OFF the best available rate!

This post is sponsored by the Mandarin Oriental, Miami.. All views and opinions are my own.

Family Reviews Style

Back-2-School in Old Navy

Posted on August 24, 2017

I can’t believe summer is almost over and fall is right around the corner. This time of year is always bitter sweet, because the weather and long days will soon be taking a shift, but we also look forward to the different activities each season has to offer! This September is even more memorable for us, because my little Nate is finally starting kindergarten! My wife and son are super excited, but I’m not feeling as enthusiastic about it. Knowing that Nate is growing up and starting this new chapter in his life is a reminder that he won’t always be my little boy. With that said, now that he’s heading into the first school year, that means it’s BACK-2-SCHOOL SHOPPING TIME! (and not just for Nate, but for myself too LOL) Let’s be real, I can’t go shopping and not get some new pieces for myself as well! This fall season we teamed up with Old Navy to #SayHi and show you our back to school looks. Prior to being a dad, I’ve always hated when fathers and their sons wore matching plaid shirts, and I always told myself I would not be that cheesy dad. However, fast forward to me now, and I absolutely love any chance I can get to match with Nate. Although, I just try and do it in a more subtle way – maybe we’re less matchy matchy and more about coordinating. I love color-blocking and wearing monochrome looks, so I picked these Olive Pants, with the built-in Old Navy Flex Twill, which makes it easy and comfortable to get that fitted jean look without sacrificing comfort. I paired them with a different tone of olive and went with the Old Navy Lightweight Hooded Anorak Jacket. This jacket is the perfect fall staple! I wanted to go in a different direction than I normally would and add in some color, so I broke up the shades of green with the Old Navy Garment-Dyed Fleece Sweatshirt in their Brick Yard color. The dye process gave the sweatshirt a subtle, cool vintage look. Nate is usually drawn to fun, bold prints, so he picked out the Old Navy Sneaker-Printed Fleece Sweatshirt on his own. He thought it was super comfy and loved the little sneakers. He has a fun pair of grey Old Navy slip-ons from last season, that went perfectly with this grey sweatshirt…he takes after his daddy and loves slip-on sneakers! We used the color red to coordinate our outfits, so Nate wore the red Old Navy Hooded Uniform Jacket, which looks similar to mine (and like me, he always loves when we have similar pieces). Nate lives in joggers and rarely wears jeans, but didn’t mind wearing these Old Navy Distressed Karate Skinny Jeans because of their stretchy fit. I don’t know if it’s because I rarely see him in jeans, but I just thought he looked more like a little big-boy than ever – all ready for school! And I love how his little chicken legs look in them LOL. Can’t wait to see this little school boy head off to his first day of big-boy school! 🙁

Family Reviews Style Travel

The Royal West Indies Resort @ Turks

Posted on August 23, 2017

At this point it’s no secret, my family loves the Caribbean! Almost all of our vacations consist of visiting a beautiful beach, on a beautiful island, surrounded by that beautiful blue water. I have wanted to visit Turks and Caicos for years now, but I was waiting for Nate to get a little older so he could enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. We finally decided we would plan our trip, and we’d just have to go again once Nate learned to swim. Little did we know…Nate actually learned to swim AND hold his breath under water, the week right before our trip. Perfect timing Nate! We partnered up with the Royal West Indies to share our first Turks & Caicos experience, while staying at their beautiful resort. The resort is only 15 minutes from the airport, which is perfect, since it’ a 4 hour plane ride from NY, and we didn’t want to spend any more time in a car. Although! We did stop at the island’s very popular, Sweet T’s, fried chicken spot on the way to the resort. When I tell you the chicken was good, I mean it was good! It’s one of the local’s fave spots, so make sure you stop by after you land! It’s been awhile since we stayed at a bigger resort, and the grounds at the Royal West Indies were just beautiful…they had the best landscaping and picturesque gardens. It was a great blend of green trees, cactus, palms, and colorful flowers. It was the perfect scenery for all of my photos 🙂 They had 3 pools: a huge pool, with an adorable kiddie pool attached (Nate’s fave!) and a bridge crossing over it to take you to their Pelican Bay Restaurant, and then 2 smaller sized pools in the quiet area – for those of your traveling kid-free and looking for a quieter scene. There was also a hot tub in the quiet area, and it was perfect for the wifie and I to get some mommy & daddy time, after Nate was in bed. My mother-in-law came on the trip with us, so it’s nice when my wife and I can get some adult time in. 🙂 The fact that the main pool had an attached shallow kid’s section for Nate and an underwater bench along most of the pool made Nate absolutely love it and helped him get the confidence to really expand his swimming skills. Now don’t be scared off! The resort is kid-friendly, but there was definitely not an abundance of them. During our time there I think I only saw 1 other kid in the pool. The craziest kid there was probably Nate (LOL). The pool was a stone throw away from the bar, which was perfect for us to grab our pina coladas and a bite to eat, because Nate literally never wanted to get out of the pool. The restaurant has some great choices and variety, but my favorite was the breakfast dish of grits and beef hash. I was told this dish is what the locals eat and it was soooo good. I actually ate it every morning. I’m a huge fan of grits and if it’s on the menu I’m ordering it. The pool-side bar also had happy hour from 5-7 so we always made sure we were in the pool at that time (LOL). I honestly can’t tell you how many pina coladas I drank, but they don’t get any better than how they make them here. Great, now I’m craving one right now! All of the pools are open 24hrs…which we all loved. Night life for us is pretty mellow these days, so it’s fun to be able to make a cocktail and head to the pool late at night with Nate, to extend our night and really maximize our vacay days. The room was a pretty standard size and included a bed (or 2), flat screen TV, and a small kitchenette with the basics, like a mini fridge and coffee maker. Our room had a balcony with a partial view of the ocean and pool and it was nice waking up and seeing both. The resort had bicycle’s you could use, as well as mini catamarans. The beach was of course beautiful. They had chairs and umbrellas you could use and it was only a very short and pretty walk from the pool. Though there wasn’t any reefs directly in front of the hotel beach, you can take a 15 minute walk down the beach to a small and very cool reef where we were able to snorkel from the shore. On the way, you can stop by Flamingo Cafe and grab a bite and cocktail right on Grace Bay Beach. We didn’t get to go scuba diving on this trip, but we definitely will on our next trip back – which hopefully will be soon! We did take a snorkeling excursion with Caicos Adventures. We stopped at 3 different reefs and I was blown away by the reef and variety & abundance of sea life. I never seen so many different types of coral. We saw so many different fish, lobster, and even some eels. Do however, beware of drinking too much of the complimentary rum punch like I did, because you are guaranteed to need a nap after (LOL). I think me and a fellow snorkeler must have drank a gallon! If you don’t feel like shelling out the $115 pp to take an excursion you can easily take a ride to one of the many snorkel spots off the shore. We went to the Coral Gardens Reef, which was literally 20 ft right off the beach. We went 3ft in and immediately almost stepped on a sting ray. This reef was perfect for Nate to get a first taste of snorkeling. I could not believe how good he did! He didn’t use a snorkel but he would hold on to me and swim around holding his breath underwater for about 20 seconds, and would just keep on pointing out all the fish he saw. The whole trip he kept saying he wanted to see a turtle and we finally were snorkeling around the reef and came up to 2 huge turtles lying on the ocean floor. He got to watch them swim up and take a breath above the water, and they were only about 3 feet away from us, so we all got a great close-up view! Snorkeling with Nate will truly be an unforgettable memory. I have never had so much fun and been more proud of my little man. Between the pool, the beach, snorkeling, and all of the pina coladas and rum punch, you really work up an appetite. There were so many restaurants to eat at but my favorite 2 would definitely have to be Cocovan and Mango Reef. Cocovan was a cool air-stream converted into a taco truck. They had the best tacos I have ever eaten! The Korean Beef and the Duck were my favorite. Oh and did I mention they have churros and ice cream for dessert. Sooooo amazingly yummy. Mango Reef was right by the water and was lit up with all these neon lights. They even had some neon lights in the water. The ambiance really made it feel like you were on vacation! As I’m writing this, it’s making me want to go back already. We all had an amazing time at the beautiful Royal West Indies. I know every vacation is going to be one for the books, but this one had a few firsts for Nate, so I’m always going to remember that this was the one where he really learned to swim and finally got to experience the magical sea turtles with his mommy and daddy. Thank you Royal West Indies for such an amazing trip! If anyone is looking to visit Turks & Caicos, definitely check this resort out. It was in the perfect location, had gorgeous grounds, really fun pools, is right on Grace Bay Beach, and has the best pina coladas! 🙂 We will definitely be back!

Reviews Style

White + Stripes in AG

Posted on July 20, 2017

I’m always inspired by military and aviation derived fashion so when AG asked me to style some of their pieces with a nautical vibe I knew it was right up my alley. AG is known for their quality basics so I knew the quality was going to be on point. The striped Cliff Crew tee, in coastal blue, is made with substantial cotton jersey which makes it have more of an upscale feel – rather than your everyday tee. I kept the look super summery and clean and went with their Matchbox pants in white. Now when I say that these matchbox pants are white – they’re ultra white! The Japanese brushed twill has a microbrushed finish, which makes these pants ultra soft and so comfortable. They were a little long on me so I cuffed them at the bottom – but I tend to do this with a lot of my pants anyways, so the length worked. With the clean white pants, striped top and my slip-ons, I was feeling like I was ready for a glass of wine and an evening sail (LOL). To give this outfit a little edge and to break up the bright white and stripes, I decided to top it off with their Marlon Jacket, in harvest olive. Lately, olive green seems to be my go-to color for a lot of my looks. I just love it! I love how this military-inspired jacket has a slight broken in look to give it that little bit of vintage vibes I always like. I really like the pieces I chose and dig the fit as a whole, both with and without the jacket. Like I said, the quality is amazing. AG might just be my new go-to for my basic must-haves in the wardrobe. Check them out! I’ve got my eye on their Indigo Chex Tee next! 🙂

Family Reviews Style

Fit & Hydrated With Schweppes

Posted on July 17, 2017

This post has been sponsored by Schweppes, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Staying fit for the summer is not easy. I like to get out and enjoy myself as much as possible during the warmer weather, and that means having and going to BBQs, pina coladas by the pool, soft-serve ice cream, and lots of dining out by the water. To balance my intake, this means I have to put in the work and eat healthy when I’m not enjoying all of these fun summer perks. I usually go to the gym after work for about 30 minutes, and then once I’m home, later in the evening, my wife and I pick a home CrossFit WOD (workout of the day) and do it together. Owning a house, working full-time, blogging, and making sure I have plenty of time with my son Nate makes it hard to find time to stay fit, so we usually wait until after he’s in bed before my wife and I get to our workout together. We push aside our couches, get out our mattes, turn on some tunes, and make sure we have something for hydration before we get on with our workout. With these longer days of sunlight, we try to get outside as much as we can, and sometimes add in a little cardio to our routine so we’ll try to go for a jog around our beautiful neighborhood. Since my diet is pretty strict during most of my weekdays, I’m always looking for ways to add some flavor into my day without adding calories. Schweppes Black Cherry Seltzer is the perfect addition to my bland everyday drink, which is always a gallon of water infused with green tea bags. After working out, a lot of times I find myself craving some flavor, which could lead to a cheat meal or snack, but drinking my Schweppes Black Cherry Seltzer definitely gives me that something extra and just the right amount of flavor to curb my craving. My wife and I particularly love the Black Cherry flavor, and the light and bubbly freshness of it. We usually purchase both the bottle and pack of cans for at-home and on-the-go. Every Friday, during our weekly ShopRite run, we always make sure to stock up on our Schweppes for the week, and it’s nice that it’s always in stock there, which makes it convenient. I’ve always been a believer into not wasting your daily calorie intake on drinks, so even when I’m having my cheat meal or weekend snack, I still find myself grabbing a can of my Black Cherry Schweppes for that subtle burst of crisp flavor!

Family Reviews Style

Summer Style With @This.Kid.Nate

Posted on July 13, 2017

Summer is here…Thank God! We needed to get Nate some new gear since most of what he currently owns and wears is activewear. With him being at camp most of the week he usually comes home with stains, so we completely forgot about getting him some clothes for when he’s not making a mess of himself! Minnow + Mars is perfect for the summer season when he needs those fun, comfortable pieces, at an affordable price. Nate’s got a mind of his own. He usually tells us what he likes…and most of the time we agree with his picks! His first pick was the Mustache Print Short Sleeve Button Down Chambray Trim Shirt. He thought the little mustaches on the button down were so funny and cool. We paired it with the Chambray Shark Print Shorts. I love mixing patterns, especially when the graphics are so minimal, like the mustache and fins. Plus, the chambray fabric instantly ties the look together, while the graphics up the fun-factor for Nate! I love the way the shorts have that denim look without the heavy material, and the shark fins give it that beachy feel – perfect for summer. The color blocking tee is always a win for me or for Nate (LOL). A guy can never have enough basic tees! I find that most of the Minnow + Mars pieces go great together no matter which piece you choose! Nate prefers his shorts above the knee so we rolled them up and paired them with his favorite summer sandals. This kid really rocked this look! I cannot wait to pair his new little mustache button-down with a pair of skinny jeans and some high-top converse for one of his first days of kindergarten in September!

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#SamSummerFriday with Sam Adams

Posted on June 30, 2017

Summer is here! And, what’s better than a summer weekend? How about the increasingly popular summer Fridays perk, or a full Friday off to kick-start that weekend?! Sam Adams gave my wife and I the opportunity to have a summer Friday on them! When I found out that in 2016, Americans failed to take 662 Million Vacation days I was in disbelief. How are people NOT using all of their vacation days?! I usually take more than I’m allotted at my job! (LOL) How can we work at full function, be creative, and not be irritable with our co-workers if we don’t take time to do anything but work. In fact, a recent study commissioned by Sam Adams showed that more than two-thirds of survey respondents (69%) feel more creative and productive after a few days off work for vacation or a long weekend. Give me any opportunity to get out of work early to have some fun and have a cold one and I’m there. I’m not lazy by any means, I bust my butt during my work hours, but I value my free time and love having fun and spending time with my family. My wife and I took the day to have a little mini #SamSummerFriday vacation within 30 minutes from our house. You don’t have to go on a major trip for you to feel like you’re on a vacation. Any place with some sort of recreation, good food, drinks & good music can instantly take me away from reality. We hit up this super cool mini-golf place where you can play 18 holes, all while walking around with a Summer Ale from the bar! I love mini-golf, and so does my family, but adding a couple cold ones to the game really elevates the experience! You can also enjoy bumper boats, volleyball, and arcade games, again, all while putting some back (WIN!). Once we finished up mini-golf, we headed over to the Poughkeepsie waterfront restaurant, Shadows on the Hudson. I’ve actually been here for a couple of great weddings and even spent a couple nights cutting up the dance floor with wifey, but never actually ate here! I will definitely be back. Their tuna tacos were out of this world, their lobster roll was seriously spot on, and their crab cakes were amazing. During our dinner of apps we got to enjoy the beautiful views of the Hudson River and Mid-Hudson Bridge, all while washing it down with summer’s finest, Sam Adams Summer Ale! The crisp lemon notes of the beer were an excellent completion to the buttery richness of our seafood dishes. This really was the perfect Summer Friday. We had incredible weather, and got to spend time together away from work and away from the everyday grind, with some of our favorite activities, topped off with good food and more importantly good beer! Thank you Sam Adams for reminding us it’s ok to step away, take advantage of the benefits you’re entitled to and have a mentally uplifting day to escape reality and recharge! I’m telling you, I’m always more motivated on the job when I can step away and leave the work at work. Find that balance and give yourself the break you deserve!

For those of you in DC, SF, Tampa, LA and Boston in particular, this reminder is especially for you…you’re the worst at taking your vacation days according to a study from Project: Time Off! To combat that, Sam Adams is taking matters into their own hands, by hosting an exclusive summer “Sam Summer Friday” parties in those cities to help encourage you all to take more time for yourselves to refresh and recharge. Workers in the cities I mentioned can nominate their offices through Twitter using #SamSummerFriday to win an exclusive opportunity to attend the Sam Summer Friday party. For official rules including how to enter, visit www.samueladams.com/samsummerfridays.

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