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A Father’s Day BBQ With Marshalls

Posted on June 15, 2017

This is going to sound horrible but the fact is my wife and I aren’t the best hosts when having a BBQ, party, or just having friends over. It’s not that we don’t want to – per say (LOL), but after a long work week, we just want to kick back and relax (or party). This year we decided it’s finally time to start stepping up our game. We figured the first step to becoming great hosts is having the right home essentials to make our porch look inviting and feel like you’re away on vacation rather than actually at home. We hit up our local Marshalls, like we do every week (or sometimes twice a week), and scored some great finds. We couldn’t wait to see how everything looked all set up, so we decided to have a test-run and throw ourselves a pre-father’s day BBQ. Of course it decided to rain that day, so we took it indoors and spent the afternoon in our screened-in porch. We just got back from the Caribbean so we wanted it to be bright and feel a little exotic. We scored a bunch of really cool flamingo pieces – like these dinner plates, a serving plate, and this fun table cloth. For cups, we went with classic BBQ mason jars (but with the handle, to make it more functional). We already had a picnic table, but wanted to add some more seating so we also picked up these really chic looking white outdoor chairs that are made of some sort of rubbery plastic – almost like the same kind of material they use for jelly shoes! We added a few plants around the table (to be honest, the more plants the better) and made some pink lemonade in our new beverage dispenser. This will probably be one of the only times you will see this used as a non-alcoholic beverage dispenser (LOL). My wife and I like to find new cocktail recipes during the summer weekends to relax & sip by the pool. One of my son Nate’s favorite pick-ups were these cute little pig corn-holders…they really are too cute. We used them with our corn trays that we actually already had from a previous Marshalls shopping trip. We’ve been searching for a larger home cooler/drink tub for awhile now and finally found one that we were happy with – love the white with the wood handle. I love the Marshalls home section, but rarely do I leave that store without an apparel piece in hand! So…onto my outfit! I wanted to be ready to jump in the pool at any moment the sun came out but I wasn’t in the mood to look and feel so casual. This summer I’m all about comfortable, flowy shirts – and this designer button down was just that. I paired it with this classic spring green bathing suit. The linen top really elevated my bathing suit and made it feel more like an outfit rather than just a bathing suit. We actually also picked up Nate’s little tie-dye tee in Marshalls as well. He loves that store – but mainly the toy section (haha). We are so happy with the way our porch turned out and can’t believe how it transformed with just some small decor additions. Now, we cannot wait to tackle the outside porch and find some new outdoor seating pieces! Our pre-father’s day BBQ dress rehearsal was a success so I think my wife and I may finally be ready to host! Since Father’s Day is right around the corner – here are some gift ideas you can pick up at any Marshalls, that I’d personally love to receive: a new wallet or money-clip card holder, new grilling utensils, cozy pajama pants (my son always picks out a fun print at Marshalls – last year he picked out these lounge pants covered in sharks for me, and I LOVE the fact that he picked them out himself…so much more special that way), new shoes (I mean, this is a no brainer for me – I might have more pairs than my wife), or just stop by any Marshalls and they always have that cool little section of the latest gadgets and unique gifts for any guy! Overall though, just getting quality time to spend with my family is honestly the best gift of all. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! Check Out My Feature In Their GET INSPIRED Section!

Family Reviews Style

BlueCollar (beach) Prep in Johnnie-O

Posted on June 14, 2017

For me, Father’s Day is about spending time with my family and planning a fun day with no chores and no distractions – whether this be with my wife and son or my stepfather. Johnnie-O is the perfect father’s day gift for guys of all styles – whether they wear a suit everyday to work or construction clothes like myself. The preppy beach-wear, as I like to categorize it as, is the perfect blend of prep and casual dress-wear. (SHOP MY LOOK HERE) I love being able to go to little towns like Cold Spring, NY (where I actually had my wedding) and spend the day browsing the small shops, looking at boats, playing on the rocks, eating ice cream, and just being outside by the water. When your around water with Nate, you just never know if you’re going to get wet! So, I wore these great Maritime Blue Topenga Swim Trunks that have coral Johnnie-O surfers on them. I love the slightly faded blue with the pop of coral color combo – so summery! The material of the shorts makes them have a waxed feel. Wearing them out and about in town, I never felt like I was wearing a bathing suit, just a good quality short! I paired them with their Sandy T-Shirt. I wanted to keep it beachy simple and I loved the bold Johnnie-O graphic on the back. I’m obsessed with baseball caps lately so this matching Greco Hat was a must. The color combo tied right back to the swim trunks to bring the look together. You can’t have that beachy west-coast vibe without a hat! I really like the fact that when wearing their clothes, I don’t actually have to be at the beach…I can be right in my backyard BBQing, but still feel the beach/waterfront vibes. Any piece you put on instantly transports you to summer days in a small beach town, and that’s exactly what this outfit did for me! (SHOP MY LOOK HERE) Aside from the pieces I picked out for myself, I also picked out some of my favorite Johnnie-O pieces I think your dad or husband would love this father’s day! If you shop from them today you’ll GET 20% OFF with code BCP20 (expires 6/19/17). For more coupons, CLICK HERE!

(this post is in collaboration with Stylinity & Johnnie-O, however, all opinions expressed are my own)

Reviews Style

Vintage Vibes in Wrangler

Posted on May 31, 2017

I’m always on the hunt to find new denim looks and pieces. So, when I got the chance to style some of the pieces from the Wrangler 70th Anniversary Release, I was thrilled! Wrangler has been around since 1947 and a lot of their pieces have such great vintage vibes. I went with their Retro Jacket, their Kabel Tee in Jester Red, and a pair of their Spencer Jeans in Light Pop. As soon as I saw the pieces and put them on I felt like I should’ve been apart of one of my favorite movies – Dazed and Confused. Owning so many denim jackets, it was nice to find one that stands out from the others. I love the rivet studded pleats and the indigo color. I have so much denim that is distressed, it’s nice when you get your hands on a classic and clean wash. The Spencer jean has a great light color and comfortable fit due to the subtle stretch in the material. I gave my pair a classic “tight-role” to really play up the vintage look. You can never have too many vintage tees in the wardrobe. The Kabel Logo Ringer Tee has that iconic Wrangler logo across the front, and these signature tees are exactly what comes to mind when I think of Wrangler. You can wear them with just a pair of jeans or even a suit and it will immediately make any outfit cooler. I went with red (because my wife likes me in red) but I honestly think any of these tees would’ve worked with the outfit. With such classic pieces, you can literally pick any top and any bottom from their collection and it will just work – no thought needed! lol Wrangler really knocked it out of the park with their Anniversary Release and I really dig all the vintage vibes! (this post is sponsored by Wrangler, however, all opinions expressed are my own.)

Home Reviews

Gettin’ Boozy With My Brother

Posted on May 26, 2017

I recently received a Brother P-touch D210 label maker. I’ve actually used Brother P-touch label makers before when doing electrical work. They come in handy when you need to label wire, pipe or finish plates…and are much neater and more legible than handwriting on tape! However, I never had the opportunity to take one home. So, what’s a guy like me going to do with a 14-font, 600+ symbol P-touch PT-D210 label maker? I started in my kitchen and decided to label my cereal containers and jars that I use for cooking & baking ingredients. Not only does it help make things look neat & organized, it also helps make sure there is no confusion on what you’re grabbing. My son, who loves to help me in the kitchen, is in the process of learning how to read, so putting a label on certain items helps him to familiarize himself with new words. When I ask him to grab something for me he can now see how to spell the ingredient he grabbed! Just like how my son and I usually try a new recipe every few weeks, my wife and I like to mix up a new cocktail every few weeks 🙂 Not sure if it’s just me, but I can’t remember a recipe for the life of me – even an easy one. So, we thought it would be cute (I mean tough) to put the ingredients on the pitcher – and if guests ash what’s in the drink, they can just look on the pitcher and if they like it, snap a pic & save it for themselves. Right now we’re making Strawberry Mint Mojitos (see below for recipe). We also used the P-touch PT-D210 to make flags for the straws so there’s no confusion on whose drink belongs to who. Now here you can have a little fun! My wife’s straw flag said “Lightweight”, mine, “Boozy” and Nate’s, “Virgin”. Almost all the drinks we make taste great – with or without alcohol. So, if you have someone who is not of age, like Nate, (but still likes to feel like he’s part of the party), you can make sure there is no mix up! The P-touch PT-D210 also lets you easily personalize your labels with borders, symbols and different color tapes. We used White On Lime Green and White On Berry Pink TZe tape colors to go with the Strawberry Mint Mojito theme. P-touch TZe tape is laminated, making it water-resistant, and fade resistant if you want to reuse the pitcher for the same recipe! Looking forward to many more recipes, and having fun personalizing with our Brother P-touch! To purchase the P-touch D210, visit Amazon.

STRAWBERRY MINT MOJITO RECIPE

Ingredients (serves one):

3 large strawberries, hulled and sliced
5 fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1.5 ounces (3 tablespoons) white rum
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1/4 cup club soda

Directions:

1. In a glass, muddle the simple syrup, strawberries, and fresh mint leaves until fragrant.
2. Add a handful of ice to your glass and pour in the white rum, lime juice, and club soda.
3. Gently stir, garnish with a sprig of mint, and enjoy immediately!

Family Home Reviews

Playtime With Our Brother

Posted on May 9, 2017

Since my kitchen is now in order, I decided it was finally time for Nate’s playroom! I could not wait to get my hands on the Brother P-Touch D210 label maker and show Nate how much fun organizing can be. I think he may have gotten a little too excited…as you can see by my face (LOL). Anyone who has a kid knows how challenging it can be to keep their toys, art supplies and other knick knacks organized. There’s nothing worse than when you go to play with something and you don’t have all the pieces or the color you need to finish a project is missing. We took his markers, paint brushes, and modeling clay, put them in old kitchen canisters that we were no longer using, and labeled them with “Draw,” “Paint,” “Create.” We then made labels for each one of his toy bins. This was the most helpful because he always forgets where each bin is when it’s time to put away his toys. As I previously mentioned, Nate’s just learning how to read, so it’s good that when we tell him to put his things away, he can now look at the associated words and familiarize himself when doing so. To give him a little motivation to start saving money, we labeled his purple crayon bank “Ice Cream Fund.” That boy loves his ice cream (LOL). It was really fun creating the labels with him. We used the P-touch TZe Red on White and Black on White tapes and added cute symbols that coordinated with our labels (there’s so much to choose from – 14 fonts, 97 frames and more than 600 symbols!). I love teaching my boy any chance I get. He loved helping press the buttons, choosing his symbols & emojis and then of course getting to press the big green button when it was time to cut the label. I can see it already – this Brother P-touch is going to get a lot of use once he’s in school and starting to get homework and art projects! Unfortunately, or fortunately, now he’s obsessed and literally wants me to help him label everything in his playroom. (LOL). To purchase your own P-touch PT-D210 label maker, visit Office Depot.

Family Home Reviews Style

Comfy With Lacoste

Posted on April 9, 2017

Does everyone get that home-makeoever, DIY itch once it’s spring? My wife and I always do! We got this amazing new Lacoste Home Cotton Washed Solid Vapor Gray Bedding Collection and it just didn’t seem right to put such nice bedding in a room we really weren’t happy with. I’m still a full time electrician, but things got a little slow at work and I recently had some time off, so…my wife put me to work (LOL). We wanted to update our room but didn’t want to have to buy all new furniture – so, we figured we would try and spruce up what we have! We did that by painting our room all white to brighten it up, but left one wall black to give it a little contrast. I’m a little shocked we actually did an accent wall because we have always hated accent walls, but we really like how it came out. We like that the white walls gives us somewhat of a blank canvas, which lets you throw in almost any decor or color pop. We added a new floating shelf, some gold decorative objects, new dresser hardware handles, new frames, and of course some plants – we just love that pop of green with the new walls. When it comes to bedding we aren’t really the bold type. We like nice, clean quality sheets, usually in a muted color. We went with the Lacoste Home Cotton Washed Solid Vapor Gray Bedding Collection. We didn’t want the bedroom to look too bland, so we added in the Lacoste Home Printed Herringbone Sheets. I know it’s small but I actually really like seeing their crocodile logo on the pieces (it’s classic and just reinforces the confidence that you’re cuddled with a quality brand), AND of course my son thought the little crocodile was “so cute”. It was hard to get me and Nate out of bed once we got in it. The quality of the bedding made us feel like we were in a luxury hotel and we got all giddy and played around like we normally do when on vacation. We all loved the simplicity of the Lacoste Legend Supima Cotton Bath Towel as well. We love the bright, fresh beach glass color, with of course, the little crocodile detail. Whenever Nate takes a bath we wrap him up like he’s still a little baby and throw him on our bed to snuggle until mommy dresses him. He’s getting to be such a big boy, but I think he still loves how we treat him like he’s a little boy straight out of the tubby. He looked so cute wrapped in his new towel. Looking back at my previous bedding choices and some of the wild patterns and colors we were into is crazy. As I get older, my taste gets more neutral and it’s less about boldness and more about comfort and quality. We love our new room…especially with our new Lacoste Bedding!

Reviews Style Travel

Head to Toe TOPO

Posted on March 13, 2017

This summer I told myself I’m going to do as many outdoor activities as possible. Since Nate loves hiking and my parents are also avid hikers, we will definitely be doing our fare share of hiking. I took our trip to Arizona as an opportunity to start picking up some outdoor gear, and Topo Designs was at the top of my list. I love their artistic view on outdoor gear and how they don’t shy away from using bright colors, even if its just a subtle detail. The Puffer Cardigan is now one of the most unique pieces in my wardrobe. The nylon material almost gives it a leather jacket vibe. I honestly feel like it looks like I’m wearing a leather jacket but it’s so comfortable you almost don’t feel like your wearing a jacket at all! I also like the fact that the inside of the jacket is a vibrant yellow…when the wind blows you get that peek of the color pop. It was the perfect jacket to bring on my trip. While in Arizona the weather was pretty sporadic. It was actually ranging from about 80 degrees where we were staying, to 35 degrees at the canyon – crazy difference in just a 3 hour drive! I wasn’t sure if I should bring shorts, pants, a jacket or what. So I brought their Mountain Shorts in case it was hot and Puffer Jacket in case I got cold. It’s light enough to wear under another jacket if it was really needed, or if I got hot I could roll it up and put it in my pack. I’m seriously obsessed with this jacket! It was a little chilly but once I started moving around I was glad I was wearing shorts. The shorts are the perfect length and have a slim fit. Also, I like the little bit of color that the red belt adds. To go with the red detail in the belt I paired the fit with their red Nylon Camp Hat. Most of the hats I own are 5 Panel. Since I have a small head, it seems to be the style that fits me the best. For the pack I knew I wasn’t actually gong to be doing any long distance hiking so I went with the smaller Rover Pack. To to be honest, I didn’t do much hiking at all. It was more site seeing. But, I still needed somewhere to keep some water and snacks since we were going to be out all day, and it was perfect for what I needed it for. This summer when we actually start taking some longer treks I will probably upgrade to the Klettersack. Topo Designs won me over as a fan with their quality and product designs, and it’s always a bonus when all of the items are made in the USA!

Reviews Style

Beating Winter Bulkiness With a Slim Fit in Navas Lab

Posted on February 15, 2017

So you may have noticed that over the past year there has been a surge of technical garments. For the average person though, who just wants the look of the tech garment but doesn’t need it to be overly technical, NavasLab is a great choice. I got my hands on the NavasLab MADS jacket and I instantly became a fan of the company once I put it on! The inside is lined with polartec fleece, which makes the jacket super comfortable and surprisingly warm for such a lightweight jacket. The midweight soft-shell gives the jacket a very slim and fitted look (which is good since some hoodies and jackets make you look extra bulky). I like the detail of the bottom and how the back of the jacket is just a little longer than the front. The matching black zippers also adds to the refined look of the jacket. I also really dig the extra large pockets, which in this weather is great so you can fit your hands in your pockets even when you have gloves on! I already have plans to make this jacket one of my layers for when I go skiing. It’s perfect because it will keep me warm while I’m on the mountain and fashionable when I take off my ski jacket and head to the lodge bar. 🙂 The slim-fitting style is also perfect to fit right under my outer layer, without adding much bulk! From winter to chilly summer nights, it’s safe to say this jacket will be getting a lot of use! Their tech pieces are available in tall & slim (fit sizes L & XL)! All of NavasLab’s premium apparel goods are made right in Vancouver, Canada! It’s always refreshing when a company uses local vendors for their manufacturing needs, which allows them to be easily and heavily involved in the sampling of their pieces. Check this brand out and use code BCP1 to get 10% OFF Any NavasLab Purchase Until 3/31/17!

Family Reviews Style

#GiveGodiva This Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 3, 2017

I’ve never been one to buy my wife flowers. Now, before you start judging me, hear me out! Roses are pretty, but only for about 24 hours and then they start to die. A bunch of dead flowers on the table just doesn’t scream romance to me! (LOL) Luckily for me, my wife also has never really been into flowers (the smell reminds her of a funeral home) AND she has a MAJOR sweet tooth. Whenever I want to surprise her with something, to show my love and appreciation for her, chocolate is almost always my go-to. So for Valentines day especially, you have to go with the best…Godiva. Surprising her with something sweet is also a fun way to get my 4 year old son Nate involved. What kid doesn’t love going to a store that sells an array of delicious sweets? He loves the idea of me bringing him along to help me pick out something yummy that he thinks mommy would like. We can also spoil ourselves and walk out of there with a delicious milk shake, ice cream, or some hot cocoa! (and you better believe we did) This year we’re giving her the Godiva Slices of Love Chocolate Gift Box and 2 of the Godiva’s Valentine’s Day Gold Boxes. The Slices of Love collection features some of your favorite cakes from around the world in the form of chocolates. Nate picked it out for the packaging, but I was sold on the cake inspired flavors. A chocolate assortment is always a good idea so we (I mean my wife) can try a little of everything! My favorite was the chocolate turtle, my wife loves the caramels, and Nate just wanted to bite into each piece. Getting to share the sweets is another reason I always opt for chocolates over flowers! Nate was so excited to tell mommy “I have a surprise for youuuuuu”. He loves getting presents but also loves giving them, and can’t keep a secret for anything. So, we ended up giving them to her a little early. She was so happy when her 2 favorite guys surprised her with a little luxury of chocolates. We were quickly overpowered with high-pitched mommy excitement, a triple family hug and kisses galore! There’s just something about Godiva that shows you went that extra mile to make someone feel special. Every year it seems like these special occasions mean more and more to me. Being able to show my wife how much my son and I love her and appreciate everything she does to take care of her 2 silly boys means a lot to me. It’s very easy to go everyday and not take time to appreciate the ones you love but as I get older, I try to on a daily basis. I want to make sure they know everyday that no one loves anyone as much as I love them. I love our little family and we will always be a tripod or maybe more like the 3 stooges! 🙂

Reviews Style

AFFORDABLE WRIST-WEAR WITH ARMITRON

Posted on January 26, 2017

Being a huge watch fan I sometimes get lost on daydreaming about getting a nice fancy and expensive watch. Then most of the time, well actually, all of the time reality hits me and I realize I don’t want or need to spend a down payment on a car to get a fashionable watch! Here’s proof with this Armitron Silver-Tone Black Dial Watch with Stainless Steel Mesh Band. Its classic & clean style and beautiful metal strap really caught my eye. I’ve been wanting a watch with the metal mesh strap for awhile now! Its a perfect everyday watch for any outfit and it’s hard to believe that it only cost $55! This style watch is also available with a navy face or in a gold tone. If you’ve got that itch for a pricey piece, snag this one instead and put the rest in savings! LOL #DadAdvice (If you’re wondering about the last photo – I think he was upset when my wife told him she needed some pictures of me without him in them…awww)

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