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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! 🙂

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!

Reviews Style

#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.

Family Home Reviews Style

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)

Family Style Travel

Caribbean Club 2017

Posted on June 13, 2017

The Caribbean Club at Grand Cayman will always have a special place in my heart. I have had so many special memories here. Not to mention, it is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in. I thought I was dreaming when they said they would have my family and I back. This time, we knew we wanted to stay a little more low-key and spend more time at 7 Mile Beach at the hotel. We still explored, we just didn’t do as many excursions as our first trip. The room this time around was just as beautiful as the first time. As soon as you open the door, the big open space just make it feel amazing and luxurious. It had 3 large bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The master bedroom had a king bed, a huge master bath with a jacuzzi tub, twin sinks and a stand up shower, and then sliding glass doors leading out to the oversized balcony with amazing views of those Caribbean blues. The second bedroom had a queen bed and another huge bathroom. The third bedroom had 2 twin beds and a shared bathroom that you could access from the hallway as well. Each room also has tons of closet space. It’s so nice when there is actually room and you don’t have to live out of a suitcase the entire vacation! The kitchen and living room were so spacious. It’s an open concept area complete with a full kitchen, a breakfast bar and stools, a dining table, full couch and chair, and of course 2 large sliding glass doors leading out to the amazing balcony. There was a washer and drier off of the kitchen as well. I was pretty much ready to move in! On to the balcony…it’s just amazing. It’s such a big space for a balcony, with room for a dining table, 3 lounge chairs, and some extra cushiony outdoor seating. We were out there every morning, every evening and just about anytime we popped into the room for something. You can’t help but wander out there any chance you can get to experience the view of the pool, 7 Mile Beach and the never-ending sea of the most beautiful blue ever. Most of our days were spent on the beach under one of their cabana huts sipping on the pina-colodas from Luca, their in-house restaurant. We also spent the other part of our days taking out one of their paddle-boards and enjoying their world-class snorkeling about 100 yards out. We love that you can see things like turtles and cuttlefish literally 10 feet off-shore! This has been the only island we’ve ever experienced anything like this so close to shore! And, since Nate doesn’t know how to snorkel yet, it’s really cool when he gets to see a turtle come up to the water surface for air. He was so excited to see the little guy pop his head up – it was adorable. My wife and I also went scuba diving at Eden Rock, which is about a 15 minute drive from the hotel. It’s actually our favorite place to snorkel! We love being able to rent the gear and just jump right in the water and make our way out to the reef alone. This year, we saw our first shark! It was actually really scary even though it was a small shark (LOL). It wanted nothing to do with us, but it was just a reminder that they are out there somewhere, and it has always been my greatest fear to come across one. Well I did, and I made it (haha). We also took a venture across the island to the Cayman Crystal Caves. Despite the fact that it’s an hour drive, it was a really nice time. Nathan was soooo into it! We were surprised at how well he listened and behaved and was intrigued by all there was to see. We got to see bats, a few different caves, and an amazing underground water pool, surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites – it was a total Goonies experience! On another day, we also experienced their Carnival parade go right past the hotel. I found out the hard way, but you might not want to take your kid to see it (LOL). It was all harmless, but there was some serious grinding, with a lack of clothing, that might not be kid appropriate! (LOL) It was an experience though! With that said, if you visit and don’t have kids with you, go get some glitter and head down and join the fun because it looked like a blast. We usually spend at least 2 nights at Camana Bay. This is a little area with cute shops, great restaurants and fun water fountains for the kids to play in (I joined in with Nate this time), and it’s a perfect way to end your evening. We always end our vacation with a long day at the beach right in front of the Caribbean Club, and having dinner at our favorite restaurant, Luca. The food is absolutely amazing and the staff is always so welcoming and friendly – I can’t say it enough how friendly they were to my family and I. It’s a romantic little atmosphere at the base of the hotel where you can either dine inside or out. We always choose out, because how can you not with the crazy warm weather and gorgeous views! It’s been a few weeks since we’ve been home and we’re honestly already to go back. The Caribbean Club is amazing. The staff, the rooms, the views, the restaurant, the beach…everything is just breathtaking. My son is already asking me ‘When are we going back to Grand Cayman again?’ I don’t know what it is about this place in particular but when I think about both of my trips here with my family, I get all nostalgic and could literally just keep coming back ever year! We LOVE you Caribbean Club, and thank you again for having us! We hope to be back again next year (if not sooner), LOL. If you’re planning on vacationing in Grand Cayman, definitely consider this place. I can’t say it enough, how much we LOVE it here and all the unforgettable memories you will have!

Family Style Travel

Twinning in Old Navy

Posted on June 12, 2017

I remember my very first game at Shea Stadium. My Grandfather took myself, my sister, and the rest of my cousins and we sat in the bleachers. We were allowed one large popcorn and one large soda to share among all of us. As a father, one of the coolest things for me is to be able to take an experience I had as a child and give my son that same experience but make it even better by letting him enjoy all the extras that I didn’t get to experience. We were lucky enough to have Old Navy help me achieve this incredible night. Nathan’s first game was spent in the Porsche Suite at Citi Field. We got to meet Dave Annabel from the T.V. show Brothers and Sisters and even got to meet Mr. Met himself. We ate everything: hotdogs, hamburgers, peanuts, cotton candy and even cookie dough! We got there early enough to get close to the field and watch both teams warm up before the game. I can’t believe how nice Citi Field is! There’s so many other activities and sections that you can enjoy outside of watching the game! Nathan got some practice hitting in the batting cages and he killed it! (see video below from our Instagram story – had to share, so proud!) At the end of the game they had an amazing fireworks show. Nathan was so excited for it and he loved it. Overall, I was actually surprised at how into the game Nate was. I knew he would watch the game for a few innings but I definitely didn’t think he’d last until the end. He was so well behaved, watched the entire game, and surprisingly, was really into it! It doesn’t get much cooler than that! Oh wait, it does – we got to wear matching Old Navy Getaway Shirts (mens | toddler) to the game, that were the perfect colors to coordinate with our Mets hat and the rest of the Mets fans. To say that these shirts were a hit would be an understatement. Everywhere we ventured around the stadium, we were constantly getting compliments as to how cute we looked matching, and what bright and fun colors our shirts were. I paired my shirt with these really cool stain-resistant Old Navy Stay-White Jeans (perfect for stadium eating behavior) and Nathan paired his with Old Navy Skinny Jeans and a pair of Old Navy Printed Canvas Slip-Ons (style no longer available online) with these fun graphics all over them – including a hotdog! (perfect for the game). I seriously love when we get to match! I used to think we would look and feel cheesy (LOL) but I think when the clothes feel and look good, it just works. As you may already know, my wife is my photographer so she’s always behind the camera, but she was also rocking an Old Navy top and bottom. She went with their Relaxed Off-the-Shoulder Top and a pair of their Mid-Rise Rockstar Destructed Skinny Jeans. This was my wife’s first time wearing Old Navy jeans and she absolutely loved the fit of them! Thank you again Old Navy for such a fun night and allowing us to share it all with your amazing IG followers! (this post is sponsored by Old Navy, 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.)

Family Home Style

A Party With Popsicle

Posted on May 29, 2017

Who doesn’t love a good party? When I got a chance to style pieces from the new INC x Popsicle collaboration and throw my family a little party I was all in. This INC x Popsicle Print Shirt screams fun and has the perfect colors to rock out at any summer BBQ or party. The black base with the scattered Popsicle print, in their classic Popsicle colors (including the famous firecracker pops), is fun, without being too loud and over the top. It might be my son’s favorite shirt of mine! The black INC Men’s Skinny Stretch Pants are truly a rare find. A pant that comes in the perfect length and fit? With no belt or tight-roll needed? They seriously fit me perfect! These Popsicle’s are not only pretty iconic in the ice game but are actually a huge part of my family’s daily routine. My wife and I have a sugar-free pop almost every night – they’re only 15 calories! We LOVE the new Red Classics! And, as long as Nate finishes his dinner – he usually goes with a classic Popsicle Firecracker. Overall my family’s a big Popsicle fan, so we were thrilled with the INC x Popsicle collab. With such fun graphics from the INC x Popsicle collection, it’s only right to carry them over into the social media world & offer them as Emojis! My personal fave is the Popsicle Snow Cone – I used to live on those as a kid! Check out all of the INCmoji Stickers HERE. Plus, check out more pieces from the INC x Popsicle collection at Macy’s. Great collab! This post was sponsored by INC International Concepts, available only at Macy’s.

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