Browsing Category

Style

Event Ready in Head to Toe Marshalls

Posted on April 21, 2017

The most important part of planning what you’re going to wear to an event is wearing something that you’re comfortable in. With that being said, it’s also good to step out of your comfort zone sometimes and try something new! I am and will forever be a denim guy. So unless I feel like the event is going to be very formal, I usually always wear denim but try to dress it up. I picked up this complete, head to toe, outfit from Marshall’s. I wore these designer Denim & Supply ($39.99) jeans and made them event-ready by pairing them with these great tan Joseph Abboud monk strap shoes (only $39.99). I love pairing blazers with denim. I love wearing suits, but I don’t really have the need for them in my daily wardrobe, so I end up getting my fix by wearing blazers. When I saw this designer blazer ($99.99), I really liked how the gold buttons contrast with the navy. The size of the jacket is a ‘short’, so the sleeves are a little shorter than you’d normally have a blazer fit, but, I actually liked how a little more of the sleeve was showing. I thought it gave it a little edge! When my wife saw the jacket on me, she confirmed – she also really liked how the jacket fit. I was really happy to also find this tan Todd Snyder shirt ($29.99). Not just because he is one of my favorite designers, but it’s hard to find a button down that has a slim fit that’s fits you to perfection! I literally topped my outfit off with a herringbone designer hat ($29.99). Check out my feature on the Marshall’s Blog!

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!

Style

Suits + Sneakers

Posted on March 28, 2017

So I really need to get more suits! I love wearing them and finding untraditional ways of styling them. I added a little grunge to this Sene Studio Soho Suit in Speckled Desert. I wore a slightly distressed blue t-shirt from M.I.D.A. and these new plaid distressed Vans. I don’t know why, but when I saw these Vans, the first thing I thought of was to wear them with this suit. OK, now let’s talk about this back pack! They just don’t get any nicer than this. Will Leather Goods are known for their classic leather bags. Their Oaxacan Dome Backpacks are a great way to add a lot of style with little effort. Between the quality, the rich colors, the aztec prints and the texture of the fabric, this bag is definitely a show-stopper. I’m in love. And with 15 different styles you have plenty of options to suit your own taste! Stay tuned for how I style their Oaxacan Duffle!

Home Style

Planters or Wall Decor?

Posted on March 23, 2017

4.5 years ago my wife and I bought out first house. It was bit of a visual fixer upper. The bones of the house were pretty good, but design-wise we knew we were going to have to upgrade almost everything. We were fine with this though! We knew we weren’t going to find a house with the design and style we exactly wanted. So we thought why spend more money on a house that’s decent (but we don’t love), when we would just end up renovating it anyway. So, we went with somewhat of a fixer upper. This year we decided to reno our kitchen. We knocked down a wall between our kitchen and living room and put an island with a quartz counter top. With this new layout it gave the first floor more of that open concept feel. We put new quartz counter tops and white shaker style cabinets in as well. We added matte black hardware, a matte black sink faucet, and a nice big matte black sink. We don’t get a lot of natural sunlight on the first floor so we really wanted to brighten up the space with a lot of white! For some decor, we wanted to add some plants in our kitchen to add a little green and bring in some life. Unfortunately, we have killed every plant we have ever had! Even the new palms we just bought…we’re already on the second plant! We’re really trying hard this time around to keep these little beauties alive! After our recent trip to AZ we decided to get some greens & cacti and hang them in these amazing Umbra planters. They are literally wall art! I love their clean, geometric white shape, with the touch of gold, and how they add another dimension to our kitchen. These might be one of our best home purchases! What are some of your favorite interior design brands? I’m always on the hunt for another cool, unique piece!

Style

Alternative to the Traditional Suit

Posted on March 17, 2017

I don’t have the opportunity to wear traditional suits as much as I would like since I don’t have an office job. My day job requires me to be in boots and jeans all day. But, I love wearing suits, so I try and find different ways to wear them in a more casual way. I actually wore this look for the first time during the Project Show and was bummed I didn’t get to shoot it…so, I had to wear it again and get some shots! The Soho Suit in Speckled Desert by Sene Studio is by far one of my favorite suits ever. I don’t know how a suit can be more comfortable. It has silk strands in the wool which make it ultra soft. I wanted to show a different way of wearing a suit so I paired it with an Olive turtleneck from Zara and olive Ranger Moc II Lyndon High boots from G.H. Bass. These boots are also very comfortable. It’s a nice change from a stiffer leather boot. I also rolled up the pant leg to show off a little bit of the chunky wool sock. To complete the somewhat lumberjack look I was going for, I topped it off with a red plaid hat from Stormy Kromer. I really dig this overall look and I’m happy I found another way to style my favorite suit!

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)

Family Reviews Style

GETTING ACTIVE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

Posted on January 22, 2017

Trying to stay in shape these days feels harder and harder – especially during the holidays! Between juggling work, the blog, house chores, and spending time with my family, it doesn’t leave much time for fitness. These days I’m finding that if I want to work out as much as I would like to, I need to find ways to include my son. We’ve been bringing Nate to the track lately. He loves trying to race mommy and I around. Sometimes we’ll even have an imaginary game of baseball and run the bases over and over. The kid loves to run, so it works out! It actually started lightly snowing when we were shooting, but it made it all the more fun for Nate! I also recently starting going to a Cross Fit gym by me a few times a week. The gym actually allows me to bring my son to watch while I’m taking my class. It’s adorable watching him try to copy the moves and workouts from the corner. He’s a big fan of burpees and box jumps LOL. Not only does he enjoy being included in getting active with my wife and I, but he also loves that he can match daddy. One of the many reasons we like going to Marshalls is that they have something for the whole family. They also have some great workout equipment! My wife recently got a yoga mat, I got a muscle roller, and I also picked up this jump rope, which I’ve really been into lately! (Of course we had to find one for Nate as well, so he can join in). I’m a big fan of keeping it simple when it comes to activewear so I love an all-black fitness look. The long-sleeve RBX shirt is great for winter. It sort of has a mock turtle-neck and the inside has a fleece feel. I’ve been looking for fitted & tapered workout pants for a while now. They’re actually not so easy to find, and most activewear pants that I come across are baggy and sloppy looking. I was so happy when I found these! I LOVE the neoprene material that was used in this outer jacket! I love the silhouette with the scoop hem in the back and the fact that you can take half of the sleeve off and still be able to rock it in warmer weather. I’ll definitely be purchasing more of these technical looking sweatshirts by PUMA for 2017. Love the look and versatility of them! I wore these black ECCO sneakers to complete my fitness look. They’re very clean looking since there are no laces, and they’re also very comfortable and easy to slip in and out of. Its like wearing a slipper that you can run in! We lucked out and found some coordinating all-black activewear for my son as well. Marshalls really is our one-stop shop for brands we love for my entire family! Check out my feature on the Marshalls Blog!

Older Posts

Newer Posts

Style

Instagram