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Daddy Blogger

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!

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! 🙂

Family Reviews Style

‘LIFE IS GOOD’ AT MARSHALLS

Posted on November 3, 2016

Usually a perfect Friday night for my family and I is a little date night. Nothing too fancy but something that has a little something for everyone…a trip to our local Marshalls. On the surface it might not sound that exciting, but it’s a night that has everything we need after a long work week. We’re able to spend some time together doing something we all love…SHOP! We’re lucky enough to have our favorite pizza place, Home Depot (we’re homeowners, we live here), and liquor store (for after Nate’s asleep) all in the same shopping complex. We usually start our night by getting some pizza and filling our bellies so we don’t have to rush shopping and Nathan’s not cranky. We then head over to Marshalls to do some shopping! It’s a great store to bring our son Nate to because it not only has clothes for him, but we can also bribe him with a toy if he behaves and let’s us shop LOL. Depending on how good he is during the week also determines the size of the toy. Usually we just get him a little toy truck, book or puzzle (we shop at Marshalls way too much to be getting a full-sized jeep every time we go). Sometimes we’ll even grab a little snack from the checkout or home goods area to snack on while we’re walking around. We actually grabbed a bag of Jalapeno chips ($2.99) to take to the park with us, but unfortunately we were too hungry and the chips were too good and never made it to the park to be in our shots. Before we head to the fitting rooms, we always hit up the home goods section – a good portion of our house decor and kitchen utensils are from both Marshalls & Home Goods. We love the hopes of finding that one unique piece! The outfit I picked up had a great variety of brands…which is another thing I love about Marshalls. What other store can you have access to all these top brands at such affordable prices?! I’ve been trying to grow my hat collection but with such a small head I have a hard time finding a hat that fits just right. This plaid ‘Life is Good’ hat ($9.99) is a perfect fall pick up and goes great with the preppy look I was going for. The green in it was really brought out in combination with this Vineyard Vines vest ($59.99). Fall is a good time to break out the vests and a great way to add some color or texture to your outfit. I kept the shirt simple with a classic white button down from Jack Spade ($24.99)…which happens to be one of my favorite menswear brands. I also got a great pair of New Balance sneakers ($39.99) which I wore with no socks. I know some people aren’t a fan of going sockless but it’s comfortable for me and I do it all the time, and most importantly I like the way it looks with most of my outfits. However, you can easily go to the Marshalls sock section and pick up a pair of no-shows to get the same look. While I was shopping in the shoe section I also found and bought Nate the cutest all black Onitsuka Tiger sneakers ($19.99). I own two pairs of sneakers from the brand already and love their retro style. Of course he looked adorable in them! We took our Marshalls finds to one of our local parks to play, explore and shoot. Unfortunately one of our favorite little streams was a little dry, but it didn’t stop us from exploring (Nate loves exploring and hiking). We still got to throw some rocks…just with a lot less splash. Heading over to the playground, Nate was a little too excited and wasn’t watching where he was walking and tripped and fell. Poor little guy got a boo boo on his knee but was excited he didn’t mess up his new sneakers LOL That’s my boy! My family and I pretty much have the same routine at least 2 Friday’s out of the month LOL What can I say…we love pizza and love our Marshalls, in hopes of finding that perfect hidden piece! We also love the fact that you can hit up another Marshalls location and find completely different pieces. Boy do we get excited when we’re away for the weekend and drive past a new Marshalls to scavenger LOL We love the shopping rush of finding that perfect #MarshallsSurprise! Check out my post on the Marshalls site as well!

Family Reviews Style

NATE GOES BACK-2-SCHOOL IN MINNOW & MARS

Posted on November 1, 2016

My son Nathan recently got to work with a super fun company, Minnow + Mars. He got to choose from a few items from their collection so we let him pick his faves. He went with their Not Too Wacky Essential Khakis (good choice Nate) and their No Sleep Til Brooklyn Bridge Tee. I know every parent thinks this of their kids, but he’s super smart for his age and he told us he liked the shirt because “that’s where daddy grew up” (how he knew that is beyond me…he can’t read yet, but somehow he knew that bridge. His Nanny teaches him a lot and his memory is unbelievable! (Ok enough bragging). I wasn’t surprised he chose the joggers, because almost all of Nate’s pants are joggers. They’re just more comfortable for kids to wear while being active, but it still gives them a clean look of a jean, or in this case a chino. With school starting he really wanted a new backpack…and he loved the About Face Fox Backpack! Once his package came he was so excited to get mail with his name on it (he can read his name :p). His favorite item of course was the backpack…he loved his new “little friend”. We took Nate to his school’s playground to take some shots in his new gear and to burn off some of his 4 year old energy (and boy does he have a lot of it!) This kid is such a ham in front of the camera. He knows the drill too well after watching mommy photograph me lol. Definitely check out this new brand, Minnow + Mars, for some cute, affordable kids wear (they have women’s & home goods too!).

Reviews Style

PRINTS & LINENS IN INC INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS

Posted on August 2, 2016

A great way to stay looking sharp and keep cool is to find alternative materials and styles. I found both with this INC International Concepts Men’s Smith Linen-Blend Blazer and the matching INC International Concepts Men’s Smith Linen-Blend Shorts, exclusively sold at Macy’s. Linen is a more breathable fabric and is a great way to stay cool in warmer weather. I decided to keep my outfit classic in all black and white and paired the suit with their INC International Concepts Men’s Cosgrove Long-Sleeve Shirt. I’m a big fan of this all-over print! Actually…as I was out shooting this look, I got multiple compliments on this shirt. I kept this look a little more casual by leaving off a tie – that seems to be my thing…keeping my dressier looks more on the casual side or make them a tad sporty. I really like how the shirt brought the suit and classic black weejuns together. Sticking with the classic look, I wore my new DUFA DF-9011-01 Watch. I love the clean design, with the slightly bubbled/raised face glass to give it a touch of modern. My favorite detail about this watch is the Japanese automatic movement! You can’t go wrong with classic pieces like this. Overall I’m really digging this look and love the shorts suit. I’m definitely excited to be expanding my wardrobe by adding these dressier pieces in!

Style

NAVY IN INC INTERNATIONAL CONCEPTS

Posted on July 15, 2016

The family and I decided to go to Cold Spring, NY for the day to grab a bite and check out some of the antique shops. I decided to wear my 2nd I.N.C. International Concepts look. I wore their Men’s Collins Slim-Fit Blazer and their Men’s Collins Slim-Fit Pants (both in Navy) and to give it a more sporty, casual look I paired it with their Men’s Kenny V-Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt in White and my navy G.H. Bass Layton Kiltie Sneaker Weejuns. Any opportunity I get to pair a v-neck shirt with a suit or pair of trousers, more likely than none, you will see me do it! I felt these weejuns were great for this look because they’re casual but still look dressy enough and the Kiltie detail always has a special place in my heart (LOL), plus, I’m really into monochromatic looks lately, so the navy and navy just worked! We actually stopped for brunch but you won’t see any pics of that because I was starving AND when you put a chicken and waffle sandwich in front of me, there’s no time for pics! lol Antique shops are always fun to stop and browse but for some reason I barely ever buy anything from them…I guess I just like to go in, window shop and check out some vintage goods. I did come across this really cool hat that had a built in green visor that I kind of regret not buying….maybe if it’s still there when I go back it was meant to be 🙂 Overall I really like how this look turned out. I’ve been dying to add some more suits and dressier pieces into my wardrobe and now I have 2 more additions with my I.N.C suits – both in 2 of my favorite apparel colors…navy and gray. I really like the slim fit of the blazer. I gave my pants a slightly loose tight-roll, to play up the sportier look even more. I might be rocking one of these I.N.C suits out to a wedding I’m attending in September…stay tuned for a more dressed up and dapper Eric then! 🙂

Style Travel

G.H. BASS MAINE TRIP (LOOK 3)

Posted on July 13, 2016

As beautiful as Vinalhaven, Maine is, there actually wasn’t much to do being that it was the off season. In trying to explore new places, Nathan thought this little bridge would be fun to hang out on for a little bit. We took the opportunity to take some shots, hang off the side of the bridge, look over and spot fish and buoys and throw some rocks in the water. Nathan was obsessed with buoys on this trip and he was on a mission to find one that he could bring home and keep. We eventually found one for him that we bought when we stopped in Portland on the way home. I decided to try something a little out of my comfort zone with the wide legs…a style that’s not really my norm, but I’m a big fan of. I’m honestly still not really sure if I liked the way the overall outfit worked out or if I’m just not used to seeing this kind of look on myself, but I wanted to try something different! I went for a military inspired look with this fantastic olive Diesel jacket….one of my go-to colors right now! I’m always inspired by the military look. I paired it with a pair of wide-leg khakis that have a high crop and a high waist. I decided to play with the style and show off my white American Apparel socks with these classic black laced G.H. Bass shoes (unfortunately, they’re no longer available online). I love the combination of all the neutral colors and how all the pieces worked together to give it the style I was looking for. Looking back, I wasn’t 100% in love with the fit of everything and feel like I should’ve went with a more fitted white tee. I would love to hear any comments on the look: Did you like it? Would you change it? Have you ever thought an outfit looked good in the mirror, and then saw yourself in photos and didn’t think it looked as good? Curious to hear your thoughts! (P.S. My wife thinks I’m nuts and thought it looked equally as good in the photos as it did at the time lol) I am really digging how these laced up weejuns can go with almost any look though! They’re a nice change than going with your normal slip-on weejuns. I really dig the details at the ends of the laces on these…I really feel like small details are what separates a basic piece with a quality piece. My wife was actually also rocking a pair of G.H. Bass weejuns. They’re the Jaclyn Tassel Weejuns in Black and White. So jealous of these! They actually do make them for men’s with a crepe sole, but were out of my size! 🙁 I’m hoping they get them back soon though because that’ll definitely be my next G.H. Bass shoe that I pick up!

Family Reviews Style Travel

G.H. BASS MAINE TRIP (LOOK 2)

Posted on July 1, 2016

During our GH Bass Vinalhaven, Maine trip, we were by the water a lot. My son loved exploring, climbing and playing on the rocks. He was having a blast so it was pretty easy for my wife to snap some really cute shots of us together. I just love chunky sweaters, especially cardigans. I decided to keep it casual as Nate and I hung outside the cabin and played around on the rocks for a good chunk of the day. The view from here was amazing! I paired this cozy and cool Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply sweater with a pair of ripped jeans and my GH Bass Decker Camp Boater’s in the dark brown color. Slip on shoes are just so easy to take on and off and always feel so comfortable to me. I love the contrast of the dark leather and the light colored sole and they’re a good mix of both dressy and casual – easy to pull off with most looks. The leather on these is stiff enough where it feels like a good leather but not overly stiff where they’re uncomfortable…I just love them. Pair them with some loose-fitting, cuffed up jeans, for that easy-going but clean look! More GH Bass looks to come 🙂

Family Reviews Style Travel

SKATEPARK SUNDAY WITH BROOKS HERITAGE

Posted on June 26, 2016

When it comes to sneakers, I have always been into vintage style running sneakers. When I saw the Brooks Heritage Men’s Beast 1, it immediately took me back to the 90’s…which is a good thing, because I loved that era! I feel like I haven’t been skateboarding since then, so when I put these on, I figured let’s really bring it back and grab Nate and my board and hit the skatepark. I threw on some black comfy joggers and a black oversized jersey shirt, to keep it comfy but cool. I went through a phase were I didn’t wear socks with sneakers at all, and now any chance I get to add socks to my look I’m on it. I figured a plain pair of white socks would really bring out the 90’s vibe with these Brooks Heritage Sneakers. And, since I’m probably going to skate like s***, I might as well look like a boss (lol). I have to admit, I was pretty stoked and nervous to get back out there. I haven’t been skateboarding since forever, and even back then I wasn’t even that good! 🙂 It was actually pretty fun cruising around and I definitely think it’s something I’ll be doing more often. My son, absolutely loved it! I was able to put him on the board hold his hands and pull him around the park. His balance was so on point, I was even able to pull him up and down the ramps and quarter pipes and he was fearless. Being back at the park definitely brought back some memories. There’s not as many photos of myself actually skating, because lets face it, there were very little that were blog-worthy (lol). Overall, I really dig the vibe the Brooks Heritage Men’s Beast 1 kicks gave my outfit. I’m a big fan of the way they bring out the retro in their line. You can never go wrong with a pair of vintage looking sneakers!

Travel

CHRISTMAS IN NYC

Posted on December 18, 2014

Nothing’s more festive than visiting NYC during the holidays. Like most kids, Nathan’s a big fan of choo choo trains, so we decided to take the train down – it was his first time on the train. We took metro north from White Plains and Nathan was beyond excited. He was so excited on the train he had us and the passengers around him cracking up. We went down on a Saturday, which happened to be the same Saturday as Santa-Con, so there was a bunch of youngsters getting buzzy on the train. I’d be lying to say I didn’t want to go home grab my Santa getup and go to the bar…there’s a good chance next year at this time you’ll be seeing a blog post of myself at Santa-Con lol. We started at Grand Central where Nathan was mesmerized – he’s been here before but he’s finally at an age where he gets excited over evertyhing and is like a sponge taking it all in. It was hysterical…The Santa’s from Santa-Con were like celebrities – everyone at Grand Central were asking to take pictures with them all – wish we would’ve gotten a shot of it! We made our way over to Bryant park and shopped the holiday huts. One place really stood out to me – CLIFF – they sold cork accessories…wallets, belts and more all made of cork. We stopped at the Bryant Park tree, watched some of the ice skaters then stopped at Le Carrousel which me and my soon took a ride on. Being that we had a lot to do in a little bit of time we stopped to get a dirty water dog for lunch and kept it moving. From there we headed up 5th for some shopping and to see some of the holiday window displays. Nathan kept asking about the big toy store that we promised to take him to so that was our next stop. Helpful hint…at this time of year the line for FAO goes around the block. If you have a stroller they let you right in. So no matter your kids age grab a stroller! Across from FAO I got a little lost in watching some street dancers and had to be pulled away by my wife lol Next stop…Rockefeller! Nathan was in awe of the big tree. He kept telling me to get closer and closer…so we pushed and squeezed our way all the way until we were right under the tree – I think that was the closest we ever got. Tough task with a stroller. After the tree we stopped for some food. We wanted to keep it casual since it was a long day and Nate was getting tired. We stopped at the British Pub, Cock & Bull where they had a large assortment of tap beers, some cool signature cocktails and some really good bar food. I got the Steak Sandwich, which had Sliced Hangar steak served on toasted Baguette with Balsamic Caramelized onions, roasted garlic aiolo and melted stilton cheese served with hand cut french fries. Their fries were really good – almost like McDonald’s fries, really thin, but you could tell they were hand made and they were well done – just the way I like them! My mother-in-law got the crab cakes which were also really good – and my wife got her usual burger. After dinner we made our way back to Grand Central. Next year we def want to get a hotel in Times Square, like my wife’s family used to do every year, and start that tradition all over with Nate!

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