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Men’s Blogger

Reviews Style

I Love Raw Sugar (products?)

Raw Sugar

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I’m sure by now you all know that I’m an electrician during the day and content creator at all other times! As soon as I get home from the job site I immediately pop in the shower to wash off the grime from the day. And let me tell you, some days I can get really grimy LOL

For the past 2 years my body wash and soap of choice has been the Raw Sugar Men’s products. I first discovered it at Target and immediately fell in love. I actually started out using only their Body Wash because I was never really a bar of soap kinda guy, but since then that’s definitely changed for me.

The Raw Sugar Men’s Citrus + Blue Agave Body Wash smells so good. It’s like they captured the scent of clean in a bottle and as soon as I start scrubbing my body, I immediately start feeling fresh. It’s deep cleaning, but also hydrating, which I need because I’m out in the elements a lot, so I need a body wash that’s not going to dry my already dry skin out! There’s no sulfates and parabens, and it’s gentle for dry skin. I love it. Even though it’s part of their men’s line my wife loves it and uses it too.

So honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever used a bar of soap in the shower until recently! Is that weird? I’ve just always preferred body wash to a bar. However, lately, I’m kinda obsessed with using the Raw Sugar Men’s Soap Bar. I get such a good lather with it! And check out my images – look at those little nubs on one side. They work great for keeping a good grip on the bar and you get a nice little massage on your bod when you lather 🙂 The bar I have now is a mix of Eucalyptus + Cedar Leaf and again, it smells so good, without being too strong of a scent. It’s also hydrating, which is amazing because a lot of other soap bar brands seem to dry me out – I honestly think that’s why I originally stopped using bars. But Raw Sugar convinced me to switch back and I’m official a bar of soap kinda guy!

I tend to switch back and forth between their body wash and the bar of soap so I get the best of both worlds. I just love their products and definitely want to try the Black Coconut + Sea Salt bar next! Doesn’t that sound yummy? If you’ve never tried Raw Sugar Living products before, you definitely need to try them out. They are officially my go-to for shower products and I always just feel so soft and fresh after each wash! My wife loves it too, and she loves the scent of their product on her hubby. 🙂

The Raw Sugar Initiative makes the world a cleaner, healthier place. Visit RawSugarLiving.com to learn more.

Reviews Style

Trimming Down for Summer

Men's Lifestyle Blogger

Men's Lifestyle Blogger Panasonic Precision Wet/Dry Beard & Hair Trimmer Review Panasonic Precision Wet/Dry Beard & Hair Trimmer Review Panasonic Precision Wet/Dry Beard & Hair Trimmer Review Panasonic Precision Wet/Dry Beard & Hair Trimmer Review

Over the past few months, I’ve been growing out my beard. I tend to do that a lot during the winter months, and it was coming in quite nicely if I do say so myself! I think I tend to get bored with the scruff, so I grow it in to switch up my look, and then eventually I get bored of the beard, so I end up shaving it back down.

With the warmer weather right around the corner, it was finally time to shave it down. Sometimes I feel like the full beard makes me look heavy in the face and honestly, once it gets this long, it just feels so itchy to me. Not sure how all those guys with super long beards do it! I recently partnered up with Panasonic to try out their Panasonic Precision Wet/Dry Beard & Hair Trimmer – EG-GB42, and it couldn’t have come at a better time since I recently dropped my other trimmer and shattered it…and, I’ve been itching (literally) to shave my beard down for some time now.

The trimmer cut really well and honestly, my favorite part might be the all-in-one adjustable clip. You can just turn the dial to adjust the length of the cut, and you don’t need to worry about swapping out different clips for different lengths, and in my case, losing them – because I would always misplace mine! It also makes storing the trimmer so much easier, since there are less pieces required. Come to think of it, this might be the perfect trimmer for travel as well! You can use it on either wet or dry hair, it’s compact and not too bulky, and again, it doesn’t require all of those different sized attachments. Normally my wife wouldn’t approve of me leaving my trimmer out because she hates clutter LOL, but because of its black, sleek design I just leave it plugged into its charging dock on the wall, and it’s so convenient. I love it!

If you’re looking for a new trimmer to try out, click here and try my fave!

This post is in collaboration with @GroomedByPanasonic however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Family Reviews Style

Defying my DNA With Rogaine #Sponsored

Rogaine

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This post is sponsored by Rogaine, however all opinions are my own. It’s true you can’t change your DNA, but your DNA doesn’t define you. So why not work on it and try changing the things you can control. I lost my father when I was only 15. Just like my son is a lot like me, I am a lot like my father. Even though my father was amazing to me and was a great dad he had a lot of bad habits. Unfortunately, without even knowing I was following in his footsteps, after he passed away I found myself also following some of his bad habits. Now, being a dad, and with my son Nathan here, I want to make sure I’m around longer than my dad was, and to see that Nate doesn’t make the same mistakes I did. By staying healthy and active, I will defy my DNA. I have to be honest with you, it’s not always easy for me. I try to make it a lifestyle, but there’s probably 3 months out of the year where I end up not exercising and binge eating! I blame it on my sluggishness from allergies and the time of year, but I’m working on it! I try and work out about 5 days a week and involve Nathan in it as much as possible. Whether it be going for a jog, or now that Nathan plays sports, it’s a little easier, because we can go to the park and play soccer, basketball, or just run around and be silly. I think if my father hadn’t passed away when I was young, maybe I would’ve been more involved in sports and other activities in High School and would’ve had less time to make bad decisions. I actually have the same exact hair as my father, which makes sense, because I get most of my looks from him (sorry mom). Unfortunately, thinning hair is hereditary, and now that I’m getting older, even though I still have a lot of my hair, I’m definitely starting to notice it thinning. At first I was really bummed, not only because I don’t like the way I look with thinning hair, but it’s also a reminder that I’m getting older. I tried making myself feel better by telling myself that at least it didn’t happen until I was 37, unlike some of my friends who had to shave their head early on due to balding. But, it’s still getting to me lately. Luckily, there are products like Rogaine out there that can help. If we’re proactive and start making changes early on, we don’t have to just let baldness happen and we can use products like Rogaine to regain our confidence! When I look back on photos of myself from a year ago, I now do notice the thinning hair, but for whatever reason at that time, I didn’t really notice it then – or maybe I was in denial! I’m happy I can finally accept the reality and am in the process of working towards a better head of hair with Rogaine. Men or women, if you’re starting to notice some hair thinning…don’t wait….Be proactive about it!

Family Reviews Style

Fit & Hydrated With Schweppes

BlueCollarPrep

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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 Home Style

A Party With Popsicle

BlueCollarPrep

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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.

Family Travel

Cactus & Canyons

BlueCollarPrep

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My grandparents have been living in Arizona for 25 years and have been trying to get me to visit for about 20 of them. I actually did visit the state once before but it was so long ago I don’t remember any of it. Now that my son is getting bigger and they’re only getting older I wanted to bring him to visit them. My wife and I had never actually seen the Grand Canyon or any of the amazing wonders in Arizona, so we packed up our super cool Herschel Supply Camo Luggage and headed out west. The first day we were there we just explored the neighborhood (Sun City West). It’s actually an uber cool retirement community. I mean they had about 5 golf courses, 2 mini golf courses, tennis, swimming pools, pickle ball…you name it they had it! And, you just hop in a golf cart and just boogie around town! On the second day out there we wanted to start marking off some of the places we had on our list. Wildlife World Zoo was one of them. We all went and got to feed the giraffes and see an array of other beautiful animals. One of the cool features of this zoo is that it had an aquarium in it as well. We love aquariums. They also had a skyride, roller coaster, freefall ride and a bunch of other fun rides. Nathan is still too small for most of the rides, so we just took him on the “ski lift” as he called it. The next day we decided to head to the Grand Canyon. Since the whole point of going to Arizona was to see the GG’s (Great Grandparents) we asked them to come along everywhere we went. Which for the most part was really cool. We found out the one hiccup would be that my Grand Father wanted to be a Nascar 500 driver in his previous life so we had to constantly be asking him to slow down (LOL). We didn’t really have as much time as I would of liked at the Grand Canyon. We stopped at the visitor center, walked around a little taking in the gorgeous view and then we headed over to the Watchtower. I thought the tower was a little better of a view. Plus, you got to walk up a couple flights of stairs to the top floor, which was definitely more fun for Nate. The next time I go to the Canyon I would love to make it a point to have a little more time for hiking and maybe take a helicopter and/or a jeep tour. I would’ve loved to have gone to the north side to walk on the observatory deck, but we just didn’t have time this trip. After the tower we drove another 2.5 hours to Page, AZ. We stayed over and then the next morning we took a tour of Antelope Canyon. Since Antelope Canyon is on an Indian reservation you can only see it by tour. You take a 15 minute jeep ride (where everybody is sitting in the back of an open jeep) until you arrive at the canyon. You can tell right when you get there it’s going to be a really cool. I liked the feeling of being inside of it, just surrounded by the beautiful red rock formations. The guide was helpful to show you all the cool angles and how to point your camera just right to get all of the beautiful rock colors. Unfortunately, depending on the time of year, you don’t always get some of the famous light beams you see in pictures, but it’s still hard not to get amazing shots in this place. Just gorgeous and unreal. After the tour, which lasted about an hour, we drove to Horseshoe Bend. From the parking area it’s about a 7 minute hike to the ridge. For those who have kids, be warned that there is no guard or fence at this location. There are people literally hanging off the cliff just to get that perfect photo. I consider myself fairly brave but I would not dare to venture to some of the spots these people were going to get their shot…nuts! I think this view was actually my favorite from this trip. At this point Nate was starting to get a little restless, so we climbed some rocks (which made mommy a little nervous and unhappy…LOL). I felt a little bad since I thought we’d be doing more hiking and climbing on this trip, so we made it a point to explore around the area, since Nate just loves to explore. From Sun City West and from location to location it was a lot of driving for all of us, especially for Nate, but he was a real trooper in the car for hours. On the way back we stopped in Sedona for dinner. The town has a breathtaking view and a picturesque town with a lot of cool shops. We definitely plan on staying there a little longer on our next trip! Overall Arizona was absolutely gorgeous. From the perfectly manicured properties to the palm trees and cacti that we were all obsessing over, the state is beautiful. I never understood why my grandparents chose to retire out there…as I always thought I’d need to be on one of the coasts, but after visiting, I really think I’d also consider retiring out there. There’s so much to do and they are in driving distance of so many sights in the surrounding states. I’m happy we finally made it out there to visit and can check off Arizona and the Grand Canyon off the bucket list!

Style

Suits + Sneakers

BlueCollarPrep

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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!

Style

Alternative to the Traditional Suit

BlueCollarPrep

BlueCollarPrep BlueCollarPrep BlueCollarPrepI 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

BlueCollarPrep

BlueCollarPrep  BlueCollarPrep BlueCollarPrep BlueCollarPrep 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

BlueCollarPrep

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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!