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Menswear Blogger

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! 🙂

#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.

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.)

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!

Family Home Reviews Style

Comfy With Lacoste

Posted on April 9, 2017

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

Family Travel

Cactus & Canyons

Posted on April 6, 2017

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

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!

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!

Family Reviews Style

#GiveGodiva This Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 3, 2017

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

Reviews Style

AFFORDABLE WRIST-WEAR WITH ARMITRON

Posted on January 26, 2017

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

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