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My 5 Minute Grey Cover-Up

Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye

Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Cremo Company Hair & Beard Dye Men's Lifestyle Blogger

This year is the first year that I’m starting to really feel older. I’m turning 40 in September and I’m starting to notice my body changing. Aches and pains just don’t go away like they used to, it feels harder to stay in shape, and my appearance is changing. Wrinkles are starting to be more prominent and the greys continue to come in! Just like I have a diet and skincare regimen to prevent wrinkles and unwanted weight gain, I also started a regimen to keep the grey away.

There’s nothing wrong with aging, but that doesn’t mean that if there are things that are changing that you’re not happy with, and you have the ability to change them, that you shouldn’t. I partnered up with Cremo to try out and share with you how their Hair & Beard Dye works!

Most of my grey hair is in my beard, and the few greys that I do have on my head I actually don’t mind as much. For some reason the greys in my beard seem to have a mind of their own LOL They’re more coarse, they don’t tame as easily and they tend to make my beard look less cleaned up and more chaotic, so I had to find a simple solution for these guys. The best thing about the Cremo Hair & Beard Dye is how easy and quick it is to use. You literally just clip on the applicator, shake it, apply, wait 5 minutes, and rinse! There’s no mixing, no need for gloves, and it’s just all around super easy. I find that for any of my grooming routines if it’s not convenient, then I’m not going to follow through with it. For my beard, I just painted the foam on with the included brush, and that was it. The bottle comes with enough so that there is a bunch left over so I can just keep reusing it as necessary. They also have a bunch of different colors to choose from to find your best color match. I used the #10 Deep Brown Color and it was perfect.

I’m so glad I got to try this product out because again, it was so quick and easy. I really dig the results and even my wife, who thought she liked the grey hairs, thought it looked better after it was dyed. I definitely looked younger and by covering up the greys my beard as whole just looked more cleaned up and almost as if it was freshly trimmed – but it wasn’t, it just now had a nice even color tone, that aided in that groomed up look!

Reviews Style

Got2B Fighting that Thinning Hair!

Got2b Product Review

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #got2bPhenomenal #sponsored

Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review Got2b Product Review

Got2b Product Review

Listen up…I’m gonna be real! As many of you can see, I’m not getting any younger LOL. So, it’s more important than ever for me to stay up on my grooming regimen and find great products to help fight the effects of aging, like thinning hair. Growing up I always had a full head of thick hair and a baby face and never imagined the day when that would change. I used to love shaving my head for the buzz cut look, but unfortunately, as I aged my face became a little more round and I no longer looked good with a shaved head. It’s funny because when I was younger, everybody used to always ask me why I would shave my head if I wasn’t losing my hair? Here I was shaving it all off, when people I knew who had thinning hair, were trying to get theirs thicker!

Now that I’m older, I sometimes wish I could go back to shaving my head to hide my thinning hair, but I can’t. I don’t think it would look as good without my baby face, and to be honest, I’m a little nervous that if I shave it all off. It will grow back even thinner, so I gotta work with what I have LOL!

One of the products I started using is the got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo. It’s officially time for me to start preserving all the hair that I have before it’s too thin. Honestly, I’ve noticed that when I’m using good products like got2b® Phenomenal Thickening Shampoo combined with their got2b® Phenomenal Texturizing​ Clay, you will never even notice that my hair is thinning. The shampoo gets a great lather and tad bit of tingle, which to me, makes me feel like it’s working and doing its job! I can definitely notice a difference from when my hair dries after this shampoo vs. other shampoo’s I’ve used before. Somehow it just dries looking a little fuller! On top of that, once I add in some of their texturizing clay, it helps make my hair have a thicker and fuller look and also brings out the curls in my hair, which in turn, also helps it to appear thicker!

I picked up my got2b® products at my nearest Walmart, so look for them at your nearest location! Also, check your local Walmart for the $2.00 off the got2b® Phenomenal Shampoo!​ If you’re starting to notice your hair is thinning, don’t wait, and take action while you can. You’re going to be washing your hair on the regular anyways, so may as well do it with a shampoo that you know is working in your favor!​

Family Reviews Style

Cozy for Fall in Old Navy

Father and Son Old Navy Outfit

Father and Son Old Navy Outfit Boys Old Navy Outfit Father and Son Old Navy Outfit Father and Son Old Navy Outfit Men's Old Navy Outfit Father and Son Old Navy Outfit Boys Old Navy Outfit Father and Son Old Navy OutfitIs it me or does summer continue to get shorter every year? As soon as Labor Day ends the temps start dropping and the sun starts setting earlier and earlier. I always get a little bummed this time of year, but once the limbo of weather stops and it starts remaining cooler, I immediately start enjoying this cozy season.

This year I plan on starting to wear more sweaters. For some reason I went years without wearing sweaters. I think it’s probably because once the summer ends I tend to put on my winter weight LOL and sweaters have always just made me look bulkier than I would like. Luckily, the past year or so I have been doing a better job at staying leaner through the winter and not completely throwing my summer routine in the toilet. I’ve also been doing a better job at finding sweaters that fit me best and that are either loose enough for that oversized look or fit just right and still make me feel comfortable when wearing them.

I really love these graphic sweaters from Old Navy! They have a rugged cool vibe to them and were really fun to dress up and match with Nate (men’s | boys). I have yet to find another brand that does such a good job of coordinating the mens and boys lines. Nate and I layered our sweater with some sherpa-lined denim jackets and some comfy fitted jeans. Old Navy’s Sherpa Denim is great because it’s not too bulky or stiff, which makes it great for layering. Nate’s Sherpa-Lined trucker jacket is just too cool. We love that the arms are lined with a red flannel so we could roll up the sleeves a little to show it off. That added detail definitely made his jacket stand out from all the other sherpa’s I’ve come across and is perfect for both fall and winter.

If you’ve read some of my other Old Navy posts you know how much I like their flex denim. I think these might be my favorite pair to date. They are the perfect fit: not so skinny where they look painted on but they still look skinny enough and have just the right amount of taper. It can be really tough sometimes convincing Nate to wear jeans but I love seeing him in a skinny jean and how they fit his skinny little legs! Luckily he doesn’t mind wearing the Karate skinny jean. He’s also a fan of the comfort of the flex!

Both of us topped off our looks with Old Navy hats: my Graphic Felt Baseball Cap matching the color of Nate’s sweater and Nate’s Sweater Knit Beanie matching my sweater. I thought it was a cool way to add to the coordination of our outfits! We love these sweaters!

Family Home Reviews

Why This Family Loves Our Samsung Family Hub

Samsung Family Hub

Samsung Family Hub NY Daddy Blogger Samsung Family Hub NY Daddy Blogger Menswear Blogger Samsung Family Hub Samsung Family Hub Menswear Blogger

Since I bought my house 6 years ago I have done one to two projects every year around the house and little by little we’re finally making it our own. One of the first things we bought upon moving in were new appliances. The thought of using someone else’s appliances kind of skeeved us out…plus they were pretty beat up. We bought a base model stainless steel refrigerator, stove & dishwasher. The fridge we purchased didn’t have any features except a water/ice maker. Yeah, from the start it was definitely an upgrade from the pre-existing fridge, but I can’t tell you how bummed I am that we wasted our money on this basic unreliable fridge. The ice maker broke in the 3rd year and the drawers started falling apart shortly after. Plus, after we had finally gotten to redoing our kitchen, we wished we had went with a better looking model because our new kitchen looked amazing but the appliances just didn’t have that same wow factor!

So, when I got the opportunity to get my hands on the new Samsung Family Hub Smart Refrigerator I was ecstatic! The first thing you notice when you see this fridge is the 21.5″ touchscreen. It definitely has to be one my (and the rest of my family’s) favorite features…not just because of how cool it looks, but because of all the features it now brings into your home. When I walk into my kitchen, the Family Hub is one of the first things that grabs my attention. To be honest, even though this fridge has more cubic feet than my last fridge, when I first opened it I thought it was going to be too small for me. I think the fact that there is a separate drawer (called the Flex Zone) makes the size seem a little deceptive. However, I was completely wrong about the size. The way the fridge is set up allowing you to be able to customize the shelves and drawers really helps you keep everything inside the fridge organized and creates even more space! Honestly…it’s definitely helped to eliminate those “babe, where’s the mayo” moments LOL. Not only does my Samsung Family Hub have a water and ice dispenser, but it also comes with a built-in water pitcher that you can set to auto refill when you put it back in it’s spot! The pitcher also has a flavor infuser built in, which I love. Give me ice cold cucumber-flavored water any hot summer day!

So this might be a little weird and out of the ordinary, but what I use our Family Hub the most for (besides keeping my food cold & organized) is for my workouts. Yes, my workouts! I usually go to the gym for about a half hour and work on a specific body part while I’m there, but then when I get home, after I play with Nate for a little, I always do an at-home WOD (workout of the day). Using the Family Hub’s wifi enabled touchscreen, I go to the Pinterest app and search for workouts. I then create a to-do list with my workout. This way I’m able to save it for another day and I’m able to cross off the exercises as they’re completed. I used to have a drawer full of papers with all of my workout lists, but it’s safe to say I’ve since thrown those out. This is much more efficient for sure! I then go to one of the many music apps to stream some music to get me pumped, like iHeartRADIO.

One of my other favorite features is the Shopping List app. This is an all-around family favorite! I hate going to the supermarket and hate wasting an hour or two with the whole process in general, so anything that can help speed it up is a win. Once you download the hub’s shopping list app on your phone, it all gets synced up. This allows you to create a shopping list which will then show up on the hub, my phone, and my wife’s phone. When anyone edits the list it will update across all devices! Now when you’re doing your shopping, as you grab what you need, you can cross it off the list and it will cross off on everyone’s list. It’s amazing! This way we can split up the shopping and really cut our time in half. No more screaming across the store, “babe, grab bananas”, or “did you get the milk?!” LOL. If I’m at the supermarket alone, while my wife’s at home, she just adds new grocery items she remembers to the hub app and it will pop up on my phone. We really love it!

The app will also take things like strawberries and let you know that in 2 days they are going to go bad. These little reminders are super cool because in the past we’ve definitely wasted way too much fruit in this house, but since the hub have become a lot more aware of our fridge items. Did I mention I can also see inside my fridge from the outside? If I’m at the store and can’t remember if I’m low on mike, I can just view the inside of my fridge on my phone and check. My family hub has 3 interior cameras that takes a photo every-time I close the door and keeps me up to date!

There are seriously so many cool features to my Samsung Family Hub, that I could go on and on, but another one of my faves is the Memos app. I hate waking up so early to go to work and leaving my family without getting a chance to talk or say goodbye in the morning before I leave. So I love that I can quickly type them a cute note that will show right on the fridge’s screen. It might just say “I love you” or “Sorry, I’m busy, but I’ll call you later” or silly things, but just knowing I was able to drop them a line for them to know I’m thinking about them makes me feel better and they love getting my surprise notes throughout the day!

We seriously love our Samsung Family Hub and little by little are incorporating more and more features into our everyday routines. Besides keeping us all connected and making some of our tasks a lot easier, overall we just feel more organized. And in this house with all the running around we do, between work, blog projects, events, everyday commitments & activities and just life in general, feeling more organized and connected definitely helps keep you feeling on task and able to get things done a lot quicker!

 

Family Reviews Travel

A Weekend in Newport

Grace Vanderbilt

Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island Newport, Rhode Island
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt
Newport, Rhode Island

Not all vacations have to be a big trip, and you don’t need to fly hours away from home to have a good vacation. My family and I really love small weekend getaways and just overall exploring new places together. Newport, Rhode Island is only 3 hours from us and we had never been there as a family before. It’s a beautiful scenic town with lots of cute shops, mega mansions, and relaxing beaches.

Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to stay at the Grace Vanderbilt Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island for the weekend. When we first pulled up I didn’t realize how close to town the hotel was going to be, so we immediately got really excited to know that the middle of town was just a short walk down the block! We didn’t arrive until Late Friday night, but luckily got there just in time for s’mores by the fire. What’s more welcoming than s’mores by a cozy fire right when you arrive, right? It was really cute and we all had a blast shoving our face with the giant marshmallows they had.

As soon as we got to the room (which I’ll get to in a minute), we dropped off our bags and then we walked down the block to a bar right on the corner. Since we got there kind of late, we had the itch to check out the town before bed, so we stopped in for a late night dinner, and it was just what we needed! They had really good live music and great food. It was the perfect way to start off our little weekend adventure.

Within the first 2 hours of being at the Grace Vanderbilt we had already felt like we had done so much and forgot that we had just arrived. Luckily their pool is open until 10PM, because we love a late night swim, so we followed up our food and drinks with a dip in their indoor pool and Nate got to practice his snorkel skills!

Now let’s get back to the room! Let me just start off by saying that this is one of those rooms where it’s hard to get yourself to leave. As soon as you enter you’re welcomed by these super high ceilings, crown molding, beautiful built-in book cases, tall windows that let in a lot of light, and just overall, a sophistication of detail. This room seemed more like an apartment than a hotel room. There was the main bathroom, which had a claw foot bathtub, and inside they had a little corner set up that said “Nathan’s Corner”, along with some kid’s shampoo and soaps. It was really cute and Nate really got a kick out of it! In the living room they also had a little camping tent with a teddy bear set up for Nathan. What hotel does that for kids? It was really so sweet and made my son immediately a fan of this place. You wouldn’t think a hotel like this would be so kid friendly. It’s so refined and upscale that you think you’re going to have to keep telling Nate not to touch anything LOL, but it’s not like that at all. The bedroom, which had a huge King Bed and another amazing master bath with two sinks and a stand up shower, was gorgeous. It connected to the rest of the space with beautiful sliding doors. The room itself was so nice I couldn’t help to ask my wife if we should sell the house and get an apartment like this somewhere LOL. It was just perfect. The reason Nate loved it was because the ceiling’s were so high he could pass his plush toy football to me without it hitting the ceiling like in our house haha. I almost forgot to mention, we were also welcomed with a plate of cookies that included icing and sprinkles that we got to decorate together. Again, these little welcoming details, were just top notch!

We started day two off with breakfast in their Garden Terrace Cafe. Sarina and Nate had the pancakes (with Nate getting the chocolate chips) and I had the hazelnut french toast with berries. What a way to start our morning with a yummy breakfast and the picturesque room with sunlight shining through. When we got back to our room there was a paper in the tent for Nate that gave him instructions for a scavenger hunt. I’m pretty sure Nate thought his elf on a shelf put it there LOL. He had to go and ask different people around the hotel questions and he got a prize at each station. It was so cute watching him with his little paper and pencil, reading the clue himself and checking them off. When he got all of them except the last one complete, he had to go back to the room for a final surprise (spoiler alert, it was a yummy cupcake). Again, the efforts they put in with these little details for the kids is absolutely adorable and Nate definitely appreciated it!

We then hopped in the car and drove about 15 minutes from the hotel to a beach, and from there we walked along the cliff walk. The walk can be long if you take it to the end, but from my understanding you can see some of the mansions along the way. We didn’t walk the entire path, because we knew we’d need to walk back and Nate wouldn’t have it in him, but we did get to see some pretty big house from the walkway and there were also some little cut-ins to walk off the path and on to the rocks, but mommy didn’t let us get too adventurous, because she’s always a nervous wreck of Nate and I when we get too close to the edge of anything LOL.

After the walk we sat on the beach and had a picnic with a cute little basket that Grace Vanderbilt put together for us. It had sandwiches, water, cookies, and some local soda. It was cute to sit together and enjoy one of the very first warm spring days we had right by the water. It was recommended that we see at least one of the mansions while we were in Newport and if you’re going to see one, the Breakers Mansion is it. At first I thought it was pretty expensive at $30 pp but it was actually worth it! It was a beautiful site and was a pretty cool self-guided tour. The tour gave each of us headphones and a smart phone and it just played as you walked at your own pace. They had a children’s version, which my wife and I thought would be more suitable for us as well LOL. I was so impressed at how much Nate was into it. During the tour he would keep telling me facts he had heard that caught his attention. I mean, I even caught myself daydreaming, but there he was all about it, listening to every word. He mentioned parts of the tour that I honestly didn’t even remember. I just couldn’t believe how attentive he was to the audio tour. It was definitely really cool and interesting!

Once we got back into town we walked around, grabbed some food, Nate tried lobster for the first time and loved it, got some fudge, had some ice cream, and I got myself my traditional dad cap as I’ve been starting to get on every family trip. We then headed back to the Grace Vanderbilt for dinner at their on-site restaurant. At The Vanderbilt Grill they had a piano player, who was great and really set the mood. We love any live music while we’re eating, so it was a plus! The food was so good and they had a great drink menu. I started with the Seafood and Sesame, which was light and refreshing, and had the Dry Aged Filet of Beef as my main course, which was rich in flavor and melted in my mouth. For dessert we had beignets, which I was really excited about because I had always wanted to try them. This was the first time I’ve actually seen a restaurant offer them and since I’m not sure when I’m going to make it to New Orleans, I had to have them LOL. It was a great dinner! We were pretty tired, but I had promised Nate we would play a game of pool before bed so they actually sent the dessert up to the room so we could play pool while they were preparing it and then we got to enjoy the dessert in our room. That was the perfect option for us and Nate! They had a beautiful pool table in an elegant and masculine room. I could totally picture me and the fellas drinking some scotch and just totally hanging in this room. It was the perfect ending to a great day and night!

The next morning before we left Grace Vanderbilt they had a “tiny tea” for Nate, by the same fireplace where we had enjoyed the s’mores. We were served little PB&J sandwiches, little pastries, and some fruit with chocolate dipping sauce. It was really cute and we ate it while playing a game of chess by the fire. Although it was time, we didn’t want to leave. We definitely could’ve moved in!

Everything about the Grace Vanderbilt was absolutely perfect. Every inch of the hotel is beautiful, the attention to detail to all of their guests, especially the children, is on point, the hotel location is key, and the staff was amazing and on another level. For such a short little trip, they really made us feel welcomed and went above and beyond. This hotel has officially made Newport one of my fave local spots to weekend at. Grace Vanderbilt, thank you again for an amazing weekend, and we cannot wait to come back!

Home Reviews Style

Netflix, Chill & Wine

Pinot Noir Blog Review

Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog Review Pinot Noir Blog ReviewThere’s not too many things I can think of that I really enjoy when trying to relax, other than a glass of wine. As of lately, it’s becoming my go-to drink when the lady and I are enjoying a drink at home. We both started getting into wine the last few years, and I was actually shocked when I found out that it has such a high alcohol percentage…usually 10% – double the amount of a normal beer! When we first started drinking wine, we were pretty cliche. We thought that whenever we had a glass it had to be on a special occasion, or it would always be with dinner and always with Italian food (LOL). I think that was because we were newbies in the wine drinking game! I now realize that a glass of wine doesn’t have to be shared over a candlelight dinner for it to be a special moment together. Whether it’s paired with dinner, on the couch in the evening during a family game of Trouble, or while I’m on my laptop in my zone of blogging, I definitely appreciate a nice glass of wine to make these everyday activities feel cozy and complete.

So when Nate had a play date one Saturday, wifey suggested relaxing in our pajamas with a nice glass of wine. That was music to my ears! It’s not too often you get to block out all responsibilities and be in a complete state of relaxation with your favorite flicks and the perfect red wine. We recently came across Tempranillo from the Spanish wine region of Ribera del Duero and it has been our go-to ever since. It pairs well with just about anything, whether it’s food fresh off the grill, pasta night, or even some popcorn and Netflix in bed! We popped open a bottle of Finca Torremilanos Montecastrillo Tinto 2016 and it really just set the mood for the day. Popcorn and movies in bed are great, but add in a bottle of wine and it’s just the icing on the cake. We were sipping, snacking, laughing and just enjoying every moment of our afternoon.

If you’re a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, you should definitely try Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. I’ve heard and must agree that it’s a “red wine lover’s dream”. It’s the perfect wine for every meal and every occasion and definitely helped elevate our afternoon at home! Next time you make that stop at your local wine store, remember to look for the Ribera del Duero logo on the back of the bottle (or save one of my blog post images to your phone) and try it out for yourself! Or you can just order it directly to your house from www.wine.com! I highly recommend trying Finca Torremilanos Montecastrillo Tinto 2016 and El Vinculo Crianza 2012. If you try it, let me know what you think, and how you paired yours. Was it over a yummy steak dinner, or with some popcorn and candy like us?!

Reviews Style

Casually Cool in Sweat Tailor

Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep

Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep Men's Lifestyle Blogger | BlueCollarPrep

I’m all about being comfortable and reppin’ that casual everyday guy look. However, that doesn’t mean I want to rock my beat up sweatpants and a sweatshirt when I leave the house. I love finding cozy alternatives like a pair of baggy, soft denim jeans or a nice fitting pair of stretched chino pants like the ones I’m wearing here from Sweat Tailor. They might be called stretch chino’s but they feel just as comfy as sweatpants! The best part is you would never even know unless you felt them. So comfortable!

I feel like for a minute I was wearing a lot of neutrals, especially a lot of olive greens, but lately, I’ve really been trying to add some more bright colors into my wardrobe. Maybe it’s the warmer weather that’s finally starting to come around that has me craving some color. Sweat Tailor’s Hibiscus Salt Washed Crew really is the perfect shade of pink and I LOVE the way the color is darker around the seams, which gives it that worn-in vintage look. The salt wash not only gives it that distressed vibe, but also makes the tee super soft…and be right up there with the comfort level of the chinos. I hate a stiff feeling tee…and this one feels and falls just perfectly on! Did I mention I love the color?

I love basic pieces like these that can be added into any outfit and can be used to either dress it up or keep it casual. As my style evolves, I’ve become more and more into having an entire wardrobe of quality fitting basics that I can easily swap in and out with different looks to keep my outfits versatile. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good stand-out, loud piece from time to time for that wow factor, but having pieces like these from Sweat Tailor is definitely a must!