New Pick Up: Cole Haan-Cambridge Double Monk

Two pair of shoes in one week! I received some gift cards for my birthday and I used them to buy my pair of double monks. I saw this Cole Haan pair on Amazon discounted 46% and I had to take advantage of the steal. It’s also my first pair in the color chestnut. The description according to Cole Haan is,

“It’s all in the details for this sleek Cambridge Double Monk. Featuring elegant chestnut leather and soft brogue accents, it’s the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.”

• Soft leather upper.
• Lined in leather and fabric.
• Elegant full leather outsole with rubber forepart.

The monk strap is one of the more popular shoes in menswear today. What I love about this shoe style is the versatility. It can be worn in multiple environments and in various settings. You will look great wearing them in a business meeting or a night out with that special person in your life.

Color-The Monk Strap comes in several different colors such as black, brown, and burgundy.

Material- Monk straps come in leather and suede. Leather is usually the top choice for monk straps.

How To Wear- With or without socks.

 

Spring Cleaning 2015

I’m in the process of relocating my family to another state so I am cleaning out my closet. I’m donating most of my clothes but I’m thinking about giving them away to my readers. I have so much clothes that most of them are in EUC. Here’s how it works: I will post a picture of the piece of clothing on the site with the headline “Spring Cleaning: (Insert name of clothing brand and type) and all you have to do to be eligible to win is:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Share my Blog

3. Once shared write “done” in the comments section

4. Pay for postage ($5.00-$7.00. Sorry U.S only excluding Alaska and Hawaii)

I will give a brief description of the item that will being given away. Winner chosen at random.

New Pick Up: Vans C&L Era 59

I am literally the hardest person to shop for. The reason for that is because I have everything I want. If I want it, I’ll buy it. So when my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday I was stumped. I was on Instragram and one of the fashion pages I follow posted a picture of these sneakers by Vans. At a first glance I didn’t know they were sneakers–they looked like casual dress shoes.

That day I did some research to try and find the pair (which took me forever). Vans has so many different styles of sneakers that I was a bit overwhelmed. Anyway, I found them and sent the link for my wife with the subject reading “Birthday Present”.

The sneakers came in yesterday and I love them. The navy color compliments the chocolate leather really well. I think these are classy sneakers by Vans. It can be worn in worn with casual and business casual wear.  Here is an overview of the sneaker according to Vans offical website,

“The Era 59 C&L, a low top lace-up skate shoe, has a durable double-stitched canvas upper with leather accents on the heel and tongue, metal eyelets, padded tongue and lining and Vans signature Waffle Outsole”

Color-Dress Blues/Paisley

Price: $55.00

Blog update

Hey everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. I have not stopped blogging! I’ve been super busy with work, moving to another state and finding a new job. I’m on spring break this week so I’m hoping to put a blog or two out. 

Thank you for all the support! 

Achieving more volume with you hair

There are men like me with fine, wavy hair that struggle to achieve volume in their hair. Sometimes you put a product in you hair and it doesn’t give you the results you expected. It sucks. The shampoo I use is suppose to give you more volume but I have yet to see it. I don’t know if it has to do with your hair length but the shampoo and conditioners don’t work at times.

What I found that does work is mousse or hairspray, the right hair product, and a hairdryer. I don’t know my current hair length but it’s long. I’m in the process of transitioning to a new hair style so I haven’t cut it in two months. If I pull down a piece of my hair I can put it in my mouth.

So what I do to achieve maximum volume is wet my hair first. I spray my hair with a water bottle until it’s damp. Then I put a little bit of It’s a 10  mousse on my hands and apply it to my hair. Then with a hair dryer I blow dry my hair in the opposite direction I style it to get the most volume. Then apply whichever hair product works for you. I use a finger tips worth of Hanz De Fuko’s Claymation for a superior hold that will last an 8-10 hour work day. Use more for longer lasting hold. Really get the product in your hair. Scrunching and squeezing your hair will give you great volume. You also want to make sure the product is deep in the roots and not just on the tips.

 

It’s a 10 mousse: http://www.amazon.com/Its-10-Miracle-Styling-Mousse/dp/B005FQQSZA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422806006&sr=8-1&keywords=it%27s+a+10+hair+mousse

Hanz De Fuko’s Claymation: https://www.hanzdefuko.com/shop/claymation

 

Product Review: Beard Brand’s Tree Ranger

Like any person growing their beard out, you look for ways to maintain our beard. I would normally just shampoo and condition my beard while in the shower, but after some research I realized that there are other options. That’s when I came across the term “beard oil”.

While researching, I found out when you work beard oil through your beard and mustache, the hydration goes straight to the follicle, much like a conditioner does when you wash your hair. So I did some research and there are so many different brands of beard oils ranging from all different prices. I think the cheapest one I came across was one at Walmart for $3.99 (don’t quote me on that)

While watching TV on a lazy afternoon with my daughter, I came across the show Shark Tank and there was Eric Bandholz presenting his product. I liked his presentation, checked out the site and took a look through their products. What really sold me was that they use all natural, organic products. When applying things to your face you don’t want chemicals that can damage your skin. Upon choosing the product, I’ve heard people rave about “Tree Ranger” so I decided to give it a try.

Shipping took forever! The website states 5-7 business days and on the 7th day I emailed customer service because I thought it was lost in the mail. They then informed me that it can actually take 7-10 business days! I was very impatient because I wanted to try this product. Needless to day, I got it on the 10th day.

* I just want to point out that I spoke to Amy Bowers, who is the Community Manager, and she was awesome. A pleasure to work with and responds to emails promptly. Amy, if you’re reading this, kudos!

First off, I want to say that I love the design. It looks elegant. You have the silver cap matching the logo on the front of the bottle that gives it a nice touch of class. It comes with a dropper built in which is great. I used a generous amount (about a dime size portion) and rubbed it on my beard to make sure it got underneath my skin. The smell is strong but not over bearing where it can cause the people around you to get a headache. I couldn’t really smell the touch of pine but it does have a mountain smell. I like it. My wife says that at times it smelled like Vick’s Vapor Rub. The smell doesn’t last for a long time–maybe a few hours at best. It’s lightweight and not very oily so your beard doesn’t feel oily. It made my beard feel a tad smoother but not as smooth as I thought it would. And I didn’t get the shiny look that everyone has talked out.

Final thoughts: I really like this product but I don’t think it’s worth the $30 price tag ($24.99 + $4.99 shipping for US customers). I think there are cheaper brands that are just as effective. Even though it’s a 1oz bottle, I feel like it will last a long time depending on how much you put.

Rating 4/5

Bow Ties 101 Part 1

It’s time to kick the necktie to curb, there is a new player in town. Bow ties have recently been making a quiet comeback into men’s fashion. I know for my wedding I wore a bow tie instead of a traditional necktie. Wearing a bowtie takes a bit of moxie. It forces one to step out of their comfort zone and do something that’s daring.  I have yet to wear a bow tie with any of my outfits at work. Not because I’m afraid of the response, but because I simply don’t own one anymore. The right bow tie can transform your outfit from unimaginative to quirky and confident.

A quick history fact: The bow tie has roots dating back to the 17th century. More specifically, it has Croatian roots. Croatian mercenaries used neck wear, similar to scarves, called the cravat to hold the collars of their shirts together. This style was later incorporated by the French upper class, who at the time, were known as the leaders of fashion. It explains why some of the biggest fashion shows are held in Paris, France.

Just like the traditional necktie, the bow tie has different styles. Let’s go through the different types of tie.

 

 

The Butterfly

The first shape is the modern butterfly, also known as the thistle shape. This is the standard style that most people are familiar with.  This particular style is very versatile and works for virtually every occasion. It is a great starting point for those who are just venturing into the world of bow ties and should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe.

The Big Butterfly

Next, we have the big butterfly, which has a larger and more relaxed silhouette.  It is sometimes worn for very formal events with a tuxedo.

The Batwing

The batwing shape, also known as a straight or slim bow tie, is the smallest in height.  Batwing bow ties are typically less than two inches in height and provide a clean and modern look. It is slightly less formal than the butterfly, but is still acceptable for black tie events.

The Diamond Point

A shape gaining popularity is the diamond tip bow tie. Instead of having a flat end, the edges are pointed to give it diamond shape. When tied, this style has an asymmetric look and adds even more personality to the self-tie bow tie.

The Rounded Club

The most rare of the bunch is the rounded club bow tie. Like the name suggests, the ends are rounded instead of flat.

Product Review: Hanz De Fuko’s Sponge Wax

 

When I purchased another bottle of Claymation, the good people of Hanz De Fuko threw in a sample of Sponge Wax. I figured this would be a good time to give it a review. According to the Hanz De Fuko website, it states that, “This matte finish, high-hold wax combines the pliability of a pomade with the staying power of a gel. Perfect for textured, bed-head looks to more polished coifs.” This product does give a high hold, and while the hold is indeed strong, it is not as strong as their Claymation product.

The texture does feel like a sponge. It is very soft and easy to emulsify in your hands. As far as applying it in your hair–it works well on both damp or dry hair. It also goes in very smoothly. You get more of a matte finish with dry hair or slightly damp. If your hair is towel dried you will get almost a shiny look. I think this product works well if you are going to style a messy hair style–like bed hair.

The hold is pretty strong but it wouldn’t last the whole work day. I used this product if I was going to be out for a few hours but after 5-6 hours my hair would start to flop. Keep in mind that my hair is long–about 5-6 inches. I will have to review this product again if I cut my hair shorter to see how it works.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Favorite Books of 2014

Young At Heart

I can’t believe another year has gone by! So much has happened this past year, and even with everything going on in my life I have managed to read 80 books this year! It is so hard to narrow them down to my favorites, but I did my best. Here are my favorite books from 2014:

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

This has to be one of my favorite series of all time. I loved the first three books and when I found out that Cassandra Clare had decided to write another three books I was so excited! This is the final book in The Mortal Instruments series and it was slightly daunting at a whopping 725 pages but the book is so good that you don’t even realize the length. I will miss this characters terribly but look forward to the spinoff series that Clare is writing!

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Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Great blog to follow for readers of Young Adult literature

Young At Heart

“Humans were so circular; they lived the same slow cycles of joy and misery over and over, never learning.”

Blue’s mother has gone missing. Things with The Raven Boys have gotten more serious, and relationships have begun to change. As Blue and the boys get closer and closer to finding Glendower, it becomes apparent that they are part of something much bigger than they had even imagined.

Each of these books is better than the last! Stiefvater’s writing is phenomenal and I literally flew through this book because it was so good. I love all of these characters and I am so glad that there is another book coming because I am not ready to say goodbye to this series yet.

Blue is juggling a lot in this book. Her mother is missing, she is falling in love with Gansey even though she is trying her hardest not to, and…

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