Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Third Upload: Just for Grins, Heath Pearce
I dare you to tell me that this look isn't fresh. New York Red Bulls defender Heath Pearce dresses to impress. Photo courtesy New York Red Bulls Facebook page (visit them here and leave a like).
Fashion Feature: Summer Fashion on a Budget
Gentlemen, Summer is here and you still have to try. I mean, seriously, cargo shorts with flip-flops and a branded t-shirt just isn't going to cut it. If I'm being completely honest, I struggle with clothing myself in the Summer more than any other time of the year. But, if you stick to a few basic tenants, you'll be able to dress well and still have money in your pocket for the much more fashionable fall season.
Shirts:
A lot of us had retail jobs and got great discounts on some clothes when we were younger. The problem is that it's likely that most of those clothes are what I call 'hyper-branded'. You know what I mean, the American Eagle shirt that you bought for $5 sophomore year of college that you still wear and has a big eagle sewn onto the front of it made out of felt and your other offenders.
You need to un-brand yourself. Here are a few options for your summer t-shirt needs:
Shirts:
A lot of us had retail jobs and got great discounts on some clothes when we were younger. The problem is that it's likely that most of those clothes are what I call 'hyper-branded'. You know what I mean, the American Eagle shirt that you bought for $5 sophomore year of college that you still wear and has a big eagle sewn onto the front of it made out of felt and your other offenders.
You need to un-brand yourself. Here are a few options for your summer t-shirt needs:
Polos for men are always a fantastic summer go-to when you want to dress up but don't want the added heat of a full button-up. It's okay to spend a bit more on them--think of them as your summer dress shirts. Here are two polo options:
The key to Summer fashion for men is bold colors. There's no other time during the year in which you can get away with wearing bright orange. Embrace summer on top and keep the rest pretty subdued.
You can get away with jeans in the Summer at night, but you really need shorts on those hot days. Shorts are very straight forward and you don't need to drop a ton of money. Just remember--you actually want the hem of your shorts to hit above the knee when you're standing up. When you sit down, they will ride up a bit. This can be uncomfortable for some of us gents who became fashion conscious in the early 2000's when long cargo shorts were in. Now, you want a flat-front and clean looking pair of shorts that hits at or just above the knee. Patterns are acceptable, but not preferred. Your plain chino colors are best here--khaki, white, or grey--and absolutely no denim shorts. No, it's not okay, ever. Ever. I mean it. Got it? I mean ever. Just don't do it. Ever.
Some men are starting to go with crop chinos for the summer. Until that's more widely accepted, I'm not going to suggest it. What I will suggest is a pair of shorts that you should pick up in your size in every color I just mentioned (and maybe blue too, who doesn't love blue?):
I understand the price on those shorts is a bit high, but they give you a great idea of what I'm talking about. Shop around for a price that you're comfortable with but follow my guidelines.
If you want to toss the color scheme on its head, you can go with brights on the shorts and more simple colors up top. Just remember that you can match plain with plain, plain with pattern but never pattern with pattern.
Next time, I'll discuss footwear. Until then, be sure to keep those flip-flops in the closet.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Dinner: Impossible with Guy Fieri
Today, I'd like to share with you my favorite episode of Dinner: Impossible with Chef Robert Irvine and Guy Fieri. It's a long video, so sit back, relax and enjoy!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
The Satisfaction of a Meal
If you really sit down to think about it, food is more than a substance for human beings. It's a social entity--something around which we have built significant meaning.
We identify groups of people by the types of food that they eat. When you want to meet up with friends or family, it's often times food that helps you to find some common ground.
Food isn't just about surviving, it's about surviving well.
Even when food was primarily about survival, it wasn't just about survival. As human beings, we are hunter-gatherers, and we have hunted and gathered in groups. As such, food became the central part of our lives because it kept us alive but also provided us with a sense of community. Not to mention, it's easier to take down a Bison in with a hunting party than on your own.
For me, personally, the act of consuming a fantastic meal is something that I cherish deeply. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by fantastic chefs who are eager to cook for me on a regular basis. But, eating well isn't a matter of luck. It's not a matter of money, either. You don't need to buy organic sprouted quinoa pasta in order to buy the right ingredients to make a meal.
I recommend that before you visit the grocery store next week, you try to find one recipe that sounds like something you would enjoy making or eating. There is a wealth of websites and publications out there that offer you free recipes. These recipes might be crowd-sourced like what you'll find at allrecipes.com. Or, if you're interested in having an actual publication to use for reference, you could pick up a copy of Clean Eating or Taste of Home magazines from your local newsstand.
It's not rocket science--at the end of the day cooking is simply applying the right amount of heat to a few ingredients and then seasoning those ingredients to a point that you find satisfying. And don't be afraid of failure, either! Do you think that Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsay got to where they are by not messing up once? Getting it wrong is part of learning.
In the worst case scenario, you'll have to order a pizza because your chicken is too tough to eat.
When you know how to cook, you open the door to a greater world of being social. You can invite friends over for some home-made mac and cheese or you can go as far as serving a several-course meal. Not to mention, there's a ton of amazing cookware that you might want to take a look at. If you need some inspiration here, I recommend checking out Target or Crate and Barrel to see what types of nifty things companies make to facilitate your cooking adventures.
The worst thing that you can do in life, in my opinion, is deprive yourself of understanding how to make an excellent meal with just a few inexpensive ingredients. Most of us go through rough patches in our lives. Trust me when I say that nothing will get you through those tough times quite like sharing an excellent meal that you've made with some of your closest friends or newest acquaintances.
We identify groups of people by the types of food that they eat. When you want to meet up with friends or family, it's often times food that helps you to find some common ground.
Food isn't just about surviving, it's about surviving well.
Even when food was primarily about survival, it wasn't just about survival. As human beings, we are hunter-gatherers, and we have hunted and gathered in groups. As such, food became the central part of our lives because it kept us alive but also provided us with a sense of community. Not to mention, it's easier to take down a Bison in with a hunting party than on your own.
For me, personally, the act of consuming a fantastic meal is something that I cherish deeply. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by fantastic chefs who are eager to cook for me on a regular basis. But, eating well isn't a matter of luck. It's not a matter of money, either. You don't need to buy organic sprouted quinoa pasta in order to buy the right ingredients to make a meal.
I recommend that before you visit the grocery store next week, you try to find one recipe that sounds like something you would enjoy making or eating. There is a wealth of websites and publications out there that offer you free recipes. These recipes might be crowd-sourced like what you'll find at allrecipes.com. Or, if you're interested in having an actual publication to use for reference, you could pick up a copy of Clean Eating or Taste of Home magazines from your local newsstand.
It's not rocket science--at the end of the day cooking is simply applying the right amount of heat to a few ingredients and then seasoning those ingredients to a point that you find satisfying. And don't be afraid of failure, either! Do you think that Robert Irvine or Gordon Ramsay got to where they are by not messing up once? Getting it wrong is part of learning.
In the worst case scenario, you'll have to order a pizza because your chicken is too tough to eat.
When you know how to cook, you open the door to a greater world of being social. You can invite friends over for some home-made mac and cheese or you can go as far as serving a several-course meal. Not to mention, there's a ton of amazing cookware that you might want to take a look at. If you need some inspiration here, I recommend checking out Target or Crate and Barrel to see what types of nifty things companies make to facilitate your cooking adventures.
The worst thing that you can do in life, in my opinion, is deprive yourself of understanding how to make an excellent meal with just a few inexpensive ingredients. Most of us go through rough patches in our lives. Trust me when I say that nothing will get you through those tough times quite like sharing an excellent meal that you've made with some of your closest friends or newest acquaintances.
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