#BGEurotrip2015

July 3, 2015 Gabriel Rafael

Hey guys! Sorry I've been M.I.A. lately on the blog, but I've been on a month long vacay across Europe, aka my #BGEuropetrip2015 adventure! Over the course of the last three weeks I've been across Dubai, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Madrid & the Italian countryside, & the trip isn't over just yet!

I thought I would have had more time to update the blog, but I've found it rather difficult when I only have three to four days in a city & no form of reliable internet! I promise you though that next week once I get to Mykonos that I'll be updating back on a regular schedule. I can't tell you how excited I am to be in one place for a whole week!

If you really want to catch up on my adventure, follow me on Instagram here as I snap away my way through Europe. Also, I REALLY want you guys to subscribe to my YouTube channel. Over there I will be uploading videos on each city I have been visiting, giving tips, tricks & advice for each destination. I added the playlist below the text to make it easier for you! As I finish up editing, EVERY city will be added to the playlist. Hope you guys enjoy them!

Can't wait to start working on all the posts that have been coming to mind while away! Hope your summer is going great! See you over on social media!

Top Gadget Gifts Below $50

December 17, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

If you have a lot of techies in your family, but not a lot of dough, don't worry! There are plenty of affordable & exciting products out there to pick up for that won't break the bank. Tech gadgets always make for a great gift because nowadays people are always on some sort of device. The following five items are the best gift worthy items all below $50.

The first item on my list is a personal favorite, the iPad Mini Bluetooth Accessory Kit. Packed with bluetooth enabled headphones, a keyboard, two styluses & a bevy of other accessories, this kit is perfect for that writer in the family that is always on the go. Music is always playing in my home, but sometimes when I'm out at a beach or park, the speakers in my phone just doesn't cut it, if you have someone in your family like me, then the Philips Portable Bluetooth Speaker is perfect. Don't let the compact design fool you, this speaker packs a punch! Sony's Over-the-Ear Headband Headset for Smartphones is the perfect headphone to use daily on your walks to work or when your at the gym. With smartphone integration to take calls & music playback controls, this over-the-ear headphone is more than just a listening device. The Belkin WeMo Switch will definitely make anyone who owns it feel like their home is straight from the jetsons. Plug-in device into the Belkin socket you wish you control from the touch of your smartphone. My favorite use for it is setting it up with my Jawbone UP24 band to automatically turn on the lights when I wake up. Last on my list is the Google Chromecast. While I love my Apple TV, the Chromecast is easy to fit in your pocket & have the power to stream content at your disposal at anytime.

Holiday Party: Fashionably Cheap $250 Look

December 10, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

Zara Black Jacquard Weave Suit / Zara Poplin Shirt / Zara Reversible Belt

Christian Louboutin Dada Flat / Zegna Bow-Tie / Brietling Navitimer Watch

Besides September, which happens to be my birthday month, one of my favorite months of the year has to be December. My schedule seemingly begins to fill up with a plethora of holiday parties held by various friends. From casual cocktail parties, ugly sweater parties, Hanukkah dinners & your occasional black tie event, December is truly a joyous month.

This past weekend I had a dilemma, with my recently trip back from Africa being delayed by half a day, I had only about 6 hours to pull together a head-to-toe formal look for a Christmas Party held at the State Library of Victoria. Talk about pressure! With my go-to party suit being currently shipped from America to Australia, I was completely dependent on putting together a complete look from off the rack with absolutely no time to get a made-to-measure suit. Luckily Zara was the perfect place to find a fashionable ready-to-wear look.

Besides my shoes & bow-tie, this whole entire look was styled using clothing by Zara, what was best of all is that altogether it cost around $250, that includes the shirt & belt! I could not believe I pulled off such a feat! The night was a complete success & I was blown away with the impressive venue. Something about enjoying cocktails & good company in such a serious & prestigious place adds a special touch to a memorable evening!

East Dane BIG Sales Event

November 27, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

I have to admit, I've never been a fan of Black Friday, something about waiting in line at a store at an ungodly hour is not something I'd like to do. Thank gosh though for East Dane for beating the crowd & having one of their biggest sales of the year available before one of the busiest shopping day of the year..

The East Dane Big Event started yesterday & runs for a week. Depending on how much you spend, the amount of percentage off your total purchase increases. I know I'm going to be filling up my online shopping cart with some gifts for myself as well as some stocking stuffers for some friends. You can be sure I'll be getting a few scarves & gloves for my friends in NYC, some nice shirts for myself for Christmas Eve, & some shoes to dance the night away on New Year's Eve.

Head now to the East Dane website to find the sales code & details. Happy shopping!

Holiday Gift Guide: Victorinox Chrono Classic

November 18, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

The holidays are just around the corner & whether if you are shopping for a friend, loved one or yourself, the latest Victorinox Chrono Classic watch should be at the top of your shopping list this year. A watch is more than a simple timepiece; it has long become a status symbol to many gentlemen out there. A watch can set you apart from any other guy; your timepiece will make or break your look.

The Chrono Classic is an absolute must have this year. After wowing the audience at Baselworld last spring, the newly available Chrono Classic is a modern, innovative & easy to use timepiece that everyone will be coveting this holiday season. Taking cue from the Swiss Army knife, the Chrono Classic is a 'three-step' watch. The timepiece can be switched from a classic time keeping mode of hours & minutes to a chronograph accurate through a hundredth of a second by just a simple double click of the crown. The date window at the 6 o'clock position becomes a counter, which begins with a simple touch of the 2 o'clock button. The central red hand then counts off the seconds, while the other two count minutes and hours. Another click stops the timing operation, and the window at 6 o’clock shows the hundredth of a second. Pressing the second button at 4 o’clock resets the chronograph.

Not only is the Chrono Classic truly a remarkable innovation in the watch world, but it also is made impeccably with fine handling & materials that is expected of by Victorinox. The 41 mm case is finished in a polished stainless steel, assuring that this watch will last for a time to come. The following options are available for the dials, bezels & bracelets: a “Dark grey” dial and bezel option with Black Ice PVD coating, biologically tanned black leather strap or stainless steel bracelet or a Champagne dial and bezel, gold PVD coating, biologically tanned brown leather strap or stainless steel bracelet.

With a longstanding tradition of impressing the world, Victorinox has once again won everyone over with such a fine crafted timepiece. I know I will be adding this to my Christmas list this year, will you? Let me know in the comments below your thoughts & check out the link to the unique microsite created for the Chrono Classic in the link below.

Victorinox Chrono Classic

This post is partnered with Victorinox Swiss Army. The content and views expressed here are my own.

Cheeky Valentine's Day Cards

February 5, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

With Valentine's Day around the corner, finding the right gift and card can get quite frustrating. Long gone are the days when we handmade Valentine's Day cards in grade school. The fun and quirkiness of a unique card was always a special touch to this Hallmark holiday. Whether its for a friend or a loved one, sometimes it can be fun to add a distinctive touch to celebrating a special relationship that you share. When the holiday has come and gone, a card will forever be around to cherish the memory of the perfect sentiment shared. Say 'I Love You' with these three great picks for the cutest Valentine's Day card ever!