To me, a martini after dinner is the epitome of being an adult. Lately, I've trying to perfect the art of making a perfect Espresso Martini at home. Since I am not a fan of desserts, the espresso martini is the closest to a rich & indulgent treat after my meals.
Read moreEmbracing Men's Workout Leggings
Workout week concludes today, and I wanted to briefly once again touch on the subject of workout leggings for guys! I've long been a fan of compression pants, or workout leggings for guys. I think its the perfect solution for chilly mornings when you just want to stay warm on your way to the gym. Even in warm weather, leggings are a perfect choice as they are equally as breathable as they are warm, they work by keeping the cool or warmth in when needed.
Check out my favorite picks for leggings and don't be scared to rock those hard worked leg gains!
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Stylish Tanks for Every Workout
Workout Week on the blog continues! A lot of my friends say they would never be caught dead in a tank top at the gym in fear of looking foolish, but I say what better cut toggle an allusion to a fitter body than a tank top? Every guy regardless of shape or size looks good in a slim tank top, its like scientific fact! Because of this, I like to wear tank tops in the gym.
Like the rest of my workout clothes, I like to show some form of style expression in what I wear to the gym. Tank tops now come in all sorts of colors & patterns, long gone are the boring black or white kind. Not only do they look great, but the technology used in tanks now are designed to keep you dry & cool during grueling workouts.
My particular favorite tank top is my Lululemon Metal Vent Tank. Tell me, what do you like to wear to the gym?
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Monday Workout Motivation
It's fitness week on the site this week! Nothing makes me happier than a good workout under the belt first thing Monday morning. It almost kicks off my week in the best way possible. While in theory it sounds wonderful to wakeup and hit the gym, sometimes I struggle to get myself out of my bed. Between a stream of emails & an endless Instagram feed, I tend to lose my motivation before I even put my clothes on.
I find that the best way to get myself into the gym first thing in the morning is to seek out motivation that pushes me towards that workout. My motivation is always different, one day it could be a great new song that I'm really feeling, or a fitness Instagram page that motivates me to up my gym game. Regardless of what motivates me to get it done, I ALWAYS feel better afterwards.
So tell me, what gets you motivated to workout in the comments below. Also check out this great chest workout that I like to pump out every Monday.
CHEST WORKOUT
- 8-10 Reps of Bench Press x 3 Sets
- 6-8 Reps of Incline Flyes x 4 Sets
- 8-10 Reps of Piston Presses x 4 Sets
- 6-8 Reps of Hammer Presses x 4 Sets
- 8-10 Reps of Svend Presses x 3 Sets
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High Performance Sport Headbands That Stylishly Keep Your Hair Out of the Way
At one time or another we have all reached a point with our hair that it truly does not want to cooperate with us. Whether you’re growing it out, or simply cant be bothered fixing it, every guy understands that our hair sometimes can be our biggest enemy. While instinctively I reach for a ball cap at these moments, hats simply just wont do in certain occasions like the gym or while playing sports.
Recently I purchased some Junk Headbands that have completely changed the game forever for me in sporting headwear. I used to think that headbands were relegated to chicks or 80s theme parties, but man has my opinion changed! I’m not exaggerating when I say that you’ll quickly become obsessed with this brand.
Made out of moisture wicking material & breathable fabrics, Junk Headbands are built to withstand the toughest of workouts. Made in four different styles ranging from an infinity loop style to your traditional tied behind the head variation, these headbands have kept me looking sharp while exercising. What I enjoy the most is that they are designed in various prints & colors, making something so mundane into a must-have gym accessory. I currently have three that I constantly wear because my longer hair is making soccer impossible for me as I find myself pushing my hair back way too often.
Check out this brand & let me know in the comments below what are some of your gym must-have items.
Luxury Apple Watch Bands
Before I start today, I wanted to wish all of you guys a Happy New Year & apologize for slacking off during the holidays on the blog! I took the season to disconnect and put my Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & website on the back-burner & concentrate solely on being present in the moment with friends & family! New Year, new start I say! So get ready for an exciting year & promise you this will be the best one yet on the site!
So over the holidays I saw a bunch of my friends either receive or gift themselves an Apple Watch. It really is no secret between my friends & I how much I’ve loved my watch since it launched last April, but my one gripe has always been its complete lack of individuality & pizazz. I know there are a multitude of colors & materials to choose from, but it really is hard to set yourself apart from the rest because chances are someone you know already has the same band.
Because of this dilemma I set out to find a unique & luxurious band that would make me proud to sport my Apple Watch while at an event or dinner out on the town. I stumbled upon The Strap Smith a couple of months ago and immediately fell in love. Creating custom leather watch straps from authentic leather handbags from the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton & Goyard, it was easy to see that this was my solution to my gadget conundrum.
Ultimately I chose a white LV Azur band with off white thread & a custom buckle. I was truly impressed how each band is hand made & stitched, meaning that the utmost attention to detail was used to create it. I highly recommend The Strap Smith to anyone out there looking for a unique & handmade band for their Apple Watch.
Celebrate the Season with Cire Trudon Christmas Collection Candles
Christmas time has got to be my favorite time of year. Our homes come alive with a variety of tastes & smells that are unique to the season. Growing up I always anticipated the period of time leading up to Christmas, our home would be filled with warm colors & decorations that just made the holidays come alive. Our oven would be on heavy rotation for two months with cookies, cakes & other christmas delights. You could say that Christmas time is a great olfactory treat for anyone who enjoys the holidays at home.
The famed French candle house, Cire Trudon, has come up with an all new fragrance, Gaspard, for their Christmas Collection for 2015. Combining mandarin & mysore sandalwood, this new candle is a biblical nod to Gaspard, the Magi king from India. This famed candle house has for a long time been renown across the globe as creating unique & memorable scents via their elegant candles. Along with Gaspard, the collection includes their 'Gabriel' & 'Melchior' fragrances. The packaging for the Christmas Collection embodies holiday elegance, enclosed in handmade matte glass vessels that serve as the perfect backdrop to their classic gleaming gold champagne labels.
My house for the last few weeks has smelled exquisite thanks to the 'Gabriel' candle. It is absolutely my favorite out of the three candles, and not simply because we share the same name! If I could express my olfactory preferences I would say that warm & woodsy tones are what I tend to gravitate to. When I light 'Gabriel' I feel as if it adds a warmth to my home with the use of notes of leather, cashmere wood & candied chestnuts. I've been lighting it when I come home for the evening & it has become part of my daily unwinding routine. With a burning time of around 60 hours, I know this will last me quite a while. For those who enjoy a more spicy & fruity note in their candles, the Melchior is the perfect fit. While the base is a bit musky, the head note uses ambergris, citrus & spice to set this candle apart.
Whether you're shopping for yourself, or looking for a gift for the holidays, this Christmas Collection 2015 is a thoughtful present for the season. It will fill your space with notes that evolve as you burn your candle, ensuring every minute is a treat to your senses. When such a brand like Cire Trudon, who embraces the history of France with fashions of modern life, you are sure not to go wrong!
LuxBox, a Modern and Luxurious Case
What I have always loved about my iPhone is the aesthetic look to it. iPhones set themselves apart from other smartphones out there because of their design, so why would we cover them up with a bulky case? This has been my dilemma for years! No matter what case I chose, I always was bothered by how it masked my phones design & quite frankly made it look like a cheap plastic device. For the first time ever, I've personally been using a case that not only accentuates my phones design, but adds a personal, luxurious & modern look to it.
For the past week I've been sporting a LuxBox case by theWTFactory on my phone. As the name implies, the case is truly a luxury accessory. Made in two luxurious material options, walnut wood veneer or 100% wool, this lightweight case just asks to be touched. What I enjoy most about the LuxBox case is how it adds minimal size to my phone while maintaining security. Usually a case with a thin rim equals low protection, but this case extends 1mm beyond the screen to protect the face of your phone in case of a drop.
With a year long warranty, this case is a no brainer as the best solution to protect your iPhone. The LuxBox is the ultimate case in my opinion as it adds that special modern luxury style that we all love. Let me know in the comments below what you think of this amazing case!
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week - Menswear Night
For the last few days the Melbourne CBD has transformed into the ultimate fashion mecca for spring-wear in Australia. Melbourne Spring Fashion Week kicked off last week on August 28th & has transformed the center of the city into a 'sartorial sanctuary'. With various designers & events, the last few days have been amazing for anyone remotely interested in fashion.
Last night I was able to attend the 'Mr' menswear night of the week, with various designers & brands putting forth the latest styles for the spring. From start to finish, the show was impeccably styled. I was very excited when my friend Caitlin invited me to be her plus one for the night, as this would be my first Australian fashion week experience. The night started off with a VIP reception in Melbourne's Town Hall, with special guest & supermodel Ashley Hart & I couldn't help but resist to snap a photo with her!
Once we proceeded to our seats, we were dazzled by designers Aquila, Arthur Galan AG, BRENTWILSON, Calibre, Et Al, Godwin Charli, Jayson Brunsdon, Joe Black & M.J. Bale. One noticeable trend that I couldn't help but notice was jackets in light grey & creme shades. To me this is a nice change from your traditional blue blazer. Also, I took note of pants & shorts in floral prints. While I'm still on the fence if I could rock this trend, the models certainly made me consider getting a pair as my next purchase. As always, tailoring was impeccable. I have always believed that money is well spent getting your clothes tailored to your body, it creates a crisp line & elevates your look.
I look forward to many more Melbourne Fashion Weeks in the years to come. With a couple of nights left, I will certainly be taking advantage of this amazing event happening throughout the city.
Top 3 Drones That Won't Break the Bank
There is no doubt that drones are becoming more prevalent in our society, from Amazon's future adoption of drone deliveries to making a splash this year at the inaugural Silicon Valley Fashion week, drones are everywhere! Now more than ever, you can have the innovative power of owning a drone for not a lot of coin. Think of the drone as this generations radio controlled helicopter, everyone wants to have one. Drones have become inexpensive & easy to fly, making them an absolute must for every techie out there.
It is not difficult to grasp why drones have become so popular, the technology in some drones put them on par with some of the coolest gadgets available. Three brands have truly made drones accessible for just about everyone. Not only have I picked these three for their price, but also because of their reliability & innovative features.
First up is the Phantom 2 Vision+. I personally own this drone & could not say a single bad thing about it, everything about it blows me away! It is the ultimate drone if you're into photography & film. The attached camera films at 1080p & has a 14 megapixel camera, both can be completely controlled by your smartphone or the included remote. Out of all the other drones out there, this one has ranked among the highest in battery life, at about 25 minutes per charge. With a built in GPS, this drone is one of the most stable out there, it can even reach a distance of about 1,500ft. This drone packs a lot of power, but don't be scared by it as anyone can easily pick up the controls & easily fly it around.
Sitting at around $500, the Parrot Bebop drone is a steal! This drone is small & lightweight, making it easy to take with you anywhere. Available in a variety of colors, this drone has a little bit more of a playful vibe. The durable shell of the drone will withstand a lot, making people who are scared of breaking their latest gadget feel a little bit more comfortable. The Parrot Bebop also has an included camera, while it only faces forward, still can appease those out there looking to film.
Regarding price, the UDI RC drone blows them all out of the water, clocked in at below $150 its hard to think of a reason why not to purchase one. While the price might indicate a budget drone, it surely is not. with a 6 axis gyro & onboard camera, you surely are not missing out on any features.
If you've been tiptoeing about purchasing a drone I hope these picks have helped. Let me know in the comments below if you'll be picking one up in the near future!