Basic Rules for Men’s Fashion.

I wanted to list out a few different things I have seen while out and about that have been bugging me with men and fashion lately.  I am by no means trying to say my sense of style is better than anyone else’s, but there are many people making the wrong choices with their clothing that is prohibiting them from looking as good as they could.  So, here we go.

1.     Just because we see a lot of men wearing cargo shorts does not make them fashionable.  Instead try a sturdy pair of Flat front Chino Shorts.  Target currently has theirs on sale for $17.99.  Chinos go great with simple shirts and look much better for the summer season!

2.     Keeping with shorts never wear visible socks while wearing shorts.

3.     Please don’t wear socks with sandals (I’m talking to the Nike high sock flip flop people).

4.     Get rid of your cell phone holder belt clip. Please. 

5.     Suit coats and sport coats should be altered by a professional tailor to fit your body better.  You will probably spend $25-$100 on this. 

6.     Suit and sport coats should have their arm lengths long enough to expose about a half inch of dress shirt cuff.

7.     Your jacket should only have three buttons.  Anything more is overdoing it.

8.     Open your jacket pocket, either with small scissors or a seem ripper, these pockets are meant to be used.  Find a nice pocket square to match the tie and shirt you are wearing. 

9.     Under armor, polyester, and spandex stay in the gym or on the field, never to the mall, to the movies, or out to dinner.

10. Your clothes should not have seemingly “witty” statements on them nor should your clothes make you a walking billboard for a company or brand.  Simple form fitting clothes are best for any look.  You are not a peacock.

Those were just a few of the things I have seen while out recently.  Hope you enjoyed the post!

Stay fresh, stay awesome.

-Dillon

Summer Hair Accessories

So, summer is in full swing! I wanted to follow up on my Bow Tutorial post with another showing some of my favorite hair accessories for the summer time! Like I said before, my hair has a mind of its own in the summer time. One day it will look awesome and stay exactly how I styled it, the next day or even hour, it will look like a frizzed out afro! I try to tame it but I mean there is just no reasoning with it sometimes. So here are some of the hair accessories I find myself reaching for during these hot months!

Headbands:
Whether it be a metal one, a pretty lace one, or a turban style, headbands can help out tremendously when your bangs have gotten all sweaty and stuck to your face. Admit it, it happens to all of us. With headbands I will usually putt it all off my face  just to get a little less hot hair near my face area. When I am feeling like I am having a good bang day but the top of my hair is kinda getting crazy, I put a turban style headband on the top of my head, pushed slightly on the forehead. It helps to get rid of those frizzy/flyaway roots.

Clips:
Clips and bobby pins are like my best friends! As much as I love having my fringe bangs, they can be a complete hassle in the summer. The heat alone makes them get all crazy. But there are just days in general when I cannot get them to look good no matter how hard I try. On these days I will either pull them back with a bobby pin, or a cute little bow clip like in the picture. It looks good, and hides some not so pretty styling issues!

Bows and Wraps:
I already talked about my love for bows, so I will not go into the obsession again. But in the summer time I like to spice up my ponytails and messy buns. Toss on a bow and it is a whole new look! You can also find these cute little wraps that look really cute tied around a ballerina bun! These are the looks I go for when I am just not in the mood to bother with it down at all or pressed for time. Or, if I am wanting to give my hair a heat break.

These are all quick and easy modifications to your hairstyle that can be made on the go when you look in your compact and are shocked at what has become of your hair or sitting in your home getting ready for a day out and about. All of them take less then 5 minute but still look put together and cute!!! Hope this helps your hair woes during the summer months!

Stay Beautiful!
K

What We Pack and Packing Tips-Video

Well, since the poochs took over last week and posted about what they packed (are we crazy pet parents or what!?) We thought we would do the same! But we are cooler because we are doing it in a video!!! haha!

Well there you have it! All things packing for a short trip! What are some of your tips and tricks for packing? We travel quite a bit and we love getting more ideas!
We will do another one when we pack for our long trip in October, that is some serious packing right there!!!

Happy Travels!
D + K

American Crew: Citrus Mint Shampoo and Conditioner Review!

Here lately I have been wanting to step up my hair routine, so on mine and Korina’s last trip to Ulta I noticed the American Crew-Citrus Mint bottles of shampoo and conditioner were on sale for half off!  So, naturally, I picked them up and brought them home to try them out!  This was my first excursion into high-end shampoos and conditioners and I was unbelievably impressed with the feel of my hair afterwards!

Citrus Mint shampoo:

The bottle says it is a “refreshing” shampoo and they really do mean what they say! With low sulfates, coconut extracts, spearmint, tealeaf oils, and rosemary (as well as others) these ingredients really help to strip your hair of grease and grime from your day while letting your natural oils still work through your hair!

Citrus Mint conditioner:

The conditioner takes all the power of the shampoo but amplifies it!  The conditioner rejuvenates and revitalizes the hair after the shampoo has stripped away the dirt.  This amazing conditioner has rosemary extracts that helps to condition the scalp and allows your hair to stay cleaner longer.

Over all the American Crew Citrus Mint shampoo and conditioner is an amazing buy!  If you have the money and the ability to pick it up and try it out!

Stay fresh, stay awesome!

Dillon!

Clary Fray Makeup Tutorial-Video

So, when Dillon and I started this blog, we always had the intention of starting a Youtube channel. I prefer writing and wanted to test the waters of a couple combining information. That is how the blog was born. After blogging for awhile, we really enjoyed it, but we realized it was hard to type out certain things. Like tutorials or follow us around stuff. When I made my bow tutorial I realized how hard it was to type out the instructions! So we decided to make a Youtube channel a little earlier then anticipated.

So, my first solo video was a tutorial of the Clary Fray look from The Mortal Instruments series. I have mentioned the series a couple times on here and how I am obsessed with it, so it should be no surprise that my first tutorial would something to do with this series. Give it a watch!

Hope you enjoyed that fun little video! We are still blogging regularly, but we are making videos for some of those subjects that don't translate well in text!!! If you liked it, and want to keep up with us, subscribe! Comment below letting us know you subscribed so we can send you the biggest virtual hug. It would make us super happy =]

Stay Beautiful!
K

Pooch Post: What's in Our Travel Bag!

Mom and Dad were doing a video on what they pack in their suitcases and travel bags, so we thought we would share what we have in ours! Every once and a while Mom and Dad actually take us with them on their mini-vacations! This time we got to go to Dad's parents house for an over-nighter. We love going there because they live on a HUGE farm. So we get to run around a huge open land, which is much different then the little yard we have at our apartment! But anyway, here is what we have packed for us when we head to the farm:

 Of course we need our bowls and food! I mean we cannot starve to death on a vacation! I bet you can guess which bowl is which!

Then our leashes. For the most part we get to run free at the farm, but just in case plans change and Mom and Dad want to take us somewhere else, we have to bring our leashes!

And we HAD to bring our toys!!!! These are some of our favorites! Some to snuggle with, and some to play tug of war with. We like a variety when we leave the house. We cannot just take one, that would be far too boring!

And, for Lupin, his Nylabone is a MUST HAVE!!! Even though he is not a puppy anymore he always is chewing on this thing. This is the second one Mom and Dad had to buy. So we don't leave home without it.

Already at the farm is a dog bed big enough for both of us (even though Lupin sleeps on the bed between Mom and Dad) and a blanket for Princess!

Well, that is it! That is what we have packed for us when we go away on an overnight trip. Not much, but we are happy with all the stuff when we are away from home. Hope you enjoyed this fun little puppy post! Mom and Dad will go back to posting soon, we just wanted to show off our bag!

L+P

The Importance of Moisturizer.

Our faces are subject to a multitude of harsh environments, such as: Sun rays, wind, humidity, air pollutants, and just about everything else floating around in the world.  The things we deal with every day can take a major toll on our skin and cause our faces to age much quicker than we would like, not to mention without properly protecting our faces we make the odds for skin cancer much higher. 

So how do we help protect our faces? Moisturizer or course!  I know, I know it seems like a girl thing, but honestly when it comes to taking care of yourself this is vital!  When picking a good moisturizer its really important to take notice of the ingredients to make sure you’re getting a quality product for your face to protect it from your every day.  Such quality ingredients include: glycerin, shea butter, and green tea.  All of these ingredients lock in moisture and help aid your skin by protecting it from UV rays and other harmful substances.  Speaking of harmful substances here are a few ingredients to watch out for when picking a good moisturizer: mineral oils (these are usually petroleum based and suck out the moisture from your skin), SD alcohol, and formaldehyde.  Yes, some moisturizers use formaldehyde to try and keep your skin intact…creepy.  These also can make your skin greasy instead of soft and smooth. 

I know its summer now, but during the winter try to keep your exfoliation routine to a low because you can buff out your natural oils your face needs to protect itself.  Try to only exfoliate once a week during the winter time. 

APPLICATION:

Its best to apply your moisturizer of choice twice a day, morning and night.  But, lets face it, once a day should be fine enough to keep your face looking great.  After you’ve showered, or just washed your face, pat dry your face with a clean towel, apply small dots of moisturizer to your forehead, nose, cheek bones, and temples. Gently rub in a circular motion the moisturizer until it sinks into your skin.  For better results try maintaining a semi healthy diet and drinking lots of water every day.  The more water you drink the more hydrated your skin will be.  The better hydrated your skin, the cleaner your complexion will be, and isn’t that what we are all going for?

Two great moisturizers:

Bath and Body Works: Paris for Men- after shave and face lotion  $12.00

Kiehls: Facial Fuel- moisturizer for men  $25.00

Hope you enjoyed!  Thanks guys!

 

 -Dillon

Bow Tutorial

So, since summer is in full swing, the weather is hot and my hair is crazy! This summer heat is making my hair all frizzy and the sweating does not help! So, needless to say, I have been tossing my hair up A LOT! And I have a feeling most of you have been doing the same. But why settle for the boring ponytail and messy bun? Add something special...a bow! I have DOZENS of bows around my house and I have made almost all of them. So I am here to help you guys jazz up that summer pony!

 What you will need:
-Hot glue gun and glue
-Scissors
-Needle and thread
-Hair ties
-Fabric

Step 1:
Cut your fabric. Your going to fold your fabric in half horizontally and vertically. So cut your fabric double the size that you want your bow vertically and horizontally. Hope that made sense! Basically, back to kindergarten times: Your going to fold it like a hotdog and hamburger style so make sure you make it double both ways!

Step 2:
Fold it hotdog style and make the two ends overlap. Make sure the seam is in the middle on the back side. This will be the back of your bow so it doesn't matter if it is a little messy. Glue a dot on each end and the center. Now your fabric should like like one lone tube!

 









Step 3:
Now, meet the two sides in the center, hamburger style! Overlap them like you did in step 2. Take your needle and thread (make the thread pretty long, you will know why in a minute!) Sew the two ends together. It can be messy! Your going to start seeing your bow form in this step.

Step 4:
Now that you have what looks like a flattened bow. This is where that extra thread is important. Take it and wrap it around the center of the flat bow once and pull! It will cinch in and really look like a bow! wrap it around a couple more times just to make it more tight/secure. flip it over to the back and knot it! You can do this however you want/find easiest. I just made a loop around all the thread in the back and tied it into a knot. Cut your thread.

Step 5:
Now, you can either take a thinner ribbon, or cut a small long piece of your fabric. Long enough to wrap around the center of your bow and cover your thread. Put a dot of glue on the back of your bow and put the end of the small piece on it as well as a hair tie. Wrap it around the front of the bow and join in on the back with another dot of glue. I suggest your put the glue and fabric on top of the hair tie so that it stays put!

 And there you have it!!! A bow on a hairband! I hope all my steps made sense, I realized how hard it was to explain in writing. Maybe I will make a video to help out. Either way, hopefully I have explained it enough so that you have some cute bow to jazz up your outfit this summer!

Stay Beautiful
K

Three Fun and Different Spur of the Moment Dates!

As much as we want to deny it couples do get caught up in the routine of wake up, go to work, come home, eat, sleep, and repeat.  Its normal, doesn’t mean its right, but it does happen.  So we’ve compiled a list of three great get off work and go dates that don’t cost too much money, that are unique, and they get you out of the house!

Coffee and Antiquing:

A trip to Starbucks, or your favorite local coffee shop, and a walk around a few local antique shops can be just what the two of you need to get your batteries recharged.  This is a great date because not only do you get delicious coffee, but you get to walk around shops and look at old things and laugh about the things some people are trying to sell as “antiques”.  We do this maybe once or twice a month because its just a great way to get out of the house, go for a fun walk, and to just get to talk to each other about something besides work.

Micro Road Trip:

Call out sick, throw on a pair of jeans and a t shirt, jump in the car, hit the interstate and drive to the nearest big city that’s about a hour and a half away. The best part of this random date is that you’re getting out of your town, if only for the day, and doing something different.  Find a local restaurant and grab a bite together.  Why local? You can get any fast food restaurant or chain restaurant in your hometown talk to someone and ask about the best mom and pop restaurants or if you’re not a fan of talking to strangers use the “around me” app for your adventure needs!  Other notable things to do in another town: Check out their down town shops or see a local show!

Fort Building:

I know it sounds grade school but probably some of the most fun you can have as a couple is building a fort in your bedroom, or living room, and watching a movie in it together.  First off its awesome watching a movie in a fort and second you have a blast building it together, until your cat jumps on it and caves it in!

We hope this post helped you come up with some great dates with your girl or guy!

Thanks!

Four Amazing Body Washes for Men!

Lets face it, we get dirty, and afterwards we don’t smell great.  That’s why it is really important to have a great body wash in your shower to help refresh your skin after your various manly activities!  Here are four of my favorites!

Dove for MEN: “Extra Fresh” body wash

This is a great, and inexpensive, gel body wash!  The lather it creates digs in deep to clear away dirt and grime and leaves your skin smelling great.  Long lasting clean scent and it moisturizes your skin leaving it smooth and fresh!

Bath and Body Works: Various shower gels

Currently in my shower I have the White Citrus for men shower gel, but they come in every scent from their men’s line.  I love this product because of how great it smells, how rich the lather is, how it makes my skin feel, and how long it lasts!  At eleven dollars a bottle it may seem expensive, but it only takes a little bit to wash your whole body so it does last a very long time.  I defiantly recommend: Ocean, White Citrus for men, or Twilight Woods for men. 

C. O. Bigelow: Mentha exfoliating bar soap

This exfoliating bar soap is infused with peppermint and walnut shells.  The peppermint refreshes the body while the crushed walnut shells allow the soap to slough away dead skin.  This is one of my favorite lower priced exfoliating bar soaps.  They can be found at Bath and Body works and are only going to cost you around $7.50. 

Kehils: Ultimate man body scrub soap

This is hands down my favorite bar of soap and or body wash option.  I cant get over the quality of Kehils products and this bar of soap is right on par with the rest of their inventory.  Made from all natural ingridents, like oat bran and pum-iss, this exfoliating bar soap digs in deep to your skin and digs out dirt leaving your skin cleansed and even your muscles relaxed!  At $13.00 for 7.0 OZ's it may seem a little much but once you try it, you really will understand how worth it this product it!

I prefer bar soap to gels because I like the way they make my skin feel better, but I do use all the products listed above and they all work wonders! 

Stay fresh, stay awesome!

-Dillon

Korina's June Favorites

June has come and go....so quickly!!! And I have, of course, been loving all sorts of things this month. And, like usual, I am going to share it with you!

Make up Favorites:

-Rimmel Show-Off Lip Lacquers

-Mac Lipstick in Peach Blossom

-Stila "In the Moment" Palette 

-Two Faced Chocolate Soliel Matte Bronzer 

Mac Lipstick in Peach Blossom.
Let me just preface this by saying, I am absolutly horrible at keeping colored lipstick on. Especially during the summer. I drink a lot of water when out in the heat, and lets face it I talk a lot. During the winter I love to slap on some dark lipstick, and it usually stays on since its darker. But brighter, more summery lipstick seems to want to rub off so much easier. Maybe it's just me. Bleh. So, on my no nonsense days that I want a little color but not a bright color, this is my go to. It is this beautiful nude color, with some slight pinky/brown tones. It is creamy and feels great on the lips. Doesn't act as a balm, but feels soft and luxurious. And, while it is MAC, their lipsticks are pretty affordable in my opinion, and I have for sure gotten my money's worth this summer. This, and a little big of pink or nude lip gloss and I am ready to go. And it lasts all day!

Rimmel Show-Off Lip Lacquers 

I am in LOVE with these! I mean the color payoff and the fact that it is a stain that goes NOWHERE is just perfect. The colors in this range are perfect for summer. I hope they come out with more wintery colors when the time comes. But the applicator puts helps you to apply really well. A little goes a long way so be careful! You don't need to put it on top of a lipstick, they are that pigmented. And they have this great glossy shine to them. Extremely long wear, no need to constantly reapply. So these are perfect for a night out where you don't want to spend the time running to a mirror to fix it up. I love it for a date night. And the price...SO REASONABLE!!! I think it is like $5 a piece, which is just great. The packaging even looks luxury. You get the luxury look for that great drugstore price. The colors I got (from left to right) are: Stellar, Big Bang, Star Gazer, Luna, and Aurora. I for sure recommend your pick some up the next time your at Walgreens (they are exclusive to Walgreens right not!)

Stila "In the Moment" Palette
An Ulta opened up like 10 minutes from our house. Which is great since our small town has NOTHING beyond Drugstore. Which is fine since I love me some drugstore, but I like me some higher ended stuff too. So Ulta is great for my collection....HORRIBLE for our bank account! =] But when it opened Dillon picked me up this palette and I am in love! I have been trying to venture into less neutral colors and purple was my jumping off point. So this palette was perfect for that leap. And I couldn't be happier with the looks I can create. The colors are so pigmented and easy to blend. Some are sparkly, and others have a more satin finish so you get a great variety.  And for the price you get 8 shadows and a really pretty purple eyeliner. I can easily create a day and night look from this palette, so it is just perfect for travel.  I cannot speak more highly of this palette, and the colors you get from it.




Two Faced Chocolate Soliel Bronzer

This was another thing that Dillon picked up for me at Ulta. Now, I will say this: he bought a shade a little too dark. Which, for summer, I can totally work with. But I wish he would have realized there was a lighter shade. But, that being said, this is the best bronzer I have ever used. It is all over the internet and YouTube, so it is not a secret product at all. So I wont rattle on about it too much. First, and most important to me, it smells JUST like chocolate! I mean seriously, the minute you open it up its like your in a chocolate shoppe. Amazing, and it even smells while on your face, not overwhelmingly, just when your cheek to cheek with that special someone. Dillon loves it so it is for sure guy approved. It is matte too, so no extra sparkle on your face, which I like during the summer. I don't like too much face sparkle when the summer is around since your already super sunny and tan and such. I feel like the winter needs that little sparkle more. Just a personal opinion obviously. But anyways, I am loving this bronzer for contouring and just overall added tan to the face. For sure worth it. 

 Hair Favorites:

-Macadamia Natural Oil Hair Mask

-En Root Shampoo and Conditioner by The Balm

-Its a 10 Keratin Leave in Treatment 

Macadamia Natural Oil Hair Mask:

So I started using a sample of this and fell in love. It smells great, so that is a plus! But it works wonders on my beat up hair. I am not even going to lie: I dye my hair A LOT. Like all the time. And recently I did a red ombre so I had to bleach the bottom half of my hair. It was looking pretty fried. So I needed something to really hydrate my hair. And I found it. I will do a full review on most of this stuff, but I will give you a brief rundown. It is a hair mask, so it needs to sit in your hair for some time. But I used it on the bottom half of my hair once a week all this month and my hair has never felt better. It is soft and shinny, but doesn't feel filmy like some masks have done to my hair. So I will talk more about it in the future, but until then, I can for sure recommend it! 

 En Root Shampoo and Conditioner by The Balm:

I always like trying new shampoo and conditioner. I am not loyal to a brand of type so I am always grabbing some new stuff to try. Although I do need to gravitate towards the color treated safe stuff, since my hair is absolutely color treated! I have been using this combo from The Balm all month. I will say I didn't noticed a HUGE difference in my hair texture wise. It feels great, and healthy, but that could be a combination of the other treatments I have been using. But the reason it is a favorite, my color has not budged. Since I do dye it so much, I have some problems keeping the color in my hair. And, lets be honest, the bottles are to die for. They are so cute. I love pinup girls so these just make me smile when I hop in the shower. 

 

Its a 10 Keratin Leave in Treatment:

I have been taking effort and really taking care of my hair. I don't want to be bald when I am older, which is a running joke in my house. So, I saw this in Ulta on sale and figured why not? I will tell you right now, it is expensive. I think $20 for a smallish bottle. But I can already tell it is going to last a while. And I think it is worth the price. It is a detangler and a leave in conditioner with Keratin. My hair, when I use it, needs to be blow dried immediately or it will get greasy. But it does not take much to get my hair greasy so that might just be my crazy hair. But after it is blow dried, my hair feels less frizzy and more straight right off the bat. When I blow dry my hair...I look like Hermione Granger. And if you don't get that reference I look like a bad 80's hair band. It is a HUGE frizzy mess. Since I have been using this spray not only has it tamed, but it styles so much quicker and easier. My hair just feels so healthy and those split ends just seem to disappear. 

 Nail Polish Favorites:

-Boom Boom Room by Essie- bright Barbie pink!

-Disco Biscuit by Butter London-deep, somewhat sheer, pink/purple with purple glitter

Accessories:

-Midi Rings! I have been making these like crazy for our online shop and I have been loving wearing them! I almost don't want to sell some and just keep them for myself. But really you can buy these anywhere. They are just something fun and different for the summer time. Obviously I don't wear these all at once! Just wanted to show off my hard work haha. But seriously how fun are these rings!?

TV Show:

-Pretty Little Liars- girly murder mystery

-Parks and Recreations-hilarious show about a Parks Government office

-Twisted- murder mystery, similar to Pretty Little Liars

Food/Snack:

-WhoNu! Cookies- Now these are delicious. I mean seriously delicious. And on top of that they are full of vitamins and proteins. So, they are a delicious little snack that is super healthy, well I mean as healthy as a cookie could possibly be! No quilt when munching on these babies! 

Book:

This month I finished my Mortal Instruments series and started up The Faults in Our Stars by John Green. My series ended amazingly (still waiting on the last book to come out) and so far I am really liking The Fault in Our Stars. I can tell it is going to be a sad one though, so I am prepared. I will let you know how that goes!

Creative Outlet:
Making Bows- Which I am going to a tutorial on here in the next week or so! Be on the look out for that! 

So I am hoping your enjoying July so far! And I hope you had some favorites this past month as well!

Stay Beautiful!
K