The Baller’s Bag

With the NBA finals among us, boys all around the country (and probably some of us grown men, too) are fantasizing about what it would be like to be a basketball superstar like Dwayne Wade or Lebron James.

Luckily, the Baller’s Bag fits the bill when it comes to being a tech-savvy baller in today’s times.  I’ve gotten to use the bag for some time now, and even though I’m not a baller per se, I certainly feel like one with this bag.  For one, it’s HUGE.  The bag is extra spacious and can fit a ton of stuff.  We’re talking several books, a laptop computer or tablet, athletic shoes, gym clothes and a basketball.

Think I’m kidding?  Here’s what I was able to fit into the bag:

• 3 pairs of shorts
• 5 shirts
• 1 pair of athletic shoes
• 15 inch Laptop
• 3 books

Now, keep in mind I didn’t even use the ball attachment pouch or ANY of the outside pockets which are also pretty sizable.  And, if the size alone weren’t worthy of admiration, the bag feels formidable and provides great back support, which is clearly important if you are a serious athlete.  The shoulder straps are noticeably wide and fit snugly enough  make me feel comfortable carrying all that stuff.  I wish all back packs were made this way.

The bag attachment itself either comes in a spherical or oblong shape which makes it perfect to fit either soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs or a football if you need it.  The ball attachment clips on to the bag itself and it all seems very sturdy even though I didn’t actually have a ball on hand to give it a shot.

I don’t consider myself an athlete by any means but if you’re a serious high school baller or a pro player you probably need this bag.  It’s comfortable, sturdy and spacious enough to be the perfect traveling companion.  The pro bag retails for $199.99 but there are also less expensive options to meet your needs.  You can purchase your own at www.ballersbag.com.

Obi band bracelet

I have to be honest and admit that I was never very fond of “man-jewelry” growing up.  I think the only piece of jewelry I ever saw my father wear was probably his wedding band.  Needless to say, I didn’t really get off to a good start with rocking man-accessories.

As I mentioned before in my previous post, My Personal Style Evolution, the middle and high school years didn’t see a lot of color or accessories either, well except for a  diamond stud earring and possibly a cartilage piercing for a hot minute.  I guess I have sported more accessories than I was willing to admit…

It wasn’t until late college and later that I started to realize there is a time and a place for fashion’s more minute details.  Prior to then it always seemed like those sort of accoutrements (accessories require you to be fancy) were reserved for the girls, but in the past couple of years that has been something that has been a big change for me.

The one item that really turned the tide was a bracelet I received as a gift.  The bracelet, pictured above, turned out to be this very cool, handmade, ethically obtained, sustainably produced, piece of man-accessory goodness. A big part of the charm for me was that, it didn’t look like typical jewelry, and on top of that profit from every sale goes right back into African communities who create the product by hand. So by purchasing the bracelet you contribute to the eradication of poverty in developing communities. Winning!

Admittedly, the fact that the product is actually made in Africa is also pretty cool.  At the time I was also heavily into exploring more of my own personal heritage which included a great curiosity for “the motherland” and all it has to offer.  In some small way, sort of like my fro, it’s about connecting to a piece of a very rich legacy.  On top of that, the unique pattern and style of the bracelet helped me move forward in embracing print and color in ways I hadn’t thought of before. It was almost as if it gave me the license to try out so much more.  Fast forward a few years and now I sporadically don a leather cuff, lapel flowers and even a tie bar if the occasion calls for it.

Unfortunately, these days the bracelets (I bought another) are fighting on their last elastic-band legs and I’m already contemplating replacing them with fresher and newer models.  All in all, it’s funny how one little gift can help turn the tide in my own journey into personal style.

Every great story begins with a time and a place. For Mount Gay Rum, that time is 1703 and that place is Barbados, the birthplace of rum. Introducing Mount Gay Black Barrel, a double matured rum from the inventors of rum. First matured in toasted whiskey barrels then finished in deeply charred bourbon barrels, Mount Gay Black Barrel balances full-bodied character with subtle aromas. Learn more at www.facebook.com/mountgayrum

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Mount Gay Distilleries via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mount Gay Distilleries.

Dearest love,

It was a warm sunny day back in August of 2009. I can’t say for sure whether it was love at first sight or if our love was more like a slow burning ember that only grew with time, but from what I can remember, there was definitely a spark that day and I haven’t looked back since.

Before we met my life seemed to be missing something, but I never knew it. Have you ever had that feeling? It’s almost as if you finally reunite with a missing part of yourself.  It’s certainly a life changing experience.

Prior to our meeting that day, I spent many nights alone reading books or watching films, and even finding myself drawn to a sip of Mount Gay rum every once in a while to take off the edge of loneliness (I’ve found there is always time for a tasty cuba libre when nursing a lonely heart).  But,  somehow on that night something changed. My heart lept from its insipid existence to infatuation in no time flat and I have never looked back. Little did I realize that my life would never be the same again.

The date was August 25, 2009 and it was our first meeting. The date started slow and I wasn’t sure if we would, in fact, be a good match. I have to admit, my attention began to waiver and I sought out other forms of entertainment, albeit temporarily. It was almost as if you knew that I began to wander, and that’s when the tide changed.

It was the swift crack of a bat that was the sign of a lively comeback. Texas was up 10 to 5 and it was like all of a sudden you woke up, then I opened my eyes!  There was some part of me that realized that day I had fallen for you, my dearest Yankees.

Ultimately, we ended up losing the game that night (10-9…ouch!) and despite my having a good time I still wasn’t sure if we would come together again. Luckily, I was wise enough to give you a second chance and soon thereafter you gave me the gift of a magical World Series win.

We have had some good times and some challenging ones but ultimately we always come back together, proving that in spite of myself, I was actually able to to find time for love. I can’t wait to spend many more years with you.  Let’s go Yankees!

Love,

MANE MAN

Every great story begins with a time and a place. For Mount Gay Rum, that time is 1703 and that place is Barbados, the birthplace of rum. Introducing Mount Gay Black Barrel, a double matured rum from the inventors of rum. First matured in toasted whiskey barrels then finished in deeply charred bourbon barrels, Mount Gay Black Barrel balances full-bodied character with subtle aromas. Learn more at www.facebook.com/mountgayrum

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Mount Gay Distilleries via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mount Gay Distilleries.

Hi all!  I come to you today with a special message about a brand trying to do some good in the community. Mega-brand Nike has recently teamed up with Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Nike has generally decided to give an outright donation of $1 million in addition to proceeds from the KD V Elites shoes sold on Nike.com from May 23 until June 15th.  The profits will go to two organizations dedicated to helping lift the spirits of those in Oklahoma.

KaBOOM!, an organization who builds playgrounds for underserved children will donate their services, and the Moore Public School Foundation, a local OK organization, will work hard to minimize the negative impact in the community’s school district.

If you’re in the market for some cool new kicks, visit here to purchase your pair of KD V Elites.  If smaller donations are more your thing, then feel free to head over to Red Cross and donate what you can.

If you also grew up in the 1990s then you know that the 80s were not the only terrible decade when it comes to fashion. Obviously these days we have our own challenges for which will look back on with contempt (ahem, skinny jeans), but hindsight is 20/20, right?

You may have read on my evolving style here on MANE MAN before but I had to admit that it is only recently that I have started to look at myself as someone who is even remotely interested in “fashion” and style. I have undergone a serious style evolution that includes rocking some pretty bright/bold colors from time to time which was not a big part of my younger years.

Many moons ago, in both middle and high school I was terribly afraid of color. And when I mean color, what I really mean is anything other than black or whatever shade of blue was popular at the time. During those teen years, it is especially difficult to fit in for everyone and picking the right clothes to wear often helps a lot. Thankfully, I sort of got by but at the time my style was all about being preppy and fitting in with the other kids in my class. I guess it sort of worked.

For me, I was (and still am) a bit of a prep. I have always liked classic looks and largely that still serves me well to this day. But, “classic” (read old) can also leave you looking a bit outdated if you don’t put your own personal sense style into every outfit. Otherwise you’ll end up looking like a store window mannequin and who wants that?!

For me, my change from un-styled fashion lemming to MANE MAN, the individual, has in large part, emerged due to my decision to embrace color. Just a few months ago I actually bought red pants…red pants! Who does that?! Well, I guess a lot of people do now a days, but there was a time when I wasn’t a part of that bunch.

Taking risks with color has helped me feel a bit more confident in my own sense of personal style which has helped me continue to take more risks. Remember the green blazer from a few weeks ago? I knew I might have looked like Tiger Woods at his Masters tournament when I wore it, but I did it anyway. I’m sure some people liked it while others thought I looked like an overgrown sweet pea, but you know what? I loved every second of wearing it. It helped me realize that my sense of style is not just about wearing what other people wear, but more about doing my style, my way. Style is all about being an individual in whatever big, or small, way that works for you. It’s about my continuing to take risks and feeling good in whatever I’m wearing whether that’s a green blazer, a hot pink guayabera-inspired shirt or an obnoxiously multicolored pair of slip on shoes. It will be interesting to see where this style evolution takes me next.

Every great story begins with a time and a place. For Mount Gay Rum, that time is 1703 and that place is Barbados, the birthplace of rum. Introducing Mount Gay Black Barrel, a double matured rum from the inventors of rum. First matured in toasted whiskey barrels then finished in deeply charred bourbon barrels, Mount Gay Black Barrel balances full-bodied character with subtle aromas. Learn more at www.facebook.com/mountgayrum

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Mount Gay Distilleries via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mount Gay Distilleries.

I just finished the book and I definitely think there are some strong takeaway points to put wellness into practice. On the whole, I found the book to be a little hokey at times but generally well worth a read, especially if you are new to exploring daily consciousness in this way.

For me, the book starts off kind of rough but ends up really hitting its high points at it’s close.  While the Law of Present-Moment Living is great, the principles involved in the Spiritual Laws show Anderson at this finest.  And then there’s “The Greatest Law” on unconditional loving, which is a horse of a different color.

The one thing that sticks out about this book are Anderson’s application of the laws in his own life.  Most striking are the discussions on his health and his anecdote on forgiveness…very powerful stuff.

How’s everyone else doing on their reading challenge? Are there any books I need to add to my list?

Lately, I’ve become more concerned with my health and not really for any particular reason. I knew that I had become overweight and was carrying a little extra around but to be honest, it didn’t bother me all that much.  But somehow, someway, something in me changed recently and I’ve even started to do somewhat regular exercising.  Gasp!

You see, I have never been the type of person who enjoyed working out  and I generally have difficulty getting motivated. I think it’s just one of those personality traits that I have.  But, once I get going, I usually do well.  I’m not going to lie, I’m a little proud of myself.

Even more impressive is the amount of self control I have had when it comes to food. I have realized that I had been eating entirely too large of portion sizes so I’ve made big changes there.  But another thing, aside from cutting out calorie-laden coffee, I have adopted what I like to call the 5/2 method to healthier living.  So what does that mean exactly?

Well, basically every week is a challenge to eat cleanly Monday-Friday.  What does that mean?  It means mostly veggies and very little meat and bread.  It means lots of soy, meat substitutes and mostly vegetarian (and even some vegan) options.  It means instead of having a pint of ice cream for dessert, I opt instead for greek yogurt with fruit or a pudding cup.  Oh, and it generally means little to no alcohol.

So that’s where the 5 comes in, what about the two?  Well, you guessed it.  That means Saturday and Sunday are full on splurge days.  Pizza, fries, a cup of coffee or two and maybe even a soda.  The result?  I’m down a good twenty pounds, but I have to be honest and say this also started with a few days of fast/liquid diet to kick off.

Generally, I feel lighter and better. I have more confidence in my ability to manage my splurges and boy do I really enjoy the fatty weekend food.  It’s actually almost as if everything tastes that much better because I get to miss things a bit. How funny is that?

What about you?  What tips do you have for leading a healthy lifestyle?

Let’s keep the conversation going!

Slated to launch later this month, The Tailor Truck will travel to different cities around the country offering customers the opportunity to pick out their own fabrics to create custom suits and shirts.  The truck will feature a body scanner to offer precision tailoring within the 5 mm range (previous incarnations had a range of +/- 1 to 2 inches).  Gents, this is a game changer.

Custom tailoring can take you from frumpy, dated and messy to looking clean, neat and modern.

Visit the Tailor Truck’s Kickstarter page to contribute to the cause and get up to date information about its launch.  Who knows, maybe they’ll be heading to a city near you soon!

Will Smith on the red carpet.

People think that looking good is all about buying the latest fashions and trends but for me, it’s all about re-inventing the classic in a new way.  I always try to pair something older, or less trendy, with something a little more fashion forward or risky and this is the key to my personal sense of style.  It takes time to develop that personal sense of style but it’s all about confidence and ultimately tasking some risks!

There are tons of fashion rules that guys often get confused about and they are ever changing. So how do you manage to always look great without looking like you’re trying too hard?  I ALWAYS come back what I like to call the fashion rule of 3.  COLOR, PATTERN, TEXTURE.  It’s that simple!

Each outfit should have a component of each. For instance, pair some khakis (flat-front, please) with a saturated oxford shirt and a patterned tie OR pair your favorite pair of jeans with a chunky cardigan and brightly colored chukkas…get it?

You can also combine two of the three elements in one item if you’d like.  Take the picture below for example.  This was taken at my recent birthday celebration.  I paired a dark pair of jeans with black chukka boots, a black dress shirt, a patterned wool knit tie (pattern and texture!) and a green blazer.   The elements themselves are basic pieces but when added together using the fashion rule of 3, you get something pretty special without looking like you’re trying too hard.  Take a look!

How do you dress to impress without trying too hard?

Clockwise from center: Banderita, Palomatini, Perfect Paloma, Dobel Margatini

Cinco de Mayo is upon us and for those of you of (legal) drinking age, there’s really no other way to celebrate than with some tasty tequila.  Have you scheduled your party but still haven’t figured out what cocktails to serve yet?  Well, MANE MAN has you covered!

Admittedly, I’m not a huge tequila fan (we’ll chalk that up to one bad experience years ago) BUT it’s almost mandatory that tequila is requisite to Cinco de Mayo celebrations no matter where you are.  Send a shout out to Mexico with some of these cocktail recipes that I have hand picked from the folks over at Dobel Tequila.  They sound pretty good!  Don’t be scared to try something new and don’t fret if they don’t turn out like the pictures above.  It’s really all about the “spirit” of the drink instead of the look, right?! Check out these recipes courtesy of Dobel Tequila:

Banderita – A tasty salute to the Mexican flag.

• One shot of Bloody Mary sans horseradish
• A shot of Dobel Tequila
• Dilute Lime Juice

Palomatini – A refreshing twist on the traditional Paloma cocktail.

• 2 Parts Dobel Tequila
• 3 Parts Grapefruit Juice
• 1 Part Fresh OJ
• Splash Lime Juice

Perfect Paloma – The classic Mexican cocktail.

• 2 parts Dobel Tequila
• 4 Parts Grapefruit Soda
• Splash Lime Juice
• Lime Wedge garnish

Dobel Margatini – This one packs a serious punch!

• 2 parts Dobel Tequila
• 1/2 part Cointreau
• 1 part Fresh Squeezed OJ
• Splash Fresh Lime Juice
• Lime Wedge garnish

Photos from the 911 Memorial

Given the news coverage lately, my mind has recently taken a trip down memory lane in remembering some of those newsworthy moments that had me glued to my television screen.  This past week it was the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.  Way before that it was the O.J. Simpson trial.  And then there was 911.

I had the recent chance to check out the 911 memorial for the first time and it is a great tribute to all those lost and those who served that day. The fountains were beautiful, albeit slightly tainted due to some idiot throwing a ball in one, and stand where the two towers once did.  The experience of being there was both comforting and somber for me, but then again I had no personal connection to those who lost their lives that day.  Visiting is certainly an honor and a nice way to pay tribute to the spirit of rebuilding NYC.

Logistics wise, if you are interested in viewing the site, you have to reserve a ticket in advance which will basically give you an appointment to enter the site. Security is tight (like almost airport tight) so come prepared to temporarily surrender your belongings while you go through metal detectors.  Even with an appointment the wait is long, so still be sure to bring some patience with you too (also, visit a bathroom before hand, OK?).  I thought the experience was absolutely worth it and it certainly won’t be something that I’ll forget any time soon.  For more information, visit 911memorial.org.

Happy Earth Day!  Hopefully, you are finding some special way to celebrate Earth Day this year, whether that be planting trees or something as simple as opting to use refillable water bottles for your daily dose of H2O.  In honor of Earth Day, I have decided to feature The Mountain T-Shirts which are vibrant and Earth-friendly, green tees.

The Mountain offers great t-shirts that feature some of your favorite animals.  I opted for the most MANE MAN appropriate one, the Lion (with his “mane”), but there are plenty other ferocious and cute, furry friends to choose from.  The Mountain considers itself “America’s Greenest T-Shirt Company™” and with their Oeko-Tex 100 Certification, The Mountain ensures that their products contain no elements that are harmful for your body.

Shirts are made in the USA with organic dyes and pre-shrunk cotton.  Water-base inks create a soft feel and  judging from my tee, the cotton itself is pretty soft too!The colors are incredible too.  Head over to The Mountain to get a t-shirt of your own in honor of Earth Day.

Sample man-gagement rings sold by retailer James Allen.

These days a new wedding trend is emerging.  Men are starting to wear man-gagement rings, sending the message that they’re off the market.  Even popular singer Michael Bublé wore one when he became engaged back in November 2009. But, why is this a thing?

There are a few factors in the changing wedding landscape and emergence of man-gagement rings. First off, gender roles are as balanced as ever promoting a more even engagement experience for men and women.  Some women even opt to propose to their partners when they’re ready to settle down.  Also, same-sex marriage has increased recently, leading to more male-male marriages which challenge the traditions of marriage in the United States.

So that begs to question, would you wear a man-gagement ring?

Along with it being National Stress Awareness Month, April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month which is a cause that I’ve been passionate about for years. While risk reduction strategies are helpful they are absolutely not the end all be all way to prevent sexual assault (i.e. people need to stop sexually assaulting people).  But, human trafficking is also a HUGE issue worldwide so I’m all about anything that promotes safety.  And with many men and women being subjected to these sort of horrible crimes everyday, I thinks it’s all our responsibility to keep our loved ones safe in whatever way we can.  That being said, I find it important to spread the word about this app called bSafe that could potentially save your life.

The bSafe app is a tremendous tool for personal safety.  First off, it’s free to download.  But most importantly,  the app includes a digital SOS alarm that when pushed sends out your GPS location to a “guardian” and automatically contacts 911.  With the free version of the app, you can set 1 guardian who be notified when your SOS is triggered.  I did a test run myself with a friend and it completely freaked her out how accurate and thorough the app is.

Let’s say you’re in trouble and not able to speak to your friend after you trigger the alarm, no problem.  bSafe also alerts 911 and places a phone call to your guardian automatically, all the while recording evidence (with the paid version).  It also comes with an audible SOS alarm (and flashlight via your camera’s phone) which may help deter criminal activity when it’s triggered.

In less pressing situations, you can decide to send yourself a fake phone call (10 minutes from now, for example) from anyone to get out of an uncomfortable situation before it goes bad.  And what if you’re walking home late at night and want to let someone know? You can send the guardian a note that you want them to track you and once you’re safe all you have to do is hit the “I’m here” button.  Seriously, this app is legit.

Right now, for $30 you can get an unlimited number of guardians for a whole two years, which could help you feel more comfortable traveling alone no matter who you are. The paid versions include the real-time tracking and evidence recording that I previously mentioned, proving that this app really just might save your life.