Shopping mega-site Amazon.com just launched a new men’s grooming site at www.amazon.com/mensgrooming.  The new site offers a special male-friendly hub to help you shop for your favorite brands as well as discover new ones while looking through great information on the best ways to keep yourself looking and feeling fresh.

In addition to having all your brands in one easy place, you can also read through the “Problem Solvers” section which will help you brighten your smile as well as ease the symptoms of razor burn.  The “How To Guides” section comes to Amazon via Men’s Fitness to help you step up your grooming game too.  And, its intuitive, offering you specific products while you browse.  Not bad, eh?

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?

Product for review was provided courtesy of Cuebalm.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a little obsessed with lip balms. Aside from my compulsive hand moisturizing, I would have to say that I always seem to have some lip moisturizer on deck.  Dry lips are a big no-no! So without further adieu, here are my thoughts on Cuebalm!

I’ve been using the Cuebalm for about a week now and I really do love it.  Compared to most lip balms, Cuebalm is stellar.  It hits on the moisture front, and it manages to do so with only three ingredients (jojoba oil, beeswax, and vitamin E).

Cuebalm has a super smooth feel and a great unscented and natural flavor which, in my opinion, makes it ideal for both men and women.  While I am partial to all things shea butter, I have to say using Cuebalm is nice for the more humid months as jojoba oil absorbs so well into your skin while shea based products tend to make me feel a little greasy.

The packaging itself is pretty standard for a lip product and fits easily in pretty much any pocket you’ve got on your person.  Since I’ve been using it, I have applied the product about two to three times per day max as I feel like it lasts quite a while.  And for those lipstick wearers, I’ve also heard that it works well as a primer too.

Overall, I really enjoy Cuebalm and it has jumped to the top of my lip balm rotation (cause who wants dry, cracking lips, anyway?!).  At $2.99 a tube, it’s a pretty good value, especially for the quality of ingredients. On top of that, it really helped validate my stance that there really is no good reason not to be using simple and natural products as much as possible. Sometimes they don’t work as well as your “traditional” brands but Cuebalm definitely does a respectable job.

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

Product reviewed was provided courtesy of Simple Luxuries.

If you have read anything on this site before, you know how completely obsessed I am with trying and finding the best products to keep you looking and feeling great.  On top of that, I love natural and organic products for their “clean-ness” and modest sensibility.  Today, I am happy to write about my experience with Simple Luxuries Lotion Bar, Irish Tweed Scent.

I have to be very honest here, the thought of a bar of lotion baffled me when I was first introduced to this product, but now that I’ve used it I can say that it totally makes sense.  Simple Luxuries managed to create a moisturizing bar with literally 3 ingredients…yep not 13, not 30….3 (Grapeseed oil, shea butter and beeswax)!

The product comes in a small twist up tub much like those little castor oil anti-friction sticks you get in the drug store.  This makes it a pretty handy product to tote around in a messenger if you need it. Simple Luxuries crafted a scent specifically for men, Irish Tweed, and it smells pretty much like Irish Spring soap from back in the day (from what I can remember anyway).  The definitively masculine scent is strong and the “lotion” absorbed into my skin pretty quickly which I assume is due to the properties of the grapeseed oil. It’s non-greasy, leaves no residue and applies easily in stick form.

Overall, I’ll be frank and say that using a bar as lotion definitely takes some getting used to.  I can’t say I’m a full-fledged believer yet, however, the bar is great for quick fixes like dry or ashy elbows or hands.  Let’s keep it real folks…it happens. Would you give it a try?

Head over to the Simple Luxuries shop to check it out their lotion bars, and many other cool things, for yourself!

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.

The swag up for grabs!

This post is a sponsored giveaway courtesy of AXE.

April is National Stress Awareness month and to help you feel a little more refreshed this month, AXE is offering MANE MAN readers an awesome relaxation kit which features the following items:

• Jack Spade Men’s Duffel to chill out in style
• MANdles Ladies’ Man candle to help you set the mood
• Just Chill natural relaxation drinks to help clear the mind
• Psi Bands to help promote relaxation and healthy digestion
• Orbit hand massager for a little de-stress help on the go
• $100 American Express Gift Card!
• New AXE Deep Space Chill Out Shower Gel and Shower Detailer

So how do you enter? Head over to the MANE MAN Facebook page and leave a comment on my post announcing the giveaway…that’s it!  You can say anything you like.  I will be contacting the winner via Facebook on April 22, 2013.  Good luck!

“What are you going to do with your hair?”

Often times, I’m not quite sure how to respond to that question, and I have lost count how many times I’ve been asked it over the past few years.  I’ve heard every form of that question like, “When are you going to braid it?” or “Are you trying to grow locs?”  But while I’m able to keep my composure on the outside (at least I think so), my internal monologue says something like, “Oh, my hair isn’t “done” enough for you?!”

I take great pride in my mane and how I take care of it.  Psychologically, I’ve gotten over the need for it to look perfectly defined and have started to embrace the “messiness” that is my fro.  Unfortunately, there’s still this expectation that my fro, as it stands, is not a complete or good look.  But at the end of the day, I’m happy with it and I guess that’s what matters most, right?