Self-Isolation Essentials (Things We Can’t Live Without During Quarantine)

Since we’re under pseudo-quarantine right now, we wanted to show you the things that are making our time indoors fun, easy and (somewhat) productive.

Loungewear

Discussed at length, here.

BENDY Phone TRIPOD

Since video chatting has become a standard way of life in our household, having a tripod for your phone allows you to sit back or do other things while chatting with friends or family.

Tripod & Smartphone Tripod Mount | The head shown in the video

Insulated Hot/COLD Thermos

This mug is great for enjoying a hot or cold drink throughout the day and not having to worry about it cooling off or getting warm.

Notebook & Fountain Pen

Now that we’ve got more time on our hands, we’re finding analog options are more relaxing and useful. So we’re writing out to-do lists, thoughts, ideas as well as use for journaling.

Favorite Notebook | Fountain Pen | Ink

Hip Bag

Since we’ll all have to venture outdoors eventually for basic necessities or for a walk around the neighborhood to maintain your sanity, a hip bag is great for carrying your wallet, keys, hand sanitizer, mask, gloves, etc. This bag is great because it can be used with a belt or strap for either around your waist or as a regular sling bag.

SKINCARE Routine

Being stuck indoors and not having to see anyone socially means it’s the perfect time to get your skincare routine completely locked down. As mentioned in the video, here’s some of the items we’ve been testing and finding to be well worth the time invested.

Curology Night Lotion | Masks (both are great) – 1st Choice, 2nd Choice 

BOARD GAMES

We were never big board game fans in the past, but just before we went under lockdown, we picked up a couple that have been highly recommended and we’re so glad we did!

Choice 1 | and 2 | and 3

Streaming Device

We’ve been streaming-only for almost a decade now, so this may be old hat to us, but if you’re looking for the best all-around streaming device, this is absolutely it. You can virtually stream anything and everything, even if the service you like doesn’t have a compatible app. (Watch the video for the explanation.)

Silicone Food Containers

If you’re like us, your home cooked meal count has gone up exponentially. Instead of using plastic bags to store leftovers, these silicone food containers have been a god-send. They can be frozen, boiled and cleaned in the dishwasher. Total game changers in our house.

Men’s Loungewear Essentials (9 Must Have Items To Relax In Style)

Since we’re all spending more time indoors, that means what you’re wearing around the house takes on more importance. The goal is to have loungewear that’s comfortable and stylish enough to wear in front of your friends or a date, but also be able to save you from having to change into “regular’ clothes to run a quick errand or be worn if you’re going to the airport to take a long flight. Does this mean you have to get rid of the 10 year old T-shirt and tattered flannel pj bottoms? No, but they should probably be worn when you don’t need to be presentable.

Robes

They’re comfortable, great for wearing after you get out of the shower or when you want an extra bit of warmth in addition to your core pieces (below). Most men don’t think of a robe as being an essential, but once you get and use a good one, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Favorites: Option 1| Option 2 | Budget-Friendly

Sweatshirt & Jogger Pant Combo

This is a great combo that is warm, comfortable and can easily be worn outside to run a quick errand or as a comfortable yet stylist airport outfit. Pair it with white or black sneakers, throw a coat or bomber jacket on, and you’re all set.

Favorites: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 – Sweater, Pants

Drawstring Pants

These are great for the same reasons as the sweatshirt and jogger combo. You can use a long sleeved or short sleeved shirt – it’s up to you. The main difference will be that they’ll be a little thinner material and not so warm as the other combo. So if you run warmer or want a warmer weather combo, this is for you.

Favorites: Sweater Shirt & Pants Combo | Option 2 | Option 3

shorts

If you’re more of a t-shirt and shorts guy then the last thing you should be wearing are basketball shorts – they look terrible and sloppy. Instead, grab some of the shorts recommended below and ensure they have a trim fit. Ideally they should hit about 1-4 inches above the knee, depending on your preference.

Favorites: Option 1 | Option 2

t-shirts

I’ve been saying this for years now: Never underestimate the power of a well-fitting t-shirt. Instead of reaching for one of your tattered, random t-shirts from 10 years ago, wear the comfortable, well-fitting t-shirts you wear in public. Bonus points if you match your t-shirts to your jogger or drawstring pants – it just makes you look even classier (especially if you’ve got a special someone over for the evening.)

Favorites: Option 1 | Option 2

slippers

Having the right slippers can easily make your at home experience significantly better. There’s nothing quite like a pair of super soft, fluffy slippers that keep your feet warm and protected. Being stylish is all about the details, so complete your outfit with the right slippers.

Favorites: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4

Socks

You have socks for the gym, for your boots, for when you want show off some ankle during the warmer months, and socks for your dress shoes. So yes, you should also have a set of loungewear socks, as well. Again, bonus points by complementing your loungewear with matching socks – but you don’t have to match them, you can go for fun or colored socks, as well.

Favorites: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Option 4

12 Habits Girls Love (Habits Girls Find Attractive)

Its that time of year again, when love is in the air, so we thought it was important to talk about some habits to cultivate that girls will absolutely find attractive.
 


 

Be Prompt & Punctual

Yes, women may not hold to this, so there’s definitely a double standard, but a man who is prompt and punctual shows how in-control of his life he is. That’s very sexy to all women. Being pushed around by your circumstances and not taking charge of their schedule diminishes a girl’s confidence in you.

Be Well-mannered

Have good manners (i.e. holds door open for a woman, offering your jacket to her if it’s chilly). You’d be surprised how uncommon a well-mannered man is these days.

Smile around her

There’s nothing more pleasing to a woman than knowing that her presence makes you happy. It makes her feel wanted and confident that she’s made the right choice in spending time with you.

Have a sense of humor

You’ll never meet a girl who says she prefers a guy without a sense of humor. Don’t be too raunchy or racy (unless you know she likes that type of humor) and try not to make fun of others while showing her your funny side. A well-timed joke goes a long way! The best thing to do is look up some jokes online and memorize a few and deploy them as-needed or when the situation presents itself.

Be Romantic

Plan an entire day or evening out with your girl, surprise her with flowers or sneak a handwritten note in her purse or send her sweet text during the workday. Just knowing that a man is thinking about her makes her heart sing.

Start a Conversation

Asking how her day was, or what she’s been up to and then asking follow-up questions shows you actually care (even if you really don’t care about how much of a b*#$# Tammy has been at work). Asking her questions makes her feel important and good knowing that she is valued.

Be A Good Listener

Goes with the previous point:  Show you’re genuinely interested by being a good listener. Most women who want help, will ask for it, so don’t hear what she’s having issues with as an invite to jump in and start solving her issues. She mostly likely just wants to vent a little and will make her feel good knowing that she has a sympathetic ear she can depend on when she’s feeling upset.

Be Affectionate

Holding her hand, wrapping your arms around her from behind, kissing her neck, telling her how beautiful she looks are all things that make her feel amazing, more confident, and turned on.

Exude Confidence

Being confident in yourself and everything you do is a huge turn on for women. Guys may never fully understand this, but having confidence can make up for a lacking in the looks department.

Take Control

Going out? Have a plan of action. Ordering at a restaurant? Ask her what she wants and then order for her first, when the time comes. There’s nothing sexier than a man who takes control.

Take Care Of Yourself

Show her you respect yourself by having good grooming habits, ensuring you’re dressed well, and keeping your home clean, especially your bedroom and bathroom, will indicate to her that you’re a keeper.

Have Ambition & Passion

In all that you do, including your career and hobbies, be ambitious and passionate. It doesn’t matter how nerdy or weird your hobbies are, if you have a knowledge and passion for something, that’s incredibly sexy to a woman.

The 5 Best Closet Organization Essentials

Organization and storage are two things that a lot of guys often overlook when it comes to thinking about their wardrobe. Let’s face it, your clothes spend most of their life in your closet and in drawers rather than on your body so it makes sense to give their storage some thought.

Plus, how you store them is going to have a huge effect on their life as well. We’re not suggesting a Patrick Bateman OCD level of color coordinating but, in terms of getting dressed, having a well-organized closet is only going to help you make better, quicker decisions when you’re getting ready.  We’ve got all our favorite picks below, make sure to check them out.

Good Hangers

They help maintain clothes and keeps them organized.  We recommend felt hangers for shirts and pants and suit/jacket hangers for, well, suits and jackets.  The extra width and structure help keep the shoulders of your jackets in good shape.

Suit Hangers

Wood Hangers

Velvet Hangers

 

Shoe Trees

A critical yet very inexpensive item that helps shoes keep their shape and prevents creasing and wear.

Cedar Shoe Trees

Plastic Shoe Trees

Shoehorn

One of these makes getting shoes on a breeze and prevents smashing of the back of shoes which can add extra wear and tear.  We recommend the longer ones because they’re so much easier to use.

Plastic Shoe Horn (from the video)

Wood Shoe Horn

  

Lint Roller

A must-have if you wear any dark clothing at all.

Large Lint Roller

Travel Lint Roller

Garment Bags

Super important for long-term storage, these will protect suits and sweaters from dust, moths, and moisture.

Garment Bags

5 Things Every Man Should Have In His Bedroom

We’ve talked about the importance of home upgrades before and no matter where your relationship status is, having an inviting bedroom environment is important for every guy. Here are a few of our favorite easy upgrades and crucial items that every man should have in his bedroom.

Our Bedroom Picks

Sheets:

Parachute

Boll & Branch

Cloudten

Candles:

Anthropologie

Candles from Huckberry

PF Candle

Norden 

Square Trade

Reed Diffusers:

Jo Malone

Tom Dixon

PF Candle

Budget-Friendly Diffusers

Valet Trays:

Tanner Goods

Maxx & Unicorn

Scout Leather Co.

Affordable Picks

Bluetooth Speakers:

Anker

JBL

Bose

Pillows:

Tuft & Needle 

Tempur-pedic

Coop Home Goods 

Purple

The ONE Thing Every Man Needs In His Bathroom

It may surprise you, but I think every man should have a bidet in their bathroom!

That’s right, you need a bidet in your life and Tushy’s bidet is easy to use, simple to set up, and a total game-changer. Trust me, once you bidet, you’ll never go back!

Extra special thanks to Tushy for sponsoring this video!

For more and to get 10% off your order check out all of Tushy’s products.

5 Easy & Stylish Home Upgrades For Men

While most men tend to think home goods and decor are utilitarian (if they give it much thought, at all), there’s something to be said for a man who takes pride in creating a welcoming home for himself and guests, regardless of his relationship status. If you’re single and dating, your date will definitely appreciate these small things and they could very well be a deal sealer. If you’re in a relationship, showing that you’ve taken initiative to improve the proverbial nest will always be appreciated by your partner. Below are a few simple upgrades to quickly improve your home.

The Smell of Success

Unfortunately (or fortunately), you probably don’t know how your place smells. Regardless of whether you forgot your sweaty gym socks in the corner for the past month, or just cooked your weekly 5lbs of bacon, your place probably isn’t the freshest.

Cleanliness is obviously a huge first step in this department, but outside of that you may need an assist. Whatever the state of affairs, it’s time to invest in some scented goods. Relax, I’m not talking about over-the-top lady candles or scents so strong they make you light-headed, just a few simple options to make your house or apartment smell masculine and inviting.

The two best options are a good candle and/or a reed diffuser. A candle or two is going to impart a great scent and give you that “on/off” feature so you can light it up whenever needed. A reed diffuser is a jar or bottle of scented oil with wooden sticks that draw up the scented oil and “diffuse” it out into the air. I like these best for bathrooms because they provide a light, consistent scent that’s always in the background.

What scents to choose?

That’s up to you, but I have a few suggestions:

  • Try lots of options
    You never know what you’re going to like or how it’s going to work in your home.
  • Go for scents that lean toward the woodsy (pine, cedar, sage, tobacco) or fresh (citrus, eucalyptus, grass)
    They’re masculine and pleasing without being overwhelming.

The Goods

Try a candle in your living room and on the nightstand and add a reed diffuser to your bathroom for an instant improvement in the smell department.

Candles

Best
I’ve given this candle from Athropologie to men and women over the years and it’s universally loved.

Budget Options
A few of my favorites include PF Candle Co, Good Candle, and Norden.

Reed Diffuser

Pictured Above
These are two, well-designed diffusers.

Best
Any woman will see these from Jo Malone and understand you’re not messing around with your scents.

Budget Options
Many, many options available here.

 

An Inviting Bed

Maybe it’s obvious, but clean, quality sheets and bedding can go a long way – both for you and guests/partners – by creating an inviting bedroom environment. Not that we don’t love your Ironman sheets, but it’s probably time to step it up a bit.

While the true merit of “thread counts” is kind of a myth, you definitely want to invest in something that’s high-quality, soft and durable. Design-wise, stick to neutral color like greys, blues, and/or subtle patterns. While white sheets are lovely and crisp, know that if you invest in them they’re going to require some extra care and more frequent washings. I highly recommend using a fabric treatment like Oxy Clean to keep them fresh and white.

The Goods

Thanks to a variety of enterprising entrepreneurs, you no longer have to drag yourself to battle the hordes at Bed Bath & Beyond or Target on a Sunday just for some decent sheets. Two of my favorite brands, Brooklinen and Parachute, are high-quality at reasonable prices.

 

A Well-Stocked Bathroom

I can’t tell you how many horror stories I’ve heard from friends about nightmarish bathroom situations at the homes of otherwise solid, upstanding gentlemen.

The importance of getting your bathroom in shape can’t be stressed enough. Outside of general cleanliness – the sink, toilet and tub/shower, it’s important to have it smell nice (see the scents section above) and have a few key items in good, working order.

A fresh roll of toilet paper, some decent liquid hand soap, and a clean hand towel will go a long way here. But while we’re talking about towels, it’s probably time to invest in a proper set for your bathroom and guests. Unfortunately, that beach towel hung from the shower curtain rod isn’t going to cut it anymore.

Please, for the love of all that is holy – have a trashcan with a lid!

We use a lot of items throughout the course of a day and night that we’d prefer not to be visible in the trash. Just trust me on this one – everyone will appreciate it.

The Goods

In this area, you really don’t have to spend much. Below are the products I personally use and recommend to friends and family.

Trash Can
I use these in all my bathrooms. They’re cheap, well-designed and work well.

Soap Dispenser
I personally use this one, but there are many options available at great prices.

Towels
Just like their quality sheets, Parachute makes great towels, too. I also love the options from Boll & Branch.

 

Coordinate & Decorate

Decoration and presentation are big parts of making an initial and lasting impression. A fancy, hand-crafted cocktail isn’t memorable if you serve it in a red cup and that Jordan poster on your otherwise bare walls won’t win any points, either.

It’s important for you to give some consideration to a few stylish pieces of wall art, some matching dishes and glassware, and a functional decor piece like a bar cart or nice arm chair that are going to elevate your pad to a level befitting of the gentleman you are.

The Goods

I love Snowe – a cool, one-stop shop for glassware and all things home; it’s basically a better online version of Ikea, but without the Swedish meatballs. Prices range anywhere from $30 and up to accommodate any budget.

On the decor end, for affordable wall art options outside of solid home stores like West Elm and CB2, sites like Artsy and Artspace offer easy, affordable access to great art pieces and photography. If you’re just starting, keep it simple with tasteful black and white photography or muted abstracts. If you’re feeling adventurous, nothing impresses like a cool, large-format statement piece in the living room or over your bed.

 

Use these few simple updates to get yourself well on your way to domestic success and style with ease. So, now we’ve covered that, what are you going to wear?