One Man's Hodgepodge

Remember Ping Golf Balls

2012-02-22T08:03:00.002-05:00

Does anyone else remember the Ping two-tone golf balls that were big in the 80's and 90's? I was going through my golf ball collection, and found a few of the Ping two-tones that I forgot I owned. The images above are of mine. I decided to do a eBay search to see if I could find a few others and discovered that some of these balls are going for over $200.

After further searching, I discovered Pingballs.com and was able to determine the values of my Ping two-tone golf balls. Unfortunately, mine only range from $5 - $25. However, there are a few Ping golf balls that go for over $500. If you have some old Ping two-tone balls in your garage, you may want to check out their value and then find a better place to keep them.

Also, congratulations to @bjones10 for winning the Cash Robinson Giveaway.

Week 4 of Giveaways - Barry Beaux Giveaway

2012-02-21T12:26:00.000-05:00

For the fourth installment of the month of giveaways, Frances at Barry Beaux has been kind enough to provide the winner of this week's giveaway a bow tie, monogrammed pocket square and a koozie of his/her choice. You can't get a better prize pack then that.

All Barry Beaux items are hand-made by Frances in South Carolina. The bow tie I purchased from Frances a few months ago was beautifully crafted and I received many compliments while wearing it to a good many holiday parties. To get all the details make sure to check out my full review.

Here are the details on how to win your own Barry Beaux prize pack:

One entry...leave a comment, you must be a follower.
For an additional entry = 2 entries...follow both Barry Beaux and One Man's Hodgepodge on twitter
For an additional entry = 3 entries...like Barry Beaux on Facebook

For each entry please leave a separate comment. Please leave your e-mail address or blog link as well and once we pick the winner we will contact you for your information. Also, please make sure to get out the giveaway to all of your friends and family. The giveaway will end on Wednesday, February 29 at noon EST.

Song of the Day - 2/21

2012-02-21T08:11:00.000-05:00

The band fun. release their second album, Some Nights, today. The New York based band has become relatively big with their new single "We Are Young" which features Janelle Monae. However, the song I have been digging from their new album is "Carry On." Let me know your thoughts and make sure to check out Some Nights in its entirety.

Pitchers & Catchers Report

2012-02-20T08:28:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, pitchers and catchers reported for all MLB teams. "Pitchers & Catchers Report" - Those three words and an ampersand are extremely powerful. Screw what Punxsutawney Phil saw or did not see a few weeks ago, when Pitchers and Catchers report spring is here. 45 more days till Opening Day.

Thorogood Boots

2012-02-15T08:05:00.000-05:00

I posted a few weeks ago some Moc-Toe Work Boot options I was considering. While I received a few suggestions to go with the Red Wings; I ended up going with the Thorogood Boots because of the price differential. The Red Wings cost about $240; whereas the Thorogood Boots were $120.

While they certainly are not Red Wings, the Thorogood Boots are not just some cheap knockoff. Thorogood Boots are made in the USA, were originally produced for Firefighters/Police Officers, are well made and extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The only minor complaint I have is the small Made in USA flag on the side of the boot. While I am proud that they are Made in America, the logo is alittle obtrusive.

I put a coat of Sno-Seal on them and while it hasn't been too harsh of a winter, I have already gotten a few wears out of them. If you are not willing to drop down some serious cash for a pair of Red Wings, I believe the Thorogood brand is a great alternative.

Also, congrats to @DesJH7911 for winning the Chesapeake Ribbons giveaway. Please contact Margie directly to choose your belt and key fob. Thanks again to Margie for the support.

Week 3 of Giveaways - Cash Robinson Giveaway

2012-02-14T12:14:00.000-05:00

For the third week of the month of giveaways, Travis over at Cash Robinson has been gracious enough to provide the winner of this week's giveaway a Silks Reserve Polo of his/her choice.

Cash Robinson Clothing Company, based out of Kentucky, is producing each collection in limited runs; so that each item has a sense of uniqueness. The first item in their Small Batch Apparel Collections was their Silks Reserve Polo. I have been wearing my Silks Reserve Polo for about 6 months now, and like a good bourbon it gets better as it matures.

Now to the details on how to win your own Silks Reserve Polo:

One entry...leave a comment, you must be a follower.
For an additional entry = 2 entries...follow both Cash Robinson and One Man's Hodgepodge on twitter
For an additional entry = 3 entries...like Cash Robinson on Facebook

Song of the Day - 2/14

2012-02-14T08:10:00.000-05:00

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - The Nearness of You

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

St. Valentine's Day - Wear Red

2012-02-13T12:10:00.000-05:00

St. Valentine's Day is tomorrow, so make sure to either take your significant other out to dinner or make her a special dinner at home. Either way, make sure to look your best and wear some red. Here is a great St. Valentine's Day outfit, with just the right amount of red:

Dockers Alpha Khakis - Keep the pants simple, no need to have GTH pants today - make it about her, not you.

Lands' End Supima Cotton Oxford - slight red detail

J.Crew Cotton-Cashmere Sweater - I can attest first-hand these are great sweaters for under $60.

The Tie Bar Knit Polka Dot Tie

Bass Weejuns - A classic

Smathers & Branson Chick Magnet Belt - You can still have some fun

Kiel James Patrick - JFK Turks Head Bracelet

Seiko Diver

Landmarks & Lions Slim Card Case - with the perfect accent of red

It may seem cliche, but she will appreciate the gesture

Song of the Day - 2/9

2012-02-09T08:13:00.000-05:00

I really dropped the ball on the new Dr. Dog album. I have not had a chance to download any music recently and completely forgot that their new album, Be The Void, was released this past Tuesday (2/7). I have heard a few tracks on XPN recently, and they sound solid. I am really looking forward to giving this album a full listen in the next few weeks, since this was one of the releases I was really anticipating this year. As an added bonus, I will be seeing them live when they play in Philly this March. From Dr. Dog's new album, Be The Void, here is "That Old Black Hole":

Also, I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Loggerhead Apparel giveaway is @KissMySthrnSass.

Week 2 of Giveaways - Chesapeake Ribbons Giveaway

2012-02-08T12:22:00.000-05:00

For the second week of the month of giveaways, Margie over at Chesapeake Ribbons has been gracious enough to provide the winner of this week's giveaway a belt and key fob of his/her choice.

As with Loggerhead Apparel from last week's giveaway, Chesapeake Ribbons also donates to organizations that are important to them. Here is a full review of Margie's products and her charitable giving.

Now to the details of the Giveaway:

One entry...leave a comment, you must be a follower.
For an additional entry = 2 entries...follow both Chesapeake Ribbons and One Man's Hodgepodge on twitter
For an additional entry = 3 entries...like Chesapeake Ribbons on Facebook

Whit McLeod Furniture

2012-02-07T12:58:00.004-05:00

My wife and I have been looking to replace some of the hand me down furniture we currently own. While doing some research, I came across Whit McLeod Furniture. All of their items are made out of reclaimed materials, specifically salvaged oak wine barrels. While the items are certainly not cheap, they are definitely gorgeous looking. Plus you have the added benefit of feeling that you are helping the environment by owning furniture made out of items that would have otherwise been in a landfill. Here are a few of the items that caught my eye:

Now that is a Dining Room table

Newspaper and Whiskey chair

Something different then an Adirondack Chair for your outdoor entertaining

A real man's side table

The History of Wing Bowl

2012-02-02T13:58:00.001-05:00

Since the Eagles are not in the Super Bowl, tomorrow's Wing Bowl may be more important to Philadelphia area residents then Sunday's Super Bowl. If you are asking "What is Wing Bowl?" then you are truly missing out. Coney Island has the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest, Texas has the La Costena Jalapeno Eating Championship, Louisiana has the Acme Oyster Eating World Championship, and Philadelphia has the Wing Bowl.

The Wing Bowl started in 1993, making this year Wing Bowl XX, by local Sports Radio station 610 WIP (now 94 WIP). The Wing Bowl has been in a large venue since 1998 when it was held at the Spectrum and then was moved to the currently named Wells Fargo Center in 2001 and now currently draws over 20,000 people.

While the eating contest is a large drawl, it is not the only reason people attend Wing Bowl. Half of the Wing Bowl is the entrance parade of the contestants. The stunts and entourages get bigger and more elaborate year after year. Let's just say last year's parade included Ron Jeremy and Mary Carey. In addition to the parade, you can not forget about the Wingettes that represent each eater.

There are two ways to enter Wing Bowl: 1) to successfully perform an "eating stunt" which have included in the past eating 20 cooked cups of oatmeal, eating 6 Whoppers, eating 60 ounces of creamed spinach, and eating 4 pounds of lasagna. 2) to win a local wingoff, which is a mini 10 minute Wing Bowl.

The current Wing Bowl record is 255 in 30 minutes and it is held by local eater, Jonathan "Super" Squibb. Local favorite, Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, currently has the most Wing Bowl titles with 5 and was runner-up last year. The additional flair this year is that competing against Super Squibb and El Wingador is Kobayashi in Wing Bowl XX.

It is very difficult to find a tame Wing Bowl video, so I will leave that up to you to Google or You Tube search on your own.

One Year & Loggerhead Apparel Giveaway

2012-01-31T13:20:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow will mark one year that I have been blogging. I can't believe that I have stuck with it for a year and I can't believe that there are other people that actually enjoy reading what I have to discuss. As a thank you to all the readers of the blog, I was able to get four fantastic companies to offer giveaways during the month of February. I will do one giveaway a week during the month.

I was lucky enough to have Zac at Loggerhead Apparel agree to be one of the companies to do a giveaway. Loggerhead Apparel is a clothing company based in South Carolina. All of their products are made in the USA. I can attest first hand the quality of their products, I currently own a few of their polos and am always trying to find an opportunity to own more. However, Loggerhead Apparel is not satisfied with just producing quality clothing.

Loggerhead Apparel is also about supporting loggerhead sea turtle and ocean wildlife conservation causes. For each sale 10% of the proceeds is donated to those causes. Since I vacation on Edisto Beach in South Carolina, which is a major loggerhead sea turtle preserve, the cause hits close to home for me.

Now to the giveaway, Zac has agreed to give the winner his/her choice of any of their new line of t-shirts. That is 6 options for men and 3 options for women. Again, all t-shirts are made in the USA and are made of 100% cotton. In addition to the t-shirt of your choice, Zac has agreed to throw in a koozie for the winner.

Details of the Giveaway:

One entry...leave a comment, you must be a follower.
For an additional entry = 2 entries...follow both Loggerhead Apparel and One Man's Hodgepodge on twitter
For an additional entry = 3 entries...become a fan of on Loggerhead Apparel on Facebook

For each entry please leave a separate comment. Please leave your e-mail address or blog link as well and once Zac picks the winner we will contact you for your information. Also, please make sure to get out the giveaway to all of your friends and family. The giveaway will end on Wednesday, February 8 at noon EST.

Thanks again to Zac and Loggerhead Apparel and thank you to all of my readers for one year down and hopefully many more to go.

Song of the Day - 1/31

2012-01-31T08:01:00.000-05:00

Leonard Cohen's 12th studio album Old Ideas is released today. From that album here is the song "Crazy to Love You":

Leonard Cohen Style Icon

2012-01-30T08:51:00.001-05:00

In my opinion, Leonard Cohen is one of the most under appreciated singer/songwriter in the music industry. He has written many great songs including: "Ain't No Cure for Love", "Dance Me to the End of Love", "In My Secret Life", and his most famous "Hallelujah." Yes, the song that Jeff Buckley made famous was actually a cover of a Leonard Cohen tune.

In addition to being a great musician, Leonard Cohen is also an under appreciated style icon. How many musicians do you know of that still perform in a three piece suit and fedora? From his younger days until the present day, Leonard Cohen has always looked dapper. He can wear the hell out of a beret, fedora, and even a newsboy cap. Below are a few photos that represent Leonard's Cohen style at its finest. Also, please make sure to check out his new album Old Ideas due out tomorrow.

Song of the Day - 1/27

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

A good break-up song is hard to come by. I personally think the 80's was the best decade for break-up songs. The new single from Gotye's album Making Mirrors may sound like it is from the 80's, but it is actually one of the better break-up songs that was produced in the last few years. From that album due out next week, here is that perfect break-up song "Somebody That I Used to Know":

Flannel-Lined Chino Spectrum

2012-01-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about the winter is wearing flannel; including flannel shirts, flannel pajamas, flannel sheets, and flannel-lined chinos. When I think of flannel-lined chinos, the first company that comes to mind is L.L. Bean; however, there are a wide variety of companies offering great flannel-lined chinos. From the more modern slim fit of J.Crew to the more outdoor appropriate offerings from Cabela's and Mountain Khakis. Here is a full spectrum of options to help keep you warm and stylish during the last few weeks (hopefully...lets go groundhog) of winter:

The classic and my personal favorite - L.L. Bean

Maui Jim Collegiate Sunglasses

2012-01-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

College Football season may be over now; but, that doesn't mean you can't find new ways to show off your support in the offseason. Maui Jim has a collegiate line of sunglasses available for 11 College Football programs. The frame colors are based on the collegiate color scheme and the glasses come with a carrying case and cleaning cloth with the teams logo. Now I just need Maui Jim to add Notre Dame to the selection.

Song of the Day - 1/24

2012-01-24T12:51:00.000-05:00

While they might not be Math Rock, Rodrigo y Gabriela certainly know how to handle a guitar. On their new album, Area 52, they re-work 9 of their previous songs with the help of a 13 piece Cuban orchestra. While you may have heard the 9 songs on the album before; you have definitely never heard them played like this. From Area 52, here is "Hanuman":

Math Rock

2012-01-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

I thought I knew a good amount about music; however, Dan Reed & Paul Severein over at XPN taught me about Math Rock last week. I never even heard of the term, until Dan Reed played his "Top 5 at 5" Math Rock songs last Thursday evening. So what is Math Rock?

According to Wikipedia, Math Rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980's. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), angular melodies, and dissonant chords. Basically, the music has some really great guitar melodies; without going into a full out Led Zeppelin guitar solo. Additionally, original Math Rock is meant to have no vocals; however, there are some quality Math Rock examples that do include vocals.

Here are some Math Rock tunes for you to check out:

Don Caballero - American Don (non-vocal)

Hella - The Devil Isn't Red (non-vocal)

June of 44 - Does Your Heart Beat Slower (vocal)

Minus the Bear - The Fix (vocal) - Not considered a Math Rock artist, but this tune fits the Math Rock mold

Song of the Day - 1/20

2012-01-20T09:04:00.000-05:00

Here is the first single from the upcoming Bruce Springsteen album, Wrecking Ball, due out in March. The song is "We Take Care of Our Own":

New Golf Products for 2012

2012-01-19T08:06:00.000-05:00

It may be the middle of winter (even though we haven't received mother nature's full force yet here in the Philadelphia area), but I can't wait to hit the links in a few months. Here are some of the new products for 2012 that I can't wait to test and possibly purchase:

TaylorMade Rocketballz - Any ball that offers more distance can help me

Callaway RAZR FIT Driver - I can never get the weighting right with these type of drivers, maybe that will change with the new Callaway

Odyssey Metal-X Putters - I wished I waited till these came out to buy a new Odyssey putter

Adidas TOUR360 ATV Golf Shoe - Most golf shoes only have 9 spikes, add 1 more and you can call it an ATV

Titleist AP1 712 Irons - Titleist, always beautiful, but not always forgiving. I need forgiveness

Ogio Recoil Golf Bags - The clubs actually lock into place, no more clubs rattling as your making the turn

Song of the Day - 1/12

2012-01-12T08:25:00.000-05:00

I finally finished reading through all of the Best of 2011 music lists and I came across the debut album from Hooray for Earth on multiple occasions. If you are fans of Yeasayer and MGMT, I think you will enjoy the album True Loves from Hooray for Earth. From that album, which won a lot of recognition on Best of 2011 lists, here is the title track "True Loves":

Brewer's Lantern

2012-01-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

I have to give credit to Red Clay Soul for introducing me to the quality products put out by the people over at Brewer's Lantern. They offer some great t-shirts, hats, and other accessories. I am always on the look out for quality and interesting t-shirts since I live in them for a good part of the weekend while doing house work, walking the dog, running errands, etc. So I finally pulled the trigger and purchased some of their long sleeve t-shirts with the buy one get one free offer put together by Brewer's Lantern and Red Clay Soul.

I went with the Long Sleeve Logo t-shirt and the Long Sleeve Henley t-shirt (couldn't pass up the image of the lab on the back) and I was not disappointed in the products I received. Additionally, let me talk about the customer service. I was hesitant on size, so I ordered both a medium and a large. After trying both on, I decided that the large was the best fit. So I e-mailed Maria at Brewer's Lantern and she was kind enough to help with the exchange process. The exchange was quick and painless, which is difficult when dealing with some companies.

After a couple wears, Brewer's Lantern has quickly become my go to weekend t-shirt and I'm sure there will be a few more purchases from them this year. Make sure to check them out.

I had to purchase the koozie too, who could pass up a camo koozie?

Song of the Day - 1/9

2012-01-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to David J. Matthews! My favorite musician and leader of my favorite band of all time. Here is a live version of The Last Stop from 1998:

Tin Cup Personal Imprinting System

2012-01-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

While my golf clubs are stowed away for the winter, the warm weather we had this weekend had me thinking about breaking them out. Even though I didn't get that round in, it didn't stop me from searching for new golf related items for when the clubs do come out. While I'm sure it won't help my play, the Tin Cup Personal Imprinting System will at least give my golf balls some personality. While everyone is marking their balls with dots or initials; make a statement and mark yours with a cigar, four-leaf clover, or martini to just name a few of the options. If you don't believe me, check out this clip from Washington's Capital Golf Weekly:

Song of the Day - 1/6

2012-01-06T07:56:00.000-05:00

In honor of the home opener for the Sixers tonight, here is their theme song from back in the glory days. The title of the song is "1,2,3,4,5 Sixers." Other than that, I know nothing about the song. I looked everywhere; however, I could not find who sung it, who wrote it, or the exact date the song was released.

Whoever put together the graphics for this You Tube video nailed it perfectly. If anyone knows any more information about the song please let me know. Here is to a Sixers home opener victory:

Purchase Options: Moc-Toe Work Boot

2012-01-05T08:07:00.000-05:00

I am currently searching for a new boot for the winter. The criteria is: must be moc-toe, must have a white outsole (preferably Vibram), and they must be able to take a beating. I want a good looking boot that wouldn't look too out of place with khakis and a blazer, but I also don't want to have to worry if I decide to wear them when snow/sleet is still on the ground. Of course, they will still need a good coat of Sno-Seal once purchased. Here are the options that look to meet my criteria:

Red Wing 875

Irish Setter by Red Wing 838 Wingshooter

L.L. Bean Maine Lodge Boot

Eastland Lumber Up Boot

Thorogood American Heritage Moc-Toe

Wolverine Journeyman

10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2012

2012-01-04T07:55:00.001-05:00

Now that the Best of 2011 is in the books, it is time to look forward to the possible Best of 2012. Here are the 10 albums that I can not wait to listen to this year:

10. Santigold (formerly Santogold) (Spring 2012) - Her debut album was one of my favorites in 2008 and I am looking forward to the follow-up album.

9. The Alabama Shakes (April 2012) - Their EP is fantastic and I am looking forward to their full length debut.

8. Outkast (Spring 2012) - Always enjoy a new album from Andre 3000 and Big Boi.

7. Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas (January 31, 2012) - In my opinion, one of the most under appreciated artists of all time.

6. Yeasayer (TBA 2012 - Possibly 2 Albums) - Their first two albums have been great and I can't wait to hear their third and possibly fourth albums.

5. The Killers (Summer 2012) - Their last album, Day 7 & Age, was a disappointment. Here's hoping that this new album will relive the success of Sam's Town and Hot Fuss.

4. The Shins - Port of Morrow (March 2012) - It has been 5 long years since Wincing the Night Away and I am in need of a new album from James Mercer and Company.

3. Bruce Springsteen (TBA 2012) - What will the sound be like without Clarence?

2. Dr. Dog - Be The Void (February 7, 2012) - My favorite Philadelphia based band releases their sixth full length album.

1. Mumford & Sons (TBA 2012) - How will they follow-up to Sign No More?

Song of the Day - 1/3

2012-01-03T08:01:00.000-05:00

Even though I was enthralled by Christmas music over the last few weeks, I did happen upon a new band while listening to XPN in between Christmas tunes. The band Of Monsters and Men are out of Iceland and released a full length album in their home country in 2010; they are due to release a new full length album in the U.S. this year. From the album released in Iceland, here is "Little Talks":

Christmas Loot

2012-01-02T13:08:00.000-05:00

It was a great Christmas and New Year's Day spent with family and friends. I hope yours was just as enjoyable. Here are a few of the items I received from my wife and family this Christmas (we received a lot of Home Depot gift cards for home projects this year as well):

1. J. Crew Straight Fit Cords (they just came out of the washer so I apologize for the wrinkles)

2. Henckels Professional "S" Bread Knife - Henckels Knife set is now complete

3. Moleskine Notebook - For the many lists I make throughout the year

4. Saddleback Leather Card Case

5. J. Crew Cotton/Cashmere Sweater

6. "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN" - 100 pages in so far and I can't put it down.

7. Timex Weekender Watch with Smart Turnout Watch Strap

8. Ken Burns' "Prohibition" - A must watch documentary

9. HIMYM Season 6

10. Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 7 - The Seinfeld Reunion Season, my favorite Curb season since Season 1

11. Pigskin Work Gloves - My father said these hold up better then my deerskin gloves - I will sure put them to the test this year

12. Sennheiser PMX 680 Sport Headphones - To help with my lose weight New Year Resolution

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T16:33:00.002-05:00

I hope you and your family have a very happy and healthy 2012. This year is a big milestone for me, so I have some very important resolutions that I want to accomplish this year. I know that resolutions can be made at any time; however, I seem to do better when the old calendar is thrown away and a new year and new slate has begun. I hope to share my accomplishments and failures (hopefully not too many of them) throughout the year. Here's to a year of keeping resolutions.

25 Days of Ties - Day 23

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

Bowtie Friday Attire:

Shirt - Lands End
Bowtie - Starboard Clothing Co.

Best of 2011 - Products

2011-12-23T12:47:00.001-05:00

For my last post of the year and the final segment of the Best of 2011; here are the 10 best products I purchased this year:

10. Motif belts from Leather Man Ltd. and from Chesapeake Ribbons - great belts from two great companies. They add some flare to my wardrobe:

9. Blazer Optimus Lighter - love that it's a butane lighter and the built-in cutter is great. No more searching around for my cigar cutter:

8. Lodge Skillet - I have a very nice set of pans from Calphalon, but this year I've been cooking mostly with this skillet. It gives great flavor to everything:

7. L.L. Bean Flannel Lined Double L Chinos - look great and help keep me warm:

6. Lands End Canvas Heritage Harrington Jacket - I think it is very similar looking to the classic baracuta jacket worn by Steve McQueen and I only paid $50 for it:

5. Odyssey Rossie White Hot Putter - I was a die hard blade putter fan, until I switched to this putter:

4. Bow Ties from Barry Beaux, Starboard Clothing Co., & The Cordial Churchman - this was the year I was introduced to wearing a bow tie other than for black tie affairs. Great options from these three companies helped convert me:

3. Orvis ToughChew Deep Dish Dog Bed - while this product isn't specifically for me, it has saved me alot of frustration. Remi is now 2 years old and has already gone through five beds. We have only had the Orvis TouchChew for 1 month; however, by this time Remi has usually somewhat destroyed a new bed. As you can see it is in good shape still and she has given it her all to chew or dig through the bed. The best part is that if she does destroy it, the bed has a lifetime warranty and Orvis will refund the cost of the bed. I wish this was the first bed I bought Remi and not the sixth.

2. Char Broil Commercial Series Grill - I grilled 5-6 nights a week this summer because of this grill:

1. Gym Membership - my wife and I joined in November, and it was the first time I have ever joined a gym. While I haven't lost much weight yet, it has helped me from gaining the typical 5 pounds I gain during the holidays every year. I have plans for a big weight loss in 2012. I know it's not a product, but it is definitely the best item I purchased not only this year, but hopefully for many years to come.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Best of 2011:

Best of 2011 - Albums

Best of 2011 - Songs

Best of 2011 - Sports Moments

Best of 2011 - Blogs

25 Days of Ties - Day 22

2011-12-22T08:50:00.002-05:00

Shirt: Paul Fredrick
Tie: Lands End

25 Days of Ties - Day 21

2011-12-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Embassy Row

25 Days of Ties - Day 20

2011-12-20T11:23:00.000-05:00

Day 20 Attire:

Shirt - Charles Tyrwhitt
Tie - Lands End
Cufflinks - Tiffany & Co.

Song of the Day - 12/19

2011-12-19T08:21:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas Albums is Christmas with the Rat Pack. From that album, here is Dean Martin performing his version of "Rudolph the Red Noised Reindeer":

25 Days of Ties - Day 19

2011-12-19T08:17:00.001-05:00

Shirt: Lands End
Sweater: Chaps
Tie: Nautica

25 Days of Ties - Day 18

2011-12-19T08:16:00.000-05:00

Church Attire

Shirt: Brooks Brothers
Sweatshirt: J. Crew
Tie: Izod

25 Days of Ties - Day 17

2011-12-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

Day 17 Attire

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Brooks Brothers

25 Days of Ties - Day 16

2011-12-16T10:46:00.001-05:00

Shirt: Lands End
Tie: Tommy Hilfiger

Bowl Season: 10 Storylines I'm Looking Forward To

2011-12-16T08:11:00.001-05:00

The bowl season begins tomorrow with the New Mexico Bowl between Temple and Wyoming. Here are the 10 games, storylines, coaching situations and players that I am looking forward to watching during the upcoming bowl season:

10. Fight Hunger Bowl (12/31) - UCLA vs. Illinois - aka "Who is the Coach Bowl"

First, how did a 6-7 UCLA team make a bowl game? This game is interim coach vs. interim coach and my bet is that neither one will be back next year.

Pick: Illinois by 7

9. New Mexico Bowl (12/17) - Temple vs. Wyoming - aka "Glad a Philly Team is in a Bowl"

I'm showing my Philadelphia roots here, but it is nice to see Temple make it to a bowl again. The Temple Owls were so bad for so long, it is always great to see them do well. I was skeptical with their season when coach Golden left for the University of Miami this year; however, coach Addazio and star running back Bernard Pierce helped keep the winning alive for Temple.

Pick: Temple by 3

8. Champs Sports Bowl (12/29) - Notre Dame vs. Florida State - aka "Is It 1993 and this is a National Championship Game Bowl"

Two historical powerhouses playing a crappy bowl game. However, both teams do have a young nucleus and the winner could go on to be a top 10 preseason favorite next year.

Pick: ND by 3

7. Gator Bowl (1/2) - Ohio State vs. Florida - aka "Urban Meyer Bowl"

Pitting Urban Meyer's former team versus his new team come next year.

Pick: Florida by 10

6. MAACO Bowl Las Vegas (12/22) Boise State vs. Arizona- aka "If I was in the SEC and Only Had One Loss I Would be Playing in a BCS Game Bowl"

It's a shame that Boise State dropped to a bowl of this caliber because of one game. Remember what they did to Oklahoma? I think they deserved to be in a BCS game.

Pick: Boise by 21

5. Ticketcity Bowl (1/2) - Houston vs. Penn State - aka "The More Depressed Bowl"

While the Penn State players have definitely gone through tougher times; Houston was one game away from a BCS game and then shit the bed against Southern Miss. This game will be about which team can pick themselves up and play their heart out after some poor situations.

Pick: Houston by 7

4. Rose Bowl (1/2) - Oregon vs. Wisconsin - aka "Bet You Can't Outrun Me Bowl"

Two of the best running backs in college football, LaMichael James (Oregon) vs. Montee Ball (Wisconsin). I'm guaranteeing at least 350 running yards combined between these two top notch running backs.

Pick: Oregon by 14

3. Alamo Bowl (12/29) - Baylor vs. Washington - aka "Is RG3 the Real Deal Bowl"

How will RG3 handle himself after winning the Heisman and is now being predicted as a top 10 draftee?

Pick: Baylor by 14

2. Fiesta Bowl (1/2) - Stanford vs. Oklahoma State - aka "I'll Show You Bowl"

Andrew Luck is out to show everyone that he should have won the Heisman this year and that he is still the best QB in college football. Additionally, the score of the game could be well over a 100 points combined - these two teams can score. If I was betting this game I would certainly take the over.
Pick: Stanford by 10

1. BCS National Championship (1/9) - LSU vs Alabama - aka "The Rematch"

Let me pose one question. What happens if Alabama wins by 3 in overtime? Do they truly deserve the Championship or should it be a tie since they tied the season series?
Pick: LSU (again) by 3

Song of the Day - 12/15

2011-12-15T08:17:00.000-05:00

I saw this on Stereogum a few days ago and wanted to share with you. Dawes recently covered the great "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi. Here is that cover that was recently shown on the The A.V. Club:

25 Days of Ties - Day 15

2011-12-15T08:09:00.000-05:00

Christmas Luncheon Attire:

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Charles Tyrwhitt

Best of 2011 - Blogs

2011-12-14T08:20:00.000-05:00

I started this blog this year because I wanted to share my thoughts/opinions on various topics. I came to that decision by reading some of the blogs listed below. For my fourth installment of Best of 2011, I wanted to share some of those blogs with you. Here are the 10 blogs that have inspired, informed, killed time, made me laugh, and look forward to reading everyday this year:

10. Fermented Artistry / Hops & Circumstance / Brew of A Kind

While I enjoy beer as much as the next guy, I really don't know the specifics of what makes a good beer or not. I can really only tell you if I like it or not. For the details of a specific beer, I go to the above guys. Great info on all things beer related.

9. Grantland

Technically its a website, but it has the feel of a blog. Love or Hate Bill Simmons on the radio or TV; you have to admit he shines in his original medium of print. It is a great mix of sports and pop culture. It doesn't hurt to have Chuck Klosterman as one of the contributors.

8. Unabashedly Prep / Back Down South

You could classify the blogs of F.E. Castleberry (Unabashedly Prep) and Caroline (Back Down South) as photoblogs; however, you really can not pigeonhole them into a certain classification since they offer so much more. Unabashedly Prep, offers a look into preppy culture and dress; typically involving preps from the Northeast. Whereas, Back Down South, as the name suggests, focuses on the dress and culture of the South. No matter the region, both will still inspire you to dress better.

7. The What Magazine

Patrick over at The What was one of the bloggers that provided me with a wealth of knowledge as I was starting this blog. He is also a Philadelphia guy, so we share the joys and pains of living in the City of Brotherly Love. The What is also a great source of music, style, etiquette and other important topics that help improve and inspire the recent college graduate. Additionally, Patrick is a contributor at Primer Magazine.

6. Backwoods Plaid

Maine, plaid, fishing, hiking, L.L. Bean, and great photography. Just a few things that come to mind when I view the blog put together by Rhon.

5. A Headlong Dive

While there are many style bloggers, I always seem to be drawn to the items put together by Jeremiah. He always showcases some of the nicest looking items on the blogosphere. Plus, his Sartorial Advent Calendar is a must read come every Christmas.

4. Too Big 4 Society

Let me start by saying, it is not the most politically correct blog; and the guys at Too Big 4 Society don't care. However, what Ben, Andrew, Jordan, and Pat do care about is showcasing some of the funniest videos and stories on the blogosphere. Do yourself a favor and at least check out this post and this post from Too Big 4 Society; it will make you want to go back for more hilarious adventures.

3. To Take The Train

Cooper was another blogger that was kind enough to provide some guidance as I was starting this blog. To Take the Train offers a little bit of everything: style, music, film, art, sports, etc. (you can almost call it a hodgepodge of sorts). He has a great following and it is evident why, he puts out great topics day in and day out. He is even featured on Valet from time to time (which in my opinion is every bloggers dream).

2. Great Lakes Prep / Bowties & Boatshoes

When you want to see some of the best preppy styles/items on the market, you could do no wrong by going to Nick over at Great Lakes Prep or Ryan and Ben over at Bowties & Boatshoes. They both offer up some of the best prep staples the blogosphere has to offer.

While I listed them together, they both offer up their own distinct flare. Nick being located in the Great Lakes region offers of some great lifestyle advice for folks in the Midwest. Whereas Ben and Ryan are situated near the Chesapeake and offer up some great East Coast lifestyle advice.

No matter the location though, both of these blogs offer items that you will drool over day in and day out.

1. Red Clay Soul

In my opinion Jay over at Red Clay Soul does everything right. Other then the fact that he is a Braves fan, I agree with everything he discusses in regards to: food, style, music, cars, and sports (when non-Braves related). I have already discovered a few new brands (Cash Robinson, Smart Turnout, and Brewers Lantern to just name a few) because of his finds.

While I was born and raised (and proud of it) in Pennsylvania; Jay and his posts make me envious of southern living. He offers some great advice to improve your wardrobe, has some great sport insights, always showcases great music, provides great southern cooking recipes, and is the first blog I check out everyday. In my opinion, Red Clay Soul is second to none.

If you have not read any of the above blogs, do yourself a favor and check them out. What blogs are your favorites? Please feel free to share them.

Other Best of 2011:

Best of 2011 - Albums

Best of 2011 - Songs

Best of 2011 - Sport Moments

25 Days of Ties - Day 14

2011-12-14T08:08:00.000-05:00

Day 14 Attire:

Shirt: Brooks Brothers
Tie: Chaps

25 Days of Ties - Day 13

2011-12-13T08:32:00.000-05:00

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Brooks Brothers

Song of the Day - 12/13

2011-12-13T08:15:00.000-05:00

The new She & Him Christmas album is a refreshing album and it will quickly become an album that you come back to Christmas after Christmas. From that album, here is "Christmas Day":

25 Days of Ties - Day 12

2011-12-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

Today's Attire:

Shirt - Brooks Brothers
Tie - Lands End

Perfect Getaway Bags

2011-12-12T08:08:00.000-05:00

As we quickly approach the holidays, I'm sure most people have some sort of upcoming travel. I am lucky enough that my travels are day trips; however, I know there are good few out there that have to spend some nights away. While you need something to carry your items for the overnight stay, it isn't business travel so the bag that you use can be more casual. Here are some great casual duffel bags, that have plenty more style then an old gym bag:

Hudson Sutler - Inlet Weekend Duffel ($120) (22"L x 12"diam)

Made in America decal on the strap

Really enjoying the orange, green, and blue interior lining

Wm J Mills - Classic Duck Duffle ($169 for Sag Harbor Duck Duffle) (25.5"L x 11"diam)

A made in America classic since 1880

Duluth Pack - Medium Safari Duffel ($150) (23"L x 11'diam)

Another made in America classic - since 1911

True Wind - Navigator Duffel ($185 for small Navigator Duffel) (20"L x 10"diam)

Add some sailing flare to your travel

Another great Made in America bag

Blue Claw Co - Dunnage Duffel ($178) (20'L x 10.5"diam)

The most formal option, but still not too stuffy

Really like the combination of ballistic nylon and leather

25 Days of Ties - Day 11

2011-12-11T16:24:00.000-05:00

Church Attire:

Shirt - Paul Fredrick
Tie - Nautica

25 Days of Ties - Day 10

2011-12-11T16:23:00.000-05:00

Christmas Party Attire:

Shirt - Lands End
Bow Tie - Barry Beaux

25 Days of Ties - Day 9

2011-12-09T08:22:00.002-05:00

Day 9:

Shirt: Lands End
Sweater Vest: Chaps
Tie: Izod

Song of the Day - 12/8

2011-12-08T08:37:00.001-05:00

The Christmas tune today comes from The Drifters and is also included on the Home Alone Soundtrack. Here is The Drifters version of "White Christmas":

25 Days of Ties - Day 8

2011-12-08T08:24:00.000-05:00

Day 8 Attire:

Shirt - Brooks Brothers
Tie - Nautica
Cuff links with last name initial - Heirloom given to me by my father

25 Days of Ties - Day 7

2011-12-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

Day 7 Attire:

Shirt: Paul Fredrick
Tie: J. Crew

Best of 2011 - Sport Moments

2011-12-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

For my third Best of 2011 installment; here are my 10 favorite sport moments from 2011:

10. LSU/Bama SEC Game - I am not an SEC fan, but this was one of the best and most hyped regular season games since Notre Dame/Florida State in 1993. Love or hate the BCS (hate for most college football fans), we will be getting the rematch come January. Here is the final drive from this year's regular season game:

9. Blake Griffin/JaVale McGee NBA Dunk Contest - A great spectacle. I think it is still debatable who had the better dunk.

8. Pitt vs. Butler NCAA tournament game - In my opinion this was the best game of the 2011 Tournament. Without this win Butler would not have made it to the Championship game. Here is analysis on the final minutes of that game:

7. UCONN winning both the Big East Tournament and the National Championship. Never happened before.

6. Packers win Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers finally gets the Brett Favre monkey off of his back.

5. NFL/NBA Lockouts. They may not be good moments, but you can't deny that both lockouts dominated the headlines.

4. Rory McIlroy winning US Open after his collapse at the Masters.

3. Jeter's 3,000 hit - Hate the Yankees, but respect Derek Jeter. Plus, to get his 3,000 hit on a home run is fitting for one of the greatest ever.

2. Mavericks upset Heat - Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, Not 4, Not 5....Maybe what LeBron was saying is that the Big Three will never win one. Dirk and the Mavericks made sure of that this year.

1. Final day of 2011 MLB regular season - Due to the new changes including 2 wild cards, this scenario will more then likely never happen again. Here is some commentary on the events that occurred:

What did I miss? Please share your thoughts.

Other Best of 2011:

Best of 2011 - Songs

Best of 2011 - Albums

25 Days of Ties - Day 6

2011-12-06T08:26:00.000-05:00

Day 6:

Shirt - Brooks Brothers
Tie - Tommy Hilfiger

Song of the Day - 12/6

2011-12-06T08:10:00.000-05:00

For my first Christmas themed Song of the Day, I wanted to share a more recent holiday tune that has quickly become one of my favorites. Here is Guster with "Tiny Tree Christmas":

25 Days of Ties - Day 5

2011-12-05T12:06:00.000-05:00

Day 5:

Shirt: Paul Fredrick
Tie: Chaps

Best of 2011 - Songs

2011-12-05T12:02:00.000-05:00

In today's "Best of 2011" I will share my 15 favorite songs from the past year:

15. Childish Gambino - "Bonfire" (Anyone else shocked that this is the same guy that plays Troy on Community?)

14. Givers - "Up, Up, Up"

13. Cults - "Go Outside"

12. Raphael Saadiq - "Heart Attack" (Live Version)

11. Matt Nathanson - "Faster"

10. Drive-By Truckers - "Used to be a Cop"

9. Beirut - "Santa Fe"

8. The Head and The Heart - "Lost in My Mind"

7. War on Drugs - "Baby Missiles"

6. The Civil Wars - "Barton Hollow"

5. Adele - "Someone Like You"

4. Diego Garcia - "You Were Never There"

3. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - "Booty City" (Live Version)

2. Foster the People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

1. Dawes - "Time Spent in Los Angeles"

What did I miss? Please share you favorites.

Other Best of 2011:

Best of 2011 - Albums

25 Days of Ties - Day 4

2011-12-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

Church Attire

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Chaps

25 Days of Ties - Day 3

2011-12-03T21:17:00.000-05:00

Went a little more casual with the dress today, but did fit the tie in to dinner tonight.

Sweater: J. Crew
Shirt: Gap
Tie: Brooks Brothers

Song of the Day - 12/2

2011-12-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

You can never go wrong with The Reverend on a Friday. Here is The Reverend Al Green with "How Can you Mend a Broken Heart":

Happy Friday and hope everyone has a great weekend!

25 Days of Ties - Day 2 & Winner of the Barry Beaux Giveaway

2011-12-02T08:16:00.002-05:00

Day 2 ensemble is:

Shirt - Lands End
Tie - Izod

And the winner of the Barry Beaux giveaway is Ben Jones (@bjones10). Congratulations Ben, you will receive your bow tie just in time for Christmas.

Thanks again to Frances at Barry Beaux for donating a great bow tie and for her support of the giveaway. Hopefully we can do more in the future.

25 Days of Ties - Day 1

2011-12-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

I was cleaning out my closet over the Thanksgiving weekend and saw that I had exactly 25 ties (including bow ties) and realized that I wear pretty much wear the same 9-10 ties. So in order to get a wear out of all of my ties, I decided I would wear a tie everyday in December leading up to Christmas.

I know this has been done before, specifically for 500 days. Also, I know that is commonplace for most people to wear a tie to work everyday. However, it is something different for me to do this holiday season and since I work in a business casual environment and only wear a tie occasionally; it's a nice way to be one of the better dressed people in the office.

In addition to work days, I will make sure (hopefully) to wear a tie on the weekends for at least a part of the day. I will wear a different tie or bow tie everyday until Christmas without a repeat. Unfortunately, I do not own 25 dress shirts so there will be repeats of the shirts.

Here is Day 1 of the 25 Days of Ties:

Shirt - Brooks Brothers

Tie - Nautica

Best of 2011 - Albums

2011-12-01T09:23:00.000-05:00

I plan on doing a few Best of 2011 lists in the upcoming weeks; currently I have 5 in mind, but that list could possibly grow.

For the first segment, I will list my 15 favorite albums of the year. I had too many to only list 10 and by the time I got to 20 I seemed forced to add the last few to the list just to get to 20.

So here are my 15 favorite albums of 2011 :

15. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne

14. Middle Brother - Middle Brother

13. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

12. The Black Keys - El Camino (Yes, I know it has not been officially released yet; however, I have heard the album twice already. If I had more time to listen to it, the album would possibly be higher on the list)

11. Adele - 21

10. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

9. Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme Some

8. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

7. The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart

6. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

5. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

4. Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

3. Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears - Scandalous

2. Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What

1. Dawes - Nothing is Wrong

Did I miss any? Please share your favorites. I always enjoying hearing about bands/albums that I do not know or have passed over.

Song of the Day - 11/29

2011-11-29T08:21:00.000-05:00

Today is the 35th anniversary of the New York Yankees signing Reggie Jackson, which was the major addition that helped them win the 1977 World Series and their first since 1962 which, at that time, was their longest World Series drought. To commemorate the day, here is The Baseball Project's (a sort of super group including: Peter Buck from R.E.M., Steve Wynn, and Scott McCaughey from the Minus 5) "The Straw That Stirs The Drink":

Timex Favorites

2011-11-28T08:35:00.000-05:00

Timex has really stepped up their watch offerings in the last year and I think it is time for me to pick one up. I have already picked up a great watch strap from Smart Turnout to replace the strap that comes with the Timex watch I purchase. Here are some of my favorite options for a great "weekend watch" and almost all are $75 or less:

Timex Weekender Slip Thru ($40)

Timex Weekender Strap ($50)

Timex Originals ($75)

Timex Easy Reader ($40)

Timex Dress Strap ($50)

Timex SL Series Automatic ($185) - While it is $185 I think this watch is worth it, in comparison to the J. Crew/Timex collaborations. I might even keep the watch strap on this one.

How to Carve a Turkey

2011-11-23T08:31:00.000-05:00

How to Carve a Turkey by Alton Brown. Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Song of the Day - 11/22

2011-11-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

Remember this one from 1996:

Spacehog - "In the Meantime"

Barry Beaux Review

2011-11-22T07:31:00.000-05:00

I received my Barry Beaux bow ties the other day and was not disappointed. I ordered the Green and Red Dot bow tie and Frances from Barry Beaux also included the Red and Green Plaid bow tie for our giveaway winner and two koozies. Both of the bow ties I received are made of 100% cotton, hand-made by Frances in South Carolina, and look much better in person then the poor iPhone photos below represent.

The first thing I must mention is the great customer service that Frances at Barry Beaux provides. First, she was kind enough to do the giveaway with me. She was also quick with answering any questions I had about the ordering process and I received my order within a week (which is unbelievable for hand-made bow ties).

With my order I stuck with Christmas themed bow ties at this time; but, Barry Beaux has a huge selection of bow ties including: madras offerings, gingham offerings, seersucker offerings, 100% silk offerings, organic cotton offerings, and some great original designs (huge fan of the shrimp original design). Between their own website and their offerings on Etsy I counted at least 40 different bow tie designs, which means everyone's personal bow tie taste should be satisfied.

In addition to the huge bow tie selection, Barry Beaux offers neck ties, pocket squares, cummberbunds, headbands for women, and even a small selection of skirts for women. You can pick up a Christmas gift for yourself, your son, your daughter, your brother, your sister, your mother, your father, and your wife all in one place. Overall, Barry Beaux offers some great made in the USA products that anyone can enjoy.

But remember, until November 30th you can enter the giveaway and get a great Christmas bow tie (and koozie now) from Barry Beaux for free!

The lucky giveaway winner bow tie

Song of the Day - 11/18

2011-11-18T13:30:00.000-05:00

Today's song is from a new band out of Austin, Texas called Wild Child. They recently released their debut album called Pillow Talk. It is some great indie-folk music and I really enjoy that there is both a male and female lead singer, it is a refreshing change. This is a band that you will definitely want to keep a pulse on. From their debut album here is "The Escape":

Christmas Wish List

2011-11-18T08:57:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I published my "Luxury Christmas List" which consisted of items over $300. This time I will be more realistic with my list and keep most items under $100.

J. Crew - Vintage Straight Fit Cords ($75)

Saddleback - Classic ID Wallet ($29)

Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN ($17.99)

Southern Marsh - FieldTec Fleece Jacket ($140)

HIMYM - Season 6 ($29.99) - I get a new season every year.

Kiel Jame Patrick - Dixie Bell Neck Tie ($85)

L.L. Bean - Irish Fisherman's Sweater ($129)

Foot Joy - My Joys - Contour Series ($140)

Brewers Lantern - Long Sleeve Henley T-Shirt ($35)

Ken Burns: Prohibition ($28.99) - In my opinion, everything Ken Burns touches is gold.

Song of the Day - 11/16

2011-11-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

Love them or hate them, everyone knows at least one R.E.M. song. They had a major impact on the music industry ever since their first EP, Chronic Town, was released back in 1982. Unfortunately, they are now breaking up and yesterday released their finally album (a "Best of" album with 3 new tracks) - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011. From Chronic Town and Track 1 on the new album, here is a live version of Gardening at Night:

Moleskine Limited Edition Planners/Notebooks

2011-11-15T07:12:00.001-05:00

While I typically use my phone and Outlook calendar for my planner/note taker, the new Moleskine collection may change that. Moleskine is releasing limited editions Peanuts and Pac-Man 2012 planners, as well as a limited edition Star Wars notebook. The planners come in both the pocket (3.5 by 5.5) and large sized (5 by 8.5) and in both daily and weekly options. The Star Wars notebook comes in pocket plain, pocket ruled, large plain, and large ruled. Each planner and notebook comes with some great extras.

Holiday Bow Ties & Barry Beaux Giveaway

2011-11-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was 6 weeks to Christmas. Which means that the Christmas Party season is shortly approaching. I recently ordered the Cordial Churchman Aberdeen and the Barry Beaux Red and Green Dot Reversible Bow Tie for my upcoming Christmas parties. In addition, to the Barry Beaux and the Cordial Churchman, below are some other bow ties which I found to be perfect for any Christmas affair.

Additionally, I am fortunate that Frances over at Barry Beaux has agreed to a giveaway of her Red Plaid Bow Tie to one of my readers. It is a perfect option for your upcoming Christmas affairs. There are three simple ways to enter for a chance to win, and you will receive one entry for each.

1. Follow the blog, check out the Barry Beaux Etsy Shop, and leave a comment with your favorite Barry Beaux Bow Tie.

2. Follow @1manshodgepodge and @barrybeaux on Twitter and Tweet: "I just entered the @1manshodgepodge and @barrybeaux Christmas Bow Tie giveaway." (Leave a separate comment when followed)

3. Like Barry Beaux on Facebook. (Leave a separate comment when liked)

Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, November 30th, and our winner will be announced shortly after.

Barry Beaux - Red Plaid Bow Tie - The bow tie one lucky reader will receive

Barry Beaux - Red and Green Pin Dot Reversible

Cordial Churchman - Aberdeen

Starboard Clothing - Rudolph Christmas Plaid Beau - Currently retired, however still hoping they will offer again this year.

Southern Proper - Holly Beau

High Cotton - Christmas Tattersall Bow Tie

Bird Dog Bay - Caribbean Kringle

Fair Isle Spectrum

2011-11-10T09:16:00.000-05:00

Now that Fall is in full force the Fair Isle pattern is showing up more and more. Fair Isle is something that I have found a person either loves or hates; there is nothing in between. According to Wikipedia: "Fair Isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colors. It is named after Fair Isle, a tiny island in the north of Scotland, that forms part of the Shetland islands. Traditional Fair Isle patterns have a limited palette of five or so colors, use only two colors per row, are worked in the round, and limit the length of a run of any particular color." Here are some of the best Fair Isle patterns I have seen this fall in various forms:

Woolrich - Great looking Shawl Collar Sweater


J. Press

Brooks Brothers - Easy way to pull off Fair Isle

Pantherella

Lands End Canvas

Tommy Hilfiger - I wish I could find this exact pattern/color in a sweater

Vermont Originals - Classic Tassel Hat - Brings me back to my childhood

Junya Watanabe - Fair Isle Baseball Sweater - Maybe?

Song of the Day - 11/8

2011-11-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

The Black Keys album El Camino is due out in about a month. To help you with your Black Keys fix, here is one of my favorite songs from Dan Auerbach's solo album Keep it Hid released in 2009. For anyone that has not listened to the album, it is a must for fans of the Black Keys. From that album here is "Mean Monsoon":

Deerskin Work Gloves

2011-11-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

It was a beautiful fall weekend, which meant a lot of yard work for me. The one item I could not live without when doing yard work are my deerskin gloves. They offer the right amount of protection whether you are chopping wood, weeding, removing large brush, or any other outdoor work that you can through at them. They are soft, yet unbelievably durable; and they also provide a good bit of warmth on those chilly fall days. The other great feature of deerskin gloves are no two gloves are alike. My current pair is from Sierra Trading Post, which were a steal and have held up unbelievably well so far. Here are a few of the best options I have found:

Song of the Day - 11/4

2011-11-04T08:25:00.000-04:00

Philly's own Amos Lee is coming back to town this weekend to play the Academy of Music. Unfortunately, I do not have tickets; but I have seen him perform live before and it is a treat. His most recent album, Mission Bell, has brought him alot of recent notoriety; however, my favorite album from Amos Lee is Supply and Demand. From that album here is "Shout Out Loud":

Keeping Your Feet Warm in Style

2011-11-03T08:03:00.001-04:00

A great way to add a pop of color to the tweeds and flannels of fall/winter is through some brightly colored socks. I know for myself that the pop of color is through my argyle socks; however I just realized that I don't own any other patterns. I plan on changing that this fall. Here are a couple of non-argyle pattern socks that I am considering for that pop of color.

Ben Silver - Plaid Wool Socks

Brooks Brothers - Houndstooth Crew Socks

Happy Socks - Five Color Socks

Corgi for J. Crew - Stripe Socks

Lands End Canvas - Knit Herringbone Socks

Pantherella - Fair Isle Socks

Paul Stuart - Birdseye Crew Socks

Rugby - Double Stripe Socks

J.Press - Striped Fancy Socks

Song of the Day - 10/31

2011-10-31T13:21:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite Halloween songs and an overall great movie; here is "This is Halloween" from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas:

Happy Halloween!

Mitchell & Ness Flashback Jacket

2011-10-31T08:34:00.000-04:00

For those of you that enjoyed my Homage to the Starter Pullover Jacket post a few weeks ago, I have great news for you. Mitchell and Ness has released what they are calling their Flashback Jackets. The jackets are pullover, have the team name on the front pouch, NBA or NFL logo on the sleeve, and the team logo on the back. Currently they are only available for a few NBA and NFL teams. However, if your team is one of the lucky few; it may be time to relive your childhood and pick one up for the winter.

Song of the Day - 10/28

2011-10-28T12:39:00.000-04:00

A great Halloween tune and a great 80's movie soundtrack. Ray Parker Jr with "Ghostbusters":

Song of the Day - 10/27

2011-10-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

Here's another one of my favorite Halloween songs. It is Stephen Lynch with "Halloween." (I apologize that the version is from Last Call with Carson Daly.)

50 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

2011-10-26T08:46:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning up some of my internet bookmarks last night and I stumbled upon a page from Popular Mechanics I bookmarked when my wife and I first purchased our house. It is a list of the top 50 tools every person should own. While I don't think someone who rents needs all of these tools; I do believe a homeowner would be wise to have a good portion of the tools on this list.

I am lucky that my father is extremely handy and I have been given a lot of his older tools. Therefore, I have 47 out of the 50 tools on the list. The ones I have never had a use for so far are: Coping Saw (#13), Chalk Line (#32), and Gooseneck Bar (#41 ) - because it's basically the same as a Pry Bar.

Hopefully this list will help all homeowners begin accumulating tools to help maintain and improve your homes.

Song of the Day - 10/25

2011-10-25T16:14:00.000-04:00

Since Halloween is next week, I will torture everyone and make the next few songs of the day Halloween themed.

While today's song isn't specifically about Halloween it does have a creepy undertone. Plus Michael Jackson sings the chorus. Here is Rockwell with "Somebody's Watching Me":

Luxury Christmas Wish List

2011-10-25T15:11:00.000-04:00

Christmas will be upon us in two months. The first wish list I wanted to share is what I am calling my Luxury Wish List. These are items that I ~~need~~ want and retail for over $300. Typically these would be gifts that I would ask a few of my family members to purchase for me as a group gift; I wouldn't expect any one family member to get me any of the below items as a gift. I will share my more reasonably priced wish list as we get even closer to Christmas.

Sony NEX - 5N (Retail $699) - Size of a point and click with some of the capabilities of a DSLR

Napoleon Apollo 3-in-1 Smoker (Retail $360)

J. Crew Mayfair Topcoat (Retail $428 inc. Thinsulate) - I really need an overcoat upgrade

Samsung PN59D7000 Plasma TV (Retail $1,700) - CNET Editors Choice for 2011

Allen Edmonds Park Avenue (Retail $325) - A classic

TaylorMade R11 (Retail $399) - I currently have the TaylorMade Burner driver and I am in need of a serious upgrade

Beer of the Month (Retail $384 for the full year) - The gift that keeps on giving

Saddleback Thin Briefcase (Retail $411) - I have been hearing great reviews of their products all over the internet

iPad 2 (Retail $499) - Of course

Orvis ToughChew Deep Dish Dog Bed (Retail $298) - This may be a gift for Remi; however, it is secondarily a gift for me since hopefully it will stop me from having to buy a new dog bed for her every few months. Plus it's much more visually appealing then all of the previous beds we have bought her.

Song of the Day - 10/20

2011-10-20T11:07:00.000-04:00

Do you miss the sound of Classic Motown? Mayer Hawthorne is attempting to fill that void. He has a Motown soul with modern updates. He recently released his second album titled How Do You Do. While the song "The Walk" is not my favorite on the album, the video is great; it has a Mr. & Mrs. Smith theme. Enjoy.

Honey Glazed Shrimp Scampi

2011-10-20T09:08:00.001-04:00

When I'm cooking I usually stick to the recipe that was given, since almost every time I veer off the recipe I screw up. However, the other night my wife and I felt like shrimp scampi and the recipe that I use calls for wine and lemon; and unfortunately we had neither in our house. We were both to lazy to run to the store, so I improvised with actual success. The recipe may seem odd, I even thought it was an odd combination, but give it a shot and I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Here is the recipe:

2 pounds shrimp (peeled, deveined and tails removed)
Salt
Ground Pepper
Olive Oil
1 tablespoon chopped or minced garlic
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped oregano
2-3 tablespoons honey
2 cups spinach
Pasta (typically 1 cup per person)

Directions:
1. Heat up olive oil in skillet over medium heat
2. Add shrimp and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes
3. Add spinach and other herbs and cook for additional 1-2 minutes
4. Turn heat down to low and add cooked pasta
5. Mix in honey and cook for an additional minute

Keep Yourself Warm

2011-10-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

Another telling sign for me that it is getting cold is that my wife is bringing out all of the blankets from the closet. I am perpetually warm so I always keep the thermostat low in our house; which means my wife has throw blankets all over the house to keep her warm. Thanks to Remi we are on the look out for new throw blankets to replace the ones that have all of the sudden become hers. Here are a few that we are considering:

Garnet Hill Merriweather Knit Wool Throw

Lands End Mariner Knit Throw

Pendleton 5th Ave Glacier Park Throw

Ralph Lauren Abbingdon Plaid Throw Blanket

L.L. Bean Washable Wool Throw

Song of the Day - 10/17

2011-10-17T13:14:00.000-04:00

Today's track goes back to 2000. It is from New Orleans based Galactic's album Late for the Future. Here is "Thrill":

Fall Shoes

2011-10-17T08:25:00.000-04:00

I have officially put my summer shoes (boat shoes, driving mocs, and sandals) away till next spring and have brought out really the only two pairs of shoes I wear in the fall/winter. On the weekends, I live in either my Clarks Desert Boots or Clark Wallabees; while during the work week I wear one of my four pairs of Johnston & Murphy shoes. While I do own a pair of Lands End duck boots I typically only wear them on snowy days. I am however looking to purchase a pair of Red Wings this winter. I just have to find the right pair and right price.

All 4 are Johnston & Murphy and all are over 3 years old; and yes each pair has their own shoe tree.

The black wingtips are 7 years old and are still in perfect shape. Mostly because I wear them for special occasions only.

The black cap-toe is 5 years old and has already been resoled twice - which was my own fault for wearing them too often.

Song of the Day - 10/14

2011-10-14T08:18:00.000-04:00

The rumor is that Old Crow Medicine Show may have called it quits in August of this year; however, for Bluegrass fans everywhere I hope that's not the case. From their 2008 release Tennessee Pusher here is "Mary's Kitchen":

NBA Lockout

2011-10-12T08:18:00.000-04:00

I am by no means the first to write about the NBA lockout and will definitely not be the last; however, as a Basketball fan I wanted to express my disappointment with the cancellation of the first two weeks of the NBA season. As I have previously written, this past NBA season was one of the most enjoyable seasons I have watched in recent years. It's unfortunate to think that in only 4 months after one of the best NBA finals in years the NBA may have lost a good portion of the fans that the league just gained from last season.

With the NFL lockout the owners came out looking like the bad guys. While the NBA owners aren't looking peachy in the current lockout, the players are also leaving a bad taste in fans' mouths with this lockout. With a lot of the players signing contracts over in Europe; it seems to fans that certain players don't care about the NBA and will just go play anywhere that will pay them. In some way, we want to see the NBA players sue the league like Tom Brady and others did against the NFL. It gave myself and other fans the feeling that the NFL players actually cared and wanted to ~~get paid~~ play.

The other item that is working against the NBA players is that the league is player driven and not team driven like the NFL. While some fans do root for their favorite team, a large majority of NBA fans are driven to certain players no matter the team. So if some fans get a bad taste in their mouth if/when Kobe signs with Virtus Bologna, they may not come back to watch Kobe when the NBA ends the lockout. Whereas NFL fans that may have been upset by players' or owners' comments during the lockout still came back because they loved their team.

The NBA needs to take a close look at the MLB lockout of the early 1990's and the NHL lockout from the mid-2000's to get a better representation of what this lockout could possibly do to its future. While both the NHL and MLB have regained their fan base since the lockouts, the fans did not come back as fast as they did after the NFL lockout. The NFL is king and is probably the only US sports league that could have a lockout and not miss a beat on revenue generation.

The NBA will lose a portion of its fan base after the current cancellation of games and could lose even more if the lockout gets worse. The NBA is already behind the NFL, MLB and NASCAR in revenue production in the United States and if the lockout gets worse and longer it could possibly fall behind the NHL, especially with the NHL's popularity at its highest in years.

For my sake, as I am sure many NBA fans feel the same, I hope the lockout ends as soon as possible. While some fans may not forget, I just want to put this lockout behind me and hope that the 2011-2012 shortened season will be just as captivating as last year for all the right reasons. If not, thankfully there is college basketball and maybe even the NHL (I better start growing my mullet) to keep me occupied in between the NFL and MLB seasons.

Fall/Winter Tie Spectrum

2011-10-11T12:27:00.000-04:00

Now that the cooler weather is beginning, it's time to add some cool weather patterns to your dress attire. While a silk tie is acceptable no matter the temperature, fall and winter is a great time to incorporate hardier patterns and material. Here are a few of my favorites:

A great Houndstooth offering from J.Crew

Just because it's fall doesn't mean you can't have fun...a Patchwork Wool tie from Lands End

Harris Tweed - Classic Fall/Winter look

A nice plaid option by Pierrepont Hicks

Repp Stripe in Flannel by Tommy Hilfiger

Closest color combination I could find for my Fightin' Irish - Knit is a great fall material - Tie Bar

Song of the Day - 10/6

2011-10-06T13:45:00.000-04:00

Today's song is from the first ever iPod commercial. The song is from a band called Propellerheads and the track was off of their only album DECKSANDRUMSANDROCKANDROLL. Here is the full length version of "Take California":

Also, here is the first iPod commercial:

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T08:57:00.000-04:00

R.I.P. Steve Jobs (1955-2011). Here are some great Steve Jobs moments: