This past weekend was one of my most relaxing in a really long time.
Friday, BF was super kind to come over and collect my new chair for delivery! That evening we went out to dinner and decided to try a restaurant long recommend to me by a former co-worker and good friend: Yu's Mandarine.
BF was especially excited because he's been talking non-stop about how they make noodles ever since we saw and episode of Chef vs.City: Atlanta where they had to make noodles with a long piece of dough basically hitting hit and pulling it like taffy till it took shape. We got way too much food, and the 'Noodle Show' was kind of a let down, but overall it was nice to get out on a 'date'.
Saturday my Junior League hosted an event at the Naperville Barnes and Noble. We had crafts and reading to kids, and handed out fliers so that a portion of the purchases went towards our Book fund. We collect donations of funds and books to disperse books within the community to increase literacy.
While I was participating in this event, BF spent the afternoon watching PURDUE KICK OSU BUTT! YES! And make homemade Giardiniera.... Ok, for those of you who don't know what this is (everyone not from Chicago or of an Italian heritage), it's basically a spicy oil based relish of peppers that people put on everything from hot dogs to Italian beefs and salads. BF wants to make it to hand out this Holiday season. He got the bug from me last year with my spiced tea and Olive tapenade (recipe per Testa's which they were kind enough to give me over the phone and has become a staple in my holiday cooking and hosting.)
After the event, I made my way to BF's parents (where he and his dad were cutting up the ingredients to the giardiniera) for an afternoon/evening of football and laziness.
Sunday was spent relaxing and watching a Muppet's Christmas carol & football, but also being a cleaning machine (much needed). I also made a Sunday Supper for the two of us which included:
Mustard Marinated Porkchops
Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Green Beans (sauteed with green onions and garlic)
Apple & Vidalia onion relish for the chops
I got the Porkchop recipe from the cookbook we received at the wedding last weekend! Who knew that chops were so cheap! (seriously they're so much cheaper than beef or chicken).
Sadly, I was unaware that partially due to his college nickname and partially due to how fraternity houses typically over-cook food, BF is not a huge fan of porkchops. He said mine were pretty good though, although he says that doesn't mean he wants them every night.
And even though the Blackhawks and the Bears won, I think BF and I can agree the biggest win was the Ohio State game. Overall a great weekend!
What'd you do this weekend? Are you getting ready for Thanksgiving?
Over the last year I've collected different Lilly Pulitzer prints that I use for my computer and social media backgrounds. I always find it somewhat difficult to nail these down and wanted to share some of my favorites from the the past year with all of you! I'm particularly in love with the Delta Gamma & First Impressions prints! As I've said, my mom as a DG and I grew up with a nautical style. And the First Impressions print inspired my headboard craftiness.
Heel Yeah
Delta Gamma
Late Night Toile
Chorus Girl
Gang's All Here
Dark & Stormy
First Impressions
Do you have any favorite Lilly Prints? I love seeing new ones! If you've heard of any coming out for next Spring do share!
This past weekend BF was in his very first wedding. One of his good friends and fraternity brothers married his college sweetheart. We've known the couple for several years now, and love them both dearly.
I was very upset I wasn't able to get out of work for the Rehearsal Dinner on Friday night, but I did make it back to meet up with a good friend at Harry's, and the rest of the gang later on.
After some much needed catch up time, I almost felt like I was back to normal (college style).
Saturday was spent relaxing, gearing up for the big event. While hanging out BF gave me the wedding gift from the couple.... a Cookbook filled with recipes and pictures we were asked to send in with our RSVP's. It's the coolest thing ever, complete with letters to the couple and great memories!
BF had to be ready by 11 to head over to the church with the wedding party. I hung out a bit longer and met up with the rest of the group a bit later. The couple had planned buses to and from both the wedding and the reception (so considerate!). However our bus getting there was a little tardy so I grabbed a whopping 7 people to cram in my car. The wedding was lovely, and thankfully only a half mass. I don't typically cry at weddings, but this was definitely an exception.
The Amazing Wedding Party!
After the wedding, we had 3 hours to kill before the reception, and let's face it, when you stick a ton of old friends (mostly fraternity brothers) together, they're going to want to go to Harry's and watch Purdue Football (it's like if you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to want a pitcher of beer.... or something like that).
So we watch Purdue... not play as great as they should....before grabbing our gifts and heading to the stadium... that's right! They had their amazing reception in the STADIUM! How cool is that?!?! I've only been to a few events up there, mostly for formal or organizational dinners, but this was lovely!
(I thank facebook friends in advance for letting me steal some pictures, my camera is shot and didn't take anything good!)
My good Belden Buddy E.H. met the couple in Atlanta while working there. Small world!
I pretty much hung out with J.B. all night! He has a freaking amazing camera, and exceptional fashion taste ;)
BF and DJ (sorry DJ... can't call you D.B... it's weird)
The couple's first dance was to my dream song...
After dancing and singing till at least an hour and half past when the BAND (LIVE BAND!!!!) was scheduled, a couple of us walked back to the hotel before heading to Harry's!
BF even bought the FishBowl so the couple could come and sit and enjoy themselves!
The bride came in her dress and all.... INCLUDING GLITTERY JIMMY CHOOS!
Overall, it was an amazing weekend that BF and I topped off with a lunch at Triple XXX before hitting the road.
I finished the weekend off with pizza and Once Upon A Time with a friend. FABULOUS weekend!
What'd y'all do this weekend? What are some of the best things at weddings you've experienced or heard of?
Ever since I got my permit I loved driving. It has always been a relaxing activity for me. Originally it was just the ability for me to get away and have freedom from staying put. Now a days I love it for the ultimate escape from work. The car is the one place that I can't be asked to jump onto my computer and send something out. Traveling via airplane isn't safe anymore. Want me to tweak that big presentation? Sorry not now guys. O, I need to be on this call? Sure, I am happy to jump on, but I can't take any notes. Behind the wheel is a place to relax. That is why this week we are sitting down and having a little chat about one of my favorite activities. Road trip!
The road trip is arguably the most manly and American of all vacations. Taking the open road. Seeing the country at the ground level. If you are so fortunate as to have people in the car with you, the conversations tend to be awesome. When driving it makes it a part of the trip in a way that hoping on a plane never can. When on a road trip there are however some rules and roles that that everyone needs to follow. Next time you get ready to gas up your ride, keep the following things in mind:
Role: Driver
Pretty self explanatory, but it pretty much the most important role. Driver needs to be someone who is alert at all times. Carries the responsibility of getting everyone there in one piece. Outside of having a license and not driving like an old lady, the only real requirement is stamina. The longer your driver can be behind the wheel the faster you get to your destination. Sometimes you need to be able to swap out the driver and have him take a break. Personally, the only way that this happens when I road trip is if we are trying to drive straight through the night.
Role: Co-Pilot
Robin to the Driver's Batman. The Co-Pilot basically takes care of all the things that the driver needs but can't do because he/she is driving. Need to have an address punched into a smartphone/GPS for directions? Got it. Hey can you hand me some of the beef jerky? Got it. Change the song. Got it. On top of this your job is to make sure that the driver stays awake. This could be car games, playing music, conversation.....basically anything but falling asleep. As mentioned before the exception to this rule is if there are only 2 people in the car and you plan on driving through the night somewhere. If the Co-Pilot is to drive while the Driver takes a nap, then it is acceptable for them to get a little shut eye themselves.
Role: Backseat
Your job is to bring anything possible to the table. If you can't bring something positive/interesting don't do anything to ruin things. No complaining, no snoring, no talking on the phone, and worst of all no excessive farting. Backseaters need to be prepared to at any point step up and be ready to fill in at either of the two front seat roles. You can also feel free to nap at any time.
Rule - Don't be a dick about your bodily functions
We are all human, we get it. Sometimes you are just going to have to pass gas. Let everyone know that you are about to do it, apologize, and crack the window. Just don't make a habit out of it.
Rule - Be smart about your bathroom stops
The driver is the person that ultimately controls the stops, but he needs to be respectful. Announce when you are likely going to be stopping for gas so people don't have to ask if you can stop. Sometimes it just doesn't work out that way though and if you can give a heads up to the driver that you need to go the problem should be resolved fairly quickly
Rule - Avoid gas station bathrooms
Try to go to a place where food is served. In general I try to go to a McDonalds. While I hate them as a company and will never give them another penny of my money ever again (another story for another post), they do manage to consistently ensure a clean bathroom across all of their franchises. There is one at almost every stop. The prep has always stated that she would keep an eye out for Cracker Barrels. While those giant truck stop/resturant/shopping center bathrooms are typically fine, most gas station bathrooms are horrible horrible places where horrible horrible things are done. Spare yourself the need for a Purell bath and take the extra two seconds to go across the street.
Rule - You are never too old to play games.
Make a sign and try to get a reaction. Get a truck to honk the horn. "Would you rather". All solid options to get a good laugh and make the time go by. Just make sure that the Driver is being safe and you are good to go.
Rule - Listen to as much of the radio as possible
With everyone having a smart phone that is loaded with all of the music your little heart desires, this rule becomes a little less important, but it is still a good idea to turn the playlist off from time to time. First off, no matter how large of a playlist you have, the ability to preserve it never hurts. Once a song gets played on a road trip it has officially be played. Avoid repeats at all costs. By listening to the radio you can extend it a little bit with stuff you might not have thought of throwing on. Plus you get the added bonus of learning what is going on in the local area from the commercials/traffic updates.
Another overlooked radio feature is AM. AM stations can sometimes be reached across a couple of state lines. One of my favorite roadtrip memories happened while listening to Greg Maddux pitch his way to his 500th win on WGN 720 while I was in the middle of Ohio. If you are in the car with sports fans you can find a sports talk station just about anywhere.
Rule - If your drive is over 3 hours, it is acceptable/encouraged to eat food that you would never eat otherwise
Jerky, slim jims, combos. These are all terrible things for your body that will be cemented to your colon for the rest of your life, but dammit it is a road trip and you are given a free pass to go for it. On a road trip to Alabama this past summer I saw my friend consume a pickled sausage. It was glorious/disgusting. I myself am a beef jerky man. It is the only time that I really allow myself to eat it. When selecting my beef jerky I particularly enjoy trying to find the most random gas station brand that I can find.
Rule - Be a seeder
Those those who are not in the know, a seeder is someone that enjoys sunflower seeds. Throw em whole in the left cheek, eat the seed and move the shells to the right one. Spit when appropriate. I tend to keep an empty plastic bottle on hand for these occasions. This is great to pass the time and also works as something to keep the driver awake as well.
Rule - Don't freak out if we hit traffic
It is about as useful as complaining about the weather. Unless you can offer a smart way around it, drop it. We are all in this together.
Rule - Have Fun!
This is a road trip! There is a reason that they say that the journey is more memorable than the destination.
Ok lets start the weekly stuff...
Movie Trailer Time - Breaking Dawn Part 1 (November 18th)
Dear Prep,
For some reason I have seen all of these movies and have not liked any of them. All these movies are poorly written and filled with a ton of staring. Regardless of my accurate opinion of these movies I have accepted that you like them and will be seeing it. If you force me to watch it I will try to be patient, but understand that the 130 minute torture session called "New Moon" nearly killed me. If you do choose to go and see this with coworkers it probably will be for the best.
PS - If we are not seeing this movie together I am considering eating a ton of White Castle the night before it premieres, getting one lone creepy ticket to a watch party, and openly farting White Castle toxic onion farts the entire time.
What the BF is listening to - Midnight City by M83
This song snuck up on me. I first heard it on spotify, then it was on the ending credits to "How to make it in America" as Ben and Nancy got it on, and now I am seeing it all over the Victoria's Secret commericals. Expect to hear a lot more of it soon because it is good. Gave the rest of the album a listen to on my way down to Purdue this past weekend. First time I saw and just listened to a full album of music in a long time.
GAME OF THE WEEK - Lions at Bears (November 13 - Fox afternoon game)
Yes another Bears game. After this past Monday the Bears are looking good for their post season hopes. Right now they own the last wild card spot and have tie breaks against the Bucs, Falcons, and Eagles. If they can take this one they are back in total control.
Pick - Lions +3 - Bears win this in a close one, but do not cover the 3 points. If you are so inclined to place an "investment" I would consider the Steelers -3 against the Bengals. I just don't believe the hype behind Dalton.
Anchored Style is a little bit different and a lot a bit unique compared to other companies' styles you've seen me talk about. The founder and designer, Lauren, calls her style 'surfer prep'. It's a cross between your classic new England collegiate style and that of the laid back west coast. They combine to create this a classic item twisted to focus on comfort and fit.
Anchored Style offers Men's and Women's apparel and accessories featuring their signature logo. I have always been drawn to Anchors because of my mom. She was a Delta Gamma in college, and I grew up in a Raggedy Ann Nursery and humming Hannah songs. This being said, both my parents grew up in Florida and instilled in me a lasting love of the ocean, so I really connect with the symbolism throughout the Anchored Style line.
The Short Sleeve Yellow Shield really seems to combine the sea-loving logo with the collegiate inspiration. Link $30
The Coral Reef Men's Polo is sharp, but is also flexible and comfortable with it's 95% Pima Cotton Pique 5 % Spandex mix.
Lauren is also very proud of her jersey cotton hoodies and how comfortable they are while maintaining a sense of style, a surfer-prep style to be exact. I had the great opportunity to talk with Lauren, and below is my recap and take-aways from our conversation.
When did you first decide to start your company? Lauren first decided to start the company after starting her first company known as Anchor In Style, which offered personal styling, shopping and closet consultations. In summer of 2010, going with the same logo, she decided to create her own lifestyle brand, and drop the "in". The launch was fast and furious taking only 7 months between the initial idea and receiving the first samples.
What is your inspiration?
Lauren loves all things nautical, clean lines, craftsman details, Ivy Style, and surf culture. “I love the 60's era of design, both in apparel, architecture, and furniture design. I'm a huge fan of mid-century modern design. My style muses are Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and of course JFK. Their looks are effortless and totally chic.
I envision a complete character in my mind when I'm styling. His job, character, hobbies, his favorite drink, even what car he drives.
The Anchored Style Guy is well educated, a man of great integrity and character, has a great sense of humor, creative, hard worker, yet laid-back, an avid outdoors man, a gentleman, seeks adventures and travel, passionate about what he loves, has great personal style, and drives an old Jeep (at least as a weekend car).
I have a great photographic memory. I'm constantly ripping tear sheets out of magazines & creating inspiration boards. I've been a subscriber to GQ since I was 15 yrs old, and poured over every page of my brothers Surfer and Surfing magazines. I locked all of those images in my memory. I have always had a thing for classic American sportswear.”
Where did you first develop your style?
Lauren grew up in Florida, but is originally from Indiana. Her parents met in Chicago, and her dad’s a Boilermaker! She feels she developed her style growing up by the beach and being so intrigued by menswear in my early teens. “ I'm very grateful my parents let me subscribe to my favorite men's and women's fashion magazines and watch the Style network all the time. I had a dream of New England and California and could not choose, so I took bits of each style and juxtaposed them together, a style I've called ‘surfer-prep’. My parents have always been very supportive of my passions allowing me to intern in NYC for a celebrity fashion stylist while finishing up my Fashion Merchandising degree from FSU, and then spending time in Southern California, to really get a good feel for the culture.”
What do you hope your products will convey about yourself and your style? Integrity, style, and quality. Lauren believes that staying true to the brand and the original concept is of the utmost importance when it comes to Anchored Style. She wants her products to be special that people can enjoy for years to come.
When it comes to style, the color choices are pretty classic but updated with a modern edge. In terms of quality, Lauren was a textile major and likes to make sure that her products are what she would like to wear. The fabrics have a great hand.
Most of Laurens products are made in the US right now. By fall 2012, the collection will be 100% American made goods. She really thinks this is an important aspect of her brand and business and remaining true to her business objectives. “It’s a lot harder because there aren’t as many manufacturers in the US, and you have to work that much harder to develop the line. We want to make sure the quality craftsman making our products are making a livable wage and contributing to our economy.”
Overall Lauren’s “Surfer –prep” style “isn’t about the clothes themselves but how you wear it. It’s how you put your outfit together. It’s the laid-back version of the New England prepster.”
What has been the hardest thing about starting your own business? “It’s hard breaking into stores, because often buyers want brands that have a proven track record of being in high demand. My online sales are growing, thanks to social media and our growing army of brand ambassadors at college campuses across the country getting the brand recognition The specialty menswear buyers are hard to break at first; it’s a real boys club. Most of the guys in the industry has been around for 30-40 years, and the sales reps have been selling to the same people forever. It is all about paying your dues and I'm more than willing to do it.
Lauren also explains that managing her capital investment is key, and that the way she’s managing her company is different from the other new emerging ‘preppy’ companies. “Everyone wants to have everything at once, but you have to build up.” She explains that she’s working hard to develop her base of products before expanding. “You don’t have to be exactly the same as all the others, because you want to stand out. You want to go into making products that not everyone else is making. Just because everyone else is making it, and doing well with it, you don't have to try and compete when they are already capitalizing on the market for those items.” Every day is a learning experience.
What other products do you hope to add to your portfolio? New button downs. Lauren believes these will be different than others on the market because they’re handcrafted in the US, something not many brands can say right now. The shirts are expected to have some classic subtle detailing that would make a nice addition to any wardrobe. She’s also coming out with men’s ties, “I’m matching them with the new ties I’m designing. They won’t just be the standard stripes and collegiate colors that are currently on the market, ours will have a little twist. They’ll also be made in the US.”.
Coming out this spring, she has embroidered pocket tees in classic colors that can appeal to men of all ages.
How would you define today's 'Preppy' and how do you think it compare to the preppy of past decades? “A lot of people think the "preppy" of today is represented by American Eagle & Hollister, but to me it’s heritage brands; classic stuff that lasts forever. Stuff that you can still wear it and it’ll last 10-20 years, like a pair of khaki’s or Sperry's that look better with age. I like when companies take a modern look on a classic style. Polo, Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers stay true to what they are all the time.” It looks like the preppy of past decades is making a comeback, and I couldn't be happier.”
Is there anything else you'd like mentioned?
“I have the vision of Anchored Style being a heritage brand. We'll be growing and developing for decades to come, always staying true to our original style. We’re really proud of what we’re doing and we hope that you like our brand. We love feedback so feel free to provide it!”
What to learn more about Anchored Style? Check them out here:
Welcome back to the BF Corner! Now that Halloween is over there is a large shift in focus towards celebrating the Holidays. It seems that the Christmas season is starting earlier each and every year. I know that even the Prep herself starts celebrating the second the last pumpkin candle goes out after Halloween.
Personally, I am getting a little tired of it. Yes, I love Christmas, but too much of a good thing is bad. I used to love Christmas music, but working in a retail store that plays it non stop for the entire extended Holiday "season" will drive a man to crazy. We go so overboard that it renders the whole thing no longer special. Take time to enjoy the end of fall. The last of the leaves are falling, and we should squeeze every last bit of Fall. Very soon your hoodie will not be enough to keep you warm outside.
What other holiday has two months of celebrating behind it?!?!?! Can you imagine if the Halloween "season" started in September? Pumpkins keep us in check with that. By rotting they remind us that too much too soon will leave you rotten and done by the time trick or treating starts. What about Valentines Day? You ready to start seeing pink stuffed animals and candy hearts in mid December? I doubt it. The only one that I can really get behind is if St. Patrick's day started in mid January.
Pace yourself people. Wait till Thanksgiving is over to get your inner Griswold on.
RANDOM VIDEO BREAK TIME!
Ok, back to the action! Over the last three months it really has felt like a giant road trip at times. Bachelor parties in 'Bama, Purdue on the weekends, business trips to St. Louis.....yeah I have spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a car lately. This has lead to some solid road trip conversation. It feels like one that gets repeated over and over again is about covers songs.
Cover songs are ones that are remade from an "older" or "original" one. Before the rise of Rock and Roll it was quite a common thing for a record company to record multiple versions of the same song. Often if they felt a song was good, they would get an artist or group that they felt to be more marketable. Another tactic was to get an artist to record an already popular song on a different label, so they could begin to distribute it on their own. Over time covers became a great way for rising artists to make get their names out there to pave way for their original material. It became the standard at rock shows for bands to play covers during their encores because they didn't have any true hits of their own. Once in awhile a cover will become as popular, if not more popular than the original, but with the recent rise of the show Glee we are seeing an appetite for cover songs like never before. Love it or hate it, you cannot stop this machine.
Here is a list of some of my favorite covers in no particular order:
Boys of Summer
Original Artist - Don Henley (1984)
Cover - The Ataris (2003)
This song IS summer. Both versions are awesome, but the slightly faster pace and electric guitar cannot be denied. Of all the punk covers of hits this one reigns as the best.
Sweet Dreams
Original Artist - Eurythmics (1983)
Cover - Marylin Manson (1995)
Great example of one song, pretty much the same lyrics, VERY DIFFERENT SONGS. Both have the whole creepiness factor nailed down solid, but Manson's version is down right scary. Ever since its use in the 1999 remake of "House on Haunted Hill" this has become a standard for filmmakers in the genre. It was good to see that both got nods on the Pilot for the new show "Grimm".
GLEE Time
Don't Stop Believing
Original Artists - Journey (1981)
Cover - Glee (2009)
As discussed before Glee is a force of nature. They dominate at awards shows, are on top of the itunes charts, and have opened a world of film, reality show, and video game spin offs. There are a lot of great songs from Glee over the last couple, but this is the one that started it all. The original happens to be one of my favorite songs. There were many a fuzzy night at the fraternity house that I had me drunkenly signing this song at the top of my lungs with my friends. The song itself has been voted as the best power ballad ever, and it is the most downloaded song on iTunes. No cover will ever come close, but damn Glee gives it its best shot. As a former high school choir member myself this song and show grabbed my attention and pulled me in. While I would not consider myself a Gleek, I have always openly admitted that I enjoyed the show from its start.
Dynamite
Original Artist - Taio Cruiz (2010)
Cover - Mike Tompkins (2010)
Youtube shout out here. The Taio Cruz song is fine, but there is something just addictive and fun about Mike Tompkins' wildly creative video. He has a whole series of videos like this one where he is a one man acappella band. For you Gleeks out there it is arguable that his Teenage Dream cover is better than the Darren Chriss version.
Smooth Criminal
Original Artist - Michael Jackson (1988)
Cover - Alien Ant Farm (2001)
Dear Alien Ant Farm,
When I was in high school I purchased your album Anthology because I loved your cover of Smooth Criminal. While that cover was awesome, the rest of your music sucks and I would like my $12.00 back.
From - Everyone
Mrs. Robinson
Original Artist - Simon and Garfunkel
Cover - The Lemonheads
Can't think of another Lemonheads song if my life depended on it, but I will always remember that they are a band because I like their cover.
Ring of Fire
Original Artist - Johnny Cash (1963)
Cover - Social Distortion (1990)
I love Social Distortion. It blows my mind that they are not a more well known band. In this cover of the well paced Cash classic, they go into their own turbo mode and rip their way right through the song. My gut tells me that if I ever was trapped in an actual ring of fire, it would feel more like the Social Distortion version than the Cash one.
Hurt
Original Artist - Nine Inch Nails
Cover - Johnny Cash
Ahhhh you see what I did there? Both songs stand on their own two feet and are hits in their own right, but the Cash is a little more haunting with the fact that it was recorded just before his death.
I Fought the Law
Original Artist - Bobby Fueller Four
Cover - The Clash
While I said that The Ataris version of Boys of Summer is the best cover of a hit, the Clash have the ultimate punk cover. Once The Clash unleashed their punk sound on this twangy classic it forever became their song. Bands ranging from Social Distortion to Green Day have covered this song as well, but it is more of a cover/tribute to The Clash.
All Along the Watchtower
Original Artist - Bob Dylan (1967)
Cover - Jimi Hendrix, Dave Mason, U2, Niel Young, Dave Matthews Band, Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam
Surprise! You thought this was going to be someone covering Jimi's song? Wrong! What is arguably Jimi's best song is in fact a Bob Dylan song. Jimi recorded his cover only 6 months after Dylan wrote and recorded it. This is rare case where the cover is more popular than the original. Rolling Stone has Jimi Hendrix's cover at #48 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Give both a listen. Who does it better?
Twist and Shout
Original Artist - Isley Brother
Cover - The Beatles
This song makes me think of Ferris Bueller, which makes me think of Chicago. Nuff said
Whew time to get to the weekly stuff!
What the BF is listening to - Yeah I think we can safely skip it this week. Just pick a video from above.
What the BF is watching - Grimm (NBC Friday 8:00 PM CT)
As mentioned above I gave the pilot a slot on my DVR. After giving it a view I have to say I was pleased. The setup is that a cop starts seeing weird things around him only to find out that he has some special kind of power to see monsters. It plays off of all the old brother Grimm fairy tales. NBC must not care too much about it if they are giving it the kiss of death Friday Primetime spot, but I am going to try to enjoy it while it is on air. The Prep watched the pilot with me and was able to enjoy it after she "got used to the whole face changing thing." Looks like a good compromise show. Right now it is probably a Level 2 on the scary movie scale.
Movie Trailer Time! - The Muppets (opening November 23rd)
Dear Prep,
We are going to see this movie. I don't care if you don't like the Muppets. They were a staple of my childhood. Just be happy that I want to see a movie that isn't a horror movie or an action one.
Love,
The BF
GAME OF THE WEEK - Bears at Eagles (Nov 7 - Monday Night Football)
So ready for this game. After a bye week I am chomping at the bit for more Bears football. If the Bears can go in and take this one from the Eagles they put themselves in an even better position to secure a post season bid. It won't be easy though. The Eagles look like they are starting to figure stuff out. Hopefully the Bears past success of being able to shut down Vick happens again.
Pick - Bears +8.5. For those of you that are bold this might be an interesting Money Line Play.
Alright that should do it this week. You have any favorite covers? Movies you are looking forward to? Let me know if there is anything I should be checking out.
State Traditions is a company with a fun concept. I have been drawn more and more to state shapes that remind me of home... or I could just miss it a lot. The company currently products multiple designs for each state for men's polos and hats. I particularly like that they implement the state flag in some of the designs like the Georgia polo below:
This GA Traditional White can be found for the reasonable price of $65 here.
And everyone loves the Palmetto tree and Moon of the South Carolina Flag:
This would be perfect for my dad at Sister's Game days! GO GAMECOCKS! This Columbia Gameday Garnet hat can be found here for $25
I hope every one's gamedays have been going well, and now that you're getting ready for Bowl games, I know the men in your life are in need of new game shirts. You should check out this company for great Christmas gifts! I think it's what I'll be doing for my dad!
I recently got a chance to talk to one of the owners, Maury Lyon. Check out how they answered my questions below:
When did you first decide to start your company?
My business partners John McElrath and Keith Brown started the idea for State Traditions clothing in late 2006 and the company was realized in the spring of 2007. Thinking it was a terrific idea I became involved, and was able to buy in the winter of 2007.
What is your inspiration? The inspiration came from having a sense of pride in your state but not having many avenues to show it. We thought the American flag lapel pin that national leaders and others began to wear was a great outward symbol of pride in your country, and we thought to build off that a level down to the states.
Where did you first develop your style? The initial style from the launch of State Traditions was a combination of State Pride and high quality. We searched for the right products that met our demands for the highest quality but without sacrificing affordability. When we found the polo we wanted from Peru, we literally washed it 150 times. It maintained the same fit and quality as when we first put it on, and we were sold.
What do you hope your products will convey about yourself and your style? Our products are meant to convey the customer’s sense of pride in his or her state and alma mater, but in a cool and subtle fashion. Our style and ourselves’ are fitted directly into everything that we make. If I can’t feel good about wearing a hat or t-shirt or polo design that we make, then we scratch it and start over. We’re about as meticulous as anyone could be when it comes to our products’ look and fit.
What has been the hardest thing about starting your own business? For us, maintaining the focus and taking the right steps, balancing outside opinion and advice with your internal vision of how to be a success. In other words, saying “This is going to work. Now let’s just figure out how”.
What other products do you hope to add to your portfolio? We will be adding 10 new states for spring. We also have something new coming out for the spring of 2012 that I think will be a homerun. Right now we’re making sure the designs are right and everything is in place before we launch.
Is there anything else you'd like mentioned? Big 10 fans have asked when their schools products are coming out, and we’ve heard them. Those will be included in our spring products and should be just in time for March Madness and perfect for the 2012 college football season.
How would you define today's 'Preppy' and how do you think it compare to the preppy past decades? I feel like the “Preppy” of today is a whole lot more stylish for men and women than decades past. The term “fratty” better resembles the iconic brands and style of today’s “preppy”. I feel like it’s a throwback to the 80’s for guys, especially with our products.
What to learn more about State Traditions? Check them out here:
