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Men’s Ties: Not Just For Cubicles and Church Anymore (Part 1 of 2)

Editor's Note: This is a guest post from Grant Harris. Grant is Owner and Chief Style Consultant at Image Granted, LLC; a Washington DC based Image Management company dedicated to solving the complex image, style & fashion issues of individuals, groups & organizations of men. Learn more about Image Granted, LLC at imageconsultant4men.com.

The necktie is one of the most important and most versatile accessories a man can wear. Whether dressing up or down there is a tie for every occasion. Here we discuss the history, construction, and variety of the tie. Read more

Personal Finance Basics: Spend Less Than You Earn

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Bad money habits cause tons of stress for any gentleman. They can lead to avoiding phone calls from bill collectors, arguments with your wife and the inability make headway with personal goals. There are hundreds of so-called experts with late-night infomercials and books with the "magic formula" to help you escape your money woes. But in my experience, there is not any magic or little-know secret to personal finance.

My grandfather told me a long time ago that anything worth having is worth working for. That's a statement I believe applies to all things in life, including the pursuit of financial independence. If you begin your journey to a better personal finance situation, you'll be much better off for it.  Additionally, you will be a role model (whether you know it or not) for so many others who are afraid of being real when it comes to their true financial outlook or just confused with no knowledge of where to start.

So to help all of us be better men in all aspects of life, we wanted to feature some personal finance basics that lay the foundation for financial independence.

The first tenet we will look at is a five word statement that seems like a "duh". But doesn't it seem as if the simplest things seem to always trip us up.  Read more

11 Amazingly Cheap and Easy Romantic Ideas

Cheap Romantic Ideas

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Newsflash, Newsflash!!! The economy is awful right now. And when times are tough, most folks are looking for ways to cutback on spending and save a little money.

But there’s no cutting back on being romantic. The important thing about romance is that thoughtful gestures go much farther than spending tons of money. Why? Because anyone can go to a jewelry or electronics store and slap their credit card down. Sure the gift will be appreciated by the recipient. But what I’m suggesting isn’t rocket science.They aren't even new concepts.  It just involves contributing something that can’t be bought – The gift of time and thoughfulness.
 
Below are 11 cheap and easy romantic ideas to share with that special someone in your life. Read more

Things to Know Before You Propose

Reaching the point of proposing to someone means you've taken this journey from casual dating to exclusive dating and now, hopefully, to the point where you can't picture your life without them. But the infatuation with not only the women but the thought of being married can cloud our decision-making ability. 

Before proposing, each man needs to really sit down and ponder one question, "How well do I really know this person?" If you remove yourself from the infatuation of getting married, you may find some tendencies or lifestyle habits that may be cause for concern and pose a problem down the line.

So to take a step back from thinking about what size diamond to buy, let's take a look at some things you should know before you propose to a woman. Read more

Recent Articles

26
Feb

Friday Rewind: Cross Colours, TLC and Hollywood Shuffle

Ever sit back and reminisce about the good (and not so good) 'ole days? Us too! So we decided to share some of our favorite old school memories with you. Introducing Flashback Fridays!

Torance: The year was 1990 and the hottest clothes on the street were Cross Colours. I was about 12 or 13 years old and I vividly remember my favorite pair of shorts being Cross Colours. They were extremely long and baggy and a very bright green (I also had a yellow pair). That summer I wore those shorts all around Chicago! I wore those at least a year or so before the trend finally was put to rest. All throughout my neighborhood and school you couldn't go a minute without seeing Cross Colours on somebody! And as loud as those clothes were, the message was just as loud and powerful. Read moreRead more

24
Feb

Top 10 Basketball Movies

 
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Growing up in Chicago, it was inevitable that I would gravitate toward basketball. For many gentlemen I know, basketball was the first sport they grew to love watching and playing. The fact is basketball transcends what happens on the court. It was and is a way of life and culture for so many black men. The close relationship that basketball has with music, particularly hip hop is amazing. Just think about how many hoopers want to be rappers and vice versa. Fans, in the meantime, dream of being both.
 
Basketball is an awesome game because it's something you can play alone or with other players. The only thing better than watching or playing in an actual game is watching a movie about basketball. 
 
Hollywood has made several attempts to showcase the sport in different lights. From comedies to dramas to documentaries to animation, it is so hard to merge sports (especially basketball) and movies. As a huge movie buff and b-ball fan, I am pretty critical when I see a basketball scene in a movie that just looks terrible. Sometimes the players/actors look as if they just learned to play last week.
 
So to find out what's is the best basketball movie of all time, I decided to create a top 10 list. My criteria (for those judging at home) included:
  • The movie's plot
  • Believability of the basketball scenes

So with no further ado, let's take a look at the 10 best basketball movies of all time. Read moreRead more

19
Feb

NBA Trade Season 2010 Winners and Losers

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The NBA Trade Deadline passed yesterday and we had a healthy share of activity. It's a bit surprising so much took place because of the pending labor negotiations. But this time of year has always made for great chatter amongst friends and in the barbershops. 
I thought I’d share with you my winners and losers of the NBA Trade Season . Since we're in the middle of the 2010 Winter Olympics, I have chosen to award the winners gold, silver and bronze medals. The losers, well they're losers, so they get no special recognition. Here we go! Read moreRead more
19
Feb

3 Keys to Better Relationships For Men

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If there is one thing that can frustrate men to no end, it is bad relationships. A bad relationship can ruin a perfectly good day, make us cranky, and possibly lower our expectations for ourselves.

There is no way to escape relationships though, unless becoming a hermit is appealing to you. Whether work, family or social, we surround ourselves with folks who are looking to expand their spheres of influence each and every day.

No matter how bad our relationships have been or continue to be, the key to getting better results lies in the understanding and acceptance of seven simple words: Read moreRead more

15
Feb

Men’s Playbook Podcast #6: All About Men’s Style featuring Grant Harris

The sixth edition of the Men's Playbook podcast is all about style and appearance. A regular contributor to our site, Image Granted, LLC Owner and Chief Style Consultant Grant Harris joins us for a discussion about men's style. Image Granted, LLC is a Washington DC based Image Management company dedicated to solving the complex image, style & fashion issues of individuals, groups & organizations of men.
Grant is a wealth of knowledge regarding helping men achieve classic style. In this podcast, Torance and Grant touch on how to transition to a classic men’s style, finding the right suit, spring style outlook and answers a reader's question. Grant can be reached on Twitter at twitter.com/imagegranted or visit his website at  www.imageconsultant4men.com. Read moreRead more
13
Feb

NBA All-Star Weekend Live Chat

10
Feb

How to Make Breakfast in Bed

Breakfast in Bed

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Whether you're married, in a relationship or casually dating, you should know by now that doing something unexpected is always well received. Do something special to surprise your mate and more often than not, you'll have them falling all over you.

The problem that many of us encounter is we frequently make a couple of common mistakes when trying to surprise someone:

  1. Focusing on the material purchases like jewelry, clothes, shoes, etc. Not saying that won't go over well with a person, but at some point it is nice to see something with a little extra thought and effort put into it.
  2. Waiting until a birthday, anniversary or other significant event/day to do something special for someone.  Just because can be as good or even better!

A breakfast in bed is a great romantic gesture that is very adaptable. It’s miles better than breakfast at the best restaurant and will get way more respect. The great thing about this is that it can serve not only as a romantic gesture but also a great apology for a mishap or fight you’ve had. Sounds good? Well let’s continue. Read moreRead more

3
Feb

Valentine’s Day Giveaway: The Body Shop Gift Basket

With huge sports events like the Super Bowl and NBA All Star Weekend upon us, it can be easy to forget Valentine's Day. FYI, it's February 14th.

It's always tough trying to brainstorm creative ideas for gifts. How often can you really rely on the same ole red roses and dinner out? We all know how much women look forward to gifts, surprises and catered to. Valentine's Day is a perfect time where you cam earn brownie points. But mess up and you'll be in the doghouse!

Because we want to help you put a smile on that special lady's face, we've partnered with the good folks at The Body Shop to offer you a Valentine's Day prize that will make you shine and save you a little money. Read moreRead more

3
Feb

Why Losing Your Job Could Be The Best Thing Ever!

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I can't imagine anything much more shocking to a man's system than losing a job.  Losing a job can leave us feeling betrayed and worthless. So many of us identify ourselves with what we do for a living and what we obtain with our earnings. 

The reality of each of us getting that unpleasant news is more and more practical.  Our turbulent economy has contributed to an unemployment rate consistently hovering around 10%. With that many people out of work, we have recently provided simple tips on how to deal with job loss and finding a job.  

There are some people who are determined to use their job loss as a launching pad for something better and/or more meaningful. These folks adopt the familiar saying, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". I recently came across a very interesting and thought provoking movie that highlight a few of these people. 

Lemonade is a movie about 16 advertising professionals who lost their jobs. The reality of the job loss gave them the courage to follow their true passions. Read moreRead more

2
Feb

How to Choose Quality Men’s Shoes

Editor's Note: This is a guest post from Grant Harris. Grant is Owner and Chief Style Consultant at Image Granted, LLC; a Washington DC based Image Management company dedicated to solving the complex image, style & fashion issues of individuals, groups & organizations of men. Learn more about Image Granted, LLC at imageconsultant4men.com.

Unfortunately, most men think of footwear as a necessary evil instead of a source of expression, style, and confidence. A man’s shoes should be an extension his personal taste, his personality, and his lifestyle. While these are individual factors, there are several things every man should look for in a quality shoe to buy as an essential piece of his wardrobe. Take our advice and your feet will thank you. Read moreRead more

1
Feb

Black History Month: We All Have a Part to Play

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Today marks the beginning of Black History Month.  Throughout this month, we will be reminded and learn about the many contributions that African-Americans have made throughout history. I think we all have a part in contributing to Black History in our own way.

For example, this site was created to be a inspiration, educational and entertaining website for black men that were seeking an alternative to the websites and magazines currently marketed towards us.  As stated in our about us page, we were a bit tired of the magazines that were a step above Black Tail. And the hope is that this site grows to a community of black men seeking better lives in a responsible manner.

I encourage you to remain steadfast in your quest to be a better man every day.  Present yourself in that manner with your dress and aspire to live with gentlemen's standards To help you remain inspired, here are a few inspiration quotes that are fitting regardless of whether it is Black History Month or not. Read moreRead more

29
Jan

3 Simple Ways Women Can Attract a Man

 
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You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This goes for interfacing with people on the job and while trying to meet that special someone. 
 
I’ve seen so many women try their best to get noticed by men. I realize that many of the makeup choices, shoes selections, and form fitting dresses being worn are valiant attempts to catch the right man’s eye.
 
Some of you women even go through countless hours of metamorphosis grooming for a few hours out on the town.
 
It’s safe to say that the physical attraction is how it all starts on the dating scene. Our eyes are what leads us to want to get to know someone. I'm not breaking news, here.  Sometimes that leads to something promising and other times, it absolutely nothing beyond the exterior. 
 
I say that because I’ve recently had several women ask me my opinion on what to do to attract a man. They want to be loved but don't know if they are doing something to sabotage themselves or push men away. So in the spirit of giving back to the community, I’m going to let our women readers in on a few of those simple things that catch a man's eye. Read moreRead more