Well, this was pleasantly unexpected; Mr Porter has commenced its annual spring and summer sales event. I don’t remember it beginning this early in the year, as the summer heat has not fully kicked in quite yet, but you won’t hear any complaints from the peanut gallery over here. Now, the sale is still in its infancy, so the highest discount attainable at this point is a modest 50 percent – which by the way is nothing to turn one’s nose up at. The lowest at this juncture is 30 percent off. Nevertheless, those gentlemen familiar with Mr Porter understand that the sale percentage usually tops out at 70 percent. So, you can press your luck and hope that an item you are watching remains in stock long enough for 70 percent off, or you can take the plunge now and be happy with the savings at the moment. A word of advice: Past history shows that stock is pretty scant around the time the sale hits 70 percent, so a gentleman almost has to visit the site early and often to catch updates. So truthfully, 50 percent off is probably the sweet spot for a sale unless you get really lucky. Right now, stock is plentiful, so you might want to give Mr Porter a quick glance and see what is out there. Happy shopping.

For more information about Mr Porter, visit HERE for more details.

Sometimes, a gentleman has to sit back and enjoy his surroundings. Here is a photo collaboration between the Mrs. and myself. Location: Backyard.

Want to join the brotherhood of shaving? Well, if you are a gentleman that shaves, you can also be a gentleman that saves. By simply becoming an elite member of The Art of Shaving’s “Brotherhood of Shaving”, you will have access to the private Friends & Family shopping event where you can save 20% off all The Art of Shaving products.  Perfect Shave Rewards Member’s will receive 20% off their entire purchase when they shop in stores or on-line starting January 25 through the 27^th  with the experts that developed the science behind the perfect shave. With no fees required, a gentleman can sign up with the elite “Brotherhood” at http://bit.ly/TAOSFriends  to receive access to the exclusive sale starting Friday, January 25, as well as information on upcoming events and promotions! Did I mention that signing up is free? Simply fill out a short form online and your redemption code will be e-mailed directly to your inbox. Boom!

Gentlemen, the new year has officially commenced, and Hugo Boss wants to know if you are ready. And when we say ready…we mean…really ready. Launching a fresh campaign entitled “Ready Is…”, Hugo Boss wants the gentleman to be ready for whatever life has in store – from looking stylish as temperatures begin their seasonal dip to exuding a sophisticated presence during after-hour social gatherings. Being ready means smartly anticipating your day or night, and thoughtfully considering the things you can do now to make things go smoother later. And this is all accomplished by employing an alluring scent – courtesy of Hugo Boss. Because, when a gentleman feels ready, confidence naturally follows.

For the day, BOSS BOTTLED incorporates a soft, smooth and sophisticated character that subtly extends the wearer’s confident and assertive personality. Apple, cinnamon and vanilla tempered with a combination of sensual woody notes produce a daring, delicately soft and sensual, yet distinctively masculine scent. Come darkness, BOSS BOTTLED NIGHT has a purposeful, edgier character that imbues the wearer with a personal magnetism that attracts others. Infusing him with the confidence that will make him feel irresistible at night, the scent artfully blends rich woody and powerful musky notes in the base.

So, what are you ready for this year? Hugo Boss Fragrance wants you to join the conversation. Share your “readyism” on Twitter using the hash-tag #ReadyIs, or alternatively you can visit readyis.com and share your wisdom there. Submit your comment and enter to win a BOSS bag– and once your readyism is posted, you will receive an email notification from the site. The good people at Nike Communications were kind enough to send me samples of both fragrances, and my preliminary impression is this is a great fragrance to start the new year off with. Be sure to check back here for a full review. Until then, get ready and let us know how you’re ready!

Happy New Year ladies and gentlemen. I pray that you have a blessed, prosperous, and safe 2013. Thank you for all your support and readership in 2012, and let’s do bigger things in the year ahead!

During my younger years, which feels like ages ago, I was a white tube sock kind of gentleman. I would make a trip to Kmart to purchase a few value packs of white socks and was good to go. Of course when the occasion begged for a dressier alternative, I recruited a trusted pair of basic black or blue hosiery for the job. However, as I grew older and started to explore more stylish options, I began to gravitate toward brighter colors and more interesting patterns. Now, striped hosiery surged in popularity, at least to my recollection, approximately 5-7 years ago. I added a few pairs to my dresser drawer and have been hooked ever since. Still popular, I have noticed that the stripes have increased in width with a more audacious color offering. Nevertheless, I still employ options with narrow widths too. Trust me, these are not for the serious conservative. Utilize these socks only when the finishing touch requires that you stand alone from the pack – where you should be.

• A few months before my wedding, my grandmother suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. Emotionally, it was the most devastating event I had ever experienced in my life.

• I don’t think one ever recovers from a significant loss like that; I think you just learn to cope and handle the reality better as time progresses.

• I still allow myself to grieve. I allow for quiet moments by myself and I cry. The whole notion that men should not cry is foolish. Real men cry for things they love dearly. And I will always cry for my grandmother.

• I don’t try to focus on negative imagery or thoughts. Things like what happened at her funeral…the casket…the burial…I don’t think about things like that. My tears are only reserved for the remembrance of the good times we shared together.

• That being said, one also has to make room for laughter. My brother does an uncanny imitation of my grandmother’s voice, and his mimicry of her disapproving chastisement blended in with select biblical passages is hilarious. Yes, you have to find a way to laugh.

• I’ve never been angry about her passing. You cannot be angry with reality. And the reality is we are not promised immortality. If anything, I’m more saddened by fact that I can’t sit with her one more time, rocking back and forth, side by side in dual rocking chairs on her porch during rainstorms.

• Besides, it’s always better to smile. Looking back, I have to smile. I was blessed with the kind of grandmother that some people didn’t or don’t have. Yes, I am extraordinarily thankful.

• Nevertheless, and this is the selfish part of me, I sure do miss those holiday dinners, complete with all the fixings: ham, turkey, greens, sweet macaroni & cheese (yes, you read that correct – sweet), string beans, yams, cornbread, sweet potato pie, red velvet cake, and the list goes on and on. Yes, grandma could burn in the kitchen.

• To this day, I’m still trying to regain my holiday spirit. From childhood into my adult life, she had always been there. And now it’s just a void. But spending time with my family, along with my brother’s spot-on voice replication, I’m managing. And that’s about what we all can do – manage; in the best and positive way we know how.