A Lot Like...

Every once and a while I stumble upon a somewhat unknown movie that I really enjoy watching. It is like finding a needle in a haystack because I have to sort through lots of crappy no-name movies before I find one that I enjoy. Tonight I would like to feature the movie A Lot Like Love. It is a somewhat sappy romance story that takes place over a period of about seven years. The thing that I like about the movie is that it seems to be very real at times. I find myself relating to the characters in the sense that they are searching for what lies ahead in life for them and the realization that your "plan" doesn't always work out how you...well...planned. If you are in the mood for something sappy and romantic I give my stamp of approval.

For other interesting movies to watch check out:

Stay - a twisted thriller that messes with your head...if you see the twist in the movie you are a genius
A History of Violence - very bloody and graphic but extremely well done...it actually won awards at the Cannes Film Festival
Sliding Doors - a movie that have a very unique concept that makes you think "what if..."

Fusion and the Male Face

Recently I decided that I needed to upgrade my current razor to something new. Throughout my shaving career I have upgraded razors twice and have found there to be an improvement each time. Originally I used the Bic Slim Twin razors which consisted of two blades and some cheap polymer made in Cambodia. The advantage of the Slim Twin was that since the head was very small, it made trimming around sensitive areas optimal. Take for example under the nose...this spot bleeds like your femeral artery when you cut it and takes forever to heal. With the Slim Twin, no problem.

Then after I had used that I decided to upgrade to one with more blades. So I went out shopping and decided to light upon the Mach 3 razor. The razor was incredible and it made for a closer, quicker shave. The downside of the razor was that the replacement heads were more expensive than a 10-pack of Slim Twins. The upside was that my face would stay smooth longer and until the blades dulled, I wouldn't get razor burn. Another downside was that with the more blades came the problem of a larger head thus leading to not as close trimming in the tight spots. So, in order to correct this, I still kept a few Slim Twins to finish off the job.

BUT, then after two years of Mach 3 territory I decided to try out the new, advertising packed, Gillette Fusion. I will admit that I had my doubts about this razor but one use put them all to rest. The razor is amazing. The 5 blades make for an even pressure system on your face and an immensely close shave. Here is the kicker: it has a single blade on the reverse side for those hard to groom areas. Now I don't have to keep a back-up razor in my other hand while I shave. For those of you who haven't moved to electric and like the closeness of a razor shave, I highly recommend the new Gillette Fusion. Oh, and unless you just have to have batteries, stay away from the power versions. Leave the moving blades to the electric razors.

Musicology

It is interesting how you can find a song to fit basically any mood that you can get yourself into. When it is a sunny day and you feel like being outside and driving with your windows down while wearing jeans and a t-shirt there is no better song than Somebody Like You by Keith Urban. Or let's say that you are depressed and you want to throw fuel on the fire. Look no further than Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisly and Allison Krauss. What's that? You feel like running around like mad...I've got just the song. Scatman by Scatman John will do in a pinch. Ok, Grant, I hear what you are saying but let's say that I want to seduce my mate. Off the top of my head, Yellow Daffodils by Malia or Slomotion by Stargazer should get the job done. If you are preparing for a sporting event things like Spybreak by Propellerhead or Eye of the Tiger by Survivor work wonders.

With knowing how music affects your moods, it gives you the edge to be able to influence them. It is pretty hard to stay in a down mood when you keep hearing songs like Call on Me by Eric Prydz...where as something like You by Fisher may just push you deeper into yourself. My recommendation: try to broaden your musical tastes and take some time to find out how they make you feel.

A Buzz with the Pick-Me-Up

When I went out to dinner this evening with my lovely wife I got a new type of mixed drink. I have always been a huge fan of the martini, especially in the fruit variations. Up until this evening, the pineapple martini and the cosmo blanco were my favorite styles of this timeless cocktail. The espresso martini takes the cake for the best drink to have with your dessert. It was like drinking an iced mocha with just the slightest kick of top shelf vodka. The ingredients were Absolute Vanilla, Starbucks liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup. If you are ever out at a bar and they have this wonderful drink I highly recommend getting one.

Summer Fabric Interview: Seersucker

One of the fashionable fabrics for this summer is the on-again off-again style trend known as seersucker. It is a wonderful way for the wearer to convey a dashing transatlantic look that is a little bit David Beckham with a touch of F. Scott Fitzgerald. In other words, a bit of trendy pizazz with the undertones of the early 1930's classic flair. Originally, seersucker was striped Indian Cotton (circa 18th C.). You can tell that from the original name, the Persian shir o shakar, literally “milk and sugar”, in reference to what we now see as the defining feature. The puckered and wrinkled look comes from the fact that the fabric threads that are used shrink at different heats...thus giving it an uneven tone. Brooks Brothers was actually one of the first major US retail companies to carry the seersucker, and single-handedly helped to start the 1930s pinstriping phase. Personally, seersucker is one of my favorite summer fabrics because it is dressy but still feels like you are wearing pajama pants.

The only requirement for wearing this lightweight fabric is that you are confident in it. The personality makes the suit or outfit. If you are going to venture out in this bold pattern, do it with flair and pastel colors. Since seersucker suiting only comes in about 3 main colors (pink, grey, blue) it makes this hard to wear if you are very fair skinned. When in doubt, the navy is the best choice since it looks great with dark leather accents. Women have many more choices when it comes to seersucker and thus it is a more versatile fabric. Even if the fabric comes in other colors, I would encourage men to steer away from them unless it is for casual shirting (oh yes, you can get it in shirt form). Seersucker looks best, for men, when it is used for the basic suiting or pants...don't get carried away with the shirts and belts, although it does work well for a casual tie. If you haven't stepped out in this style I highly recommend it, so what are you waiting for? Get out and get some...seersucker that is.