F21 SALE

 

Forever 21 is still having their sale until the 31st of January here are some items I picked up, all 3 for under $40

grey sweater + red/blue cardigan + brown boots

Follow @dapperonadollar

Blogging Essentials

So I've been blogging on here for about a month now and I have quickly realized there are some serious tech toys I need to make my life easier and more efficient.  With technology advancing at the speed that it is it's not hard to find anything your looking for on the internet.  Chances are if you have an idea of something that would help, its going to be already out there for you too purchase.  Here's some things I found that are going on my wish list and should be on yours too if you are serious about blogging and making things easier.

IZEN BAMBOO BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD-

 As I do 90% of my blogging and idea hunting on my Kindle Fire this item is number 1 on my list.  The IZen was recently featured on heartifb and I have to agree I am a fan.  Works with pretty much anything that has Bluetooth capability (ipad, kindle, even phones).  Coming in around $99.99 it's a key investment if you are constantly on your tablet using email or blogging like myself.

FUJIFILM S4200-

If you want to take your blogging seriously and to the next level you need to upgrade from the cell phone camera shots to a real camera.  I went with the Fujifilm S4200 for several reasons.  1st- you can find this online around $129.00 which is a steal for digital SLR cameras.  It's lightweight and doesn't give off that bulkiness that a lot of high powered cameras can do.  The S4200 is also battery operated which sets it apart from the others making it convenient for traveling or long days of shooting when you don't have to carry around a bulky charger all day.  If your on a budget as I know I am this can be a great camera to invest into.

GORILLAPOD TRIPOD-

 
Now if you have just picked up a new camera a handy tool to have is a tripod.  They come in a lot of different sizes, shapes and cost.  The GorrillaPod can help you get that perfect picture or video that you just can't get without a tripod.  Cut out the blurriness and worry of trying to get a still picture with this bad boy.  Ranging from $19.95-$49.95 the GorrilaPod has the flexible legs for the not so average terrain and if you include the spike feet that they also sell you can grip the legs to almost any surface making you unstoppable in the camera game.

JUICE MICRO BLUETOOTH SPEAKER POD-

Also featured on IFB (can you tell I'm on there a lot yet?) this speaker is exactly what it sounds like Bluetooth capable, wireless, speaker.  I know when I am writing I do like to have some background noise going and music always helps the creative juices flow.  For $49.99 offering a 360 degree sound I'm a fan of this product.  There are a lot of portable speakers out there so you don't need to settle for this one but if you want sound quality your going to have to pay for it.

Follow @dapperonadollar

MLK DAY

Follow @dapperonadollar

Staying Warm

So It's pretty obvious winter is officially here and with temperatures dropping below zero its key to stay warm during the next few months.  During these cold times you sometimes have to compromise style for comfort.  I wanted to show how you can still look good without having to give up too much fashion wise.

First you need to get a pair of boots because the salt that's thrown down over the snow will mess up those suede Nike's you have.  Second get yourself some thermal sock they will come in very handy when those temps get really low.  Finally a nice warm winter jacket, I got mine from a thrift store for $17 that was donated by Target.  It was a size too small so I went in a traded it in at Target & found out it was an $80 jacket. The scarf & beanie combo is from Express for a low $12.

plaid flannel shirt + dark blue jeans + boots + thermal socks + beanie + scarf + mittens + winter coat

Follow @dapperonadollar

Easy as tie

Choosing the right tie for the right occasion can be tricky.  Stripes, dots, plain, knit, wool, tie clips, & pocket squares.  So many options it shouldn't be hard to find the right pair to match your outfit and set the right tone for day.  I'm going to highlight a few options and how to wear them properly.  The three options on ties I'm going to discuss are striped ties, knit ties & plain/bold colors.

Striped ties- good for almost any occasion (meetings, work, dinner) or even just to spruce up your white button down shirt.  They come in about a million color combinations and you can always find one for $10 or less.

Knit ties- absolutely in style right now there on every blog & in every ones closet.  It's a great way to mix things up from the classic style of ties.  Shows you can be stylish and in a room filled with plain silk or cotton ties you will automatically stand out from the crowd.

Plain/bold ties-  Also a great way to switch things up from the classic stripes.  A bright bold red with red laces on your shoes can be a nice subtle match.  A nice bold color to contrast the other colors your wearing can also change an entire outfit.

But James what about the accessories like tie clips & pocket squares?  Calm down I'm getting there.  Tie clips are easy... USE EM! doesn't really matter what they look like it will add a bump of class to your suit or outfit.  Simple as that.  Now pocket squares are different, not all squares will look good with everything you wear.  The rule I try to always use is match the square to the shirt instead of the tie if you can.  It's just more aesthetically pleasing to the eye & makes you look like you know what your doing.

Follow @dapperonadollar