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5 Newsworthy Soundbites this Week: Mar. 2

by on March 2, 2012 in Interesting Facts, News Roundup

As you get ready for the weekend, we help you stay relevant with today’s news.  Because it’s not just about looking great, but it’s also about great conversation!

1. Mitt Romney wins Michigan

Even though the margins weren’t great, Mitt Romney managed to pull out wins in the last two primaries which may be enough to make Rick Santorum a distant memory. Romney still struggles to retain the votes of the “very conservative” and surprisingly the “very liberal” (which may be due more to “Operation Hilarity“), but these vital wins push Romney closer and closer to the candidacy.

2. Another School Shooting in Chardon, OH

Sadly, a student pulled a gun against five students at Chardon High School in Ohio.  Three students have died already with another 2 reporting injuries.  Thanks to the bravery of one teacher, the gunman was chased away and is now in police custody. It’s disturbing to think about these senseless tragedies and our thoughts are with the families in Chardon.

3. It was Justin Bieber’s Birthday Yesterday

You’re probably wondering why this even made the list, but as the pop star officially took over Twitter yesterday with several trending hashtags regarding his 18th birthday, it was hard to ignore.

4. Your Doctor may have been a Prostitute

Yup, you read that right. Apparently, prostitution as a way to pay to for medical school is more common than you would expect with medical students. Well, at least in the UK. One out of ten students reported knowing another student who used prostitution as a means to pay off their student loans. We say take this article with a grain of salt, but the thought could at least make your next doctor visit just a little more interesting.

5. Oprah Steals from the Show from Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy suggests some interesting new shows for Oprah’s O network that has everyone talking about Oprah’s great comedic skills. Watch the video here to judge for yourself!

5 Newsworthy Soundbites this Week: Feb. 24

by on February 24, 2012 in Interesting Facts, News Roundup

Because great hair can only get you so far at a cocktail party, we roundup the five most conversation worthy topics for the week to make you seem that much more interesting (or at least allow you to look smart).

(1) Linsanity continues

If you haven’t heard of Jeremy Lin by now, you clearly don’t live in New York. The Knicks phenom has helped turn around the team and has captured hearts across the US in the process.  Although sportscasters are still struggling to find race appropriate puns for this NBA star, the unexpected combination of a Chinese American and Harvard graduate has surprised everyone.  Although he’s not quite Lebron James, he’s got quite a big following of his own!

(2) It’s Oscar Weekend

It’s that time of year again when the Oscars tell us what movies to watch.  The favorites for the year include The Artist, The Descendant and The Help, but with nine movies nominated in the Best Film Category, it’s even harder to keep track of all the films in the running.  Here’s to hoping Brad Pitt finally wins an Oscar, because it’s about time something good came to him. (jk)

(3) The Oscars Withdraw Sasha Baron Cohen’s Ticket

If the best film nominees didn’t remind you of how stuffy the Oscars can be, this news bite definitely will.  Sasha Baron Cohen, famous for his Ali G, Borat and Bruno, was originally invited to the Oscars for his role in Hugo, which has been nominated 11 times.  However, after hearing about his plans to attend in character to promote his new film, The Dictator, the Academy has since withdrawn his invite literally quoting, “Unless they’re assured that nothing entertaining is going to happen on the red carpet, the Academy is not admitting Sacha Baron Cohen to the show.” Well, that’s probably not the line I’d use to promote the event!

(4) Super PACs 

Super PACs have been dominating headlines for a few weeks now, but have remained relevant due to the role they’ve been playing in the Republican primaries.  With Romney lossing the last three primaries to Rick Santorum, it’s hard to deny the role of Super PACs in this campaign. In fact, Rick Santorum’s and Newt Gingrich’s campaign is basically being e by individual wealthy donors, Foster Friess and Sheldon Adelson, respectively.kept aliv

(5) Maryland will likely Become the 8th State to Approve Gay Marriage

The Maryland senate passed legislation this week that would allow for same sex marriage, which the Democratic Governor is expected to approve. We toast to Maryland this weekend as we inch closer to marriage equality across the nation!

5 Newsworthy Soundbites this Week: Feb. 3

by on February 3, 2012 in Interesting Facts, News Roundup, Tech

Supermodel, Gisele Bundchen, with her husband and the quarterback of the Patriots, Tom Brady

Because it takes more than just a handsome face to woo your crush, we roundup the five most conversation worthy topics for the week to make you seem that much smarter (or at least allow you to partake in the water cooler talk).

(1) Breading.

Literally just cats with bread around their faces. Further proof that the internet is for cats.

(2) Susan G Komen Drops Planned Parenthood

Whatever your stance is on the pro-life vs pro-choice debate, the big topic this week has been around how Susan G Komen will no longer be giving funds to Planned Parenthood.  Hopefully that doesn’t put a damper on your weekend plans.

(3) Facebook IPO

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last week, you’ve probably heard that Facebook filed this week for what will be the largest tech IPO in history.  Who knew all those status updates would sum to $100 billion dollars?

(4) Obama Can Sing and Apparently Mitt Romney Can’t

If you need evidence, just click here for the side by side comparison.

(5) It’s Superbowl Weekend

Whether you know Tom Brady as the guy who’s married to Gisele Bundchen or as the sixth round draft pick that’s arguably the best quarterback in the NFL today, the Superbowl is all anyone will be talking about this weekend. Make sure to prepare yourself for the conversation.  If all else fails, just remember to Tebow and you’ll be sure to at least get a laugh.

Prepping for Valentine’s Day

by on February 1, 2012 in Men's Grooming, Shaving Tips, Skin care, Tips


It’s that time of year again, the day that most men dread.  Yet, it presents a day full of opportunities, especially if you play your cards right.  Boys, there’s nothing quite like a romantic Valentine’s Day that can help seal the deal.  Put in a little work, and there will be rewards!

And to help you in your endeavors, there are three key essential grooming tips you must follow to get ready for the moment:

(1) Shaving: Yes, I know you get some extra high fives in the locker room for sticking with your Movember mustache through February, but I’ll tell you from personal experience that it can be quite painful to kiss a man with a lot of stubble. So if you want that smooch session to last all night, making sure your face is extra smooth that day is essential.

Kyoku For Men Shave Essentials is one of most raved about products and will be sure to get you ready for that end of the night kiss.

(2) Cologne: You may be desensitized to the smell of sweat from all those hours you put in at the gym, but we can smell it all. In fact, I still cringe when I remember the scent of a weight room filled with men while you guys just sit around like it’s a day at the spa. Invest in some good cologne to cover up any trace of sweat, whether it be from day of jitters or because you were sprinting to make it to your date on time.

Baxter of California Bravado 2 offers a great, light scent that keeps you smelling like a man without making your dinner smell like cologne.

(3) Lip Balm: This should go without saying.  I once dated a guy who always used to lick his lips before he kissed me.  And even though I found this to be an endearing trait in some ways, there’s something a little more romantic about lip balm than saliva to make your lips perfectly kissable.  Make sure to pick something that won’t make your lips waxy and not just something you’d pick up from a gas station.  And of course, use it regularly to ensure that you won’t have to pull out your lip balm right before you go in for the kiss which is sure to be a mood killer.

Anthony Lip Balm is great as it hydrates your lips without giving you a girly shine.

Cyber Monday Deals

by on November 27, 2011 in Fashion

Black Friday is really just the beginning of the holiday shopping season, and now it’s time to turn our focus to Cyber Monday deals.  What better way to do all your holiday shopping than from the comfort of your own couch? (or office if you’re reading this at work)  Below, here are our favorite Cyber Monday deals:

  1. Piperlime: Part of the Gap family, Piperlime just recently launched men’s apparel and offers items from great brands such as Diesel, Lacoste, Kenneth Cole, Vince, Cole Haan and more.  They’re offering 20% off of all your purchases with the discount code “HUGECYBER” this Monday.  We’re a fan of their “Guide to Style” which makes it easy for you to hand select entire outfits with minimal effort. Plus, as an added bonus, items from the rest of the Gap family are all 30% off.
  2. Best Buy: We avoided the inevitable Black Friday chaos, but there are still some great deals available at Best Buy for Cyber Monday.  Our favorites include $10 off a $50 iTunes gift card, $10 Best Buy gift card with any orders over $100 picked up in-store and the Xbox Kinect marked down from $149 to $99.
  3. Nike: Given that Nike doesn’t do too much promotion, we were excited to hear about their Cyber Monday offer of 25% off of clearance items through this Wednesday.  Enter the code “ADVANTAGE” at checkout to get the offer.
  4. Charles Tyrwhitt: This English men’s apparel retailer is a common name known among Wall Street bankers, and is popular due to the quality of their shirts.  They’re offering a special promotion at this link where you get 2 shirts for free when you buy 1.  They’re offering this same promotion for their ties as well.  Now’s a good time to stock up on your professional wear!
  5. LivingSocial & Blue Nile: Surely, there must be at least one woman in your life that you’d like to pamper with a special gift.  Whether it’s your mother, wife or favorite niece, there’s no better gift than diamonds.  And you’re in luck as the rumor is that LivingSocial will be offering a $200 voucher for Blue Nile for only $100 this Cyber Monday.  Gifts like the Petite Heart Pendant or diamond stud earrings found on the site allow you to take advantage of a great promotion that will truly make her year!

Beyond these five, some of the retailers we’ve covered previously will also have Cyber Monday deals including Amazon.com and Banana Republic.  As always, let us know if we forgot anything good!

Black Friday Deals: Grooming Products Series

by on November 23, 2011 in Men's Grooming

We continue our Black Friday Deals series with focusing on what we know best, grooming! Grooming products don’t typically go on sale, so it’s best to take advantage of these deals while you can.  Some of our favorite upcoming deals include:

(1)    Sephora: So I understand that Sephora can be a nightmare for most you out there that are terrified of being attacked by pink and glitter, but they do have a great deal on the Art of Shaving for Black Friday.  They’re offering The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave for $10 which is a great deal given the normal $25 price tag.  Luckily, you can purchase this deal online to avoid the craziness that is Black Friday.

(2)    Kiehl’s: As one of our favorite grooming brands, this is a deal we definitely plan on taking advantage of.  Kiehl’s rarely does promotions but is offering $20 off orders of $65 or more.  Just make sure to enter “HOLIDAY” when you check out on their site.  This deal will actually last through 12/31, so there’s no rush to place your order if you’re expecting Kiehl’s as a gift from someone else!

(3)    Macy’s: It’s not very often you hear tech and cologne in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what Macy’s has managed to do!  With every fragrance purchase of $65 or more, you get a free digital camera.  Now, we can’t vouch for the quality of this digital camera, but probably a good option for nights like New Year’s when the odds are high that you’ll leave your camera at the bar!

(4)    Anthony for Men: Anthony does it right this holiday season by offering 20% off any purchase made online between now and this Saturday, November 26.  For Cyber Monday, Anthony is offering 20% off plus a free Tool Kit and complimentary shipping for any purchases over $50. We love Anthony and will be highlighting some of his products in your December box!

(5)    Urban Cargo: So it’s not exactly a Black Friday deal, more like a Small Business Saturday deal, but we’re offering up a great promotion for you guys to try us out!  We’re partnering with American Express for one day only on Saturday, November 26 where any purchases of $25 or more on our site will get you a $25 statement credit to your card.  Plus, we’re offering up an additional holiday discount to our Facebook fans, so there’s really no better time to test us out! And we make a great gift!

As always, let us know in the comments if we’ve forgotten anything good!

Black Friday Deals: Apparel Retailers Edition

by on November 22, 2011 in Fashion

Black Friday for me is really about stocking up on great winter clothes that will last me through the season, and I’ve always managed to find some great sweaters and jackets at unheard of prices through my crafty shopping skills.  But, don’t fret, I’ll share my secrets with you all so you won’t have to go through the painstaking research I did to find these great deals.  Be warned, these deals are best served in-store despite the online promotions, so make sure you have patience to wait in line if you decide to brave through the chaos!

(1)    Banana Republic: Every year, Banana Republic offers an early bird special of 40% off everything until 1 pm and 25% off everything after that.  It really doesn’t get better than that and is really the top motivator for me getting to the mall before 8 am on Black Friday.

(2)    J.Crew: With every $150 spent online, J.Crew is offering 25% off with the code “YOURGIFT”.  They typically offer some great in store promotions as well, although they haven’t announced yet what those deals will be.  I almost always end up buying at least a few items here every year due to their great Black Friday sales on sweaters and jackets, so I would definitely add them to your shopping list.

(3)    Nordstrom Rack:  Unfortunately, my favorite retailer, Nordstorm, does not participate in Black Friday.  But, luckily for us, Nordstrom Rack does.  In the past, they’ve offered deals ranging from 25% off of premium denim to a $50 coupon for $25.  We’re still waiting to hear what promotion they’ll offer this year, but whatever it is, we’re sure it’ll be worth it!

(4)    Urban Outfitters: Although not quite as exciting as some of the other offers, Urban Outfitters is participating in Black Friday by offering 50% off of all of their clearance items until 10 am.  I guess it’s better than nothing!

(5)    John Varvatos: This is probably the best deal we’ve come across, although it’s unclear whether this promotion is only offered at their Melrose location. John Varvatos is offering 40% off the fall/winter collection of tailored clothing and sportswear for men.  As a former Michigan native, we’re loyal Varvatos fans.

There are more than just these 5 apparel retailers participating in Black Friday, although many of them are still waiting to release their promotions.  Brands including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein have participated in the past, and we fully anticipate they’ll have some great deals lined up this year as well!  And of course, Urban Cargo has got our own “Black Saturday” promotion which you can find out about more here.

Black Friday Deals: Online Retailers Edition

by on November 22, 2011 in Fashion, Tech

Given that this week can account for up to 50% of people’s entire shopping for the year, we thought we’d make it easier for you all by breaking down the best Black Friday sales for the season.  I’m not one who’s big on pushing through crowds to find the best deal, so what better way to start this series than with online sales.  No long lines, no early morning/late night shopping trips, and some of these deals have already started!  It doesn’t get much better than that.  Here are our top five online Black Friday sales:

(1)    Amazon.com: Amazon actually started its Black Friday deals today.  I guess they didn’t get the memo that today is Monday.  Either way, Amazon has a constant stream of Black Friday deals coming in with new deals being added daily. Our favorite deals include 60% off of outerwear and the HTC Droid Incredible 2 for $0.01.

(2)    eBay: Similar to Amazon, eBay has already started their Black Friday promotions through their Daily Deals page.  The site will be offering daily deals from November 21 to December 15 with new items added constantly.  They’ve got some really tempting offers ranging from a Flip Camera for $49.99 to a Calvin Klein Cashmere Blend Overcoat for 66% off.

(3)    LivingSocial: Starting at 5 AM on Friday, LivingSocial announced they’ll be offering 50% off deals with retailers including Verizon Wireless, Wine.com and Bonobos.  With deals lasting through cyber Monday, it’s well worth signing up now to make sure you get alerts for when these deals open up!

(4)    Gilt Groupe: Gilt Groupe recently announced that they plan on offering early sales on Black Friday, some of which may be mobile-only. Now you can shop while you’re waiting in line and checkout before you even hit the register!  They haven’t disclosed too many details on their promotions yet, so keep your ear close to the ground for more news.

(5)    Rue La La: Starting on Thursday, Rue La La has got some great lineups for Black Friday promotions including their Men’s Cashmere Shop, Hickey Freeman and Invicta.  Their sales last through cyber Monday, and you can sign up for alerts to make sure you won’t miss your favorite items.

And of course, make sure to check out our special promotion for what’s become Black Friday week.  That’s what we have for now, but make sure to include anything we might’ve missed in the comments below!

How to Grow a Mo for Movember

by on November 16, 2011 in Men's Grooming, Shaving Tips

November has quickly become my favorite time of year. In addition to football and Thanksgiving, I get the chance to see my typically perfectly coiffed friends all grow impressive mustaches for Movember, a non-profit that raises funds for prostate cancer.  As a salute to the movement, I thought it might be useful to provide some tips for all of you out there on how to best grow a mustache:

(1) This may sound obvious, but be sure to keep the shaver away from the area between your nose and above your upper lip.  Mustaches typically grow from the corners of your upper lip first before covering your entire upper lip, so make sure to shave around that area as its growing out.

(2) As the hair starts to grow out, it may be a little itchy.  Just make sure to keep washing your mustache and keep your skin hydrated.

(3) Make sure to plan out what type of mustache you’d like to grow.  Take a look through your favorite mustaches (we’ve included a chart of some of the most famous to start with), and pick out the one that you think will work best for you!

(4) Trim your mustache daily by using your lip as a guide.  Your mustache should not grow over your upper lip.  Using a small comb as you trim, start from the center and work your way outwards.

And there you have it!  I’m looking forward to seeing all the great mustaches you guys come up with!

Is it worth the extra premium for a better shampoo?

by on November 15, 2011 in Hair Care, Men's Grooming

I’ll start this post by admitting I’m addicted to Frederic Fekkai shampoo.  It’s my absolute favorite, and worth every dollar despite the premium, so that pretty much tells you where I stand on this debate.  Yet, most men I talk to don’t see a reason to upgrade and are happy with their shampoos (typically some variation of dandruff shampoo), and can’t understand why it could ever be worth paying the premium for something so basic.

On the other hand, the single biggest concern I hear from men is that they’re going bald.  It’s always top of mind, and in fact, I’m pretty much banned from touching my husband’s hair out of his fear that I’ll make him lose hair faster.  So, if you fall into the same bucket that my husband does, I’ve got some great solutions for you to look into when upgrading your shampoo:

(1) Anthony Logistics for Men Body Building Hair Thickening Shampoo

No one quite covers the range of men’s grooming products as well as Anthony Logistics for Men.  They’ve got you covered, from head to toe, with products ranging from skincare to supplements.  This shampoo works best for men with fine to thin hair, and has the added bonus of a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner convenience!

 

(2) Kiehl’s Ultimate Thickening Shampoo

Kiehl’s has a very loyal customer base (including my husband) who will swear by their products.  This may be the last shampoo you try if the success of their skincare products is any indication of how addictive this shampoo can be.  With Omega-6 and Vitamin E, you’re not only getting better looking hair, but healthier hair as well!

 

(3) Keratase Homme Capital Force Shampoo

Keratase recently launched this line for men, and for your sake, we’re glad they did! When it comes to hair care, there are really only a handful of brands than can even compare to Keratase as the concentration of the quality ingredients they use provide fantastic results.  Women have been using this brand for years, so it’s about time that you guys got a version dedicated to just your needs!

 

(4) Frederic Fekkai Full Volume Shampoo

It would be wrong of me not to include my favorite product in this post, and as such, I end with Frederic Fekkai and a story.  After I got married, my husband starting arguing with me about spending so much on shampoo, especially given that he was happy with his drugstore brand.  Yet, I slowly started noticing that his hair was looking healthier and much fuller, but was perplexed as to what was causing this new change.  And then, as my shampoo was disappearing rapidly, I finally pieced together that the new change was due to my husband using my Fekkai shampoo!

So on that note, I urge you all to try some of these products as you will notice a difference once you’ve tested them out.  But if you want to try these without investing quite so much, Urban Cargo is here to help you out!