When I was on a 10 hour road trip with a girlfriend I would ask questions from a book I’d picked up full of “getting to know you” kinds of questions. It was a little lame, but as we crossed the wilds of Canada it was at least a distraction. If only we’d have Barguments, a book full of totally random and totally entertaining questions with very open ends. Even better, you can debate these questions drunk!
A few examples:“In your dream kitchen, would you rather have a beer tap or …

Every woman out there wants conflict free diamonds. As a suitor you must be responsible and aware of what a conflict diamond is (beyond what you learned in Blood Diamond). Wendy B, jeweler extraordinaire, has written a primer in conflict diamonds that you should check out before you start purchasing bling for your lady.
Image from about.com

I provide advice on “how to be a man” from a woman’s perspective here at the Charming Dandy, and the Art of Manliness provides similar information from the perspective of a man. The Art of Manliness is well written and touches on some great topics, go check it out!
Image from The Art of Manliness

Margot from Ralph Lauren Rugby emailed me today to let me know their spring line has been released. She also included a link to Rugby’s youtube website which has absolutely perfect videos providing instructions for how to tie a four in hand knot and how to tie a bow tie. As a woman who’s husband was late to the church on her wedding day because he could not tie his bowtie I appreciated the how to tie a bowtie video a great deal:
A step by step guide on how to …

Why don’t you replace this poster from your college dorm…

…with a vintage beer or absinthe advertisement?

Posters from allposters.com

My very first boyfriend wore a cologne from Abercrombie and Fitch and Old Spice deodorant. To this day, when I smell either one I think of him. My husband wears Acqua Di Gio Cologne for Men by Giorgio Armani and before we got married he used the same laundry detergent for years. When we were dating I used to get upset when his mother would do the laundry because he smelled different. All humans associate scent strongly with feelings and memories. Do you want your significant other to remember …

The old-fashioned is a classic cocktail that every bourbon and whiskey lover should know how to make. It is one of my personal favorites, and requires little skill to prepare. There is a great deal of room to personalize the cocktail to suit your tastes. I like mine with extra cherries.
The base:Muddle a maraschino cherry with an orange slice in the bottom of a glass with a teaspoon of sugar and 2 dashes of bitters. Pour 2-3 oz of Bourbon (I favor Markers Mark).
Variations:

You may serve it neat or on …

Why don’t you buy an orchid for yourself? Orchids are absolutely fabulous on so many levels. Aesthetically there is a minimalism about them which blends nicely into masculine surroundings. They are absolutely beautiful and sometimes they smell lovely as well. I had an orchid once that smelled of chocolate. Orchids are very easy to care for! They require you to water them once every couple of weeks and they flower, literally, for weeks to months. If you have a Trader Joe’s near by you can buy an orchid for 10-20 …

You get to pick your groomsmen! You get to pick your best man! You get to pick what you wear! You get to pick what your “entourage” wears! These things should be done in consultation with your bride-to-be, but you get the final say.
Consider letting your groomsmen wear their own suits to the wedding. Everyone looks better in their own suit that in a rented …

Cognac is an excellent spirit to keep stocked in your liquor cabinet, it is a high quality brandy from a specific region in France. Cognac can be sipped straight up, as an excellent after dinner drink, however this is a little too strong for some palates. So, while you might sip your cognac, your friends could prefer a delicious sidecar.
The Base:Shake 1.5 oz. of Cognac with .5 oz of Cointreau and .5 oz of lemon juice. Strain into a cocktail glass with a cherry nestled at the bottom.
Variations:

I like to …