1. Anything that might be construed as a diamond ring or promise ring if you are not actually intending to propose.
2. A Valentine’s Day Card from Someecards, always send a paper card. You are more than allowed to send an e-card to friends and family.
3. Anything that plugs in
4. Cookbooks, aprons, pots and pans
5. Chocolate if she is on a diet

Image from teamsugar.com

Trying to pick out what shoe you should wear for the next big night out on the town? How about to a business casual seminar?

What are the features of a dressy shoe?

• The pointier the toe, the more dressy the shoe
• The shiner the shoe, the more formal/dressy the shoe
• Laces are more formal than slip-on shoes

What color shoes go with my suit?

• Brown or oxblood shoes with a navy suit
• A black or gray suit should be worn with black shoes, although many Italian men will wear brown shoes with a black or gray suit…you can imitate them, if you think you can pull it off

What shoes should I wear with a tuxedo?

• You almost always wear black patent leather shoes with a tux

What shoes should I wear when dressing business casual?

• Loafers
• Slip on leather shoes
• Monk strap leather shoes

What shoes should I NOT wear when dressing business casual?

• Boat shoes are a little too informal for business casual
• Tennis shoes/sneakers are not business casual, not even trendy ones that you would never work out in
• Sandals are not business casual, they are informal, save them for the weekend
• Generally speaking, boots are not acceptable for business casual (there are some exceptions, but hiking, combat, motorcycle and western are all OUT)
• Patent leather shoes would seem too formal in such a setting

Other tips:

• Your shoes should match your belt
• You should keep your leather shoes well polished and your suede shoes should be brushed
• If you find a shoe is too slippery, you can have a thin rubber sole applied at a cobbler shop, this will also extend the life of your shoes
• Alternately, if your shoe is too slippery you can scuff up the bottom of the shoe

Image from thevine.au

• 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 tux, it also saves money. Coordinate them by requesting they all wear the same color suit and shirt, with a tie and pocket square or boutonniere of you choice.
• For heavens sake, let your groomsmen wear their own shoes!! There are few things grosser than rented shoes. If anyone is going to notice that your groomsmen are not wearing matching patent leather shoes with 1 inch rubber lifts, it will only be in a good way.
• If you choose tuxes, your wedding should be 6 pm or later. If you foresee wearing a tux more than four times in the next 2-3 years, it might be worthwhile to buy one. You should be aware that while you might own a tux, some brides will not let you wear it in their wedding as they feel everyone must “match” like a little army .

Images for Princeton

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 you as smelling of sweat or cologne, because trust me he/she will always remember what you smell like.

• The groom traditionally pays all fees associated with the church ceremony and the marriage license.
• The groom’s parents traditionally host the rehearsal dinner. This is sent as a separate invitation from your wedding invitation.
• In some areas, the groom’s family pays for the alcohol at the reception
• You are responsible for all reservations and fees starting at the end of the reception. This means you rent the car that gets your hotel on your wedding night and you reserve said hotel room.
• You pay for the honeymoon.
• You pay for her wedding band (in addition to the engagement ring) and she pays for your wedding band
• You choose and arrange the attire of the groomsmen, this includes choosing a rental shop if you decide to go with tuxedos. Please do this in a timely fashion!
• You pay attention to the details of your wedding and show interest in attending tasting, dance lessons, etc. You are grateful that you have to devote 1/5 of the time you fiancée does to planning this soiree, and you shower her with complements and flowers accordingly.
• Your most difficult task, and oft shirked responsibility, is to attempt to keep your bride-to-be’s expectations in check. She may find that Martha Stewart Wedding displayed the PERFECT exotic bouquet for your wedding. Unfortunately, your/her last name is not Rockefeller and the flowers would have to be flown in from New Zealand and would therefore cost more than all of the groomsmen’s tuxedos combined. She might think it is ok to ask your hipster best friend to cut off his mullet because it will ruin her wedding pictures. You have to say NO! You might be yelled at, but take it like a man! Perfectly normal, rational women exhibit highly irrational behavior when planning a wedding. I should know- I’ve been there! It is your job to try to combat the bridal brainwashing your future wife has undergone, in some cases you will be the only one who can.

Image from www.ianharing-photos.co.uk

Lush is a British handmade cosmetics company that is quickly building a following in the United States. Their coalface soap is an excellent product for oily and acne prone skin. The soap is a distinctive black color because one of it’s main ingredients is charcoal, a natural astringent and antibiotic. The charcoal also acts as a very mild exfoliant, giving the soap a slightly grainy texture. Unlike many other lush products, this soap has a very subtle smell (licorice) that does not linger on the skin. Interestingly, this product is also vegan. As Lush hand cuts their soap in the store, it is possible to obtain a small sample size bar to give the product a test run before really committing to it.

I recommend Coalface for the man with oily skin looking for an face cleanser that doesn’t leave behind much of a scent. As an added bonus, this soap will look at home in your shower, on the edge of your sink and at your gym.