January 2018 - Strictly Manology

January 26, 2018 Style

Minimalist Wardrobe for Men, A Casual Guide

I hate spending money. As a result, I found myself frequenting Goodwill and the Salvation Army for a majority of my clothing throughout college and shortly after graduation. I once bought a pair of Wrangler jeans from WalMart for $12, but my wife later informed me that they made my “ass look like cardboard”. I was forced to get rid of the jeans. Since most of my clothing came second-hand, my shirts frayed faster than normal, and sometimes things didn’t fit quite right. But, I didn’t care, since spending money on clothes was literally the last thing I cared...

January 22, 2018 Style

1 Easy Trick to Remove Salt Stains from Shoes and Boots

A quick tip to remove salt stains from shoes or boots. Ever walk outside in the winter and notice that the sidewalks are caked in salt? Although it keeps people from falling down (falling is bad and really embarrassing), the salt can do a number on shoes and boots. But, what can be done to remove salt stains from shoes? If left untreated, the salt can permanently damage fabrics and leathers, which is also bad and somewhat embarrassing. BUT, it also looks weird when you are walking like a penguin on the sidewalk to keep your shoes clean, which...

January 20, 2018 Lifestyle

20 Manliest Uses for a Pocket Knife

uses for a pocket knife, pocket knife uses

I recently wrote an article about the 5 best pocket knives under $50 in 2018. The article got a lot of attention, so in addition to that post, I thought it necessary to provide the 20 manliest uses for a pocket knife. Enjoy! 1. Opening boxes This is perhaps when a knife is most needed and used. With the influx of Amazon Prime packages going to 64% of the households in America, a knife to quickly open your next bluetooth headphones or speaker is crucial and perhaps one of the best uses for a pocket knife. 2. Opening plastic “clamshell”...

January 16, 2018 Lifestyle

5 Best Pocket Knives Under 50 Dollars in 2018

Every man needs a good pocket knife. More importantly, a man needs a knife that they are going to use, not just look at. Pocket knives can cost upwards of $300 and more, but I promise those owners fear using, dropping, or scraping those knives, let alone using them to pry open a beer bottle. Those kinds of knives are known as “safe queens”-knives that are nice to look at, but aren’t really used for anything. Then there are knives that you keep in your pocket, use to break down your Amazon Prime boxes, cut weed eater string, open...

January 10, 2018 Grooming

A Crucial Men’s Guide to Cologne Types

Cologne types: Eau fraiche vs. Eau de toilette vs. Eau de parfum vs. Eau de cologne vs. parfum? A men’s guide to cologne types and what these French words really mean when selecting cologne. It seems my wife and I secretly like long layovers in airports with duty free cologne and perfume shops. Before getting to the airport and looking at our tickets, we often dread the layover period, with nothing to look forward to but un-comfy seats, no outlets, awkward glances and people with their shoes off. But, if we’re lucky, once we land at an airport and...

January 8, 2018 Lifestyle

5 Best Books to Read in 2018 for Building an Awesome Life

In my previous posts, I spoke about reading books and how they helped to get me off the couch and increase my productivity, building a foundation for an awesome life. So, I wanted to provide the 5 best books to read in 2018, the books that made a profound impact on my life and can do the same for you as well. Some on the list have been around for quite awhile, and they are on numerous other “bests” lists. In fact, my mother read number one in the 90’s and later gave it to me. I was a...

January 5, 2018 Lifestyle

Wireless Headphones, A Great Present And How They Can Change Your Life

I am no stranger to the couch. I’ve had the habit since I was a kid. I would wake up hours before my Mom on weekends, put a Disney tape into the VHS player, grab a Rubbermaid container full of pretzels, sit on the couch, and watch a whole lot of Lion King, Rescuers Down Under, Robin Hood or whatever singing Disney movie was popular at the time until she woke up. As an only child, TV was my main form of entertainment. Dexter’s Lab, Hey Arnold!, and especially Dragon Ball Z were as much a part of my...

January 3, 2018 Lifestyle

Five Quotes to Consistently Motivate You Each Day

I recently started bullet journaling and have been writing down quotes since I began. I wish I had done it sooner, as I have scraped through enough business, investing, and psychology books to obliterate an entire forest. Without a doubt, I have missed some damn good quotes. Regardless, here are the five that I refer to at least on a weekly basis. On the surface, one pertains just to business, but digging deep enough, it can be related to pretty much everything in life (work, family, friends). Take them, write them down, and use them for yourself. “Instead of...

January 1, 2018 Lifestyle

9 Surprising Whiskey (Whisky) Facts to Enlighten Your Day

Whiskey-a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye. What better way to kick off a new business and blog than by talking about whiskey? It is no secret that I personally enjoy imbibing in the occasional whiskey. In fact, I am sipping on a glass of Wild Turkey as I write. My wife, a teacher, has a much longer Christmas break than I do, so she elected to stay with her family in Wisconsin until what feels like the end of time. She also has the dog. This leaves me with nothing but time to drink whiskey,...