Selecting and seasoning your cigar humidor

Over the past few years I have become a cigar enthusiast. One of the things I quickly found was that I had to learn how to properly store my tiny investments. There are wrongs and rights for handling and caring for cigars so I started out by gathering as much information on the topic as possible. As one might guess, there are many resources out there for learning the tricks of storing cigars but I wanted to give a few highlights that can get even the utmost beginner pointed in the right direction. Some people may say to throw your cigars in the vegetable drawer of your fridge but that is by no means a good long-term storage option. You’ll want to get an actual humidor if you plan on collecting and storing cigars effectively over time. It is important to start by choosing a suitable humidor. You’ll find that older “antique” humidors will be lined with copper and may not keep a great seal, while newer “modern” humidors can be constructed of various woods but will likely be lined with spanish cedar. The seal is really the important thing to note here because it will determine how efficient your humidor is in terms of holding humidity. Once you’ve picked the right humidor for you, resist the urge to throw your cigars in. There are a few more steps to take to properly ready your new humidor for regular use. (side note: even if you are buying a used humidor you should always season it properly first. if you buy an antique with copper lining the seasoning process will not be necessary.) The first thing you will need is distilled water or propylene glycol solution. I prefer the later because it is the same solution you should use to fill the humidifier you place in the humidor. AVOID TAP WATER! You’ll want to start by dampening a sponge with the solution and using it to wet the spanish cedar interior of the humidor. Once you have all of the interior saturated, you should re-saturate the sponge and place it on top of a plastic ziploc bag inside the humidor. This should sit for around 24 hours and the interior should be dry to the touch before placing cigars in the box. This simple process allows the wood to soak up moisture prior to the humidifier being installed so that it won’t rob your cigars of the moisture they need to stay fresh. The last thing to do is stop by a cigar shop and pick up a humidifier or gel canister, fill it with the propylene glycol solution, and place it inside the humidor. This will ensure that your cigars will always be provided with the proper storage environment. These steps are all it takes to start enjoying collecting and storing cigars. Use the contact me button to the left if you have any questions.

Send a message with socks

Let's talk socks. There's nothing worse than seeing a guy in a well put together outfit only to find that, when he sits down, plain white socks appear. This is a pretty common problem. We see a lot of guys simply wearing the wrong fit for their body type but this takes the cake for easily remedied fashion mistakes. It's easy to find cool/trendy socks at places like GAP, JCREW, or Banana Republic. Their usually reasonably priced as well. Good rule of thumb: If it comes in a package of 3 or more, proceed with caution. Socks help complete an outfit. They don't have to match if the contrast seems fun but it may show that you put a little extra thought into what you're wearing. That's never a bad message to send.

Shopping for Swimwear

It's swimming season and that means that its time to get some new swim trunks. Whether you're going on a beach trip or just to the local pool there are some things all guys should keep in mind. The problem is that, while wearing swim trunks, you usually aren't wearing much else. This is important because the one thing you are wearing has to make the proper statement. Your flip flops or other summer footwear won't make up for bad trunks. Swim trunks with a large corona logo definitely send a message. "I like to drink/party." while this message may be appropriate for some personalities it shows very little class. Instead shoot for something that isn't cut too long and is perhaps pretty simple. Don't choose something with too many patterns or pockets. This gives the impression that not much thought went into this purchase. When shopping swim trunks, keep it simple.

The fresh pressed shirt

When ironing a button up shirt, many people prefer a nice stiff collar, cuffs, and pocket. Many would also turn to spray starch for their desired stiffness. The problem is that spray starch can leave shirts too stiff and sometimes even leave a strange sheen on a shirt. We've all see that guy walk in to work or church with a fresh pressed shirt that could double as a cutting board. This is not a good look. A good substitute is 'sizing." It can be found next to the spray starch in whatever store you tend to shop for laundry supplies. It is less harsh but still provides a stiffness that will last while being worn. Simply apply it to collars, pockets, and cuffs and iron flat. Just a little will hold fine. There's no need to use this on thiner surfaces like sleeves, front panels, and back panel. Doing that may give the shirt a sort of western stiffness if you're not careful. They key is to finish with a nice, crisp, wrinkle-free shirt. You'll look professional and polished every time.