GQ

I don't know about the rest of you, but my year has started off in a positive manner. No complaints on my side, I hope the rest of you can say the same. The holiday season is somewhat over, since some of you still have birthdays to celebrate. Regardless the events, it's important to go with the flow. It's important to keep that positive flow from the get-go.
I hope January 1st wasn't too bad of a hangover for some of you. Now, we can go back to work and try to improve ourselves in whatever field we find ourselves in. There has been plenty of mistakes in 2010 we can learn from. There are some habits some of us can let go of. Personally, I have no vices. In fact, the closest thing to a bad habit is my deep appreciation for women. I love women, that's no secret. That doesn't mean I'm going to go Casanova on a young lady every night. The point here is that whatever you want to do make sure you know your limits. I am comfortable with my sexuality, which means I take it as a compliment when a homosexual male gives me a positive comment on how I look. I've been hit on by men and women. Flirting is OK. Anything more than that, like physical touching, needs to be carried on with caution.
In other words, you have to make it clear to everyone that you are a friendly and welcoming person but with boundaries. Please, do not take offense if someone of the same sex pays you a compliment. Do not be ignorant. Keep an open mind, ladies and gentlemen. Start 2011 in a positive way. Remember, you are mentally and emotionally stronger than you like to believe.

Gossip Girl

~ Ladies First ~
I am going to keep the first message of the new year for you ladies very simple. This is to simply avoid all possible drama. Everyone we know, 95% of people in our lives, has a Facebook account. Every day I read someone's status and it's about some other female who did this and that. I know women have this built into their DNA where they have to worry about what the other female is doing or saying. It's like you cannot be actual friends. It's more of a competition. I don't have to tell any of you that a proper lady is never phased by what another woman thinks of her; unless, it's a family member.
The problem here is when you point your nose upward and show attitude. A lady has grace, not arrogance. Don't show the "I'm better than you" attitude. By committing to the action of not responding to another woman's ignorance is a statement itself. You cannot be bothered with such immaturity. And ladies, let's not be hypocrites either. Let's stay away from the "B" word. I know there are times where you get upset and it just leaks out. Fine, but do not make it a habit, nor tell guys they can't use the word either. You want to keep your anger or frustration in a private setting. The person who is acting like a you know what will make it very clear, your comment is unnecessary. Actions speak for themselves. You will always have 'haters' and those who envy. Let them. It means you are doing plenty of things right. Keep on doing so without directly or indirectly hurting others. The moment you show those ill wishers attention is the moment they begin to have the upper hand. Good chess players are always three steps ahead. Great chess players are always one step ahead and it's always the right one.


- Gentleman Tip of the Day -
A fresh start? Not really. Although, it is the time of the year where you can restart on certain subjects, like your wardrobe. There shouldn't be an excuse for certain days, you should pay attention to it on a regular basis. This doesn't mean you have to develop some new OCD. Keeping your wardrobe in order will make your life easier, trust me! Not all of us have walk-in closets, but that is still no excuse to not have things where they need to be. Here are some closet essentials:

• Hangers - Have plenty of them. These are made for a reason, gentlemen. Your shirts (dress shirts), sweaters, and jackets (coats, blazers, etc.) should all be hanging. I don't have to tell you to keep each of them separate from the others. Your T-Shirts you can fold, that does not (and never will) mean you can do the same with your dress shirts. If you have enough room, do the same with your pants. Having your clothes on hangers means it prevents the wrinkles and creases. Some exceptions are those very thick sweaters, these can be easily folded without worrying about wrinkles and creases.
• Drawers - There are plenty of things you can stuff into each of the drawers in your room. Your accessories and or underwear should be properly placed here. Even your T-shirts can be folded into drawers, like under t-shirts or thermal wear. Your socks, of course, should be a given. Remember to keep each type of clothing in different drawers. Keep it neat and in order.
• Shoes - This will require some extra attention. I'm sure most of you have seen those elegant and expensive closets that have several little compartments or mailbox-like areas to keep shoes in. Those are ideal, but not all of us can afford that type of closet or space. Your shoes should have their own cupboard. One very important rule is to keep that area clean and breathable. Not for you but for the shoes. This rule is especially for dress shoes or leather made shoes - even suede. Those materials need to breathe, especially if you have kept your feet in them the entire day. Keep the shoes away from the rest of your clothes so they can have their own space.
• Tie Rack - It is what it is. This is where you hang your ties. A huge no-no is keeping your ties around a regular hanger still tied. This will ruin the tie. I have been guilty of this in the past simply because I was being lazy. Untie the knot the way you made the knot - untie it in reverse. Once you got that down, neatly place your ties on the rack. There are all sorts of different styles and kinds of tie racks so you have plenty to choose from regarding the size and space of your closet.
• Accessories - Within the drawers there should be another casing for your watches, cuff links, and so on. There are many kinds of watch carrying cases along with a proper case for your cuff links. This is possibly the least important of the essentials but it shouldn't be ignored either. You want to keep these expensive material (some hand made) items as clean and safe as possible. The best quality cases come with a soft fabric inside to keep the touch of each material a comforting one.