Drew – Page 6 – Design Dude's Life

2019 Design #Goals

It seems like I was just writing about 2018 trends… How time flies for a busy dude, right?

All the 2019 trends are about to hit us. (I heard from one of you dudes that it is going to be the year of the llama, so stay tuned for llama themed decor.) But first, let’s start the year off right with some design tips to get organized and ready to tackle whatever comes your way in the new year.

Here is how I get my space ready for the new year:

Putting the D in Decluttering
- Yes, even decluttering can be fun! Dudes often think this is the most daunting task, so they let old college tees pile up in the corner of the living room next to that old recliner they got from dad. You don’t have to live this way, dude! Here are my tips for decluttering your space for some clarity in the new year.
  - Toss or donate anything that you haven’t used in a year. If you haven’t used it for 6 months or more, chances are you don’t need it. Hate to break it to you, but those jeans from high school are never going to fit again judging on the beer cans in the recycling bin that need to be taken out.
  - Make the piles. When decluttering I make 3 piles: keep, donate/sell, trash. Don’t be wishy washy on what pile to put something in! This is the time to be as hardcore and cold as possible. (The keep pile should be the smallest.)
  - Make it fun! Decluttering doesn’t have to be miserable. Make it an event – play music, invite friends over, have a brewski or two. It will make the process go by faster.

The OG Guide to Organizing
- Now that everything you own is in a pile in the middle of the room (because you should have gotten rid of the other two piles mentioned by now), it is time to organize. The bright side is, you have significantly less things to organize! When organizing I do the following:
  - Divide your pile into rooms: living room stuff, kitchen stuff, bedroom stuff, storage stuff, etc.
  - Tackle these mini piles one by one.
  - Start with your first room and assess where everything can go. Consider if you should invest in more storage solutions and purchase those.
  - Then, place your items and done! But seriously, it shouldn’t be complicated. There is no perfect system of organization, so do what makes sense to you.

So Fresh and So Clean
- Next step, clean it all! Your pad is probably very dusty and grimy by this point. (Please take out the recycling bin full of beer cans already!) Take out trash, dust, wipe down your surfaces, vacuum, mop – in that order! Never mop and then vacuum. You should know this by now, dude.

New Year, New Pad
- Now for the fun part! Introduce something new to your pad for the new year. This can be really simple or really big. You get to decide how you’re living your best design life in 2019. Try updating some throw pillows on the sofa, getting new bedding, or painting a wall. Try incorporating Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year: Living Coral. (Dudes can like pink!)

Align Your Resolutions with Your #DesignGoals
- What are your goals for the new year? To approach life through minimalism, to be bold, to be more peaceful, to live the luxe life? Well, all of those are styles you can incorperate into your pad! Start off on the right visual foot and make the space reflect your #goals. Our environment really affects us and how we perform in the world.

If you need help with your space, reach out to your Design Dude! I can help you with whatever design challenge you are faced with in 2019: heydesigndudes@gmail.com.

Also yes, I did make this whole post Parks and Rec themed. You’re welcome.

New Year – New Dude

Looking into 2019 like…

I think we can all agree that 2018 proved to be a crazy and trying year for everyone. From some serious celebrity breakups that we were all a little to personally invested in to Kanye entering politics to people literally eating Tide Pod detergent to the yanny vs laurel divide, this was probably the most nonsensical year yet. And, does anyone remember that raccoon who scaled the skyscraper? He is literally all of us trying to overcome 2018 and make it to 2019.

2018 was also a pretty crazy year for me personally. I started a new job, moved to a new apartment, got serious about blogging, had a number of failed relationships, and had some of the most trying interpersonal moments since high school. I got to meet 7,469 more of you dudes (thanks for the follows)! I was featured on my dream site, Apartment Therapy. I saw Taylor Swift in concert, and I subsequently reflected a lot about the state of my own reputation in 2018.

I got to attend some amazing events, travel, meet awesome people, try cool products, and make fun content for you dudes. But, I ultimately ended the year in burnout and depression, with rumors circulating about who I am as a person and some pretty nasty fallouts professionally and personally. But, it’s ok to be sad about things. (Did you hear that fragile masculinity? DUDES CAN BE SAD SOMETIMES!)

From this, I picked myself up (with some help), learned a lot about what to value, how to say no, who to trust, and who to call a friend. And, this crazy year shaped who I am and how I am going into 2019.

Even in my worst times, you could see the best of me. – Taylor Swift

So, let’s move on to those resolutions, eh? These are my personal resolutions, but I hope that you dudes can take some bits and pieces for yourself.

Take some time to learn about your main dude, you!
- I focused a lot on other people in 2018, whether that be in relationships, comparing myself, or fulfilling others’ needs before I could fulfill my own. So in 2019, I am making it a priority to take care of myself first and even take time to get to relearn myself. (Because, yes we change and don’t even realize it sometimes.) For some actionable steps, I am not dating anyone until Quarter 2, and I am making it a point to practice doing things by myself.

Be aware of what’s worth the energy of a dude.
- In 2018, I said yes to EVERYTHING. Every event I was invited to, every date, every night out, I tried it all – even when I knew I didn’t want to. This eventually just lead to burnout at the end of the year and a collection of VIP lanyards on my door handle. (The real question is: who cares?) I felt that I had to say yes to everything, had to be seen at every event, had to try out every big new thing, and that somehow this was connected to how important I was. News flash: you don’t have to be busy to be important, no one cares if you were at that event the next day, and if you don’t like your date you are not going to have fun at that rooftop bar. I promise! This year, I am practicing the art of saying no and asking the question “will this move me forward?” before I do something. If I don’t think it will be fun, don’t think it will advance me as a person, or don’t think it’s good for me, I am saying no. (But making sure to say no politely.)

A healthy dude is a happy dude.
- I am definitely planning on stepping up the health game this year. I found that going to the gym actually gives me energy. Who knew a healthy lifestyle made you feel good? My goal is to commit to the gym four times a week, to yoga three times a week, and to a low sugar, veggie based home diet with all eating out as a cheat. Also, trying to sub a Netflix series for a book every month. Wish me luck!

Know the dudes behind the screen.
- I am so lucky to be able to meet amazing people through blogging and Instagram. I consider some of you dudes my closest friends. But, I am also trying to reduce screen time in the new year. So, let’s meet the dudes behind the screens! If we chat all the time on Instagram, let’s plan to meet IRL. Wouldn’t that be more fun?

So, there you have it. From the ashes of 2018, I have learned more than ever, and I am ready to make 2019 the best year yet. Who’s with me?

thank u 2018, next

Getting in the Christmas Spirits: The Gin Edition

The holiday season is in full swing. And if you are like me, you are totally procrastinating right now. Between parties, and gifts, and hosting it’s a lot for one dude to do alone! So, the dudes at Design Dudes have an early Christmas present for you. We teamed up with Drinking in SA to create two festive cocktail recipes for your holiday party. These drinks are sure to impress, and now you have one less thing to worry about. Plus, just one cocktail is sure take the holiday edge off.

Dude, these Christmas cocktails are so lit. – Santa

Now let’s get this tree and yourself LIT!

Recipes:

**White Christmas Negroni**

This play off of a White Negroni gets a little more festive for the holiday season. A White Negroni uses flowery Lillet blanc instead of of sweet vermouth, and we substituted Aperol for Campari in this recipe. (You probably have some Aperol leftover from the totalitarian reign of the spritz this summer.) ANYWAY…

Overall, this recipe is a bit sweeter, lighter, and more citrusy than the classic Negroni. The Lillet offers the citrus notes and lighter color, and the Aperol brings a sweeter finish to the drink compared to Campari.

The gin:

Our Christmas sprit of choice is Treaty Oak Distilling’s Waterloo Old Yaupon Gin. An Old Tom style gin, this spirit features honey produced from wild yaupon flowers, which adds sweetness and vegetal notes. The botanical blend includes Yaupon Holly (so Christmasy, right?), juniper, Makrut lime, anise, orris root, and of course honey. This gin definitely embodies all the flavors of the holidays, making the perfect Christmas cocktail.

Let’s get to mixing!

1 1/2 oz. Waterloo Old Yaupon Gin
3/4 oz. Lillet blanc
3/4 oz. Aperol
- Pour over ice in a lowball glass, stir, and garnish with rosemary and fresh cranberries.
- Want to get creative and really impress your guests? Freeze the rosemary and cranberries into large ice blocks.

Jingle Tonic

G&T, G&T, jingle all the way! If you are new to the cocktail game and all of the above scared you, don’t worry! We have a simple, but classic recipe that is stress free and sure to impress any holiday drop ins. This festive gin and tonic is easy to make, but has a festive feel that is perfect for your next Christmas party. Your guests will appreciate the extra touch.

The gin:

For this cocktail we are using Treaty Oak Distilling’s Waterloo No. 9 Gin. While this spirit looks more like your standard gin than the Old Yaupon selection, it is anything but. I would say this is one of the most dynamic and unique gins I have ever tasted. While paying homage to traditional dry gins with ingredients like juniper, coriander, and anise, Waterloo No.9 builds in Texas Hill Country flavor with pecans, lavender, lemon, and grapefruit zest. There is a wide range of flavors, and I guarantee that it will step up your classic G&T.

Let’s get to drinking!

1 1/2 oz. Waterloo No. 9 Gin (or make it a double)
Tonic (This measure is all up to you!)
- Pour over ice in a highball glass, top with tonic, stir, and garnish with rosemary and fresh cranberries. And, that’s it!

Hope you dudes have a great holiday season! Make sure to impress those guys when they come over to your holiday party. Share these recipes if you like them. And, remember to always drink responsibly.

To check out more about Treaty Oak Distilling, click here.

Black Friday in 4k – The TV Guide

Black Friday is almost here, which means it’s officially the start of the holiday shopping season. Have you made your list yet? When I think Black Friday, I think “it’s time to upgrade my TV.”

“Man, check out this sweet TV I got on Black Friday.” – every dude

Every dude loves getting a sweet new TV on Black Friday for a deal. We want the best, but let’s face it we’re all pretty cheap. Whether you are into sports, gaming, or are like me and have a small Netflix addiction, the quality of your screen has to be the greatest and latest. That’s why one of the most popular gifts of the year (and undoubtedly the upcoming holiday season) is the 4K TV. At a higher price point, a 4K TV may be out of some dudes’ price range. But luckily, these are some of the most likely gadgets to be discounted during holiday sales. (Especially those upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales!)

Exactly what is a 4K TV? For those dudes who haven’t been following this trend closely, this is an emerging technology that offers a super high-definition viewing of shows, movies, and games. 4K displays offer a broader range of color and picture depth. (Think movie theater quality or an actual window into another dimension.) An extremely refined image is a gift most any dude can appreciate, but 4K TVs are particularly popular among those dudes who are into tech and gaming. They also make a great gift for the guy looking to upgrade his man cave or hoping to take his game day or premier day parties to the next level.

Looking to give (or get) the coolest gift of 2018? The dudes at Reviews.com suggest keeping a close watch on holiday sales for this popular item. For more information about how to choose the best 4K TV, check out their full guide here: https://www.reviews.com/4ktv/

These dudes know what’s up when it comes to TVs!

Pumpkin Spice Martini

By now, we are in the thick of pumpkin spice season (aka fall). Basic dudes everywhere are pulling up to their nearest Starbucks to order a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Don’t pretend like you don’t. We all know you love it.

Man, this is a good PSL. – A Basic Dude

PSLs are great for the morning commute, but what about a pumpkin spice drink of the happy hour variety? The dudes saw the need for boozy pumpkin spice, and we came through with a recipe! We partnered with Drinking in S.A. for the ultimate Pumpkin Spice Martini. Don’t like milk based cocktails you say? Don’t worry. This PSM is completely dairy free. Check out the recipe and make your own!

2oz Cathead Pumpkin Spice Vodka
1oz lime juice
3/4 simple (or more if you like sweet)
Pumpkin pie spice

Shake with ice and serve straight up in a martini glass. Garnish with a dash of pumpkin pie spice.

Cheers, dudes! Don’t forget to let us know how it came out.