Admittedly, I am a food lover. Whether it’s going out, staying in or cooking with friends. If there’s one thing I hate, it’s grocery shopping. The art of perusing a store for the fresh, locally sourced produce I dream of is lost on me. Don’t be aghast to this notion, dear reader. We all have our faults and I’m asking you to still accept me through my loathing of the grocery store.

Luckily for lazy, food focused cooks and eaters like me there is a service that fits us perfectly. Artizone is an online food delivery service connecting customers in selected U.S. cities with local artisans through one website. Luckily when my stomach was rumbling (as it often does) earlier this month, I stumbled across their website. What I witnessed while checking out the page was a mecca for finding a curated collection of the very best artisans in my area. Grocers, local food business, small stores and more! The unique portal provides aggregated access to authentic, handcrafted food stuff from the finest purveyors who have carefully created high-quality products.

After becoming quickly enamored with the notion that I could have fresh groceries delivered to my front door on my time, I knew I needed to join the cult. I worked with the good, kindly folks over at Artizone to put together an incredible backyard bbq for a few of my closes friends and family. What you see above is the delicious, hard to say no to, incredible assortment of foods available on Artizone that assisted my soiree. That’s right, there was pimento cheese on crackers, tender beef brisket, broccoli salad, kale salad and wait for it … s’mores! All the ingredients arrived at my door the day of the event and I was so surprised to see all the local farms, purveyors and farmers involved in my order.

So, when you find yourself too tired or unwilling to drag yourself to the store, let the grocer come to you! Thanks Artizone!

Coming across a family owned business that is keeping things real from the bottom to the top is a hard find these days. Discovering sheer talent and commonality for a trade or product inside the bounds of family ties is even tougher. Luckily, sawyer was born out of adventure and spirit by the mother and daughter duo, Kim and Sawyer Bannister.

Inspired by love of travel, the sea and the 60s & 70s vintage décor, it prompted them to launch sawyer, an adventurous and spirited collection.

“Strikingly unique and stunning, the hand-poured, cut and polished creations have a luxurious and architectural appeal.  No two items are alike – complete with their own story to tell.  Special attributes of the coloring process, natural shells, semi – precious stones and precise attention to detail, add to the overall beauty and specialty of each piece. The natural materials are from the design duo’s private collection of items collected during their travels – often found during a family walk on the beaches in Jamaica or hunting for semi-precious stones in South Africa.”

If you’re looking for something truly unique and original, sawyer is it. Apart from being family owned, portion of the proceeds from sales of sawyer products goes to a selection of charities and organizations – from children battling cancer to Alzheimer’s research and heart disease.

Long live the family jewels that keep chic pieces and the heart of hardworking spirit alive.

Well it warms my heart and butters my biscuits to know that the art of community still exists in the fashion world. Northern Grade, a roving pop-up market featuring carefully selected American- made brands and products, is coming to Dallas April 18 & 19th! The market was established in 2010 as a way for fans of brands to connect with the creators and designers to shop in an intimate space.

Shirt 1: Here; Shirt 2: Here; Shirt 3: Here

 We all have them. Those ‘saying’ shirts in the back of the closet. The ones that we bought at one point in our life when ‘TxT me LatR!’ and ‘Uncle Smokeys Surf and Sand Shack, Late Night Lessons’ seemed like a good message to pin across our chests. Well my friends, I’ve come to you with the help of Tumbleweed TexStyles to show you a new kind of screen print shirt.

Co-Owners Brian Wysong and Jeb Matulich are two educators on a mission. In the early stages of company development, Brian and Jeb wanted a company name that would match their enthusiasm and vision. Brian and Jeb utilize their collective passions and pour them into the company so that they can grab hold of every lover of Texas and ultimately promote the emergence of a refined Texas culture. A Texas culture that is prideful, that is artsy, that is creative; and doing it all in style.

Since conception, the brand has expanded it’s rolodex of saying and styles to include glassware, totes, gear and even Oklahoma. And y’all these shirts are so so soft! They are the kind of shirt you would wear to a concert one night and brunch the next weekend. With a passionate backing and designs that are creative and one of a kind, you can’t miss out on this brand. Head to the shop and check out their latest!

Now that the turkey is gone and the lights begin to glow, there’s one thing left to do. That’s right, it’s time to rev up those Montblanc ballpoints and start your holiday wish list. Through the years, we begin to evolve our holiday wants and wishes into things that seem more practical or realistic. I say this year we take a bit of that and combine it with a whole lot of ‘treat-yourself’ to form the perfect list. Being a Texas boy, I had to include some local favorites this year but fear not, there are plenty of things available by click-of-button method as well. Let’s not kid ourselves, I am an online shopper first and an crowded mall venturer last. Shall we?

I’ve shared the grooming magic of Niven Morgan with you on the blog several times so of course their ‘man made’ line is making it on my list this year. (Psst! Enter SAVE20 when checking out before December 1st to save 20% on your order)

I am absolutely in love with any knitwear that keeps my ears warm as the weather cools and this Save Khaki knit field cap from STAG Provisions provides just that.

When you travel as much as I do and you find yourself needing a new soundtrack with each trip, you’ve got to have powerful sound to go with it. These Panasonic headphones have kept me company on many a distant travel, plus their metallic finish goes with any outfit.

Now whether you’re a Texan by birth or trade, you know the affinity for tees and jeans. I recently stumbled upon Tumbleweed TexStyles and found that with a great name comes seriously comfortable shirts and accessories. “While we want our consumer to feel stylish, we also want them to be comfortable.” They offer quality shirts with comfort and style in mind; perfect for the true Texan at heart.

Through my travels, I have also been able to learn about some of the best restaurants. Recently some good friends of mine returned from Charleston and raved about a meal at Husk. Sean Brock is the mastermind behind some game-changing restaurants in the south, and as a true believer that every gentleman should have a selection of cook books in his library, I’ve included one on my list. Pick up a copy of his new book,Heritage, and get lost in recipes that include all the comfort food (think food to eat at home) and high-end restaurant food (fancier dishes when there’s more time to cook) for which he has become so well-known.’

It’s a rule in my household that no one is allowed to look pretty when unwrapping holiday gifts. The morning allows us time to spend together in our comfy clothes, enjoying each others company and prepping our stomachs for the second largest feast of the season. With that said, my favorite way to stay comfortable on that morning is to rock a pair of Bonobos‘ uber-snuggly sweatpants. We’re talking French Terry fabric that is plush and extra-soft. Solid choice for hitting the streets as well, which I love!

All about that case, bout that case. I am always dropping my phone and until recently, the folks at the genius bar knew my timeline for phones by date. I cannot get enough of this case from Spigen that holds all my cards and does it in slim fashion. For the tech-boy in your life, you can’t go wrong!

It may not be long, but my list is full of useful things that will only enhance things as we move into yet another year in dapper style. Happy shopping and make sure to spike the eggnog! (oops!)