10 Simple Things Girls Want From You

1. She wants you to know that is she is quiet.... see below.  And you better well know which one it is.

2.  Cute shoes + Bare legs + Wintertime? You'd better be strong-arming her over that snowbank. 

3. You respect her.  She'll respect you.  Never insinuate you are whipped. 

4.  Smile and take the darn picture.  Just do it.

5. Girls all LOVE this feeling....

6.  Don't give her just any eye contact, but legit eye contact-- you know the difference.

7.  Provide her with spiritual accountability, NOT shame. 

8.  Forehead kisses.  They never get old.

9. Give her that extra 10 minutes to get ready. 

10.  Be her teammate... have her back, be encouraging, and have fun together. 

What else do you want ladies?  What have I forgotten?

Love,

Dylan

10 Commandments of Wearing Brown Boots

It's official-- whether you like horses or not, riding boots are the new footwear must-have.  With so many boots on the market, one must use discretion.  Follow my 10 Commandments for Wearing Brown Boots. 

1. You don't need to have black & brown boots!  You only need 1 pair of brown boots that can be worn  with black/navy/brown/tan/gray/every color of the rainbow.  Therefore, consider doubling your budget.  1 quality pair  > 2 cruddy pairs.

2. Invest in REAL leather.  You're taking the time to find the perfect pair of boots, so you want them to last a long time.  And you sure don't want the stinky feet that come with wearing plastic boots.  You might as well wrap your feet in Saran Wrap and call it a day.
3.  Never wear long dresses or skirts over boots.  One word: Dumpy.  Unless you're a member of the Duggar family, this is not okay.  This will age you 15-20 years.  See the photo to the right.
4. Make sure there is a zipper.  Remember how we want these boots to be timeless and long-lasting?  Well pregnant ladies always seem to have huge calves and swollen feet.  Just saying.  Plan ahead.
5. Tightness at the ankle creates a big foot.  If the boots are noticeably tight at your ankles, you'll get the "clown" effect where your feet look about 2 sizes larger than they are.  Think about how Converse high-tops do this.  Not flattering. 

6.  Get smooth leather, NOT suede.  Suede is confined to fall and winter, whereas smooth leather transitions well into spring and summer. 
7. If you have small calves, beware of the "fisherman waders" look.  This is when it looks like your legs are swimming in your boots.  The boots cluck against your legs are you walk.  Over time the boots begin to scrunch down.  Tip:  Shop around for boots with a circumference of 12-14" versus the average 14-16".
8. Riding boots are neither rainboots nor snowboots. Would you put your leather jacket through the washing machine?  No!  Then I'd hope you wouldn't go tromping through puddles in leather boots. 
9. Avoid studs, buckles, and hardware.  Smooth and simple is best-- it won't detract from your outfit.  You want timelessness.  Not to mention, excessive detail says, "I'm 30 years old, and I still shop in the Juniors department."

10.  Choose Cognac, not Chocolate Brown. This is the #1 mistake people make.  See the photos below.  The boots on the LEFT have a reddish undertone, while the boots on the RIGHT have cool undertones.  The combination on the left looks much more deliberate and pleasing to the eye.

xoxo,

Dylan