The Spoon Drawer

I recently heard that male grooming is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The UK’s recent trend for beards is apparently partly responsible for Amazon’s sales leaping 18% in the first 3 months of 2014, and HSBC have even reported the new ‘ yummy ’ (young urban male) is restoring global spending, thanks to their own vanity. It seems as though there are more and more products out there for the male peacock; Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs both launched make-up ranges for men last year. Now I believe in looking good and feeling good but I think and hope it’s more than just vanity and fashion. It shouldn’t just be about appearance, it should be about a healthy lifestyle and taking care of yourself. Male grooming is certainly a current popular trend in western culture and it can’t be a bad thing. With the hope that us men are not turning into women in the process, here are my top tips on being a healthy (not feminine) modern man. Eat Sensibly There is a reason there...

It’s awesome to be picked as best man for your best mates wedding but it certainly doesn’t go without some stresses and strains. Apart from worrying about the famous best man speech and whether it will a) be too boring or b) you will reveal too much and get yourself lynched by the bride or groom, there is the huge responsibility of sorting out the stag do. Not only will you have to pluck out your best ‘event organising skills’ but you will need to make sure you pick something really cool to do which will keep most people happy but ultimately meet the stag’s expectation of doing something fun and a bit ‘different’. So without further ado, here are my top 3 picks of awesome stag do activities. Before you ask, yes, all have been tried and tested by yours truly! Airsofting Be warned. This activity is not for the fainthearted as it is a military simulation sport. That said, Airsofting is pretty hardcore but absolutely brilliant fun, making a good alternative to paintball...

Brain games won’t make you a genius, but we all knew that anyway. They have however, been shown to improve working memory and increase fluid intelligence. That’s awesome, considering most of us are just playing them for something to do! I never thought I might be increasing my intelligence while playing Sudoku; I play mind games because they’re fun, challenging and more interactive than watching TV. If you think about it, throughout our whole lives we’ve been increasing our knowledge and using our minds in games. In schools for example, teachers are always trying to find new ways to teach through play.  Professors, Murali Doraiswamy and Marc Agronin say, “we agree there’s huge potential for tapping into your own neuroplasticity (that is, the brain’s ability to change itself by remodeling nerve cell connections after experience) to enhance mental fitness and prevent age-related memory decline.” That sounds pretty beneficial to me. T...

Are you worried about a Zombie apocalypse? Well don’t be. The government has a plan and more of that in a mo. First thing is first though folks. Whether or not you are worried about a zombie apocalypse (or are a fan of zombie comics, books, films and games) you would have to have been living under a rock or have had your brains eaten by a zombie not to know about the huge pop culture that surrounds them. Let’s face it. The idea has had plenty of time to grow and gather momentum and cultural force. Since the creatures origins in Haitian voodoo and its film debut in 1932’s White Zombie to more recent and staggeringly popular films such as 28 days later, Land of The Dead and Shaun of the Dead, the idea of these ‘fugitives from the undertaker’ (who will take over the planet and the brains of the living without so much as a please or thank you) has gripped more than just the imaginations of people all across the world. Despite the fact that Zombies are NOT real (sorry to all ‘Zombi...

There was a time when RC toys were for little boy’s but now they are collected, made and cherished by men and women of all ages. From the simple RC cars invented in the 1960s, the world of RC toys has grown to include boats, helicopters and now… quadcopters.  The quadcopter has not just got RC enthusiasts excited. With a rising number of models that include a built-in camera, quadcopters have got the attention of photographers seeking to achieve the ultimate aerial photography shot. Here are my top tips on using your quadcopter for photography: Pre-flight Preparation 1. Test Your Battery Always have a battery tester with you when you are planning a quadcopter photography session. Before the flight plug the battery tester in to make sure all of the cells are working. 2. Spin the Motors Just give the motors a quick spin before you start the flight. If you hear any noises while they are spinning you can ascertain if it is safe to fly. Often there may be a sm...

With so many financial obligations nowadays it’s understandable if you can’t seem to stay on top of your finances. Fortunately, the simplest of tools can make the biggest difference even for complicated matters such as managing your expenditures. A simple-to-do list can alleviate your budgeting concerns. Here are a couple you can try: The To-Budget List The budget list is straightforward: it’s an itemised list of obligations you need to plan for when you get your net income. The catch here is that you partition your net income to plan ahead for expected spending. So what happens in this list is you take note of everything you’re expecting to pay for a given period, and you figure out how much of your net income goes to which. For example: Loans and mortgages: 25% Credit card : 10% Utility bills: 15% Savings: 20% This list is pretty general and vague, but you should still get the idea. The To-Prioritise List Setting priorities is one of the most significant facets...

Not got your Valentine’s plans in order yet? With just three days to go, this last minute Valentine’s ideas and gift guide is for you. Whether you are single or taken, here as some great ideas to help you have a decent Valentine’s Day this year. Dude, what do you mean you haven’t booked a table yet? If that got your attention and you, like many other fellas, have left your Valentine’s plans for your girlfriend, wife or your mates to the last-minute then you've come to right place. That said, you need to get on the phone sharpish if you plan to take your women out for a Valentine’s Day dinner for two or want a meal out with friends. There are so many Valentine’s meal deals available that may help you out if you are skint, fingers crossed, there might even be some left! For The Novice Man with a Girlfriend & No Plan When it comes to finding a last-minute gift there are so many things you can do quickly that will get you maximum brownie points with your women. Did you s...