Hey guys, Nate here. I'm proud to announce that I'm now the Program Director of Scrawny To Brawny. From now on all of my blogs and articles will be posted on the brand-new Scrawny To Brawny Blog. So if you enjoyed what you read here, please go check it out. (It's awesome, if I say so myself.) I'm keeping the NGE website alive for resource reasons, but will no longer be actively updating it. The best way to get in touch with me is through leaving a comment on the Scrawny To Brawny blog or by posting on the S2B Facebook page. See you guys over at the new blog!
9 Things Currently Saving my Life
Yes, please.
Badass clothes, knives, books, games, and booze. What'd you expect, a LifeAlert necklace and a freakin' first-aid kit?
If you're like me, the holiday season is a time for winter-warmer beers, reading good books, pulling out the Under Armour cold gear, and trying to put bourbon in your morning oatmeal. (Not recommended, by the way.)
For the rest of the world it's a time to buy useless shit that'll find itself shoved under the bed, stashed in the closet, or given to a homeless person.
"Did you see that fella with the fancy Snuggie and a clock radio? Now that's style."
But I don't buy into that.
If you're gonna get a present for friends (or just pick up an early Christmas present for yourself), why not get something you'll actually like and use?
The following items are all things I've worn, used, tried, and imbibed. And because I like you so much, I figured I'd share.
Humblecock Clothing
hum•ble•cock /h…m b™l k’k/ n. 1 a quietly confident individual who does not brag or otherwise flaunt his successes 2 one who chooses to forgo arrogance in favor of modesty
Five reasons I like Humblecock shirts:
1. The name is awesome.
2. The logo is awesome.
3. The shirts are super-soft and very high quality without being too expensive.
4. My friends own the company.
5. Dave Tate loves the shirts. (They shipped him all three shirts and a hat.)
And anything Dave Tate likes is instantly good in my book.
All you need in your kitchen are a few choice pans, one quality paring knife, and one badass chef's knife for all the major chopping, meat-cutting, and girlfriend-scaring as you throw it in the air and try to catch it by the handle. (Also not recommended.)
For the past year I've used the Kyocera ceramic knife and haven't had to sharpen it once (and when I need to, I'll just send it to Kyocera for a complimentary sharpening). It's one of the best purchases I've made in recent memory.
I own the black Revolution series 6.0 chef's knife.
Flip Video Camera
I use this for blogs, quick training videos, or for filming my friends and family acting like jackasses (blackmail for later). It's small, wireless, and shoots amazing video.
Resident Evil 4 for the Wii
I wasn't into gaming until I bought a Wii. The motion-sensor controller is more fun than a regular controller and makes you feel more involved. I've played golf, tennis, basketball, and car racing games on the Wii, but nothing can quite compare to shooting zombies with rocket launchers. I play for an hour or so every week. (Unless it's a really slow Saturday where I've been known to play for a couple hours.)
Precision Nutrition and Gourmet Nutrition Cookbook
I've started to use different cookbooks for some variety and new ideas, but I still use Gourmet Nutrition as my stand-by. It's just one solid product with quick, healthy, tasty recipes. A perfect start for the budding cook.
Maker's Mark bourbon
I've tried over a dozen bourbons and I always come back to Makers. It's not overly priced and the hints of vanilla are perfect on the palate. I enjoy mine neat with a splash of water.
Catch-22 is required reading in many high-school English classes, which means most guys didn't even open it. And that's a damn shame. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read and my close friends agree: Heller is truly a master of words.
Six-pack of Jubelale from Deschutes
Hands-down the best winter ale I've tried this year.
I don't have Cable or a Dish Network, but I do have Netflix which is even better. For less than $15 a month I can have any two DVDs out at one time with no late fees. And as soon as I send one back, I get another in the mail.
I'm also fan of The Office and 30 Rock, and like to stream entire seasons on my computer directly from the Netflix site. Awesome.
+++++
Well, my girflriend is calling and saying she wants to play with my Wii (ha!), so I'm going to pour myself a boubon and let you check out the links above. Also, what's on your Christmas list? Anything else you can recommend? Let me know in the comments!
Comments for This Entry
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All I want for Christmas is:
- 10lbs of muscle
- Texas to lose to Alabama
- TCU to annihilate Boise St. to prove they deserve to be in the National Championship
- My house to get sold
That Flip videocamera seems pretty badass though, might have to ask for that.
-Chad -
Nate,
I definitely can agree on you with 3 of those things. 1. I got my Humblecock T-shirt a couple weeks ago. It is BA. 2. I am from the home state of Maker's Mark, Kentucky. Maker's is definitely my bourbon of choice. I don't recommend that "splash of water" personally. 3. Precision Nutrition & Gourmet Nutrition are a must have for anyone that is serious about their training, nutrition and body.
My recommendations would have to be some Lift Strong apparel from EliteFTS. It looks badass and supports a great cause.
Any season of the History Channel show, Gangland. Very interesting stuff.
"Never Let Go" by Dan John. I just finished this today and highly recommend it.
A good pair of Olympic lifting shoes for anyone who does any cleans, snatches or push press/jerks and variations. I've noticed a huge difference in my performance from these. -
Hey Nate how do you find metabolic drive complete as opposed to low carb metabolic drive (perhaps energy differences)?
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Hey Nate, Love the post!
Here's my favorite winter ale, it's brewed locally which may be a reason why it tastes so good, nonetheless it tastes great!
http://www.gib.ca/local-flavours.php
You've got awesome content in all your articles. Thanks!
Chad -
I am really hoping for:
A humidor for my cigars
Maximum Strength by Eric Cressey
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Precision Nutrition
and
LOST season 5 -
What I want for xmas.......hmmm
well for starters a magic fairy to pay off my credits card then i'm looking to get a camcorder to start shooting videos, some argyle socks, nice winter hat, jacket, and scarf for the city, and some new accessory stuff for my iphone, dam thing shuts off all the time i need a friggen charger for the car
Chris -
Love the list. I live less than an hour from Bourbon Country and if you ever get a chance to make it down this way, you should look into visiting the Makers Mark Distillery. Ever make it there Chase? Pretty interesting and they'll let you dip your own bottle in the trademark red wax. Haven't played any video games lately but I woke up to our first snow this morning so I might have to check out RE4. Good call on the Catch 22. Chocolate covered cotton balls.......so funny.
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Saw the Flip at Costco on Sat - pretty slick, very portable which means it'll actually be used.
For bourbon I go with JW Weller. -
@ TJ
That sounds like a trip I'd be willing to make!
Thanks for the comments guys.
-Nate -
Nate, you should try and play the first three Resident Evil's on the Playstation. They are really fun haha.
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Kettebell and wolverine comic books:D
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A new MacBook Pro! (I decided to go for a 17") :-)
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Wishes:
Corvette ZR1 or Z06
Callaway Golf Clubs
Amazon Kindle
Plasma TV
Recommendations:
iPod iKick 500, currently $100 off at: Crutchfieldhttp://www.crutchfield.com/p_20608IK500/Kicker-iKICK-iK500.html?tp=44
iPhone 3GS
Bose Headphones
Any of Vince Flynns books
Dorko Straight Razors -
Nate try Bulleit Bourbon. Very good.
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Re4 was great. Loved the Wii remote with it. Re5 was pure sex though. They made Chris Redfield look like he's taking gear. Looks like he's got a pair of 22" inch biceps.
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Hey Nate,
What do you think of Knob Creek Bourbon? -
My Christmas List:
- a retro CBC t-shirt (http://www.cbcshop.ca/CBC/shopping/product.aspx?Product_ID=CPGEN00205&Variant_ID=70SBUS&lang=en-CA)
- a "departures." t-shirt (http://www.departuresentertainment.com/shopping.html)- - departures soundtrack http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=328448308&s=143455 and help with setting up an itunes account on my laptop
- five year plan book http://www.live-inspired.com/The-5-book-by-Dan-Zadra-P13
- PN Nutrition Book, vol. 2
- a white Christmas.
I've already bought myself a gift and I think I'd pass it on as a recommendation:
"The Art of Manliness" by Brett McKay and Kate McKay. They have a website, which I try to keep up on a weekly basis. It's http://artofmanliness.com/
Oh, a word about departures. It's a fantastic tv show that an adventure-driven travel show created by a small Canadian company. First, three guys dropped their jobs and put their lives on hold to realize their dream of travelling around the world. One of them is a videographer, an awesome one, that is. Turns out that their show was such a well done product that OLN (Outdoors Life Network) and later National Geographics bought their show. They've been funded to go around the world for their second time and for their third time. The show fantastically wraps up stories about their adventures in various places in the world (ranging from Libya to Antarctica), sublime selection of music, stunning photography and videography, educational about dwindling cultures and distinctive environments in the world, and many more. The show has won several awards. I highly suggest a visit at www.departuresentertainment.com. Unfortunately, DVDs are only available to Canadians and sample of their shows on the www.oln.ca website are only available to Canadians too. You can find a few deleted scenes at http://www.youtube.com/user/DeparturesTV. Otherwise, I would highly recommend their DVD box sets!
Nate, since you watch tv shows via dvd box sets, I'd recommend How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. I think that they're the funniest shows on tv these days.
@ Chase, thanks for the recommendations re Lift Strong and that book by Dan John.
@ Jacob, I've borrowed that Outliers book by Malcolm Gladwell from the library. I'm looking forward to the chance to start reading it. I really liked his The Tipping Point. -
I don't really care for anything. I just hope my boys have a kickass holiday. My 5 year old is finally old enough to really appreciate the holiday (and all the entailed toys) and my 2 year old feeds off of him. If they have a kick ass christmas, Im good to go.
Jason -
I want a 80 lb weighted vest. Please and thank you.
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Thanks for the comments guys!
A few other bourbons I've tried and liked:
Bakers
Bulleit
Buffalo Trace (What's with all the "b" bourbons?!)
Pappy Van Winkle (expensive, but amazing.)
-Nate -
I gotta give that Kyocera knife a try. The Faberware knife I got from Walmart simply isn't cutting it. Haha.
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Just ordered my Humblecock t-shirt, looks like good stuff do they plan to expand their line any time soon....And with all the talk about whiskey and bourbon if you are in the Denver area you guys should try Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. Great stuff.
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Nate,
Enjoy your blog. Love the Build for Show routine (even though I curse your name doing a last set of 12 split squats) I would like to know if you can recommend a routine for some girl friends of mine. Like a Built for Show for women (lean, toned, curvy and sexy you know all the good stuff) and if not, sounds like a good new book for you and your publisher. Attraction isn't a choice for us guys either.
Thanks, keep up the good work,
-Patrick -
Hmmm, I wonder what shipping a Humblecock shirt to Finland would cost - 7 dollars apparently?
I'm still pondering how I'd pay the bill, we're using euros here... I wonder whether I can pay it in dollars via my eBank or how does the currency swap work :/
Anyway,
Great blog, long time T-nation reader visiting your blog for the first time! Keep up the good work! :)
- JToivonen -
I really like those Humblecock shirts! I just ordered the blue one and I can't wait to wear it around!
JToivonen, I saw on their Facebook that they've been doing a lot of international orders, so I'm sure their shopping cart takes care of the currency stuff.
As far as bourbon goes, I'm a big fan of Basil Hayden's. -
I am all over the Humblecock shirts! What a great name. I will be adding one of these to my Christmas wish list.
There is nothing like a nice Makers Mark straight with a shot of water. -
Hey Nate!
Just ordered my first 3 Humblecock shirts. Can't wait. Awesome name and logo!
Your blog is just great! Always an inspiration reading your posts!
Cheers from far, far away... (which is Switzerland...).
Andy -
Thank you for this great information, you write very well which i like very much. I really impressed by your post.
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Fabulous article ,The things which are added here this is truely useful for most of the people. All the information is good explained ,This post help me to sortout my some problem.This is great,Thanks for sharing,
COMMENT RULES: Critical posts are fine, but if you're rude I'll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your personal name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. But most of all, have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Tim Ferriss for the inspiration.)
Chad Doncsecz 6:20pm Dec 6, 2009