Man Made DIY

The temperature continues to rise, and we're nearing the season when many will leave behind a hand-warming mug of perfectly-brewed hot coffee, and opt for a low-acid, refreshing glass of cold coffee.

There are lots of items on the market that can aid in the process, but odds are, you probably already have everything you need to make perfect cold-brewed coffee at home.   … read more

It's official: spring has arrived. Well, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Which means it's time to put away the sweaters and winter coats and bust out the short sleeves and spend more time outside.

And...to wear sunglasses. Unfortunately, many men consider sunglasses to be more fashion accessories, and therefore "not manly," but there are actually several health benefits to wearing sunglasses, particularly polarized lenses, when spending a day outside: they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and blue light, as well as protecting the skin around your eyes and preventing wrinkles and "crow's feet." Furthermore, they allow you to see better when outside, helping you to better operate a car, motorcycle, bicycle, boat, lawnmower, backhoe, grill, etc.

So, we at ManMade think they're an essential, and while we're advocates for stepping up from the $3.99 pair from the gas station, we don't think you've got to drop a whole week's worth of pay, either. So - five classic, masculine pairs of sunglasses, all under $100. Enjoy the sunshine!    … read more

The entire U.S. has had one bizarre winter. In my state, it's been the sixth warmest winter on record, and the entire world began to bloom in mid-March, instead of the normal late April, seven weeks later.

And yet, it hasn't helped my sense of spring fever. Sure, I've been able to start bicycling earlier this year, and my garden is already planted, whereas normally we have to wait until Mother's Day. But that sense to get out; to leave the house behind, to explore and be at the mercy of things you can't control? Still as strong as ever.

And these unbelievable trailers by Cricket are not helping. One bit.   … read more

It's no secret here on ManMade that I'm eternally in love with the food and flavors of Mexico. I just think there's something about the flavors of chiles, corn, lime, and cilantro that simply meshes with my palette.

And while I love a tender, toothsome fresh tortilla as much as anyone, and I'll gladly give an unnecessary bodily organ for a slow roasted cochinita pibil, the defining characteristic of Mexican flavors, for me, is salsa.   … read more

Oh, romesco, you are the bestco.

I don't generally take pictures of my dinner or culinary creations and share them on ManMade. One, I figure there are thousands of food bloggers who are way better qualified; two, I usually cook in the evenings, and it's often too dark to take photos; and three, cooking serves as the creative thing I do where I don't feel required to blog about it. Which I like.

But, there are some things that just need to be shared, and I'll make an exception to preach the gospel of romesco sauce. This Spanish-standard is a showstopper, and tastes, well, like summer.