Esquire or GQ?

It's time to start a new magazine collection. Now, this may not seem like much to you, but it is to me. I will be putting aside a certain amount of money each month for this new publication so it better be worth it. I've narrowed it down to two choices: Esquire and GQ, other choices included Visi, Stuff and Time (and by those I mean Playboy, FHM and Maxim). However those can be bought at leisure rather than monthly. 

I felt like I was lacking a magazine type which was devoted to men's lifestyle and that the ones that I do collect aren't really dedicated to that. That doesn't mean that I lack guidance in my life and am trying to find a replacement for an absent father figure, because I'm not. In fact, my father genuinely raves over men's lifestyle publications and it always introducing me to various ones and collects some of his own, but that's besides the point. It's something that we share in common and I would like to develop mine into a collection so that once in a while I can show him a thing or two. That's not the only reason. If you've read my previous post on the topic you'll understand why.

I have found not much of a difference between Esquire and GQ, which makes this decision even harder. When I ask people which one they think that I should start purchasing monthly, most of them, without hesitation, say Esquire. Why? Is it because the name sounds swanky? That's certainly a viable factor in my head. 

The burden of choosing a specific country's edition of the publication is also a problem. However my father has instructed me to follow the US edition. I have to say I do agree with him. So then why is it a burden? (wow, Nathan)

I enjoy the retro vibe that emanates off of Esquire, it gives it a bit of an edge. GQ is rather slick and rigid. I don't really feel like I can relate to such structure. That is why Esquire will probably be the answer. Plus, it has a swanky name. 

Cheerio Bumbleheads

Knock Knock Stationary & Waldo Pancake

So it's a new month, July. American independence day,  Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, Macaroni as well as Bastille Day and if I'm not mistaken the nearing end of the northern hemisphere school year (and the start of my second semester).   

It's been my mid-year holiday for the past two-and-a-bit weeks. My family along with two others decided to dodge the flocking of tourists heading down to Cape Town by planning a holiday up the east coast to the town of Plettenberg Bay, a seaside town along the majestic South African Garden Route, only to find we were not alone in contemplating an escape from the city. Expecting a quiet escape, we discover all of the people which we wanted to avoid. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a week of cycling, eating, shopping and scrabble-playing in a house along the river secured in a complex with tennis courts which were enjoyed regularly. 

It was just the other day when I was walking along the town's main road in order to retrace my steps back to a bookshop which I had visited the previous day. I remembered clearly a stand with quirky note-making books as well as paper pads. You'll understand more if you continue reading. I was desperate to buy something from that stand and would not return home without something. With the 140 rand (14 dollars) which I had on me at the time, I could only afford roughly two small items. So I bought these:

Left: a notebook (Waldo Pancake) | Right: a bunch of postets (Knock Knock Stationary)

Obviously I wanted to buy more things but had the insufficient funds. Let these items be an indication as to the type of things which the stand contained. 

The notebook belongs to a brand called Waldo Pancake, a brand specializing in the production of items with witty sayings on them. Whether they're notebooks, bags and other obsolete items, they make you laugh, or at least chuckle silently.

The pad of postets belongs to a brand called Knock Knock Stationary. I don't know how to describe the types of things which they make so I will just show you. In a nutshell, it is a company dedicated to making pointless stationary-related items with peculiar functions and purposes such as the one which I bought, which really cannot be all that useful. However they are quite fun.

Waldo Pancake 

Knock Knock

These items you need to see on a large scale so I have not made a larny collage. 

Except for the journal, these items are pads of paper. There are many other products which are made by this brand, these are however some of my favorites. 

Upon browsing, you will buy something. It's a (new) written rule of life. 
Enjoy. 

Links:

Knock Knock
Waldo Pancake  (link to their shop and not the actual site, it has a better array of their products)

Cheerio Bumbleheads