Year 2, Week 9 (Days 423 - 429)

Bow tie spotlight:
This week I'd like to say thanks to the folks at Monica Maria who have been a great supporter over the course of my challenge. It is rare to find a good hand-crafted bow tie at an inexpensive price and Monica Maria bow ties offers just that. For $12.99 you get your choice of any bow ties in their huge collection of bow ties. If you've never owned a bow tie or are looking for a gift you should definitely spend some time checking out their site.

This week's featured sponsors:
Monica Maria
Ties.com
Knot Now

Year 2, Week 8 (Days 416 - 422)

Bow Tie Spotlight: This week I'd like to take a moment to recommend that you pay a visit to my friends over at ties.com. They have a range of neck ties, bow ties and accessories that are sure to meet your menswear needs. They were also one of my original sponsors and have consistently been sharing words of encourage along with their monthly contribution. This week's bow tie features blue sharks on a pink silk thread. Not only is it fashionable to wear a fishy print, it's also a great reminder to eat clean. 

This week's featured sponsors:

Xoelle

This Humble Abode

Ties.com

Knot Now

Year 2, Week 5 (Days 395-401)

Bow Tie Spotlight: I've worn it twice this week - that's how much I think of Carlos' work. The man behind Knot Now and Necks Tuesday bow ties is not only generous with his ties but he was kind enough to take about four hours of his personal time to teach a total stranger how to work a sewing machine enough to start crafting his own bow ties. Carlos - I'm forever grateful and hope all is well!

This week's featured sponsors:

Not Know

Necks Tuesday

Xoelle

Aaron Michael

Year 2, Week 1 (Days 367 - 373)

Welcome to the second year of my self-imposed challenge to wear a bow tie for 1,000 consecutive days. 

For this second phase of my blog I'd like to modify when and what I blog. I'm making this change for a variety of reasons but essentially I want to ensure that I am making the most use of my time on a daily basis. I'd rather apply the minutes that uploading/posting on a daily basis toward other parts of my life that need it. Instead, you'll hear from me once a week, recapping the bows I wore, highlighting something new, and mentioning something unrelated to bows. My hope is that there will be more value in 52 than 365 blog posts.

Bow tie spotlight: Pictured center is a new design created by yours truly inspired by the Spartan races. It features a green spartan helmet with a comical sword driven through it. I intend on wearing a bow tie to at least one of the obstacle races I'm running this year. Let's see if I don't change my mind before the year is up. Speaking of my races this year, I'm currently planning on participating in TEN OCRs (obstacle course races) in 2013. This number may increase but I'm hoping to really push myself farther than I anticipated in 2012 when I began training for these events. Here's a table of said events:

This week's featured sponsors:

Aaron Michael

Knot Now

Xoelle

Day 337

Here I am taking a banana break sporting one of my favorite looks for the fall which includes this warm sweater vest. Today, the kiddos stayed home while all of the middle school teachers from our net work took some time out to map out what our instructional plan will be for the next six weeks. Good times! Today's bow was gifted by Carlos from Knot Now.

Day 333

Today I was awarded this cool little trophy for being the World's Greatest Math Teacher. Ok, not really. I happened to see it on a kiddo's desk and asked her to snap a quick photo. Today's bow was gifted by Carlos over at Knot Now.

Day 330

Today's bow was gifted by the generous Carlos from Knot Now and Necks Tuesday bow ties. Check out his collection of bows here.

Day 322

Check out the latest addition to my Fall/Winter sweater collection. Yup, you guessed it - another Rugby deal online. Awesomeness. What's hiding behind all those vintage layers? It's a Knot Know original. Check out Carlos' collection here.

Day 290

Today I'm privileged to display not only a cool bow that was gifted by Carlos over at Knot Now bow ties, but I'm sporting this way cool shirt that I picked up at my coach's yard sale last weekend. Not only is this guy equipping me for obstacle races - he's supporting my fashion! Thanks again, Mick!

Day 273

Another day - another adventure with the Vasquez family. After church this afternoon I decided to take a run around our neighborhood while Lily and the boys took to some grocery shopping. With 2 miles left to go the clouds opened up and it started to pour. Not only did I get drenched during my run, but I picked up my pace in the process - finishing at 6.5 miles with an average speed of 8.4 minutes per mile. Running in the storm made me realize that if I can get through that storm I can weather other trials in my life. Just keep running.

Today's bow was gifted by Carlos over at Knot Now bow ties. Check out his site here.

Day 264

Eat clean. Train dirty. I woke up extra early to train a bit with my new elevation mask. As a treat I ordered myself a nice big salad from Green Streets Salads here in Bushwick. Awesome stuff - just like this bow tie from Carlos over at Knot Now bow ties. 

Day 242

It's my 13th year of teaching and the first few weeks of school are always pretty overwhelming. No worries, however. All we need is ganas.

I've got another race in a couple of days!

Today's bow was gifted by Carlos over at Knot Now and Necks Tuesday. 

Day 234

As the days continue to linger into nights I am anticipating another amazing year. Regardless of how tiring this craft may be, the early months of the school year are always incredibly telling. They always manage to break or bind. I refuse to buckle under. Instead I will allow the pressure to mold me into a stronger fighter. I realize this all may be somewhat vague to you if you just clicked on a link and found my blog. That's cool. I hope it makes you curious for my craft. I get to teach for a living. And, coincidentally, today was just another day I also got to wear a bow tie. 

Today's bow was acquired as a gift from the man behind Knot Now and Necks Tuesday. I haven't heard from you in a while, Carlos! I hope all is swell.

Day 219

Another day, another set of plans. By God's grace I've finished up one unit and I'm on my way to starting another unit. After a long day of professional development I somehow managed to squeeze in a workout and a quick run. Ok, I have to mention this, if only because I know it's going to keep me accountable. For the last few weeks I've been running with a weighted vest, deliberately slowing my pace at times as I packed on 21lbs of grit. Today I decided to run without the vest for the first time in three weeks and I shed about five minutes from my time. I ran 2.5 miles in 20 min flat. Certainly, that's nothing to write home about, but it's a marked improvement and with that I am motivated to move forward with my training. Hey, I have an Urbanathlon to train for!

Today's bow came via Carlos from Knot Now Bow Ties. Please check out his collection of superb bows here.

Day 204

Sometimes less really is more. I decided to pair this simple, clean bow tie with a very fun shirt I found this weekend. There you have it.

Today's bow tie came via Carlos from KnotNow and NecksTuesday bow ties. Do check out his collection of amazing bows.

Day 175

Seersucker Sunday. Today's bow was gifted by Carlos from Knot Now & Necks Tuesday. His bows are always slammin. BTW, if you remember he's also the cool cat who taught me how to make my own bow ties. I'm still in your debt, Carlos!

Day 156

What a lovely day to embrace the suck. Huh? Yup embrace it. Sometimes we skirt around the truth or try to sweeten it with soft memories of easier times. The hard truth is that sometimes the challenges we face, the obstacles we must endure to strengthen our resolve to do better than the low expectations society places on us purely and simply suck. It isn't pleasant to force yourself out of bed at 4:30, complete a rigorous workout on little rest, run when it's colder than you'd like it to be and encounter excuse after excuse why to you could do other things with your time than evolve. It's far more pleasant to be at peace with my best effort, knowing I am truly living life to the fullest capacity that God has granted me with. I choose to embrace the suck today and not take any more moments for granted.

Today's bow was a gift from Carlos over at KnotNow and NecksTuesday bow ties located here in Brooklny, NY.  

Day 149

Holidays like this one make me happy to be a parent. Regardless of what we may think we want for ourselves, it's the time spent with family that really matters. We didn't stray too far from home with Lucas still not 100% but I managed to get a workout and a run in and that was just dandy. Have I mentioned how much I've been watching Game of Thrones lately? It makes me grateful to be part of the family I've been blessed with. My Lady truly loves me and we're fortunate to have three little lords running around, trying to emulate their King. Case in point - we all wore the same soccer outfits during a walk today. I may not have had the opportunity to travel, to relax under the sun, to shop the holiday sales, but I got to spend the quality time I needed with my family by my side. What else could I ask for?

Today's bow was a gift from my friend over at Knot Now. It's simple, yet sufficient - just like another holiday in the house of Vasquez.

Day 126

There's nothing like a combination of things you enjoy. A diamond point with a batwing bow - just dandy.

Today's bow came via Knot Now. Check out their awesome collection here.

Day 69

A couple of weeks back a designer I met on etsy passed along an article she had read about a 10-year-old boy from Memphis who was designing his own bow ties. I was so inspired by this boy's gumption I decided to reach out to another designer I met who then graciously volunteered his time to teach me how to craft my own bow tie.

Words can't begin to express how grateful I am for Carlos Aguilera, founder of Knot Now and Necks Tuesday who patiently guided me through his process of creating ties from his studio in Brooklyn. Thank you, Carlos! It took me a little over three hours to create the bow you see today. I used some fabric that my wife had lying around and our fairly neglected sewing machine. I had never approached the thing before yesterday. I learned so many things about the process that I seriously can not wait to pass on to my kids on Saturday afternoons as I attempt to make this a new hobby of mine. Perhaps one day I'll open up a bowtique of my own, but for now I'm just happy to find a new level of appreciation for all my sponsors and I'm excited to have learned a new skill. Yes, kids, this teacher is still a learner.