Simple Living

While my quantity of consumption was low, having a drink almost daily was having an effect on my body and alcohol was no longer providing me the same satisfaction as it once did. It felt like even though it was 1 beer or glass of wine per day it was turning into a habit and I was drinking daily only because of that and not for any beneficial reason. Abstaining for 3 weeks So I abstained for a week and plan to do so for a full 3 weeks to see how it goes and thus far I’ve noticed I no longer feel a need for alcohol. And it’s true the 1st day is the hardest and I felt a desire for a beer.  But by the 3rd day it subsided and after a full week I no longer sense an urge to drink. While looking at an alcoholic beverage does make me want it, there isn’t the same feeling that was more apparent on the 1st day of abstaining. Not quitting alcohol…but focusing on quality However, I’m not quitting alcohol.  Rather, I’ll focus on quality by enjoying it less often at a rate of 2-4 drinks per month.  F

With my new iPhone 16 arriving wanted to prepare a comparison to see how it sizes up vs my 14 Pro.  I’m anticipating a slightly lighter, but faster phone.  Although, I maybe sacrificing a bit on the screen based on initial online reviews. But being that I was already happy with the LCD display on an iPhone 11.  I should be more than satisfied with the OLED on the 16. And based on the specs there isn’t much difference between the 14 Pro and standard 16.  My 2 reasons for the 16 is Type-C and lower weight. Initial Review - 16 is good, not amazing. Now that I’ve had my 16 for several days I’m satisfied with the form factor, lighter weight and slightly faster specs. I do miss the better 120 Hz refresh rate of the 14 Pro’s screen, but otherwise for me the base model 16 is a better fit. As iPhone doesn’t have the best cameras to begin with relative to Samsung’s flagship models, it’s not a real concern to forgo the triple cameras of the Pro series. At same time after 2 years, having less adva

Even after 4+ years the Samsung S20 Fan Edition is an impressive Android phone that still holds its own against modern phones, especially budget models like the A32 or A15.  This shows just how overpowered were the specs when they made the S20 FE. Affordable Price You can snag them used for $130-150 on Amazon and they will be in excellent condition.  Perfect as a backup phone or to simply stream videos. The gorgeous screen, still nimble processor and sizable battery gives this the best of many worlds and almost captures the reason why people love the iPhone.  You don’t need the blazing best new features, but with the right combination you have an amazing device. S20 FE vs A32 - Beautiful Screen I’m comparing it to my A32 I use for streaming and honestly the AMOLED screen of the S20 FE is beautiful.  I may swap to this as my streaming device. S20 FE vs A15 - Faster Specs While the A15 has a comparable AMOLED display, it’s weak processor and lack of sufficient RAM handicapped that otherw

There is a niche that only the classic lines of the Adidas Stan Smith can fill.  Its similarities with many higher end white leather shoes like the Common Projects is unmistakable and when on sale for $55 it’s a bargain. Form Factor - Adidas Wins Nike has yet to offer a comparable shoe.  And while I’ve been disappointed in the past with the quality of more recent Adidas sneakers, there is something about the Stan Smith that makes me willing to snag another pair. Sometimes I prefer the chunky Air Force 1, or the vibrant colorway of Jordan 1’s.  But sometimes all I need are understated classics. Quality of Build - Nike Sadly, I can tell these are cheaply made shoes.  The quality of Stan Smiths in 2024 has declined vs a pair I owned in 2021. But for the price, they do the trick and helped me understand where I want to go in 2025 with a pair of Common Projects. Break In Period ~2 weeks These shoes require a solid 2 weeks to properly break them in and the first few days were painful.  The t

Had 4 days off and went to Houston for a road trip.  Ate at Bori K-BBQ and stayed at the Woodland Resort.  Was a pleasant and chill experience. Bori K-BBQ - Amazing! Hilton Woodland Resort - Phenomenal Sushi Masa - Meh. ok. Bori was excellent and highlight of the trip.  It’s a very upscale place and food was some of the best I’ve had in a while. Other restaurants were average by comparison and I ended up sticking to hotel food, although a bit pricey was convenient and actually decent. Doing nothing and just relaxing made this a fun break.  Taking it slow and just soaking it all in.  As a result, I didn’t have my phone and failed to take more pics. 1. Bori - BBQ - Amazing! I went during lunch and the food was delicious and reasonably priced.  I forgot to take a pic of the Kalbi and that was one of the most flavorful dishes, but the beef tartare was also amazing. 2. Hilton Woodland Resort - Phenomenal Harrison for breakfast buffet was okay.  It’s conveniently located so acceptable.  I di

It’s taking longer than expected to lose weight as I started over a year ago during Summer 2023.  I was able to drop 19 lbs from 184 to 165 then plateaued for a year. I jumped back to 173 on a recent May 2025 NYC trip and resumed dieting dropping 12 lbs and achieved 161 lbs as of August 2024 so I feel it’s achievable to hit my original goal of 150 lbs. I. Goal 150 lbs by Summer 2025 What seems to have helped is to accept the fact it’s going to take time and likely another year so maybe Summer of 2025…I’ll reach my goal. II. Reward…Common Project Achilles Shoes As a reward, I’m hoping to upgrade my shoe game to a pair of Common Projects Achilles shoes. Another benefit of losing weight.  I’ve noticed my shoes are a bit looser fitting indicating some of the fat I’ve been able to shed were in my feet.  So that’s certainly an unexpected benefit. III. Diet/Hydration Structured around: Calorie intake 2 meals per day - 6 days a week 3 meals per day - 1 day a week Nutrition Avoiding processed s

I’ve enjoyed Argentinian Malbec’s and am impressed at the incredible value you can get with such an overlooked grape.  This is a very inexpensive $6 red wine and on my second bottle already and it’s delicious. I can see why this is a bulk buy.  Unlike other Malbec’s I’ve had, this one is good upon opening, typically other Malbec’s need to breathe and were better the second day. Taste Profile: Fruit forward Medium dry

This lacks the bubbles I’d expect in a sparkling wine.  It does have the sensation of carbonation and a bit of foam upon initial pour. However, what it lacks in bubbles it made up in being utterly dry (brut) and my preferred characteristic of a sparkling wine. It has a light fruit taste profile and I agree with online reviews indicating hints of green apple and peach. Taste Profile Very Dry (Brut) Not Sour (Low Acidity) Not Sweet Need More Bubbles, but Kirkland is 2x cheaper If it had more bubbles this would be amazing.  The lack of sweet, though makes it delicious for me. But at 2x the price of Kirland’s Asolo Prosecco at $14 vs $7.69…I’d have to go with Kirkland and skip La Vostra.

This is a bulk buy.  The Kirkland branded Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough Ti Point.  It’s a bulk buy as it’s amazing and only $7. Taste Profile: Dry Not sweet Slightly sour (acidity) This gives a puckering sensation indicating it’s dry and sour from higher acidity.  This is great with food as it cleanses the palate.

Going through my annual review of my wardrobe and donating some items to bring me to 48 pieces with plans to drop it further to 45.  I let go 9 pieces specifically in Adidas Track Jackets and all my hoodies. Capsules - Winter & Professional Attire I’ve organized my winter wear as a separate mini-capsule to focus on my main seasonal outfits.  As my work doesn’t require dress clothes I’ve also moved that to a professional dress capsule and culled off things I don’t need. Current Inventory *** Planned replacement in 2025 Shirts 👕- 15 Polo (4) - Green, Black x3 T-Shirt (9) - Green, White x2, Black x6 *** Gym Shirt - Adidas Black LS Shirt - Orange Jersey Pants 👖 - 7 Track Pants - Adidas Black Jeans (2) - Dark Denim x2 *** Shorts (1) - Brown Sports Shorts (3) - Black, Red x2 Outerwear 🧥  - 9 Track Jackets (2) - Adidas Black, Red Crew Sweater (4) - Grey, White, Green, Red Bomber Jacket - Green *** Northface Rain Jacket - Navy Polo Varsity Jacket - Navy Shoes 👟 - 5 Sneakers (4) - Nike

I do like champagne, but can only afford it for special occasions.  I’m testing the waters with other sparkling wines like Prosecco and heard good things about the Kirkland’s Asolo Prosecco DOCG.  For a mere $7.69 this is 10x cheaper than my current favorite Bollinger. And it doesn’t disappoint.  Granted it’s 10x cheaper than a proper champagne so this is a fantastic experience and only thing is it’s an Extra Dry so a little sweeter than Brut, but as others have said in reviews it’s not overtly sweet.  It does have a dry and crisp sensation that I enjoy with sparkling wines. If I could find this in a Brut this would be exceptional.  But at $7.69 this is a keeper anytime I want the sensation of a sparkling wine at an amazing price.  I’m keeping a couple bottles in my collection. Flavor Profile: Dry Slightly sweet Balanced

I’ve been on a Frozen Margarita kick lately and wanted to make my own as it’s getting expensive at the bar.  This is also my first serious attempt at making my own cocktails beyond simple Whisky Highballs.  To start here is the basic components of a classic Margarita recipe. 1.5 oz Tequila (Blanco 100% Agave) 🥃  1 oz Cointreau 🍊  0.5 oz Lime Juice 🍋‍🟩  A Frozen Margarita adds more lime juice and sweetness either from sugary syrup or frozen fruits. Chapter 1 - Frozen Margaritas I. Adventures begin with Frozen Margaritas I’m trying a variety of Margarita recipes and settled on a base and have experimented with the flavoring options.  I’m also learning basic cocktail making techniques to gain a better appreciation for what I normally order at a bar. II. Budget - It’s cheaper to DIY It was getting expensive to order frozen margaritas at bars and was spending $8-12 per drink when I can make it at home for about $3.  The main cost is about $2 for the Tequila and Cointreau.  Limes 🍋‍🟩 a

I was blown away at how amazing this ridiculously cheap $4 Pinot Grigio wine tastes. You have to remind yourself this thing only costs $4 and is almost as good as an $18 Santa Margherita.  Let that sink in.  And it’s far better deal than the $12 Italo Cescon. Flavor Profile: Dry Slightly sweet Slightest sour (acidity) The sweetness is enough to make the sour barely noticeable.  It's so smooth and dry pairing nicely with a crisp salad and grilled pork. I'm stocking up by the case as it's so darn cheap!