Simple Living

2025 Nespresso Holiday Flavors: A Quick Take Festive Collection Highlights This year’s Vertuo Holiday lineup brings three seasonal releases: Cinnamon & Candied Tamarind , Sweet Almond & Hibiscus , and a Double Espresso . I also picked up the Barista Creations Gingerbread , which feels right at home in the holiday mix. I sampled the Sweet Almond & Hibiscus in-store and was pleasantly surprised—balanced, not overly floral or nutty, and genuinely enjoyable. Reflections on Favorites The new Double Espresso looks especially promising. I’m a dark-roast fan, and last year’s Pierre Hermé Double Espresso was a standout, so I’m hoping for similar depth this year. From the Pierre Hermé line, the one I still miss most is the Hazelnut . I’ve been slowly savoring my remaining Raspberry Espresso sleeve. I’ve also held onto a Kona sleeve, and I still find myself thinking back to Blue Bottle #1 , which was exceptional and hasn’t quite been replaced. Stocking Up - 10 Sleeves + 3 Free Bonus...

Thanksgiving Road Trip: Camping, Bricktown, and a Smooth Cruise up I-35 Adventure Creek Ranch - Texas Lido Restaurant - OKC Renaissance Hotel - OKC Bricktown - OKC Bricktown Brewery - OKC Road Trip I-35 1. Adventure Creek Ranch @ Forestburg, TX I kicked off Thanksgiving break with a much-needed escape into the outdoors near Forestburg, Texas, at Adventure Creek Ranch. They have some incredibly creative cabins—everything from Star Wars themes to Hobbit-style hideaways. I spent two nights in their Yellowstone-themed cabin, which turned out to be exactly what I needed to unplug. With barely any cell or internet service, I spent most of my time outside—driving around in a Kawasaki UTV, enjoying the quiet, and embracing the challenge of cooking over a campfire. It took me about 90 minutes to get that first fire going. I made it intentionally difficult by using wet logs and limited tinder—just dry grass and strips of bark from mountain cedar trees—to test my survival skills. Armed only with ...

Weekend Drive to Houston: Coffee, Cuban Food & Buc-ee’s Finds Took a quick weekend trip to Houston—nothing too planned, just wanted to enjoy a smooth drive down I-45 and check out a few spots in H-Town. Kicked things off with coffee at Carino’s, which was a solid start to the day. For lunch, I stopped at Cafe Piquet for some Cuban food. Tried the Ropa Vieja (shredded beef), and I’m definitely a fan—savory, tender, and full of flavor. Both on the way there and back, I made sure to swing by the Buc-ee’s in Madisonville. Their breakfast burrito hit the spot, and I found a shoulder bag that’s giving off serious Lululemon vibes—functional and surprisingly stylish. All in all, it was a simple, short, and refreshing getaway. Just the kind of low-key reset I needed.

Quick Review: IASS Lounge at Narita Terminal 1 — Worth It If It’s Free First Impressions I’ve tried several options at Narita Airport over the years, and this time I decided to visit the IASS Travel Lounge after previously using the Travel Pay lounges. The difference is noticeable. While I was able to access IASS for free, you really do get what you pay for—and it’s not on the same level as Travel Pay. That said, Narita is one of the cleanest, most comfortable airports around. The regular terminal itself offers great seating, tons of food options, and an overall pleasant environment. In other words, even the most basic lounge at Narita is less essential than what you’d find in U.S. airports like LAX or DFW, where the gap between terminal and lounge quality is far more dramatic. What You Get The IASS Lounge keeps things simple, but it does include a few solid perks: A free can of Asahi beer —a standout benefit Good drink machines with a surprising number of options Dedi...

NYC Itinerary: A Week of Exploring Manhattan Visiting NYC for a week in May was a fantastic experience. I focused on specific areas of Manhattan each day to minimize travel times, allowing me to explore 12 neighborhoods in just 7 days. My goal was to take my time and fully immerse myself in each neighborhood and its attractions, rather than rushing through everything. Lessons Learned The Met is #1: If you only have time for one museum, make it this one. Times Square is fun for 5 minutes: Consider staying elsewhere. Subway is cheap and efficient: Use common sense; it’s the best way to travel. Slow down and enjoy: Spending time in a local coffee shop can be more enlightening than an hour at a Starbucks Reserve. ❤️ denote places or things that were awesome and worth a visit. Original Itinerary Day 1 - Arrival/Times Square/Midtown South 10:40 am: Arrive at LGA ✈️ 11:00 am: Take Q70 Bus 🚎 to Subway E/F train 12:00 pm: Explore Times Square 1:00 pm: Lunch at Luke Lobster Roll/Udon L...