Simple Living

Omega x Swatch Collaboration Update I was really excited about the Mission to the Moon and Mars versions of the Omega x Swatch collaboration, so I made it a point to be in line on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, they only had a few units for sale, and I wasn’t able to snag one. I’ll keep checking in to see if I can eventually get my hands on those pieces. Thoughts on the Collaboration It’s kind of cool and exciting that Omega and Swatch teamed up for this wild collaboration—it actually makes sense. I’ve always had a soft spot for chronographs, and I hope to own the original Omega Speedmaster Professional someday. In the meantime, this Swatch version would make for a fun daily wearer. Update - 4/20/22 However, I’ve been hearing some concerning reports that some of the watches bleed ink. I saw a video for the blue Neptune version that claimed the blue dye left a stain on a person's wrist. I’m hoping this issue is limited to specific colorways and doesn’t impact the red Mars or

Maintenance & Fuel Log for 2015 Toyota Camry XLE Total Maintenance Cost Lifetime: 2022: $1,200 2023: $1,370 2024: $250 2025: $225 2026:  $225 2027:  $225 Total: $2,820 (+$675) Currently, I'm averaging $940  a year in maintenance cost but this is due to emphasizing preventive maintenance.   It should start dropping and trend closer to $600 a year by 2027. Maintenance Cost by Type Consumables (19%) Tire Services : $205 Brakes and Rotors : $325 Preventive (55%) Oil Changes : $500 Fluid Change/Cleaning: $1,050 Engine (13%) Belts: $300 Spark Plugs: $140 Other Services : $300 Total Maintenance Cost : $2,820 The cost is heavily weighted on preventive as I want to keep this car for at least a decade and thus far am pleased with the quality of the engine and powertrain.  I should see it start to trend down as all I need are oil changes for most years. 2015 - 2021 Based on previous owner history they meticulously maintained it with oil changes every 5k miles.  Part of the reason

Samsung A32 5G Review Initial Impressions Price Point : At $100, the Samsung A32 5G offers impressive performance. Performance Comparison : It matches or exceeds the iPhone 11 in most areas, except for screen display quality, which falls short compared to Samsung's usual high standards. Display Screen Quality : The 6.5" TFT LCD (720 x 1600 pixels, 60Hz) display is a letdown considering Samsung's reputation for AMOLED screens, particularly when streaming high-quality video is essential today. Nostalgia for AMOLED : The user misses the AMOLED screens of older models like the Note 4 and S8+, recognizing the significant impact of display quality on the overall experience. Longevity Two-Year Review : After two years, the A32 5G remains responsive and snappy, comparable to the newer A15 5G. This durability highlights the benefits of investing in quality devices. Comparison with A15 : The main distinction is the AMOLED display on the A15, which users increasingly prioritize over

My Everyday Carry Update I'm really liking the simplicity of the Casio A168 and normally rock that most days, swapping it for my G-Shock 5600 on weekends. I’m also preferring a lighter weight kit and have gone back to the Victorinox Cadet. Otherwise, it's the same gear I've been using for almost two years. While the iPhone 11 has performed great, I’m looking to upgrade to something with 5G. I’ll wait until November to upgrade to the newer iPhone. Feb 2022 EDC: Apple iPhone 11 Victorinox Cadet Swiss Army Knife Casio A168 Watch Leather Wallet  

Exciting Find: 1991-1992 Swiss Army Knife Explorer I found a nice example of a 1991-1992 Swiss Army Knife Explorer model. I dated it based on the tang stamp on the main blade, which indicates it’s from 1986-1992. It has to be from after 1991 since it includes the carrier hook on the bottom tools. The old-style grey magnifying lens confirms it’s an older model Explorer, as those were produced from 1973-2004. Overall, it's a good find for $20! This piece will complete my collection as a counterpoint to the similar four-layer Huntsman. The choice of Phillips screwdriver and magnifying lens makes this a useful addition to my gear.

Refreshing My Wardrobe: GAP Sweaters I haven’t worn GAP sweaters regularly since college, but I’ve developed a habit and now have three GAP hoodies and one crew sweater to complement my Uniqlo crew sweaters. Keeping it simple, I opted for mostly white or beige GAP sweaters that pair well with my blue jeans. My navy jackets and tops were clashing, so to break up the monotone blue, I’m going with white tops and white shoes. It’s a very simple, classic, and easy look. I can now sport at least four different white sweaters to mix up my week, along with a black crew neck. My navy GAP hoodie is being reserved for those days when I wear black or khaki pants. I’m so glad my new job allows me to wear hoodies again! I spent three years stuck in slacks and button-down shirts.

Expanding My Ink Collection: Iroshizuku Triple Mini Set I picked up another triple mini set of Iroshizuku Ink. For the price of one 50 mL bottle, I got three smaller 15 mL bottles to sample different colors of ink. This brings my growing collection to about eight different Iroshizuku inks. I believe there are at least 26 standard colors, along with several seasonal and special editions, making it an exciting addition to my writing arsenal.

Staying Secure: My New Apple AirTag I’m a bit paranoid about losing my keys, so I bought an Apple AirTag and a key case. Overall, it cost me about $40 ($30 for the AirTag and $10 for the key case). It works as expected, and I feel a little safer knowing I have a way to locate my keys. If it continues to work well, I might consider adding one to my car as a way to track it—heaven forbid it ever gets stolen!

New Ride: 2015 Toyota Camry XLE I picked up a 2015 Toyota Camry XLE as a replacement for my Lexus IS250. I’m optimistic that the Camry will deliver the famed Toyota reliability, but I’m hedging my bets with a $3,200 extended warranty. The Camry cost me about $18,000, plus the warranty, bringing the out-the-door price to around $23,000. Yes, it’s a bit high, but this is the top-level trim for the four-cylinder model, and it had only 88,000 miles. The previous owner also did oil changes every 5,000 miles or six months, which is a big plus. Although Toyota advertised the 2AR engines could go 10,000 miles or a year between oil changes, I believe in sticking to 5,000 miles or six months. I did the math, and no matter how I spin it, the monthly cost to own any reasonable car was going to be about $350-$400. The Camry hits the high end of that range. Specs - 2015 Camry XLE Engine: 2.5L - 4 Cylinder - 2AR-FE HP: 178 @ 6000 Torque: 170 @ 4100 Transmission: 6 Speed Performance: 0-60: 7.9 secon

First Flight with Southwest Airlines I recently flew for the first time on Southwest Airlines. Yes, I know—what took me so long? I don’t have a good answer! Overall, I found Southwest to be very reasonably priced for what they offer. It’s a low fare for a decent seat, complete with a pretty good Wi-Fi entertainment system, and they provide some free drinks and snacks. I got to enjoy free movies and text friends while flying, which was pretty awesome. Honestly, considering the quality of airline meals that other carriers offer in economy, the simple snacks Southwest provides are not half bad. Sadly, there was no alcohol available. I can see the appeal of enjoying a beer or some hard liquor with the pretzels. Perhaps in a few months, they may bring back liquor sales. I’ll likely fly Southwest again, as it’s so affordable for what they provide. For my flights, I experienced both the 737-Max8 and an older 737-700. I prefer the Max8 for its additional bathrooms, but otherwise, both planes a

New Anker Power Core 10400 Both my old 8 and 10 amp power banks died, so I replaced them with a new Anker Power Core 10400 (10.4 amp). I’ve always wanted an Anker, and I figured now was as good a time as any to get one. I got this one for $20, which is quite cheap, but it’s a slow charger with a maximum output of 12 watts. The Power Core 10400 is an older model and usually retails at a lower price. The reason it’s so affordable is due to its max output speed on charging, which is about 12 watts. This is fine for smaller devices but would take forever to charge larger phones that are accustomed to 15-45 watt fast chargers. Despite the wattage limitations, it has good capacity relative to its weight and size. However, because of the slow charging speed, I can only use this for smaller devices. If you can snag this for $20 or less, it’s worth it. Otherwise, I recommend spending a bit more for a faster charging model. Newer Anker power banks can run at 4.8 amps or higher, translating to 24

Choosing Between iPhone XR and iPhone 11 When I was looking for a replacement for my venerable iPhone 6s, the XR and 11 were high on my list. I debated which one to get, and I found that the XR and 11 are almost identical, with only two major differences: the faster A13 chip and the dual rear cameras of the 11. iPhone 11 Specs Screen: 6.1” (828 x 1792 pixels) ~326 ppi - 60 Hz Processor: A13 Bionic (7 nm) RAM: 4 GB Storage: 64 GB Battery: 3110 mAh Camera: 12 MP / 12 MP Weight: 6.84 oz Port: Lightning iPhone XR Specs Screen: 6.1” (828 x 1792 pixels) ~326 ppi - 60 Hz Processor: A12 Bionic (7 nm) RAM: 3 GB Storage: 64 GB Battery: 2942 mAh Camera: 12 MP Weight: 6.84 oz Port: Lightning Dual Cameras — Yes, It Makes a Difference I ultimately decided on the iPhone 11 and paid $300 during a special deal (the full retail price is normally $600). I am very happy with my choice, as I find the dual cameras to be a must-have. You don’t realize what you’re missing in casual photography until you’ve tr

Retro Gaming: The Anbernic RG351p Review Retro gaming has come a long way since the early PC emulators. I was curious about how well a portable handheld could handle emulation and am impressed with the Anbernic RG351p. Based on online reviews, the RG351p is probably the best handheld for those serious about portable retro gaming and who want to own just one device. I have to agree with those reviews and was able to start gaming within 10 seconds of owning the device. This by itself is impressive. The RG351p is by no means perfect, but there are no perfect portable handhelds. Its competitors using the same chipset may have features and capabilities that outclass the RG351p, but they also come with their own drawbacks. The target audience for the RG351p is casual gamers who plan to spend 15 to 30 minutes in a gaming session. It can run for longer multi-hour sessions, but really this is for casual gamers. When shopping around for a portable device, I evaluated the following options: Retro

2022 Wish List and Spending Summary As 2021 comes to a close, I'm planning my acquisitions for 2022, focusing on various collections and budgeting around $800. Summary Clothes & Shoes : $633 Knives : $58 Watches : $329 (final cost for SE2 only) iPhone : $200 Tech : $25 Final Total Spent : $1,245 Overall, I spent a bit more than expected, but each acquisition feels worthwhile. 2022 - Initial Wish List Clothes - $360 Uniqlo T-Shirts x3 - $45 - DONE Uniqlo Polo Shirt x2 - $50 - DONE Banana Republic Crew Sweater - $15 - DONE Uniqlo Heat Tech Shirt - $20 - DONE Uniqlo Ultra Down - $80 - DONE Northface Venture 2 Rain Jacket - $100 - DONE Adidas Red Gym Shorts x2 - $50 - DONE Total Spent : $360 Shoes - $200 ($110 spent) Air Jordan 1 - $110 - DONE Total Spent : $110 Total Spent Overall : $470 Wardrobe Refresh 2022 is a refresh year for my wardrobe. I’ve standardized on Uniqlo Supima Cotton T-Shirts . Despite being pricier than Hanes, Uniqlo’s Supima lasts significantly longer,