Simple Living

Coffee Experience: Renew Coffee in Frisco I recently decided to change up my drink order and tried Renew Coffee in Frisco. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience! What I Tried Hot Matcha Latte : This was the standout drink for me. I found it to be expertly prepared, with a smooth texture and well-balanced flavors. I would rate this a solid 8/10 . Iced Cappuccino : While decent, it didn't quite measure up to the Matcha Latte. It was enjoyable but lacked the same level of quality and flavor. Other Coffee Shops in Frisco So far, I've identified three decent coffee shops in the area worth checking out: Summer Moon - Located on Main St, known for their unique moon milk. Starbucks Reserve - At Legacy West, offering a premium coffee experience. Renew Coffee - Off Main St, definitely a place I’d recommend for their Matcha Latte. Renew Coffee is certainly a spot I’d recommend trying for anyone in Frisco looking for a quality coffee experience.

Coffee Experience: Mozart Bakery Visit I recently stopped by a local bakery, not expecting much, and my instincts were spot on. Coffee Plain Hot Coffee : Unfortunately, it was just your standard drip coffee from a Bunn brand machine. It was the kind of coffee you might find at places like Denny's or McDonald's—nothing special. Bakery Treats Walnut Puff Cookies : On a brighter note, the bakery items were decent. I enjoyed some walnut puff cookies, which added a nice touch to my visit. Overall Impression If you’re looking for a great coffee experience, this place might not be the best choice. However, if you’re in the mood for some baked goods, the cookies were enjoyable enough to make the visit worthwhile!

Magnolia's Affogato Experience I can never get enough of Magnolia's, and their espresso drinks have consistently impressed me. Affogato Delight Affogato : I recently tried their Affogato for the second time, and it was just as delightful as I remembered. The combination of rich gelato topped with a shot of hot espresso creates a perfect pairing that balances sweetness and bitterness beautifully. Overall Impression Magnolia's continues to deliver quality espresso drinks, and the Affogato is definitely a standout. If you're a fan of coffee and gelato, this is a must-try.

I Thought, A Buck 25? Why not and picked up some bags of coffee from H‑E‑B. Well…it’s meh at best. I’ll give them credit for getting the flavoring and aroma right, but it’s sub-par coffee. For those who drink coffee with cream and sugar, this might be their jam. Not for me.

It Shouldn’t Be This Hard It shouldn’t be this hard to close all three activity rings for my Apple Watch, but this is only my second time ever, and the first time was almost four years ago! My goal for the rest of 2022 is to make this happen 12 more times in the final 12 weeks! Then keep it up in 2023 and onward. Update - 5/14/23 This is hard! I only got my fourth consecutive ring just now this week in May 2023. The last time I achieved this was in October 2022. I’ll keep trying and will hopefully get it a few more times this year.

Time for a Refresh in 2022 I currently have 44 items in my wardrobe with plans to add 7 items (1 jacket, 1 pair of shoes, and 5 shirts). I’ll retire a logo T-shirt to keep my wardrobe to 50 pieces . My Planned 7 Items: Green Bomber Jacket - $30 - DONE Air Jordan 1 Low - $110 - DONE Uniqlo T-Shirts (3 Black, 2 White) - $50-100 - Hold for 2023 My Wardrobe Would Then Rest At: Shirts - 18 Outerwear - 14 Pants - 12 Shoes - 6 2022 Acquisitions and Replacements: Adidas Superstar Shoes (replaced in 8 months…) Nike Court Vision Shoes 9.5 H&M Green Chore Jacket M Green Varsity Jacket L (retired to car kit) Air Jordan 1 Low Update - 12/10/22 I picked up a pair of Air Jordan 1 Low and a Red BR Crew Sweater . I’m done for 2022!

The Utility of a Simple Pair of Scissors It’s the utility of a simple pair of scissors that makes a 58mm Classic Swiss Army Knife probably one of the best options for urban EDC. While a knife can work, the scissors just work better in most situations. Bottles, bottles… The one drawback of a Classic is the lack of a bottle opener, which is remedied with the similarly sized Rambler or Manager. For me, a Manager—which is essentially a Rambler with a retractable ballpoint pen—is my ideal urban EDC. Size and weight are also factors in dubbing the 58mm Swiss Army Knife one of the most convenient and practical EDC tools. It also simplifies my choice of complementing the Classic with a separate knife folder; I find a 91mm Camper or my 111mm Trekker to be ideal. But the awl… The only additional tool I could find useful on a 91mm SAK is maybe the awl. It’s surprising how valuable it is to make a hole in a plastic lid using an awl. That said, the Cellidor 91mm awl is in an inconvenient location a...

Shoe Review: Nike Court Vision Low I’m feeling bummed about the quality of Adidas shoes, having gone through three pairs, all of which wore out within a year. Both pairs of Superstars developed a hole on the right foot on the outer side below the little toe—the tailor’s bunion. My Stan Smiths developed tears on the upper sole. To change things up, I’m giving Nike another go and added a pair of Court Vision Low to minimize usage of my Air Force 1s and prepare for eventually getting a pair of Jordans. Court Vision vs. Air Force 1 The closest comparison I have is with the Air Force 1s , and the Court Vision are a cheaper version. The build quality looks coarse, and I’m not entirely confident they’ll hold up as well as the AF1s. However, at half the price, they’ll serve fine as a beater pair of white shoes. I’m planning to aim for a pair of Jordan 1 Low in the classic red/white/black colorway. From what I’ve read, it’s best to go with either lows or highs for Jordan 1s, as the mids might...

Joe’s Bakery: A Breakfast Stop Worth Making Joe’s Bakery is definitely worth a stop for breakfast. They serve a delightful mix of Mexican food along with classic American bacon and eggs. The scrambled eggs are amazing, and the barbacoa is a standout. It pairs perfectly with some tortillas, creating a delicious combination. The prices are very affordable. I opted for the small half-price plates, which were quite filling for me. Also, these are my first few photos taken with the new iPhone 14 Pro’s camera. It’s an improvement over the 11—not a giant leap like the upgrade from the 6s to the 11, but still a noticeable enhancement.

iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 11: A Comparison This comparison may not be entirely fair, as the iPhone 11 is the entry-level model for the 11 series, while the 14 Pro is one of the premium offerings in its series. However, I own both and am very familiar with the 11, having used it for two years, while I've just started using the 14 Pro. Initial Impressions Since the 5.8-inch iPhone X, most modern iPhones have looked and behaved quite similarly. They seem to have standardized around the 6.1-inch form factor introduced with the XR and then the 11. The only real difference between the XR and the 11 was the single versus dual back cameras. With the 14 Pro having the same 6.1-inch screen as the 11, it feels functionally similar to its predecessor. Yes, the 14 Pro boasts triple cameras that are significantly larger, along with a 48MP sensor compared to the 12MP of the 11. It also features an OLED screen, a better processor, and increased memory, among other improvements. However, many of the...

Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen Review I recently got the Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen in 44MM, featuring the Cellular + GPS model. I'm curious to see how it compares to my old Series 2, which only had GPS. After wearing it for a few days, I'm ready to share my thoughts. Initial Impressions Overall, the SE 2 feels very similar to my old Series 2. Update - 10/1/22: 10-Day Review After a solid week and a half with the watch, I can say it’s a good choice for anyone looking for a smartwatch without the hefty price tag of $400 for a Gen 8 or $800 for an Ultra. The SE covers all the basics and truly helps me "untether" from my phone. There's something liberating about not always needing to have my phone on hand. Configuring the watch faces took some time, and I plan to continue experimenting until I find the perfect set that suits my style. Another significant benefit has been the activity rings, which motivate me to exercise more. I've pushed my daily walking average to about 8,0...

Cappuccino Search in Dallas I'm still on the hunt for a great cappuccino in Dallas. Recently, I visited Kona Reserve in Frisco, but it was just meh. They slightly burnt the espresso, which surprisingly helped avoid the overly milky taste that often plagues cappuccinos. Aside from the coffee, the café itself is quite nice. The staff is friendly, and there's ample parking—something many coffee shops in Dallas at least have going for them. That said, I’m still searching for that perfect cappuccino. Cappuccino Rating: 5.5/10

Labor Day Taco Fix and Frozen Margarita I got my taco fix and decided to enjoy Labor Day by knocking back a frozen margarita. The margarita set me back $12.99, which surprisingly cost more than the taco plate! I managed to finish it and ended up feeling pretty buzzed. Next time, I think I’ll try the smaller size.

Lemma Coffee: A Mixed Bag How is Lemma Coffee rated 4.7 out of 5 on Yelp?  That’s the same rating as Summer Moon! You really can’t trust Yelp anymore, even with 115 reviews. If they’re giving high marks for location, ambiance, and staff, then sure, it’s a 5. But the coffee itself? I’d rate it around a 3.8. So far, in the dozen Frisco coffee shops I’ve tried—except for Summer Moon—they all seem to think a cappuccino should taste like a glass of warm milk. Am I ordering it wrong? Cappuccino Rating: 5/10 Update - July 2023 - Tried again.  Nope, espresso is just way too bitter. Core issue with Lemma is their espresso shot.  It’s just too bitter and difficult to drink.  Should be more creamy and closer to dark chocolate than just bitter. I’d have to drop the rating to 4 in 10 for espresso shot.