Simple Living

New Addition: Deluxe Climber Victorinox I recently picked up a Deluxe Climber , a discontinued model that’s a bit more uncommon. It’s almost identical to the current Deluxe Tinker , but with one key difference: it features a corkscrew instead of a Phillips screwdriver. I'm currently debating whether to sell this model in favor of the Deluxe Tinker, but for now, I plan to pocket EDC it since I do appreciate the inclusion of the pliers. I got this for a fair price of $26 , which feels reasonable. In all honesty, this model only needs a bit driver and it's the Cybertool M . If a Phillips is what I’m after, I might as well splurge for the Cybertool instead!

New Addition: Champion Plus Victorinox I recently added a Champion Plus to my collection. This discontinued Victorinox Swiss Army knife model is the predecessor to the current Swiss Champ , but it notably lacks the pliers. I have to say, I find this 6-layer tool set quite appealing, although it does feel a bit impractical for pocket EDC. Nevertheless, I’m going to give it a try and see how it performs. If it doesn't work out, I’ll likely stick with my Huntsman or Deluxe Climber . As opportunities arise, I plan to pick up more discontinued models in good condition to enhance my collection. I paid only $45 for this one, a decent price!

My Secret Vice: Mr. Brown Iced Coffee One of my guilty pleasures is cheap iced coffee in a can from Mr. Brown . While my absolute favorite is the Cappuccino , I find that the others have their moments too. Here’s a list of the flavors I’ve tried or know of: Cappuccino Blue Mountain Iced Coffee Iced Coffee Black Black - No Sugar Macadamia Nut Caramel Latte Vanilla Mandheling While there are various sizes available, these are the ones I'm familiar with in the States. Additionally, some other flavors in the 8 oz can include: Chocolate Colombian Espresso (though this might be the sugar-free version of Black Coffee) These cans have become a go-to for a quick caffeine fix!

A Pleasant Surprise at Einstein Bros. Bagels Wow! I didn’t realize the bagels from Einstein Bros. were so great. Having been accustomed to Starbucks , I can confidently say this place beats them hands down. The coffee was decent, featuring a syrupy texture in the simple, unsweetened Americano, which made for a satisfying start to my meal. Smear Choices When it comes to the smears, I’ll definitely stick with the spicier jalapeño option over the chives. While the chives were okay, the jalapeño added just the right amount of kick, elevating the overall flavor experience.

Delicious Lunch at Fresh K Market I had a nice lunch of Seollungtang and Tonkatsu at the food court in Fresh K Market in Carrollton. The curry was delicious; I could eat just that with the rice! The Seollungtang beef soup was excellent, providing a hearty and comforting meal that truly hit the spot.

First Experience with Victorinox Repair Service I tried the Victorinox repair service for the first time and sent my knives to their Monroe Center in Connecticut. Here’s a quick summary of the process: Day 1: Created a repair order online. Day 1: Mailed my knives to Victorinox, paying $5.85 for USPS. Day 6: USPS delivered the package to Victorinox. Day 11: Received an email from Victorinox confirming they had my knives. Day 17: Victorinox emailed me shipping details with UPS tracking. Day 18: I was charged $5.41 per knife for the repair. Day 21: Received my knives back. Total Cost: $16.67 The total time for the repair was three weeks from printing the form to receiving my knives back. Out of this, two weeks (11 days) were for shipping transit time, so the actual repair took about one week (10 days) . Overall, the experience was quite good. The Huntsman is spectacular, and the Explorer is functional again, but considering its age, it might be better to buy a new one rathe...

Getting Back into Knife Maintenance It’s been a while, and I’m getting back into the habit of cleaning my knife collection. I’ll need to gather some oil, sharpeners, and other tools to do this properly. For now, it’s simply about cleaning off any residue on the knives and implements, as I often use them to open packages and end up with tape gunk on the blades and scissors. My Trekker sees the most action, and I’m finding the Phillips head quite useful. I’ll need to consider adding a Deluxe Tinker or Handyman to my collection to include a set of pliers. With a good maintenance routine, I can keep my collection in top shape and ready for any task.

Exploring Pho in Dallas: La Me Restaurant Review In the bustling area south of Richardson, tucked into an older strip mall in Dallas, I came across La Me—a modest spot that might not look like much from the outside, but it has its own charm. The place is a little dated, but it’s clean, with a welcoming atmosphere that quickly sets you at ease. The food here lives up to its reputation, and I can see why some people rank it even higher than Pho Pasteur. While Pho Pasteur serves a rich, almost overwhelming broth, La Me’s broth is more refined and subtle, allowing the flavors to come together beautifully without overpowering. The unique blend of ingredients adds a layer of depth, making each bite flavorful and satisfying. Their spring rolls were another highlight. Though it was a bit different to see whole peanuts in the dipping sauce—most places grind them down—the taste was fresh and delicious. Overall, I’d give La Me a slight edge over Pho Pasteur, rating it an impressive 8.75 out of 10...

Discovering Pax & Beneficia Coffee: Plano Location Review After enjoying Pax & Beneficia Coffee in Las Colinas and Grapevine, I was excited to try their Plano location, which sits conveniently near the old Collin Creek Mall. This location is beautiful, with ample parking and a relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for sipping coffee and unwinding. I tried both a Cappuccino and a Cortado here. The espresso was slightly on the bitter side, but in the Cappuccino, the whole milk balanced it out nicely, making it a smooth, enjoyable drink. For anyone in the DFW area, this Plano spot is definitely worth a visit!

Swiss Army Knife Haul & Collections Update Just added eight pristine Swiss Army Knives to the collection! This haul included essentials like the Fieldmaster and Huntsman, which I’ve now fully stocked for my car and backpacks. Here’s a quick rundown of what I picked up: Fieldmaster x2 Huntsman x2 Tinker Delemont Evo Junior 9 - Sold Pruning Knife - Sold Bantam - Keeping; it’s a unique piece. Champion Plus Deluxe Climber With these new additions, my collection now totals 35 knives, spanning various models and sizes. After selling the Delemont and Pruning Knife, I’ve optimized the collection to feature versatile favorites. Here's the latest inventory: Current Collection (35 Knives) 111mm (1) Trekker Black // 2011 91mm (18) Swiss Champ Red // 2011 Champion Plus Red // 2009 - 2016 Huntsman Silver Tech // 2009 - 2011 Black // 1979 - 1985 Red x2 // 2011 Camo // 2011 Fieldmaster Red x2 // 2011 Explorer Red // 1991 - 1992 Deluxe Climber Red // 1992 - 1998 Climber Red // 1979 - 1985 ...

Taco Tour in North Texas: Mariana’s Tacos Review I recently tried Mariana’s Tacos, sampling their Chorizo, Pastor, and Barbacoa tacos. Each one was flavorful and generously sized, making for a satisfying meal. While it didn’t quite reach the level of Del Sur (my top spot in North Texas), Mariana’s is a solid second so far. With so many taco spots in the area, it’s hard to crown a definitive favorite, but Mariana’s is definitely worth a repeat visit—especially since I forgot to snap food photos this time around!

Pho Pasteur II in Carrollton: A Top Pick for Pho and Bánh Mì Pho Pasteur II on Belt Line Rd in Carrollton serves up some of the best pho around, and their Bánh Mì is equally impressive. I initially tried the sandwich out of curiosity and was blown away by the flavors—one of the best I’ve had. Update - March 2024 The Bánh Mì is still fantastic, and though prices have gone up slightly to $6.50, it remains a great value for the quality. This spot is consistently a go-to for both pho and Bánh Mì in the area!

Mr Tako in McKinney: Taco Review Mr Tako in McKinney offers decent tacos with reasonable pricing. The texture is a bit on the dry side, but overall, they’re satisfying enough for a casual meal—I’d rate them a solid 7 out of 10. When choosing between their street tacos and loaded tacos, here’s the takeaway: you’d need about double the street tacos to equal the size of one loaded taco. Both options have their perks—go with the loaded taco if you’re hungry, and the street taco if you’re after more flavor.

I’ve been here 5 times in past 2 years but never stayed more than a few hours.  I remedied that and stayed 2 nights to catch up with how Los Angeles is doing.  Overall it has the same vibe as when I remember it from a decade ago. Day 1 - Arrived LAX - Hilton Hotel Day 2 - Santa Monica , El Segundo Day 3 - The Grove, Departure LAX Day 1 - Flight In to LAX and stayed at Hilton LAX Had some drinks and chilled. Day 2 - Santa Monica after Starbucks Breakfast and Dinner at Kagura Sushi Starbucks for breakfast.  Then Santa Monica and finished off at Kagura for dinner.  Fun, cruising about. Then Santa Monica Place & Pier Kagura in El Segundo for dinner.  Umai! More beer.  Enjoying the Lobby.  Kinda nice actually. Day 3 - Flight home Went to Century Blvd McDonald’s for breakfast.  Then ice tea at The Grove as well as a light lunch and said bye to LA.

First $100 Bottle Experience: Barnett Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon For my first $100 bottle of wine, I went with the Barnett Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon—a Napa Valley red that set the bar high and left me thoroughly impressed. The flavors were beautifully balanced, fruit-forward with just the right dryness, reminding me of a good sake. This was a New Year’s treat to welcome 2023, and it made the celebration memorable. I’ve since learned that wines like this are often best enjoyed after a decade of aging. While it was still absolutely delicious, I’ll now be rotating these special bottles, letting some age for future milestones. Update - Aug 2025 Enjoyed a second bottle of 2022 vintage and it was as good as I recall the 2019 bottle.  I’ll add this again and likely one for each bottling year.

Fiction Coffee: The Best Espresso in DFW After exploring 30 coffee shops across DFW, Fiction Coffee stands as my favorite spot for espresso. The espresso here has a unique, almost buttery undertone that you can’t quite taste but can sense, with a rich dark chocolate flavor that sets it apart from the rest. This quality has made Fiction my benchmark for all other espresso experiences. My usual order here includes both a straight espresso and an additional drink to fully appreciate their range—and Fiction continues to set the standard. Update Oct 2024 Sad to report, Fiction Coffee is no more.  

El Gordo’s: A New Taco Spot Worth Trying El Gordo’s, located just south of the I-75 and 380 intersection, is another top taco spot. While the portions aren’t as hefty as Del Sur’s, the flavor is impressively balanced and satisfying. Between the two, Del Sur still takes the lead for me, but El Gordo’s is a close contender. With tacos this good, it’s tough to even consider going back to chains like Fuzzy’s or Torchy’s. I’d rate El Gordo’s a solid 8 out of 10—a great spot for anyone looking to step up their taco game.

Del Sur Taco: A Must-Visit in McKinney, Texas After seeing the rave reviews on Yelp for Del Sur Taco in McKinney, I had to check it out—and I’m thrilled to say the reviews did not disappoint! This place is truly amazing. When compared to other taco joints in North Texas, Del Sur stands out for its exceptional quality and flavor. The prices are reasonable, especially considering the generous portions and vibrant tastes. I’d rank Del Sur above El Gordo’s, giving it an impressive 8.5 out of 10. If you're in the area, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Another round of Barbacoa and Cochinita Pibil.

My iPhone Journey: From the iPhone 5 to the iPhone Air I’ve been an iPhone user since 2012, starting with the iPhone 5, and I’m now enjoying my current model, the iPhone 16, marking my 12th year with Apple’s flagship smartphones. I still have most of my old iPhones in my iPhone collection. My iPhone Timeline: 2012: iPhone 5 2016: iPhone 6s 2020: iPhone 11 2022: iPhone 14 Pro 2024: iPhone 16 2025: iPhone Air 2027: iPhone Fold? Initially, I was upgrading every four years, but the release of the iPhone 14 Pro prompted me to upgrade just two years after purchasing the iPhone 11. My previous habit of buying older models two years post-release made me consider investing in the latest technology for a longer-term experience—aiming for 4–5 years with each new phone. My strategy is to save money in the long run by upgrading less frequently. I plan to hold off on my next upgrade until 2026–2027, although I might consider buying new ...

Comparing AirPods 2nd Gen and PowerBeats 2: A Personal Experience After hitting my weight goal of 170 pounds, I decided to treat myself to a pair of AirPods 2nd Gen , which I snagged on sale for just $60. Additionally, a friend gifted me a pair of PowerBeats 2 , allowing me to compare the two after several weeks of use. Design and Purpose These two headphones are quite different in form factor, making direct comparisons challenging, as they serve unique purposes. AirPods: Perfect for casual and indoor use, these are compact and easily portable thanks to their sleek carrying case. PowerBeats: Designed for rugged use, they are ideal for outdoor activities and exercise, featuring a wired cable that hangs around your neck. Performance Comparison Battery Life: PowerBeats Win I typically use the PowerBeats for 30-60 minutes at a time, and they easily last several days without needing a charge. In contrast, the AirPods require charging after about 2 hours of continuous use. Ergonomics: Ai...