Modern Simple Living

Gear Review Refreshing My Wardrobe: GAP Sweaters *Redefining business casual with effortless winter layering* 4 GAP Sweaters 1 Black Crew Neck 5 Total Items Section I A Shift in Style With the shift in what’s considered acceptable business wear, I can finally wear hoodies again. They were a staple for me in college and remain one of the most versatile pieces for winter layering. Just as importantly, this change has saved me a significant amount of money after years of relying on slacks and button-down shirts in a corporate environment. I hadn’t worn GAP sweaters regularly since college, but I’ve recently fallen back into the habit. I now own three GAP hoodies and one GAP crew sweater, which nicely complement my Uniqlo crew sweaters.   Color Strategy To keep things simple, I chose mostly white and beige GAP sweaters that pair easily with blue jeans. I found that navy jackets and tops were creating too much of a monotone look, so I’ve been intentionally breaking it up with white to...

Gear Review Expanding My Ink Collection: Iroshizuku Triple Mini Set Exploring the vibrant world of Pilot Iroshizuku fountain pen inks 3 Bottles 15 mL Each 8 Total Inks Section I The Iroshizuku Mini Sets I recently picked up another triple mini set of Iroshizuku ink. By opting for the mini set, I was able to secure three different 15 mL bottles for the price of a single standard 50 mL bottle. This approach is a fantastic way to sample a variety of colors without committing to a full-sized bottle immediately.   Collection Status This latest purchase brings my growing collection to approximately eight different Iroshizuku inks. → Current Set — Three new 15 mL colors added to the rotation. → Total Collection — Roughly eight unique Iroshizuku inks now in my possession. Tip: If you want to expand your color palette, the triple mini sets offer the best value-to-variety ratio for collectors looking to sample the Iroshizuku line. Inventory Overview To keep track of your own collec...

Gear Review Staying Secure: My New Apple AirTag A simple, cost-effective way to keep track of your essentials $40 Total Cost $30 AirTag Unit $10 Key Case Section I The Setup I’m a bit paranoid about losing my keys, so I recently invested in an Apple AirTag and a dedicated key case to keep my mind at ease. The setup process was straightforward, and the total investment was minimal for the peace of mind it provides.   Investment Breakdown → Apple AirTag — The core tracking device ($30) → Key Case — The protective housing for the AirTag ($10) Tip: If this setup continues to work well, I am seriously considering adding an additional AirTag to my car. It is a fantastic, low-cost way to track your vehicle in the unfortunate event that it ever gets stolen. Item Cost Purpose Apple AirTag $30 Location tracking Key Case $10 Attachment & protection Total $40 Secure everyday carry It works exactly as expected, and I feel much safer knowing I have a reliable way to locate my key...

Vehicle Review & Ownership 2015 Toyota Camry XLE New Ride — Replacing the Lexus IS250 $23k Out-the-Door 88k Miles at Purchase 178hp 2.5L 2AR-FE 2035 Target Retirement I picked up a 2015 Toyota Camry XLE as a replacement for my Lexus IS250. I'm optimistic it will deliver the famed Toyota reliability, but I'm hedging my bets with a $3,200 extended warranty. The Camry cost about $18,000 plus warranty, bringing the out-the-door price to around $23,000 — the top trim for the four-cylinder model, with only 88,000 miles on the clock. No matter how I spin the math, the monthly cost to own any reasonable car runs about $350–$400. The Camry hits the high end of that range. Table of Contents ① Specifications ② First Impressions ③ Maintenance Schedule ④ Maintenance Light Reset ⑤ Planned Retirement 2035 ...

Travel Journal First Flight with Southwest Airlines A long-overdue review of the low-cost carrier experience 1 First Flight 2 Aircraft Models $ Low Fare Section I Taking to the Skies 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.   Onboard Amenities → Wi-Fi Entertainment — A solid system featuring free movies and the ability to text friends while in the air. → Snacks and Drinks — Simple offerings that are honestly not half bad compared to economy meals on other carriers. → Affordability — High value for the price point, making it a likely choice for future travel. Note — Sadly, there was no alcohol available duri...

Gear Review New Anker Power Core 10400 A budget-friendly solution for everyday portable charging 10.4 Capacity (Ah) 12 Max Output (Watts) ~$20 Price Section I Overview of the Power Core 10400 After my previous 8 and 10 amp power banks reached the end of their lives, I decided it was time for an upgrade. I have been wanting to add an Anker device to my tech lineup for a while, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to make the switch to the Anker Power Core 10400.   Performance and Limitations While the $20 price point is certainly attractive, it is important to note that this is an older model in the Anker lineup. Its primary limitation is the charging speed. → Max Output — 12 watts, which is sufficient for smaller accessories but significantly slower than the 15-45 watt fast chargers modern smartphones require. → Charging Speed — Because of the 12-watt ceiling, this device can take a long time to charge larger, power-hungry handsets. → Portability — Despite the wattage ...