Modern Simple Living

Travel Finally Staying in Los Angeles 5 visits, 2 years — and finally 2 nights to actually catch up with the city 2 Nights 5 Prior Visits 3 Days Table of Contents ① Day 1 — LAX & Hilton Hotel ② Day 2 — Santa Monica & El Segundo ③ Day 3 — The Grove & Departure I've been here 5 times in the 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 Flight In to LAX & Hilton Hotel Had some drinks and chilled.   Day 2 Santa Monica & Kagura Sushi in El Segundo Starbucks for breakfast. Then Santa Monica and finished off at Kagura for dinner. Fun, cruising about. → Starbucks — Breakfast to start the day → Sa...

Wine · Napa Valley Barnett Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon My first $100 bottle — a Napa Valley red that set the bar high $100 Price 2019 Vintage 10 yrs Ideal Aging The Bottle First Impressions 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.   Tasting Notes At a Glance Attribute Notes ...

Coffee & Café Reviews Fiction Coffee: The Best Espresso in DFW The benchmark after 30 coffee shops across the metroplex 30 DFW Shops Explored #1 Espresso Ranking The Espresso What Sets It Apart 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 — October 2024 Sadly, No More Sad to report, Fiction Coffee is no more. A benchmark lost — the search for DFW's best espresso continues. Fiction C...

Food & Restaurants El Gordo's: A New Taco Spot Worth Trying Just south of I-75 & 380 · North Texas Taco Tour 8 / 10 Rating #2 North Texas Ranking The Review Flavor Over Portion 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.   The Rankings North Texas Taco Standings Rank Spot Notes #1 Del Sur Top spot in North Texas — heftier portions #2 ...

Food · Tacos · McKinney Del Sur Taco A must-visit taco spot in McKinney, Texas — the Yelp hype is well earned 8.5 Rating / 10 The Review First Visit 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.   North Texas Taco Rankings Where Del Sur Stands Rank Restaurant Location Rating 1 Del Sur Taco M...

Tech & Gadgets My iPhone Journey: From the iPhone 5 to the iPhone Air 13+ years with Apple's flagship smartphones 2012 First iPhone 6 Models Owned 4–5 yr Target Upgrade Cycle Table of Contents ① The iPhone Timeline ② Upgrade Strategy ③ Favorite iPhone ④ Update — Sept 2024 ⑤ Update — Sept 2025 I've been an iPhone user since 2012, starting with the iPhone 5, and I'm now enjoying my current model, the iPhone Air. I still have most of my old iPhones in my collection.   Section I The iPhone Timeline Year Model Notes 2012 iPhone 5 All-time favorite — perfect size and sleek design 2016 iPhone 6s 4-year upgrade cycle ...

Gear Review AirPods 2nd Gen vs. PowerBeats 2 A personal comparison after several weeks of real-world use $60 AirPods (Sale) 2 hrs AirPods Battery Days PowerBeats Battery Background How I Got Both 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 & Purpose Different Tools for Different Jobs 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; compact and easily portable thanks to their sleek carrying case → PowerBeats — Designed for rugged use; ideal for outdoor activitie...

Coffee · Dallas Eiland Coffee: A New Favorite A Dallas roaster with standout espresso — and a few notes on what the bitterness tells us The Visit First Impressions I recently discovered a coffee shop called Eiland that roasts its own beans, and I was impressed by the quality of their espresso. While it had a bit of bitterness, I found it to be significantly better than many other shops I've tried in Dallas.   Tasting Notes Espresso Quality The espresso's bitterness indicates potential over-extraction, which could be due to several factors: → Grind Size — If the beans are too finely ground, it can lead to over-extraction → Water Volume — Using too much water can dilute the flavor, affecting the overall taste → Water Temperature — If the water is too hot, it can extract undesirable flavors → Extraction Time — A pour time of 45 seconds ...

Wine & Drinks Wine Haul Update: Expanding the Collection Bordeaux, Cabernet-Merlot blends, and affordable finds from Trader Joe's 24 Bottles in Rack $7.99 Fonbadet Price The Collection Current Wine Rack I've made more bulk buys, including some Bordeaux and Cabernet-Merlot blends. I'm eager to see how they compare, especially since I've been impressed by the Garnache and GSM blends. My wine rack is now full with 24 bottles, a feat made easy by the inexpensive yet delicious options available at Trader Joe's.   Tasting Notes Recent Highlights → Fonbadet Bordeaux — A pleasant surprise. Quite pleased with its flavor; plan to bulk buy alongside the La Sonrieta Grenache. → GSM Blends — Hopeful these will round out the collection nicely. Update — November 15, 2025 Fonbadet 2019 — Sti...

Coffee · Richardson Staycation Coffee A charming old house in Richardson — good atmosphere, mixed espresso 6 Espresso / 10 The Visit First Impressions I recently visited Staycation, a coffee shop located in an old house in Richardson, Texas. While it has a charming concept, my experience was mixed.   Coffee Quality What I Ordered Espresso I found the espresso to be sour, indicating it was under-extracted. However, it was still a step up from the over-extracted, bitter shots that North Texas is often known for. I would rate it 6 out of 10. Cortado This was a bit better, as the milk helped mask the sourness of the espresso. I can imagine the cappuccino would be comparable in quality. Overall Impression Where It Stands Shop Location Notes Rating Houndstooth Nea...