Modern Simple Living

Costco Wine Haul for the 2025 Holiday Season Getting Ready for the Holidays I stocked up on a few wines from Costco for the 2025 holiday season—something for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. I love GSM blends from Côtes du Rhône, so I was drawn to the Bordeaux and Priorat options. Costco’s European wines continue to deliver great value compared to California bottles, though Paso Robles is catching up. I’m still not ready to spend $80–100 on Napa Cabs, so the $20–40 range at Costco is perfect. I’ve tried three of the four wines so far, saving the Priorat for Christmas. 2019 Reignac - Bulk Buy This one blew me away. It had everything I love—great aroma, smooth texture with a touch of dryness, and a clean finish. At $30, it rivals far pricier Bordeaux labels. I bought several more and plan to let a few age. 2023 Pauillac - Bulk Buy Another hit. For $20, this is a fantastic deal. I tried it after the Reignac, so I’ll need to revisit it on its own, but I liked it enough t...

Texas Roadhouse Bone-In Ribeye: Their Best Steak I recently tried the bone-in ribeye at Texas Roadhouse after years of ordering their regular steaks — and now I wish I had discovered it sooner.  The flavor and juiciness are on another level. The bone helps keep the steak tender and adds that rich, steakhouse taste I usually only find at higher-end places. At $30.99 for a 20-ounce cut, it’s an incredible deal. You get a big, flavorful steak that easily beats most others on the menu. If you usually stick with the sirloin or boneless ribeye, do yourself a favor and try the bone-in next time — it’s the best steak Texas Roadhouse serves. As I learn more about steaks, the bone-in ribeye is a secondary cut from the larger ribeye subprimal which is from the rib primal, 1-of-8 primal cuts.  The other popular primal is from the loin that yields filet mignon, NY strip, T-Bone and Porterhouse.

Footwear · New Balance · Review Stepping Out of the Box: My First Pair of New Balance 515s From Nike and Adidas to a vintage-inspired walker built for real-world comfort $50 Paid (down from $75) 7–9k Daily Steps 10W Size · Navy Table of Contents ① Moving Beyond Nike & Adidas ② A Solid Find: The 515 ③ That Retro Feel ④ Cushioning That Feels Real ⑤ Building a Smarter Rotation Section I Moving Beyond Nike and Adidas For years, the rotation stayed with what worked: Nike and Adidas. Air Force 1s, Stan Smiths, Air Jordans, and Nike Milers were the daily lineup. But after logging 7–9k steps a day, something shifted — a craving for something different, built more for walking comfort than style alone. → N...

Style · Budget · Personal Finance 2026 Wardrobe and Reflections on My 5-Year Spending Patterns Intentional purchases, high-value basics, and long-term wear — a system refined over five years $934 2026 Budget $5,017 5-Year Total $60/wk Weekly Allowance Table of Contents ① Funding Source ② 2026 Budget Overview ③ Annual Spending 2022–2026 ④ Spending by Category Section I Funding Source As 2025 comes to a close, the focus turns to refining the wardrobe and budget for 2026. Over the past few years, a system has taken shape that prioritizes intentional purchases, high-value basics, and long-term wear. This year is about thoughtful upgrades, smart replacements, and sticking with what works. What was surprising was how much goes tow...