Modern Simple Living

Gear Review Building My Fountain Pen Ink Collection *Exploring the vibrant world of Pilot Iroshizuku inks* 15 mL Sample Size 5 Current Colors ~27 Total Goal Section I The Latest Addition I recently received a delightful gift: a 3-pack sampler of Pilot brand Iroshizuku ink. This set includes 15 mL samples of three beautiful colors:   → Syo-Ro — A deep, teal-leaning green. → Ama-Iro — A bright, sky-blue ink. → Fuyu-Gaki — A vibrant, persimmon-inspired orange. I'm thrilled to add these to my growing collection of fountain pen inks, which now includes five Iroshizuku colors: Kon-Peki and Murusaki Shikibu are already in my arsenal. First Impressions with Ama-Iro I inked one of my Pilot Metropolitan pens with Ama-Iro and was pleasantly surprised by its lighter shade of blue. Initially, it looked quite similar to Kon-Peki, but once dried, I noticed the following differences: Attribute Ama-Iro Kon-Peki Initial Look Light/Fresh Darker Dry Appearance Light/Fresh Lightens to match Ama-Ir...

Gear Review Simplifying My Wardrobe with Uniqlo Navigating fast fashion to build a collection of reliable essentials. 5 Items Purchased 9 Total Goal $3.90 Lowest Price Section I The Quest for Simplicity In my quest to simplify my wardrobe, I decided to give Uniqlo a try, despite my skepticism about the quality of fast fashion retailers. I've had mixed results with brands like Zara, H&M, and Old Navy, particularly in finding basic essentials. Here's a summary of my experience so far: T-Shirts: Impressive Quality → Supima Cotton — A soft, high-quality fabric option for daily wear. → Dry Packaged — A functional line of t-shirts that impressed me, especially for the price point. → Size Challenge — I experienced difficulty finding my size; as someone between medium and large, I generally opt for large, hoping it shrinks slightly for a better fit. Oxford Shirts: Satisfied → Short Sleeve Oxford — I found a nice light blue oxford short sleeve shirt, which I’m very happy with....

Everyday Living Outdoor Day: Walking and Coffee A productive balance of movement, caffeine, and study. 5 Miles 19 Pace 2 Meals/Stops Section I Morning Routine I had a productive day that included a 5-mile walk at a 19-minute/mile pace. My morning started with a visit to a local favorite to fuel up before hitting the pavement. → Cappuccino at Olive & Oliver — A high-quality cappuccino that served as the perfect pick-me-up before beginning my walk.   Walk Details The route was refreshing and led me to a classic post-walk reward. → Distance — 5 miles total. → Pace — 19 minutes per mile. → Ending Location — I finished my walk at Denny's for lunch, enjoying a well-deserved meal after my exercise. Tip: If you are walking in the heat, aim for earlier hours or check the forecast to plan your finish near a hydration or dining stop. Section II Afternoon Plans I still plan on taking a hike later in the afternoon when it cools down and becomes less sunny. I’ll also continue studyi...

Gear & Style Adidas Clothing Haul 50% off — two new pieces for the collection 2 Items Purchased 50% Sale Discount ~$45 Total Spent I recently took advantage of a 50% off sale at my local Adidas store and picked up two items: a track jacket in red/black stripes and a navy/white stripe windbreaker. I'm quite pleased with both of them! What I Got Product Reviews Track Jacket → Style — Red/black stripes → Use — Great for indoor wear, but not very warm outdoors. The material tends to let the breeze through, making it less effective for cooler weather. Windbreaker → Style — Navy/white stripes → Use — Phenomenal! It's very lightweight, keeps me warm outdoors, and is water-resistant. This piece has quickly become a favorite for its practicality. ...

Food & Drink Coffee Experience at Sidecar *Exploring the nuanced preparation of a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.* 1 Coffee 1 Study Session 5 Chapter Section I The Sidecar Coffee Experience I decided to treat myself to a good cup of coffee and went with the Sidecar. The drink had a delightful flavor that reminded me a lot of a Cappuccino, but I suspect it's actually more of a Latte Macchiato.   Defining the Difference Despite their similar ingredients, the order of preparation really changes the experience. Here is how they break down: → Cappuccino — Espresso first, followed by steamed milk, topped with milk foam. → Latte Macchiato — Steamed milk first, then espresso added, and also topped with milk foam. Tip: The sequence of ingredients significantly impacts the texture and flavor profile of your espresso-based beverage. Feature Cappuccino Latte Macchiato Base Layer Espresso Steamed Milk Middle Steamed Milk Espresso Topping Milk Foam Milk Foam Productive Sips I appreciated t...

Gear Review New Leather Watch Band for Apple Watch An affordable upgrade for daily comfort $10 Price 1 Accessory 0 Discomfort Section I The Upgrade I recently purchased a new leather watch band for my Apple Watch. The original rubber band was irritating my skin after prolonged use, making the watch almost unwearable at times. Comfort and Value → Comfort — The leather band has significantly improved the comfort and overall wearability of the Apple Watch. It feels much better against my skin and allows me to wear the watch for extended periods without discomfort. → Value — I found this leather band to be a great deal at about $10 on Amazon, making it an affordable upgrade. Aesthetic Considerations The only minor error I made was in choosing the band; I own a dark grey watch, and the end links for this strap are silver chrome. However, this mismatch is barely noticeable to me, so it doesn't detract from my overall satisfaction with the purchase. Tip: When buying third-party bands,...

Wine Review 2019 Liquor Purchase Overview *Building a bourbon baseline for the new year* 1 Bottle 750 mL Volume 4 Varieties Mentioned Section I Section I — The 2019 Kickoff For my first purchase of 2019, I deviated from my initial plan and picked up a 750 mL bottle of Jim Beam. I was looking for an entry-level bourbon to help me compare and contrast flavors with Wild Turkey 101, and Jim Beam turned out to be a perfect choice.   Tasting Notes → Flavor Profile — Jim Beam is sweet and smooth but otherwise quite bland. This characteristic is beneficial when switching to Wild Turkey 101, as it accentuates the more robust flavor profile of the latter. → Price Point — I appreciate the affordability of Jim Beam, making it a very palatable drink for casual enjoyment. Jim Beam serves as an excellent reference point for understanding bourbon flavors and calibrating your palate for more complex spirits. Section II Section II — Future Plans While I plan to add another bottle of Jim Beam ev...

Gear Review Apple Watch Experience Overview *Reflecting on long-term usage, ecosystem integration, and the future of wearable tech* ~7 Years Ownership 3 Years Target Upgrade 2022 Future Goal Table of Contents ① Section I — Return to the Apple Watch ② Section II — Drawbacks of the Apple Watch ③ Section III — Future Upgrades ④ Section IV — Desired Features for Future Apple Watches Section I Section I — Return to the Apple Watch I have owned my Apple Watch Series 2 since April 2017 , and while I wore it regularly throughout most of 2017 , I transitioned back to traditional wristwatches in 2018 . However, I began wearing my Apple Watch consistently again in October 2018 .   What Brought Me Back? The primary reason for my return was convenience . The Apple Watch integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem, serving as my main access point for: → Alerts and notifications — immediate pings and updates → Messages and phone calls — staying connected without the handset → Music contr...

Food & Drink A Year in Spirits: 2018 Review and 2019 Strategy Reflecting on consumption habits, budget planning, and building a curated home bar. 12 Bottles 8 Liters $404 Total Spent Section I 2018 Retrospective In 2018, I purchased about 12 bottles of liquor, totaling 8 liters for $404. This total includes an estimated $65 value for a gifted bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. This averages out to roughly 1 bottle per month, which aligns perfectly with my expectations.   Bourbon Exploration I decided to increase my bourbon consumption to 33% of my total liquor intake to broaden my horizons. Initially, I found bourbons to be a bit too sweet, which sometimes overpowered the tasting experience I prefer with Scotch whisky. However, after regularly sampling bourbon, I realized I wanted to keep a bottle on hand to enjoy a dram now and then, balancing it with my whisky pours. House of Johnnie It's no surprise that I lean heavily towards Johnnie Walker. About 25% of my total consumption...