Modern Simple Living

Gear Review Welcome Back, Armani AR0585 *Revisiting a classic beater watch that defines affordable style* $65 Price 43mm Dial 5 ATM Resistance Section I The Return of a Favorite I took the plunge and repurchased the Armani AR0585 —a model I used to own years ago and regretted selling. It served as the perfect beater watch, and I was lucky to find it again at about the same price I sold it for, but in even better condition! For $65 , this watch is an absolute steal. It’s a shame that Armani doesn’t produce watches like this anymore.   Technical Specifications → Dial Size — 43mm → Lug Width — 23mm → Movement — Quartz (Miyota OS20) → Battery — SR927W (equivalent to 395/399) → Chronograph — 3 registers at 3, 6, and 9 dial positions → Water Resistance — 5 ATM (50 meters) → Material — Stainless steel with a deployment clasp → Comparable Model — AR0527 (features a rubber strap instead of a metal bracelet) Domed vs. Flat Crystal One of the standout features of the AR0585 is its d...

Food & Drink Simple Pleasures: Mr. Brown Iced Coffee *Finding joy in a convenient, creamy classic.* 8.12 oz Size $1 Price ~2 Cans Weekly Consumption Section I The Daily Pick-Me-Up It's often the simple things in life that bring us the greatest joy, and for me, that includes enjoying a can of iced coffee from Mr. Brown. This Taiwanese brand has become a favorite of mine, and I can usually find these 8.12-ounce cans for about $1 at various stores around town.   Flavor Variety Mr. Brown offers several flavors, but so far, my favorite has been Cappuccino. The rich, creamy taste is perfect for a quick pick-me-up! Consumption & Lifestyle I tend to limit myself to 1 or 2 cans per week, making it a welcome treat rather than an everyday indulgence. As the hotter summer months approach, I anticipate enjoying them even more. There’s something refreshing about sipping on an iced coffee while soaking up the sunshine. Feature Detail Brand Mr. Brown Typical Cost $1.00 Serving Size 8.12 ...

Food & Drink Weekend Coffee Ritual Finding the balance between professional development and weekend indulgence 2 Cups Per Week $5 Price per Shop Cappuccino $0.20 Price per Work Coffee Section I The Weekend Ritual I've been savoring cappuccinos at one of my favorite local coffee shops. Typically, I treat myself to a cup on either Saturday or Sunday, using the time to read a book or study more of the Kimball Data Warehouse material.   Balancing Indulgence with Budget To manage my budget, I’m trying to limit myself to 1 or 2 cups a week, as those delightful drinks can easily run $5 each. During the week, I stick to Starbucks ground coffee at work, which costs only about 20 cents a cup. It’s a great way to balance indulgence with practicality. Coffee Source Frequency Cost Local Coffee Shop 1–2 per week $5.00 Office Coffee Daily $0.20 Tip: Creating a specific budget for weekend treats makes the experience feel like a reward rather than an expense, helping you savor the quality ...

Gear Review Uniqlo Supima Cotton T-Shirt Experience A cautionary tale on international sizing and finding the perfect fit 10 Shirts $50 Cost 2 Countries Section I The Sizing Discrepancy I recently had a bit of an adventure with Uniqlo's Supima Cotton T-shirts. After struggling to find a Large size at my local store in the U.S., I asked a friend in Japan to pick some up for me. I was excited to order five shirts, confident that I’d finally have the perfect fit.   The Disappointment However, when the shirts arrived, I was shocked to find that the Japan size Large fits more like an American size Medium. This discrepancy was frustrating, especially since I had done some research, but it turns out that vanity sizing often leads to differences in sizes between countries. After realizing that the shirts wouldn’t work for me, I gave them away to another friend. Just by luck, I decided to check my local Uniqlo store, and they had finally restocked Large sizes. I purchased five of the Sup...

Gear Review Review of Apple AirPods (1st Generation) *Five months of everyday listening in the Apple ecosystem* 5 Months Owned 8 Hours Battery $159 Retail Price Section I Overall Impressions The Apple AirPods have been around for several years, and I'm currently using the 1st Generation model, which I acquired about five months ago in December 2018. Overall, I've found them to be a convenient addition to my tech collection.   The Good → Battery Life — The battery life is impressive; I can get about 8 hours of listening time daily, and they last me several days without needing a recharge. → Ease of Use — They sync effortlessly with my iPhone and other Apple devices, which enhances the overall user experience. → Build Quality — Like most Apple products, the AirPods are well made and designed to integrate seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem. The Average → Sound Quality — While the sound quality is decent for casual listening, they don't compare to wired headphones. Even ...

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. ...