Tag: life

life curation · reading list

Highlights from “Outliers”

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Well, dear friends, I finally finished “Outliers”. As you all are aware, this tome has been on my reading list for several weeks (actually several years, but let’s not judge). I have actually squeezed in a couple of other books since I posted about “Outliers”, but those were rereads and not particularly applicable to the content of this blog. However, I set a firm date for when I’d finish this book, and that motivated me to get focused.

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If there is any singular thing I took away from “Outliers”, it’s this: success isn’t the result of a sole action/incident. The most noteworthy successes are the result of a “perfect storm” of conditions, attitudes, timing, and serendipity. There are many things we can control about achieving success, but many other things are the exterior elements beyond our control. Fortunately, there are instances where even what appears to be obstacles or downright walls separating us from our desires are actually the catalyst behind getting the skills needed to rise above everyone else and achieve unprecedented success.

Here are some of the highlights I gleaned during my reading of “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.

  • The infamous “10,000 Hour Rule” is best supported by serendipitous timing, but the expertise gained from continual practice can still put you lightyears ahead of the pack.
  • Having a genius IQ is great, but without other advantages (like personality, connections, or wealth), it isn’t a guarantee of success. In fact, without those other supporting attributes, being a genius can be a frustrating path.
  • Community and network are CRUCIAL to success. The influence of community and network is particularly powerful as children, as this molds identity and behaviors that will remain throughout your lifetime.

I can’t recommend this book enough! I plan to hand this off to a few friends that could use the information.

Have you all read “Outliers”? What was your favorite takeaway? Let me know in the comments below!

food · travel

Flashback to Cruise 2016, Pt. 3

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Cheers to the end of the work week! Gorgeous Friday, we’ve been waiting for you LOL!

I’ve already talked about last year’s cruise in this post and in this one. This final post will discuss one of the most popular parts of cruising: the cuisine!

IMG_0382(Asian-inspired salmon entree)

One of the perks of cruise vacations is the extensive list of food options. Cruises offer both complimentary and fee-based dining options. Don’t let the word “complimentary” alarm you: there are many fine dining options included in this category. In fact, the default “dinner” offered with many cruise lines are set up in luxurious dining rooms with detail-oriented waitstaff. In addition to fine dining, there are also buffet options for those that want even more variety, as well as complimentary room service that offers a wide variety of delicious options delivered directly to your cabin.

 

(Standard appetizers: miso soup and spring rolls)

The Anthem of the Seas is a little different from traditional cruises. The Anthem didn’t set up travelers with a “default” dinner option. All of the fine restaurants on the ship required a reservation in advance. Guests could view and select reservation options from their cabin or on computer monitors located at the service desk and in front of each of the restaurants.

Each of the restaurants had themes, including upscale luxury, fine American, eclectic and elegant Asian. I enjoyed my time at each of them. For me, the emphasis on excellent service and pristine presentation are what made the dining memorable. It didn’t hurt that the food was delicious, as well.

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(My favorite themed restaurant was Silk. This one featured an Asian fusion menu)

Here are some photos of the dishes that I tried. I’ll add names for what I can remember, but forgive me for forgetting some of them: it’s been over a year.

 

(Left to right: Lobster, polenta, a lobster rolls and fries, and seafood bisque)

 

(an incredible seafood crostade, mixed green salad, peach bisque with strawberry garnish)

 

(Top row: Caramel pie, a puff pastry with mango coulis, green tea cheesecake. Bottom row: mochi and chocolate cake with chocolate ganache)

Thanks for checking out the Flashback to Cruise 2016 series! I can’t wait to share more of my adventures with you all 🙂

life curation · style

Transition to Fall

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I absolutely despise having to let go of summer.

Yes, I know that I do this every year. But, truthfully, it never gets any easier.

Sunshine and warm weather make me feel ALIVE. I bloom during the summertime. And who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t want to BLOOM?

So then transition to fall and cooler temps is probably my least favorite time of year. Not necessarily because it feels uncomfortable, but because I like longer days and not having to opt for jackets in the morning.

But there is an upside to cooler days – more glamorous fashion LOL! I love fall clothing, especially tailored dresses in slightly heavier fabrics, longer sleeves and richer colors. I still stick to the old rule of “no white after Labor Day”, so I pack up my bright white clothes early in September. But I promptly break out my jewel toned garments that look perfectly appropriate for the cooler days ahead.

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(I don’t even watch Scandal, but every time I see a photo of Kerry Washington’s fashions, I’m inspired. Come on – who WOULDN’T want to look this glamorous during the fall/winter? Photo courtesy of ThisIsGlamorous.com)

My coloring is well suited to the typical “Winter” palette colors (as first explained by the Color Me Beautiful system). So rich, pure colors, cool undertones, and sumptuous fabrics work really well for me. Truth be told, the wardrobe options are the only things that keep me going during the winter.

That, and knee-high boots. I live for knee-high boots.

I had to update my wardrobe and get some better fall/winter ensembles, so I ordered a few things. I also want to get a capsule wardrobe going, so I’ll have to get a bit organized and figure out what items are belong in my set of core “must haves”, and which items can be either stored or given away to charity.  I’ll review my purchases soon, but in the meantime, do you all have any favorite things about the fall/winter that you’d like to share? Please let me know in the comments below!

 

art · travel

Flashback to Cruise 2016, Pt. 2

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If you missed Part 1 of this series, check it out here.

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I mentioned that I would have an upcoming post about the ship’s decor, so here it is! I wish I had taken more photos, but I’ll share what I have.

I cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas when I went to Bermuda in 2016. As with every ship that I’ve enjoyed, there is an abundance of art in the corridors.

I believe that being surrounded by art – even if they are just good replicas of more famous pieces – adds a luxurious feel to any space. While the overall feel of luxury will come from a combination of ship staff, amenities, dining options, ports of call and fellow passengers, the decor can do a lot for setting the tone.

What was fun and unique about this cruise was that the ship incorporated inspirational quotes as artwork. These lined the halls where the guests cabins were located.

The ship didn’t stop with the framed artwork: art could be found on the elevators, too.

The art I enjoyed most, however, was the artfully folded towels that were prepared every evening while I ate dinner. My room steward was a doll that could expertly fold a towel into just about anything that you could imagine. The photo below was my favorite: it was a towel lotus.

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Thanks for stopping by and reading! Part 3 will be available soon. Until then, take care!

food · international

Review: People’s Bao Food Truck

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People’s Bao food truck has been on my “to try” list for a few months now. I’ve craved delicious Chinese style buns since my trip to China last year. I was blown away by the flavor of Momofuku’s mushroom buns (which I reviewed here). But I saw the rave reviews of People’s Bao on Yelp and I was eager to give it a whirl.

The truck finally arrived close to my building, and I seized the opportunity. I ordered the Portabella buns and Portabella rice bowl. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I figured that if the food was half as good as Momofuku, I would fare well.

Here’s the good, bad and otherwise:

The Portabella mushrooms were ample but not particularly flavorful. They would have benefited from marinating in a sauce that would infuse the mushrooms with flavor. Also, since these mushrooms are thicker than the shiitake ones used by Momofuku, they didn’t cook to the bacon-like crispiness of the last buns I tried.

The sauce added to the bun was spicy enough but fairly indescribable. I can’t name anything that it tasted like, other than “spice”. Also, this was another bun creation where the filling  was folded in the bun like a sandwich, instead of being fully encased in the bun bread (like the buns served during dim sum).

As far as the rice bowl? Meh. Lots of delicious, fresh veggies but, again, not a lot of flavor. I tried to like it, but I couldn’t. I eat primarily vegetarian meals but I still love flavor, and this dish came up lacking.

The best part of the meal was the watermelon garnish that I found in the bottom of my bag! I initially thought the ramekins contained a sauce to add to my entrees, and I was excited at the thought of something savory being in the bag. But, as it turns out, the ramekins contained small chunks of sweet, ripe watermelon instead. That was an unexpected treat, and a nice accent to an otherwise forgettable meal.

I’m adding some stock photos for context, but I didn’t photograph this meal, because it simply wasn’t worth it.

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This photo from DCist looks exactly like the bun that I received.

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In a nutshell? I wouldn’t order again. It’s possible that this was just an “off” day, but I’d rather pay a few more dollars and have guaranteed tastiness at Momofuku. Maybe one day I’ll be adventurous enough to give it another go, but for now, I have to decline returning to People’s Bao.

international · travel

Flashback to Cruise 2016, Pt. 1

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I haven’t gone on a true vacation since last October. My current job is demanding (though enjoyable) so I won’t be able to really get away until November. In the meantime, I’m looking back fondly at my last vacation, which was a cruise to Bermuda.

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I cruised with Royal Caribbean; the ship was the Anthem of the Seas. I’ve sailed with both RC and Carnival Cruises, and I almost always prefer RC. I’ve found that the service, dining options, and overall ambiance of RC is more luxurious than Carnival. However, I’m still looking for other cruise lines to try, and I’m positive that I could have an even more luxurious experience with a different line.

The trip wasn’t very long – 5 days – but it was just enough time to recharge me. I sailed from Cape Liberty in New Jersey, USA. Two short days on the water later, and I was stepping foot onto the Royal Naval Dockyard in Kings Wharf, Bermuda. The ship remained docked there for two days before sailing back to Cape Liberty.

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I was focused on relaxation this time around, as opposed to exploring the island, so I didn’t see a lot of the island. I did take the ferry to Hamilton, which was nice. I’m including a few photos from Kings Wharf and Hamilton, Bermuda.

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Have any of you cruised with Royal Caribbean, or have you taken a trip to Bermuda? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! Stay tuned for the next installments, where I discuss the ship, the dining options offered, and the artwork on board!

life curation · luxury

Luxury Indulgences As Self-Care

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Part of my metamorphosis includes a good deal of reflection. After all, how do you know where you want to go if you aren’t honest about where you’ve been? And, if where you’ve been is a place that you don’t want to return, wouldn’t it be wise to know HOW you got there, and WHAT you found uncomfortable about your journey?

During one of my reflection sessions, I realized that I had denied myself certain luxuries. On the surface, the reason for denying myself these luxuries was simple: I didn’t have the money.

But was that REALLY true? Or was it something else: something deeper, something that wasn’t linked to the “external” (like monetary abundance)?

Of course, denying myself the luxuries had nothing to do with my income. I looked at my salary then, and there was enough “money” coming in. The decision to avoid certain purchases had everything to do with my self-esteem. Yes, my self-esteem was “in the basement”, as I like to put it (I have a post about how I boosted my self-esteem coming soon). I felt awful about myself because of some missteps that I made in my journey.

But as my self-esteem improved, I started examining my daily self care. What I saw horrified me: I had been treating myself worst that anyone else ever could have! And I looked squarely at how much I was investing in myself, and I saw how much I’d fallen off of my former routine.

My first order of business was buying the most expensive pair of shoes that I could comfortably justify in my mind. I found a gorgeous pair of Diane Von Furstenberg high heeled pumps, in tan suede. I was giddy about my purchase, and, as I mentioned previously, these shoes were more costly than any others I’d ever bought before.

 

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(image courtesy of Clipart Library)

I wore them four times over a three year period.

Don’t worry, I’ll wear them again. But the “juice” I got from the purchase was the feeling of buying such a luxurious pair of shoes. And while I understand “retail therapy”, this was something more significant than shopping “for a high”.

The shoes signal that I’M WORTH IT.

I’m worth being surrounded by beauty, luxury, and good things. I’m worthy of being treated well, looking good, and living a high quality life. The shoes are an emblem representing the “switch” from low self-esteem to restored esteem. It’s almost like a sigil: these shoes had a nearly magical effect on my life.

Even though they’ve only been worn four times.

I don’t have to purchase luxury shoes every time I need to engage in self-care. Luxury comes in so many forms: perfectly prepared and pleasingly presented meals, soaking in intoxicatingly perfumed baths, sleeping on clean, sumptuous sheets, taking long walks on crisp days … All luxury. After all, luxury is, at its heart, intense indulgent, and indulgence is about GENEROSITY. In this case, it’s about being generous with YOURSELF. And you deserve it. You deserve it more than you could ever know …

Do you all have any “go-to” luxury indulgences? Please let me know in the comments below!

culture

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

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I don’t have many words for this post, because this is a solemn landmark not too far from my job.

I toured the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during one of my lunch breaks. As a habit, I try to go somewhere new and do something different several times a week during the warmer months. Truthfully, I keep up this routine as long as I can, for as many days as I can, each week. But taking walks during the chilly winter months isn’t always my highest joy, so sometimes I’ll skip it.

Anyway, I digress. Here are the photos I took at the memorial. May the officers that have served honorably and lost their lives in the line of duty continue to rest peacefully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

reading list

Book Review: Lessons from Madame Chic

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At some time in 2015, I started working out consistently and getting serious about overhauling my life. When I decided to change my life, I started looking for guides to assist me on this journey.

As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. By chance, I came across the YouTube channel of Jennifer L. Scott, who had a blog named The Daily Connoisseur. Jennifer is also the author of the Madame Chic series. Her first book, Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living In Paris, discusses the different tips she gleaned while living in Paris during a semester abroad.

I adored Jennifer’s sweet demeanor and I was intrigued by her effortless, classic style. So I watched her videos and purchased the book.

Let me just say now, if you are ready to get really disciplined about your life, this book is a good place to start. The French approach to style, diet, exercise, and social behavior are drastically different from what we’re taught as Americans.

The most unique aspect of the book is the Ten Item Wardrobe concept. Jennifer discusses this concept in depth on her YT channel, but the gist of it is this: a wardrobe is built around ten core items, and a few “extras” to flesh it out. This sparse wardrobe allows you to concentrate on developing a signature style that suits your lifestyle and your taste. This approach is not only economical but liberating: fewer items mean more consistent style and easier morning routines.

My main takeaway from the book was the underlying motivation behind the French philosophy. The French aesthetic is rooted in discipline and focus, while Americans tend to be acquisitive and decadent. I believe the two approaches can be bridged, but that requires a thorough examination of both perspectives. I really enjoyed learning about the French approach to life, and I found this book was an excellent guide!

Have you read Lessons from Madame Chic? What did you think of it? Please let me know in the comments below!