Current Mood

Reading... Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence.  Ever since we paid off our mortgage two years ago, we've shifted our focus to retirement savings. It's a way off but definitely something one needs to plan for. FIRE (financial independence and early retirement) is something we've become more interested in recently. The financial independence component is particularly appealing and it's apparently quite achievable if one is willing to make certain changes including spending less, saving more and living frugally which we already do anyway. We might need to make some changes in how we invest our money.

Watching... Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji). Okay this is technically a rewatch. I used to be quite into anime and this was a favorite. It's so deliciously dark with flashes of humor.  My doll Ian started out as Sebastian Michaelis, the titular Black Butler in this series and he looked like this when I first got him. Ian's had some work done since Rena wasn't crazy about him being a demon butler LOL. Well the demon part anyway. His butler outfit is kinda hot. Ian's eyes are grey now and he has a different hairstyle. Since I featured a photo Rena in my last post, people have asked if I will be doing more photo shoots with her and Ian and the answer is that I hope so. Doll photography is not as easy as it may seem. It's not a matter of just plopping them down somewhere and taking photos. It involves coming up with a concept, dressing and posing them properly and making sure they're well lit. Their eyes are so tricky because they suck up some much light. You can find Ian and Rena's stories here.

Listening... to John Lloyd Young's My Turn. This is on heavy rotation again after we went to see him perform at the Café Carlyle last week which was amazing btw. He's such a captivating and talented performer and a true vocal artist. What really sets him apart is his emotional resonance in that he can make you feel every word he sings. He also has a remarkable ability to make a song you've heard many times sound totally new and uniquely his. As someone who writes about beauty, I have to mention that the man has excellent skin. I'd love to know if he has a routine. You can learn more about JLY on his website.

Eating... century egg & salted pork congee (皮蛋瘦肉粥). Haven't had much of an appetite lately and this is my comfort food. The last time I made it regularly was after my husband had dental work. Cooking it on an induction burner is kind of a pain but I discovered a way to reduce the cooking time to 30 minutes by putting the marinated rice into the freezer the day before. This method helps to break it down so much more quickly when cooking. I use brown rice. Please keep your fingers crossed that we might get our gas back this month. This whole ordeal with Con Edison has been ridiculous.

Drinking... miso soup. I need more probiotics since I'm in the midst of an antibiotic protocol and this is a delicious way to do that. I love having it for breakfast.

Excited... that baseball is back. Well it's spring training but there are televised games during spring training. The Yankees look to be really good again this year and their bullpen is stacked. They need to be better about hitting with RISP. I can't believe it's been 10 years since they last won it all. My friends and I had such a blast at the parade in 2009.

Loving... our new Dyson V8 Absolute Vacuum. I've been coveting one of these for awhile and when our old vacuum decided to die recently, I knew exactly what to replace it with. The cordless stick configuration is really efficient, easily convertible and the suction is incredible. And it's so quiet. Yes it is expensive but our last vacuum was like $60 and I think this will be worth it on a cost per use basis just like our Dyson Supersonic. I live in Manhattan and I like to open my terrace door so I have to vacuum often. Don't miss my best practices for a clean and organized home!

Mixing... old and new.  I wore this outfit when we went to see John Lloyd Young. When I put it  together I knew these Frye boots which are about 10 years old and in really good condition would look perfect with this Zara dress and my new J. Crew tuxedo blazer (yes I do buy off my own wish lists).  I wore a pair of Uniqlo Heattech leggings instead of tights which was much warmer. I probably wouldn't have been able to get away with that if I went with the shorts I originally planned on.

Thank you so much for all the kind words and support on my personal update! Being proactive is so important when it comes to our health.

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