Current Mood

How is that we're almost halfway through December already?

Reading...

Bad Kids

Bad Kids is a riveting thriller/mystery that revolves around three kids who witness a murder. Instead of calling the police, they decide to blackmail the murderer and must find ways to stay ahead of him. This book is unpredictable, suspenseful and full of twists. I can see why it was named by NYPL as one of the best books of 2023.

Watching...

At The Moment & My Demon

At The Moment is a 10 episode anthology series examining different stories of love and loss that take place in Taiwan during the heart of the pandemic. They were probably trying to address isolation but I think that the pandemic setting detracts a bit the stories which are all different yet manage to intertwine, because it's not addressed seriously or consistently. That said it is an entertaining watch that makes us nostalgic for Taiwan and getting us back into speaking Mandarin more. The premise of My Demon is a demon entering into a contract marriage with a  heiress after losing his powers and this romantic comedy is every bit as fun and entertaining as it sounds like it would be. Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung have such terrific chemistry and look so good together.

Listening to....

DUAL by The Rose

I became a fan of The Rose in 2018 and my adoration for the indie pop/rock quartet from Korea has been reignited with their second studio album which features a diverse range of genres. The track Wonder, a lighthearted call for unity through the collective experience of music and dance has been getting the most play in our house and it also happens to be the band's favorite song to perform live on their current tour. The ultra catchy Back To Me is another great song.

Eating...

Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowls

Burrito bowls have been a staple meal in our house for years and in an effort to make them healthier, I've been subbing the rice with cauliflower or going half and half with rice and cauliflower rice. Of course I still do a lime cilantro seasoning. It's just as delicious and less heavy.

Cooking with...

Caraway Home Dutch Oven

I cook at home now more than ever so I've been upgrading my cookware whenever I see good deals. While I really wanted a cast iron Dutch oven, I knew I didn't want to deal with the care and maintenance so I had my eye on this one from Caraway which has an aluminum core, nonstick ceramic coating, and stainless steel handles. It works on induction, gas, and electric and is free of potentially toxic materials like PTFE (Teflon), PFOA, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, nickel, and toxic metals. I've been using this pot for braises and stir fries. It heats and cooks well and is so easy to clean. Plus it looks nice too.

Loving...

Theragun Mini Massage Gun

I included this in my Beauty & Wellness Gift Guide because I have fallen in love with our's after scoring one for almost 40% off during Black Friday. I've had other massage gun and there's a reason why Theragun is next level. This powerhouse helps to improve my workout recovery process and I look forward to taking it with us the next time we travel. Definitely could've used this when we were in Rhode Island where we walked so much every day. 

Following..

3-2-8 Workout Method

Popularized on TikTok, the 3-2-8 method has been hailed as the ultimate workout split that breaks down to 3 strength training workouts, two pilates workouts for mobility and flexibility, and  8,000 steps per day The rotation is designed to give recovery time to your muscles to recover, and the best part is that you can customize it to suit your exercise style and goals. I tend to alternate between 2 -3 strength training sessions and pilates depending on how I'm feeling and if my focus is on the upper or lower body. In addition to trying get to 8,00o steps daily, I also include 2 -3 full cardio workouts weekly because they are critical to my fitness goals. It's been a few months since I've adopted this practice and I like the structure it gives to my workouts. In combination with a 16/8 intermittent fasting schedule and just eating twice a day, I lost 10 pounds without even really trying. While I wasn't looking to lose weight, it's an added benefit and more importantly I've been building muscle and feeling more fit and stronger overall.

Visiting...

NYC Museums

After going to see Karl Lagerfeld A Line Of Beauty in the spring, we recently made another visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Manet/Degas exhibit, an exploration into the friendship and rivalry between Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas, two of the most influential artists of 19th-century French art. It was excellent and enlightening particularly as I', a fan of both artist' work. We've actually visited many museums this year including the Whitney, Cooper Hewitt, MOMA and more. The Museum of the City of New York was a real highlight and I will share a post on it soon. We have plans to go to the Guggenheim this month to view Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s.

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