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I am not alone. I am a party of one.

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I get that a lot... Aren't you lonely? Should I be lonely? I live alone. I travel alone. I eat alone, even at the finest restaurants. I go to bars alone although it's rare. I go to the opera alone. I see plays alone. I go to concerts alone. Not always alone, but I am comfortable with being alone... Go, seek, and do it alone. When something I want to do pops up, my instinct is to do it. I rarely have that moment when I am like... I need to find someone to do it with. When I invite others to join me, their presence isn't often required unless you know... It requires a minimum of two people. Rare, but it happens. Lunch for a party of one at Kinkan That word, alone, is misleading. Isn't it? Perhaps, it is how we've been taught to understand that alone means lonely and thus unhappy. Is it unhealthy that I prefer a company of none, often a book at restaurants, rather than a human?  I advocate that it is healthier than developing intimate relationships with an AI. Perhaps,
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Afrutada, a cocktail recipe

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It is simply named Afrutada, a feminine noun in Spanish that translates to fruity in English, to honor the origin of white guava in the cocktail. The cocktail is gently sweet with a refreshing tartness. It is the perfect cocktail to enjoy a lazy afternoon with when you have white guavas in hand. MIX IT UP!  In a sixteen fluid-ounce glassware half filled with small ice cubes, add below in the order listed: two slices of white guava one slice of lemon two strawberries, halved two twigs of peppermint one can of Q SPECTACULAR tonic water , 7.5 fluid ounce a half shot of vodka a hard squeeze of another lemon slice, discard this slice Stir and mix with a bamboo straw and serve.
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Style LookBook: November 2024

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Casual chic with a glimmer of sophistication, this Style LookBook narrates a day of urbanista effortlessly conquering her day. [TOP] ALTUZARRA Grainge Cashmere Open Neck Sweater [JEANS] FRAME Le High High Rise Straight Leg Jeans in Calvin [BOOTS] FRANCO SARTO Jasmine Block Heel Boot [COAT] ALO YOGA Quilted Perfection Puffer [BAG] TEDDY BLAKE Gigi Stampatto 13" ps: While all items are curated by me, I earn commissions from retailers on purchased items. pss: Items shown are not shown in scale.
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Hunger

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It was back in January. I wanted a proper afternoon tea with a book, so I made a reservation for one at The Living Room in The Peninsula Beverly Hills. I sat with Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life and indulged in a lovely afternoon tea until I was surprised by a parade of cakes. I realized that every table was celebrating a birthday, and not another table was being occupied simply to enjoy the afternoon tea. I pondered and smiled at the reminder that I don't save good china for special occasions. Afternoon Tea at The Living Room Special occasions... Those words lingered in my mind. The only thing guaranteed in life from the first breath to the very last breath we take is death. Birth and all the days we lived seem almost infinitesimal compared to today, our present. To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called the present." I like that saying, the best present is the present. There are days
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Style LookBook: October 2024

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Autumn is upon us! I appreciate the cool breezes and gentle sunlight after summer's blazing heat. Some folks become pumpkin-obsessed, but I think of wine in the autumn months. Perhaps, it is because grape harvesting for winemakers in California is done from August to November. Another reason may be because the weather is cool enough to enjoy red wine while I tend to stick to white wine during the heat-intense months.  So! Last month, I took a day trip to Santa Barbara with a friend for wine tasting in its Funk Zone. We took Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner for our trip, which gave us time to chat and relax without the hassle of driving with serene views of the farmlands and ocean. We stopped by Melville Winery's lovely tasting room, shown above, where I picked up a delightful bottle of 2023 Grenache Estate Rosé. With the change of season and very welcomed cool temperature, I decided to switch the layout of this month's Style LookBook. Rather than showing the curated pieces in
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Miso Dressing

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We've had it. We know it is simply delicious. Miso dressing is a delightful way to dress up a salad with salmon, chicken, and steak. Shown above drizzled over Spring Mix greens in a salmon rice bowl, this miso dressing is a cinch to make.  INGREDIENTS two tablespoons of rice vinegar two tablespoons of vegetable oil one tablespoon of red miso one teaspoon of sesame oil one teaspoon of tomato paste one teaspoon of grated ginger one teaspoon of brown sugar Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and now you have delicious miso dressing. The dressing keeps well bottled in a refrigerator. 
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Korean Savory Egg Soufflé

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More commonly referred to as Korean Steamed Eggs, this Korean Savory Egg Soufflé recipe has been in the works for years with me, on and off. I wanted it to be quintessential to my Grandma's gyeranjjim, Korean Steamed Eggs, although I knew nothing could ever be like the ones Grandma used to make. Perhaps my pursuit to make the perfect Korean Savory Egg Soufflé was an homage to Grandma, whose memory makes me melancholy with longing aches.  While simple to make, this egg dish can be temperamental. I recommend using a  Korean clay pot when making Korean Egg Soufflé since I had much better success using the clay pot. Using both traditional and non-traditional ingredients, the recipe reflects the love my Grandma put into her cooking and my love for her.  INGREDIENTS two eggs, whisked a half teaspoon of salted fermented shrimp (saeujeot) a third cup of water a third cup of half-and-half two green onions, diced Bring water and half-and-half to simmer in a thick clay heat-safe pot over hig
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