“Boy kibble” is the new “girl dinner”

If you’re not chronically online like me (note: this is a good thing), then you probably are just hearing this term for the first time and are wondering to yourself, “Alex, literally what the f&@! do you mean you’re eating dog food?”

To which I say: don’t worry, it’s definitely not that (although word around the block does say dog food macros are insanely good…). Boy kibble—in true male fashion—is a term used to describe meal prep, specifically with ground beef and rice as the base. Additional toppings and seasonings to your discretion, but that’s the gist. So why not just call it meal prep? Probably cause that’s boring.

Meal prep? Yawn. Boy kibble? Hell yeah brother.

My version of boy kibble does have some modifications though, and I stand by them.

• Ditch the rice and (over)steam yourself some broccoli, chop it up finely and boom you got broccoli rice; considerably less carbs, and some extra protein

• Add some shredded cabbage for extra volume (this shredder is so efficient, shredding up cabbage the way they do in Japanese restaurants)

Like I said, the options are pretty endless—here are two versions of boy kibble that’s been on repeat for me:

• Asian/Japanese: layer in some imitation crab from Trader Joe’s, edamame, red shell miso dressing, furikake, sriracha

• Burger style: the new hot honey mustard from Trader Joe’s (do you sense a pattern here), some pickles, tomatoes, pickled onion

All I know is I’m heavily leaning into boy kibble this spring season because this is the time to start getting in shape (I mean, eurosummer is right around the corner!) and nothing will set yourself up for success better than a highly customizable diet. Try it out and lemme know what you think.

Smelling like you just did laundry…

Some of my most favorite scents come from spring. I mean, what’s not to love? Sure the musky, warm, “you smell like you were bundled up by the fireplace for hours” fragrances are 100% a mood. But on the flip side, smelling like you quite literally got out and stopped to smell the flowers is dopamine-inducing. To my light, floral and citrus fragrances I say it’s your time to shine.

If you want to full send the spring fragrance queue, look for scents that have notes like rose, violet, lilac, linen, and citrus (to name a few). Here are two spring scents that have landed a spot in my queue so far:

• CK The One: probably the most unisex fragrance I own that just smells clean. This is the scent I reach for when I want to smell good without smelling like I’m trying. Post-shower. Post-gym. Errands. “I’m running late but still hot.” If you want a spring daily driver that won’t fight your outfit (or your personality), this one is an easy add.

• Diptyque Ilio: if you want to feel like you’re sun drenched on a beach somewhere on the Mediterranean coast, look no further than this. The prickly pear and jasmine notes on this are so addicting (one could say dangerously good).

…drinking like you just came from the beach

I recently had the opportunity to attend a wine pick-up party for LIOCO in Healdsburg and got to try all their spring releases. And lemme tell you—their whites and rosés absolutely floored me. I think it’s time we lay our big reds to rest and dust off the porch pounders, the easy drinkers, the enamel ripping white wines that are just cwispy.

I’ve been trying to expand my drinking palette this year, especially in the world of interesting white wines (I recently talked about a particularly cool grape, Sylvaner), and you’d honestly be shocked at how many varietals of white wines there are outside of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.

One varietal that deserves a spot in your drinking queue is txakolina. Coming from the Basque Country area, Txakolina (also spelled txakoli) is the spring white I wish more people talked about. It’s bone-dry, high-acid, often a little spritzy, and usually lower alcohol (aka yes I will be having another glass, thank you very much).

Flavor-wise, think lime, green strawberry, and a slight touch of herbs for balance. This is what I’m reaching for when I’m tired of heavy winter wines but I’m not ready to live solely on rosé and vibes. Pair it with anything salty: tinned fish, oysters, chips, seafood.

And perhaps it’s because my wife and I have a France trip planned in May but gosh do I have Provence rosé on the mind—it’s my annual reminder that a wine can be unserious in the best way: crisp, dry, and 100% a porch pounder. I don’t have a hard and fast rule for what to buy, so long as we’re within the $10–25 territory. You really don’t need to be paying more than that for a solid Provence rosé (even $25 is sometimes pushing it, in my opinion). Serve it cold and don’t overthink it.

The B-Sides (Honorable Mentions)

• Read this Substack article on slowing down your media consumption: if your brain feels like 47 tabs and none of them are loading, think about adding friction in the right places.

• Watch Project Hail Mary: bonus points if you read the book first, but get ready to be thoroughly amazed (x3) by the charisma and chemistry Ryan Gosling exudes onscreen (no spoilers). Also, y’know, science.

• Listen to i got it by thuy: sometimes you need a bop that reminds you of peak Ariana Grande, full of good vibes and R&B energy (hint: this is that vibe).

As always, if you’re building your own “next on your list,” I hope this helped. We’re hitting the ground running in April; ‘tis the season of renewal and restarting. Friendly reminder that I also share some of this (+ more ) in shorter form content on my socials if you wanna follow along.

A champagne tasting for the books

Billecart-Salmon is a fairly well known champagne producer, and they release a champagne every once in a while in a series they call Les Rendez-Vous de Billecart-Salmon. Eight champagnes, eight pure expressions of a single grape (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or Chardonnay). I got together with some friends and family and had the opportunity to taste #2–7 last weekend and it was incredible.

Amongst all of them, I’d say my favorites were #2, #7, and #4: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. The expression on #2 was elegant: deep cranberry and red fruit, well balanced, and still bright despite aging for 5+ years. Only 2g/l dosage (added sugar), so still relatively dry as a champagne. Okay that’s enough wine geeking.

So maybe not the most affordable Add to Queue suggestion this week…but I will say this: the next time you have a wine night with friends, try doing a vertical (or even horizontal) tasting! Doesn’t have to be champagne either. It’s often a fun way to see how different a year’s growing conditions has on the taste of a wine. Makes you really appreciate just how tedious the whole winemaking process is, much less how much work goes into ensuring consistency year after year.

Creating scent memories for the nostalgia

I’ve been doing more and more of this in my travels: go out of my way to purchase at least one new fragrance on a trip. Food and music have such strong associations with memories, so naturally why couldn’t fragrances have the same level of draw to it?

Some recent trips that I’ve gotten trip-specific scents for include:

• Matchabuya by Fugazzi: Amsterdam exclusive that I ended up getting on a whim. I remember their little shop that felt very posh, with their clean, dimly-lit aesthetic. Probably the most matcha-focused scent I’ve ever smelled, which ended up being so perfect for the time of year we went (peak shoulder season in October).

• Grass Jam by AERSE: Seoul is known for their popups, but this one truly took me by surprise. The coolest part of this whole experience was how they chose to integrate music, going so far as to create a soundtrack for every scent they had.

Now when I decide to wear any of these (as well as any of the other scents I’ve also accumulated over time), I feel like I’m briefly thrown back into the past: the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, the quiet yet peaceful chill of a Seoul morning.

Life already moves so fast as it is. It’s nice to reminisce on the past sometimes. My suggestion to you is to start doing this, even if it means only getting a sample of a fragrance. You’d be surprised how addicting it can get after a few trips. Bonus points if you end up supporting local businesses too!

Getting catfished by AI music

I never thought I’d be susceptible to AI as quickly as 2026. Yes, the field has grown leaps and bounds since the early days of grotesque Will Smith eating spaghetti slop. But at the same time, I was there from the beginning. I literally had to explain to my mom the other day why the Youtube video she was watching was definitely not real.

So naturally I was shocked when my wife told me that the song I’ve been jamming to for the past week was coming straight from an AI artist. The culprit? Haru Muzic, more specifically their most popular song Shadows in My Phone. Funnily enough, I had heard about this happening earlier this year with the rise of AI artist Sienna Rose. This particular…entity (yeah let’s call it that) went so far as to create an Instagram and Tiktok, showcasing their work and even talking to the camera.

Haru Muzic was nowhere near that in terms of effort and production, but that still begs the question: is this something we should be supporting? How different is this from LoFi Girl and the hundreds of other (probably) AI-generated playlists out there, making instrumentals for people to relax or study to? Listen to this yourself and be the judge (you gotta admit, it’s still a pretty catchy song):

For now, this is sitting in the queue “watchlist” for me (feelings are very much conflicted). The kicker of it all: I ended up listening to a song radio and—without realizing—liked at least 6 other songs that turned out to also be AI-generated…

The B-Sides (Honorable Mentions)

• Listen to Waiting by Shan Rizwan (support real artists!), a song that could live smack dab in a rom-com montage.

• Get yourself a bottle of Gavi from Trader Joe’s, it’s an Italian white wine that’s crispy, floral and an absolute porch pounder. For $10, it’s a steal (considering it’s also DOCG, the highest classification for Italian wines).

• Read The contemplations of building a personal brand while craving a digital detox by Sasha; for me, it feels pretty relevant at this point in time as I’m trying to do exactly that with Add to Queue.

If you’re building your own “next on your list,” I hope this helped. Reply with what you’re adding to your own queue—I’m always looking for my next hyperfixation!

Add to Queue is back, revenge-arc style, and we are going to get right into it.

Spraying, spraying, and spraying (again)

I’ve talked about this particular fragrance on my TikTok, and I will in fact be screaming this from the hilltops once again: Murmure (by Taelim Kim) is a scent that will be one of my daily drivers throughout the spring season.

The main three notes are bergamot, musk, and ambrette. It has a relatively solid wear time, lasting at least 4–6 hours on my skin. It feels sexy, and it’s one of those scents that you almost don’t want to be broadcasting to the world. The “caught a whiff of it in a hug with somebody and your brain does a double take because what the hell that smells luscious” type of scents, ya get me?

What’s even more special about this was how spontaneous the discovery of this perfume was. Back in December, I had stumbled across this shop in Seoul, CO:NEZ, on a complete whim. My wife was at a nail appointment, so I was exploring on my own and felt a draw to this particular one. There was a soft musk to it that I really liked, woodsy but alluring. Funnily enough, I only sprayed a sample on my skin and left…no intention of purchasing at all.

Skip to a little later: I’m now back with my wife, catching her up on my solo adventures in the 45 minutes I was alone and wandering the cold, snowy streets. I tell her about this perfume, she takes a quick whiff and gives her immediate approval…so naturally I bust a mission to run back to CO:NEZ to buy myself a bottle.

Truly my only regret in all of this is that I bought the 15ml and not the 50ml, because I’m already halfway through it and who knows when I’ll be back in Seoul (sigh).

The Alysa Liu effect

Not only was I completely blown away by her stunning performances at the Olympics (her gold medal freeskate had me screaming in utter excitement on my phone), but I was inspired hearing her talk about her journey.

There is a lightness with which she carries herself, even during arguably the most stressful moment in any athlete’s life, in one of the most critically judged sports. She’s there to have a good time, and it shows. She took back the thing she loved by doing things on her terms, focusing not on the outcomes but rather the love of the game.

I feel particularly inspired by her, because she is a clear reminder to me that the process is what will carry me into success. If there’s anything to take from 2026 so far, it’s that we all should be a little bit more like Alysa Liu.

Source: The Atlantic

And if you made it this far down the page, thanks for taking the time. It feels odd to be coming back after such a long hiatus, and I am 100% still dusting off the cobwebs.

Was this February recap meant to be shared at the beginning of March? Yes.
Is it already the end of the first week of March? Also yes.

In the grand scheme of things, I am simply glad to be back. Add to Queue will continue to chug along!

Last issue I did an in-depth recap on my trip to Portugal and while I did claim early on that there would really be no real rhyme or reason to the flow of these newsletter reads, this week I’m taking a hard pivot to…well, cottage cheese. Gotta keep ‘em guessing, right?

I certainly wasn’t anticipating “talk about cottage cheese in my newsletter” on my 2023 bingo sheet but my TikTok feed has—in recent months—been blowing up with people “hacking” cottage cheese to make things more protein-friendly and I figured I’d throw my hat into the ring.

I, too, was anti-cottage cheese for a period of time, mostly because of how it looked and I had assumed it was only eaten with sweet foods: berries, pineapples, etc. But that all changed one fateful day back in pre-COVID times (yes I’ve been here long before this became a current trend, I swear!!) when I thought to myself, “why not add it to something savory as like…a protein boost?”

If you didn’t already know, cottage cheese typically has about 13–15 grams of protein per serving (~1/2 cup)—not bad when it comes to getting your gains in 💪🏼

Now, not all cottage cheeses are made equal so be mindful of that. If you had to start somewhere, I’d highly recommend Good Culture or Knudsen’s. I usually opt for lower fat, but that’s totally up to you. You’re looking for that creamy, thick with 6 c’s type of cottage cheese because that is what’s going to set you up for success.

Toast-ally worth it

Around this time, I was already knee deep into eating avocado toast when one day inspiration struck: cottage cheese toast. By no means am I saying I was the first to ever discover this but when I say it elevated my toast game to a higher degree. I mean, texturally it wasn’t that different than just having really ripe avocado toast, y’know?

Let me break it down for you:

1. Toasted sourdough slice because we need some structural integrity to carry the heft that is cottage cheese. Preferably a rosemary or garlic sourdough if you’re feeling adventurous.

2. Just your normie avocado layer: mashed, sliced, whatever floats your boat.

3. The one, the only…cottage cheese in all her glory. Go as heavy as you want here, but just be aware of the weight limitations of your bread slice…I’ve been wronged many a time. I got cocky, I got arrogant, and I paid the price.

4. Everything bagel seasoning to your heart’s content. [Read: a lot]

5. Finally, the crème de la crème, the thing that takes this one step further: balsamic glaze. The rich, sweet tartness to balance the salt. It’s everything and more.

This is a recipe that cannot go wrong. It’s been my hyperfixation lunch for the past 3+ years and while this is the tried and true combination, your mileage can vary. Some alternatives could include:

• Discount lox toast: cottage cheese, smoked salmon, bagel szn, dill, red onion

• Pizza toast: cottage cheese, sun dried tomatoes, italian seasoning, nutritional yeast

Whip it, whip it good

Look if I haven’t convinced you by now to give cottage cheese a try, I’ll chalk it up to a texture thing for some—I totally understand (kinda sorta). But hey, that’s where your blender/food processor can come into play! Heck, just blend up the whole container and you’ve got yourself a damn versatile ingredient for any recipe. I’ll share some I’ve been cycling through for my meals.

I fell into the dip

I say “dip” here but honestly I’ve eaten this straight up as a meal before; it’s that tasty. It’s basically the inside of a Costco chicken bake, except way healthier (if you opt for this), way more protein packed, and so easy to make. Honestly you could eyeball this recipe to your liking but if you need some measurements, I’d go with the following to start:

1. Blend together 1 cup of cottage cheese, 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 2 oz cream cheese, 2 tbsp ranch seasoning.

2. To a bowl add however much chicken you want (rotisserie or shredded chicken preferably), shredded cheese, and bacon bits.

3. Add the blended cheese mix to the bowl and mix, top with more cheese and bacon bits.

4. Eat as is or throw into the oven/air fryer at 350° for 15 minutes.

Feelin’ saucy

Get your hands on some cheddar powder on Amazon, blend that with your cottage cheese mixture and you basically have protein packed queso on hand. Alternatively, ranch seasoning? Sheesh. Just…just try it.

Go beyond what’s pastable

It never occurred to me that I could use cottage cheese in lieu of, well, any other cheese. It never occurred to me that I could also blend cottage cheese with red sauce too. Don’t be like me. Learn from my tomfoolery and elevate your meals, I beg you.

For the gym goers that need that protein boost, I’m tellin’ ya: protein pasta + cottage cheese blend + additional protein of choice = gainz.

Miscellaneous Mentions

For the tight-hipped guys and girlies: kettlebell weight shift stretches

I’ve been incorporating this into my leg days and they are doing the most to help stretch out and open my hip flexors. Just a couple reps on each side will go a long way. Say goodbye to clicking or pinching hips~

For your next head boppin’ music sesh: JEWELZ – Anderson .Paak

Can you really go wrong with some Anderson .Paak? This 2020 single has him pitch-shifted up with some funky synths and a crisp guitar lick. You can not listen to this and be instantly put into a better mood.

I promise this is the first and last time you’ll hear me talk about cottage cheese (probably not, I am a fiend for this stuff), but hopefully this inspired you to give it a shot yourself. Or, at the very least, give you new recipe ideas to try and add to your queue.

And finally I want to take this time to just welcome in the wave of new readers and subscribers who (most likely) came from this week when he plugged this newsletter in his latest issue. Really glad y’all decided to give this read a shot and I do hope y’all stick around!

Recently I had a couple of people ask me for some Portugal recommendations and I thought to myself, “why send over a boring spreadsheet itinerary when I can make an unnecessarily long and convoluted travel post instead!”

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.

That being said, I’ll try to keep it as succinct as possible (promise).

Lisbon

If you read my previous issue, I mentioned using Google Maps to help plan out your itinerary. That’s what we did for this trip and it was super helpful to visualize each day’s agenda + travel routes. I’ll break this down into my recommended neighborhoods and share some of the things we did.

Príncipe Real

Great food places here, the higher point of the city. Found some of my favorite places here!

• Red Frog Speakeasy: make a reservation!

• Monkey Mash: Red Frog’s sister speakeasy, great drinks and vibes

• Tapisco: if you don’t have reservations you can probably snag seats if get there 15 minutes before. Food is incredibly savory and filling, small and intimate setting for date night!

• Senhor Uva/Senhor Manuel: sister restaurants that focus on all veggie dishes + wine (over 400+!), make reservations if possible

• Rosamar: great seafood dishes, very cute interior!

Bairro Alto

Strong nightlife, definitely where you wanna go for bars, check out Pink Street if you have a chance!

• Landeau: incredible chocolate cake…like, incredible. And I’m not even a big chocolate or cake guy.

• Grau Douro Tapas & Wine Bar: didn’t get a chance to munch here but heard great things, and always a line when we walked by it.

Alfama

The oldest part of the city, closest to the water compared to the other neighborhoods. A lot more quiet, which is nice if you wanna avoid some of the larger crowds.

• Copenhagen Coffee Lab: cute decor, great flat whites, their cinnamon rolls are known to be amazing.

• Antiga Wine Bar: super cute, ton of wine, great bites

Cais do Sodré

Sort of the main area for transport (trains, subways, etc.). This is where you can get guaranteed service to nearby cities like Sintra and Cascais if you wanna do day trips.

• Time Out Market: food hall, great place to get bites of everything! Can be crowded though, and don’t go between 3–6pm because some places close prior to dinner service.

• Java Rooftop: awesome viewpoint of the city + rooftop bar.

• Neighbourhood Cafe: great breakfast burrito, a bit more Aussie-focused foods.

• Musa de Bica: craft beer, honestly a vibe to sit outside and people watch here.

• Estrela de Bica: reservation recommended, otherwise show up early! One of the best meals for me (and so cheap! $80ish for 2 people, 4 dishes + bottle of wine + 2 glasses of port).

Belem

About 30ish minute train ride from Lisbon, def worth checking out for sights! If you’re not super particular about checking out the inside of Belem Tower or the Monastery, I’d recommend going on Sunday when both are closed…less tourists!

• Pasteis de Belem: great pastel de natas. Also the biggest pastel de nata bakery around from what I saw.

• O Frade: didn’t get to go here but wanted to, heard great things!

General notes

• Very similar to San Francisco in terms of topography, perhaps even more inclined in some areas (combination of stairs, hills). There are some accessible elevators throughout the city, you just gotta find ‘em!

• Speaking of climbing inclines, there are a ton of viewpoints throughout the city. Trust me, the trek is worth it. Some include:

  • Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

  • Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

  • Miradouro de Santa Luzia

• Cherry liquor shot (ginjinha). In the chocolate cup. Just do it.

• Want to bring back canned fish? You’re actually allowed up to 20 cans per person in a carry-on. You may just have to check your bag if you have a connecting flight (ex. Lisbon → London → SFO) 🐟

Sinta + Cascais (Day Trip)

I would recommend taking a single day trip if you can swing it to both these places! Sintra can get super busy with tourists so to avoid the crowds I’d suggest: 

• Get up early, take a train to Sintra: aim to get to the city by around 8:30/9am…yes it’s dang early but you’ll be glad you did.

• Get tickets to the Peña National Palace: you’ll get access to the entire 70-acre grounds, but access to the actual palace is time-boxed…shoot for entry around 9:30am? It’ll take about 30 minutes to get to the palace from the bus station when you arrive.

• Tour the palace and the grounds: especially after the palace itself, the grounds are beautiful and it’s really a lovely walk throughout.

• Head back to the city and grab a bite: Piriquita is a nice coffee spot with great pastries—chill and people watch, you’re already miles ahead of ‘em.

• Head to the Initiation Well (another bus): people tend to head here after Peña Palace so hopefully you’ll have beaten the crowds once again 😤

• Onto Cascais: once you’re ready, hop on a train to Cascais since it’s so close! Rent a bike and make your way down the coast, there are tons of accessible beaches.

All in all you can probably be done with most of this by the evening so there’ll still time to head to dinner in Lisbon (since it’s only about a 45 minute train ride).

Porto

It wasn’t originally in our plans to visit Porto but boy I’m glad we did. We only stayed overnight but I’d highly recommend at least 2–3 days!

• Take the express train from Lisbon: faster, nicer train + some have wifi and a bar you can order drinks from. I’d aim to get off Campanha station in Porto.

• Stay near the water, north side of the river: this is the older part of the city and definitely the place you wanna be to experience more of the history. We stayed at the Hotel Vincci Porto and it was a great location, especially if you want to be close to the water but far enough from downtown (10–15 min walk).

• Book a port tasting: we had a tasting Lado Wines and learned so much about the history of port + wine production in Porto/Portugal.

Overall it’s a much more walkable city compared to Lisbon, partly because of how much larger the streets are. It’s also less crowded I think and the food is incredible! Some recommendations, with food pictures to boot (why say many words when good pics do trick):

• Taberna Mercadores: make a reservation if you can, they’re usually booked out for months. I actually mentioned this as one of my top 5 eats of last year, heh.

• Castro: tbh best pastel de nata I’ve had on this trip was here 😤 the cafe vibes were also immaculate.

• Prova: awesome wine bar, super knowledgeable of the wines they serve here, great bites!

Miscellaneous Mentions

For the workout boys and girlies: Angles90 Grips

Ever feel like the machine grips aren’t comfortable at the gym? Wish they gave a bit more activation when doing things like rows? Use these next time. I use them all the time now for lat pulldowns or single arm rows and they feel so much more comfortable. Being able to angle anywhere between 0–90° in these movements has been a game changer. Alternatively, here’s a more affordable alternative on Amazon.

For the clean boys and girlies: Mrs. Meyers Daisy Hand Soap

You can find this at Target, alongside other Mrs. Meyers cleaning products. It’s a limited edition spring scent and it just gives…clean, happy, spring, flowers. It’s 2023 and Mrs. Meyers is bringing back good vibes to hand washing.

Also, their Snowdrop scent during the winter season is peak.

I know became more of a Lisbon/Porto recommendation list, vs. Portugal as a whole but I hope this was helpful and enough to get you to consider as an add-to for your travel bucket list. As an English speaker, I found it relatively easy to navigate and people are incredibly nice and helpful.

If you’ve been to Portugal, let me know if I missed anything in the comments.

Hey there reader, welcome back. A few of you shared your go-to fragrances after reading last week’s issue and I gotta say…great tastes all across the board. This week we’re doing a little bit of a pivot and I figured I’d share my approach to travel—the things I do to maximize time and money. That being said, the beauty of this newsletter is that there doesn’t need to be a rhyme or reason to what gets covered…as long as it’s something you can add to your queue.

With that, let’s dive in 👇

Set travel efficiency to 100

Using Google Maps

As much as I’d like to have all my travel planning done in a single doc, being able to visually see my itinerary on a map is so useful. If you’re not already familiar with it, Google Maps has a handy little map creation tool to do so.

To access it, go to Google Maps, open the menu, under Your Places → Maps. Click the Create Map button at the bottom and you should be able to begin editing. There’s a decent amount of customization so you can get as granular as you’d like: icons, colors, separating via layers. You can even go so far as to create walking/driving routes specific to your trip.

Note: you can only edit your maps on desktop for now (mobile is view-only).

I personally find this really helpful beyond something like Yelp because you can include non-business/restaurant establishments. That and being able to share and collaborate with other people makes this worth adding to your planning toolkit⚡️

Traveling Internationally

Another great resource that I learned of recently from a friend is Mobile Passport Control. Think Global Entry…but free. As soon as you touch down, you open the app and follow the instructions—it’s everything you would normally do on paper or in-person, minus the wait. Instead of the usual customs line, you can wait in the dedicated MPC or Global Entry line and be done much quicker.

So why even bother with Global Entry? I probably wouldn’t recommend it unless you already have a travel credit card that offers it, such as the Capital One Venture X. It’d be $100 you’re saving and you don’t have to deal with waiting/making an appointment. That being said, select airpots are now offering Global Entry enrollment on arrival (vs. having to wait months for an appointment). So the next time you’re coming back from an international flight you can get it done then and there instead of making it another trip.

Again, if Global Entry is offered as a card perk I’d consider using it but if not, you could probably skip out and still streamline your return experience. Speaking of travel cards…

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Card With Points)

Travel credit cards aren’t for everyone and I totally get that. But, if you’re already planning to make some big purchases in the near future (for me, it was planning my wedding 😵‍💫), I would recommend investing in one. Outside of earning points towards travel (2–10x bonus), perks and access to additional planning tools help to maximize your travel experience.

My two favorites are the Chase Sapphire Preferred (good beginner card) and the Capital One Venture X (a bit more intermediate). Outside the full list of perks for the Sapphire Preferred and Venture X, here’s why I love these two cards:

• Travel credit ($75 for Sapphire Preferred + $300 for Venture X): book through the travel portal and you get those respective amounts back on your statement. Also, the Venture X has price alerts + price match.

• Priority Pass + Premier Plaza membership (Venture X): honestly it feels great not having to wait for my flight at the gate—there are a ton of lounges available worldwide. Free food and drink + cozier seating + better wifi = good vibes.

• No foreign transaction fees (both): obviously some places still take cash but this is super helpful and convenient when traveling abroad.

Some of my friends know too well that I could talk all day about finding ways to optimize points but at a glance, here are some other things I keep in mind when booking travel:

• Transfer to travel partners: for cards such as the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, you have the option to transfer your points to specific airline/hotel partners. Usually it’s 1:1, but deals are occasionally offered for a limited time (ranging from a 20–50% bonus)—keep an eye out!

• Lazy to search for deals? Point.me is a great tool for finding flight deals with points. The search is incredibly powerful and outlines in detail how to book the right flight for your needs. It’s a subscription model but offers $5 single-day use if you just need it once.

• To use points or dollars: the Points Guy has an awards vs. cash calculator that helps you decide whether or not it makes more sense buying a flight outright or using your points. Comes in handy, especially for higher priced travel.

• Connect with dining rewards: if you’re a member for airlines like Southwest or United, you can earn additional points through participating restaurants. Usually you’ll just need to write a review, but they have welcome offers of a couple thousand points for your first dining experience. Plus, you can link multiple cards to your account. If you’re already eating out, why not check right?

• Check for retention offers: even if you’re not considering closing your card, call or email about a retention offer when your annual fee rounds the corner. Worst case it’s 5-10 minutes out of your day, and offers usually span annual fee reductions, bonus miles, or even statement credits.

Now, the decision to get a travel card differs for everyone and it really is up to your financial situation—your mileage may vary! Every card has its pros and cons, annual fees, etc., and I’m simply scratching the surface here so please do your own research. The only other thing I’d recommend, especially if you’re still waiting to pull the trigger, is to keep an eye out for personalized offers. Marketing emails or mailers tend to offer the highest bonus point value.

For example, I recently got a mailer offer from American Express for their Platinum card for 150,000 points…if you go online right now it’s only 80,000 points (same required spend in 6 months). So definitely worth considering and waiting!

Miscellaneous Mentions

What I’m adding to my meal prep rotation: beef enoki rolls

With all meal prep things, I love me a good ratio of “great flavor, small time to cook,” and these beef enoki rolls do just that. Flavor profile-wise it’s very much like eating either sukiyaki or gyudon, but a lot easier to prep. Throw on some freshly cooked rice? Sheesh.

What I’m currently wearing for the cold: Abercrombie Ultra Puffer

I recently wore this to a weekend trip to Seattle and boy it did hold up. Mind you, it’s a little big to lug around (especially on a plane) but you really don’t need to pack additional jackets as a result. There are a couple color/fabric options and even the corduroy one is water resistant. I’m talkin’ max cozy, you can’t go wrong with it.

I’m by no means some travel expert but I do hope some of this is useful, especially if you’re planning an upcoming trip. I’ll admit, I’ve definitely spent way more hours than I’d like to looking up deals or trying to make sure I’m maximizing my funds—maybe now you won’t have to as badly.

If there’s anything I missed or you wish to share about traveling, I’d love to hear in the comments. And as always, thanks for reading.

-Alex

Welcome back!

Since the first issue, I’ve been thinking through how I want this newsletter to be structured overall and what seemed to make the most sense to me was to dive into one topic instead of trying to cover all the things.

As a result, you may not care to read some issues and that’s okay (at least that’s what I’ll tell myself). I’ll still throw a mixed bag of recommendations at the bottom though, because why not! With that, let’s dive into today’s topic: perfumes👇

Note: I’ll probably be using perfume, fragrance, scent interchangeably.

The smelly smell that smells...smelly good.

To be honest, I really didn’t start using fragrances until about a year and a half ago. Before then if you’d asked me what my “signature scent” was I’d probably say it was a combination of Old Spice deodorant and…shea butter body lotion. I mean I’m still rocking that combo nowadays—just I’m layering on top of it, ya feel me? I’m by no means a professional when it comes to any of this stuff, mind you, but it’s been a great way to elevate my everyday vibes. Plus, who doesn’t like getting complimented every now and then because of the way you smell?

Starting with the basics

When it comes to perfumes, you’ll find there are usually some recurring notes or “themes,” if you will. Whether they’re more masculine or feminine forward scents, you’ll typically see notes like floral, woody, spicy, citrus, etc. Think about how you want to smell—what are the vibes you want to give off? Fragrantica has a hefty list of notes you can peruse through if you need some help.

You’ll also notice varying levels of concentrations, usually ranging from eau de cologne (lightest wear), eau de toilette (medium wear), and eau de parfum (heavier wear). The heavier the wear, the longer it’ll last, and the pricier it’ll tend to be.

It’s important to wear any fragrance you’re interested in, as obvious as that sounds. The way the fragrance reacts with your skin’s oils can make a significant difference (compared to when you spray a tester on paper). Trial and error, baby.

I’d recommend always going in person to try fragrances if possible—don’t be afraid to ask for a sample! Scent Split and Frangrance Net are also great ways to order trial scents if you can’t find something in-store.

The different seasons of you

What do I mean by that? Well, not all fragrances work best during all parts of the year. Some will be warmer, some will be woodier. Spraying something that makes you want to cuddle and cozy up by the fireplace might feel out of place during summer, for example.

One thing I’ve been trying to do is pair new or existing fragrances with specific memories I really want to cherish or remember. Traveling to a new country? Buy a fragrance (preferably there) and use it during your trip. Any time you use it after will feel like walking down memory lane.

Bonus: if you’re ever traveling and don’t want to lug around your full-sized perfume bottles (they’re so lux…yet so inconvenient to travel with…!), refillable travel perfume bottles are the way to go.

Some of my personal favorites

So what’s my current signature scent? Right now it’s definitely Diptyque Orphéon: a j00cy scent that’s woody and floral 🤌🏻 to me, it gives “put together, suave but not over-the-top, mature but still getting my life together”

The website’s description of this fragrance is also so elegantly written I have to include it:

Other fragrances I really vibe with, both male (m) and female-forward (f), include:

• Santal 33 - Le Labo (m/f): if and when you want to smell like clean, crisp sheets—sandalwood, musk, and violet. I don’t know how else to explain it but it gives green.

• Pear Inc - Juliette Has A Gun (f): pear, oh so much pear…but in the best way possible. Not super in-your-face and wears down to almost a sweet musky scent while still feeling clean.

• Fragrance 01 “Taunt” - Dedcool (m/f): creamy vanilla and amber, with a tinge of masculinity with the bergamot. If you want to be a walking aroma of vanilla pound cake, this is the one for you.

Double bonus: there are usually dupes of pricier fragrances available online that could be a good starter option if you’re not looking to commit heavily from the get-go—it’s best to do your own research.

Triple bonus: Le Labo makes everything to order in-store and they even let you engrave a personal message on your bottle + where you bought it from—could be a great gift!

Miscellaneous Mentions

What I’ve been listening to: No One – brb.

brb. is this Singaporean alt-R&B group I discovered a little over a year ago and their music just puts me in a good head boppin’ mood—a little funk, electronic jazziness, and smooth vocals. No One is their latest single.

What I enjoyed drinking: 2019 Verdelho – Ashbrook Estate

Really enjoyed drinking (and finding!) this, despite the cold and the rain this week. Pretty high acid, with notes of citrus, pineapple, and a little bit of spice. On the nose it reminded me of a Riesling almost…just the faintest hint of petrol. Overall, crisp and easy to drink.

It was also really interesting because I’ve only seen Verdelho used in Madeira port wines from Portugal (more dessert-y wines) and this was from Australia. Turns out, Australia had brought back Verdelho grapes way back when!

This was at boutique wine shop in Redwood City called The Bottle Shop and their selection is great. They look to feature a lot of smaller producers and are super knowledgeable of all sorts of wine. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area (+ the food is fantastic).

That about wraps it up—what’s your signature scent? What are you enjoying this week? I’d love to know in the comments.

And as always, thanks for reading. What’s not pictured in all of this is how much time I spent hemming and hawing over what to include, what not to include, if this was even worth publishing…you know, just rampant imposter syndrome doing its thing. But I’m reminding myself that at the end of the day this is a writing exercise and it’s simply a bonus that people care enough to read at all.

-Alex

An Introduction

Hey thanks for reading.

I know, I know…another newsletter to add to the mix. That being said, I’m trying to hold myself accountable to write more this year—and what better way to do that than to share my mundane experiences to the masses a couple people? So if you’ve found yourself here, my hope is that you find something useful or worth adding to your queue.

That being said, 2022 was jam-packed so let’s get into it 👇

Good Food, Good(er) Wine

Look, I love me a good weekly meal prep don’t get me wrong. But sometimes you want to break the monotony and aside from the pain that comes with burning a hole in your wallet, trying new places to eat is a top-tier activity (for me at least).

In no particular order, these are some of the best restaurants I’ve been to and worth an add to your lists if you’re ever in the area. It’s a given that the dishes at these places are incredible, so I’ll just include a little snippet of each place:

• Ernest (SF) – tasting menu was incredible, even more so if you opt for their additional wine pairing (hefty pours too!)

• San Ho Won (SF) – if you can swing it, just do the house menu

• Oma’s Hideaway (Portland) – immaculate vibes, huge variation in dishes, incredibly flavorful without the post-dinner bloating

• Estrela Da Bica (Lisbon) – you’ll be eating right in the street and it’ll feel like you live there…as for the food, look at that sardine toast!

• Taberna De Los Mercadores (Porto) – small hole-in-the-wall restaurant that is just peak “holy crap I’m in a different country, we’re really doing this!”

2022 was also the year of exploring new wine for myself and I gotta say there is so much out there, especially when it comes to European wines. If you’re looking to expand your palette and want to go beyond some of the more typical wine blends, may I suggest:

• Vinho Verde (white): slightly spritzy, easy-drinking, lowbrow Portuguese wine. If you’re looking for something super approachable and affordable ($7–15), look no further. Great alternative to pinot grigio or sauvingnon blanc.

• Grüner Veltliner (white): an Austrian wine that offers subtleness, with primarily lime, grapefruit, and lemongrass notes. Great pairing with spicier, more flavorful foods as it’ll cut nicely with some of the acidity & dryness that it brings. Typically pretty affordable ($10–25) and bonus points if the bottle cap has the Austrian flag on it 🇦🇹

• Gamay (red): figured I’d throw in a red, although over the years I’ve definitely transitioned more into whites and sparkling just so you’re aware of where my headspace is at with these recommendations. Think of the softer, laid-back French cousin to Pinot Noir and you’ve got yourself Gamay. Floral and earthy, it’s pretty easy to pair Gamay with most foods because it’s not super heavy or big on the finish.

Your overall mileage may vary but at the very least don’t be afraid to wander outside the typical wine varietals and blends you see at the store!

Libby for the Soul

I fell off the reading wagon for a few years leading up to 2022 and I’m happy to say I’ve hitched myself back on. I think part of it was just letting go of the expectation that books I read need to be informative or helpful in some practical way. You can just read…for fun, as silly as that sounds. And so that’s what I did.

Some of my favorite reads I’ve listed below, with my take of a one-liner summary:

• The Midnight Library – woman explores all the possible lives she could have lived to determine what makes living her life worthwhile

• Project Hail Mary – teacher with amnesia wakes up on a spaceship and has to save Earth from extinction…no pressure

• An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – girl discovers a robot sculpture and shares it on social media, only to become an overnight sensation as these sculptures mysteriously appear all over the world

• Remarkably Bright Creatures – woman forms an unlikely friendship with an octopus at the aquarium she works at and learns more about her past than she could ever imagine

• Tuesdays with Morrie – heartfelt life lessons from a dying professor, told from the perspective of dear old student

• From Here to Eternity – learning how the Western approach to death is so boring compared to the rest of the world 💀

• Greenlights – Matthew McConaughey’s approach to living and knowing how and when to deal with life’s challenges

Speaking of Libby, if you’re a fan of digital reading/can resist the temptation to check social media, then I would highly recommend giving it a try. You just need to sign up with your nearest public library (possible within the Libby app too!) and you’ll get access to tons of free books.

Miscellaneous Mentions

Considering how long this post is already getting, I figured I’d sweep a handful of quick recommendations into this section before you give up reading (I know I would):

• Any Day microwave cookware has saved me a ton of time when it comes to meal prepping—you’d be surprised how much you can make with your microwave. They’ve also got a ton of recipes available online.

  

• I taught my fiancée’s family Palace a while ago and since then they’ve taught all their friends and now it’s basically all we play when we see each other. If you’re into quick and easy card games, give it a shot! I’d recommend 2 decks for 5+ people.

• Magnesium lotion has been such a lifesaver on post-workout days when everything just hurts. Helps immensely with muscle fatigue & recovery, but do be aware it’s pretty thick so you really gotta rub it in.

What’s Queued Next

Expect this to be an ongoing repository of things you might wanna add to your queue. My hope is that these recommendations will stay within the realm of lifestyle and design, but the year has just begun and I’m not going to restrict myself too much.

Above all else, I’m excited to commit this year to sharing more of what I’ve been up to and things I’m enjoying (and want to share with you).

2023, here we come 🤝

– Alex

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