Faith Driven

Where Faith Meets Everyday Life

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A supremely delayed post as I was absolutely swamped with work the past few weeks, but I wanted to share my amazing Christmas gifts from my Queen as she truly knocked it out of the park. I say this not to brag - but I quite literally have or had everything I’ve ever wanted. Most of all, my wife is the greatest gift I could ever have. I quite simply am at a stage of my life where I no longer want. So what can you possibly give to someone who already has everything? An impossible task for my Queen but as always her creativity knows no bounds.

It’s no secret Destiny 2 is my favorite video game of all time, and Cayde-6 is my favorite character. So she had a super cool custom mug and t-shirt made so i can make proudly exhibit my affection for such a beloved character! Then another “Sassy” Deadpool to keep my birthday script-reading Deadpool company, and of course a mug + Christmas card themed around our cartoon alter egos “Bubu and Dudu”.

You’d think after 20 years of Birthday and Christmas gifts she couldn’t possibly surprise me but she proved me dead wrong!

Capping off a month of sheer gluttony with a comfort food lover’s paradise. Since our Christmas was pleasantly but curiously dominated by French classics, we opted for a tour of Asia to ring in the New Year: Vietnamese Spring Rolls with peanut sauce, Japanese Tonkatsu with a healthy dollop of Bulldog sauce, and finally Thai Mango with Sticky Rice and coconut cream to cleanse the palate.

Of course, our dining stage was meticulously decorated by my Queen with handmade creations, mementos of our favorite moments of the year, and a gallery of all our cartoon alter egos.

2025 may not have panned out as we had hoped, as we desperately surmounted one challenge after another. Our five-year saga of trials and tribulations seemingly shows no sign of abating. Yet, every so often, we remind one another to pause, soften the edges of worry, and embrace what has remained steadfast inspite of our difficulties: the gift of life, the blessing of health, and the quiet miracle of loving one another unimpeachably…

As long as we walk this road side by side, we are never lacking. In each other, we have all we’ve truly ever needed… ❤️👩‍❤️‍👨

I’m grateful that I grew up in the era of music while it was still “pure”. And those boomers and Generation Xers amongst you may also remember when movie soundtracks were huge - in some cases bigger than the film itself - and examples like Titanic, Saturday Night Fever, Purple Rain and of course IMHO the greatest of them all, Whitney Houston for the Bodyguard film come to mind. Woke up today clamoring for a dose of Whitney and here’s why: there simply is no greater ballad sung in history. You can take that to the bank. This particular section where she reaches her vocal climax after the the caesura (pause) both bring me to tears and give me goosebumps. Magnificent. Needless to say; this is dedicated to my Queen!

Man, 2 days in a row of getting spoiled by 2 of my 3 favorite ladies in the world: first my Queen and today my baby sister. Had a smashing good time delving into some Graesslin family classics in honor of our Dad: Carrots Vichy, Cauliflower with Polonaise Sauce, Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and for the main event: Honey Glazed Ham! After 2 days of gloriously extravagant festive feasting I have sworn off real food and going on a diet of water and pumpkin seeds for the next week to detox. But it was absolutely worth it! One of the few instances in my life where the holiday season truly lived up to its moniker as the “most wonderful time of the year”! Happy Holidays from the Graesslins! We miss you Mom and Dad!

After two decades I don’t think it comes as a surprise: of course my Queen painstakingly fashioned a beautiful Christmas Eve spread. It’s her favorite time of the year so I know I can expect nothing short of magnificence - even inspite of the severely restrictive budgets we’ve been living on recently.

All my comfort food all-time favorites which happen to be French made the cut this year: Creamy Chicken Vol-Au-Vent, Chicken Cordon Bleu (which is extra special for me as it’s a dish my Dad used to make), Gratin Dauphinoise and a lovely fresh garden salad with vinaigrette. Would you believe she spent less than $25 for all this? To top it off, she added her usual accoutrements of cuteness around the dinner table including a customized menu for the occasion.

The true, priceless cost however, was her labor of love though as she spent the better part of late afternoon and early evening - 5 to 6 hours by my count - dillingently manning her chopping board and stove.

Hence why I continually post her culinary exploits - not just because of how incredible they are in terms of flavor and aesthetic, but because of the hard work and love she puts into her craft. In my mind an heart, her cooking is worth constantly praising and memorializing because I know how incredibly blessed I am and she deserves the adulation…

Almost broke a 20 year tradition by not erecting our Christmas tree, because we can’t keep it outside as our 4 cats would trash it and our bedroom has now been partially converted into a mini studio since my Queen started doing YouTube full-time. But she didn’t give up and found a compromise: just using half the tree and placing it atop her studio standing desk. Crisis averted and tradition remains unbroken! 🎄☃️

My weapon of choice: a Sony A7C II with a 90mm G Macro and Godox XC3 trigger. Was a Nikon fanboy for 15 years but my first Sony DSLR 10 years ago, the SLT-A57 got me back in Sony’s camp. Dabbled a bit with the Nikon ZFC because I loved its vintage aesthetic and it reminded me of my Dad’s Canon A1 film camera. But Sony’s mirrorless cameras are just too good and I love their color science. A year ago i finally made the plunge into full-frame and haven’t looked back since. Have already got 10,000 shutter clicks on this bad boy and it’s amazing considering how compact it is. But ultimately gear doesn’t matter and I need to improve my composition an lighting… it’s been a fun journey and I’ll always enjoy stills much more than videos…

As I dive deeper into my passion for photography - with an emphasis on food as my primary subject - I realized I needed to invest in some additional equipment to level up the quality of my images. Snagged this Godox AD200 + softbox combo for a steal and man, it’s a game changer! You could have the cheapest camera or even a smartphone but as long as the lighting is on point, you’re golden…

Here’s a problem you may have that I have a solution for. For much of my life, my fitted caps were all sized at 7 3/8. However in my old age, my head seems to have shrunk which makes perfect sense since I’ve become noticeably dumber and my memory is depleted. However that meant that all my caps are now too loose since I’m now a 7 1/4. But a simple solution: I cut strips of foam tape and threaded them in between the cap labels. Presto: fits snug once again!

Not having kids means that for the past 21 years, every night has quite literally been “date night”. No schedules to negotiate, no babysitters to book, just the two of us showing up for each other, night after night - 7,560 days where I’ve come home, or she’s come to meet me, without fail. It’s never grown old. I look forward to seeing her today just as much as I did when I was courting her two decades ago, giddy as a smitten schoolboy. I still catch myself staring at her, in awe of her resplendent beauty and effortless charm. Every so often, I ask her to pinch me, just to be sure this isn’t some elaborate ruse or fantastical dream from which I would not want to awaken from…

We could be suited and booted in a beautiful restaurant as we were today, or stripped of everything and starting from scratch - or anywhere in between. As long as we are together, our world is complete and our souls fulfilled.

She is my home, my constant, my most significant and precious answered prayer. I choose her every day, without hesitation, and I thank God endlessly for the grace of loving her - and being loved in return - in equal measure. Even if the world stripped us down to nothing, I’d still feel wealthy in her midst. Love doesn’t need abundance when it has certainty…

We had a ramen craving that needed to be gratified, so we made our way to Daikan Izakaya who not only offer the closest rendition of our all time favorite Shoyu that we’ve had the privilege of enjoying across the world, despite not offering a pork variant - but their stores just ooze 90’s urban vibes, from the classic Technic decks to the vinyl rap records that line the shelves. I practically divided my time between slurping broth and doing the Bankhead - much to the amusement of fellow diners!

As food photography has become an integral part of my job description these days, I’ve grown fond of taking macro shots of some of our most photogenic delicacies such as our “Flaming Yellow” roll, premium salmon and cucumber, crowned with seared Yellowtail tuna, crispy tempura crumbs and spicy Japanese mayo. Best of all, I get to eat my subjects after photographing them! 🤣

One of many things I love about my wife is her willingness to try anything and everything when it comes to food. I grew to love Iranian food during my years in Bahrain not to mention my name is of Persian origin! So I ordered us a platter of mixed grill galore including my favorites Chicken Kubideh which is marinated minced grilled meat kebab, Chicken Joojeh which is boneless chicken cubes in saffron based marination, and Joojeh Mastee which is chicken in a yoghurt based marination. Of course we have some side dishes of Salad Shirazi (fresh tomatoes and cucumber) Masti Khair (cucumber and yoghurt) and plenty of Saffron rice. No surprise - she loved it!

Some heads may think it’s corny but I removed the original laces and replaced them with these elastic laces which come with metallic lace locks and essentially turns any pair of shoes into slip ons. I’ve actually done this with most of my sneakers that have straps since the strap itself serves the purpose of containment. Plus it just looks cleaner!

Restoration complete! Well to be fair there wasn’t much restoration necessary since I’m maniacal when it comes to caring for my sneakers. Nevertheless, these have been one of my top 3 sneakers worn and they are 8 years old so I had to turn back some of the natural aging caused by Father Time. Sneakers ER paint to whiten up the outsole, colonil suede cleaner/restorer on the upper and my lint shaver to remove the sock piling on the inside. She’s looking good as new and ready for another 8-year run!

I haven’t had much to cheer about in recent times, but my only constant source of joy is the love of the Lord, and of course my Angel who never fails to uplift my spirits with tender gestures of love. Came home from a day in the trenches to be greeted with this beautiful collage at my Battlestation, and I almost shed tears as I never imagined I’d have a wife so pure hearted and so immensely creative at expressing her love to me. I often tell her that I couldn’t even refer to her as the “girl of my dreams” because you can’t dream about someone you didn�’t realize could possibly exist. She is one of one, and as God created Eve for Adam, so did he create my wife for me…

The day is finally here: my 2 favorite franchises in the world: Destiny and Star Wars collide in a collab for the ages. Bungie has cooked up another epic launch trailer and here it is in all its glory. I haven’t had much time for gaming in the past year, but I hope I’ll be able to set aside some for this dream mashup. Popular opinion states that both franchise are in decline - even dead according to many - but I couldn’t care less. This may just be the DLC that brings back former vets such as myself and even my wife is willing to give it a run! I’ve put 7,000 hours into Destiny 2 since 2018 - by far my favorite game. Star Wars needs no introduction and I’m a fanboy through and through - with the exception of the last trilogy which was garbage. But to be able to wield lightsabers and blasters and have a Kyle Ren-esque villain to fight against is just too good to pass up, to hell with the naysayers.

#destiny2
#destiny2renegades
#starwars

2 everyday items people neglect to clean and are proven to be 10x dirtier and rife with bacteria than a public toilet: your cellphone and keyboard/mouse. Toilets are clean because they are sanitized multiple times a day. When was the last time you cleaned your devices? My phone is sanitized daily and my keyboard twice a week. Even then, I decided to use a sliver of a magic eraser pad to clean my keyboard and you couldn’t believe the amount of dirt it pulled off despite it looking clean at a glance. A side benefit of using a magic eraser is that it removed the shine on the keycaps caused by oils/sweat over time that I absolutely despise, and restored the matte finish!

While people are enjoying the long national day weekend on the beach somewhere I prefer to be more productive with my time. First task is giving my sneakers the TLC they’ve been missing, especially some of my older pairs that have midsoles which have become tarnished. Some heads like the “patina” but I prefer mine looking pristine as they did when they came out of the box… I’ve had this tube of SneakersER midsole paint for years and it’s still putting in work! Best $20 I’ve ever spent on a sneaker product!

I know it’s cliché to state how fast time goes by, but I still can’t fathom how 2 years have passed since our beloved Kristie crossed the rainbow bridge. This was one of the last images we took of her and it also demonstrates how truly special she was.

Back then I was still working on Phasma, our also long departed BMW E46 and occasionally my Queen would bring Krissie down to provide me some respite and plenty of love/cuddles from Krissie and she’d sit in her little bag and wouldn’t budge. Cats are notorious for their aloof, undisciplined behavior but not our Krissie. She was so sweet, well-behaved and always wanted to be close to us. We even took her on rides with the drop top down and we had no fear of her jumping out because she just wanted to remain by our side.

I still cry whenever I think of her deeply and I’m on the verge of tears as I write this. They say you never forget your first true love and that certainly rings true because decades could elapse and our love for her will never diminish….

This excursion was a mixed bag for us. We generally do not like zoos, circuses, or other “attractions” that feature animals that are caged, away from their natural habitat and clearly in misery, often mistreated by humans. The exception being animal reserves that I used to visit when I lived in Kenya, where the environment is vast and is almost akin to what they’d be accustomed to in the wild. But as this excursion was a gift with the intention of kindness, so we also wanted to enjoy and show our appreciation. Here are our favorites of the pictures I took, of an otherwise lovely day away from the hustle and bright lights of the big city…

Courtesy of some kind hearted souls who wanted to provide us some respite from hard times, we were treated a lovely day out at the Emirates Park Zoo! Here in the sandpit, opportunities to interact with wildlife are few and far between, so we made sure to relish this rare circumstance!

A late post since I’ve been swamped and exhausted with work but I had to share the cute gifts my Queen showered me with this year, revolving around our alter ego characters “Bubu and Dudu” and “Milk Mocha Bear”. The coolest one though was a Deadpool figurine that can sit on any ledge surface! I’m gonna have fun snapping pics of him in a variety of scenarios!

This post is about 12 hours late because I quite literally conked out for those 12 hours after devouring my Queen’s epic Korean feast — followed by this: the literal icing on the cake of an already perfect day.

A perfectly moist sponge cake with my favorite vanilla frosting, baked by my Queen herself and adorned with a graphic of one of our cartoon alter egos, Bubu and Dudu — the central theme this year, alongside Peach & Goma and Milk Mocha Bear. 🧸💗

Some may not know this, but for much of my life, my birthdays were… miserable, depressing occasions. Something always went wrong, which is why I’ve despised celebrated mine with such vigor.

But thanks to my wife’s relentless love and thoughtful efforts, I’m slowly learning to embrace them again - to associate this day not with disappointment, but with gratitude, joy, and the person who’s made every year since feel like a gift in itself.

The birthday feast my Queen prepared was extra special as it featured dishes we hadn’t eaten in years: Korean Beef Bulgogi and Pork Bulgalbi, made with her own special marinade blend and marinated overnight. Since we severely limited our consumption of beef and pork about 7 years ago, these were the types of dishes that were outlawed from our rotation. But man after devouring this spread, I may want to reconsider our stance! As good as any authentic Korean joint, sans Soju which I also outlawed for a reason that is a story for another day. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: my Queen spoils me rotten.

Oh btw, this entire meal of ravishing proportions cost us a measly 100 aed ($30) in ingredients - imagine how much a top class restaurant would have charged! But my wife’s culinary gift and the effort/love she pours into every dish she creates? PRICELESS.

Every year I implore my Queen — “no gifts, no special arrangements, no fancy meal.”

And every year, she completely ignores me. 😂

Came home to a beautiful spread, complete with a custom handmade banner and a journaling spread she painstakingly crafted just for me.

She truly is the light of my life — the most loving, pure soul I’ve ever encountered. I’m endlessly grateful to have such a selfless, generous woman with a heart of gold to call my wife, my soulmate, and my best friend. Correction: my only TRUE friend.

To proclaim my love for her simply wouldn’t suffice — because what I feel for her transcends love. It’s something far deeper, something woven into my very being. She is my constant, my calm, my chaos, my muse. My raison d’être — the reason I wake, work, and strive to be better every single day.

This was our very first family picture taken in 1986, just a year after my baby sister was born. I could never have imagined that precisely 30 years later my Dad would be no longer with us and all of us would be split apart.

When you’re a kid you think your family will be together forever and that you’d have all the time in the world. We weren’t a perfect family by any means, but I wouldn’t have changed anything for the world because it shaped all of us into whom we’d eventually become.

Our lives are written by God’s will and all we can strive to do is make the most of the blessings, opportunities and time that we’ve been given. I’m immensely grateful for the childhood that I had, and I often relive the memories of those formative years, both good and bad. Ultimately I’m fortunate that I had the opportunity to atone for my missteps, before my Dad passed.

Do I still miss him? Oh, absolutely - no less today than when our lives were irreparably shattered 9 years ago. As much as I’d like to think I’d absorbed every nugget of wisdom imparted by my Dad, there isn’t a day - especially when I’m flummoxed - that I wish I could pick up the phone and call him. He’d always put things in the perspective that I needed - or tell me to get my shit together and put my big boy pants on.

He was a “man’s man”, the type of no nonsense tell it how it is kind of guy that is becoming extinct in this pathetically woke, liberal, cancel culture world we live in.

There isn’t a day I don’t miss you like hell, Pops. You were my hero, and always will be…

Meanwhile, enjoy the soup bowl haircut. I may just be the one that makes it fashionable again!

My Queen snapped this picture back in 2016. If you’d have told me we’d lose both of them, I’d have screamed bloody murder. Krissie and Toby were the most loyal and faithful companions - human or otherwise- we’ve ever had, and we still mourn their loss and talk about them every week to this day especially on the anniversaries of their journey across the rainbow bridge. On this day 9 years ago, we lost Toby.

I actually shed tears looking at this picture because I miss them that much. Though we do have 4 furballs now whom we love very much, Krissie and Toby were one of a kind.

Toby was a true “momma’s boy”, whom I would always find snuggling with my Queen i bed every night, without fail. She loved him so much because he reminded her of me: “a handsome asshole face but very sweet and loving inside.” 😂

And Krissie was the most beautiful, sweetest and most affectionate cat we’ve ever known. She was most certainly a Daddy’s girl, always curled up next to my paws under my desk, waiting for me at the door every night when I got home, and licking me every chance she got.

Tonight’s menu features another Bangkok street food classic: Hoy Tod. I remember discovering this for the first time back in 2009 and it became an instant favorite as it blended seafood cooked in a crispy batter with egg and served with bean sprouts - all my favorite flavors and textures. It’s essentially a seafood pancake and we Graesslins sure do love our battered concoctions! As always my Queen put her own flavor and flair and of course it’s out of this world!

Was never particularly fond of “soupy” dishes besides clam chowder, shark fin soup and my mother’s Tinola. But ever since we visited Bangkok for the first time in 2007 I developed an affinity for street food - especially their version of chicken noodle soup. Fortunately my Queen makes it from time to time, and I can never get enough of the richness of her homemade broth… it’s rife with “umami” flavor as all the millennials like to say. And yes I’ll gloat about it once again: 2 bowls of this cost us $5 in ingredients. Yes im fortunate my wife is an incredible cook, but even a culinary numnut like me could make a simple dish like this…. and save a lot of money on dining out!

I’d like to personally thank everyone who contributed to this modern art installation titled “Humanity’s Collective Indifference.”

Behold: a beautifully labeled recycling bin with clear compartments for paper and plastic - yet somehow transformed into a single, chaotic stew of random waste. It’s as if people saw the labels and thought, “Oh, how adorable. Optional reading.”

It’s not about recycling at this point - it’s about basic decency. If you can’t follow the simplest of instructions, how are we supposed to trust you with anything more complex… like, say, voting or parking between two lines?

Sometimes I think we deserve the mess we make. And yet, the bin still waits… patiently… hoping humanity reads the clearly indicate, multi-lingual labels next time.

There’s something deeply gratifying about slipping into a freshly polished pair of oxfords and striding around town feeling like a million bucks. A simple ritual with tangible rewards.

Some prefer a mirror shine on the cap, but I’m partial to a subtle, uniform sheen - elegant without the pompous flash. And the best part? Even an inexpensive pair can look like it came straight off Jermyn Street with the right amount of care and effort. Proof that craftsmanship isn’t always bought - it’s built with good ol’ fashioned elbow grease!

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#mensstyle #oxfords #shoeshine #shoecare #mensfashion #classicmenswear #saphir #leathercare #styleinspiration #dapperstyle #menswear #shoepolish #shoesoftheday #styleformen #elegance #ootdmen #shoeslover #shoegame #wellpolished #gentlemensstyle #timelessstyle #dappermen #jermynstreet #johnlobb #craftedstyle

Whenever I’m in a foul mood or feeling uncharacteristically low, sometimes all that’s needed for me to snap out of my funk is to take a quick glance over to my Queen’s battlestation. It’s full of happy colors and cute motifs, I can’t help but smile and feel joy. Some may call her “childish” to which I shall vehemently disagree and defend her right to retain her childlike innocence. One of the many I reasons I love her so much is that she’s like no one I’ve ever encountered. She doesn’t care about conforming to society’s expectations, doesn’t succumb to peer pressure, and is unapologetically herself. No jumping on the bandwagon of stupid trends, or trying to imitate celebrities or “influencers”. She’s just a girl with a pure heart and soul, who wants to do good and have a life full of joy and positive influences.

Choosing my favorite roll at Salmontini is no easy task but one of my go to rolls is our “California Crispy”, our take on the classic California roll made with avocado, cucumber, coated with crispy tempura crumbs and crowned with shredded crabstick tossed in Japanese mayo. If scrumptious was a sushi roll, this would be it!

would be tough to say which of the Penny’s are my favorite. I suppose the OG Penny I was the sneaker I coveted most growing up, but the Penny 6 is a close second — not only because they emulate the I’s with a modern interpretation, but also because the inclusion of a lace lock where you could insert an actual 1 cent coin was pure genius. Such a cool homage to “Penny.”

#PennyHardaway #Penny1 #Penny6 #NikeBasketball #1Cent #SneakerCulture #Sneakerhead #KicksOfTheDay #OGSneakers #ModernClassics

Indulging in a favorite pastime of mine—painstakingly conditioning and shining my brogued wingtips and derbies. Not only do I find it strangely cathartic, but it’s also one of those rituals that makes me feel close to my Dad.

One of the virtues he instilled in me was to take care of the things you work hard for—and to embrace the side benefit of working with your hands, which deepens the sense of reward.

If you’re into caring for your leather shoes, I highly recommend Saphir Pâte de Luxe. It costs a wee bit more than your garden-variety Kiwi or Collonil, but it’s worth every penny. I’ve had these tins for almost 4 years, and they’re still as rich and malleable as Day 1—whereas the cheap stuff would have cracked and dried up long ago.

My mother’s Macaroni Salad is the stuff of legend and when I left home I thought I’d only ever experience it whenever I visited. But fortunately my mom willingly divulged the recipe to my Queen and it has been a staple ever since. Al dente macaroni elbows tossed in shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, tender beetroot, tangy pineapple and copious spoonfuls of mayo: it’s not only incredibly delish but astoundingly cheap to prepare. For less than $20 this entire bowl will last us 3 days. And people wonder why I never dine at expensive restaurants. Isn’t it obvious?

I may have stopped drinking wine over a decade ago, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a fine label! As a young sommelier, I was more enamored with label designs than the wine itself. I’ve always had a greater appreciation for aesthetic effort. You’d be surprised at how many expensive, vintage cuvées are adorned with labels that look like they were designed on Microsoft Excel!

One of the joys of hosting events in our stores is the chance to break away from the ordinary and craft dishes that feel fresh, creative, and still unmistakably us.

We’ve become known for our light bites and canapés - elegant little pleasures that guests can’t seem to get enough of. But for me? The real seduction lies in the classics.

Take these vol-au-vents: buttery, golden pastry filled with wild mushrooms kissed by truffle. The kind of bite that’s delicate yet decadent, and instantly transports me back to my mother’s kitchen.

And that touch of microgreens? Not just garnish—they add lift, color, and just the right whisper of freshness to an already irresistible indulgence.

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#foodie #foodporn #foodphotography #foodstagram #instafood #finedining #foodlover #foodgasm #gourmet #truffle #mushrooms #chefmode #culinaryarts #canapes #delicious #yum #eventcatering #plating #frenchfood #cheflife #homemade #beautifulcuisines #foodpics #foodart #lovefood

Popped by the Jordan store to see what’s up, and what on earth are these monstrosities? Numbered Jordans are supposed to be the crème de la crème but these are positively traaaaash! Whoever designed these wasn’t even trying. I’ve seen Walmart sneakers that exhibited more effort. When I picked these up I started laughing so hard the salespeople were confused. No wonder people are wearing oversized Dad shoes these days (yet another lame trend!) Sometimes I wish I could turn back the clock to 1995-2005. The world we currently live in, is for lack of a better word, pathetic. No effort, no imagination, just cash grabs. It’s not just sneakers - look no further than the latest iPhone, fashion, food, and 99% of what you see on social media.

My Queen and I visited Dubai Mall recently, and no matter where we turned - there they were. These ugly, bug-eyed gremlins staring back at us.

We don’t live in a cave and we are well aware “Labubu” has supposedly taken the world by storm… but seeing them up close was downright disturbing. They’re not cute. They have no story. No charm. Zero appeal.

And this is coming from a couple who fawn over cartoon characters and plushies courtesy of our Asian roots - we’ll melt over a chubby Bubu + Dudu or a squishy Hello Kitty or Cinnamoroll any day. But this? This is just nightmare fuel in mass produced form.

What’s worse is that everyone - kids, adults, and full-grown men in suits - had Labubu figurines strapped to their bags like some bizarre badge of honor. Honestly, are people just sheep following sheep?

Meanwhile, I’m just thankful my wife doesn’t fall for these ridiculous bandwagons. She’s immune to hype and trends, and I’m incredibly relieved she has a mind and style all her own!

One of me and my Queen’s favorite movie characters of all time, this little guy is one of the few that have a permanent place on our entertainment console, along with General Grievous, BB-8 and of course, Hello Kitty! Every time I look at him it brings a smile to my face. I guess we’ll be watching Ghost Busters this weekend!

One of my favorite rolls to both eat and photograph: our Volcano Maki! Filled with apple, mango and cucumber wrapped in green Tobiko and topped with spicy mixed fish tossed in kewpie mayo. Dee-lish!

My Queen’s Pad Thai is a dish I’ve provably enjoyed hundreds of times and posted about ad nauseam over the past 2 decades. It has long achieved legendary status from everyone who has been privileged to sample it! Yet every time, I still find it remarkable that something so delicious can cost less than $10 in ingredients. That said, what’s priceless and inimitable is the love she puts into her dishes which is the one ingredient that cannot be bought. No MSG required, just equal parts God-given talent and soul. Besides being outrageously delicious, it’s photogenic to boot!

Late last night we found ourselves back at our old stomping grounds in The Dubai Mall, reconnecting with a former employee who has since become a true friend, Gene Bacolod. Two years on from Shakespeare’s dramatic collapse, I know that 99% of my ex-staff and colleagues would rather curse my name than share a smile. Some would probably spit in my face if given the chance. That’s why it means so much that a select few still see me for who I am and understand I wasn’t the villain of that story.

Catching up with Gene reminded me how far he’s come. I recruited him 13 years ago as a wide-eyed twenty-year-old food runner. Today, he’s on the cusp of stepping into his first role as Operations Manager. He’s one of the rare ones who took my guidance to heart, worked relentlessly, and built himself into the leader he is now. We don’t have kids of our own, so moments like these feel about as close to a “proud father” moment as I’ll ever experience. Of course the literal icing on the cake was Gene treating us to a few decadent delicacies: Passionfruit, Mango and Berries Pavlova cakes.

And then, by sheer happenstance on our way out, we ran into another familiar face - @vincentsteve79 He too started out as a runner and swiftly rose to become one of my best Supervisors and rising stars before the collapse. Despite my attempts to retain him, he chose to move on – and rightly so. Today, he’s thriving as one of the top dogs at House of Hype.

The past few months haven’t given me much to cheer about, but seeing Gene and Vincent not just have survived a tumultuous and painful saga, but flourish warms my heart. More than anything, I’m grateful to the Lord for guiding their steps and paving brighter paths for them.

After scouring the industrial boonies, I seem to have found someone willing to take a crack at my chair frame at short notice. It’s 43c (110F) in this tin greenhouse but I always relish the opportunity to observe tradesmen in their element. While I’m not u grateful for my God given intellect and the corporate career it has bestowed me with, I still maintain that if I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I would learn and master a trade - perhaps several. Meanwhile, let’s hope this chap knows what he’s doing otherwise I’ll have to learn how to weld in my spare time!

I had a craving for KFC tonight, but my Queen was adamant we steer clear of the junk. Instead, she had a far better plan: home-roasted chicken with Kitty’s special blend of herbs and spices.

Sorry Colonel Sanders - my Queen’s got you beat this time! 🍗👑✨

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#HomeCooking #BetterThanKFC #RoastChickenLove #HomemadeGoodness #KitchenQueen #FoodieLife #ComfortFoodAtHome #CookingWithLove #DinnerGoals #FoodWithFeeling #HomeChefLife #HomestyleCooking #RealFood #GratefulHeart #FoodPhotography #ChickenDinner #FoodieChronicles #InHerKitchen #MadeWithLove #PersonalBlog #SoulFoodAtHome #FamilyMeals

Now this is a section I haven’t wandered into in years: the magazine aisle. And honestly? I’m surprised so many are still in print - including two of my longtime favorites: Maxim and National Geographic. (Yes, I know - polar opposites in content… and IQ required to comprehend them. 😂)

Sure, the internet and AI have streamlined how we consume knowledge and entertainment. But magazines still hold a unique allure. There’s something about stumbling onto stories or images we didn’t know we wanted. Something about lingering on a single page instead of pressing “pause.”

The mystery of not knowing what’s coming next as you turn each page - that’s an experience the digital age still hasn’t replaced.

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#MagazineLovers #PrintIsNotDead #NationalGeographic #MaximMagazine #ReadingCorner #AnalogLiving #RetroVibes #PageTurner #OldSchoolCool #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #LifestyleChronicles #NostalgiaFeels #PersonalBlog #SlowLiving #FromTheShelf #MagazinesOfInstagram #CuratedContent #ReadingTime #PrintAddict

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We are Cyrus and Kuntida, a carefree, inseparable, and peculiar couple who have shared countless agonies and ecstasies throughout our 20-year and counting, union. We are fortunate, by God's amazing grace, to have experienced immeasurable blessings and triumphed over adversity throughout our lives, and it is our hope that our stories will offer hope, solace, and inspiration to those that may need it.

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