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Author: John

My Vitamix Routine
Posted by: | January 15, 2022
| 2 Comments
| Costco Blog

I bought a Vitamix 5200 mixer 10 years ago at Costco. (10 years and 1 month as of now)

Since then, I’ve been using it twice a day for the last 10 years without stopping.

Without a doubt, Vitamix is the best purchase I made from Costco. This is possibly the most beneficial product I own in my life. Vitamix is expensive. And you don’t have to buy a Vitamix blender. You can buy any cheaper blender. You just need to use it every day. You need to replace junk food with fruits and vegetables.

Below is my 10 years old Vitamix routine.

To me, the blender is a chore. I don’t enjoy the taste. It takes a short time to fill my stomach with fruits and vegetables. I gulp it down fast, clean up, and move on with my life. I do it fast and cheaply. I don’t make Vitamix juice to sit down and savor the moment.

Sorry, the video is painfully long. This was my first time editing a video. Maybe I’ll get better the next time.

In real life, I make Vitamix juice and make coffee at the same time. I would have two timers going. It gets busy.

I am not a scientist, and I refused to pretend to be one (by looking up). I blindly trust that my green mix is better than most breakfasts that people eat. I blindly trust that having one of these before eating dinner is what’s keeping my weight down.

Buy at Costco.com

Vitamix blender container close up
December 2021 Catch Up
Posted by: | December 28, 2021
| 1 Comment
| Personal

I don’t feel sentimental about reaching the end of the year. I am very busy at work. I don’t have time to pause and look back. My visitors know I enjoy every day of my life in my own boring way. Life is good when you are alive and not too close to death. Let me put this in a mathematical equation below…

Younger = Better

I work for a multi-billion dollar retail industry. We sell. So I am busy during the holiday season. It gets stressful, but it’s not too bad. I just don’t have time for my blog.

So, again, I will throw in a quick chit-chat to keep my blog fresh. I will stay true to myself and talk about some boring stuff.

First, this was how it looked on Christmas day. I tried to fix my Christmas lights (garland)… and Christmas was over. See how sad that looks? I never got to fix that garland. I’ll have to buy a new one next year. This Christmas came fast as usual, but this year I made some Christmas memories.

Below is a picture of my medicine cabinet in the master bathroom.

  • I always keep acne pads. I rarely get pimples, but when I need it, I need it ASAP.
  • I use sand timer every day when I use mouthwash. (1 minute)
  • I use soap and brush when I shave, but only on weekend. The pink baby cup holds the shaving soap. I bought that cup at my female coworker’s garage sale. I was looking for a cup for my shaving soap. And it works perfectly. Then I realized that… She must think I’m creepy that I bought the cup that she used when she was a baby. It is weird. What was I thinking??
  • I use some fancy hair care products. After Party hair milk makes my hair silky. I use Aveda jell if I want my hair extra curly. I rarely use those products now that I work from home.
  • TheraBreath is my go-to mouthwash. I always worry that I may have bath breath and not aware of it. So, I use a fancy mouthwash every morning.
  • The deodorant is unscented. You know I am particular about smell & fragrances.
  • Aftershave lotion is almost unscented.
  • I never use the dentist picks.

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  • I currently pay $6.99/Mo for television services. And I invested $24k in 401K & HSA this year.
  • I am 163 pounds now. Somebody send me some diet pills.

I am here and doing well. I am just busy. I will keep in touch. Happy new year~!!

Holiday Greetings – 2021
Posted by: | December 21, 2021
| 1 Comment
| Christmas, Personal

I dreamed about impressing everyone by playing like a pro.. but every time I turn on the video, it’s a disaster. This is as good as it could get. This year I am determined to play guitar for my visitors as a Christmas gift. I don’t care if I make mistakes. My visitors know I do everything mediocre and I’m proud of it.

My prediction for the year 2022? It will be yet another boring year with the same routines and same Costco shopping. Yes, the good time will continue, I wish. Boring is the best.

Keep in touch. Good times. Happy holidays~!!!

Split Pea & Ham Soup Recipe – Kirkland Signature
Posted by: | December 16, 2021
| 18 Comments
| Costco Blog, Kitchen

Posted: January 5, 2018

I make ham dinner for Christmas. New Year’s Day is when I enjoy split pea & ham soup. I make split pea soup with a leftover ham bone. I follow the recipe that comes with the ham.

Except, I do things a little differently. I put less ham. I don’t put salt and pepper. Ham is salty already, and I can always add salt later. When it comes to water, I put just enough amount of water to start. I would add more water as needed. Starting with less water is much better than starting with too much water – because there is no going back if you end up with thin soup. You don’t need to think too much about how much water is needed. You can just eyeball it and add more water as needed. The soup will tell you how much water is needed. 

To make the soup, you have to be the soup.

Also, I put a few bay leaves that are not in the recipe.

The soup was amazingly good. I ate half and put the other half in the freezer.

Split Pea and Ham Soup - Costco Recipe

Kirkland Signature Split Pea & Ham Soup Recipe

Split Pea & Ham Soup recipe

Makes 12-16 servings

  • 1 (16-oz) pkg. dried green split peas, sorted and rinsed
  • 2 quarts water
  • 4 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 2cups chopped carrots
  • 2 cups sliced celery
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham bone with leftover meat
  • 4 cups cubed ham (or remaining leftovers)
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  1. Place split peas and 2 quarts water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat: reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Drain
  2. Heat oil in a 4-quart saucepan. Saute onion, carrots, celery, and garlic in oil over medium-low heat until tender  – about 10 minutes.
  3. Return the split peas to the saucepan.
  4. Add ham bone, cubed ham, 2 quarts water, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Remove cover and continue simmering until desired thickness, stirring occasionally.
  5. Remove ham bone: cut off any remaining beat. Dice meat and return to soup before serving.

Kirkland Signature Spiral Sliced Ham

Jack says it sucks to be alone
Posted by: | December 10, 2021
| No Comments
| Personal, Single Living

Oh my God, I’m so busy. I am doing well, but busy during the holiday season. Busy is good ($$$), but I don’t have time for “Costco Blog”

I just wanted to say hi and post a small chit-chat to keep my blog alive. I will get back to you.

Jack says it sucks to be alone

Note: Jack In The Box is a fine business establishment and I wish them well. Below is just small talk, a joke. This is how I talk to my friends and family. So, please read it without being serious.

From the below 12 coupons, I can only use two of them. The rest of the coupons require 2 people because they are “2 for” deals. This is like I’m at a roller stake rink and the DJ is playing the couples-only song. I stand aside and look at the couples. I hope this music will end soon so I can continue with the boogie. (boogie down, boogie on down…)

It seems like the DJ Jack is saying, “You sit down for now. It sucks to be alone.”

I’m not in the fast-food business. But, I thought many people eating fast food are single and/or they live alone. So, my guess was that many people will find these coupons useless. But what do I know?

Coupons like these don’t bother me. I never stop and ponder why I live alone. I don’t feel sad when I see “couples only” coupons like this. I throw them in the recycle bin without thinking. I go to Jack in the Box maybe once every 5 years, anyway.

But, in the corner of my subconsciousness, for a split second, I realize I am being discriminated against for being alone. Coupons like this don’t seem fair to single people who live alone. We are being excluded. And that sucks. That thought passes me by so fast that I barely know it’s there. But, it is there.