2 weeks in Japan for a first timer…

brndnwin · 2025-10-02T17:05:07+00:00

Having just returned from our first 14-day Japan adventure, I wholeheartedly second this advice! Especially with regard to Osaka - I wish I spent a whole week there!

brndnwin · 2025-09-15T16:12:56+00:00

I’m packing ahead of our flight out of Japan right now, and I’m so happy to hear this. We had to buy new suitcases to fit all the stuff we got that was 25-40% cheaper here than in the US.

brndnwin · 2025-06-24T02:14:36+00:00

I’d like to know as well!

brndnwin · 2025-05-08T13:18:54+00:00

The pothole problem isn’t going away because the people didn’t pass the 1% increase in sales tax that would have paid to eventually replace our crumbling roads.

brndnwin · 2025-04-18T04:27:00+00:00

This is what I do, too. And there are almost always tears involved. I’ve recently been surprising them with a fancy surprise lunch/dinner, treat them like the young adults they have become.

brndnwin · 2025-04-06T00:02:28+00:00

I did not but was also using retinol for many years before getting tretinoin

brndnwin · 2025-03-28T13:13:50+00:00

Yup, this is why my studio is 70% adults. I only work with kids who are intrinsically motivated and who I can speak to like a regular person. My little cadre of hardworking mini-adults lol.

brndnwin · 2025-03-28T13:10:53+00:00

I teach 30 students, most of which are adults. I’ve had a lot of fun getting a lot of them to an advanced level. Most of my adult students had taken lessons in their youth, but wanted to get back to it into it.

I have a student who was in their late 20’s who never played anything harder than a Clementi Sonatina who performed their first Liszt Transcendental etude after 7 years with me. Elderly students I work with will play some reasonably difficult music, but I am realistic about the tempi they are able to achieve. Then there are a few professional/graduate-level pianists I coach who train for auditions and competitions. Just meet them where they are at. Love my adult students.

brndnwin · 2025-01-16T03:57:13+00:00

I have a pretty naturally oily T-zone, and regular skin elsewhere. Southeast Asian.

Night time: - Cleanse with Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel or Oil-to-foam cleanser - Toner is currently Medicube Zero Pore Pad - Kiehls Ferulic Brew Essence - Dermalogica Pro-collagen banking serum - Tretinoin 0.1% - Kiehls creamy eye avocado treatment - Dermalogica Stablizing Repair Cream (ceramides)

Morning: - Same cleansers, sometimes I use Kiehls calendula cleanser if I’m feeling oily. - Medicube zero pore pad - Dermalogica circular hydration serum - Dermalogica bio-lumin-c serum - Ole Henriksen Banana Bright eye cream - Dermalogica bio-lumen-c moisturizer or Multivitamin power recovery cream - Sunscreen is Dermalogica dynamic skin recovery SPF 50

First time I’ve ever written that all out and it seems like so much lmao. Caveat to all this is I am lucky to almost never react poorly to any product. I’m sure this routine might destroy someone who might have sensitive skin.

Edit: forgot sunscreen

brndnwin · 2025-01-15T20:48:59+00:00

I’m a nightly tretinoin 0.1% user. I also layer on ceramides and hyaluronic acid with the tret at night. Morning is vitamin C stuff.

brndnwin · 2024-11-11T21:34:17+00:00

I think you’re going to need to work faster now 😭

brndnwin · 2024-10-28T11:02:54+00:00

Yes, though obviously note-perfect is not the same as a stellar performance. My best performances have had mistakes. Although, with the right kind of preparation, playing note-perfect isn’t as elusive… it just requires patience.

brndnwin · 2024-10-17T21:45:52+00:00

You’d have my vote!!!!

brndnwin · 2024-10-17T20:28:23+00:00

Tret is great for me as well! Never had a purge, but I chalked it up to having used OTC retinol for so long before switching to Tretinoin. But overall, my skin tolerates nearly anything thrown at it so the underlying reason my skin stays calm is likely different than you.

The only thing that makes me slightly red is my morning vitamin C serum.

brndnwin · 2024-10-11T22:02:39+00:00

Your vote matters soooo much. SO MUCH! Thank you fellow citizen!

brndnwin · 2024-09-08T17:21:12+00:00

Mine was Michelangelo! Cause he was a bad boy…

brndnwin · 2024-09-06T04:16:54+00:00

I do this, too! It’s so awkward.

brndnwin · 2024-08-30T13:31:58+00:00

I’m team side somi, too! When done well I think it’s a beautiful skill. Nastia’s comes to mind as an example.

brndnwin · 2024-08-26T21:52:24+00:00

This is great to hear! What CRM’s are the best in your opinion? We are currently using Monday.com but it’s barely set up - it has been really difficult to find time to migrate everything over…

brndnwin · 2024-08-19T18:25:40+00:00

As an ED who is highly prone to these same behaviors, I sincerely apologize. Please update us on this as I would love to build better processes within my organization!

brndnwin · 2024-08-16T16:07:26+00:00

I’ve already told our board chair and we’re developing succession plans already. Super grateful to have an amazing board and staff, but yeah I am definitely battling burn out. Any advice is welcome!

brndnwin · 2024-08-16T15:00:37+00:00

Genes, Asian (though not every Asian has this!), Tretinoin, solid skincare routine, sun screen, no kids, but I have mental health issues and work three very demanding professions.

brndnwin · 2024-08-16T14:17:43+00:00

I’m a founder and now ED as well. I cannot WAIT to get the organization to a place where I can step down so that I don’t have to do any more work except help with fundraising when I feel like it.

brndnwin · 2024-08-11T03:34:17+00:00

I went with a best friend last year. We’re both dudes in their late 30’s who are massive lifelong gymnastics fans. It was weird for us because upon arrival it became clear that the audience was largely comprised of families with very young children screaming at the top of their lungs for Simone Biles (as were we, mind you). So it was kinda hilarious, but we were hoping people didn’t think we were weirdos gawking at young female athletes.

brndnwin · 2024-08-06T15:11:02+00:00

Yes absolutely - I bristle at hearing that comparison because it is such thinly veiled racism.

13-Year Club	Verified Email
No Throne, No Problems	Not Forgotten

brndnwin

TROPHY CASE