NiShaWho

These are more than everyday essentials. They are the reliable old companions I have used for years and grown genuinely attached to. From my backpack and water bottle to my shoes, pen, and laptop, each one has survived graduate school, work, travel, and daily life, and still keeps showing up for me.

As someone with brown Asian skin, I have struggled with hyperpigmentation for most of my life. Over the years, I tried countless prescription and over-the-counter products, and even 12% hydroquinone did not work for me. Eventually, I found a few products and dermatologist-recommended approaches that made a real difference. The results were slow, but they were effective. Everyone’s skin is different, and what worked for me may not work for everyone. Still, I hope sharing my experience and the products that helped me might be useful to someone facing a similar struggle. I do not use a long list of products. These are simply the everyday essentials that make up my daily skincare routine.

I am a devoted tea drinker and a proud collector. Like Patrick Jane in The Mentalist, I am rarely seen without a cup of tea. I come from a country former British - colonized country where people may go without many things, but never without tea. My collection now includes more than 180 different teas from around the world. Many are deeply personal and cannot be linked online. My Chinese teas, for example, were sourced by friends directly from tea-growing regions, farmers’ markets, and small shops near tea farms and factories - not from grocery stores or online retailers. I also collect Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Indian, and Japanese artisan teas. What fascinates me is not only the taste, but also the history, geography, craftsmanship, and culture contained in every cup. Since most of my teas are locally sourced and unavailable online, I have included links only for the varieties or comparable commercial versions that can be purchased in the United States. This is already a long list, and it will probably keep growing. I plan to update it as I discover new favorites because I love tea—and I love helping other people find teas they might love too.

Raleigh through the eyes of a graduate student who loves good food, small adventures, and finding new corners of the city. This is a collection of the places we eat, explore, and return to whenever we need a break from research and real life: Maybe weekly! 😁