Tiny adventures so far: 79
10.10.25 | Utah Visit for Book Club
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Book club took me all the way to Utah this weekend — my first time there and my first time reading Pride & Prejudice! 📚 Easily one of the best new things I’ve tried this year, and in the perfect season.
08.24.25 It's Time Challenge
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Per my student’s request, I tried the “It’s Time” Challenge, a challenge in which you attempt to hit one of Mariah Carey's whistle tones. I affirmed that while we share a name and a love for singing, our similarities end there. I considered whether or not to share this, but I concluded that trying and failing is just as important as trying and succeeding; it’s how we learn. Now I can add whistle tones to my #goals list.
08.01.25 Affogato
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Tonight I made affogato. I read somewhere that this word means drowned, because the ice cream is drowned in coffee. It's giving Anne Shirley levels of romance and drama. My favorite dessert is ice cream, and adding coffee makes it an Italian dessert, and adding amaretto makes it a grown-up Italian dessert. It's all upsides, and I'm here for it.
07.31.25 | Book Loft Candle
Cozy evening reading vibes brought to you by Bath & Body Works.
07.30.25 | Hues
Midnight was near, and I had not tried anything new, so I looked for a game to try and came across this one. I chose it because it looked pretty. It was alright - not the most fun, but kind of mindless and calming.
07.29.25 | Watercolor Practice
Trying out a few watercolor techniques turned into a page of doodles, and while it’s giving first-grade results, it’s the trying that counts. *nervous chuckle*
07.28.25 | Amateur
Summer is coming to a close realized I need to get in a few more movies before the school year is underway. I enjoyed this one well enough - it’s always nice to see the underdog have his day.
07.27.25 | Virtual Escape Room
Tried my first virtual escape room today. My sister and her husband love escape rooms, and they’ve done pretty much every local escape room available, so for her birthday party today, we brought the escape room home. The experience cannot quite compare with a physical escape room, but the option was nice, and so was the comfort of home.
07.26.25 | Seussical
I’ve heard about Seussical the Musical for a few years now, and today I had the privilege of watching one of my students (two actually) perform it. It was absolutely adorable. I think what they performed was a junior version, so I’m curious to know how it differs from the original.
07.25.25 | Frose Sorbet
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So pretty, and so not for me. It’s alright - Jeni’s makes plenty of other flavors that I love.
07.24.25 | Auditioning
For some time, I’ve wanted to try community theater. It looks like grown-up playtime, and I know that it would be a challenge. A few local shows came up, but my schedule did not allow me to audition. Finally, I came across this opportunity, which is not a play but involves singing, which is just as well, since I love to sing. I was so nervous, and I don’t know how to feel about my odds, but I am so glad to have even tried.
07.23.25 | Mounted TV
No, I did not mount a TV by myself - I’m not qualified or crazy. 😅
After years of resisting a TV in my living room, I finally came around, and in an effort to preserve my current setup, I decided to have it mounted. This is pretty standard for many people I know, but I never want a TV to detract from a present, conversational atmosphere, and the notion of attaching a weighty and pricey appliance to the wall feels too risky. So far, so good… I’m looking forward to the ways a screen in my living room can broaden my hosting horizons, starting with my Hamilton-iversary party in a couple of weeks.
07.22.25 | Lockwood Flight
One of the best things about trying something new every day is the opportunity to try things again and to make a habit out of what was new. Tonight I returned to Lockwood for trivia night, and this time I brought a team. My friends and I cashed in on my trivia prize from last time and shared the Lockwood Flight. My ranking of the included drinks is as follows: 1.) Bourbon Cream, 2.) Honeysuckle Vodka *not typically included, but the usual Vodka was not available, 3.) Hibiscus Vodka, and 4.) Texas Gin, which I personally did not actually like at all (though one of my friends ranked it first - so, ya know - to each his own). We had a great time and did relatively well on trivia. We plan to return and bring that score up next time.
07.21.25 | Local Good Coffee Co.
Local Good Coffee Co. is one of the largest coffee shops I’ve ever been to. I went there to meet a friend who has a toddler and appreciates the play area inside. I loved all the natural light and the spacious layout that includes a range of seating from cozy couches to large tables suitable for work or studying. While we opted to stay inside, I noted the lovely large patio out back. This place is Equal parts coffee shop and community center. I learned that it is part of a larger organization called The Local Good Collective, which aims to meet critical needs with dignity and make it easy for everyone to join in.
07.20.25 | Fable & Fire, Bookshop Bistro
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Brunch with my besties. We took a little joyride to this very cute bistro in Rockwall. 10/10 vibes.
07.19.25 | Feed the City
Today I participated in a “Feed the City” event with my community group. This was a really cool serving opportunity, and other than the fact that it started at 8 a.m. on a Saturday, it was a very easy avenue for doing good. We brought lunch supplies and filled a restaurant with volunteers to assemble sandwiches and lunches. In less than 2 hours, we used all of our materials and made 1,630 meals.
07.18.25 | Peach Roses
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Peaches in summer are delightful all on their own; peach pastries… magic.
07.17.25 | Earring Declutter
A little box of cards for prompting self-care suggested that I declutter a space. I’ve been meaning to organize my earrings for a while, so I bought a spinning stand and made it happen. The reflection that followed was a moment of gratitude for the growth of my little collection. I really love beautiful and fun earrings, so I had gathered many over the years. A couple of years ago my home was broken into and the culprits made off with the majority of my jewelry among other things. Shortly after, my friends surprised me with a lovely gift comprised of a few earrings selected by each of them to jumpstart my collection. It was a moment that I felt very seen and cared for. I’ve continued adding to it since then, and I’m grateful for every little pair.
07.16.25 | Hidden Patterns Coloring Book
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My sister always finds me fun new things to try with colors and art. This hidden patterns coloring book from Lifelines reveals the sort of shading that makes me feel like the expert artist that I am not. I loved watching the patterns emerge and seeing the final product.
07.15.25 | Sara Bareilles & Rufus Wainright Duet
Today, I took a deep dive into various renditions of "She Used to Be Mine" and came across this beautiful and most unexpected duet. It has changed my relationship with this song.