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Birthday Shenanigans – Austin 2026

by in Rachel Barnard and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bigger Better Birthday

This year, I turned my birth-day into a birth-month packed with new experiences, new places, and a lot of sugary treats.

In 2025, I casually redeemed about $60 worth of birthday treats. In 2024, I went on a full-on birthday freebie quest. But this year? I upped the ante: I redeemed my freebies and spent real money on experiences.

January 17, 2026 — Bunny Yoga

Okay, technically I didn’t pay for this with real money — I used a gift card I earned from participating in a study to cover the $30 class fee. I’ve done puppy yoga and kitten yoga, and I’ve had the opportunity to do goat yoga, but I never actually went. Bunny yoga is much closer to kitten yoga than puppy yoga.

The bunnies were definitely more skittish. Some of them hid out and lounged in the little litter box/potty buckets the entire time. But there were a few brave buns hopping around the room, munching on greens, and one true daredevil who confidently jumped into a couple of people’s laps. It was chaotic and adorable, and the easiest yoga class you can find.

January 18, 2026 — Cat Café Afternoon in Downtown Austin

The next day, I planned a downtown Austin afternoon, starting at Sydney’s Cat Lounge with my friend and her husband. Sessions are 45 minutes for $28 per person, and the vibe is described as:

“Step into our royal lounge and mingle with Austin’s finest felines. Expect cuddles, cat naps, and a few dramatic poses — they are royalty, after all.”

My friends both drove and paid for the experience (thanks again). The second you step inside, it’s delightfully overstimulating in the best way. There’s a cat castle, a literal throne, big comfy chairs, an outdoor catio, and even a little hedge maze for humans outside in the sun.

Some of the cats were younger and still getting introduced to the main group, while the seasoned pros fully embraced café life and slept through almost the entire session like tiny furry retirees.

January 18, 2026 — Detour Downtown — Library Plans, Matcha Wins, and Bookstore Wandering

My friend dropped me off downtown at the Austin Central Library, which was supposed to be my next stop. The plan? Check out the rooftop garden, soak in the skyline views, and grab a dramatic spiral staircase photo. Unfortunately, they were closed a day early in observance of MLK Day. Womp womp.

While figuring out my next move, I had an uncomfortable interaction with someone nearby (they were yelling at people trying to go to the library and yelled at me because of the loud cat print onesie I was wearing), so I decided to leave the area immediately. On the walk over to my next planned stop, I dropped by Mañana Coffee for a pick-me-up before continuing on to Whole Foods and BookPeople.

I ordered the popular mango sticky rice matcha.
Price: $8.50
Verdict: Spendy… but honestly, the best flavored matcha I’ve ever had. Worth it.

This is also where I started leaving a little tip trail of origami animals I’d folded ahead of time for my birthday barhopping adventure. My first drop: a tiny paper cat left at Mañana. Next stop: the Flagship Whole Foods, where I grabbed some coconut snacks for my boyfriend for later.

Then I made my way to BookPeople, where I wandered up and down the genres. I found local romance author Ali Hazelwood’s signed section, browsed all the fun gift-y chotchkes, and flipped through some travel books — including one with a great little excerpt about Austin. I changed outfits in the restroom and decided to leave earlier than I had planned so I could fit in more rooftop bars.

January 18, 2026 — Rooftop Stop #1 — Group Therapy at Hotel ZaZa (Around 4 PM)

My first official birthday bar stop was Group Therapy, the rooftop bar inside Hotel ZaZa.

When I arrived, the place was quiet; both the bar and cabana area were nearly empty, with only one other table of guests outside. The staff were incredibly friendly, and bonus points: the restroom was very nice and my favorite of all the stops. Because I had a drink of some kind at nearly every place I went, I also used the restroom in every bar except P6.

The rooftop setup includes an indoor bar area with seating and an outdoor cabana space with poolside seating (no glass allowed in this area). As for the view: you don’t get much skyline unless you’re seated right at the edge of the rooftop, but the atmosphere makes up for it. The combination of the pool and surrounding high-rise buildings gives it this cool industrial-meets-tropical vibe. The street view below, however, is pretty unremarkable. Finding the bar is easy as it’s listed on the elevator directory. When you get off the elevator, turn right and keep walking, and you’ll run right into Group Therapy.

What I Ordered

  • Crispy Brussels Sprouts — $12
  • Runaway Mocktail — $15

Both were delicious. The Brussels sprouts came in a massive portion and were super flavorful. The mocktail was bright and refreshing without being too sweet.

January 18, 2026 — Rooftop Stop #2 — P6 at the LINE Austin (5:45 PM)

This was the rooftop bar I had actually planned ahead for. I made a reservation for one a few weeks in advance because I’d heard it has one of the best sunset views in Austin, and I wanted to guarantee a good seat. I can confirm: the view is spectacular… if you can actually see it. Only 80% of the tables have a view worth making a reservation for.

When I arrived, they seated me at a two-top right by the host stand, just inside the rooftop area. Technically outside, but functionally indoors. My view consisted mostly of the backs of people’s heads, a sliver of sky with direct sun, distant buildings, and one very unfortunate, ugly rooftop. After sitting there for a few minutes, I decided that if I couldn’t move, I’d order a drink and get out of there within 10 minutes to try to catch the sunset somewhere else. The sun was already dropping fast.

The host said she’d try to move me to a table on the “other end,” but explained that some guests were overstaying their reservation time limits and hadn’t left yet. Not shocking but still… rude (first world problems).

Then, with a sliver of sun showing, they moved me to the good side of the bar. I was seated in a low lounge setup with a couch and two chairs in a space that could easily fit 5–6 people, and the view was completely different. From there, I could see the water, skyline, bridge, and the rest of the sunset as the sky changed colors. I didn’t stay long, because now I felt rude taking such a large table for one person!

What I Ordered

  • Botanical Reset Mocktail — $12
  • Chocolate Tahini Mousse — $11

The mocktail was refreshing, but the mousse was the memorable choice. It was one of the best desserts because it was rich, balanced, and an incredible mix of textures and flavors. I’d honestly go back just to get one for my partner… and to try for a smoother sunset experience.

During bat season, this bar also has a fantastic view of the Congress Avenue Bridge bats, for some of the tables…

This bar was confusing to locate. The elevator didn’t list the bar, and the floor I initially got off on (following other rooftop wanderers) looked like it belonged to something else entirely.

Here’s how to find it: Go to the 6th floor. When you exit the regular elevator, turn right. Walk down the hallway to the end. Turn right again, and go down a couple of stairs. P6 will be straight ahead. There’s also a separate elevator somewhere else, apparently, but I took the one from the lobby.

Seating tip: If they seat you on the side as you enter P6, you might not get much of a view. If you’re on the opposite side (like in the photos on their website), the sunset and bridge views are absolutely worth it.

I tipped both the server and the host one of my origami animals.

January 18, 2026 — Rooftop Stop #3 — La Piscina in the Proper Hotel (Around 6:45 PM)

I thought I had time to squeeze in one more rooftop bar before my final 8 PM reservation at my final stop, so I walked over to La Piscina to try my luck at prime dinner hour. Predictably… they were fully booked until 8 PM. I had just watched them turn away the couple ahead of me, so my expectations were already low that they had 1 seat somewhere.

From what I could see, it didn’t really feel like a rooftop bar situation anyway, at least not in January. Most people were indoors dining, and the pool with the outdoor seating area was completely empty. It gave much more upscale restaurant energy than “grab a drink and enjoy the view” vibes.

I did pop into the restroom (solid facilities, no notes), and on my way out, I found an unlocked door near the back entrance to the pool area. I stepped out briefly to snap a photo of the gorgeous nighttime skyline view from up there. The pool looks nice, if not small.

January 18, 2026 — Rooftop Stop #4 — The Edge Rooftop in the J.W. Marriot (Around 7 PM)

I walked back toward P6 and then crossed the street to the JW Marriott rooftop. I was picking and choosing the best views and best vibes rooftops and that meant walking back and forth! Entering from the lobby, it felt like a maze trying to find the right elevator and then figure out where to go once I got off. After exiting the elevator, I ended up meandering through what felt like the entire rooftop pool deck with rows and rows of seating, a beautifully laid-out space, and a huge outdoor area before finally reaching the actual bar on the other side of the building.

Verdict: best pool, least impressive late-night drink options.

The rooftop space itself is massive and gorgeous, with seating spread around fire features and plenty of room to roam. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to book a stay just to have access to the pool and outdoor area. Drink-wise, though, the menu was very limited, and they didn’t have any mocktails listed. I asked for “anything mocktail,” and they brought me a virgin Lady Bird. It was mostly juice, but still tasty and refreshing for $8.

After using the restroom and washing my hands (the glass I’d been given was… sticky), I realized I had left my phone back at my chair and had to double back through the rooftop seating to retrieve it. Thankfully, it was still there, right where I’d left it near the outdoor fire. I blame carrying both a purse and a bag and having inadequate pants pockets in my jeans.

January 18, 2026 — Rooftop Stop #5 — Nido inside the Loren Hotel (8 PM)

From there, I backtracked again, crossed the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, and made my way to my final reservation of the night at Nido, inside The Loren. Jon met me there for a late-night birthday dinner.

After four rooftop bars, this was the first place that gave me zero hassle about seating and still delivered an incredible view from the terrace.

Nido sends detailed instructions after you book, including valet info ($15) and dining time limits. Dessert was on the house for my birthday along with a signed birthday card, which instantly elevated the whole experience. Honestly, how often do you get something for free at a restaurant that isn’t an apology?

We fully leaned into the indulgence and ordered:

  • Lasagna
  • Tuna carpaccio
  • Two mocktails
  • And the complimentary carrot mille-feuille dessert

Everything was flavorful, rich, and absolutely worth it.

Because Nido sits across the water from downtown, the terrace gives you a full skyline view that’s all tall buildings reflected on Lady Bird Lake. It feels scenic and calm rather than busy and street-level. They do have indoor seating, but the terrace is the move if the weather cooperates. Interestingly, the restroom in Nido is co-ed and my least favorite of the night.

Easiest reservation of the night, best seating experience, and the perfect way to end a very rooftop-heavy birthday adventure.

Though Jon treated us to dinner at Nido (thanks!), my total spending for the day was fairly high and I gave away all of my origami tip animals. I also walked about 3.7 miles, which means this birthday celebration technically counted as cardio.

January 21, 2026 — Ice Cream Freebie at Jeni’s at the Domain

Birthday freebie season was in full swing, so I stopped by Jeni’s to redeem my free birthday “Celebration Scoop” with a waffle bowl — a treat worth about $8.

After sampling a few flavors (arguably the most important part of the experience), I ended up choosing two I normally wouldn’t pick but were very good:

  • Tropical Bloom — mandarin and kiwi with passion fruit. Bright, tangy, and very refreshing.
  • Double Dough — chocolate chip cookie dough swirled into butter brown sugar custard. Rich, sweet, and dangerously easy to keep eating.

January 22, 2026 — Cake, Starbucks, and a not-so-mystery gift from Ellicor

Jon surprised me with my own chocolate cake from a local bakery, Upper Crust. It was decent but not the best. He also ordered a strawberry gâteau cake from the same bakery for my sushi omakase, which was amazing and very different from the chocolate cake. Honestly, the chocolate cake was decent, but it tasted like any grocery store could have made it.

I made my annual Starbucks run for my freebie and tried out their Dubai chocolate. At ~600 calories, Jon and I shared this over several days. The mystery gift from Ellicor was my choice from their keychain wall. Not worth a special trip, in my opinion, but we also grabbed some fun imported snacks while we were there, and I snagged a TGTG bag (Too Good to Go) from Ellicor.

I also received a Blue Apron from family with three meals we made during the ice-storm. Our favorite was the enchiladas.

January 24, 2026 — Tsuke Edomae Omakase Sushi

My second time going to this outstanding Austin omakase with now James Beard-nominated chef – Michael Che! Jon got another cake from Upper Crust Bakery that was so good we couldn’t help eating all the leftovers after feeding the other 8 people at the Omakase (including the chef and other employee/owner).

My favorites: tile fish, chutoro, Japanese sardine, pickled cucumber, unagi, skipjack, grilled otoro, anago, miso soup, tamago, and dessert 🙂

I received other cool, tasty, and fun gifts for my birthday. Thanks, everyone!

Other birthday freebies I am planning to redeem:

Dutch Bros

One any size drink

Alamo Drafthouse

Dessert

Crumbl Cookie

Free cookie

Snarf’s Sandwiches

free sandwich valid during your birthday month

2025 birthday redemptions

Date

Value

Location

Birthday treat

1/1/25

$18.08

AMC

Birthday large popcorn and large drink

1/15/25

$7.75

Jeni’s

Free Birthday ice cream in a large cone

1/21/25

$4.99

La Madeleine

Free Birthday treat

1/22/25

$5.50

Sprinkles

Free Birthday cupcake

1/22/25

$9.25

Alamo

Free Birthday dessert

1/22/25

$6.95

Dutch Bros

Free Birthday drink

1/22/25

$8

Starbucks

Free Birthday drink

1/22/25

$8

Starbucks

Free Birthday drink

2024 birthday freebies (from my blog post here)

My birthday freebies list updated from this year but some info may not be correct as I didn’t try to redeem them all:

Freebie

Date(s) available

Notes

Starbucks Rachel

1/22

Free drink any size

Ulta Beauty

1/22 – 1/24

$10 off $10 coupon

Ellicor: free “gift”

Free keychain from birthday keychain wall ($6 value?)

The Salty

1/22

Free donut

Pluckers

1/22 only

Free dessert dine in only (informed via email that reward is in my mobile app)

Dutch Bros

1/22 – 2/22

One any size drink

Alamo Drafthouse

1/22 – 2/22

dessert

AMC

1/1 – 1/31

soda and popcorn

Jeni’s ice cream

1/15 -1/30

Celebration scoop with waffle bowl worth $

Andy’s Frozen Custard

1/1 – 1/31

Free small cake cone

Nothing Bundt Cakes

1/15 – 1/29

Free bundtlet (print or show email on mobile device to redeem)

Buffalo Wild Wings

1/20 – 2/1

Six free wings

To get it, sign up for the free rewards program in the app or online, add your birthday details at least 30 days in advance, and check your rewards section for the coupon

Jinya

1/22 – 2/5

Free birthday dessert plate

Taco Cabana

On/near Birthday

2 free tacos

SusieCakes

1/1 -1/30

Free birthday cake slice if you’ve bought something in the past year

Edible Arrangements

1/1 -1/30

made a qualifying purchase the prior year

Paris Baguette

1/1 -1/30

Slice of cake with prior purchase

Dairy Queen

small Blizzard for just 85 cents with a $1 purchase

Make a purchase within 45 days before birthday

World Market

Birthday month

15% discount coupon

Torchy’s Tacos

1/1?

Free taco

Bath & Body Works

1/22 – 2/22

Free gift with purchase (worth $9.95)

Crumbl Cookie

1/22 – 2/28

Free cookie

Snarf’s Sandwiches

2/8

free sandwich valid during your birthday month

You must be a member for at least 30 days before your birthday to qualify.

Corner Bakery Café 90628729126333

1/19 – 2/2

Free Bakery Sweet

Einstein Bros Bagels

1/19 – 2/02

Purchase to get free egg sandwich

Dippin’ Dots

free Dippin’ Dots with dot crazy email signup

Fogo de Chao

Enjoy $25 off a Full Churrasco Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, or Entrée, valid for 30 days

El Pollo Loco

$5 reward

Culinary Dropout

Free dessert

Le Madeleine

1/21 – 2/21

Birthday treat

And finally… The list of other rooftop bars, including one I really wanted to go to, but it is closed until sometime in February:

Name Location Vibe / Notes What to Know / What to Order
Upstairs at Caroline 621 Congress Ave., Ste. 201 Backyard-inspired rooftop bar with giant Jenga, foosball, and cornhole — and your pups are invited, too. Try: The Strawberry + Me (Las Californias gin, Aperol, Giffard apricot, strawberry, bubbles).
Arriba Abajo 506 San Jacinto Blvd. Fourth-floor rooftop at the Thompson Austin with DJ sets and a pool. Reservations recommended on weekends. Try: Serenade Spritz (Lillet Blanc, St-Germain, lemon, peach, cava).
HeyDey Social Club 721 Congress Ave. Rooftop next to the Paramount Theatre with 270º skyline views. Order a Dealer’s Choice and let the bartender surprise you.
Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar 2201 Manor Rd. East Austin mezcaleria above Mi Madre’s with a huge selection of Mexican spirits. Try the Guava Margarita (frozen mezcal margarita).
Azul Rooftop 310 E. 5th St. Poolside rooftop for frozen drinks and snacks like tacos and cheesecake. Reservations recommended for groups. Closes early Sundays. Try: No Vacancy (vodka, lime, mint, prickly pear, yuzu soda).
El Cockfight 121 E. 5th St. Downtown rooftop from the team behind Red Headed Stepchild and HandleBar. Any frozen margarita is the move.
Otopia Rooftop Lounge 901 San Antonio St., Unit 1100 Campus-area rooftop pool and bar overlooking the Texas Capitol. Great food menu too. Try: Toasted Coco-Lada (RumHaven, Bacardi, amaretto, coconut, pineapple, citrus).
El Alma 1025 Barton Springs Rd. Longtime Barton Springs favorite with a popular rooftop patio. Rooftop reservations recommended. Try: La Diabla Margarita (mango-habanero tequila, mango purée, lime, agave, chile rim).
Rules & Regs 101 Red River St. Currently closed until February. Known for skyline views and weekend happy hour. Reservations strongly advised. Happy hour Thu–Sun 5–6 PM. Try: R&R Mangonada (mezcal, mango, lime, agave, tajín rim).
77º Rooftop Bar 11500 E. Rock Rose Ave. Three-story rooftop in The Domain with cocktails, bites, and hookah. Weekend reservations recommended. Try: One Eyed Monster (Dragonberry & Raspberry Bacardi, lemon, peach).
Zanzibar 304 E. Cesar Chavez St., Unit 700 Tropical-themed rooftop for a downtown staycation vibe. Birthday 2025 favorite! Try: The Devil & the Deep Blue Sea (bourbon, pineapple, orgeat, orange, lemon).

 

 

Book Review: The Joy Dividend: How Brands Win by Reducing Stress and Sparking Delight by Hamutal Schieber

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Book Review: The Joy Dividend: How Brands Win by Reducing Stress and Sparking Delight by Hamutal Schieber

A Nonfiction Business Strategy Novel published on (01/01/26)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

“When a product perfectly blends form, function, and delight, customers don’t just use it, but they fall in love with it and spread the word.”

This nonfiction book (more like a research guide) looks at how constant stress has changed the way people think, choose, and stay loyal to a product or brand. Instead of chasing more features or novelty, consumers are gravitating toward experiences that feel easier, calmer, and more human. Blending research, real-world examples, and practical frameworks, the book shows how reducing friction, creating moments of joy, and respecting people’s limited time and emotional bandwidth can build deeper, longer-lasting loyalty.

Keywords:

Nonfiction, Business, Consumer Behavior, Strategic Management, Marketing, Strategy, Psychology, Research

My Review:

The book is highly structured and methodical. Each chapter opens with a summary, ends with key takeaways, and often includes practical exercises. It draws on a mix of very recent data (2024–2025 studies) alongside older references, giving the arguments strong contemporary relevance.

The examples throughout are concrete, realistic, and easy to imagine applying in real business contexts. The book contains tables, charts, and dense blocks of information. The small text and volume of technical detail can feel like information overload, especially in mobile format, where some tables become difficult to read. Often, large lists or frameworks are presented first and explained afterward.

The tone of the content presented is academic and highly analytical, like a research-backed thesis. As a book, the pacing can feel challenging to read cover-to-cover. I can envision this book as a companion to a business class, where the content is broken up into weekly readings and lessons, allowing the ideas room to breathe.

Chapter 7 stands out as a highlight and a fitting conclusion. The comprehensive implementation guide provides a clear, step-by-step framework that brings all the concepts together practically and cohesively. After the analytical density of the previous chapters, this section feels necessary and helpful. It offers a thorough, actionable roadmap for product design, implementation, and long-term strategy.

If you want a thoughtful framework you can apply to long-term product, experience, or brand strategy, this book is for you.

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.00

Links for more information

Goodreads

Amazon

Book Review: The Shared Pulse by Eda Kara

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Book Review: The Shared Pulse by Eda Kara

A Speculative Fiction – Romance Novel published on (01/02/26)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

“Steel Hook, the trendiest AI dating app of the moment: part Bumble, part psychometric experiment, part cult. For her, the app was less about meeting someone and more about defining a problem statement for which the match would be the optimal solution.”

In a near-future Istanbul where love is governed by algorithms, Alev and Toprak are improbably matched by a system glitch that creates an intimate “Shared Pulse” between them. Alev is a perfectionist guided by her AI coach, while Toprak is a commitment-phobe gaming the dating app so it won’t kick him off. Can real love exist in an optimized world, or is it doomed by the messy chaos of being human?

Keywords:

Technology, Dating, AI, Turkiye, Algorithm, AI Coach, Autonomy, Efficiency, Humanity, Connection

My Review:

I was immediately hooked by the speculative fiction, semi-dystopian premise, but even more so within the first few pages of Chapter One, by the writing itself and the story. The moment Secret Garden tells Alev she’s ready for a relationship, and she joins the AI dating app Steel Hook, the story’s main plotline is set up: a woman who has optimized every part of her life now outsourcing intimacy itself. Alev’s complete lack of concern about privacy, handing over her data without hesitation, and letting her devices record her daily life feels both unsettling and painfully accurate. “She was trapped in an infinite loop of optimized, emotionally neutered efficiency.”

Alev is written as hyper-competent and emotionally constrained… “basically, if an Apple Watch had a human form.” She treats dating (even romance and romantic feelings) as a problem statement waiting for the optimal solution. Steel Hook, with its cult-like slogans MATCH. MEASURE. MAXIMIZE becomes less a dating app and more a mirror of her internal logic: efficient, sterile, and emotionally risk-averse. The result is a life that feels performative and devoid of emotion.

The disruption comes in the form of Toprak, whose unpolished kindness and awkward charm challenge Alev’s instinct to judge and categorize. His resistance to being reduced to metrics and his frustration with being seen as likable but not trustworthy introduce the book’s most compelling counterargument to algorithmic compatibility. When the AI begins “optimizing for emotional authenticity instead of compatibility metrics,” the story becomes even more compelling: that emotion, messiness, and so-called chaos are not bugs in the system but the point of life itself.

What elevates all of this is the author’s language. The prose is sensory and alive—“The night was already pressing the windows,” “The city below stretched its limbs.” The author’s command of wordcraft feels effortless and immersive, making the emotional and philosophical questions feel real and alive rather than abstract. This is speculative fiction at its best: using near-future technology to interrogate identity, intimacy, and the radical idea that our cracks aren’t flaws at all: they’re openings.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00

Links for more information

Eda Kara’s website

Goodreads

Amazon

Book Review: A Knight in Central Park by Angela McConkey

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Book Review: A Knight in Central Park by Angela McConkey

A Middle Grade book published on (01/19/26)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

This short story is a wholesome coming-of-age tale that centers on Henry, a fifth grader, who describes himself as “strategically reckless.” Told mostly from Henry’s point of view, this middle-grade book offers a slice-of-life look at one summer in the life of a 12-year-old boy navigating imagination, responsibility, and growing up.

Keywords:

5th grade, New York, Arthurian Legend, Adventure, Imagination, Lessons, Cat, Bird, Grandmother

My Review:

The author’s writing style is clean and unobtrusive, striking an effective balance between showing and telling that makes the book easy to read. The reading level firmly places it in the chapter book/ middle-grade category, and it never asks too much of the reader. Henry’s voice feels intentionally young for his age. He is emotional, a little whiny, and completely unfiltered. He often talks out loud to himself, holding nothing back, which feels authentic, yet makes Henry seem younger than he is.

This story is driven by imagination rather than action. Arthurian ideas of knighthood: courage, justice, mercy, generosity, faith, nobility, and hope are woven throughout, reinforcing the idea that being a “knight” doesn’t require sword fights or dragon slaying. As one line puts it, “You’ve got the heart of a knight… Even if you don’t know it yet.” These lessons are clear and intentionally spelled out, especially in the last chapters of the book.

The story itself is low stakes and low action, more slice-of-life than adventure. That makes for a calm, sometimes plodding read with no real surprises. It doesn’t need to be read in one sitting, and in fact works better when taken in small pieces. The predictability and steady pacing make it ideal as bedtime reading for middle-grade readers, where you can pause at any point and easily pick up again the next night. And, of course, who doesn’t love a book with animals?

Ultimately, this is a cute short story packed with positive lessons and an earnest message about growing into kindness and character. While it may not be particularly exciting or surprising, it succeeds as a thoughtful, age-appropriate read for middle-grade readers—and for adults reading aloud to children who appreciate a calm, reassuring story with heart.

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50

Links for more information

Goodreads

Amazon

2025 in Financial Fitness, Net worth, and Budgeting

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Finances Goals 2025

  • Apply to 365 usability studies
    • I applied for ~332 studies
  • Make $2500 in side income, including study gift cards and cash
    • Nailed it! From bank and credit card signup bonuses to selling things around the house and all the studies in between!
  • Complete 4 mystery shops
    • I completed 2 Bestmark shops in December because they were too good to pass up, but otherwise, I didn’t prioritize completing shops
  • Spend less than I make
    • Though I did make the money I spent earn as much as it could for me, I didn’t manage to meet this goal

Financial Accomplishments of 2025:

  • I completed 22 studies and participated in 2 Reedsy Discovery book review challenges
  • I earned just over $1000 from studies last year paid out in gift cards, credits, checks, and cash
  • I’ve saved $139.42 on Too Good To Go for the year ($76.58 spent) with 14 bags (the app that lets you rescue unsold food at your favorite spots from an untimely fate and is typically 1/3 the cost of the retail value) $930 saved lifetime since 2022
  • I earned $154.74 from browser extension Rakuten and $48 from receipt uploading (as gift cards)
  • I earned 2 bank bonuses and got 2 credit card SUBs this year
  • I got $325 in value from freebies (including my yearly birthday rewards, Amazon First Read books, Alamo level-ups, AMC investor connects, and Yelp Elite events)
  • I snagged several phone upgrades through T-Mobile with their 24-month credits (iPhone 17 Pro Max for $263 after trade in, iPhone 17 Air for $94 after trade in, and an iPhone 17 free upgrade with trade in)
  • I earned and spent ~$1480 in credit card rewards and have points worth ~$3600 that I’m saving for future travel
  • I fully funded my Roth IRA for the year

Finances Goals 2026: no specifics this year

Let’s take a look at my assets (and net worth) and how they’ve changed over time:

Asset 2025 % of value 2024 % of value 2023 % of value 2022 % of value 2021 % of value 2020 % of value 2019 % of value
Stock Shares 18% 18% 18% 13% 10% 11% 16%
Real Estate 24% 32% 40% 49% 41% 0% 0%
Cash 1% 4% 4% 4% 8% 24% 16%
General Stocks 5% 4% 3% 3% 4% 21% 23%
Precious Metals 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 3% 4%
401k 6% 5% 4% 4% 6% 7% 8%
Roth IRA 38% 30% 23% 20% 25% 31% 32%
HSA 5% 5% 5% 5% 4% 3% 0%
Total net value 0% increase 2.6% increase 18.5% increase 16% increase  76% increase  53% increase

 

I look at how much I adhered to my monthly budgeting over the year and compare it to previous years’ spending:

 

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Education na 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% <1% <1%
Other – Misc 2% 0% 3% 1% 3%  2% <1% 1%
Charity na 1% 1% 1% 0%  0% <1% <1%
Insurance na na na na na na <1% 4%
Health 27% 2% 4% 2% 1%  1% 1% 1%
Entertainment 2% 1% 1% 1% 2%  3% 1% 1%
Gift na 2% 4% 3% 0%  1% 2% 1%
HSA contributions from paycheck 5% na na 4% 2%  2% 2% 0%
Fitness 1% 1% 1% 4% 2%  2% 3% 1%
Household and clothing 3% 1% 4% 2% 10%  4% 3% 3%
Groceries 7% 10% 11% 10% 6%  5% 4% 4%
Bills – other (Phone) 3% 1% 4% 3% 3%  4% 4% 3%
Eating Out 4% 8% 3% 5% 4%  3% 5% 4%
Bills – Transportation 7% 9% 7% 4% 3%  5% 5% 4%
Roth IRA contributions 9% 12% 12% 9% 6%  7% 7% 6%
Travel 2% 5% 5% 3% 11%  13% 8% 17%
Bills – Housing+Utilities 9% 17% 17% 14% 16%  15% 17% 13%
Taxes paid 19% 28% 25% 22% 18%  19% 18% 17%
Real Estate Investment na na na 12% 13%  18% 24% 20%

2024 Finances update

2023 Finances update

2022 Finances update

2025: AMC A-List and Alamo Pass – Watched and Recommended Movies for the Year

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Total cost paid for movies watched in 2025 in theatres: $844.30 ($332 in monthly subscriptions) … total value =$1,988
Favorite movie(s) of the year: Relay
Total movies watched in theatres 2025: 132 (19 Dolby, 4 Imax, 51 Alamo, 1 Cinemark, 1 Flix Brewhouse,  1 Japan Toho Cinemas, and 19 Screen Unseens)
Worst movie(s) of the year: Hurry Up Tomorrow

Movie Magic Moment: Movie Premiere of Novocaine

Favorite Movies of the Year (Letterboxd link here)

  1. Relay
  2. F1
  3. Eternity
  4. Rental Family
  5. Ella McCay
  6. Weapons
  7. Christy
  8. The Penguin Lessons
  9. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
  10. Elio
  11. The Roses
Worst Movies of the Year (Letterboxd link here)
  1. Hurry Up Tomorrow
  2. Keeper
  3. Anemone
  4. Until Dawn
  5. Flight Risk
  6. Die My Love
  7. The Toxic Avenger Unrated
  8. Marty Supreme
  9. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
  10. Hamnet
  11. Bone Lake
  12. Nickel Boys
  13. The Home
2025 movies I rated 4 stars on Letterboxd that didn’t make my top movies list:
  • Companion
  • The Brutalist
  • I’m Still Here
  • Novocaine
  • The Amateur
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Thunderbolts*
  • Elio
  • Jurassic World Rebirth
  • Superman
  • Caught Stealing
  • Splitsville
  • Song Sung Blue
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash
2025 movies I rated 3.5 stars on Letterboxd:
  • Presence
  • A Complete Unknown
  • Captain America: Brave New World
  • My Dead Friend Zoe
  • Last Breath
  • Heart Eyes
  • Mickey 17
  • Drop
  • Final Destination Bloodlines
  • Karate Kid: Legends
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
  • Sinners
  • The Accountant²
  • How to Train Your Dragon
  • The Life of Chuck
  • 40 Acres
  • The Phoenician Scheme
  • Friendship
  • M3GAN 2.0
  • Eddington
  • Oh, Hi
  • Together
  • The Nakend Gun
  • Freakier Friday
  • Honey Don’t!
  • Eleanor the Great
  • Dead of Winter
  • One Battle After Another
  • Good Fortune
  • Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
  • Frankenstein
  • TRON: Ares
  • Roofman
  • Predator: Badlands
  • Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
  • Zootopia 2
  • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
  • Nuremberg
  • Wicked: For Good
Streamed movies I recommend that aren’t listed below, rated 3.5 stars or higher on Letterboxd:
  • Carry-On
  • The Beanie Bubble
  • Flow
  • Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
  • Your Monster
  • Manchester by the Sea

Movies watched in theatres as re-releases or Master Pancakes (live comedy commentary):

  • Lethal Weapon
  • Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
  • Wicked: Re-release
  • Avatar: The Way of Water
  • Master Pancake: Spectre
  • Master Pancake Ghostbusters
  • Master Pancake The Evil Dead
  • Master Pancake Donnie Darko Director’s Cut
  • Master Pancake The Beekeeper
  • Hanksgiving
  • Master Pancake Inferno
  • The Master Pancake Xmas Show
  • Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary Movie Party
  • Lady Snowblood

 

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2024 in theatres: $562.02… total value =$1,417.34
Favorite movie of the year: Fly Me to the Moon (See top list on Letterboxd here)

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2023 in theatres: $453.74… total value =$1,315.26
Favorite movie of the year: Tetris and American Fiction (See top list on Letterboxd here)

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2022 in theatres: $295.88… total value =$1,167.40
Favorite movie of the year: Everything Everywhere All At Once (See top list on Letterboxd here)

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2021 in theatres: $253.55… total value =$1,019.57
Favorite movie of the year: CODA

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2020 in theatres and VOD: $112.7… total value =$327.34
Favorite movie of the year: Soul

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2019 in theatres: $278.15… total value = $1,281.67

Total cost paid for movies watched in 2018 in theatres: $297.42… total value = $839.45

Goals and Accomplishments from 2025 and Future Goals for 2026

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2026 Goals

2026: Describe what you want in 3 words: Balance, More, Less
2026: Describe yourself in 3 words: Busy, Behind, Creative
Theme for 2026: Balance

 

2025’s vision board reflection goes like this…

I went on my first work trip on the first full week of January and then went on a short work trip to our distributor in Georgia the following week!

I lost my English Wordle streak at the very beginning of the year 1/9 and again in July, but I am currently on day 160 (with my max streak at 173). January was a big month for us. We took a quick trip to Dallas the second week of the year because Jon wanted to go to Microcenter and also planned a date at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament! It was very much Disney for jousting, but it was different and fun and played up. We took that time in Dallas to go to a fun Canadian restaurant called the Maple Leaf Diner for a Maple Latte, Chicken & Waffles, and Poutine (see my review on Yelp here), among other fun stops.

We saw snow just before my birthday in Austin! We ended the month seeing Kumail Nanjiani live at the Paramount in Austin on 1/30 (Yes, he is still buff) and Hans Zimmer live at the Moody Center in Austin for the second time.

In February, I performed for the first time on my mini-lyra, and it was amazing! I was Snorlax, and the stage was set up in the middle of the audience so I could orbit to my heart’s content. It was super fun putting together the choreo and figuring out the costume. Everyone at the Jungle Movement Academy is so supportive, and I was very happy with how the piece turned out and how the performance went.

Jon and I traveled to Seattle for a quick trip so he and my dad could watch UFC live. I was able to go to my old dance studio, Ascendance in Renton, and take a class with one of my previous teachers. We did a Tomb Raider-themed escape room with family and friends, and we had a nice dinner with our ex-roomie and her mom. I was able to visit my grandparents. Jon and I went into Seattle for fun treats like Pie Bar and our favorite artisan pizza place, Delancey (we inadvertently played chicken on an uphill single-lane road in my dad’s van with some other idiot in a newer car who wouldn’t pull over). We also were able to hit up our anniversary dinner place in downtown Bellevue (Din Tai Fung).

One of the coolest surprises this year was going to see an “Early” screening for Novocaine at the Alamo and ending up at an actual premiere – we saw Jack Quaid! I spend a lot of time and mental space planning many different aspects of my life, so these happy surprises don’t have as many opportunities to come along. I don’t remember too much about the movie, but the flip in my brain from wow, it’s crowded, and they have some fun marketing stuff outside the theatre to OMG, this is a real event is something I’ll remember for a long time.

Jon and I spent the second weekend in March playing through the video game Split Fiction together.

This was the year for quick trips! Jon was invited to visit Apple HQ in California, and we made a meal out of this snack! We arrived in San Francisco on a Monday and spent 3 days there. I was able to visit one of my company’s customers to assist in a software update. I found my new favorite viral treat: The Cube Croissant. And we went into San Francisco via public transit to visit the city for an evening. We even took a trip in one of the driverless Waymos there.

We then took our rental car down to Anaheim to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure that weekend. I love how plannable a Disney trip is, and we made the most of our trip. We went to most of our favorites: beignets at the Mint Julep Bar, Oga’s Cantina, Space Mountain, Rise of the Resistance, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Galaxy’s Edge, Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Incredicoaster, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more. We tried some new fun things: Pym’s Test Kitchen, a Cuban at Earl of Sandwich, Tiana’s Bayou (seated in the back, we didn’t get wet). It was great seeing the Avengers Campus (opened since the last time we went), seeing the new cast members, and seeing some of the shows.

Back home for a week, we went to a Mexico QC soccer game in Austin, and then I went back to Littleton, CO, for a work trip. I colored my hair in anticipation of our big Japan trip. My intention was to create a ‘walking’ cosplay (what I would call cosbounding) of Sabine from Star Wars, and instead of wearing a wig, I attempted to dye my hair to match one of Sabine’s many colorful styles. You can see my outfit in our Disney day trip pictures. You can read all about our epic Japan trip with Star Wars Celebration weekend on my blog here or my shorter summary here.

When we got back from Japan in early May, we started looking for good sushi in Austin in earnest. I’ve eaten so much sushi in the past 8 months! We tried out Endo Sushi, Miyo Yakitori & Sushi (5 stars), Aburi Oshi Sushi at a street festival (just okay), Tatsumi Sushi (4 stars), Uroko (wouldn’t recommend 3 stars), Craft Omakase (5 stars), Tsuke Edomae (best ever 5 stars), Bleu Bear Sushi (Dallas 4 stars), Sushi Warriors (5 stars for AYCE), Ichi Umi (4 stars), Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet (some of the worst sushi I’ve ever had), Fukumoto Sushi & Yakitori (5 stars).

I’ve been posting my reviews on Yelp and Google Maps and have gotten quite a few responses! I’m now in my 3rd year as a Yelp Elite. Some of my hits include:

  1. 11 Photos from my reviews were featured on 3/16/2025 for Selenite Studio in Littleton, 5/10/2025 for Hawaiian Bros Island Grill in Austin, 5/31/2025 for Bangkok Grill in Georgia, 6/11/2025 for Myōryūji Ninjadera in Japan, 6/21/2025 for DonutNV in Austin, 7/19/2025 for Mile Hig Mo’s in Austin, 8/6/2025 for Marion Crepes in Japan, 8/18/2025 for Lache Movement in Austin, 8/30/2025 for Sankalpa Pole Fitness in Colorado, 9/16/2025 for Austin Kolache & Koffee Shoppe and on 11/26/2025 for Apex Denver
  2. I received 22 comments from various establishments on Yelp and 33 comments from various establishments on Google Maps
  3. I posted 155 reviews on Yelp (427 lifetime) and 141 reviews on Google Maps this year
  4. I reached over 2 million views on my photos on Google Maps!
  5. I reached Yelp Elite All-Star status in October and November!

Jon and I went to see Moulin Rouge at Bass Concert Hall in Austin at the end of May, and we participated in Marvel trivia at Spare Time again (43/50 answered correctly to put us in 6th place). We checked out Foodieland at the Circuit of the Americas and had some very delicious foods (our favorite was the Dubai Chocolate cup, which was insanely delicious). I went to a grand opening for the new Salty Donut in the Domain and wanted to be their very first customer when they opened at 7AM. I arrived at 4:28AM (an hour before any of the employees and any other people showed up for the line). I was first!

In other miscellaneous accomplishments, I was able to snag Spanish Wordle-in-one and a record Mini Crossword solve in 25 seconds. I also participated in a Guinness World Record with local Texas YouTuber Ryan Trahan and his #joyridehour for “most photos of people holding candy posted to Instagram in 1 hour.”

I’ve now been taking pole and aerial classes for over 11 years! I wrote a reflection post on social media that was markedly different from my 2023 post.

I finished my second custom Baby Grogu art project. My first was “Darth Grogu,” and this second one is “Baby Ahsoka.” I have several more ideas for custom Grogu dolls. I can’t wait to put them together. Supplies I used are bottom left, and the original variation doll is on the right. I also finished a Longhorns Grogu and started paracord art, as well as a custom Van’s painted project. I’ve also continued to work on friendship bracelets that I gave away at Celebration in Japan, during a dance showcase, and plan to give out at D23 this upcoming year.

I added 70.5 more hours to my lifetime of volunteering this past year. As mentioned in the previous blog post, I trained for and helped out with Uprise Circus Outreaches. I was tasked with assisting with the Lyra, chatting with kids on the bleachers, assisting with the ladder to get up to the flying trapeze board, and setting up and tearing down during Outreach. I helped out with 2 Lache showcases, doing setup, teardown, and lights. I volunteered for the second year at the Greater Austin Comic Con, my second year with POP Cats, and my third year with the Austin Coffee Festival. The new festival I volunteered at was with the Shiba Pawrade! I’m now around ~864 lifetime volunteer hours.

Jon brought me to the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and All-Star Game at the Q2 Stadium in Austin near the end of July. ishowspeed was there (we didn’t know who he was beforehand). It was so hot!

In August, Jon and I took a road trip up to Dallas to pick up his mom from the airport. We went to another top-ranked BBQ called Dayne’s Craft BBQ. Jon made us his own take on BBQ ribs. We went to the Barton Springs Pool for the first time. It was cold, and the water was dense – hard to swim. I didn’t spend much time in the water.

I took another quick 4-day trip to Colorado for work in August – assisting with an in-person supplier audit. While I was there, I checked out two new-to-me studios (Gravity Aerial Arts and Sankalpa).

My dad and his wife, Nancy, flew to San Antonio from Seattle, while Jon, Jon’s mom, and I drove down from Austin to go to UFC Noche together. We met up the day before in Seguin for Texas Monthly’s #1 BBQ spot as of July 2025: Burnt Bean Co! We also took advantage of a meet and greet with Paulo Costa and got pictures with him. UFC the next day was fun. My favorite was Bruce Buffer. On Sunday, we split up. Dad, Nancy, and I went to the Natural Bridge Caverns, the Witte Museum, and the Mission San Jose Catholic Church while Jon drove his mom back up to Austin. He flew back to pick me up in a private plane from the local Stinson Airport in San Antonio later that afternoon. It was the bumpiest ride from all the wind!

We checked out the pumpkin lights on the first day of October. It was pretty nifty.

Talking about a bunch of quick trips… Jon got tickets to go see Hugh Jackman (in New York!), So we planned ~48 hours of travel to NYC. I did a whole write-up on my blog about it here.

In December, I decided to commit to reviewing 10 books, performing for the second time that year, baking a cake, traveling to FL to see family, and finishing my custom Van’s shoe coloring project. Whew! I performed my Snorlax routine again, albeit a little bit differently this time. I used my modified music (Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO), added animal slippers, and modified the pillow I was putting inside my costume, as well as changing up the routine to suit the different space. I won a book contest and got some author swag from Marissa Meyer!

In total, I went on 5 work trips out of state and 7 personal trips this year (5 of which involved flying in a plane out of state with 1 international):

  1. 1/6 – 1/9 Littleton, CO for work
  2. 1/10-1/11 road trip to Dallas (for Microcenter and funsies)
  3. 1/12 – 1/13 Covington, GA for work
  4. 2/21 – 3/1 Seattle, WA for family (and Jon to see UFC with my dad)
  5. 3/10 – 3/16 San Francisco/Anaheim work for Jon and fun for me (and a little work for me)
  6. 3/23 – 3/28 Littleton, CO for work
  7. 4/16 – 5/4 Japan for international trip with Star Wars Celebration 2025
  8. 8/11 – 8/14 Littleton, CO for work
  9. 9/12 -9/14 roadtrip to San Antonio for UFC Noche (and private plane flying)
  10. 10/3 -10/5 NYC for Hugh Jackman show
  11. 11/10 – 11/14 Littleton, CO for work
  12. 12/20 – 12/22 Port Charlotte, FL for family Holiday

2025 specific goals:

  • Review every new restaurant/business that I go to on Yelp
    • I’m probably at 90% on this goal!
  • Practice cake baking and decorating – learn one new related skill
    • I didn’t jump on this until the end of the year, when I found a secondhand KitchenAid in my price range and made my first two-tier cake with French buttercream. It turned out really well with Amy’s family recipe and all my gathered baking tips and knowledge.
  • Maximize the use of my 2025 health benefits
    • I started strong with this one. I did a bunch of things in January, then got busy and didn’t bother for most of the year before picking back up and going to PT for various old injuries, figuring out how to use the mental health portion of my insurance in the fall, and getting a pair of frames/glasses that I love to use in ‘sports’ mode (they tilt to hug the ears so they don’t fall off when upside down).
  • Go to at least 5 classes/month at Orange Theory Fitness while I have the membership
    • We went to 43 classes from January to August for an average of 5 classes/month!
  • Have an epic Japan trip, and do not panic while using public transit or when trying to find things in the train stations
    • We got on the wrong train one time, but it wasn’t a big deal. Our biggest panic moment was on the way back from the theme park on our last full day, and it was absolutely chaotic; it would have been tough not to panic. I had an amazing time, and we did an excellent job preparing so we could be mentally more present while on our trip (though still attached to our phones for directions and translations and taking pretty pictures).
  • Get to level 49 in Pokémon Go
    • Not only did I get to level 49 on 2/6/25, but I fast-tracked to level 50 on 9/21/25 right before the new leveling system was put in place… And then from level 70 to level 71 on 12/14/25.

2026 specific goals:

  • Review almost every new restaurant/business that I go to on Yelp and Google Maps
  • Practice cake baking and decorating – make one cake/month to practice a new related skill
  • Get back to ~2023 body composition results with my yearly fall DEXA scan
  • Maximize the use of my 2025 health benefits as much as possible
  • Plan and have an epic Hawaii, Japan, D23 trip in the summer/fall
  • Create a super cool Sabine cosbound to wear to D23 and Star Wars Celebration 2026
  • Try to make a Sabine Grogu with armor
  • Find and eat another Cube Croissant
  • Try something new
  • Get to level 73 in Pokémon Go

 

For previous years’ posts:

  • 2025 Describe yourself in 3 words: Fatigued, Thankful, Driven
    • 2025 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Calm, Centered, Wise
    • Theme for 2025: Body
  • 2024 Describe yourself in 3 words: Maximal, Goal-Oriented, Partner
    • 2024 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Growth, Decluttering, Minimize
    • Theme for 2024: Organization
    • Goals list of 2024
  • 2023 Describe yourself in 3 words: Impatient, Forgetful, Loving
    • 2023 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Saving, Friendship, Experiences
    • Theme for 2023: Settling in
    • Goals list of 2023
  • 2022 Describe yourself in 3 words: Self, Partner, New
    • 2022 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Success, Happy Moments, Learning
    • Theme for 2022: Realize
    • Goals list of 2022
  • 2021 Describe yourself in 3 words: Driven, Busy, Challenged
    • 2021 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Vacation, Attentive, Patience
    • Theme for 2021: Plan
    • Goals list of 2021
  • 2020 Describe yourself in 3 words: Anxious, Quick, Analytic
    • 2020 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Patience, Deliberate, Calm
    • Theme for 202: Hygge
    • Goals list of 2020
  • 2019 Describe yourself in 3 words: Driven, Efficient, Restless
    • 2019 Describe what you want more of in 3 words: Calm, Accomplished, Considerate
    • Theme for 2019: Minimize
    • Goals list of 2019
  • Goals list of 2018
  • Goals list of 2017
  • Goals list of 2016
  • Goals list of 2015

2025 Physical Activity – Dance, Health, and Fitness

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Aerial Dancing Highlights for 2025
1. I took 52 aerial classes
2. I spent $669 total
3. I spent 53.33 hours in class
4. I worked with 19 different instructors
5. I went to 10 different studios

Lifetime money spent (just for aerial and aerial adjacent classes): $12,745.24
2014 – $90
2015 – $422.21
2016 – $1777
2017 – $2594
2018 – $1465.74
2019 – $566
2020 – $225
2021 – $852.46
2022 – $1,439.83
2023 – $1,809
2024 – $835
2025 – $669

Lifetime total aerial classes: 789
2014 – 6
2015 – 19
2016 – 109
2017 – 139
2018 – 92
2019 – 37
2020 – 35
2021 – 63
2022 – 111
2023 – 118
2024 – 90
2025 – 52

Total time spent dancing +: 1192.23 hours (49.68 days)
2014 – 10.5 hours
2015 – 37.5 hours
2016 – 173.5 hours
2017 – 226 hours
2018 – 144.5 hours
2019 – 55.5 hours
2020 – 55.75 hours
2021 – 89.25 hours
2022 – 141.4 hours
2023 – 121.25 hours
2024 – 83.75 hours
2025 – 53.33 hours

Class Breakdown at different studios
Inner Diva – 24/52 = 46%
Lache – 12/52 = 23%
Jungle Movement – 6/52 = 11.5%
Bat City – 4/52= 8%
Other single classes – 6/52 = 11.5%

Class Type Breakdown
Sling – 17
Lyra – 9
Trapeze – 8
Silks – 8
Floorwork – 4
Pole – 3
Flexibility – 1
Straps – 1
Circus Night including Cyr Wheel – 1

In other fitness accomplishments:

  • I tried out Cyr Wheel and Chinese Pole for the first time!
  • I took a mini-lyra workshop and performed twice on my mini-lyra
  • Completed 5-weeks of training at Uprise Circus to assist with flying trapeze classes and assist with teaching lyra to students
  • I biked 66.7 miles, and I got a flat tire on my bike (Jon got a flat tire on his bike, and we got 2 nails in our car all within 6 weeks this past fall)
  • Played “foot golf” with Jon
  • Walked 126 miles/297,218 steps while on our 17-day vacation in Japan in the spring
  • 6/14 Volunteered for the Lache summer showcase “Morning Cartoons” and the “Serenity & Socery” winter showcase 12/13
  • I performed my “Snorlax” piece at both the Lache Serenity & Sorcery showcase 12/13, and the Jungle Movement’s Love is in the Air Showcase 2/18
  • I completed an additional 43 Orange Theory Fitness classes with Jon again before canceling our membership to strength train/cardio at home
  • I managed to get to 10 yoga classes (9 with a friend at Black Swan Yoga)
  • I took 9 pilates classes (7 reformer)
  • I took 1 Beginner’s Dance Technique class and was very confused and out of my depth
  • I managed to rank 3rd in the OTF women’s 200m timed row (1:39:90) for women in ages 30-39 and 3rd overall in August

My fitness goals for 2025:

  • Get back my twisted grip by working on posture and shoulder mobility
    • So I did go to 9 physical therapy sessions (for random lower back pain and to work on my previous hamstring injury), but didn’t make time or effort beyond regular warm-ups to work on my shoulders and posture (and 2 massage sessions at the beginning of the year)
  • Volunteer for one show
    • Nailed it! Volunteered at two shows (one of which I was also performing)
  • Perform at one show
    • Double nailed it! Performed my ‘same’ piece in two different ways for two different studios’ showcases
  • Try out a new studio in Austin
    • Technically, I went to Dance Studio Austin for my Beginner Dance Technique class, but didn’t go to any new pole/aerial studios in Austin
  • Try a new class/workshop
    • I tried both Cyr wheel (I was terrible and it made me nervous about falling over) and Chinese Pole (some of my pole/aerial skills transferred, and some… Did not. I would definitely go back to this studio and try another Chinese Pole class again)
  • Bike 100 miles on my ebike
    • Fell short of this goal (66.7/100). I have fewer places I can bike to, fewer places I can safely lock my bike up at, and won’t bike at night if I can help it, so I have less time in the day to bike
  • Added goal since last year: run a 10-minute mile
    • I realized after going to OTF for many months that my running was improving and that my timed mile was getting close to 10 minutes, and I wanted to go for it. My last 10-minute mile was back in 2017 when I used the C25K app and ran a 5k in just under 30 minutes. I started out with a 10:15 timed mile that wiped me out at OTF in the summer. After using the Just Run app, I was able to get a 10-minute mile after 14 training sessions, but I don’t think I could hit 3 consecutive miles at that pace.
  • Added goal since last year: level up in Silks at Lache from Level 1 to Level 2
    • So technically, the teacher said I could take Level 2, but didn’t give me an official assessment. Pre-reqs include 1. demonstrating 3 consecutive skills from a footlock, 2. can climb to the ceiling twice without touching the floor and alternating feet, and 3. can wrap foot locks in the air, single and double

My fitness goals for 2026:

  • PT, massage, and/or stretching for my shoulder mobility and posture: 12x
  • Try out a new fitness/health app and reduce body fat percentage (measured in yearly DEXA scan) back to 2023 %
  • Volunteer for two shows
  • Perform at one show
  • Try out a new pole/aerial studio in Austin
  • Try a new class/workshop
  • Bike 100 miles on my ebike

2024 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2023 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2022 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2021 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2020 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2019 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2018 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2017 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2016 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown
2015 Physical Activity Blog Post Breakdown

2025 Reading Challenge Books in Review and Recommended Reads

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The books I read this year:

My favorite books I read this year:

Title Author Main Genre Secondary Genre
Tokyo Heist Diana Renn YA Contemporary
Lost Stars Claudia Gray Star Wars Science Fiction
Up From the Sea Leza Lowitz Verse YA Poetry
Tanabata Wish: A Coming of Age Rom-Com Sara Fujimura YA Romance
Warcross (Warcross, #1) Marie Lu YA Scienc Fiction
Light of the Jedi Charles Soule Star Wars Science Fiction
Abroad in Japan: Ten Years In The Land Of The Rising Sun Chris Broad Memoir Travel
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire Timothy Zahn Star Wars Science Fiction
Unlikely Story Ali Rosen Romance Contemporary
Hopeful Romantics Susan Rufai Romance Contemporary
Mission: Red Scythe: A James Vagus Teen Espionage Thriller C.W. James YA Mystery/Detective
BEELITZ-HEILSTÄTTEN: Where Ghosts Never Die Marina Osipova Historical Thriller Russia/Germany
The Chemistry Test Georgina Frankie Romance Contemporary
Tell Me It’s Wrong (Sweetspire #2) Katie Wismer Romance Contemporary
Perfect Plans J.T. Tierney Romance Contemporary
Project Hail Mary Andy Weir Science Fiction Space Fantasy
The Beauty of the End Lauren Stienstra Science Fiction Dystopian
Dating After the End of the World Jeneva Rose Romance Post Apocalyptic
The Holiday Fakers Evie Alexander Romance Christmas
The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison: Locked up and lucked out in max security Andrew Hamilton Nonfiction Biography
The Holiday Grump: A Spicy, Small-Town, Christmas RomCom Enni Amanda Romance Christmas
Recursion Blake Crouch Science Fiction Time Travel
The Holiday Hate-Off Angela Casella Romance Christmas
The Holiday Whoopie Sara L Hudson Romance Christmas
Bot Camp Paul Clarke Middle Grade Action
Human Again: In the AI Age J.D. Macpherson Nonfiction AI & Semantics
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter, #1) J.K. Rowling YA Fantasy
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2) J.K. Rowling YA Fantasy
Thirty, Flirty, and Forever Alone Christine Riccio Romance Comedy
The Fall Risk Abby Jimenez Contemporary Romance

Out of the ~48 books that I read, some reading stats:

  • I spent nothing on books this year (using promotional credits on Amazon worth $18.95, the library, Jon’s Audible credits, and reading for reviews).
  • Read more than 1 book from 3 different authors
  • 20 with a romantic element
  • 5 nonfiction
  • 13,722 pages (average of 298pages)
  • Rated 30 books 5 stars (I’m more selective when choosing books to read)
  • 7 books were from Amazon First Reads program
  • 22 were review copies
  • 8 audiobooks vs. 40 ebooks
  • 11 books from the library
  • I read 9 books in anticipation of traveling/set in that location (Japan) with 3 Star Wars novels for Celebration; 2 in anticipation of seeing a play in NY in March of 2026
  • I reviewed 31 books this year (5 pending for this blog) for a total of 480 reviews written in my lifetime
  • I completed 2 reading challenges set by Reedsy Discovery and read all the books in the Hideaway Harbor Series as ARCs for reviews
  • One of my Reedsy Reviews (Perfect Plans by J.T. Tierney) was for a book that won the Discovery Editors’ Choice Awards (4/2597 books reviewed on the site)
  • 6 of my book reviews were featured on Reedsy Discovery on their homepage as a top review! (Holly & Heartbeats; Lost and Found: The Misadventures of a Reluctant Trekker; Perfect Plans; Hopeful Romantics; Rainbows and Lollipops

Next year I want to:

  • Read ~1 book from President Obama’s Favorite Books
  • Read ~2 nonfiction books
  • Read ~4 books in anticipation of traveling/set in that location
  • Write ~20 book reviews to get to 500 lifetime reviews!

2024 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2023 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2022 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2021 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2020 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2019 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2018 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2017 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2016 Reading Challenge Blog Post

2015 Reading Challenge Blog Post

Book Review: Bot Camp by Paul Clarke

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Bot Camp by Paul Clarke

A Middle Grade Action Novel published by Green Hill Publishing (08/14/25)

I received an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC) on Reedsy Discovery

“If you want to win, you need ruthless efficiency.” 

Daniel doesn’t really have any friends, but he’s passionate about robotics and bot competitions. Daniel has his heart set on winning a spot at billionaire Bernad’s elite bot camp. All he has to do is win the local bot wars competition against his fierce rival, Mary, and her machine, Big Bertha. This underdog story isn’t just about Daniel’s big dreams of wowing Bernard; it’s also about teamwork, leaning on others’ strengths, and learning to step up as a leader.

Keywords:

Bot Camp, Robotics, Bot Battle, Camp, 12-Year-Olds, Billionaire, Leadership, Winning, Competition

My Review:

Daniel’s story pulls the reader in because he needs to win, and he doesn’t just win from the get-go. His victories are earned, not handed to him. This story and watching Daniel face up against difficult challenges give readers a front-row seat to both the thrills of competition and the real-life challenges of becoming a good teammate and leader.

The author has made battle bots exciting because they play a pivotal role for both Daniel and the plot. The action, especially battle scenes, feels cinematic and very exciting, just like a Spy Kids movie.

This book concisely presents numerous lessons, yet packages them in an engaging way. There are many themes to grasp and learn from, such as friendship, teamwork, loyalty, empathy, and leadership, without feeling like they overwhelm the plot.

Daniel has never had many friends, let alone been the leader of a team, but he steps up when it counts to save the day. It’s easy to root for him. He rises to the occasion, but he’s not the only one. The author has created a diverse set of characters that are all brilliant in their own way. There are many ways to be a genius, creative, and/or good at something. The author naturally weaves in diversity without it feeling forced. Each of the many kids at bot camp has their own, albeit quick, backstory. They feel real and not reduced to a single defining characteristic.

The villain is exaggerated enough to feel fun and fitting in the story, just like the bad guy in Sonic or Minions.

The writing is surprisingly visual and accessible. Even readers not familiar with battle bots or robotics (like me) can follow the action and understand what is going on. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the action, just like Daniel does in the story.

This book will definitely make you want to watch a bot battle! It’s a great book for readers interested in robotics, battle bots, or simply a fun, quick book full of adventure. Parents and teachers, in particular, will appreciate the positive messages seamlessly embedded throughout.

This novel was published by Green Hill Publishing on 08/06/2025 and is available on Amazon here.

TL;DR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information

Goodreads