Recap – What’s happened since February

It has been a weird year of blogging so far, but we’re still here! Slower, more intentional, and hopefully the most impactful. Since February, life has been…volunteering, a taco food tour, a friends’ wedding, cookbook clubs, mahjong meetups, a big trip to the Philippines, World Cup watching, reading, and a summer of hot dogs, to keep it short.

Curious – time flies, how do you keep track of your days?

Watching

You might know I watch a lot of TV. Besides World Cup matches, here’s what I’ve watched this year and recommend.

• Stranger Things (Netflix) – The 5th and final season came out. Can you believe it’s been 10 years since the first episode? They wrapped up the show nicely.
• The Pitt (HBO) – Season 2 of this award-winning show came out this spring. It’s one of my favorite shows. If you like medical dramas, this one will captivate you and give you a stressful, in-depth look at what it’s like in an ER.
• Shrinking (Apple TV) – The 3rd and final season of Shrinking was released. This is a feel-good, hits-deep kind of show that focuses on chosen family.
• People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix) – A lovely movie adaptation from one of my favorite authors, Emily Henry. This sweet romance is about friends to lovers.
• Off-Campus (Prime) – I’m obsessed with this college hockey romance show. It’s not just college kids falling in love. It’s a show that depicts healthy relationship habits and healing. But yes, there are also good-looking guys playing hockey.
• Rooster (HBO) – This drama-comedy stars Steve Carell as the lead. He takes a writer-in-residence job at a college to be near his daughter, whose marriage is ending.

Social Exhaustion

Are you introverted or extroverted? If you’re more introverted like I am, you have to recharge from too much socialization. If you’re feeling it, here’s a list for you. Pro tip: build these habits into your life. For me, I read every day, and I try to limit myself to one or two friend outings a week.

Epic Adventures in Every State

Need some travel inspiration? This list on Afar shares some epic adventures. With America’s 250th birthday, there’s been a big focus on things to see and do in the country. The World Cup is happening in multiple US cities right now, adding to the press around great sights!

Simple

On the other side of making memories, going to work, and doing all the things, are people who are feeling overwhelmed. I like this list of 6 things we can do to make things simpler. It shares ways to slow down and be present in the midst of all the things. Like this little note. 

I also feel this Substack article about being online deeply. As someone who has lived a lot of life online (this blog is 13+ years old), it’s a reminder to connect with people in real life and find inspiration outside of the screen.

Single 40s

I know a handful of people in their 30s and 40s who aren’t married. It’s a typical occurrence. This article reminds us why that is ok, even cool. I’ve thought about this, though – where are the matches for my friends?

How to Be Happy

Finland is the happiest country in the world. What is it? These four things help:

• Work-life balance
• Access to nature
• Learning new skills
• High trust

Overall, it’s a feeling of contentment and satisfaction over happiness. Maybe if we lower expectations, take responsibility for our own happiness, and acknowledge gratitude for the small things, we’ll see more satisfaction every day.

Space

Have you seen these photos the Artemis II mission took?

Are you emotionally mature?

This list of 8 habits might be something we all need. Conflict and disagreement will happen. How do you react? Can you work through the emotions in your mind and body?

The Cost of AI

Elsie Larson wrote this article about AI that echoes how I feel. We use AI too freely. I know it can speed up work and help generate ideas, but what do we lose? Is using it training our brains to think less? Will it affect how creative we are in the long run? How will these shortcuts change the way we think, do, and expect? Is it teaching us to devalue human work and creativity? Will our work start looking and sounding the same? I don’t have answers, but it’s a good conversation topic!

5 Things I Love Lately

• Summer – not the heat and mosquitoes, but the overall easy-going vibes
• Bakeries – so many new ones in Austin!
• Gardening – watching food grow from seeds
• Watermelon – find the smallest blossom end, and you’ll find the best one
• World Cup – I can bandwagon most sports, and the series has had some good games

The post Captivations v126 – Now you’re home appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I am a mini-golf enthusiast. I love the low-stakes fun and attainable challenge of the game. It’s easy to play, which makes it good for groups of all ages. You’ll also find some fun, themed decor. Plus, the feeling of getting a hole-in-one is priceless. You’d never see me doing that on an actual golf course!

In the last few years, I made it a goal to try all the putt-putt spots in Austin, which is the best kind of research. This post features 10 Austin mini-golf courses, so check out this list and pick one (or all) to try!

Quick Notes

• While outdoor courses tend to be more spacious, they typically are not shaded, so plan accordingly.
• You’ll typically get a paper scorecard at the entrance to keep track.
• The course difficulty rating I used is out of 3: 1 = easy, 2 = slightly challenging, 3 = challenging.
• The Dirdie Birdie and Holey Moley are the busiest courses, but you can make reservations. Popstroke is also one of the busiest but does not have reservations.

Austin’s / Putt Vegas at REVL (Pflugerville)

I love that Austin’s has multiple course options. With two outdoor courses and one indoor course, you’ll get your fill of putt putt. The outdoor courses are spacious and varied.

The REVL area is more upscale and adult-oriented, with a bar and big-screen TVs for sports, but it is part of Austin’s complex. This is where you’ll find Putt Vegas. Each hole is on a platform, and you’ll keep score on the touchscreen monitors at each hole, the only spot in Austin with a digital scorecard!

• Setting: Outdoor and indoor
• Number of holes: Two 18-hole courses outdoors, One 12-hole course indoors – Putt Vegas
• Par: Not noted but I would guess each hole is 2
• Course difficulty: 2
• Mini-golf cost per person: $8 for outdoor courses, $12 for the indoor course (pricing varies if you get an unlimited attractions wristband)
• Other amenities: Venue also has arcade games, carnival rides, laser tag, bowling, and more
• Food: bar, grill, and weekend buffet
• Parking: Large free parking lot
• Address: 16231 N Interstate Hwy 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660

The Dirdie Birdie

The Dirdie Birdie is a fun, interactive course. Each hole has its gimmick, from putting past a windmill on a replica of the Texas Capitol to a Rube Goldberg hole. The course is a bit challenging, but I love the creativity. This spot at the Domain has a bar and restaurant attached.

• Setting: Indoor
• Number of holes: 12
• Par: 31ish
• Course difficulty: 3
• Mini-golf cost per person: $18
• Food: Restaurant and bar attached
• Parking: Free garage
• Address: 10910 Domain Dr, Suite 120, Austin, TX 78758

Duke’s Adventure Golf

When I think of a classic course, Duke’s Adventure Golf is what I envision. A spacious course with water features and just enough difficulty to make you feel accomplished and challenged.

• Setting: Outdoor
• Number of holes: 18
• Par: 36
• Course difficulty: 2
• Mini-golf cost per person: $9 for adults, $6 for kids 5 and under
• Food: Food truck next door serving tacos and shaved ice
• Parking: Free parking lot
• Address: 1716 E Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78747

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley Golf Club comes from Australia and has quickly opened several locations in the U.S. Each hole has a theme, like grandma’s house, complete with a wallpapered restroom or the space hole that feels like you’re putting on the moon.

• Setting: Indoor
• Number of holes: Three 9-hole courses
• Par: Each course is 27
• Course difficulty: 3
• Mini-golf cost per person: Mon-Thurs: $14 for one course, $22 for two courses, $26 for three courses; Fri-Sun: $15 for one course, $27 for two courses, $36 for three courses
• Kid note: Under 21 allowed until 8 pm daily
• Other amenities: Karaoke, live music, space for big groups
• Food: In-house bar and restaurant
• Parking: Street
• Address: 807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702

Main Event

If you’re looking for something easy, Main Event is the choice. This indoor course feels a bit narrow at some holes, but the black lights and glowing features are cool. However, the course feels low-budget. Even in the glow, you can tell pieces of the course have fallen apart.

• Setting: Indoor
• Number of holes: 18
• Par: 40
• Course difficulty: 1
• Mini-golf cost per person: $10
• Other amenities: Venue also has arcade games, laser tag, and billiards
• Food: In-house bar and restaurant
• Parking: Free parking lot
• Address: 13301 US-183 Hwy, Austin, TX 78750

Memorial Miniture Golf (Buda)

If you like military history, you’ll enjoy the special plaques and iconic war images at each hole. This is a hard course due to the many random slopes and bumps. The holes could be a little more interesting, and the slopes add a little excitement/frustration.

• Setting: Outdoor
• Number of holes: 18
• Par: 60
• Course difficulty: 3
• Mini-golf cost per person: $14 for adults; $10 for veterans, military, seniors, and kids 4-12 years old; free for kids 3 years old and under
• Other amenities: Each hole has a plaque that gives more information on a significant military event
• Food: None
• Parking: Free parking lot
• Address: 1710 N Farm to Market 1626, Buda, TX 78610

Monster Mini Golf (Round Rock)

This chain has locations all over the U.S. and Canada. Their glow-in-the-dark course has spooky decor.

• Setting: Indoor
• Number of holes: 18
• Course difficulty: 2
• Mini-golf cost per person: $13 for adults; $11 for kids, seniors, military, and college students
• Other amenities: Arcade games, laser tag, and bowling
• Food: None
• Parking: Free parking lot
• Address: 3916 Gattis School Rd, Round Rock, TX 78664

Peter Pan Mini Golf

An Austin classic, Peter Pan Mini Golf has been open since 1948. Here you’ll find many fun sculptures. The east course is supposed to be easier than the west course. Because of its central location, this course gets a bit busier than the others.

• Setting: Outdoor
• Number of holes: Two 18-hole courses
• Course difficulty: 2
• Mini-golf cost per person: $11 for one course or $17 for two courses per adult, $8 for one course or $14 for two courses for kids 5 and younger
• Other amenities: BYOB
• Food: None
• Parking: Free parking lot but small and gets full quickly
• Address: 1207 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Popstroke

This national mini-golf chain, co-owned by Tiger Woods, opened its Austin location in 2025. Unlike the others on this list, there are no gimmicks or obstacles, and it visually mimics a golf course. The challenge is provided through hills and “sand pits.”

Popstroke does not have reservations, and the pace can be slow during a busy time. It was busy on a Saturday night; it took 3.5 hours to play both courses.

• Setting: Outdoor
• Number of holes: Two 18-hole courses
• Par: Both courses are 41
• Course difficulty: 4
• Mini-golf cost per person: $30 for adults, $20 for kids, $24 for seniors and military
• Other amenities: Venue also has pickleball, table tennis, sand volleyball, and lots of seating and big screens for watching sports
• Food: In-house restaurant and ice cream window
• Parking: Free parking lot
• Address: 13000 Harris Ridge Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

The farthest spots on this list are in Buda and Round Rock, and farther out, Centex Mini Golf is in Georgetown if you want another option.

Looking for more fun activities in Austin? Check out these posts:

• Best Places for Creative Classes and Art Workshops in Austin
• How to Host a Fabulous Wig Party at Coco Coquette
• 10 Fun Austin Bachelorette Party Activities

The post Best Spots to Play Mini-Golf in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

It’s hard to think of a time when volunteering wasn’t part of my life. There were regular volunteer opportunities at church as a child, I did service work in high school for academic organizations, and I volunteered as an intern for various organizations in college. I had the time and capabilities, so why not? I found (and still find) it educational, enriching, and necessary.

Nonprofit organizations regularly count on volunteers to accomplish their mission, and it’s easy to see the impact the work has on the people they help and the community around them.

I hope this post encourages you to start a regular volunteer routine by giving you some recommendations.

Why Volunteer?

These are the places we live, work, and play. These are our neighbors. It’s my duty as a member of my community, and it’s an honor to be able to give my time and energy to help others in my community and to help create a community where we can all thrive. Can you imagine a place where people are fed, supported, and living their best lives? Or an environment that is clean and healthy? 

These are some of the ways volunteering has a deep impact. By volunteering, you:

• Change lives in your community
• Support the growth and wellness of your community
• Improve your mental and physical health
• Gain new skills and experiences
• Support conservation efforts
• Build social connections
• Create ripples for future generations

Volunteer at These Austin Non-Profits

A fraction of the 700+ nonprofit organizations in the Austin area are featured in this post. These are places I’ve volunteered before or am familiar with.

*Sometimes the volunteer task doesn’t have you working directly with those the organization aids. For example, you may end up painting an office or organizing a room. Tasks vary, and finding one that matches your interests and capabilities takes a little effort!

If you want to: help our outdoor spaces thrive by working in the dirt

• Austin Parks Foundation
• Green Corn Project
• Festival Beach Food Forest
• Keep Austin Beautiful
• Treefolks
• Urban Roots
• Waterloo Greenway Conservancy

Looking for ways to help animals

• Austin Animal Center
• Austin Humane Society
• Austin Pets Alive!
• Austin Wildlife Rescue
• Safe in Austin – rescues animals who suffer from abuse or neglect and introduces them to people with similar backgrounds

If you want to: support the well-being of your neighbors

• Austin Marathon, Cap10K, Spurs Austin International Half – support runners as they go through race day (these are 3 of the biggest races in Austin)
• Austin Creative Reuse – promotes conservation and reuse by selling gently-used creative materials
• Casa Marianella – provides shelter and support to displaced immigrants and asylum seekers
• Central Texas Food Bank – largest hunger relief charity in Central Texas
• Community First! Village – provides affordable, permanent housing to formerly unhoused neighbors
• Heartening – puts clothing back into the community as cheaply and efficiently as possible
• Meals on Wheels – provides meals and services to older adults and people with disabilities
• Mobile Loaves & Fishes – provides food, clothing, and other life-sustaining items to the homeless 

Opportunities to support kids in Austin

• BookSpring – ignites the love of reading and builds literacy skills in kids
• Center for Child Protection – reduces trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children
• GirlForward – serves girls in grades 9-12 who identify as refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers
• Girlstart – empowers girls in grades 4-8 in STEM
• HopeAustin – provides food security

How to Start Volunteering

First, narrow down what type of organization would be a fit for you.

What do you enjoy doing?

• Would you rather be inside or outside? Do you want to be around people or animals?

What causes are you passionate about?

• The above list gives you an idea of the causes – environment, animals, education, homelessness, senior adults, and basic needs (like hunger).

How much time can you commit?

• Some volunteer programs are more in-depth, with an orientation session and a minimum hour requirement. Consistency is very helpful for organizations to plan. Once a month is a great place to start!

Explore 700+ nonprofits in Austin/Central Texas on AmplifyATX.org. Here you can view organizations by their cause category. Consider the organization’s location relative to your home to help with consistency.

I volunteer every 2nd Saturday with Volunteering Untapped (VU). It’s a good organization if you just want to get started. We volunteer with a different organization every month, so it’s an opportunity to have variety and to learn more about an organization before becoming a regular volunteer. VU also focuses on community and encourages volunteers to join in their social time (“volunbeering”) after the event. Learn more on the website.

Need more volunteer ideas? Check out this post about food-related volunteer opportunities.

The post Where to Volunteer in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Recap

Hello! As I mentioned in my annual goals post, Captivations posts are moving to bi-monthly, so here’s the first one of the year. The format of these posts won’t change; they’ll still feature life recaps, things on my mind, and interesting articles.

I started this year at full steam, energetically and enthusiastically. It helped that I had plenty on my calendar, like volunteering, cookbook club, mahjong, and catching up with friends. It’s a reminder that, in between the big highlights, are the everyday things that add up to a life.

Spark Creativity

Make this year more creative! If you’re feeling dull in life, here are 5 ways to break out of it. I like the idea of micro goals. Also, check out this list of boring ways to become more creative. If you wait to be inspired, it may never come. But if you start moving and doing, it can spark ideas. Think about what creative season you are in right now – play, practice, or produce?

Personal Boundaries

I really like this Time article about weaponizing personal boundaries. Boundaries are sometimes not black and white, not one-size-fits-all. This paragraph summarizes the sentiment well: “Too often, we use boundaries to opt out of hard conversations with those we love. But if we truly love and value our relationships, we need to build our capacity for boundaries that are flexible, contextual, and that can shift and change over time—just like we do.” 

Similarly, in this post by therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, she explains that relationships require a bit of inconvenience because of preferences and imperfect human nature. Your inconvenience is necessary to be a good friend and part of a community. For example, I have people with dietary restrictions in my life, and when I cook or bake for potlucks, I take extra time and effort to find recipes that everyone can enjoy. There may be fewer recipes to choose from, the recipe may require me to procure different ingredients, and it may not turn out as well as a tried-and-true recipe without dietary restrictions. These inconveniences are things I can work around fairly easily, and the reward is being inclusive. When it comes to these kinds of boundaries, only you can decide whether you’d rather take on the inconvenience or cut ties.

We also use “boundaries” to opt out of hard things that could help us expand. A straightforward example is working out. I could argue that when I’m not working out, I’m taking an extra rest day to recover, but maybe I’m just feeling lazy and don’t want to go through a hard workout. It takes me being honest and remembering the result I want to achieve to follow through on my commitment. Many times, I’m better for it, and it’s not as bad as I made it out to be.

Bird Watching

Is it just me and my circle, or is birding very trendy right now? It does boost cognition, and we could all use some of that!

Values Bridge Test

I found an online test that measures your life values in 100 questions. The Values Bridge Test shares that there are 16 human values, and the free version of the test will give you your top three. The results describe the values in detail and share the things to look out for when you’re out of alignment. I wasn’t entirely surprised by my results, only that certain values ranked so high. What do you do with the results? Make sure your goals and actions align with your values. It can help you analyze why you might be feeling unmotivated or frustrated and lead you to feel more fulfilled.

Women’s Health

As an aging woman, I’ve been attracted to media giving guidance and tips on what others have learned. The healthcare system has not progressed to the point where women’s health issues are fully understood and even believed. As with much of the U.S. healthcare system, pills to decrease symptoms are the quick, go-to solution instead of finding and alleviating the root cause of these symptoms. Until then, we’ll lean on people and resources to help us advocate for ourselves. Here are some:

• Luminescence Podcast
• This article on Cycle Syncing
• Dr Jolene Brighten’s blog posts about perimenopause and menopause

Reading

• What are my book lovers reading lately? My recent favorites include Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell and Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas.
• Did you know musical artist Dua Lipa has a website for articles and stories called Service95? She is also an avid reader, so books are largely featured. Check out their best books list.
• Last fall, I got a new cookbook called 108 Asian Cookies. I baked all my holiday cookies from it. This book is important because representation matters. It features an Asian baker, flavors, ingredients, and stories. Purchase your copy here.

Travel Ideas

Remember when I used to have regular travel ideas in my Fearless Wanderlust posts (71 posts!)? I’ll be adding some inspiration in Captivations posts, and you can always go back to old posts.

• Fredericksburg has long been a weekend getaway destination, and with its growth, it’s catching the national eye, like in this Food and Wine article.
• I will travel for food. This post shares memorable meals worth traveling for.
• If you’re near one of these “25 Most Spectacular Trees” be sure to stop! I visited the Angel Oak near Charleston, and it was incredible.
• What do you eat when traveling the U.S.? In Texas, they recommend fajitas. What do you think about this state food list?

5 Things I Love Lately

Some of my favorite brands! (You can find more of my favorites on this new page.)

• OMA – instant seaweed bone broth
• Pepper – bras for smaller boobs
• Ippodo – my favorite matcha
• Fishwife – really good tinned fish
• Blueland – clean and zero-waste cleaning products

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2025 Highlights

Let’s start with a highlight reel. This is a list that shows the quantitative summary and notable events of my year.

• Dined at 140 different Austin restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, bars, etc (Favorite Eats of the Year here)
• Traveled to Guatemala, Houston, Dallas, Round Top, and San Antonio
• Hiked a 13,000+ ft peak in Guatemala – Acatenango – possibly the hardest physical challenge I’ve ever endured
• Read 56 books
• Went fishing off the Texas coast and caught my first fish
• Went to great food events, including a pie potluck, Field Guide Fest, and 3 holiday cookie exchanges
• Hosted 11 mahjong meet-ups
• Completed a Stress and Rescue Scuba course to earn a SSI Master Diver rating
• Took 140 OrangeTheory classes where I ran 295+ miles on the treadmill
• Completed my first OrangeTheory DriTri
• Volunteered 12 times
• Worked on home projects like painting an accent wall, hanging art for a gallery wall, and finding a new dining table
• Partnered with 9 brands
• Featured 84 desserts on ATX Dessert Club
• Saw a few shows, including Cirque du Soleil’s Ovo, Maroon 5, and local favorite Midnight Rubies
• Took a few creative classes like stained glass, silversmithing, and candle making. See everything I made in this post
• Published 44 posts on Fearless Captivations

Favorite Shows: 

• The Pitt
• Slow Horses
• The Summer I Turned Pretty
• DOC
• Your Friends and Neighbors

Favorite Songs:

• If The World Burns Down – Kacey Musgraves
• cliche – mgk
• Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else – Benson Boone
• The Fate of Ophelia – Taylor Swift
• Golden – Huntrix

Things I Ate in 2025

This post shares some of my favorite eats of the year.

My Favorite and Most Popular Posts

9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala

How to Throw a Pie Potluck Party + Pie Recipe Ideas

Why Craft Omakase’s Sushi Tasting Became the Best in Austin

Take a Candle Making Class at 7th Street Candle Co in Austin, TX

How Field Guide Festival Inspires Austin’s Foodies

Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary

Making Jewelry at Sisu Studio – Austin Silversmith Class

Where You Should Dine for Austin Restaurant Weeks

Which Pastries to Get at Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop

Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala

Where to Get Mochi Donuts in Austin

Holiday Cookie Party: Recap of 3 Parties and 43 Cookies

2025 Reflections

I’m proud of accomplishing a few of my goals from 2024:

• Volunteer more – the goal was monthly, and while I didn’t do that, I still volunteered 12 times
• Read 55 books – I read 56 books
• Host mahjong meet-up monthly – we only missed January!
• Reorganize my clothes closet – it’s not perfect, but there was progress
• Make my home cozier – things like painting and hanging art helped

Just like the previous year, 2025 was solid! It was a year of staying consistent with habits like exercising, eating healthier, finding community, saving money, making time for creativity, and giving back through volunteering. This is the life I wanted, and it is achieved through actions that may seem hard or mundane. I don’t always want to go to the gym or to go to an event and be social, but I know I rarely regret it, even if it doesn’t meet my expectations.

In reviewing my past recaps, 2022 and 2023 were years of destruction. (I like viewing life through the cycle of years lens.) Through the personal experiences of grief and death, those years challenged me to look at what matters in life. While grief is always teaching, 2024 and 2025 were years of growth, moving into year of mastery. I said it in the previous paragraph – “this is the life I wanted.” And I can feel the year of destruction coming around, asking what’s next. I know the next step in personal growth is going to therapy (I’ve probably talked about it for a decade!), and I know it will be a hard journey.

Thank you, 2025, for giving me the opportunities and ambition to make my life full and meaningful!

2026 Goals

You’ve seen some of my monthly goals that are boring by now: work out 12x, volunteer 1x, and host a mahjong meetup. My reading goal this year is 55 books. Some other goals on my list:

• Go birding
• Go to pilates regularly
• Keep working on home improvements

For travel, I’m looking forward to two big trips in 2026! I’ll be going to the Philippines and on a European cruise to Germany, Austria, and Hungary.

There will be a change on the blog. My monthly Captivations post will now be every other month, with the first post coming in February.

Here’s to the great things in this new year!

P.S. If you want to see recaps from past years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014

The post 2025 Recap + 2026 New Year Goals appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

October, November, December Recap

I’ve got so much to catch you up on! October was full of football, November was nearly three weeks of pseudo-sickness (mild cold or sinus infection with a little bit of allergies?), and December has been so many cookies. Here are some posts you might have missed:

• Crafting Mosaic Art at The Mosaic Workshop in Austin
• Holiday Cookie Party: Recap of 3 Parties and 43 Cookies
• I Made This! – My Year of Crafting
• Best Things I Ate in 2025
• Linoleum Printmaking Workshop at 7th Street Candle Co

Gentle Practices

I really like this list of gentle practices to add ease. Habits like creating breaks in your schedule, relaxing into doing nothing, and giving yourself permission can help you create more ease. This will give you more peace and less burnout.

Bathe in the Forest

Did you know that forest bathing can improve your health? Activating your five senses in a forest – like listening to the birds sing and smelling the flowers – can reduce stress and blood pressure. See the study details here.

New Rollercoaster

Six Flags Over Texas in Dallas is set to open the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster next year. The ride will drop 285 feet from a height of 309 feet and reach a top speed of 87 mph along 4,199 feet of track. Wow! Learn about the roller coaster here.

A Tribute

Tatiana Schlossberg, an environmental journalist, penned this piece about her battle with a rare blood cancer. It’s a detailed piece about the struggles of illness and a statement about the destruction of medical advancements in the U.S. A mother of two young children and 35 years old makes death more heartbreaking. She passed on December 30th.

Foraging Vacation

On my bucket list – a foraging adventure! I’m envisioning a single-day adventure to get familiar with it. Here’s a list of foraging vacation options.

12 Basic Values

Research shows there are 12 basic values, and knowing your hierarchy of values will guide your actions. These develop when we’re young and stay consistent as we grow.

Ode to Gratitude

If you need some journal prompts or questions to think through, my friend Sharon has some in this post.

18 Favorite Hotels

I admit – sometimes I stay at “ok” hotels on my travels and book based on location and price. I’m typically spending the majority of my time exploring, so a luxurious stay isn’t a big priority. This list of hotels has some gorgeous options, and it’s making me ready for my next trip!

5 Things I Love Lately

• The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift’s newest album
• Football season
• Matcha
• Crafts
• Holiday time off

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One of my favorite recaps of the year is about all the books I read. I’ve always enjoyed reading, and I’ll always be glad for the year I came back to it. It takes motivation (like a goal and desire) and convenient tools (like an e-reader and a library card) to get into a reading routine. (Here are a few more tips for reading more.)

Of course, solid recommendations also help. I’ve learned that they’re very subjective, so take a person’s recommendation or an award list with a grain of salt. For example, I read a book this year that made it to multiple best-of lists, and I hated it. So, as with most recommendations in life, tailor your choices to your preferences.

All that said, read on to learn about what I read this year!

Book Stats of 2025

Here’s a quick look at all the books I read this year.

• Books read: 56
• Pages read: 20,169
• Average book length: 360
• Average rating: 3.3/5
• Shortest book: 115 (You Better Be Lightning)
• Longest book: 544 (Onyx Storm)
• Non-fiction: 11
• Memoirs: 9
• Romance: 17
• Historical fiction: 4
• Audiobooks: 29
• Books for book club: 9
• Books that became movies: 4

Favorite Books of 2025

Here are 14 books I read and recommend. You’ll find a variety of genres on this list. Some themes I found among my favorites were memoirs with grief, novels involving multi-generational families, and feel-good romances. I hope you find a future read on this list!

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

This is a tale of two time periods. In one, Lily and Matthew, two opposite people, fall in love. In another, Nick, raised by Lily, decides to search for answers. This immersive novel will make you consider the ability to alter your destiny.

Historical fiction
Destiny, family, privilege

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

June Farrow is waiting for the madness that has plagued the women in her family. She starts hearing and seeing things. I can’t say too much without giving things away, but know this story stayed with me and was a beautiful story about love.

Fantasy
Magic, romance, mystery

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

“I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.” It’s unknown whether Jesus was ever married, but this meticulously researched novel shares what the story could be if he had been. From the wife’s perspective, this book focuses on her life while illustrating Jesus’ humanity. It gives additional details to the lives of the other women in his life, like his sister and mother, who are briefly mentioned in the bible because of patriarchy. I enjoyed this book because it shows a perspective I hadn’t considered before. While some might think the book is blasphemous, I think it shows depth of love and respect and can enhance a person’s understanding of Jesus.

Historical fiction
Jesus, feminism, reverence

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

How do the choices of others affect our life path? Funke and Liv are cousins whose lives come apart and together by the choices of others, misunderstandings, and fate. I like the way the story unfolded, though frustrating at times and slightly predictable at the end. If you want a story spanning multiple generations, you’ll like this one.

Fiction
Belonging, identity, friendship

The Wedding People by Alison Epach

This was an unexpected favorite book of mine this year. Lila, a bride who has planned every detail of her wedding, including booking out the entire inn for her guests, didn’t plan for Phoebe, a sad woman at her rock bottom, who had booked a room as a romantic getaway with her husband. They become unexpected and somewhat unwilling friends bonded by the wedding drama. This book is funny! Note – there is a trigger warning for suicide.

Fiction
Humanity, humorous, gentle

The Women by Kristin Hannah

This novel is centered around Frankie, who joins the Army Nurse Corps in 1965 to follow her brother’s path to Vietnam. She endures the destruction and heartbreak of war. The journey is a bit predictable, but the story is still engrossing. You’ll cheer Frankie on from start to end. The Women is a tribute to women who have served the country.

Historical fiction
War drama, female empowerment, heart

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

In Emily Henry’s new book, she veers a bit from her usual romance to a more contemporary novel. This book reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reed’s books. In this one, you’ll meet Alice and Hayden, both writers who are competing for the opportunity to write Margaret Ives, heiress of a tabloid-favorite family. You’ll find the dialogue and banter I like in Henry’s books, and the slow burn of two people getting to know each other.

Romance
Enemies-to-lovers, mystery, drama

A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung

In Nicole Chung’s second memoir, she finds understanding in the lives of her adoptive parents. In sharing this story, she also analyzes grief, guilt, and inequalities of life in the U.S. This book resonated with me because it describes what it’s like to care for your parents when they become elderly.

Memoir
Grief, adoption, legacy

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson’s book Black Cake was one of my favorite books a few years ago, so I was looking forward to her new novel. Wilkerson has a way of unfolding a story with chapters of past and present, and this story involves Ebby, a traumatic event, and a centuries-old jar that has been in her family for generations.

Historical fiction
Contemporary, mystery, family

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Carley Fortune is a popular romance author, and her books are focused on summer love. In this one, Alice is a photographer looking for inspiration while taking care of her grandma, and Charlie is a dreamboat perfect man. The story unfolds perfectly, complete with a sassy grandma as a supporting character, and you’ll be wishing you could experience the summer magic of Barry’s Bay yourself. This book is related to Fortune’s book Every Summer After – Charlie is the brother of that book’s leading man, Sam – and it would be more enjoyable to read that book first, though not necessary.

Romance
Summer, light-hearted, family

Between the Mountain and the Sky by Maggie Doyne

This memoir will make you cry. In 2005, before starting college, Maggie Doyne took a gap year and traveled to Nepal. That experience called her to build a home in Nepal, adopt 50 children, and start a non-profit organization. The memoir details the entire journey and her thoughts throughout the process. As if the story isn’t fascinating enough, Doyne’s writing pulls you in, and you feel the depths of her emotions. This book will remind you of the needs of others and inspire you to lend a helping hand.

Memoir
Inspiring, thoughtful, heart-warming

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

“A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.” This novel is set on Shearwater, a (fictional) remote island near Antarctica, where researchers had been cataloging the world’s largest seed bank. This story is filled with detailed nature descriptions, secrets, and beautiful illustrations of love in multiple forms. If you want an epic tale, this is one!

Fiction
Nature, mystery, relationships

Heartwood: The Art of Living with the End in Mind by Barbara Becker

This memoir is heartbreaking and heart-expanding. Barbara Becker shares stories about her experiences with grief and death, challenging readers to not be afraid of death and to prepare for it thoughtfully. This is a book to savor.

Memoir
Grief, inspiring, heartfelt

You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson

I hadn’t heard of Andrea Gibson until her death this year. Her journey with cancer is what many know about her, and she is also a talented poet. Her writing is raw, progressive, and honest. From climate change to dying, Gibson’s book shows vulnerability, acceptance, and a call-to-action.

Poetry
Honest, thought-provoking, raw

Reading Goals for 2026

I’m keeping my goal of 55 books in 2026. Per last year’s goals, I did branch out to more science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.

This year I want to read classics I’ve missed, including:

• 1984
• Little Women
• Pride and Prejudice
• Animal Farm
• Wuthering Heights
• Lord of the Flies
• The Scarlet Letter
• Brave New World
• The Diary of a Young Girl

What was your favorite book this year? Send me a recommendation!

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

The post Favorite Books Read in 2025 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Crafting has long been a favorite hobby of mine. In fact, some of my first posts on this blog are about hosting DIY parties and partnering with a company called Brit + Co to test their craft kits. I took a pottery class a few years ago and did a few crafts as new things I did last year. It reminded me of the many crafty things I wanted to try and the tools I had already bought and were waiting for me to use. 

So, one of my goals this year was to finally use the supplies I had and try crafts I have wanted to for a long time! Austin has a lot of options when it comes to creative classes, so throughout the year, I worked my way through my list.

Here are the crafty things I tried!

DIY Miniature Kit

This DIY kit was gifted to me and is a good introduction to miniatures and building dollhouses. Every part of this diorama was put together by me, minus some of the plastic food. It included gluing together the shelves, folding the pastry boxes, and even installing the real light! I spent 7 straight hours putting this together from start to finish.

I was gifted another DIY kit recently, so I’m excited to do that one in the new year. The company is called Rolife. This is the bakery kit, and this is the greenhouse kit I’ll be doing.

Custom dollhouses, like the ones by Geneva who is a DIYer, are so impressive to me, and this seems like a gateway to that.

Candle Making

I first tried candle-making years ago at a place that has since closed. 7th Street Candle Co invited me in for their candle workshop, which included creating a custom scent for the candle. Not only is the candle aesthetically cute since it’s in a wood bowl, but it’s also a special scent that I made drop by drop. Their candle workshop is beginner-friendly, and I had a fun time trying it out!

See the full candle-making experience in this post.

Embroidery Kit

I’m embarrassed to say this embroidery kit was bought almost two years ago (at Blue Genie), and I finally opened it and completed it! When I started, it took about an hour. This was my first time trying embroidery, and I know it’s a craft I want to try again. Embroidery can be done on clothes, which is my ultimate goal.

Mountains of Thread is an Austin-area company, and she also sells her embroidery kits on Etsy.

Silversmithing Jewelry

A new silversmithing studio – Sisu Studio – opened in Austin, and I was excited to try it. We got to design our pieces (a ring for me) from picking the stone to the type of band, all while being led by an expert silversmith. It was fun to create something that I’ll wear often and be able to share that I made it!

See the silversmithing experience in this post.

Stained Glass Class

Stained glass has been another craft that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time! (This experience was much different than the glassblowing class for my bachelorette party.) This was another great beginner class, and we got to pick our favorite colors for our sunbeam.

See the stained glass class in this post.

Perfume Making

Did you know there is a walk-in perfume bar in Austin? My candle-making class included creating a custom scent with essential oils, so it makes sense that you can do the same process to make a custom perfume! I went back to 7th Street Candle Co for their drop-in perfume-making bar, this time creating a scent that is more floral.

See the full experience in this post.

Tortilla Making

Can you believe only one of these crafty classes this year is food-related?! I wanted to go to this workshop because I had never seen the process from corn kernel to tortilla. (Where are my food nerds at?) I love that fresh tortillas are a tradition in many kitchens around the world and that we could honor that in this workshop. So, it’s a little different, but I did make a tortilla!

See my experience making tortillas in this post.

Mosaic Making

I won a visit to The Mosaic Workshop in a charity raffle and was excited to try this medium again. (I made a mosaic on a glass bowl last year.) This time around, there were more tile and color options. It’s also a little easier to mosaic on a flat surface. What do you think of my finished piece?

See the mosaic-making process in this post.

Gem Kit

I spotted this craft kit at the store, and sometimes, that’s how it starts. These are called diamond gems or diamond/gem painting. The surface of your print is sticky and color-coded. You’ll use a tool to stick each color gem onto the labeled color. This wood plaque is 8 inches in diameter, and the project took about six hours.

Block Printing

For my final workshop of the year, I went back to 7th Street Candle Co for a block printing workshop. Audrey, one of the owners of 7th Street Candle Co, studied this craft in college, so she walked us through picking a design, carving the linoleum, inking, and printing. I picked a cute mushroom pattern, and it took a few prints to perfect the block. Finally, we printed on notecards and napkins. Yes, I have a print-making kit on my wishlist so that I can keep experimenting with this craft!

See the full experience in this post.

As you read, so many of the crafts I tried were things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m so glad I got to try them. I know I’ll be crafting in the new year, though maybe not new mediums. I’m looking forward to exploring some of these further and finally working on all my sewing goals.

If you want to be more creative, there are lots of ways and tools to do it. You’ll find inspiration and even relaxation in the tasks. I hope this post inspires you to try something new!

Want more DIY inspiration? Check out these posts:

• From Clay to Pot: Where to Take a Pottery Class in Austin
• DIY Marbling-Themed Party
• Best Places for Creative Classes and Art Workshops in Austin

The post I Made This! – My Year of Crafting appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

When it comes to gift-giving, I follow a minimalist guideline, focusing on experiences, consumables, or items that are useful and/or meaningful. No matter how you approach holiday gifting, remember that quality time goes a long way, and gifts that endure time and memory have the biggest effect.

This post is full of ideas, especially lots of local Austin companies to support!

For the Foodie

Culinary Class
What better experience for a foodie than learning tips and tricks to create incredible dishes? This Austin culinary class list I put together is a helpful guide for class options.

Restaurant Gift Certificate
If your city is like Austin, it has an abundance of restaurants to visit and try. A gift certificate to a new restaurant can help cross a restaurant off the “to-try” list. Barley Swine and Uroko are some of my favorites. I also enjoy Juiceland.

Cookbook
There are so many beautiful cookbooks out there and more come out every year. Locally, check out Thai Fresh: The Cookbook or Franklin Barbecue: A Meat Smoking Manifesto. Some of my other favorites include:

• The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook and Smitten Kitchen Every Day
• Woks of Life
• 108 Asian Cookies

I also love my cookbook stand!

Local Products
Share a unique piece of your city with others. Austin has so many talented food artisans, and food is always a welcome gift. Try these local options:

• Chocolate bars from KESSHŌ
• Whiskey from Still Austin
• Coffee Beans from Greater Goods Coffee Co.
• Honey from Two Hives Honey

Kitchen Tools
Help a foodie up their game in the kitchen with some new or upgraded tools.

• HipStirs is a local Austin company with cocktail kits
• The Elevated Craft Cocktail Shaker is the perfect gift for those who like making cocktails at home
• Some of my favorite kitchen gadgets: hand lemon juicer, food processor, immersion blender, quality wood cutting board, and electric kettle

Tickets to a Food Event
We love our festivals in Austin, and food events happen year-round. Here’s a list of a few of them. From Field Guide Festival to the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest, there’s always an opportunity to eat with other foodies.

Favorite Food Products
Your friends will really love these!

• This almond toffee made in Hico, Texas, is the most crave-able chocolate/candy concoction
• Fishwife tinned fish, so you can host your own tinned fish party

For the Wanderluster

Kindle Fire Tablet
I use my Kindle Fire nearly every day, and it’s a must-have when I travel.

Books, Movies, and More
Feed the wanderlust by gifting travel-themed books, movies, and other media. I have some recommendations in this post. Also, check out my book recommendations on my Bookshop.

Getaway
Give a wanderluster what they want most: the experience of travel. Maybe it’s plane tickets or a hotel reservation. Maybe it’s an excursion (like this one with elephants in Thailand) or a food tour on their upcoming trip.

Scratch Off Map
Help a wanderluster keep track of where they’ve been with a scratch-off map. These come in a variety of colors, and some map out U.S. states and Canadian provinces in addition to countries. See all the options on Etsy.

Photo Book
We take a lot of photos when we travel, but a lot of times, the photos stay on our phone or cloud storage. A photo book is a fun way to reflect, share your memories, and decorate your coffee table. I recommend using Mixbook.

External Charger
A semi-boring but very useful gift for travelers is an external charger.

For the Hostess with the Mostest

Serving Board
Every hostess needs a beautiful serving board to serve cheese or appetizers. Personalize a wood one yourself like we did, or buy a white marble one, great for photos.

Cute Vase or Ceramic Piece
As someone who loves fresh flowers at my celebrations, I recommend a unique vase for your number-one hostess. Bonus points for including a beautiful flower arrangement with the vase.

Succulent, Herbs, or Other Potted Plant
Cut flowers are beautiful, but potted plants last longer. Pick up a succulent or house plant at Succulent Native.

Linens

We are always using dish towels/tea towels in the kitchen. There are many cute ones out there!

Candle

7th Street Candle Co, a local Austin shop, has a great selection of hand-poured candles. One of my favorite scents is the chamomile fig. (They also host candle-making workshops!)

Treats
From jewelry to skincare, give your favorite hostess something for pampering. Some local Austin gift recommendations: SOCO Botanicals Symphony Face Oil, Bejou Skincare, and Amanda Deer jewelry.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Choose products that are sustainable and cleaner for you. We use Blueland products in our home, specifically the tablets for laundry detergent, dishwasher, toilet bowl, and hand soap.

For the Creative

Creative Workshop
If your city is like Austin, you’ll find class opportunities for a wide variety of interests. Here we can learn how to make a candle or a succulent arrangement, play an instrument, and more. Check out this BIG list of options in Austin.

Local Art
Find a piece of unique art. One thing I’ve noticed about creatives is that they love surrounding themselves with things to inspire their creativity. Here are some of my local favorites:

• My friend Kathyphantastic makes beautiful watercolor items
• Ornaments and cutesy things from Stipple Pop
• Art from: Artful Peaks, Good AM, Catie Lewis, A Lil Scribble

If you’re looking for places to shop for locally created gifts (lots more ideas!), check out:

• 7th Street Candle Co
• Roommate Collective
• Blue Genie Art Bazaar
• Take Heart
• Atown
• The Paper + Craft Pantry

I hope this holiday gift guide gives you some ideas. Happy gifting!

What’s your favorite item to gift? What gift ideas would you add to this list?

Get ready for the holidays with these posts:

• Holiday Cookie Party: Recap of 3 Parties and 43 Cookies
• Favorite Holiday Party Ideas
• Local Holiday Shopping at Blue Genie Art Bazaar

The post 2025 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

So, to commemorate the season of cookies, this post shares a recap of all three experiences and some of the 43 types of cookies I had in 10 days.

My Cookies

I pre-ordered Kat Lieu’s timely, newly released cookbook – 108 Asian Cookies – and aimed to bake all my cookie exchange contributions from the book. This is a fun and colorful cookbook, with many familiar recipes that include Asian ingredients like red miso.

I made 5 different cookies from the cookbook for the parties. I had trouble locating some ingredients – namely, pandan extract and ube jam – so I had to make slight variations.

The Low-Key Girls Get-together

Cookie count: 7

I made: Black Sesame White Chocolate Cookie and Matcha Peanut Butter Blossom

My friend Jane had a few friends over for a casual hang-out and to officially meet her new baby! I love that a few of us baked “viral” cookie recipes (oatmeal banana bread chocolate chip cookie and almond butter croissant cookie), and they went viral for a reason: they were delicious cookies!

The Christmas Market

Cookie count: 21

I made: Boba Cookies and Raspberry Linzer Cookies

My friend Sandra has been obsessed with Christmas markets, so she wanted to recreate the vibe at her house, along with a cookie competition. She made an incredible spread of Christmas market food, like brats and meatballs.

I don’t think the competition categories were announced ahead of time, but they were the most festive, prettiest, crowd favorite, and most creative. Someone made the mortadella cookie, which won most creative. It looks like a sausage slice and was on The New York Times’ annual cookie list this year. The most festive cookie went to the gingerbread non-binary people, and the crowd favorite went to the lemon crinkle. Prettiest cookie went to the raspberry linzer by yours truly! It almost makes me forget that hours before, I was in a cookie crisis because I burnt the first batch. My prize was some mahjong goodies!

The Cookbook Club Friends

Cookie count: 15

I made: Miso Hot Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I joined a cookbook club this year, and it’s been a lot of delicious fun! The group has been meeting since 2019, cooking from a different cookbook each month. I often meet up with “restaurant foodies,” so it’s fun to discuss recipes and taste dishes with “cooking foodies.” For one, I’ve never seen more impressive cookbook collections! It’s also a good introduction to different cookbooks.

This cookie party was no different; there were so many tasty cookies!

Cookie Party Thoughts

Eating 43 types of cookies at 3 cookie parties in 10 days is kind of crazy and so delicious! (Where are my dessert lovers at?) Here are some of my random cookie observations:

• Ginger molasses is a classic holiday cookie recipe, and I loved it at every party. Call me a grandma.
• Want a festive cookie? Use red and green sanding sugar or dye, peppermint, or jam.
• Taste-wise, you can’t go wrong with a crinkle or thumbprint cookie, and they can be very easy to make.
• If you’re hosting a party, there is a chance people will bake more than 1 type of cookie.
• Chocolate chip is a solid cookie, but not for the holidays. I vote for more fun, though you’ll always have people who love the classic.

Baking cookies is much lower-stakes than most desserts. Should I keep hosting cookie potlucks in the new year? Maybe with themes? How many more recipes should I bake from the 108 Asian Cookies Cookbook?

Looking for more food party ideas? Check out these posts:

• How to Throw a Pie Potluck Party + Pie Recipe Ideas
• Paella Party to Celebrate 10 Years
• How to Throw a Tinned Fish Party

The post Holiday Cookie Party: Recap of 3 Parties and 43 Cookies appeared first on Fearless Captivations.