There’s something about the final stretch of the year that often leads to reflection. As Q4 2025 moved along, Brian and I navigated a curious middle ground that left us feeling grateful and inspired, yet much more tired than we thought we’d be. The last few months held moments of connection alongside a steady stream of movement and mental restlessness. While we had a wonderfully peaceful holiday season with family and old friends, it arrived with a constant motion and fullness that kept us on our toes!
Q4 2025
Q4 2025 was layered, filled with challenges and adventures that pushed us in unexpected ways. This quarter wasn’t about cruising through experiences; it was about showing up with intention, even when energy ran low. Of course I had hoped for us to complete all of our 52 Experiences this year, but I didn’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on us.
Brian and I carved out time for what we had the capacity to accomplish. As Q4 2025 came to a close, we focused on our effort and progress over perfection. Here’s what we experienced this quarter:
Travel
1. Venture to one of Georgia’s seven natural wonders
With this experience, we’ve officially visited four of Georgia’s seven natural wonders. In November, Brian and I took a drive to Tallulah Falls, embracing a single day trip to take in the late fall views of Tallulah Gorge State Park. We explored 5 miles of leaf-strewn trails, crossed a swaying suspension bridge 80 feet above the Tallulah River, and appreciated the gorgeous scenery all around us.
2. Venture to a European Christmas market
If you caught our post on Vienna, you know that our European Christmas market experience was a complete and utter success! Surrounded by cheerful festivities, sparkling Christmas lights, and plenty of delicious holiday treats and glühwein, we celebrated this adventure to the fullest. In 3 days, we managed to visit 5 out of the more than 20 Christmas markets this beautiful city had to offer.
Finance
3. Invest in a riskier asset
Following a bit of analysis and thought, I took a calculated risk and invested in a company within the fintech sector. Like much of the market this past year, the stock has been pretty volatile. While I’m happy to be up at the moment, I’m approaching this investment with patience and a long-term mindset. Time will tell if this pays off!
4. Join at least 5 financial education webinars from Fidelity
I joined a number of financial webinars held by both Fidelity and Charles Schwab. Through these presentations, I gained insights into current market trends, learned about tax-smart money strategies, and discovered how to effectively gift money for growth. I also learned different ways to make money work harder, including investment opportunities and practical tips for financial efficiency.
Entertainment
5. Laugh out loud at a live stand-up comedy show
We originally planned to see Jimmy O. Yang on stage, but he canceled a large portion of his tour. Though we were initially disappointed, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
We used the Chase Sapphire Reserve StubHub credit to purchase tickets for Nate Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes Tour in Tampa, FL. Known for his clean, relatable comedy and laid-back storytelling, Nate had us laughing all night as he effortlessly found humor in the mundane moments of everyday life.
It was an awesome show!! And, as an added bonus, we unexpectedly got to enjoy the experience with our closest friends!
6. Attend a few small indie concerts
Brian and I swayed to the music in coffee houses, cocktail bars, and wineries. We love a good small venue gig and the way these cozy spaces feel. We don’t typically attend big events at stadiums, like we did for Nate Bargatze’s comedy show. That night reminded us just how much we prefer quieter, more intimate spaces!
Intellectual
7. Complete a 25-book reading challenge
Hooray! To be honest, I didn’t think I’d make it this year. I’m a pretty voracious reader, but it’s been such a busy year that I haven’t read nearly as much as usual. Frankly, when I initially listed this challenge at the beginning of 2025, I thought I’d blow past 25! Joke’s on me.
Out of 25 books this year, thrillers took the lead, but I also squeezed in three self-help reads and two anthologies to mix things up. I clearly have a type! Thrillers will always reel me in. My favorite books from this challenge include The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea and What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan.
8. Become more proficient in Google Analytics
Am I more proficient than I was in January 2025? You betcha! Am I as proficient as I would like to be? Not a chance. Though I’ve learned some ins and outs through YouTube and other resources, what I’d really like to do is take an actual course so I can feel more confident in what I’m doing. Anyway, this counts for now, but I hope to continue to grow and keep building on what I’ve learned so far!
Health
9. Keep a blood pressure log
Brian maintained a daily blood pressure log for over a month. He included notes, such as what he’d eaten, what he drank, physical activity, and more. Cataloging these details helped him identify patterns that impacted his blood pressure, allowing him to make more informed changes to his diet and exercise routine.
10. Scale new heights with indoor rock climbing
I didn’t have any experience with rock climbing, but I’ve always thought it looked like fun. We live a few miles away from an indoor rock climbing gym, so naturally, it was time for us to give it a shot! Luckily, this gym has a few auto-belay systems, which give you the freedom to climb without needing a partner. As a beginner, I wanted to climb with Brian by my side, knowing that the auto-belay would automatically catch our fall and keep us safe.
We had a brief orientation to learn how to use the auto-belay system, and off we went! It was 6AM and already quite busy. Luckily, we started off in the beginner/kid section, which was deserted! This was ideal, as Brian has only been rock climbing once before and I was a complete newbie. We learned the ropes, so to speak, and before long, we were ready for the main floor.
Though I had always been curious about rock climbing, it was after our climb on the Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park that I realized how much I enjoyed the challenge and adventure of it. I’m so happy Brian and I got to experience rock climbing together! We had a great time. 😀
11. Prioritize at least 4 “nothing to do” days
We originally intended our 4 “nothing to do” days to be spaced out throughout the year, but it didn’t work out that way. Instead, we enjoyed 4 consecutive “nothing to do” days this past month. Brian and I indulged in nightly Christmas movies, delicious foods, and leisurely walks outside. We woke up each day with zero plans, allowing us to freely float from one moment to the next.
Home
12. Replace landscape steps
Brian and I stopped and started this project a handful of times. It took about a month and a half to finish, as we paused our progress for travel and other plans. Thankfully, we completed our landscape steps before the freezing temperatures arrived in December!
As a refresher, we decided it was high time to replace our rotten railroad ties. Unfortunately, these steps were at the end of their lifecycle when we purchased our house 6 years ago. Over the years, exposure to the elements had taken a toll. While some ties still had a bit of life, several of them were heavily splintered. We began dismantling our steps in early October and took our time digging out the curve as we contemplated our next steps (no pun intended).
We considered rot-resistant wood but ultimately decided on concrete for durability. Brian handled the math for the frame, and we began acquiring gravel, steel mesh, and concrete. After plenty of trial, error, and second-guessing, we committed to the pour!
After 70 bags of concrete, at a total of 4,200 pounds, we were finished! It was certainly a learning experience. In the spring, we will touch up the risers and sides with a top coat and will likely stain the steps a nice graphite color. We love our new steps and are super grateful there won’t be as much of a safety concern, aside from our own clumsiness. Unlike our old rotten railroad ties, which made it easy to slip and fall, these concrete steps provide a solid, stable surface.
13. Paint our office
This quick project brightened up our office and instantly made it feel much more light and cheerful. We chose Behr’s Greener Pastures, which brings a fresh, natural hue to the space. While we only painted a single wall instead of the whole room, it looks exactly the way we wanted!
14. Declutter room-by-room
You know how we can all sometimes drag our feet in procrastination? That’s how I felt about decluttering. There was always something else to do, something else to keep us busy. I waited all year to declutter. Finally, on a random day in November, I started filling a box. It only took a couple of days to declutter the house. Now, I have a small collection of things sitting in our basement. I’m debating whether we should sell some of them or just donate. Either way, it feels good to have made progress!
Community
15. Pop into local town hall meetings
Personally, I think everyone should attend a town hall meeting at least once in their lives! We really enjoyed our experience, as it introduced us to new developments, community concerns, and the number of ways residents are working together to improve our neighborhood. Hearing from the city council and other local members made us feel more connected to where we live and inspired us to spend more time in our community.
16. Visit all free parks within a 5-mile radius
Holy moly, I was blown away to learn we have 52 parks within a 5-mile radius. It initially felt like we bit off more than we could chew when we put together our park list. What a gift it is to have so many public parks so close to home! From tiny corner lots to hundreds of acres and miles upon miles of walking trails, our park system is vast, varied, and beautifully maintained.
As Brian and I ventured out, we discovered several pockets of forested gems, some with paved pathways and others that wound through the wilderness. Along the way, we stumbled upon a wealth of recreational amenities, from athletic fields for soccer and baseball to outdoor gyms with fitness stations, offering a free alternative to traditional gym memberships. Each park felt distinct, with its own design elements and personality.
We genuinely loved exploring how each park appealed to different interests and activities, whether they offered space for community events, practicing yoga on the open, grassy fields, or enjoying a walk through the trees. What’s more, we got to visit different parts of our neighborhood that we never knew existed!
17. Complete a 15-restaurant challenge along Buford Highway
I should probably mention that this 15-restaurant challenge is an actual monthly challenge that takes place each year. We dine out so infrequently that I chose to extend this challenge throughout the year. We barely made it, but we did it!
Over the last 12 months, Brian and I chowed down on long-time favorites, including char siu (Chinese BBQ pork), misir wat (Ethiopian red lentils), and soul-warming pho. We also tried awaze tibs (Ethiopian spiced lamb stew), jjajangmyeon (Chinese Korean noodles with fermented black bean sauce and pork), and gopchang-jeongo (spicy Korean small intestine stew). We look forward to exploring more flavorful eats along Buford Highway!
Q4 2025 Wrap-Up
And just like that, this year has come to a close. Q4 2025 was only slightly calmer than the quarter before, and our schedules still felt full most weeks. As I once expressed, life is lifing, and we are here for it. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to all 52 experiences. I caught myself feeling disappointed about that, but you know what? Sometimes you fall short! And that’s okay. If you readjust and pivot, or in my case, tack it onto next year’s plans, then you can keep moving forward.
Here’s what we’re taking from this year into the next:
- Purchase shares in a crowdfunding real estate project that focuses on affordable housing
- Plant an herb garden (I dragged my feet on this one; I worry about my black thumb!)
- Replace exterior outlet covers and fill in brick mortar
- Repair basement drywall
- Master knot-tying
- Learn to efficiently use Excel
- Start learning a new language together
- Become versed in a programming language (started the lessons, but not quite versed)
It looks like we’re off to a focused 2026, with curious minds and a handful of experiences to start. I hope that you had a wonderful Q4 2025 filled with togetherness and joy during the holiday season. If you didn’t achieve what you wanted to this year, try not to be too hard on yourself. Pivot where you can and make it work!
Happy New Year to all of you. As always, thank you for reading along on our adventures. You are sincerely appreciated!
