Today marks the last day of 2015 and the last day of my first year of this blog. Today, I reflect on the year and challenge myself to make 2016 a year dedicated to kindness and cheer.
This year, I will focus on one moment of kindness that captures me each day. Cheers to 2016!
After 12 hours of driving, we are home in time for the last day of 2015.
Today's moment: making time for happiness
Today, I said farewell to my grandparents until 2016. Today's moment: blessed for another year to spend with them.
We all scream for ice cream. Today, we hit up a family favorite. ..central dairy.
Today's moment: traditions
Today was a day of sweets. ..lots of them. With two family Christmases, it was a day of balancing the bulge.
Today's moment: balancing sweets
Today was a day of driving and also a day of rain... Lots of it. Today's moment: looking outside view mirror at nothing but rain droplets.
Today was one of the hottest Christmases on record. This morning was delightful, though.
Today's moment: fresh starts
This year marked my second Christmas away from my family. It's part of the sharing thing.
Today's moment: making new traditions
Today, we had our first of several Christmases and we wets left with this aftermath. This was the first Christmas for one niece and she was not disappointed.
Today's moment: worn out from children at Christmas
Tonight, we were talking about travel and memories and I remember to book a poem that I had collected of my late great grandma after she passed away. I went and searched around my house for nearly an hour but still at a loss. However, I did find one small remembrance of those poems in my late grandfather's record player. Here were the recordings that he made nearly 70 years ago and lay undiscovered. Today's moment remembering one of my very favorite people
Today marks the two year anniversary of when I met my favorite guy. We keep it the same each year: a simple bakery followed by a long walk through the Arboretum. Perfection. Today's moment: reminiscing about 2 years ago today
Today, in honor of approaching 2nd year anniversary we rented electric bikes and went on what we thought would be a public tour of Austin. However when we got there we realized it would just be the two of us. And, since we were off Austinites we didn't really need a tour but a chance to see the city with fresh eyes so that's what we did. Today's moment: being a kid again
Today, we embarked on our 2nd annual Christmas light bike ride to be followed by homemade hot cocoa with Nutella, pumpkin and salted caramel doughnuts, and superfoods soup. It was beyond magical. Today's moment: enjoying the start of Christmas break
Today, I finished the last of the Christmas gifts for the year. As I was putting on the last touches, I was reminded of just how important creation is and how often we overlook the power of creating. Today's moment: remembering to add in a little bit of creation each day
Today, I opened my makerspace. Ands, though, there were only a few, it was successful. ..lots of crafting and innovating.
Today's moment: Watching a successful crafting process
Today, I think of my dad. He's probably the closest person in my life and, today, he received some unfortunate news. Today's moment: thinking of my dad, his beloved Cardinals, his crazy sense of humor, and his love. Here's hoping for a new tomorrow.
I used donuts today and I hope that I can drive students to come to some of my new Tech initiatives. Today's moment: the sweet taste of bribery
Today, I made a purse out of am old book. It also was a project for my cat who insisted on lurking beneath the pages.
Today's moment: being a maker
After a rough two days, I woke up, ready for a new day and thankful for fresh starts each day.
Today's moment: letting go and enjoying the day. ..especially Christmas lights!
Though, the weather has been exceedingly hot for this time of the year, we just hit our peak for our fall leaves. It was absolutely beautiful this morning.
Today's moment: watching the seasons change
We hosted the Hour of code today. Despite hopes for more students, I had a great number of volunteers and each student received personalized help.
Today's moment: grateful for what I have
I don't particularly like getting to work so early, but today I got to see a particularly gorgeous sunrise.
Today's moment: enjoying the beauty in the morning
Today I began the long process of wrapping presents. From here until Christmas I will be covered with tape, scissors , and wrapping paper.
Today's moment: remembering tape
I have absolutely love making glass. It's a skill I learned last year and I'm so thankful for it. Today, I got to look at my finished work and I was surprised to see my colors blended into a metallic reflection.
Today's moment: getting a taste of my own reflection of learning
It's been too long. I've been on a healthy eating plan for several months now, but today, we decided to treat ourselves to pizza. Yum!
Today's moment: indulgences
We ended the day by playing a game caked mice and mystics. It was full of epic battles like these.
Today's moment: trying something new
I have a notoriously mean cat. She gets irritated when you are even within an inch of her vicinity. However, whenever you bring out yarn or fabric she feels the need to come up on your lap, get affectionate, and generally be nice. Sadly, it also stops me from being able to get stuff done.
Today's moment: compromising with a cat
This can be obnoxious with traffic, but I can't ever get over this view.
Today's moment: admiring the good in the rough
I have a notoriously mean cat who I have renamed Satan. However the minute you bring out yarn, her mean streak subsides.
Today's moment: getting a break from a mean cat
Today, my favorite road was covered in reds and oranges. It was absolutely gorgeous. Since I couldn't capture it, I got this.
Today's moment: basking in red
Today, I got to see my parents Christmas tree. It always sparkles and it is always a trip down memory lane.
Today's moment: strolling down memory lane through the ornaments that sparkle on my family's tree
Today, we tried out a crochet class. Though I know how to knit and quilt, this was somewhat challenging so I took to YouTube afterward.
Today's moment: failing and learning
Today, not only did I put up my own Christmas tree, but I help my 3 year old niece and my mom put up another tree.
Today's moments: watching the joy of helping out in my niece's face.
Or. ..too much of it. That is my story today after helping my min ice thanksgiving turkey cookies.
Today's moment: laughing like a child again
Today, I made candles for the the first time. In the process, I unearthed my old pasta sauce jarss so I'm ready to make more!
Today's moment: addictions to crafts
Today, I continued my Christmas crafts with some soap making. I had never tried it before but am excited to try a variety of new scents.
Today's moment: trying something new
Today is Sunday, family day. And, I get to spend it snuggling and eating movie snacks with my niece.
Today's moment: enjoying the sweetness of Sundays.
Today, we checked out the Blue Cat Cafe. It's one of the first of its kind. Cats roam freely, board games abound, and food is awesome.
Today's moment: meeting some of the sweetest cats
Today, my donut maker arrived. It was a glorious day and I can't wait to start making some donuts. Next up: lemon raspberry donuts.
Today's moment: enjoying the sweet side of life
My office is 59 degrees. And that's no lie. Luckily aj got me a space heater. It was nice having warm to my fingers without wearing gloves , scarves, and hoodies.
Today's moment: bringing on the heat
Tonight, we watch Love the Coopers. I'm a Christmas movie junkie.
Today's moment: hoping this movie lives up to my Christmas Movie expectations
Today I actually got to attend a session at a conference for the first time in a while. So I decided to check out with some others are doing in the makerspace arena to get some ideas from my own. And what I left with with a whole slew of ideas for organization. And if you know me you know I love organization.
Today's moment: getting organized
After a full day of work today I traveled to the great city of San Antonio to a room I would never pay for on my own and a view I may not see it on my own.
Today's moment looking at the Tower of Americas 19 floors up.
Today started off with a cool crisp chill in the air. It had the ring of fall everywhere around from the Christmas displays to the rosy cheeks and the streams lights.
Today's moment: enjoying the crisp chill in the air.
I woke up to this beautiful fall tree this morning. The cold crisp rain coming down made it feel all the more fall.
Today's moment: enjoying waking up without an alarm to the sights and sounds of fall.
Google took us a different way this time so we got to see a great section of beautiful Christmas lights.
Today's moment: getting a taste of Christmas a little early.
Today, I'm very thankful for my mom. After getting the flu for the third time in less than a month, she came to my rescue today. So perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.
Today's moment: finding the blessings in the rough.
Though we set a heat record today, I thought it would be great to think chill so. ..we made chili and corn bread!
Today's moment: chill thoughts
