Q1 Quarterly Roundup: Curating Life (Instead of Just Living It)

This year, I decided to do something a little different—a quarterly roundup of all the things I’ve done, tried, started, or survived.

Kind of like a sales performance review… except for my actual life.

(Isn’t it funny? I spent years in sales dreading quarter-end if the numbers weren’t where they needed to be… and now here I am voluntarily doing a personal version of it.)

Since this was a last-minute idea, this first update may not be as polished as future ones—but it captures the highlights. And more importantly, it helps me stay focused on my word for the year: curate.

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Trying New Things (Even When I Didn’t Want To)

• Ropes course on the cruise
  This was huge. I am terrified of heights… and I still did it.
• Drove a “real” go-kart at DKC
  I was the slowest one on the track (by a comfortable margin), but I showed up and did it anyway.
  This one mattered because I usually pass on things like this—either because I’m not adventurous or because I don’t want to spend the money.
• Handled a minor home medical emergency involving a head wound, a very stubborn husband, and a medical stapler.
  (If you missed that story… it deserved its own post.)

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Investing in Us (Even When It Felt Uncomfortable)

• Ordered a MacBook Air
  For someone who leans heavily on the “frugal” side, this was a big decision.
  But it’s already solving problems—now Iyan can do homework downstairs where I can help (and keep him on task), and it doubles as a family laptop for Ray and me.

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Greenhouse Experiments (aka: Science Project in Progress)

• Planted all the random seeds from the junk drawer
  Tomatoes, lavender, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, wildflowers… and even buried a few old pumpkins just to see what would happen.

Current results:
Tomatoes and cucumbers are thriving.
Everything else… is participating in a quiet protest.

I may need to buy a few starter plants this year and treat seeds as a “next year” goal.

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Moving My Body (More Than I Expected)

• Completed a 22-mile bike ride with Iyan
  I haven’t been riding consistently, so this felt like a big win.
  I was sore later that day… but surprisingly fine by the next morning.
• Started working out at the barn
  I finally dusted off my workout videos and have been aiming for 3–4 sessions a week.
  It’s not quite the same as a gym class (no peer pressure = fewer side-eyes keeping me accountable), but it’s a start.
• 10,000+ steps for 240 consecutive days
  The goal: a full year. We’re getting close…

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Building a Social Life (On Purpose)

This might be one of the biggest wins of the quarter.

• Learned Mahjong and now attend a weekly Mahjong social
• Started playing Mahjong regularly with a group of friends
• Planned two girls’ days:
  • Wig + perfume shopping
  • Estate sales, lunch, and a margarita walk

Progress—not perfection.

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Big Life Conversations (The Kind That Sneak Up on You)

We started talking about selling the house.

Even typing that feels strange.

There’s a mix of emotions:

• Scary
• Sad (I really thought this would be our forever home)
• Exciting (the idea of building something new… and simpler)

Now we’re working through the “what needs to be done” list and weighing the risk vs. reward of each project.

And in the words of Peyton Manning:
“Make a decision and make it right.”

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Movies (or… Lack Thereof)

This quarter made me realize something:
I either need to go to more movies… or cancel my AMC A-List subscription.

I used to go at least once a week. It paid for itself.
Now, living farther from a theater, those spontaneous movie nights with Ray just don’t happen the same way—and I miss that.

Movies this quarter:

• Send Help
• Solo Mio
• Project Hail Mary

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Books (For Tracking… Not Endorsements 😄)

Just because I read it doesn’t mean I recommend it—but I like keeping a list:

• The Will of Many — James Islington
• Rhapsodic — Laura Thalassa (did not finish)
• The Name of the Wind — Patrick Rothfuss
• The Kind Worth Killing — Peter Swanson
• Lady Tan’s Circle of Women — Lisa See
• Coeds and Cattails — Jana DeLeon
• Marsh Madness — Jana DeLeon
• The Serpent and the Wings of Night — Book club pick
• Butcher and Blackbird — Dark romance (definitely not my style)
• The Diamond Eye — Kate Quinn
• Strange Pictures — Uketsu
• Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame — Olivia Ford
• You with the Sad Eyes — Christina Applegate
• Buckeye — Patrick Ryan (recommend reading vs. audio)
• Rich Girl — Julie Mulhern

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Final Thoughts

If I had to sum up Q1, I’d say this:

I tried more things.
I moved more.
I showed up more.
And I started making decisions a little less out of fear—and a little more on purpose.

Not bad for one quarter.

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Question for you:
What’s one thing you did this quarter that surprised you?

With love & glitter,
Valerie ✨