A personal life update about buying our first home, adjusting to new routines, getting back into photography and gaming, and finding time for the creative hobbies I love. After a busy summer of moving and major life changes, I’m sharing what I’ve learned, what I’m enjoying, and what’s next for One Big Side Quest.

Some years don’t need a highlight reel to matter. This is a reflection on a transitional year filled with quiet growth, creativity, rebuilding after burnout, and learning to move slower without guilt.

It’s been a busy few weeks, but I finally hit pause for the ultimate side quest — two nights of pure nostalgia seeing The All-American Rejects and the Jonas Brothers live. Between the music, the memories, and a few surprises along the way, it felt like reconnecting with my younger self in the best possible way. Sometimes joy really does sound like your favorite song from 2008.