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It has been ayear.
Natalia Maca/Adobe Stock
So much so that weve been recapping our favorites in our monthlyGot Us Throughseries.
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And god,Animal Crossinghelped a ton.
You play in real-time, meaning the date and time are the same in-game and IRL.
Not only is this incredibly cool for playthrough reasons (the sunset graphics are really pretty, guys!!
), its also a huge help for mymental health.
I can log on, run through my tasks for the day, and log off when Im done.
Needless to say, I am now obsessed.
I coped by doing every possible thing I could to distract myself.
Tough, yet achievable.
Fun, creative, weird worlds.
As far as distractions go, this one was a definite winner.
11/10, highly recommend.
Episodes are about 20 minutes long, and theyre charming and silly and absurd and fun.
It doesnt matter!)
It sounds like a lot, but it never feels rushed or bloated.
First of all, its only six episodes, making it a breeze to get through quickly.
Third, the show itself is beautiful.
are warm, luxurious, and colorful.
Its just the right mix of dark and entertaining for these…dark times.
So when I saw Riley Sagers newest novel had the wordghostsin its synopsis, I was a little wary.
But since I was a huge fan of his previous work, I decided to give it a shot.
And I am so glad I did.
But is itreallybecause of ghosts?
Or is something else at play in that house?
So many mindless phone games.
This was one of the first.
Adult coloring books and paint-by-numbers kits continue to beself-carestaples, and Iwantto love them.
However, I just dont find them soothing; I find them frustrating.
My perfectionist ass always gets sidetracked trying to make themgood.
Which is why digital coloring book apps were kind of a revelation for me.
There area lot of appsout there, with my favorite being Happy Color.
to land a job, she decides to pretend to be 26.
Oh, and Hilary Duff is there.
Scenic New York City shots!
A hilarious and fundamental lack of understanding about how books are published and marketed!
An absolutely improbable premise that requires you to suspend disbelief for entirely too long!
So yes, I rewatched at least a few seasons this year.
Okay, JK, slightly less dramatic than that.
But still, I thought it would be too much and too soon to watch TVaboutthe pandemic.
Weirdly enough, though, its been cathartic.
How good could it be?
But Ive been really delighted so far!
Its easy, fun, silly, and pretty heartwarmingreminds me ofParks and Rec, tonally.
Definitely something I appreciated this year.
All I wanted to do was watch HD animals doing things footage.
It still has David Attenborough, naturally (well keep him, folks!).
I love this stuff though.
I finally started duringelection seasonand now Im kind of obsessed.
The plotlines are Shakespearean-level complex and tragic, the writing is so smart, and its really fucking funny.
(Yes, Jersey has cultures and subcultures.)
I think it just might edge outBreaking BadandThe Wireto become my favorite show.
Why, you ask?
Well, these multiplayer games can all be played by individuals in different households.
Once you start the game online, every player can use their cellphones to answer questions.
Recently releasedEvermorewas a lovely holiday present, too.
The problem is that he summons the wrong ghost.
And that ghost is a hot bad boy who has some unfinished business.
Do you see where Im going with this???
As someone whose face Netflix was probably extremely sick of seeing, this recommendation was such a gift.
Ive already watched the whole season twice, and Im sure there are many moreHigh Fidelityrewatches in my future.
Ive been listening for years.
If youre looking to dive into some spookiness, I highly recommend.
For months I have ignored it.
It did not interest me.
No, thank you.
But when dealing with a particularly bad flareup ofchronic painand stress, I finally downloaded it.
And readers, I am having aball.
Its basically a high-fashion dress-up game, where you craft outfits for specific occasions.
In general, its fun and silly and Im glad I finally got bored enough to try it.
As a metal fan myself, I was instantly in.
I did not expect a cute show about a metal-loving red panda to give me so many legitimate feels!
Every single episode, the costumes and storyline have me shook.
Even if Ive already played an episode, Ill hit repeat while I workMichelles voice is incredibly soothing.
Plus, the music that the producers weave throughout the podcast is really good!
It actually sounds like something Id listen to on its own.
Highly recommendThe Michelle Obama Podcastif you want to hear something uplifting and motivational.
AndGod,this album is good.
Crossing my fingers we can go out and dance to come summer 2021.
I can never get enough of this show.
The cast of friends has excellent, close-knit rapport.
Luckily, the glowing rec and the concept encouraged me to give it a shot.
Seriously, I changed my mind at least three different times as I was reading.
On top of being a lot of fun, its also earnest and ultimately joyful.
Itll hit you right in the feels if youve ever doubted youre worthy of love.
It was my go-to writing album earlier this year because it hits that perfect combination of nostalgia and innovation.
Some of the covers were released previously, but I really appreciate having them all in one place.
My recent faves include Yuval Noah Harari, Natalie Portman, Bob Woodward, Jewel (!
), Tristan Harris, and Chelsea Handler.
But it truly contains multitudes.
I keep circling back to his reflections on language and freedom and desire.
Everything about this album is stunning!
Above all forms of nostalgia, music was the most helpful.
Specifically, albums I listened to and found comfort in when I struggled as a teenager.
Seriously, it holds up.
!Just, give it all to me.
stem from her intentionally doing everything in her power not to be predatory or exploitative.
And despite how ~serious~ that might make the book sound, it is such a delightful, cute romp.
As I rewatched it during quarantine, I found it both comforting and escapist.
It helped me dream of when my home will once again return and offered welcome entertainment in the meantime.
The two quickly become close, but at what point does it cross professional boundaries?
The novel touches on marriage, family dynamics, wealth and privilege, and betrayal.
It’s beautifully written and is just distracting enough for bedtime reading.
Madaus
Read:$26,Bookshopor $19,Amazon
