Enjoying the Snow
On Friday, a snowstorm caused us to miss school. In addition to allowing everyone to sleep in for a bit longer than they are normally able to, it gave everyone a chance to enjoy an experience that comes to Georgia only rarely. It allowed me to have fun with friends, doing activities we hadn’t done in a really long time (due to Georgia’s usual lack of snow). My sister and I built snowmen and had a snowball fight. Then, I went sledding with a neighbor nearby. All of these activities were very fun, and I would recommend that everyone spend some time enjoying the snow if another snowstorm hits. – Jackson Lee
Heated Blankets
Recently, a friend of mine bought me a heated blanket for our Christmas exchange and it has become my favorite thing in the whole world. You know how sometimes it’ll be cold in your house so you go to get a blanket, but then the blanket is cold because the air is cold? Well with a heated blanket, you don’t have to worry about that. The one I have has a scale of 1-10 for the heat and a 1-10 hour timer. It’s been so nice to crawl into a warm bed. – Ella Engle
Winter Sleep
I love the cold. Winter is easily my favorite season and the cold temps really add to that. However, the best part of winter has to be how nice sleeping is. I need the room I sleep in to be freezing cold to even have a chance of falling asleep. Year round I’ve got my ceiling fan cranked up to the max and a little box fan to keep my room like a freezer. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I’ve turned either fan off in the seven years I’ve lived in my house. Sleeping when it’s really cold is the best because of how cozy it is. When it’s hot it’s just suffocating being under a blanket. With the cold, though, you can just layer on all the blankets you want. Winter is the best season. I will hear no other opinions. – Michael Bryant
Puffer jackets
When we were younger, our parents always tried to make us wear hefty puffy jackets to keep us warm, and I know we all fought them. Now that I’m older I realize that I should have listened because puffer jackets are so warm and I haven’t left my house without them since the end of November. I know that they are big so it doesn’t seem stylish, but I always layer mine with a different color jacket and then my cute top can be under. Since they are so big and squishy it’s kind of like a big pillow. It gets cold enough every winter to invest in a good one and you should one hundred percent go get one before the season ends. You could also wait and try to find some on sale for the next winter season. – Kira Lawson
Ear muffs for the cold
On rare occasions, we have snow days and your ears get so cold and need something to keep them warm. You need ear muffs so your ears don’t get frostbite. In Georgia, it gets so cold that my ears always feel like they are freezing and they turn red and freezing cold. Ear muffs give your ears great protection and comfort that they don’t usually have. They can come in so many colors and styles that you might even want to get more than one pair. I seriously recommend buying your own pair and keeping your ears nice and warm for the snow days and cold days in the winter. – Rowan Schreiber
New Year, New Me
At the start of every year you always hear people say something along the lines of, “new year new me,” to describe how they will improve themselves after the previous year. This year, I’ve decided to take this phrase to the next level and completely change up my life, and I encourage you (within reason) to do the same! The first thing you can do is find a random creative outlet/hobby to pick up in 2025! I haven’t really decided what hobby, but having creative outlets is a great way to spend your time doing something besides scrolling. I have also changed my appearance quite a bit so far. I cut my hair short and am thinking about dyeing it soon. If you have been debating changing up your hair in 2025, take this as your sign. – Noa Zilber
PLAYS
American Mahjong
While it may seem like a game for dull old women, mahjong has become one of my absolute favorite games to play. The rules are complicated, making learning to play feel like a significant accomplishment. However, once you go through the trouble of learning the way of the game, you feel like a genius being able to play the game correctly and sometimes even be smart enough to win! Mahjong has become a regular part of my family’s routine, especially when my brother is home from college (though he still does not seem to fully understand how to play). All in all, Mahjong is a fun, strategy-based game that keeps you on your toes and is a lot of fun! – Finley Malone
Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles
Puzzles are a wonderful pastime. There is something so immensely lovely about fitting the pieces together that just soothes my neurodivergent brain. The only occasional issue with puzzles comes when a moment of peace and tranquility is broken by a bent piece, or a piece that doesn’t quite fit due to damage. Luckily, these problems can be fixed by a wooden puzzle. If you, like myself, enjoy a good puzzle, but haven’t yet tried a wooden one, that is a problem that I recommend you fix. Wooden jigsaw puzzles are genuinely lovely. The pieces don’t bend or break easily, they’re usually laser cut so they fit together perfectly with no issues, and the texture is nicer than cardboard in that it feels less dusty. I really can’t recommend them enough and if you get the opportunity to try a wooden jigsaw puzzle, please do so. – Maren Merkel
My Little Pony: Magic Princess
I recently downloaded a game by Gameloft called My Little Pony: Magic Princess. It is such a fun and addicting game. It is similar to Township; you build up a city by playing different games and doing quests. However, it incorporates all the characters from My Little Pony and makes it accurate to the story. Many of the issues you have to solve happen in the show/movies, which makes it fun. The only downside to this game is how long it makes you wait for certain things to happen. Usually, I have to wait 4-8 hours for a character to finish doing a task. Overall this game is very entertaining and I have gotten very far within a week. I would recommend playing it if you’re a My Little Pony fan. – Sasha Lapayeva
My Little Pony Songs
In similar spirit to Sasha, I am writing about My Little Pony. I recently have been listening to the soundtracks of the show and the Equestria Girl movies. Much of the music is very well written and catchy. Some of my favorites are “Cafeteria Song” and “Unleash the Magic” from the first and third Equestria Girls movies, respectively. My favorite album is the Rainbow Rocks album. Rainbow Rocks is the second Equestria Girls movie, which is mainly centralized around a battle of the bands. There are many amazing songs on this album from “Awesome as I Want to Be” and “Rainbow Rocks.” My favorite songs by far come from one of the fictional bands in this movie, The Dazzlings. These songs consist of “Let’s Have a Battle (Of the Bands),” “Under Our Spell,” and “Welcome to the Show.” I’d recommend these songs, even to those not interested in My Little Pony. – Juliet Gonzalez
WATCHES
Life of Riza
So recently at the beginning of the year I wanted to start watching videos that would actually help me with my mental health because I learned that if I keep watching sad stuff it won’t help me get better. So, I was just scrolling online when I saw this beautiful background and the girl (Kariza Santos) was talking about how she has learned to always be there for others. The title of the video was “the art of showing up.” I remember just being like: okay, let’s check it out. I just loved the shots she took. It was very cinematic and the words that she uses are very wise. I don’t know what it is when I hear someone giving advice but I love it because sometimes I need it. So I have been obsessed with her recently. She is definitely someone to watch when you need something to lift your spirits mentally. – Ashley Chay
Gossip Girl
I started watching Gossip Girl in early November after it was added to Netflix. I finally finished all six seasons today and loved it. Surprisingly, I didn’t love the first episode and didn’t understand why everyone loved the show. However, after watching for a bit, I became invested in all the characters and was hooked. I grew to love all the drama and learning about each character. My favorite characters are Chuck Bass, Blair Waldorf, and Nate Archibald. The relationship between Blair and Chuck is easily the best part of the show. Their personalities are very compatible and the romance story lasts throughout all 6 seasons. In addition, I did not like Jenny Humphrey or Vanessa Abrams at all. They seemed to think they were different from everyone else which caused them to act like a victim, but in reality they were just like the rest of the Upper East Side. Dan Humphrey was also similar in this way, but his character was more likeable than Jenny and Vanessa. It was interesting to see the character development throughout the seasons as well. In particular, the growth of Chuck’s character was the most interesting because of how much he matured by the end. – Anna Kate Flood
The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox on Netflix
In 2004, the Boston Red Sox were down by three games in the ALCS against their rival team, the New York Yankees, but managed to make a shocking comeback and win the last four games, something that’s never happened in baseball history. This three-part Netflix series breaks down the failure of the 2003 season, the drama between the Yankees and the Red Sox, and how, against all odds, the Red Sox finally won the World Series for the first time in 86 years. The documentary features interviews with legendary players like Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, and Pedro Martinez, as well as interviews with significant people in the story like the Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and head coach Terry Francona. If you’re a big baseball fan, I highly recommend The Comeback. Stream it on Netflix here. – Maven Bolick
AND
Sugarloaf Mills Mall
If you’re looking for a place to shop, eat, and unwind, Sugarloaf Mills Mall is worth considering. It offers a good mix of outlet stores, specialty shops, and dining options, so you can find what you need and enjoy a meal without driving all over town. The entertainment options also stand out, with an AMC theater for catching the latest movies and arcades like Dave & Buster’s for the gamers. The most surprising standout for me was the variety of entertainment options, all the way from an escape room to airsoft. For a day out, it’s a practical choice because everything’s conveniently in one place. I’ve found it to be a nice break from the usual routine, and I think you might, too. – Tommy Liang
Takis
Since I can remember, eating Takis has always been a fundamental part of my life. I remember saving money with my brothers to buy a bag of Takis. They were relatively cheap since we only needed eight quarters, but with time they slightly increased in price. We would walk happily home and once we got home we’d have a way to share it between the three of us. I took one Taki, then my other brother, and then my other brother. It was like that until it finished. We would always have a bottle of water next to us because of how spicy it was. I still kind of like them, but not as much. Takis is now something I crave once in a while. If you are looking for a savory, delicious, spicy, and hot snack, Takis are a must. – Teresita Trujillo
Noah Kahan
I love a good playlist for homework, and recently, Noah Kahan has been my favorite artist. His lyrics are so heartfelt and creative and his folk songs will make you either cry or want to go hiking, or both! My favorites right now have to be “Fine,” “Young Blood,” “False Confidence,” “Call Your Mom,” and “Northern Attitude.” Weekly lore for the people who read this: I sang “Stick Season” at Brookhaven Porchfest in September and, no matter what people say, that song is basically woodsy rap, and it’s kind of a hard song to sing! Noah Kahan is the perfect AP class homework meltdown music or the soundtrack for your afternoon walk home. Not to mention, he is so wholesome! I saw an Instagram reel where Noah Kahan invited his family on stage to dance at one of his concerts and it was the faith in humanity video I needed to see. Noah Kahan forever. Listen here on Spotify, here on Apple Music, and here on Amazon Music, though the real ones know Spotify is top tier. – Ellie Owens
Dungeon Crawler Carl
This is a book series written by Matt Dinniman. It begins when the Earth is basically flattened by an intergalactic corporation, instantly killing most of the planet’s inhabitants. Survivors include Carl and his girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut. They very quickly enter the dungeon, a maze of cities and towns and traps and monsters generated by AI where the survivors battle creatures, characters, each other and often themselves to survive and move on to the next level. As they go, everything is broadcast to trillions of inhabitants of planets and galaxies we have never heard of, and it is the highest rated program of all time. The result is a very fun read in which Princess Donut is able to speak, she and Carl can open chats, receive loot boxes, loot corpses, make friends, make enemies, go on alien talk shows, and kill with spells, bombs, barefeet, and a pet velociraptor. I’m through book two and cannot wait to begin book three. – Fred Avett
Arizona Green Tea
One of the drinks I’ve been enjoying more and more recently is Arizona Green Tea. While I’m typically more of a water or Dr. Pepper guy, I’ve found that Arizona Green Tea is good. I got back into this when I was inconspicuously walking through an aisle at Publix for a pack of drinks to put in my fridge, and my eyes locked onto the tea. I’ve typically only seen these in a 16oz can in a vending machine or in the selection of fountain drinks at a Bucee’s. When I found out I could have 18 whole cans of it, I jumped at that opportunity. While it’s definitely not a drink that’s supposed to be healthy, because it has a lot of sugar, I find that it’s a good way to get away from the normal life of a soda or something like that. The slight hint of honey makes me want to keep drinking it, and now that I know where to get it at stores, that’s what I’ll keep doing. – Miles Forshay
