Category: 5 Favorites

5 Favorites for November 2024: Creepy, fragrant, dumb, and useful!

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“5 Favorites” is a recurring feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I post 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed or used, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

👻 ⌨️ Blood Typers Demo

Typing horror game

If you loved THE TYPING OF THE DEAD, Epistory: Typing Chronicles, THE TEXTORCIST or any other typing games, you’ll want to try this demo, for sure! Left and right shifts turn you, typing random words littered about the scene make your character walk there, and hitting “tab” puts you into combat mode to attack freaky enemies! The environments are really moody and mysterious so far. I enjoyed my time in the demo and thought you’d wanna know.

▶️ Jose Briones – Dumbphone Reviews

YouTube channel (and helpful website, too! )

My ancient, ruggedized Kyocera is showing its age a little these days. Looking for dumbphone reviews, I discovered this great channel. No baloney, straight to the point, nothing fancy. There are a LOT of dumbphones out there and this channel and the accompanying site have been really helpful. If you need to digitally detox from the slot machine in your pocket, this is a TREASURE TROVE of info. (Also, did you know there are things called kosher phones??)

🚾🐈️🐾👃 “Smell Ya Litter” Odor Eliminator

Litter box smell treatment by Poo-Pourii

If you’re a cat owner, you’ve got litter boxes in the house. If you have litter boxes in the house, sometimes one of your dear sweet feline friends commits an unspeakable hate crime in one of said boxes. I used to use Way of Cats’ Littermint (which was a terrific, all-natural product made of dried herbs) to destinkify–but when Pammy sadly discontinued the product, I began looking for other solutions.

I’ve been pretty happy with this Smell Ya Litter spray. I usually spray it over the box a couple times over the boxes each time I scoop, or (frantically) right after Pixel has left behind one of his more rancid, gag-worthy bombs.

They also make other products for dogs and cats, under the “Pet-Pourri” section.

🗑️ The Garbage Gripper

Surprisingly useful giant rubber band

We got this at Ace Hardware on a whim, but I’m glad we did because it keeps our garbage sacks held in place! You can tie a knot in it if the grip needs to be tighter.

🕰️📱 Repeat Alarm

Like a grandfather clock, but it’s an app for your Android device and customizable for more than one thing

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of moving every hour. I wanted something that would chime on the hour, like a grandfather clock. But setting up an hourly alarm on my tablet was a pain.
This app made it easy. Now my tablet plays a 15-second boogalicious dance tune every hour on the hour between 11AM and 8PM (because I hate it when grandfather clocks go crazy at midnight). You can customize the alarm sound(s), how long it plays, and the range of hours the alarm should go off. It’s really handy, I’m happy I found it!

 

5 Favorites for October 2024: Spooky, helpful, fashionable, and funny

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“5 Favorites” is a recurring feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I post 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

🎃 🎧️ Theme to The Substance

Instrumental song by Raffertie

SiriusXM channel “Cinemagic” (featuring movie scores) did a show called “Cinemagic’s Sounds of Horror”. During the show, this techno-heavy little ditty came on and I liked it. It’s not as intense as the ANGER FOOT medley, but still pretty toe-tappin’. (Other good tracks from the beginning of that show: “Hypnosis” (by Michael Abels) from GET OUT and “Le Monde” (by Richard Carter) from TALK TO ME.

⏲️ Visual Timer – Countdown

Free Android Countdown App, programmed by Christoph Wiesner

Back when I taught reading skills to children for a private company, we used to have visual timers. Visual timers are little boxes where, when you set the time, a colorful shape fills the clock-circle and gradually disappears as the time passes (here’s an example). I always thought it was a great way to track time elapsed at-a-glance. Something about having a shrinking shape is different than just watching numerals count down.

I’m currently back teaching piano lessons, so I thought I’d get a digital visual timer–a very simple one–to help both me and my students keep track of where we are in lessons. When I used it, I turn off the option to display numerals; we just see the shape shrinking.

This app doesn’t have ads (though you can donate to the dev) and is elegant to use. It doesn’t collect or share data with third parties–a big plus in my book.

🎨 Debt-Free Art Degree: Foundations in Drawing: The Affordable Way to Learn Professional Skills

Instructional art book by Marco Bucci

I have learned a lot over the years watching Maro Bucci’s YouTube art tutorials, so pre-ordering his new instructional book was a no-brainer. He teaches in a very friendly, digestible way. And the concepts he teaches have MASSIVE impact as you put them into practice. I’m looking forward to my copy arriving in November! If you’re an artist (or are maybe looking for a gift for an artist?), I strongly recommend checking out this book!

👕 Amoretu Women’s V Neck T Shirts Slim Fitted Half Sleeve Top

Women’s Shirt

Am I the only gal who loves shirts with half sleeves? 3/4 length sleeves don’t feel flattering on me. And while there’s nothing wrong with a regular sleeve on a T-shirt, when I’m wearing half-sleeves, I feel really put together.
Anyway, I bought one of these and am pleased so far with the quality and fit. I got a few colors. I don’t recommend their “Peacock Blue” color; in person, it’s Worn Doctor’s Office Chair Blue. But I think that purple is going to be surprisingly versatile.

🤓 Geek Universe

Funny memes

An offshoot of the legendary I Can Has Cheezburger site, Geek Universe focuses more on various fandoms and other nerdery, like Lord of the Rings and ’90s stuff. I like to scroll through it before bed at night. Love the Dungeons and Dragons themed lists!

See you in November!

 

5 Favorites for September 2024: Heartwarming, Heroic, Helpful, and Cheesy

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“5 Favorites” is a recurring feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

 

🐾The Cinnamon Trust

https://cinnamon.org.uk/

This is for my friends across the pond: the Cinnamon Trust is an organization that helps the elderly and terminally ill with caring for their pets so they can spend more time together. They do things like exercise dogs for housebound owners and long-term cat fostering for people in the hospital. It looks like they’re accepting volunteers, too.
I thought this was a terrific organization and we need many more like it, so I’m just trying to get word out.

📻️ Batman: The Audio Adventures

Free YouTube “Radio Show”!

A retro take on the Batman mythos–complete with cheesy commercials made by and for Gothamites! (Plus: Brent Spiner as the Joker!) I’ve only listened to one episode, but it was pretty good!

🚒 “Save Our Pets” Static Cling

Here’s a design I liked on Etsy. But there’s lots of designs on Etsy and Amazon, find one that works for you!

Here’s an easy, inexpensive way to alert first responders that you have bork borks or meow meows (or other animals!) in your house. Just in case of emergency, better safe than sorry, yanno? I liked the design of this one, even though the static cling version didn’t stick to our windows. I’ll get a different version and see how that works.

👊 One Punch Man opening credits (with AMAZING SUBTITLES)

Season 1. Season 2.

PUT ON THE SUBTITLES for a FABULOUS EXPERIENCE. I’ve never seen subtitles done so well! WAHN-PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCH! This is one of my fam’s favorite shows, it get rewatched a lot. Hurry up, season 3! 😭

🍝 Cheetos Cheesy Jalapeño Mac and Cheese

12-pack on Amazon; or check your local grocery store!

We got curious about the Cheetos-brand mac recently and have been trying out the different varieties as we come across them. There’s four varieties right now: “Four Cheesy”, “Bold and Cheesy”, “Cheesy Bacon”, and “Cheesy Jalapeño”. Here’s mini-reviews:

  • Bold and Cheesy: At first it was disorienting tasting the flavor of a crunchy Cheeto snack in a creamy sauce, but in the end, I decided I liked it. A LOT.
  • Cheesy Bacon: I didn’t like this one. Too Baco-Bits-tasting, to me. Fakey bacon.
  • Four Cheese: The flavor didn’t differentiate itself enough for me to seek it out again. Wasn’t bad, jjust
  • Cheesy Jalapeño: Jalapeño-flavored stuff is love it or hate it for me. This one’s in the LOVE category, though, with a nice Mexican food flava to it. Scratches my taco itch when there’s no crunchy shells in the house. Nachoriffic? Perhaps!

I’m not saying this’ll replace the Kraft dinner currently in your pantry, but it makes for a fun change!

Finally: did you read the Pixelvania Proclamation o’ Progress this month? It’s got what readers crave: electrolytes! I mean, updates!

See you next month!

5 Favorites for August 2024: Useful, Spoopy, Campy, and Tasty

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“5 Favorites” is a recurring feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

🚘️ The Drop Stop

Available on Amazon and probably other places.

The other day, my car keys fell between the Abyss between the seat and the console. AND I COULD NOT GET THEM OUT. I have skinny hands and normally can fish them out okay, but not this time! I had to go round to the back seat, contort in non-Euclidean ways, and only then I just barely got them free!
I bought my husband a Drop Stop for Christmas and was impressed with it…but I put off getting my own until now! Don’t be prideful like me, get this and don’t lose stuff in the Abyss ever again!

🍿 Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy

Streaming on Max, possibly available for purchase elsewhere

Longtime readers know my husband turned me from Scooby skeptic to Scooby specialist. So I can tell you they’re having A LOT of fun with this movie (the credits are an animation fan’s dream), playing the characters against type (but for good reason!), using the freakier color palette seen in the Mystery, Inc. series, and using funny speed cuts in the editing. I’m looking forward to the spooky season, so this was a real treat!

🐈 Way of Cats: “Dear Pammy” posts

Free blog posts to help you understand cats better

Back when I was a new cat employee (under Pixel J., natch) I was looking for ideas to better understand and connect with him. I think Pamela Merrit, of WayofCats.com is the gold standard (yes, even over Jackson Galaxy). Most of her site is membership only, but you might like her free posts. She’s also written an ebook on understanding cats, and has done a number of podcasts on the topic, too. First rate kitty psychology aids.

🛡️ Dwight in Shining Armor

TV series; free to watch on BYU TV’s Roku app

First: this series is 5 seasons long and COMPLETE.
Third: it has my favorite fantasy witch character, Hexela, who is a modern witch who runs a day spa.
Second: it’s clean, it’s funny, a little cheesy, but great fun. Think Avatar: the Last Airbender with maybe a quarter of the seriousness but full of sincere characters. Watching Baldwic the Magician and warrior Princess Greta be insane around meek Dwight is *chef’s kiss*.

🍲🧀 Cabot Extra Sharp Mac and Cheese

Here’s a picture of the box

I saw this brand reviewed by chefs. Tried it out–it’s good! As good if not better than Annie’s white shells.

Finally, I posted this year’s final Proclamation o’ Progress earlier this week! Click here to read all my past Proclamations and their attendant kitty photos.

5 Favorites for July 2024: Music, Memories, Mods, and Mews

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“5 Favorites” is a recurring feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

📻 🧚‍♀️ BOOK OF HOURS: Original Soundtrack

(Free listen on YouTube. Like it? Purchase your own copy via Steam.)

Do you need to disappear to a magical world that sounds like nature still has fairies hiding in the shadows of the green leaves? Then try out this soundtrack to a game I bounced really hard off of 🙃. Very elegant, New Age-y sound. If you like the soundtrack to any of the MYST games or if you enjoy listening to the Mediaeval Baebes, you’re gonna ADORE this.

🖼️ Memories of Ed Benedict

(Article.)

In preparation for creating new covers for the FASHION FRENCHIES series, I’m studying the artwork of Ed Benedict, who designed the titles to BEWITCHED and like, every classic Hanna-Barbera character outside of SCOOBY DOO!. While researching, I stumbled upon this article by the creator of JOHNNY BRAVO, Van Partible, reflecting on his time with the artist.

🎮 Slay the Spire: DOWNFALL

(Mod. Downloads and installs through the Steam workshop. Requires Slay the Spire game to play.)

If you already own SLAY THE SPIRE (and maybe like me have almost 500 hours logged 🫠), you owe it to yourself to try this expansion. I recently beat the Heart with all the official characters, and have been slowly working my way through Ascensions as the Silent…but this expansion has made me fall in love with this game all over again, with new fresh characters and mechanics.
Bonus link: you might also like the PACKMASTER mod, which integrates nicely with DOWNFALL.

▶️ Overly Dramatic Kitten

(YouTube vid, 5 seconds long)

I can’t stop watching this, so now you must know about it.

▶️ HONK

(YouTube vid, less than 5 seconds)

I giggle every time.

I post the Proclamation o’ Progress next month, so check back soon! 🙂

5 Favorites for June 2024: Practical Pens, a Purrworthy Plaything, and music to help you PUT FOOT TO TASK!

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“5 Favorites” is a new feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

✍️ Papermate InkJoy Ballpoint 700RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens

Everyday pen+

If you want an upgrade to your usual stick pen, consider this smoothie!

A few months back, I tried out a new pen–not for writing novels, but a cheap one for writing my Morning Pages.
I liked this new stick pen: I felt the ink wrote smoother than the Bics I previously used. BUT! the triangular barrel was an uncomfortable match with my hand’s grip–a dealbreaker for me (if a triangular grip won’t bother you, I strongly recommend this pen).

I browsed around and discovered they were using the same ballpoint ink in this multi-colored pen. I loved its chonky round barrel but I drained the black ink in, like, a WEEK. (I’m trying it out now for color coding things in my checkbook.)

Finally, I discovered this pen, the 700RT. Its white barrel is round (though not as chonky as the multi-colored pen, which I would have liked) and the ink is smooth and dark, same as those stick pens, but with a much comfier barrel. Bonus! No lid to lose!

🐾 The Original Cat Dancer Toy

A-meow-zing cat toy

I bought this and the “Pro-Model” Cat Dancer, which comes with a handle.
At 17 years of age (that’s like, 80-something in cat years), I thought Pixel J. Cat was totally OVER all toys…Then I brought the Cat Dancer into our house. He attacks it like he’s a kitten again, not just batting at it for close paw play, but bounding around me to attack! (Of course, I knew our soon-to-be-three-year-old cat Barnaby Jones would love it.)

The extra length on this model keeps the toy within the cats’ reach even when I’m standing upright. Or I can get down on the floor and play with them. Very versatile! It’s an extra-terrific toy for those with joint or mobility issues, because very little movement is needed to generate erratic, mesmerizing motions for the kitties.

My husband had an old screwdriver handle lying around and used epoxy to attach it to one end, which is what I’d recommend, because right now it doesn’t have much of a handle for the human. (I also bought the model with the handle, the “Pro” version, but the shorter length means it’s not half as versatile as the Original.) Highly recommended if you have a kitty!

◻️ Underground Blossom

Game. Steam, app stores

Somehow I missed that Rusty Lake put out a new game?? I really enjoyed UNDERGROUND BLOSSOM, it’s a gently spooky (and sometimes surreal-bizarro-funny) point-and-click puzzle game, one in a series I’ve enjoyed for years. Do I grok the lore? No. Do I have a great time when I click the right code and a fish drops out the end of a busker’s trumpet? YES.

I imagine it’s probably best played on your tablet but since my app store kept acting up, I got it on Steam and had just as much fun playing it on PC.

▶️ Pogo Sticks (Animusic)

YouTube music video

Rad music with ’90s-PBS-trippy visuals. Easy for me to picture it playing after WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?

📻👟 ONE. ANGRY. REPTILE. (The Anger Foot Medley)

Music (please note: thumbnail is very chaotic and contains stylized gore).

Can’t bring yourself to get a chore done? Assuming it’s not a cerebral chore (like balancing your bank account or writing thank you notes), throw on this tune and put FOOT. TO. TASK!! (Powered by the game Anger Foot.)

5 Favorites for May 2024: Helpful, Refreshing, and Funny!

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“5 Favorites” is a new feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

My May got wrecked by a nasty…cold? That kept me KO in bed and eepy-sleepy when I finally got to walking around. So some of these favorites are just going to be silly GIFs that gave me a smile while I was ill. I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.

🍳 Pots and Pans Organizer, Expandable Kitchen Organizer Rack Holder with 11 Dividers

Under Cabinet Storage for Pots, Pans, Lids, Bakeware

Grilling season is upon us, so maybe this item can make your side-dish-prepping life smoother.

I have a number of pots and pans that lived under a cabinet. By nesting them inside one another (using towels so they wouldn’t get scratched up), I was able to fit them all in the space I needed. Granted, I had to dig around all the time to get the pan I wanted, but it worked well enough.

Until I got a big honkin’ wok. Suddenly, I had to make more space inside that cabinet.

I did some research and finally picked this contraption. Install didn’t take long. And, true to the reviews, the actual gizmo was much smaller than I envisioned. But by the time I was done, all 7 of my previously stacked and nested pans were organized, with their lids, AND there was extra room to spare! I DON’T KNOW HOW I LIVED WITHOUT THIS BEFORE! My pans are so much easier to access and see! No more rummaging and knocking pans into one another!

So if you have some cookware languishing in a cabinet of chaos, I recommend you get this to help sort them out!

🍹 Steven He’s Emotional Damage by GamerSupps

Instant beverage powder
Also comes in decaf!

I’m not the target audience for GamerSupps, but I’m in love with this flavor…it’s sort of a peach-strawberry concoction, and once I add a squeeze of lemon juice to add some tartness, it’s absolutely heavenly! I make one before my workouts to motivate me.

If you end up liking Supps, I recommend getting one of their shaker cups, since they mix the powder completely.

🌮 The Cube Rule

Food categorization rule???

I don’t know what this is
or even if I like it
but someone had to hear it

(Dedicated to Brooke.)

🧜🏻‍♀️ “Ursula is a businesswoman!”

Short video

One mom’s deliciously hot take on The Little Mermaid makes my heart explode with delight.

😺✈️ “Here comes the airplane!”

Cat vid, extra short

This adorable CAT is LIFE.

That’s all from me for now! I better go rest up cuz I’m STILL not feeling 100%. Have a wonderful rest of your May!

5 Favorites for April 2024: Sidesplitting, Savory, and Sneaky!

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“5 Favorites” is a new feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

Whew! Since the Crooked Neck Kickstarter ended, I’ve been busy fulfilling items for my backers. But I didn’t want to leave you hanging this month! Here’s five things I REALLY enjoyed in April 2024.

📖 The Africa Files (The LawDog Files Series 2)

(Ebook and Paperback, available at Amazon)

Okay, confession time. I haven’t actually read this book YET. But my husband read two excerpts to me and I laughed my head off both times. Now I’m waiting for my paperback copy to arrive so I can read it on paper. I don’t usually buy books but I already know I want to own this one!

The Africa Files are memoirs by a gentleman who goes by “LawDog”. This book is a collection of his memories of growing up in Africa. For example, when LawDog was a kid he and his brother accidentally trapped a honey badger in a hole they had dug.

If that does not intrigue you, I do not know what will.

If you enjoy the humor stylings of Dave Barry but have maybe read all of his books and have most of them memorized (not that I’d know anything about that…), you’ll probably want a copy for yourself.

🍝 Chef Boyardee’s Spaghetti

(Recipe and educational history video)

After watching the Chef Boyardee episode of TASTING HISTORY WITH MAX MILLER, I had to try making the sauce myself. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. It both tasted like the canned sauce (which was a bit of a trip), but so much fresher and yummier, without a lot of extra effort.

Pro Tips:

  • Instead of crushing the tomatoes manually, I use a 28oz can of crushed tomatoes along with a 6 oz can of tomato paste. You can also use lightly dried basil (in the cold area) instead of buying super fresh if your home (like mine) is where fresh herbs go to die. (plz link store)
  • To do the carrots, I throw some baby carrots into a food processor and the blades turn it into flakes/chunks. That way I don’t have to buy regular carrots special and do all the knife work.

🐂▶️ Gaming Historian: The Story of the Oregon Trail

(Documentary, YouTube)
A fantastically executed longform documentary about the making of the OREGON TRAIL video game. Chill, upbeat vibes and informative, too. I’ve enjoyed Gaming Historian’s videos in the past, but he’s really outdone himself with this one!

🎮 Batman: Arkham Asylum

(Game, Steam, and probably some other places)

I know, I know, I’m tardy to the party…But Arkham Asylum is everything I ever wanted a Batman game to be, full of action, actually fun(!) stealth and puzzling. Plus, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill returning to voice Bats and Joker respectively? Be still my heart!

If you haven’t played it, I can’t recommend it enough (though it’s definitely PG-13/T-rated).

And I’ll just leave this here for the Deck users…

🌶️🍳 Lao Gan Ma Hot Chili Sauce

(Condiment) (My local grocery store carries it, though, so you may want to check yours before ordering online)

I heard about “chili sauce” a month or two ago. When I asked my husband to bring some home, he brought me this. At first I thought it was the wrong thing since the sauce was chunky…then I started eating it with eggs and now I CRAVE IT.

This sauce is not punishingly spicy, but it’s extremely flavorful–the crispy/chunky bits are soooo savory and yummy.

This has become my new favorite breakfast:

  1. I warm about 1 Tablespoon of the sauce in a small frying pan.
  2. Once it starts bubbling, I add 1-2 eggs, (fuming if I break a yolk because I like them over easy).
  3. While they cook, I spoon the sauce them gently.
  4. After the whites are set and I flip them (over easy, remember?), I serve them over some air-fryer roasted potatoes. (I tend to make a big batch of those and reheat them as needed.) The runny yolks plus the roasted-creamy potatoes and the crispy bits of the sauce…just heavenly!

 

5 Favorites for March 2024 (Belated!): Upbeat and squeaky-clean!

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“5 Favorites” is a new feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

Whoops! In all the Kickstarter and Easter excitement I forgot to post this on the correct day!

🎮 Regency Solitaire II

(Game: Itch.io, Steam) This game is my happy place. Cheery, gentle music, engaging solitaire play (with fun little tricks and twists), not at all taxing (versus, say, defeating a boss in TUNIC or something)…a cozy casual delight. Beware, though–it’s easy to get sucked in! 😀 …Just one more round…!

💤 Manta sleep mask

https://mantasleep.com/

I didn’t go looking for a fancy sleep mask…but I was in the market for one since my last cheap one from Amazon was getting tired (no pun intended), the fabric splitting apart and whatnot. Then I watched a man reviewing his cat after one year and he advertised for this in the middle of the video. I half-listened…then, later that day, realized it might be an answer to my failing cheapo mask.
I bit the bullet and got it–and it’s a HUGE improvement over my little cheap one. The build quality is superb, it’s HYPER-customizable, and it doesn’t get near as hot on my face. If you like it 95-100% dark when you sleep and don’t like your eyelashes brushing anything when you wear a sleep mask, I recommend you try it. (Their LED-light-blocking stickers are also pretty great.)

▶️ Jim Varney: The Original Viral Star

Upbeat and short YouTube documentary on the actor who played Ernest.

👕 Gull Wing Drying Rack

From Amazon.

Okayokay. After almost 10 years, I upgraded from a shorty plastic drying rack for hanging clothes to this big boi and I’m in love with it. It holds an INCREDIBLE amount of laundry, including shoes (or, if you’re me, freshly-washed carpal tunnel braces that need air drying) and lay-flat items!!

You know what? Since we’re talking laundry upgrades, I’ll just suggest this, too.

🧦 Aluminum Square Hanger for Socks

From Muji

If you have socks (or bras! or swimsuits!) that dry better hanging, this fella holds A LOT of them in not much space!!

 

5 Favorites for February 2024: Things to keep you smiling through winter

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“5 Favorites” is a new feature here at Pixelvania Publishing. On the last Friday of every month, I’ll be posting 5 FAVORITE THINGS I’ve recently (or not-so-recently) enjoyed, in case you’re looking for something neat to experience.

When the days get windy and cold, I prefer to stay in. But you gotta keep your brain busy! Here’s 5 things that have kept my mind occupied and happy during the season of brrrrrr!

🍿 Good Night Oppy

(Movie: PG, Prime Video. IMDB)
A fascinating and strangely touching documentary about the Mars Rovers “Opportunity” (AKA “Oppy”) and “Spirit”, whose missions were only expected to last 90 days…but the ‘bots themselves lasted for YEARS. CGI by ILM mix with interviews with team members to create a mind-expanding watch.

🎮 Tiny Island

(Game: Free browser game on Itch.io)
Simple to pick up, difficult to master…and by master, I mean, “get a high score.” I recommend loading up on trees and houses. Hate sailboats.

🎮 Cursed Treasure 2 Remastered

(Game: Steam or free browser game on Kongregate) One of the most satisfying tower defense games ever made. Great sounds, graphics, gameplay, kinda funny. I…have sunk many an hour into this game.

📺 King of the Hill

(TV Series: TV-14, Hulu)
The OG. One of my all-time favorite TV shows. Like, when I talk about these characters, I talk about them as though they were my real neighbors. A great watch on Hulu. (P.S. Dale Gribble was right!)

📱 Weather Kitty

(Phone app) I’m not one for paying apps, but my hubby decided to go for it and it was some of the best money we ever spent. Cute kitties help you check the weather!! Pay for the app, and you can pick themes per season (the Halloween set was a big hoot last year!).