When this whole Quarantine Life began, I had a profound sensitivity to any statement akin to “2020 is the worst year ever.” My father passed away in 2019, and it is impossible to imagine anything being worse than that, so every time I’d hear a jab at 2020, I wanted to shout “IT IS NOT THE WORST THING EVER, I SWEAR.” But at this later point, while I’m not at all willing to concede anything is worse than my 2019, I have developed a better sense of humor about it. I mean, this really, really is a SHIT year. The Pandemic, the election, the unbelievable stress and agony of it all. No one could plan for this. Murder hornets? Dino-gators? Whatever. You’re not gonna scare me with mutated insects and amphibians now, 2020. Kiss off. And BTW, a warning, if you need: Lots of politics in this post. #SorryNotSorry. WHAT I READ AND WATCHED

It’s time for everyone to get on the same page about Melania. I thought this piece was poignant. She does not deserve anyone’s pity or sympathy.
Found this through a friend and it’s a very cool website – check out Political Playlist which is bi-partisan and aggregates info/news for you taking the next generation of political leaders into consideration, which is SUPER important with our aged political system.
I, along with the rest of social media, fell in love with Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit.” I then went down a long, long rabbit hole of relevant content and loved this New York Times piece. Did you know they have a chess columnist?!
Another smart journalist, this time for Variety, broke down Trump’s breakdown. A very good read.
And P.S., I cannot wait for Trump to lose all his protections. His Twitter account will be on watch.
We all know about Four Seasons Total Landscaping by now, yes? I’ll be hanging onto that gem for a long, long time, kids.

EARLIER THIS MONTH

I bought this fleece-lined hoodie from Aerie and it is my new favorite thing. I got black because that was easy but now I want it in EVERY color. But how many hoodies is too many? I own a lot….
One of my favorite people in the upcoming administration is our new Second Gentleman.

Such a small thing – and I know *he* didn't run for anything – but that @DouglasEmhoff is Jewish and went to my high school makes me so weepy for some reason. I feel a swell of pride.
— AJ Feuerman (@ajfeuerman) November 8, 2020

Another successful beach day in the books. We really love it. It’s a perfect Quarantine Life activity. Except when Neville got a little too much feels for freedom and made me chase him way down the beach. Then I did not enjoy. My dog is adorable and smart AF but he can be a little devil.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

The giddiness apparent in this video of Kamala Harris calling Joe Biden is so endearing.
For all my fellow Hamil-stans, they original Broadway case made this really cool video pre-election, that I am still enjoying:

Sean Connery and Alex Trebec’s passings were so sad, of course, but it send me down a video spiral of SNL Jeopardy parodies. God, these were funny.

GIFTS FOR COMFORT

My strong desire for super comfy things may stem from the fact that I work from home now. But who knows. Why shouldn’t I – and everyone else – want things to be comfortable, soft and luxurious? So this holiday gift guide volume includes some gift suggestions along those lines. And don’t forget to use eBates when you shop online! You would not believe how much money I earn back. It’s a marvelous little plugin.

1. Madewell Beanies – I love a soft beanie cap. My favorites I own are all Madewell and you can go less expensive for the cuffed beanie at just $35 or get a little upscale with their cashmere beanie at $68. For what it’s worth, I am presently wearing the “cheap” one and it’s lovely.

2. Jammies – I am OBSESSED with PJ Salvage pajamas but the trick is, wait til you find them at Nordstrom Rack or Nordstrom has them on sale because otherwise, they can be a little pricey. I really only need the pants, so I have been known to pop for those at full price around $50. But also, my newer obsession is anything Aerie by American Eagle. I just bought these uber soft joggers in three colors because they’re on sale for $15!

3. Leith Waffle Scarf – OMG, guys. This scarf is on sale for $9 (was: $32)! GO GET IT. I enjoy a nice, light scarf for our California “winter” season. I don’t need a sweaty neck, but I love to be a little snuggly. And it’s such a fun accessory. I own a ton of scarves. It’s a choice.

4. UGET Oversized Sweater – This is one of those random Amazon finds from an overseas seller that I’ve now purchased in two colors. It’s $16.98 and totes a Prime purchase so you don’t have to wait long for it. Comes in 20 different colors! (SURPRISE – I do not own it in black. Yet.)

5. Pudus Cozy Socks – I discovered these babies ($24.99) on Oprah’s Favorite Things list a couple years ago (and, truth be told, ordered them while under the influence of painkillers during a hospital stay). They are so damned soft inside, you will just live in them.

6. Society6 Custom Pillows – I love supporting Society6, an online home to hundreds of thousands of artists from around the globe, uploading and selling their original works as 30+ premium consumer goods from art prints to throw blankets. They have hundreds and hundreds of fun pillows, some with sassy sayings on them that will make any gift recipient smile. (Prices vary.)

7. Harney & Sons Tea – Is anything more comforting on a cold, winter morning than a cup of hot tea? On mornings like that, I love a cup of English Breakfast, with just a bit of sweetner and some honey. I love to give Harney teas as gifts. They look so lovely in their tins. ($8.50 for a tin of 20 sachets.)

8. Ugg Grace Reversible Throw – Protip: The only place you can get this $99 blanket is Bed, Bath & Beyond so grab your 20% off coupons and get going. I will just be over here, secretly hoping someone will buy it for me. It’s so soft. I don’t need another blanket. I just really, really want it….!

Friday Favorites in Quarantine Life

AJ’s 2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Part III

GIFTS FOR COMFORT