2025 Year in Review

In 2024, I made a year in review post. I wanted to do the same thing for 2025. Although last year was a little harder and a little sadder, there were still a lot of good things to celebrate that I want to share with you all.

Personal Life

Sad stuff out of the way first. I had a lot of personal loss this year (not to mention the collective loss and fear in the world right now due to the rise of fascism, war, the state of the environment...)

My sweet grandma passed away early in the year, right after I had moved back to the US from Japan. So it's been a year of grieving the loss of my family member and the place I had been calling home. But I'm grateful both that I could make it home in time to see my grandma again before she passed, and that I had a chance to live out my dream of living in Japan in the first place. Life is a mix of ups and downs, so I'm trying to learn to love them both.

On a positive side, moving back to my home country has mean the chance to reconnect with old friends and travelling to see family that I had dearly missed. I was also able to start a new job that I really enjoy. It's probably the best job I've ever had, and so much fun! 

Music

I leaned a lot into comfort music this year. Old stuff I hadn't listened to in a long time, like old school vocaloid songs and pop songs from my childhood. But I also found some new comfy favorites too!

Rose Betts

My mom introduced me to one of her favorite musicians this year, the lovely Rose Betts. I'd heard a single song by her before, but this year I really got into her sweet sound. Her voice is lovely and really whisks me away into a whimsical feeling.

Here are a few of my recommendations:

Doodles

Northern Sky (With The Wellermen)

Save Me A Seat

Bansanka by Tuki

This one is a single song, although I do like a lot of Tuki's work. But I first heard "Bansanka" on New Years where she performed for a Japanese music program. I fell in love with her talented singing voice, and unique lyrics. It's been on repeat on my playlists all year!

Thumbelina by Lizzy Hilliard

I found this song by accident, but I adore it. It gives me old school Popoyans vibes in the best way possible. It's absolutely charming!

Games

I didn't play as many new games this year, and most of what I did play was cozy games that have been sitting in my steam wishlist for a while. Or replays of old games like Zelda games and Skies of Arcadia. But I did discover a few gems this year!

Little Witch in the Woods

This is the cutest game I have ever played. The characters are charming, the setting is adorable, the visuals are also super cute, and the story was super engaging. You play as a cute little witch exploring an old village, making potions, and uncovering some mysteries. The gameplay is simple but fun, and the story really pulled me in. I was instantly invested in the village and its inhabitants! 

It's honestly really sad to me that this game doesn't have more fans! I highly recommend checking it out!

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Available only for PC

Undusted

Undusted is a cozy game about cleaning that made me cry with its touching story. I don't want to spoil it at all, but it really hit me in the feels. It's short but lovingly crafted. Definitely recommend. Just keep the tissues ready!

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Available on PC and Switch.

Jusant

Jusant is a game about climbing an old abandoned tower. I honestly hated this game at first because of its odd controls. But the more I played, the more I got into a groove. It became so relaxing, and I couldn't put it down. It's a beautiful game.

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Available on PC, Playstation, and Xbox. It requires a controller, and I recommend playing it on a console or with a steam deck for the best experience.

Teacup

Teacup is a precious little game. You play as a little frog preparing for a tea party. It has a cute little story with tiny minigames throughout. It's short, but charming. A very nice game for a cozy afternoon, and very mori vibes.

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Available on PC, Switch, Xbox, Playstation, and Mobile App.

My Hobbies

Art Fight

This year was my first time participating in art fight! I interacted with so many cool artists, and overdid it a little bit on how many pieces I drew to be honest. Got a little burnt out on art for a few months. But I had a blast!

I mostly focused on drawing art for beginner artists or people without many pieces drawn for them. It was so fun to send them the finished pieces! It was also a great chance to draw a bunch of styles and characters I never would have otherwise. Stretched my skills a lot!

Here are a few favorites I sent in order!

1) jsp faut je trouve by spyally (with my own character Candace)

2) Dolly for f43r13

3) Korok OCs (plus my own koroks) for Wyraces

4) Lilum Kielo for Showgirlmize

5) Princess Mononoke for Stormae
6) Nevan for Mintkirin
7) Moonwater for maremoonwater/nimbus

8) Rayne for Hallkyrin

And here are a few favorites I received in order! (Although I loved every single one of the pieces drawn for me so much and I will treasure them always <3 )

1) From Salamama

2) From Serinrinn

3) From Lientje

4) From Lowpaw

5) From Iingezo

Knitting projects / learning to crochet

I also got back into the groove of fiber arts this year! I knit a bunch of items for Christmas projects for my family, including a Cinnamoroll Beanie, a lot of hats, a scarf, and more! I also learned to crochet a bit for some of the projects, although I don't really like it much. And for myself, I knit a bunch of headscarves, and I'm currently working on a Maple Leaf Shawl by Elfmoda. It's slow going and a nightmare of a pattern, but I'm so excited for the final product!

How about you my dears? I hope your year was okay, and I'm hoping for a softer year next for us all. The world is a scary place right now, but I'm sending you all lots of love!