OBSESSIONS

WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

PLAY

LEGO MODEL KITS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Call it nostalgia. Call it a second childhood. Whatever it is, several months back I re-discovered the delights of playing with Legos. Those multi-colored plastic interlocking bricks of various shapes and sizes are every bit as fun as I approach retirement as they were before I was school-age. The only real difference is the breadth and scope of what’s available. At some point over the last five decades or so, Lego added model kits based on space exploration, movies, pop culture and more. I’ll admit to first scoffing at the idea of Legos that come with step-by-step build instructions. Where’s the fun and imagination in that? Turns out, there are plenty of both. So far I have recreated the city of Paris and three dinosaur skeletons. Next up is Darth Vador’s meditation chamber from the Star Wars movies franchise and on deck is the Apollo 11 lunar lander.

— JULIA BAYLY

LEARN

NPR LIFE KIT PODCAST

WHY DO WE LOVE IT?

The NPR Life Kit podcast is the perfect listen for anyone who is on a mission for selfimprovement. The podcast tackles one topic in-depth every week, from waking up early to deciding whether to freeze your eggs, and gives you tips on how to apply the tips in your own life. Life Kit even has specific subcategories for episodes dealing with certain topics like health, money and parenting if you are looking to focus your learning.

— SAM SCHIPANI

LISTEN

“IN THESE SILENT DAYS” BY BRANDI CARLISLE

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I can’t stop listening to Brandi Carlisle’s most recently released album “In These Silent Days.” I am a longtime fan of Brandi Carlisle, and this, her seventh studio album, is chock-full of heartwrenching apology ballads, melancholy love songs and toe-thumping country-folk romps that I have come to expect from the singer-songwriter, but with an air of maturity that can only come from the experience and success that Carlisle has earned over the course of her career.

— SAM SCHIPANI

WEAR

STEGMANN WOOL CLOGS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I have not taken my Stegmann wool clogs off my feet since I purchased them at Reny’s a few months ago. They are unbelievably cozy, but also have ample arch support that keeps my poor deformed feet comfortable and supported all day long. I already have the EcoWool clogs, made from sustainably sourced wool, on my wishlist for next year, once I inevitably love my current pair to death.

— SAM SCHIPANI

READ

Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. Here’s one that I particularly enjoyed and recommend.

“AN OCEAN OF MINUTES” BY THEA LIM — In a sweeping novel that alternates between the early 1980s and late 1990s, “An Ocean of Minutes” by Thea Lim explores themes of love, loss and hope through a tale of time travel. In the early 80s, a pandemic-level flu sweeps the globe. But the advent of time travel means that some can head to the future as workers, in exchange for treatment for their loved ones. Polly goes to save her love, Frank. But by the time she lands, she’s five years later than planned and Frank — who vowed to wait for her — is nowhere to be found. As she struggles through life paying back her debt, Polly aims to find Frank and discover if their promise was kept. This is a smooth novel that reads quickly. But it’s also one that you’ll find yourself lingering on, considering all the things it brings up and suggests. (FICTION)

— SARAH WALKER CARON