Brandy Berthelson

If you know me, my answer was obvious.

Screenshot from the Goodreads mobile app with a pop-up congratulating the user for completing their 2026 reading challenge by reading 15 books. Confetti covers the screen behind the pop-up.

I got really into reading at the end of last year, but I didn’t know if it would stick, so I set what I thought was a decent but not overwhelming goal for 2026. I really didn’t expect to hit it this fast.

Poor Timburr.

No.

Yamper (one of many good boys)

Greedent wearing a pan on his head like a chef's hat

I know we all love Pombon (and rightfully so!), but please let's not forget *him*. 😍

I would have also picked Steve, but @imrankhan.bsky.social did first.

😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻

My husband bought us the replica Virtual Boy accessory for Switch 2. I never experienced the original as a kid, so I can’t compare the two, but this is really, really neat.

That's a great way to think about it!

I often feel like a pretty inadequate cook (I compare myself to my grandmother a lot), but having my husband come out for dinner last night, seeing what I was making and go "Yes!" is one of the highlights of my life. A reminder that we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves (and that little wins matter).

Between Pokemon Pokopia and Tomodachi Life (along with my continuing playthroughs of Disney Dreamlight Valley, Animal Crossing, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure), it looks like I'm going to have a VERY cozy and wonderful spring. 🥰

And apparently the bulk of the accumulation isn’t even supposed to happen until this afternoon! 😵 This storm is no joke, ya’ll. Stay inside. Stay safe.

Huge pile of snow at the end of a driveway that has been previously shoveled but is quickly getting covered with snow once again. A trash can near the street serves as a reference for the depth of the snow pile, which is around 3 feet at its deepest.

I’ve been trying to keep the driveway cleared this morning and… I would really like to move to Orlando now. (Trash can for scale). To his credit, the plow truck driver saw me chipping at this and helped remove a good chunk of it, but it’s just coming down so fast, it’s like I’ve barely done anything

Animal Crossing: New Horizons screenshot. An elementary-style school room with six desks, a chalkboard, a teacher’s corner, and a corner for reading and lockers.

I didn’t complete the Happy Home Paradise DLC when it first came out, so I’m playing it from scratch now that I’m on a new island. I so love how my school turned out.

Happiest of birthdays to @jasonfanelli.com, one of the nicest folks in the biz!

Did I immediately buy the Nintendo talking flower? Yes. Yes, I did.

Does it *really* feel like Friday to anyone else?

kermit the frog is dancing in front of a red curtain on a stage . Alt: kermit the frog is dancing in front of a red curtain on a stage .

Me when I learned the Animal Crossing 3.0 update hit a day early (This is one of my favorite GIFs ever. I'll take any chance to use it):

The 2026 Reading Challenge menu in Goodreads showing the user has read one book toward their goal of 15.

I unexpectedly took up reading in a big way toward the end of 2025. Two days into 2026 and already one book down!

I got "hopeful." Really would like to be, but *gestures at everything*.

I started a new island in the fall. I also have Octavian!

Happy birthday Henry!!!

Really looking forward to these updates since I’ve started a new island recently.

The player avatar makes a wish while a shooting star glows in the night sky.

The player and Celeste the owl look at the starry night sky.

The player shakes a cedar tree covered in snow and Christmas lights to make ornaments fall out.

Last night was the first day of the festive season in New Horizons and I had shooting stars. This game is still so wonderful. (I reset my island so I need those ornaments again!)

Yearly viewing in the books. And yep, still true.

Caucasian left hand with a gold ring on the second finger. The ring has a rectangular aquamarine gemstone next to an amethyst teardrop gemstone. A Christmas tree is the background.

Last month, I ordered a custom ring from Baublebar when it was doing its big sale, and it came today! Being a big girl, I have trouble finding pretty jewelry to fit my second finger, so it was a no brainer when I saw my size. The stones are my husband’s birthstone and my birthstone. It’s lovely!

Making out Christmas cards with George C. Scott’s A Christmas Carol on in the background. If we know each other and you’d like to exchange cards, DM me! It’s a dying tradition, but I never intend on giving it up. 🎄

I love this for you!