A new title from Tango Gameworks is in development, and Microsoft plans to announce it tomorrow during its developer showcase, according to a report. It has, however, leaked ahead of time.The title of the game is said to be called Hi-Fi Rush or Project Hibiki, and the game was brought to light by leaker BillbilKun from Dealabs.A Reddit states that Rand al Thor on the XB2 Podcast with Jez Corden of Windows Central stated the game is coming this year. Read more
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A demo for Forspoken releases for PC today, a few weeks after PS5 players were handed the trial.It is available through the Epic Games Store, Steam, and Windows Store.In the PC demo, you will face a variety of enemies, and test your fighting skills. This will give you a feel for the action you will encounter in the full game. Read more
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There’s always a moment of fear when you deign to return to a beloved game. While films often emerge unscathed by the sands of time, gaming’s beholdence to rapidly advancing tech makes its classics age faster than everyone in that M. Night Shyamalan movie. It was with some trepidation, then, that I booted up Life Is Strange: Before The Storm, half a decade after I first fell in love with it. It turns out I needn’t have worried – because developer Deck Nine’s drama-filled debut is still just as endearingly emo as it was in 2017.
To those who don’t know their Max Caulfields from their Nathan Prescotts, Before The Storm is a prequel to the wildly successful college dorm drama, Life Is Strange. When Square Enix first announced unknown developer Deck Nine would be revisiting the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, the internet responded with a collective shrug. It’s hard to blame it, really; how often do prequels offer anything other than crushing disappointment? From 2020’s nothing-y big screen Sopranos tie-in, to George Lucas and Ridley Scott famously defecating themselves in prequel trilogy form, hopes for this Life Is Strange stop-gap weren’t exactly high.
Yet it appears that Lucas and Scott are simply no match for the storytelling prowess of the minds that brought us PS1 snowboarding banger, Coolboarders. Formerly known as Idol Minds, the gnarly studio decided to rebrand as Deck Nine interactive – drifting its way into the world of Life Is Strange and landing a totally tubular 180 of its own.
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It’s totally possible to play Monster Hunter Rise solo. You can make it through all the main storyline without jumping into an online lobby at all. Kill this, capture that, go out and carve the other. It’s a simple enough through line, even for a complete beginner (you just might get the wind knocked out of you by a couple of horns and claws en route). But that’s not how Monster Hunter is best experienced. Much less, Monster Hunter Rise – the latest game in the long-running series from Capcom. Originally launching on the Nintendo Switch, then PC, and now all the other consoles, Monster Hunter Rise is a fascinating entry in the esteemed action-RPG series. It’s the first game to come after Monster Hunter World; the game that dragged the franchise into the mainstream. Rise isn’t like World: it’s easier, more readable, more ‘arcade-y’.
Hunting in Rise is fast, fun, and frenetic. With the aid of your Palico and Palamtue (that’s a cat and a dog, in Monster Hunter language), you can ride into battle, locate your quarry, and set about bringing it down. Break its body parts, slice off all the bits it needs to attack you, and chip away at its defenses, and eventually you’ll kill it – or capture it. Congratulations; you and your pets have bagged a monster. Now, carve it up and see what you can make out of it.
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Amazon Pullover
Welcome to Amazon Sundays, filled with the latest from Amazon that I’m especially excited to share! This week’s finds include Valentine’s Day inspired styles and gifts for littles, women, and the home. At the top of my list? This pair of girl’s pajamas, these heart covered slippers, these pink and red tights, these spill-proof sippy cups (Goldie approved), these pretty tapered candles, and this soft and fluffy pillow. Add to your order: this favorite unicorn doll and this jacket for littles to stay extra warm in. See below for the complete list, and stop by our JB Amazon Shop and Amazon Storefront for even more amazing finds!
Silicone Heart Shaped Straws These reusable silicone heart shaped straws would make a great addition to a Galentines Party or in your little’s classroom to celebrate Valentines Day this year.
Fabric Floral Barettes Adorable layered or worn individually, this set of floral fabric barrettes comes with 12 different colors to choose from and is so affordable.
Valentine Card Set Included with these assorted Valentine’s Day cards are delightful heart-shaped crayons that littles are sure to love, perfect for parties and classrooms alike.
The post Amazon Sundays appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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Sea Sweater, LouLou Studio Jeans
We’re always in weather limbo here in Chalreston this time of year. The weather teeters from winter to spring from day to day, so clothing choices can be all over the place. My go-to is usually a chic sweater over a tee, and my favorite jeans. I’ve had this Ulla Johnson multi colored knit cardi in my cart for weeks and finally got it, alongside this green striped one. I always like buying cute cardigans and pullovers because of their season-less colors and textures, I wear them year round depending on where we’re traveling. This one would look great with some denim cutoffs, and this one would look cute with this white mini.
Fair Isle Turtleneck Sweater With a pop of neon pink, this turtleneck fair isle sweater will brighten up any winter day. Pair with your favorite denim and a hat to complete your chic cold-weather look.
Wool Sweater Maxi Dress Featuring a colorful ombré pattern, a collar and button front, this wool maxi dress is sure to make a statement wherever you wear it.
Ribbed Merino Wool Beanie This ribbed wool beanie with rainbow stripes will be the perfect accessory to complement any sweater and denim.
The post Vivid Knits For Winter appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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Hey, it’s Thomas, here to cover one of my favorite topics: home coffee brewing. Five years ago, I published this post. Many of those tips still apply, such as buying and storing fresh beans properly and investing in a quality grinder. I also have a few new tools and techniques that have converted Julia from a daily $7 coffee shop latte drinker to a home coffee drinker.
Making coffee at home can be cheaper and faster, but it can also be more delicious. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience. I’ve put together a list of tools that will improve your coffee, including my favorite brewers and methods, equipment like grinders, scales, and kettles. Finally, I finish off this extensive informational post with a great budget kit option around $200. If you appreciate a good TLDR, then skip to the end for the budget kit.
For Christmas, I got my first real espresso maker, the Profitec Go. To be totally honest, I’m finding the learning curve to be steep, the setup and clean up to be lengthy, and the overall value to be lacking compared to other methods of brewing. My biggest gripe with the machine is that it’s a single boiler, meaning the same boiler is used for shot pulling as it is for steaming, so you can only do one at a time. This makes brewing multiple drinks a logistical challenge. However, I’m dialing in my grinds and my methods, and my understanding of my machine is improving. I have a high standard for myself, which has played a factor in my satisfaction so far. Because of all of this, my espresso maker has not been an everyday tool for me; it’s become more of a weekend or late morning activity when we don’t have the dash of feeding two kids, getting dressed, and getting out the door for school. I have heard that people love their Breville Espresso Machines, which should offer faster performance given the features and built-in workflows of the machines.
I have recently discovered a coffee brewer that has blown me (and Julia) away. The affordable AeroPress makes it easy to craft a cup of specialty coffee in minutes. A wonderful resource for Aeropress users is the Aeromatic app, which provides step-by-step recipes (with a built-in timer) from competition winners and online coffee personalities. The app even has a list of grinders so you know exactly which setting to use for each recipe. Julia’s daily cup of coffee follows the James Hoffmann Regular Cup Recipe, and her favorite Almondmilk Creamer is steamed and added at a 1:2 ratio.
I’ve always enjoyed pour-over coffee, especially when using my Ratio Coffeemaker. The more affordable Ratio Six is available here. However, the Ratio has two downsides: the batch size was too big for our family because Julia wanted a different coffee than I did, and there is a lack of control that comes from the automated pouring. Despite this, I still highly recommend the Ratio machines for those who like making bigger batches, as it’s great for couples who want to take large to-go mugs (like this one) with them in the morning.
Coffee Kettle Dial in your brew temperatures to the exact degree with this sleek kettle, which has become indispensable since adding to my setup.
Electric Coffee Grinder The Fellow Ode (Gen 1, a great value) is a beautiful filter-only (no espresso) coffee grinder which was recently upgraded to this Gen 2 design.
Portable Coffee and Espresso Maker This Aeropress coffee and espresso maker is one of my favorites because it is compact, portable, and produces great coffee every time.
Coffee Scale A reliable scale is essential for the coffee enthusiast, and this one is a great value compared to other more expensive options.
Vacuum Sealed Coffee Canister Keep your favorite coffee fresher longer at home and on travels with this vacuum sealed coffee canister.
When Julia got me the Fellow Kettle for Christmas– I was shocked it had taken me so long to buy one. When making coffee and testing different recipes, the ability to dial in your brew temperatures to the degree and then set it to hold at that temp are indispensable features.
As far as pour-over brewers, I have some favorites. Before ordering, make sure they come with filters; if they don’t, pay close attention to the recommended filter type and size:
Fellow X – This flat-bottom pour-over is well-designed and has been brewing me a great cup. This recipe is great. For larger batches for 2 people, use the XF.
V60 – You can’t go wrong with this classic conical pour-over, and you can’t really beat this price, making it a perfect entry-level brewer.
A few more that I want to test are the Pure Over (which my cousin says is amazing and has zero waste). I also want to try the Orea V3 and the Graycano Dripper, but both are sold out everywhere.
All of my homemade coffees this year have been ground on my new hand grinder. Thanks to recent advancements, hand grinders offer incredible value for coffee lovers. They are simple to use (you just have to do a little manual work, 20-60 seconds depending on grind size and quantity of beans), fun, and great for people who are making coffee for one to two people. I bought this top-quality, all-around (espresso to pour-over to French press) grinder from 1Zpresso, and I’m loving it so far. Even if I upgrade to a larger electric grinder, I’ll still use this one. It’s currently unavailable on Amazon, but they have a slightly upgraded option with a handle that folds here. The same company makes this grinder that’s all-purpose and nearly half the price, as well as this $99 filter-coffee-only (including Aeropress) grinder. Its smaller capacity is plenty when brewing for one person.
The Fellow Ode is a beautiful filter only (no espresso) coffee grinder, too.
With coffee, consistency matters. Especially in regards to the ratio of coffee to water. That’s why you need a scale that can work for coffee brewing. This budget coffee scale is top rated and would be the first scale I’d purchase if starting out.
Keeping beans in an airtight container is essential for freshness. I own both the Fellow and Airscape. I slightly prefer the look of the Airscape over the Fellow but the Airscape mechanism for sealing the beans is definitely easier. The 1.2L size holds a full bag of coffee beans.
Last but not least, you’ve done all the work to brew a great cup of coffee. Now it’s time to make sure you’re able to enjoy it. Since I’ve been brewing single cups of coffee I normally reach for one of my favorite mugs or these double walled tasting glasses. For to go coffee drinking or if I’m trying to keep coffee warmer for longer I’ll reach for a travel mug like this shatterproof ceramic mug, because I don’t love the taste of metal and coffee or this Tumbler.
As you can see from the information above it can be easy to get carried away with coffee gear. As a forever optimizer I”m always looking for the next piece of gear that can improve my coffee by 2%. However, there’s something to be said by trying to achieve the best possible results for the least amount of money. While I’m sure you can make good coffee with a $100 kit by going up to $200 the results will be greatly approved and I think this offers the best bang for your buck. Below are the necessities – a dependable kettle and scale, an expert approved brewing device and a hand grinder that performs much better than its price point suggests. Even at $200 this setup has a break even at 30-50 coffees if you typically buy pour overs.
Kettle – This electric kettle has preset temps and 1 hour hold making it a great value at $70. This electric kettle is attractive and nearly half the price @ $40 but it lacks temperature presets and the hold feature which I find to be super helpful.
Grinder – $100 – Hand grinders offer great value compared to their electric counterparts. Plus this one can even be traveled with. This grinder was low inventory last I checked, so here’s a worthy substitute that’s $20 less.
Scale – $21 – You can surely find a cheaper scale but having both a brew timer built in, protection from heat and moisture and accuracy to 0.1g make this a wonderful option.
Pour over brewer – $10 – There’s not many items anywhere in life where experts agree that a $10 device can give you professional results but it’s hard to beat the value this brewer provides. Don’t forget filters.
Upgrade option:
Aeropress – Subbing the $40 Aeropress for the V60 Pour over brewer is a worthy upgrade if you’re looking for a brewer that can do it all. You can actually achieve espresso-like brews unlike other pour over brewers. Plus it comes with really helpful tools like filters and dedicated holder, a coffee scoop and a stirrer.
The post Coffee With Thomas appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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Wooden Letter Blocks, Personalized Crown
Sourcing unique pieces and discovering little-known brands is something I have always loved to do. Over the years I’ve found so many beautifully handmade items on Etsy for littles, toys, fashion, gifts, the home, and more. I got so many of the girl’s Christmas presents from Etsy, like these Wooden Letter Blocks, this Personalized Xylophone, and this Personalized Drum. Take a peek below at what we are loving right now…
Personalized Drum | Personalized Xylophone
Personalized Embroidered Sweater Whether as a gift for Valentine’s Day, or just because, this customizable hand embroidered sweater will be a delightful treat for any little.
Puff Sleeve Dress This sweet liberty print dress features puff sleeves and a contrast colored collar with scallop details.
Personalised Xylophone For the littles who love music, this personalized xylophone is such a sweet toy to add to their collection.
The post January Etsy Favorites appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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Thank you to Shopstyle and NET-A-PORTER for sponsoring this post.
Beautiful, versatile, well-made clothing and accessories are always worth the investment. The materials and craftsmanship ensure that most pieces will last for years if well-cared for. Whether you’re treating yourself to a refresh of new essentials, or selecting something for a special occasion, NET-A-PORTER is the place to find them. They carry so many of the designers and brands I wear daily, including Khaite, Agolde, Max Mara, Loewe, Gucci, Chloé, Totême, and more. To update your wardrobe essentials with the latest styles, be sure to check-out my NET-A-PORTER selects below!
Double Breasted Wool Coat This double breasted wool coat gets an update with panel detailing and an oversized collar, and is a classic closet staple you will wear for years to come.
Striped Cashmere Cardigan Wear this neutral striped stretch cashmere cardigan with everything from jeans, to skirts, to pants, and more
Embroidered Leather Tote Clean lines, super soft leather and a crisp white color all make this tote bag the perfect accessory to build your basics around this season.
The post Wardrobe Essentials With NET-A-PORTER appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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Marfa Stance Jacket, Alo Yoga Pullover, Stella McCartney Jeans, Chloe Sneakers, Tory Burch Backpack
At the end of last week, Clementine and I jetted off to Ireland to meet my sister’s new baby boy. We’ve been patiently waiting for this trip and although it’s a short one, its definitely memorable. We absolutely love traveling to Ireland to visit them, at least once a year, and have gotten used to packing for the trips. It’s usually a big mix of layers that can all work together. And since it’s just Clementine and I traveling this time, we decided to share one suitcase to make it easier. I brought a mix of cozy layers like this fleece and this one, my new favorite quilted jacket, this beanie, my go-to sneakers and this backpack that’s been so great traveling with a toddler. See below for more of my Ireland packing edit.
Durable Padded Backpack This stylish ripstop backpack is perfect for hikes and outdoor adventures, with plenty of compartments to store things and a padded back for comfort.
Leather Trim Sneakers With luxe leather trim and mesh knit fabric, these sneakers are equal parts comfort and chic, perfect for travel when you are doing lots of walking but still want to look put together.
Reversible Quilted Shell Jacket This quilted jacket is both classic and versatile since you can wear it two ways, with a contrast trim and collar that add sophistication.
The post What I Packed For Ireland appeared first on Julia Berolzheimer.
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