Today was one of those “did a lot but still feels like I forgot something” kind of days. Let’s roll the highlight reel:

- Walked to the grocery store 🏬 (movement = motivation, right?)

- Finished editing (finally!)

- Finished voice over (my mic and I are back on speaking terms)

- Uploaded to YouTube (🎉)

- Went shopping for some clothes (more on that in a sec…)

- Played some delightfully weird game demos on Twitch (Left field? More like outer orbit)

🎬 Editing Notes from the Trenches

CapCut is powerful, no doubt. But why—why—does it wait until export to tell you a feature is locked behind a paywall? That’s like baking a cake and only finding out at the end that the frosting is extra. Also, I miss color-coding and labeling clips. My brain thrives on visual chaos with structure, and right now it’s just… chaos.

🛒 The Shopping Bug Bites Again

I think I’ve got enough new clothes to last the season. Which is good, because I really didn’t want to catch the shopping bug again. I used to be a notorious clothes-and-shoes spree-er. Like, “just popping in for socks” and leaving with a new personality. But hey, at least I’m warm and stylish now.

📺 Now Playing: Slumber + Screen Time

Time to wind down with some TV and maybe brainstorm tomorrow’s post. Oh—and I need to update the NextFest Q4 post too. But that’s a problem for Future Me. Present Me is horizontal and not taking questions.

It’s time again to dig in to the rough diamonds that is demos on next fest this post will be updated between Oct 13 - 21

see the game play on twitch.tv/iivocom

Day 1

Carefully Stamped

Carefully Stamped is a cozy postcard design simulator where you create and sell delightful mail in a vibrant, relaxing sandbox. As a postcard artist, you’ll take on charming orders, write heartwarming notes, and collect stamps to send your creations out into the world.

This cute little game is all about designing postcards, who knew it could be this much fun. There’s a creative mode and a uhm normal mode - which also is creative, but with limits and points. You get customers with different requirements for their cards. I had fun. There’s a gem in the settings section called ADHD/Autism which will turn off time limits, alarms, and bells which made the game a relaxing experience.

Day 2

The Berlin Apartment

It instantly captured me with its graphical design, and story telling. A somewhat unique approach as we follow different stories all connected through centuries by one apartment. The demo starts in 1989 just before the Berlin Wall fall and then jumps to 1933 and the rise of the SS, then jumps to 2020. It’s warm and captures the feeling of each era which is somewhat significant historically as well - slight variation in tasks and ways the stories unfold, which keeps it interesting. I think this is one that goes on the Wishlist 

If you’ve been following along (and if not, how dare you—go catch up!), you’ll know we just wrapped up a whirlwind fall road trip. Pirate-themed hotel? Check. Zoo and amusement park adventures from Wednesday to Sunday? Double check. It was chaotic, hilarious, and exactly the kind of memory-making madness we specialize in.

Now it’s Sunday evening, and I’ve just stumbled through the front door with a suitcase full of laundry and a brain full of blog ideas. But let’s be honest—there’s absolutely zero chance I’m writing a full recap tonight. My energy level is somewhere between “nap immediately” and “hibernate until spring.”

So consider this your official placeholder. The full Week 2 recap (plus YouTube edits, behind-the-scenes chaos, and probably a few dad jokes) is coming soon. Maybe after a nap. Maybe tomorrow. But it’s coming. Pinky swear.

Last night’s sleep schedule? A fever dream. I woke up at 23:15 after a heroic attempt to sleep at 21:00. Spoiler: I got two hours. TWO. But hey, who needs REM when you’ve got a Toyota Yaris, two teens, and a road trip playlist?

🚗 The drive? Smooth as butter. We hit the gas station for a splash of fuel and then—tradition alert—McDonald’s for lunch. Fries before guys, always.

🏚️ Arrived at our pirate-town

Cabin which looked way bigger and cuter online. Reality check: the couch is plotting my spinal demise. But after a walk along the “shore” and through the town’s swashbuckling charm, my mood did a full 180.

Now I’m horizontal, praying for sleep and dreaming of a chiropractor.

📲 Stay tuned for more chaos:

• Snapchat
• Instagram
• TikTok

Yup, I did it again. I put off all the packing until the very last minute. And now? Now the chaos begins.

I realize I need new clothes even though I just bought some (I completely missed a content opportunity by forgetting to tell you about that before October 1st!). On the logistics front, I need a phone holder for the car and at least a new charging cable (if not a whole new charger). And the car? It’s nowhere near ready—it still needs an outside wash and an inside clean. Oh, well…

I’ve also still got to find out how much luggage the girls are bringing. That’s going to be a fun little puzzle tomorrow. You can only fit so much into a Toyota Yaris (even though it is bigger on the inside than on the outside!).

Pre-Travel Haul

Anyway, I made a quick run for some basics: long-sleeve t-shirts, socks, and underwear. I skipped the charger, but I did snag a new Philips electric razor and, most importantly, the car phone holder.

It’s now 18:23. I’ve had dinner (yep, you guessed it—pizza) and I’m staring down the barrel of a decision: Should I go to bed now and start packing late tonight, or wake up before the bird sings and handle it then?

I’ll let you know how that goes!

In case I don’t have time to write a quick update tomorrow, you can follow our road trip (in near real-time, sort of) on Snapchat. And there will most certainly be scenic pictures on Instagram (I hope!).

The autumn season brings celebrations of gratitude and harvest across the globe. While the phrase “Thanksgiving” most commonly brings to mind a North American holiday, many cultures mark a similar time of year with their own unique traditions. Two excellent examples are South Korea’s Chuseok and Canadian Thanksgiving.

You may also like “A Global Harvest: Celebrating Gratitude Across Cultures” that I posted about traditions across the globe, last year.

Separated by oceans but united by a common spirit of thanks, these holidays remind us to appreciate the bounty of the earth and the importance of family.

Chuseok: The Great Middle of Autumn

In South Korea, the major three-day holiday is Chuseok (추석), or Hangawi—meaning “the great middle of autumn.” This festival centers on the full moon of the 8th lunar month (typically in September or early October), making it a truly ancient celebration of the harvest.

* Family & Ancestors: Chuseok is a time of mass migration, as people return to their ancestral hometowns. The core tradition is showing respect to ancestors through formal memorial rites (Charye) and visiting graves to clean and tidy them (Seongmyo). It is a profound expression of filial piety and gratitude for the year’s success.

* The Feast: The table is laden with foods made from the fresh harvest. The most iconic item is songpyeon, beautiful little half-moon-shaped rice cakes steamed over pine needles.

A Shared Tradition Across Asia

Chuseok is part of a larger, shared cultural tradition across East Asia that honors the harvest moon:

* China’s Mid-Autumn Festival: Celebrated on the same lunar date, this festival is characterized by moon gazing, lighting colorful lanterns, and sharing the legendary moon cakes with family.

* Japan’s Tsukimi: Meaning “moon-viewing,” the Japanese also offer thanks for the harvest while admiring the beauty of the full moon, often arranging special offerings of rice dumplings (dango).

Canadian Thanksgiving: A Time for Togetherness

Across the Pacific, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. While its historical roots are different—tracing back to early explorer celebrations and later, military victories—it has evolved into a warm, family-focused harvest holiday.

* The Gathering: Canadian Thanksgiving is often a low-key, intimate affair focused entirely on a large family meal. It’s a dedicated day off to gather loved ones around the table.

* The Classic Feast: The traditional menu is deeply rooted in North American fare, featuring a succulent roast turkey as the centerpiece, accompanied by all the beloved trimmings like stuffing, cranberry sauce, and—of course—a slice of spicy pumpkin pie.

Whether you’re honoring ancestors over a plate of songpyeon in Korea or sharing a meal of turkey and maple-glazed root vegetables in Canada, the sentiment is the same: The autumn harvest is a beautiful reminder to pause, look around, and appreciate all that we have.

Happy Harvest Season!

This article was researched and created using AI

It’s Sunday and somehow Week 1 of Blogtober is already in the rear‑view. Before we file the week away under “glorious chaos,” here’s what today actually looked like — equal parts productivity, personality, and meteorology.

What I did today

- Mood: caffeinated hopeful → briefly nostalgic → hangry

- Shoot: used motion capture to film the weekly vlog for YouTube

- Edit: started editing, then a power outage from severe weather interrupted everything

- React: vented a spicy rant on TikTok; overshared the meltdown on Snapchat

- Low‑tech ritual: boiled coffee the old‑fashioned way on the fireplace and felt unexpectedly cozy

- Draft: planned this blog on my phone while the house was dark

- Recover: finished the edit and posted the weekly summary on YouTube once I could

Quick key: ✦ shoot ✎ edit ⚡ outage ☕ fireplace 😅 overshare ✅ posted

—

Week Recap

- Expectation vs reality: same as last year — overly excited, underprepared, and learning to call that a style

- Cadence: planned every-other-day posts; somehow have been cranking out daily entries

- Platform mix: TikTok rants and Snapchat overshares turned a technical fail into audience moments

- Production lesson: battery backups and a compact B‑roll kit are now priorities; also snacks

—

Storm Amy

Storm Amy swept across parts of the UK, Norway, France, and Ireland this week, turning ordinary gusts into full‑on October theatrics. For most of the time it was dramatic background noise — blown leaves, theatrical wind — until it cut my power mid‑edit and forced an unscheduled analogue intermission. Not a catastrophe, just a reminder that nature edits your plans faster than you can hit save.

—

Fireplace Moment

Boiling coffee on the fireplace should have felt like a chaos‑hack, but for ten minutes it was pure, low‑res bliss: steam, sparks, and no progress bar. That little, accidental ritual landed as cozy instead of frantic and turned a tech meltdown into a tiny, surprising comfort.

—

Next Week

Packing essentials: camera batteries, extra chargers, journal, emergency coffee gear, and an abundance of patience. I’m buzzing for the trip — expect location shots, small adventures, and maybe another fireplace moment if fate decides so.

I know what you’re thinking: “Oh no, not another list.” But bear with me—this one’s got haunted houses, horror weekends, and just enough cinnamon-scented chaos to keep things interesting.

Yesterday I mentioned last year’s fall bucket list, and naturally my brain went, “Hey, let’s do that again!” Some of the activities might be familiar (because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it), but this year’s version comes with extra cozy energy and a sprinkle of spooky.

So here it is: my 2025 Fall Bucket List. Judge me lovingly.

🍁 The Essentials

- Roadtrip

Obviously. It’s not fall until you’ve driven somewhere scenic with questionable snacks and a playlist that flips between moody indie and nostalgic bangers.

- Visit a haunted attraction

Whether it’s a corn maze with jump scares or a ghost tour that’s 80% local lore and 20% “Did you hear that?”, I’m in. Bonus points if I scream on camera.

- Fall recipe experiments

I will be Googling “easy fall recipes” and pretending I’m a Pinterest chef. Expect cinnamon, squash, and at least one dish that looks better than it tastes.

- Cozy Day of the Week™

One day a week is now officially reserved for blankets, tea, and zero productivity. It’s called self-care. Or procrastination. Either way, it’s happening.

- Horror weekend extravaganza

Games, movies, snacks, and a strict “no daylight allowed” policy. Fall is spooky season, and I intend to honor that with jump scares and popcorn.

- Fall walks + photography

Nature’s putting on a show, and I’m showing up with my camera (and probably a hot drink).

Expect leaf close-ups, moody skies filling up my insta, and me pretending I know how to edit photos.

Final Thoughts

This list isn’t about perfection—it’s about vibes. So if I only check off half of it, that’s still a win. And if I end up adding new things mid-October (like “accidentally binge-watch a whole series instead of going outside”), well… that’s tradition too.

🗯️ Now tell me—what’s on your fall bucket list? Or better yet, make one and tag me so we can be seasonally chaotic together.

Last year, I made a Fall bucket list. One of the top contenders? A roadtrip. I did it! Sort of. Half the time I was driving, the other half was spent squinting into the night like a raccoon caught in headlights. Romantic? No. Memorable? Absolutely.

This year, I’m leveling up: roadtrip plus vacation. Think less “sleep-deprived highway goblin” and more “strategically caffeinated theme park explorer.”

🧠 Planning for Three Humans in One Small Car

If you’re bringing yourself plus two in a car that’s roughly the size of a shoebox, you’ll need planning. Like, Tetris-level planning. Snacks, chargers, neck pillows, and the sacred playlist that keeps everyone from mutinying by hour three.

🦁 The Destination: Zoo + Amusement Park Combo

Yes, we’re staying inside the park. Five days of animal sightings, roller coasters, and spooky seasonal specials. It’s less than a 5-hour drive, which means no need for survival rations—just a good attitude and maybe a roadside McDonald’s.

🗓️ The Itinerary (aka: The Plan That Will Probably Change)

Day 1: The Launch

• 🚙 Depart at 10 AM sharp-ish.
• 🍔 One or two stops. Roadside McDonald’s is basically tradition.
• 🏠 Check-in at 3 PM. The apartment has all the hotel perks plus a fridge, microwave, water boiler, and stove. No food included, but breakfast and dinner are available inside the park.
• 🎃 Evening: Hit the spooky seasonal attraction. Because nothing says vacation like being mildly terrified in themed lighting.

Day 2-4: Park Life

🎢 All-day park adventures.

🦓 Attractions TBD—flexibility is key when traveling with humans who change their minds hourly.

🍽️ Meals inside the park. Budget for snacks. Lots of snacks.

Sunday: The Wind-Down

🧳 Check-out at 11 AM.

🎟️ Still have park tickets for the day, so we’ll squeeze in a few more thrills.

🕓 Start the drive back before 4 PM to avoid turning into nocturnal creatures again.

🧳 Travel Tips from Someone Who’s Done This (and Survived)

Pack light, but smart. Layers are your friend. Fall weather is basically mood swings in atmospheric form.

Check for nearby local stores

Don’t overplan the park days. Leave room for spontaneous detours, surprise animal feedings, and naps.

Snacks. Always snacks. For the car, for the park, for the emotional support.

This trip is part cozy chaos, part strategic escape. Stay tuned for updates, photos, and possibly a breakdown of how many churros we consumed. Spoiler: it’s never just one.

My creativity should be running wild like a squirrel on caffeine… but instead, it’s pacing nervously in a corner, sipping lukewarm Redbull and whispering “soon.”

Last night, in a race against the midnight clock, I birthed this year’s first Blogtober post and unleashed a vlog so cringe-worthy it might just become iconic. Anyway—carpe diem, right?

🎬 Today’s Highlights (aka: the bullet journal of a frazzled creator)

• Went live on TikTok and somehow ended up talking about socks and existential dread
• Recorded a podcast with my friend—topic? Who knows. Vibes? Immaculate
• Redbulls were on sale. I bought two dozen. I regret nothing
• Debated dinner options (pizza again?) but surprised myself with pasta bolognese. Chef vibes unlocked
• Joined an audio broadcast with fellow creators. We laughed, we overshared, we forgot to hit record (maybe)
• Panicked and missed my YouTube deadline. Again. Classic
• Posted a funny AI-generated TikTok. It’s weird. I love it
• Struggled to come up with today’s blog post. Irony is delicious
• Wondered what’s for supper. Still wondering. Still hungry
• Realized I probably need to rethink my creative process and execution
• + Decided to do that tomorrow. Obviously

I don’t know what tomorrow or the rest of the week brings, but prepare for an oversharing marathon. You’ve been warned 😉