RoZone Wrapped
I don't have a Spotify, let me have this!
Hey, everyone.
I don’t have a Spotify anymore, I wasn’t loving how they were pushing AI and how little they pay artists. So, when my phone was running out of space I switched over to Apple Music and I haven’t looked back.
However, I still wanted to make some big lists, okay? Among these lists, you’ll find my unexpected hits of 2025, the things I didn’t think I’d like but ended up loving. I think that’s one of the biggest lessons I learned this year: you have to try new things! You have to give people chances!
RoZone Wrapped: Unexpected Hits
Halara casual pants: I ordered these pants in a feverish fugue state back in September when I was sick in bed. I’d been struggling to find work pants that felt genuinely comfortable for an entire day. These pants have a four-way stretch, they feel like yoga pants while looking subtly business casual. The elastic waist doesn’t dig into your stomach. The pockets are deep. Finding work pants that don’t feel like I’m peeling a banana when I take them off at the end of the day has been life-changing.
The extended Hello Kitty universe: I’m as well-versed in Hello Kitty as the next millennial/ Gen Z cusp, but I didn’t know she had so many buddies. At first I was like, “who the hell is pom pom? What’s a Kuromi?” But now, I love all of them! However, my favorite is Cinnamoroll–what an icon.
Mystery boxes: This definitely ties into the Hello Kitty extended universe, but I now understand why people spend $10 on a mystery cat figurine or a morbidly depressed glow in the dark guy. It’s kinda fun? I’ve started collecting a little cluster of rocks and guys on my desk at work. I call them “the council.”
Micro bakeries: When I first heard about micro bakeries, I thought they were overrated. But CouCou Bakehouse changes my life for the better every time I eat one of their cookies. The Biscoff cookie, which features a Biscoff biscuit inside of a larger cookie, makes me swoon.
The band Geese: I talked about this a bit last month, but I love Getting Killed. I’m bewitched by the musical stylings of Cameron Winter, who possesses the sort of musicianship that cuts through the irony-pilled online music discourse like a knife.
Severance: When my friend Morgan showed me the first couple episodes of Severance, I was intrigued. But then the plot points on the show started matching up with my sketchy contract tech-job and I developed a fierce loyalty to the characters. I, too, was stuck typing on a borrowed computer while being fed minimal details about data sets. Cooped up in my apartment day in and day out with no actual human people in sight, I pack bonded with Mark and the gang. That show got me through the bleakest winter of my life. The only thing I looked forward to all week was sitting on my couch on Sunday morning watching the newest episode. It’s some of the tightest television writing to come out of the past 20 years.
Having coworkers: This year marks my first year working in an actual office. When I first started my job in July, I was really anxious about the thought of working around people again. I felt kind of feral after my tech job, I was worried I’d forgotten how to socialize. But truthfully, I love it! There’s something calming about knowing I have a reason to leave my apartment each day and I like yapping and ping-ponging around the hospital. My office is cozy and warm. I love having people to talk to! We go for a lot of walks which is refreshing after having a job where every minute of my day was so closely monitored. Yay coworkers. (Also, if you’re reading this: hi Chris! Hi Maria! Hi Kate!)
RoZone Read: Top 10 Books of 2025
These are my favorite books that I read this year, though most of them did come out in 2025.
You Have a New Memory by Aiden Arata
Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Madness, Rack and Honey by Mary Reufle
Helen of Troy 1993 by Maria Zoccola
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
All About Love by bell hooks
Girlfriends by Emily Zhou
Daddyboy by Emerson Whitney
RoZone Snacked: Best Snacks
Cinnamon donut ice cream from Furniture City Creamery
The cold brew at the Mary Free Bed cafeteria
Strawberry green tea with golden boba from Ding tea
Vegetable korma from PIND
A Chicago dog from One Stop Coney
The biscuit sandwich from Asada
Nectarines from the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market
Making your own sriracha mayo
An egg and cheese bagel sandwich on a rosemary garlic bagel from Blacklist Bagels
RoZone Rocked: My Albums of the Year
Addison Rae- Addison Rae
Bleeds - Wednesday
Getting Killed - Geese
Forever is a Feeling - Lucy Dacus
Belong - Jay Som
My Favorite Miniature Drum - Ditch Lily
Who’s the Clown? - Audrey Hoebert
RoZone Clacked: Bylines + Links
My novel, “Supernormal Stimuli” came out this year with Bullshit Lit.
It’s like what would happen if “Brokeback Mountain” and “Jersey Shore” had a baby. If you would like to review it, please hit me up!
I dug deep into the lore behind the Taco Bell on Michigan Street for the Rapidian.
I learned a lot about how day-glo nacho cheese builds community.
I also covered Asada and Woodstock for the Rapidian!
Steven is the best. Everyone who runs Woodstock is the best. I am so lucky to get to talk to so many cool people for my secret side job.
I wrote about Carrie Bradshaw and mindfulness for Sex Change in the City.
If you accidentally got sucked into watching all seven seasons of Sex in the City, this book is a must-have. It rules! There are comics, essays, quizzes, it’s SUCH a good anthology!
Last but not least, I get to write for my job!
It’s been such a gift to work with so many wonderful people to tell their stories. Yay, having coworkers! Yay, rehabilitation! Yay, Mary Free Bed! <3
