buzzfeed Press
Coloring Books, A Cozy Video Game, A New Cookbook, And 34 Other Ways To Have Fun Solo At Home
Images
We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. There's a color-your-own Tarot card deck kit in here!!! Let's be honest, it's winter, and the idea of leaving your warm, cozy home sounds terrible. Instead of forcing yourself to socialize when it's 20 degrees out, add one of these fun activities to your cart and enjoy some me-time instead! From a Jeopardy trivia book and an Xbox Game Pass membership to a deck of Disney playing cards and The Serial Killer Cookbook, you won't be short on entertainment. There's enough clay to make 20 projects. Make It Real is a small business that sells kid-friendly art kits. Promising review: "This mini pottery wheel was great for my daughter, and we had a blast playing with it. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but we figured it out. I wish the pottery we made could be bigger. Maybe this is just a beginner's kind of device, but it sparked my interest so much that I want to get something larger now and do some real pottery. Overall, it was worth it." —Jason Custodio Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two styles). There are also postcards, letters, and other knickknacks to help you solve the mystery. Check out a TikTok about the book here. Promising review: "I rarely post reviews; there doesn't ever seem to be anything I can add that hasn't already been said by some other reviewer. That's probably true in this case as well, but I'm not letting it stop me this time. S. is truly a delight. I haven't been this excited by a book in ages. S. is the first non-ebook I've purchased in a very long time, and I'm loving every minute I spend with it." —Corey Punches There are 50 pages with different woodsy subjects and places to practice wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, and other techniques. Also, consider getting some watercolor brush pens. Promising review: "If it were possible to give this book more than 5 stars, I absolutely would!! Painting is one of my favorite hobbies, and finding actual coloring books for painting as a medium is difficult. When I saw this book and how the pictures were pre-sketched and that it gave step-by-step instructions, I was sold. This is perfect for beginners and skilled painters. It teaches different skills and techniques that really made me feel like an artist! I absolutely love forest animals, and the book itself has such a plethora of subjects. I'll definitely be purchasing each and every new edition of this book that becomes available!! Looking forward to the third installment!!" —Amazon Customer The 78 press-out cards come with illustrations based on the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Grab some colored pencils here! Promising review: "This little coloring book is delightful! I love the idea of coloring your own cards — putting a little more of 'you' in the 'energy' of the cards. It's soothing and relaxing to color away while contemplating the meaning of the card. I haven't colored all of them yet. I'm taking my sweet time and enjoying the process of creation! The cards come perforated around the edges to help you push them out. They color well." —asha_kira I got this for my mom, who, upon waking up each morning, pulls out her phone to try and solve Wordle. She was SUPER excited once she started to flip through it — and I like that it just might get her off that tiny screen for a few. It's also pretty enough to function as a coffee table book. We love a two-for-one! Promising review: "I bought Puzzle Mania for a little brain break and got totally hooked. The puzzles are clever, surprising, and super satisfying — you get that little dopamine hit every time you solve one. I loved it so much I immediately ordered more as gifts. It’s one of those rare, no-fail presents that works for everyone." —Justin C Promising review: "I have the Star Wars and Marvel books in this series, but this one is the best! When you are doing the mazes, you can actually imagine riding the ride, even more if you add some music. The mazes are challenging, even for an adult, but very fun and definitely doable. What I like most about this book is the transition between the queue when you go up and down stairs, and go through tunnels and bridges, but then you 'board' the ride vehicle, and the maze gets all spaghetti-like! Amazing." —JC Get it from Amazon for $13.46 (also available in Marvel and Star Wars themes). The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. They'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob! Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross), and what a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" —slb m Get it from Amazon for $8.76 and check out the coloring book version! Promising review: "This is such an amazing creation. You can tell the illustrator put in SO MUCH WORK into researching the Tay universe and capturing absolutely every detail possible of her entire career. I gasped at the "No, it's Becky" reference! A job very well done. I am so happy I purchased this!!" —Alexia Pitman Get it from Amazon for $15.98, or if you'd prefer something to read, check out this Taylor Swift Little Golden Book for $7.02. If you already own this lil' book, might I suggest some of the following (that are on my own shelf...oops): - The Eras Tarot: A Deck and Guidebook Tribute to the Magic of Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras - Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets - Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams, A Biography - You Are Fearless: A Book for the Littlest Taylor Swift Fans - Karma Is a Cat: The True Stories of Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button Swift There are 100 puzzles total, and four different levels of difficulty to tackle —each puzzle features a logic grid to help you solve it! Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with such creativity! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" —Liz Gately If you want to keep the fun going you can *also* snag Murdle: Volume 2 and Murdle: Volume 3 for more puzzling. If you're familiar with the popular Murdle logic puzzle books chances are you're going to absolutely love this new take on it. I gifted it to my mom who hadn't experienced the books but loves puzzles — she's obsessed! She said it's so much fun, basically following a story/ murder mystery while working on a puzzle at the same time. The set comes with the puzzle pieces, a logic puzzle, and a surprise maze! Promising review: "I’m glad I purchased this puzzle despite reviews saying it was too challenging without a picture. For me, that was what made it so fun. I don’t do a lot of puzzles, and have never played Murdle, but after completing this puzzle and solving the mystery, I just might have to start. The mystery is solved through logical deduction. That part was easy, but the puzzle itself took a few days. There was so much to see and discover, and it kept my interest the whole time. I would definitely recommend this to all mystery and puzzle enthusiasts!" —Amber Bryant Promising review: "For Trader Joe's lovers everywhere, this is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with hints and tips, shopping guidelines, nicely organized recipe categories, and beautiful mouthwatering pictures. I love how the recipes are noted if they are gluten-free or vegetarian, etc. I ❤ Trader Joe's and I ❤ this cookbook!" —Love My Bookish Life I have both of these cookbooks and have made many delicious things from them (the mac and cheese is SO good). The recipes are easy to follow and are fun because they're written exactly as Chrissy would explain them. There are lots of recipes from her mom and John, too. Go on, treat yourself to both copies. Promising review: "I bought this book for two reasons. I love Chrissy Teigen, and I love to eat. The first recipe we tried was the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, and it was delicious. The recipe was clearly written, easy to follow and the whole family loved it. " —Deborah Get them from Amazon: Cravings for $11.17, Cravings: Hungry for More for $15.65. ...and the celestial design on the front is stunning, if I do say so myself. Promising review: "This book helps you understand that it’s okay to be completely honest with yourself. The book itself was in great condition with clean pages. I can’t wait to venture more into this lil' journey with myself. ♥️" —Molls I own Coco's Cozy Corner coloring book and love using it to unwind after a chaotic day of chasing around my toddlers. The Girl Moments iteration is just so cute, it'll likely be my next purchase after I finish the one I have! Promising review: "I absolutely love this book! The illustrations are beautifully detailed, and the paper quality is outstanding. It's a great way to unwind and get creative. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys coloring!" —Sorianny Promising review: "I’m 17 and I loved this. In the intro, it says the page instructions are all up to interpretation, so if it says 'spill your drink' or something, you can take that literally or choose to paint on it with something such as tea or coffee that’ll look like brown watercolor. I love that it’s bizarre prompts, but that you have wiggle room if you don’t want to do anything too wild. I would recommend this if you’re just looking for something fun or if you’re going through some challenges, this is really helpful to distract/express/push yourself!" —Marlee Promising review: "Bought this as soon as I got the email that it dropped on Amazon! Love this series and will continue to purchase them. Was it the most challenging puzzle? No, but that didn't take away from the fun of putting it together. Great artwork, wacky pieces, two posters, you just can't go wrong with a magic puzzle!" —Jennifer Lawton This is one of many puzzles from the Magic Puzzle Company, so there are lots of other ~puzzling~ possibilities once this one's finished! Here's a TikTok that shows how to play. In short, you pick a 2D or 3D puzzle from the guide and set it up to match the image. Start the timer and work to solve the puzzle with the remaining pieces. When done, stop the clock to record your time. Friends can challenge each other or you can play solo to try and beat your own best score. It requires AAA batteries, so be sure to grab some! BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)." Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn Julias Broderie is a small business based in New York that sells crafting kits and supplies. This kit comes with a 10x10 piece of organic fabric with the design pre-drawn on it, all the colored thread needed to complete the image, and an illustrated instruction card. Promising review: "Very beautiful. Fabric and silks of the highest quality. Always turn out so picturesque." —Jennifer Beer Get it from Julias Broderie on Etsy for $28. The bouquet includes 15 stems with a mix of flower and leaf varieties, including roses, snapdragons, and poppies, and it uses elements made from plant-based plastic. My 3.5-year-old is Lego-obsessed and had a blast working on these with me! They appear intricate, but, honestly, weren't hard to put together at all (and I'm a Lego novice)! Promising review: "Buy this for anyone in your life who loves gardening, and you are guaranteed to see their face light up when they open it up. Got it for my mom on her birthday, and she thought it was the coolest gift ever." —Greg Get it from Amazon for $48.49 and check out the entire Lego Botanicals collection! Promising review: "This kit was a total win for me. It's a quick build, the pieces are sturdy once put together, and I love the ability to have one long scene or condense it into a smaller nook. I had a great deal of fun putting this together, and I've already ordered two more Lego nooks!" —Jamie Davis Editor's Note: BuzzFeed does not support discriminatory or hateful speech in any form. We stand by the LGBTQ+ community and all fans who found a home in the Harry Potter series and will work to provide a safe space for fans. If you, like us, feel impassioned about trans rights, learn more or donate here. Promising review: "So in love with these cards! Perfect gift for any Disney lover. The box they come in is nicely made and embossed, and the playing cards are very elegant looking. Bought two packs originally and loved them so much I ordered two more for gifts." —Kim Muchmore Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a Villains theme). I have a Kindle and surprisingly have become a big fan of it — especially when traveling. While I absolutely prefer a hardcover book, it's nearly impossible to put more than two (which is a stretch in itself) in my suitcase along with my clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc. I read most of my books these days through the Libby app (all you need is a library card for access) which can be used via your phone or Kindle. No need to spend tons of money on novels when I simply am not someone who rereads them! I like that I can use this one near water without fear of it getting destroyed (yikes). Promising review: "Love the new Kindle! It's a perfect carry and go size, it is so easy to use and set up took less than five minutes! The screen is clear and it is easy to switch between light and dark mode. The matcha color is also a huge plus! I am so pleased with this new purchase!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in two colors and with or without ads/ a Kindle Unlimited subscription). Britishbookart is a small business based in the UK that sells paintings of literary characters, like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (my personal fave) and Arya from Game of Thrones, as well as reading trackers and bookmarks. Promising review: "I love the fact that these bookmarks allow you to record up to 100 books. Lovely design too. I have bought one every year for the last few years." —Karen Get it from britishbookart on Etsy for $4.91 and check out the zodiac versions here. Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Creami in action. All you have to do put your fave foods into the containers and freeze them. After 24 hours in the freezer, hook up your machine, select the appropriate preset, and you'll have a yummy treat. Oh! And the containers, lids, and paddle are top-rack dishwasher safe. Check out what former BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Jessica Hall thinks of it: "As a wannabe fitness girly, I have started paying a bit more attention to the foods I eat, specifically in terms of how much protein I eat. I find it to be somewhat difficult to consume my full day's worth of protein, and I am not a huge fan of protein bars or protein shakes. I decided to give this a try after seeing it everywhere on TikTok and how people were making lower-calorie protein ice cream in it. The TikTok influencers are *not* lying, you should absolutely get this thing. It comes with little pints, you mix up all your ingredients, pop it in the freezer for 24 hours and then put it in the machine. It legit makes a delicious treat with such a ~creamy~ texture. I have found my best recipe so far is a vanilla protein shake, a little bit of sugar-free pudding mix (the fats in it help the texture…at least that's what the Internet told me, so obvi I believe it), and a dash of vanilla extract. Once that's all mixed, I'll throw in some Oreos or M&Ms to have myself a high-protein version of a McFlurry. You can also make delicious smoothie bowls, sorbets, milkshakes, and more. I definitely imagine I'll be using it even more often in the summer when it's hot, and I want something cold and refreshing." Promising review: "Everyone needs a Ninja Creami. We love ours! I have made sorbets from cherry, banana, raspberry, and blueberry, as well as churro and chocolate ice cream. The recipe book is full of easy-to-make recipes. Easy to clean and simple to use. Just push a button, and then a minute later, you have ice cream!" —julie krueger Get it from Amazon for $199.95+ (available in five colors). I cannot even begin to fully describe how much I've enjoyed playing this video game, but I will certainly try. I consider myself a "cozy gamer," which is someone who prefers a video game they can leisurely enjoy without a lot of drama and stress. This game beautifully combines that genre of gaming with the magic of Disney — and it is simply fantastic. I love that I get to dress my character in an array of Disney styles, decorate a cute little cottage exactly as I like it, and chit-chat with characters galore. It's really soothing, and I've found it to be a great way to unwind from a long day. I've played it on a PC, my Nintendo Switch, and my Xbox S, so feel free to pick your fave console and roll with it! Get it from Amazon for Nintendo Switch for $39.88 or for PS5 for $37.99. I've been lucky enough to test this baby out since it was first released in June 2025, but hadn't been able to write up a review because it was CONSTANTLY out of stock EVERYWHERE! Finally, it appears to be available (phew), so you can *also* get your hands on it and join me in my daily gaming fun. You can easily link your old account to your new system, so no need to fret about the games you've already been happily playing for years. Your eyeballs will be so pleased with the new, bigger, brighter screen, and you're going to LOVE being able to play the new Mario Kart World virtually with your friends and family. I'll report back with more details as more new games become available, but so far it has definitely felt like a worthy investment. My husband and I have been arguing over who gets to play Donkey Kong Bananza after the kids go to bed... we might need to buy a second one. Promising review: "This is my first time getting a Nintendo Switch, and I have honestly been using it non-stop since I got it. It’s so much fun and definitely worth the investment — I can tell it’s built to last for years of gaming. The battery life has been great; I haven’t had any issues at all, and a full charge lasts me several days of casual to moderate gameplay. I also love how versatile it is — it can be used in handheld mode, docked, or on a tabletop — it really adapts to how I want to play. Overall, it’s an amazing console that’s perfect for both gaming at home and on the go." —Ashanttii Studio Get it from Amazon for $449.99+ (also available with a Mario Kart World bundle or a Donkey Kong Bananza bundle). My husband and I (he more than me) would consider ourselves to be rather avid gamers. Growing up PlayStation was always my console of choice, so I was super excited to get my hands on a newer model as an adult. It's honestly all it's hyped up to be! There are *so* many games to play now it's overwhelming to even try to choose. That being said, our first foray into the PS5 was through Baldur's Gate 3 (which was 2023's Game of the Year winner). The experience was out of this world, honestly. The picture was so clear and the gameplay was seamless — even while playing alongside one of our friends. We always tend to get a lot more use out of it when the weather gets colder (and, ideally, our kids sleep all night). Promising review: "The PlayStation 5 Pro takes gaming to the next level with ultra-sharp 4K visuals, smoother frame rates and stunning ray tracing. The PSSR AI enhancement makes games look incredible, and the 2TB SSD provides ample storage. It’s sleek, quiet, and feels premium. Delivery was quick and packaging was perfect." —Uzzam Soomro Get it from Amazon for $499.99 (also available in various bundles). My husband and I have one of these, and I cannot believe how many games are available with this pass. I'm counting on this to keep me entertained for the entire winter, TBH. If you don't yet have an Xbox console, you can get the Xbox Series X on Amazon for $598. Promising review: "This is a great and very helpful, and easy way to get your Xbox Game Pass without having to go to the store or anything, so easy. This is a great product, would totally recommend." —Jaymeson Fetman Get a one-month membership from Amazon for $19.99. Orange Bear Co. is a small business based in Burbank, California, that sells adorable paper goods. Promising review: "The pictures in this book are so cute! The art is wonderful. And the quality of the book is great as well." —candysweet23 Get it from Orange Bear Co on Etsy for $9.99. Promising review: "I didn't know what to expect from this super adorable anxiety bookshelf, but it delivered! I shake it up when I feel anxiety, even frustration, and I sort all the little books back onto the shelves any way I want, and it is sooo satisfying! The bookshelf is super cute and well-built. It is sturdy and beautiful. The tiny books are detailed, and their covers are amazing. They aren't actual books, but they really look like they are. This is the most gratifying gift I have ever purchased for myself. Beyond satisfied!" —Elda M Ferguson Get it from Amazon for $26.90+ (available in five colors). Basically, instead of adding the color to these, you draw lines to create images within the colors. Fun! Pair it with these fabulous black fine-point pens for $9.99. Promising review: "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and, therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. This has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through." —K. DeWitt Promising review: "My 11-year-old artist really loves this. It’s easy to carry around to restaurants or in the car. The prompts can be drawn simply or with more detail. Definitely a great purchase!" —Annie Promising review: "I'm normally bored by crosswords and word-search puzzles after a short time, but these have a twist in that you have to answer five Jeopardy-type questions in order to get all the clues for the puzzles. And they aren't necessarily easy, although if you don't know the answer, you can generally figure it out. I have enjoyed a number of the Brain Games series, and this is one of the best." —Ginger Russell The deck includes 78 cards and is an all-levels introduction to witchcraft. Each card features artwork on the front and simple instructions for a spell on the back. Promising review: "I'm giving it 5 stars because of its design. The box is drop-dead gorgeous, has minimalistic artwork with a satiny feel touched with gold lines where its design concept is carried throughout the deck while separating the 8 categories by individual design. Love the bottom pull-out 'drawer' effect for safe-keeping secrets and tricks of the trade. To me, this is a very well-thought-out product. Its minimalistic approach is enticing. I will have no problem gifting this while keeping my own copy." —Soul Masseuse This set comes with 15 nail art design brushes, 5 drawing/dotting pens, 10 assorted nail striping tapes, 12 foil stickers, and 2 boxes of rhinestones. Promising review: "This was a great find! I’m having fun experimenting with everything! It includes a nice selection of skinny striping tape colors and they stick very well. I would’ve liked for it to have included black, but I’ll live. :) I love the size and color of the pretty little stones and the foils rock! I’m happy with the brushes and the dotting tools also. Just so you know, the dotting tools are all the same size on one end and five different sizes on the other end, which is adequate for me. Everything came neatly packaged. The entire set is thumbs-up from me!" —Lyon B. Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two combos). The kit comes with a step-by-step pattern, an embroidery label, optional knitting needles, and all the wool you'll need to create a cozy blanket. Promising review: "Absolutely beautiful! Yarn and packaging were done with care, and it shows!!" — M.L. Get it from We Are Knitters for $149.99 (available in a variety of wool color options). I gifted this to my mom, and it's been such a hit! All you have to do is fill the stand with water, dip the bamboo brush in, and start creating! It's surprisingly super soothing and is great because you don't have to think long and hard about what to draw since it disappears anyway! It's a great practice in the "art of letting go" and is honestly a lovely way to spend an hour unwinding. My toddler also loved playing with it during our last visit to their house — he was so enamored by the fact that he could draw with water and watch it disappear. Promising review: "I work at a college in an environment where I am stressed out a lot, but I also have a lot of stressed-out college students in my office! The Buddha Board is incredibly soothing to 'paint' on (only requires water and helps remind me that tough days will fade away just like my artwork does. Several of my coworkers have this in their offices, too. And, of course, it's great when you're not stressed out too — just fun to play with!" —Violet Kayjee BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. This piece is by Heather Braga, a Shopping editor (and mom to two toddlers) who covers a variety of topics including things that'll make parents' lives (hopefully) easier, exciting gadgets, cozy products (think: home goods and fashions that'll make you want to snuggle), and any magical Disney item that crosses her path. Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.