What We Bought This Month: January

James Bigley II, managing editor
Cthulhu Death May Die Season 2 Expansion from Recess ($64.99)
During the pandemic, I’ve been lucky enough to meet up with a small crew once a week for family game night. For my best friend’s 34th birthday, I went to Recess in North Olmsted and bought her the core game of Cthulhu Death May Die ($100). She’s obsessed with Lovecraft lore, and the board game is designed as a co-op in which each player controls intricate miniatures to stop an impending apocalypse. After a single playthrough, I returned to Recess to get the second season. With more than 6,000 board games in stock, I’m sure I’ll return again soon in search of another adventure. recess.net

Arbela Capas, editorial assistant
Velvet Stretch Scrunchies, Odyssey and Oddities ($11.20 each)
This winter, I’ve been leaning towards items that give me joy in more ways than one: through their texture and feel-goodness and through their bold colored design. These oversized scrunchies that jewelry maker Nikki Lundberg started making for her shop, Odyssey and Oddities, check off everything on my list. As my hair is getting longer, I needed a dependable hair tie to hold up my locks for most of the day, while still making a style statement at home. So I opted for a soft seafoam green one and dusty purple shade, but her shop has various colors including blue teal, red and black. etsy.com/shop/odysseyandoddities

Jessa Moser, art director
Land of Plenty vase ($17)
I found Land of Plenty as I was out doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Gordon Square and made a mental note to come back. The shop is full of eclectic gifts, fun jewelry, vases and just fun little odds and ends. I have a jade plant that I’ve been neglecting this past year and could be repotted to get some life back in it. I found this cute vase that goes with the decor of my house and it’s large enough to let this resilient guy grow. Side note, highly recommend a jade plant for anyone that is as bad as taking care of plants as I am. instagram.com/landofplentyshoppe

Erin Stinard, associate art director
OOAK Spiny Oyster Gold Ring from Oceanne ($95)
I've been eyeing so many things from Oceanne Boutique in Gordon Square for a while ever since Cleveland Magazine interviewed the shop’s owner Anne Harrill for our Shop Local cover package. It was hard to choose just one thing, but I ended up getting myself this Oyster Ring and I love the mix of turquoise and that no two stones are the same. Next on my list is definitely the Herringbone necklace which comes in three different widths. oceanne.net