NYLON Manila Picks: Lifestyle Faves That Made Our January 2025 So Much Better

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Once again, it's time for budol!

New year, new month, new picks! These lifestyle faves, from experiences to collectibles, made for a great start to 2025.

Related: NYLON Manila Picks: Tech & Trinkets That Make The Perfect Last-Minute Gifts This December 2024

New year, same spending habits. We admit it. But hear us out! These lifestyle picks—everything from games to experiences to worth-it buys of the month—have made our lives so much better. Everyone deserves a good start to their January, and whether it be a camera to capture all the important moments, or a game that gets us excited to play it after a long day at work, these tech, anik-anik, and activity faves of the month totally made for some fun memories and serotonin-boosting vibes. Check them out below!

Borderlands 2  – Raf Bautista, Managing Editor

I’ve been replaying the Borderlands franchise in preparation for Borderlands 4 later this year. And even after all these years, Borderlands 2 still is an amazing game. The gameplay is solid and addictive, the story still hits, and the setting is some of the most memorable in modern gaming. Playing this game now as a young adult compared to when I first played it as a freshman in high school has given me a greater appreciation for how good Borderlands 2 is.

Rug Tufting & ana tomy Notebook  – Bianca Lao, Brand Associate

After hearing of the experience from a friend and being a fan of crafts myself, I decided to try the Rug Tufting experience with a few friends at Rug Rats, located at Bumi and Ashe in Cubao Expo. Overall, I found the experience very enjoyable and insightful, as our guide for the session was very hands-on and taught us everything there was to know about rug tufting. I personally enjoyed getting to bring my design to life by choosing the colors of yarn and the actual tufting process.

I definitely recommend this experience if you have an afternoon to spare, and bring a friend along if you can! Just a heads up, the rug-tufting gun is a little heavy, so make sure you’re ready for an arm-workout.

ana tomy Notebook

I first encountered the ana tomy Personalised Notebook when it was mentioned by my workmates. I was interested in the product when I found out that its aspects were both customizable, since you choose the design of your cover, the pages in the notebook, and more — as well as making your notebook personalized, since they can stamp your name onto the front of the cover.

I was lucky to have a friend bring me to my first experience to customize and personalize my first ana tomy Personalised Notebook. If you’re an indecisive person, you may take some time to create your notebook, but I guarantee you that overall it’s a fun and thoughtful process that’s brought me my favorite notebook to date. ana tomy has a pop-up store in SM Aura that runs until the end of February.

Mini Camera – Precy Tan, Copywriter

I was skeptical at first—it’s brandless and a random find from the orange app—but the reviews looked decent, so I gave it a shot. And honestly? No regrets. This mini camera is tiny (like, so small), but it takes the cutest photos and even videos! It’s become one of my staples, especially when my bag is too small (iykyk). It gives almost the same feel as my regular digicam, making it the perfect compact alternative!

Sonny Angel Kiss Kiss Series – Gelo Quijencio, Multimedia Artist

I love the Sonny Angel Kiss Kiss Series because of its adorable and charming design, featuring sweet little angels with cute puckered lips. The pastel colors and delicate details make each figure feel special and collectible. The surprise element of blind boxes adds excitement, making every unboxing a delightful experience. Their small size and unique expressions bring a sense of joy and warmth, perfect for displaying or gifting. Overall, this series captures a playful and loving vibe that makes me smile every time I see them!

Hide or Die – Nica Glorioso, Features Writer

@fytgame Hide and Seek Game! #roblox #hideordie #hideandseek #fortnite #robloxgames #fyp ♬ Left Cheek (Doo Doo Blick) – Lay Bankz

I didn’t expect to be a shooter game enjoyer, but Hide or Die on Roblox has become a guilty pleasure. I’ve collected all the guns! I love playing as a seeker and smoking all the hiders with my sniper or my grenade launcher.

Kodak Ektar H35N Half-Frame Film Camera – Renzo Lumanog, Media Channels Associate Producer

It’s an affordable, super lightweight film camera that doubles your typical 36 exposure film stock because it shoots half-frames. The mileage on your film shots last really long because you can take 72 photos in one roll, basically.

Orchid Pins from ze___brand – Leona Abrera, Editorial Intern

I bought a couple of these pins and they are absolutely stunning! Coming in multiple different colors, these orchid pins will definitely bring any outfit to the next level.

Continue Reading: NYLON Manila Picks: No-Buy November? Not With These Tech and Trinket Faves