April 22. 2020 THING TO DO TODAY

Ditch the pillow. Ditch the pillow. Click here to see the best laptop desks for WFH. THINGS TO KNOW

Orange you glad FOOD: If oranges are your main squeeze right now, you’re not alone. The fruit you crave with a dash of champagne during brunch (RIP!) is becoming a quarantine star, with Florida citrus farms reporting a 41% jump in sales. That means over 10 million gallons of juice are in American fridges right now… probably right between the oat milk and tomorrow’s sourdough starter. And as we trade tropical vacations for Tropicana quarts (sigh), California hospitals are getting their own peel deal: Thanks to citrus giant Sun Pacific, 2.5 million Mandarin oranges will be donated to hospital workers across the state. But though the fruit is packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, scientists stress it can’t cure COVID-19… and neither can that Emergen-C you keep guzzling. According to Women’s Health, “there’s no evidence it benefits people with the cold or flu”… though it can be a fizzy and fun morning drink. Just make sure in between sips, you practice healthy living the proven way—by washing your hands. (They’re probably sticky from all those orange wedges anyway.) LEARN MORE



I can hear the bells RELATIONSHIPS: Here comes the bride… on Zoom. This weekend, Andrew Cuomo made online weddings an official thing. The New York governor (and recent internet crush) announced on Twitter that his new Executive Order “allows New Yorkers to obtain a marriage license remotely [with] clerks to perform ceremonies via video conference.” That’s great news for happy couples looking to tie the knot... and bad news for your BFF Beth, whose favorite part of any ceremony is the open bar. But if you’d rather not say your vows over Google Hangouts, take a note from ELLE’s Chloe Hall. After the beauty director’s big day was postponed due to COVID-19, she decided to recreate her dream wedding with avatars. “I got engaged in September of 2018 and spent the last few years dreaming and planning—only for everything to get swept away,” writes Chloe. “So I decided to recreate the day the best way I could: in the alternate reality of The Sims.” After party on their Animal Crossing island? GET HITCHED ON HANGOUTS



Green isn’t gross STYLE: This Earth Day, you already know the basics: Buy sustainably, look for organic materials, check out ethical manufacturing, repeat. But it’s no secret that sometimes “green” labels only make crinkled linens with wooden buttons that look way more sad than stylish. Other luxury brands are gorgeous and sustainable but also cost more money than rent (hello, $800 sweater…). To quote Maren Morris, can’t fashion just meet us in the middle? Pact can. The Colorado-based brand makes clothes with organic cotton, transparent supply chains, ethical manufacturing practices, and actually cool designs that take your basics to a higher level. We can see this dress ruling a date, these pants making an appearance at a Zoom dance party, this tank looking so classically cool underneath a blazer, and this bralette being a hangout staple for lazy Sundays. And to celebrate Earth Day, all of Pact’s designs (even their home goods!) are on sale April 22-26, so you can take advantage of bargains while knowing the earth and its people aren’t being taken advantage of at all. Good deal, right?* SHOP NOW

P.S. — Live from the living room, it’s Fraggle Rock! Apple TV’s reboot of the beloved Muppet show was recorded on iPhone 11 cameras... from the show producers’ own homes. New episodes air every Tuesday on the platform, so you can “dance your cares away” while staying at home... and wearing that vintage Doozer hoodie you scored on Depop.



* Hi, this is a sponsored section BEST OF INSTAGRAM @rawnice @carriebradshawsc @gofitjo @delightinthedesert Dream Job:

Elyse Willems Co-creative Director and Lead Producer at Funhaus Game on. Elyse Willems is the lead producer behind Funhaus, an online gaming and entertainment channel, and her big job is creating binge-worthy content. According to her, the company’s “bread and butter is ‘Let’s Play’ content, where we use video games as the jumping-off point to do improv comedy.” That includes a healthy mix of drunk Super Mario play-throughs and sketch videos where Elyse plays a (rather convincing) Lady Gaga. How did this Canadian-turned-Californian manifest her dream job? We asked her.



What did college-age Elyse think she’d be when she grew up?

Not this! I have a degree in political science, if that’s any indication of what my intended career path was. I’ve been a creative person from the moment I could hold a crayon in my hand. Sometime late in high school, I wrestled with pursuing my dreams versus being a realist, so I made decisions that I thought were the “right” or “adult” choices to make.



When did you realize gaming was something you could do for a living?

I was connected with Spike’s GameTrailers TV; they were hiring a production assistant. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and put me on the path to where I am now.



You wear so many hats at work. What’s your favorite part of the job?

Sometimes I feel like I wear a hat on a hat, or a tiny hat beneath a larger hat, or a hat with the design of another hat on it. The pure moments of performance, where I can dip fully into a character and have fun, is my favorite part. Not to mention the emotional aspect of this job… meeting our community and hearing how, in a small way, we’ve touched or helped them.



How do you hype yourself up for videos on days when you’re just tired?

I’m a weirdo who doesn’t consume caffeine or energy drinks, so I have to conjure every energy boost naturally. There are some days where we can record upwards of three, four pieces of content in a day. It requires a lot of internal enthusiasm and energy, but it’s important to keep in mind that you’re only human, everyone has off days, and that’s okay.



Gaming is a male-dominated industry. What challenges have you faced because of that?

I feel a pressure to go to greater extremes to prove myself, or justify that I deserve a seat at the table. On top of that, my place in gaming is directly tied to comedy. Not only do I have to prove myself to the gatekeepers when it comes to the outdated idea of what a “true gamer” is, but I’ve spent four-and-a-half years demonstrating why I deserve the title of comedian. I can’t just be present in a video, I have to be on top of my comedy game when it comes to riffing and bits.



How has the gender gap in gaming improved in the last 5-10 years?

I’ve seen the “token woman” trope less and less. I also see women perceived as welcome members of gaming communities, and not a novelty. I see men elevating the roles and voices of their female peers. That being said, there’s still so much more that has to be done when it comes to inclusivity, pay, and acknowledgement for people of color, especially women of color.



Animal Crossing: worth it?

Animal Crossing isn’t a game; it’s a way of life! Right now, it’s both escapism and a weird sense of structure in our new quarantine reality. I’m completely obsessed, to a fault. At the same time, I’m wondering if I’ll soon turn a corner where I realize that maybe the amount I’m playing and my level of investment isn’t healthy…? Until then, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to cultivate and exploit my next Tarantula Island. ITEMS OF THE DAY SPLURGE Hunter Boots Chelsea Booties

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Practice doing nail art.

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