It’s a great time to maybe take a break from the normal grind of work and life. Time for all of us to grab the nearest cup of cocoa, warmest blanket and hottest friend while we watch, read and listen to some of 2012’s best pieces of entertainment.

Music

1) The Heist (Macklemore X Lewis) – There are tunes that’ll be stuck in your head like Elmer’s glue and lyrics so deep that they make Owens Valley blush. The first album from the duo goes from seriousness to levity at the drop of a beat, but it manages to feel cohesive and memorable.

2) Adventures In Your Own Backyard (Patrick Watson) – Every song has an otherworldly, soothing sound that is reminiscent of watching a sunrise on top of a hill. It’s one of those albums that is great for those calmer moments in life.

Movies

1) “The Avengers” – This is as big as a blockbuster movie can get. You’ve probably seen it already, and you should go see it again. It has superheroes. Yes, that’s plural. Go watch it.

2) “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” – It’s clear that I’m a fan of an emotional, life-changing tale, especially when it’s a coming-of-age story. As those go, “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” is one of the best to grace the silver screen this year.

TV

1) “Game of Thrones” (HBO) – There hasn’t been a fantasy TV series that has really penetrated mainstream viewers until “Game of Thrones.” Magic makes brief appearances, but intrigue, sex and violence rule the land of Westeros. The well-written dialogue, high production values and great acting are the reasons that it has become such a hit.

2) “Louie”  (FX) – After each episode, it isn’t uncommon to feel somewhat dazed and confused. “Louie” manages to comment on the mysteries of life, world events, intricacies of humans and culture through a bumbling, awkward, cowardly and mundane guy named Louie.

Games

1) “The Walking Dead” (Telltale Games) – There are zombies.  In the overall scheme of things, they don’t really matter; what matters are the choices that you, the player, make and how they  affect you and the characters around you. Characters will remember that you chose to save them, and they’ll remember when you chose to save your friend instead of their child. Your choices will haunt the rest of your experience.

2) “Journey” (Thatgamecompany) – “Journey” is a perfect example of video games breaking the stigma of violence and immaturity. It is an art form that can transcend the controller; it isn’t about mashing buttons in the right order but about the experience.

Books

1) The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) – John Green can be boiled down to an author that writes about teenagers dealing with life and finding out who they are with a dash of existentialism and wit. “The Fault in Our Stars” is the story of two teenagers who have cancer, but it isn’t just a story about cancer. It’s a moving, life-changing tale about life and everything mundane, insane and weird that happens in it.

2) Saga Vol.1 (Brian K. Vaughan) – Some may argue that “Saga Vol.1″ doesn’t belong in the book section because it is a graphic novel, but the idea that it is something inferior to a traditional book because of the inclusion of pictures is an archaic view. “Saga Vol.1″ is a fantastic blend of sci-fi, fantasy, romance and just good storytelling.