xwordswithbabka

Hello! Contrary to the title of this crossword, making puzzles is definitely not easy. Coming up with ideas is difficult! Today's theme came from learning a piece of information that I knew would make a good theme. I hope I was able to do it justice. (I also made a mini recently that I decided not to blog about, because I wasn't (and still am not) sure how I felt (feel) about it. Brian Cimmet recently said, "Not every idea needs to be a crossword puzzle." And yet here we are!!! One day hopefully I will be able to separate good ideas and bad ideas) Thanks again to Shannon Rapp and Will Eisenberg aka NorBron for the test solve! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Literally as soon as I hit "Publish" on my last puzzle, I realized that there was another idea for a theme that used the same title. I got so upset about it that I decided to make another puzzle. I am sorry for everything! I hope you think this one is okay. Thanks Norah again for the test solve! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Hello! I hope you are well. I haven't had a puzzle here for a bit, but that's because I honestly did not have any ideas. This is something I worry about! But fortunately I was able to find something just dumb enough to become a blog puzzle. Please enjoy! Norah Sharpe tested this - have you seen our collaboration on AVCX ? You should! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Hello! I suppose if I think about it, 2023 has been pretty good in the way of crosswords? By my count, 3 LA Times, a Modern, and an AVCX Cryptic?? That is not bad!! Plus a bunch of collaborations with friends, and a year's worth of puzzles for this blog. Also a few tournament apperances. Oh no great do I need to make goals for next year now?? I think the best part, as always, is getting to know and spend time with people, either on Twitch, Discord, or in person. I want you to know that I appreciate you! This will be the final blog puzzle for 2023. The theme is based on a phrase that I actually came up with have and have been saying for probably ten years or so, and am excited to have found a way to make a puzzle with it. Quiara Vasquez did the test solving. Let me know what you think, and I hope that in the new year you can take some time to rest, much like Babka and Paprika pictured above. Thank you! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

I hope you are doing well! I don't have a lot to say about this puzzle, other than I think it's fun and hope you enjoy. It was tested by Quiara Vasquez . Thank you! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Much like Babka (pictured above), I believe everyone can use a nap. This puzzle was meant to be an elaborate meta, but it turns out it was too difficult to figure out. I could either completely redo it in order to make it actually solvable, or just change it slightly and put it on the blog as just another crossword. I chose option two! Hopefully it will be okay. This crossword was called "fine" by Boswords Choppy Champion Will Eisenberg and Reigning E Division Champion Shannon "Norah" Rapp . Please enjoy! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]