I can’t live without…

6 things that make or break our entire existence

By Rachel Larsen, Amanda Waterhouse, Abbey Elalouf, Chloe Blair, Opal Grimes, and Ben Lehman

May 3, 2025

From lotioned skin to our pet cats to our favorite drinks, we seriously can’t even without these.

I can’t live without…

Diet Coke

Diet Coke. My addiction to Diet Coke has become a serious point of concern in my life. Who knows what they put in there, but whatever it is, it’s nothing short of perfection. Nothing tastes better than an ice-cold Diet Coke with crunchy ice and a slice of lime on a hot summer day, or a large cup of Diet Coke accompanying popcorn and candy at the movies. No matter the meal, my drink of choice is Diet Coke. I cannot imagine if I was forced to live without it. If you asked me to describe the flavor of Diet Coke, I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything other than the fact that it is liquid gold. I thank my lucky stars every day that it exists, and that I can drink it whenever I want. The people who say that regular Coke tastes better have never had that perfect, crisp sip of Diet Coke. All it takes to take a bad day to a good one is an ice cold Diet Coke and a good TV show to watch. I am fairly certain that nobody has ever loved it as much as I do. I don’t know if I would be able to function as a normal person without it. So as long as I have Diet Coke, I won’t worry about the unknown chemicals or risks from having one a day– because I am just happy to have it. I am counting on all regular-Coke-enjoyers discovering the hype of the greatest diet drink ever created.

- Rachel Larsen

Fidget toys

(MissLunaRose12)

If fidget toys didn’t exist, I don’t know what I’d do. I’m constantly moving around, fidgeting all the time. Whether rocking back and forth, tapping my toes or bouncing my knees, flapping my hands, clicking my tongue, or twirling my pencil around, my body needs movement just as much as it needs air or food. So, I have some sort of fidget toy with me at all times. The bracelet I wear daily works as a toy. I keep a small squishy toy in my backpack, as well as a fidget I made out of LEGO. I’m always carrying around a small Slinky, and sometimes I even bring Play-Doh or kinetic sand to school. I’m always looking for more fidget toys to buy or play with at home. I’ve got a collection of pop-its, a handful of spinners and twirly tops, not to mention a massive pile of stuffed toys and blankets that I sometimes use as a sensory bin. I have a Pinterest board with dozens of fidgets I want saved. I don’t know what I’d do with all that fidgety energy if toys like that didn’t exist—so you can probably guess I’m playing with a fidget toy as I’m writing this.

- Amanda Waterhouse

Warm weather

(Robert Ashby)

One thing I can’t live without is warm weather. Going from living in the warmth of Florida to the frigid landlocked state of Colorado was a change that 8-year-old me didn’t think would be as terrible as it has been. I lived at the beach–in a bikini daily– and I was always swimming in pools. Now I wear six jackets and big Ugg boots just to walk to my car, even when it’s a thousand degrees out. I’ve traded sunscreen for chapstick, and pool days for slipping down my driveway. Don’t get me wrong, I love the mountains and snowboarding, but only in small doses. The second it starts snowing, I wake up already complaining, convinced the day will be horrific and cold. Meanwhile, it could be 107 degrees and humid, and I’d be ecstatic. I love Florida. I love thunderstorms. I love all that comes with warm weather. I need warmth to function and feel truly happy. If you think you know me in the winter, you don’t. The real me only shows up when the sun is shining and it’s warm. Nothing can ruin my day as long as the sun is cooking my skin and my windows are rolled down.

- Abbey Elalouf

Aquaphor

Asking me what I can’t live without, you may think I would say something like my phone or airpods. But no. The thing I really can’t live without is Aquaphor. It might not be a very eye catching or flashy thing, but It has saved my life more times than I can count. It honestly deserves more respect than it gets. Chapped lips? Aquaphor. Dry hands? Aquaphor. I feel like it’s the Swiss army knife of possibilities. It can do so many different things and work in so many situations. Over the years, I have even used it on my eyelashes to make them look glossy and healthy, my eyebrows to help them stay in place, and even as a perfume enhancer, putting a little on my wrist before spraying my favorite sent. Some people rely on fancy lip balms, but all I need is my trusty tube of Aquaphor. Honestly, I would be lost without it. It’s one of those essential things I always keep close, whether in my backpack, track bag, or nightstand. It is just a great go-to stable. It may seem very simple, but I have found that sometimes the simplest things work the best. For me, that’s Aquaphor.

- Opal Grimes

My pet cat

(Larry Brown)

My cat. She is my heart and soul. I could never live without her. Maybe “Can’t Live” sounds a little dramatic, but my cat makes my life so much better. I can’t imagine my life without her. Cats aren’t demanding like some pets– they’re happy with a scratch behind the ears and a comfy spot to nap. Marzipan, my cat, is always there, a quiet presence that makes my house feel like a home. Sometimes after a long day, just seeing her sleepy faces makes all my stress melt away. She doesn’t judge my bad moods or ask too many questions. She just offered a gentle brush and a comfy meow. Maybe other people don’t get it. Maybe they think it’s just an animal. For me, Marzipan is more than that. She’s my best friend. A silent listener, and a constant source of joy. The more I think about it, the more I realize how deeply woven she is into the fabric of my everyday life. It’s not just about the cuddles and the purrs, it’s about something more fundamental. There’s this companionship. Living alone can feel quiet. With Marzipan, there’s always a constant. She explores, naps, and battles so much for such a little cat. There’s always something to observe and smile at. She fills the silence in a way that feels comforting, not lonely. Life without that? It would feel empty.

- Chloe Blair

Vanilla iced lattes

(Jimmy Stardust)

One thing I can’t live without is an iced vanilla latte. It might seem basic, but no one truly gets this drink like I do. The second that I take my first crisp sip of an iced vanilla latte, something is awoken in me. I feel revived. It’s the perfect drink. The bitter espresso with the creamy milk and the sweet vanilla syrup make it the best pairing to ever exist. I love iced vanilla lattes so much that my whole day gets ruined when they taste burnt or watery. Having my latte made wrong takes away my happiness for the whole day. It’s like a sign from the universe that tells me my day is gonna be horrible. Additionally, I despise getting my coffee from any big chain. No place will do it as well as a small, local coffee shop. Coffee just tastes better in a plastic cup from a local coffee shop rather than through Starbucks’ “sippy cup lids” (which I also despise). An iced vanilla latte is always gonna do it for me, and no other type of drink can ever top it.

- Ben Lehman

About the Contributors

Rachel Larsen, Copy Editor

Rachel Larsen (11) is the copy editor of the Mohi Mix Magazine. She had been interested in journalism since she was in middle school, despite initial intimidation. “I joined my freshman year, and I was really intimidated by it, but I’ve always really liked writing, and it was interesting for me to be able to interview people, and write about events happening around the school. “ Larsen said. Her passion for writing and school events grew from a middle school English unit and her desire to engage with her school community. Balancing her involvement in cross country and distance track, she prioritizes journalism deadlines over sports practice. Excited about her new role as copy editor, she looks forward to her junior year, which includes driving and a more substantial role in the newspaper. Rachel is the youngest in her family. She has an older brother and sister, both graduated from Monarch in the past years. She is now the only one of her siblings to be at Monarch. “I feel more independent here.” Larsen said.

Amanda Waterhouse, Staff Writer

Abbey Elalouf, Editor In Chief

After leaving her soccer cleats to rest junior year, Abbey Elalouf (12) found herself with a new dream—starting a girls flag football team. “It was hard. We had a bunch of other girls who were interested in playing, but they told us that it wouldn’t ever happen,” Elalouf said. However, she wouldn’t accept “no” for an answer. After many meetings and constant rejection, it happened, just in time for her senior season. Her dream had become a reality. “Once everything got rolling, we were able to pick a coach and get straight into practice, and everything’s been going really well,” she said. The flag football community is something Elalouf thought she could never find, and now that she has, she’s so glad she has fought for something she really wanted. “I’m so happy I will finally have the true, fun high school sports experience I always hoped for,” she said.

Chloe Blair, Social Coordinator

Journalism wasn’t an initial interest for Chloe Blair (11), social coordinator for the Mix, but after last year, she found a passion for contributing to the magazine. “That’s really the class that I want to take, but now I really enjoy it a lot,” Blair said. The unexpected passion for journalism is similar to Chloe’s plans for after high school. “I want to hopefully go to UCLA. That’s my dream,” Blair said. Previously, Blair was looking into being a history major, but now her sights are set on neuroscience and psychology. While on a college tour at UCLA in March of last year, Chloe and her mom stumbled across the neuroscience building. This sparked Blair’s motivations to come from within, “I’m working really hard to do that, though, and go into double major in neuroscience and psychology and remake ADHD meds so I can actually take my ADHD meds, and other people can too,” she said.

Opal Grimes, Social Media Editor

Opal Grimes is a sophomore. She joined Newspaper simply to spend time with a close friend; however, over the past year, she developed a passion for the class and for her job managing Social media. Outside of Newspaper, Opal participates in Monarch Track and Field and volunteers for a non-profit organization called RISE, where she can support foster kids. She helps by providing them with necessities, personalized gifts, and a family space to open up to.

Ben Lehman, Editor In Chief

Staff Member, Short Reads Editor, and now Editor in Chief. Ben Lehman (12), has been on the Newspaper since his freshman year. He has felt the love of the community surrounding Mohi Media since his freshman year, when a senior at the time, Arianna took him under her wing and showed him the ropes of journalism. “Freshman year, I realized how special the community was when we all thought that we could never write a good story,” Lehman said. “But by the deadline night, it would all come together, and we realized that we had created something really special”.

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