back to school season

hello.

back to school season marks the precipice of a new era for those of us autumn loving girls who thrive off of academic validation.

this newsletter could go one of two ways. i could share all of my favorite ways to romanticize dark academia aesthetics during this season, or i could share ways to time travel to your childhood and romanticize all of the nostalgic things you did that bring comfort and joy as we enter back to school season.

after mulling this over, i decided that i’m going to make a separate post about all things dark academia as we get closer to september since this particular aesthetic and way of life has always and forever held a special place in my heart and it deserves its own letter.

in addition to childhood nostalgia, i’ll also be sharing films, books, foods and treats to make, and activities to do during this season to make the start of this new school chapter your best one yet.

this weekend i’ll be sharing a separate letter with a detailed school supplies list (favorite: backpacks, lunch boxes, pens, pencils, pencil bags, clothing, and more) <3

paris in gilmore girls (2000)

i know i’m not alone in this, but the second someone mentions back to school, i think about apple cinnamon applesauce, and i can quite literally smell my preschool classroom (in the best way). what did your preschool classroom smell like? i distinctly remember animal crackers, play dough, applesauce and the warm vanilla sugar scent from bath and body works my teacher used to wear.

when i was a young girl, nothing that brought me more comfort than the start of back to school season. stationery shopping, getting my new school uniforms (which turned into arts and crafts and finding new ways to make my skirt hemline shorter and shorter as i got into middle school), getting a new backpack and lunch box, and sitting with my mom at the kitchen table planning out holiday treats to make and ways to make my classroom extra special as she often took on the role of the “room mom”. i feel very fortunate and grateful that i was raised by a mom who would make my lunches everyday and pack extra treats and snacks for my friends. she would decorate my lunch bags with stickers that matched the seasons, and include little lunch notes that always made my day so much brighter.

all this to say, my mom and our traditions, and the ways she celebrated the little things and put extra effort into making my day special is what got me through elementary and middle school.

whether you have kids or not, part of the reason i believe in the power and comfort of nostalgia is because sometimes, the only way to heal from trauma and push through hard times is to parent yourself. i’m still learning how to do this, but i’ve found that recreating moments from my childhood has helped significantly.

and regardless if you’re still in school or if you’re already graduated, i’m going to share some media and fun nostalgic ways to transport your mind to a place that felt comforting and hopeful.

with that said, lets go back to a time when saturday morning cartoons were the greatest hour of your week, and cereal was a major food group as well as poptarts, toaster strudel, pizza bites, and 90s foods pumped that through your veins before almond moms and erewhon took over the world.

(i’ll include childhood favorites as well as grown up favorites to cater to whatever mood you might be in)

back to school master list:

films:

-clueless (1995)

-juno (2007)

-harry potter (2002)

-matilda (1996)

-dead poets society (1989)

-the breakfast club (1985)

-mean girls (2004)

-linda linda linda (2005)

-napoleon dynamite (2004)

-the perks of being a wallflower (2012)

-a goofy movie (1985)

-monsters university (2013)

-legally blond (2001)

-sixteen candles (1984)

-an education (2009)

-ghost world (2001)

-peppermint soda (1977)

-twilight (2008)

-heathers (1989)

-donnie darko (2001)

-american pie (1999)

-superbad (2007)

-bottoms (2023)

-bring it on (2000)

-ladybird (2017)

and let’s not forget our nostalgic favorites: little bear, franklin, the busy world of richard scarry, daniel tiger’s neighborhood, arthur, blues clues, strawberry shortcake, angelina ballerina, the proud family, hey arnold, kim possible, rocket power, the wild thornberries, rugrats, recess, catdog, the powerpuff girls, old disney films, and more.

sometimes if i’m feeling debilitating anxiety or if i’m sick in bed, i’ll put on little bear or other comforting shows that bring me back to a time when life didn’t feel as heavy and ominous.

tv shows:

-you probably think i’m going to recommend gilmore girls.

i have a lot of opinions on this show- so much so that i will be writing about it in an upcoming newsletter. as much as the first season of this show is comforting (which i’ll sometimes indulge in, especially during autumn), rory and lorelei get progressively more annoying and problematic. every time i try to get into it, i just get frustrated and turn it off. i do, however, love paris (and i will always be team jess).

-never have i ever (2022)

-felicity (1998)

-boy meets world (1993)

-skins uk (2007)

-pretty little liars (2010)

-that 90s show (and that 70s show)

-euphoria (2019)

-derry girls (2018)

-heart stopper (2022)

-the sex lives of college girls (2021)

-true beauty (2020)

-freaks and geeks (1999)

-riverdale (2017)

-gossip girl (2007)

derry girls (2018)

books:

i will be sharing a lot more dark academia type of book recommendations in a future newsletter

• dead poets society: a gripping story of an unconventional english teacher who inspires his students to embrace life passionately and think independently at a conservative all-boys preparatory school.

• harry potter: it wouldn’t be back to school season without this book.

• the secret history: an intellectual and thrilling novel about a group of elite college students who become entangled in a murder, exploring themes of morality, beauty, and the consequences of living in a self-created world.

• normal people: a campus-based story that intricately examines the evolving relationship between two college students as they navigate love, friendship, and social expectations.

• brideshead revisited: set against the backdrop of a prestigious university, this novel explores themes of friendship and faith as the protagonist becomes entwined with the lives of an aristocratic family.

• stoner: a quietly powerful portrait of a college professor's life, depicting his struggles and small victories as he navigates personal and professional challenges within the academic world.

• franny and zooey: a classic campus narrative that follows two siblings grappling with their personal and intellectual crises while reflecting on their experiences at college and their family dynamics.

• sirens & muses: a novel about four artists navigating love, ambition, and betrayal at an elite art school, each struggling with their creative and personal identities.

• babel: an imaginative and intricate tale set in a magical version of oxford, where linguistic students wield their skills in translation and arcane languages to maintain power and control.

• my dark vanessa: a provocative and haunting novel about a young woman grappling with the psychological aftermath of an abusive relationship with her high school teacher.

• either/or: a witty and introspective coming-of-age story following selin, a harvard student, as she navigates love, literature, and existential questions during her sophomore year.

• lolita: a controversial and beautifully written narrative about a middle-aged professor's obsessive and illicit relationship with a twelve-year-old girl, exploring themes of obsession and manipulation.

• bunny: a darkly comedic and bizarre novel about a scholarship student at an elite college who gets drawn into a cult-like clique of rich girls obsessed with creative writing and unsettling rituals.

• the likeness: a gripping psychological mystery where a detective goes undercover in a doppelgänger's life to solve a murder, delving into themes of identity and the darker sides of friendship.

some children’s literature i enjoyed and you might, too: the frog and toad books, brambly hedge, little bear, babar, the very hungry caterpillar, the giving tree, goodnight moon, strega nona, le petit prince, matilda, alice’s adventures in wonderland, charlie and the chocolate factory, beatrix potter books, winnie the pooh, guess how much i love you, blueberries for sal, richard scarry books

i can promise you these children’s books will teach you more about life than any other book you’ll find on booktok.

stationery and school supply shops:

i’m going to back a detailed back to school shopping list on the dark academia letter, but for now, here are some of my favorite stores to get you started.

-muji: my favorite place to shop for stationery is muji. if you’re lucky enough to live near a store, i highly recommend going inside and playing with all their pens. they’re decently priced, minimal, and in my experience, the pens don’t die on you the way some of the more expensive pens do.

-amazon: i have a little board on my storefront with all of my favorite stationery items for you to explore. amazon is quick and easy and they have a vast array of options to choose from. i also have a board for tech favorites for school, work, etc.

-target: a great place to experience back to school shopping in person. they have the basics, but nothing unique or special. it’s stuff fun to explore and look around and feel the vibes of back to school season.

-stickers: i write little love notes in my daughter’s lunch box everyday the same way my mom did for me when i was little. she was really into scrapbooking and had an entire room in our house dedicated to it. she had a large collection of stickers and would make each card themed around whatever season we were in or whatever holiday was coming next. we loved susie zoo and debbie mumm and susan branch. every now and then, i’ll search on ebay or etsy for vintage stickers and use them for the notes i put in my daughter’s lunch. she really enjoys them and it makes them feel extra special.

matilda (1998)

activities:

-shopping for new clothes: my favorite way to shop is thrifting. getting new clothes can be expensive and if you’re not in a situation to revamp your wardrobe (hi, me, too), i recommend purging your closet and selling old clothes you don’t want anymore and seeing how much you can earn so you can use that towards new stuff. depop, poshmark, mercari, ebay- all of these are great resources to find what you’re looking for.

-stationery shopping (see above)

-making a special first day of school breakfast and lunch

-getting a new planner

-grocery shopping for school snacks and lunches

-buying apple scented candles

-make yourself a back to school playlist (a cozy campus vibe - autumnal and atmospheric)

-make to do lists to prepare

-pack an emergency bag to keep in your backpack at all times (tampons, pads, extra iPhone charger, deodorant, etc)

-set up your study desk area (a cozy space where you can do you homework and studying)

harry potter and the chamber of secrets (2002)

foods and treats to make:

i think the 90s and early 00s had the coziest and best (and ridiculously unhealthy but delicious) seasonal foods to choose from during each holiday. if you think back to commercials on nickelodeon, cartoon network, and the disney channel, they promoted literal happiness to children around the world, getting everyone excited for the season to come. lunchables, tostino’s pizza rolls, dunkaroos, animal crackers, waffle crisp cereal, kid cuisine, gushers, yoplait trix yogurt, dinosaur egg oatmeal, poptarts, and the list goes on. fortunately, many of these foods are still available in stores and i highly recommend treating yourself. if you have kids, instead of making them a pinterest worthy fancy overly decorated and complicated instagramable breakfast for their first day of school, i recommend living a little and enjoying your favorite breakfast from the 90s/ early 00s. believe me, it will spark so much more joy for both of you.

i realize these foods from our past time are not sustainable, so let me suggest some healthier snacks enjoy throughout the school year.

-ants on a log

-peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (use an apple cookie cutter to make them into cute shapes)

-popcorn

-cinnamon raisin toast with butter

-hummus and veggies

-apples with peanut butter

-teddy grahams

-apple themed treats

-apple cinnamon oatmeal

-healthy breakfast cookies

-turkey and cheese roll ups

-carrots and ranch

-baby oranges

-trail mix

-goldfish

-chocolate milk

-uncrustables (elite)

harry potter and the sorcerers stone (2001)

a playlist:

it wouldn’t be back to school without a proper campus playlist

heathers (1988)

okay, that’s all i have for today. i hope you enjoyed. i truly love making these seasonal holiday type of posts for you and put all of my love into them.

if you’re not ready to become a paid subscriber and you have the capacity to leave a tip, that would be so appreciated. <3

i love you.

bye.

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