sunday musings: from coppola's sad girls to the sandy liang-ification of girl world

Good morning. I hope you’re drinking coffee and eating banana pancakes with a drizzle of maple syrup and a pat of salted butter. Every Sunday brings a healthy dose of Sunday scaries, despite the fact that most people consider it to be a day of rest. In any case, I managed to do some fun and festive activities. 

I put up my Christmas tree, but I actually hate it. Lolllll. I need to exchange it because it’s pre-lit and the lights are a bright stark hospital white. I kind of want to say screw it and get multicolored lights like I’m living in the 50s- go a bit rouge with tinsel and bows and thrifted ornaments and a popcorn garland. But I also love the dark Christmas vibe, too… I could also make a Sandy Liang tree. (to be cont.) 

I also made Muddy Buddy’s because I was craving some childhood sweet nostalgia and I remember when my mom and I would make these together during the holidays so I could bring them to all my friends and teachers at my elementary school. If you haven’t tried them, I highly recommend making them asap. But be careful because they’re addictive and about two years ago, I made them with my mom and we ate so many we threw up. Here’s the recipe. 

Anyways, there are so many new subscribers here and if you’re reading this, I love you and I’m so grateful you’re here. I realize I’ve never given a proper introduction about myself and my background and maybe I’ll do that soon. 

Okay, let’s get into some recent articles and internet musings…

-Sofia Coppola and All the Sad Girls: Sofia Coppola's is a girls girl and her films, over the past 25 years, have become a stylistic guide for portraying sadness and disaffection, especially among young women in opulent settings. These films, showcasing characters in luxurious but confining environments, have influenced cultural perceptions of feminine melancholy. Coppola's work, while criticized for its focus on privileged settings and passive heroines, is lauded for its aesthetic appeal and its portrayal of young women's internal worlds. Her films not only reflect but also shape the cultural narrative around the "sad girl" trope, blending visual allure with the deeper, often static experiences of her characters. 

Aren’t we all sad girls? Beautifully broken sad little doves? I love being a girl. I love being a sad girl in a sad world. 

I’m curious to know what your favorite Coppola movie is. I need permission to be basic and say that my favorite is The Virgin Suicides. 

-Dating Apps are on the Rocks with Wall Street: 

Dating apps are experiencing a challenging year, with declining stock prices and fading appeal among Generation Z, who prefer in-person interactions. The market is saturated, limiting user growth, and major companies like Bumble and Match Group have seen significant share price drops. While revenue is still growing, it's at a slower pace, with companies increasingly focusing on monetizing through paid subscriptions. Despite these struggles, online dating retains popularity, particularly since the pandemic heightened awareness of the need for companionship.

You guys, I’ve been single for over a decade and maybe it’s because I refused to use dating apps. Or because I’m picky and high maintenance. Could it be that we are finally moving back into a traditional world where people prefer to meet organically? (and *actually* do it and get off the apps)

-‘Inside Out 2’ teaser trailer introduces a new emotion: The teaser for "Inside Out 2," set for release in June 2024, introduces a new emotion, Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, to the existing characters in Riley's mind, promising to add new dynamics to the sequel of Pixar's successful 2015 film "Inside Out."

My mom called me and asked if I watched the trailer because she said the new character, Anxiety, reminded her of me. And I can’t argue with that. 

-The Ridiculousness of the Goop Gift Guide: including a $15,000 vibrator and $400 block of cheese. Will this vibrator send me to heaven?

-Loved, Yet Lonely: The author reflects on experiencing intense loneliness after returning from studying abroad, unable to share their transformed worldview with friends at home, illustrating how loneliness can stem not just from social isolation but from a lack of deep, intellectual, and emotional connection, even in the presence of supportive relationships.

-The Vanilla Mystique: 

The universal appeal of vanilla, deeply rooted in childhood memories and comfort, is explored through personal anecdotes and its widespread use in perfumes, evolving from simple sweet fragrances to more sophisticated and complex scents.

I’m a vanilla girl unapologetically. I love smelling like a sweet vanilla cake with frosting. I loved the Pink Sugar scent when I was a teen and I still love fragrances that remind me of it. 

Don’t get me wrong, I also love ridiculously expensive complex smelling perfumes that make me feel like a hot rich upper east side grandma like Portrait of a Lady. 

But vanilla will always be there for me.

(Fig is also in) (Another note I loveeeee in fragrances and candles)

-Gen Alpha Is Here. Can You Understand Their Slang?

Gen Alpha, the generation following Gen Z, is developing its own unique slang and memes, like "gyat" (a term for a big butt) and "rizzler" (a pro at flirting), influenced heavily by social media platforms like TikTok, which is shaping their linguistic and cultural identity distinct from previous generations.

I feel old.

-They Put a Bow on It and a Neatly Tied Ribbon and Poof! It’s $100 More. The Sandy Liang-ification of fashion, accessories, and everything in between. Thank goodness for DIY and JoAnn’s Fabric stores. 

That’s all for now. I’m working on a fun gift guide that I’ll send your way sometime this week. Thank you for being here, truly. <3