Welcome to Late Bloomer, a newsletter and community for teen girls.
Psstā¦ weāre now onĀ Instagram!
Bloomer in the Spotlight š¼
Meet Mia, a sourdough bread connoisseur and major Swiftie.
Mia is a high school senior from San Francisco who loves softball (she plays pitcher and first base for her team) and is always down for a Disneyland excursion (the rides are cool but sheās mainly there for the food, tbh). We chat about her being ~in the know~ when it comes to the secret lines at the theme park as well as her delectable breakfasts, which she documents on Instagram, below.
LB: Beyond sports and school, in what other ways has the pandemic impacted your life?Ā
Mia: Itās impacted my life a lot. So many changes have happened. It made me learn to appreciate the little things. My best friend is my neighbor and weād never go for walks. But now almost every morning we go for a walk with our dogs. Itās so nice.Ā
I have a foster sister now. My family started fostering a baby, which changed my life. We got her when she was three days old so it was a quick call. Sheās amazing and we just love her so much.Ā
My mom has her own preschool in my house. Every Wednesday I donāt have school so I help her out. Iām OK with kidsāāmy mom is great with themāābut itās kind of fun for me to step outside my comfort zone and work with them. They have no filter; they just say whatās on their mind and they donāt care [laughs].Ā
LB: What are your plans post-high school?Ā
Mia: Iāve applied to some colleges here but Iāve always wanted to go to southern California. I got into a couple of them and the main one I really want to go toāāor actually, I think Iām going thereāāis Cal State Fullerton. Itās like five minutes away from Disneyland. Iāve grown up going to Disneyland all of the time. Thatās like our second home.
LB: Whatās your favorite ride at Disney?Ā Ā
Mia: I would say probably Indiana Jones. Honestly, the rides are cool and all, but Iām just there for the food. The food is what most appeals to me.
LB: I never tried the Dole Whip and I regret that.Ā
Mia: Oh, the Dole Whip is a must. The line is always long but there are two lines and weāve been so many times that we know the āsecretā line thatās always shorter. Thereās always these newbies on the outside who are waiting for so long.Ā
LB: Speaking of food, I noticed on your Instagram that you have so many delicious-looking meals.
Mia: So Iām not a chefāāIām not good at cooking cookingāābut I love making toast and baking. Toast is probably my main thing just because itās so easy. During the pandemic I started to get more into eating healthy. I never really valued that before. I didnāt have the time to make food and serve myself because I was at school, at practice, and then coming home super late. Now I take the time to find recipes on TikTok and Pinterest and I share them to my Instagram. Itās been really fun for me.Ā
LB: How do you like to make your toast?Ā
Mia: I like to use sourdough bread. One thing Iāve learned from traveling is that San Francisco has the best sourdough bread. Iām sorry [laughs]. When I would go to different states Iād get sourdough at different places and I was like, āWhat is this? This is not sourdough bread.ā I think this is our thing. San Francisco toast is where itās at.Ā
LB: Do you put avocado on it? Butter or jam?Ā
Mia: Yeah, I usually use avocado or peanut butter or almond butter. I found this new nut butter and itās kind of a mixture of everything. I donāt know what itās called but it has chia and flax seeds in it, which is really good. I also put bananas and honey drizzled on it. Thatās my go-to.Ā
LB: Do you have any idea of what you want to study in school?Ā
Mia: Iām kind of conflicted right now with either business marketing or communications/media because Iām really bad at math [laughs]. Math is just not my forte and business has a lot of math to it. But Iāve always been a business person. When I was in middle school I would sell paintings. I would also go thrifting and sell the clothes on my Instagram. It was called āGlossy Thriftsā and I would post on my Instagram and people would bid on it. Iād pick out the trendy items.Ā
Iāve always been obsessed with building a brand. The thrifting thing kind of had an aesthetic to it, which appealed to meāālike decorating it, picking out colors, and reaching customers.Ā
LB: For what itās worth, one of the reasons why I became a journalist is because I suck at math! What are some of your must-follow social media accounts?
Mia: Iāve been following her forever but I love Margot Lee. Sheās based in New York City. I think she just graduated from college but sheās made so many college videos with tips. Now sheās delving into her career so itās a lot of career-based, helpful vlogs like a work āday in my life,ā which I think is really helpful even though Iām not obviously there yet. I love her aesthetic. Itās realistic because I see all these influencers who live in L.A. in mansions and all they do is make TikToks but sheās like a real-life āHereās a day in my life in New York City. Hereās what you need to do.ā
LB: Whatās something thatās bringing you joy right now?
Mia: I would say Taylor Swift. I love her. Anyone who knows me knows that Iām a hardcore Swiftie. If you play any song ever by her, I will know it 100 percent. Every word. Iāve been to three of her tours. I actually went to one of her tours twice because my momās friend had an extra ticket. My mom was like, āOh, weāre already going but weāll take it!ā [laughs] Taylor was playing for two nights at Leviās Stadium here in San Francisco and I went night one and I was like, āIām probably going to sit in the nosebleeds but I donāt care, itās Taylor Swift. Itās my number one girl.ā But I literally sat pit, front row. It was crazy. I have a video of me literally crying so much. It was the best day of my life.Ā
And I love the new albums. Theyāre just so amazing. I cry every day [laughs]. I play them in the morning because they have more of a peaceful vibe, which I love.Ā
LB: When I interviewed Margot for āBloomer in the Spotlight,ā she said Reputation was very underrated and I told her my favorite Taylor album was 1989. So I have to ask: Whatās your favorite Taylor album?
Mia: Ugh. OK, itās always been Red. Red will always be my favorite because itās a mix of country and pop. I feel like she has her own unique style. I really canāt compare her to anyone else.Ā
LB: Red was definitely her turning point album. Obviously, I love Folklore and Evermore, too. Iām so happy she won āAlbum of the Yearā at the Grammys.Ā
Mia: Yes! Also Iām a big Harry Styles fan, too.Ā
LB: Same.Ā
Mia: They had an interaction at the Grammys and I was like, āOh my godā [laughs].Ā
LB: I wouldāve loved to have been a fly on the wall.
A few of Miaās favorite things:
Heather Robertson workouts: Theyāre super easy to follow along and helpsĀ me stay consistent with working out, especially at home!
My journal: I literally donāt know what Iād do without it. I love coming up with prompts to mind dump!Ā
Haven Ceramic Diffuser: I seriously use it all the time and it just makes my room smell like a spa, which is just amazing. My favorite oils are sage and lemongrass!
tysm, Mia! š¼
Beyond the Algorithm š®
Itās finally spring (!!!), which means brighter days are ahead. Weāve put together a feel-good spring playlist thatās made for cruising in your car with the windows down, feet on the dash. Happy listening!
1. āAt Night He Playsā by Emily King
āHer voice is so light and the guitar gives me very strong spring adventure vibes. It is the kind to music I would want to listen to while driving out in the country.ā āāZoĆ« Jenkins, 17Ā
2. āBeigeā by Yoke Lore
āThis song feels like waking up in the morning in a good mood. It's perfect for long drives and I always put it on when I'm driving through a scenic place. Yoke Lore kind of gives me Lumineers or Mumford and Sons vibes but younger and more modern.ā āāIanne Salvosa, 18
3. āUntil We Meet Againā by Nick Jonas
āItās a great uplifting song and Nick Jonas is one of my favorite artists so I love hearing his voice in this song. Right now, there are people I wish I could see again and this song reminds me that nothing is permanent and I will see all my loved ones again soon.ā āāKenya Sterns, 19
4. āLittle Liesā by Fleetwood Mac
āOK this song is so amazing for spring. Itās like the perfect tempo to where it isnāt a droopy winter song but also isnāt a hyper-pop summer song.Ā It has great vibes.Ā I feel like I could listen to it in a flowery meadow (taking Claritin first, of course) while a slight breeze flows.ā
5. ā1993ā by Dreamville
āIām someone who canāt tell the difference between a good or bad rap song but I think this one would be considered a good one.Ā Itās a really funny song due to the comments Buddy makes in between verses.Ā I feel like I can rock with this song throughout the spring.ā
6. āJaguarā by Victoria MonĆ©t
āTHE GROOVY ā70S VIBES ON THIS SONG ARE UNDEFEATED!! Iām not someone who likes contemporary R&B too much but Victoria is such a breath of fresh air for the genre.Ā Perfect song to get ready and dance in the mirror to 10/10.ā āāLeigh, 17
7. āFemale Energyā by WILLOW
āThis song is so ethereal and beautiful, it feels like a calm hug which we all really need right now :) Itās also super empowering and emotional. When I listen to this song I feel like I am laying down in a field, feeling the wind against my skin.ā āāCarley Ebbenga, 16
8. āI Knewā by Lizzy McAlpine
āIāve subconsciously known about Lizzy McAlpine for a while now, but I really started listening to her album Give Me A Minute in the past couple of weeksāāandĀ WOW. Lizzyās voice is perfection and her lyrics are beautiful! āI Knewā is my favorite from the album because it makes me want to frolic in the English countryside while wearing a pretty summer dress.ā āāMaggie Shuffler, 17
9. āLay All Your Love On Meā by ABBA
āAny song from Mamma Mia makes me want to party, and this one brings out the best mood in me. It's great for ecstatically dancing in a field or finally going to the beach with your friends. Highly recommend!ā āāMary Conner, 17
10. āTell Me Something I Donāt Knowā by Selena Gomez and The Scene
āMy friend Miriam is doing a detox of sad music by Phoebe Bridgers and friends by listening only to music from 2000s, which is absolutely brilliant!!?!!! I made my own playlist of songs from that era and āTMSIDKā is first because omg if this song doesnāt make you want to go completely feral with joy and excitement (just me?) I donāt know what will.ā āāMargot, 17
11. āWe Made Itā by David Hugo
āIt sounds like spring and makes you feel like you are in a very well done coming-of-age movie. Also, itās a perfect graduation anthem as I go into my final quarter of senior year.ā āāMadi French, 17
ICYMI š
Jimmy Fallon received backlash after having Addison Rae perform viral TikTok dances on his show and failing to credit the original creators. On Monday, The Tonight Show host addressed this misstep and interviewed several of the young creators in the attempt to give them the spotlight they deserve. šš»
Lena Dunham is debuting a plus-size clothing line. The actor-writer-director tells The New York Times: āMaybe thereās some girl at home going to her prom and she feels like she doesnāt have the right body and she sees me in this weird nutty dress and she feels like, āIf that girl can go to the Emmys dressed like that, then maybe I can show up to my junior prom dressed like this.āā šĀ
Young people have been facing a mental health crisis well before the pandemic startedāāand they wonāt just āØmagicallyāØ feel better once life goes back to ānormal.ā Hereās what needs to happen instead. š”
In the meantimeā¦ āØ
Weāre listening to Olivia Rodrigoās ādeja vuā on repeat. We donāt even *like* strawberry ice cream but suddenly need it STAT.
And hereās a song to get ya through the week:
P.S. We wanna hear from you! š
Want to nominate a friend (or yourself!) for āBloomer in the Spotlightā? Got a burning question for āPlz Adviseā? A brilliant recommendation for āBeyond the Algorithmā or an idea for something else?
Get in touch at latebloomernewsletter@gmail.com š