The Toastest With The Mostest
Plus: Secret lines at Disneyland and a spring 2021 playlist 🐣
Welcome to Late Bloomer, a newsletter and community for teen girls.
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Bloomer in the Spotlight 🌼
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 she’s 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?
Mia: It’s 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 we’d never go for walks. But now almost every morning we go for a walk with our dogs. It’s so nice.
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. She’s amazing and we just love her so much.
My mom has her own preschool in my house. Every Wednesday I don’t have school so I help her out. I’m OK with kids––my mom is great with them––but it’s kind of fun for me to step outside my comfort zone and work with them. They have no filter; they just say what’s on their mind and they don’t care [laughs].
LB: What are your plans post-high school?
Mia: I’ve applied to some colleges here but I’ve always wanted to go to southern California. I got into a couple of them and the main one I really want to go to––or actually, I think I’m going there––is Cal State Fullerton. It’s like five minutes away from Disneyland. I’ve grown up going to Disneyland all of the time. That’s like our second home.
LB: What’s your favorite ride at Disney?
Mia: I would say probably Indiana Jones. Honestly, the rides are cool and all, but I’m just there for the food. The food is what most appeals to me.
LB: I never tried the Dole Whip and I regret that.
Mia: Oh, the Dole Whip is a must. The line is always long but there are two lines and we’ve been so many times that we know the “secret” line that’s always shorter. There’s always these newbies on the outside who are waiting for so long.
LB: Speaking of food, I noticed on your Instagram that you have so many delicious-looking meals.
Mia: So I’m not a chef––I’m not good at cooking cooking––but I love making toast and baking. Toast is probably my main thing just because it’s so easy. During the pandemic I started to get more into eating healthy. I never really valued that before. I didn’t 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. It’s been really fun for me.
LB: How do you like to make your toast?
Mia: I like to use sourdough bread. One thing I’ve learned from traveling is that San Francisco has the best sourdough bread. I’m sorry [laughs]. When I would go to different states I’d get sourdough at different places and I was like, “What is this? This is not sourdough bread.” I think this is our thing. San Francisco toast is where it’s at.
LB: Do you put avocado on it? Butter or jam?
Mia: Yeah, I usually use avocado or peanut butter or almond butter. I found this new nut butter and it’s kind of a mixture of everything. I don’t know what it’s called but it has chia and flax seeds in it, which is really good. I also put bananas and honey drizzled on it. That’s my go-to.
LB: Do you have any idea of what you want to study in school?
Mia: I’m kind of conflicted right now with either business marketing or communications/media because I’m really bad at math [laughs]. Math is just not my forte and business has a lot of math to it. But I’ve 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 “Glossy Thrifts” and I would post on my Instagram and people would bid on it. I’d pick out the trendy items.
I’ve always been obsessed with building a brand. The thrifting thing kind of had an aesthetic to it, which appealed to me––like decorating it, picking out colors, and reaching customers.
LB: For what it’s 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: I’ve been following her forever but I love Margot Lee. She’s based in New York City. I think she just graduated from college but she’s made so many college videos with tips. Now she’s delving into her career so it’s a lot of career-based, helpful vlogs like a work “day in my life,” which I think is really helpful even though I’m not obviously there yet. I love her aesthetic. It’s realistic because I see all these influencers who live in L.A. in mansions and all they do is make TikToks but she’s like a real-life “Here’s a day in my life in New York City. Here’s what you need to do.”
LB: What’s something that’s bringing you joy right now?
Mia: I would say Taylor Swift. I love her. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a hardcore Swiftie. If you play any song ever by her, I will know it 100 percent. Every word. I’ve been to three of her tours. I actually went to one of her tours twice because my mom’s friend had an extra ticket. My mom was like, “Oh, we’re already going but we’ll take it!” [laughs] Taylor was playing for two nights at Levi’s Stadium here in San Francisco and I went night one and I was like, “I’m probably going to sit in the nosebleeds but I don’t care, it’s Taylor Swift. It’s my number one girl.” 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.
And I love the new albums. They’re 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.
LB: When I interviewed Margot for “Bloomer in the Spotlight,” she said Reputation was very underrated and I told her my favorite Taylor album was 1989. So I have to ask: What’s your favorite Taylor album?
Mia: Ugh. OK, it’s always been Red. Red will always be my favorite because it’s a mix of country and pop. I feel like she has her own unique style. I really can’t compare her to anyone else.
LB: Red was definitely her turning point album. Obviously, I love Folklore and Evermore, too. I’m so happy she won “Album of the Year” at the Grammys.
Mia: Yes! Also I’m a big Harry Styles fan, too.
LB: Same.
Mia: They had an interaction at the Grammys and I was like, “Oh my god” [laughs].
LB: I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall.
A few of Mia’s favorite things:
Heather Robertson workouts: They’re super easy to follow along and helps me stay consistent with working out, especially at home!
My journal: I literally don’t know what I’d do without it. I love coming up with prompts to mind dump!
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! 🌼
Beyond the Algorithm 🔮
It’s finally spring (!!!), which means brighter days are ahead. We’ve put together a feel-good spring playlist that’s made for cruising in your car with the windows down, feet on the dash. Happy listening!
1. “At Night He Plays” by Emily King
“Her 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.” ––Zoë Jenkins, 17
2. “Beige” by Yoke Lore
“This 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.” ––Ianne Salvosa, 18
3. “Until We Meet Again” by Nick Jonas
“It’s 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.” ––Kenya Sterns, 19
4. “Little Lies” by Fleetwood Mac
“OK this song is so amazing for spring. It’s like the perfect tempo to where it isn’t a droopy winter song but also isn’t a hyper-pop summer song. It has great vibes. I feel like I could listen to it in a flowery meadow (taking Claritin first, of course) while a slight breeze flows.”
5. “1993” by Dreamville
“I’m someone who can’t tell the difference between a good or bad rap song but I think this one would be considered a good one. It’s a really funny song due to the comments Buddy makes in between verses. I feel like I can rock with this song throughout the spring.”
6. “Jaguar” by Victoria Monét
“THE GROOVY ‘70S VIBES ON THIS SONG ARE UNDEFEATED!! I’m not someone who likes contemporary R&B too much but Victoria is such a breath of fresh air for the genre. Perfect song to get ready and dance in the mirror to 10/10.” ––Leigh, 17
7. “Female Energy” by WILLOW
“This song is so ethereal and beautiful, it feels like a calm hug which we all really need right now :) It’s 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.” ––Carley Ebbenga, 16
8. “I Knew” by Lizzy McAlpine
“I’ve 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 weeks––and WOW. Lizzy’s voice is perfection and her lyrics are beautiful! ‘I Knew’ is my favorite from the album because it makes me want to frolic in the English countryside while wearing a pretty summer dress.” ––Maggie Shuffler, 17
9. “Lay All Your Love On Me” by ABBA
“Any 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!” ––Mary Conner, 17
10. “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” by Selena Gomez and The Scene
“My 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 “TMSIDK” is first because omg if this song doesn’t make you want to go completely feral with joy and excitement (just me?) I don’t know what will.” ––Margot, 17
11. “We Made It” by David Hugo
“It sounds like spring and makes you feel like you are in a very well done coming-of-age movie. Also, it’s a perfect graduation anthem as I go into my final quarter of senior year.” ––Madi French, 17
ICYMI 🗞
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. 👏🏻
Lena Dunham is debuting a plus-size clothing line. The actor-writer-director tells The New York Times: “Maybe there’s some girl at home going to her prom and she feels like she doesn’t have the right body and she sees me in this weird nutty dress and she feels like, ‘If that girl can go to the Emmys dressed like that, then maybe I can show up to my junior prom dressed like this.’” 👗
Young people have been facing a mental health crisis well before the pandemic started––and they won’t just ✨magically✨ feel better once life goes back to “normal.” Here’s what needs to happen instead. 💡
In the meantime… ✨
We’re listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s “deja vu” on repeat. We don’t even *like* strawberry ice cream but suddenly need it STAT.
And here’s a song to get ya through the week:
P.S. We wanna hear from you! 🐌
Want to nominate a friend (or yourself!) for “Bloomer in the Spotlight”? Got a burning question for “Plz Advise”? A brilliant recommendation for “Beyond the Algorithm” or an idea for something else?
Get in touch at latebloomernewsletter@gmail.com 💘