This week is a round-up of the inevitable speculation of celebrity triviality not because we’re obsessed with fame but, moreover, on the absurdity that is the celebreality machine. Oh, and a festive gift guide for all Youthquakes. Get into it below.
In an effort to find the Christmas spirit and joy I once had, I’ve been watching ageless classics in my spare time. The dreamy holiday richness paired with enchanting crooning is a cozy formula of introducing myself to some films I’ve yet to watch has been irresistible. Hence, I’ve assembled 12 Christmas favorites that are treasured golden oldies, along with new gems for me below.
Holiday Affair
Bachelor Mother
Bell, Book and Candle
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Christmas in Connecticut
The Shop Around the Corner
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Bishop’s Wife
The Apartment
🧊 Pop Culture Cold Brew
Catch up on the theatre of the absurd with a round-up of pop culture shenanigans.
Jennifer Aniston is more known for being a cherished TV actress in a hit show twenty years ago, and not for her film roles— but more known for being a tabloid fixture with endless glossy covers and interviews without much insight. Yet that never seems to stop her from flippantly commenting; her latest with Variety is another showing of her boomer ways as she experiences clear confusion among intimacy coordinators on set as opposed to back in her days. Perhaps she should have.
Another celebrity and tabloid darling giving us nothing but scheduled PR bullet points is Taylor Swift. Media sensation Swift and her team parlayed their way into TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year “due to her storytelling of the modern era.” Yet, the accompanying TIME piece is a so-called interview that lacks anything beyond surface level to say since the journalist couldn’t push the subject into further depths— other than the assumed galactic empire that Thanos adopted and utilized with those infinity stones Swift references and compares. Collecting and assembling Horcruxes, like her new gaudy opal bauble, is crucially on par with who she seems. Swift knows her public image and acts accordingly, never really tapping in unless deigned worthy. Interestingly, she and her comms team are online and comb through social media, as does her militaristic army of loyal “stans,” otherwise known as consumers. Swift’s romanticized self-image in how she views herself is evident as she and her team are hyper-vigilantly aware of her global branding entity of endless profits, cultivating her pop monoculture as a Final Boss of Girl Bosses— empowering women or bloated lip service of preaching inclusivity to make the big bucks, they’re not always mutually exclusive.
The hype for Anyone But You is a low-burning simmer of a rom-com that looks promising on paper for some yet seems incredibly underwhelming for most. Glen Powell and Sidney Sweeney are somehow meant to bring a renaissance of a dying movie genre, except chemistry isn’t something you can create if it doesn’t exist. Powell seems the part and is comical, and the question isn’t if Sweeney can act— the girl has chops. However, the more specific question is if Sweeney is a right fit for comedy— as her caliber is mostly drama. Thus, its official trailer is highly reminiscent of the incestuous Folgers Coffee advert of 2009— weird vibes flirting over a family reunion type of event is how the trailer seems, as Powell and Sweeney’s lackadaisical chemistry continues to radiate with the confusing recent film poster. While the RomCom genre needs a jolt, not sure if this film will be the one to cause anything less than a light spark. The two stars caught strays left and right during the media rollout that was poked fun at by Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone cleverly piggybacking the promo of their project, The Curse, via Showtime. The celebrity spectacle machine wants to make Powell and Sweeney a splashy duo, but the public interest is nonexistent.
A spokesperson for Barbie has confirmed that filmmakers and co-collaborators Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach officially married at City Hall after twelve years of courtship and parenthood. It’s warming to think that celebrity romance is NOT dead, as suspected when the earth shattered over Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner’s breakup.
Coincidentally, it reminded us of the Kardashian Koven and their contractual relationships with the public eye— and alleged transactional relationships like Benito and the dullest pantashoe-wearing member of one of America’s most shameless and thirsty families, the KarJenners. Benito and Kendall’s whirlwind and strategic relationship was barely confirmed via a joint Gucci campaign in October. It came with exclusive coverage of their “romance” for outlets meeting their SEO clicks. Back to the drawing board with you Kris, that didn’t pan out as you’d
hopedplanned.Keeping in the KarJenner romance adjacency is Timmy Chalamet, with his love affair of what one might think whimsy is with his Wonka fashion rollout. The French are supposedly known for their laissez-faire and assumed effortlessly chic style— for team Chalamet, its style forcefulness to appease virality is haunting. However, not as much as Club Chalamet on the app formally known as Twitter.
💌 Youthquake Gift Guide
As a middle child of four kids who worked years in retail or customer service— the Christmas season isn’t the jolliest for a myriad of us. While I’m not and could never be a Christmas hater to my core, there was a time when I was in the denial stage of my breakup with Christmas. The traditional role of elder immigrant daughters continued through my sisters and me— we’ve fought and clawed our way to surviving the religious or strict family system of high expectations that require our undivided attention of time or even moral consciousness— re-parenting ourselves and a parent isn’t something I wish on anyone. While that upcoming tale is for another time, I’ve since mended my affinity for the holiday season in years past, which I adored as a kid who always participated in the holiday church or school programs.
This year, my sisters and I finally agreed that this Christmas was only celebrating the grandkids and the parents— the latter more than deserve to be treated. So no gifts for each other, which is always pressurized enough. It seems that most of us have reached maxed capacity early this year. Though my list is belated, I’ve been slow as molasses as I continue with the bittersweet fluidity of life, continuing obliging in being more self-indulgent in my elder immigrant daughter’s life’s quest as a former caretaker— below are some gift recommendations for anyone in mind who feels they deserve a merry little treat. The Youthquake post-Christmas gift guide is left unwrapped for your pure, unadulterated voyeurism and quick diversion of pleasure during the messy Holiday season of genuine unaffiliated links.
Escapism
Television and films have always been my favorite form of escapism, so of course, my top treat is a subscription to Mubi, $11.
You can also indulge in being a Letterboxd patron for $50.
As a kid who grew up on Mister Rogers Neighborhood and Reading Rainbow, books are always a must. Gift cards are always great for future treats, so they can range from $30-$50+ to be generous.
Personally, I’m dreaming of Sofia Coppola’s Archive ($65) book as an archival lover myself— Sofia’s instrumental to my girlhood and even more so as a nuanced adult woman; this is my Christmas must-have that will probably end up being a gift to my future self, and I can’t wait.
Noise Cancelling Headphones are a must-have for anyone needing to cut out the outside world. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 for $279 via Best Buy or Soundcore Space A40 for $80 via Amazon.
Self-Care
Nail salons or spa services are great for taking time for yourself while also supporting local businesses in our area. Depending on the service, this can range from $50-$100+. If spas or salons aren’t your thing since you’re more of the at-home type, then fret not. K-Beauty never lets me down, so no surprise that Mischo Beauty has a great manicure kit that anyone can use for $50. Or for less than $12 at Target. Or visit any local beauty supply shop and find yourself scoring the nail care essentials, usually less than $25.
Adding in that, skincare is genderless and a great additive to a loving self-care routine since the skin is the largest organ in the human body. Why not invest in ourselves?
Beauty gadgets like radiance devices are aimed at spa-like skin glowing boosts at home— my fancy expenditure was purchasing the Medicube Age-R Booster-H, and as someone who struggles with hormonal acne and texture— it’s been worth the money thus far.
There are also thrift-savvy alternatives because looking good isn’t always expensive.
Gua Sha $8-$30 online or TJ Maxx/Marshalls.
My favorite Japanese exfoliating towels that are not a want but a must-need for soft and smooth skin, currently 3 for $15 via Amazon.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned that CosRx Galactomyces 95 Whitening Power Essence, $15-$25, which is a wonderful dupe for SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, $100— although my supreme is Cosrx’s Advanced Snail 92 All In One Moisturizer, layer before moisturizing and your skin will feel incredibly ethereal.
Satin or silk pillowcases are a worthy expenditure for healthy hair and skin. Still, I found the zippered Kitsch ones affordably functional and sleek for $20 or this mulberry silk for $24 via Amazon.
Miscellaneous
Sandy Liang’s debut home collection.
As a pen lover, good pens are hard to come by— both the $9 Zebra F-701 steel metal and the $7 Pilot V Sign write velvety smooth and favorites I can’t gatekeep. The Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen is nice for $22, too.
Boy Smells x Kacey Musgraves Candle in Slow Burn is an opulent bargain for $52 for an 8.5 oz candle compared to Diptyque at 6.5 oz for $75.
Moleskin Classic Hard Cover Notebooks are essential, and less than $20 is always a nice surprise.
Reality Key Keychain for $18 via MoMA for those of us who lose our keys from time to time.
For my fellow tchotchkes and trinket collectors, this $24 Priscilla-esque Bow Trinket Box from Urban Outfitters— in my favorite shade of blue— is an obvious, well, yes, moment.
Love Letter is for my girls, ladies, gays, or they’s— a short round game of strategy that includes romance, alliances, and winning a throne to become the princess’ most trusted confidant— a bargain for less than $15.
Hot chili garlic is a current weak spot for my typical Mexican family that loves adding unnecessary heated spice to our food. Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic ($16) is a delicious find that elevated this NYT recipe of seasonal Carrot Risotto with Chile Crisp I made months back— self-reminder to make this once again because it was incredibly delicious and simple.
As the year is coming to a close, December tends to bring retrospection and clarity. Of course, the universe always seems to find a way or a moment to back up the humbling reality check that there’s no such thing as perfect timing. Deciding to work for my father’s thriving business and slowing down to live more presently, my sisters and I wished the same for my dad who doesn’t know how to make time for himself. Life happened quickly and found a way, despite the many ways my sisters and I pleaded the case— my father suffered a head injury from falling by losing consciousness due to a stroke. The eerie similarities between my Abuelo’s tragic passing due to his head injury from falling and my father’s were overwhelming. Fortunately, the seriousness wasn’t as tragic as it could’ve been, thankfully, and we were even able to squeeze in a last-minute trip to my parents’ homeland during Thanksgiving.
Our family home in Mexico is always a comforting nostalgia akin to having hot chocolate during a frosty and festive December as a kid. Or juicy watermelon con Tajín during the hellscape of summer— it’s good for the soul to revisit a place with such fond and happy memories, even despite being impacted by sociopolitical turmoil and corruption. My dad has since gotten medical confirmation from his longtime physician that our intuitive and collective fear was spot-on.
Going through the flux of emotions while also dealing with coming home and growing up can be head-spinning— reminiscing yet coming to terms with where life has led us is all very scary. Yet, once again, survival mode autopilot kicks in, and life goes on. Not because we don’t care but because it must— WE must. Whether we like that or not— eventually, life always goes on and finds a way to continue.
Storms are always simply temporary. Even when feeling insignificantly childlike during those particular blustery nights of booming crashes of an angry Odinson’s bolts. So why not enjoy the briefest of moments of rainfall when we can— it can reinvigorate the senses and remind us of life’s simple beauties while appreciating the little things in every stage of life, but as an adult gets hard to remember. So, taking it step-by-step or one day at a time is all we can do sometimes, particularly at this ending point in time with a new year looming. After a transformative year of turbulence in life’s causation, with great sincerity— I hope the remainder of the year is kind and gentle toward us all. No more survival mode, as peace, is something we more than deserve in more ways than one.
Con Amor,
Naomi x