The Lost Art of (teen) Magazines

Picture this: You just got off of school, and your mom just picked you up. She takes you to the grocery store for a "quick trip." You know it's not going to be just a "quick trip." How are you going to survive a painstakingly long trip to the grocery store? Then, it hits you. You see the magazine aisle, and you're greeted by J-14 and Tiger Beat. All of your favorite singers and actors are beaming at you from the page. Suddenly, this trip doesn't seem so bad. While walking up and down the aisles of the endless grocery store, you're flipping through the pages, now accompanied by your idols, and catching up on what they're doing. 

Now, how else am I supposed to know how to navigate through life? In my magazines, they have the solutions to all my problems. New crush? New friends? New school? Etc. Well, I'm not a teen anymore, but I think the solutions are sort of transferable to adult life. But to go on a different tangent, teen culture is different compared to what it was 10-20 years ago. Disney and Nickelodeon aren't the giants that they once were. And the boy bands? Where are they? It seems that the transitional period from kid to tween to teen is gone, and everyone wants to jump from kid to adult. Some adult advice: don't grow up; it blows. 

Anyway, I just find myself always looking for old magazines, admiring the wacky fonts, ads with personality, and the crazy stories. In a world where we are glued to our phones, it's fun to go back in time and take it slow. 

I also really want to get a snail mail subscription or a cool magazine subscription. If you gals have any recommendations, please let me know! 

Happy Halloween ₊˚🕯️♱‧₊˚.

Happy Halloween! I just wanted to give a little fit check for the past couple days. The most recent one is my Sim's Plumbob (green diamond thing) that I'm wearing today! In the middle, I also dressed up as Harry Potter, and on the right, of course, I was a cat, duh! They're really low-effort, but these outfits are for work, and I just need any reason to be out of uniform. IYKYK. 

No parties for me tonight, but I want to make a cute sweet treat and watch a cozy movie! ༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･🎃

 

Moodboard: Rom Com Fall Fashion

 

Almost Free

 Little update: I have a new job interview! Well, a phone interview next week, but still! Yay! I'm kinda nervous because it feels like what I'm applying to is very corporate, and there's just always the thought of "I'm not good enough." But I think I just have to be delusional about it. And, that's basically how I manifest anyway, is by being delusional. If you want it, you already got it. 

Moodboard: Sad Tumblr Girl

If you could see into my soul, this is what it would look like.

You're a Big Girl Now

Growing up in the 2000s, the ideal body type was very thin. Seeing clavicles and spines was sought after, and young girls felt that they needed to look this way. Around the late 2000s and early 2010s, peak Tumblr, for me at least, highly promoted ED culture with characters like Cassie from Skins UK teaching you how to hide an ED. Then, jumping to the later 2010s, around 2016-2019, the body positivity movement took off. Which, in retrospect, how positive was it really? I remember that just bigger girls with flat tummies were included in magazines like Sports Illustrated and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. But real big arms, cellulite, and apron bellies? I don't know about that. Clearly, body shapes are a trend; for example, the Kardashians going from big behinds to reversing their BBLs and trying to look more natural. Now, I think we are close to where we were in the 2000s. Where nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Every ad is for some type of GLP-1, and your favorite celebrity is starting to hollow out. 

I have struggled and still am with my body image. I would count calories and basically starve just to binge and break that. I repeated this cycle, so I ended up gaining weight. I'm not a small girl; I know you never ask a woman how much she weighs, but I'll confess that I'm around 200lbs. Recently, I feel like it's getting bad again, and I just can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. In my head, I think I'm smaller than I really am, but then when I really look at myself, it's really just heartbreaking. This goes beyond just feeling bad about myself. This, combined with emotionally absent figures growing up, has left me with an avoidant attachment style. In short, I want to pull away when people get too close, especially in relationships. Now, I've only ever been on one real date, but I'm still on the apps. But I can't bring myself to ever say anything. There's always the thought of, "Do they know I'm Fat?" So I feel like I can't even begin to pursue a relationship because of how I see myself. My avoidant attachment style and my poor self-image makes me think, "Ew, why would someone be interested in me?"

Anyway...though I don't think highly of myself, ladies, self-respect is important. I have to remember at least that I'm not in a relationship with an unloyal or distrusting man. Girls, keep your crowns up; do not keep yourself in a situation where a man is taking advantage of you. Too many of my friends have been blinded by love, if that's what you call it, and have trapped themselves. So, even though I don't have a man on my arm and I'm not a 36-24-36, I still know better than to let someone take advantage of me. 🧘‍♀️ 

Fall To-do List ⋆˚࿔ 𝜗🥧🧸🍂𝜚˚⋆

 

Moodboard: Supernatural

 "Dad's on a hunting trip, and he hasn't been home in a few days." 

We are so back!

Hi divas! Sorry for this delayed post, but things are looking up! I don't have a new job that makes me a trillion dollars yet.  But I spoke with a Digital Content Specialist at my current job, and I'm going to be writing a blog for them! I'm really excited about it, and I just want to thank anyone who has ever read a blog post or looked at my page. You guys have given me the confidence to take this next step! <33 

Everything works out, right?

Whew... The last couple of days have just been a rollercoaster of emotions for me, but everything is okay! My mom was in a car accident, and I was really scared because they kept her overnight at the E.R but she had no major injuries from the accident, and she is okay! Thank god, thank the universe, thank whatever higher power. Since she's come home, I've been able to breathe. I just hate going to the hospital; it stresses me out so much.

Anyway, yesterday we had a day of service at work so we just pulled out some crazy weeds in the neighborhood next to us. Which felt really rewarding because some of the neighbors were outside and thanked us for keeping their street maintained. Just interacting with other people in a neighborly way makes me feel like I'm in Mr. Roger's neighborhood, and it makes me happy. :)

Also, since we did this volunteer effort with all the people from my job across all departments, I was able to speak to VP of Strategy. I mentioned my degree and what I've worked on, and she gave me a contact to message for maybe work or tips about other work opportunities. I sent an e-mail to them, so we will see what happens. I know it's silly, but I get so nervous talking to new people and reaching out. But, I just thought to myself again, "No growth comes from being comfortable." So, I'm trying to push myself out there more. Fingers crossed for what the future brings.

Moodboard: Practical Magic

 "There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can." - Sally Owens

What have I been doing?

Little life update: Guys, I am so chronically online, and I saw this TikTok that was like, "I put on a playlist to feel like Peter Parker, and I was so locked in," blah blah blah. I thought, "Let me test this out", so I got a little coffee, went to Panera, opened my laptop, and put on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day soundtrack. I became an unstoppable force for like an hour. Whoops, guys, I don't have the actual stamina of Spider-Man...but an hour just working on my resume is a job well done. It's one step closer to moving up in life, fingers crossed. Then, after I finished fixing my resume, I, of course, had to treat myself, so I went to TJ Maxx and got this diva-licious cheetah print rug. Like, are you kidding me? It's perfect! 

Also, I have realized I just need to put my phone DOWN. Ages ago, I bought a bunch of old teen magazines from the 2000s and 2010s, and they're so fun to look through. I played some 2000s Disney-era songs and just had a blast flipping through those magazines, feeling like I was a kid again. Kinda unrelated, but I also want to get back into reading. I finished Powerless a couple of months ago, and I started Quicksilver, but I haven't really gotten into it. Hopefully, with the fall weather coming soon, I'll actually want to cozy up with a book, though! 

Trials and Tribulations

Hello, my divas! Can you believe that it's already September? Where did the year go? Gosh, time does fly when you're having fun... or working every day. But serious question: do you ever have so much to do that you just do nothing? That's how I've been feeling recently. I know I have so many important things to do, but I can't bring myself to do them. For example, I had two days off, and I wanted to really apply for a lot of new j*bs, but within the whole 48 hours I didn't open my laptop even once to even glance at new positions. The first day I was off, I literally just spent time on my phone and fixing my nails, and then I just ran a bunch of errands the following day. In that aspect, I suppose I was a little productive, and I cleaned my room, but in my professional life, I feel stagnant. Which, yes, I'm still kinda young, but I feel so behind.  

It is so hard not to compare myself to everyone around me. It seems everyone is getting married, or promoted, or getting a new degree, or moving to a fun new place. I'm still in my hometown, with no prospects and not that much money... 

I just have a giant fear of not being good enough. Again, for my big girl j*b that I'm still working on, it just feels like there are not many entry-level positions open for anything. Which brings up another issue... guys...I don't know what I want to do with my life. In high school, when I was a freshman, I thought Oh! Okay, I'll be a nurse practitioner. That will make money, and that's what matters. Then I joined TV & Broadcast and thought that was what I wanted to do- work at a News Station, but film school was so male-dominated and male-centric that I couldn't do it, so I finished with Media Arts & Science. But it's so hard to even explain to myself, let alone other people, what I studied and what I want to do. I just feel lost and still. Though I have to admit, when I was doomscrolling, I saw a post that said, "No change comes from being comfortable." I think that post-graduation, I have gotten too used to being comfortable, which is fine, but I think to see progress, I need to push myself and embrace being uncomfortable and to embrace being scared. 

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk <333

Moodboard: Gloria Delgado-Pritchett from Modern Family

Fall is coming up fast! (fingers crossed) And I need, need, need to emulate this diva this autumn. Her makeup is so warm-toned and beautiful, and her outfits are so gorge!     

     

Do you want the house tour?

Room update! I got a new duvet cover, yay! I was trying to give Bella Swan with the purple leaf/branch comforter she has in the movies, but it was $250 to get the screen-accurate version, so I gave up on that dream. But I still think the green and purple is really cute! Also, I got a new laptop because my old one was about five years old and really on its deathbed. So, you know I had to finance a new one aye aye aye... I didn't wanna shell out the money, but I thought if I could apply to new j*bs from the comfort of my bed, I would actually apply to more than just one j*b at a time. And now I can finally feel safe to go on 123movies on a laptop that's not gonna explode or accidentally give myself a virus trying to watch that on my phone. Now, I'm just excited that my room is a little more cohesive than it was. With the fall season approaching, I think I'm going to try to hit up some more thrift stores or try to DIY some cute witchy/whimsygoth decor! 

Being a Fangirl

After having an uber-stressful week, I watched Spider-Man: Brand New Day again. And, oh my gosh, it was even better the second time. The first time I saw it, I made sure to go to the Drive-In Theatre so I could scream in my car without bothering anyone, which was the right choice because I was going crazy LOL. The second time, my sister and I got barricade and were in the front row at the Dolby Cinema at AMC, which is as close as you can get to IMAX without it actually being IMAX. It was sooooo good in the Dolby Cinema. Going to the movies more this summer has just reiterated my love for the cinema, and with the new Spider-Man movie coming out and Doomsday coming out later this year, the fangirl in me is coming out of retirement.

I love being a fangirl, watching the movies, the interviews & funny moments, and reading one-shots & fanfiction. Being a fangirl is such a big part of me, and one time one of my oldest friends said, "When I think of a fangirl, I think of you." This kinda sounds silly, but I thought this was someone who really understands me. When I was 12 years old, my fangirl phase really started with One Direction, Magcon, Harry Potter, and, of course, Spider-Man. Now, being a little older, it feels like I'm losing my whimsy and my fun; being an adult is draining the fun out of me and leaving me with just chores and work? Since going to the movies a bunch this summer, I think a little piece of my heart has been restored. I just have to wait to find some good one-shots on Tumblr, and then I'll probably be back to normal. Anyway, I just wanted to harp on the idea that I LOVE being a girl. I love having strong feelings about the things that I like. I love that us girls can find a safe and supportive community, especially here with these blogs. I love going to concerts and events and talking to people who share the things I love. I just love girlhood! <3333

Moodboard: Millenial Optimism

GUYSSS!! SOS!! I am so stressed, and for what? Well, I need to get a new j*b....Yikes, I know. I graduated from college last year, but I haven't really started looking for something that fits what I want to do. The bigger issue is I don't know what I want to do. I thought, "Oh. I'll get older and figure it out." Hey, uh, guys, I'm older, and I still don't know what I'm doing. I just saw a good opportunity at a good place with a position I actually studied for; it's just the thought of not being good enough that is so stressful and petrifying. Bleh, I just needed to get that off my chest. Anyway, to try and get my mind off of things, I made a moodboard of the millennial that I wanted to be so bad when I was younger. Disclaimer: I am ancient (23), but I'm still Gen Z, not a millennial. (Can you tell I'm trying to cling to my youth?)😜

Little Wins: Yoga ॐ

This week, I went to a concert, and at my unc age, I guess standing up for more than 2 hours took a toll on my body. What am I? 65 years old? A senior citizen? I'm only 23, oh my goodness. Anyway, for some reason my back has felt totally shot, and so I thought Tylenol? Ibuprofen? What's that? So, I busted out the ol' green yoga mat and took some time to myself to take a couple deep breaths and decompress. After just 20 minutes, my body felt better, and it reminded me of why I enjoyed yoga in the first place. I was pretty consistent with my yoga routine, doing a couple of minutes every day, but for some reason I had dropped it and had not picked it back up for a few months, it seems. But doing a couple of minutes of yoga again has hopefully set me in the right direction, and I hope to keep getting back in the groove. 

Once, I saw a post that said an hour of yoga is only 4% of your whole day, which motivated me to set a goal to do it every day. However, with work, errands, life, etc., it can be hard to fit in an hour. I just want to remind myself that it doesn't even necessarily have to be an hour. Just taking 5-20 minutes can be so beneficial. I mean, my screen time is crazy, and unfortunately, I don't think my FYP on TikTok is making me a better person or helping my mental health. So, as a reminder to myself and maybe others in my position, put the phone down for a minute and find something actually beneficial to you. Whether that be doing yoga, taking a walk, or reading a book, do something for you. It's just that first step that's hard, but it is always so rewarding.  

Moodboard: Lara Jean Covey

I read To All the Boys I've Loved Before not too long ago, and I can't help but keep going back to the movie soundtrack. I love, love, love the character Lara Jean, and I always find my way back to trying to emulate her. But maybe I am just Lara Jean and Lara Jean is me? After all, our Myers-Briggs personality types are both INFP, which is why I relate to her and find comfort in her character. (Also, Belly Conklin is considered an INFP, but I don't want to claim that bad energy.) If you have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention Myers-Briggs, PLEASE take the Myers-Briggs personality test, and you can see any song, person, fictional character, etc. that has the same personality type as you. My favorite test is linked here (and it's free, don't worry). Anyway, I saw a bit of myself in her character when she said, "My life was a mess..but I could clean my room." I'm especially feeling that now because my room is a mess and I'm a mess, but after work my life is gonna be put together because I'm cleaning it up and lighting a candle! #settingthemood #adult #optimisticdiva

Moodboard: Aunt Bea from Ramona and Beezus

 "Ramona, you're extraordinary." 

Diva of the Week: Rachael Ray

Rachael Ray was a popular chef seen on the Food Network, rising to fame in the early 2000s. One of her standout segments was "30 Minute Meals", which was a hit for normal people like us who don't have three hours to spend on some expensive, fantastic meal that feeds 10, like some programs might showcase. Her shows were, yes, fast-paced, but she kept your attention working fast on each meal and defining how each recipe could be tailored to fit the needs of each household. The Food Network is now plagued with food competition shows that are just highly oversaturated and nonsensical. I wanted to highlight this absolute diva for her cozy set and comforting meals. This is a queen that makes meal planning fun and nostalgic. 

(P.s. see that funky orange thing? It's her signature olive oil dispenser that I promised myself I would get once I've reached adulthood. We're not there yet, but I will not forget!)

Trend Cycles: Global Village Coffeehouse

Introducing one of my all-time favorite aesthetics, Global Village Coffeehouse. You know it; you might love it or hate it. But without a doubt, this was one of the most defining aesthetics of the 2000s. It took over third places by storm. Malls, coffee shops, book shops, and even breaking into homes. This style was plastered onto to-go coffee mugs, soup cans, and even yogurt cups. Though similar to the bold Tuscan aesthetic, Global Village Coffeehouse is not as ultra-luxurious or glamorous. This aesthetic could be felt anywhere by anyone. The sense of community and serenity this aesthetic provides might just be why it has resonated with me for so long. Now, in 2026, just about 20ish years after this style was in its heyday, I can't help but want to go back in time. 

Global Village Coffeehouse was composed of tribal like designs and earth tones. The human figures were typically composed of a flowy or box-like symmetry. The overarching detail that makes this style so nostalgic and heartfelt to me is the sense of community it conveys. Was it corporate? Yes. But it feels different from modern styles because it feels more heartfelt and inclusive, in a way that wasn't completely performative. Is the tribal imagery performative in the GVC style? Okay, yes... maybe a little..but I love to reminisce. But I also just love trashy things like tribal armbands on people who definitely shouldn't have them and tramp stamps, so take what I say with a grain of salt. 

Now, let me paint you a picture. 

Imagine: It's 2000-something, you just finished the school day as a senior at some high school on the East Coast. You rush out of the doors of your fourth period with your girls to celebrate the weekend with a warm latte. You're greeted by the warm air and scent of freshly ground coffee beans in a Starbucks. The lighting is warm and dim. They have cozy corners for private conversations or nice and quiet nooks to relax with a book. At the counter, they have a small selection of CDs next to the chocolate coffee beans. You decide on a Pumpkin Spice Latte; what other choice is there? And it only cost you $3.95. Ugh, a perfect way to end the day. 

To rehash my statement earlier, the point has been brought up that GVC was the corporate style of the 2000s that was seen everywhere, similar to the vintage icons or ambiguous figures with groovy shapes in PowerPoints now. But modern styles feel even more corporate and lifeless, I would argue, or at least more bland. White, grey, farmhouse style, open-concept, blah blah blah. Lastly, I don't need a view of everyone in a Panera or Starbucks. Bring back the coziness and the hidden corners in the third places during the global village coffeehouse boom, please!

Hello!

Welcome to my page! 

I'm Isabella (aka Izzy). 23. Swagapino. Indiana. Diva. 

Fun facts: Bad at math, but literate; I'm looking at you, Wattpad. 

Former fanpage owner. Duh.

Shopaholic

Self-proclaimed cinephile 

Star Sign - Gemini (watch out) 

Rising Sign - Taurus 

From that, you can guess I'm a spiritual baddie lol. ॐ

Interests: Thrifting, trying new coffee shops (and old ones), and emulating the early 2000s to fulfill lil me. 

About Me: Uh, chronically online. Currently, in remission, which is why I wanted to start this blog! I'm kinda starting to hate social media (though my screen time is still abysmal) because posting seems so scary. After all, who's gonna see it? I just wanted a space where I could feel FREE. So, join me along my brain dumps!