Michelle's Melange: Edition 14
The phenom of spending a ton of money on a short-lived party, 1900s-2020s themed events, memes about ordinary people.
Who are we, where are we, what are we doing in this new year?? I have to say that I probably haven’t written much because I either find my life and recent interests boring to share or just couldn’t even remember enough to tell you what I’ve been up to. No excuse! Just gonna go off the top of my brain for this edition ;)
A Day in the Life
A riveting recent day in the life consisted of me buying this dry clean at home kit (anything to enable buying dry clean-only stuff??) and picking up an itchy Peruvian wool sweater for free from my local Buy Nothing group. Where does her time goooo!
So-Called “Wedding Planning”
I’ve been continuing to lead a retired-at-32 lifestyle (while still having a job), meaning things are pretty mellowwww. My primary activities during the week consist of so-called “wedding planning” and personal training sessions so that Jake and I can be our most spicy selves when the actual event happens in what feels like 5 years. I know that’s a cursed thing to say, as the date will approach quickly & I better ride this wave of it still feeling like it’s in the distant future before it inevitably creeps up.
To mention the topic of wedding planning is something that probably makes most peoples’ eyes glaze over, but I will continue regardless of your interest to say that it’s most fun when I think about the “vision” behind it all and brainstorm what my lewk will be, as if I’m a character. It’s kind of the only time you can creatively direct your fashion and a series of events and have somewhat of a budget to do it. It’s probably like the budget of a small brand activation, which is funny to consider. Like ok we’re nowhere near the Versace fashion show budget tier, but I do see how easy it is for people to blow that much money.
My dress has a bit of 30s/40s style despite originally thinking I was going for a 60s/70s inspired look. So, we’ll be doing a themed 30s-70s affair. Makes absolute sense. Maybe we just broaden to 1900-2023? If it were up to me, we’d go even further back in time to do a themed 1840s gold rush style event and butter churning would be both the group activity and a means of producing the guests’ party favors. Shouldn’t rule it out for one of the other events...
I think rather than being a bridezilla (there’s still time!!), I go super deep on the details that don’t matter. I find it hard to think of the big picture in order to move on to the next steps. Any step entails research because I’m me and it’s the way that I operate whether or not it’s necessary. I must pore over 1k “beaded party dresses,” only to decide that it’s not really what I’m looking for. In most design-related things, I should just trust myself and my initial instincts but with weddings it does feel like this huge overpowering industry of so many ideas and ways of doing things and even the “alternative” weddings (catch me on the Anti-Bride site) are out of reach, too cool and $. It’s literally just a party.
I saw a headline on the trusted news site the Daily Mail about Kate Hudson “still” not having planned her wedding despite having gotten engaged to her fiancé over a year ago. I love this type of news-that’s-not-news.
I thought this was funny because:
She can hire someone to brainstorm, plan & execute a fully custom event anyway, even at short notice
People are so obsessed with timelines & length of engagements, which is a made up concept
Of course, the embarrassing process of planning a day centered solely around you and your fiancé dredges up questions of whether you want to follow the traditions and norms that you’re told have been around since the dawn of time but really were manufactured in the last 100-something years to get us to buy stuff. Jia Tolentino has a good essay on the “wedding industrial complex” from her book Trick Mirror that she read on this radio show, if you’re interested.
Quick note on 1 resolution for my year— I’d like to publish something! Like formally, on paper, etc. And that could include self-publishing! Making it known here, and I hope you’d read it. And please forget the time I said I’d learn bass guitar, we’ll get back to her [the bass] one day.
Account to Check Out
Lastly, I wanted to share the important Ordinary People Memes account. It is exactly as it sounds! Recommend checking out their bizarro reels, as well.
I hope to deliver more pop culture, home decor, and internet content to you in 2023. Thank you for being *loyal* readers. Please comment if there’s any topics you want me to cover in particular!!
💗Michelle
Throughly enjoyed. 1900-2023 theme 😂