Did the world end in 2016?

The Cheek 011: I'm re-watching GIRLS and robots are *actually* taking our jobs

Vibe Check

Last time you heard from me, I was on a train from Edinburgh to London, eating snacks and romanticizing my life. I planned on writing again to share about our week in London, but we received some unfortunate news shortly after getting home. My grandfather unexpectedly died.

We rushed up north for the funeral and to spend time with family. Twelve of us piled into my aunt and uncle’s house in New Jersey. It was like a particularly chaotic episode of Full House, but with better food. I could barely get my paid work done, let alone find a moment of quiet to write my newsletter.

I’d be lying if I said I intentionally took this much time away. Aside from the unexpected and unforeseen circumstances, I just… didn’t have it in me. April left me in an intense state of emotional exhaustion. I barely cried at my grandfather’s funeral. I thought something was wrong with me, but I think my brain shuts off during stressful situations to take care of the people around me.

So, I kinda just crashed when I got back home. I’ve only been to three yoga classes, I’ve barely gotten my steps in, and I spent the last week flying through a rewatch of GIRLS. I’m already on Season 5 (more on that later). And lucky for you, I’ve scrolled more TikTok than I’d like to admit.

After a long, unintentional spring break, I’m ready to jump back in and serve some digital side-eye.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who reached out via Instagram to share your condolences. I love you!

Welcome to The Cheek. My weekly-ish, sometimes snarky newsletter, typically fueled by TikTok brainrot. Here I share my curated clicks, fav products, how I’m getting my shit together (The G.Y.S.T.), and obviously my hot takes. Enjoy.

Curated Clicks

Read: I finally had a chance to read cara alwill’s new book Don’t Do Anything I Would Do. It’s her hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking memoir about dating, divorce, and love. It’s honest and raw, and I had more than a few “Okay, I’m not the only one who’s done that” moments. As a paid subscriber to Cara’s Substack, I got to preview a lot of the chapters ahead of time, which was such a treat. She also sprinkles in bits of ’90s and 2000s nostalgia (think AOL chatrooms and early online dating), which made it even more fun to read. It’s the perfect weekend read, relatable no matter your age or relationship status.

Watch: It seems like we’re all romanticizing hipster culture, Tumblr circa 2014, and Mumford and Sons, so I decided to rewatch GIRLS. When the show first aired, I was 22 in New York, working at the MAC counter while it was still cool, rocking cool-toned lipsticks and a new Instagram filter every week. It was quite literally the show of my generation.

It’s fun to rewatch something and feel that buzz of nostalgia while also being able to laugh at how absolutely ridiculous some things were. Like the scene where Charlie and Ray are workshopping a song lyric for their band, Questionable Goods: “Where are you going in those… Keds?” Indie-folkish music will always slap, but the lyrics are a bit silly in hindsight.

I also love how the show never tried to make you like any of the characters. It’s very whitewashed. There are barely any people of color in sight, and I wonder if that was intentional. These supposedly progressive, “modern” women slumming it in Brooklyn without a single diverse friend in their circle? It’s kind of the point. The characters are all self-obsessed, chaotic, and morally bankrupt. That’s what made it good.

Listen: Rachel Zoe was on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show. With all the clean-girl, wake-up-at-4am-and-drink-my-green-juice discourse, it was refreshing to hear a successful woman be honest about the chaos that is her life. While I’m glad we live in a time where mental health and work-life balance are a priority, there’s still something iconic about the good ole grind.

Uh oh, is girlboss culture making a comeback? I wouldn’t totally hate it.

Scroll: People on TikTok are recording their job interviews where they are being interviewed by fucking robots. That’s right. Companies are forgoing actual human beings and using AI avatars to interview potential candidates for job roles. It’s bad enough you have to submit a cover letter and a resume, followed by an application that requires you to fill out all the stuff that’s already on your resume. Now they want us talking to fake robot people? It’s dehumanizing and, honestly, embarrassing.

Collective Take: As I reflect on the last 12ish years, I keep wondering, was 2015 the last time things felt fucking normal? Politically, things were progressing. Mental health was being talked about. Socially, we were becoming more accepting and emotionally mature, but without making it our entire personality and without all the hostility. Being online and having internet access actually connected people. It was something we did without it replacing our entire existence.

Trend cycles weren’t spinning at a rate no one could keep up with. There was so much promise. Then came a seismic shift. Was it the 2016 election? The pandemic?

We’ve all gone batshit crazy. Louder and angrier, with not much to show for it. 2012 to 2016 wasn’t perfect, but I can’t help thinking it was a better time.

The G.Y.S.T. (get your shit together)

I’ve been oil pulling for ten minutes every morning before brushing, and I swear my teeth look whiter. I just take a tablespoon of coconut oil, swish it around in my mouth for ten minutes, and spit it into the trash (do not spit it into the sink, it’ll ruin your pipes).

I think I’m going to train for a 5K. After getting pretty winded on some of my walks in Edinburgh, I’ve decided it’s time to get my cardio in order. In July, registration opens for a runDisney race next April. I think my cousin is going to fly down from New York to join me, which should be fun! Please drop all your recommendations for new runners in the comments.

Also, I’m moving to a new apartment in three weeks and haven’t done a single thing to prepare. Please send your thoughts and prayers

Treat yo’ self.

I’ve been using the MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream (affiliate link) for over two years and only just realized it has SPF. The coverage is gorgeous. I even wore it on my wedding day instead of foundation. It’s one of the rare products I’ve repurchased multiple times, and I can’t think of a better recommendation as summer approaches.

Photo Dump

London, photos we collected of Nonno, Lorelai Rose, my cute Nonna, and even cuter nephews.

The Plug

If you’re not stalking me yet, what are you even doing? Find me on Instagram @kristina_nasti and Tiktok @kristina_nasti

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ICYMI: I do Human Design readings. Think of it as the cooler, more science-y cousin of astrology. Human Design has completely changed my life and relationships. Curious? Let me read your chart.