Heck Yes. Wear a Dress.
For a second I thought I might sit around my house this past weekend and wallow knee deep in self pity and other sorrows. Sounds like fun, right? A real riot.
I thought better of it. I kicked myself right in the pants and put on the biggest party dress I could find.
Big party dresses are key to healing any of life’s little hiccups. You think I’m kidding? Put on a dress… you’ll feel way better.
Know what else helps with life’s hiccups? Bourbon. Or wait…. does that cause the hiccups in the first place? I’m not sure. Jury is still out on that one.
Big party dress, check. Bourbon, check. Country funk records spinin’ on the turntable, check. One heck of an afternoon in the sun… success.
Throw in my two best friends Whitney and Rachel. Holy heckballs…. that was one fine weekend.
Please note: this post was just a shameless excuse to show you the fantastic vintage dress I wore this weekend. If this dress or my unabashed love of bourbon and country funk music offends your sensibilities…. well… that’s a real shame. You must admit though… it’s a pretty rad dress.
Tomorrow we discuss pie bars. It’s important. Really important.
Photographs by Marisa Q Photography
152 Comments Add A Comment
What a pretty confection of a dress! So lovely :)
Gorgeous dress–glad you had fun!
Can’t wait for the pie bars!
You know how Food Network is starting a spin-off network that is younger and hipper? You need to have a show on that network! You’re just so cool. It would be so great to watch you every week. And I don’t think there is enough home baking on food network.
No wallowing in self pity! I won’t allow it! You’re fabulous!
You look so GORGEOUS in that DRESS~!!!!!
Darlin, I have been a lurking fan for a while now, never posted before this, BUT…I just had to say you look so amazingly incredible! Totally rad dress, totally rad outlook and what a fun afternoon! You seem like a very strong woman, one I hope my daughter grows up to be like. Love your food, love the dress, love your blog! keep your chin up pretty girl, it all works out in the end!
love this post. gorgeous you, having fun and shaking off the bad mojo. awesome. :)
Mmmmm…Bulleit Bourbon: my favorite. Tasty and comforting. And I can’t wait for pie bars!
you and that dress are gorgeous!!!
Also, with all the good karma you’re sending out into the world, there’s no need to wallow in anything negative – the wheel of fortune will spin you right back up soon enough :)
The dress is fabulous. I thought so even before your shameless plug. Country Funk, you’ve intrigued me.
I just LOVE your BIG spirit and how you embrace life, especially the hiccups of life! You look gorgeous! How could any girl feel blue in a dress like that!!
I wish my son could meet a girl like you…..
I just love your dress, so yes, be shameless and show off that lovely dress – it’s the little things in life that make you smile. Trust me, I know exactly what you mean about wallowing knee deep in self pity and sorrows, so I did just the same – picked out the cutest dress I could find and felt my sorrows just wash away. I hope your life’s little hiccups find it’s way to the simple joys of bourbon and other such treats!
Simply stunning!
Joy the Baker, you rock my socks. Just sayin.
where did you get that dress!? it’s GORGEOUS.
Best blog post title ever.
you look great. hope the ‘hiccups’ go away soon. best
Um, wearing dresses is not for everyone. I know that wearing a dress makes me uncomfortable. Always has, always will. I now own only one dress not counting the 2 dreadful bridesmaid dresses I had to buy. And the stockings and heels?! Don’t get met started with that! I’ll stick with my polo shirts and jeans. :D
You, however, do look lovely in your dress.
love the dress! it’s absolutely gorgeous :] i’ll remember that next time i want to feel fabulous about myself :P
p.s. just started reading your blog and i loveeee it :] keep up the spectacular posts!
Love your dress! And I agree with you! Wearing dresses makes you feel great right away!
Im in LOVE with that dress and the fact that you said holy heck balls. You’re rad.
allow me to be the millionth person to tell you how gorgeous you look! if only i had a place to wear a dress like that. could i rock such a look at Target? actually, yeah, I could.
Gorgeous dress… and gorgeous PERSON! :D Looks like a very fun event!
Wei-Wei
Wow! Love the dress! Glad you enjoyed your weekend. Looking forward to more of your awesomeness!
Too cute for words, how could you not feel better when you look that stunning! Absolutely love that dress, I suppose its a one of a kind?
That dress is incredible!
Dresses, big hats and bourbon… Was the occasion the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby? If so, you were in perfect style!
why yes… it was a derby occasion. i love the derby for dresses, hats, horses and bourbon. it’s one of the best days of the year!
You look gorgeous- what a fun afternoon!
you look absolutely gorgeous joy! love the dress too!
Joy Joy Joy… I didn’t think I could love you any more, but to discover you celebrate the Derby? I love it! I was born and bred a KY girl. I even rode horses for a while. (Now I’m a Nashvillian, and a television editor, quite different!)
PS. If you’re looking for a cocktail idea with that Bulleit, try a Bourbon Ball Martini!
You look lovely in your dress!
You’re gorgeous! I love that dress. And I think your tattoo compliments it. :)
Best.Dress.Ever.
How can life be anything but good when you own a dress like that?
Great Dress Joy!!1 I’m totally not going to lie… I di the exact same thing with my Sunday. Spring dress? Check. Best Friend? Check. Scenic drive to cute town for window shopping? Check and Check! Such a good way to cure Boy blues.
That dress is beyond rad. You look so dang adorable in it, especially with the little shoulder tat peeking through. Glad you got out this weekend. And glad to see a smile on your face.
Oh, you are awesome! :-) I love this. :-) Love that you made a gorgeous day out of a buggery one. :-)
Oh my gosh, you are too freakin’ cute. What a great dress. Hope the weekend cheered you up a bit, sounds like a fabulous time!!
Joy!! I Loooooooooooooooooove your dress, it’s too pretty for words. I’m a big fan of dresses too, and you just gave a great idea!! (though i’m more of a red-wine person)
Lots of love and cupcakes!!
Ps: I’m going vintage dress-shopping NOW!
Great dress and glad you had a grand old time…I miss girl parties like that. Bourbon pie bars?????? Please.
What a beautiful pic of you and your dress! You should frame it for Mother’s Day & send it! A rose(tatto) within a secret garden! Or is it…a rose by any other name?
And good for you for turning the day around! I’ve got mostly sons, 16 years on up to thirties. None of their shenanigans are worth wasting a glorious day! LOL!
Have a great week, Rosey! :-)
p.s…oops…that’s ‘tatooooo’, not ‘tatto”… :-)
WOW . .you look awesome!
Just lovely.
That is an AMAZING dress… you look beautiful, woman!!
Love it. Yes. All.
You are so right about the euphoric effects that a party dress can have on ones mind, I think the bourbon helps a little too!!! Love your dress = )
Hi Joy,
I was having such a terrible day and then I read this post. Thanks for making me put on a dress, in which I then mowed the lawn and pulled weeds. It gave the neighbors something to talk about, but I felt like a million 50′s housewife bucks {which is like 8 million today, so, SHAZAM.}
Hope your woes disappeared with the bourbon & thank goodness for awesome music & friends.
Hugs,
Zom G.
P.S. Your dress is fabulous.
you look fabulous.
I agree with Jessie- I WANT TO SEE YOU ON THE FOOD NETWORK!!
on one condition- you keep this blog- because it is AWESOME!
p.s your Fabulous! Youd make a paper bag look vogue- however that was one kickin dress!