This is a picture of me on a bridge, among the trees, wearing sporty shorts in Seattle.
This picture tells you a few things:
I’m not in a kitchen. I’m really excited about not being in a kitchen. My sister let me borrow her running shorts so I didn’t have to wear my bright purple yoga pants…. and I’m wearing a fashion scarf because I want to look cute even when I’m hiking four miles up a mountain.
Aaand.. I have several versions of this picture where my arms are raised too high, exposing a little belly. I’ve spared myself the shame of sharing those.
Let me show you what my Seattle times look like. Wanna see? Rad.
That’s my little sister Lauren, my Mama, and my big sister Launa.
When the four of us are together, we laugh… a lot.
Ps- cat butt.
We laugh and we joke about eating ice cream for dinner…. then we eat ice cream.
ps- Crown Royal on top of the fridge.
We eat ice cream while my mom tells us the story of how she was a door to door saleswoman for like… three hours.. until she had a panic attack and quit.
Meet Lauren’s cat Charles. He’s quite the gentleman.
Launa loves to garden. More than once I found her out back riffling through the apartment building’s commnity garden.
She planted tomato plants for the apartment. So sweet… she’s also dang pretty.
Chives and lettuce. Could someone please make some Buttermilk Ranch so we can tame this garden?
Can I show you more pictures of plants? Are you annoyed yet?
These are my favorite flowers. Hydrangeas. They make me want to get married. I dunno… hard to explain.
We went for a hike.
We went for a four mile hike up a mountain…
past some gorgeous waterfalls…
… and up and up and up thousands… no millions of stairs.
My sister stopped for text message breaks. Is that normal?
After over two hours of lugging my thighs up that mountain, we made it to Lake Serene, where…
I promptly sat my ass down and devoured this bag of M&Ms. Fact.
Also… I don’t want to talk about my hair. At all.
Is that a chipmunk? Dang this little guy was cute. I threw him an almond and he was ready to take me home to meet his family. He was smitten.
Are those hunks?
I threw almonds at them. I didn’t get the same response.
Just hunks.
Oh!
I stopped by the Cakespy Shop!
At Cakespy, everything is cute and most things are pink. Also… farts and rainbows meet.
Jessie of Cakespy is so sweet and lovely. She painted a battle between cupcakes and pie on her shop wall. She’s also tiny… and I felt like a giant.
Then Lauren and I ate Ice Cream at Molly Moon’s. Get Out! So crazy good!
I also can’t get over how crazy pretty this girl is.
This Goat Milk Blueberry Frozen Yogurt made my life. Also… sorry to creep you out with my weirdo bendy finger.
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t wait to move there on Sunday. yay!
Goat cheese yogurt?! Maybe you can recreate that and share the recipe with us?? It sounds amazing. Glad you are having a great time Joy!
I’d love to visit seattle and eat at all the bakeries, I’ve heard so many good things!!
Molly Moon’s is fantastic! There’s a cute gelato place near that, called Fainting Goat Gelato – also awesome. I love the chipmunk picture…and Seattle hikes are gorgeous. Haven’t made it to Serene yet, but now I will, after seeing those pictures! Glad you’re loving the city :)
JOY! You make me laugh. Please don’t ever stop eating ice cream or lugging your thighs up mountains. Thanks. For. Sharing.
PS I’d like to sneak Charles the cat into MY suitcase…beautiful.
You should have thrown more almonds at those hunks!
You are so fantastic. For real real. Not for play play.
Gawd girl, you crack me UP!! Funeral for a friend tomorrow and here you are making me laugh. I am going to make 2 of your delish desserts for the funeral after party, (not sure what the after thingy is called) You’re like a sunflower with a pinch o’ spicy. I thank the universe (and your ma and pop) for you.
*love*
heart you.
Joy! You make me laugh. And Charles is downright handsome.
Oh wow….sounds like you are having a funtastic time with your family! And I love the way you live life! To heck with being obsessed with carb counting when there are mountains to climb and dessert shops to be explored! Carpe diem!
How is it possible for all three of you to look like completely different people in this series of photos? You’re all gorgeous, by the way. I didn’t know there was a third sister: I just thought it was you and the little sis.
P.S. I covet that shirt/tunic in the last and second-to-last pics.
Great photos – looks like yall had lots of fun and lots of good eats!
I love the chipmunk/almond/hunks situation, haha : )
To hell with the almonds, I might have thrown MYSELF into the lake to see if the hunks would save me. Assuming, of course, that my husband wasn’t within a 2 mile radius.
Looks like you had a truly fabulous time in Seattle – the pictures are amazing (love the stairs!!), and DANG do you have a good lookin’ family! And even though I’m a dog person, I totally heart Charles and want to take him home with me. :)
Such beautiful women! :)
I made Fig 7 Goat Cheese Swirl Ice Cream awhile back. And it was mind blowing. No joke.
I’m pretty sure goat cheese is best eaten frozen in a ice cream cone.
I think it’s wonderful that you surround yourself with such beautiful, fun-loving people. Those you surround yourself with reflect well upon you!
I love your pictures! It looks like you gals had a blast :D (Btw, Charles is so handsome!)
Awww.. it is so green there ! I lived in Portland Oregon before we moved here to the bottom of the world.. I was forgetting how green it is up there :)
You all are beautiful. Not only do you look Good but you look Happy .. how great is that ?!
chau, bella !!
C
I want to visit Seattle so badly!! Someday I will make it…
Charles is beautiful!
I love how you have given us a little peek into your adventures in Seattle with your precious sisters, your mom and ALL the fun you had – including LOTS of ice cream and a hike (with gorgeous sites along the way!!!!). I’ve also noticed that your blog has a little bit of a new look….I like it!
Not creepy at all,Joy. I enjoyed The trip. It’s like I was there with you..
Glad you’ve enjoyed my city! Looks like you hit up many of our awesome spots, and now I am excited to go on a new hike I didn’t know about to Serene! :)
Your sisters are LOVELY! I love your older sister’s locks. I hope mine grow as long as hers. Wow. Great photos. I’m so glad you all are having fun together.
her hair is INCREDIBLE!
Looks like you are having a great time with your family. My sister is in Seattle and I miss her too much! Enjoy!
I have been reading your blog for a short time, and have been thinking, “How does she stay so thin when she CLAIMS to eat desserts for dinner and breakfast?” Well, seeing you next to Jessie, I think I have my answer. You’re tall! That always explains it–us pixies never get the luxury of indulging without chunking up….oh, well. Still love the blog.
You look like you’re having a ton of fun. Yippee! I love the new look to your blog. A weird question – do you ever make jam? Keep on havin’ fun with your awesome sisters and your mama!!!!
Joy,
That sounds totally amazing. You make me smile like so crazy! And laugh lots! Keep writing :)
–Lena, 13 years old
P.S. Charles is damn shmexy!
dear lena,
thank you for making shmexy a word.
love, joy
Your pictures make me want to go to Seattle! Nature and ice-cream and good companions…what could be better?
And I completely get your hydrangea comment. :-)
Joy! Your crack me up! I am going on a trip to North Carolina to walk up and down mountains with my sister and mom this weekend. I hope our adventure is as awesome as yours! Aren’t moms and sisters awesome??!!
Molly Moon! OMG! Tell me you ate salted caramel ice cream? Or at least tried it? Or at LEAST ate a homemade waffle cone? My sister sent me a picture of her MM treat today…I live in Philly and it’s like twisting the knife in my back.
your blog is such a light-hearted treat at the end of this day!
You are really, really funny! :)
YOU are hilarious!
So sweet – I’m glad you’re having some fun sisterly times!
Is it normal to look forward to your blog updates as much as I do? Always a good-natured laugh. Thanks for sharing…and glad you guys had a blast! Cheers.
I frequently come on here to get hungry, get recipes, get inspired by the great things I see you creating, and I love seeing photos.
Tonight I just laughed—out loud and hard—reading what you had to say about each photo. Love the comments about the hair and the belly shot…I’d edit that out too! Thanks for sharing!
Dang girl!!! You are too funny, your sisters & you are too gorgeous, and mom looks like she’s having a great time too! Almonds?? You should have thrown a sister!!! THAT would have gotten their attention!!! LMAO!!! Keep posting PLEASE…you bring a smile every time I read one & have me baking up a storm in 100 degree heat w/ the air blasting!!!!!!!!!!
You met Jessie from Cakspy?!?!?!??! That’s like two of my baking idols TOGETHER! D: I’m jealouuus!
Wei-Wei
Listen here’s the thing, I promise I have a life, a really great one. Howeveeeeerrrrr, I get super hype when I see you have a new post up! It may or may not make my day, i’ll never tell :)
P.s. you ladies are beautiful, and I love Launa’s locks, so dope. I am currently transitioning to “natural hair”. 7 months clean from the creamy crack also known as a relaxer lol. Great pics. <3
Incredible woods, I so love hiking, and I love it when I can eat something sweet afterwards, it’s a little prize for being so sporty and dedicated. Your sisters and your mum look lovely, what a great family!
I love hydrangeas too and they make me think of weddings as well. Whenever I water the plants in the garden I always give them a bit extra cos I think they deserve the love more than the other plants! Your family is so beautiful – nice to meet your big sis and mum! :)
This entry made me so happy. :) I honeymooned in Seattle last October, and it was wonderful to “see” it again! ♥
that trip looks rad! btw, do you and your sister have the same eyes and facial expression as your mum or what? Lauren looks so much like her! and you too!
Joy, you, your sisters and your mom are so precious. I want to hang out with all of you. It looks like you all have so much fun together. You’re all lovely women. :)
Joy, your family is beautiful! Also, how can you go to Seattle and not have coffee?!?!
don’t worry… i had hella coffee. i just didn’t take photographs of it.
You have an adorable family, thanks for sharing your pictures and brightening up my dreary day.
I made buttermilk ranch dressing for two of my favorite couples who came to my house in the country t attend a ‘let’s go visit Thea and tell her we are pregnant’ brunch last Saturday. They loved the dressing.
Good times! i wanna go back to seattle now. did you visit the theo chocolate shop? mmm chai chocolate bar :)
JOY – you crack me up! I am so glad that you are enjoying MY city!! Three cheers for Seattle!! :)
Joy – you are like a breath of fresh, funny and creative air – every day! Thanks!
and you have the coolest name ever, twyla.