Hello sweet friends!
I hope this finds you enjoying a second Saturday. I love a Sunday that’s actually a second Saturday and we have Memorial Day to thank for it. While we’re busting out the first of the watermelon and hot dogs to celebrate this fine start to summer, here’s a brief reminder why we get enjoy this Memorial Day with some thoughtfulness, you know? Have you seen that documentary about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? It’s incredible.
I’m in Los Angeles again briefly this weekend to see my dear friend Jon get married. Love love love. It’s a strong current this year.
It’s funny coming back to Los Angeles after not living here for a few good years. The sunshine feels familiar, the ocean seafoam creeps up the beach just as I remember, but my goodness the cool-factor… y’all…. I mean seriously… can we dial it back? It’s gone to far and you’ve honestly got to be kidding me. I saw a tiny dog in a denim jacket (with tiny patches on it) getting it’s photo taken in front of a Blue Bottle Coffee sign in Venice and I was like, ok I made the right move with my life because I 100% can not deal with this.
That being said… the beach is great and the coffee is fine and for about half of the morning I was convinced I needed to lose 8 pounds until I remembered that my body serves me very well and is happy and strong and enjoys fries and wine. So anyway… headed back to New Orleans soon.
Here are some Sunday thoughts. They’re not aaalll of my Sunday thoughts, for example, I don’t really want to talk about Trump or terrorism… but they are some of my Sunday thoughts and I hope they resonate.
โข I felt like this is an important and beautiful piece to read if you are curious about people in the world around you. Alone on the road: truckers feel like ‘throwaway people’.
โข Why it’s so hard to admit you’re wrong. Oh you know… it just threatens everything we think we are. That’s all.
โข This is why class valedictorians don’t become millionaires. It’s about being disruptive. Vision ain’t about grades, ya know?
โข Maybe this will resonate with you in a few ways. I’ll be honest, it did me. When self-improvement becomes self-destruction: 4 warning signs.
โข Modern Love: Wanting monogamy as 1,946 men await my swipe. That’s a lot of dudes and somehow this seems really lonely and isolating and are we ok… because I think the answer is NO.
โข Nature is amazing… but I mean it in the truest sense of the word AMAZING. Nature’s electricity in your body though sounds dang insane: This is what it’s like to be struck by lightning.
โข Can I file this under What The Actual F*ck?: It’s too late for Fox to retract it’s Seth Rich story. Follow up: The corrosion of reality should worry every American.
โข I’m working hard on my Summer Bucket list for 2017, but here are a few years past: Summer Bucket List 2015 + Summer Bucket List 2016
โข A few fine summers ago, these emerged from my kitchen and I was really happy about it. To be fair, I made them… they didn’t just appear from the heavens though that would have been welcome: Black Pepper and Strawberry Jam Doughnuts
โข In very unimportant news, I’m on a smoothie kick and here’s one of my smoothie boosters: Vital Proteins Collagen Powder. #thisis36
โข I love these travel tips. Jessica is a ninja and her children are very sweet humans with more stamps on their passports that me: International Travel with Young Children. The how-to.
โข Two documentaries I’m watching: LA 92, about the Los Angeles Riots. Venus and Serena, about two of the greatest athletes of our time.
โข Every fiber of my being wants these burgers: A Cozy Kitchen’s Copy Cat Shake Shack Burgers
Let’s enjoy this beautiful day. How lucky we are; you know it, too.
More life, more everything – Joy
30 Responses
In response to your truckers link, did you see this? https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/news/rigged-forced-into-debt-worked-past-exhaustion-left-with-nothing/ I know, it’s USA Today, but it’s actually a good investigative story that should make people angry. But I’ve seen so very little about it. Maybe you can help spread the word.
Really enjoyed reading the LA Times post on “When self-improvement is self destruction..” Seeing all the self care and wellness posts all over social media and online, I have wondered if there is something undergirding this for many women. So enlightening and put words into things I’ve been pondering for a long while! Great choice to post.
Also, laughed at your comment on the dog in front of Blue Bottle – would’ve had the same reaction as you ;)
Thank you for the links for Memorial Day. (I know it’s days late but better late then never, right?) I didn’t know it’s history and I will check out the documentary.
If you enjoyed LA 92, I recommend checking out Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/movies/let-it-fall-review-john-ridley.html). John Ridley (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725983/) did an incredible job putting this documentary together.
Oh Joy! You were back in Los Angeles, I knew there was a reason for the sunshine. I love your column and look forward to reading it each Sunday. Of course, it goes without saying your recipes and books are tops on my list too. As a native Angeleno, I say live and let live. Don’t worry about those picture perfect people; you’re loved just the way you are.
So interesting how you’ve inserted bits of current events into your beautiful cake post! What’s a gorgeous cake recipe without some words about lonely truckers on the road, right?
I’ll give them a read. Lovely cake!
I look forward to your Let It Be Sunday posts every week! Thanks for making them so fun.
Lisa, I don’t think Joy was referring to the temperature when she referred to the “cool factor” of California! LOL!
Thanks Joy! I share this sentence “โMore life, more everythingโ :)
Hi joy! I’m glad i found your blog, you’re hilarious!! Thanks, Amy
SO what’re your fave More Life tracks? :)
Mine are currently sacrifices and teenage fever..I screamed when I heard that J.LO sample.
Thank you so much for this sentence: “…for about half of the morning I was convinced I needed to lose 8 pounds until I remembered that my body serves me very well and is happy and strong and enjoys fries and wine.”
All the YES.
Other Los Angeles lady bodies can trick you. Gotta remember who we are and the wine we like.
Loved this line!!!!
I think “More life, more everything” could become my new life motto (no drugs or dangerous things though). Happy Sunday to you, Joy! xo
Love the vital proteins collagen! It’s really helped my joints not be so achey when I am running. And the skin and hair improvement is a nice bonus!
Joy
Why so down on beautiful California? Sure,it can be chilly in Summer as well as absolutely gorgeous and warm! New Orleans is plain ol hot and humid all summer long, certain people who live there would love a chilly day in late May! I say embrace it all! When will you grace us with recipe for cover photo of that cake? Thanks!
Look forward spending a bit of my Sunday with you! As always a lovely post!! xx
whites5@pacbell.net
Nothing about it being ‘MEMORIAL DAY’? A day to recognize all those who’ve given their lives for us??
Read the first paragraph closer.
So my sissy is on the East coast, I’m on the West, I lived in LA, so I’ve tested all three. I think the In and Out burgers tastes better in LA. The price is right for sure. Shake shack burgers are more the equivalent of a Super Duper burger( Bay Area “chain”)Price points are about the same, although I notice that Super Duper uses local organic ingredients and Shack Shack doesn’t ( at least it does not say so on their website) I’m not an American cheese fan either. Super Duper, uses real cheese only. Obviously, I thought a lot about this….. you can’t beat a really good burger. It just hits the spot. This recipe looks really good. Grinding your own meat? I’m in! Now I will read the rest of your post. Thank you :)
You sound like an expert and I respect it. :)
Joy I love your Sunday posts. I like your other posts too but these are my faves.
Thank you Rebecca! They’re my favorite to write!
The valedictorian piece spoke to me. A real aha. I’m definitely a rule-following hard worker, not a disrupter.
The self-improvement/self-destruction piece is (ironically) followed by links to more self-improvement stories.
Joy! Re: smoothies – How did you land on the vital proteins addition? From a true fan girl in Truckee, CA. Next time you are in CA, I’d love to tour you around Lake Tahoe. :-)
Hi Lisa! I really love how the collagen helps my skin, hair, and nails. It’s a noticeable difference to me. And Vital Proteins has no taste at all which I love.
I love your tone and vibe so very very much.
Thank you Joy for another great “Let it be Sunday”. I look forward to reading your ensemble of information every Sunday. I was hoping to see the recipe for the “More Life” cake pictured at the beginning of your post. It looks gorgeous and delicious. Have a great Sunday and Memorial Day. .Have a beignet for me!
Yes!!! What is that gorgeous cake?