• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • New Magazine!
  • Bread
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans

Dear Future Joy the Baker,

December 29, 2009 by Joy the Baker 118 Comments

Joy the Baker Vacation 

Dear Future Joy,

Once upon a time, probably a good handful of years ago, you took yourself on vacation.  

This was at a time before you had kids or a husband.  When you would treat yourself to the expensive shampoo and conditioner.  When you were convinced that only super rich people get to own houses.  When you couldn’t exactly afford to take yourself away on a fancy vacation… but you did anyway.  

Future Joy… you should know that the Joy of 2009 is totally cheering you on.  She wants you to have the happy husband, and the crazy kids and the mortgage and the life that makes you want to do backflips and rejoice.  But with all that… I’m sure some things will just drive you batty.  You might need to remember this time… this time that happening to me right now.  

Joy the Baker Vacation 

See… it’s quiet here.  There are little napkins with embroidered animals on them.  

Joy the Baker Vacation 

The drapes are gorgeous.. and you never even notice drapes.  

Joy the Baker Vacation 

Drawers have little keys.

Joy the Baker Vacation 

Matchbooks have little painted typewriters on them.

Joy the Baker Vacation 

You’re working on your book proposal.  Your freakin’ book proposal!!!  Yea… you’re pretty excited.

Joy the Baker Vacation 

Working in between making fires…

Joy the Baker Vacation 

and taking baths. 

Joy the Baker Vacation 

There’s art in the garden.  Art.  In the garden!

Joy the Baker Vacation 

Hot Dang!  You’re living the good life and it feels dreamy.  This is the sort of thing you’re going to need to draw upon when you’re getting a root canal, or standing in line at the DMV, or trying to wrangle toddlers into car seats.  Remember that once upon a time you took yourself on a big, fancy vacation, and you felt so blessed and enjoyed every single moment of it.  Remember.  

Love you.  Mean it.

Present Joy

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Honey Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread
Next Post: Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gabrielle

    May 26, 2019 at 1:33 pm

    Your 38th birthday letter brought me here. It’s so sweet! You’ve always been so brave and vulnerable with us, and though I’m walking a different road your down-to-earthness reminds me that every one of us is dealing with things and doing their best and once I’m doing mine that’s ok. Cheers to you Joy, to more full living and more dreams coming true.

    Reply
  2. Clare

    November 9, 2010 at 8:50 am

    I’m dying to know where this is. This looks like the most adorable place ever.

    Reply
  3. CRYSTAL

    January 24, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    I JUST GOTTA KNOW WHAT KIND
    OF CAMERA YOU HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!
    all of the pics. are so lovely.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      January 24, 2010 at 10:20 pm

      hi crystal.
      i have a canon rebel with a 50mm lens.

      Reply
  4. Nicki

    January 20, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    That photo of you in the mirror is really lovely. Your hair looks great!
    Glad you had a good time!

    Reply
  5. Lexi

    January 10, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    Just found your blog and absolutely love it! And can I tell you that I completely agree with the whole buying a couch thing. That’s how I felt about purchasing a new matress. But can I tell you that I haven’t regretted the purchase once..! Oh the luxuries of being a “real” grown up! Can’t wait to see your book!

    Reply
  6. Heather Jones

    January 6, 2010 at 12:04 pm

    I’m so jealous, I didn’t get to do much of that before the kids and the husband, and the mortgage. I smiled reading your post :)

    Hurray up with that proposal, can’t wait to read what will sure to be a wonderful book.

    Reply
  7. Alissa

    January 5, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    A book proposal??? Sign me up! I want one for sure!

    Reply
  8. Alyssa Goodnight

    January 5, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    I’m jealous! And soooo hoping for a book! Best of luck!

    Reply
  9. Reagan

    January 5, 2010 at 10:53 am

    So magical!!

    Reply
  10. Gigi

    January 4, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    lovely post! inspiring and soooo true! happy new year. :D

    Reply
  11. Meghan

    January 4, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    Beautiful home! Just so sunny and bright, like you! And I would kill for that bathtub! Well, maybe not kill, but you know what I mean! :)

    Reply
  12. Tracey

    January 4, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Thank you so much for this post! I have been very down the past couple of weeks, having that “29 and still single” during the holidays pity party, along with the news that my last single girl friend got engaged at Christmas. so thank you for helping me see that i really should be enjoying this time, not whining and crying about it. maybe i’ll plan me a little solo trip too. :)

    Reply
« Older Comments
Comments Page 8 of 8
« Previous 1 … 6 7 8

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

stack of beach reads 2022
The Best Books for Summer 2022

Summer books are meant to be defiled. Pages should be smeared with suntan lotion and potato chip grease; covers should be sun faded and waterlogged, used as coasters for your margaritas, a landing pad for unwieldy ice cream cones. (Unless, of course, you’re checking your summer book out from the library. In which case, you…

Read More

Summer Bucket List, 2022!

BUCKET LIST buck•et list (noun): a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have accomplished during their lifetime.  Also, a 2007 comedic film featuring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. SUMMER BUCKET LIST sum•mer buck•et list (noun):  a list of things that a person would like to accomplish and experience during the summer months.  If done correctly,…

Read More

A Peek Behind the Scenes of the new Joy the Baker Magazine

A few years ago when I embarked on the (incredibly exciting) journey of magazine making, I had no idea just how much it would flip my seasons and try to scramble my festive circadian rhythm.  Last summer, I had a Christmas tree up in the living room for most of July and August. Yes, fully…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Joy the baker with dyed bandana around neck

HOW TO MAKE DYED BANDANAS

as seen in JtB Magazine!

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

FAVORITE FRUIT RECIPES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Berry crostata topped with whipped cream with coffee.

A Single Serve Berry Crostata Recipe

fresh baked blueberry cobbler on a plate with vanilla ice cream on top.

The Secrets To My Favorite Blueberry Cobbler

POPULAR CAKES

strawberry sheet cake on a plate with strawberries on top.

My Favorite Super Easy Strawberry Sheet Cake

Slice of coconut cake on small white plate with coffee.

My favorite Coconut Cake is actually made with cake mix

A slice of lemon blueberry gooey butter cake held on a cake slicer.

Lemon Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolu My EASIEST Strawberry Sheet Cake is also my absolute favorite. Get into a box of white cake mix and fresh 🍓🍓 purée! Topped with a thick layer of strawberry cream cheese frosting - this cake is a little pink dream! ⁣
⁣
The Easiest Strawberry Sheet Cake recipe linked in the bio for you! 💋
Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite Our resident reader, @tobyfels shares my favorite list of the summer on Joy the Baker this year: The Best Books for Summer 2022!  As a person who reads Beach Reads all year long, this is IT! With titles by @ashleymcoleman_ @anarasong @annleary @bonnie_garmus_author @heyashposton @annabelmonaghan @greerhendricks @sarahpekkanen @shelbyvanpeltwrites @marilynsimonrothstein @@misterosman and @kirstin.chen. The guide to your bookworm summer linked in the bio!
Over here testing the limits of “you are what yo Over here testing the limits of “you are what you eat” and will soon be taking my final form as a summer tomato. ⁣🫠🍅
⁣
This Mediterranean Feta and Fresh Tomato Tart is an absolute show stopper with a buttery crisp, press-in crust, whipped feta, and layers of fresh tomato, cucumber, onions, and olives. I’ll leave the recipe linked in the bio - it’s really very special. Join me. We are 🍅🍅.
Here are my two best kept secrets for getting thro Here are my two best kept secrets for getting through this summer.  I’ve never been much for secrets so I’m letting you right in! ⁣
1.	I’m committed to folding crumbled chewy brownies into the easiest homemade no-churn ice cream.⁣
2.	I’m shopping for all of my baking and summer entertaining essentials, wine and cheese at the new @aldiusa stores opening across the Gulf Coast! Wait… you’re as obsessed with ALDI as I am, right? The shopping is always easy and affordable and I always come home with a fun treat among my essentials. Hit up my stories to see my grocery haul (and the chips I ate in the car on the way home) and head to your nearest ALDI for your summer essentials!  #ad⁣
⁣
I’ll leave the recipe and your #ALDILove grocery list linked in the bio!
Let’s just make one! ⁣ ⁣ One Single Berry Cr Let’s just make one! ⁣
⁣
One Single Berry Crostata just you for. Double the recipe (🔗 in the bio) only if you want to share. ⁣
⁣
#joythebaker #berry #crostata #smallbatch #dessert #foodblogfeed
The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from h The freezer is packed with ice cream treats from here on out, and that’s a promise. ⁣
⁣
Find this Milk and Cereal Ice Cream Bar and loads of other semi-homemade ice cream treats linked in the bio! 💓🍦🫠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up