Joy the Baker

Dear Thirty Nine Year Old Joy,

by 272 Comments

Joy the Baker Birthday 

Dear Thirty Nine Year Old Joy,

     It’s 2010.  Today we’re Twenty Nine Year Old Joy.  It’s exciting.  My Facebook page is exploding with birthday wishes.  Cool but mostly gross. 

I’m making a birthday cake.  That’s what that big mess is all about.  

I’m writing you, Future Joy, just to say hello and remind you of a few things.  A lot can happen in the ten years between us.   

Joy the Baker Birthday 

This is your twenty nine year old self, Joy.  You dye your hair with henna and wear tie dye tank tops.  The exposed bra strap…. well, I hope we’re not still doing that.  Not super classy… your mama taught you better than that.

Twenty nine year old Joy daydreams about being either Angelina Jolie or a butt kicking Russian spy.  Both would be ideal.  I’m going to start wearing a lot of sexy black turtleneck sweaters now… that should get us halfway to making our dream a reality.  Ten years from now we’re a Russian spy… aren’t we?  Awesome.

This year for my birthday I’d either like a kitten or a bottle of bourbon.  I’d settle for a crepe pan.  Am I being a brat?  Yes.

I have to get back to the cake I’m baking for us, Future Joy.  I hope you’re doing rad things on this day in your life.  Rad things that may or may not include wrangling small children, feeding kittens and shoe shopping… well, that’s if you haven’t gotten the whole Russian spy thing worked out for us.  I’m kinda counting on that, so….  yea.

Love,

Twenty Nine Year Old Joy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TnT

    Hi,

    I came from the future to say “Hi” :)

    Thank you for sharing with us, making us laugh and making us a bit braver about ourselves.

    T.

    Reply

  6. Elizabeth

    Happy birthday!
    I’m only sort of late.
    My birthday is June 29, and when I was little I imagined when I turned 29, it will be the best year ever. Was twenty-five your best year ever?

    Reply

  7. Mital

    Happy belated birthday! I enjoy reading your blog and your photos. I’m sure your cake turned out delicious!

    Reply

  12. GrapeSugar

    Happy Birthday! Do you love having a May Birthday? Mine was last Sunday :) I’ve always really liked having a May birthday, allows for fun summery type birthday parties :) Have a wonderful day!

    Reply

  13. Rowina

    Happy Birthday!! Can we see the cake pretty pleeaseee.. Curious to know what u made for urself this yr..

    Reply

  14. Dianne

    Dear 29 year old Joy~
    I’m 39.. going to be 40 in one week! YIKES!! ENJOY YOURSELF!! Do everything you want because one day it will be too late for those “somedays”

    Reply

  21. kim

    Happy birthday Joy! I’m 39 this year and the years between 29 and 39 have been amazing. There is no doubt they will be for you too. Yours is the first blog I’ve ever followed and I look forward to every post. Keep it coming!

    Reply

  24. baker-me

    HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY!
    unfortunately, I’m only turning thirteen this year… :( so I can never hope to be as baking experienced as you… and as for my own cake, I’ve got three younger brothers and sisters whom I have influenced and most of them want to make my cake!! so cute. My “old” (15 and 14) brothers don’t want to though… “too girlish”…:)
    Much love! Have a good one!

    Reply

  25. Xtine

    Happy Birthday, Joy–and super-early birthday greetings to 39-year-old-Joy, too…this date finds both of you celebrating accomplishments big or small, wishes that have come true, and excitement about the future :)

    Reply

  29. Karen B

    Happy birthday Joy! I hope you enjoy your day to the fullest (and of course enjoy every crumb of that delicious cake you’re baking).
    Thanks again for being such a happy joyful inspiration (yes, that was a lame pun on your name and it wasn’t intended. I’m just too lazy to delete.)

    Reply

  34. Lucila

    Congratulations on your 29th birthday!!!! Like always, great writing and awesome inspiration. :) My best wishes for you y que cumplas muchos más!

    Reply

  36. Lidia

    Did someone say cake????? Looooove cake!!! Joy, have the greatest birthday ever!! You’re only 29 once so enjoy!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

    Reply

  43. Stephanie

    Happiest of birthdays to you, Joy! I hope you’re around for a hundred more – I should like to grow old with you, it would make for lots of yummy treats around the house! :)

    Reply

  47. dolores

    Hi Joy!!!

    I´m writting you from Spain
    Just stop here to wishing you a very happy birthday.
    Have a whole year full of cakes and beautiful things and keep your blog as beautiful and plenty of great recipes as you have now.
    I´m am following you in silence but a 29 birthday makes me say hy!!! and a kiss

    So…keep on like you´re now and everything will arrive…

    lots of kisses and cakes …

    dolores

    Reply

  49. Anita

    Happy Birthday Joy! I am totally depressed about turning 27 next month so am glad you don’t feel the same way – look to the future and embrace the possibilities.

    Love your unfailing optimism & your classic brownie recipe!!

    Reply

  51. dancing kitchen

    Thanks Joy…I have a birthday coming up and I think I’ll write a little letter to myself as my special treat.
    Hope this birthday was a happy one!

    Reply

  53. Tina

    Happy, happy day to you JOY!!! :)
    I hope your day has been filled with lots of laughs and good times! (I LOVE that you wrote to your future self….SO cool…..just one of the many reasons I enjoy perusing your blog! I also SO love your recipes…especially the chocolate cupcakes with the best chocolate icing ever!!!!!!!!!! hmmmm…I hope your cake was outta this world yummy!)

    Reply

  54. Terresa Wellborn

    Happy Birthday, beautiful Joy!!

    PS: Rejoice in the child-free bit of life that’s yours for now. I’d invest in house plants and furry pets, they are good training ground for future small people (ie: kid) stuff.

    PPS: Tye die will never go out of style.

    Reply

  55. Susan

    Happy Birthday 29 year old Joy, I love that, like you, I also buy vanilla in bulk(smart and final?) I get mine at Costco.

    Reply

  56. HayleyB

    Joy, you are inspirational :) Love your style. You should totally be a Russian spy! Maybe becoming one could be your 39th birthday present (or any birthday between now and then). Happy birthday.

    Reply

  58. Daphney

    Happy Birthday Joy. I hope that you are having a great birthday.See i should so look into baking my own cakes for my birthday, maybe next year for 30th, until then it is more then ok with me to have someone else worry about said cake. Today i was honored by a skors cake, is it a bad thing that i am on my 4th piece? and intend to make #5 my breakfast?. i have a year to slowly work up to eating my baking if i want to bake a cake i will eat. What did you make yourself? Love your blog, so glad i stumbled upon it birthday sharer :p.

    Reply

  60. shannah

    BLESSED BIRTHDAY! Hope you’ll always be baking such great yummilicious goodies :D Just love your awesome ideas!

    Reply

  62. Jessica

    Happy 29th birthday to both of us! Does it kind of freak you out that this is the last year of your 20s? It is kind of freaking me out and making me feel a little old. Was 18 really 11 years ago? Ugh. Thanks for your great blog, the awesome strawberry cake recipe, and sharing your birthday with me… maybe I should go write a letter to my 39 year old self. But then that means that I’m just as close to 39 as I am 19 and that’s scary.

    Reply

  63. NatalieM

    HAPPY BIRHTDAY JOY!
    I too baked my own birthday cake on my birthday, it was my 18th, and i wanted something special. I figured the only way to get exacctttly what i wanted was to create it myself! :) i like your style&& I hope you had a wonderful b-day!

    Reply

  65. John

    Happy Birthday Joy! I hope this is your best birthday year yet! Thank you so much for all the recipes and advice you have given and continue to share with us. Your site continues to inspire me and countless others. You rock!

    Reply

  67. Debbi

    Happiest of all Birthdays to you, my muse! And you may call that a mess, but in your very capable hands it is art…

    Reply

  69. ronnissweettooth

    Late to the party, and I hope it’s not gross, but Happy Birthday, lady.
    Maybe I’ll still be reading this here blog, or something about your life, in 10 years. Wouldn’t that be … weird?

    Reply

  70. Lena....

    Happy birthday Joy!
    You are so amazing and reading your
    blog is one of my favorite things to do!
    I hope you have a wonderful birthday and remember
    to post lots of pictures of your cakes so i can drool
    and think of how happy you must be at the same time!
    Look forward to reading again!
    -Lena

    Reply

  71. Amy DeKok

    Joy~ Joy~

    I pray that your day is lovely, tasty and marvelous.. and that the next 10 years are full of good tasting dreams come true..
    Love,
    Amy..Megan’s mum

    Reply

  74. Kate

    Happy Happy Birthday Joy! 29 isn’t so bad… just wait until next year, that is when it really sinks in :-)

    Reply

  80. Jen G

    Happy Birthday Joy!! I sure do hope you are having a wonderful day and of course – eating as much cake as possible. It’s your day, you totally deserve it!

    Reply

  81. Christina

    HBD! I turned the big 3-0 last week. I still haven’t figured out what I want to do when I grow up and I’m biding my time by trying to be an elite athlete. Here’s what my mom told me when I was feeling sorry for myself (you know, the whole “no real life yet” spiel): “Life only gets good in your 30s. Then it gets better in your 40s and 50s.” Here’s hoping.

    Reply

  83. Panya

    Happy birthday Joy! You are absolutely gorgeous and I want to be you when I grow up. Well, we’re the same age [my own birthday was 25 days ago], but I adore you. I hope your birthday is fab.

    Reply

  85. Erin

    If we lived in the same area (the say, The South, because The South rocks), I would give you a bottle of Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon. YES, I said sweet tea BOURBON. By the same people who make the vodka. Only it’s 100x better, because bourbon is something you’d sip on anyway.

    Move to Nashville I suggest!

    ;) Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  87. Clare Webb

    Joy I hope you have a fantastic day! You helped get through a year without a kitchen, and I can’t thank you enough! Keep on keepin’ on!

    Reply

  91. Neg

    Ethan has a great idea but i think you should call your bourbon Kitten and you’re good to go. :)

    Happy birthday!

    Reply

  92. Catherine

    Happy Birthday Joy! I hope you have a very “Joy” filled day, and that you get your kitten and crepe pan! =]

    Reply

  100. Danny

    Left you a message too, but just in case…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOY THE BAKER!!! I hope your years are filled with batter, cocoa powder, assorted butters and oils, eggs, spices, fruit, health, wealth, prosperity, comfort, knowledge, passion and a distinctive fashion sense.

    ;)

    Love always,

    D.

    Reply

  106. Elizabeth

    Happy Birthday Joy!!! What sort of cake did you bake?! I bet it was good!!
    I love your blog so much!! Your writing makes me smile! I’ve tried so many of your recipes. I love the browned butter blueberry muffins. I want to bake everything on here it all sounds so delicious!
    It’s my Mum’s Birthday today too! I baked the Big Berry Birthday Cake! So good, went down very well!
    xxxx

    Reply

  107. Catherine G.

    Happy Birthday! I turn 29 also in exactly two weeks. Maybe I’ll write a letter to my future self too. Hope you are having a wonderful day and I hope this year proves to be amazing!

    Reply

  108. Candice

    Happy Birthday Dear Joy … whose Mama gave her a Perfect Name.

    Today is the 200th birthday of the place I where I now live… I hope your parties last as long and are just as raucous and full of as many people and all of them cheering and singing and kissing you …

    If 39 year old Joy is half as interesting and full of joy… then she is a lucky girl… and so are we.

    Feliz Cumpleanos … muchas besos … Candice

    Reply

  115. Carrie

    Happy Birthday Joy. My husband turned 53 today – time flies. We are celebrating with a dinner of steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, and homebrew (beer) on the screened-in porch. I made him an icecream cake from the Sky High cookbook. It will be a perfect supper for a humid Maryland day! Enjoy.

    Reply

  131. mom

    Can it be, Joy! Time has flown so quickly. If only I can share some mom wisdom-enjoy each phase of your life. You have truly lived up to your name. Love!

    Reply

  136. Katy

    Happy Birthday!! I have no idea what it’s like to be 29 (actually I’m just about to step into the world of 19. On thursday.) but I hope it’s splendid, spectacular, and stupendous, as well as a whole bunch of other adjectives that don’t start with S. :)
    Good luck with the whole kitten and/or Russian spy thing!
    :D

    Reply

  140. Edith

    Happy Birthday! Don’t blink. The years fly by after 29 and before you know it, you’ll be future Joy–all of the greatness you are now plus some. Make a big wish when you blow out those candles tonight! Have fun!

    Reply

  141. Kirstin

    Happy birthday, Miss Joy! What kind of cake are you making? My birthday was last week and I have yet to make a cake for myself…I need inspiration!

    I hope the next ten years of your life are awesome (and beyond, of course).

    Reply

  143. Stephanie

    Lookin’ good, 29 year old Joy! Whether the spy thing, Angelina Jolie thing, kitten thing, bourbon thing transpire or not, know that many will continue to love you because you are very, very cool. Truth.

    Reply

  145. Suzanne

    Happy birthday Joy. I love the enthusiasm you share in your life. I hope the next 10 years are wonderful for you.

    Also what kind of cake are you making?

    Reply

  146. Stacey

    Have a wonderful birthday!
    I will celebrate YOU, by eating some dark chocolate brownies in your honor!! :)

    Reply

  147. Amy

    Happy birthday! You’ve inspired me to write a letter to my 38 year old self when I turn 28 this year. Have a wonderful, delicious day!

    Reply

  148. carolina

    Joy happy birthday!
    Today is also Argentina’s 200th birthday!
    Put some dulce de leche on a chocolate cake and celebrate with us!

    Reply

  149. Jamie

    Happiest of Birthdays Joy! I hope you have all the bourbon, kittens and chocolate you can handle…and maybe just a bit more.

    Reply

  151. Brian

    Why can’t you have both the bottle of bourbon and the kitten? Both will bring you joy in very different ways.

    Also, what kind of cake are you making?

    Reply

  155. Mireya

    The happiest of birthdays. I rarely contribute to blogs…but I enjoys yours so much! I just had to take this opportunity to wish you the best on such an important day.

    Reply

  160. Robin C

    Happy Birthday Joy!

    oh to be 29 again. I want you to opt for the kitten. It will love you and give you more than any bottle of bourbon ever could.

    robin in VA

    Reply

  167. Metasynthesthia

    I hope this birthday is as awesome as you are! Love the blog and I hope you’re 29 year old self keeps updating for a long time yet. :)

    Reply

  168. Bettye

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    What a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You have accomplished so much in these 29 years!!!!!!!
    I enjoyed your blog and just love what your writing . . .
    Remember 29 it the new 19 now a days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    So, you go girl and have a marvelous, wonderful, pink
    Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You’re georgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Love, Bettye

    Reply

  170. Danae (The Busty Baker)

    Happy Birthday Joy! I can’t believe you’re just barely a year older than me. Not that you seem older than 29. You just seem a whole lot cooler than my 28 year old self. I hope by the time I’m 29 I can be as cool as you. Have a great day! :)

    Reply

  173. Cookie

    Happy Birthday, Joy! Thanks for bringing so much JOY into all of our lives! I hope your cake has some chocolate in it.

    By the way, baking your own birthday cake is such a loving thing to do for yourself. You are the most special person you know, so why not honor YOU with a beautiful JOY cake?! I bake my birthday cake each year and as I’m baking it I feel deep appreciation for all that is ME. I put lots of love and wishes into my cake and then I invite all my friends over to eat my “All ABOUT ME” cake with me. It’s always the best kind of cake to eat. Have a fun day!

    Reply

  174. Sherry

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Joy! I myself turned 50 in January, and 50 seemed really old not so many years ago. I got married for the first time this year, right after my birthday. So I can tell your 29 year old self, it only gets better!

    Reply

  175. Rachel @ MWF Seeking BFF

    Happy Birthday Joy! I think a bottle of bourbon and a crepe pan is not to bratty to ask at all. And in ten years, of course you could be Angelina. How hard could it be, really? Thanks for sharing with US on YOUR day. Have a great one…

    Reply

  176. Julie

    Happy Birthday Joy! Your letter to yourself is really sweet and made me laugh. Wishing you a very blessed day and wonderful year ahead.

    Reply

  178. Lisa

    My favorite birthday question: How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
    Happy Birthday! Eat lots of cake. Thanks for the happiness your blog brings!

    Reply

  182. Tracy

    Happy Birthday-I love your site but never comment. I remember 29 and feeling like I should have kids already. We adopted our first daughter from China when I was 35 and then a son from Vietnam when I was 37-best decision of my life. You will be such a better Mom in your 30’s than you ever would have been in your 20’s. Enjoy your day and your last year of being a 20 something:)

    Reply

  183. Jason

    Hey my Gemini sistah,… I’ll be 37 next week,…. Happy birthday…. and hope you get plenty of Bulleit and chocolleit. Rock on!

    Reply

  189. Amy B.- Portland, OR

    Happy Birthday Joy! Enjoy your 29 year old self as your 39 year old self will be here soon enough. Have a wonderful day! Thanks for sharing your sweetness with us.

    Reply

  192. RLV

    Happy Birthday! Love the letter to yourself. I need to write more of them to myself! Haha. Hope you have a great birthday!

    Reply

  194. Cynthia

    Get the kitten now as I’m not sure you will want one when you are a Russian Spy. Kittens might make you…. vulnerable. Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  195. jj

    the next post will mention being sent multiple bottles of bourbon from joy the baker fans… and lots of kittens. happy birthday :)

    Reply

  198. themorbees

    Happy Birthday, Joy. I hope that you have a great day. Pamper yourself today-you deserve it. When your ready for your kitten let me know.

    Reply

  199. Susan Davidson

    Happy Birthday Dear Joy!

    Make a beautiful cake, get a kitten AND the crepe pan!!

    Enjoy your special day!

    Reply

  200. Mari

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

    Upon the many goals in life….live, laugh & love should be there and it seems like you do plenty of all…keep up the good work ;) Enjoy your day!!!

    Reply

  201. Laurel

    Happy birthday, Joy! I know you will spend the last year of your twenties in style. I love your letters to your future self. I write them too. And 39 is pretty darn young I realize at almost-32!

    I hope all your dreams come true!!!

    Reply

  202. Kate

    JOY! Happy birthday to a fellow Gemini! I had my 37th birthday on Sunday and my son turned two last Friday – I made the Big Berry Birthday Cake for his party and it was devoured in an instant….that was one damn-good recipe- thanks for sharing! Also, I occasionally have a bra strap showing from wrangling small children…it happens.

    Reply

  203. Noreen

    Happy Birthday Joy!! I love the letter to your older self. What a great idea!! I just turned 39 last month and it’s not so bad – not quite where I thought I’d be but I’m not complaining. It’s quite the adventure! May all your dreams come true & may you be blessed beyond measure!! Take Care, Noreen (PS – get the kitten – it’s SO worth it!!)

    Reply

  212. Mary

    Happy birthday Joy! I just had your future birthday, and wish I had written myself a note like that. Maybe I’d have learned to tuck my bra straps in!

    Reply

  213. Sues

    Happy birthday!! It’s true, a lot can happen in 10 years, but I hope your blog is still going strong when you’re 39! :)

    Reply

  214. Sarah

    Happy birthday! I hope that on my 29th (in 2013) I’m baking myself a cake half as awesome as the one I’m sure you’re making.

    Love your blog, by the way. I get excited when it pops up on Google Reader. Enjoy your day!!

    Reply

  215. Ashley Richardson

    Happy Birthday Joy! It’s my birthday too, which tells me that you are definitely as awesome as i always suspected. :-) Have a great one!

    Reply

  217. Silvia

    Happy birthday Joy, and thanks for bringing so much joy in our lives!
    I see you have to bake yourself your birthday cake, it happens to me too… nobody ever volunteers.
    XXX

    Reply

  221. Megan (Best of Fates)

    Happy Birthday! And you should totally go for being a Russian spy – The 3 things you’ll need:
    1) A flask of vodka
    2) A moose arch enemy
    3) KGB contacts
    See? Now, that’s doable in a decade. Go for it!

    Reply

  222. Sadie Smith

    Happy happy birthday Joy the Baker!

    I will be celebrating my 39th this year, and let me tell you, you WILL enjoy your thirties too, whatever you are doing, it is a great decade for a woman!

    Have a lovely day full of treats and surprises (and bourbon and kittens, hopefully)

    Sadie

    Reply

  227. Katrina

    Happy Birthday!
    I hope you get a crepe pan and go WILD with it. I also hope you get bourbon…make bourbon crepes perhaps??

    Can’t wait to see the cake you bake!

    Reply

  230. Shauna

    Happy Birthday, Joy – I know that your thirty-nine-year-old self will appreciate just how awesome your twenty-nine-year-old self is (all of your fans sure do)! :)

    PS: One year from now, throw yourself a huge party and do exactly what you want to do. Don’t let anyone else dictate how your day turns out, either because they’re lazy and running late or because they don’t want to go on a crazy adventure with you. You only turn 30 once, so make sure it’s a truly fabulous day!!

    Reply

  234. Kim

    Happy Birthday Joy! I am a May baby too :) Enjoy your day…eat lots of cake! Can’t wait to see what your birthday cake looks like.

    Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  236. Stanwyck

    I’m thirty years old now, so I’ve read your letter as if it were to me. I’m not feeding kittens neither children and, definitely I’m not Angelina Jolie or
    Michelle Pfeiffer, but I’m enJOYing your blog a lot and I wish you the best for the next ten years and more.

    Reply

  237. Champa

    Happy Birthday Joy. Be proud of yourself and I am sure when you are 39, you’ll have done something to be more proud of. Enjoy your day.

    Reply

  238. martina

    Happy birthday… if I wrote down to my future self… I would sound like you! Children (or not), kitten (or not), working full time (or not, depending on the first option, I guess), I skip the Angelina Jolie thing – too many kids :)
    but I’m sure of one thing only: baking a birthday cake. Now and in the future! Have a lovely day darling
    cheers Martina

    Reply

  246. Marissa

    Happy birthday Joy! Thank you for ‘teaching’ me how to bake, you’re the best. Wishing you love and happiness always..

    Reply

  251. Lies

    Happy 29th birthday to you too, Joy! And as a happy birthday for myself (33) I’m going to bake myself some muffins. Me and the baby in me that was due yesterday are going to enjoy them very much. And I’ll eat some in your name too, okay?

    Reply

  257. Katha

    Happy birthday and so looking forward to that cake!

    Hope that this day will be all bright and sunny and that all those dreams of yours come true.

    Reply

  262. Summer

    Lets make some noise….lets sing and dance …a ? happpy bappy ? joyful ? songgggggggggggggggggggg…

    happy? Birthday ? Joy…oh ? Joy!!!!
    Love the bees Swarming over ur cake..atop…Winne de pooh wishes u too:-)))

    Reply

  263. Lizzy

    Happy birthday Joy! I think you can be pretty darn proud and satisfied with what you’ve already achieved by 29! I know I would be! You’re amazing! Hope you have a wonderful day!

    Reply

  264. Ally

    Happy Birthday Joy – mine was the 22nd!! :) I’m one year younger than you – hope you had a fantastic day! Cake!!! :)

    Reply

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