I need you. Did you know that?
I’ve had the shaky leg lately. I’ve eaten waaaay too much popcorn in full-on fits of what can only be described as ‘nervous eating’. I’ve more to-do lists than I care to admit. I shouldn’t even mention this weird pacing and sweeping the floor habit that I have.
I think I’ve been a little anxious in the world. Earthquakes. Taxes. Tornadoes. Bin Ladens. I dunno. I’m feeling it.
There’s this thing I do when I’m anxious… I try to make other people feel better. Thinking about making other people feel good makes me feel good. So! I pick up a pen, bust out my box of stationary, and write letters. I know how much I like to receive letters, and I feel compelled to pass on that sensation.
I know I’ve written a handful of you letters for my 30 Things Before 30 Years post, but I wanted to broaden my reach. I want to write more of you. Can I?
Here’s the deal:
Send your address, or the address of someone you think might really enjoy a handwritten (albeit entirely silly) letter. I will, in all likelihood (and in due time) write you a letter. If you receive a letter, please (please!) snap a quick photograph of you and said letter to email to me. Deal?
I have a feeling I’m going to need to stock up on stationary.
Oh! And I should mention that if you entrust your address to me, I will only use it for purposes of friendly letter writing… I won’t stalk you… although if I did stalk you, I’d probably bring cookies. So. You know. Not so bad.
Email you mailing address to: joy the baker is my penpal (at) gmail (dot) com. No spaces… silly.
Check your mail.
Ps. I sometimes use crayons. I’m one of the cool kids.
Pps. Judging by the response so far… I’m really going to need additional stationery.
Ppps. An update. It’s been less than 24 hours, and I’ve received nearly 1,000 addresses. I’m stoked. I’m amazed. I’m going to get a hand cramp. I’ve written six letters so far. Six. Keep the addresses coming. I love you.
Edel Waugh Salisbury
HI Joy I signed up too. I sent 3 emails since last year. Hoping you are still doing this . Much Love and hugs. x
joythebaker
email us at enjoy at joy the baker dot com if you’re having an issue.
Edel Waugh Salisbury
Sent email few mins ago.
Elizabeth
I just sent my email! I can’t even begin to tell you how much it would mean to me if you wrote me. You’re the best!!
lauren
i know this is probably wayy too late, but i would love to receive a letter from you! i’m in college, home-sick blues, and listen to your podcast alll the time! it totes cheers me up. hope to hear from you? if not, i’m still a devoted joy-the-baker-blog-ee
International Pen Pal Vinney
1000 potential pen pals is incredible, well done. I won’t add to what is going to take you a massive amount of work, but just to say hand writing letters has something very special about it that we seem to have lost in the busy Internet age.
Laura
I wish people wrote letters more often. It’s such a lost art nowadays. I love writing and sending and receiving, and I especially enjoy sending little gifts in letters (pieces of ribbon, light necklaces, random items). There’s a special place in the heart for getting a letter.
D@nielle
oooh exciting, I’m emailing you ! grts, D@nielle
Cookie
I’m from Brazil and just send the email with my address…
Will you reply????
Only time (and the mail man) will tell.
Sabrina
What a nice idea! You’re great! If you write me, I’ll write back. I promise!
xoxoxo, Sabrina
Kristin Shyla
oooh- I think this is a rad idea- :)
ks
Liz
Thank you Joy for being so generous with your time and kindness. As if your beautiful blog wasn’t enough! You will be spreading a lot of sunshine around and I hope to pass it on as well!
Christine
I love love love this! I was just thinking that I wanted to do something like this as well! Such an inspiration!
Kelsey
Joy,
You are such an inspiration, and overall just an amazing person! This is such an awesome idea….you are such a sweetheart. Are we allowed to send you a letter back?
Adam
I got a letter today, it was from Joy. I totally squealed and my mailman heard me.
I am incredulously happy – http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/1293/photoon20110507at00462.jpg
you’ll have to excuse the wall behind me.
joythebaker
i like the wall behind you.
Amanda S
Love the Idea! I want/need to send letters too!!!!
Mandy
This is sooooo inspiring! Thanks, Joy! You do make people feel good and I’m always in for a good giggle when I go to your site… which is like everyday! ^__^
Douglas Dringal Stevens
I think the worst song that could ever come on the radio whilst driving your friend home from a leg-amputation procedure is definitely WHAM’s “Careless Whisper.”
For your legs!
Anna
i want ooonnnnnnneee!!!! what a nice thing for you to do, what a lovely reaction to stress and a disordered world. thanks for caring, joy, you’re the best!
Britt Bravo
Hi Joy!
Just wanted to let you know that one of my readers recommended you as a “juicy blog.” You can see the full list of 22 juicy bloggers here: http://bit.ly/22juicyblogs2winners
~Britt
Carly
I’m not sending you my address as it sounds like you already have enough letters to write. At 33, I actually have a penpal – my husband’s cousin who moved to another city. We both love mail and inane chit-chat. I often buy cute cards and postcards to send “thinking of you” notes to friends. I’m sure everyone who receives your letters will love them. You’re an inspiration, Joy. Thank you for being you.
dani
joy u r an inspiration :)
OlenAmazing
I can’t wait to get my Joy The Baker Letter!! Crayons Rule!!
Elizabeth Toel
I LOVE your idea of writing letters! I am a fan of a hand written note or card myself. Nothing brightens your day like getting one in the mail.
I enjoy your blog…yummy fun recipes and you write with such a sense of humour and honesty!
xoxo
Carolina
ooooooh great idea!!!! omg, i hope i get a letter! teehee nothing brings me more joy than hand-written letters :) .
Megan
So cool! I can’t wait. I think I’ll do this myself. Although I won’t have nearly as many letter to write!
Suzanne
I want a letter from you!
:-D
Ana-Maria
What a lovely idea! Do you think you can send letters outside US too? I would love to receive a letter from you! :X
Bridget
Very cool! One year I made a New Year’s resolution to write a letter a month (or was it a week?). I didn’t get a lot of handwritten replies, but it was fun nonetheless. Enjoy!
Carolyn
It would be so amazing to hear from JOY THE BAKER!
Kara
I do the same thing! I love that you are doing this! If you didn’t have so many addresses already I’d have sent you mine! Let me know when you run out and i’ll give it to you! :)
Lee Ann L.
Aww, you’re so sweet! I’ve always wanted a pen pal; but, never found one. Since you have over 1000 now, I think I’ll let you rest. :-)
Mondo
what an amazing idea! there’s nothing like receiving a personal letter in the mail. nowadays, it’s all circulars, ads, or some such nonsense. I should write some letters too. thanks for the inspiration!
Julie
I’ve just discovered your blog, and I just had to say thank you. This is just what I needed today. As a medical school student, my body and soul can get a bit undernourished at times. Thank you for providing some much needed nourishment today!
Sarah
Oh, what fun, cool idea! You’re kinda like Santa!
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
Love, love, LOVE this.
When I was in elementary school, our class actually had penpals in Russia – opening those letters was like Christmas morning.
I want a baking penpal!!!
Deb
Hello Joy!
I so LOVE your blog! I am an aspiring baker and really love your recipes, your humor, the fun of your blog! I sent my address and would LOVE receiving a letter from you! I will even write back! By the way, I live out in the Black Hills of South Dakota so if you’d ever like to visit, I have a great kitchen with an easy chair and might even be able to find some bourbon for you! Thanks again for the fun of your blog……I look forward to it all the time!
Holly Sax
will there be doodling in the letters? i love doodling. doodle cupcakes. =) cupcakes are great.
jean
woah I’ve never seen anyone do something like this! joy the baker, history maker.
Marianne @ Meal Mixer
I scrub floors when I’m stressed. Letter writing is so underrated! There is nothing like getting something in the mail that doesn’t have a due date in big red letters…
: )
Shushmi
Love this idea – just sent my address – sooo very excited!
Love the balloons in your latest header too xxx
Art
You’ve got mail… and hopefully I will soon!
Juanita
This is totally crazy (you’re very brave) and really fun too!
I remember the pen pal addresses printed in the back of the Garfield magazines I got when I was a child. It’s a lost art :-)
melania
i would adore a handwritten letter from you. i love your blog. will send my address now. it’s international, but i hope this will entice vs. deter.
Marcellina
I would send my address but I feel terrible because you would have so many letters to write. I too, love hand written letters. I have penpal that I still write to after almost 40 years. We have never met but have grown up together sharing loves, heartaches, losses, marriage, children and our faith. We occassional email but generally write letters. One day we will meet.
Rae
I love reading your blog & I just sent your my address. I can only imagine how many letters you will end up writing.
diane herrera
Hello Joy
I love reading and writing and baking and would love to get a letter from you, as well as needing stationary you will need stamps for England!!
Lots of love from this side of the pond!!
Diane
Esther K
I love stationary! I can’t believe you’re still taking addresses… I just sent you mine! :)
Katie
i LOVE getting letters in the mail! especially written in crayon ;)
Shef
Hiya. You are a brave woman. My hand tires after a few letters. Hope your mom really helps you! You were one of the few people at blogaway this weekend that I didn’t get a chance to talk to. Having just seen your blog today for the first time, I can see you speaking through your blog. I’m sure your letter will even be better!
Sheri
Happy to be on board, can’t wait for the letter!
Hayley
I love handwritten letters and hate how they are slowly on their way to extinction, so this is awesome that you’re doing this! I continue to faithfully hand write thank you cards for everything. Email’s overrated : )
P.S. My boyfriend and I made your chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes for breakfast the other morning and my mouth did cartwheels for the rest of the day…AMAZING.
Anna
What a neat idea! Sending notes has never been a strength of mine but you have motivated me :) I am going to stash some stationary in my bag when I go to work so I can jot down notes when I have a few minutes.
Lindsay
Oh, I’m SO in!
Ashley@Bakerbynature
Joy, you are too cute! Love the pen pal idea, clever! Hope it takes the ease off the anxiety, I get the shaky leg myself.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat
Joy I would be the happiest person in the world if you sent me a letter!
Shea
The lost art of a handwritten letter. How refreshing you are! Absolutely looking forward to getting a letter from you! *whispering* I might even write back!!
ellebelle
Gaaah! I’m excited! =)
I anticipate that I will feel the universe close in as my real world and my internet surfing world–collides!! Into sprinkles! ^__^
Man. I’m excited for me and for others…
A little scared for you. That you will get that weird cushy callous on your finger (me, right hand, top of the left side of middle finger) that has all but disappeared with us all typing away~
Lina
You. You’re on crack.
You’d better write me a letter. >:D
Bella
How fab. Hand written letters are so much more authentic than modern technology which requires so much less time and effort..
Good luck :)
Mom
Wow,Joy!
It’s so wonderful to see all these people interested in sending and receiving letters through the USPS. As a retired letter carrier, I would see how excited people became when they received a personal letter!!! Thanks for reminding us all how fun it is and it’s not lost yet. Let me know if you need help!
joythebaker
thanks MOM! do you want to help me write letters!? love you.
Diane {Created by Diane}
I love hand written notes and cherish the people who take the time to write them. Wonderful idea Joy!
Sarah
Awesome idea. I’ve been trying to get myself to write letters but maybe what it takes is someone else writing me first. Would love to receive one from you, thanks for offering!
Dani
Address sent….I had a penpal in High school and I really did enjoy it. He was in Japan, but he dumped me when he advanced in school because he didn’t have time to write to a penpal….it was a sad moment, this is a cheery moment and I look forward to hearing from you! :)
ellie
woohooo! snail mail! joy, we love you. this is amazing. you can definitely check this off your list!- when you are eventually done. but you know what? you’ve gained so many more friends and followers b/c of this and know i really, sincerely, want to buy your future cookbook.
rock on girl! <3
pedant
Stationery, not stationary. Google for the difference.
Tina B
You are a brave, wonderful woman!! YAY letters!
Natalia - a side of simple
You’re going to have to patent your own handwriting font at that rate :) Though, I sure wouldn’t mind a little letter love! I’m actually penpals with my grandma and there’s nothing like getting a real letter in the mail every now and then.
Karen
Hi Joy!
Need an assistant? With 1,000 responses so far, I’m guessing yes!
Nic@daydreamaboutfood
Great idea. Can you also send some cinnamon sugar pull apart bread through the post? Like the idea of writing a letter with crayons.
Katrina
This is such a fun idea! I love handwritten notes.
matthew
Being one of the lucky 36 to receive a letter when Joy first had this idea, I can attest to the fact that she will not stalk you (or at the very least, if she does, she’s completely polite and unobtrusive). I can also guarantee you will be delighted with your new penpal.
Laura
Joy- share with us some of the strange locations you’ll be sending letters! I’m interested to hear how far your new stationary will be traveling!
Synne
There’s nothing like making others happy to make oneself happy! What a fun project, good luck!
Leah
Awesome idea! I just sent you my address as I’d love to get a letter from you. When I was a kid, I had pen pals from across the country. It was so fun to receive mail from them and write them back. I miss that. I’ll be your pen pal!
Gen
Sweeping the floor habit? I’ve got the same, it’s like my ideas are clearer with my apartment is clean. Weird isn’t it? Well, I love to receive letter, with emails and facebook and whatever, we forget what is was was to write and send and wait!
Alicia
Great idea! I loved having pen pals in elementary/jr. high/high school!
Hand written letters are so great and now not many people will have any to keep for memories since we tend to use technology all of the time.
Now I want to write some letters!
Seanna Lea
I loved having penpals when I was in school, though all of mine were from outside the United States. Part of me really wishes I had one penpal from somewhere in the US to balance my penpals from across the globe (I had England, Spain, Austria (i think?), Bulgaria and China at one point). It was an awesome experience, especially for someone who could not afford to travel.
All Adither
Well, if you hadn’t already, you’ve just won me over. I like the way you think!
Craig Mattson
Joy, you’re truly amazing. Hope you feel better. I was one of the students from Mount Mary College that had the skype interview with you a couple of weeks ago. Your spirit is infectious in the best way. Thanks.
Candi Kolen
I can’t think of one good reason you would want to take this on???? U cannot b that bored!While very sweet though
Sue
What a fun idea, I love old fashion mail!!
Mallory
Love this idea! Penpal writing definately gives your soul an uplift and brings a smile to your face. Happy writing!
Kelly
When I was a kid I was all about having penpals so this made me smile. All these years later my mom has saved many of the letters I received. One of these days I ought to go through them and take a trip back down memory lane.
Nina
are we allowed to write you one too? with cookies?
Dianna
I love it! Receiving hand written letters is one of my most favorite things in the world. It’s like Christmas.
Sally - My Custard Pie
I was going to write exactly the same as Lalena. I have relatives and friends who love receiving letters.
Lalena
I am feeling inspired. I am going to send a couple of unsolicited letters to loved ones today. Thanks for the idea.
Millie
Ooh, I LOVE writing letters! For my birthday last year, a co-worker gave me three stacks of note cards! It’s a little old fashioned, yes, but you can’t beat getting something in the mail that isn’t a bill! ;) Joy, you are just awesome. If I could send YOU cookies, I would! =)
jk scaglione
well joy, i’ve known you a long time and one thing i know about you is that you are indeed, a bona fide letter writer. So look out world…..you’re about to be uber-blessed!!!!
xoxoxoxoxox
Jes
You’re awesome. I live in Argentina so I won’t join but so cool!!
Kathryn
I love sending and receiving letters and cards. A Little old fashion? I don’t think so.
Hope to get a letter from you. I will write back too. You and your cat will also get a big Hello from my cat.
naomi
Oh my gosh, Joy. I’ll write you back, I promise! Letter-writing is one of my favourite pastimes, and I very rarely get to actually do any!
Jani Andersen
My mom told me, never to talk to strangers… but.. if you bring cookies… well,
I surely hope to get a letter from you too :D
zehra
I love this idea!! i used to have penpals when i was younger…i miss them!
Carol
Oh, this is exciting!!!!!!!!! Go Joy!!!!!!!!
Stephanie
Your posts never fail to make me smile… so yeah, bring on the pen-pal-o-rama… I’m totally on board! You will brighten up someone’s day with every note you send out.
Making people happy rocks. You make people happy. Therefore… you rock!
Nicole
Pick me pick me!! xoxoxox.
Lydia Joy
Maybe we should start a pen pal club to pass it around = )
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
Aww this is a fabulous idea! I love handwritten letters. I can’t wait to get one from you!!
kim Mc
I can’t get the email to work! oh no!! I want to be a pen pal!!!
Elena
What a sweet idea! I’m in my mid-twenties, but I still love to write handwritten letters. I agree with some others who commented that it is indeed a lost art– and a truly sad thing indeed. I look forward to getting a letter in the mail! :) Thanks for doing this!
Edel
I love this idea and love snail mail !!!!!!!!!
Yuri
i love this! snail mail is amazing, and completely under-appreciated. some of my best friends and i still snail-mail it (one of them did field work where internet didn’t exist), and i keep all the letters!
Amanda
I love, love, love that you still write letters! Don’t get me wrong, I also love technology, but there is just something so special about the written word. AND receiving mail that’s written by an actual person and not just some weird “come put this key in the ignition and win a car” ad would make anyone’s day. :-)
girlinblues
As cool as it sounds, how will you manage to send all those letters? There are 88 comments on your blog post now, suppose there are some others that didn’t comment, but sent you an email with their address so you will have to send a letter to more than a hundred people all over the world. If you do that, I will truly be impressed!
I love everything you bake, cook or write so I’m really looking forward to hearing from you on paper and continuing that conversation!
Love from Poland!
Tonya
I love it. A letter from The Joy The Baker-terribly exciting! Aletter in the mail is truly a lovely present.
Kristin @ FoodFash
Just reading this post made me happier, so surely a hand written letter would do the trick! What a great idea :)
Christina
Fun!! You are a brave, brave woman! So excited to get some fun mail!!
Brooke
Danged cutie. How I adore all the cleverness you conjure! Can’t wait to see how the letter writing goes!
Ilsa
I sent an email ;-)
~Ilsa
Robbie
=D
sunshinesoul
Joy,
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. Baking has become like therapy to me over the past few years. This crazy world we live in….well, it has just become insane and at times seems overwhelming. Not to mention that I live in Minnesota and it is snowing here…AGAIN….today. Seems like spring will never come and is makes me bucky!! Grrrrrrrr!
I long for a simplier way to live my life and reach out to friends and family. Your site has been the inspiration for lots of “homemade baked love” that I can share with my family. And I can share this love without blowing my bank account, as every dollar has to be stretched. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all try to do good in the world today…bake some love and share/reach out to those around us. Lift each other up and think compasionate thoughts about ourselves, too. I will be sending you my address. Love getting letters! Like others have commented, it has sadly become a lost art.
p.s. made your Dutch Baby with Orange Sugar over the weekend. Divine!
Jennifer
What a fantastic idea!! I can think of very few things that can make a day like receiving a hand-written letter… I’m so excited!!!
Karin
Joy… you are such a friend in my head! You are fabulous!!!
Hopefully I will get a letter from you eventually!
Madison
Send me a letter! Write to an Alaskan :)
veronica
fun! i like the idea of charting or mapping out where the letters go…
joythebaker
i like that idea so much!
Helena
Awesome idea Joy!!!
urban wife
I heart snail mail. It is way cool and in this digital age, I am still walking out to the mailbox every day in giddy anticipation. I am emailing you asap.
p.s. Pen pals are awesome – that’s how my best friend and I met wayyy back in 2nd grade.
p.p.s You are awesome to take on this gargantuan task. :)
Kartik @ Bakeology 101
Hey Joy, I think that this is a brilliant idea. I respect the fact that you are taking the time to write personal letters to your fans. Not very many celebrities do that.
Karen Parks
OOOOO, OOOOO, I would LOVE to receive a letter from you!!! Isn’t it a shame that the hand written letter is such a lost art!!
Siti
Emailed you all the way from Singapore!
About time Ive got penpal once more! :)
Victoria
What a lovely idea. I was just thinking about the penpals I had as a child and wondering what they would be up to today.
Amanda-Jill
I think this is a wonderful idea. I still write hand letters to some very dear friends. I think it is a lost art. I might only be in my early 30’s but I believe a hand note is so personal and wonderful that it should never be lost. I’m sending you my address and want to play in your game.
Just a thought but maybe you could suggest a penpal group within your blog….you could arrange for us to all have a penpal.. Might be alot of work but could be fun too.
rachelle
I was JUST thinking this!
Rachel
This is a wonderful idea! Can I send my photo & response by mail instead of email?
River
It would make a great birthday gift to me from you. My birthday is May 10th. Just thought I’d give you and extra incentive to write ME a letter. Can I thank you now? Ok, I will. Thank you JOYYYYY!
Melissa
You should totally get a PO Box so that we (your faithful readers) can send letters (and maybe even baked goods, recipes, etc) to you!!
Elisabeth
I love sending snail mail letters, but my friends almost never write back :( Getting good mail is one of the best things ever!
JenTX
Hi Joy! I LOVE getting cards or letters in the mail and it saddens me that it seems to be a dying art form. My grandma wrote the BEST letters. They were written just liked she talked and she would write them over a period of several days. I miss her sooooo much and I am glad I kept some of her letters. So, I will most gladly send you my address BUT, I would love to have an actual address for you….P.O. Box would be fine because I would really love to send YOU a letter too. You brighten my day with your wonderful blog and I enjoy reading what you’re cooking/doing/planning. I stumbled onto your blog just in the past few months and you are definitely one I check daily. So here’s a hug for you (in a non-creepy way) because I understand how life and all the goings on in this world can make us need to sweep the floor! ((((Joy))))
diane stanley
I wanna play. I love handwritten letters. A lost art!
Andrea Cox
I recently made a handwritten thank you note to scan and send to my friends via email. And oh yes, I did use crayons. :)
Heather E
You are so sweet to do this! Of course, we all already thought you were sweet and awesome before, but, wow, just wow!
I emailed you! I would love to hear from you. :)
Simone - Jour de Macaron
Joy! You made me smille!
I loved your ideia and wold love recieve a handwritten letter from you!
Email sent!
Becky T.
I open my mailbox everyday wishing for fun mail and yet.. bills. how boring, right? I’m totally in and I’m totally gonna reply hand written! CIA grad here if that help the writing!!! :-)
Tammy Hensley
I’m in! The email has been sent!
CobyLyn
That sounds wonderful, I could use some good news in the mail
*love*
Erin
Another Fabulous Idea!
Leah W
I often wish I could figure out how to mail a hug. Cause I want to send one to you. You are filled with awesomeness and bravery. Don’t let your anxiousness overwhelm you. Know that you are a capable, smart, beautiful being filled with love and courageousness. And you can do anything, handle anything you put your head too.
Candela
Ciao Joy, you got email from Italy ! :)
Angie
Awesome idea Joy! You’ve definitely made a whole lot of people smile today. I also have a whole ton of stationary and some of it’s very unique and very Canadian (just like me!)
nicke
fun joy!
Vivian
How fun! I lvoe handwritten letters, they are fast becoming a lost art. I will definitely send my address.
Paige C.
Done!! :-)
Linda
I think your idea is wonderful, when I was in fifth grade our Teacher had us write to a pen pale and I
picked a young girl my age from England what fun that was, so this sounds like some thing that would
interest me too.
Allison
I think it would be cool after you get all the letters sent out to post a graph or chart of some sort to see where all your letters went to! Or find a way to do it with food…I won’t judge.
Julia
I just sent you a Mail. I love the idea.
Getting a real handwritten letter is great.
I’ll send you an answer. Would you like any German/ European food?
Julia
Mariliz
A wonderful idea, I sent you my digits.
Heather
Just curious…how are u gonna pay for all that postage??!! :D
joythebaker
with money. it’s going to be a lot. it’s totally worth it.
Lauren
Oh Joy, you are such a sweetheart. This is such a beautiful thing to do.
Abby
omgomgomg! i will jump up and down and probably not open it right away if you send me a letter. i’ll be THAT excited. eeeeeeeeee!
Kimberlie
I love that you are willing to write to so many of your fans! Here’s hoping you don’t get hand cramps too soon! As much as I’d love a letter – heck, I’m just curious what you’re going to say to everyone – I think I’m going to take your example and write letters to my friends. I often think how grateful I am to someone for the little things they do in my life – so maybe it’s time to tell them so. Thanks Joy :)
Tammie Perry
Love this, it’s best idea ever! Who doesn’t love getting an unexpected letter in the mail…can’t wait!
Jess
Heehee yaay!
Carol Adams
How entirely sweet of you…(and so old fashion!)
I’ll be waiting!
Sylvia
This is such a lost art! You go girl!
Count me in!
Michelle
You are pretty freaking amazing Joy! My letter made my day. Super big smile from afar.
Chesca
Letters are like sending love in an envolope, they are truly special and the next generation will miss out if we don’t show them the way – 34 next week and still feeling 29! Your blog makes me feel warm inside and smile Joy, thank you.
Sherry
I am 51…so does that mean I should find 60 things to do before I am 60? If we all did that….we would live FOREVER! I’d love to hear from you…email sent!
Courtney
I’m sitting next to my mailbox until I get a letter. ;)
Suz
I’m not sure adding more work to your list is going to help you stop pacing, but if you really think so I love getting letters. I’m already thinking of creatively silly photos I can reply back with.
Caroline
Baking is the best antidote for anxiety and depression, so thank you for your brilliant blog! I’d love to stay in touch with you from Johannesburg, South Africa, and have stationery, photos and recipes to swap with you and your readers. Your carrot, apple and ginger soup recipe is delish, addictive comfort food!
Eliz. K
I LOVE to write letters! Surprising people with letters is special and fun, and it’s a good way to keep up with friends who have moved away from me. (I had but got rid of facebook a while ago.) I joke that I’m single-handedly keeping the mail service working, but you may now beat me to it :-) Have fun!!
Anne
Great idea, I emailed you my address. Can’t wait to hear from you. I love crayons, I’ll write you back with my set :0) Anne
Joy Dertinger
I’ve done it! I’m so very excited!!!!!
I love letters, stationary, envelopes, stamps–you know all that stuff!
Muriel
I turned 18 today, and I would love a letter!
Kim
Happy Birthday!!!!!!
Robin
Hap Birthday ;)
Lisanne
Happy B-day, Muriel!
Anna
Wow, what a wonderful post! Seriously, how great, and now rare, is receiving an actual letter? It’s a dying art, I believe. You’ll be getting my address for sure!
kmarie
a letter from joy the baker would get a prominent position with a super cool magnet on our refrigerator!
ps–we hope to see you on the pioneer woman’s food network show this summer!
birrrd
bin laden! one thing less to worry about, hm? ; )
Tanyia
Ok, but do we get to write you back or is this a one time deal? lol
Becca
Dear Joy,
I just voted for you on Saveur!!
Because reading your blog is often the highlight of my day! It always puts a smile on my face – and your recipes are delicious. i can’t figure out who the star of this show is: the food, or the awesome personality!!! (The fab writer wins every time lol).
It’s nice to know that there are a few who still like to take the time to add character to a letter – by writing it by hand!
joythebaker
thank you!
Lisa
You are truly the sweetest person I never met.
My daughter will flip if she gets a letter from you.
I don’t think you realize how HUGE your fan base is.
You are going to a very busy lady.
Have a wonderful day!
country girl
Woohoo! This is going to be fun!
I’m an ex-pat living in Austria, Europe. Hope you’re willing to send a note all the way over here. I promise to write back! :)
Lots of love,
Dawn
Deb Hanna
Good morning Joy,
You absolutely, totally made my Monday morning! I just sent you my address and can’t wait to get your letter!! I had a penpal from England when I was a young girl…..quite a few years ago I might add! ;) I LOVED it! I now live in the Black Hills of South Dakota so I just might include the wonderful presidents of Mt Rushmore in my photo…..I live about 5 miles from the esteemed presidents! Thanks Joy! I look forward to the crayon written envelope! :)
Caits
This is scary exciting. I love getting letters in the post :)
Alicen
Your post is such a coincedence! Last week I was cleaning out my closet and stumbled upon my box of blank stationery. I thought “What is the point of buying these pretty cards and not sending them out into the world,” so I wrote short little letters to a large handful of friends and off to the mailbox I went. I got emails back from almost all of them saying that my card made their day :) It definitely made me feel good to know I was making people happy!
I love this idea! I suspect you’re going to need more stationery, and maybe even more crayons!
Stephanie
Joy,
If I had my big box of stationary I would totally share. When we move into our house (closing date is the 13th) & we get our stuff back (close to the end of the month) I would be happy to share some of my stationary with you (I have lots). I think this idea of yours is pretty fun.
Robyn {Planet Byn}
joy i love sending mail too! can we send you mail? i have lots of cute stationary!
marytn
love you and your site!
Victoria from London
Only the other day I wrote my friend a letter, first non-bill-related letter I’d written in about ten years! I used to love getting letters at college. Maybe the art is making a comeback. Totally sending you my address…glad you’re happy to post to England, where we’re enjoying our 4th public holiday in two weeks today.
Cecilia M Young
How wonderful and refreshing it would be to receive a handwritten letter from a beautiful and talented young lady. I have two such girls as granddaughters and I think it would actually kill them to write to us! I will be hanging on to my mailbox through wind, rain, and sleet until I get my letter!
Emily Elizabeth
Wonderful, I’d love to be pen pals! I have a certain 14 year old brother-in-law who loves getting mail & collecting stamps too, I might just sent both of our addresses along!
Leandra
Who would have thought paper and pen could come in handy again? You realize you’re taking this relationship to a new level… :) I’m in.
Rachel
How cool is this!!!!
sara consolati
yah! :) so excited!
Annett
Oooooh I was way too nervous to compose a decent E-Mail, but it’s out there now, and somewhere in a tension-filled appartment in Germany, *someone* is now all hypher and and and and thinks she needs to bake something to calm her down and to minimize the waiting. Any suggestions? Oooooooooh (may I say “Oooooooooooh” again?) Joy, you are cuteness in person!
Cassidy
Man! I would love, LOVE to get a letter but i live in Uganda. Sad news. To the both of us…i hope.
I’m going back to the states in 5 days sooooo maybe i’ll just have to email you my “temporary” home address. Ah yes. I think i’ll do that.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
That is the nicest idea! You are really going to make a lot of people happy!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
I’m emailing you. I have a 4.5 year old daughter who adores food bloggers as much as I do…when they send me stuff, she says, Mommy, did you make this food or did another girl make this? I can’t lie and tell her I made some amazing dessert when I didnt make it…so sometimes she’ll be like, well mommy, you need to go to her blog and get her recipe.
She’s 4.
She’d love a letter! And we’re all the way down in San Diego.
patty cohen
i love nothing more than a new challenge. and coloring, writing letters and trying new recipes. thanks for all you do.
ps
you don’t have to worry about usama bin laden any more.
pps
i was secretly thinking of fixing you up with my son. he is super cool and smart etc. and i’m not just saying that! (he would kill me , though). LOL
Becca
Reporting from Poland! :) This is such a neat idea!
mari
will you send a letter overseas? i am in Greece!
joythebaker
sure!
Anita Menon
it would be super cool to recieve a letter from you- my favourite food blogger:-)
Edel waugh
Dear Joy
I think this is such a great idea.. I was thrilled to read you will write overseas.. I would be thrilled to get a letter over here in Ireland.
Ruth
Woohoo! What a fab idea!
Mandy gross
Yay!!!!
anja
hmmmm… how about New Zealand?
:o)
michelle
That’s what I was hoping, too! Address sent….now to wait and see :)
I love how so many ppl from all over the world can come together to read a blog, very cool.
Edel
I totally agree Michelle :0)
GlutenGlutton
I think the art of letter-writing is so important – what if one day no one knew how to write them? Unfortunately I only write them when I’m homesick, however, I applaud anyone with the stamina to take up letter-writing as a leisurely pursuit! Anyway, I love a good reason to buy new stationary :P
Jossie
Hello Joy! (: Does your penpal offer to fans overseas? Say…. Asia? :P
ayesha
OMG…ive forgotten what it feels like to recieve a real letter.email dosent give you the little jumpy feeling in your tummy.:) hoping to find something in my mailbox soon :):)
This post is starting to look like a world tour:):) Make sure to drop in to India. :)
Suzan
I have not received a handwritten letter since at LEAST 1999! How exciting!
Joy in Amsterdam
Oh, it’s on.
coffeeaddict
Oh, I love to receive letters! People seldom write to me anymore, my granny used to write me on a weekly basis but unfortunately she passed away years ago .
I hope Slovenia isn’t a too distant place to write to, but I will be ever so delighted to receive even just a tiny handwritten note from you. It can be a post-it note, I’m not picky :-)
Kelly
What a great idea Joy! Oh my, you’re going to have so many penpals your hand will be sore, not from whisking this time, but from writing letters to all your baking buddies… ;-)
I would love to receive a silly, crazy, cool crayon-decorated letter from my favourite baker – actually, I think I’ll go crazy when I do : ) Going to send you an email right now!
Frances
So so geekily excited. I love letters. Or just post in general. My Christmas present to my Granny was a letter a week for a year – which I have just about kept up.
Promise I will reply: all the way from Paris. Deal?
Ellie@fitforthesoul
awww what a cute and fun idea! hehe :)
Paulette
Oh my do you you how long its been since I have written a letter? I am going to enjoy this that is if you can read my writing, my sister said I should have been a doctor because I write just like one. This could be a lot of fun. Address is on the way. Paulette
Tara
Yayayayay! I do love a good letter : ) One day, when I’m famous and long gone, I hope people will look over my correspondence to know more about me – I think it’ll paint an interesting picture.
Lita
So cool! Sent my addy in :D
Stephanie
This is such a cool idea. One I give you much props for pursuing because I can barely remember to send the birthday cards I buy.. or where I leave them after I buy them. :)
Agata
Hi Joy!
What an awesome idea. This only proves that bakers are the coolest people on the planet :)
Address sent!
Amanda
Sent!
I think you underestimate how worldwide popular you are!! You are going to be sending letters out allll over the world!
This is a truly Fab idea :)
=D
Emily@SoDomesticated
Such a cool idea!….. sending you my address….. Aloha : )
Ashley
Done! I’m super excited for this! I really hope I get a letter <3 I just moved to Germany and hardly get any mail yet…so I hope I have something to look forward to! Crayons totally rock. Especially when you get the big box with the sharpener built in.
Clarah
Hi Joy!
If you say you gonna write me a letter, you really gonna do it, right? Once, during my teenage years, I wrote some letters to my internet friends and nobody wrote me back and now I’m traumatized :(
So let’s try again, do you mind if you have another overseas pen pal? Now the country is Brazil!Love your posts.
:*
Stef
Does Brazil count as overseas from the US? More like across a whole lot of land, I think… ;)
Anywhoo, I’m hoping with and for you to get a letter from Joy! Un-do those traumatizing memories with one awesome Joy letter!
Clarah
That’s true, Stef! It was really late (and I was really sleepy) when I wrote the message, like 4am.
But thinking about it can be overseas but not across the seas.
Thanks for support dear!
Julia Sweeney
Yay-email sent! This is all very exciting. I live in the UK, I hope that’s not too far away for your crayons to reach?!x
Kirstin
I hope you have enough stamps to send a letter all the way to Kyrgyzstan!
joythebaker
i do. i definitely do.
Lisanne
I love this idea!
Rachel
This is awesome. Your blog always makes me smile. My husband reads too… then emails me everything he wants us to cook/bake together.
Victoria from London
Awwwwh!
Kaila
This is amazing Joy! What a great way to spend your time. I’m going through a 3-year-relationship breakup and have been trying to find things to do to make myself feel better and take my mind of things, and this idea is just so neat.
Thanks for being so rad!
Kim
I am sorry about your break up….those are never fun. Lots of hugs and love.
Aeshna
Would love love love a letter from you, Joy :)
To India maybe? Anyhoo. Sending it out.
Jennifer L.
Done!
PS I was just looking for your address on the website to send you one back… was there an PO box address on here at some point? I can’t find it. :)
Alexandra
Wow! What an utterly fabulous idea. I would like to write more handwritten letters myself! I’ve recently become obsessed with my watercolor paints, and now am using every possible excuse to bring people gifts with handmade cards attached (oh, you’re having a huge party? Hope you don’t mind if I bring along a sweet housewarming gift with a home-watercolored card attached! So where’s the keg?!)
But seriously.
Very, very cool Joy! I love that you continue inspiring my tummy and my mind! ;)
xxx
Taryn
What a fabulous idea! I loved hand written letters. I love writing them. I love getting them. I love cards. One of my all time favorite places that I’ve worked was a Hallmark store! I sure had a lot of stationary then. I was just thinking the other day how sad it is that my 5 year old daughter is growing up in this tech age where it’s all about email. I remember having pen pals. I remember writing to complete strangers from Bop Magazine – lol :o) Emailing you my address…
-Taryn
Merage
Sent! :) So excited about this. I love getting and writing letters. And we all know how rare those pencil (or crayon) and paper messages are these days!
Lindsay Tjarks
Joy, what a cute and very happy idea! So fun!
Rachel
Will you really write us letters? That’s probably one of the coolest things ever!
joythebaker
i’m doing it as we speak!
Katescakesandbakes
Dear Joy,
Does your lovely letter writing apply to your fans overseas? I suspect probably not but I thought there might be no harm in asking. Crayons are very cool.
I am totally needing to check out your 30 things before 30 post too as I turned 30-1 (29) yesterday and having some kind of mini existence crisis that I only have 364 days left of my twenty somethings. Although the cakes baked for the birthday celebrations helped calm down my hyperventilating self. Anyway off to check your post.
Yours sincerely,
Katescakesandbakes
PS I read once that worrying is like a rocking chair- it gives you something you do but doesn’t get you anywhere. Tis true.
joythebaker
overseas is totally cool! bring it! twenty somethings are nice… but i think thirties are going to rock.
Stef
Hurray! Germany is a splendid place to send a letter to ;) You just got an email from meee!
Maggie
would you like to have a mexico penpal? haha i would love to receive a letter and write you a letter, maybe sending you some goodies from here haha ;)
like always i love your blogposts you are amazing! thank you for always putting a smile on my face!
and i think im the first to comment YAY! haha
cheers from mexico! :P
kellie
i was just processing through these exact things, and i write letters to others when i’m needing the loving. i think we get something from giving…
Adam
done & done!
i will squeal like a school girl if i get a letter.
joythebaker
you will get a letter. promise.