This week has been a symphony with moments of sure-footedness and focus, and a few scattered moments of self-doubt and late night Forensic Files episodes (enough to scare the surety out of any reasonable person). I complained about the chill in the New Orleans air twice, obnoxious considering we aren’t buried under snow, and hopefully the chill has finally killed off the last of the swamp mosquitos. I cried once because my Mom texted me to tell me she was proud of me… make that twice, because I just cried again typing out that last sentence.
The lessons learned this week are these: no late-night Forensic Files / it’s not that cold so hush / make your mom proud.
The Internet told us these things:
• Ta-Nehisi Coates on His Breakthrough Moment ‘The winner is the person that keeps asking questions.” The winner is also the person that is a stronger, more talented writer… so there’s also that.
• Letter of Recommendation: Sick Days. Let’s be sick in bed… but not that sick. This is important. All signs point to putting down our phones and closing our email.
• I’m currently working my way through old episodes of Sex and the City and it feels strange because I am currently the age of the characters in the show. Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha used to be older, adventured, relevant, and exciting people who possibly held a light to parts of my future, even in their imperfections… here I am. And, HUH!? This is related, but mostly about cupcakes: The Comfort Food Diaries: Cupcakes, Reclaimed
• Tom has a girlfriend: Vases.
• ‘Sleep, much like running a marathon or chewing food, is a solitary activity. We physically lie next to each other, but we sleep alone.’ Why We Sleep Together. Much like chewing food…
• Escape From The Internet! Closing the curtains on a cult-following with the blog Young House Love.
• In case you wanted to read Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Donald Trump with highlighted highlights.
• The Presidents of the United States when they were young and hunky. Please see #38 Gerald Ford.
• A Cozy Kitchen made this Blood Orange Curd and I wish it would magically appear in my refrigerator but I keep opening my refrigerator and apparently, that’s not how things work.
• Did you know that you can sign up for Joy the Baker mailings including blog posts and semi-regular newsletters and giveaways? It’s pretty cool if you ask me, but don’t ask me because I’m super biased. There’s a sign up link in the sidebar. Check it (likely scroll down). —>
• Sausage and Mushroom Risotto for your Winter comfort and your tummy satisfaction.
• We’ll spend 3.5 days of our life untangling headphones so… there’s that.
• Every episode of The X Files Ranked From Worst to Best. Who knew we’d be back on an X Files kick, you know?
• Re: Mardi Gras. Everywhere Else It’s Just Tuesday
• Party. Pizza Party. Will you throw one and invite me? Appreciated.
• Filed under Things I Made and Did Not Photograph is a coconut curry hot chocolate with curry marshmallows inspired by the book Quench: Handcrafted beverages to satisfy ever taste and occasion. I did take one picture and I’ll post the recipe next week! If you must have it today: coconut milk, dark chocolate, a little sugar, and a dash of curry powder, aaaand GO!
I wish for you good and warm things,
xo Joy
AC
Late to this party but my husband sings that Party…Pizza party jingle on the reg to the point where our kids do too.
Suzonne
I read “Escape From the Internet” on Sunday and it’s been nagging at me ever since. The Internet and social media have brought so much to our lives, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s making us all (more than) a little crazy? I appreciate the inspiration that I glean from online sources, the new information, the connections that are occasionally made. Those things enrich my life. I understand the benign celebrity crush, too. But what has happened that we ask and need so much from total strangers (that we’ve somehow decided are our friends)?! It’s frightening to me – and a bit bleak. I wonder, what would happen if we were to spend more of our time and energy creating lives of fulfillment and purpose for ourselves? Scary territory, certain risk, but the payoff would be so much better than waiting to be fed by an online entity. Food for thought.
Brittany
Hi Joy! Can you tell me what kind of sausage you used in that mushroom and sausage risotto recipe? I want to make it tomorrow night. Thanks!
Considering The Radish
I cannot wait for the hot chocolate recipe. Seriously.
emilyinutah
I too started rewatching Sex and the City a few months ago (I’m up to season 6A now) and had the same reaction. Carrie’s 34 in the beginning, and so am I! My dating life isn’t nearly so exciting as hers, but it’s nice to see my situation on the little screen. Interesting to consider where life has taken me since the last time I watched in my early 20s. Life, Joy! Crazy stuff.
Janabelle
Love your lists! You always hook me up with things I’d have otherwise missed! :-D Also, so SWEET about your mom. That’s definitely sweet-tear worthy.
dessertfortwo
I’m so proud of you, too. You are fearless, determined, hard working, honest, genuine, and wonderful. I’m so glad the world has you in it. xo
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
Thanks for including me, girlfriend. I always come here on Sundays to get some interesting reading done. The most interesting thing I’ve read all week is this post on Pitchfork about how these two bad ass bitches took down this creepy dude. http://pitchfork.com/news/63017-dirty-projectors-amber-coffman-best-coast-and-more-accuse-publicist-of-sexual-misconduct/
xox
Derek
Great post, the headphone bit so relateable!
Vonnie
Where do you watch the Sex & The City episodes? Dvds? Where’d you get your box set?
joythebaker
i think i use HBO Go.
Eileen
I am not your mama (could be age wise) and I am proud of you! You are creative, insightful & talented. I look forward to reading your posts.
Betze Browne
Another wonderful post Joy…please give our good wishes to your Mother who helped a daughter
many of us admire and respect, love.
JeanneW
Chiming in on also being proud of you! And I’ve always wanted to tell you that you have the best link lists. They are thoughtful and insightful and fun and inspiring. Keep up the good work.
If you think Gerald Ford was hot then, you’re going to love him even more after reading this article. Have you heard the story about Ford and Willis Ward? Back when he was a football player for Michigan, Georgia Tech was coming to play. They demanded that all black players sit out due to Jim Crow laws. Willis Ward was one of Ford’s closest friends and he was so incensed that he demanded that Ward play or he would boycott the game. It’s really a touching story. Here read ..a Let It Be Sunday link for you :)
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2011/02/future_president_gerald r_ford.html
joythebaker
thank you so much for sharing this! off to read it now!
Cy
I did have a pizza party some months back. I used the overnight pizza dough recipe from Bon appetit magazine( October 2014 ), you bake it on cookies sheets. They called it Homemade Grandma pie”. I remember my mom making pizza when we were kids like that on a rectangular cookie sheet. Anyway, they turned out great, something about the dough sitting overnight makes it light and crispy. I made one caramelized onion, duck bacon(I know, I had to try it!) and burrata and the other was smoked mozzarella and ndjua, a big green salad and for dessert a peach pie( I make awesome pie, I love pie). I wish you could have been there! TMI, I also invited a tinder date, I hadn’t met yet, but had been chatting with, along with some good friends. I know, totally crazy and so was he). It always makes a party interesting to throw someone new in works. I won’t be doing that again. It made for an entertaining evening and I’m laughing now remembering it. Today, I have friends coming over and we are making bagels( don’t worry, no one from tinder). I’ll let you know how they turn out. Love your Sunday posts!
joythebaker
bold moves, Cy. very bold moves!
Jessie Pitcher
I look forward to your lists every Saturday; thank you. Happy Mardi Gras!
Katie
Just LOVED the sick in bed article. It really struck a chord. Especially because I am currently snowed in to my own house with exactly nothing to do and with the advantage of NOT feeling unwell!
Tracy
The thing I notice most about SATC now that I’m officially Samantha’s age, is where the heck are their families? Except for one episode involving Miranda’s mom’s funeral, it was as if we were expected to believe they were hatched or something. I get the idea of friends being chosen family but sheesh…
joythebaker
you are so right!!
13bees
So the thing that surprises me most while watching old episodes of SATC (I am now their age as well) is the complete and utter lack of empathy the characters have for each other. They are so totally self-obsessed. I did not notice this while watching the show the first time around in my late teens/early 20s!
Laura
That hot chocolate sounds delicious especially since we just got some fresh snow.
kim
The blood orange curd sounds so good! But shoot; it reminds me of Pepto or ham salad or salmon bisque.
Donna
Just saying…I have never again been as cold as I was when I lived on Magazine across the street from the Poydras Home for Old Ladies 40 years ago. Chicken thawed quicker in my refrigerator than it did over the pilot eye on my stove. Oh, the humidity. And—I so enjoy your blog.
kim
So much for your mom to be proud of! I love these lists; I look forward to them every Sunday. Please keep them up!
butterandtoasttt
I really like the re-design. Like really, really. And now I will go look at that X-Files list for the next few hours…
blackcoffeeandpolitics
Bluetooth wireless head phones are life changing. No more untangling of the wires.
Heidi
Oooo, what an interesting piece on young house love! Thanks for the links as always. Happy Sunday!
emmajeanne16
Arg! The headphones = my life every day.