Living alone has it’s trade offs. On the one hand, you have no partner in crime to help you get large spiders and occasion cockroaches (it’s New Orleans… it just happens) out of your house. That’s where large books (for throwing at spiders) and vacuum cleaners (for quickly sucking up cockroaches) come in handy. On the other hand, there’s no negotiation about what goes on, and how cluttered the coffee table is. This is my more-is-more approach.
I hope this week has been both fine and good. I’m looking forward to a) election season being ovah, b) lemonade season, and c) a quick trip to Philadelphia this week.
This is the Internet, carrying on:
• It’s not just liberals and conservatives smacking at each other. The Obama Doctrine and the slippery, so hard to navigate slope of foreign politics and intervention. So… obviously a really light read.
• Former ESPN Sportscaster Erin Andrews awarded 55 million in Hotel Recording Suit. Stalked, secretly recorded, exposed, with a sprinkling of shame from Marriot Hotels. Seven years a fight. I’m glad it’s over for you, Erin. Geez.
• To the strangers in Whole Foods who surrounded me after news of my father’s suicide. Good in the hard hard world.
• Guys… let’s really chill with the Instagram bologna. Let’s look around and see people instead.
• Read this: What it’s like to be the fat person sitting next to you on the plane.
• How To Hate Yourself. I mean… how great can we really be? It’s like like we invented bacon or baked potatoes… all we do is sit around and watch Forensic Files.
• We’ve all got skinny jeans so fashion is dead…. according to Urban Outfitters. It’s all babies wearing mom-jeans. We’ve lost our way. Correction. We’re actually old enough to wear mom jeans un-ironically should we so choose. These are the best jeans and they’re worth the splurge.
• I think Kim Kardashian thinks her body is so important because society is constantly telling her that her particular body is important. Seems odd to me. Her selfie aside, here’s a look at how our language is changing to now-ironic acronyms: How LOL Became a Punctuation Mark. LOLnothingmatters LOLhelp
• 20 things we hate seeing in recipes. Be clear and tell us exactly how much onion to use, please.
• Dammit Dorie Greenspan, you’re the best. Got me pre-ordering a cookie book that’s not coming out until October.
• I’ve been beating back a cold with Really Raw (unfiltered, too!) Honey and Thrive Market is giving away a free jar. Free for new members or free with a $50 purchase for existing members. Now is the time to stock up on honey, tea, and essential oils. Totally what’s happening over here.
• The Honey & Co Cookbook is divine! I’m making a savory cheesecake with roasted vegetables from this lovely book. Spring almost sprung.
I hope today is a happy one!
xo Joy
Amy H
As always, love your Sunday reading. I may be in the minority here, but, while I sympathize with the sheer *anguish* an obese person must go through to fly, I don’t pity them. Air travel has become so very expensive, and I don’t appreciate having to share my seat space with someone so large they can’t help but take up more than the seat they have purchased. Barring rare metabolic/hormonal disorders, their obesity is a choice they make (and I say this as someone without a functioning thyroid).
Rachel
Re. Honey & Co, make this from the book. It is a revelation: https://www.rachelphipps.com/2014/10/cookbook-corner-honey-co-cookbook.html
Jeannette
This post was filled with tears. of happiness. of understanding. of sadness. of confusion. I am feeling every feeling.
David
Ms. Joy, I recommend you get Bell Howell Electromagnetic Ultrasonic Pest Repeller With Extra Auxiliary Outlet.
I got several in my garage and the pest have hit the hwy!
Do you have a Amazon wish list? Put it on there. Then post about no pest, and the next great wine you recommend.
Greatful follower.
Lyn Price
Are you serious about the jeans and that they are worth the price?? Talk about “Emperor’s New Clothes!
joythebaker
i think they’re so great because they’re durable, last a long time, and aren’t overly trendy. But I know… expensive!
Moonies
Is it weird that I love your coffee table? Because I do. I love your coffee table.
Giovanna
Hey Joy! thanks for this awesome read. It’s my first time reading your blog and I will be back :) I also have a blog and would love to get your feedback.
Alissa
Damn it. Now I’m crying at my desk.
Arthur in the Garden!
Yes, “Water bugs” are the scourge of The South. The heat and humidity seem to make the multiply like amoebas even in the cleanest houses! Living alone has a side effect of making my home a clothing option so you might not want to just show up at my house unannounced! :-)
Abbi
“Let it be Sunday!” is my favorite weekly blog. I think we should be friends.
Kristy Rhine
Very insightful! I enjoyed reading this. Thanks for sharing.
Ella
Had a good laugh at the 20 things we hate seeing in recipes. All so true. Your coffee table looks perfect to me. I love your Let it Be Sunday posts.
dessertfortwo
Happy Sunday, boo! I love seeing my book on your coffee table ;) I need to send you a pic of your books on my open shelves in my dining rooms :)
fariha
Just saw the Jonathan Gold documentary today, City of Gold, and your blog was on it! thought i’d let you know if you didn’t already :)
Chris
I loved that article about things we hate seeing in recipes. Aside from people falling into frothing, sycophantic frenzies about recipes they haven’t made and will never make, my main beef is ….Americanisms! (Sorry) The acronym for the internet includes the word ‘worldwide’ for a reason, yet the majority of US bloggers post recipes bursting at the seams with ‘sticks’ and ‘cups’ of butter and quarts of liquid and ounces of everything else, heedless of the fact that America, Liberia and Myanmar are the only countries on the planet that still use imperial measurements. I asked a group of dear (American) friends about this the other day and they unanimously insisted it’s because your average everyday American doesn’t give a toss about the pitiful bipedal creatures attempting to eke out their existences beyond US borders :) But seriously, why don’t they include conversions? It has always bewildered me.
Ashley English
I love “The Mighty” essay about the WF strangers and the writer’s father’s suicide. In spite of everything, I truly believe that people really are good at heart. Thanks for sharing. Have fun in Philly, friend. Get a double scoop at Capogiro for me, won’t you?
Cy
Great read as ever Joy! I love your coffee table! It looks like you styled it, but in a lived in way. How do you get Tron not to eat the flowers? My kitty, Minnie wouldn’t eat the kitty grass I got her, but every time I have flowers in the house, she’s chewing on them! She is still a baby( 7 months ) maybe she will grow out of it?
Hannah Jade
I could not be *more relieved* that “fashion” is dead.
anothercopycat
Actually I do have a roomie, but she works fulltime & spends a lot of time at her boyfriend’s house, so I know how you fell like. Thanks for sharing these links :)
Kavita Goyal
Nice compilation of various articles. How to hate yourself and being a fat person in the plane are very interesting. Very good article.
Libby
YES! I see so many recipes that are like “3 chopped onions” and I look at my enormous onions and I’m like, “Yeah, no, I’ma chop, like half of this puppy.”
Or the new trend for “THREE INGREDIENT SUCH AND SUCH!” And really it’s got three main ingredients but you guys, oil and water are STILL ingredients. And there is no shame in having a five ingredient such and such.
joythebaker
Why do clever recipes have to have so few ingredients? I’m gonna make 14 ingredient cookies in protest.
SuZ
Is that a surprise ball white pomegranate on the table?!
joythebaker
It is! What’s inside!?
Amy
And you should get the new Honey & Co baking book – even more delicious !
joythebaker
You’re right!
Lauren | Hello Book Lover
Living alone certainly has more perks than drawbacks! As a Floridian, I feel your pain on the cockroach thing. I squish the occasional cockroach using a hand weight and cry the whole time I’m chasing one. Dramatic, I know.
Thanks for all the great articles! I look forward to this post every Sunday.
joythebaker
I completely understand you.
Danielle
I feel you on the roaches, but beware! They will make your vacuum stink. Empty asap.
Chris
That’s not dramatic in my opinion! I live in Brisbane, Queensland (hot and humid) so cockroaches are a fact of life here too. I was born in NZ (no cockroaches) and after many years of living here I have never adjusted to them. A few weeks ago I woke during the night and felt something crawling on me. I screamed like a little girl, flicked it off, turned the light on and quickly identified my bed-mate as a hairy, saucer-sized spider. My response? I almost cried with relief that it wasn’t a cockroach, rolled over and went back to sleep.
Erica D.
Same! Clearly, bugs also migrate like snowbirds.
angryowlet
Love love love the picture of your coffee table…because it looks so similar to mine! (Clutter-wise, I mean :) ) What candle do you have burning there? In a candle rut and looking for some new options.
Nadia
Great reads as always. Dorie has the best cookbooks!
Krista
Hi Joy ! I really love your cluttered coffee tables , I actually use the pictures as my background on my phone :) Keep up the great inspirations .
Susan
I hate when a recipe says “dry white wine” or a deep red. I am not well versed. Can’t they say use a chardonnay or a deep red like a cabernet? That would be so less confusing to me.
Abby
A few months ago I’m pretty sure I saw you walking down the street in philly and got so excited! I’d love it if you’d do a round up of some places you like in Philly. I’ve lived here almost ten years and sometimes feel like I’m in a rut and always go to the same places!
MrsB
I always enjoy your Sunday day read. I am glad I had a full cup of coffee when I started that Atlantic article.
Makes me wonder why ANYONE would want to be president .
Maria
Thanks for the honey, honey! <3
Renzo
First time reader here. I enjoy the variety of topics and I’m hooked—you have a new follower.
Robin
I love all your posts, but especially Sunday ones! I envy people who are alone sometimes, like this morning when I awoke to my formerly clean living room looking like a frat party went down last night, courtesy of husband and son!
(really wanted to put an LOL on there!) Have a great day!
Carrie
Hello, just letting you know the link to the Wholefoods story isn’t working. I searched for it though and cried my way through, good to know there are good people still out there. (This is the link https://themighty.com/2016/03/to-the-strangers-in-whole-foods-who-surrounded-me-after-news-of-my-fathers-suicide/)
Maria Potthoff
Awesome list thank your :-) I’m so interested in “How to hate yourself”! This list is my whole program for this lazy sunday, glad you are sharing your inspiration and interesting articles with us :-) Greetings from Passeiertal, Italy :-)
Emily @ Life on Food
Great links this week. Yes the election needs to be over soon. The flying article is so moving. And the cookie cookbook – yes, yes yes!
Rena
Thanks for taking side with fat people, the article touched me really.
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Vivian | stayaliveandcooking
Sounds like a list of good reads! I’m definitely checking out the 20 things we hate seeing in recipes one. And I recognise the problems of living alone: try getting something heavy from the top shelf! Have a good Sunday.