Hello my friends!
Welcome to this, another fine Sunday with us blinking our eyes open and figuring out which socks to wear (I think the answer is none).
This past week, at my request, many of you offered up some of the advice and wisdom you’ve accumulated in your time making your life your life. Your comments were top-notch, super insightful, and really wonderful to read. Every one was a gem, but there are a few favorites I thought I’d share. If you’re interested, read more in the comment section at This is 35.
Faith offered this, ‘“love means to look at yourself the way one looks at distant things. For you are only one thing among many”.
Meredith shared this, “A fella shared with me how his grandmother trains bulls on her farm; As babies she fastens them to a rock. the rock is heavier than the young bull, restraining it to the diameter of the rock. The young bull is not content with its confinement and tries to break free by bucking for a few days or weeks, but eventually sees the futility and calms. As the bull calms it starts to grow, still chained to and restrained by the same rock -the bull grows but the rock remains the same. one day, the bull is a youth no more, full-grown and much bigger then the rock, like much MUCH bigger. But the big bull doesn’t try to move the rock. At all. It is resigned to being restrained by an unlovable rock. For the record, if it tried, a full-grown bull could pull the rock across the farm.
My advice, never stop bucking.”
Renee offered this, “Show up for you and continue to encourage people to do the same for themselves in between everything else.”
The gems you offered me this week have been invaluable. I’m grateful to you and I’m reminded that we’re all in this together.
Here’s some Internet happenings. May the rest of your Sunday be glorious!
• If you’re going to call yourself “The Greatest”, you dang-well better be. Rest in peace, Muhammad Ali.
• There have been more than 300 homicides in Chicago this year already. That’s a lot. That’s too many because one is too many. That’s a city become war zone and the shooters are not being caught. Chicago’s invisible shooters wreak havoc.
• It’s wedding season and here’s a fine way to celebrate. Why you will marry the wrong person. It’s a beautiful read because we’re imperfect but capable and so is everyone else.
• Masters of Love. Let’s be good at love with kindness and generosity, with the confidence and consistency to doooo thaaatt all the time.
• Truer words never spoken. Your flip flops are grossing me out.
• This is the secret to keeping secrets. We’ve all seen Seinfeld. (That’s not necessarily a true statement but just let it happen.) You put secrets in The Vault. It’s as simple as that. Also… if we’re going to go down a Seinfeld rabbit hold (unintended): Aunt Baby.
• How Mark Zuckerberg led Facebook’s war to crush Google Plus. I mean… the dude and the company are no flipping joke. We all get that by now, right?
• Champagne gummies, they’ll never give you a headache. That’s a bald-faced lie and I’m making them anyway.
• An unlikely but very likeable and insightful pair: Maya Angelou and Dave Chapelle
• Consider this some bath time reading and motivation. Anne Lamont. Time lost and Found.
• Because it’s Summer and we want to be sure our cakes melt quickly: Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream Cake with Salted Caramel
• Unrelated to ice cream cake… have you ever tried the Whole 30 Diet? I’m toying with the idea- batting it around like a cat and a catnip ball in my head. There’s a cat in my head? I’m browsing this from The Kitchn: 12 Favorite Whole 30 Recipes.
In the meantime, I wish for you waffle brunch.
xo Joy
Mi Negocio 360
Sounds delicious!
Kat
I’m on the Whole 30 Diet now perusing your site on a lunch break and wondering why I ever started! Kidding, kind of. Sugar cravings aside I am finding it really useful. I have such a sweet tooth and it is helping me to retrain my body in terms of cravings and wants. I’ve been sleeping more deeply and restfully and feel much less bloated.
My sister thinks its extreme – she says I should practice moderation instead. The thing is, I’ve never been one for moderation (one cookie always turns into three, or five). I told her that I think I need to know I can handle the extreme for 30 days to be able to practice moderation in the long run.
I think they key thing I have found so far is to be prepared. I’ve ended up at the grocery store after work hungry and a bit tormented by the options I can’t have (bread! pasta! quinoa even!). I started going in the morning before work but after breakfast and it’s a better option for me.
I was prompted to start after an decadent weekend in New Orleans (such a beautiful city you live in) and I am happy I did it. I would recommend it if you want a bit of an assist breaking some bad sugar (or general food) habits.
Victoria
That spread looks incredible!! :O :D <3
http://victorialouisekblogs.blogspot.fr/
Victoria
X
RD2BE
Before trying the Whole30 please read this! http://abbylangernutrition.com/the-whole-30-a-lesson-in-extremes/
There’s no need to try these diets when you already eat whole foods/ you just generally don’t need to diet!! Much love from a huge fan and soon-to-be RD
Chelsea
Flip flops are bad but Whole 30 is good?
Valerie
Joy, I love your Sunday posts! I always read them over my lunch break on Monday. A great collection of articles this week, thank you. I would wear flip-flops all day, every day…if it was remotely appropriate. Sadly, it’s not. I bought the Whole30 book with the intention of doing it for Lent this year. Somewhere, down the line I got lazy, and ended up just cutting out alcohol, sugar and anything fried. Lost some weight and felt much better so in the end, it was a win.
Samantha Pritchard
I have done the Whole 30 plan twice. I now plan to do it twice a year. A great re-charge to get in touch with what works for your body and what doesn’t. I found it challenged me in the kitchen as well!
Theresa M.
I would say I need to haul my ice cream machine out from winter storage, but that would be a lie. I make ice cream all year round. Just because it gets to 10 below zero here, that’s no excuse not to have ice cream. That’s why God made HOT fudge sauce; for eating on ice cream in winter. Anyway, the toasted marshmallow ice cream cake looks wonderful! I’m thinking of making it using chocolate and vanilla ice cream and layering them. Have to have chocolate with marshmallows and graham crackers! Perhaps 2 layers of vanilla with chocolate in the middle for a fancy layered cake look to the ice cream cake. Love your Sunday posts, Joy! Thanks for all your inspiration!
Christina C
Always look forward to these posts! I say do it in regards to doing a Whole30 I would suggest doing a Whole60 though sounds nuts I know but I have done a handful of Whole30’s and I have done two Whole60 and felt much more in-control of what I was putting in my mouth after the Whole60.
Kate
The flip flop story made me laugh–just the other day I suffered though lunch sitting at an outside table next to a window where the guy at the table right inside had crossed his leg and dropped his flip flop on the floor, forcing me to stare at his ugly bare foot while I choked down my sandwich. Ugh!
joythebaker
Not a shoe!
Maggie
Hi Joy,
I am a longtime reader and have never commented but feel compelled to do so because of my love for Whole 30! I have always struggled with “dieting” because baking and eating allthefoods give me such joy! But it’s just 30 days and you can try anything for just 30 days, right? I’ve completed 2 rounds and am in the middle of my 3rd and I love what it does for my body, my sleep, my skin, and my mind – not to mention my confidence.
My advice is to get the Whole 30 recipe book because there are some gems in there. I make the meatballs every single weekend. You really can eat delicious, wholesome food (plus salsa and guacamole on absolutely everything!) on the program and after a while you don’t even miss the sugar. It’s crazy what a response your body has when you feed it real food – and crazy when you start reading labels and see how much junk is in literally everything you buy at the store. By Day 23ish of both of the 2 rounds I completed I had people at work tell me I was glowing. Your body/soul will thank you, give it a try!!!
Maggie
sarah
Loved the Whole 30! Super hard but very eye opening. I’ve attempted multiple second rounds, but none have been as successful as the first.
Kathryn
I did Whole30 (and am trying to maintain now as much as possible) and it was really eye opening. I felt the best I’ve ever felt in the last week of doing it and it’s very empowering to learn how much sugar is added to EVERYTHING. My sugar cravings are totally different now and my body thanks me. Also – turns out black coffee is delicious.
mollysusie
I looked into Whole 30, because I really truly eat horribly, and my big hang-up was what do you drink? You can’t have dairy, juice, alcohol, caffeine, soda, artificial sweetener … what in the hell do you drink? Herbal tea and water? I can’t live that way. I first heard of Whole 30 from the blog Judy’s Chickens (https://judyschickens.org/) and she adapts a lot of recipes to be Whole 30 compliant. I definitely need to change my eating habits, and possibly my drinking habits, but for me it has to be a slow introduction or I won’t stick to it. Baby steps.
Lucy
Your Sunday round-ups are always so wonderful to read. I have done the Whole30 mostly as a challenge to myself and to see if I could really wake up with that “i can’t wait to start the day” mentality. I don’t regret doing it, but it’s SO restrictive. I did like how the book and the challenge made me think about what I eat and cook from home much more. I found it quite difficult to go out to eat so therefore I cooked at home A LOT. You could totally make it work at restaurants, but I just didn’t want to constantly question the ingredients they used. By day 20, I finally felt like it was a little easier to wake up, but it wasn’t life changing enough to do again.
Amy L
A Whole30/Paleo diet works great for me. It’s been an integral component in healing from chronic fatigue/asthma. It isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a 30-day trial. Besides, lots of nutrient-dense veggies, fruits and proteins are a happy thing. Good luck!
Mighty Nourishing
I wholeheartedly believe you/most people should take on a whole30 and proper reintroduction – I feel closer to my body knowing how different foods make me feel. Its so much more than just 30 days – also once you do one, its great to know its always there as a reset (and each round does get easier!)
Jessie
I made vodka gummy bears once. Except I let them soak too long and they got kind of gross and slimy…but I’m all about learning from my mistakes and champagne sounds like an excellent alternative.
My husband did whole 30, he needed a radical overhaul on his fast food habit, and he ended up down 16 lbs in those 30 days. The key, I think, is keeping things SIMPLE, and doing meal prep. I loved Mel Jouwan at Well Fed’s meal plan, because it wasn’t super structured and you still had choice and options. We could get everything made in 2-3 hours on a Sunday and spent zero brain power during the week.
Valentina
I know that people who complete a whole30 (or multiple) end up with so much enthusiasm that they sound like they’re in a cult, but it’s because it is REALLY. THAT. AWESOME. I’m on my second round right now and I couldn’t speak more highly of it — my meals are more diverse than ever, tastier than ever, and better for me than ever. Having completed one whole30 already, I have a much better sense of which foods make me feel sick/bloated/uncomfortable, which ones impact my skin, and which ones makes me feel extra great and able to take on the world. I’ve lost inches and pounds — but that’s not really the point. The point is that I feel better physically and I feel better about myself. As someone who loves you and your blog, I’d be so, so happy to see you take on a whole30 and arm those of us with a new and improved arsenal of compliant recipes!
MegElyse
Already wrote this, but my phone had a heart attack on me!
So, I’ve done three whole 30’s and eaten whole 30-ish for about a year now. It can be difficult when it comes to social situations, but I find it very easy to eat this way at home. In that time, I’ve lost 33 lbs and my skin cleared up( surprise! You’re allergic to dairy).
I still eat treats every once in a while, but it certainly has to be worth it. If I’m going to have ice cream, it better be Ben and Jerry’s or a really nice gelato. This makes it that much more special though.
Anyway, it’s only a month, and all of the foods they recommend are healthy. If you’re really curious, I’d give it a shot.
Meg
I’ve done three whole30’s, and have tried to eat whole30-ish for over a year now. Yes, it’s difficult ,particularly when it comes to social situations; but I’ve lost about 33 lbs in that year and my skin cleared up (surprise! You’re allergic to dairy). I still allow myself an occasional treat, but am very happy with the way I feel.
Give it a shot for a month. It’s not too long for an experiment.
Rebekah
I’ve done Whole 30 and recommend it. It’s changed how I think about processed foods, sugar, and alcohol.
It’s not easy for the first couple of weeks; you’ll feel tired and irritable. But then you hit a turning point and feel incredible. After the 30 days is up, you can start adding certain foods back in and see how they make you feel.
Rebekah
I did Whole30 for Lent this year and by day 25 had snuck back in some carbs. I thought I’d be so miserable giving up sugar AND dairy, but having an end date made it reasonable. It’s not easy, but it does feel a lot healthier. I also lost 5 lbs. Good luck!
Marylyn
FYI We just spent a week in NOLA, our annual visit, and I remembered a previous post of yours about lovely towels. After going back and finding the post, we made it to Loomed, which was in an area we were familiar with. What a wonderful little shop with beautiful products and a great, helpful sales associate. I purchased a feather piece in black and natural stripes which I’ll use as a scarf, a wrap, a light blanket on our upcoming trip to Europe. Thank you so much for your recommendation!!
Lauren Wilson
Seinfeld. Love.
Julie
Try the whole 30. I’ve done it twice now and it’s not really as much about restricting food and mean girl fad diets as described in comments but about noticing and being mindful of your relationship to food. What are you craving and why? Are you nourishing your body or just simply reaching for something sweet? After 30 days you will look at your choices differently… And then you can go back to eating whichever foods work for you.
kyanabrindle
I’m late to the party and just recently discovered your blog. Wonderful. I especially love these Sunday posts. Great links, food stuffs and bits of your life. Thanks for sharing.
Fiona
Whole 30 created a shift in my set point and the frequency of eating foods that don’t really serve me. I liked the weight loss during the 30 days but for 6 weeks after I was done, I continued to lose weight.
Brittany R.
I did the paleo diet and lost 30 pounds quickly. I’ve maintained a weight loss of 20 pounds from that diet by watching my portion sizes at dinner and still watching the bad carbs. It friggin’ sucks. I just want to simultaneously eat bowls full of ice cream, mashed potatoes, and donut holes. When I crave something really bad for me, I try to remember how lethargic and bloated I felt before changing my eating habits. The most difficult part of the paleo diet for me was actually cutting out dairy. I can cut bread and pasta all day, but I LOVE cheese. Good luck if you try the whole 30. I know a lot of people who have had success on this diet.
Lynn
Joy, Whole30 is definitely worth doing. It made me aware of how certain foods affect my body & digestive system. Yes, weight loss was involved, but most importantly it helped me mentally wrap my head around a healthier way of eating. I skeptical when I started, but I’m a total believer due to how much better I feel. I’ve continued eating with the knowledge of what is best for my system. I have desserts & alcohol but in moderation. Interestingly, now when I indulge in those things I don’t feel any desire to over do it. I’ve never felt better!
Leigh Kramer
I did Whole 30 two and a half years ago and it helped me identify the culprits behind my life-long eczema and insomnia. I only recommend it if there’s some kind of medical condition or health problem. It’s intense and it was worth it for me but the only thing that got me through it was how desperate I had become about my eczema.
Cy
I’m not sure why my comments always have question marks. Annoying!
Cy
You can actually buy champagne gummies. Every year I have a holiday party and I always make up a party favor bag of beautiful candy. I like to break tradition. Last year my colors were pink and gold. The champagne gummies were a big hit. Delish!
Diane Leach
So I have a friend who did the Whole 30 and became a total food Nazi (I’m jewish, okay?). She claimed it would cure her aching back. Well, her aching back turned out to be a serious ailment requiring medical intervention no diet could cure, and her pointed, rude remarks about my eating were totally wrong. Eat a balanced diet. And treats!!! As for marrying the wrong person, I celebrated 20 years of the marriage to the wrong guy June 1. Sorry to sound so preachy–I don’t mean to. Peace, love, and chocolate chips!
Cy
I have tried the Whole30 diet and it can be helpful for a lot of reasons. The nation is on a no gluten craze and for most people this is not nessescary, but you know how that goes. That being said, it does give you a healthier diet, no sugar and tons of fruits and veg, always a plus. Many people try it to locate allergies or tolerance levels, but most people to lose weight. You obviously don’t have a weight problem. It is only 30 days and does encourage more plant consumption. I don’t think it is realistic as long term solution for most people. Me, I’m working on listening to my body’s intuition, it will tell you what it needs. The hard part is to always listen. ???? Thanks for another great Sunday read!
Abi
Day 6 of whole 30 today!! There are some tasty recipes in that book. Oh and get a spiralizer if you don’t already have one.
Elizabeth O
I tried the Whole 30 last year. It wasn’t bad, but in the end I learned nothing from it besides a few good recipes. You can skip it & just make tasty Whole30 recipes as part of your regular diet.
Desi
Yes please do whole30 and be sure to blog all of the amazing recipes you cook ????
Tara
I did the whole30 a year ago. It’s pretty great. You really see how much crap can be in what we eat. It’s hard to eat sweets or have a drink for 30 days but…you will lose weight, inches, and learn just how much your body can be effected by certain foods. I am trying to gear up to do another round starting tomorrow because the truth is, I never felt better than when I did it last time. And when I finished it, I stuck to a mainly paleo diet but would allow myself a drink or two and the occasional sweet. If you do it, I look forward to following you on it!
Nicole Leslie
I’m packing away that Champagne Gummies link/idea for a rainy indoor weekend. No kids around. Maybe the husband if he’s ever so lucky. Thanks for sharing it.
Alexis
You’ve made bacon look AMAZING. Your Sunday looks absolutely fashionable and delicious.
xx
Alexis
Jen
Hey Joy –
I did Whole30 in January due to a really bad problem with eyelid dermatitis. Whole30 ended up being one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. Not only did my eyelid dermatitis clear up completely with no steroids or medicine but I also felt great and truly understood how the food I was putting in my body made me feel.
If it’s something you’re seriously considering, I would encourage you to read (or listen) to the book, It Starts with Food. I think understanding the science behind Whole30 and the foods they ask you not to eat for 30 days is crucial for a successful Whole30 experience. You can’t just treat it like a fad diet because it’s so much more than that. The #1 program goal is to promote a healthy relationship with food. Beyond that it’s about healing and reducing systemic inflammation, promoting healthy hormonal levels and supporting a healthy gut.
I wrote a really detailed recap of my experience with it: http://www.peanutbutterrunner.com/my-first-whole30-the-results/.
I know you love to read so GO READ THE BOOK! :)
tracy
The Whole 30 sounds like the kind of diet that I would get excited about, read the book from front to back, meticulously plan the 30 days, go shopping for all the food, then proceed to have a burger or big bowl of cereal on day three thus ruining the “detox”. “Know thyself,” and I know I’m not cut out for it (see also: The Zone, The Perricone Prescription, South Beach Diet) I do better with just mindful eating.
Betsy Kipnis
Have you been to Chicago?
Somebody from Somewhere
Very good article about secret keeping.
Happy Sunday! :)
http://somebodyfromsomewhere.me/
Julia
That story on marriage was brilliant, and I am 2 out of 3 for what they call an imprudent marriage. Nine years and four kids later, I highly recommend jumping in and hanging on.
Suzanne
nooooo whole 30! PLEASE. The idea that a person should not eat 90% of the things they normally eat because they are suddenly “bad” or “unhealthy” is ludicrous. Hello, we have livers — the idea of “detoxing” ourselves is BS. That’s according to smart doctors and nutritionists, not just me, and a lot has been written on it in the last few years. Of course, if you have some sort of sensitivity to this or that and your body really can’t process it and it really is a “toxin” to you, then don’t eat it. Otherwise, skip this scammy mean-girl deprivation fest. Don’t we have have way better things to do than obsess over everything we do and don’t put in our mouths?
Kate
Preach
Yael
I agree with this too. I think we have a serious problem right now of disguising diets and disordered eating habits as trendy “wellness” cleanses–didn’t you just post the article about this the other week?? Yes, I have friends who did Whole 30 and claimed they felt amazing–but when they talk about it a few months out all they really talk about is how much weight they lost. I would so much rather celebrate all of the amazing foods we have available to us- veggies and also cakes- and I love seeing others value that and do the same.
Elizabeth
Seriously! Don’t be sucked in by the Paleo pseudo~science! Legumes and whole grains are good for you, a diet high in animal protein is not.
Micheal Pollan said it best: Eat real food, not too much, mostly plants.
Rebecca Leamon
Like the string of commenters below Suzanne, I completely agree. Make some lovely grain salads and soups, but I surely hope you avoid the “bad food” idea. Your celebratory approach to eating (and living!) has been a pleasure to enjoy.
Kara
A-freaking-men. This is a fad diet to end all fad diets. The “science” behind it does not hold up to in depth study.
There is much to be said for doing an elimination diet and seeing how you feel. Getting some of the junky foods out of your daily routine can be helpful. If you do have a sensitivity to lactose or gluten, this kind of thing can be helpful. But “detoxing”? It’s a myth and a lie. The idea that the human body wasn’t designed to eat certain food groups? Also a myth and a lie.
Liz
Try the whole 30. It’s all about planning ahead, it’s only 30 days and you will feel aces by the end of it! It sadly did not kill my sugar craving like it said I would. I still would have fought someone for a cookie by day 30.
francetaste
I love that bull story!
I made good ol’ American pancakes–maple syrup and all–this morning for a crew of French teens, and they were a hit. Your brunch looks far fancier.
ailynk
a lot of inspiring and honest post you have here on the list, definitely go at the cake
Rena
Oh, I think I will wearing socks today as it is not only raining here in Bavaria in this Sunday but I think I will go hiking. But at the moment I am still lying in the bed… without socks :)
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Cheese and Chinese
O m g that icecream cake sounds heavenly!