It has been a doozy of a week and I hope you’re taking some time to scramble some eggs, char some tortillas, sip from your coffee cup, and take some time for yourself this morning.
Here’s how we lived this week:
• We’re here. All of us, and we’re not going anywhere. (Actually we’re going to go home to our families and jobs, but we’re like this in spirit all the damn time because we can multi-task, beast-mode like you wouldn’t believe.) Pictures From The Women’s March Around the World.
• Let’s read this: Nice Girls vs Kind Women.
• This is strong and beautiful. Ten letters a day made it to President Obama’s desk. Ten letters that wove the fabric of America… first read by intern, then brought to the President. “No filter. The handwriting, the ink, the choice of letterhead — every letter was a real object from a real person, and now you were holding it, and so now you were responsible for it.” To Obama With Love, and Hate, and Desperation
• President Obama’s last words to us as president, ironically / not ironically over Twitter: “It’s been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man. I won’t stop; I’ll be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by your voices of truth and justice, good humor and love. I’m still asking you to believe – not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours. I believe in change because I believe in you.”
• You will be called out on your pettiness and lies, Mr Trump. We see you.
• Sara Kate Gillingham is making boob pendants from clay and 100% of the proceeds go to Planned Parenthood and you best believe I have one, ok?
• Helpful and necessary. Secret to Success: a positive attitude.
• How To Never Run Out Of Ideas Again. Seems like the trick is to lower your standards, try and try- make and make- think and think. No one said it would be easy.
• Quick-to-learn new hobbies in 30 days Instagram doesn’t count as a hobby. Wait… does it?
• Experimenting with this book for my next cookbook club: Handmade Pasta Workbook and Cookbook.
• Come to the Paper Flower Making Workshop on January 28th!
• I went on a small road trip to Birmingham Alabama this week for work. Turns out Birmingham is so sweet (not surprised) and I had a really lovely meal at Chez Fonfon (that coconut cake!) and fantastic coffee at Octane. On the way home I did my self a favor and tested out this theory: America’s Best Chicken Nugget. I land in the Popeye’s camp. America is GREAT!
• If you have one skillet and one banana on hand: Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.
I love you. That is a real sentiment.
xo Joy
Paula
Thank you for sharing the post about letters written to Obama. I am going to share parts of it with my students to show that letter writing does matter and can make your voice heard.
As well, I just pre-ordered your new cookbook! I decided to treat myself and I have never pre-ordered a book in my life so you have the honour of being the first. Can’t wait to receive it in the mail.
joythebaker
Letters do mean something! That’s a strong reminder. And thank you so much for pre-ordering my book! Really does mean so much to me!
Mary
How funny! You post only the comments that are in line with your political views – I see you did not post mine.
joythebaker
Chill out, Mary. See the deal is, if you don’t comment often, the comments go into a queue where I read and approve them before they show up on the site. This is just to ensure my site doesn’t get bogged down with spam. Ok. We cool? Express yo-self.
Amanda M
Joy, I’ve always loved your recipes and how sunny your blog is. I love you so much more now for taking a stand. I would have understood if you hadn’t, if you refrained from possibly alienating part of your readership, but I admire you so much for being clear and drawing lines at a time when muddling the truth just pushes us deeper down and farther back.
Rachel
Joy,
As these other readers have already stated, I wake up on Sundays eager to read these posts. Thank you for curating this list of interesting, thoughtful, and varying links. And thank you for speaking truth and not shying away from difficult topics. As a single 30-something’s myself, much of what you write about life and cooking really resonates with me. And when you started sharing more openly about politics and social views I felt an even stronger kinship. This weekend has been hard and amazing all at the same time. We will stand and march and fight and not back down quietly.
Love and hugs from Chicago!
Rachel
joythebaker
I’m really glad you’re here Rachel!
Julie
I always look forward to your Sunday posts. Thanks for always being open about your political views. I always admire what you have to say!
Darlene
I echo this!! Joy, thank you for these thoughtful posts, I love them!
Cris
Thank you, Joy! Just keep keeping on doing your wonderful work, and stay outspoken! xxoo
Tracy
Holy sh!t I can’t go ANYWHERE on the internet to see ANYTHING but politics! Facebook is ruined, any of the usual sites I frequent have devolved into vituperation and people tearing each other apart. And now, half of my “let it be Sunday”, that I normally read lazily with a cup of coffee before I’m fully awake, is political- grrrr. I understand there are important things happening in the world – but can there just be one place to go that doesn’t remind us all of the sh!tcan our country is becoming?
joythebaker
This stuff you can’t ignore. It’s not every post here on the site, but you’ve got to admit we’re in important times,
dailycrossword
If a blogger does not mention these times, I do not trust them anymore, no matter their position. These times are too important and if they just talk about wall colors and cakes and NEVER about the world around them, it feels false to me. We don’t have to agree, the blogger and I, but I like smart, informed women who READ and care.
caitlin
I agree with this 100%
Cy
Tracy, I know how you feel and have tried to avoid it too, to some degree. But! History is being made, we are a country, a world in crisis. no matter your political views, this is and will affect everyone you know.
Saurs
If you’re in a position where you need reminding, you’re pretty comfy. Joy consistently posts political content on Sundays, things to be freely shared, a window into one woman’s inner life. Little of it involves vituperation — shock, dismay, grief, as well as hope, more like — and most of it is intellectually and ethically curious. If it confounds and annoys, it’s probably doing its job.
Amanda
Thank you for not shying away from the politics of basic human dignity, Joy. Gives me hope to see allies scattered throughout my fave internet people <3
annepercoco
Yes, same here! Thx Joy!
Mya
I’m SO glad I found your blog last year. It’s become the way I start my Sundays and something I look forward to all week. Thank you for being there and we love you too!!
This blog will be a bright spot for me in 2017.
Cindy
Thank you so much for your weekly Sunday posts. I always learn something new or am inspired. I marched in Asheville, NC yesterday which gave me a voice for all my pent-up frustrations and anger.
Kate
That one about the Presidential mail made me cry, cry, cry…granted I was already welling up from looking at ALL THOSE PICTURES of marches around the world. Thank you for sharing, Joy.
Mary
I loved the comment from a marcher yesterday said was not a legit president. Really? She added that they will be checking the facts on everything Mr. Trump does. Maybe she should check the fact that he truly is president since he was accepted by the electoral college – which also legitimized Mr. Obama and previous presidents. The protesters who rioted, burned the limo, trashed small businesses in the area they protested is the reason Mr. Trump was elected. We are sick and tired of those who didn’t get their way and chose this form of showing their anger. GET OVER IT – all of you.
Cy
Mary, actually not true, those rioters were plants, to shed a bad light on what was a peaceful loving show of solidarity all over the world. I think it’s interesting that the people who ” won” are so angry. Mr. trump needs to take this lesson also. If you are so right and everything is so great, than you have nothing to fear and nothing to defend. Actions speak louder that words. Mic drop.
Ana Maria Corbalan Guerrero
Umm I thought this was a blog about cooking and not political. Also why don’t you comment your views somewhere where people actually care about what you have to say. Saw how you “pressured” Joy into having to accept your comment. I don’t think her followers are interested in your point of view anyway. I’m definitely not!
Stacy
Mary, I fail to see how ‘getting over it’ means we simply shut up and accept what this man and his minions say to us, particularly when a lot of it is flat out untrue. As a good friend likes to say, don’t p— down my back and tell me it’s raining. And it is truly rich coming from folks like you who applauded the 8 years of doing everything in their power to do absolutely nothing. All just to spite another legitimately elected president, never mind the fact that we all paid them to do nothing but complain and whine. I truly enjoy Joy’s work, no matter what her political opinions, and I admire her willingness to put them out there for all of us to critique.
caitlin
Yesterday’s marches were overwhelmingly positive and peaceful, not some violent trashing of the country’s (and world’s) major cities. We will not GET OVER IT, we will continue to take action to fight for the rights we supposedly all have in this country. For many, the message was literally “LOVE trumps hate,” not “anger trumps hate.” I can’t think of a better initial display of unity and womanhood than this weekend’s marches, and there will be more. Some women actually believe in equality for all and will fight for it.
Erin Houlihan
Can’t help but wonder what Mary is thinking about our prez….one year later.
Andrea L
I just noticed today the cover of your new cookbook – it looks amazing! I got it on pre-order – can’t wait!
francetaste
I’ve said it before, but thank you for these links, which so often are from sources I’m not familiar with. I always learn something.
Jean Kastanek
We love you, too, Joy. Your blog is one of my favorites. I marched in Austin yesterday—awesome!
Evanthia
I just want to thank you for “Let it be Sunday” posts! I ABSOLUTELY them and I learn sooo much from them! It’s my Sunday ritual to grab my hot cocoa and start reading what precious posts you have found! Thank you so much for sharing! Greetings from Greece. xx
Tina
Love that you grab hot cocoa! And totally agree… Thank you, Joy! For the love and kindness and realness xoxox
Nathalie
Love YOU, Joy! You’re a true girlboss. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’.