Good morning Good morning! Happy Sunday!
This week found me in Seattle, all up in my sister’s ice cream kitchen. In Portland, eating some of the best pasta I’ve had in a great while. In San Francisco taking a bike tour around the Mission District and hanging with my MAJ Tracy. And… in Los Angeles, sleeping in my high school bed. It’s been filling and fun, exhausting, and I can’t seem to leave an Airbnb or city without accidentally leaving something behind. RIP to the forgotten travel shampoo, toothbrush, and computer charger. All of you who have come out to my demos and book signings (I’m especially talking about you ride or die Portland folks)… you’ve filled my heart completely. I thank you and I hope big brunches are in your future.
Here’s some reading for your weekend. You know how we do:
• Here are the things us bakers know well in our hearts and but may not always materialize into words: Why it feels so good to bake.
• Real talk: every month I have a … WAIT please HOW DO I DEAL WITH THIS… moment about my body and its lady functions. Raise your hands if you wore pads for way too long.
• Pay attention: Could Michael Flynn turn on Donald Trump?
• It’s not generally my practice to concern myself with what millennial men want, but this is an interesting read: Do Millennial Men Want Stay-At-Home Wives. Ok, so who is writing the companion piece: Do Millennial Women Care What Millennial Men Want Or Can They Just Live Their Lives… ok great.
• Lawn to Earth: in Los Angeles, the landscape of front lawns has changed dramatically. There’s just no water for green green status-grass. Here’s what that change looks like.
• Science says it’s fine / we’re fine. People who talk to their pets, plants, and cars are actually totally normal. Ok follow-up question: What if you talk FOR your pets, plants, and cars?… because I’ve had full on conversations using my voice and my voice for Tron. As I type that out I realize it’s not normal… ok got it.
• A Cozy Kitchen made the Overnight Beignets with Strawberry Powdered Sugar from my book Over Easy! Shutterbean made the Breakfast Sausage Pretzel Rolls! and Smitten Kitchen made Cornbread Waffles!
• The best way to incorporate a vegetable into a cinnamon roll: Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
• I’m still hopping around the country signing books and it’s really so great to meet all of your who have some out so far! I’ve added a Philly signing to the list! I’ll be at Head House Books in Philadelphia on Sunday April 9th! You’ll find more dates and cities, here!
• If you bought Over Easy on Amazon and have feelings about it- any kind of feelings… you could review the book! Your review would probably be better / more helpful that the woman who gave the book three stars after looking at another reviewer’s screenshots of the book. So… you know… the Internet is great.
• Can I work this dress all Summer 17?
• I bought this book used. It feels like someone put some love into it and I’m saving it as my summer read. As Always, Julia: the letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto.
I hope your Sunday is feel-good!
I see how great you are.
xo Joy
Pictured above is The Women’s Building, San Francisco.
jvantland
As a long time pad-wearer/pad-hater, that article totally resonated with me and also I have to give a shout out to the life-changing power of the menstrual cup. Seriously transformative and empowering after years of dreading my monthly misery. Totally worth a try!
Nina
JOY plz come to Pittsburgh. It is one of America’s best kept secrets, and as a native New Yorker, it’s not like I’m from PGH and brainwashed about it. The food, people, and general atmosphere are all fantastic and I will welcome you with bells and whistles!
joythebaker
I really want to come to Pittsburgh! Yes definitely soon!
Cece
Cleveland is somewhat close to Philly. Any chance you could get to Cleveland or nearby suburbs? I love your Sunday insights and particularly enjoyed the article on the benefits of baking. Thanks for all of your creativity!
Thomas D
Stay at home wife? NO! People need to accomplish something in their life, other then the normal actions in an everyday living. You feel good baking and then writing a great baking book. Whether it’s winning a gold medal in the Olympics, or selling coffee in their store. We need to accomplish something, no matter how small or big.
The answer to the second question. A good partner would stand behind and support their other half no matter what! It’s called love! To many people today sing Opera! Me, Me, Me, Meeeeeeee! Team work wins the basketball game!
Maryalene
I would argue that there is something extremely satisfying about completing the normal actions of everyday life and completing them well. With so many people rushing through their existence at a frantic pace, I would say living well and living intentionally is quite an accomplishment in and of itself.
However, I should also say my thoughts on the subject have evolved over time. As a 20-something, I’d have told you there was no way I’d spend my life at home doing “nothing.” Now that I’m pushing 40, I would totally jump at the chance to be a stay-at-home wife if it were possible.
Chrissy
It’s not normal for me to talk for Crawley (cat)? We may not be normal, but according to that article, we’re brilliant (and also maybe a little lonely).
sarah m
Being a Portland person, I want to know where you had the great pasta… or was at someone’s home? I’m always looking for sublime pasta!
Rebecca
Seconded! I’m very curious!
Rae C
There’s a link to Ava Gene’s Roman inspired cuisine in her post. I’m thinking a road trip to Portland should go on my bucket list
Katie
I *Love* As Always, Julia. I would actually limit the time I spent reading it so it would last longer, and I was truly sad when it was over.
Terry
You will love As Always, Julia. One of my most favorite books. I was so sorry when I finished it.
Blair
I agree totally and frankly haven’t finished it for the same reason! I just keep slowly picking at it when I need a little visit with my friend Julia and Avis.
suwanneerose
Big green lawns are fetishized in my neighborhood, but they’re nothing more than a big expanse for dogs to poop, and the fertilizers seep into the water and contribute to fish die-offs here. I said to hell with grass and xeriscaped my yard a few years ago. I’ll admit it wasn’t pretty at first, but now it’s all grown in with lush, mostly native plants that don’t need much water, and there’s no mowing or chemicals. Best part is, there’s no place for dogs to poop!
My friends at Inkwood Books in Tampa throw a great party. Come see us, Joy!!!
Mandy March
Ooo I was hoping for a Philly signing but unfortunately will be busy that day making lots of peanut-butter eggs and cupcakes for a bridal shower…an excuse I’m sure you would approve of.
I also think it’s totally normal to speak both for and to your pet, sometimes at the same time.
Kristie
I always talk to AND for my pets. DON’T BE ASHAMED, JOY! :D
Sherri
Hi, so excited to meet you in Austin next Wednesday.
Abby
I’m a millennial woman with a stay at home husband. I volunteer to write the companion piece, entitled “Badass Ladies Bring Home the Bacon, Tell You to $&@! Your Antiquated Ideas of Gender Roles”.
(Also I am so excited you’re coming to Philly! I will be there with bells on!)
Jessica
You’re normal. I have conversations with my voice and my voice for my cats. :|
Rebecca J
That is the best response to the NYT piece on millennial men. I am a millennial woman, and I am sick and tired of the explicit and implicit messages telling me I should care what men think and adapt accordingly or else I might (gasp) be single forever.
marillenbaum
Seconding that response! I grew up in a super-conservative environment that stressed marriage, and the overriding message was “Men: be careful who you choose. Women: be someone a man would want”. I have very little patience anymore for dudes who want to tell me how I should be; it’s pretty much the best way to ensure I never want to see someone again.
Claire, UK
As a 33 year old woman who has always used pads, I had no idea that I should consider myself immature or less of a woman for doing so. The way that I deal with my periods is my own business. What I choose (or don’t choose) to put inside my vagina is also entirely my own business. Anybody who thinks that they should shame a grown woman for choosing pads should re-evaluate their brand of feminism. However, thanks to the author of that article (and human nature being what it is), I shall now wonder any time I mention pads if all the women around me are secretly smirking and thinking, “Yep, I KNEW she’d be pads all the way”. Yay for new insecurities :-\ What a vile article.
KFP
I’m with Claire. I *live* for your Sunday round-ups but this tampon/pads article was a huge miss. Every woman gets to deal with her period however she wants to, and there’s no room for shaming each other in that regard.
joythebaker
I read that article as YES, we all get to choose what we put in and how we deal with our bodies. No shame.
‘I had no idea at the time, but it turns out women are not required to put either tampons or penises into their bodies. It’s entirely optional and if you don’t like it, don’t do it.’
Also it’s an opinion piece… and lord knows we all have those.
Em
Agreed, I loved this article! It was about youthful insecurities and growing out of them! Also, I straight-up fainted nose-first on a hotel bathroom floor while on vacation with my family the first time I tried to insert a tampon, and didn’t try again until after I’d had sex. I fully related to this article, and I’ve never seen someone write about this issue before. Thanks for sharing it!
Claire, UK
Just to be clear, my moan was about the original article, not your decision to feature it. The world would be a boring place if I was never challenged by reading things I disagreed with!
joythebaker
All good, girl! We cool.
Kate
Agree with Claire and KFP. I am in my late 40’s and have never felt comfortable using anything but pads. Thankfully I’m getting much closer to never having to think about it again!
Happy
Yo fellow Amazon shoppers if a reviewer has reviewed a product they didn’t actually use/buy etc then you can click the “report as abuse” beside the “review” as well as click thumbs down on it. It’s an abuse of the system for sure.
I had to go and peek after Joy mentioned the review that is not a review….so strange. Anyways let Amazon know.
amanz7204
Good idea! I reported it. It’s ridiculous that you are allowed to review a book you haven’t read.