Hello sweet friends!
I hope this finds you enjoying a second Saturday. I love a Sunday that’s actually a second Saturday and we have Memorial Day to thank for it. While we’re busting out the first of the watermelon and hot dogs to celebrate this fine start to summer, here’s a brief reminder why we get enjoy this Memorial Day with some thoughtfulness, you know? Have you seen that documentary about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier? It’s incredible.
I’m in Los Angeles again briefly this weekend to see my dear friend Jon get married. Love love love. It’s a strong current this year.
It’s funny coming back to Los Angeles after not living here for a few good years. The sunshine feels familiar, the ocean seafoam creeps up the beach just as I remember, but my goodness the cool-factor… y’all…. I mean seriously… can we dial it back? It’s gone to far and you’ve honestly got to be kidding me. I saw a tiny dog in a denim jacket (with tiny patches on it) getting it’s photo taken in front of a Blue Bottle Coffee sign in Venice and I was like, ok I made the right move with my life because I 100% can not deal with this.
That being said… the beach is great and the coffee is fine and for about half of the morning I was convinced I needed to lose 8 pounds until I remembered that my body serves me very well and is happy and strong and enjoys fries and wine. So anyway… headed back to New Orleans soon.
Here are some Sunday thoughts. They’re not aaalll of my Sunday thoughts, for example, I don’t really want to talk about Trump or terrorism… but they are some of my Sunday thoughts and I hope they resonate.
• I felt like this is an important and beautiful piece to read if you are curious about people in the world around you. Alone on the road: truckers feel like ‘throwaway people’.
• Why it’s so hard to admit you’re wrong. Oh you know… it just threatens everything we think we are. That’s all.
• This is why class valedictorians don’t become millionaires. It’s about being disruptive. Vision ain’t about grades, ya know?
• Maybe this will resonate with you in a few ways. I’ll be honest, it did me. When self-improvement becomes self-destruction: 4 warning signs.
• Modern Love: Wanting monogamy as 1,946 men await my swipe. That’s a lot of dudes and somehow this seems really lonely and isolating and are we ok… because I think the answer is NO.
• Nature is amazing… but I mean it in the truest sense of the word AMAZING. Nature’s electricity in your body though sounds dang insane: This is what it’s like to be struck by lightning.
• Can I file this under What The Actual F*ck?: It’s too late for Fox to retract it’s Seth Rich story. Follow up: The corrosion of reality should worry every American.
• I’m working hard on my Summer Bucket list for 2017, but here are a few years past: Summer Bucket List 2015 + Summer Bucket List 2016
• A few fine summers ago, these emerged from my kitchen and I was really happy about it. To be fair, I made them… they didn’t just appear from the heavens though that would have been welcome: Black Pepper and Strawberry Jam Doughnuts
• In very unimportant news, I’m on a smoothie kick and here’s one of my smoothie boosters: Vital Proteins Collagen Powder. #thisis36
• I love these travel tips. Jessica is a ninja and her children are very sweet humans with more stamps on their passports that me: International Travel with Young Children. The how-to.
• Two documentaries I’m watching: LA 92, about the Los Angeles Riots. Venus and Serena, about two of the greatest athletes of our time.
• Every fiber of my being wants these burgers: A Cozy Kitchen’s Copy Cat Shake Shack Burgers
Let’s enjoy this beautiful day. How lucky we are; you know it, too.
More life, more everything – Joy
Chris
Lisa, I don’t think Joy was referring to the temperature when she referred to the “cool factor” of California! LOL!
Michael Hickey
Thanks Joy! I share this sentence ““More life, more everything” :)
Amy
Hi joy! I’m glad i found your blog, you’re hilarious!! Thanks, Amy
Melissa
SO what’re your fave More Life tracks? :)
Mine are currently sacrifices and teenage fever..I screamed when I heard that J.LO sample.
erateach
Thank you so much for this sentence: “…for about half of the morning I was convinced I needed to lose 8 pounds until I remembered that my body serves me very well and is happy and strong and enjoys fries and wine.”
All the YES.
joythebaker
Other Los Angeles lady bodies can trick you. Gotta remember who we are and the wine we like.
Katie
Loved this line!!!!
Nathalie
I think “More life, more everything” could become my new life motto (no drugs or dangerous things though). Happy Sunday to you, Joy! xo
Rebecca
Love the vital proteins collagen! It’s really helped my joints not be so achey when I am running. And the skin and hair improvement is a nice bonus!
Lisa
Joy
Why so down on beautiful California? Sure,it can be chilly in Summer as well as absolutely gorgeous and warm! New Orleans is plain ol hot and humid all summer long, certain people who live there would love a chilly day in late May! I say embrace it all! When will you grace us with recipe for cover photo of that cake? Thanks!
Gail Hardie
Look forward spending a bit of my Sunday with you! As always a lovely post!! xx
Patty
whites5@pacbell.net
Nothing about it being ‘MEMORIAL DAY’? A day to recognize all those who’ve given their lives for us??
joythebaker
Read the first paragraph closer.
Cy
So my sissy is on the East coast, I’m on the West, I lived in LA, so I’ve tested all three. I think the In and Out burgers tastes better in LA. The price is right for sure. Shake shack burgers are more the equivalent of a Super Duper burger( Bay Area “chain”)Price points are about the same, although I notice that Super Duper uses local organic ingredients and Shack Shack doesn’t ( at least it does not say so on their website) I’m not an American cheese fan either. Super Duper, uses real cheese only. Obviously, I thought a lot about this….. you can’t beat a really good burger. It just hits the spot. This recipe looks really good. Grinding your own meat? I’m in! Now I will read the rest of your post. Thank you :)
joythebaker
You sound like an expert and I respect it. :)
Rebecca
Joy I love your Sunday posts. I like your other posts too but these are my faves.
joythebaker
Thank you Rebecca! They’re my favorite to write!
Taste of France
The valedictorian piece spoke to me. A real aha. I’m definitely a rule-following hard worker, not a disrupter.
The self-improvement/self-destruction piece is (ironically) followed by links to more self-improvement stories.
Lisa Wallace
Joy! Re: smoothies – How did you land on the vital proteins addition? From a true fan girl in Truckee, CA. Next time you are in CA, I’d love to tour you around Lake Tahoe. :-)
joythebaker
Hi Lisa! I really love how the collagen helps my skin, hair, and nails. It’s a noticeable difference to me. And Vital Proteins has no taste at all which I love.
Ashley
I love your tone and vibe so very very much.
Sheree
Thank you Joy for another great “Let it be Sunday”. I look forward to reading your ensemble of information every Sunday. I was hoping to see the recipe for the “More Life” cake pictured at the beginning of your post. It looks gorgeous and delicious. Have a great Sunday and Memorial Day. .Have a beignet for me!
Carol
Yes!!! What is that gorgeous cake?