What a time to be alive.
End end of the year is full of feeling. I find myself looking back at the past few years feeling satisfied and proud, wondering what-if, staring strong at situations I could have been better in. I find myself looking forward with excitement, anticipation, hopeful plans and fingers crossed.
Today we’re in the in-between. It feels like the end is the beginning.
I hope you have the luxury to spend this day doing things that make you feel settled and full. I’m grateful that you spend some time here. Enjoy this day, ok? I appreciate you very much.
Here are a few links for reading:
• Erica Garner, who became an activist after her father’s death, dies. Please know who she was and what she was fighting for. It’s important for all of us.
• We’re all pulling together our resolutions for the coming year, but I also really love an intentional look back. From The Art of Simple, see: New Years Eve Reflection Questions. I’m going to pen + paper + coffee the answers this morning.
• One thing I enjoy about the end of a year is all of the compilations of things we’ve done, for better or worse. I enjoyed this poetic transcription of our last year from the New Yorker: Our Year In Poems.
• Now is as good a time as any to think about our money. Here’s this: How I Saved 30 Percent of My Income in 2017. The bullet about automating savings withdraws into a separate savings account has really helped me save in the last few years! I’ve also gone through all the little things I’m automatically charged for on a monthly basis (Netflix and the like) and cancelled the ones I’m not getting real use out of.
• A very important cold weather beverage: Coconut Curry Hot Chocolate.
• Here’s How To Build A Skin Care Routine. Paramount is actually taking the time to do all of the washing and toning and seruming and moisturizing. Follow up article should be: How To Not Be Lazy Past 8pm.
• Did you know that Instagram is a Dating Platform? Full disclosure: WAIT -WHAT? Ain’t nobody tryna slide up in my DMs thank goodness.
• Do you listen to the podcast Call Your Girlfriend? Yes, say yes. This episode on Pelvic Power is important if you’re a human with a vagina.
• Some of the most popular posts from my site this year include: GUMBO POUTINE! // FUTURE FREEZER SMOOTHIES // MAPLE BACON GRILLED CHEESE // and VANILLA BEAN BUNDT CAKE with pecan praline glaze.
• The cookbooks I used the most this year: Small Victories by Julia Turshen // The Gourmet Cookbook by Ruth Reichl // and my book Homemade Decadence.
• A pleasing crafts to do this freezingass weekend: make a PomPom for your winter hat. May I suggest 2018’s Ultra Violet?
• Today I’m making this cake and I fully plan to enjoy at least four slices: The Kitchy Kitchen’s Crackle Cake.
• The Cook Through made every single recipe from my latest book Over Easy. Myra deserves a parade of unicorns. See the recap here and follow her on Instagram! I’m over here throwing confetti.
• Cozy times ahead. I wear a lot of men’s clothing and I love a classic + kinda retro fleece.
• If you’re in New Orleans, Pastry Chef Lisa Marie is having a fantastic King Cake Pop Up next week on January 6th. We are very fortunate humans.
Happy New Year to you and yours! Be well, ssdgm, have a wonderful night tonight!
xo Joy
dana828
How much do I love that you ended this post with ssdgm?! ? Happy New Year! I’m off to check out Call Your Girlfriend…
ann
Love you Joy and love you even more to know that you listen to Call Your Girlfriend!
johanna @ green gourmet giraffe
Happy new year joy! I haven’t had so much time to read your Let It Be Sunday lately and it is lovely to be able to now that I am on holidays – hope you have a good 2018
stacy
I started listening to CYG when you and Tracy stopped podcasting. I still miss you guys, but I am glad that I was forced to seek out more smart women friends talking about life. So thanks for that.
Ellen
Thank-you for all the time and effort that you put into the weekly “Let It Be Sunday” posts. They are consistently filled with entertainment, life lessons and inspiration. Wishing you a New Year filled with all that your heart desires. P.S. My daughter loves her Christmas gift of “Over Easy”!
Emma R
Thanks for this. It’s been a while since I read one of your Sunday posts, and I realise how much I missed reading them – will definitely be keeping it bookmarked for the New Year!
Lori
I always look forward to these posts. Happy New Year to you, Joy!
Julie M
Rereading your Gumbo Poutine recipe (which I must try. Now.), it reminds me of my roux timing system — one glass of wine for an étouffée roux, two glasses of wine for a gumbo roux. The secret is the slow heating of the cast iron. Too fast and you’ll scorch it. Which just is no bueño.
Happiest of New Years to you!
J-Mom
Thank you for the ‘New Years Eve Reflection Questions’. It did make me appreciate things and start thinking about what I want to do going forward.
John Popovich
Happy New Year Joy. I always read and enjoy reading and exploring your Sunday recommendations. Keep it up I need to see that there is some kind of balance out there.
Hilary
Happy new year! What are your favorite recipes out of Julia Turshen’s cookbook?.. I have it but haven’t made anything yet!
Leslie Haasch
I’ll totally collaborate with you on “How To Not Be Lazy Past 8pm”, however I have to warn you that you’ll probably have to do the heavy lifting since all I can come up with is “force yourself to put on pants and loud music and lock your tv and computer in that closet you hate going into”.
Happy new year, Joy – I hope 2018 is wonderful for you!
Vickie
Happy New Year, Joy! Here’s to a wonderful 2018!
Dani H
Happy New Year, Joy!
Maja Harder
You always inspire me for some lovely reading with these Sunday posts. This is great!
– https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/maja-harder-18257183