Hello my dears!
I’ll tell you what – we’re in the thiiiiiick of Mardi Gras here in New Orleans. Parades everyday, a new layer of plastic beads hanging from the trees, incredible costumes, and a warmth from everyone to everyone. It’s madness, but it’s also such a wonder. I’ve fashioned this cake out of foam and felt to wear on my head this Fat Tuesday. Listen… I can make a cake out of just about anything. New Orleans is the most creative and artistic city I’ve ever experienced, and this time of year sparkles with that pride. Also… if you’re looking for any hot glue guns – we have them all. All.
I hope this finds you happy and well. Have a slice of cake today. We’re creeping towards Lent, ya know?
The offering this week is below. As always, take what you need. I appreciate your presence here so much. I really do.
Now, if you need me – I’ll be in the streets with a foam cake on my head.
• Beautifully done. A vanishing. The Invisibility of Older Women (The Atlantic)
• I am a person who leaves little notes and drawings and plan ticket stubs in books before I put them in the free library boxes. Tales of a book cleaner: The Strange Things I’ve Found Inside Books (Paris Review)
• I secretly love a non-violent, smartly planned heist: The Secret’s of the World’s Greatest Art Thief (GQ)
• There’s a lot of beauty to be found here: The loneliest road in America (NatGeo)
• Let’s just roll through some scenarios of the subconscious. Dreaming About An Ex? An Expert Explores 20 Reasons Why. (The Cut)
• After almost 10 years of really struggling with my cycles I’ve finally been diagnosed with Stage VI endometriosis. I’m spent the last several months navigating treatment for this chronic condition and, though I’ve tried to avoid it, a change in diet is what I need to do to help ease some of the inflammation and steady the hormone levels in my body. I’ve been cooking from Jessica Murnane’s book One Part Plant and reading what feels like a deeply helpful book Beyond the Pill. Thanks for letting me share that with you! (Amazon)
• Here’s some good news: The Most Effective From of Exercise isn’t “Exercise” At All. We can go ahead and give ourselves a bit more credit. (Quartz)
• I’m here to tell you that Cherry Bombe Jubilee is going to be incredible this year, and I’ll be there so come thru! (Cherry Bombe)
• Some of the best iPhone photos from around the world are worth a scroll. (Apple)
• The invitation is to get your red beans soaking today for Monday’s dinner: Red Beans and Rice. And this Mardi Gras Monday is my favorite parade, the Red Bean Parade. Everyone is an artist, it’s such a delight! (Joy the Baker)
• If you’re an Instant Pot lover, Jon made a Red Beans and Rice Soup for you! (The Candid Appetite)
• I’m very smitten with this wrap cashmere sweater from Everlane.
• If you missed last week, here’s what we talked about: Let It Be Sunday, 211!
• Here’s a time machine moment! Here’s what we talked about a year ago this week: Let It Be Sunday, 161!
I hope you have the most lovely day.
Happy Mardi Gras!
My love to you.
xo Joy
Nikki
I’m so sorry you’re sick. I will never try to solve your problem by telling you about some random article I read on the internet. Thank you for feeling like you could share that with us.
Sending healing vibes your way.
Sharaya
I am Loving your blog man! Joy! keep up with the good work! Love your chatty way of writing. Keep sharing more <3
ashley hoober
The cake hat part made me smile! Lovely post
Kat
Joy! I wishing that you find the answers you need on this Endo journey! I am reading Beyond the Pill right now too and it’s been really helpful navigating the “hormonal” waters!
Love seeing all the Mardi Gras celebration :)
All the well wishes your way my dear
Lauren Dorsey
The Red Bean Parade was our plan for Monday before everyone in our household got food poisoning :(
Angie De Angelis
Sorry to hear you’re dealing with endo but thanks for the book recommendation! It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for to help me with some related problems I’ve been having.
Elisa
Thanks so much for sharing about your journey with Endo. It’s so real and often feels so invisible. Jessica Murane’s book and resources have also been so helpful for me. I had onset of endo pain at the age of 13, and wasn’t formally diagnosed until age 26. I found significant relief after excision surgery, and now my focus is on keeping inflammation down in my body. I also loved the book “Ask Me About My Uterus” by Abby Norman.
Elisa
*Murnane
Libby
Thanks for talking about the endo, Joy (although I’m sorry you have to endure that). I’m not a fan of Goop, but I stumbled across this a few months ago and Dr. Romm’s pain relief protocol is helping me: https://goop.com/wellness/sexual-health/a-guide-to-understanding-and-holistically-treating-endometriosis/
You can also find the information on her website: https://avivaromm.com/endometriosis-natural-approach/
Wishing you luck and patience with the journey!
joythebaker
Thank you Libby!
Sasha L
Thank you Joy, super duper roundup!! I particularly enjoyed the Paris review story. I used to work in a public library and it was always a highlight when one of us workers found something interesting/fun/shocking in a returned book. So many made out checks returned to very grateful patrons! Patrons were also so delightful; one lovely senior lady asked where she might find a title and I told her “adult fictions”. “Oh dear!” She exclaimed. “You have a whole section just for that?!?” And then went on to say she didn’t think she’d get the book after all, although she did really enjoy Fifty Shades Of Grey.
A mischievous and creative mystery patron would leave tiny figures, dinos, Smurfs, Homer Simpson, little jungle animals in funny scenes on the shelves all over the library. Poor Homey was always being chased in fear by some much smaller creature with big teeth.You’d see them when shelving and they were a delight. We never found out who.
After I’d moved on to another job, I returned a book with a postcard from my away at college daughter left tucked inside. Some kind library worker mailed it back to me, probably paid for the stamp herself.
You see some of the sweetest moments of human kindness working/hanging in a library.
Melissa
My first thought was, “wow! I like the look of that cake! I wonder if that’s fondant?” I had to go back and look when you pointed out that it is a foam cake. Nice work! (I did see, right away, that the cherry was not a cherry. I’m taking some credit for observation. lol)
Next, I started clicking on things I want to read. Then, my heart broke for you a bit. I’m old enough that endometriosis holds fear. I hope that you are going to be well and that your docs are able to relieve the pain that you’ve been going through.
Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
kristin
The struggle with endometriosis is real. I’m glad there are more resources today than when I was dealing with it 8 years ago, and finally had a hysterectomy because a cyst required an ovariectomy, and my doc removed my uterus that “felt like a bag of rocks” and lots of spots of endo randomly sprinkled about my insides. Good luck!!
Lynn
Jessica is such a wonderful resource – you should definitely be a guest on her podcast! Also I thought that cake was for reals for a second…
Natalie
Joy,
I look forward each week to these Sunday posts. You always have a good variety of articles ?? So sorry to hear about your endometriosis. I had stage IV as well- not so fun at all. Sending you hugs and will say a prayer that your diet change alleviates your symptoms xo
Yvonne
Love your Sunday email so much. Hope you get to feeling better soon. I also love how much you love and enjoy New Orleans! You are definitely a positive and lovely addition. Happy Mardi Gras ???????
Yvonne
Ha! My colorful emojis turned into question marks! xo
Lorrie Fulton
I read that GQ article on the art thief yesterday, and I was FACINATED! But, now I find myself hoping that he somehow finds happiness outside of doing things that will land him in prison again.
cat
Dear joy. I am sorry to hear about your endo. I has different issues with my cycle and the woman code helped me a lot. It us so Amazinghiw much we can do about our hormone Levels and how litte we Know about the ups and downs in estrogene progesterone, how much Stress affects us on a fundamental Level. I am so Glad you bring this up. We have to talk about periods and cycles. I hope you get better! Love cat
Stephanie
I’v been in NOLA since Monday for Mardi Gras and it’s been quite a building for the festivities. The creativity is amazing as you mentioned.
So glad you have an answer to your health concerns. Thank you for the weekly post.
H
Great reading material. Thank you!
johanna @ green gourmet giraffe
Love your hat! When my daughter was younger we made cardboard slices of cake and they hung around for ages amusing her and her friends. Hope you get lots of fun our of your hat (though probably draw the line at strangers trying to eat your hat). Sorry to hear of your diagnosis with endiometriosis – glad you are finding respite. And thanks for the articles – love to peruse them each week.
Rena
How wonderful you enjoy Mardi Gras that much! Your idea with the cake on the hat is cute and makes me smile ?
With love, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Rena
Sorry for the typo! Your idea makes me really smile!
With love, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com