Let It Be Sunday, 220!

Hello dear friends, 

We’re well into the best day of the week and I hope you’re feeling sunny.

I had a quick flu this week.  Is that a thing?  It sure knocked me down on the couch for one full day, but my goodness I clawed my way up and out by the end of the week.  Sometimes these claws still get me up and I am grateful.  

I didn’t quite get everything  ticked off the to-do list last week, but here we are, life goes on.  Hopefully I’m blessed with next week to try again.  

Last week my sweet mama was in town for a visit.  We hustled my new sewing machine out of its box, went to the fabric store, and mom taught be the basics of sewing.  It’s like learning a new language and mom had to sew the straight lines on the wrap skirt we made together. It was an adventure in pinning, straight seams, ironing, and gosh we laughed so much (especially when mom and I realized we sewed the entire pattern upside down).  I’m very grateful… and I’m going to see what sewing an easy elastic skirt on my own feels like.  Listen, I’m going to be wearing a lot of lopsided homemade skirt this summer.  Let me live. 

In line with trying new things and staying curious in the world, you might enjoy these two Oprah Soul Sunday podcast episodes:  Rob Bell, The Joy of Growing Younger and Elizabeth Gilbert, The Curiosity-Driven Life. 

The offering this week is below. As always, take what you need.  (The cookie pictured above is linked below.) 

• It’s truly incredible what’s possible:  An Amputee’s Toughest Challenge Yet: Her 140-Mile Run in the Desert.  (The New York Times)

•  Some Instagrammers are freaking out about change.  But also… remember before all this nonsense? The Instagram Aesthetic Is Over. (The Atlantic) 

•  Before there were ‘influencers’ there were ‘bloggers’ and one of the oldest in the game and best is Heather B Armstrong.  Have you heard the incredible journey Heather has been on in her battle with depression?  It’s harrowing and very raw:  Dying to beat depression: how 10 induced comas saved a blogger’s life. (The Guardian)

•  You might also want to read Heather’s book about her experience:  The Valedictorian of Being Dead. (Amazon)

•  I think these conversations are interesting.  “Fixer Upper” Is Over But Waco’s Transformation Is Just Beginning. (Buzzfeed) 

•  Earlier this week I put together a spring reading list that included Ruth Reichl’s new book Save Me The Plums.  Related from The Cut: The Juciest Conde Nast Details in Ruth Reichl’s Memoir.  You know… a shortcut to the hot goss. 

•  There are infinity books to add to the spring reading list but I’d like to add this one: West of Eden by Jean Stein. (Amazon) 

•  If you can get your hands on rhubard right now, here’s an important recipe for you:  Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie. (The Splendid Table) 

•  This week I made my Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Jacobsen Coffee Salt.  Not a mistake.  (Joy the Baker + Jacobsen) 

•  Need a party cookie?  (Of course you do)  Try Jon’s Circus Animal Sugar Cookies pictured above. (The Candid Appetite) 

•  I’m cooking from this book this week:  Mostly Plants. (Amazon) 

Two things I love right now: 

•  This very soft white button down shirt from Everlane.  It’s perfect for warmer weather, I always travel with it, and I think it still looks chic even with a few wrinkles in it. 

•  This Caraa bag is my new travel bag which comfortably fits my computer and a pair of shoes. It’s a little wonder! 

Two things I’ve watched this week: 

•  To feed my obsession for mountaineering and rock climbing content:  Meru. A stunning movie. (Amazon Prime)

•  I was sick this week and needed some fluff and found it in this really hilarious and heartwarming girlfriend movie: Someone Great on Netflix. 

Enjoy this fine day!

My love to you.

xo Joy