Hello friends,
It’s late Saturday and I’ve, oddly enough, found a cozy spot in my closet to write today’s Sunday post. All is well (right?) and there’s a coziness being surrounded by sweaters and aprons. Also… it’s a small walk-in closet so things aren’t as dramatic as they sound over here.
All of my energy this weekend is going into Bakehouse workshops. Today was some pretty stellar Drake on Cake work and Sunday we’re making Berry and Apple Pies. Six of them, to be sure. Does it get better than this? If it does, don’t tell me about it just yet.
Um. I turn 38 next weekend. Weird because I’m pretty sure my mom is 38 so somewhere the math is wrong.
How are you? Real question. Are you steady and well? Well-rested and ready? That’s my hope.
The offering is here for you. The invitation is to take what you need and nothing more:
โข By now we all know that several states within the United States are challenging women’s health rights with the ‘heartbeat bill’. It’s never not a scary time to carry these female bodies around the world. I’ve been struggling lately to understand the WHY of all of this. It’s not out of regard for human life – if it were wouldn’t it also make sense to talk about making contraception super accessible, making reliable healthcare achievable for everyone, more subsidized child care, and investing in, you know, education!? I really struggle with understanding why some people think themselves the authority over something so deeply difficult and personal. And – for anyone whose typing fingers are burning to comment, say what you will but this isn’t a place where I care to have a debate. A Direct Challenge to Roe v. Wade in Alabama. There’s a plan. (The New York Times, The Daily)
โข This week’s longread is talk of Tony Robbins. You know the dude – this country’s most famous self-help guru. Remember all the trampoline work in I Am Not Your Guru? Well here we are: Unlimited Power. I suddenly feel the need to google the phrase ‘cult of personality’ to make sure I understand it correctly. (Netfliz and Buzzfeed)
โข This perspective struck me: Who Gets To Call Herself a Single Mom? (InStyle)
โข In these dark times I’ve been piling on and binge-listening to Crime Junkie Podcast. It’s honestly really great if you’re into torturing yourself with stories of the missing and murdered? Am I ok? Sure, mostly. Also… ok here’s one more thing – do you have an If I Go Missing file? Something with all your information and usual habits and passwords? Don’t worry mom – I share my location with you, remember? (Crime Junkie Podcast)
โข I also really needed to read this perspective this week: Don’t Use My Family For Your True Crime Stories. (CrimeRead)
โข I’m hoping to take a weeklong drive through California in June to see Big Sur for the first time. This little guide is helpful: California Highway 1: Los Angeles to Big Sur.(Salt and Wind)
โข The second season of Fleabag is here for us just in time. This show is so honest and poignant in a big way. (Amazon)
โข Jon Jon made this absolute gem and the next time I take out my bundt pan, here’s what’s going in it: Peanut Butter Chocolate Doughnut Cake. (The Candid Appetite)
โข I’ve been craving a classic this week: Pasta Salad. Made it. No regrets. (The Kitchn)
โข Current favorite cookbook: Ottolenghi Simple. (Amazon)
โข There is some small good news this week: Everlane has a new jumpsuit for us! (Everlane)
Enjoy this lovely day!
My love to you –
xo Joy
58 Responses
Thank you for your weekly blog post, Joy. Needed it today more than most weekends. A Trump-lite government has just been re-elected in Australia. Feeling so disconnected and despondent – wish my closet was big enough to spend time in!
Happy Happy Birthday and many more.
I look forward to reading your posts and love hearing from you every week!
Dear Joy- thanks for the commentary on the latest political action by all those who think they are acting in the best interest of everyone involved. Deeply difficult and personal. I love that! That is exactly what it is. I worked with so many women and young adolescents who have found themselves in such dire situations. Machismo men that strut their stuff because they believe having another child makes them manly. They canโt even afford to pay the bills! The poor woman who cry at night because not only were they impregnated against their will, they have to figure out how to feed another child and suffer right along with their children. Rape victims who can even bring themselves to face the dreadful reality of their situation. Incest situations that are so egregious, all you can do is cry at night because you wonder where is this society going with the loss of family morals and values. What more can I do to change the condition? You keep crying and hope it cleanses you enough spiritually so you can get up and fight for yourself and others another day. I donโt want to debate it either. I have seen enough. Iโll just visit my congressperson or senator and let them know I am watching them. You vote for this legislation, not only will you lose my vote, but you have dismissed the suffering of millions of women who literally have no control over their lives and circumstances.
The President is jamming through judges that support his outlook on Roe. The problem here is that President Obama wasn’t allowed to put his pick for Supreme Court Justice even up for a hearing. The Republicans blocked him from doing so and waited until a Republican President came into office and then allowed hearings to transpire. This has never happened before and all of it is happening to align the courts with Theocratic ideals including overturning Roe v Wade. The nominees for the court were asked specific questions about these ideals and they refused to answer the questions. Yet, they were still voted into those positions. I do get a lot of Joy coming to this blog for great recipes and the opportunity to see her insights into what is happening in the world. As blogger, she has the right to express her opinion and we do not have to agree nor even go to the links she provides. We are lucky in America to be able to voice our thoughts and opinions without fear. I hope Joy continues to share her experiences and observations.
Go, Joy! Thanks. Yes, a platform that remains unused is a waste indeed.
Happy Birthday! :)
Sitting in my kitchen baking a bundt cake for work tomorrow (cream cheese pound cake with strawberry swirl). Somehow I have become designated Birthday baker in my department. Great way to end a busy weekend and relax reading your Sunday message. You always give me so much to think about..so thank you for that. Sending you the warmest of birthday wishes.
Stand behind everything you outlined and I am still in utter disbelief that we are having to fight this fight again and a bunch of old men have such a voice.
Jennifer
I donโt get how you could be โstruggling to understandโ the whyโs of something, and yet are unopen to hear the perspective of anyone on that side of the issue. ????
Wishing you a very happy 38th birthday, Joy! Thank you for your Sunday posts and beautiful recipes. I have been following you for years now. Your perspective is always important and thoughtfully delivered. We are going to NOLA next month and look forward to using your guides. Have a great week <3
Regarding the title of single mother, I say I am “solo parenting” when my partner travels for work for long stretches. I have the blessings of two incomes and a live-in partner. I don’t get to claim the same title as parents who do it all day, every day without respite or a second income.
Just ran into your blog searching for active New Orleans personal/cultural blogs, which were plentiful at one time. Thank-you very much for all the effort that you obviously put in here.
I lived in Bywater and Old Algiers Point for many years, but I’m now stuck up in the East Ontario bush. Blogs like yours help me to keep up with the Crescent City haps. I do know what it means to miss New Orleans.
(One small favor….no more pics of donuts…..the drool gums up my keyboard ;>)
Laissez le bon temps rouler!
Thank you, Joy, for addressing the abortion debate, because this is not a time to be silent. I want to know EXACTLY where everyone stands and I stand firmly pro-choice. The #youknowme movement on Instagram is fantastic. Letโs all speak up and shut down this travesty.
Joy!
I’m loving True Crime Junkie too.
Two recommendations: Please please please listen to True Crime Bullsh*t. It’s about serial killer Isreal Keyes and Josh Hallmark, the host and producer of the podcast goes above and beyond in investigating the many missing people that could be his possible victims (because we know he killed many but only admitted to 3 or 4…)โฆ.
You’ll love it. It’s fascinating and freaky and honestly, it’s an education for how we can better keep ourselves safe from predators like Keyes. It’s a must listen!
Love your Sunday posts. Never stop. <3
I just realized I only gave the first recommendation. hahahah
My second rec is to watch Chernobyl and listen to the accompanying podcast put out by HBO. It’s haunting and fascinating and so, so well done.
Last thing- this is so old, but did you love True Detective season one– given the fact that you live in New Orleans? The landscape and eerily beautiful camera work and storyline of that show is one that’s always in my mind. I’ll never ever ever forget it. It makes me want to visit those small Louisiana towns with their Spanish moss trees and Southern Gothic cemetaries. Gosh… that impacted me so much…
Anyway- I’m done now. Have a wonderful week and know I look forward to your posts every Monday morning as a way to start my day.
This is also the jumpsuit you need. Currently living in it …https://www.beyondyoga.com/farrah-cropped-jumpsuit.html?color=
1) Everything is awful and I can’t shake the feeling that we are repeating some very scary and dangerous history.
2) I ordered the jumpsuit which means that while everything is still awful, I’ll be prancing around in a linen jumpsuit.
3) You are the best.
xo
Thank you for your post, Joy, this Sunday and every Sunday.
Regardless of people’s thoughts and beliefs – some of them SO caustic and divided in the comment section – everyone has a right to free speech and if you want to use your blog for your beliefs, then you do you – that is your right. I happen to agree with you that these are scary times and we’re being told what we can do to our bodies but that is beside the point. I’m going to take my opinions and go review the Peanut Butter Chocolate Doughnut cake – that’s the best use of my opinion today.
Happy birthday to you! Thank you for all these years of blogging – I enjoy you.