Hello my dears.
Welcome to your Sunday. Or your Monday. Welcome to it, wherever this finds you.
I spent the week in Los Angeles celebrating my dad’s 70th birthday (he’ll always be 45 to me) and hustling around town taking meeting about a project that may or may not see the light of day. Sometimes you’ve got to throw your hands up but stay on the hustle. Both things can coexist.
I’m headed to Ireland (IRELAND!) for a very quick trip this week. I’ll be wearing flannel, milking a cow, and learning how they make Bailey’s Irish Cream. I’m taking all the adventure I can as it comes.
I hope you’re settling into the idea of fall. Buckle up. It’s all Halloween candy and pumpkin spice everything for the next few weeks before we dive head on into the holidays. Are we ready? Distinctly not.
The offering this week is below. As always, take what you need:
• Cokie Roberts, Pioneering Journalist Who Helped Shape NPR, Dies at 75. (NPR)
• These sweet baby angels. A Second Chance: Twelve years ago, 47 dogs were saved from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation and allowed to live. They’ve enriched the lives of countless humans and altered the course of animal welfare. (The Washington Post)
• There’s a name for what we’re doing: spiritual consumerism. (The New York Times)
• That’s gonna be a NO from me. Russians Who Propose At Gunpoint. (BBC)
• Currently listening to Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell on audiobook and I highly recommend. Get a sense of the book by listening to this conversation between Oprah and Malcolm on Super Soul Conversations. (Amazon / Stitcher)
• On the reading list next – Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman. The story of Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. (Amazon)
• This Sara Bareilles song blows me away: Saint Honesty. In related news, here’s a playlist I’m working on. Feel free to follow as it takes shape. (Spotify)
• The Push to Make Fake Butter Cool (Again) – call it plant-based. I mean… let’s all just do what we want, ok? But I’ll probably still be over here with my butter, mostly. (Vice)
• Can we please discuss Hash Brown Casserole? (The Kitchn)
• Zoe Bakes is coming to The Bakehouse this fall! Together we’re teaching two more advanced baking workshops. Open to anyone looking for a challenge! Puff Pastry and Advanced Pie Crust Techniques! (Eventbrite)
• You’re still welcome to sign up for my Baking Basics newsletter with the Washington Post! Whenever you sign up you’ll get the first newsletter in your inbox so you’re not missing a thing! (The Washington Post)
• Have you seen Hustlers? It’s worth it for Jennifer Lopez’s pole dance alone. She’s 50. She’s… 50 years old. Everything Jennifer Lopez Does in a Day. (Vanity Fair)
• Cats are gonna cat. Also… this is basically the size of my cat and a good reminder that I live with a lion. (The Guardian)
Have a wonderful Sunday.
If you want to follow along on some of my Ireland adventures, I’ll be on Instagram.
My love to you,
xo Joy
Prissy
Joy, so happy to see you in WaPo!! Congrats…and Ireland too!
Oh my, not only do I love to bake, but I LOVE to see peoples travel photos:)
Jess
Saint Honesty is the anthem I didn’t know my life needed until I heard it. Your Sunday posts help me gear up for another week and your recipes inspire my kitchen adventures. <3
Tiberia
Joy – when and where in Ireland? I leave on Wed for two weeks there!!!! Looks like it’s going to rain, rain, rain….but I dont care, it’s land of my peeps!!!!!
joythebaker
Yes, lots of rain right?! It’s not going to bother me a bit!
Sasha L
Happy happy birthday Joy’s dad ????
Have a fantastic time in Ireland, can’t wait to follow along.
joythebaker
Thank you Sasha!
Jaclyn Levy
Yes I saw Hustlers and JLo is QUEEN. NO ONE comes close. Great movie, I loved every minute.
Karen
I was a real fan of Cokie Roberts. She was always so fair in her reporting. I think we will miss her.
Sarahkate
As the owner of a fabulous pittie (now passed to that great doghouse in the sky after years of wonderful companionship — including her love of my cat! – I would point out to the Washington Post and any readers here that had Vick been convicted and sent to prison for animal cruelty the animal rescue scene would have changed even more dramatically. The FACT is that the conviction was for mail fraud and money laundering. Had he been convicted for animal cruelty, the few laws that actually on the books, both federal and state, would eventually become stronger, more comprehensive, and with far harsher penalties. Vick did very little time; moreover, because of his former celebrity status his other alleged crimes against humans were either not brought to prosecution or even fully investigated.
Sasha L
Thank you for pointing all that out. I for one have not moved on or forgiven.
joythebaker
I appreciate you! Thank you for this!
Nancy K
I am now totally weeping after reading the Washington Post piece of the rescue of the Vick dogs. I remember that story as clearly as if it was yesterday . About 5 years after the Vick was convicted and sent to prison, a documentary was produced( maybe PBS) about the rescue and the fate of the dogs. One statement in that film has stayed with me…” What you see is not who these dogs are. What you see is simply what they had to do to survive. This life was not of their choosing but if given a chance, they will show us their true souls”. It seems they did just that and in doing so enriched and expanded so many human lives for the better.
The story…funny. There is a new commercial for auto/home insurance that has the “mayhem guy” behaving as a destructive cat. It is odd but kind of funny. Thank good I have never needed to tap into home insurance for cat destruction problems.
Vicki
Ireland, that’s so exciting! The weather isn’t meant to be great here at alllll, but hopefully you have a trusty raincoat at hand. Have a blast :)
Rebeca
“How can you get angry over this?” If my boyfriend proposed like that, you can bet I’d be angry, to say the least. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose, but damn, that’d be pushing the limit waayyy too much for me.
And Ireland! I’m sure you’ll have a grand time over there, such a lovely country. I’ve been meaning to go back since I went to Galway many years ago.
Elle
You lucky girl – Ireland is amazing. I lived there for almost 30 years and am back in Canada now. I will be watching your Instagram account for updates. Have a fabulous time ???
Sandy
I loved reading the story about the post-lives of the dogs from the Michael Vick case. That was truly beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes and made me want a dog. Thanks for sharing that one.
rebecca shriver
Ireland!!! Such a great place to visit and eat. Check out Five Farms Irish Cream too please. It’s fabulous and from County Cork.
joythebaker
Thank you Rebecca!
Edel Waugh Salisbury
Hope you have a terrific time over here in Ireland , and belated birthday wishes to your dad xxxx P.s bring a jacket and a brolly, we are due rain all week this week .
joythebaker
Brolly! :)
Rena
Happy belated birthday to your dad!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com