Hello friends!
I just realized this is the last Let It Be Sunday of the year! It’s actually the last Let It Be Sunday of the decade. Honestly that’s far too much pressure to acknowledge further. I’m not ready to sum of the year, let alone the decade. What is wild is that I’ve been Joy the Baker for this entire decade. This decade, plus some. That’s pretty cool. I’ll give myself a congratulatory handshake over that. It’s more official than a pat on the back.
I hope you’ve had a restful holiday. I hope you’ve successfully navigated through family dynamics to an easy space of laughter and care. It’s a reflective time of year so take the time when you have it. Enjoy. It’s sweet to be in the world these days.
The offering this week is below. Take only what y0u need. The rest is for me.
• I’m a sucker for a photo compilation and this one is very reflective: The New York Times Year In Pictures.
• 99 Good New Stories you maybe didn’t hear about this year. In case you need them. (Future Crunch)
• I’ll leave this here for you: Stories of forgiveness. (The Washington Post)
• I think about this collection of photos, this big love, this sentiment at least once a week. It’s become a silent mantra: Love it all. A husband’s farewell to his dying wife. (Elephant Journal0
• Are you making a vision board this year? I think I just decided to… just as I was typing this sentence. Maybe it’s silly but I’m all about making my own dreams come true one way or another. The Difference Between Intentions and Resolutions. (Medium)
• This past weekend I made Deb’s Chocolate Caramel Crackers. I have no regrets. (Smitten Kitchen)
• I printed off a few of these 2020 Lunar Calendars as gifts. Sweet, right? (Etsy)
• High-key interested in making and consuming these Cold Rent-Week Pesto Rice Noodles. Totally out of season, but they still sounds pretty dang good. (Bon Appetit)
• Ok ok what we really need is warm soup. I know. Please consider Stuffed Pepper Soup which looks incredibly comforting and like exactly what we deserve. (The Kitchn)
• My favorite meme of the year, expounded upon: Cats can have a little salami. (Mashable)
• The invitation is to take in this delightfully different T-Pain Tiny Desk Concert. (NPR)
• One of my favorite presents from this Christmas was Anne Lamott’s Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. It’s settling and has so many good reminders going into the new year. Thank you, JK! Find it here on Amazon and here at Parnassus.
• I’m currently compiling this list while on a plane to Houston. The man next to me is chatty and inquisitive and I politely answered his questions but could definitely feel my walls up. He’s reading now. I’m typing furiously. (I’ve been told I’m a loud typer.) . I just googled “do you talk to strangers on airplanes?” and came across this: The Pros and Cons of Talking To Strangers on Planes. (Conde Nast)
• Jon made Breakfast Tacos for a crowd! (The Candid Appetit)
Happy New Years friends!
Thanks for being here with me.
Big love to you.
xo Joy
Samantha
Happy new year Joy!!
Erin Meier
I made that stuffed pepper soup – it is SO GOOD! It’s definitely going in the soup rotation with tomato and your sweet potato kale this winter.
Abbi
All the Tiny Desk concerts are great, but the T-Pain one is my favorite. Such a surprise to hear him sing without the autotune. I had no idea he was so talented. I share it with anyone I have a reason to! Happy new year to you!
joythebaker
Wasn’t it such a surprise and absolutely wonderful!? I’m so glad you agree!
Stella P
Happy New Year to you Joy. May the coming year bring us all more compassion, understanding and patience; with each other and ourselves. Please continue sharing your recipes and Sunday morning musings, sometimes it’s the only bearable reading to be found.
joythebaker
Thank you for the thoughtful words, Stella! I’m so glad you’re here!