Hello sweet friends!
Can you believe? Can you believe we’re settling into another year and another decade? Feels good. Feels very much like a privilege.
I’ve been taking it slow and steady through this holiday season. Taking time to be reflective. Taking time to have important conversations that I might have let fall to the wayside. Trying to be generous and gentle with myself. I have a lot of goals for the coming years. Some goals are super self-driven and others require a long string of yeses from people I don’t even know yet. Making your own dreams come true is a balance of hard work and hope… and fun? And fun.
I hope you’re feeling hopeful this year. Hopeful and hungry for good food and new experiences. Me too me too. Let’s stay with it.
Tomorrow is my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m going to LA for a few quick days to celebrate with the family.
The offering this week is below. As always, take only what you need. Take it easy this Sunday! I’m really so thankful you’re here.
• Amen amen: Pick a resolution you can complete in one day. Keep it fun. Keep it fast. (ManRepeller)
• It feels like a world away but we just have the one world so: Australia Deploys Military as Fire Spreads. (The New York Times)
• I ask a variation of the same question nearly every week – are we ok? The Age of Instagram Face (The New Yorker)
• Everyone’s New Years costume homage to the roaring 20’s has me thinking about the Harlem Renaissance: Where Our Radical Black Foremothers Made A Room Of Their Own (Refinery29)
• I won’t knock it till I’ve tried it. The Couples Who Sleep ‘Together’ Over Videochat (The Atlantic)
• How I Get It Done: StitchFix CEO Katrina Lake. I googled her. She’s our age. (Lol I imagine we’re all the same age, ok?) (The Cut)
• This is a good month to take some time with tradition and ritual, even it it’s a new one. Of course mine is food related – I’m making my friend Jocelyn’s Collard Greens. (Grandbaby Cakes)
• The roasted chicken I made this weekend: Potato-Bottom Cast Iron Roasted Chicken. Of course it was good. (Bon Appetit)
• Jon made Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs which is really such a good idea. (The Candid Appetit)
• I’m gifting this book to everyone I know who knows their astrological sign: You Were Born For This by Chani Nicholas. Here on Amazon or Here at The Last Bookstore.
• I’m late to listening but finally committed to the To Live And Die In LA podcast. Wow y’all. What a tragic journey. (LiveDieLA)
• A new account on Instagram I’m happy to follow: @werenotreallystrangers.
• I know you may not be ready to hear this but… tomorrow is the start of Mardi Gras. Is this the year you make a King Cake? Is this a year you try a Queen Cake Cookies? Yes and yes.
• If we’re talking about things I want but don’t need, let us discuss these lovely perfect and simple dinner plates. (Crate&Barrel)
• We’re layering our sun protection this decade mmmkay? I love this powder mineral sunscreen from Tarte. (Sephora)
Have a wonderful Sunday and Happy New Year.
My love to you.
xo Joy
kara
Made the chicken last night and everyone loved it! Had to bribe the kids with the chicken skin to actually taste everything else but I’ll call it a win. We used TJ’s onion salt as a dry rub since the article didn’t list one. It was easy with little hands on time, thank you for sharing!
mjs
I read your blog when I can, love he recipes and your comments..Yes it is disheartening all that is going on in the world..the bushfires in Australia make me cry daily, the loss of human and animal life is pretty overwhelming now the Iran thingie…No peace in our world, also a presidential election which is totally important but in times in war the incumbent president always seems to be re-elected, I cannot understand that I it is not like he ever served in any military capacity and as the president he in my opinion Is just downright mean spirited and a bully..ong…I pray for the anti-semits to stop their attacks on jewish people all around this country, my husband and daughter are being totally affected not to mentin the hate..YOUR BLOG IS SO POSITIVE I READ IT AND RE-read it all the time..Keep up your positive influence in this frightening world and I wish you much peace love and joy each and everyday in 2020 and your family too..
Kim
I love your Sunday lists Joy! Happy New Year from Costa Rica!
Julia
Gorgeous photo girl! Happy New Year!
joythebaker
Thank you Julia! You’re so sweet!
Ann
Thanks for think of us downunder – it is a terrible time for so many.
“We are all the same age” – I REALLY don’t want to be your age again but I appreciate the sentiment behind this comment!
joythebaker
I’m 38 and I here by declare us all the same age. Lol :)
Su
“She’s our age” made me smile.
joythebaker
We’re in this together!
Chrissy
Why does the fact that a roast chicken is the perfect meal surprise me every time? Happy New Year!
joythebaker
I feel the exact same way!
a
Yes, layer sunscreen! No one should use that powder alone thinking they’re well protected. It’s a nice little bonus but not enough on its own.
Penny Harrrison
Love your messages. I looked at the Collared Green website and tried to sign up and my computer
gave me a message that Grandbaby Cakes is not a secure website. Just sayin’….
joythebaker
Ah. Good lookin out!
John Popovich
Another great read. Just to let you know, I follow you for some time and love your recipes. I’m 73 and bake at least once or twice a week. Thanks for all you do for us. Happy New Year.
joythebaker
I’m so glad you’re here John!
nancy k
Happy New Year Joy. I hope this new year and new decade holds wonderful, surprising, joyful opportunities for you.
Also, a happy, happy birthday wish for your grandmother.
joythebaker
To you too, Nancy! Let’s go get it!
Kaleigh
Joy I love your Sunday blogs! I still can’t believe its the beginning of a new year AND a new decade. Here’s to many more on this beautful, flawed, beautifully flawed earth
johanna @ green gourmet giraffe
Happy new year Joy! I read that instagram face article with dismay! What a world we live in! And the bushfires are in my state so they don’t see so far away from Melbourne – for now it is just a bit of smoke haze but there are lots of implications of tourism being so badly affected at the peak time of year for tourism as well as all the farmers so I think we will feel the effects down the line. BTW from what I hear not even the military can stop the fires but we are waiting for the rain expected at the end of January! But we need all the help we can get.
joythebaker
I’m really so sorry! You’re in my thoughts!
April
Is it strange that I’ve actually been thinking about King cake since mid-november?
joythebaker
I understand you on a deep level.
Rena
Wonderful picture!
Happy Sunday ?
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com