Hello friends!
I woke up last Monday determined to get after it. The week prior felt lost to gloomy weather and equally gloomy body aches so I just let myself be. This week though? Sunshine and not a moment to lose. I visited with a few friends (one of them being my real estate agent because I’ve got big, cross-your-fingers-style plans in the works for The Bakehouse), I’ve eaten several pints of strawberries, I ironed new shower curtains, I swam and didn’t sink…. I did the dang thing.
Part of my motivation is that my parents (hi mom, hi dad!) are coming to visit New Orleans next week and I can’t have them thinking I’ve lived in a pigsty for all of 2020. To be fair, they lived with me for a cool 18 years so they know, better than anyone else, what I can do to a room.
This weekend at the Bakehouse we celebrated the wonder of spring strawberries down south by making strawberry pie together. And since I can’t sit still, I drove to Houston on Saturday afternoon to have a Sunday with Will – there will be motorcycle rides, fried chicken, and a pool.
We’re getting our energy back. Is that what’s happening?
I hope this finds you with a few quiet moments to yourself. This week’s reads are below and I think there are some real gems in here. Take only what you need and take good care.
• Go easy here. Tears come with this one, but this is for all of us. Who Are We Now? (The New York Times)
• This song came on while I read through the article above and naturally I burst into tears. Where Are You Now? by Mumford and Sons (Spotify)
• There just so much here and the truth is, it gives me hope: The Rise and Rise of Amanda Gorman (Vogue)
• Friend of the Show Kim Baldwin wrote the funniest piece I’ve read this year: Monday Morning Nudes. You obviously wrote very specifically about yourself Kim, but you wrote all of us and we thank you. I can’t tell you how many things my Mercury in Gemini has talked me into. I’m honestly surprised I haven’t robbed a bank by now. (Nashville Scene)
• I love the articles on Cup of Jo and I’ll leave this here for you: An Infertility Story (Cup of Jo)
• There’s a lot of openness here. It’s generous. I’m a Child of a Hoarder – And I’m Trying to Do Better for My Own Family (The Kitchn)
• #10 #21 #22 #27 35 Tiny Ways To Brighten Your Partner’s Day. (What’s Up Moms)
• I’m not a sneaker person but lemme keep up: Top Picks From A Sneaker Head (I Want To Be Her)
• Karlee’s Pancake Bread seems very pleasing to me. Makes me want to open a bakery in east Texas and serve this on Tuesdays. I dunno… the daydream was very specific. (Olive and Artisan)
• I’m making Minimalist Baker’s Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal this week. I love that it’s served by the slab in milk. Like cereal you can break up!
• Slowly working my wardrobe into exclusively Everlane stretchy pants and Pyne and Smith linen dresses for everyday / work and FarmRio and Teuta Matoshi dresses for going out and GOWNS. Next up, finding more excuses to wear gowns.
• If you were to go through my Google search history this week you’d find this: cat glass table. Get your kicks where ya can, right? (Google)
Have a wonderful day, friends. It means so much to me that you’re here.
My love to you.
xo Joy
Shellie
Love the Hoarder article. Although I never thought of myself as a hoarder, I was an avid consumer of stuff. Pretty plates, seasonal items, mixing bowls, etc. I also was the type of person who could leave dishes sitting in the sink and do them the next day. One day a friend mentioned that one thing her sister made sure of every night was to never leave anything in the kitchen sink because she didn’t want to face it the next morning. Since that time, I have been pretty diligent about loading the dishwasher, handwashing what had to be done and making sure the sink is cleaned out before I go to bed. I was the same with laundry too, just take out what you need and get to the rest later. Now, I am the person who puts it away as soon as it comes out of the dryer.
I think part of it is getting rid of the physical clutter to help clear the mental clutter and part of it is being in control of something when there is so much that I am not in control of lately. Don’t get me wrong, I have a long way to go…I still love pretty cake plates and real, vintage Tupperware but I’m learning to only hold on to what I love.
Sarah
I needed those sneaker recs in my life & also cat glass table !!!!!! Thanks for the Sunday posts <3
Natalie Zehner
Love these <3 Thank you for your unique and awesome voice & curated articles!
Anna Frandsen
I look forward to these every Sunday. You are an incredible writer- and this weeks intro made me laugh out loud- TRULY. Thanks for always bringing your honest, your wit and your brilliant pick of articles.
Whitney
Wow wow wow those gowns! I think surviving 2020/2021 is reason enough to go out to dinner in one of those babies!
Debbie
Loved the “Who Are We Now?” article. Thank you.
Mary
I cannot wait to see what’s gonna happen with the Bakehouse!
Dottie
As always, thank you for sharing so much to think about. I caught the hoarder article and I could identify. I admire Allaya’s efforts. I need to keep working on decluttering.
Good for you for moving from a difficult week into an action-packed, get-it-done week. I’m going to sign off and get some things done too!
Have a great week.
Taylor Schackmann
I’m also a Mercury in Gemini and YES! So glad I’m not alone in my brain wanting to commit low-grade crime ?
Dani
If you open a bakery in Texas please please please do it in Dallas!
Lynn Hyatt
Cats on glass tables…..made my day. Never thought to look at kitty cats this way. Certainly a different perspective
Thanks Joy
Christine Cole
I took the tearful and feeling route this week and it was just what I needed — thank you, Joy.
Crossing all the fingers for these big big plans for The Bakehouse! Xoxo
Darla Layton
Good morning, Joy. Thank you for being here for us, with us. Now I want to go and organize, and clean ?. I’ve needed a second pair of sneakers, so there’s that. I hope your visit with your mom and dad is everything. Don’t sweat the small stuff. They just want to spend time with you. Happy week.
Deirdre DeShaunn Roberts
Thank you for another Sunday
samantha campanini
These reads have moved me deeply, expecially the first one and the one about infertility. This last one comes in very special moment, as my sister have gone through a very long time of cures and finally in the next few weeks we’ll be welcoming baby Sofia into this world and I swear all my family is (finally) full of happiness!