Hello friends! Happy Sunday!
My parents, my lovely parents were visiting me in New Orleans all week and it was just the best! Well, it was actually the rainiest week possible in the city but we didn’t mind the few times we got soaked. Dad made a batch of cookies a day, Mom and I crafted, we binged watched The Jinx as a family, and we visited with friends – the highlight being a trip to Antigua Floral to see Trevor and Sara. I’m just so thankful for the tiiiiiiime, and look at how happy they are!
How have you been this week? What brought you the most joy?
The offering this week is below. I hope you find some that serves you. I’m so thankful you’re here. As always, take only what you need.
• What is Hospitality? The Current Answer Doesn’t Work The emotional intelligence required for solid and seamless hospitality is something I just appreciate so much. That’s the tiniest part of this interesting read. (The New York Times)
• I relate to these words very much. I’ve had “sudden onset farting around” for year and it’s only worsened during the panini. Anticipatory euphoria? You mean the daydreams I have about going to Greece this fall? Going strong. America Has Pandemic Senioritis (The Atlantic)
• This week’s long read is from The Guardian. Out of thin air: the mystery of the man who fell from the sky.
• The Redemption of Justin Bieber. Extreme fame is decidedly too much and far more isolating that any any young human should endure. It’s a weird paradox of money, success, and what… despair? This piece is surprising. (GQ)
• As I near my 40th birthday (yay, honestly), I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with my face. I’ve finally come to a place where I don’t mind the acne scars and visible pores but do I have to like… manage (?) the emerging lines and wrinkles? I’ll just keep using my retinol and push the needles down the road a bit. Here’s one perspective. Justine Bateman Is Aging. She No Longer Cares What You Think About That. (Glamour)
• In great news, we’ve reached A New ‘Denim-Cycle’? After a Decade Jeans Move From Skinny to Loose. I think I’m done swaying with jean trends. I have two styles that I know work for me and that’s what I’m wearing from here on out. At some point it becomes less about following the trend and more about wearing what suits you. For me it’s these straight no-stretch 90’s jean from Everlane and any Lucky Brand Jean with 4-Way Stretch Technology (they usually have a unripped, medium-rise bootcut jean that is amazing but it must be out of stock rn). (New York Times, Everlane, Lucky)
• I’ve given up on jean shorts but Kendi put in the work of trying a bunch on for us. I am not emotionally available for such work but I’m glad someone is. The Best Denim Shorts for Spring. (Kendi Everyday)
• This pantry soup peaks my interest because it includes a box of mac and cheese – in soup. Correct me if I’m wrong but I’d totally add the powder cheese pack to the soup. Busy Phillips’ 15-Minute Miracle Minestrone Soup (The Kitchn)
• I’m getting ready to ice dye. White jeans and powders have been ordered thaaaaank you. (Honestly WTF)
• Julia Jubilee is coming up! I’m super excited for these conversations and most of them are free with an RSVP! (Cherry Bombe)
• Betting I could eat an entire pan of the Sheet Pan Chow Mein on my own. (Smitten Kitchen)
• I think it’s time to add a Charlotte cake pan to my collection. I love the recipe bundles from our friends at King Arthur Flour. A splurge but their products are fantastic! Strawberry Mousse Cake Recipe Bundle. (King Arthur Flour)
• It’s just about Jazz Fest season in New Orleans and because we won’t bee festing together until fall, I’ve had this perfect playlist from Ben Jaffe of Preservation Hall on all week. (Spotify)
Have a wonderful Sunday!
My love to you.
xo Joy
Angela
Made Deb’s Chow Mein sheet dish… soooo good! (Used whatever vegetables I had in the drawer- grated some ginger and tossed with olive oil)… I might have added some thin sliced rib eye ;) Hubby said “what is this- delish!”
Marybeth
what a wonderful sunday! so heartwarming to see your parents visit and we cannot wait to make these cookies. Also, amen to being done with jean trends! It was a fun ride, but I’ll personally stick with my everlane high rise skinnes from here on out.
joythebaker
Hahah – it was a fun ride. I feel ya.
Megan
“Sudden onset farting around” – made me think you had been eating too many beans!!! – thanks for the laugh and your newsletters, they always brighten my Monday mornings.
joythebaker
Also, too many beans! Hahah.
Elizabeth DiVito
100 percent on the jean trend comment! Really all trends in my opinion. We all should wear what we like and what looks best on us. Following a trend for trends sake when it doesn’t suit you at all just seems like a waste of money and effort.
Tara
Sounds like a wonderful visit with your parents. I need to try your dad’s cookies!
Speaking of dessert…I’ll be in New Orleans this week for my birthday and NEED to eat some bread pudding. If you have a recommendation, I would love to hear it! Thank you!
joythebaker
You might try Brennan’s in the Quarter! Happy birthday!
Bonnir
Sweet Joy
Love your dad and one of my best
Memories of my dad is him in the kitchen or over the bbq fixing a meal for us. Your dad reminds me of this. I am 80 an wrinkled and so far the only complaints have been from me. I call them character lines. I look forward to preparing your dads cookies and I shall give you the recipe for my dads roast. Love ya. Bonnie
Rachel
Thanks for sharing the Preservation Hall playlist. I lost my grandma a few weeks ago. I didn’t know her well, but I know that one of the highlights of her life was going to New Orleans and sitting front row at a jazz club 3 nights in a row. Wish I knew which one. I’ve been overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start with jazz to remember her.
joythebaker
Oh my goodness Rachel thank you for sharing this. I’m sorry for you loss and I’m so glad that playlist made its way to you.
Kristin
Omgoodness…making your dad’s chocolate chip cookies this week for my senior clients I take care of….they will love I’m sure!
On skincare….I’m 54 and love the skin I’m in and truly enjoying this chapter of life.
Remember those lil lines show the love and laughter you’ve experienced.If wanting to explore serums I HIGHLY RECOMMEND korres products.Little on spendy side but the whole face washing and night routine put a SPA EXPERIENCE TO IT.
Embrace your 40’s ??
Kim
Side note- when, not if, yu go to Greece, you can get fabulous Korres products for very reasonable prices! Take an extra bag!!
joythebaker
I’m listening and I’m hearing you. Taking this very seriously.
joythebaker
I now have a Korres tab open in my browser and it will stay there until I head to Greece. Bless!
joythebaker
I will fully embrace them! Me and my expensive spa creams will fully embrace them! :)
Saysee Rizental
Your parents are so cute. That smile on your mother’s face tells all she thinks of being there. Thank you for letting us be part of your life.
joythebaker
I’m so glad you’re here!
Jenn P
I 100% bookmarked that post from Kendi earlier this week so I could deep dive into it this weekend in case there were holes in my shorts drawer. Good news – I’m only buying one pair. Second, I didn’t read the denim article, but I agree with you – I’ve found my jean silhouettes and they are what I will wear regardless of fashion or trend. I’d rather be comfortable and feel good than be hip (or whatever the kids are saying these days). Thanks for all you do Joy. And hug your parents hard.
Vicki
Your parents are so cute! I just love the look of concentration on your dad making cookies.
Becca
Every person who gets unnecessary needles to “correct” what is not flawed, is not ugly, is not bad, makes it harder for others to live with their natural bodies and faces. Understanding that is the first step to responsible decisions and creating the world we actually want to inhabit–possibly one where faces untouched by subdermal chemicals are not an anomaly.
Boldly imagine a world where beauty is not so narrowly defined, where youth is not the height of experience, where our images are not constantly reproduced and scrutinized, where we exist entirely embodied and reject those who refuse to accept and project nature as it is. Then begin to create the world we’ve imagined.
joythebaker
I LOVE this comment Becca thank you!
Caroline W
I am finding such joy in what your computer corrects “pandemic” to. I think it autocorrected to panini in this post and pantene pro V in the previous! Lollz autocorrect.
Jackie Hyatt
I’m all about cookie eating and crafting! What crafts did you and your mom do?
Beth
Joy, I lost my Dad when I was young, and the pictures of your Dad from this week–all of them showing him beaming at you with immense pride and love–brought me such happiness and a flood of my own memories. What a clear Joy you are to your parents–and they are to you. Thank you for sharing xo
joythebaker
Oh Beth – you’re generous with this, thank you.