Friends, hello and welcome to your Sunday. I hope there’s a big inhale and exhale for your lungs right now.
These weeks seem to be racing by but I’d like to press the pause button on these beautiful spring days. The shutters are open and the magnolias are thinking about blooming and the sun is late and long and more forgiving than it will be a few months from now. It’s just lovely and I’m going to try and slow myself down over the next few weeks. It’s a good time to be in love with life, as messy as it all is. I hope this finds you with a few moments to yourself today.
May we all be as content as Tron sitting on his favorite pillows in the sun.
Here’s the offering. As always, take only what you need:
• One of the lessons this week: check yourself (and maybe even double check) before you tell people to work harder. For Moms, Kim Kardashian’s Advice Couldn’t Have Come At a Worse Time (Parents)
• I watched the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz documentary directed by Amy Poehler and found myself just amazed (and absolutely sobbing by the end). I watched the movie again with my parents a week later it was just fantastic. Here’s an interview with Amy Poehler on Lucy and Desi (Harper’s Bazaar)
• Why it’s almost impossible to lose anything in Japan. How about my mind though? I bet I could lose that it wouldn’t even be that hard. (Kottke.org)
• Ok let’s add to the stories I’m obsessed with: Mt. Everest, deep space, and now shipwrecks. (BBC)
• I found this six year old post here on Joy the Baker and it has me reflecting on what my current friendships mean to me. We’ve all been though quite a lot and it’s really vital, the ways we’ve found to love and support and share joy with one another. What inspires you about your best friend.
• Also found this reminder to clean out my wallet and head outside to clean the car: 10 Things I Do To Refresh For Spring. (Joy the Baker)
• While you read this Sunday post I’ll be scrubbing my house clean and that’s no lie. 13 ways to clean your house with apple cider vinegar. My aunt is coming to visit next week and I hope the smell of cleaning vinegar has dissipated by then. (The Kitchn)
• This week I’m listening to Setting the Table Podcast hosted but Deb Freeman about African-American foodways. It’s fantastic. (Apple Podcasts)
• Also listening to Brandi Carlile’s flawless voice: In These Silent Days. (Spotify)
• There is a peach cake recipe in Beatrix Bakes Cookbook that I suddenly cannot live without so I bought this lovely cookbook by Natalie Paull. (Thriftbooks)
• Last week the recipe for my favorite Egg Salad Sandwich became oddly popular here which reminded be of how much I love Mississippi Vegan’s Chickpea Avocado Salad as an egg-free sandwich option. (Mississippi Vegan)
• This small-batch strawberry mousse recipe made in the blender seems like an easy staple this spring. (Dessert For Two)
• It us Carrot Cake season and I’ve got some thoughts for you. Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls Three Layer Carrot Cake and No-Bake Carrot Cake and Browned Butter Carrot Cake Loaf. (Joy the Baker)
• Here’s something you do not need but you might like very much: Tula Skin Care Signature Glow Refreshing and Brightening Face Mist. Full disclosure I signed up for the Allure beauty box on a whim and this was in my first box. It offers a nice refreshing glow that can also help refresh makeup if it’s been on for half a day. It’s not a necessity and absolutely a luxury and I like it very much. (Amazon)
Have a wonderful Sunday, friends!
My love to you.
xo Joy
25 Responses
I love this photo of Tron Cat! I keep coming back to this image when I need a happy sunshine moment pick-me-up. Spring in the NW is a mix of grey rain clouds and cool moments of sun. Only one day in April came close to 70 degrees so far. Happy cats always make me happy . So does baking. Getting ready to bake carrot cake this week for Easter.
I’ve completely lost the magnolias blooming because of Covid this year :( but I’ve stalked the magnolias on my instagram feed!
I share your fascination with Mt Everest and shipwrecks, Joy – or at least this shipwreck. Endurance is one of the best historical adventure books I’ve read, and if I ever have the fortune of making it on an Antarctic cruise, I will pay whatever extra amount of money is required to go to South Georgia Island so I can see where they landed when they finally made it across that passage. I just have this urge to be there! (Same goes for Everest Base Camp. No interest in climbing it, but do want to see it for myself.)
Joy! If you liked the Lucy documentary, you have got to check out season 3 of The Plot Thickens podcast. All about Lucy! It’s fascinating and so well done.
Happy Sunday joy! Made your chicken recipe from a few weeks ago with the green olives and tomatoes. Everyone loved it, even the kiddos! Have a great week <3
Ah the Marry Me Chicken! That’s fantastic!
I was wondering if there is a new magazine coming out soon, I keep checking but don’t find one . I just love the one magazine I have and have made several recipes all of which were delicious
Yes, Ava! The summer magazine hit’s grocery store shelves in early May! I hope you love this one to – lots of really good summer no-bake cakes and ice cream!
Thank you Joy for sharing all your wonderful ideas and recipes!!
I was curious if you had a list of your favorite books that you have read or listened to these last two years?
Thank you for You!!!
Ally
I should put a list together for you Ally though our friend and contributor Toby is the real reader around here. Maybe she’d be so kind as to put together a list for us!
Tron must be the most handsome boy ever!
Hi Joy,
Happy Sunday to you as well. Thanks for all of the links. I need more time to delve into podcasts and watch the documentary about Lucy and Deci.
I did some serious cleaning last month into early this month, but I need to read your tips and learn about apple cider vinegar cleaning.
Here in the Northeast, we are behind you on spring. My latest obsession is listening for the first peepers. Any night now. I love spring!
Enjoy your LA spring and watching the magnolias burst open.
Sounds like you’re on a happy spring path, Dottie! xo
Oh my goodness…Tron has to be the most handsome of all cats. He has such a magnificent presence. I wonder what he is thinking as he enjoys his sunny spot.
Thanks for sharing all the interesting and useful links. I need to get cleaning and then as a reward, enjoy some strawberry mousse.
Enjoy the first week of spring.
I would pay good money to know what he’s thinking. :)
I just changed my purse! Happy Sunday from sunny Normandy
Joy! So glad it is you and not a substitute! Thank you for the inspo on the strawberry mousse. I can hear Tron purring from here. ?
How nice to see handsome Tron looking so well. No magnolias yet in my neck of the woods. But our cooler weather gives me an opportunity to try your carrot cake recipes. Yours in peace.
OH! It’s a very good Carrot Cake! Enjoy!
There is no substitute here, Jenny. There’s me and the friends that I’ve welcomed to this space because I think they add great value. I’m inclined to read your comment as rude but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
This is a great batch—can’t wait for the Lucy doc—and thank you for the reminder to slow down <3
So much Lucy content lately, right?
I love the Beatrix Bakes book so much!! If you’re ever in Melbourne, the bakery is a dream too. The recipes are involved but so precise and delicious. The strawberry jewels and meringue buttercream are heaven. The choc chip cookies, the pistachio cake! I really haven’t had a dud from her book. Happy sunday, I look forward to these posts all week.
I love Beatrix Bakes too! Thanks for sharing your recommendations. I think the pear Adaptrix of the pillowy peach and polenta pie is incredible. I can’t wait to try it with peaches. I also really like the walnut olive oil shortbread. Happy Sunday!
I need to start daydreaming a trip to Melbourne starting with a trip to this bakery. Thanks for the kindness, Anna!