-Let's Press Pause For Spring

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