Hello friends and welcome to this fine Sunday. Today marks the 379th time I’ve come here to tell you how I think, what I feel, and what dresses and lip balm and sunscreen I’m into beyond the recipes that are the foundation of Joy the Baker. Can you believe? That’s no small feat. I’ve taken a hefty amount of flack for it and yet it’s my favorite post to write for you every single week. I’m so thankful for the community that these Sunday posts have build and thankful for the growth of these Sunday posts with Abby, Kim, and Toby.
There is some weight in today’s links as you might imagine since you too are a person in the world. There’s also Guava and Cheese French Toast, so we’re going to be okay today. It’s also plum season and I cannot recommend them enough. I love that you’re here and we’re here together.
• “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” —Viktor Frankl (though that attribution is dodgey)
Brene Brown puts it into this equation: S( )R. I’ve found it harder and harder lately to be a “person of the Internet” and make space between stimulus and response. It feels like social media especially needs the R, IMMEDIATELY. Which tribe are you on? How dare you not express your tribe in this very moment. If you aren’t on my tribe I demand to know right now! Unfollow! Unfollow! And y’all… I’m just trying to make space enough to know the response I have is one that is meaningful and true for me. Sometimes, me making space looks like me making bread and then eating it with way too much butter (lol no such thing). However you process huge culture shifting events, please know you’re allowed to create space for yourself. It really has been one of the most powerful changes I’ve made in my life (but wow it pisses off Instagram).
• This made me cry. Suspending Belief: Abortion and the right to regret (The Point)
• For years before last Friday, Louisiana has been a hard place to receive abortion care and this latest decision is going to be very difficult for so many people here. If this issue is important to you, I would encourage you to research how you can support your community. It has to be sustained work, and in the meantime I’ve made donations to National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda and Lift Louisiana.
• I’m too tired even for hot regression summer, honestly. Tell me how it goes. (Substack)
• A few years ago on a road trip back to New Orleans from Birmingham, Alabama I stopped at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. It’s the most powerful memorial I’ve ever experienced and they’re currently holding a night exhibit on select evenings this summer.
• The lonely chief: How John Roberts lost control of the court (Politico)
• Last week Toby asked who our celebrity bestie would be. Mine? Casey Wilson. (Joy the Baker, Bookshop.org)
• Kim reminded us that it’s hand sunscreen season but can I be extra weird and suggest that it’s also driving glove season? (Joy the Baker, Amazon)
• I’ve committed to making everything with the word “poolside” in it starting with Deb from Smitten Kitchen’s Poolside Sesame Slaw.
• Although it is no time to even think about stuffing onions and roasting them – I saw an incredibly delicious picture of stuffed onions somewhere on the Internets, and now I can’t get it out of my head. I’ll put this on the back burner until November. (BBC)
• This Guava and Cheese Stuffed French Toast sounds like an absolute dream and has me on the most immediate hunt for guava jam. (SavorSimpleBlog)
• You’re Wrong About‘s latest episode on Martha Stewart with Sarah Archer is a fascinating listen. If you still have those little square Martha Stewart Living recipe inserts saved, this podcast episode is for you. Highly recommend. (Apple Podcasts, Sarah Archer)
• Making ice cream sandwiches with Ritz crackers is the energy level this holiday weekend: easy ice cream treats. (Joy the Baker)
Have a wonderful Sunday.
My love to you –
xo Joy
22 Responses
Joy and fellow Let It Be Sunday posters, I hope you know what an oasis of thoughtfulness you’ve created in these posts. They have grown so much and I look forward to them each and every week. There are several food/lifestyle blogs that I follow that never touch on the tricky subjects of our times. I appreciate that you put yourself and opinions out there. I respect that in ways I can’t tell you; making your presence in my life a gift.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful effort. Our world is better because you share with us!
Hello! I am the maker of the Guava and Cheese Stuffed French Toast. This shout out might have brought a tear of excitement to my eye. I immediately called my mom. I’ve enjoyed following Joy the Baker for years now and have so much admiration. Making the Sunday Journal for one of my kitchen heros is just….eeeekkk! So cool. Thanks Joy!
Thank you Joy, I found the selections this week very informative and as always, find they offer plenty of room to reflect. I, too, look forward to your Sunday column, so please continue to share your thoughts, feelings and build this community without fear of censure. Take care and be safe.
A small comment about Sandra. Sandra said, thanks for the opportunity, but if her mom said the same thing; Sandra wouldn’t have been here, along with her kids that are living a easier life. I read an old book one day that stated; life wasn’t meant to be easy! Sometimes bad news, is good news! Humans are at their best solving problems, but which way should you go? And the doctor was right, a decision must be made; the easy way or the difficult way? The problem is, who or what decides which decision has a better outcome? No child, and a easier future or have a child, with a difficult life but you raised a future doctor that cured cancer? Then the big question is, which way has more LOVE?
Ah Casey Wilson is a good celeb bestie! I loved her memoir so much, it made me WEEP.
Hi Joy,
Happy Sunday and happy summer. Thank you for the many meaningful links. I found the essay on abortion and the right to regret so powerful. Loved that Brene Brown piece and how great that Brown and her team are taking time off.
Also enjoy Hot Regression Summer. That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far. Guava cheese French toast – yes please.
Also love the shirt that you are wearing in your photo. Bright joyful colors.
Be well.
First of all, thank you for your Sunday posts! I look forward to it every weekend :)
Next, I have a question! What program or filters do you use to edit your photos? I’m assuming the above plum photo – also hot jeans! – was taken on a camera phone?
Thank you!! (From girl desperately trying to learn technology so she can get her blog up!)
I am astounded that you get flack for posting what is undeniably my favourite weekly blog post of any of the millions posted weekly. Who are all these people who don’t agree with me??????
I’m with you, Katie! My Sunday coffee must be served with Joy – a long held tradition?
Suspending Belief – I cried the entire read.
What a great share! I really hope that it opens closed minds.
Love love let it be sunday. Thank you
I love your social media attitude. I have definitely gotten weary of the feeling that I need to think and feel very specific things about current events or else I am not a decent person/democrat/whatever. I want to be an engaged citizen doing good in the world but there’s something about the pressure to be in or be out that I’m just over. I’ll think what I think and do what feels right to do and there it is. I’m open to other opinions but just tired of feeling like there’s one way to feel and talk about things
As usual, you are spot on with this Sunday’s share. I love Victor Frankl…great mind and heart! Thanks for being a sweet slice of goodness every Sunday morning . !
I wake up looking forward to your posts on Sunday. Anyway you make French toast is a winner. I agree with the problem of quick responses. What is wrong with thinking a bit, I would not let the internet bully me, but I’m old enough to remember before there was social media, we called it gossip.
First off, thank you for my favorite Sunday read and all the great recipes. Some of my family’s favorite recipes are yours.
Please just keep being you. I totally agree with making space. I find that it’s so easy for me to get very angry right now that if I don’t take time and reset I just walk around furious. Not very helpful and definitely not good for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Enjoy your summer and thanks again for your thoughtful wordsand great energy.
In the pause I sometimes ask God to help me be a better human being. Thank you for the quote. Your blog is fun and calm, all wrapped up in yummy food.
Thank you, always, for your Sunday posts! And thank you for reminding us all that it is damn well okay to take space to process this wild, tumultuous world we live in.
Ritz ice cream treats are some of my fave from the blog! Hoping to make peanut butter ice cream pie with ritz cracker crust this weekend.
Happy Sunday Joy! Thank you again for the offerings and taking your space. I will never understand why the Internet must know everyone’s feelings about anything and everything. Your followers should know by now what a thoughtful and compassionate person you are. That’s all I need to know. Making Texas Sheet Cake today for my family and friends. Hope you’re enjoying some rest and relaxation this weekend!
Your Sunday posts is what I look forward to! With a dog on my lap and water getting ready to boil for the French press, and after reading morning prayers, nothing better than reading your Sunday posts!
I think you mean Victor Frankl. I’ve made Poolside Sesame Slaw three times already this summer! Very versatile. They were out of white miso paste at Dorignac’s yesterday so maybe this is a huge trend?!
Joy-
I am also on the hunt for guava jam with no luck so far. My grandmother used to make it – what I wouldn’t give for one of those lovely pink jars!
Thanks for the Sunday post. Always enjoy reading. All I can say is, let’s keep chugging along. The thick summer air and political climate is making it hard but let’s keep chugging…