Happy St. Patty’s Day friends! Spring has sprung and so have I with a terrible cold (that might actually be the flu?). How passée, honestly. The only bright side about getting sick is the idea that I’ve gotten it out of the way for the rest of the season. I know that theory doesn’t hold water, but a girl can be delusional in her recovery.
My sister Launa and her husband Chad are visiting me in Houston this weekend. We’re doing some of my favorite Texas things: eating butter tortillas from HEB with every meal and spending time at the rodeo. I’m just casually coaxing them to move here with me and I’m convinced I’m just a few cowboy hats and tortillas away from their move. Fingers crossed.
This week’s offering is below. Take it all easy. I’m so glad you’re here!
• Ok we all clocked that the Kensington Palace X account issued the most bizarre apology “from” Kate Middleton (who hasn’t been seen in public since Christmas?) for her amateur photography and Photoshop misadventures – right? The optics on the absence of the princess are bad y’all. It’s not that it’s any of our business, but I can’t help but wonder …. What’s going on!? (March 29, 2024 update: These Sunday posts are a snapshot in time. Our prayers are with the Princess of Wales and her family.) (X, Neiman Lab)
• Lydia Kiesling describes parenting as pushing a boulder up a hill and really the least we can do is help each other up the hill, clear the pebbles, babysit occasionally, buy Girl Scout cookies and make birthday cakes. (Drifter Mag)
• In news to me, celebrity book clubs are very much a thing. Naively, I had no idea there were major dollars and production deals associated with book recs. It feels both genuine and rather cunning. (The Cut)
• Words To Repeat To Yourself In March from Morgan Harper Nichols. (Instagram)
• I have a sneaking suspicion that Jeni Britton is a visionary beyond her incredible ice cream. On my list of things to listen to is this episode of The Keri Croft Show: Jeni Britton gives an intimate glimpse into her world beyond ice cream. (The Keri Croft Show)
• I never noticed that Deb from Smitten Kitchen has such a flirty voice. I loved this convo between two originals. Here’s a chat with David Lebovitz and Deb Perelman. (Substack)
• Now that we’re coming into spring, I feel like my brain and body might be willing to take on a task list (a feat that feels nearly impossible to me in winter). I generally make a weekly to-do list but, as life has it, I never tick everything off the list. I’ve learned to never take the list too seriously. Things will get done or they’ll get shuffled to the next week’s list and I’ll just do my best. What would you think of making a “Done List” instead of a “To-Do List”? It’s called a Reverse To-Do List and while it celebrates small accomplishments, how do we actually keep track of the things that need to get done? There’s a separate list for that, right? (Apartment Therapy)
• Not that I’m a trend forecaster or anything but, Stanley cups are out and, as our girl Abby knew all along, Owala bottles are rising to the top as the It Girlie water vessel. (Instagram, Owala)
• I was in Charleston SC this past weekend and y’all it’s one of the very best food cities in the country. One of my favorite restaurants is Chez Nous. It’s just like home only better. (Airmail News)
• You might have missed Toby’s Sunday post last week as (maybe because of the time change?) the post didn’t send as an email. It’s always nice to check in with Toby, so don’t miss it! (Joy the Baker)
• It’s inspiring to hear from someone who doesn’t use their dining room table as their desk. Our friend Amy’s Desk Tour is just oh-so Taurus of her. (Substack)
• The Lemon Poppy Seeds Rolls are clouds of pastry. I cannot stress this recipe enough. (Instagram, Joy the Baker)
• The Texas wildflowers are blooming on the side of the road this week. This time last year I was out in the wilds of Texas making Camp Joy – my lil’ camp cooking zine – for you. It turned into a humble love letter to Texas. If you haven’t yet added the zine to your collection of cookbooks, now is the time! Camp Joy is on sale now (with free shipping), and gone forever come the end of the month. Grab her while you can! (Joy the Baker)
Enjoy your Sunday, friends!
My love to yo.
xo Joy
Jillian
Very late to this party, but may I offer a gentle correction? Patty is a girl, Paddy is a boy ?? ? Thank you for sharing your Sundays with us, Joy!
Happy spring to all!
Julie M
Love me some of those HEB butter tortillas! Their bakery tortilla chips are awesome too!
We just moved from Texas to California, and I sure miss my HEB. They are truly a community focused store, and all of Harvey survivors have our stories of how they helped our local community survive.
Enjoy!
Sami
It all feels so vile the way we’re all feasting like a murder of crows on the Kate Middleton headlines. I do think they should have just had an old photo for Mother’s Day and be done with it. But also the pushback from the media regarding the photo is just vile. It’s really all to make money. I feel the reason the media is pushing the headlines so much, is not that they are so concerned, but to sell headlines. Without her parading around event to event they don’t have anything to sell. So out of the blue, the headlines started popping up about where is Kate, and they knew she’d be back around Easter. This created a frenzy. Then the KP felt the need to quell the chaos with a photo that created drama. Thus giving the media what it was after all along money making headlines. It’s all so gross.
Janette
I like to receive the let it be Sunday newsletter and have for years! Why is it no longer sent on Sunday morning?
Joy the Baker
We had a little snafoo with Mailchimp the last two weeks but we should be back up and running!
Vicki
Wondering why this post is dated Sunday the 17th but didn’t arrive in my in-box till today, Tuesday!
Lexie
I really don’t understand the Kate controversy OR how the palace fumbled the bag so hard. They said she wasn’t going to be available until after Easter! They should have just posted old pictures and captioned gracefully that we’ll see more of the Duchess after she heals?! The choices made… so bizarre!!!
Joy the Baker
It really is SO BIZARRE! They really should have done so much less.
Chrissy
I got sick two weeks ago and I’m subscribing to the same theory that check, been there, done that. That’s how immunity works, right? Also, Kate. Oh Kate. I am totally a sucker for any click bait on the subject, but I do hope that at least she’s okay. Feel better!
Joy the Baker
Check check! We crossed it off the list, friend!
Jenn P
Re: Kate; I think it’s one of two things. Either she had to have a bowel resection and the recovery is hard and taking a while (I’ve had one and it does, there are also common complications that can result in having to have colostomy bags or wound vacs attached to you – it’s not a cute look – and sometime you’re not allowed to use your abdominals for a while), OR William had an affair with Rose, got her pregnant and she’s keeping the baby. Kate found out and effed off with the kids to another castle and isn’t cooperating with The Palace until William fixes it.
It’s all based on such rumor and conjecture, and while it’s super fun to speculate, I just hope she’s okay.
Lori
I believe Kate had cosmetic surgery. If you look at the picture of Kate in her mother’s car, her face looks swollen.
Joy the Baker
The wild thing is, people are saying that’s not even her!
Joy the Baker
I really hope she’s ok too! A bowel resection sounds like… take all the time you need, babes. But I’m with you in these theories. It’s just fascinating to watch from afar.