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Let It Be Sunday, 346!

-A Half Marathon and a Playlist to Give You Chills

November 7, 2021 by Joy the Baker 28 Comments

Friends, hello! We made it to Sunday!

A week ago today I was slow running my butt down the road and back in Houston.  I finally ran that half marathon I’ve been working towards for months. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! For years I had settled on the story that running that far wasn’t for me.  I feel really proud for proving myself wrong.

The night before the race (we’re talking like 7:30pm) I wanted to go for a run to shake out my nerves.  Will borrowed his mom’s tricycle bike, brought along a beer, and rode next to me through that 25 minute shake out run.  It was the sweetest thing.  Will also ran with me very early this year when I felt heavy footed and tortured and after riding with my run he mentioned that my running has really changed.  I could have cried. This goal of mine has been mostly solitary. No one has really had eyes on my progress. It was really nice to be reminded of what I can feel in my body.

Anyway. I did the thing.  Will cheered me on at three spots along the race. I’ve signed up for my next half marathon in New Orleans (and got Will to sign up, too!).   It’s all very good and I’m grateful to YOU. Thank you for all of your encouragement. Your comments over the past few weeks really mean so much to me.

I’m glad you’re here! Here’s today’s offering.  Thank you for being so welcoming to my friends Toby and Kim these past few weeks. I love their Sunday offerings and they’ll be back a few more times before the end of the year.

•  This week I’ve been thinking a lot about energy. The burning energy that got me across the finish line in Houston and the missing energy that fully bonked work deadlines this week.  It’s tangible and intangible. I found this to be incredibly interesting:  Energy, And How To Get It (The New Yorker)

•  I admire Cherry Bombe founder Kerry Diamond so much.  She’s curious, brilliant, generous, chic, and lives in my mind as a classic New York woman. Here’s A Day In My Shoes: Kerry Diamond.  “You have a lifetime to do things” which is an excellent reminder. (Tory Burch)

•  Researches Just Compiled the Ultimate Playlist of Song That Will Give You Chills.  For a shortcut, here’s the Spotify playlist.  I’m going running to this next week and will report back on the chills. Chills or tears? Why does this happen? Thanks for sharing this, Suzonne! (Inc, Spotify)

•  I fully freaked out this week when one of my favorite authors commented on one of my Instagram posts.  Turns out she’s been lurking for years and WHAT!? Amazing.  As recommended by Samantha Irby: No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield (Books A Million)

•  When I was a personal assistant for two soap opera writers (did you know this!?) about a millions years ago, I was in charge of grocery shopping and cooking them dinner a few nights a week. Their favorite dinner was Beef Stroganoff made with sliced filet mignon.  I mean yea… what’s not to love about that!?   Jon’s Ground Beef Stroganoff  reminded me of those days and fits into my food budget much better.   (The Candid Appetite)

•  Enjoy deez bees of Instagram.  (Instagram)

•  I think Deb makes the best Pumpkin Bread on the internet and these Apple Cider Doughnut Blondies from The Kitchn seem like a fantastic way to apple cider.  (Smitten Kitchen, The Kitchn)

•  We have a new series together on Instagram. You ask me your big questions and with very little background information, I give you advice.  Does that sound like a mess?  It’s called The Spiral, lol. (Instagram):

•  This week I downloaded this audiobook and I’m plotting my next discomfort (ugh does it have to me swimming?): The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. (Audible)

•  Sezane makes my favorite blouses.  (Sezane)

•  I really had the most wonderful time making cake for those of you who came out to Williams Sonoma in Knoxville! Thank you THANK YOU for coming out! I learned about the Tennessee Volunteers. I met two Hannahs, Jaclyn, Tammy, Rebecca, Lisa, Aubrey, and a self-appointed mall enthusiast who told me this history of the mall and then called me weird.  It was – well, it was great! I can’t wait to see you in Houston and Dallas coming up!

Have a wonderful Sunday, friends!

My love to you.

xo Joy

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  1. Barbara

    November 28, 2021 at 4:35 am

    Half marathons are like potato chips..you just can’t do one! Congratulation, Joy. The feeling at the end of your first goal race ..if it could be bottled and sold, someone would make a fortune. Here’s to many more and I hope you also come to enjoy your local community of friendly runners. A very welcoming crowd ??

    Reply
  2. samantha campanini

    November 21, 2021 at 8:07 am

    I’m so happy and moved for your goal Joy!! Congrats!!

    Reply
  3. Dottie

    November 13, 2021 at 6:28 pm

    Congratulations on your half marathon! I am in awe.
    I love Sezanne’s blouses. So lovely.
    Cherry Bombe! I loved the Julia Child issue.
    Thanks for all of the good stuff. I look forward to it (even if I am sometimes a week behind).

    Reply
  4. Leigh

    November 8, 2021 at 1:51 pm

    Saw you on the Today show. You were amazing. Complete natural. I enjoyed it. Congratulations! They have to have you back.

    Reply
  5. Shellie

    November 8, 2021 at 12:40 pm

    Congratulations! I had also told myself that running wasn’t for me and then this past August, my sister and I set the goal of doing a 5k on Sept 18. Who decides at age 55 and 52 respectively to start running?! Well, we did it and though I don’t really have any aspirations beyond the 5k, I do keep up on that twice a week. Who knows where it will lead.

    Reply
  6. Catherine

    November 7, 2021 at 10:51 pm

    Awesome, Joy! You’re amazing :)

    Reply
  7. Stella

    November 7, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    Way to go Joy! How exciting for you and that Will, he’s a keeper.

    Reply
  8. Karen

    November 7, 2021 at 3:54 pm

    Good job Joy! You should be so proud!

    Reply
  9. Trish

    November 7, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    Way to go, Joy! Proud of you! I admire you for leaning into something that is out of your comfort zone. Good job!

    Reply
  10. Hannah

    November 7, 2021 at 1:03 pm

    One of the Hannahs here! SO enjoyed meeting you and seeing your handiwork with the boxed chocolate cake. Always glad for your Sunday offerings here, and the other days’ offerings/recipes as well

    Reply
  11. Hope Leyenhorst

    November 7, 2021 at 12:17 pm

    Hello Joy, this is Hope, up here in Kingston, Ontario Canada. So impressed with you doing the 1/2 marathon and glad you got the whole medal. My first 1/2 marathon they gave out 1/2 of a whole medal. I know, I know, I only ran half of one but come on, I wanted a complete medal!! Also, thanks for the playlist. My husband is obsessed with music and I like to pass on great music and pretend I am as good as he is, which is never.

    As for The Spiral, I am amazed at how great you are at giving advice on the fly like you do. Keep it up! You are an inspiration.

    Oh, and your baking is always great!
    Thank you for sharing your life with us, have a wonderful Sunday and week.

    Reply
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(or four smaller cookies) ⁣
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1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted⁣
1/3 cup brown sugar, lightly packed⁣
1 large egg yolk⁣
A splash of vanilla extract⁣
1/4 cup peanut butter⁣
1/2 cup all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour blend⁣
1/4 teaspoon baking soda⁣
1/4 teaspoon salt⁣
Coarse sugar and/or sea salt for sprinkling, optional⁣
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Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees f. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. ⁣
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I’m a medium bowl, whisk together warm melted butter and brown sugar. Whisk in the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Add the peanut butter and mix to combine. ⁣
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Add the dry ingredients and use a spatula to fold all the ingredients together. Divide in two big portions (or four smaller portions) onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar and salt if you’d like. ⁣
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