There’s a movement I’ve noticed lately of friends sending Valentine’s Day cards instead of holiday cards and I’m fully here for this emerging trend. Our friend Toby was an early adopter, nay, likely creator of this trend and her family Valentine’s Day card is the most anticipated card of the year. It’s hard for the mail to peak so early in the year, but it does. This year, our friend and blog photographer Karlee upped the ante with an entire Valentine’s Day care package filled with individually wrapped gifts. Individually wrapped in red and white heart print paper. Don’t even get me started on the ribbon. And Karlee celebrates her birthday this weekend, so the fact that she stepped food in a post office during her birth month is nothing short of a flex. Some folks just really have their stuff together.
While any thoughtful Valentine’s Day flex might be over, it might not be too late to score some heart shaped gummy candies. Heart shapes make for a superior gummy experience but don’t explain the science behind it.
Here are some Sunday things, as we do. Thanks for spending time here with us!
• Listen, friends. All last year Dad and I have been working on a children’s book. I may not have mentioned this because I have that weird disease where I work really hard on something then don’t want to bother you with it. Let me bother you with this project because it has surpassed my wildest dreams of a book. The Life-Changing Magic of Baking is a beautifully illustrated book for 6-12 year old that preaches the power (and life lessons) of baking through my own experience growing up in the kitchen with Cliff and Patty. You can pre-order the book on here on Amazon or here on Books A Million. (Abrams Books)
• Speaking of our dad, have you read his latest Cliff Notes on Chocolate Chip Cookies. Did you know that Famous Amos was an actual man and bakery!? Dad always comes with the best nuggets. (Joy the Baker)
• I’m on a serious bread baking quick this year because I finally decided that the price of bread has just gone too far. We’ve jumped the shark. I’m baking my own bread and also giving loaves as random gifts because how amazing is it when someone just hands you a loaf of home baked bread!? There’s something fundamental about giving a loaf. Here’s the aspiration: They gather to bake bread each week and give away thousands of loaves. (MSN)
• This week I learned the difference between PYREX and Pyrex. Did you know about this? We can’t keep these things from each other. (TikTok)
• Okay but how are your knees? Mine seem to be telling me I’m not doing enough yoga… that or I’m over 40? Why Am I Already Dealing With Knee Pain In My 30’s? (Self)
• The best part of being a woman is the privilege of being friends with other women. See here: The Bridesmaid’s Speech or on the entire other end of the spectrum, you could just hire a bridesmaid. Women are nothing if not resourceful. (Instagram, The Hustle)
• Thank you for all the buckwheat, Bob. (Bon Appetit)
• Our friend Toby with The Easy Habit Everyone Should Try. Not to be weird but, watch me start a list for Will. (Instagram, Hello Gloria)
• Three years into my motorcycle journey and I’ve decided that I need to join a motorcycle gang. Okay, more like a women’s riding group. I’m going to ride with the Houston branch of The Litas as soon as spring weather springs. And once I settle on a Texas Bakehouse I’ll obviously have to invite Jason Momoa and his motorcycle show over for kolaches. It only makes sense. (Instagram, YouTube)
• Our friend Julia Turshen wrote a new essay I’m going to download and listen to on my house-hunting drives across Texas this week. We love Julia for her cookbooks and cooking classes (also this chicken), and as thoughtful as she is, Built For This: the quiet strength of powerlifting is sure to be wonderful. (Julia Turshen, Joy the Baker, Everand)
• We all collectively lost our minds to Beyonce’s latest song Texas Hold ‘Em this week, right? I said OKAY BANJO and immediately had to look up who was playing those opening bars. Because it’s Beyonce, OF COURSE it’s the best banjo player we have: Rhiannon Giddens. If you aren’t familiar, Freedom Highway is a great place to start. (Spotify, Smithsonian, Rhiannon Giddens, Spotify)
• Mom requested this Perfect Chocolate Bundt Cake for her birthday and can confirm, as with every other time I’ve baked this cake, it’s a bouncy delight of a simple chocolate cake. (Joy the Baker)
Enjoy your Sunday. My love to you.
xo Joy
#LifeChanging #Magic #Clifford #Lesley
