The thing is that nothing has changed \u2014 not really. Grief is still present, and more people I\u2019m close to are experiencing new hurts and tragedies. The world is heartbreaking and ugly, and every day, there is more to worry about. And yet, the daffodils are sprouting. The tree in my front yard is flowering. My dogs get cuter every day. I love my friends so much. Summer break is within view. It\u2019s light outside for so much longer! I live in a beautiful house I love, and I have everything I need.<\/span><\/p>\n As a person who will never be mistaken as a pure optimist or a Pollyanna, finding small, good things can be hard. I am no pessimist, but rather a realist. And while that can be used as an excuse to only look at the negative right now, in reality, I am lucky to be in the position and life I\u2019m in. I don\u2019t want to be angry and sad every day until the world changes. I am trying to find joy where I can, and good things where they exist. It\u2019s not easy, but it\u2019s worth it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t mean to minimize the very real pain and struggles that exist right now. But, I know that if I don\u2019t look for ways to feel joy and hope, I won\u2019t make it. I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about activist Mariame Kaba\u2019s words on hope. She writes, \u201cHope doesn\u2019t preclude feeling sadness or frustration or anger or any other emotion that makes total sense. Hope isn\u2019t an emotion, you know? Hope is not optimism. Hope is a discipline\u2026 we have to practice it every single day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s to the practice. I\u2019d love to hear where you\u2019re finding hope or joy these days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> At my house, we watched every second of the SNL anniversary special and loved it. <\/span>Here are the best moments<\/a><\/strong>. (TIME)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>All the White Lotus Season 3 locations<\/a><\/strong>. How are we feeling about season three? I like it and I am also slightly nervous about what\u2019s to come. (Elle)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> Related: I have been obsessed with Parker Posey forever, and <\/span>I loved this profile of her<\/a><\/strong>. (NYT gift link)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> My wife, our best couple friends, and I have been trying a different chain restaurant each month as a fun family outing. Recently, we went to The Cheesecake Factory, and as a lifelong cheesecake hater, I ordered their strawberry shortcake and I have thought of little else since. I don\u2019t think I have the fortitude to return to the Cheesecake Factory at this time, so I\u2019m going to try <\/span>this strawberry shortcake recipe at home<\/a><\/strong>. (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>My friend Olivia wrote about how the optimized life won\u2019t save you<\/a><\/strong>. I need this reminder every single day of my life as I adopt a new morning routine every five days. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Where to spray perfume<\/a><\/strong> for it to last longer. Are you a perfume person? I have worn <\/span>Lanvin\u2019s \u00c9clat D\u2019arp\u00e8ge<\/a><\/strong> for a million years but recently tried <\/span>Vacation<\/a><\/strong> and will be making it my summer scent. It smells like sunblock and coconut. (Glamour, Nordstrom, Vacation Inc.)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Oatmeal and peanut butter cookies sound exactly right to me<\/a><\/strong>. (Joy the Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> Ladies of a certain age: is your group chat also full of discussions about night sweats?! As my friends hit perimenopause, they are turning to me for advice, because \u2014 NO BRAG \u2014 I\u2019ve been a hot sleeper forever. I\u2019ve done my research. <\/span>LAKE pajamas<\/a><\/strong> are worth every penny (though my bank account is crying). This adorable set is going to be <\/span>my summer sleepwear<\/a><\/strong>. I also love Soma\u2019s Cool Nights line \u2014 <\/span>the sleepshirt<\/a><\/strong>, <\/span>shorts<\/a><\/strong>, and <\/span>short-sleeve shirt<\/a><\/strong> are also good. I\u2019ve tried many different sheets, and I can say with confidence that <\/span>Quince\u2019s Percale Sheet set<\/a><\/strong> is the coldest of them all. If you want medical tips, <\/span>this piece has you covered<\/a><\/strong>. (LAKE, Soma, Quince, SELF)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>How to stop worrying about things you can\u2019t control.<\/a><\/strong> Love this as a concept!!! If someone else should try it, PLEASE let me know how it goes for you! (Bustle)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> Doing things alone is one of my favorite things; however, I know many people don\u2019t feel the same. If it\u2019s not your thing, <\/span>here are some tips for getting better at doing things alone<\/a><\/strong>. (TIME)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> Like most adults I know, I\u2019m currently obsessed with getting enough protein. Since eggs are pricey right now, <\/span>here are some foods with more protein than an egg<\/a><\/strong>. (Self)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> \u201csoft ambition isn\u2019t about doing less\u2014it\u2019s about doing things differently. it\u2019s about trusting that slow growth is still growth. it\u2019s about redefining success so that it doesn\u2019t leave you burnt out and miserable by the time you get there.\u201d <\/span><\/i>\u2014 <\/span>wise words from this lovely post<\/a><\/strong>. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>The Strategist Kitchen 100<\/a><\/strong>: the best tools for cooking, baking, and foodie pursuits. (NYMag)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> My favorite discovery of 2024 was <\/span>Hulken bags<\/a><\/strong>. I am forever hauling things between my classroom and home or carting a truly shameful amount of returns to UPS. This bag is sturdy, FOLDS FLAT, has a zippered cover, and is so light. One of my friends uses hers for carrying mahjong stuff and another hauls her kids\u2019 sports stuff all over in hers \u2014 all of us swear by them. It\u2019s so much better than loading up 18 crappy tote bags every day. (Hulken)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> I love pie, but cobbler is easy and imperfect, perfect for lazy weekends. With peak fruit season approaching, I\u2019m currently dreaming of both <\/span>blueberry<\/a><\/strong> and <\/span>nectarine<\/a><\/strong>. (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022<\/strong> <\/span>The best new books to read this spring<\/a><\/strong>. I feel like I need <\/span>a cutie Kindle case<\/a><\/strong> for spring and summer reading. (Oprah Daily, Page)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello! How are you? I hope you\u2019re doing well. After a series of challenging months, I think I\u2019m feeling better. Maybe? I don\u2019t want to speak too soon or jinx anything, but I feel like myself more and more each day. It\u2019s a relief \u2014 it feels a little bit like discovering that favorite sweatshirt […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":125186,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[3121,5202,4678,9441],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-125185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baking-category-a-b","tag-baker","tag-hope","tag-joy","tag-practice"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/spcdn.shortpixel.ai\/spio\/ret_img,q_orig,to_webp,s_webp\/joythebaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Amy-headshot-230x230.jpg)
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