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The other thing about travel is that it\u2019s kind of a pain. Flying is uncomfortable. Being out of your routine and time zone can make everything feel out of whack, as can not having your normal food, navigating transportation, and being somewhere unfamiliar. And yet, I think that\u2019s part of the magic of it: overcoming the difficulty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the past few months, I\u2019ve been going to Orangetheory Fitness a few times a week and I sort of hate a lot of it. If you\u2019re unfamiliar, the class is divided between a weight floor with different exercises each day (my favorite), time on a treadmill (mediocre at best for me), and a rower (my sworn enemy). It\u2019s hard! And yet, when I feel invigorated when I\u2019m done \u2014 and not just in the \u201cexercise endorphins\u201d way. It\u2019s because I\u2019ve done something hard, and I\u2019ve conquered it. Effort looks different each day, and sometimes, I need to move more slowly or lift lighter or modify things, and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s the showing up and giving it my best anyway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I certainly don\u2019t want to wish challenge or difficulty on anyone, as life is hard enough already; however, I am curious about what would happen if we made efforts to do something a little scary: connect with a neighbor, go to a meeting about organizing, making the phone call that we need to make, baking something a little out of our comfort zone for the thrill of learning something new, or showing up to dinner with friend when we\u2019d rather stay home, get Door Dash, and watch reruns of The Office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Spring time always feels like hope and rebirth, but it also feels like everyone\u2019s working extra hard: animals are being born and flowers are bursting and many of us are chipping away at long spring cleaning lists. It makes me want to put a little hustle into my own life. I hope that wherever you\u2019re at this week, you do something a little difficult, just to remind yourself that you\u2019re capable and you can. And if this isn\u2019t the week, then I wish you the rest and comfort you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 A surprising route to the best life possible<\/a><\/strong>. Spoiler alert: it\u2019s about difficulty and trying hard things. (NYT Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Everything I did in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong>, and <\/span>everything I wore<\/a><\/strong>! We had a such a lovely time and these are my best recommendations for what to do, along with what to bring (or wear in real life). Hint: more sweaters than you think. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>I ate SO MANY SCONES in Edinburgh and I am committed to making them part of my weekend life here, too. Some good options: <\/span>peaches and cream scones<\/a><\/strong>, <\/span>maple and blueberry scones<\/a><\/strong>, and for a lighter bite: <\/span>tiny strawberry cream scones<\/a><\/strong>. If you\u2019re a savory scone person, don\u2019t worry! <\/span>These feta and chive sour cream scones are exactly right<\/a><\/strong>. (Joy The Baker)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>I feel like we hear a lot about empathy, and less about how to bring more of it to our relationships, so I enjoyed this read: <\/span>The three types of empathy, and how to increase them in your relationships<\/a><\/strong>. (Nice News)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>My Merlin Bird ID app got a ton of use when we were in Scotland, and now that the spring birds are chirping every single morning in my own neighborhood, I\u2019ve become <\/span>obsessed with these modern birdhouses!<\/a><\/strong> Also, someone showed me <\/span>this piano squirrel feeder<\/a><\/strong> and I\u2019ve thought about it every day. This is what happens when you\u2019re over 40, I guess. Speaking of squirrels, <\/span>this video about a man\u2019s attempt<\/a><\/strong> to save an orphaned squirrel made me weep. I\u2019M FINE. (Wow Haus, Amazon, Aeon)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>Definitely considering adopting <\/span>Graham\u2019s handshake policy for my own three dogs<\/a><\/strong>. First I need to teach them how to shake though. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>I\u2019m currently obsessing over redecorating my living room, and <\/span>this post about how to decorate a mantel is bookmarked<\/a><\/strong>. (Vogue)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 I love you more than anything, but I\u2019d rather die than talk to you on the phone<\/a><\/strong>. I\u2019m a fan of voice memos, and I\u2019m slowly embracing the phone call, but this still made me laugh. (McSweeney\u2019s)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>I am getting my hair cut this weekend, in part because I had a sweaty neck ONE (1) time this week and simply will not abide it, and also to show off my cute spring earrings. Cupcakes and Cashmere sent me <\/span>these snazzy gold beauties<\/a><\/strong> and <\/span>these lovely pearl drop earrings<\/a><\/strong> and I can\u2019t wait to show them off with my shorter (but not too short!) hair. By the way, you can use the code AE20 in that shop for 20% off! (Cupcakes and Cashmere)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>If you\u2019re wondering if the things you do matter, <\/span>history shows us that individual actions do add up<\/a><\/strong>. A little encouragement in these times. (Time)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>Harsh, but true: \u201cWe don\u2019t really want a village, we want a free caretaker or cleaning crew who does things exactly the way we wish\u2026but the village has traditionally meant \u201cthe people around us,\u201d not a bespoke neighborhood you might curate in The Sims,\u201d from <\/span>I\u2019m Starting To Think You Guys Don\u2019t Really Want \u201cA Village<\/a><\/strong>. I also loved our very own Joy\u2019s take on this<\/a><\/strong>, and feel extremely jealous that no one has left a roast chicken or a pot pie on my porch recently. (Slate, Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>As I mentioned in the start of this post, I have become An Exercise Person. <\/span>Here\u2019s a list of my favorite workout and wellness items<\/a><\/strong>. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>The older I get, the more I focus on getting protein into my body. <\/span>This article combines my two passions: pasta and protein<\/a><\/strong>. (Self)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 <\/strong>The weather is getting warmer, and all I can think about is SUMMER FRUIT! Excited to try this <\/span>strawberry pie<\/a><\/strong> and bring back <\/span>this blueberry cobbler<\/a><\/strong> which has been a summer favorite. Or maybe <\/span>I\u2019ll do a peach crisp<\/a><\/strong>? Making all three seems to be the only option here. (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 How to stop impulse buying.<\/a><\/strong> Posting this mostly for me, as my online shopping habits are in desperate need of help. (Self)<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Help! All My Shows Are Over!<\/a><\/strong> I feel this cry in my <\/span>bones<\/span><\/i>. I miss Severance and White Lotus, and quite frankly, I\u2019m ready for Great British Bake-Off to return, too. Here are some things to tide us over. Also, I was initially touched by Laurie\u2019s speech about friendship in the White Lotus finale \u2014 especially as a member of a long-time friend trio that has seen one another through some things \u2014 <\/span>this was an interesting take on how it was sort of a letdown<\/a><\/strong>. What do you think? (Vulture, Vogue)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello friends! I am back from a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a fantastic way to spend Spring break \u2014 wandering streets with old buildings that look like they\u2019re straight out of a fairy tale, sipping coffee, exploring the endless green spaces near the city, browsing bookstores, and having fancy tea. All of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":208141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[3121,10929,4678,1448],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-208140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-baking-category-a-b","tag-baker","tag-hustle","tag-joy","tag-spring"],"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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Hello friends! I am back from a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a fantastic way to spend Spring break \u2014 wandering streets with old buildings that look like they\u2019re straight out of a fairy tale, sipping coffee, exploring the endless green spaces near the city, browsing bookstores, and having fancy tea. All of the cliches about travel being inspiring and wonderful are true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n