{"id":92919,"date":"2025-02-17T04:40:40","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T04:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/baking-category-a-b\/small-beauties-joy-the-baker\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T04:40:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T04:40:40","slug":"small-beauties-joy-the-baker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=92919","title":{"rendered":"Small Beauties – Joy the Baker"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"Hello friends. How are we holding up? I\u2019ll keep it real: things feel bleak. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a mystery where I fall on most political issues: I\u2019m an educator at a Title One school that supports many refugees, and I\u2019m openly queer. I\u2019m scared, both for me (though I acknowledge that I have significant privilege) and so many people I love. Wherever your beliefs land, I hope you can empathize with what it feels like to have fear. It\u2019s a universal human feeling \u2014 and I think that connecting to other people\u2019s humanity is one of the best things we can do right now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m taking action in ways that feel important to me; however, I\u2019m also finding ways to stay grounded and find joy. Right now, it\u2019s noticing nature, snuggling my dogs, spending time with the people I love, exchanging voice memos with far-away friends (I loved Joy\u2019s link to the essay about voice memos a few weeks ago \u2014 it\u2019s one of my favorite recent reads!), and doing my best to be calm, stable, and routined for my students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been reading my Sunday posts for awhile, then you know that I am a solar-powered human who prefers the sunnier Spring and Summer. I\u2019m holding on to the small things: birds are chirping, it\u2019s lighter out later and later, and while it\u2019s still cold and we allegedly have an atmospheric river of rain arriving soon, I can see the light at the end of a cold winter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I love the poet Sharon Olds, and the end of her poem \u201cLittle Things\u201d says, \u201cI am doing something I learned early to do\/I am paying attention to small beauties\/whenever I have \u2014 as if it were our duty to\/find things to love, to bind ourselves to the world.\u201d I hope you\u2019re finding ways to bind yourself to the world and plenty of things to love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> One thing about me is that I love pistachio-flavored anything. <\/span>I\u2019m intrigued by this spread.<\/a><\/strong> Also, if you have any hot tips about the best pistachio ice cream, I\u2019m all ears \u2014 for what it\u2019s worth, I am looking for the sweet, fake, almond-ish variety. I know, I\u2019m a monster. (Eater)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>How not to take things personally<\/a><\/strong>. I need this. (Self)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> \u201c<\/span>But what about the rest of us? I, for instance, make my living writing about restaurants; restaurants are staffed, by and large, with immigrants. Some are legal; some are undocumented\u2026Anyone who is even tangentially involved in the restaurant industry knows this to be true. It\u2019s not a secret. It is how the industry works\u2026Separate and apart from the fact that these undocumented workers aren\u2019t really \u201cundocumented workers\u201d at all but\u2026just people, and therefore deserving of our empathy and care. Separate and apart from all of that, don\u2019t we as foodies owe it to those upon whom our pleasure relies to stand up for them? Sure, the whole goddamn apparatus of restaurants\u2026is built on the exploitation of the periphery and those we deem peripherals\u2026Or does our love of restaurants stop only at the plate?\u201d <\/span><\/i>A vital, thought-provoking essay: <\/span>A Very Special Family Meal At Angie Mar\u2019s Le B<\/a><\/strong> (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> Why not make some <\/span>chocolate pudding<\/a><\/strong>? You deserve it. (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> If you didn\u2019t get the Valentine\u2019s Day gift you wanted and are in the mood to treat yourself,<\/span> may I suggest this necklace?<\/a><\/strong> I wear it daily and I have NEVER gotten more compliments on a piece of jewelry. Ever. It\u2019s dainty but sturdy and looks good with everything, and I frequently wear it to work out, have slept in it, and rarely take it off. I\u2019m also obsessed with <\/span>this moon and diamond necklace<\/a><\/strong>. Plus, Cupcakes and Cashmere gave me a discount code to share: use AE20 for 20% off! It makes these already well-priced pieces even more of a steal. (Cupcakes and Cashmere)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> I am excited about <\/span>this Somerset Maxi Dress<\/a><\/strong>. In my heart, it\u2019s nearly summer, so to get ready, I bought <\/span>the Somerset Linen Romper<\/a><\/strong>. It is so cute that I\u2019m willing to disrobe in bathrooms all summer. You know I\u2019m serious. (Anthropologie)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> This is one of the most compelling things I\u2019ve ever read: <\/span>How My Trip To Quit Sugar Became A Journey Into Hell<\/a><\/strong>. Well-written, funny, smart, and thought-provoking. Caity Weaver is a treat. (NYT Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>The Best \u201cLow Energy\u201d Hobby For Every Zodiac Sign<\/a><\/strong>. Love that they think Tauruses need to be introduced to making snack plates lol. I hate the stereotype that Taureses are always eating, but we do love a cozy luxury so a snack plate is something I excel at. Catch Editor Abby<\/a><\/strong> and I blowing your minds with a snack plate. Allegedly, Geminis should do puzzles (an activity I find less-fun) \u2014 Joy, what say you? (<\/span>Bustle<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Five Signs You\u2019ve Outgrown A Friendship.<\/a><\/strong> This is hard to discover and admit, but it\u2019s good to consider! (Self)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Is Internet-Induced Brain Rot A Myth?<\/a><\/strong> I\u2019m gonna go with no, but time will tell. (Dazed Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> Vulnerable share, ahoy: <\/span>I sobbed my way through this piece about adopting a new family via Facebook<\/a><\/strong>. My grandparents have chosen not to have a relationship with me since I came out as queer many years ago, and I desperately miss having grandparents around. I might need to find my own to adopt. (Wired)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Oh, How Men Drone On<\/a><\/strong>. From this writer\u2019s lips to God\u2019s ears. (The Atlantic Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Are We Losing The Ability To Write By Hand?<\/a><\/strong> Do you know that kids don\u2019t learn cursive anymore AND that they\u2019ve done away with timed multiplication tests? I\u2019m all for kids having less anxiety but also, these are hallmarks of youth! (The Guardian)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Ground Control To MySpace Tom<\/a><\/strong>. MySpace was MY JAM. I loved this piece about the first (and only?) good tech bro. (Substack)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> Last winter, I remembered that I could have a baked potato bar whenever I pleased, and let me tell you: <\/span>a baked potato bar is NEVER a bad idea<\/a><\/strong>. (NYT Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> I love cinnamon swirl bread with all my heart and <\/span>I know Joy\u2019s recipe will do me right<\/a><\/strong>. (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> <\/span>Man Drinking Iced Coffee In Winter With Hopes Someone Will Notice.<\/a><\/strong> Reminder to folks of all genders: there is no prize for willingly freezing yourself with a beverage in the winter! (Reductress)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n