Friends,  

The truth is… I haven’t quite been able to get my act together since my move.

I’ve been trying to distract you with posts about my box grater.  I’ve been trying to distract you with candy giveaways…. but that’s all starting to feel a little silly.  

The fact of the matter is, my KitchenAid is still unplugged and my new oven needs a good scrubbing… and, I just ate a giant slice of store bought coconut cream pie.

Want to take a peek into my new space?  Suuuure you do… come on in!

My walls went from a super intense turquoise to a lovely shade of light blue/grey.  I also painted my concrete floors navy. No the edges aren’t perfect.  Nope.  That’s ok with me.  Daniel… you gave me edges with character.  I like you and I thank you.  

I painted my door navy too.  It’s now the sexiest door I’ve ever seen.  

I like big pillows.  I like a lot of big pillows.  

The ceilings in my loft are metal.  There are all sorts of metal beams and bars.  Perfect to offset my sparkly blue glass chandelier.  I feel pretty. 

I had a ridiculous amount of cookbooks to unpack.  

My tiny couch is blue.  My little rug is lime green… and yes, that’s a frog pillow.  That’s a frog pillow that I latch hooked a few years back.  I didn’t have many friends.  I was single.  I didn’t have a blog.  I latch hooked myself a pillow.  Don’t judge me. 

Asher was the shining star who helped me carry big, annoying things like mattresses and dressers all around… up and down.  I paid him in pearls.  Cheap, fake pearls.  God bless him.  

Thanks for being patient while I settle in.  I’ll be back with sweets real soon.  

I want caramel corn.  So… that’ll happen real quick  like. 

This post could also be entitled:  

     Can’t Bake Now… I’m on the I-5.

     Joy the Driver and Lauren the Snack Coordinator

     Joy the Baker eats 6 pounds of Chex Mix between San Francisco and Portland

     or simply… Joy the Baker moves her sister from Los Angeles to Seattle in a Budget moving truck creatively nicknamed Budgie.  

It’s early Tuesday morning.  My Mom makes Lauren pose with her moving truck.  That’s not weird, right?  Not weird at all.  

The I-5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Green, trees, produce and trucks.  

This is a picture of my sister driving.  Let me tell you why this picture is a small miracle.  

See, my sister just learned how to drive last week.  She got her license… last week.  She’s 26.  She was afraid to drive until… last week.  And now… here she is driving a moving truck at 80 miles an hour down the highway.  

I told her to slow down.  I told her to calm down.  I told her that there was no room to screw up.  I don’t think that helped. 

I snapped the picture during the whole 20 minutes that I let my sister drive between Los Angeles and Seattle.  It’s not that she’s a bad driver.  It’s more that I’m kinda a control freak when it comes to things like… my life and living.

I may not have let my sister drive, but I sure did let (make) her pump all of the gas.  Not her favorite part.  Fact.  

We stopped at Shasta Lake in Northern California to stand still and look at water and mountains.  

A self portrait seemed like a good idea.  All we got was bush and blurry eyebrows.  

We parked Budgie illegally.  We kinda just stopped her on the side of the road.  That’s cool, right? 

A cool 10 minutes beyond the sunshine of Shasta Lake we hit the snow.  We hit it hard.  Driving through the snow stressed out my Southern California self.  This was deeply disturbing to me.  

Lauren made me pull over so that she could jump around in the snow.  I was still stressed out until I saw her leaping, jumping and eventually falling into the snow.  Cute.  Super cute. 

We finally made it to Seattle.  I’d gone through a Costco size bag of Chex Mix, ungodly amounts of dried apricots… and there’s half of a strawberry cheesecake in the truck that I don’t want to talk about.  

Somewhere just outside of Portland I put my cranky pants on.  I was tired of driving.  I was tired of having to eat Chex Mix to stay awake, and I just wanted to be in the Seattle to drink the cup of coffee that I’d been waiting days and days for. 

We made it.   Thank heavens.  This is the view from my sister’s apartment.  

And then I took my cranky pants off, because I turned around and saw this face.  The darling face of my darling little sister standing in her very first apartment on the very first day in her new city.  I’m lucky to have been able to share this journey with her.  Sisters are friends forever… that’s what we tell each other… because it’s true.  

Then… we unpacked the truck.  It had its obscene moments.

To make up for those obscene moments, my sister bought me a latte and a doughnut from Top Pot.  Holy heck!  This set my world right.  

Sure I drove days and days to help my sister with her big move.  But maybe… a tiny itsy bitsy part of me was in it for the Seattle coffee… I ain’t gonna lie. 

Three things.  Can I tell you three things?  Do you mind getting all up in my business for the next several minutes of your life?

Remember two short weeks ago when I was moaning and groaning about not living in the cool part of town?  I wanted to live in a loft downtown despite my disapproving pocketbook.  

Remember the part where I cleaned my kitchen and waxed on and on about appreciating the things you have…. that the grass isn’t always greener… remember I said all that?  Well… I changed my mind.  I’m moving to a loft downtown.  

I’m sharing my space with new people and I have turquoise walls.  And I have no idea how to arrange and decorate my room.  Seriously.  I need help.  I’m lost.  Can we trade room design for baking lessons?  SOS.

My little sister… the girl my heart beats for… is moving to Seattle.  We’re driving from Los Angeles to Seattle this week.  Sister road trip!  I’m looking forward to Red Vines and french fries… believe this.   If you see a giant UHaul truck puttering up the California interstate this week, please just have kindness in your heart when you cut us off.  Seattle or bust.

On the Lamb held a Violet Hour supper brunch.  

There was Creme Fraiche Quiche.

Can you see my face back there eagerly grasping for something?  What am I reaching for with such elation?  

Money… I wish I were kidding.  

Here is a fact about trying hard to live the dream with On the Lamb (the pop-up events and catering firm my friends and I started)… no one ever tells you how much gosh-dang-holy-heck-geeeeeez work it is.  My ankles are sore just thinking about it. But really… the excitement, the uncertainty, the new friends, the creativity, the occasional punching match… I wouldn’t trade it.  The oil burns and sore ankles are all so quickly mended when I remember that I’m trying to live my best life and I’m doing it with my two best friends… and all of these new friends that we get to feed!  

Thank you to Sandy and Jason of Enid and Edgar.

Thank you to Dan for taking such lovely photographs.  

Thank you to… you, for being so loyal and lovely and so… here.  

Let’s talk about this weekend’s adventures.  There were highways, gas stations and bridges.  I might have a made friends out of strangers although there was too much wine to be clear on that.  Aaaaand!  I taught my first cooking class.  In Sonoma.  That happened.  

Take a peek!

I spent an evening in and around San Francisco.  The Golden Gate Bridge.  It chokes me up.  It makes me a little teary eyed.  It’s just a bridge.  Why would a bridge make me want to cry?  Weirdo.

I stayed at a lovely resort tucked just behind the Golden Gate Bridge.  I got lost trying to find it.  So lost.  But look at this place?  Doesn’t it look like where you’d want to fall in love with Ryan Gosling if you were Rachel McAdams?  

Long grass.  It’s got character.  

Birds.  Boats and buildings.  

I spent the rest of the evening in the city without my camera.  If you are two of the three women that were with me that night… you should be glad I didn’t have my camera.  I’m just sayin.  Wow.  Wine.  Wow.  We all have our ‘too much wine’  moments.  I remember mine:  in front of The Pioneer Woman and Steamy Kitchen.  Oops. 

I made my way to Ramekins in Sonoma.  Above is James.  He was my hype man.  He said nice things and introduced me to the class.  Awesome.  Thank you. 

The kitchen at Ramekins is gorgeous.  My kitchen is never this organized.  

Nor does it ever have this many people in it.  

Cameron is making Creme Fraiche Quiche.  She’s a dear. 

Jessica is peppering some biscuits.  Rad.  

Danielle is cutting biscuits.  Nice form. 

Jessica brought Tom.  He’s the silent type.   He got his hands dirty.  

Everyone gathered ’round the griddle making pancakes for themselves.  I’m pretty sure I’ve found heaven.  

Meet Annie.  She’s the most dear, lovely and gracious lady I’ve ever met.  Annie, thanks for your endless help and support with this class.  Thanks for the hospitality and for loving macarons enough to stop a taxi.  You’re great.  

And… this is what the drive home after a crazy weekend looks like…

… but this is what if feels like.  And.  Yes.  I did sing every Fiona Apple song I know on the drive home.  I also ate a cheeseburger.  And chocolate.  

Thank you to all of you shining people who came out to Ramekins for my first baking class.  Big hugs of appreciation to the fine folk at Ramekins who made my class run like an absolute dream.  I’ll be back.  April. 

We three?  We always have our mouths in motion, our wine glasses full and our eyes wide… looking for trouble.  

Let me introduce you to On the Lamb Food and Beverage.  We’re a roving catering and events firm made up of three unstoppable Los Angeles women:  Whitney (the sommelier), Rachel (the chef), and Joy (the baker).  

How does this all work?  Here’s how:

First we find an often obscure, always stellar location around Los Angeles.  We design an amazing theme and a ridiculous menu.  Then, here’s the best part… we invite you.  You come.  You meet other cool, unpretentious people who are as dorky about food and drink as you are.  You have a great time and love your life.  That’s exactly how it works.  

Our next event:  The One Night (Stand) Speakeasy on 02.14.2010.  

Would you like to keep up with On the Lamb?  

Email onthelambfb (at) gmail (dot) com to put your name on the email list.  Space is always limited at these shindigs, so be diligent.  We know how to throw a party.  That’s a fact. 

All up in the Internet?  You’ll also find us cavorting around Twitter and Facebook like a bunch of floozies.  Join us!

What’s the deal?  People blog.  People make awards.  People vote.  It’s not too complicated… it’s also kinda fun. 

I’ve used the Bloggies voting page to find some amazing new (to me) blogs.

17 and Baking.  You’re my new favorite…. but I think I might have a baking bias.  Honestly.

The Bloggess… ooh you have made me laugh.. oooh you have made me blush. 

Oh!  Now might be a good time to mention that Joy the Baker was nominated for Best Food Blog.  That this happened is… I dunno… a cross between a miracle and a dirty trick.  It’s fun.  It’s humbling… and heck yes!  I’m excited. 

Go on… find some new favorites, case a few votes.  

Dear Future Joy,

Once upon a time, probably a good handful of years ago, you took yourself on vacation.  

This was at a time before you had kids or a husband.  When you would treat yourself to the expensive shampoo and conditioner.  When you were convinced that only super rich people get to own houses.  When you couldn’t exactly afford to take yourself away on a fancy vacation… but you did anyway.  

Future Joy… you should know that the Joy of 2009 is totally cheering you on.  She wants you to have the happy husband, and the crazy kids and the mortgage and the life that makes you want to do backflips and rejoice.  But with all that… I’m sure some things will just drive you batty.  You might need to remember this time… this time that happening to me right now.  

See… it’s quiet here.  There are little napkins with embroidered animals on them.  

The drapes are gorgeous.. and you never even notice drapes.  

Drawers have little keys.

Matchbooks have little painted typewriters on them.

You’re working on your book proposal.  Your freakin’ book proposal!!!  Yea… you’re pretty excited.

Working in between making fires…

and taking baths. 

There’s art in the garden.  Art.  In the garden!

Hot Dang!  You’re living the good life and it feels dreamy.  This is the sort of thing you’re going to need to draw upon when you’re getting a root canal, or standing in line at the DMV, or trying to wrangle toddlers into car seats.  Remember that once upon a time you took yourself on a big, fancy vacation, and you felt so blessed and enjoyed every single moment of it.  Remember.  

Love you.  Mean it.

Present Joy

I went to the Foodbuzz Festival in San Francisco last weekend, and all I got were these silly photo booth pictures with my dear friend Tracy of Shutterbean.  

Ok…. that’s entirely untrue.  

I walked away from the Foodbuzz Festival with more kitchen gear than I could carry, pockets full of fellow food blogger business cards, and a belly full of incredible food.  

A room full of food bloggers means a room full of cameras.  So many.  Rather than crowd around and take pictures of food…. I just took pictures of people taking pictures of food.  Weird.  I know.  

This also happened…

…which was extremely surprising and extremely exciting.  The fact that I ran off the stage after accepting this award adds to my charm, right?  First I blushed.  Then I stumbled a bit.  I dropped my phone.  I might have thrown in an awkward curtsy… and then I ran.  

 Thank you to every single one of you who voted for me.  Seriously, friends.  This means a lot to me.  

Also… a big, fat, wet kiss to all of the darling people at Foodbuzz who put such a belly filling event together for us.  I hella heart you Foodbuzz.  And Tracy…. we’ve had heart-to-hearts at two different blog conventions…. we’re totally friends now, like it or not. 

Holy Heck!  When did Fall sneak up on me!?  I could use a deep breath… how about you?

Here we are at the end of September and I’m more than ready to go shopping for winter tights and oversized sweaters… not to mention jumping in the kitchen to bake up my favorite pumpkin cookies.  Seriously.  Have you made these pumpkin cookies yet?  They’re my reason for living from October through January.  

Now is not the time to talk cookies.  Can I show you a few things!?  I want to show you what my summer looked like…. up close… personal… on the fly.  All captured by my trusted camera phone.  Remember when we played the camera phone picture game a few months back?  I’m at it again.  Come take a peek and then tell me what you were up too all summer long!

Q:  How many Fried Chicken Sandwiches from Bakesale Betty’s did I eat this summer?  

A:  One.  That’s not nearly enough.  I’ve let myself down.  I’m working on it.  

My friend Zak makes his own sausage.  He’s badass like that.  He also likes compliments on his tattoo…. aaaaaand go!

No… my friends and I aren’t chef groupies.  That would be weird.  Right?  Weird.  

Have you ever seen a fresh garbanzo bean?  Well.. you have now!  Rad. 

There were many…. many bottles of wine consumed between the months of May and August this year.  Wine tastings at Silver Lake Wine are ultra lovely, super approachable, and my preferred way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Now you know.  

My friends and I also hold our own tastings where we sip and sit, chat and talk about wine in a way that makes us feel warm and snobby.  

The making of Thomas Keller inspired Espresso Sandwich Cookies.   Can I tell you a secret?  I shared a grand total of two of these cookies with my friends.  The rest were for my belly only.  True story.

Flipping hot pans, taking a little trash, listening to R. Kelly and workin’ the line.  Meet Zak and Duke.  

I bought all this…

And set up all this…

So I could have a bumpin’ party like this!!

And then I drank wine.  Don’t judge me. 

I love when my little sister helps me bake.  Frosting cupcakes takes some intense and deliberate dedication…

The same sort of dedication that goes into picking just the right mushrooms at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.  

Blue Bottle.  I love you.  You know it’s true.  Let’s take a closer look at this picture.  Skinny boy.  Skinny jeans.  Cute hat.  Making the best coffee in the world.  He even has a tattoo that said ‘let no man fall’…. Come on ladies.  Swoooooon!

Q:  How much bread is on this table at Zuni Cafe?

A:  Lots.  So much and not enough.  Um… Waiter!?  More bread please!

Simon made a pumpkin pie and took pictures of it with his phone. I watched Simon make a pie and took picture of him taking pictures of his pie with my phone.  We’re just strange enough for each other.

Yes.  This is happening.  This is a picture of my thighs in spandex.  These are the very thighs and fancy clippy bike shoes that are going to peddle my butt up to the top of a treacherous hill in Oakland.  

Yes.  This is happening.  This is a picture of my big head in a helmet.  Safety first friends.  Seriously.  Here I am halfway up the treacherous hill in Oakland.  It hurts and it sucks and I’m tired….. and I’m making it to the top of the hill so help me God!

Here is the face of success.  Oooh yes.  Top of the hill success.

And now I start boasting about how easy that was.  That hill wasn’t really all that hard.  The part where I was swearing and crying at the same time…?  Yea… I didn’t really mean that.

Can I be honest?  I am not an easy person to ride through the Oakland hills with.  I’m slow.  I freak out sometimes.  I’ve been known to get locked in my clip shoes and topple over.  And well…. Simon must be some sort of angel because he’s still smiling.  I’m lucky.  

Pasta.  I’m going to humbly say that I knocked it out of the park with that one.  Daaang.  

Leave it to me to find the man with the most wine at Blogher San Francisco this past weekend.  Leave it to me…

Leave it to me to find NotMartha and make her be my new best friend.  

Leave it to me to befriend crazy/lovely/hilarious Tracy of ShutterBean.  Um…. Tracy.  You and I both know that that’s not your wheelchair…. and oh how my love for you grows!!

So!  That’s how I’ve been livin’ this summer!  What about you?  What were your highlights of the summer season?  Do they involve new friends in wheelchairs that don’t belong to them?  Probably…. that makes sense.  

You know what you should do?  Show off your summer.  Leave a comment with a link to a photo of your favorite summer memory.  Come on!  This’ll be fun!

After extensive… and I do mean extensive research, I’ve determined that certain items always taste better if someone else makes them for you.

It’s like when someone else draws a bath for you… maybe with bubbles or salts, and perfectly warm water.  Dang, that’s a good bath… somehow way better than it would have been if you turned those bathtub faucets yourself.

So, what items always taste better if someone else makes them for you?  Perfect macarons and the day’s first cup of coffee.

Cookie and a coffee?  And I don’t have to move a muscle in the kitchen?  It’s already delicious.

Now let me tell you about who made them for me.

There is a magical place in San Francisco.  It’s called the Ferry Building.  No matter how many times I’ve been to San Francisco I can always always visit the Ferry Building.  Why?  They have some aaaamazing food, and I always happen to be hungry.

Let me tell you about my favorite cookie and my favorite coffee in San Francisco.

Blue Bottle Coffee is a company based out of San Fransisco.  They call themselves Artisanal Microroasters, which I think is a fancy way of saying that they truly care about the quality of bean they buy, and the way they treat it.  In turn… they produce my absolute favorite cup of coffee.  At the Ferry Building, they brew their drip coffee to order.  You know what tastes so good about that?  The freshness, care and attention… what else could a girl want first thing in the morning?

A cookie! Miette Patisserie!  Oh heavens!  Beyond cuteness!  Miette makes the most lovely macaron I’ve ever had.  Perfectly chewy, full of nutty bits and in flavors that make my life happy like Rose Geranium.  Want to know something rad about Miette Patisserie?  Their founder Megan Ray is a self taught pastry queen and got her start at the Berkeley Farmer’s Market.  Yea… true.  Cool, right?  She makes one fine cookie.  They literally taste like fun and awesome had a cookie baby.  You think that’s weird…  try these cookies!  See for yourself.

Ferry Building.  Food magic outside of the kitchen.