The YAY 4: Paying it Forward, Cinnamon Rolls, & More

Your mid-week dose of cheer + distraction.

Hiya!  

Starting something new today — a brand new series for The Yay Club that you can expect in your inbox every other week. Shorter, sunnier posts (maybe finally living up to the name of this site… 😼) to help you recenter, feel more positive, or just get distracted. Four of those sunny things, to be exact.

So let’s dive in, shall we?

Here are four things brightening my week:

1.) Paying it Forward, Foodie Style

I have loved reading through these heartfelt “pay it forward” posts by a local restaurant near me — Playa Provisions — in Los Angeles. Past customers, local residents and complete strangers are buying extra drinks and meals with the sole intention of passing them along to others who may need an unexpected kindness…. AND leaving the best messages of support on their online orders.

If you have not swiped through these yet (available on the owner/chef’s Instagram story highlight, “Playa Love”), check them out. They helped strengthen my belief that there are indeed still kind, generous, loving people out there. 

2.) On Instagram, Storyteller/Photographer Krystal Bick’s Dreamy Stories

Krystal’s posts are always so beautifully shot and thoughtfully art directed — they harken back to another time and always leave me feeling — even if just for a moment — hopeful. My favs are her “passeggiata” posts, which are photo walking tours throughout neighborhoods around New York City, where she lives (and where I’m from).💫 Scrolling through her stories makes me feel like everyday life is temporarily suspended; it gives a break from the challenging and scary, and gives an opportunity for a more romantic and lovely world view. 

3.) Cinnamon Rolls (Yep)

I made these around Christmas and they were delicious. I left off the icing because I didn’t have cream cheese in the house at the time, but they were just perfect on their own. I’m not even a huge cinnamon roll fan (or sweets in general!), but if you really want to silence the noise of the world for a while, focus on rolling up these babies. And honestly, it’s hard not to feel a teensy bit happy when you smell gooey cinnamon sugar baking in the oven. I’m ready to bake my first batch of 2021, because really why not?

These bacon (!!) ones are really good too (I made them a few Christmases ago), and this may be my favorite cinnamon rolls recipe of all.

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Ok. Maybe I do really like cinnamon rolls. 😎

4.) Limiting My News Intake.

In case you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious about the news lately ( “in case” LOL), my best advice is to choose very carefully how and when you get your news. There’s not a lot you can control in this life, but how frequently you’re inundated with news updates is something you can choose to wrap your arms around. You can limit how often you proactively check the news, who you decide to rely on for that news, and even turn off any notifications on your phone for news alerts. Believe me, if something * that * ground-breaking or devastating happens, you will find out regardless of whether or not you have alerts activated on your cell phone.

Personally, when it comes to my own news intake, I try to stick to a morning newsletter (I prefer Katie Couric’s “Wake Up Call”), an evening newsletter (I love “What a Day,” which is a snarky one from the folks at Pod Save America), and occasional checks of my very favorite #newsnotnoise journalist, Jessica Yellin. 

You don’t have to follow the ones I linked — just including them in case you aren’t sure where to start or are looking for new trustworthy news sources. I prefer news sources that get right down to business and are as unbiased as possible (although admittedly, Pod Save America’s messaging/newsletter IS biased). 

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And that’s it for this week, friends! If you’re into this style of post, or have anything else you want to share (your fav cinnamon rolls…👀), drop me a line in the comments. It means a lot!

See ya Friday,

Joelle 

* Disclaimer: All links and recommendations shared here are based on personal experience and interest, and do not represent any affiliations, sponsors, or professional connections unless otherwise stated.