Four Fun Things
Have you seen Marcello Hernández’s new comedy special? I laughed out loud 100 times, especially during the parts about his ADD, mental health, and white kids at the mall. He’s also a lil’ snack himself, which doesn’t hurt, haha.
My friend Jessie (middle) wrote a great post today called 50 Pieces of Advice for My 50th Birthday. “I’ve been nervous to publish this,” she wrote, “because who am I to offer life advice?!?” But her list is GREAT, including, “we don’t make friends, we recognize them.”
Over the holidays, we played Poetry for Neanderthals, which is such a fun game. The rules are simple: You have to get your teammates to guess certain words, but you can give clues with only monosyllabic words. For example, if the word is “refrigerator,” you could say “where you keep milk,” but not “freezer” or “kitchen.” Have you ever played?
For my birthday last January, I threw a party with big bowls of chocolate mousse. This year, I’d love to make another chocolate-y dessert to celebrate. Any recipes you’d recommend? xoxo
P.S. More fun things, and stories about strangers.
Tags: fun things
Comments
139 commentsThank you for sharing Jessie’s list! It’s incredible. Forwarding to many dear friends.
Poetry for Neanderthals is such a great game to play if you’re in a group of people with different regional accents! For example, I grew up in southwest VA (Appalachia) and for me and my parents, “orange” is one syllable. Imagine my surprise when playing this game with my spouse and his family and we all got bonked on the head when trying to describe a basket ball!
Accents really do turn Poetry for Neanderthals into chaos in the best way. “Orange” being one syllable vs two is already a trap, and then throwing “basketball” into the mix? Absolute bonk-fest. It’s wild how you don’t even realize how you say things until a game like that calls you out on it. Honestly, that accent clash probably made it even more fun (and painful 😂).
Molly Wizenberg’s Winning Hearts and Minds Cake! The name says it all.
The cake I baked most often in 2025 is Yossy Arefi lemon olive oil cake in Snacking cakes. Always a success, everybody likes it
i can relate
Don’t know if this has been recommended yet, but Ina’s Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake is fantastic! It’s super decadent, looks impressive, but it so easy! Would make a fun, chocolatety, birthday dessert. ❤️
https://sugarandsparrow.com/chocolate-cake-recipe/ One bowl chocolate cake with her mocha frosting is my son’s fav birthday cake. The batter/frosting as cupcakes works well too. Have a very Happy birthday! 🥳
I usually have chocolate fondue at my family birthday dinner. Melt an equal amount of chocolate chips in half and half over a low heat. Pour into a fondue pot. I just have a simple one with a candle as the heating element. We like to dip strawberries and chunks of pound cake. Clementines are delish too too! Nothing beats melted chocolate. https://www.wayfair.com/kitchen-tabletop/pdp/charlton-home-rodman-05-qt-fondue-set-w001706957.html?piid=1259074566
I’ve seen a few Nigella Lawson recs in here but NOTHING will ever live up to her Intense Chocolate Mousse Cake (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11001-intense-chocolate-mousse-cake?unlocked_article_code=1.GlA.e1wK.GxXD2CN7aCrR&smid=share-url). I’ve made this recipe for a bajillion different dinner parties and it has been a winner. Every. Damn. Time. One time, a friend took a bite and declared she needed to “be alone for a few minutes”. Take from that what you will. Also, it’s gluten free which is often a must when feeding a crowd.
My dad’s bday was January 30th, he would’ve been 87 this year. He loved red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting (or ermine frosting), which is really a chocolate cake. When he turned 80, my daughter and I made him a beautiful cake and traveled the 3 hours, in Montana January, to spend it with him. We spenr the weekend chipping ice off the side walk and filling the wood box with him. It was so cold. I’m so glad we went. Thank you for that memory. He was delighted with his cake “and candles too!!”
So sweet Sasha!
Watched that comedy special last night on your recommendation and laughed harder than i have in a long time, thanks I needed that! Meanwhile this was super helpful way to channel some of my horror at ICE towards action today https://naomikritzer.com/2026/01/21/how-to-help-if-you-are-outside-minnesota/
The vegan chocolate cake you’ve published here on the blog is so so good.
Alison Roman’s chocolate pudding with salted sour cream is so crazy delicious, trifle style so it feels festive and the leftovers are great. Happy birthday!
Old school comfort recipes: Chocolate pudding https://smittenkitchen.com/2008/02/best-chocolate-pudding/, brownies https://smittenkitchen.com/2012/08/my-favorite-brownies/… or if you are really going all out a build your own ice cream sundae bar with brownies and hot fudge sauce! https://smittenkitchen.com/2017/06/best-hot-fudge-sauce/ Honorable mention to the easiest and best chocolate cake I have ever made if you are in the mood for a two step dessert making experience ;) https://smittenkitchen.com/2015/02/the-i-want-chocolate-cake-cake/ And happy birthday!
I’ve made those brownies so many times, I have the intro bit about nap time memorized…short naps = short baking projects! But somehow those brownies are so much more than the sum of their parts.
I recommend Molly Wizenberg’s “Winning Hearts and Minds” cake. First, every time I have made it, eaters rave about it. Second, it is incredibly easy – you could make several of them in no time at all. Third, as Molly writes in her cookbook about this recipe, the texture actually IMPROVES when you freeze it and thaw it, so you could make them ahead of your birthday. I love this cake so much!
Wow! This cake looks amazing,crazy choclatey! and so easy!
This cake was the first thing I thought of too! I haven’t made it for a long time now but it was in heavy rotation for a time and is such a knockout
Okay, well now I have a few hundred new chocolate dessert recipes that I’m going to need to bake this weekend…bookmarking all of these fabulous suggestions!
Don’t shoot the messenger, but in case it rings any bells of truth for anyone out there, I sadly discovered that a good dose of chocolate generates a three day bout of deep depression in me. Someone shared their experience with me and I experimented and it was so so so true for me. I was eating a bar of dark chocolate every other day and in such mental agony. Stopping chocolate made all the difference. I can have a very occasional (every 3 or 4 months) small piece as long as I understand I need to be mentally vigilent. (Even though I loved chocolate so much I subscribed to a magazine about it at one point, lol, it was so easy to give up because the pain it caused me was far worse than my love for it.) I share this, not to spoil the party, but because I know Jo has shared that she has had issues with depression in the past, (like so many of us), and it’s good to take a long look at chocolate, just in case. Especially if it’s on top of a sad break up! Otherwise, ENJOY! All the enjoyment and a very Happy Birthday to you! Thank you for this wonderful site!!
I have the same reaction to chocolate!!! It’s such an absolute bummer.
I’m in the process of giving chocolate a break because I have histamine sensitivities for medical reasons—I’d adjusted a lot of my diet to be lower histamine but was still eating kind of a lot of chocolate, and realized I might be negating all the other work I was doing. Would love to hear if you had any good replacement treats? I’ve been eating dates with almond butter that is sweetened with honey, which I thought was kind of a fake dessert that a lot of vegan (which I am not) bloggers talk about but is actually delicious.
Dates and almond butter (TJ’s raw almond butter is the best one, imo). I also like white chocolate champagne truffles…you get the creaminess without whatever causes the problems. White chocolate dubai bars, heh, so good: https://www.amazon.com/Eastanbul-Chocolate-Pistachio-Premium-Shredded/dp/B0DML1KT19
Interesting that white chocolate doesn’t have the effects!! I like the TJ’s but just discovered the Justin’s brand with honey and I am obsessed. Turns out I just don’t like it unsweetened and I loove it with honey. It’s been a surprise winter delight.
I vote for Queen Elizabeth’s favorite tea cake, the one they used as a wedding cake – looks easy and delicious: https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/chocolate-biscuit-cake-recipe/
This is a go-to for birthdays and dinner parties. It’s basically chocolate mousse shaped into a cake form? Pleeeeeeaseee cut the recipe in half unless you’re literally feeding 20 people. https://food52.com/recipes/80459-chocolate-nemesis
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/easy_chocolate_cream_pie/ This delicious chocolate cream pie is made using the microwave and it feels like magic.
Alison Roman’s chocolate tart is delicious!
Nigella Lawson’s dense chocolate cake. It’s a dark, deep loaf of densely moist chocolate goodness. I made it for years for my nephew’s birthday. Bonus points for adding a raspberry sauce.
I love Nigella’s honey chocolate cake! https://www.nigella.com/recipes/honey-chocolate-cake
When are we getting Jessie’s skin care regime. She looks like 36! 29? Beauty uniform please. [I know we shouldn’t comment on people’s appearance and aging is great – but come on people she is gorgeous – as are seemingly all your friends and family]
Every time I see one of these comments, I think of the dad in You’ve Got Mail saying, “Money. The answer is money.” I’m not sure if that’s encouraging or discouraging, but I realized a long time ago that rich women end up looking younger because they can spend money on cosmetic treatments, plastic surgery, etc. and because they don’t have to deal with as many stresses and grunt work (like scrubbing toilets, arguing with the insurance company, washing dishes every day, etc.) ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
Genetics, sunscreen, money. Most skincare stuff is potions and nonsense according to dermatologists. Vitamin c, vitamin a, and sunscreen. And then money for little procedures, money for high quality hair color, money for outsourcing stress, not working outside all day every day, etc etc. and then genetics. I look younger than my age mainly because my hair will turn grey past when most people’s hair will turn grey. And I’ve had insurance to keep up with tooth health, etc etc etc. It isn’t in the bottles available at the makeup counter for the most part. It’s in the DNA and the bank account.
Jesse has a newsletter that has been linked in the past, and she has been very open about her use on Botox, and her desire for plastic surgery one day :)
Chocolate Basque cheesecake: https://thebananadiaries.com/vegan-chocolate-basque-cheesecake/
Nigella’s Guinness Cake is my rec! Fluffy cream cheese frosting balances out the dark chocolate cake–it’s divine & simple! The first line of her recipe is “This cake is magnificent in its damp blackness.” How good is that??? https://www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-guinness-cake
Seconded!! It’s THE BEST!
Liz, great minds! I was going to suggest the same. If a dessert could offer a hug, this might just fit the bill.
Thirded! Low effort, high reward (I mean, it looks like a pint of Guinness?) and it’s all mixed up in a pot. It’s my go-to birthday cake for friends.
This double chocolate cream pie is a time commitment, but a total winner! https://www.oprah.com/food/double-chocolate-cream-pie-recipe#
Forgot to mention that I used a store bought pie crust – maybe graham cracker.
King Arthur Flour’s flourless chocolate cake – serve with whipped cream/berries. It’s easy (made two in 30 min), fool-proof and delicious. I have made it at least 5 times since NYE!
Yummmmm
How about a big chocolate olive oil cake with whipped crème fraiche or a NY style chocolate cheesecake.
Yes, I have the cake for you! After years of baking three layers cakes to my children and partner for their birthdays and getting a storebought cheesecake with no toppings on it, I took things in my hands and bakes myself this for my last birthday. Rich and decadent, perfect! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020555-lisbon-chocolate-cake Enjoy!
Happy birthday! The first thing that popped into my head is a great big wacky cake served with dollops of whipped cream and uh hilariously (?) it’s also known as… depression-era cake. Take that how you will!
I also thought of wacky cake- its the best chocolate cake hands down and so easy.
I gave up added sugar 2 months ago for some health reasons and I am shocked at how much I don’t miss it. I’m not planning on adding it back into my diet. I have been a massive sweets person my entire life, so this is a radical shift. My birthday isn’t until August and I randomly started wondering today what I would do to celebrate. Do I eat sugar once a year? Do I want to? What would I make if I only eat one dessert a year? I did go to a fancy chocolate dispensary for a bag of 100% dark chocolate wafers and I feel like a bad ass eating them, like when I went through a black coffee phase in my 20s.
This is me too! My husband and I would focus more on a really wonderful dinner (without the dessert). Some years I’d get a dessert, others not. And depending on how you feel about fruit, you can get creative making your own little treats – esp with bananas or dates.
Fruit arrangement or watermelon cake! (Happy birthday Leo!)
Since you have an August birthday, you can do oven-roasted or grilled stone fruit. The recipe I have (from Ina Garten) has a bit of sugar sprinkled on top before roasting, but I bet you could get away without it, especially if you start with really ripe fruit. You can top the fruit with something unsweetened but still yummy — creme fraiche or burrata seem like good candidates.
I do not like chocolate much and have been disappointed that as a required gluten free eater I have been often stuck with chocolate as my dessert option. That said – on a whim I made this Lisbon Chocolate cake for my husbands birthday … and then again for a friend meet up … and then for Christmas … so yeah, it’s incredible! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020555-lisbon-chocolate-cake?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share
Here’s the Chocolate birthday cake for you, from Ina Garten: https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/beattys-chocolate-cake I love chocolate, but have never been a chocolate cake person…..until THIS cake. Divine <3
This is the BEST cake!
Wait, your friend Jessie is 50, not 30? I need to know ALL her beauty secrets!
Sundae with chocolatey fudge sauce and other toppings!
I did this for my daughter’s birthday party because she hates cake. I had two different ice cream choices, hot fudge and caramel sauces, and then a whole spread of toppings in one of those appetizer platters meant for crudites. Think mini marshmallows, fresh strawberries, sprinkles, M&Ms, crushed up Oreos, waffle cone pieces and gummy bears. At the end of the bar we had cans of whipped cream and cherries. It was fun to see everyone’s dream sundae. Some kids just had plain ice cream too, haha. As an adult I would love this.
Now hear me out…dirt (dessert). The original recipe will call for cool whip but we sub own homemade whipped cream bc what even is cool whip. I use the instant pudding and oreos of course. But kids and adults love this and this year my husband requested it for his birthday! Try Brown Eyed Bakers recipe which includes cream cheese. I skip the butter though – feels our of place
I LOVE DIRT YES TO DIRT!!!
The 50 Pieces of Advice is SO GOOD! I vividly remember having my infant strapped to me and sprinting after my toddler who tried to run across a busy street without me and then hearing “Little kids, little problems….”. I thought I CAN BARELY KEEP MY KIDS ALIVE, what is going to be bigger than that? Now as they are older, I get what they were trying to say and I still agree….don’t tell a frantic, sleep-deprived mom of littles that her problems aren’t big. Do try to enjoy all the parts of parenting, including sleeping through the night when your kids are older so that you can handle well the emotional upheaval of tweens and teens. Parenting is WILD!! May we all just keep doing our very best.
Alison Roman’s chocolate cake from Sweet Enough is so good. I’d recommend that! We have been playing The Trolley Game. Very funny and creates a lot of debate!
Unrelated, but Lulu’s sweater is lovely. Can you provide a source?
always always always flourless chocolate cake. it was our wedding cake, birthday cake…it’s just the best.
Alicia Silverstone had a great recipe for peanut butter cups in her cookbook. The original recipe is vegan. I made them her way for years. Now, I make mini ones in a mini muffin tin using regular butter and sugar and half & half. It’s my go-to when we go to a friend’s house for dinner. And they’re excellent with a cup of coffee the next morning.
Yes!! These are sooo good
If you like the line about recognizing friends, get your hands on the album “Love Heart Cheat Code” by the band Hiatus Kaiyote (or listen on your streaming service) and listen to their song “Make Friends,” where that line is the refrain– “you don’t make friends, you recognize them” — about the joy of finding people who are your people
Thank you for saying this, because it was irking me that this was an uncredited song lyric 😂 (from the original poster, not Jo!)
We had leftover cottage cheese from a relative’s visit and I saw a recipe for protein chocolate mousse. It worked for me! Tangy like cream cheese. I made a version with melted chocolate and cocoa powder, and used extra because chocolate, so likely not low calorie but whatever. I got in protein and had a yummy chocolate dessert while using up fridge stuff.
Re: chocolate birthday dessert—look no further than chocolate soufflé pie! https://thetableunderground.com/the-table-underground/2017/10/24/hot-chocolate-pie-fttcd Holy smokes it will change your LIFE, please do not age another year without having someone make it for you. It’s incredible and will momentarily make you forget all your woes. Happy early birthday from another January bday chocolate lover who is ambivalent about most cakes :)
OMG Rachel! I used to live in Berkeley in the late 70’s – early 90’s and was a regular at a restaurant called The Edible Complex. They were famous for their fudge pie, and although I have searched and searched, I have never found a recipe that looks like it could be theirs… but this one absolutely does! I can’t wait to make it.
Ohh forever chasing a good chocolate mouse recipe. What is this one?
If you read and/or saw HAMNET and could use a psychic massage for *any* reason, consider this video director Chloé Zhao shared a couple days ago: To discharge emotions between scenes, the cast and crew had regular dance breaks. This is the very last one, and it’s the “Tiny Tim, who did NOT die” of clips: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvQI7ljx2Y/ My other recent unexpected psychic massage was 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE, which I worried I was too tender to see this past weekend. To the contrary, it was the most fortifying movie I’ve seen in ages, and I burst into tears at the final line. Also, it’s an absolute crime Ralph Fiennes didn’t get an Oscar nod for his performance; our theater stood up and cheered at the [spoiler] scene. Semi-related: My Lyft driver to the movie was named Hamlet. I gave Hamlet five stars.
Loved Bone Temple! The movie just came out this month, so it’s not eligible for the 2026 Oscars, but will be next year!
Wow–that video of the cast and the director’s message moved me to tears. Unbridled joy and release. Adding literal and figurative dance breaks with community to my self-care toolkit for 2026.
I was wondering about that, Laura! I’d heard they’d done some screenings last year and assumed they were for eligibility this time around – I’m DELIGHTED to be wrong!
I explained the Hamnet dance athmosphere to a friend a couple of days ago (we didn’t have our phones with us) and what also stuck with me is people in middle age clothing enjoying themselves with music from future lives and no phones. Entire bodies and hands and all just there living and dancing. It was like a saudade feeling. I am just thinking about it now and am crying. Crickey, a danced life is powerful.
I LOVE that clip! Thank you so much for sharing!
Gift Article: “‘S.N.L.’ Hasn’t Produced a Superstar in a While. Could It Be Marcello Hernández?” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/arts/television/marcello-hernandez-american-boy-netflix-saturday-night-live.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GVA._hxU.TgzdSjVC8PBx&smid=url-share
As someone who has lived in Miami for almost 25 years, Marcello’s special is spot on. I love his honesty and openness about his upbringing, which paired with his stand-up makes his special SO FUNNY! Dalé, Marcello! :)
Highly recommend Dan Pelosi’s Death by Chocolate for something fun and VERY chocolatey: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025378-death-by-chocolate
#1 I want to know what everyone is doing in NYC that makes them look so stinking young (and cute)! Jessie does not look a day over 30. #2 This is a heavy on the chocolate recipe that I love https://www.nigella.com/recipes/molten-chocolate-babycakes. Here’s to making it through January with more chocolate and good friend hangs!
THE BLOOD WANTS ICE CREAM Marcello is hilarious
I didn’t know him but I watched the special because of this post yesterday and I laughed sooo hard!!! At a certain moment I was waiting until he talked about blood and he did! He certainly knows a lot of details about women :-) Kudos to this handsome guy!
to give credit where credit is due, that was his sister’s line. his sister must be truly hilarious…
Ahhh right you are Carson
The chocolate cake in Samin’s new cookbook is the best chocolate cake I have eaten in my entire life.
This suggestion feels unignorable (not a word but I’m leaving it!) Buying this cookbook ASAP!
As is Lori’s midnight chocolate cake in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat! Literally the best chocolate cake I know how to make.
Flourless chocolate cake is my jam (so nice that gluten intolerant people like me can eat it too). I top this cake with red raspberries which look so pretty contrasting with the dark brown cake/ganache and add a nice tart acidity. Don’t be intimidated, this recipe is easy and DELICIOUS! https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/flourless-chocolate-cake-recipe
I associate King Arthur with flour so it was funny to see that website referral to a flourless cake! It looks divine!!
Thank you for sharing Jessie’s list! It’s incredible. Forwarding to many dear friends. (Also I am DYING to watch that special, but promised my husband I would wait for when he could join! Hopefully during the impending snowstorm. . .)
I am confused by the instructions: “You have to get your teammates to guess certain words, but you can give only monosyllabic clues. For example, if the word is “refrigerator,” you could say “where you keep milk,” but not “freezer” or “kitchen.” The phrase “Where you keep milk” is not monosyllabic, but neither are freezer or kitchen monosyllabic words…
You can use monosyllabic words — make sense?
The words where, you, keep, and milk all have just one syllable in each word. So the clues you give can be sentences or phrases, but each word used in the sentence or phrase must contain only one syllable. “Place for cold things” and “Cheese stays cold here” would also be fine because each word has only one syllable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpbqepbvoJ8
“where”, “you”, “keep”, and “milk” are all words with one syllable but “free-zer” and “ki-tchen” aren’t, hope that helps, took me a sec to sort it, too!
AHA! You have to use monosyllabic words, either alone or in phrases. I understand now. Thank you for setting that straight.
1.Was in for Marcelo’s special, sold by “he’s a lil snack himself”. Haha! Like a little appetizer laugh before I even see it! :) 2. Love lists like this! Can’t wait to read! 3. That game is incredible!! Played with my cousin and we crrrried laughing. 4. Happy early birthday! Want to dive into that bowl of mousse. I’m getting braces on today (did not expect to, as a 40 year old!) for TMJ correction. I put it off for months bc I was incredibly down about having to get them. Trying to em-brace (ha) the experience by thinking of it as an adventure I am brave enough to endure! This fun post is making my day a bit better and hey, when my teeth are sore I guess I get to eat mousse for dinner :)
Amanda, I ate a TON of ice cream when I had braces on in my 40s. It was soothing for sore mouth and touchy soul. Go for it! And good luck.
Thanks Anna!!
Oh, easy! Nigella Lawson’s salted chocolate tart (w/ her cheeky instruction video). IMHO, the crust is better w plain chocolate cookies. There is something kind of alkaliny in the Oreo crust. https://www.nigella.com/recipes/salted-chocolate-tart
I’ve always wanted to make or try a Chocoflan / Impossible cake, after my coworkers who grew up eating them told me about it. Fany Gerson’s (of Fan Fan donuts) recipe is online! https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Flan-Imposible-Impossible-Chocolate-Flan/
I love a chocolate trifle / death by chocolate. I know Dan Pelosi has a recipe on NYTCooking that is probably amazing. For my version I use King Arthur’s “cake pan cake” recipe, box mix chocolate pudding, cool whip, and Skor or Heath bars. It’s so delicious with box mix cake, too! I make a lot of overly complicated desserts, and this does not need to be one of them! When I was a kid, this is what my mom made for my dad’s birthday every year. It feels nostalgic and almost like a retro recipe, but it’s so delicious and gets better with time in the fridge – definitely make it at least a day in advance!
Smitten Kitchen’s chocolate olive oil cake never disappoints! Easy, rich, beautiful – it’s the total package. It also looks amazing topped with birthday candles! Happy birthday, Joanna! https://smittenkitchen.com/2017/10/chocolate-olive-oil-cake/
Another vote for this one! SO, so delicious.
LOVED Marcellos’ special. I watched with my 17-year-old daughter and we both laughed and laughed. So good!
Not chocolate exactly BUT we are throwing a Valentine’s Day party and just doing homemade fried dough on the stovetop. We are asking guests to bring a dip for the fried dough to share. We are doing a hot fudge/marshmallow dip.
Chocolate mousse recipe from last year, please? 🩷
yes! a second vote for that mousse recipe!!
Another fun thing – I made aunt Lulu’s carrot soup this evening! Thank you for including the original British recipe. Yum 😋
I have a silly request!! For the “have a nice weekend” post, can we get a picture of some cats/ kittens?? I feel like COJ is more dog-centric, but us cat people need cats 🥹 (I have been waiting for weeeekks for the most neutral post to make the request, hahha)
Yes!!!! And thanks (truly) for the feedback :)
I’m obsessed with funny cat reels and TikToks lately. I laugh so hard and just feel a tiny bit better.
I am totally obsessed with dogs, but I have to agree with you, Julia– it is your turn. :)
Julia, is it ok if I say this without knowing you: I love you :) This is such a cute request.
My 5yo daughter went home from school with my 9yo niece yesterday. When I picked her up, my niece had printed these over-the-top kitten snuggled in clouds photos for her. The best!
not sure if you have patience for the whole video (I do, they were an obscure source of pandemic quarentine comfort and I’ve continued to watch, and now she has over a million subs) but her cat, Taco, is worth the wait – so very chill and sweet: Nyangsoop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8S89BCjQvo
Oops this one is much better, more of Taco. Skip the 20 sec intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSIdfB_EYF0
Requesting a post featuring cat photos from our dear Joanna could be the only exchange I have the energy to tolerate these days. Cat photos approved! And all was right with the world.
Hahaha the most neutral post! How thoughtful of you. And yay for the cat AND the shout-out :) Have a great weekend!
thanks Julia! your request made my day :) have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Cats!!!!! Fellow cat person here. Thank you Julia for the ask. And thank you Joanna for listening xo
Brilliant!
Thank you from a fellow cat lady! So true! Even in stores I’ve noticed that dogs are more catered to than cats. But us cat lovers are out there!
The best – I actually just love animals – I loved them all BUT when someone says they don’t like cats, I can’t help it, I like that person a whole lot less. This is a bit of problem because I live in Australia, a country of so many cat haters and in the end I had to cancel Facebook because so many people in my community hate cats that I actually started thinking – if I drive down the street with my eyes closed, I would only run over complete assholes. The problem we have with animals becoming extinct will always be mostly us! Meow -cats are amazing! I honestly think I would die for my cat.
omg Taco!! :)
I have a 3 year old named Julia who also loves cats. Your comment made my day!
Dark Chocolate Tart by Ina Garten or the Horseradish Grill Chocolate Chocolate Cake originally from the Horseradish Grill restaurant in Atlanta, GA. You should be able to find either online. I love both because once made they do not need to be refrigerated. You just leave them sitting out for everyone to grab as they desire. https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/dark-chocolate-tart https://lydiasrecipes.com/view/recipe/horseradish-grill-s-chocolate-cake/
I spent a good chunk of my teens mixing a chocolate puddle pudding in a big ovenproof bowl. It was super simple, had minimal washing up, and was blooming delicious…. My original recipe is lost, but this has only 1 step more and the ingredients are the same….. worth a test run? https://www.katysfoodfinds.com/chocolate-self-saucing-pudding/
That looks delicious!!
This is just want I needed, today. ❤️ And please tell Jessie her advice is all so lovely. ☺️
You’re missing the best part of Poetry for Neandrethals…if the other person says a word with multiple syllables, you get the WAP them with the inflatable club! Such a fun game.
hahahaha yes! here’s a photo of me holding the inflatable club over my dad’s head:
It’s the best part of the game! I LOVE that game.
I’m still laughing , days later, from that comedy special. The Full House bit took me out.
that part was one of the funniest things i have heard in my ENTIRE life.
It’s so unfair how talented Jessie is – a phenomenal designer, tremendously crafty, great aesthetic sense and a really great writer. I thought her post today was so thoughtful and moving (and I bought the dress right off the link).
Agree with you, Allie! Jessie’s substack is one of my favorites. I also love that Jessie & Jo are close friends.