Springing forward
On teatime cookie boxes, cats on TikTok and more.
Welcome to Small Joys, a bi-monthly(ish) newsletter about finding great joy in the little things. Here are a few things that have brought me joy.
Eat: a box of teatime cookies
In February, I bought a box of cookies from Petit Nuage after seeing them on my friend, Renée’s Instagram stories. Each month, there’s a box filled with a selection of different cookies. Think Chinese salted egg yolk, matcha and yuzu, brown butter and horlicks, and kinako toffee. I love not-too-sweet treats and interesting flavour combinations, and these are at once subtle and complex and thoughtfully put together. Also, look how cute??
Steph, the talented baker behind Petit Nuage, is a former pastry chef. In fact, Petit Nuage began as a micro-bakery in Toronto. “I rented the tiniest spot at Market 707 and made it my own for about four years. I would stage photos within the tiny shop every day to update my customers on what was available,” she tells me. “I used to sell French macarons, roll cakes and cream puffs.”
She started making homemade cookie boxes as a holiday project during the pandemic. She wanted to drop them off to family members, but being used to making large quantities, there were lots of leftover dough. When she decided to offer them up on Instagram, people loved them!
If you’d like to buy one of Steph’s delicious and delightful cookie boxes, you can follow Petit Nuage on Instagram.
Watch: CatTok
I’ve been super grumpy over the past few weeks. The only time I’m not a complete grouch is around bedtime, which is when my husband can hear me cackling in bed. It’s because I’ve fallen into a rabbit hole of cat videos on TikTok. CatTok is either hilarious or I’m so sad that it doesn’t much to make me laugh. I think it might be both. Here are a few videos that made me laugh out loud:
Cats on their precarious snacking situation.
Add to cart: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40
Wearing sunscreen makes me feel good in that I’m dutifully protecting my skin. But beyond compliance and because sunscreens generally have a Spartan quality to them, I don’t rely on them to make me look good. This all changed with Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 ($48), which launched at Sephora Canada last month. It applies like a dream and has a beautiful pearlescent finish that makes you look glowy but not greasy. I’ve been combining it with a concealer and a cream blush from Tower 28 Beauty. It makes me look put-together with minimal effort (which is my everyday M.O.).
What brings you joy, Alexandra Gater?
Alexandra Gater's cheery personality is just one of the reasons why her YouTube channel is a joy to watch. The former magazine editor-turned-YouTuber has become known for her budget-friendly approach to rentals and small spaces. Plus, whenever I see pom-poms, I almost always think of her. I asked what's been bringing her joy lately and here’s what she told me.
“This year for me has been all about embracing comfort, trying to be more present and making the most of even the simplest things. I love when the chill of winter starts to turn into something that resembles spring, so before the wind starts to get warm, I’m relishing in the last days of hunkering down and getting cozy. For me, evenings that bring me the most joy are getting into my pyjamas and making a cup of Stash’s earl grey tea. It’s creamy and decadent and I love the smell of the bergamot oil. I also light this candle from Cardea Auset because the combination of juniper and lavender essential oils is the dreamiest. Its juniper notes are floral but also soothing and the candle is hand-poured with natural, GMO-free soy.”
From my bookmarks:
The April 2021 issue of British Vogue is an ode to joy with four colourful covers. Editor-in-chief Edward Enninful writes, “So many lives are lived under the daily pressures of hardship and discrimination, of stresses both personal and societal, which mean that fighting for happiness is simply a part of existence. Taking pleasure in things large or small (and sometimes very small at the moment) is not a frivolous act. I would agree wholeheartedly with the notion, then, that joy is political.”
On the honest, maximalist charm of Nadiya Bakes: “There’s also something extra delightful, after a year of crushing lockdown sameness, about [Nadiya] Hussain’s particular brand of maximalism, where every element of a recipe is tweaked and amped in the service of flavour.”
When Will We Karaoke Again? Singing alone just isn’t the same. I’d love a night of karaoke with my friends, but maybe I won’t subject them to me “singing” Celine Dion.
Putting Down Roots in a 221-Year-Old Kitchen in Italy. Cookbook author Emiko Davies' kitchen reno.
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Have a great week!
x Mishal