Our second baby is due this July, and I'd love to ask for your advice on where he or she should sleep...Read More >
Monday, June 17, 2013
Our second baby is due this July, and I'd love to ask for your advice on where he or she should sleep...Read More >
How cute would this Italian elephant bean bag look in a child's room or reading nook? It has such a sweet face!
What are you up to this weekend? New York has been snowy and grey this week. (This song is on my mind.) But the good news is that daylight savings is this Sunday, March 10th. We can make it! Also, thanks for being so sweet about the new baby. It’s such a pleasure to share everything with you. Hope you have a great weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...I had lunch this week with Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project. She's just as awesome in person!
A woman woke up in the hospital with short-term memory loss. Her best friend wrote this letter to help her out.
Spite houses are bizarre!
Blood orange margaritas.
These shoes are officially on my wishlist.
Pippa Middleton wrote a book! Will you read it?
How to be alone together.
Food pairings.
It's the time of year for this beauty treatment, don't you agree?
Lovely bookshelves.
A San Francisco bridge gets a makeover.
Cute jacket for spring.
Leo Babauta's beautiful advice to his children.
I posted about goats yelling like humans, but what about humans yelling like goats yelling like humans? Can't stop laughing...
New Yorkers, tickets are on sale for this awesome grilled cheese competition.
If you're pinching pennies, my friend just launched a coupon website: Robot Oatmeal.
Have a good one. xoxo
(Food pairings, via Jenny Rosenstrach. Advice to my children, via Swissmiss. How to be alone together, via Kottke)
Ash Beckham recently spoke in Boulder about not using the word "gay" pejoratively (as in, "This homework assignment is so gay"). The video is fantastic and definitely worth watching.
(Thanks, Lucy!)
On this dreary winter day, imagine: You're getting on a plane tonight for a week in northern Italy, hiking along the steep cliffs and rocky beaches. You'll have crisp white wine and fried fish for dinner. Here's a daydreamy outfit to pack...
1. Red cardigan for a pop of color.
2. Easy linen dress for wearing to the beach and dinner.
3. Buttery soft tote.
4. Large watch for that tomboyish look.
5. Trusty umbrella.
6. Sexy sandals (or this more comfortable pair).
7. Polka-dot bikini.
8. Rolled jean shorts for showing off tanned legs.
What do you pack for vacations? Where would you go, if you could go anywhere today? Winter is getting old!!!
P.S. A genius honeymoon trick, and Parisian wedges.
(Top photo by Max Wanger; graphic design by Rachel for Cup of Jo)
This week the New York Times ran a brave and beautiful remembrance of Nora Ephron by her son Jacob Bernstein. It must have been really hard to write. One wonderful passage–of many—was...Read More >
Since last summer, we've been trying our best to move from the West Village to Brooklyn, but the market is getting craaazy. There are so few Brooklyn apartments available that people are going nuts for them. (At a recent open house that our friends attended, 375 people had lined up around the block!) As you'd expect, prices have skyrocketed as a result. After much discussion, Alex and I have decided that we might stay in our tiny apartment for another year and see what happens after that.Nevertheless, I can't stop daydreaming about creating a real, long-term home for our family. Right now, we feel a little bit in limbo, and it will be nice to be in a place where we can feel settled (and hopefully won't have as many mice).
One cool decorating idea that has caught my eye recently is having a low bed. Have you ever slept in one? The last time we rented an apartment on vacation, the bedroom had a low bed, and for some reason it was incredibly cozy and comfortable to be so close to the floor.
Here are 11 inspiration photos...
Read More >
I snapped these photos yesterday. His earnestness makes my heart hurt. I love this little boy so much!
Here's the same towel when Toby was six weeks old. They grow too quickly, but at the same time it feels like a lifetime ago.
This is definitely one of the more random posts in Cup of Jo history (along with this and this), but this video of goats yelling like people made me die laughing. If you’re at all stressed out, you should definitely watch it. It’s literally impossible not to laugh.
(Via Kottke)
A few years ago, I went through a vegetarian phase, and whenever Alex would get regular burgers, I'd order veggie. But even at great restaurants, they were mushy and bland. So I was psyched when Jeanine from Love & Lemons announced that, once and for all, she'd figured out how to make a killer veggie burger. Here's how...Read More >
Today I'm excited to share a second hair tutorial for curly hair (here's the first!). My hair-stylist friend Reagan agreed to reveal her secret to getting loose bohemian curls. How gorgeous is her hair, above? Here's her easy trick...Read More >
When I first moved to New York, more than ten years ago, I fell in love with a New Yorker magazine cover that arrived in my mailbox. The illustration showed a young couple kissing on a busy street. I felt like it captured my twenties—or, at least, how I wanted my twenties to be:) I contacted the artist to see if I could buy the print, but needless to say, it was out of my budget.That following Christmas, I was visiting my family in Michigan, and my mom brought out a gift for me. She had framed the cover of the magazine, along with a lovely pink mat to complement the illustration. How sweet is that? To date, it's one of my favorite gifts I've ever gotten, and it has hung in every apartment I've had since.
Then, recently, I spotted this beautiful Beatles photograph at my friend Elizabeth's house. When I asked where she'd found it, she revealed that it was actually from an article in The New Yorker! She had simply clipped it out and framed it. On her bookcase, doesn't the photo look like fine art?Anyway, I love the idea of finding gorgeous art in magazines and making it your own. The only real cost is the frame!
One of my New Year's resolutions was to stop biting my nails like a five-year-old. I already bought this crazy stuff (which makes your nails taste bitter). But after stumbling upon these beautiful watercolor nails, I feel even more inspired. And they're surprisingly easy: the tutorial just calls for a few pastel colors and a sponge. Will you try them this spring?P.S. Navy nails and galaxy nails.
(Photos by Small Good Things, via Shoko)
Last week, we went to get a sonogram for the new baby. Seeing its little profile made me teary. Lying there in the hospital room, I couldn't stop repeating, "What a sweetheart, what a dollface." I also noticed that the baby's sticky-out top lip looks exactly like my grandfather's, which made my heart swell. About halfway through, the doctor said she was going to look at the legs and write the gender on the screen, so—since we're waiting to find out—she told me to close my eyes. Lying there, I tried to count how many times she punched the computer keys, but of course I couldn't tell a thing. (Do you think the profile looks like a boy or a girl?:)
(My grandfather with his signature lip)We love you so much already, little one! We can't wait for you to join our family.
P.S. Toby's sonogram looked like a Dr. Seuss character...
I know one cheeky little boy who would love this pillow. Made in Paris, the pillow has a music box inside that will play your choice of "Blowin 'in the Wind" by Bob Dylan, "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or (get this!) "Light my Fire" by The Doors. I think the word rad might be appropriate here.
Work/life balance is a topic near and dear to my heart. Sarah Lacy just wrote a BRILLIANT post about every woman's individual path to finding balance as a mother. My favorite line might have been...Read More >
What are you up to this weekend? Thanks for a really fun travel week! I loved all your thoughts and comments. This weekend, Alex's best friend is visiting from Rome, so we'll be catching up (crazily enough, I barely know him!), and we're also going to take Toby to the Dumbo carousel. Hope you have a great weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...Jennifer Lawrence cracks me up.
Who else is tired of winter?
Celebrities, ranked from most to least charming.
Homemade Girl Scout cookies.
A documentary about The Shining...are you brave enough?
How to plan a vacation that you'll actually enjoy.
Would you want to go to Mars with your partner? (This claustrophobe politely declines.)
Bedroom with a black wall.
Mom dancing! I love Michelle Obama.
Deciding between these and these sunglasses...advice?
A travel Ergo that folds into a pouch.
Cliff diving.
Models and their mothers.
What 200 calories looks like.
Plus, three more travel posts:
* Plane picnics.
* What English sounds like to foreigners.
* United States pillows.
Have a good one! xoxo
(Photo by Max Wanger; food link via Swissmiss).
We've always used boring black suitcases without even thinking about it, but these colorful numbers are quickly changing my mind. My friend Yolanda recently spotted Crewcuts designer Jenny Cooper and her family with them at the airport. The cheery bags—by Japanese brand Hideo Wakamatsu–would kick off vacations in a fun way and make you smile while you're living out of them in a hotel room. Aren't they awesome?
P.S. A luggage scooter!
(Via Momfilter, one of my favorite blogs)
I have a (sweeping and wildly generalized) pet theory that every relationship has one planner and one person who flies by the seat of their pants. With almost every couple we know, one person always takes charge of planning the trip—booking flights, scouting hotels, reading about the destination—while the other person is happy to just show up and see what happens. Do you think that's true?Before we met, Alex would take trips that were virtually unplanned; he'd arrive in a new place and wander around exploring. Meanwhile, I’m SUCH a planner. Planning gets me really excited for the trip, so I plan embarrassingly far in advance. (Last year, our Christmas trip was booked by June!) I like debating places to stay and discovering restaurants loved by locals. Usually I'll create a Cheat Sheet with all the info together in one place. Alex used to tease me about it, but now I think he sees the method to my madness. Tell me I'm not the only one?
Interestingly, researchers from the Netherlands discovered that the largest boost in happiness from a vacation doesn't come during or after the vacation, but instead from the simple act of planning a vacation. According to the 2010 study, "vacation anticipation" generally boosts happiness for eight weeks, reported the New York Times, whereas after the vacation "there is hardly an effect." Furthermore, a U.S.-based study in 1997 found that "vacationers were happier in the period leading up to their time off than during the vacation itself."
I'm curious: Are you a planner? Or your partner? Or neither?
(Photos of us back in 2008 in England. The last few were from my cousin's wedding, when were too tipsy to take a decent photo)
This has nothing to do with travel week, but how fierce is this little zigzag cuff? It has such a big personality and would add a sexy edge to jeans and a T-shirt.
We don't host as many out-of-town guests as we used to, only because they now have to sleep in Toby's room, and he gets up at the crack of dawn. But! We're hoping to have a guest room when we finally move to Brooklyn. Here are three handy tips I've heard through the years...1. Spent a night in your own guest room to try it out. We did this a few years ago (back when Toby's nursery was a guest bedroom) and were surprised by noisy garbage trucks at 5am. We got a noise machine for the room, but if we hadn't slept in it, we never would have known.
2. Put a carafe of water on the bedside table. It's such a fancy touch, even though they're only $10. Here are two simple ones. (Get one for your own room, too!)
3. Put out tons of extra toilet paper in the bathroom, because there's nothing more awkward than having to ask for more.
What other little things do you do when having houseguests?
(Photo from interior designer Maria Llado)
To cheer up the winter, I've asked a few friends to share their favorite vacation spots (and help give us ideas for summer trips). First, Liz raved about Stinson Beach, and now my friend Ashley from Hither & Thither recommends taking a Vermont road trip, below...Read More >
When I worked at a coffee shop during college, we wore half aprons like this, and they were weirdly flattering. So, you feel really pretty while making dinner (or preparing a cheese plate), and of course they're functional, too, since you always need a place to wipe off your hands and don't want to get your jeans dirty. Perfect hostess gift.
This old-school salad dressing comes with a story. Crane Crest’s Real French Dressing has no website, just a phone number (617-277-1325). You leave an answering-machine message with your address, and they'll send you a case of six jars, along with a handwritten invoice for $18. They trust that you'll mail back a check. How rad is that? They've developed a cult following, since, as Pilar says, the vinaigrette is incredible on salad, fish, chicken...Aren't you curious to try it?(Salad dressing via Momfilter)
These beautiful photos by Alfred Eisenstaedt show couples sharing a last kiss before the soldiers departed for war, at Penn Station in 1943. How stirring to wonder how many of the couples were reunited, or if this was their very last kiss. Can you imagine how hard it would be to let each other go?Here are seven more photos, below...Read More >
The New York Times recently ran a short piece about these insane free-fall slides on a Norwegian cruise line. You stand on a platform four stories high and then the floor suddenly falls out beneath you. Would you dare?!
Would you rent a house on vacation? We really like to rent places, since they're typically less expensive and more spacious than hotels (which is especially great when you have a child), and staying in a real home makes you feel like a local. Here are three amazing places, just for fun...Read More >
Emerson Fry's spring collection launches today. These are the kind of clothes you'd live in all summer, don't you think? The effortless style would fit in anywhere, from winding Italian streets to poolside in Palm Springs to just kicking it at home. And I always love their shoes! See the full collection here...
The last time we were at the beach, something surprising happened...Read More >
It's fun to daydream about travel—especially during the winter months—so I'd love to post all about travel this week. The big question is: If you could beam yourself anywhere right now, where would it be? The photo above is from the south of France, and for ages I've also really wanted to go to Portland, which seems like an amazing place. What about you?P.S. Past travel weeks.
(Top photo by Laure Joliet of St. Jean Cap Ferrat in France)
Friday, June 7, 2013
What are you up to this weekend? We're going to see Alex's mom, and she wants to do that necklace-over-the-belly test to see if we're having a boy or girl. Also, we saw Silver Linings Playbook this week. Have you seen it? I used to find Bradley Cooper kind of grating, but he was really charming and likable in this. Have a good one, and here are just a few links from around the web...Another cool Swedish playspace.
Lion twins!
Could this insane story be true?
Model morphosis.
Constellation cuff.
More great wedges.
Cheat sheet for pairing wine with food.
Wise words about inspiration.
The simplest flower arrangement.
Would you wear peplum?
Parmesan spinach orzo, yum.
Google Glass looks rad.
Have a good one! xoxo
(Beer photo by Aya Brackett, via Alyson)
Fab is a fantastic design marketplace with great prices, and I just spent forever checking out their pretty, colorful things. Here are a few favorites...For the adventurer: 1. Travel eye mask for the plane, 2. Pink laptop sleeve, 3. Leather tote, 4. Field Notes notebooks, 5. Bonjour travel set, and 6. Paris map print featuring almost every street in the city.
And for the cook: 7. Pink carafe to cheer up your table, 8. Three simple syrups for cooking or cocktails, 9. Green spatula, 10. Make-your-own-goat-cheese kit (!), 11. Rifle Paper recipe cards to give to friends, 12. Hammered wine cooler for serving wine or Champagne at parties, and 13. Pop Maker for making popsicles in just 7 minutes.P.S. I also love this Turkish towel!
(This post is in partnership with Fab. Thanks so much for being supportive of the sponsors that help make Cup of Jo possible.)
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