A CUP OF JO

Would you try a meal delivery service?

2013-06-19T16:23:00.002-04:00

Since our second baby is due any minute now, Alex and I have been brainstorming ways to make our routines easier this summer. One idea was to try out Blue Apron, the meal subscription service, which delivers a box every week with fresh ingredients for three meals. We tried it this week, and here's how it went...Read More >

How a standard key lock actually works

2013-06-19T12:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of the more random posts on Cup of Jo (along with this and this), but this gif of a standard lock is really cool. Did you know it worked like this?! Definitely going to be impressed by my key when I go home tonight.

(Via Today I Learned)

The Best Oatmeal Cookies (Plus, They're Vegan)

2013-06-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

As a huge chocolate-chip cookie lover, I used to scoff at oatmeal cookies. I mean, oatmeal? But when they're done right, they're rich and chewy with a cinnamon kick, and, dare I say it, rival even the best chocolate chip cookie. Here, Ashlae from Oh, Ladycakes shares her favorite familyrecipe...Read More >

Great news

2013-06-18T14:00:00.000-04:00

Great news! Emerson Fry, the fantastic clothing brand based in New York and New Hampshire is offering a whopping 50% off their shoes for Cup of Jo readers! They want to make room for their fall collection, coming soon, so their spring/summer shoes are ours for the taking. They're gorgeous and beautifully made.

Get 50% off full-priced Emerson Fry shoes with the code CUPOFJO50, good for the next week. Which are your favorite? (I love these and these.)

Elephant dress

2013-06-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

How cute is this elephant smock dress? I'd love to wear it on picnics this summer.

P.S. It would look pretty with these sandals.

5 beautiful motherhood tips

2013-06-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

During the baby shower, something amazing happened...
Read More >

Our baby shower

2013-06-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

Would (or did) you have a baby shower for your second baby? I wasn't sure if it seemed like overkill since we'd already had a shower for Toby's birth, but then Abbey pointed out, "It would be nice to celebrate THIS baby." And that seemed true. So one recent Saturday, I went to my friend Samantha's house for the loveliest afternoon with fifteen wonderful women and a few chubby babies...Read More >

Have a great weekend.

2013-06-14T14:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! What are your plans for the weekend? A few beloved relatives—including my own dad—are coming to visit us this weekend, so we'll be hitting up museums, parks and restaurants. I'm also going to read this genius book again! Hope you have a wonderful relaxing weekend, and here are some fun posts from around the web (blogs have been so good lately!)...

"Rose gold goes really well with a tan." — Lucky Magazine

Grandmothers and their meals.

A personal breathalyzer.

What a beautiful and moving quote about fatherhood.

Would you put butter in your coffee?

People seeing the sea for the first time.

What it feels like to be a pilot.

Just got a pair of these for summer adventures.

Cute iPhone case.

Easy adult dinner party.

Abbey wrote a great Paris cheat sheet.

How not to be alone.

From croissant to cronut.

Mike D from the Beastie Boys has the most beautiful town house.

A mother's touching realization.

Are classic children's stories being dumbed down?

Made me laugh. (Busted.)

Have a good one! xoxo

(Photo of Toby playing air guitar for Alex and me at Washington Square Park)

Summer movie

2013-06-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Old man Alex is always complaining that movies aren't good anymore. But! The new drama Ain't Them Bodies Saints looks incredibly gripping. Its official release date is August 16th, although BAM in Brooklyn is showing a screening next Wednesday along with a talk with the director David Lowery and star Casey Affleck.

"The gritty landscape of 1970s Texas Hill Country serves as the backdrop for this mood-drenched collision of love and crime. After his pregnant wife (Rooney Mara) makes one false move during a bloody shootout, a bank robber (Casey Affleck) faces a 25-year sentence that destroys his dreams of a family life. Shot through with the yearning and melancholy of a folk ballad, Lowery’s directorial breakthrough...extends the Bonnie and Clyde tradition with its breathtaking meditation on the fragility and transience of love." — BAM

"I wanted this whole movie to have the texture of, like, an old piece of wood that you'd find in an abandoned house, and that's sort of what we strove for." — Director David Lowery

The Guardian called it "exhilarating." Will you see it this summer?

10 unforgettable wedding moments

2013-06-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

If you're married, what were your favorite moments from your wedding? (Mine might have been my brother's hilarious toast, which he utterly randomly performed in a New Zealand accent.) Moment Junkie is an addictive site all about fantastic wedding moments. Here are 10 more...Read More >

Brilliant speech

2013-06-13T10:47:00.000-04:00

Before a final vote approved marriage equality in New Zealand, Maurice Williamson gave this short speech to the New Zealand parliament on same-sex marriage. Hilarious and brilliant.

Also, bravo to Grace for her brave and inspiring post.

(Via Shortlist Daily)

How to make a homemade photo booth

2013-06-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

Everyday snapshots of kids are adorable—eating dinner, going down the slide, falling asleep—but sometimes it's nice to have more "formal" portraits. My photographer friend Alpha helped me set up a homemade photo booth. As part of a three-part photography series sponsored by Canon, here's a simple tutorial...Read More >

Awesome People Reading

2013-06-12T12:52:00.000-04:00

Have you seen the tumblr Awesome People Reading? Above are Alfred Hitchcock, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, and Amelia Earhart. More awesome shots below...
Read More >

The Best Fish Tacos You'll Ever Have (with Panko!)

2013-06-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

Alex makes tacos every Sunday night (we're trying to create family rituals:), and of all the versions we've tried, this panko recipe has become the crowd favorite, by far. I'd highly recommend it...Read More >

Summer shoes

2013-06-11T13:18:00.000-04:00

I'm really loving espadrilles for this summer. They're comfy and tomboyish and they make your legs look pretty in shorts. Plus, my friend Kendra always wears them, and she's my style guide in every way. She has this pair, but they come in tons of fun colors...
You can find them here and here.

What do you think? Would you wear them? (I just ordered these!)

P.S. My favorite wedges and sneakers.

New Yorker cartoonists documentary

2013-06-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Director Leah Wolchok is filming a documentary about New Yorker cartoonists. Did you know that the regular cartoonists submit 10 to 15 cartoons a week, every week, to the magazine; even some of the best cartoonists sell just one a month; they commiserate about rejection during weekly lunches, a tradition that started in the early days of the magazine; and their day jobs include gravestone portraiture, fit modeling and furniture reconditioning?

Leah is about halfway through her fundraising goal on Kickstarter. I made a a contribution, since I'd love to see this funny film. Back it here, if you'd like. Good luck, Leah!

P.S. 20 best documentaries.

(Cartoons above from the Conde Nast Store, by Christopher Weyant, Roz Chast and Charles Barsotti)

Swimming lessons on the roof!

2013-06-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

So, my #1 tip for living in New York is to make friends with someone with a rooftop pool:)...Read More >

Eight month belly shot

2013-06-10T11:24:00.001-04:00

This morning, I snapped this photo in the bathroom of a cafe where I'm working. My belly is definitely pointier since last month.

Also a funny note: I don't usually get cat calls, but waddling around NYC, I've been getting tons of pregnancy cat calls from doormen and bike messengers shouting "Hey, Mama!" "Eight months?" "Look at that belly!" Taxi drivers will even roll down their windows to weigh in: "It's a girl!" It's a funny part of being pregnant in NYC.

Just a couple weeks left. I'm excited and nervous. Labor doesn't hurt that much, right? :)

P.S. Also really looking forward to this. Oh how I've missed thee.

Have a wonderful weekend.

2013-06-07T14:00:00.000-04:00

What are your plans for this weekend? Alex and I are going to see a movie tonight (maybe this one?), and tomorrow my sweet friend Samantha is throwing me a baby shower! I'm excited to relax with my favorite ladies and eat mini quiches. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

People are going crazy for these cronuts.

Beautiful understated bump photos.

Awesome beach towel.

This is a true story, believe it or not.

Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes. (Remember this?)

Pretty summer dress.

Awkward family moment.

Big appetites made me smile.

Wow! A 102-year-old woman's birthday activity.

Peanut butter pretzel bites.

20 hilarious charts.

A fantastic new shop in Maine.

Pay for coffee with a kiss.

I loved the 1993 movie Much Ado About Nothing, and a new modern version opens tonight to good reviews.

New Yorkers: From June 1-16, 88 pianos have been placed in city parks, on sidewalks and in other public places for anyone to play.

Finally, thank you so much for your help choosing a baby name! You guys are the best. It was so helpful to read all the insightful comments.
P.S. Our babysitter recently sent me this video of Toby dancing. He looks like an old man at a wedding; I love it so much.

(Top photo of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin)

The 101 best written TV series of all time

2013-06-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Anyone looking for a TV show to marathon-watch this summer? As Kottke wrote, the Writers Guild of America just published their list of the 101 best written TV series, and it's a great reminder of some oldies but goodies. Here are the first thirty:

1. The Sopranos
2. Seinfeld
3. The Twilight Zone
4. All in the Family
5. M*A*S*H
6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
7. Mad Men
8. Cheers
9. The Wire
10. The West Wing
11. The Simpsons
12. I Love Lucy
13. Breaking Bad
14. The Dick Van Dyke Show
15. Hill Street Blues
16. Arrested Development
17. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
18. Six Feet Under
19. Taxi
20. The Larry Sanders Show
21. 30 Rock
22. Friday Night Lights
23. Frasier
24. Friends
25. Saturday Night Live
26. The X-Files
27. Lost
28. ER
29. The Cosby Show
30. Curb Your Enthusiasm

Do you agree or disagree with any of these? And don't you suddenly want to watch old Mary Tyler Moore episodes? My mom would let me stay up late so we could watch it together when I was in junior high. Also, randomly: My sister, who is a doctor, said that of all the hospital TV series, funnily enough, Scrubs is the most accurate reflection of working in hospitals with its wacky residents and nutty hierarchy.
P.S. Seinfeld posters and funny clips.

(Via Kottke)

5 gifts guys secretly want for Father's Day

2013-06-06T15:27:00.000-04:00

Alex wrote my Father's Day gift guide last year because, as he said, "sometimes guys just want a football." So, last night, I asked him to reveal the five gifts he'd secretly love this year, and here's what he told me...Read More >

What marriage means

2013-06-06T11:30:00.001-04:00

Disclaimer: I'm 8,000 months pregnant, which means I'm extra hormonal and schmoopy. But last night, I was thinking about our marriage...Read More >

Wednesday giveaway!

2013-06-05T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today's giveaway is from Everything But Water, a great online shop featuring swimwear, sundresses, cover-ups and accessories (including this cute beach bag). Today, they're giving one lucky winner the choice of her favorite swimsuit from the shop. Which would you pick? (I'd go for this pleated number.)

Bonus: They offer free shipping and exchanges, so you can try suits on easily at home, and they have lots of brick-and-mortar stores, including a new one in Manhattan.

For a chance to win, please visit Everything But Water and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: The winner has been emailed. Thanks for playing.

Beer's taste alone gets you a little high.

2013-06-05T12:30:00.000-04:00

You know that moment when you sit down, take a sip of beer and instantly feel the stress melt off your shoulders? That feeling is biological. According to a recent study, "our brains start to release euphoric signals in response to the taste of beer, even before alcohol even gets into our blood," reports The Atlantic. "Our bodies anticipate the effects of alcohol by a conditioned response, like Pavlov's dogs."

File this under "I knew it."

P.S. How to keep lipstick off your glass, and 8 fun tips for drinking wine.

(Photo by Aya Brackett)

Homemade Magic Shell

2013-06-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Remember Magic Shell, the chocolate sauce that hardens over ice cream? It was such a delicious part of childhood. Well, my friend Ashley from Hither & Thither just learned how to whip it up at home with only two ingredients...Read More >