A CUP OF JO

Have a Lovely Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:29:00 +0000

Exciting news (for us, at least): We're signing off early this week because we are launching a blog redesign on Monday. We are moving 4,500 posts over to the new design and will spend the next few days working out all the kinks. I'm excited to show you and really hope you like it! Meanwhile, here are a few fun posts from around the web...

The best news I've heard since 1998.

The Black Mass movie trailer looks great and terrifying.

10 tricks to appear smarter in meetings, haha.

Loved Jeni's career advice. What an inspiring woman.

The back of this dress is so sexy.

I'm reading this book and loving it.

How to spot income inequality from space.

Eeks! Don't look down!

How to get a beach body.

This Mother's Day commercial made me tear up.

A twist on a PB&J.

What it's really like to style a photo.

Bringing art to the streets.

Made me laugh.

And, finally, most important: how to donate to Nepal.

(Photo by Unruly Things)

J.McLaughlin Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 19:45:00 +0000

J. McLaughlin, the American sportswear brand founded in the 1970s, is known for its classic, casual style. They're the kind of staples you could wear to the beach or on weekend getaways (think: striped tees, summer dresses, light sweaters). These photos make me psyched for shorts-and-sandals weather and all the leisurely days that come with it. (Psst: In addition to their styles for men and women, their new kids' collection debuts May 7th.)

Today, J. McLaughlin giving away a $500 gift card. To enter, please visit their online store and leave a comment below telling us your favorite item. A winner will be chosen tomorrow at random. Good luck! (Update: The winner has been emailed. Thank you for playing!)

Bonus for all readers: Shop J.McLaughlin's Exclusive Sale to receive 25% off all full-priced orders through May 3, PLUS receive an additional 5% off with promo code JMCLJO. Thank you so much, J. McLaughlin!

Spaghetti-Stuffed Roasted Peppers

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Do you usually eat your pasta in a bowl or on a plate? How about in a pepper? This week's easy pasta recipe from Martha Stewart Living looks complicated, but it's actually a cinch to put together. Here's how...Read More >

The Secret to Female Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:21:00 +0000

I had female friends growing up, but in my thirties I started feeling much closer to the women I knew. At first, I wasn't sure why this lovely intimacy was developing, but then I read this piece from New York Magazine and had a lightbulb moment...
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Mother's Day Gift Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 20:00:00 +0000

It's funny, we've given my mom many different kinds of presents over the years — massages, sweaters, perfume — but the one she always raves about and requests more of are photo gifts. (This Toby notepad was probably her favorite gift of all time.)

This Mother's Day, we made her a framed photo collage with photos of her and the boys. She can put it on her desk and see how much we adore her. I hope she loves it. And crazily enough, it only took about ten minutes to make with Instagram shots. Pinhole Press has been our go-to for the past four years, and I'd highly recommend them for beautiful, heartfelt gifts.

Bonus for all readers: Get 15% off all Pinhole Press products with the code CUPOFJO15, good through May 31st.Read More >

How to Talk to Kids About Death

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:10:00 +0000

As I've mentioned, two of our close family members died this winter, and we had to figure out how to tell four-year-old Toby. Here are 10 things we learned...Read More >

Have a Great Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:00:00 +0000

What are you up to this weekend? Since reading everyone's podcast recommendations, I've started a new ritual: Some evenings, I'll sneak out for a bike ride along the water and listen to podcasts. (This was one of my favorites.) Also, this weekend, we're taking the boys to the Dumbo carousel to ring in the spring. Hope you have a good one, and here are some fun posts from around the web...

First off, obviously everyone saw this hilarious and amazing skit, right? Love those women so much.

"Things I definitely thought of first."

An ode to rainy-day hair.

Families ditch cars for cargo bikes. So cool.

I want to dress like this girl all summer.

Do you agree with this map of state foods? (I've never had a Michigan pasty!)

Of course Italy has a carpooling app for scooter rides.

5 things happy people have in their homes.

An oral history of Mad Men.

What it feels like to fall asleep. (Sounds about right.)

How to make barista coffee at home.

An (adorable) reason to drink wine.

This family eats ONLY steak. No, but for real.

Hope you have a good one. xo

(Photo of Alex and me from last summer. State foods link via Cupcakes and Cashmere. Steak link via Miss Moss)

"My Beauty Uniform"

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:16:00 +0000

My friend Abbey Nova (writer of the blog Design Scouting) is smart, hilarious and always has the best recommendations (including most of the products I currently wear). Here, she shares the secret to getting a good night's sleep, a life-changing hair product and the item she never leaves home without...Read More >

Amy Schumer's Brilliant Parody

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:04:00 +0000

Have you seen Amy Schumer's Friday Night Lights spoof about rape? It made the rounds yesterday, but in case you haven't seen it, the video is definitely worth watching. As my friend said yesterday, "Amy Schumer just pulled off the world's first-ever funny rape joke." The sketch is important, and I love that the laughs don’t come at the expense of the women.
Joking about rape "is always a risk," Schumer said at the Tribeca Film Festival. “You might look at this scene and think we’re making light of something serious, but we really are trying to educate." Bravo.

P.S. A brilliant speech about the word "gay."

(Photo via Time)

Cooking With the Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 21:03:00 +0000

Toby and Anton have always loved food (here's proof), and now they're getting interested in cooking. We'll whip up oatmeal or French toast in the mornings, but for dinner, I decided to get a month of Blue Apron family meals and really cook with them...Read More >

Would You Wear a Fanny Pack Belt Bag?

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 19:16:00 +0000

As a sixth grader, I had a major fashion moment: I went on a bike ride around our Michigan suburb wearing a Hypercolor shirt, stonewashed jeans and a fanny pack. I felt so cool that I almost felt embarrassed anticipating how much people would be admiring my ensemble.

Cut to two decades later: People are now riding bikes, wearing fanny packs and actually looking cool. As you may have seen, designers have been releasing highbrow fanny packs this spring and calling them "belt bags." And they're weirdly appealing. Wouldn't it be liberating to go hands free this summer? You could just bring along keys, a $20 bill and a lipstick.

Here are a few pretty ones: leather, black, convertible and striped.

Would you ever wear a fanny pack? Definitely not? Maybe yes?

P.S. 9 spring trends.

Boursin Pasta With Spring Peas

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0000

This week, our month of easy pasta continues with this insanely delicious dish, using Boursin cheese from the grocery store. Danielle from I Will Not Eat Oysters shares the recipe she's perfected over the years...Read More >

The #1 Question to Ask Before Getting Married

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:35:00 +0000

Ellen McCarthy became the Washington Post's weddings reporter when she was newly single and (of course) on the cusp of turning thirty. Over the next four years, she talked to hundreds of couples about what makes relationships work — and what doesn't. Her new book, The Real Thing, brings together all she learned. Caroline asked Ellen for her best bits of wisdom, and here's what she told us...
Read More >

Mother's Day Gift Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:31:00 +0000

Flowers from The Bouqs, from $40. (We also really like UrbanStems in Manhattan and Washington, DC, and BloomThat in San Francisco and LA.)
Hundreds of dark chocolate pearls from France, $16.

Mama bear necklace, $39, because she is always in your corner.
Ceramic bud vase, $35, to display one bloom or a small cluster of tiny flowers from her backyard.
Japanese-inspired linen apron, $80, because it's such a simple pleasure to have a nice apron.
Dior Nail Glow, $25, for pretty spring nails. (Here's how it looks.)
The most amazing sea salt and watermelon candle, $29. (It smells SO good and fresh.)

Chocolate asparagus, $30, since she always told you to eat your vegetables.
A beautiful, arresting book about a marriage, $11, so you can talk about it, like a two-person book club.
A giant box of organic Hass avocados and pixie tangerines (sweet and seedless), from an orchard in the Ojai Valley in California. Think: Guac and mimosas! $39.

A card about how much you love her, since that's all she really wants anyway.

Conversations With a Four-Year-Old

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:39:00 +0000

Four-year-old Toby has always been a chatterbox, and one-year-old Anton is starting to follow suit. It makes my heart swell to overhear them chatting away while playing. So far, Anton's conversation mostly revolves around "Tibby!" (Toby) and "big cados" (big tractors), and here are a few things Toby has said recently...

"Are dinosaurs real?"
"Are princesses real?"
"Are monsters real?"
"Are bears real?"
"Is Stuart Murdoch real?"

"I'm four and a half and three quarters."

"Can I turn seven for my next birthday?"

Toby has started picking up some of my valley-girl inflection. The other day, Anton was walking slowly down the sidewalk, when a mom pushing a stroller came up behind him. Toby hurried over and asked, "I'm sorry! Is my brother, like, totally in your way?"

"Can I wear just my underwear and belly like daddy?"

Toby: "Am I allowed to drive a car?"
Me: "Not until you're 16 years old."
Toby, after a worried pause. "But I can drive a toy car??"
Me: "Yes."

Toby still has his imaginary family: his wife, Bo, and their two kids, Matt (6) and Janna (2). But he also has another alter-ego, Peter Dachman, a bachelor who works at the newspaper with Alex. He comes over for breakfast before work sometimes.

Toby's birthday wishlist:
1) Toy house
2) Toy motorcycle
3) Toy tree
4) A little doll to snuggle with
5) Blue sports jacket, size 5

Nana: "I like the new ceiling light in your bedroom."
Toby: "It's new."
Nana: "Who got it for you?"
Toby: "Oh, the handyman gave it to me."

Me: "Toby, stop growing up so quickly!"
Toby: "But, Mama, I can't help it, it's my body."

What about your little ones? What sweet things are they saying and doing?

P.S. Toby in conversation as a little kid, and a how to teach your child not to interrupt.

(Photo from our Instagram)

Have a Great Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 16:50:00 +0000

What are you up to this weekend? Alex and I are going to a wedding tomorrow night, and I'm excited to dress up and dance awkwardly. Also, thank you so much for your podcast recs. I listened to The Living Room this week and was so moved. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

Great news: Loeffler Randall is having a friends and family sale.

Why is your millennial crying?

Behind-the-scenes of While We're Young. (Have you seen the movie? I really liked it.)

The funniest kitchen tool.

How to arrange...weeds.

A genius trick for serving cheese and meat.

Why Deb from Smitten Kitchen hates packing lunch.

The case for creating a moral bucket list. (Worth reading.)

How to get rid of songs that get stuck in your head.

Google sent a reporter this GIF instead of "no comment."

What? This invention is insane.

Pretty Mother's Day gifts.

How to find affordable Broadway tickets.

A great bachelorette party banner. (Although to each her own!)

Made me laugh.

(Photo of the Richard Serra exhibit "Promenade," Paris 2008. Nessie ladle via Kottke, bachelorette banner via Swissmiss, millennials via Miss Moss)

Found! The Best Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:05:00 +0000

Cup of Jo editor Caroline has a long and complicated relationship with foundation. Complicated meaning: For years she didn't like it. So this month, she tried five of the top formulas out there, to find a winner, once and for all...Read More >

Do or Don't: A Work Uniform

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 16:41:00 +0000

Have you seen Matilda Kahl's article about wearing the same thing to work every day? The piece has been shared 86,400 times, likely because we all face this daily. At my old job, I used to wobble into meetings in uncomfortable heels and worry if my skirts were too short when I was sitting down. And not just with work — we have a wedding this weekend, and I'm already stressed about what to wear, while of course Alex will wear his standard gray suit. Here, Kahl explains why a work uniform has changed her life:

About three years ago, I had one of those typical Monday mornings that many women have experienced. With a fairly important meeting on the horizon, I started to try on different outfits, lacking any real direction or plan. As an art director at one of the leading creative advertising agencies in New York, I'm given complete freedom over what I wear to the office, but that still left me questioning each piece that I added or subtracted from my outfit. "Is this too formal? Is that too out there? Is this dress too short?" I finally chose something I regretted as soon as I hit the subway platform.

As I arrived at work, my stress level only increased as I saw my male creative partner and other male co-workers having a "brodown" with the new boss as they entered the meeting room — a room I was supposed to already be inside. I just stood there — paralyzed by the fact that I was not only late, but unprepared... This was not the first morning I'd felt this unnecessary panic, but that day I decided it would be the last.

So Kahl came up with a work uniform — a silk shirt and black pants she wore every day from then on. Although colleagues questioned her choice, teased her and even worried about her well-being, she points out, "A work uniform is not an original idea. There's a group of people that have embraced this way of dressing for years — they call it a suit."

And it's true. Men not only have the easy option of suits, they can also get more specific without anyone caring. As discussed in the new Men's Style section in the New York Times, powerful men often have a signature ensemble: Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg wears a gray T-shirt and blue jeans, designer Georgio Armani wears a navy cashmere sweater and navy drawstring pants, and architect Daniel Libeskind wears a black leather blazer, jeans and cowboy boots. In 2012, Obama told Vanity Fair, "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make."

Even crazier: Australian TV anchor Karl Stefanovic wore the same blue suit every day for a year — but nobody even noticed. He explained that he was trying to reveal the double standard against the female anchors, whose clothing was regularly critiqued and criticized. Needless to say, his experiment worked.

Would you wear the same ensemble to work every day? Our shared workspace in Brooklyn is super casual, but we still want to look professional should we have a meeting or someone drop by. These days, I often wear this exact pair of black jeans, a button-down shirt (like this incredibly silky and flattering chambray shirt), plus nice flats (these are my current favorite).

For a more formal office, a pretty dress like this or this could fit the bill. But if you don't want to worry about short hemlines (or shaving in the winter), these cool slouchy pants and a shirt with rolled sleeves would look great with rosy blush and middle part.

Thoughts? What do you wear to work right now? Would you consider wearing the same thing every day? So freeing, right? If you were putting together a uniform, what would it be?

P.S. Best spring nail polish and 15 career tips from smart women.

7 Best Podcasts to Try

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 16:59:00 +0000

This past fall, along with the rest of the world, I got hooked on the podcast Serial. I loved walking around the neighborhood listening to Sarah and Adnan (he was framed!), and once it ended, I wanted another podcast but didn't know which were good. So, we asked my friend Kim Fusaro — an obsessive podcast enthusiast — to recommend seven of her favorites...
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Pasta With Sausage, Mushrooms and Lemon

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Today, our month of easy pasta continues with this simple, flavorful dish. The lovely MAV from More & Co. shares the recipe for her favorite decadent lunch. Here's how to make it...
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An Adorable Narrow House for Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 19:17:00 +0000

Browsing real estate listings, even when you're not moving, is totally addictive, don't you think? In a recent late-night session, we came across the listing for this very skinny Brooklyn house...Read More >

Our Favorite Hillary Clinton Reactions

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:17:00 +0000

Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters have landed in Cup of Jo's backyard – a six-minute bike ride from our office (we've clocked it). We're feeling huge excitement about her big announcement. "I believe that the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21st century," Clinton says. Bravo.

But it's not all serious. We've been reading the chatter on twitter, and here are a few of the reactions that are making us laugh...
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Crafts for Kids (Even for Uncrafty Moms)

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:55:00 +0000

I am hopelessly uncrafty. My boys have a box of crayons and will casually doodle sometimes, but we don't really do art projects at home. (I wouldn't know where to begin.) So when Seedling asked if we wanted to try one of their activity kits, we jumped at the chance...Read More >

A Genius Way to Teach Your Child Not to Interrupt

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:31:00 +0000

Toby is a chatty Cathy, which I adore, but now and again it drives me a little bats. When I'm talking to a friend at the park, or catching up with Alex after work, he will stand next to me and say, "Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama..." It's not unlike this:

When I tell him to wait a second, he gets really wounded and will often even burst into tears. Blarg! Sweet boy! Still, it's maddening!

So, last week, I was thrilled to stumble across this brilliant advice:

I was chatting with a friend one day when her 3-year-old son wanted to say something. Instead of interrupting though, he simply placed his hand on her wrist and waited. My friend placed her hand over his to acknowledge him and we continued chatting.

After she had finished what she was saying, she turned to him. I was in awe! So simple. So gentle. So respectful of both the child and the adult. Her son only needed to wait a few seconds for my friend to finish her sentence. Then she gave him her complete attention.

Such a simple gesture, and so respectful of the child and yourself and the person you're speaking with.

We tried it this week, and Toby loves it. He's proud of himself for waiting and psyched to know a secret code. I'd highly recommend giving it a try!

P.S. Six words to say to your child, and why you should make your home a haven.

(Photo by Nicki Sebastian for Cup of Jo)

Have a Great Weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna Goddard) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:05:00 +0000

What are your plans for this weekend? This weekend is supposed to be 64 and sunny, so we're going to go to a park and fly kites! Can't wait to be outside. Have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

Broccoli cheese tots look surprisingly delicious.

Yelp reviews of newborn babies.

My fashion editor friends are freaking out about the arrival of these shoes.

Why people never smiled in old photographs.

This gluten-free art museum made me laugh.

Could you give up drinking for a year?

Love this print.

Behind-the-scenes with three ballerinas.

Brontosaurus is back, baby!

Racially diverse emojis are finally here.

"I wish I'd never reported my rape."

Emails acted out in real life make you realize how awful we all are.

Just ordered this for overnight guests.

Awesome NYC loft tour.

(Photo by You Are My Fave/Instagram. Gluten-free museum via Miss Moss)