My friend Sophie (of the children's brand Oeuf) might be the coolest mom ever, since she hung a trapeze in her Brooklyn living room. Her kids like to "swing really high and scare people," she says. "They love to triple-dog-dare our poor guests to do knee hangs." I interviewed her for Martha Stewart Living, and you can read the full interview here, if you'd like.
Have you been watching the Olympics? These photos show the crazy emotion of the games. I can't imagine how nervous the athletes must be the moment before their competition starts. See more here.
Today's giveaway is from So Young Mother, a small company (owned by a mom) that makes amazing diaper bags. Each diaper bag has a rugged canvas exterior, lots of wipeable compartments, a cell-phone pocket and even backpack straps. Bonus: They're unisex, so dads will be happy to carry them. Diaper bags are typically not cute, and your keys and phone get lost in the cavernous interiors, so these great bags are a godsend for new moms.
This website makes me laugh. Wouldn't it be great to send it to everyone you know (especially in-laws) as soon as you hit your ninth month of pregnancy?
Motherhood can have ups and downs. Exhausting, beautiful, hilarious, frustrating, magical, overwhelming. I used to joke to Alex that new motherhood was like traveling abroad. You're tired and jetlagged, and you haven't showered and you have a cramp in your neck and you're sort of inexplicably sticky, but then you look around and the world feels beautiful and otherworldly and you're glad you came.
(Top photo of Toby and me. Bottom photo from Nirrimi)
What are your plans for the weekend? We're going swimming this evening in a public pool in our neighborhood; hoping it's refreshing without too many floating Band-Aids:) Also, I'm psyched to share our bathroom makeover next week. Have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...
(Illustration by Gemma Correll)
A few things from Pinterest this week...
Rick Nunn's rad ampersand tattoo.
Chocolate-chip oatmeal pancakes.
Ombre nails.
Beautiful Rib & Hull leather bag.
So, I have some exciting news (to me, at least). After almost six years with the same look, A Cup of Jo is getting a long overdue makeover. The Brooklyn-based design firm Apartment One came highly recommended, and I was thrilled to collaborate with their uber-talented team, Liza and Spencer. The new design will launch in a couple weeks. 
Option #4—Handwritten:
Let me know your favorite below! I'd love to hear your thoughts... xoxo
This past weekend, we spent a few hours at Coney Island, and my friend Shirim had dark red polish on her toes. I was really into that color last November, but never would have thought of it for a sunny day. But she paired it with a white swimsuit and gray dress and looked totally gorgeous.
Today's giveaway is from Bridge & Burn, a clothing line based in Portland and inspired by life in the northwest. I love their easy, laid-back style. Today they're letting one lucky reader choose her favorite between the Grebe dress with navy pinstripes and the Rae linen shirtdress. Which would you choose?
The tumblr FuckYeahMoviePosters features movie posters, both real and reimagined. Love the Annie Hall one: "A nervous romance." Spot on. 
Food photographer Erin Gleeson wanted a change from New York City, so she moved to a cabin in the woods of Northern California. Inspired by seasonal ingredients, she now creates her own delicious recipes, mostly vegetarian. Today, lucky for us, she's sharing her favorite peach tart (with ricotta), which would be perfect for a lazy summer evening, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream...Read More >
If you come over to our apartment, you might notice me wince if you ask where the bathroom is. Our bathroom has always been an eyesore. The tile is chipping, nothing matches, and the walls are a drab white. We want to fix it up, but since we'd like to move to Brooklyn next spring, we don't want to do anything too major. So, we've decided to give it a quick makeover with...a coat of paint!
Do you like any of these? Or would you pick a totally different color? Please weigh in below...we'll share the before-and-after photos next week. (You'll die when you see the before:)
For the past couple years, we've talked about the fall trends, and first up this year: Polka dots! They're everywhere these days and look so cute, especially when mixed with tomboyish pieces, like jeans and sneakers. (This cozy sweater is my favorite.) Here a few pretty things...
1. Black belted dress, $55.
