Have a wonderful weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? I'm excited to just CHILL. Also, we're going to a Christmas party and I'm looking forward to wearing this little black dress (and these, haha). Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

Head's up: 25% off at J.Crew this weekend.

This New Yorker poem made me laugh out loud. (Busted.)

Chocolate-chip-peanut-butter-oatmeal cookies.

10 commonly misunderstood words.

Bravo!!!! Women are officially funny.

A ball of Christmas lights.

Pet peeves in a marriage.

Want a balcony? Add one.

Mathematics of elevators. (P.S. Freaks me out.)

Urban camping.

Interesting take on the Bachelor. Seriously.

Foldable Me made me laugh.

Slam-dunk cheap gift for guys, if you're still looking.

A coloring book I secretly want myself.

Awwww, teeny bow ties.

Cool photos of Will and Kate. And congrats to them!

And, of course, here's the complete Cup of Jo 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. Thank you so much for reading! xoxo

(Photo of Mick, inspired by 50 years of Rolling Stones style)

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Have a fun weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We're going out for pasta tonight (I already decided on this) and tomorrow my friend is having a baby shower. I'm excited to share the rest of the 2012 gift guide, coming up next week! Have a good one, and if you're in a blog-reading mood, here are 15 fun links from around the web...

Woody Allen answers 12 unusual questions.

Why you should tell your children you're beautiful.

Cool tape.

New York in a nutshell.

Cupboards: Don't forget the inside!

What a pretty skirt.

Blueberry breakfast cake.

An airplane school? Toby would flip.

Let's bring back the dinner party.

Would you wear reflexology sandals?

10 blog posts every new mom should read. (Thank you, Stroller Traffic.)

This guy's a cutie.

An inspiring 103-year-old grandmother.

A cute snowflake diaper for the holidays.

After I wrote about being happy to see your children, one reader pointed out that your eyes should light up for everyone you love, which was a great point. Sometimes when Alex gets home, I'm harried and toss a quick hello over my shoulder. I'm going to change that asap!

Also, after the enthusiastic response to COATT morse code jewelry, the designer is offering 20% off to Cup of Jo readers until December 7th. Just email her at info@coattonline.com with CUP OF JO in the subject line.

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New little darlings

My friend's son's nursery is filled with these baby animal photographs, and apparently her little boy says "good night" to each one every evening. How cute is that? Today photographer Sharon Montrose just launched two new little darlings—a baby camel and a baby zebra. What little faces...
And this video broke my heart...(P.S. Here's their holiday sale.)

(Animal wallpaper by Anthropologie)

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Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Are you traveling or staying home? We're heading to Brooklyn to have dinner with friends, and I'm psyched to sit around their fireplace. Hope you have a delicious day with lots of pumpkin pie and loose pants. Meanwhile, here are some fun posts from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

Can't wait for this movie.

10 leftover turkey recipes.

Pretty colorblock dress.

How to get a North Pole postmark.

A ski lodge in NYC? But that's impossible!

David Letterman kissed Amy Poehler (on the lips).

Five tiny NYC apartments.

This moving gift guide is insane!

I'll be wearing these guys all weekend.

Ira Glass, I love you.

Red suede shoes.

This new book looks intriguing.

And thank you again for all the heartfelt comments on the post about people deciding not to have kids. It was a fascinating discussion.

(Photos of us from last summer)

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Have a cozy weekend.

What are your plans for the weekend? We're going to our friends' annual fall party (complete with mulled cider) and also taking Toby to visit our neighborhood firetrucks. For New Yorkers, the Renegade holiday market looks great. (Can you believe the holidays kick off next week?!) Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

An awesome buffalo!

Goodnight moon...the app.

Who's going to see Les Miserables?

Love that Lena Dunham took off her uncomfy heels in the middle of a speech.

Creme brulee cheesecake.

This bacon scarf is not kidding around.

If Wes Anderson had directed Star Wars.

A Swedish school tries to take away gender lines. A little too far?

Obama hugs.

Perfect hostess gift.

The most flattering jeans.

Ouch, what a restaurant review!

A pencil skirt for bike-riders.

Made me laugh.

A beautiful calendar to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief.

And a little note: I have more sponsored posts than usual this holiday season because of some inadvertent overbooking (read more here about my blog and career, if you'd like), so I truly apologize for any overload and thank you for hanging in there. I'm still getting the hang of all this! The good news is, I like the brands I'm working with and am glad to recommend them. Thank you again for supporting the sponsors who make my blog possible.

(Top photo by Luisa Brimble)

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Venice under water

Flooding in Venice is pretty common, but the most recent flood left 70% of central Venice under water. I'm amazed by how people seem to be taking it in stride—ordering espresso, having pizza for lunch and even swimming in Piazza San Marco!

P.S. Remember these photos from four years ago?

(Photos by AP Photo/Getty/Reuters, via The Atlantic)

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Have a beautiful weekend.

What are your plans for this weekend? We're excited to go to a magic show tomorrow (more on that later:), and then we'll be hosting the big bake sale on Sunday, so please come say hello! It would be great to see you. Samantha also made gorgeous prints to support the effort. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few great posts from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

Winter's coming.

A restaurant in an old classroom! (You even sit at desks.)

Now that's a before-and-after.

Beautiful bride.

The best signs from the Simpsons.

Wow, dark red lipstick looks good on...everyone. (This crimson is a good one to try.)

My favorite picture of Obama thus far.

Make a reading nook with an old crib mattress.

Marion, what a dress!

Ideal shelf for booklovers.

Delicious cookbook.

10 travel websites worth bookmarking.

Update: Louis CK just added two shows in Staten Island on November 17th to benefit the hurricane relief efforts. Whoot whoot!

Have a good one! xoxo

(Photograph by Dane Shitagi for the Ballerina Project)

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Have a great weekend.

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? We're going to our friends' house for dinner, and I'm psyched to see the hilarious Louis C.K. on Saturday Night Live. Hope you have a good one, and here's a short list of fun posts from around the web...

Rainbows.

Put an egg on it.

Before-and-after bedroom.

What a stunning wedding dress.

Marvelous cookies.

Fascinating post on toddler discipline.

Cool business card stamp.

Meet the candidates.

City Hall wedding style.

My brother took this photo last night from the Empire State Building. Wow!

Here are some great ways to help people affected by the hurricane.

Plus, three posts you may have missed:
* Hot toddies.
* Missing phone.
* Tiny dancer.

This is a shorter list than usual this week, so find more on Pinterest, if you'd like! Also, I just found out that J.Crew is giving 25% off and free shipping until Thursday, if you're doing any winter shopping. Have a good one, everyone. xoxo

(Photo from Moonrise Kingdom)

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Have a great weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? Alex's birthday is TODAY (whoot whoot!), so Toby and I took him out to a yummy breakfast, and late tonight we're driving to Maryland to visit our cousins. We're all crashing at their house, so I see some sleeping bags in our future! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few great links from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

Art-inspired wedding cakes.

What a gorgeous nursery!!!

Sneak peek at Mad Men.

Survival dinner.

Holiday glitter.

Famous NYC apartments.

Are you smart enough for gifted kindergarten?

Beautiful print for charity.

No more snacking in Rome!

What pretty blue glasses.

How to blow up photos.

LOVE these children's clothes.

And I had an idea: If you'd like, post your photos of eating something new to my Facebook page and I'll feature a bunch on the blog next week. Would be fun to see everyone in action! Thank you so much, and have a great weekend! xoxo

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Have a wonderful weekend.

What are your plans for this fall weekend? Our friend Rob recently directed a movie (a movie!), and we're going to see the rough cut tonight! We're supposed to give constructive feedback, although I'm sure we'll love it. Also, on the suggestion of a reader, I've been reading this funny, heartwarming memoir, and I'd highly recommend it, if you're looking for a new book. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

A moment of calm.

Unfinished portraits.

Hilarious opinions on the first lady debate (which never actually happened).

Perks of fall.

Goodnight kisses.

Twinkle curtain.

Oh, Mick, what a doll you are.

Holy chocolate pots!

As a woman in my thirties, I have to stop saying dude.

17 things Tina Fey and Amy Poehler should be in charge of.

Liz Lemon in a box.

The balance of being a mama.

Larry David (inadvertently) saves the day.

What an incredible website design.

Take photos WITH your kids.

Human communication.

And another amazing friends & family sale: Loeffler Randall is giving 20% off their gorgeous boots and shoes with the code LRFRIEND20, until Sunday night. Have a good one! xoxo

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Have a great fall weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? A pipe burst in our apartment last Saturday night (drag), so we've been staying with friends all week. Right now, we're staying at my friend Leigh's house in New Jersey, and I have to say, Toby has become a big fan of the suburbs, with grassy backyards, basement playrooms and minivans you can climb around in. Our apartment is going to seem teeny when we go back! Hope you have a great one, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

If you are around NYC this weekend, Stone Barns is having its annual Harvest Fest.

Everyone's favorite scent.

Lena Dunham is writing a book!

What an inspiring take on beauty.

Little artist costumes.

Easy apple breakfast.

A tattoo for overenthusiasts (like myself).

I want to eat this cookbook cover.

A mountaintop wedding.

Shades of autumn.

Eight birthday traditions to try.

Rad Obama stamp.

Dog ears.

Who wants to ride in this hot-tub boat?!

A few readers asked for more loafer suggestions, so here are:
* Penny loafers.
* Gold loafers.
* Oxblood loafers.
* Less expensive loafers.

Plus, three fall posts you may have missed:
* Hot air balloon ride.
* Pumpkin cupcakes.
* Being outside.

Finally, thank you for all your heartfelt comments on the sleep post. It's amazing to witness how much everyone loves their children and wants what's best for them, and the beauty of that is how we can all figure out what that means for our sweet families. xoxo

(Photos by Stephanie Congdon Barnes for 3191)

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Winter blues antidotes

As the days grow cooler and darker, I get nervous about winter blues. So this fall, I've been brainstorming ways to make the season feel brighter and cheerier...

* host articles clubs and cookie swaps
* watch all the Best Picture movies of the past fifty years
* cook our way through a favorite cookbook
* invite friends over for board games, like Settlers of Catan
* string white fairy lights all over the apartment

Also, this sounds crazy, but one way to cheer up dreary days is to use a sun lamp. Have you ever tried it? Alex had one when we first moved in together, and at first I dismissed it as new-age-y and strange. But then I tried it (you just turn it on for about 15 minutes in the morning) and was shocked by how my mood just lightened. You can actually feel yourself getting cheerier. Apparently the lamp mimics sunlight, so it gives you that natural boost on dark days. Now it sits on my desk all year!



What do you do to help ensure a happy winter? I'd love to hear your tips. xo

(Photo by The Sartorialist)

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Fall-themed week

The weather finally feels crisp and breezy (perfect for wool sweaters!), so I'd love to do fall-themed posts this week. To kick things off, here are four ways to decorate pumpkins, including making them gold. Wouldn't they look pretty on a mantle or a dinner table?

(Photos by Roberto Caruso for Chatelaine)

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Have a great weekend.

What are your plans for the weekend? Crazily enough, we're actually getting back on a plane to Atlanta for a long-awaited trip to visit Alex's sister! The weather forecast predicts storms, so bookstores and movies may be in order. If you're in a giggly mood, Demetri Martin's hour-long special premieres on Comedy Central this Saturday at 10pm. He's hilarious, don't you think? Hope you have a great one, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

Sweet wedding moment.

The Queen talks back to her mom.

Fargo is becoming a TV series!

Antelope Canyon? Holy smokes.

What beautiful street style.

Daydreaming about these shoes.

Lasagna without noodles.

Cute birthday card.

Bill and Hilary's wedding day.

Choosing colors for your home.

What it feels like to fall asleep to a DVD.

Bravo! Diapers.com created a new site featuring only natural products.

Plus, three past posts you might have missed:
* Marshmallow willpower.
* Romantic comedies.
* Breastfeeding in public.

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Have a great fall weekend.

What are your plans for the weekend? Tomorrow is the first day of fall! Looking forward to crisp breezes, apple cider and wool sweaters. (Time to bust out the moccasins:) This weekend, we're also taking Toby to see Mary Poppins. It will be the first play he's ever seen, and I'm curious to see how he likes it. Thank you also for all the helpful feedback on the redesign; I appreciate your comments so much. Have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

A new movie about Detroit.

The best word ever.

French wedding dresses.

A fascinating article about a high-school cheating scandal.

Would you do spider lashes?

Peanut-butter-cup brownies.

Cutest rooms.

Wow, now that's a bike-riding mama!

Awwww, what a face.

Tomboy style.

How Toby feels about sandwiches.

This restaurant predicts your dessert with a magic trick.

If you're in a shopping mood, don't forget this.

And, on a more serious note, the wonderful Jenny has been in the hospital this week. Thankfully, I heard from her husband over email that she's getting much better every day. Sending lots of love her way. Update: Yay, a note from her!

(Photo by Nikole Herriott/instagram)

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Have a wonderful weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We're having two friends over tonight for a homecooked meal, and then tomorrow we're going to this food fair in Dumbo, Brooklyn. I'm hoping the weather will cool off enough for jackets! Hope you enjoy the fall crispness in the air, and here are a few fun links around the web...

A song for your weekend.

In their eyes.

Glow-in-the-dark bike.

A road trip around Iceland.

Portrait of a mother.

Love these boots.

An interview with the brilliant Mindy Kaling.

Each of these paintings was done on a PENNY.

Will you see Wuthering Heights?

Photo tote.

Dinner: A Love Story is another cookbook we love.

These wedding photos are insane.

Cutest French kids clothes.

Eeps!

An adorable job listing (seriously).

My Berlin Kitchen. Congrats, Luisa!

If you're in a reading mood, find more on Pinterest and Facebook, if you'd like. Have a good one! xoxo

(Photo by Nicole Mlakar)

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Deer beds

Remember the deer bed photograph from my friend Abbey's beautiful home?

Here's the story behind it: Photographer Katherine Wolkoff followed deer trails in Block Island to photograph deer beds. Apparently, deer press down the vegetation to make a sleeping place where predators won't see them. They never use the same bed twice, but the imprints can last for a few days. Katherine found the experience incredibly emotional, and she chose to make her prints 40x50 inches, almost life size. How moving, don't you agree?
(Top four photos by Katherine Wolkoff, bottom photo by Seth Smoot for Cup of Jo)

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Have a sweet weekend.

Funny how now that it's September, it suddenly really does feel like fall. We even saw a dude wearing a tweed blazer yesterday; he was ready to go:) Looking forward to apple cider and pumpkins, and I just ordered this shirt for crisp days. What are your plans for the weekend? Here are a few great links from around the web...

A song for your weekend. #lennoncrush

American Airlines gets a makeover.

Instead of an office, how about a houseboat?

Girly camera straps.

Hilarious book.

Love Hillary's expression.

Croissant French toast? Brilliant.

Celebrity teeth. (Wow.)

Wonderful motherhood post.

Take a break.

Would you wear legging jeans?

Made me laugh.

This documentary about young models looks really compelling.

It's a boy!

More on Facebook and Pinterest, if you'd like. Have a great weekend. xoxo

(Photo by Michael Graydon, via Herriott Grace)

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Have a happy long weekend.

What are your plans for this Labor Day weekend? I'm excited to come home, scoop Toby up into my arms and cover him with kisses. Oh, that little bunny! Hope you have a great weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

A song for your weekend. (Dude, acapella!)

Hipster soups.

A most unusual test.

Who wants a pet lamb?

This is what a scientist looks like.

Would you do a mirror fast?

OMG, this gave me a heart attack. (Thanks, Dad.)

Cute cute cute.

12 fantastic recipes for corn.

This awesome blog has now published a book!

Homemade baby wipes.

Cookie dough bites.

Can you believe this is a marble sculpture?

These would be perfect for the beach.

Plus, three past posts you may have missed:
* Touch tours.
* Do you get freaked out at night?
* Photobooth proposal.

Have a good one!

(Photo by Maddie Joyce)

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Have a relaxing weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? My mom is coming to visit from Michigan, and we're having a ladies night. (We're thinking dinner here followed by this movie). I can't wait to see her. Hope you have a great weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

Canned air from New York and Paris. That's all.

This perfume sounds fantastic.

This squeaky door sounds like Miles Davis.

Is Bill Murray's party tour for real? That's so weird/awesome!

An outdoor shower in NYC.

Dancing like a 4-year-old.

Perfect.

Vacation placemats.

Pinterest is making me hungry.

People really want the president's beer.

Make your own tote.

Want to be Facebook friends? (P.S. Toby went on a date!)

And finally, on a more serious note, how devastating about the shooting at the Empire State Building today. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

(Photo by Michael Graydon)

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