Rainboots for everyday adventures (and traveling)

Two weeks ago, we talked about the five best shoes for traveling. But! A few readers pointed out that Hunter boots are tough squeeze into a suitcase (true). Happily, I was able to find two easy-to-wear-pack boots, which I love...
Loeffler Randall makes the chicest rain boots. (I always spot gorgeous women wearing these around downtown Manhattan.) The bonus is, they look like cool booties even when it's not raining. So you don't have to switch your shoes when you get to dinner or work. They're a splurge, but you could keep them your whole life! I'm saving my pennies for these:)
Redfoot makes foldable rain boots! How genius is that?! You could just pop them in your suitcase. They're lightweight and waterproof, and have a fleece lining for warmth.

Which would you choose? Which suits your personality best? xoxo

Happy birthday, Lucy!

Happy birthday to my twin sister Lucy, who's coming to visit this weekend! You have been the best to grow up with.

P.S. For her birthday, I got her this new book. Did you ever read this magical book growing up?! It was the inspiration.

Under the weather

This weekend Toby and I came down with a 24-hour flu of some sort, and it was not pretty. I could barely move or speak and at one point actually thought I might be dying. Poor Alex spent the weekend tending to us, and instead of the romantic candlelit birthday dinner he had planned, he made me dry toast and read my book out loud until I fell asleep (which was romantic in its own way:)

The happy news is that...we survived! Anyway, still recouping, and I'll see you guys tomorrow. xoxo Hope you're all feeling well.

Have a great weekend.

What are you doing this weekend? My birthday is coming up soon (eeks!) so we're having a cozy dinner at home on Saturday. I'm also getting a haircut today, and can't wait to get my hair washed. (I always half fall asleep:) Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

A cabin in Brooklyn!

Lace earrings.

Humblebrag is the funniest thing I've seen in ages.

How to create a smoky eye in 2 steps.

For when you're really, really hungry...

Homemade Skor bars.

NYC door knockers.

What a cute book--and reassuring!

Jenny is revealing her DIYs for our bedroom makeover. (She's a genius.)

Would love to try this restaurant.

Photo pillows.

How to throw yourself a pity party.

Now that's a tattoo.

Movies in a different era.

(Photo by Sharon Montrose)

Sh*t Liz Lemon Says

This video made me laugh out loud.

(My only question is, what about "nerds!")

Four things to say to a friend after a bad breakup

After graduating from college, I went through a rough breakup...
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What's your favorite (and sexiest) body part?

My friend L. and I were recently hanging out, when our conversation turned to dating and sex. "I feel amazing as soon as I take off my shirt," she admitted. "My breasts are my showpiece." It made me laugh; her confidence was inspiring.

I'm pale as a ghost and flat as a board, but I have to say, I really like my freckles, especially the Big Dipper constellation on my right thigh :) What do you love about your body? Your hair? Your eyes? Your legs?

(Photo from Victoria's Secret)

Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Sakura Bloom, a sling company founded by a mother of two in Massachusetts. She crafts baby slings using all natural fibers: linen and silk. Slings are surprisingly easy to use, and your baby nestles cozily up against your heartbeat. I'm a huge fan of them, and Toby loves cuddling up in ours; they're a lifesaver if you have a fussy baby or want your little one to nap while you're on the go. And slings look beautiful, too--my friend even wore hers to a wedding!

Today, Sakura Bloom is offering one lucky reader a $200 gift certificate to choose her favorite sling. Aren't they lovely? Which would you pick?

For a chance to win, please visit Sakura Bloom, and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: Miki is our winner. Thanks for playing.
(Top photos from our England summer vacation)

Baked potato bar

We recently invited six friends over for dinner, and instead of juggling recipes (we aren't fancy cooks), we did a baked potato bar! Alex baked the potatoes in the oven for an hour, and we put out bowls with tons of toppings. Our list of toppings: butter, black pepper, goat cheese, sautéed spinach, avocados, chicken, brie and cranberry sauce, chili, grated cheddar cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions and garlic. (I also wanted to do sour cream with caviar--how fabulous would that be? Next time!) It was super easy and delicious. What toppings do you like on baked potatoes? Any weird ones?

P.S. And a staring contest:)

(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)

My one-day hair makeover

The other morning, I gave my hair a makeover...
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Wine documentary

This soon-to-be-released documentary looks amazing: Somm is the story of four sommeliers attempting to pass the Master Sommelier exam, a grueling test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world. The exam covers literally anything having to do with wine, including history, geography and blind tastings. The four guys, who have been preparing for years, say that they're truly obsessed, and you can feel their athlete-like tension on the screen. What a fascinating peek into a competitive, high-brow world that most people never see. Would you watch this?

P.S. The 10 best documentaries, and the dos and don'ts of drinking wine.

(Thanks, Michelle)

Motherhood Mondays: My parents' two tricks

My third story about parenting moments actually features my parents. They did two little things I always liked...
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Motherhood Mondays: 5-minute game to make your child feel loved

Last night, I was reading the book Playful Parenting, when I came across an anecdote about a mother, who had just had a third child. Her older kids had gotten clingy because they felt that the new baby was taking away from their time with her. So, she made tp a genius game...
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Motherhood Mondays: Naming identical twins

Parenting brings lots of big life decisions (babysitters, sleep schedules), but most of parenthood really seems to be made up of smaller everyday moments (breakfasts, baths, haircuts, lullabies). So, it's inspiring to hear about times when parents come up with an awesome everyday idea and just nail it. Today I'll be sharing three of these!

First up: The way my friend Sharon named her identical twin boys...
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Have a relaxing weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? Alex and I are going to watch this short movie, just for fun. Also, our Christmas lights are still up around our apartment, and I think we're going to keep them up. Is that bad luck? Anyway, hope you have a wonderful weekend (stay warm!), and here are a fun great posts from around the web...

Etta James. xoxo

Things New Yorkers say.

What a pretty dress for a destination wedding!

Porn for pregnant ladies.

This British clothing is beautiful.

An interview with a one-year-old.

This bedroom art made me laugh.

You can fall out of bed and look good.

Whoa, this makes me excited for spring.

Have you seen this sweet book?

The sandwich artist.

Get-drunk-faster glasses.

Foods that go together.

Cabin love.

Lovely Indian coin pouches.

Btw, have you seen the movie Beginners? We just watched it, and it's great (and co-stars Christopher Plummer from The Sound of Music). Anyway, have a good one! xoxo
(Top photo from City Dog Magazine, bottom photo of a 1961 Hollywood audition for a black cat!)

Travel backpack

This BAGGU backpack looks genius for traveling. It folds up into its own tiny pocket. So, you can use it for picnics, beaches or exploring; and when you buy too many souvenirs, gifts, clothes and snacks on your trip--poof!--you have an extra bag to carry everything home on the plane. (You always need an extra bag, don't you find?) I just ordered a neon one for future trips.

What are your travel essentials? Red lipstick? Wool socks? A flashlight?
P.S. My #1 beauty product on vacation, five shoes for traveling, and 10 trips for traveling with a baby.

Thursday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Of a Kind, a fabulous website run by two amazing women. Each week, they choose an emerging designer with whom they collaborate on a limited edition piece. They sell these gorgeous pieces (think: rings, necklaces, striped shirts) exclusively on their site until they sell out. Today they're giving away this subtle leather bow cuff, which would look beautiful and dramatic with a button-down shirt. Good things come in small batches, right?

For a chance to win, please visit Of a Kind (consider signing up for their newsletter here so you'll never miss an edition release) and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: Alyssa T. is our winner. Thanks for playing.

Do you ever worry about your partner dying?

So, as you may know, I'm a worrier, but here's the worry always in the back of my mind...
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On relationships

Made me laugh.

(By GraphJam, via Wit & Delight)

Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from HATCH, a maternity line I'm in love with and one of my featured sponsors. Their clothes are chic and feminine, and the best part is that the fourteen easy pieces adapt to your body, so you can wear them before, during and after pregnancy. Today they're giving away this fabulous coat ($338) with an oversized collar, half-sleeves and a swing-coat silhouette that can button comfortably around that belly. How adorable is it? I'd love to wear it to brunch or shopping around New York, even when I wasn't pregnant.

For a chance to win, please visit HATCH (and feel free to like HATCH's Facebook page), and leave a comment with your favorite HATCH item below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: Lauren C. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. xo

Our bedroom makeover

This fall, Alex and I were in desperate need of a bedroom makeover. Since I work from home, I spend approximately a gazillion hours a week in our bedroom, and it was feeling a little drab. We were nervous about heading into a cold, dark New York winter with a dreary room, so we asked our dear friend Jenny Komenda--the genius interior decorator from Little Green Notebook--to help us make our bedroom bright and cheery, on a budget. Here are the before-and-after photos, taken by Oh Darling Photography, if you'd like to see...
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Which iPhone apps do you like?

So, I finally joined the 21st century and got an iPhone. Until now, I had been rocking an old-school flip phone, which most people assumed was a toy for Toby. But then I lost the battery, and when I tried to replace it, Verizon told me they didn't make it anymore. I was like, OK, I get it.

Now I'm excited to have a shiny new iPhone. My only question is: What apps are awesome? I know nothing about iPhone apps--except Hipstamatic--so I'd love to hear your recommendations! Which apps do you use? I'm clueless!

P.S. Me with my old phone:

Best chocolate mousse of your life

Whoa. The best chocolate mousse of your life uses only two ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes. Would be perfect for dinner parties.

(Photos by Cafe Fernando)

Motherhood Mondays: Hidden mothers

Years ago, for formal baby photos, the mother would hide under a blanket or rug and hold her baby still for the photographer. How bizarre are these photos?

P.S. More baby photos...

(I linked to this phenomenon a couple weekends ago, but can't help posting it, too. Via Retronaut and Flickr)

Bongos!

Toby got bongos for Christmas, and now every time we have friends over, he gives a private performance. His mad skills are only exceeded by his relentless enthusiasm. (I love this photo from Saturday night:)

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? The weather is getting chilly in New York, so we're having a couple friends over tomorrow evening for chili and cornbread. Maybe we'll go crazy and bust out the Taboo. :) Hope you have a cozy weekend, and here are a few great (mostly travel-themed) posts from around the web...

This made me laugh out loud.

The Polar Bear Club is officially nuts.

LOVE this red dress.

Baby rock stars.

Great old couples.

Cute short wedding dress.

Sleep mask for planes.

An underwater hiking trail.

Regarding travel shoes, a few readers asked for easy-to-pack rain boots. These short boots would do the trick!

A brilliant guide to Paris with kids.

FYI, Shopbop is having a huge winter sale.

Anne Lamott is writing a new book!!!

Freshly squeezed cocktails.

Plus, six Cup of Jo travel posts, just for fun:
* Maine perfume.
* Sleeping outside in Denmark.
* Bike rush hour.
* Iceland escape.
* Haha, people are awesome.
* The Cup of Jo Guide to NYC.

(Photos by Phillip Kalantzis Cope and Robert Cameron)

Friday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Cannon Lewis, an amazingly talented jewelry designer in Los Angeles. Her jewelry is sophisticated and playful, inspired by nature. She's offering one lucky reader her captivate necklace, with turquoise enclosed in 14K gold (worth $580). The beautiful pendant has a secret engraving on the back: "The outside is only a movement of the symphony within." Would you love to wear it close to your heart?

For a chance to win, please explore the Cannon Lewis online shop (she has such gorgeous pieces!) and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: Bridget M. is our winner. Thanks for playing.

Bonus for all readers: Get 20% off your order with the code CUPOFJO for the rest of the month.

5 weekend getaways near NYC

New York is an awesome place to live, but sometimes you want to escape the crowds. Luckily, there are five amazing destinations less than 2 1/2 hours from the city, so you can treat yourself to a weekend getaway...
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Wedding in Italy

This pitch-perfect Italian wedding has made the blog rounds this past week, but, in honor of this travel-themed week, I wanted to share my favorite photos...
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