Have a great weekend.

What are you doing this weekend? My dad's coming to visit from Michigan, and we're going out for pasta and to this rad exhibit. Toby will be showing off his new walking backwards skills, which he thinks is the same as doing the moonwalk. More or less! Have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few great posts from around the web...

Who wants coffee?

Raddest photos of fireflies.

Made me laugh.

Back to the Future comes to Broadway.

Rainbow nails.

Amsterdam is so cold right now that you can ice skate on the canals!

Double cuteness.

This gives me spring fever.

Toby and I are equally enamored with this great book.

Yes! Murray's Cheese has a tumblr!

Plus, I did two little interviews: for Leoffler Randall and DwellStudio.

Have a good one! xoxo

Bright pink lipstick

I usually wear red lipstick, but I'm really digging the hot pink lipstick that's popping up everywhere these days. I'm planning to try some at Sephora this weekend, and I've heard that best colors are NARS Carthage (if you want matte) or Stila Caprice (if you want shine). Would you wear it? Could pink be the new red?

(Photos by Luca Cannonieri for Diane von Furstenberg, People Magazine and Daymion Mardel)

Which European cities are good for family trips?

Which European cities do you think are kid-friendly? We're daydreaming about pinching our pennies and possibly taking Toby to Europe this summer (he'll be two!), and I'd love to find a city that would be great with a little rascal in tow.

Which cities in Europe would you recommend for a family trip? Yolanda wrote a brilliant guide to Paris with kids, and Louisa Kamps wrote a beautiful essay on a family trip to Amsterdam. Thank you SO much for any insights! xoxo

(Photo of Berlin by Travel & Leisure)

Have a great weekend.

What are you doing this weekend? Alex and I are taking Toby to ride a miniature train and then going to a romantic dinner on Saturday night (no babies allowed:) I've already perused the menu and am going to get the lamb meatballs! Hope you have a relaxing weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

City silhouettes.

Four clever nail polish ideas.

This door sign made me laugh.

Chevron earrings?! Love.

This makes me want to go jogging.

Yummy easy dinner.

A nursery inspired by Steve McQueen.

On finding a career you love.

Marble chocolate bars.

A new issue of Domino Magazine on April 17th!!!!

Heart earrings and a love necklace.

What a beautiful description of laundry.

Dogs barking the Star Wars theme.

Lauren Fleishman's photo series features New York couples that have been together more than 50 years. Inspiring. xoxo

(Photo by Sage Tails)

A funny bedroom tip for Valentine's Day...

A while back, I had dinner with friends, including an acupuncturist. We started talking about dating, and she revealed something surprising...
Read more »

Do or Don't: Leopard print flats

I've always been hesitant when it comes to leopard print (too Mrs. Robinson), but recently I've spotted a few gorgeous women wearing leopard-print flats. They seem like a perfect subtle way to work a bit of sexiness into your ensemble. I'd love to wear them with regular jeans and sweaters this spring, and feel instantly womanly and alluring.

What do you think? Would you wear them? Here are five cute ones: Lola, Daniblack, Loeffler Randall, Cole Haan and French Sole.
(Photos by Mr. Newton, GastroChic and Leigh)

Motherhood Mondays: Family travel

Since 2005, English photographer Tom Robinson has photographed his and his girlfriend's feet as they've traveled the world. (Remember this post?) Well, in 2011, they added a third set of feet: their daughter Matilda. How adorable and adventurous are these photos?

P.S. Tom's other genius project, I'm Going to Be a Dad.

(Via Double Takes)

Have a great weekend.

My darlings, what are you doing this weekend? My twin sister is coming to visit to celebrate our birthday. I already got cheap Champagne from Whole Foods, and I'm excited to chat with her and catch up and do nerdy sisterly things like pluck our eyebrows (we've already planned it:). Have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

Slam-dunk bathroom makeover.

Would you get married at home?

After getting sick last week, this card made me laugh out loud.

How to make your ankles sexy.

Alex wrote a fascinating article about defriending.

Striped doormat.

Funny tip about baby names.

Beautiful business cards.

Hidden in paint.

Toby has watched this video about 8,000 times.

Watchin' Downton Abbey.

(Photo from The Godfather)

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)

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!)

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:

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)

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)

Five best shoes for traveling

What shoes do you bring when you travel? I used to get stumped, but over the past few years, I've thankfully come across five options that work really well.
For walking around big cities, like Paris, tan ballet flats are chic, comfy and won't make you look like a tourist.
For swimming at the beach, red-and-white striped espadrilles are fresh and pretty (and more grown-up than rubber flip flops).
For canoeing, camping and drinking beers with friends, Bensimon sneakers are adorable, tomboyish and last forever.
For exploring rainy towns and eating your weight in fish and chips, Hunter boots are the obvious classic. Your jeans will stay clean, and you'll look lanky and beautiful. Even the Queen wears them! (P.S. These short boots are cute, too, and might be easier to pack.)
For road trips with your crush, Minnetonka moccasins are my favorite. They're effortlessly cool (I spot them all over downtown NYC) and sturdy enough for whatever the day brings--and you feel like you're wearing bedroom slippers. I'll admit, I wear these everyday. :)

Which of these five shoes would you wear? What are your go-to travel shoes?

(Photos via Pinterest; top photo by Real Simple, beer girls photo by Brian Ferry)

Have a fun weekend.

What are your plans this weekend? Tonight Alex and I are going to our friend's belated holiday party, complete with dressy attire, Champagne and presents. Meanwhile, Toby remains addicted to his sound machine. :) Hope you stay warm and cozy, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

The invisible mother = so strange! (Thanks, Emma)

Pretty polka dots.

Yummy scrambled eggs.

I LOVE this coat, even though I'm not pregnant.

Matching pajamas is the cutest tradition.

Vintage Esquire covers.

Clever business card.

Would love to wear these red ballet flats with jeans.

Bathroom decor.

Questions for a baker.

How great is this chopped haircut?

Seven hair resolutions for 2012.

Wow, Kate can sing!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Are you excited for 2012? I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you, full of love, happiness and surprises. Let's take a quick look back over the past year, if you'd like...
Along with Jamie and Caroline, we did a series of 8 hair tutorials, and we'd love to do more this year! (Any requests?)
I launched the Motherhood Mondays series, where we've talked openly and honestly about everything about babies and new parenthood, from having a boy and how to talk to little girls to going outside all winter, a complete baby registry guide and kissing babies on the mouth (I have LOVED discussing all things baby with you; it has been so encouraging, eye-opening and amazing. Thank you for that)...
As part of Motherhood Mondays, I featured a weeklong series about work/life/baby balance -- a topic near and dear to my heart! -- from which I learned so much. (You are all such amazing women!!) We also shared dads' points of view, like 8 confessions of a new father, kissing your husband, and dads' birth stories.
After ten years living in Manhattan, I was thrilled to share my Guide to New York City, with my favorite places to eat, stay, shop and play, as well as how to flag a cab and how NOT to look like a tourist.
We talked about food, including the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, avocado popsicles and how to serve a perfect cheese plate...
...and how to drink wine correctly...
We started Relationship Thursdays, and discussed things like finding your soulmate, guys with beards, seeing movies alone, worrying too much, how to introduce people, first discovering sex and what guys think about while kissing...
...and, of course, weddings, like 10 unforgettable moments, genius proposals, simple rings and getting hitched at City Hall...
We chatted about fashion, like fall trends, tattoo girls and sunglasses...
Home decor, like ivy houses, throw blankets and our friends' rad apartment...
Beauty, like the magic of blush, nail polish and perfume...
Travel, like a gorgeous rental house, a Dutch subway slide, Breathless and our own vacations (during which we learned how to travel with a noisy baby)...
Personal posts, like birthday cheese, Toby's first steps and our date nights (including our very first date)...

Plus, I loved doing design round-ups, including 8 backpacks, 6 wedding rings, 5 books, 10 movies and how to buy houseplants...

...and Do or Don't posts, including surprise parties, false eyelashes and embracing pale skin (it was fun to hear your thnughts!)...
We ended the year with the 2011 holiday gift guides for men, women and little dudes...

...and, as always, had a bunch of just-for-fun posts, like funny comics, a trick for helping houseguests relax, winter blues and an idea for an Articles Club (starting this month!).

This year has been a wonderful gift, and I'm so thrilled to have such amazing women (plus a few guys!) reading the blog. You inspire me with your smart, funny and often profound comments everyday, and I can't express how grateful I am to have you here. Very much looking forward to exciting adventures in 2012. A kiss for all of you!

P.S. One year ago.