For the next week, ASOS is giving Cup of Jo readers a whopping 20% off all full-priced items with the code CUPOFJO20.
The Flower Recipe Book is a new book about flower arranging. The clever twist is that the tutorials are written like cookbook recipes—with lists of ingredients and step-by-step instructions. Here are three simple recipes, if you'd like to see...Read More >
Did you read this amazing discovery in the New York Times...Read More >
Mother's Day is two weeks away, so I'd love to ask: What has your mom taught you?
(This post is sponsored by Coach Love. All words and ideas are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Cup of Jo possible)
Alex snapped a few belly shots last night. I'm 31 weeks, which means I'm about 7 months along. The baby has started to lurch around in my belly, I'm starting to feel enormous, and we've been washing teeny onesies in preparation. We're getting close! One surprising thing is that the baby feels so heavy, which is apparently normal for second pregnancies. But if I walk more than three blocks, I have to lug my belly up with both hands. My friend jokes that it's like carrying a bag of groceries, which sadly rings true:)
What are you up to this weekend? My dad is coming to visit, and Toby is super excited to show off his violin. (He's been practicing:) Tomorrow I'm also volunteering at a city school, whose arts program has been completely cut, to talk to kids about blogging as a career. We're doing a craft project, where they'll cut out magazine photos and quotes to create their own "blog" on paper. Looking forward to it. Have a great weekend, and here are some fun links from around the web...
(Comic by Tom Cheney for The New Yorker, via Abbey)
Have you ever meditated? I recently hung out with a new friend, Louise, who grew up in a Iowa town known for transcendental meditation. At just five years old, she was taught to meditate by repeating a mantra while she played with toys. At her high school, all the students would meditate for three hours a day. Amazing, right?
Last week's challenge was to interview your parents. If you did it, did you find out anything surprising? I did...Read More >
Tattly's temporary tattoos would be cute to wear on a date. 
Today's giveaway is from StyleMint, the online clothing line that offers personal style recommendations and features a collection of pretty T-shirts, dresses, and outerwear. Each top is just $29.99, and they offer free shipping and returns. Today they'll be giving three winners three StyleMint credits each (that's a $90 value for each winner) to use towards any piece on the site. Which would you choose? (I'd go for this striped green dress.)
This success chart by Demetri Martin rings so true. Everyone seems to face unexpected obstacles and detours in their career path—those it's-always-darkest-before-the-dawn moments.
What's your favorite pizza place in NYC? After living here for eleven years, I can definitely say that the best pizza I've had is at Co. in Chelsea. Have you ever been there? Co.'s owner, Jim Lahey, is a bread-making genius ("the man can do wonders with flour and water," says the New York Times); since New York pizza is known for its thin crust, the danger is that it can taste as dry as cardboard, but Lahey has a way of making his pizzas pillowy and chewy in just the right way. He also adds bold toppings—like, sauerkraut, arugula, leeks, pecorino—that elevate his pizzas from kids-birthday-party catering to grown-up fare. Here's a recipe that will blow your mind...
My beloved bike was stolen yesterday, so I'm in the market for a new one. (Curses, NYC! It will be the sixth bike I've had since I moved here, crazily enough.) But on a happier note, how awesome are these bike clothes by a Seattle designer? This skirt, for example, unzips in the back to reveal 12" of additional fabric for easy pedaling. The fabric is stretchy, and the skirt has a higher waist for coverage while leaning forward. Genius.
Last night, I had a hard time sleeping. I kept waking up in the middle of the night obsessing about random things (my specialty). Even my pregnancy pillow didn't help.
By now, I'm sure everyone has seen the viral Dove beauty campaign showing that women are more beautiful than they think. In the three-minute ad, a forensic scientist draws women twice—once from their own description and once from someone else's description. By comparing the two photos, the women can see that they're overly critical of their looks and prettier than they realize.
Recently Toby became randomly obsessed with violins. Alex and I were trying to figure out where this new fascination came from. A street musician? A Dora the Explorer episode? Thin air? However it started, Toby's love of the violin is a real thing. He draws pictures of violins. He pretends that his books are violins and holds them up to his neck. Every evening, instead of watching a kids TV show, he asks for bluegrass videos on YouTube. (Annie is his favorite.) 
The giddy moment we realized that the case could double as a backpack!
This Tuesday evening, Toby and I were at home minding our own business, when Alex went to a work party and met Robert De Niro! The actor is generally considered gruff and unapproachable, but Alex said he was friendlier than he had expected. "He was also shorter than me, which was good news," Alex told me. Haha. Hope you have a good weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web... 
(Top photo of Robert De Niro; bottom photo of Saipua flowers)
Even though I'm blind as a bat, I never had prescription sunglasses before. I figured I'd wear my glasses for important things (driving, movies) and then fumble around in sunglasses at the playground or on vacation. But! This year, Alex finally convinced me to get them, and now I honestly don't know why I waited so long. I CAN SEE!!!! :)
How much do you know about your parents? Obviously, you know the basics, but how often do you really ask them about themselves? Here's the fifth challenge...Read More >
Last week's challenge was to use vocabulary words in regular conversation. How did you do? I discovered something awesome...Read More >
The last time Shopbop had a huge sale, a few of you were disappointed to miss it, so I promised I'd let you know about the next one. They're giving a whopping 20% off today and tomorrow with the code WEAREFAMILY13. (I love this bag and watch.)
While growing up in Michigan, my family once drove up to rocky Mackinac Island, where cars aren't allowed, so people get around either by bike or horse-drawn carriage. (Seriously.) But the coolest part of the island is its fudge shops. You stop in, freckled and skinned-kneed from adventures, and sample the rich fudge that made us 10-year-old swoon. Well, to bring back that magic, Kim from Lovin' From the Oven is sharing her favorite fudge recipe that will especially appeal to the s'mores lovers out there! Here goes...Read More >
Three years ago, I was psyched about the idea of Summer Picnic Club, where you'd meet friends at different parks around town every other Saturday. Wouldn't that be fun? Then Toby arrived, and in the haze of first-time parenthood—when it's hard enough to even leave the house—it never happened. 
What do you think? Would you be up for it? Any go-to picnic foods? (Alex brings shrimp:)
Love this little sweatshirt from Australian etsy shop Paul & Paula. That's all :)
Toby's third birthday is coming up next month, and he's obsessed with it this year. Needless to say, we've daydreamed a LOT about the birthday cake. Since I'm not a big baker, I wasn't sure what to make (last year, we just served strawberries!). But at the playground the other day, my friend Maureen revealed a genius idea...
What are your plans this weekend? We're going to the Dumbo carousel with Toby and, once he's in bed, heading to this yummy restaurant with some friends. (Fried chicken and cheddar waffles for dinner? Count me in!) Also, Louis C.K.'s HBO special premieres this Saturday at 10pm, if you're interested. That dude is hilarious. Have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...
Yesterday Toby took his girlfriend for a ride on his motorcycle (aka a lion statue at the playground). These two kill me, they really are in love!
And I had another sonogram at the hospital this week. How sweet is that profile?! I can usually keep it together, but when I saw this little face, I started crying at the doctor's office. I cannot wait to hold this little one in my arms. So the big question remains: Does this look like a boy or a girl? :) (I'm strongly thinking boy.)
Have you guys heard of brag books? They're accordion-style books featuring eight photos, which you can carry in your handbag. They would make a lovely gift for Mother's Day, don't you think? We made them for Toby's grandmothers, and you could also make copies for beloved babysitters and teachers. They take about five minutes to create, and they're so sweet and heartfelt.
What do you think? See Pinhole Press's complete Mother's Day Gift Guide for more ideas, and get 25% off all photo books with the code BOOKLOVE, good through April 16th.
