Have a fun weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We're planning to hit up some water playgrounds and eat our weight in lime popsicles. Either that or have a baby! Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

A song to kick off your weekend.

We've been playing this old-school game, and it's surprisingly fun.

How giraffes sleep.

Why Parisians poke their Camembert.

Brilliant New Yorker cover this week.

How to get sexy beach hair.

Astonishing photos of NYC subways.

Dinner party dessert in less than a minute.

18 joys of summer, including tomato sandwiches and good books.

Book covers starring Parks & Recreation characters.

Appreciating happiness.

The Brits wear cool hats.

Were you tricked by this optical illusion?

And if you're heading to the pool or beach, here are 3 hairstyles for wet hair.

Finally, as I'm sure you know, Google Reader is shutting down this Monday. If you'd like to follow Cup of Jo on a feed, you can join the awesome Feedly, which can actually import all your Google Reader blogs with one click. You can also follow Cup of Jo by friending my Facebook page or following my Twitter, where I provide links to all my daily posts. Thank you so much!

(Photo by John Loengard)

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Cheap date night: Biore strips

Our baby must be cozy because I haven't gone into labor yet! My due date is still a couple days away, but my doctor really expects the baby to arrive early, so we're on pins and needles.

In the meantime, Alex and I have been trying to work in some pre-baby Last Hurrahs—going to a romantic Italian restaurant, hanging with friends, staying up late watching movies. So, last night, we decided to do an at-home spa night, where we drank sparkling water, gave each other massages (and foot rubs), and busted out...Biore Pore Strips.

Have you ever tried them? You stick them on your nose, wait ten minutes and then peel them off, along with all the dirt and blackheads. I know, it's gross. But! They are weirdly awesome and satisfying, and the funny thing is, guys love them. When I was younger, I used to even bring a pack home at Christmas for my male relatives, who would all jump at the chance to compare their used strips. It's a rare mix of guy humor and girly pampering.
(Haha, I spared Alex from posing for a photo.) It was a really fun night, and I'd recommend them if you want to do something amusing and random one evening.
P.S. Just for fun, here's Toby dressed up as Daddy earlier that evening. #nailedit

P.S. 10 NYC dates, including fire-escape drinks and a terrifying trapeze class.

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What British people say vs. what they really mean

This translation chart made me laugh out loud...
My dad is English, and when we were in high school, my sister asked him if she could drive into Detroit with her boyfriend to see a band. He said, "I'd rather you not." She went anyway. When he got mad later, she was confused: "But you never said I couldn't go; you said you'd rather I not, while I decided I'd rather."

P.S. British words that Americans use, and what English sounds like to foreigners.

(Via Today I Learned)

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Wednesday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is from Erica Weiner, a wonderful jewelry designer based in New York. Her new 1909 collection—named for the year her grandmother was born—is inspired by antique handmade jewelry.

Today, one lucky reader will receive these compass rose earrings ($330 value). On ancient maps, the compass rose symbol showed the cardinal directions: North, South, East and West. These pretty studs are made with tiny diamonds, and you can choose between 14K rose gold or 14K yellow gold. Beautiful, right?

For a chance to win, please visit Erica Weiner's online shop and leave a comment below. A winner will be randomly selected tomorrow. Please be sure to leave a way to contact you (email, twitter, etc). Good luck! Update: The winner has been emailed. Thanks for playing.

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Food Huggers

Everyone's been there: You have half a lemon (or onion, apple, tomato, cucumber...) in the fridge, and by the time you're ready to use it, it's dry and shriveled. Food waste is a big problem, needless to say. Well, these Food Huggers might be here to save the day. The round silicone caps fit onto the ends of sliced fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh. Here's the Kickstarter campaign, where $18 gets you a set of four. It's good for both the pocketbook and environment not to have to throw away as much stuff.
Thoughts? Would you use them? Any other smart ways to store cut fruits and veggies?

(Via The Kitchn)

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The Best Blueberry Coffee Cake

Food blogger Heather Christo has a secret family recipe for blueberry coffee cake, perfected over generations, which she says will "make your house smell like heaven." Here's how to make it on your next lazy Saturday morning...
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12 great iPhone cases

I have the world's most boring iPhone case—one of those ugly thick ones to keep it from breaking if Toby drops it or dunks it into his cereal. But! There are so many cute cases these days, I might just have to switch...

First row: Scales, gold foil, phone booth.
Second row: Bonjour, heart, bike.
Third row: Tulips, wooden, nope.
Fourth row: New Yorker cartoon, 1966 GQ Magazine cover, sun.

Thoughts? What's your case like?

P.S. This sparkly one is cool, too.

(Round-up by Joanna; graphic design by Rachel Ball for Cup of Jo)

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A trick to feeling pretty

You know those mornings when you look in the mirror and start analyzing every flaw? Well, I heard a great trick a while back: Pretend you’re a friend instead. Suddenly, you look in the mirror and see yourself as others see you. You'll look much prettier and won't be nearly as critical. Now, instead of stressing about my old-lady under-eye wrinkles, I'll suddenly think, oh, she looks friendly, her hair is pretty nice, let's hang out!

Honestly, go try it and report back! I've been amazed by how well that little trick works in changing your perspective.

P.S. You're gorgeous. :)

(Illustration by Gemma Correll for Cup of Jo)

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Are you having a boy or girl? 12 old wives tales...

Wondering if you (or a friend) are having a boy or a girl? Here are 12 funny old wives tales that might give you a hint. Take the quiz, below...Read More >

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Genius T-shirt

These car track tees are awesome: Dad gets a massage while the kids play!

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Have a wonderful weekend.

What are your plans for this weekend? We are grilling outside with friends and just waiting for the baby; my hospital bag is packed! The photo above is of Toby and my dad last weekend. He kept hanging on my dad's legs and begging to ride on his shoulders, so I told him to ask politely. His cute attempt: "Please may I have...some shoulders?" Hope you have a great weekend, and here are some fun posts from around the web...

What a slimming dress!

This new book looks hilarious.

There will be a supermoon this weekend!

Perfect summer cocktail.

A beautiful vacation.

Made me laugh.

Cute pants for date nights.

What nobody remembers about new motherhood.

Classical sculptures dressed as hipsters. (Link fixed!)

14 weekend getaways.

Ethan Hawke answers some questions.

A cool apartment in Williamsburg.

Behind the scenes of an ice-cream truck.

Sesame Street launches project for children who have a parent in prison. Fascinating.

Have a good one! xoxo

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Cup of Jo Guide to NYC

Today is officially the first day of summer! Whoot whoot! We made it!!! For summer fun, I wanted to link back to the complete Cup of Jo Guide to NYC featuring where to eat, sleep, shop and play, as well as a very romantic date idea, a secret playground and how not to look like a tourist. Hope you enjoy it! xo

(Photos by Smith & Ratliff and the New York Times)

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Thursday giveaway!

Everyone looks cooler in sunglasses. Jack Nicholson joked, "With my sunglasses on, I'm Jack Nicholson. Without them, I'm fat and 60."

Well, luckily, today's giveaway is from Lookmatic, the fantastic online glasses store. Every pair of glasses is $95 or less, including prescription lenses. Would you like to choose a new summer pair? (I got my own glasses here and love them.)

Today Lookmatic is giving one lucky reader a pair of sunglasses (or regular glasses, whichever you'd prefer). And you can try on glasses with their virtual mirror. For a chance to win, please visit Lookmatic and leave a comment below. Which pair would you pick? A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: The winner has been emailed. Thanks for playing. xo

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Toby nostalgia

Our second baby is due in less than two weeks, but...Read More >

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Funny book for the summer

You guys had seriously amazing summer book recommendations (thank you again!), and after five people suggested David Sedaris, I ordered his newest book of essays, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. An Esquire editor described it as "the kind of book that I finished and just immediately wanted to start reading again." Sounds perfect, except as one reader warned, Sedaris makes you laugh out loud, which isn't always the best when you're nursing a baby to sleep. Have you read this one?
P.S. Another hilarious book.

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Would you try a meal delivery service?

Since our second baby is due any minute now, Alex and I have been brainstorming ways to make our routines easier this summer. One idea was to try out Blue Apron, the meal subscription service, which delivers a box every week with fresh ingredients for three meals. We tried it this week, and here's how it went...Read More >

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How a standard key lock actually works

This is one of the more random posts on Cup of Jo (along with this and this), but this gif of a standard lock is really cool. Did you know it worked like this?! Definitely going to be impressed by my key when I go home tonight.

(Via Today I Learned)

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The Best Oatmeal Cookies

As a huge chocolate-chip cookie lover, I used to scoff at oatmeal cookies. I mean, oatmeal? But when they're done right, they're rich and chewy with a cinnamon kick, and, dare I say it, rival even the best chocolate chip cookie. Here, Ashlae from Oh, Ladycakes shares her favorite familyrecipe...Read More >

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Great news

Great news! Emerson Fry, the fantastic clothing brand based in New York and New Hampshire is offering a whopping 50% off their shoes for Cup of Jo readers! They want to make room for their fall collection, coming soon, so their spring/summer shoes are ours for the taking. They're gorgeous and beautifully made.

Get 50% off full-priced Emerson Fry shoes with the code CUPOFJO50, good for the next week. Which are your favorite? (I love these and these.)

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Elephant dress

How cute is this elephant smock dress? I'd love to wear it on picnics this summer.

P.S. It would look pretty with these sandals.

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5 beautiful motherhood tips

During the baby shower, something amazing happened...
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Our baby shower

Would (or did) you have a baby shower for your second baby? I wasn't sure if it seemed like overkill since we'd already had a shower for Toby's birth, but then Abbey pointed out, "It would be nice to celebrate THIS baby." And that seemed true. So one recent Saturday, I went to my friend Samantha's house for the loveliest afternoon with fifteen wonderful women and a few chubby babies...Read More >

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Have a great weekend.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! What are your plans for the weekend? A few beloved relatives—including my own dad—are coming to visit us this weekend, so we'll be hitting up museums, parks and restaurants. I'm also going to read this genius book again! Hope you have a wonderful relaxing weekend, and here are some fun posts from around the web (blogs have been so good lately!)...

"Rose gold goes really well with a tan." — Lucky Magazine

Grandmothers and their meals.

A personal breathalyzer.

What a beautiful and moving quote about fatherhood.

Would you put butter in your coffee?

People seeing the sea for the first time.

What it feels like to be a pilot.

Just got a pair of these for summer adventures.

Cute iPhone case.

Easy adult dinner party.

Abbey wrote a great Paris cheat sheet.

How not to be alone.

From croissant to cronut.

Mike D from the Beastie Boys has the most beautiful town house.

A mother's touching realization.

Are classic children's stories being dumbed down?

Made me laugh. (Busted.)

Have a good one! xoxo

(Photo of Toby playing air guitar for Alex and me at Washington Square Park)

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Summer movie

Old man Alex is always complaining that movies aren't good anymore. But! The new drama Ain't Them Bodies Saints looks incredibly gripping. Its official release date is August 16th, although BAM in Brooklyn is showing a screening next Wednesday along with a talk with the director David Lowery and star Casey Affleck.

"The gritty landscape of 1970s Texas Hill Country serves as the backdrop for this mood-drenched collision of love and crime. After his pregnant wife (Rooney Mara) makes one false move during a bloody shootout, a bank robber (Casey Affleck) faces a 25-year sentence that destroys his dreams of a family life. Shot through with the yearning and melancholy of a folk ballad, Lowery’s directorial breakthrough...extends the Bonnie and Clyde tradition with its breathtaking meditation on the fragility and transience of love." — BAM

"I wanted this whole movie to have the texture of, like, an old piece of wood that you'd find in an abandoned house, and that's sort of what we strove for." — Director David Lowery

The Guardian called it "exhilarating." Will you see it this summer?

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10 unforgettable wedding moments

If you're married, what were your favorite moments from your wedding? (Mine might have been my brother's hilarious toast, which he utterly randomly performed in a New Zealand accent.) Moment Junkie is an addictive site all about fantastic wedding moments. Here are 10 more...Read More >

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Brilliant speech

Before a final vote approved marriage equality in New Zealand, Maurice Williamson gave this short speech to the New Zealand parliament on same-sex marriage. Hilarious and brilliant.

Also, bravo to Grace for her brave and inspiring post.

(Via Shortlist Daily)

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How to make a homemade photo booth

Everyday snapshots of kids are adorable—eating dinner, going down the slide, falling asleep—but sometimes it's nice to have more "formal" portraits. My photographer friend Alpha helped me set up a homemade photo booth. As part of a three-part photography series sponsored by Canon, here's a simple tutorial...Read More >

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Awesome People Reading

Have you seen the tumblr Awesome People Reading? Above are Alfred Hitchcock, Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, and Amelia Earhart. More awesome shots below...
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The Best Fish Tacos You'll Ever Have (with Panko!)

Alex makes tacos every Sunday night (we're trying to create family rituals:), and of all the versions we've tried, this panko recipe has become the crowd favorite, by far. I'd highly recommend it...Read More >

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Summer shoes

I'm really loving espadrilles for this summer. They're comfy and tomboyish and they make your legs look pretty in shorts. Plus, my friend Kendra always wears them, and she's my style guide in every way. She has this pair, but they come in tons of fun colors...
You can find them here and here.

What do you think? Would you wear them? (I just ordered these!)

P.S. My favorite wedges and sneakers.

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