Have a lovely weekend.

What are your plans for this weekend? This week was too crazy, so I'm looking forward to just vegging with my boys (and maybe having shrimp and grits for lunch). Also, Alex recently got this helicopter to fly around the living room, and it's pretty much the best thing that has happened in Toby's short life. Hope you have a good relaxing weekend, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

After this week, these pencils seem fitting:)

Pastel jeans would be so cute for spring.

Can you really make espresso in the microwave?

Grown-up popsicles.

A cool approach to decorating.

We talked about work/life balance, and here's another woman's compelling perspective.

A cheerful Chicago kitchen.

Guys paper dolls.

New York can feel like such a small town. I randomly met this dude at a children's museum this week!

Where to sit at a dinner party.

Lovely branches.

Another fun nail color.

Children around the world with their favorite toys.

The Bachelor is officially popular.

(Photo of a cute couple by Greg Kessler for the New York Times. Dinner party link via Kottke)

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How to give a reflexology foot massage

A few years ago, a friend gave me a reflexology session as a gift, and I was looking forward to a good old foot rub. But I was surprised by how my entire body relaxed—more than during a full-body massage!—and how refreshed and revitalized I felt leaving the salon. According to reflexology practitioners, reflex points on your feet and hands correspond to your whole body, so stimulating those points helps release tension and gives you a feeling of overall well-being.

Why not try it at home? Could be a fun date night, right? My friend and illustrator Erin Jang and I put together this super basic, just-for-fun reflexology chart. Look up your partner's ailment—headache? stuffy nose?—and see if you can foot-massage it away:)

(Illustration by Erin Jang for Cup of Jo. Thanks, Erin!)

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Living with less

"I live in a 420-square-foot studio," writes Graham Hill in a fascinating New York Times article about living with less. "I sleep in a bed that folds down from the wall. I have six dress shirts. I have 10 shallow bowls that I use for salads and main dishes. When people come over for dinner, I pull out my extendable dining room table. I don’t have a single CD or DVD and I have 10 percent of the books I once did."

Hill's happiness grew once he got rid of unnecessary stuff—and the stressors that came with it. We're actually planning a big cleanse this weekend to prepare for the new baby—organizing closets, donating clothes that don't fit well, recycling old magazines—and I'm going to keep his words in mind. Getting rid of things is such a satisfying feeling, don't you think?

P.S. He reminds me of this guy:)

(Illustration by Maxwell Holyoke-Hirsch)

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Do or don't: White polish

My friend Yolanda recently spotted this bright white nail polish, which I love. She joked that it looks like White Out, but it feels so fresh and modern for spring. The prettiest matte polish seems to be Amazing Grace (and Revlon's Spirit is similar, if you're on a budget). Would you try it?

P.S. Nail polish inspiration.

(Via Momfilter)

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A very wet marriage proposal

Matthew Hartman wanted to propose to his girlfriend Elizabeth, so he stood on a rock at Laguna Beach, ready to play her a romantic song he had written. Watch what happened next...Read More >

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Bensimon sneakers

Bensimon sneakers—beloved by French girls everywhere—are so cute I can't help posting about them every spring. They look adorably tomboyish with shorts and dresses, and they're comfy enough to wear everyday. This season's colors just arrived in stores, and I'm looking forward to picking out a trusty pair. Bright colors here; more muted colors here. xoxo

(Top photo by The Singular)

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The Best Omelet You'll Ever Have

Imagine this: You have overnight guests, and when they wake up in the morning and drift bleary-eyed down to the kitchen, you whip up French-style omelets (with two secret ingredients!) that blow everyone's minds. Presto! An amazing day has begun, and you're a consummate host in ten minutes flat. Here, Alexandra from Alexandra's Kitchen explains how to do just that...Read More >

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