Have a fun weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We're going out for pasta tonight (I already decided on this) and tomorrow my friend is having a baby shower. I'm excited to share the rest of the 2012 gift guide, coming up next week! Have a good one, and if you're in a blog-reading mood, here are 15 fun links from around the web...

Woody Allen answers 12 unusual questions.

Why you should tell your children you're beautiful.

Cool tape.

New York in a nutshell.

Cupboards: Don't forget the inside!

What a pretty skirt.

Blueberry breakfast cake.

An airplane school? Toby would flip.

Let's bring back the dinner party.

Would you wear reflexology sandals?

10 blog posts every new mom should read. (Thank you, Stroller Traffic.)

This guy's a cutie.

An inspiring 103-year-old grandmother.

A cute snowflake diaper for the holidays.

After I wrote about being happy to see your children, one reader pointed out that your eyes should light up for everyone you love, which was a great point. Sometimes when Alex gets home, I'm harried and toss a quick hello over my shoulder. I'm going to change that asap!

Also, after the enthusiastic response to COATT morse code jewelry, the designer is offering 20% off to Cup of Jo readers until December 7th. Just email her at info@coattonline.com with CUP OF JO in the subject line.

Girls Season 2: Trailer

Yes! Can't wait until January 13th. (Also, I have the biggest girl crush on Marnie.)

Simply over the moon! We won at the National Chamber of Commerce Awards!

A successful Northumberland based company has won a major national business award.

  

Sarah Pittendrigh who runs Simply Bows and Chair Covers, specialising in quality chair covers, linen and accessories for weddings, balls and corporate events, represented the NE region in the finals of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) Chamber Awards 2012.

Sarah, who has gone from being bankrupt to running an award-winning franchise business in just two years, went on to win in the Most Promising New Business category thanks to her ongoing success and growth over a short period of time.

The Chamber Awards recognise and celebrate business excellence across the UK and Sarah and the team beat off competition from a range of organisations, some with multi-million pound turnovers.

The ceremony, hosted by BBC business journalist and presenter, Declan Curry, took place on Thursday November 29^that the Guildhall in London.

Speaking about the BCC Awards, Sarah said: “Just being short-listed was an overwhelming honour. I can’t believe that I went onto actually win against so many outstanding businesses. I was so proud to be representing the North East region. This award is for all my team all over the UKwho make the business work and put in so many hours to ensure we’re a success. I’m now very excited to be working on launching in London in 2013.”

 

Sarah established Simply Bows and Chair Covers in 2008 after being made bankrupt when the national events company she worked for suffered the effects of the economic downturn.

Whilst helping to organise her brother’s wedding, Sarah found a gap in the market for stylish, high-quality chair covers and linen and launched her business in 2008 across the North East area.

Since then, Simply Bows and Chair Covers has grown rapidly and Sarah opted to launch the franchise operation in 2010 as customer demand for her unique service grew quickly all over the UK.

Just two years on, the business has 11 franchises from Aberdeen down to Berkshire and Sarah is on target to open 30 franchises by 2015. Plans are also being made to take Simply Bows and Chair Covers into Europe and beyond after receiving enquiries from countries such as France, Spain and the UAE.

Earlier this year, Sarah was crowned the winner of the Best Small Business award in the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, organised by Women into the Network (WIN), and Newcomer of the Year in the North East Business Awards (April), which recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements of companies across the whole of the North East of England.

Sarah beat off competition from hundreds of entrants for her bold decision to franchise her company and judges, including a director from Virgin Money, wereparticularly impressed with the simplicity of Simply Bows and Chair Covers’ proposition and the excellent financial strength being delivered through this model.

Thursday giveaway!

Today's giveaway is a big one! The jewelry studio COATT makes beautiful Morse Code necklaces and bracelets. They spell words like "friend," "mom," "love" or "kiss me," or you can get them personalized with your name. I love how they feel like secret messages.

Today one lucky reader will win a 14K gold necklace or bracelet with the name of her choice (worth $400). Whose name would you get?

For a chance to win, please visit COATT and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! Update: Ashley M. is our winner. Thanks for playing.

Gift Guide Part #1: Your Beautiful Mom Who Adopts Your Slang and Still Writes Handwritten Letters.

Ticking apron for baking chocolate-chip cookies together, $27.

Finnish-style ornaments, $25. (This mobile, $67, is also beautiful.)

Monogrammed pajamas! Because how chic is that? $78.

Paper flowers to brighten up her desk all year long. $29 to $40.

A stack of your favorite 2012 cookbooks: Smitten Kitchen, What Katie Ate and Dinner: A Love Story. $20-ish each.

Freudian mug, because it all comes back to your mama, $16.


Gilded stationery, $20.

Wax seals for her most important notes, $16.

100% cotton robe to make her feel pretty every morning, $100.

Raspberry bush that grows in a container. (Perfect for even the tiniest patio!) $31.95.

Rodin perfume, an intoxicating mix of jasmine and neroni. For women, not girls. $220.

A calendar ($24.99) or notepad ($12.99) featuring her favorite little dude.
Sapphire earrings to match her eyes, $168.

Cheesecake!!! These lemon-ricotta beauties are delivered in Manhattan and Brooklyn, $55. (You can also order a classic New York cheesecake here.)

French locket to keep her loved ones close to her heart, where they belong. $90.

P.S. More gifts for moms.

(Raspberry bush via Abbey)

The Cup-of-Jo 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Are you looking forward to the holidays this year? I can't believe they're already here! Today, I'm excited to kick off the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. As always, I've tried to find things for every budget and personality, and really hope you enjoy it.

You can look through past gift guides here: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.

Ok, let's do this thing! (I'll post one every day or two, along with regular posts.) xoxo

(Photo by Petra Warrass)

Simply Picture Perfect: Supplier Showcase... Wastwater Photography

What is your company name?

Wastwaterphotography.co.uk

What is your line of business?

Professional Photographer and Journalist

How and why the company begin?

I have been a professional now for over 37 years and as well as taking photographs for a living, I write features monthly for wedding, photographic and regional magazines. I have also taught imaging for much of that time. I was the National Director of a dedicated course for Home Office staff to teach video and photographic skills, which ran concurrently with all my other work. I gained the Investors in People accreditation for the work and was integral in devising new photographic techniques. 

Now I put all my energies into photographing and writing professionally in the lakes and teaching the subject on my workshops. This area is its own dramatic natural theatre. The terrain and light combine to produce photographic opportunities that are endless. It provides a breathtaking backdrop for Landscape Weddings when delivered properly. I hope that my wealth of experience and enthusiasm will be of great benefit to you.

Are you married?

Irene and I have been married for over 37 years. Childhood sweetheart’s who have grown together. She is my rock!  It was a superb day in early April. The sun shone, the wind blew and we had a honeymoon in a caravan in Wales. It was bliss. Each time I see the bright yellow gorse glistening in the sun it takes me back to that week. We had a great time and it has continued.

Why do brides come to you?

I am honoured to say that I am regularly cited by editors as one of the world’s best Landscape Photographers and they want their wedding to be special. A landscape wedding that reflects the real grandeur of the fells. Many have special memories of the lakes. Maybe a holiday, childhood memories or a proposal a top one of the Wainwright’s? I also specialise in ‘fly on the wall’, reportage images and the two combined make for a delightful package. I don’t ever get in the way and my many clients over the years will testify to that. It’s a special day, their day, not mine and that’s how it should always be.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I have been coming here and living here for over 40 years now. What’s not to inspire???!!!

What is in store for you in 2013?

As well as weddings, I write monthly for most of the National Industry Magazines, run landscape Photography Courses (always a popular gift for the best man by the way!) and deliver commercial photography too. I am currently photographing a major hotel chains 43 premises and five holiday resorts. Oh yes and I take pictures for my gallery which is in the Wasdale Head Inn. The most iconic Landscape venue in the UK as it’s the place where British mountaineering began. I was very honoured to be invited in there.

Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them?

I don’t wish to sound corny but I just love being a part of a couple’s special day

What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry?

Remember that apart from a diamond only one other thing on your day will literally last forever...

The pictures.

They are like Amber and will always be there. Virtually everything else is a ‘24 hour purchase.’ Too many couples are sadly looking at cutting corners. It’s a budget conscious time that I completely and fully understand but they are scrimping on the photographer and unfortunately ‘Uncle Joe’ or a ‘well meaning friend’ might well take the odd few good pictures when everyone comes out of the church. A good pro will deliver 5-600 good images. 

The advent of digital gives many a false sense of security and they think ‘well if it doesn’t look good I’ll snap another one’. Wrong!! The moment has passed and you won't get it back. I see it time and time again and weddings guests will often approach me and say ‘our photographer was a friend. Regret that now. Not only did the pictures not reflect the day but he didn’t enjoy it either.’ Or, ‘our pictures were delivered within a few days and they were awful.’

The phrase ‘if it seems too good to be true. It probably is’ comes to mind.

A real pro will take around seven working days of their time to have prepared, undertaken and delivered your work for you. With them you will be paying for a full service. I had to politely correct someone last year who said ‘Not bad your job is it? All that money for just an afternoon’s work....’

There are some excellent photographers out there and you should fully research them. Fully and by that I don’t mean paper sift on cost. You’ll regret it.

Also, ask to see many and I many images from lots of their work. It’s easy to ‘cobble’ a website together. Ask to see a package, a complete package they have shot and delivered. If they can’t, then beware. Some show pictures that look beautifully styled and grand. They are because they are invariably ‘model shots’ that take hours to prepare and shoot. Ask to view real images taken on a day.

Another tip... Don’t be afraid to grill and ask probing questions either. Are they the photographer or an Agent? That’s a common one now as agencies ‘pretend’ to be the snapper but a student or an agency photographer is ‘yours for the day!!’

Where are you based and where can you supply?

I have two bases. One in Cumbria and one in Cheshire. I literally cover the whole of the North of England and shoot work abroad regularly.

How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order?

mgilligan@wastwaterphotography.co.uk or Twitter @wastwater1 or 07946316769

Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers?

I associate myself with quality. Simples!

Toby, 2.5 years old

Toby is now two and a half (how time flies!), and it's awesome to watch him develop his own little personality. I figured I'd share a few photos, if you'll indulge me:) Above, he's riding on Alex's shoulders to brunch...
Strolling around the neighborhood with a Happy Birthday balloon (note: it was not his birthday).
Cuddling with his girlfriend. No big deal.
In toddler heaven at the Brooklyn Transit Museum.
Painting during an art class.
Feeling sheep at the Central Park Zoo.
Drinking shirtless while watching TV like a dude.
Zonked!

Toby, I love being your mama.

In other news, we're starting potty training this week! Wish us luck:)

Simply Fingers Crossed!

We recently revealed that after winning the North East Chamber of Commerce Awards we had been invited to compete at The National Chamber of Commerce Awards in London!

The Chamber Awards were launched by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in 2004 to recognise and celebrate business excellence through the successes and achievements of its Accredited Chambers of Commerce and their members.

We are a finalist for the Most Promising New Business in the UK Award which is a tremendous honour and tomorrow is the big day!

 Fingers Crossed folks, wish us luck!

How to wear a beanie

I look terrible in hats. I have a big head (always have), and hats just make it look bigger. But my friend Kendra has a simple trick for making winter hats look cool...
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