I have a (sweeping and wildly generalized) pet theory that every relationship has one planner and one person who flies by the seat of their pants. With almost every couple we know, one person always takes charge of planning the trip—booking flights, scouting hotels, reading about the destination—while the other person is happy to just show up and see what happens. Do you think that's true?
Before we met, Alex would take trips that were virtually unplanned; he'd arrive in a new place and wander around exploring. Meanwhile, I’m SUCH a planner. Planning gets me really excited for the trip, so I plan embarrassingly far in advance. (Last year, our Christmas trip was booked by June!) I like debating places to stay and discovering restaurants loved by locals. Usually I'll create a Cheat Sheet with all the info together in one place. Alex used to tease me about it, but now I think he sees the method to my madness. Tell me I'm not the only one?
Interestingly, researchers from the Netherlands discovered that the largest boost in happiness from a vacation doesn't come during or after the vacation, but instead from the simple act of planning a vacation. According to the 2010 study, "vacation anticipation" generally boosts happiness for eight weeks, reported the New York Times, whereas after the vacation "there is hardly an effect." Furthermore, a U.S.-based study in 1997 found that "vacationers were happier in the period leading up to their time off than during the vacation itself."
I'm curious: Are you a planner? Or your partner? Or neither? 
(Photos of us back in 2008 in England. The last few were from my cousin's wedding, when were too tipsy to take a decent photo)
Travel question: Are you a planner? Or is your partner?
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Zigzag cuff
This has nothing to do with travel week, but how fierce is this little zigzag cuff? It has such a big personality and would add a sexy edge to jeans and a T-shirt.
3 tips for having houseguests
We don't host as many out-of-town guests as we used to, only because they now have to sleep in Toby's room, and he gets up at the crack of dawn. But! We're hoping to have a guest room when we finally move to Brooklyn. Here are three handy tips I've heard through the years...
1. Spent a night in your own guest room to try it out. We did this a few years ago (back when Toby's nursery was a guest bedroom) and were surprised by noisy garbage trucks at 5am. We got a noise machine for the room, but if we hadn't slept in it, we never would have known.
2. Put a carafe of water on the bedside table. It's such a fancy touch, even though they're only $10. Here are two simple ones. (Get one for your own room, too!)
3. Put out tons of extra toilet paper in the bathroom, because there's nothing more awkward than having to ask for more.
What other little things do you do when having houseguests?
(Photo from interior designer Maria Llado)
Vacation idea: Vermont roadtrip
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
To cheer up the winter, I've asked a few friends to share their favorite vacation spots (and help give us ideas for summer trips). First, Liz raved about Stinson Beach, and now my friend Ashley from Hither & Thither recommends taking a Vermont road trip, below...
Read More >
Two slamdunk hostess gifts
When I worked at a coffee shop during college, we wore half aprons like this, and they were weirdly flattering. So, you feel really pretty while making dinner (or preparing a cheese plate), and of course they're functional, too, since you always need a place to wipe off your hands and don't want to get your jeans dirty. Perfect hostess gift.
This old-school salad dressing comes with a story. Crane Crest’s Real French Dressing has no website, just a phone number (617-277-1325). You leave an answering-machine message with your address, and they'll send you a case of six jars, along with a handwritten invoice for $18. They trust that you'll mail back a check. How rad is that? They've developed a cult following, since, as Pilar says, the vinaigrette is incredible on salad, fish, chicken...Aren't you curious to try it?
(Salad dressing via Momfilter)
Wartime kisses
These beautiful photos by Alfred Eisenstaedt show couples sharing a last kiss before the soldiers departed for war, at Penn Station in 1943. How stirring to wonder how many of the couples were reunited, or if this was their very last kiss. Can you imagine how hard it would be to let each other go?
Here are seven more photos, below...Read More >
Crazy slides
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The New York Times recently ran a short piece about these insane free-fall slides on a Norwegian cruise line. You stand on a platform four stories high and then the floor suddenly falls out beneath you. Would you dare?!
Renting houses on vacation
Would you rent a house on vacation? We really like to rent places, since they're typically less expensive and more spacious than hotels (which is especially great when you have a child), and staying in a real home makes you feel like a local. Here are three amazing places, just for fun...
Read More >
Phase Eight Bridal Collection 2013 is launched!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Emerson Fry's spring collection
Emerson Fry's spring collection launches today. These are the kind of clothes you'd live in all summer, don't you think? The effortless style would fit in anywhere, from winding Italian streets to poolside in Palm Springs to just kicking it at home. And I always love their shoes! See the full collection here...
Do or Don't: Naked babies at the beach
The last time we were at the beach, something surprising happened...
Read More >
Travel-themed week
It's fun to daydream about travel—especially during the winter months—so I'd love to post all about travel this week. The big question is: If you could beam yourself anywhere right now, where would it be? The photo above is from the south of France, and for ages I've also really wanted to go to Portland, which seems like an amazing place. What about you?
P.S. Past travel weeks.
(Top photo by Laure Joliet of St. Jean Cap Ferrat in France)
Have a relaxing weekend.
Friday, February 22, 2013
What are you up to this weekend? We're going to see Alex's mom, and she wants to do that necklace-over-the-belly test to see if we're having a boy or girl. Also, we saw Silver Linings Playbook this week. Have you seen it? I used to find Bradley Cooper kind of grating, but he was really charming and likable in this. Have a good one, and here are just a few links from around the web...
Another cool Swedish playspace.
Lion twins!
Could this insane story be true?
Model morphosis.
Constellation cuff.
More great wedges.
Cheat sheet for pairing wine with food.
Wise words about inspiration.
The simplest flower arrangement.
Would you wear peplum?
Parmesan spinach orzo, yum.
Google Glass looks rad.
Have a good one! xoxo
(Beer photo by Aya Brackett, via Alyson)
Fab favorites
Fab is a fantastic design marketplace with great prices, and I just spent forever checking out their pretty, colorful things. Here are a few favorites...
For the adventurer: 1. Travel eye mask for the plane, 2. Pink laptop sleeve, 3. Leather tote, 4. Field Notes notebooks, 5. Bonjour travel set, and 6. Paris map print featuring almost every street in the city.
And for the cook: 7. Pink carafe to cheer up your table, 8. Three simple syrups for cooking or cocktails, 9. Green spatula, 10. Make-your-own-goat-cheese kit (!), 11. Rifle Paper recipe cards to give to friends, 12. Hammered wine cooler for serving wine or Champagne at parties, and 13. Pop Maker for making popsicles in just 7 minutes.
P.S. I also love this Turkish towel!
(This post is in partnership with Fab. Thanks so much for being supportive of the sponsors that help make Cup of Jo possible.)
Amazing mascara
Thursday, February 21, 2013
I secretly used to think all mascara was created equal; drugstore brands seemed fine. But recently I was walking down a street in Soho when I saw a sign for the world's best mascara. Intrigued, I stepped into the store to try it out. The mascara was Benefit's They're Real, and after a couple coats, my eyelashes looked ten times thicker and longer. Check out this before-and-after photo of British blogger Charlotte for proof of how well it works...
Have you ever tried it? Crazy, right?
(Bottom photos by the wonderful Charlotte)
Have you ever said "I love you" first?
When I started dating Alex, I knew I loved him early on. I'm usually pretty guarded, but since I was so enamored, those three words lingered dangerously on the tip of my tongue. So, after just a couple weeks, as we were falling asleep, I couldn't help nervously whispering, "I think I'm falling in love with you." His reply? "I think I'm already there."
HURRAY AND THANK GOD.
Obviously, however, it doesn't always go so smoothly. In past relationships, I've said "I love you," and the other person just said, "Thank you"—or vice versa. Ouch. Then you have to just sit there with a big I-love-you elephant in the room for the rest of the night.
It's nerve wracking because, as Seinfeld says, "if you don't get that return, that's a pretty big Matzo ball hanging out there."
Have you ever been the first to say I love you, or do you prefer to wait?
(Top photo of us by Max Wanger, back when we were newly engaged and just babies!)
Grilled cheese croutons
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
How cute are these grilled cheese croutons? Featured in this cookbook, they simply require bread, butter and American cheese. Wouldn't they be fun to serve at a dinner party?
P.S. My computer crashed this week, so posts will be a little lighter while it (hopefully) gets repaired. Wish it luck! :)
(Photo by Tide & Thyme)
The Best Homemade Chips Ahoy Cookies
When we were little, my dad would grab a stack of six Chips Ahoy cookies after dinner, and lie sideways on the floor in front of the TV with us. He would eat the cookies, methodically, one at a time as we watched Family Ties or The Wonder Years, and I loved the unspoken evening ritual. (I wonder if he even remembers!) Well, food blogger and author Nicole Hunn has a great recipe for baking your own—and they're gluten free...
Read More >
Simply Unique: Quirky Invitation Gift Boxes
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Both John and I had been married before, we have six children between us. Neither of us had had a really plush wedding before so we decided to celebrate in style! We lived in a lovely little Northumberland village at the time with a very pretty C of E church and wanted to get married there but the vicar wouldn’t entertain the idea so we ended up getting married in the little Methodist Chapel instead and it turned out to be the best wedding ceremony. The minister, Maureen, was a lovely lady who gave a speech that touched everyone’s heart. The reception took place at Horton Grange, it was a lovely day and in the garden the champagne flowed. A delicious four course meal followed and we continued on into the evening with a fab live band, dancing, drinking and bacon rolls for supper! The staff were exceptional all day. It was all perfect. Our boys were all Ushers and our two girls Bridesmaids, they looked fabulous. John didn’t look so bad either and I absolutely loved my dress, didn’t want to take it off!
