Design

Three Fun Things

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Food puzzles

Broccoli puzzle

Lately, I’ve gotten into doing puzzles in the evening, while chatting with Alex or watching Downton Abbey. There’s nothing more relaxing, and how incredibly adorable are these numbers? At 8″ x 8″, they take less than twenty minutes, and they’d make a great birthday or host gift.

The Hunt show

After years of Peppa Pig and Bubble Guppies, the boys have finally gotten into a show that we’re all gripped by. The Hunt is a nature documentary series following animals, like polar bears, tigers and chimpanzees, as they target their prey. There’s so much strategy. We’re all on pins and needles.

Side note: This morning, I walked Anton to school (no tears today!), and as we approached his classroom, his face lit up. “Look,” he whispered, pointing to his teacher. “SHE IS WEARING CHEETAH SHOES.” She had on simple leopard print flats, but in that moment she might as well have been in a full-on Halloween costume. What a thrill.

Joanna Goddard bedroom

A few years ago, Alex gave me a bunch of playful socks for Christmas, and it’s weird how such a little thing can brighten your day. Here are a few cuties out right now: face, dots, astrology and sheep.

What are you up to these days? Hope you’re having a good one. xoxo

P.S. How to introduce someone, and the hardest tongue twister.

(Puzzles via Swissmiss.)

Motherhood

21 Completely Subjective Rules for Raising Teenage Girls

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21 Completely Subjective Rules for Raising Teenage Girls

I’m now in the phase of parenting when someone replies, “I’m sorry,” after I tell them my daughters are 14 and 16. “And girls!” they’ll add, shaking their heads. It’s not that bad, I want to say. Because of my teenage daughters, I’ve discovered Rick & Morty, and Milk everyday dewy highlighter, and also… um… also lots of other things I can’t really remember right now! Just kidding — they are, of course, still the joys of my life, just slightly more complicated little joys. In their honor, and for any parent navigating (or about to navigate) similar terrain, here are a few completely not-at-all-expert rules I’ve tried to keep in mind on a daily basis…

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Design

Have a Lovely Weekend.

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Joanna Goddard's desk

What are you up to this weekend? Anton had a wobbly second week in kindergarten (little guy!), so we’re going to his favorite spot — Brooklyn Crab — for dinner tonight. Hope it does the trick; he’ll definitely be getting lots of cuddles and a fizzy drink. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web…

Oh my gosh, this fun fact is really true.

What a beautiful home, designed by the director of Call Me By Your Name.

What sets you off, according to your Myers-Brigg.

Wishlisting these everyday boots.

Cool wheels.

When your kid draws on the sofa. (Loved this.)

I’ve been devouring Downton Abbey over the past few weeks, and the movie just set a release date!

The age when your self-esteem peaks.

Apple and honey pizza sounds delicious.

If you’re looking for a new book, commenters on this post were raving about The Great Believers.

The random baby gift I swear by.

Plus, two reader comments:

Says Cara on a great new book: “I went on a social media detox this summer, and I read so much more than I usually do. Every time I wanted to reach for my phone, I just grabbed my book instead. I was probably the most taken by The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I picked it up on a whim from the library. One quote I loved in particular said: ‘I have been missing the point. The point is not knowing another person, or learning to love another person. The point is simply this: how tender can we bear to be? What good manners can we show as we welcome ourselves and others into our hearts?'”

Says Colleen on the best conversation starters: “My son’s elementary school teacher took attendance every day by asking a question. Rather than saying ‘here’ when their name was called, the students answered his question. Questions ranged from ‘Who is your favorite superhero?’ to ‘Where do you wish you were right now?’ and everything in between. I so looked forward to picking him up every day and asking about the question and his answer – it was a beautiful way to learn 180 new things about my son!”

(Photo of my desk. First link from Swissmiss.)