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In New York, we’re in the middle of the first big heat wave of the summer. All we want to do is drink rosé, sit next to the a/c and stream stuff (like Stranger Things) on our computers. We’ve also been catching up on Skillshare, the online learning community we joined this year. Becoming a member of Skillshare lets you stream more than 6,600 different classes on topics such as design, photography and food that are taught by masters of their crafts. In January, we wrote about the first four classes we took, and here’s an update on what we’ve learned lately while escaping the heat…
Modern Flowers
Megan: Now that I’ve starting planning my wedding, I realize how quickly costs can add up. So, I’ve been thinking about doing the flower arrangements with a friend. When I found out that Skillshare has an amazing floral arranging class — Modern Flowers taught by the tattooed husbands behind Putnam & Putnam in New York — I signed right up. Michael and Darroch Putnam have a romantic yet bold aesthetic that feels effortlessly cool. In the less than an hour, I learned the trick to getting your blooms to open up; that every arrangement should have a surprise element (like blueberries!); and how to set a beautiful “tablescape” with flowers, linens and candles. I’m feeling more confident about the D.I.Y. approach, but I will say that after seeing Michael and Darroch in action, I want them to do all my wedding flowers — and then come as guests to our wedding!
Perfect Grilled Cheese
Joanna: Watching The Perfect Grilled Cheese is an awesome way to spend 10 minutes. Even though grilled cheese seems simple, Elena Karp — the head chef at Plated, who was trained in all things cheese at French culinary school — demonstrates how to take it up a notch. She recommends using four grated cheeses (gruyère, fontina, cheddar and mozzarella) for the ideal flavor, reveals mayonnaise as a surprising secret weapon and says that cutting your sandwich on the diagonal always makes it taste better. My favorite tip was the add-in rule: If you’re putting tomatoes, caramelized onions or fig jam into a grilled cheese, make sure they go in between the layers of cheese, which will keep your sandwich neat and distribute the tastes evenly. If it weren’t 100 degrees out, I’d be making epic grilled cheeses every night this week.
Cocktail Secrets
Stella: Ivy Mix (yes, that is her real name!) was voted “American Bartender of the Year” in 2015 and co-owns the charming Brooklyn cocktail bar Leyenda, just three blocks away from Cup of Jo’s offices. She was my guide through a half-hour lesson — Cocktail Secrets — on creating my own signature cocktail. She shared tricks for combining different flavor profiles and recommended using big ice cubes for less dilution. As a general rule of thumb, she also says to stir cocktails that don’t have citrus; shake cocktails that do (think: sparkling lemonade); and always, always smack your mint leaves to release their oils. I’m looking forward to showing off my skills the next time I mix drinks with my roommates.
Creative Writing for All
Lexi: One of my friends recently published a novel that she had written during short early morning stretches, before work, over the course of several years. I marveled at this. I’m not sure I have that kind of discipline and stick-to-it-iveness, but I aspire to! So, I loved the simple challenge of author/editor Emily Gould’s Creative Writing For All workshop on Skillshare: Spend just 5 to 10 minutes every day finishing the sentence fragment, “Today I noticed…” for 10 days in a row. I’m halfway through the assignment now, and it’s shown me the power of incremental goals (the “bird by bird,” approach, as Anne Lamott would say). By the end of the workshop, Emily will have set me in motion, shared tips on the art of noticing things and coached me through what she calls “the most important part of any writing process” — revision. Her funny, friendly approach is a great motivator: “Close your laptop and take out your piece of paper and just start writing… right now,” she says. “Like, literally now, while you’re watching this video.”
Great news: Skillshare is offering Cup of Jo readers who are new to their community three free months of Premium membership. (Otherwise, a yearly Premium membership costs $10 per month for unlimited classes, community discussions and more.) Go here to redeem the offer, which is good through August 31st. Please note: a credit card is required to sign up, but it won’t be charged until the free three-month period is up and you can cancel at any time. Thank you so much, Skillshare!
Which classes would you take?
(Top two photos by Christine Han at the flower shop Grdn for Cup of Jo. This post is sponsored by Skillshare, an online learning community that believes gaining new skills is one of the secrets to an interesting life. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that support Cup of Jo.)
