Winter sheep by Brooke Fitts

What are your plans for the weekend? I’m going to see Career Suicide, an off-Broadway play about “suicide, depression, alcoholism and all the other funniest parts of life,” by comedian Chris Gethard. I’ve seen his awesome improv in the past, and I’m looking forward to seeing his more personal one-man show. Also, I’m curious: What are your holiday rituals? (Grilled cheese on Christmas Eve? Reading a special story?) We’d love to post a few next week…

2016 was the year fashion magazines increased cover diversity. Hurray!

Anatomy of a scene: La La Land.

Love this photo of Obama.

Women who draw.

This rooming house for career-minded New York women is fascinating!

A beautiful collaborative calendar. (I was grateful to be part of it.)

The five best things to say if a friend has a miscarriage.

The Internet can be magical.

Alex and I exchange small gifts, usually under $30, and this is #1 on my wishlist. (This is my little present for him:)

I traveled alone and it kind of sucked.”

How often do you wash your bras? (Be honest.)

The year in photos.

The hater’s guide to the Williams-Sonoma catalog.

Plus, two great reader comments…

Says Jenny on gifts for tough people to shop for: “Another food idea: This homemade salsa recipe is delicious and makes a ton. I’ve put in a mason jar and tied a ribbon around it. Easy gift!”

Says Meg on how to help kids play independently: “My mom, who was a Waldorf kindergarten teacher, always says that toys should look like they are just waiting for the child to come and play with them. She’s always setting up simple little scenes (a doll sitting at a table, a toy horse pulling a wagon) — they look so inviting, and that nudge makes it easier for the child to enter into his/her own imaginative world. Another thing I love that she says is that children want to feel your presence but it’s not necessarily a good thing for you to give them your full, undivided attention while they’re playing. Doing something nearby with your hands — like folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, knitting (haha, yeah right, i’m talking about an ideal version of myself here:) lets your kids know you’re present but also occupied — and it frees them up to play on their own. I’ve found that reading (especially on your phone) doesn’t work at all — they know that your mind is elsewhere.”

Here’s the complete Cup of Jo holiday gift guide, if you’d like to see.

(Photo by Brooke Fitts/Instagram.)