Have a Wonderful Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans? We’ll be flying back to New York after our family vacation — I’m looking forward to catching up, hearing what you’ve been up to, and sharing a few discoveries. Meanwhile, if you’re in a blog-reading mood, here are some fun links from around the web…

Mark your calendars: Curb Your Enthusiasm is coming back!

The #1 trick for decluttering.

What a pretty store.

Would you try this trusty Midwest beer hack?

This dancer is incredible — and I love her friends’ reactions.

Giving birth in different worlds.

This guy has an A+ sports announcer’s voice, haha.

Japanese playgrounds at night are strangely captivating.

“11 ways that I, as a white man, am not privileged.” Worth reading.

Made me laugh. (Would also work for parents pushing strollers.)

“The Trader Joe’s product I’m completely obsessed with.”

Good to remember.

Also, a head’s up: Nordstrom is giving early access to its huge yearly sale. I have my eye on this date-night dress, a beloved bra and, you guessed it, these.

P.S. I missed you! xoxoxo

(Photo by India Hobson. Playgrounds via Girls of a Certain Age.)

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DanielleS

August 1, 2017 10:39 am

Bought this bra on your recommendation because i hate nothing more than finding a bra that fits right. OMG. I LOVE THIS BRA!!! thank you!!!! thank you!

Kate

July 18, 2017 7:50 pm

I love that bra too!!!! :D

Eva

July 18, 2017 2:11 pm

Such a beautiful photograph of flowers – holy cow! I wish I could just stop into a florist and pick these up, but it seems muted colors like these are rather hard to find. I’m not sure why most people prefer the primary, bright flowers here in the U.S., but when I was up in Canada, they had all these muted, amazing flowers for sale.

http://www.shessobright.com

Emily at The We Files

July 17, 2017 5:28 pm

That decluttering trick is genius. I wonder if it would work on my KonMari-resistant spouse. ;)

sandra

July 17, 2017 4:10 pm

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis – by by J. D. Vance

Kate W

July 17, 2017 3:29 pm

I live in Cleveland, and I’ve never seen anyone with a pickle in their beer. BUT, there is a hip restaurant here (called Greenhouse Tavern) that serves a drink called a “pickleback.” You get a shot of rye whiskey, a shot of pickle juice, and a black label beer, and you take a sip of each. It sounds crazy, but it is so satisfying! I love pickles, and the salty, briny, vinegary flavor goes so well with a beer. Excuse me while I go try this pickle trick!

Christine Schwalm Design

July 17, 2017 11:57 am

I will mix my Miller Lite with a bit of San Pellegrino orange soda (also works well with a lemon soda) for a pseudo shandy. Think beer spritzer. It’s good stuff.

Also, I couldn’t remember the name of the soda so I googled “fancy orange soda”. But it does make a difference.

Fiona

July 17, 2017 11:42 am

The mid-west beer hack looks wonderful – Mexico does something similar by pouring the beer over ice, adding a big splash of lime and salting the rim of the glass – salty, tangy, and refreshing – YUM!

dani

July 17, 2017 10:04 am

I was about to give a serious eye-roll at the 11 ways I’m privileged, but it was really good to see.

Diana Witt

July 17, 2017 9:54 am

Most Minnesotans prefer Green Olives to Pickles – but the principal behind the hack is the same – brine makes for an easier drinking light beer – enjoy!

Juliette

July 17, 2017 9:49 am

Hi Jo (and readers!)

I just wanted to write a note of appreciation. I found this blog though posts about break-ups when I was nursing a very broken heart last summer. Your blog was full of kind, sisterly, optimistic and practical advice, quotes and writing and it really was a help. I had lots of pages book-marked to read when I needed a pick-me-up.

Today I found myself absent-minded reading the relationship and parenting posts, feeling optimistic and hopefully about the future, and nursing a wonderful new relationship which is worlds apart from anything I’ve ever known! Your articles and the comments are one of the first places I turn when I want to hear other people’s perspectives on the world and how to navigate it. Thank you for creating an amazing community of like-minded people. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Juliette x

Laura

July 17, 2017 8:45 am

I’VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!!

MyHanh Ozonoff

July 17, 2017 8:16 am

That beloved bra is truly beloved for me, too! It isn’t padded or a pushup, but for this small-chested gal, it is the bra I feel most comfortable and confident in. Welcome back!

Amy

July 17, 2017 12:17 am

The hands-free umbrella could be truly handy, but the photoshopped inspiration photos – hahaha! Especially the guy on a bike and his girlfriend behind him – what?! Why is that an umbrella moment? Sun protection? Wouldn’t it fly off his head if he were going any speed at all? Why does the girlfriend not get to have an umbrella too? Ha!

jeannie

July 16, 2017 10:55 pm

Oh, that dancer!

Gemma

July 16, 2017 5:07 am

Hooray! You’re back. Unfortunately I did find the article on decluttering a little problematic. When looking to cull items in your home and asking if things are outdated or don’t work, it does seem to encourage growing landfills and a wasteful attitude towards ‘things’. Wouldn’t it be better to try to repair items? If we get rid of products as soon as they’re outdated we’re forever locked in a cycle of buying what is new and shiny.

Meg

July 15, 2017 11:30 pm

I bought the head umbrella as a half gag, half serious birthday present for my dad last year! I’ll never forget that sleepy moment, laying in the dark talking with my hubs, when he asked me what I got my dad for his birthday. I started giggling because I was embarrassed to say. I finally told him it was an umbrella hat and he didn’t believe me which made me laugh even harder. Then I started defending it as the best gift ever by listing all it’s uses and by the end we were both laughing so hard we had to sit up and turn on Netflix for a while to settle back down to sleep hahaha. Glad to report… it got a funny look upon opening but my dad sends me random texts on the regular with a picture of him using it for some reason or another. (And my mom always steals it for walking the dog when he’s not looking!) BEST GIFT EVER!

Krupa

July 15, 2017 5:53 pm

Missed you! So glad you are back and posting :)
Also, love salted butter. There is n Indian one I love ‘Amul Butter’
http://www.amul.com/products/amul-tablebutter-info.php

Courtney

July 15, 2017 11:21 am

I make trips to Trader Joe’s expressly for that butter!

Belle

July 15, 2017 3:52 am

Those Japanese playgrounds are full on!

Christine

July 15, 2017 2:08 am

Those Japanese playgrounds are amazing!!

Also, I just ordered that natori bra. I’m almost done breastfeeding and in need of a great bra. I hope that’s it.

Alma

July 15, 2017 12:22 am

Oh the umbrella hat. Exactly the right thing when pushing the stroller!

Julie

July 14, 2017 9:31 pm

Hi Joanna, your holiday snaps have made me extra excited about our own trip to Italy in October. Could you please you share the places you stayed? I need to star to book some accommodation. It would save a ton of work. Also did you drive or train between cities? Hope you can help!

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Julie

July 15, 2017 1:41 pm

for sure!!! i’m excited to share our itinerary in a post this coming week! you’re going to have the best time, julie xoxo

kudzu

July 14, 2017 9:00 pm

Joanna,
I can’t help but think of the 4 million white American children growing up in poverty when I read your article about privilege. I understand that you may want to shed light on the ways that POC are disadvantaged in this country, and that is no doubt a critical issue. But ask a child growing up in rural Alabama, West Virginia, Detroit – I could go on and on here – about how they experience life in America.

Agnes

Reply to kudzu

July 21, 2017 3:42 pm

Thank you – my boyfriend (white male) is now a business-owner but he grew up dirt-poor. While not wanting to take away from anyone else’s experience, he bristles at articles like these, and I don’t blame him :(

Caitlyn

Reply to kudzu

July 25, 2017 1:25 pm

In case you are interested in learning the difference between white privilege and class privilege: http://occupywallstreet.net/story/explaining-white-privilege-broke-white-person

Sasha

July 14, 2017 8:52 pm

Thanks but I don’t really want my butter to taste better. It’s already way too delicious for my willpower.

I love that the umbrella comes in camo :)

Sarah

July 14, 2017 5:45 pm

Thank God you’re back. Despite the Internet being a Bermuda Triangle of information and blogs, all I wanted to read was Cup of Jo.

brianna

July 14, 2017 5:39 pm

I don’t know if I could handle that umbrella hat. It feels like it would be very top heavy and uncomfortable.

Greta

July 14, 2017 5:00 pm

I think the umbrella hat is amazing. It should be marketed to wheelchair users. My husband could totally use this. Even when he wears a rain jacket with hood, his lap is always soaking wet. Where has this been all our lives?

Anne

July 14, 2017 3:56 pm

haha, I love the description of that umbrella hat. Really unfortunately miss of a comma near the end ;)
“Suitable for Gardening, Hiking, Fishing, Farming, Golfing, Photographing, Painting, Shooting Mailman and a Jelly Fish Halloween Costume”

Reply to Anne

July 14, 2017 4:17 pm

HAHAHAHA!

Tania

July 14, 2017 3:48 pm

Oops, meant to say missed. Welcome back!

Tania

July 14, 2017 3:48 pm

We miss you, too!

Marni

July 14, 2017 3:39 pm

YEAH you guys are back! that felt like the longest two weeks. ;-)

Abbie

Reply to Marni

July 16, 2017 8:43 pm

So glad you take these breaks! Well deserved! But miss you EVERY summer! xxx

Melanie

July 14, 2017 3:31 pm

I’ve never tried the pickle in a beer thing but Midwesterners (WI, and MN are my only experience) definitely do these things. I have a friend who always puts 2 green olives in her, pardon my french, $hitty beer. I have other friends who do ‘pickle backs’ aka shots of pickle juice after shots of liquor.

Shauna

Reply to Melanie

July 14, 2017 5:03 pm

I’m from MN and green olives in light beer are a staple. I thought it was normal until I moved east.

Stephanie

Reply to Melanie

July 15, 2017 1:58 pm

Yes! Green olives in your Michelob Golden Light. But it has to be really light, watery, clear-yellow beer. Water beer. Pontoon-boat beer. :) I live in MN and love a clear summer beer. Kind of related: I love a “beer back” with a Bloody Mary. Once in St. Louis I asked for one and the bartender had never, ever heard of the concept. Also a Midwest thing I guess?

Speaking of picklebacks, I work on a food website and we created this salad out of pure love for the concept: https://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/chopped-chicken-salad-with-pickleback-dressing/364c0f0d-fc6f-41bd-91c1-8a23f0f3621d. Spoiler: it is really, really good.

Claire Walker

July 14, 2017 2:57 pm

The tweet you featured in “good to remember” reminded me of Sadie Stein’s assertion (found in this very old Jezebel article – http://jezebel.com/5386774/old-wives-tales-or-why-we-should-all-just-give-up-now) that “for the most part, surely, our experiences are unique and common.”
When I read that in my early 20’s I wrote it down on a 3×5 lined notecard. Today, it still rings true as a grounding and compassionate reminder. The notecard has followed me from desk to desk, job to job.

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Claire Walker

July 14, 2017 3:39 pm

wow, i love that, claire. thank you so much for sharing.

LaurenB

July 14, 2017 2:21 pm

ooooo, Trader Joe’s has a new product that I’m obsessed with for snacking: Ranch Seasoned Crispy Chickpeas (only $3!!)

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