Have a Wonderful Weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We are heading to Northern California to visit my twin sister, and we’ll be sharing some photos on Instagram, if you’d like to see. We are excited to eat giant burritos and put our feet in the ocean. Have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web…

America has never been so desperate for tomato season.

The Little Women trailer looks fantastic. (Saoirse and Timothée!)

I’m reading the best best best book right now, and can’t wait to go home and read it.

Love this sweet and vulnerable personal ad for friends.

This new Muslim lifestyle brand is making multipurpose prayer mats.

Up and up.

How cool are these 1970’s style back-to-school shoes?

Gymnast Simone Biles sets records right and left!

Dermstore’s HUGE sale starts today. This spray is top of my list, and I know you guys love this.

A Dutch summer rite: children let loose in the night woods. “Groups of children, generally pre-teenagers, are deposited in a forest and expected to find their way back to base. It is meant to be challenging, and they often stagger in at 2 or 3 in the morning.” (New York Times)

Beyonce’s Vogue cover photo was acquired by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

Zucchini quesadillas.

And we shared our family meal plan on the Kitchn. (What are your go-to dinners?)

Plus, two reader comments:

Says Mel on bedtime routine: “I have a rule with my husband (the night owl) that he can’t talk to me about ‘real things’ after 8 p.m., which is when our toddler goes to bed. I just want to eat chocolate, binge Parks and Rec and maybe have sexy time. Him? ‘Where do we see ourselves in five years? Should we put another $10k down on the mortgage or sell the house and move further out of the city? Did I tell you about that political/economic/cultural/complicated thing I heard on NPR.’ Me… ugh pass the chocolate and maybe take off your clothes but please for the love of God stop talking about hard things.

Says Lora on I Thought I’d Accepted My Body; Then I Got Pregnant: “I’m currently in my second pregnancy, and my favorite thing has been the utter delight my toddler daughter has in my changing body. Every day, she’ll lift my shirt and pat my belly. She’ll then lift her shirt and bump her belly into my pregnant belly. She’ll then make the rounds with anyone in the room. I love witnessing family members and friends of all shapes/sizes happily lift their shirts to connect with her in this playful, belly-tastic way. The self-consciousness brought on by arbitrary cultural expectations always melts in the face of a toddler’s obvious joy in seeing all the bellies!”

Have a good one. xoxo

(Photo by Lena Corwin.)

80 COMMENTS

WRITE A COMMENT

Name*

Email*

Website

80 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Beth

September 23, 2019 9:52am 9:52 am

Ok I absolutely loved and devoured Home Fire. Anyone have any other book recommendations of fictional accounts of contemporary Middle East? I am having the hardest time finding another book in this same vein except Exit West which I’ve already read and also adored.

Kay

Reply to Beth

September 23, 2019 8:56pm 8:56 pm

I haven’t read any of these yet, but they’re all sitting on my shelf waiting to be read: Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar and A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum. Happy reading!

Beth

Reply to Beth

September 24, 2019 9:10am 9:10 am

THANK YOU KAY!

Ramya

August 20, 2019 10:39am 10:39 am

I loved Home Fire as well – read it super quickly, as it was impossible to put down! And so happy to note that your sister and her daughter are doing well. Her epilogue in her late husband’s book was probably the most beautiful writing I’ve read this year!

Meagan

August 19, 2019 1:06pm 1:06 pm

YES MEL! After I get our daughter to bed, I brush my teeth and settle down on the couch to watch bad TV, but my husband ALWAYS picks that moment to either bore me to death with something interesting he read (that I would care about at some other time) or talk about heavy stuff. I know he thinks that’s “OUR” time, but honestly as a Mom, that’s “ME” time!

Rachel

August 19, 2019 9:22am 9:22 am

I feel you, Mel. My husband is the same way. Last night, around 8:30, we started an hour-long convo about re-doing the kitchen. Afterwards, as I tried to salvage my night by reading, he had the grace to let me know he’d had a Coke while making dinner, so, “I might be up a while longer tonight.” That explains a lot… <3

Mel

August 19, 2019 8:43am 8:43 am

I have watched that trailer for little Women now at least 10 times, and sent it to my Mom twice (who still can’t figure out how to watch it). I love the casting.
Also, that dutch tradition sounds amazing, terrifying, but amazing. I some times fear that kids are tough in that they hear about terrible scary things in the news but not tough in the old fashioned can get dirty in the words kind of way.
Finally, i’m charge of picking the book club book this next month so thank you for deciding for me. Home Fire it is.

Laura

August 19, 2019 5:50am 5:50 am

Haha I am Dutch and just loved reading the New York Times artikel. People seem to forget that the Netherlands is the tiniest country ever, so the ‘forests’ are also tiny, we have NO natural forests (everything is man-planted) and no bears, wolves, preditors etc. So though it feels like you are dropped in the middle of nowhere (I remember from when I was a kid) you know that the nearest house is always like 15 minutes away :-).
But the artikel made us Dutch seem so tough, outdoorsy and die-hard hahahaha so not true…

Christina

Reply to Laura

August 19, 2019 10:46am 10:46 am

Laura, I love this perspective! Thank you for sharing. :) That’s really cute!

Sasha L

Reply to Laura

August 20, 2019 12:54pm 12:54 pm

I love this comment so much!!!

I’m from Montana, where we also let kids play in the forest (all nature made)…… But there really are things that can eat them out there. ? I embrace all things that allow children a sense of adventure, agency, Independence, fearlessness. Our culture is so incredibly fear based now, I think it’s robbing children of so much for so little. Our future depends on clever problem solvers that can work together and nothing teaches those skills better than the wilderness.

Lindsey

August 18, 2019 6:18pm 6:18 pm

Hi Joanna – can you do a follow up post on the multi-purpose muslim prayer mats and their founder? Perhaps a beauty uniform post? I loved everything about this idea so much, including her decision on manufacturing them in the states to solidify how they are part of this nation. LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I would love to know how to further support them. I almost bought one even though I’m not Muslim to use as a bathroom rug, then wondered if that might inadvertently offensive? Would love to learn more!

Kay

Reply to Lindsey

August 19, 2019 10:05am 10:05 am

Hi Lindsey! You made my heart smile. I appreciate you asking if using the prayer mats as a bathroom rug might be offensive before using them as such. I’m Muslim, and the words printed on the mats are sacred words for us and typically shouldn’t be placed in the bathroom.

Katie

Reply to Lindsey

August 19, 2019 11:01am 11:01 am

Lindsey, glad you asked, and Kay, thank you for the response. I was trying to figure out how and where to use one of the prayer rugs as well, but it would sure be easy to do something very very offensive. Maybe Niy.ya might consider other goods at some point that aren’t sacred. I’m at a point where I will only buy used or American made (with a few exceptions), so I really want to support this company.

Lindsey

Reply to Lindsey

August 19, 2019 5:48pm 5:48 pm

Kay – thanks so much for helping out here! It is so refreshing to find a community you can get answers to questions like this without feeling judged! Much love –

Lisa

August 18, 2019 6:32am 6:32 am

I’m still not sure about this Little Women (team Winona forever). Firstly, because I love the Winona Ryder version so much. Secondly – isn’t Soairse in her mid 20s / early 30s? Too old for Jo.

I’ll still watch it, but I’m sceptical

Jen

Reply to Lisa

August 18, 2019 2:02pm 2:02 pm

Soairse is 25…

Amber

Reply to Lisa

August 18, 2019 3:44pm 3:44 pm

Lisa, I am of the same thought. Loved the Winona version. I do think that Soairse might make a good Jo but am not totally convinced. I don’t get the hype over Timothée Chalamet, really, really don’t (apologies to the fans!). For me, Christian Bale will always be the best Laurie and Gabriel Byrne the best Mr. Bhaer. Emma Watson looks younger than all of them. A strange choice for Meg. Too intense an actress for this role. Meg wasn’t intense, Jo was.

Yes, I will watch it but, like you, am sceptical.

Escondista

Reply to Lisa

August 19, 2019 7:12am 7:12 am

Winona was 23 in her version and Saoirse is 25 – not that different in age but both too old for the part as written.
I also looove the Winona version but am looking forward to this one: Timothée is the only person who might live up to Christian Bale’s Laurie.
Please let Amy be likeable in this one!

Cait

Reply to Lisa

August 19, 2019 8:31am 8:31 am

She’s 25 and brilliant, I actually wasn’t sure about a new Little Women but I’ll watch anything Saoirse Ronan is in!

In a world where 60 year old Tom Cruise can play a Navy captain fighter pilot, we can have a young looking 25 year old Jo ;)

Jennifer O.

Reply to Lisa

August 19, 2019 11:38am 11:38 am

Saoirse Ronan was pretty convincing as a teenager in Ladybird, so I think she can do it. Also, the book and presumably movie covers a number of years so a younger actress might not work as well for older Jo.

Amy

August 17, 2019 8:06pm 8:06 pm

I loved Home Fire. I read it when it came out and I still think about it all the time.

Del

August 17, 2019 7:29pm 7:29 pm

Sorry guys I misunderstood (re my comment on the Dutch dropping rite). I thought people were thinking it was random parents dropping their kids in the woods. Apologies!

laura

August 17, 2019 5:03pm 5:03 pm

OF COURSE CHALAMET IS A JANE AUSTEN LEAD! But seriously I don’t think I’ll be able to watch because I an concerned you could die from swooning too hard.

shannon

Reply to laura

August 19, 2019 10:49am 10:49 am

…not arguing that Timothee would make a great(!) Austen lead, but Little Women is by Louisa May Alcott.

Anna

August 17, 2019 10:59am 10:59 am

Woah! I haven’t wanted to see a movie in so long! Little Women tools SO good! The line up ??? Thanks for the great links ?

Andrea

August 17, 2019 10:56am 10:56 am

My husband’s comment, “Well, technically, she wanted to talk about hard things, too.”

Emily

Reply to Andrea

August 18, 2019 1:47pm 1:47 pm

HA!

Tess

Reply to Andrea

August 18, 2019 8:39pm 8:39 pm

Haha! That’s exactly what I thought! But I am the same way- after 8:30pm my daughter is not allowed to bring up things she knows I will need more time for. I am an extreme lark so hit me up first thing in the morning- then I can conquer the world (or at least discuss it!)

Mel

Reply to Andrea

August 19, 2019 8:38am 8:38 am

HAHAHAHAHA amazing. As the Mel who wrote that comment if I actually read it to my husband he would have said something similar.

Anni

August 17, 2019 7:44am 7:44 am

The prayer mats are lovely and I noticed they are on sale right now!

August 17, 2019 5:06am 5:06 am

Florence Pugh makes me like Amy for the first time ever, GO GRETA! (Emma Watson as Meg tho, naaaaah)

Jess

August 17, 2019 12:14am 12:14 am

“Stop talking about hard things and let’s just talk about……….hard things” :) can’t help myself

Caitlin

August 16, 2019 11:00pm 11:00 pm

Lol – I’m the opposite of Mel. My husband is like this in the morning and I cannot handle anything more complicated before 9am than where is the coffee (and even that is a stretch)

Sara Cotner

August 16, 2019 10:39pm 10:39 pm

Everything in this post. I need to put up a friend ad. I was needing a good book and the one you shared happened to be available for download. The shoes are so cute. I loved the laid-back meal plan. Happy Weekend!

Andrea

August 16, 2019 9:16pm 9:16 pm

Your Friday posts are something I look forward too every week. Thank you!!

Shannon

August 16, 2019 9:13pm 9:13 pm

Would y’all ever consider linking to Indiebound instead of Amazon for book recommendations? I know you’re fans of independent bookstores!

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Shannon

August 18, 2019 10:35am 10:35 am

yes, we do a mix, thank you so much!

Becca

August 16, 2019 9:03pm 9:03 pm

If it is ok with her, I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d like an update on Lucy and Cady. I think of them often and wonder how they are. The love of strangers. xx

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Becca

August 16, 2019 9:06pm 9:06 pm

you’re the sweetest, thank you, becca. lucy is more private than i am (everyone is more private than i am:), but i can tell you that they’re both doing really well. maybe i’ll ask lucy if she’d ever be up for a beauty uniform:)

Lana

Reply to Becca

August 19, 2019 3:42pm 3:42 pm

Yes! I’d love one, too. I’m guessing she moved to N Carolina to be with her squeeze? If so YAY!!!!

Ingrid

August 16, 2019 8:41pm 8:41 pm

Two words: Tomato Season…..

I thought it was just me.

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Ingrid

August 16, 2019 9:06pm 9:06 pm

same, ingrid, same.

celeste

Reply to Ingrid

August 16, 2019 9:29pm 9:29 pm

I 1ove how tomatoes are represented as a small slice of comfort.

Meredith

August 16, 2019 8:24pm 8:24 pm

Paused mid-read to reserve “Home Fire” at the library; I’m (pleasantly!) surprised it’s not a long wait list. Thanks for the rec—I love CoJ suggestions!

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Meredith

August 16, 2019 8:30pm 8:30 pm

i hope you love it! it starts of a litttttttle slowly (like, good, but kind of lyrical) and then BOOM you’re sucked right in. i cannot wait to read it tonight.

steph

Reply to Meredith

August 18, 2019 11:59am 11:59 am

home fire is so good + a quick read – i love that it switches perspectives and flows so naturally. i read it while abroad in March and it was fun to have a london themed collection (the other two here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BupN6gGH3Cz/)
also, the prayer mats are gorgeous (love the designs) and remind me of my turkish towel – so many uses, it’s the most used and versatile clothing item i own and part of my travel essentials which are intentionally chosen to reduce waste: https://tps-steph.blogspot.com/2018/11/0014-my-essential-travel-items.html

Amy

August 16, 2019 8:17pm 8:17 pm

Mel! I’m dying reading that!?

Sarah

August 16, 2019 7:54pm 7:54 pm

OMG can Mel be my wife? LOL

Mel

Reply to Sarah

August 19, 2019 8:40am 8:40 am

I am available evenings past 8 and have 6 varieties of dark chocolate in the secret cupboard my 3 year old can’t reach and am currently on season 4, episode 15 of Parks and Rec. Sweatpants are required dress.

Sasha L

Reply to Sarah

August 20, 2019 12:57pm 12:57 pm

Mel, the line is forming……….

Georgia

August 16, 2019 7:33pm 7:33 pm

Since every week some new awful event seems to circulate in the news, maybe CoJ’s Friday post could always include one way readers can take action? It could vary from week to week whether its a small nonprofit to donate to or an upcoming march/protest or volunteer opportunity. And there’s so many good causes worth fighting for these days. Just thought that would be nice.

Thanks so much for all you do.

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Georgia

August 16, 2019 8:30pm 8:30 pm

that’s a really great idea, georgia. thank you.

Denise

Reply to Georgia

August 17, 2019 11:25am 11:25 am

I second this Georgia – inspired!

Erin

Reply to Georgia

August 17, 2019 1:18pm 1:18 pm

I love this idea, too!

Sasha L

Reply to Georgia

August 20, 2019 1:05pm 1:05 pm

I love this idea.

Maybe something 1. actionable, and 2. a positive example that the whole of humanity isn’t crap? Probably every week has this anyways but perhaps presented as such, something to keep hope alive? I actively seeking out things that bring wonder, show human kindness, help me keep perspective, and not fall into a pit of despair, and just plain beauty – find so much that fits that bill here, thank you CoJ ♥️♥️♥️

Sara

August 16, 2019 7:32pm 7:32 pm

“Bellytastic” ! Into this being a regular word!

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Sara

August 16, 2019 8:30pm 8:30 pm

hahaha yes! let’s start it!

Jena

August 16, 2019 6:56pm 6:56 pm

Great links, as always! I’m really here to thank you for the Shop! It’s very quickly become my go-to for gift ideas. Thus far, I’ve gotten inspiration for a slam dunk birthday gift, new mamma present, and housewarming trinket. Thanks for all the wonderful and inspired ideas!

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Jena

August 16, 2019 8:31pm 8:31 pm

that makes me so happy! thank you!!

Christina

August 16, 2019 6:44pm 6:44 pm

Mel and her bedtime routine just made my day!

Kim

August 16, 2019 6:11pm 6:11 pm

I have a very similar bedtime routine, except often we do talk about the tough stuff. It’s actually kind of nice. I like our “adult only” tough conversations we can’t have in front of the kids. Gun control, our disgusting president, Epstein, the deportation deaths, the poor children still separated and locked in cages. I hate all these horrible things, I th8nk about them all the time and I don’t want to go to bed pretending they aren’t there. I can’t sleep if I don’t talk about it. For me, it really feels better to voice it all, smush ALL the chocolate in my mouth and then snuggle into my dear husband’s delicious neck. I take a big inhale, squeeze him pretty hard and we then move on to the happier stuff. And that’s usually the taking the clothes off part.

Capucine

Reply to Kim

August 17, 2019 4:33pm 4:33 pm

Huh, I’m…that is humbling. We don’t talk about state-of-the-world heavy at night, we talk about our-world heavy at night: not enough retirement, parents nearing death, daughter depressed…. How nice you guys look and care beyond yourselves.

Sasha L

Reply to Kim

August 20, 2019 1:07pm 1:07 pm

Husband neck……. There is just nothing more comforting, not even chocolate.

Meg

August 16, 2019 5:30pm 5:30 pm

I loved that NYT article on a Dutch summer rite! I grew up in Belgium, where scouting is very popular, and “survival hikes” were a big part of summer camp. We were given a map, some basic provisions and an end point about 3 days’ walk away, and that was it – we had to find our own places to sleep (usually stables or barns) and ask people to give us food! It sounds bonkers when I think about it now, but at the time it seemed perfectly normal, and I loved it!

Jay Anna

August 16, 2019 5:15pm 5:15 pm

While no one can compare to Winona and Christian from 1994…this new one does look promising and I trust Greta’s ability to tell the story with integrity.

Kristin

Reply to Jay Anna

August 17, 2019 9:32pm 9:32 pm

I totally agree. It’s going to be so hard to like this version more than Winona and Christian.

Meagan

Reply to Jay Anna

August 19, 2019 1:44pm 1:44 pm

In prep for the new movie, I’ve been doing a reread of the book and I can picture nothing but Winona and Christian.

Hali

August 16, 2019 5:13pm 5:13 pm

Today I got to drop my husband off at work which is something I never do. It gave us the most amazing weekday opportunity to just chat over coffee in the car while I drove. I told him that I’m debating CBD for sleep and he reminded me of the difference between anecdotal evidence and medical studies, but that he thinks it’s worth a try. I said- well there’s a CBD water that I heard about on Cup of Jo and I might order it then, it looked so good.

He completely LIT UP. He was like, “Hahaha of COURSE that blog has something to do with this. Hali! You just got JOED! No no! Even better, you got CUPPED!!” referring to your persuasion on my purchases… I started laughing. BUT THEN HE GOES:

“omg you have to bring this up in the comments.”

I’m starting to believe he secretly reads this blog as often as I do.

Sandra

Reply to Hali

August 16, 2019 5:50pm 5:50 pm

You just got JOED…LOLOLOLOLOL! I feel like we’ve had a similar (but not as cleverly worded) conversation in our house. :-)

Joanna Goddard(@joanna)

Author

Reply to Sandra

August 16, 2019 8:32pm 8:32 pm

omg hahaha i’m sitting on my sofa laughing so much right now. love you guys. :) :) :)

Michelle

Reply to Hali

August 17, 2019 9:12am 9:12 am

Hilarious! I have to say that the cbd water sparked my curiosity too. I started taking capsules about two months ago for sleep and anxiety and it has seriously changed my life. I get them from Infinite CBD. Good luck!

Madi

Reply to Hali

August 17, 2019 11:28am 11:28 am

My husband always says that CupOfJo secretly runs our lives ?

August 16, 2019 5:04pm 5:04 pm

OMG that bedtime routine is my life!
Yay have fun in NorCal!
I live in Berkeley and have some good recs in case you take a drive over the bridge:
– Visit the New BAMPFA and then walk through the UC Berkeley campus and sneak a peak at the T Rex bones in the Valley Life Sciences Building. My 9yo daughter loves visiting campus and fantasizing about when she is in college. She still lives at home in this fantasy so my heart is not broken yet. ;)
– Have food at Comal on Shattuck and enjoy the lovely back yard area.
– Take the boys to the East Bay Vivarium on 5th street
– Get ice cream at Three Twins then pop into Erica Tanov and get yourself something beautiful!

Olivia

Reply to MA

August 16, 2019 7:25pm 7:25 pm

I did not know you love Paula’s choice BHA. I looooooooove this stuff. Couldn’t use it while pregnant and I am so happy to have added it back since having my daughter in June!

Being a new mom, I don’t really have much time to do makeup, but I’ve been focusing on my skincare routine. I get so many compliments on my glow! BHA + Elta MD UV clear sunscreen + good moisturizer and the occasional retinoid. I don’t even feel the need to put on makeup most days because I just feel radiant :)

Olivia

Reply to MA

August 16, 2019 7:25pm 7:25 pm

Whoops not supposed to be a reply.

Mims

Reply to MA

August 16, 2019 8:18pm 8:18 pm

OMG, the Berkeley Vivarium! We practically lived there when my son was five. I finally found a good home for the ball python we bought there that year. It is 4 feet long and weighs 10 pounds or so now. Oh, good times, feeding the ball python a live mouse in the bathroom tub when play group was at our house. Circle of life /food webs and all that. Only those who wanted to watch did and now 15 years on, they all seem like well adjusted adults.

Sheila

Reply to MA

August 16, 2019 8:39pm 8:39 pm

Ok, real story about the vivarium. Maybe 10 years ago, my best friend got me to meet her and her twin boys there. The boys were about 10 and wanted a reptile of some sort. I brought my 2year old daughter. While we were all wandering around, we heard a commotion toward the back of the store and the employees started to move around frantically. My daughter and I were close to the front door so I grabbed her and headed out front quickly. Just as we got out and my friend got out, they locked the doors! Her boys were still in there. Apparently, an employee was cleaning one of the enclosures and one of the monitor lizards got out! WTF?! It was running around the place and they were more concerned about it getting away than the safety of the people on there. Stay away!

Jenifer

August 16, 2019 4:53pm 4:53 pm

Have a lovely weekend and look to hearing an update on your sister.

Mallory

August 16, 2019 4:53pm 4:53 pm

Ah I picked Home Fire for my book club this month. SO GOOD!

Del

Reply to Mallory

August 17, 2019 6:17pm 6:17 pm

I think you can’t refer to that NYT Dutch child dropping post without also linking to this one: https://www.manrepeller.com/2019/07/low-stakes-hot-take-dutch-twitter-is-the-best-twitter.html
Being Dutch, I have never heard of this. Nor has anyone I know, and I know a lot of people. Hilarious, but without wanting to sound Trumpian: fake news.
Note that the one comment made here is from a Belgian lady who specifically mentions it being part of SCOUTING summer camp. That – yes I can imagine. But no parent in their right mind here would say “Well, see y’all whenever you find your way out of de Veluwe”
What is a customary sorority haze though, is dropping the pledges in the middle of nowhere with PEANUT BUTTER on their face. Ugh. And believe me, at one point you get so hungry you start eating the peanut butter. ?

More to Love