Faux fur throws

This past weekend, we were lucky enough to visit our friends' cabin in Connecticut. Alex and I are usually huge wusses about winter, but, inspired by our friends, we decided to embrace it. We built roaring fires, ate French toast and bacon for breakfast, chopped wood, went cross-country skiing, threw the toddlers in the bath together, and later comforted crying kids on hikes because their hands were too cold and rushed them back to the warm car—all in all, a real country weekend:)

But the biggest surprise of the trip? Our friends' sofas were draped in these faux fur throws from Restoration Hardware, and they were soft and luxurious. We spent the weekend cuddled in them, and when we returned home on Sunday night, we immediately ordered one. I'd highly recommend them!
P.S. Love Alex's face while chopping wood!

(Photos by our friends, who are actually the designers behind Pinhole Press. Thanks, Ashley and Stefan!)

Awesome Vacation Idea: Stinson Beach

Are you planning any vacations this year? Travel is fun to daydream about during gray January, so I decided to ask a few friends to reveal the vacation spots they remember most fondly. First up, Liz Stanley from Say Yes to Hoboken raves about Stinson Beach, just thirty minutes from San Francisco...
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Vacation photos: LA and Palm Springs

For the holidays, we went visited friends and family in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. We were psyched and lucky to be there for a full ten days, since next year—with the new baby—we'll probably be more homebound. Here are a few photos, if you'd like to see...
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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope you're having a wonderful week. I wanted to say thank you so much, truly, for reading Cup of Jo. It means a lot to me that you take the time to come here. This week we're hanging out in Palm Springs and L.A., and I'm sure you're busy, too, so I figured I'd take a break from posting, but looking forward to coming back on January 2nd! Have a good one. xoxo

P.S. Toby's first Christmas, what a flashback.

(Photos from the Ace Palm Springs yesterday, where Toby officially fell in love with hotel pools)

Your hometown

Are you heading home for the holidays? I grew up in the Michigan suburbs, and this Saturday Night Live tourism ad for "your hometown" made me laugh out loud. (It's worth waiting through the annoying NBC ad:)

(Via The Daily Muse)

10 ways to entertain a toddler on a plane

Will you be traveling with a little dude over the holidays? Last year, I wrote 10 tips for traveling with a baby, but now that Toby is an energetic toddler, he also needs to be entertained en route. Here are a few tips we've figured out...Read More >

Travel fantasy: Shelter Co.

Do you like camping? I've never been a huge camper, but Shelter Co. looks pretty amazing. It's a pop-up lodging service, born out of a nostalgia for the days of summer camp. They set up fully furnished European-style canvas tents, complete with Pendleton blankets, a carpeted floor and bedside tables, and you just show up to stargaze, roast marshmallows and play games. It's like camping for wusses! Just my style!

Thoughts? Do you like camping or not so much?

P.S. More travel fantasies...

Swing art installation

I'm a huge fan of interactive art exhibits (like the Grand Central secret and the New Museum playground), so my jaw dropped when I heard about the current Ann Hamilton show in Manhattan. Her installation features 42 swings, which, in turn, move an enormous billowy curtain. "When the swings are in action, the curtain, made of a lightweight silk twill, rises and dips, and the air is stirred, causing further billowing and fluttering," writes the New York Times, "Pigeons and an actress provide a soundtrack." Some people glide on the swings, some lie on the ground under the curtain and some sit on benches to take it all in. The show runs through January 6th at the Armory. I can't wait to take Toby!

(Photos by Philip Greenberg for the New York Times)

NYC Date Idea: Magic show

So. Alex and I are usually pretty skeptical, but last weekend our minds were blown...
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Venice under water

Flooding in Venice is pretty common, but the most recent flood left 70% of central Venice under water. I'm amazed by how people seem to be taking it in stride—ordering espresso, having pizza for lunch and even swimming in Piazza San Marco!

P.S. Remember these photos from four years ago?

(Photos by AP Photo/Getty/Reuters, via The Atlantic)

Foldable Hunter boots

Hunter boots are tomboyishly cool and make your legs look miles long, and royalty swears by them. The only catch? They're hard to pack! Well, Hunter just released their first foldable rain boot, which roll right up into a tiny package, so you can take them on vacations, store them in a drawer or even pop them into your bag on a rainy day. So far, they come in red and black, but green, navy and yellow are coming soon. Cool, right?
P.S. Five great shoes for traveling, and a sweet photo of Princess Diana.

Paris daydreaming

Who's daydreaming of Paris this fall? The city feels extra dreamy when everyone's bundled up in wool scarves, ducking into cafes for thick hot chocolate. Well, here are seven pretty pieces to inspire some romance at home...

1. Eiffel Tower plush, $68.
2. Paris print, $30.
3. John Derian plate, $48.
4. Saint James shirt, made in Normandy since 1850, $90. (See one on a model here.)
5. Metallic flats, $125.
6. Tea candies, $14.
7. Map tote, $20.

(Graphic design by Rachel for Cup of Jo)

24 hours in San Francisco

This past Tuesday, I flew to San Francisco for 24 hours. The reason for my trip was to give a work presentation, but luckily my twin sister also lives there, so we turned it into The World's Shortest Vacation! Here's what we did...
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Vacation photos: Capri

Last week, Alex and I took a four-day getaway to Capri, Italy. (Here's why:) Have you ever been there? What a magical place! I'd love to share a few photos, if you'd like to see...
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3 travel essentials

We took a four-day trip to Italy last week (photos coming right up!), and I wanted to share three great things we packed...
Fjallraven bag. I learned about this Swedish bag on Momfilter, and now we swear by it, too. This bag is durable and unisex, but the coolest thing are the straps: You can carry it by the short handles, on one shoulder, or as a backpack. SO great for getting through an airport and using throughout your trip.
Eberjey chemise. Our honeymoon was the first time I wore my Eberjey slip, and since then I've packed it for every vacation. It's pretty and comfy (a rare combo for lingerie) and demure enough to wear out on the hotel balcony. And much sexier than my usual hiking socks:)
Bensimon shoes, which I've written about many times before. They're comfy, tomboyish, and make you look French! Bensimon are perfect travel shoes, especially when you don't want to look like a tourist.

What clothes or accessories do you always pack for a trip?

P.S. Seven beauty products for vacations, and a honeymoon packing tip.

(Photo by Crystin Moritz)

Pools!

Can you believe we're only one day away from September?! This summer flew by. To keep the summery mood going, here are 8 incredible pools around the world…Have you been to any? Which one would you want to dip into?

From top: Berlin, Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe (see more insane photos here), Singapore, Portugal, Chile, Sydney, Utah and Bali.

(Photos via and links on Apartment Therapy)