Cup of Jo

I once read an interview with Jennifer Aniston, wherein she was asked — of all things — about why she’d been photographed wearing the same swimsuit year after year. Her answer was something along the lines of, “Uh, because I like it and it’s comfortable, and they don’t make that style anymore, so yeah, I’m going to wear it until it falls apart.

The other evening, it was witching hour, and my three kids were… …hyped. We had just spent the past hour playing in the backyard. Tag, hide-and-seek, and drawing a never-ending hopscotch grid with chalk on the warm cement. But then cool ocean fog rolled into the our small town, cutting short our outside time. I ushered the children inside, while my husband stayed outside, picking up all the discarded toys.

What are you up to this weekend? We watch lots of ’90s movies in the summer (Clueless, The Fugitive, The Firm) and next up is Quiz Show. Have you seen it? I remember loving it. Hope you have a good long weekend — maybe with fireworks? — and here are a few links from around the web… Five friends try on 25 swimsuits — and tell us what they loved and hated. (Big Salad) I don’t generally love hot dogs, but I would love these hot dogs. Who wants to visit a little red cottage in the Swedish countryside?

How is your summer going so far? Right now Anton’s traveling with his dad, and I miss him so much! It’s a hard part of being divorced, but I am trying to work on it like a muscle and lean into other things. So! This past weekend, Toby, Freddie and I drove upstate to visit friends. When Freddie came to pick us up, he made us laugh with this sign. Here’s the view from their front porch! So cool to have a pool in the front yard.

Remember winter? The way it just kept on going until, like, last month? I just put my sweaters away for the season, and it’s already too hot to think. And cooking? FORGET IT. It’s pantry meals and popsicles for now, and it’s got to be quick, too — nothing like being hangry in a heatwave. The other day, while lingering over the fridge, stealing a moment of blissful chill, I spied a container of ricotta cheese. Cold, creamy ricotta. Sold, I thought. Sounds like dinner to me.

Do you like to thrift online? My friends swear by it, but secondhand shopping online has always intimidated me. What if the item doesn’t fit? Or the fabric doesn’t feel as good in person? Ready to learn, I asked five smart women to share their wisdom… 1. Make a counteroffer. “I rarely pay the sticker price for a secondhand item. When I’m figuring out my counteroffer, I estimate the cost of tax and shipping, as well as the cost of any potential tailoring.

My dating posts are usually published on our newsletter Big Salad, so that first-date gossip and sex debriefs and breakup questions — as well as botox talk and therapist advice — can live safely behind a paywall (I don’t want my kids and neighbors to just stumble upon them!). But I love talking about dating and relationships here, too, of course, and am always eager to hear your thoughts.

Eight years ago, a reader named Chloe wrote a comment that became a parenting motto for the whole Cup of Jo community: “My favorite parenting advice is, ‘If they are crabby, add water.’ This has served me well over the years and believe it or not, with a 14, 10 and eight-year-old, I still use it. Run a bath, take a shower, water the garden, wash the dog, have a hot drink, have a cold drink… just add water.

What are you up to this weekend? We’re planning to play a rousing game of Ono 99 with friends, and I’m also reading the novel Pool House in bed at night and really enjoying it. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few links from around the web… Gemma reveals her five holy-grail summer beauty products. (Big Salad, thank you so much for your support) How beautiful is Ireland? How to stay married.

Ruth Chan is an illustrator who lives in Brooklyn with her family. She writes and illustrates children’s books. For Cup of Jo, Ruth has written about many things, including pets, grief, OCD, moments of connection, and baby wonder. And here’s her beauty uniform and her favorite place to cry in public. P.S. 10 surprising tips for parents of young children and the mathematical parenting point of no return. 0 COMMENTS