What annoys you about your significant other?

I recently got an email from a reader, who was stressed because her boyfriend gets on her nerves. "I love him, but sometimes he really bugs me," she said. "Does Alex ever annoy you?" Here's my answer...
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Family photo dump

Just thought I'd share a few family photos. First up...
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Do you ever get freaked out at night?

We've talked about living alone and seeing movies alone, but what about sleeping alone...
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NYC Date Night: Fire Escape Drinks

Alex and I are always lamenting the fact that we don't have a garden or balcony or any outdoor space. Once Toby goes to bed, we're pretty much stuck inside for the night. But then! We had a lightbulb moment...
We could hang out on our fire escape. So we've started a little ritual of climbing out there on random warm evenings, and last night, we decided to snap some photos. First, we dress up to make it feel more like a real date. (I usually wear jeans and a T-shirt at home...or, let's be honest...pajamas:)
Then we climb out our bedroom window. (Whoot, whoot! Nice legs!)
We sip and chat, three stories up. We can hear the street noise (cars honking), the trees (leaves rustling), and a restaurant garden nearby (people murmuring, glasses clinking)...
Do you ever drink rose? Sometimes it gets a bad rap, but it's the perfect refreshing drink for a warm evening. And I love the bright pink hue; it just feels like summer. (Side note: You can spot the restaurant garden below us, to the left of Alex.)
Our fire escape looks across a courtyard onto another apartment building, just like Rear Window.
We love our little outdoor drinks, and I'm glad, after six years of living here, that we finally thought of it!

Do you have a fire escape? Or a balcony? Or (gasp) an actual garden? Be still my heart.

(Update: I'm wearing this silk polka-dot skirt and these Swedish Hasbeen sandals.)

Happy 2nd birthday, Toby!

Today is Toby's second birthday!!! Hurray!!! (I cannot believe this happened two years ago, it feels like yesterday.) To celebrate, we threw a birthday picnic for him last Sunday. Here are some photos, below, if you'd like to see....
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What makes you happy?

Yesterday was one of those stressful days, so today I'd love to ask you: What are three things that make you happy? When I asked you years ago, your answers included baby cheeks, the cool side of the pillow and a good fudgy brownie. (Also, "pee shivers." Ha!) My list right now is: clean sheets with freshly shaven legs, a new episode of Mad Men, Belgian beer. And you?

P.S. Also, peonies. And baby swans that ride on their mother's back.

NYC Dates: Trapeze class

So. Last Saturday, Alex and I took a trapeze class, and it was wild...
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Summer Essential #4: Floppy sun hat

Three years ago, before our honeymoon, Alex gave me a giant sun hat. He insisted that I wear it at the beach to shield my (very) pale skin. Every summer since then, I've worn my trusty hat everywhere: at the water, on boats, on hikes and just hanging out with friends outside. Not only does it protect your face from the sun (which is SO important), it also feels glamorous and feminine.

If you want to go for a plain straw hat, like Brigitte Bardot or the gorgeous lady above, you can find lovely ones here, here and here. Here are six more pretty hats...
1. Orange-tipped hat, 2. Yellow striped hat, 3. Floral hat, 4. Blue hat, 5. Red hat, 6. Silk-scarf fedora.
This is my hat. What I love about this particular hat is that it's big and floppy but also structured, so you can shape it however you'd like when you put it on. (Alex chose well! And my sister now has one, too.) You could also go for large stripes or even larger stripes. And here's a really fancy version!

Do you have a floppy summer hat? Which of these would you choose?

(Round-up layout by Alyson/Unruly Things for Cup of Jo. Top photo of Pina Bausch by Walter Vogel)

Dates with your child

Do you guys ever take your little ones on dates? Now that he's (almost!) two, Toby and I are starting a new tradition...
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Motherhood Mondays: Doo-wop group

Toby and I were on our way to the playground on Saturday, when we passed this AMAZING doo-wop group. Toby was transfixed! It was one of those awesome New York experiences. They play every Saturday (except when it rains) on Bleecker Street right outside Murray's Cheese. Man, those voices.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Toby's eyebrows

Toby has always had Jack Nicholson eyebrows, but recently he's been taking them to a new level. These photos crack me up. Who needs words? He has a whole repertoire, including give-me-back-my-car eyebrows...
Taxi-spotting eyebrows...
Strawberry-eating eyebrows...
And get-me-out-of-this-ball-pit eyebrows.
It's a lot of work for one little guy! Toby, I love you:)

Vacation photos: Amsterdam

As I mentioned before, Alex and I recently took a (very) spontaneous four-day trip to Amsterdam to visit my college friend and explore the city, while Toby stayed home and guarded the fort. It was a whirlwind adventure! Thank you again for all your tips! Here are some photos, if you'd like to see....
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Have you ever lived alone? Thumbs up or down?

We've talked about seeing movies alone and cooking dinner alone, but now let's talk about living alone...

Have you ever lived alone? Do you now? Almost half of households in major American cities are occupied by a single person--that's a lot!

Funnily enough, I've actually never lived by myself: I grew up with my family in Michigan, went to college with roommates, lived with many different roommates (and cats) in New York, and then Alex and I moved in together.

But TONS of my friends--both guys and girls--adore living alone. They say it's both liberating and peaceful; they're free to decorate however they want (no wagon-wheel coffee tables), talk or not talk, cook whatever they want, and do whatever they feel like. And you definitely don't have to pee with the door closed:)

When you live alone, you can also be as goofy as you want (think: drinking Champagne in the shower and jogging in place during TV commercials); there was even a New York Times article called "One is the Quirkiest Number." Writer Kate Bolick, who lives by herself, even has a home-alone outfit. "I have this pair of white flax bloomers that go down to my knee. They're like pantaloons. They're so weird," she said. "If someone comes over, I change out of them."
And what if you're married? The fascinating Elle article "Divide and Conquer" profiled couples who live separately and swear it's the best thing for their mariage. And remember this New York Times article about a Vermont couple who lived in two different houses, joined by a bridge? They say it's bliss.

So, I'm really curious: Do you live alone? Do you like it? Do you ever get lonely? Do you ever get freaked out sleeping in a place by yourself at night? Could you live apart from your spouse? I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! xoxo

P.S. A funny video about what it's like to live alone:

(Bridge photo by Trevor Tondro for the New York Times. Video via Michelle)

Mother's Day Brunch (with recipes)

This past weekend, my friends at Pinhole Press asked me to help throw a brunch to celebrate our friends who are mothers and daughters. My answer (obviously!) was yes!!! It was an early Mother's Day brunch to see the new Pinhole Press collection and just hang out with likeminded women. The food was so delicious, and the company so lovely, I'm excited to share recipes--and photos--in case you might like to throw a similar party or make brunch for your mom on Mother's Day. (P.S. Pinhole Press is one of my beloved sponsors, but this isn't a sponsored post)
The event was held at the new Sunday Suppers studio in Brooklyn. How beautiful are those flowers?!
We started off with a "welcome bite," of homemade Nutella with French bread and sea salt.
Mimosas were made with orange juice and Prosecco (the poor man's Champagne, which is just as delicious:)
The first course was mixed greens with mangos and Panko-fried goat cheese!!!
The main course was Croque Monsieur French Toast!!!! What the what?! Everything was mouthwatering, which wasn't surprising because the meal was hosted by Sunday Suppers with guest chefs Jewels of New York. They're all culinary geniuses.
But the dessert secretly may have stolen the show. Everyone was swooning over these berries with citrus and vanilla mascarpone.
How pretty is this yellow dress with butterfly hair clips?
We had such an amazing time and felt so lucky to be there. My friend Leigh brought her new baby, Hazel, who immediately gave everyone baby fever.
Finally, a HUGE thanks to Pinhole Press for letting us enjoy such a beautiful morning! I made wine labels with our personal baby photos, and we set up a table to show off Mother's Day gifts and their brand new wedding collection.

Thank you to all involved! What a magical morning! Find all the recipes here. xoxoxo

(Photos by Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers. Event production by Sunday Suppers with Sunday Suppers guest chefs, the Jewels of New York. Flowers by Saipua. Pinhole Press is a Cup of Jo sponsor, but this is not a sponsored post.)