Girls seems to be one of the most controversial shows in recent years, but I have to say, I really like it. The frank dialogue is totally hilarious, and it really captures a certain group of early twenty-somethings. (I also have a girl crush on Marnie.) What do you think? Love? Hate? Either way, you have to admit, these paper dolls are pretty rad.
Design student Kelly Pratt decided to eat her way through the classic sandwiches of all fifty states. Her project is called Stately Sandwiches. So far, she has done the California Powerhouse, as well as...
"Most men's gift guides are written by women, which can be great, but then again sometimes guys just want a football. So, Joanna asked me to reveal the 10 things I'd secretly love for Father's Day. Hope this helps!" -- Alex
Filson backpack. There's nothing dorkier than a backpack, except when it's Filson. I swear by these. I use mine for biking, picnics and weekend trips.
Gitman Bros Vintage, $165. Made in U.S.A. REALLY nicely cut. A perfect blend of downtown cool and Mad-Men classic. They'll become his go-to shirts. They're the first shirts I reach for in the morning.
Beer sausage, $28.99 for three pounds. The two best flavors combined.
Football, $32. No one thinks to own a football after college, but a football is a really fun thing to have. Break one out at a picnic and guys turn into teenagers. The youth-size football is important because every guy secretly believes that a real football is a little too big. This is slightly smaller than a regular football -- you can't tell by looking at it -- but you can really huck it around. Made in Ohio, like a football should be.
Beer bottle labels with his photo. Would be even better on a Belgian Trappist ale, made by monks. (Sidenote: This photo is of Joanna and her dad.)
Giant ice-cube tray for impressive-looking cocktails, $16. They're also practical: Big cubes melt more slowly than small cubes, and there's nothing worse than a watery cocktail.
30 awesome card tricks to perform for your kid, $22. As a dad, it's important to be impressive.
Mancala, the best old-school game to play on a porch on lazy summer evenings, $10.
The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, $24. Despite what you might think, man is becoming less violent. It actually gives you faith in the human race. The best book I've read in 10,000 years. (Also, weirdly hilarious.)
An evening spent putting your baby to bed and then hanging out together. Since that's all he really wants anyway.
How beautiful is this driveway? It's actually doable: It's made of glowstones mixed with gravel. Imagine driving home after a long day at work--awesome.
A few years ago, we picked up one of these beach blankets. They're thin and lightweight, so you can carry them easily (or stuff one into a bag), and then spread them out for a grassy picnic or napping on the sand. We've used it a million times; I'd highly recommend them!
Speaking of birthdays, how pretty is this garden cake? You could whip up any basic cake and just cover it with berries, leaves and teeny flowers.
Last year, for his first birthday, Toby got a toy bus as a gift, and since then, he played with it so much that we lost the passengers inside, and then the wheels fell off, and then the whole bottom fell off. In the end, it was just a yellow shell. We ended up throwing it away this past weekend, which was surprisingly heartbreaking for Alex and me. (As a parent, you become so sentimental!)
P.S. Remember this couple's idea?
A few years ago, for a dear friend's bachelorette party, I set up a "make your own mojito" table. Maybe the cocktails weren't so perfect, but playing bartender was half the fun. Ever since then, I've been fascinated with all the different tools and accessories out there for mixing drinks at home. These are on the top of my wishlist. -- By Rachel from Elephantine
We don't have a backyard, but I love the idea of a home that smells like greenery. How cool would it be to place jars around the house filled with rosemary? The lovely strong scent would make you feel like you were walking through a garden. (Afterward you could put the rosemary in roast chicken or potatoes.)
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.