State sandwiches

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...
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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

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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Summer Essential #3: Beach bag

BAGGU just came out with their summer tote bags--in bright neons and cute patterns. How perfect to have around for daytrips, the beach and picnics! They're made of ripstop nylon, and scrunch up into a little pouch when you're not using them. Thumbs up.

P.S. More summer essentials, and a perfect summer ponytail...

(Top photo by Frances Tulk-Hart Photography)

NYC Date Idea: Sailing on the Hudson River

As I mentioned, I'm currently trying out a Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone, since it's supposed to be the best phone for social media. A couple weeks ago, I shared a post about 15 meals for toddlers, and now I'd like to share our favorite New York City date: Sailing on the Hudson River. It's like a mini vacation! A couple weeks ago, we snapped some photos on a sail, if you'd like to see...
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About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head. (Seriously.)

The funniest thing we discovered in Amsterdam was definitely this classic children's book. The title? "About a Little Mole Who Wants to Know Who It Was that Pooped on its Head." Look inside...Read more »

Motherhood Mondays: Biking in Amsterdam

I'd love to share our Amsterdam photos later this week, but in the meantime, want to see some crazy photos of bikes in Amsterdam? Here goes...
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