We adore this Cup of Jo community, so we asked readers to send their favorite personal photos from 2025. We received so many incredible snapshots — it was impossible to choose! — but here are 11, including a surprise wedding and winning Wordle guess… Above: “Turning 100 days is a huge milestone for Korean babies....

So you bought a house. Congratulations. Or maybe you’re still in the daydreaming stage, scrolling through listings and imagining which room will become your very own snack lounge. Either way, there are a few things you should know about what it actually costs to keep a home running smoothly. Spoiler alert, it’s a little more...

Wilmington, Delaware transforms into a sparkling wonderland each December, with holiday experiences and dazzling Christmas light displays and that bring joy to families across the Brandywine Valley. Whether you’re searching for free neighborhood shows, immersive walk-through attractions, or family-friendly holiday events, Wilmington’s Christmas lights offer something magical for everyone. From the grand Holiday Magic at Riverfront...

One of my favorite holiday traditions is the annual dinner party that Adam and I host for a few of our closest friends in the lead-up to Christmas. It’s our chance to get dressed up, slow down, and enjoy an adults-only evening in the midst of the seasonal swirl. In recent years, we’ve decided to...

Readers have been asking for another hard-to-shop-for guide — think: teenagers, in-laws, and teachers — so we were happy to put one together. Here are tons of ideas, most of which are under $30… TEENS AND TWEENS: Preteen and teens are notoriously hard to shop for, so a few ideas: First off, a crushed ice tray...

Buying a home that hasn’t been built yet carries a particular kind of weight. You’re placing money on blueprints, trusting timelines, and betting on a neighborhood’s future. The search process itself can feel scattered because pre-construction listings don’t sit in one tidy place. Some platforms focus on condos in downtown Toronto. Others cover single-family builds...

Slice-and-bake cookies are the best cookies. (And I will not be entertaining further discussion on the matter.) A buttery, crumbly base studded with just the right mix-ins and finished with a swipe of melted chocolate? It’s a combination that can’t be beat. Even The New York Times included a version in this year’s Cookie Week...

We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. One of the best gifts I’ve ever received wasn’t expensive or flashy—it was a really great tube of lip balm. My friend told me it was her favorite, and while the formula truly lives up to the...

This holiday season, there’s no need to panic. Ah, the dreaded gift-giving season. It seems like I always see it coming in the beginning of November and then somehow wake up two weeks into December having not thought about it since. Then I do the standard add-to-cart disappointment knowing my procrastination has limited my arrive-on-time...

Creating a living space that feels more organized and comfortable isn’t something you can just tick off the to-do list & then leave to gather dust – it’s an ONGOING journey to making your home feel a little bit better, a little bit easier to live in each day. Maybe it starts with a nagging...