One of the best parts about writing about food on Cup of Jo is reading your responses. We love hearing how you enjoy eating a good meal and sharing it with others. Here are 11 reader comments on everything from frozen meatballs to puppy parties… On an adorable party idea: “I am a huge dog...

Photo by Stephanie Sunberg for Maria Stanley Your mind does interesting math as you get older. I get persistent nausea thinking about how fast the past twenty years flew by. Months before my 40th birthday last year, I kept doing the calculation:  If the next twenty years go as fast as the last, then I’m already sixty—which means...

Neutrals are important colors in interior design, even if you tend to be drawn to bold colors. And there’s a lot to navigate when it comes to neutral paint color selection. I wanted to share a few of the best neutral paint colors I’ve used in our homes, why I’ve been drawn to them, and...

We’ve all felt it: that quiet pang when someone else’s life looks shinier, easier, or more successful than our own. Maybe it’s a friend’s career milestone splashed across LinkedIn, a perfectly filtered vacation photo, or simply the endless highlight reels we scroll past each day. However it shows up, comparison has a way of pulling...

As I’ve been on my quest to do less and have less, I’ve been confronted with a crossroads: what I need and what I don’t. Sorting needs versus wants can be a tricky business, akin to sorting out the opinions others have of you versus the ones you have of yourself—murky territory for lifelong people...

Swapping favorite reads is my favorite form of social currency. I devoured some really special books this year and felt it was the right time to compile a list of the ones that stayed on my mind long after I read the last page. My criteria for what makes a read share-worthy extends beyond just...

It’s that time of year again. Cozy season collides with cold season, and suddenly everyone’s either curled up with a blanket or down for the count. The truth is, our immune systems are doing a lot right now. Less sunshine, more time indoors, and the revolving door of germs we’re all passing around (love you,...

We get lots of beauty questions from Cup of Jo readers, and today I thought I’d answer five (I’d love to hear your answers, too!)… “What holy-grail products have made the biggest difference to your self image?” — Claire A. What a fun question. I love playing around with makeup and finding things that work...

We went through the noise to find the pieces that are genuinely worth their sale tag, the kind you’ll still use long after the boxes are gone. Prime Big Deal Days is here, two days of markdowns that began today at 12:01 AM Pacific and wrap Wednesday at 11:59 PM Pacific. Think of it as...

Photo taken in my home as part of a collaboration with West Elm. There are people in my life who are the most wonderful gift givers—always thoughtful, always unique, always spot-on. I’ve learned some lessons from these friends and family members on how to be a really excellent gift giver, and I’m sharing them with...