Birth announcements

Once we had taken family photos, we decided to make a few photo products for our friends and family. As always, we used Pinhole Press, since we love their simple, beautiful designs. First, we made birth announcements to send to our friends across the country and my family in England. My grandmother doesn't have an email account, so this will be the first photo she'll see of Anton!
Then we made a mini panoramic photo book. It's small enough to fit into a purse (perfect for proud grandmothers), and the pages are ultrathick and hard enough to knock on, which feels really luxurious.

It's so nice to have real products we can hold in our hands, instead of having the photos stuck on the computer:) Here are a few more nursery favorites...

(Photos by Julia Robbs. This post is sponsored by Pinhole Press. Thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that make Cup of Jo possible)

5 gifts guys secretly want for Father's Day

Alex wrote my Father's Day gift guide last year because, as he said, "sometimes guys just want a football." So, last night, I asked him to reveal the five gifts he'd secretly love this year, and here's what he told me...Read More >

Mother's Day gift idea

Have you guys heard of brag books? They're accordion-style books featuring eight photos, which you can carry in your handbag. They would make a lovely gift for Mother's Day, don't you think? We made them for Toby's grandmothers, and you could also make copies for beloved babysitters and teachers. They take about five minutes to create, and they're so sweet and heartfelt.
What do you think? See Pinhole Press's complete Mother's Day Gift Guide for more ideas, and get 25% off all photo books with the code BOOKLOVE, good through April 16th.

P.S. A Toby notepad:)

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo. Pinhole Press is one of my beloved long-term sponsors. This is a sponsored post, although all opinions are my own.)

Gift idea for new parents: Jeni's ice cream

When Toby was brand new, Alex's office sent us a package of four pints of Jeni's ice cream. It's made in Ohio with luscious milk and cream from cows that eat grass, and the explosive flavors range from salty caramel to brambleberry crisp.

I still remember how decadent the ice cream tasted, especially to bewildered new parents. When you're spending all day taking care of a tiny person, it felt good to have a blast of something just for ourselves. We spent the entire time saying, "This is so delicious, oh my goodness, try this one, oh my gosh..."

What were your favorite gifts when you were a new parent? Do you remember the food people brought?
P.S. 8 more gifts for new parents.

(Photo of Toby as a newborn)

Two slamdunk hostess gifts

When I worked at a coffee shop during college, we wore half aprons like this, and they were weirdly flattering. So, you feel really pretty while making dinner (or preparing a cheese plate), and of course they're functional, too, since you always need a place to wipe off your hands and don't want to get your jeans dirty. Perfect hostess gift.
This old-school salad dressing comes with a story. Crane Crest’s Real French Dressing has no website, just a phone number (617-277-1325). You leave an answering-machine message with your address, and they'll send you a case of six jars, along with a handwritten invoice for $18. They trust that you'll mail back a check. How rad is that? They've developed a cult following, since, as Pilar says, the vinaigrette is incredible on salad, fish, chicken...Aren't you curious to try it?

(Salad dressing via Momfilter)

7 Valentine's Day gifts

Valentine's Day is just over a week away, so if you're looking for some treats, here are seven ideas...Silk flowers to look pretty on a desk all year, $20 to $24.
Wildflower candle to make your home smell like spring, $30.
Heart cheese that tastes like buttery Brie, $15.99. (They also have chocolate cheese!)
X-O temporary tattoo, $5.30, or sparkly heart temporary tattoo, $5, to wear all day.
Sexy silk lingerie, $130.
Love-etched bottle to use for water every night (or lemonade in the summer). $24.
Morse code necklace or bracelet, saying "amore" or "love," $80.

P.S. A kissing tip from Joan Rivers, and the #1 trick to make a date night sexier.

Cocktails in a bottle

Here's a rad last-minute gift idea for cocktail lovers: Pourable Manhattans. A Utah-based distillery mixes rye whiskey, vermouth and bitters, then ages the mixture for 90 days, to make a fantastic Manhattan cocktail, which you just pour right out of the bottle. How cool is that?

P.S. Another boozy gift: The Corksicle now comes in bright colors. Your mom won't have to put ice in her white wine anymore!
(Via Momfilter. Comic by Gemma Correll)

Gift Guide Part #7: Your Younger Brother Who Can Fly a Plane and Strike Up a Conversation with Anybody.

Colorblock sweatshirt for knocking around on lazy Saturdays, $168. (Here's another cute one for $59.50.)

Matchbooks to have around his apartment for candles/romance/easy decor. $5/each.

Slate cheese board, made in Brooklyn. $29 or $44. (The small size is sold out, but the others are in stock.)

Scratch map to record his travels, $16.49.

Good old-fashioned jacks to play over a glass of wine, $6.

Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost stories, $10.84. Dahl read 749 creepy tales at the British Museum Library before selecting the 14 that comprise this anthology. "Dahl's taste, it will surprise no one, is impeccable," says the Washington Post.

Moccasin slippers, for padding around his apartment, $49. (I have the girl's version and love them.)

Egg cooking spoons so he can make perfect soft-boiled eggs for the ladies. 10.50 Euro for a set of four.

Thermo Pot for bringing a warm lunches on adventures, $39.90. Keeps food hot for five hours, guaranteed for 10 years.

Knife skills class, prices vary.

Sifteo Cubes, $129.95. My sister's brother-in-law created this awesome award-winning interactive game system, featuring toys that talk to each other. The cubes communicate wirelessly and respond to each other and your gestures. They come with four pre-installed games, and you can download many more. (P.S. Their TED talk was rated one of the "top 5 most engaging TED talks" of all time.)


Damn Good Advice, $9.95, a genius and very opinionated handbook by George Lois, the original Mad Man. (I really want this myself!)

And, always and forever, the Icelandic Beard Cap, $79.

P.S. More gifts for brothers, and (finally) the complete 2012 gift guide!

Gift Guide Part #6: Your Hilarious Dad Who Has a Nickname for Everyone and Dared to Bring Stinky Camembert on Family Road Trips.

James Bond coffeetable book celebrating 50 years, $18.45. Also because everyone secretly thinks your dad's a spy.

James Bond model cars for his desk, $40.

Personal puzzle, $24.99. With a favorite family snapshot (say, of everyone at the beach, you dancing together at your wedding or a baby photo from years back...).

The complete first season of Homeland. He will flipping love it. $34.96.
Cashmere watch cap, since that's what all the cool guys are wearing. $68.

A genius food basket from New York Mouth. My favorites include The Total Jerk and Choc-lot Taster. $40 to $165.

A bottle of red wine with this tag (best read with an English accent). $4.50.

Lego Big Ben, $39.95. You're never too old for Legos, and this one is tough (with 346 tiny pieces).

Indestructible umbrella, $70. Instead of wimpy umbrellas that end up in the garbage, he can carry this aerodynamic umbrella with a patented Radial Tensioning System. Perfect for Michigan winters.
Silhouette mug featuring a personal photo, $50 for custom. (I'm thinking of using this shot:)

2013 calendar featuring two of his favorite things, $24. Update: These will be back in stock early next week. xoxo

P.S. More gifts for dads, and the 2012 gift guide so far...