9 simple wedding rings

Last fall, I wrote a post simple wedding rings, and since then, I've come across a few more that have taken my breath away. Here are 9 beautiful rings that are pretty enough to wear on their own...

1. Braided ring, $348.
2. Black oval ring, $250.
3. Blade of grass ring, $495.
4. Black diamond ring, $710.
5. Heart ring, $200.
6. Infinity hug ring, $193.
7. Diamond band, $520.
8. Speckled band, $330.
9. Bateau ring, $980.

Thoughts? What's your wedding ring like? Mine's a thin gold band. xoxo

P.S. 6 more wedding rings.

(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)

6 wine bottle stoppers

Our babysitter noticed how much I like wine (busted) and gave me three lady bottle stoppers for my last birthday. They make me smile every time I walk through our kitchen. Bottle stoppers make great gifts when going to a dinner party or wedding, and are also just sweet to have on your kitchen counter, chilling in a half-bottle of red.

Nine favorites, clockwise, above: Fish, anchor, piggie, lady, flower, bird. (And this thirsty bird is so cute, too!)
(Layout by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo. Thanks to Emily Hsieh for scouting help. Comic by Christopher Weyant)

Baked potato bar

We recently invited six friends over for dinner, and instead of juggling recipes (we aren't fancy cooks), we did a baked potato bar! Alex baked the potatoes in the oven for an hour, and we put out bowls with tons of toppings. Our list of toppings: butter, black pepper, goat cheese, sautéed spinach, avocados, chicken, brie and cranberry sauce, chili, grated cheddar cheese, sautéed mushrooms, onions and garlic. (I also wanted to do sour cream with caviar--how fabulous would that be? Next time!) It was super easy and delicious. What toppings do you like on baked potatoes? Any weird ones?

P.S. And a staring contest:)

(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)

Twelve throw blankets

Whenever we watch TV at home, my feet are always freezing. I always stretch out on the sofa and want a blanket to cuddle up in. So! I went on a hunt. Pendleton blankets look great but can feel a little scratchy, and I was looking for something super soft. ("Adults, too, deserve a security blanket," says Brahms Mount.) Also, since it's an investment, I looked for all natural materials, like wool, cashmere, linen, cotton--no polyester! Here's what I found...
Pink, clockwise: Marimekko, NuBe Green, Terrain, Brahms Mount.
Yellow, clockwise: Terrain, Hudson Bay, Pappelina, Crate + Barrel.
Blue, clockwise: Newport, Chevron, Pendleton, L.L. Bean.

Which is your favorite?

(Layout by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)

Articles club

Confession: I hate winter. I always get the winter blues when it's cold, dreary and gets dark at 4:30. So, in an effort to come up with fun wintertime activities, I had a lightbulb idea...

Let's start an articles club this winter! An articles club would be just like a book club, but we'll read articles. We'd all read the same story--from, say, The New Yorker or Elle--and chat over wine and snacks. It would be fascinating, timely and a much easier commitment than a book club (because, honestly, who ever finishes the book on time?:). And it would make the winter feel fun.

What do you think? Would you want to start one with your friends? I could post the articles, and we could chat about them online, too. Let me know!

P.S. I'm thinking this one for the first?

(Layout by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo. Photo by Shannen Norman for Cup of Jo)

Simple wedding rings

I've spotted lots of women around New York recently wearing simple gold wedding bands (pretty!), so I decided to do a round-up of long-time favorites. You can always get your ring engraved, too: My wedding ring says "all my love," and Alex's ring says, "all my life," inspired by our grandparents.

1. Loved ring, $315.
2. Polka-dot band, $310.
3. Heart ring, $88.
4. Tie-the-knot ring, $154.
5. Diamond ring, $600.
6. Thin gold band, $16.

Thoughts? What's your wedding ring like? xo

(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)

Eight cool backpacks

When I was in college, I wore a nerdy green backpack, but ten years later, backpacks are back! They're actually considered cool in New York right now (for real), and they're comfy and perfect for bike rides, laptops, weekend trips, and baby stuff. What do you think? Would you wear a backpack?

1. Farm rucksack, $160.
2. Canoe pack, $195. (More on amazon.)
3. Striped fleece backpack, $58.
4. Classic backpack, $85.
5. Leather backpack, $450.
6. Tie-dyed backpack, $58.
7. Laptop bag, $110. (Cool in Sweden.)
8. Heritage backpack, $55.

Thoughts? xo

(Graphic design by Jennifer Hagler for Cup of Jo)