Children's book

Hilarious. For all you new parents out there. :)

(Via New York Magazine)

Birthday book

My lovelies, I wanted to share my dad's 60th birthday present (just because I'm so excited about it). I made him a hardcover photo book filled with snapshots from all stages of his life. It was so much fun looking through family shots and choosing favorites, including a few he had never seen! (How hilarious is his expression in his wedding photo, by the way?) When I gave it to him this past weekend, he was so touched and couldn't stop looking through it. It was one of those truly special life moments.

(P.S. I made the book through Pinhole Press, and the book felt beautiful, with silky paper and a linen cloth hardcover. This book is the exact one I choose, but there are a bunch of other lovely options. Would be amazing to make a wedding album, too, don't you think? xo)

Tina Fey's new book

Tina Fey's memoir, Bossypants, comes out today! She talks hilariously about her life, from her awkward childhood in Pennsylvania and one-sided college romance to her days at Saturday Night Live and near-fatal honeymoon. The reviews are raving, and I can't wait to read it, especially the chapter on juggling work and motherhood, a topic near and dear to my heart. Are you going to read it? (Also, thoughts on the cover?)

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR BOSSYPANTS:
"I hope that's not really the cover. That's really going to hurt sales." (Don Fey, Father of Tina Fey)
"Totally worth it." (Trees)

My favorite photo of Tina, from an American Express ad a while back:

Embroidered book covers

How breathtakingly gorgeous are these embroidered book covers by Jillian Tamaki? She made them for Penguin Books, and rumor has it that they'll be available this fall. SO beautiful. (I'm sure Jane Austen would have wholeheartedly approved. I love Emma's little freckles!)

P.S. More + amazing + book covers.

(By Jillian Tamaki, via Black Eiffel)

Jane Austen comic

Speaking of Jane Austen, here's a little comic. ;)

(By Kate Beaton, via Kat)

Cup-of-Jo Gift Guide Part #4: Your Best Friend Who Wears the Prettiest Lipsticks and Knows (and Keeps) All Your Secrets.

A cozy cardigan, $72. (I love this mustard yellow!)

A cute striped tote, $39.

Ponytail styling lotion for the perfect high pony, $22.

A custom portrait of her beloved pup, $300...or one of these adorable (and more wallet-friendly) animal prints, $20.

New York pencils to inspire her to visit, $11.

A morse code necklace that spells "friend," $36.

Caramel marshmallows with sea salt and toffee crumbles, $13.

A rad street-style memory game from Amsterdam, $17.

A pretty pink bralet that you know she'll love, $36.

The world's cutest coffee-table book, $31.50.

P.S. More gifts for best friends...

Brooklyn Diary

Our girl Lena just curated a new book, Brooklyn Diary, which takes a look at the daily lives of 21 Brooklyn artists, documented by 10 Brooklyn photographers. They reveal their favorite neighborhood spots and offer peeks inside their quirky homes. Part-coffeetable book and part-travel guide, Brooklyn Diary will be released on October 11th. I'm really excited for it. Congrats, Lena!

(These photos show Anna and Tim Harrington and their sons Benji and Casper. As lead singer of the punk band Les Savy Fav, Tim is known for his crazy theatrics--he must be such a fun dad. Anna and Tim also run the textile company Deadly Squire. Their photos make me want to pickle vegetables and buy a pool.)




(Photos by Jessica Antola)

Nature prints

Loving the artwork from Miles of Light. (Aren't the bookmarks pretty?)

Guest Post: Summer Camping Trip

An inspiration board for a summer camping trip. Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Vintage postcard; 2. A Field Guide to Weeds book; 3. address book; 4. botanical chart card; 5. Billykirk overnight bag; 6. Roger Miller album; 7. Cole Haan boots; 8. field sketches by William Berry; 9. striped bathing suit; 10. vintage Minolta camera.

-- By Anna from Rifle Paper Co.

Eat, Memory

My darlings, we're back from our California vacation and missing the sunshine! I'm excited to share photos soon (they're all on Alex's iPhone).

In the meantime, at the airport on the way home, I picked up a great little book: Eat, Memory, a collection of food essays from the New York Times. (It was edited by Amanda Hesser, who also wrote the awesome Cooking for Mr. Latte.) The essays range from a guy who hates ice cream to a couple's argument over a word game in a Paris restaurant to a chef trying like mad to invent something new. I'd recommend it, if you're in the mood for something fun and yummy. :)

Have you read anything good lately? xo

Home Inspiration: Decorated bookcases

All bookcases are wonderful (even the messiest!), but my jaw dropped this morning when I saw the shelves of Fitzhugh Karol and Lyndsay Caleo. They've made their bookcases a work of art by mixing in rocks, photos and a round mirror. (And a sweet toy truck!) Have you ever decorated your bookcases?

(Photos by Emily Gilbert, via Design*Sponge)

Book covers

The baby was kicking, so I woke up super early this morning and spent a random hour looking through book covers online. So many hilarious and clever designs out there!

P.S. More + amazing + covers.

Cute baby things

Here are a few cute baby things I've been loving lately (the bear hat kills me):

Oeuf Hug-Me Sweater, $96; Giraffe wallpaper silhouette, $90; Gap Sweater Bear Hat, $16; Dwell elephant bookshelf, $124; Playsam Streamliner Classic Car, $40.

Emma miniseries

Have you been watching Emma, the new PBS miniseries? It started last Sunday night, and it's AMAZING. Emma is so charming and adorable with her gossip and matchmaking, and the show stays really true to the book. And don't worry if you missed the first episode; you can watch it online here. I absolutely love it!

Jackets and bookmarks

Rad book jacket + bookmark combos. I love Sherlock's pipe.

When We Were Romans

My lovely readers, you always have great book recommendations, so I wanted to share one of my own. I've been reading the amazing When We Were Romans by British author Matthew Kneale.

The tale is narrated by a nine-year-old boy, whose mother abruptly moves him and his sister from England to Rome when she becomes convinced that his estranged father is spying on them, turning the neighbors against them and trying to hurt them. As their adventure turns more madcap, you start realizing that things may not be quite what they seem. The little boy has such a sweet, authentic voice and your heart swells for him; the whole story is told with misspellings and run-on sentences. (He also loves talking about the universe and crazy Roman emperors.) It's one of those books you can't put down; at bedtime, I'm always fighting to keep my eyes open...

If you liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, you'll adore this book. xoxo

(Photo by Faceout Books)