Happy Holidays!
Hope you had a wonderful holiday and are enjoying the break! We’ve been hosting English relatives, taking cold walks, and cracking into a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper that Santa brought. We’ll be back to our regular scheduled programming on January 2nd, but in the meantime, if you’re in a blog-reading mood, here’s are a few posts from this year…
Style:
* Everyday Clothes I’ve Worn a Million Times
* My Paris Packing List
* Would You Wear a Short Wedding Dress? Here are 7 Stunners
* The Color I Saw Everywhere in Paris
* Weeks of Outfits, including Samantha Elise, Leila Kelleher, Sharon Beesley, and Kayla Sossin
Beauty:
* My 5 Holy Grail Beauty Products
* Pssst, Do You Wax Your Bikini Line?
* The Skin Product Gemma Swears By
* 8 Readers Share What They Love About Their Looks
* My Favorite Sunscreen
Food:
* Three Easy Weekday Lunches
* 10 Favorite Things at Trader Joe’s
* My Friend’s Incredible Tortilla Soup
* What Are Five Recipes In Your Arsenal?
* A Really Good Five-Minute Dinner
Relationships:
* What’s a Kind Thing Someone’s Said or Done For You?
* 12 Women on Living Alone
* A Chocolate-y, Champagne-y Birthday Party
* What Do You Like About Where You Live?
* How Would You Make Your Wedding Feel True to You?
Travel:
* A Spring Trip to Paris
* A Family Trip to the Florida Keys
* Do You Ever Visit Gardens?
* Visiting Family in England and then…
* A Week in Italy
Parenting:
* A Brilliant Tip for Talking to Teenagers
* Jannelle’s Wild Birth Story Made Our Jaws Drop
* My Mom Was an Alcoholic. Here’s What I Finally Realized.
* 25 Things to Say to Your Children
* What Toys Have Your Kids Played With a Gazillion Times?
Design:
* What Small, Inexpensive Things Make Your Life Better?
* Kate Baer’s Pennsylvania Home Is Brimming With Kids and Pets
* 10 No-Spend or Low-Spend Gifts
* Abbey Nova’s Connecticut Home Brings the Outdoors In
* 15 Etsy Finds
* This Family House Is Full of Clever Thrifted Finds
Culture:
* Guess Who Was on Jeopardy Last Night?
* A Q&A with ‘The White Lotus’ Costume Designer
* What Nonfiction Books Do You Love?
* Five Things That Made Me Laugh
* What TV/Movie Character Led to Your Sexual Awakening?
* A Big, Juicy Round Up of Fall Recommendations
***
Thank you so much for being here. We’ll be back with a Friday link list on January 2nd. And of course, please feel free to check out our newsletter, Big Salad. Have a wonderful New Year; we love you. xoxo
(Top photo by Weddings by Nato.)
Tags: personal
Comments
66 commentsJust here to say that I cannot wait to chat heated rivalry in the comments section!
Same! Watching right now. It’s such a sweet balm for the winter blues.
Hmmmm…January 2nd? Radio silence. Have I missed a change in plans? Hoping you and yours are ok and wishing you the best under any and all circumstances.
yes, so sorry, my computer broke and I got it fixed this morning! should have updated this post xo
Happy new year Jo and family! (And readership!). Thank you for finding warm and precise words, always. Love from Paris, freezing cold.
Happy New Year, Agnes. Wishing you warmth, and all best wishes.
Phew. I see I’m not the only one who was concerned. ;)
Happy New Year! Thank you for all the tips and tricks and heart throughout the years. I have to ask, from the first pic – how do you get your snake plant to stand so tall??? I have a big beautiful one that I’m attempting to wrangle and it’s not working… 💜
haha honestly I have no idea. I just water it once a week on Saturdays.
Thank you for fourteen years of fantastic and thoughtful content and happy new year to you and your team. 2025 was the first year my comment was featured on the weekly round up and even though no one in my real life gets it, it was a bucket list moment for this long time reader. So cheers! 🥂
Happy New Year everyone ! Off work today so plan to hold my cat Maple ALL DAY ! And can’t wait to watch Mamdani inauguration 10 AM PT !! Bernie is swearing him in and AOC is giving opening remarks ! I know he also had a swearing in at midnight in the abandoned subway station and there’s a block party for you lucky locals today ! Hoping this ushers in a new Era of government by the people for the people. Seattle’s new mayor is of the same vein, so that’s encouraging ! <3 to all.
Please can you write a post on where to stay in NYC? Visiting has been on my bucket list my entire life. Reasonably priced recommendations please. I’m a mother in a tight budget. Thanks.
Thank you for your note! We will think about this for sure. In the meantime here are a few posts about travel to NYC with kids: https://cupofjo.com/?s=nyc&submit=
Hi Kim – Take a look at Hotel Beacon. I know a few moms who have stayed there with their children. Great neighborhood as well!
I’m not sure if it is “kid friendly” as there is no elevator lol, but a friend and I stayed at the Sohotel for a few nights with her pre-teen son and it was lovely and very affordable with nearby parking. https://www.guestreservations.com/the-sohotel/booking?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=973751233&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=973751233&gbraid=0AAAAADiMQMZcnvgOuH5kCmmDkNCJh1mEC&gclid=CjwKCAiA3-3KBhBiEiwA2x7FdIvIvcZ-Q_7NvDGUAZX7mVfxqMdRrY9HaqorZ_MM4WZEW8HR2fgT3hoCHMoQAvD_BwE&ctTriggered=true
Happy New Year!
Great picture of you, you radiate happiness!
Happy New Year, Jo! Can you share the paint color on the wall and shelves behind you?
Hi! It’s Farrow&Ball Parma Gray. You can find more details here: https://cupofjo.com/2023/03/16/joanna-goddard-house-tour-2023/
Joanna – what is the color of the wall behind you – I love it!
Hi! It’s Farrow&Ball Parma Gray :)
Please tell me, what is the secret to the vitality of that snake plant in the pic? Amazing! Also, thank you for this lovely blog and all you do – Happy New Year!
I just water it once a week; that’s all! I think it’s a lucky plant!
Joanna, I started reading this blog as a high schooler in California. Now, I’m a professional writer living on the east coast with two little boys…did I subconsciously manifest BEING YOU?! Hopefully it is more flattering than creepy. 😂❤️
oh my gosh I love that :)
I somehow read this as “professional wrestler,” and thought, hmmm bit of stretch, but ok sort of like Joanna…. Upon a re-read, it makes a bit more sense haha.
Happy New Year, Joanna, and team. Thank you for another year of this blog, newsletter and community. ❤️
Thank you for all the guideposts, shimmers and warm balanced stories that uplifted and gifted my heart. I learned a great deal from everyone.
I have stage 2 breast cancer and am having a mastectomy on Monday. I know this site and community will be a great comfort to me as I recover. I’m nervous but know it will be okay. Love y’all .
thinking of you, Rebekah, and praying for a smooth surgery and recovery for you!
thinking of you, Rebekah, and praying for a smooth surgery and recovery!
I wish you a successful OP, a speedy recovery and most of all the news afterwards that all that needed to be removed is gone. Best of luck to you!
Dear Rebekah, I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. Sending you love and wishing you health. xo
Much love Rebekah, we are cheering you on xxx
Sending you all the good vibes and wishing you a speedy and complete recovery Rebekah.❤️
May your recovery be swift, easy and complete. 💖 It will be okay. Will have the posi-vibes turned up to 11 on Monday!
🫶REBEKAH
Rebekah, stay ahead of the pain; keep a log of medications/issues; let people help you. Rest. You got this.
💕
Best wishes for a peace filled recovery, Rebekah. I will be sending positive vibes to you and your surgical team Monday morning. You’ve got this!
Sending best wishes to you!
Rebekah, Wishing you all the best, especially a speedy and pain free recovery! Rest as much as you can. You’ll be OK, but there will be ups and downs. Please check in with us when you’re ready.
Rebekah, sending positive thoughts and lots of love! This is a great community💜
💕💕
Sending so much positive energy your way from Colorado- my aunt had one years ago and is doing quite well. I hope your surgery is successful and your recovery is smooth 💕
Hi Rebekah, sending love and best wishes for your full, fast and complete recovery without any side effects. I’ll be holding your hand as you go through this. We’re only a comment away. You totally got this. Xx.
Praying for your peace and healing! Invoking the intercession of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of those with cancer, today.
With you in spirit, sending healing thoughts.
Sending love & hugs to you Rebekah xoxo
Good luck today! I’ve had breast cancer. It’s not your cancer or your version, but I’ll hold on to my scar and send your healing from the coastal redwood groves.
Rebekah! I hope you are reading this a few days after Monday, when the anesthesia fog has cleared but you are still resting and hopefully as comfy-as-possible with pain meds. These next two weeks may be rough and things may look a bit scary, but I promise promise promise – it will get SO MUCH better. Thinking good thoughts for you to get through treatment and sending virtual hugs. You got this. (And on a practical note, from my DMX experience: spray deodorant, an electric toothbrush and loads of nice smelling candles help make the two week recovery more comfy!).
Sending you the happiest and healthiest wishes for the new year and evermore!
Prayers & Lots of good vibes for your health and happiness
Thinking of you Rebekah, sending love and strength and wishing you a speedy recovery and the best that 2026 can offer you.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Good luck, Rebekah. <3 I hope you are doing okay post-surgery!
Sending lots of healing vibrations to you as your recover.
Reading this on Jan 5 and hoping all is going as well as it can and that you get a clean bill of health and an easy recovery.
Rebekah, sending so much love and healing wishes <3
I always look forward to your end of year posts! 🥂From a long time CA reader who met you on the playground in Cobble Hill:)
Thanks for your post! So many things to read:) I love to hear from you at the end of the year… 🥂
Happy Holidays! 🥳🥂 Slow, quiet & comfy rules the holidays here as there are no friends or relatives close by visit. Online wish list shopping, bought boots only to exchange them today at Lenny’s local store. I still remember boots I heart there from 15 years ago. The memory wants what the mind needs. 🤣
Happy New Year Jo and family, the team, and Freddie too! Thank you for all the light and love and inspiration you bring to the world! I appreciate you and all you do.
Joanna what are those jeans in the first pic? Absolute perfection!
Frame! https://go.shopmy.us/p-21047525
Happy New Year ! Thanks for all the love : )