Happy New Year!
Hello! How are you? I missed this funny, smart community, and I’m excited to catch up. We have some fun posts planned this month, and in the meantime, here are a few snapshots from the break, if you’d like to see…
We hosted Christmas in Brooklyn this year — with the boys and me, of course, plus my dad, my aunt Lulu, and our cousin Jimmy. We lit a lot of candles and ate a lot of yummy things. (“I’m low-key addicted to mandarins,” Toby told me.)
Our first adventure for the holidays is always driving to see the lights in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Can you imagine moving there in the summer and suddenly realizing what a Christmas scene it becomes? People sell hot chocolate out of their garages, and Bing Crosby blasts from car radios.
When our relatives arrived from England, we were so excited!
Jimmy and Anton were already twinning without planning it…
And Lulu immediately set about making carrot soup. The more things change, the more they stay the same. xoxo Update: We’ll be sharing Lulu’s carrot soup recipe on Wednesday, January 14th! xo
We took walks to the Brooklyn Promenade…
..and stopped by Jane’s Carousel and the nearby ice-skating rink…
…and admired the views from The Edge in Manhattan.
On Christmas Eve, we went to church and ate lots of stinky cheese.
By the way, how cool is this olive tray? It was my Christmas gift to myself :) I can’t remember the substack design newsletter where I originally discovered it, but I’ll let you know if I find it! Update: Here it is!
On Christmas morning, the boys opened their stockings. Here’s 12-year-old Anton’s haul. I loved how his wishlist reflected his in-between age — with items like a scented-pen (kid) and pimple patches (teenager).
Plus, of course, a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper.
We had a gathering on Christmas Day, since, I find, kids are usually jittery from all the excitement by the afternoon, and it’s nice to have friends over to soak up that energy.
Also, although long-time readers may find it hard to believe, I’ve actually been enjoying cooking. One crowd-pleasing dinner for the group was this easy cheesy beans dish. I added more onion for crunch and more crushed red pepper for heat.
The Kalanithi parents; lunch at Hook Fish.
Afterward, my dad and I headed to San Francisco to see my sister, her daughter, and her in-laws.
We crashed at my friend Lena’s beautiful home, since she and her family were out of town. (They’re going to stay at our place in the summer, like a non-simultaneous house swap.) And that cool word art? “When my son Eli was learning handwriting, he started making large letters on single sheets of construction paper,” she explains. “I took my favorites and tiled them in a huge plexiglass frame I bought off Craigslist.”
As always, on New Year’s Eve, we visited Paul’s grave. We poured out Champagne for him, and the kids toasted with Martinelli’s.
Hope you had a good break and got some rest and relaxation! And if not, that’s okay, too. As they say, everyone you meet is fighting a battle. Lots of love, as always, and looking forward to a wonderful 2026 together. xoxo
P.S. 11 readers share their happy moments, and what are you grateful for, large or small?
Tags: anton, jimmy, our vacations, personal, toby
Comments
161 commentsThank you for sharing the cheesy beans recipe. I have a sick toddler and a hyperactive five-year-old today and work has been weird and my industry plagued with horrible news and I just needed something quick and tasty to plonk on the dining table at 6pm and this was it. What a winner. The five-year-old ate two helpings. The baby screamed and threw half his dish across the table, but that should not be taken as an indication that he didn’t like it; he throws at all stages of the love-hate scale. Now the children are asleep and there’s barely anything to wash. I am filled with such gratitude.
This post made me smile on an otherwise bleak day — thank you! Very important question: how do I find (build??) a community like cup of jo IRL?! Making friends as an adult is so hard.
Let me know when you find the answer to that Q. Couldn’t agree more!
I am working on the same thing, Kay! From what I can gather (lol), you need to find someone who you see regularly. A parent at pick-up, a coworker, a neighbor, someone in a regular class you take. Someone who you organically run into a lot. And then you need to talk to them, show interest in them, ask them about themselves, and take a leap to ask them to get together outside of that context. And then do it again and again. And text them in between to check in on things. And then if it seems they aren’t into it, step back and find another persons. And maybe simultaneously bring a few people together. Host a party. I think that’s the secret and it will take a long time to really develop a community but in 2-3 (5?) years of consistent hangs/ texts/ check-ins/ parties, you’ll get there. This is the formula I’m trying!
I have some suggestions from the reverse position. We move A LOT and people are always trying to make friends with me (to be honest it’s my very social and kind 10 year old daughter who attracts my adult friends to me). Anyway, it’s the people who are persistent who win… they might suggest a coffee or a lunch when I see them in person. And I’ll often think that’s quite forward and I don’t know you and that’s weird – more of a sub-conscious reaction than conscious. Then they’ll follow up with a message with actual physical plans (this is key) and I’ll feel obliged to say yes BUT then always, I love it and I am so glad they pestered and then I have a new friend! And new friends are wonderful things to have (alongside old friends too, of course).
Thank you ladies so much! I live in a city where people are generally friendly, and the small talk is lovely but it is so hard to get past that entry-level of friendship. Perhaps the key is being okay with vulnerability? Manifesting a new neighborhood mom friend for myself this year, someone who will be comfortable enough to text when they’re near my house and can they come over? Someone who I will be comfortable enough to respond to and say yes, even if I’m in sweatpants folding a mountain of laundry in my living room.
It might sound crazy, but my trick was getting a dog. I’m 41, single and don’t have kids, so it’s hard to find your people (and friends you love who have had different paths just have less time / moved farther into the suburbs). But you would not believe the amazing, confident, successful, caring, like minded women you meet when you have a pup. I’ve met them on the street, at the dog park, just out in the world. And they all live so close by! These connections and deep friendships have truly changed my life. <3
As weird and simple as it sounds, seek out people who look seem interesting in places you frequent. I find compliments are always a great ice breaker and also become a regular somewhere– coffee shop, bookstore, even grocery store. After a few repeat trips ask someone you’ve seen on more than one occasion if “they’re from here.” That is hands down a great opener because the answer can go in so many directions. And if you are a transplant in a city of transplants you usually have that in common with lots other people. Also get onto/into some sort of social club that has an app/messaging/community feature and start reaching out to strangers. I did this recently and have two new solid acquaintances. Lastly — substack! Good luck!
I feel very lucky to have found a wonderful community after moving cross-country 7 years ago. I think it was one-part luck and one-part strategic effort. Here’s what I found to be helpful: 1. Start a conversation with anyone you think could have potential. One of my closest friends is a mom who was chasing a similar-age toddler at our neighborhood playground. I decided to go deep from the first conversation and if it clicked it clicked. Why waste time with small talk? Our first conversation included racial motivations for our move (from a very white city to a diverse city) and what having two kids is like (I didn’t know my new friend was newly-pregnant). I asked for her number and made an effort to follow up. 2. Treat potential friendships like first dates. Meaning, try a lot and see what sticks. 3. Intentionally look for people who are also in-need of new friends. In my case, that ended up being being people who had also recently moved or moved back to our city. 4. Consider moving to a neighborhood that fits with your values if your current one doesn’t. I live in a historic, walkable, very friendly, liberal neighborhood in a racially diverse city. And the people who also chose this neighborhood did so for a reason :) That helps right off the bat.
Thank you all so much! <3
Update: We’ll be sharing Lulu’s carrot soup recipe next Wednesday, January 14th! xo
Yay, and thank you!! You read my mind the minute I saw the photo : )
Cup of Jo never fails to bring a smile to my face!! Happy New Year and thank you for creating such a warm place out here in the wild, wild west of the internet! I always feel inspired and uplifted after bopping over here :)
There’s so much beauty in this post and the comments — the people, the energy, the activities, the sentiments. Thank you to all commenting friends and to you, Jo, for orienting us to this community and joy. And. Toby! So big! So handsome! And. Can you please share where that lovely round tapered candle holder is from? Second pic on the dining table. I looooove it. Thank you!
Sara, I love that round marble candle holder so much! it was a gift from a friend ages ago but now I can’t remember who; AND I’ve tried to google search for it but can’t seem to find it — if anyone has any leads, please let Sarah and me know! xx
Devon Liedtke carries three types of stone donut candle holders that look very similar: onyx, gray travertine and crema marfil. devonliedtke.com/search?q=donut&options%5Bprefix%5D=last
Hello, you could google lens it. It shows me this site: https://www.westwing.de/savi-marble-candleholder-en-25oyo31835.html
Circled back to the comments and very content to see the lot of interest about Ryan :-) very handsome and looks fun! I’m happily married but have an honest interest in his love life haha, hope he has someone really cute and nice, I feel he deserves nothing less!
This is the most charming post, Joanna, and you have the best smile! We all love having you back!
Happy New Year Joanna!
Ahhhhhhh! Anton’s stocking stuffers cracked me up! I just shared a story about Michael Phelps at a party Sunday night that I had almost forgotten. I had an esthetician room in Orange County, California back in the early 2000’s. Michael was having PT in the office next door to the salon. He, his sweet mom, and his manager came in after his PT appointment looking for a quick eye brow wax for Michael. The young man lived up to the hype about him. He was physically absolutely perfect, shoulders and that V shape to his waist had every head turning in the salon. He was gracious and down to earth, (so was his mom and manager, Carl). I quickly waxed him and he joked about selling the used was strips with his eyebrows attached on eBay. I just chuckled but probably should have done it! The best part of of the visit was his manager getting on my esthetician table and waxing his beautiful, Italian unibrow right off! He looked in the hand held mirror and quickly exclaimed,”My wife thanks you, my mother thanks you! They have been begging me to do this for years.” We all had a good laugh and they both left looking all the more polished.
Can you share the carrot soup recipe?! And share where the teens baggy jeans are from? Constantly on the look out for my son who thus far only likes 1 pair I’ve purchased out of MANY. 🤣
Zara jeans FTW! The baggier the better. And Toby likes Levi’s because you can choose the exact waist and length more easily. And yes carrot soup recipe coming right up!
Started this new year off a little blue. After 7 months of trying for our second baby, I got yet another negative pregnancy test, followed by a friend’s in-person announcement at our NYE get-together that she’s pregnant with her third. Genuinely happy for her and her husband and also so sad for us. Anyway, it’s nice to have this community back <3
Anon, so sorry… it’s hard waiting and seeing others get pregnant. This was me for many years. Hang in there…
Happy New Year everyone! The holidays were … something: both kids (2.5 and 4 months) got the flu, both sets of grandparents are difficult to deal with and tonight was the first time I had four hours to myself without interruption in what felt like months. So glad you had a nice Christmas, and looking forward to spending 2026 with CoJ as a friend in my pocket ❤️
congrats for making it through, Andrea! xoxo also, “as a friend in my pocket ❤️” sobbb!
Has Toby tried sumo oranges? I am addicted to those! Also, any chance we can get that carrot recipe? Happy New Year!
carrot soup recipe coming up tomorrow! :) and my dad always brings sumo oranges when he visits us — so good.
how about kishu mandarins?? they’re a bay area favorite.
Happy New Year Jo! What a wonderful family Christmas you had. I am intrigued by the after eight mints. Did your family bring them from England? Such a snazzy box. They were a staple after our Christmas dinner growing up in Ireland, but I have only ever seen the dark green box.
oh yes! Lulu brought them with her, I think it’s just festive packaging. my parents always had them out, too, when we lived in England. such a lovely staple.
My half English family always had After Eights on special occasions too! I had forgotten all about it until seeing this picture!
Does anyone know the After 8 game? Balance one on your forehead then try to slide/shimmy it down into your mouth… no hands allowed!!! So much fun getting covered in chocolate. Noone will look cool, I promise! Happy new year from the Emerald Isle!! xxx
On battles, I found myself in unexpected tears when Lucy Dacus sang “Bread and Roses” at our mayor’s public inauguration on New Year’s Day; “a sharing of life’s glories” is just the theme I want to carry into this year and beyond. https://stereogum.com/2483988/watch-lucy-dacus-perform-bread-and-roses-at-zohran-mamdanis-mayoral-inauguration/news
This moment really got me too! I found myself unexpectedly misty eyed, as my 10-yr-old wept at my feet from the almost unbearable cold.
Gah, Toby is so handsome! And your beans look delicious, they have definitely inspired what I will cook for dinner later tonight…
Maybe I’m projecting a little, but I feel like you have that deeply-in-love/soul-level-peace look to you that happens in a good relationship :)
Here to 2nd this! I thought to myself while reading, damn I wish she could see this version of herself in those early separation/divorce days when it feels like the walls are caving in. If only she can see how good it gets x
Thank you for these photos! I just finished “When Breath Becomes Air” on my flight home last night, and found myself completely crying in the dark waiting for the plane to take off. What an amazing story, and one of complete resilience in the face of loss. I really appreciated your sisters’ post-script (and where I found myself crying the hardest). So it was nice to see Paul’s parents and grave site. I really appreciate you and your sister sharing your stories with us.
Lucy’s words still stick with me, even 7 years after reading it.
Happy New Year, dear Jo, and dear CoJ community! Love this catch up post :) Next item – when are we going to discuss Heated Rivalry and the absolute choke hold it has on me and seemingly the entire internet?!?!
Oh yes, please!!! It sure has me in a chokehold!
That is the first time Toby has looked like a PROPER teen, rather than an inbetweenie! I remember before he was born!! My heart!
Just here to say that I feel so validated that your salad is just lettuce. That’s my favorite kind of salad.
hahaha yes! greens with a nice vinaigrette is underrated!
Meep This is a very personal question, but Jo I thought you were an atheist? Curious about the shift and would love to know. I’m an agnostic atheist but consider myself church-curious for the social benefits. I also would not at all have a problem if my kids developed faith towards something on their own terms so i just have lots of thoughts/questions.
thank you for your note!! I am an atheist, but anton has been very curious about religion from a young age and asked if we could go to church. we tried out a bunch of different churches and he was drawn to a neighborhood catholic church with a diverse congregation. he goes to sunday school now, and we’ve been attending regularly and really love the community. xo
That’s so interesting and cool. My kids are still little but this is an aspect of parenting that really intrigues me and I want to approach it mindfully. I appreciate you sharing!! xx
Here to bump that we attend a really lovely, diverse, socially conscious and progressive Catholic Church and have found the best community. My husband and I were open to finding a good fit for our young family in a variety of church options and were glad we hadn’t wholesale cancelled on the Catholic Church (with complete respect and understanding for those who choose to do so).
I would love to hear more about people’s churches or not churches or spiritual spaces or practices. I go occasionally to Universalist Unitarian church, and love it; it is a beautiful community. As I write that, I realize I should go experience that loveliness much more often. Thank you Cup of Jo for this post and so much you have added to my life. <3
Jo do you & Toby join him every Sunday at church? If so, is Toby ohkay with going? And curious how you balance supporting his faith while being atheist yourself – when he asks questions about God, how do you answer?
we join him at church, yes. toby is happy to go because the altar girls are cute, haha. and I tell him people have all different thoughts and theories about what happens after you die; and ways to think about God or gods, etc. and that I love hearing what he is thinking and how he is learning about himself and religion. I also thank him for bringing us to this church because I do really love the community and music! xoxo
I could not love Lena’s handwriting art installation more. Brilliant thinking! Happy New Year :)
But did you finish the correspondent
yes!!!!! omg LOVED. sad it’s over.
The Correspondent is a fantastic audio book! Loved the different voices/characters.
Happy New Year everyone! Glad Cup of Jo is back :) We had a lovely Christmas with lots off food, fizz and family plus a wee visit to the Pantomime which is the absolute best thing at Christmas! Hogmanay was fabulous with a party at our friends and a few first footers. Sadly from the first of Jan, all its done is snow, snow and snow some more so I have had to cancel many other plans but I did get an extra day annual leave from work and my daughter is delighted as school has not been opened either! Here’s to 2026 :)
Heartwarming pictures, so lovely to see every single one of them, especially the one about sharing champagne with Paul, Lucy and his beloved ones, sob). Happy 2026, Jo and team. (And who’s the bearded cutie?)
haha he’s my long-time friend Ryan. he went to med school with Lucy and Paul; he’s actually their daughter’s godfather! xx
Who is the fun-looking guy with the beard? Is he a cousin?
a close family friend, we all adore him!
So lovely to read warmth. It was hard to leave CA this time. Togetherness savored. I’ll be traveling west more often. Here’s wishing comfortable resets in 2026 (and another year of great reads and original tunes).
Happy new year! Thank you for being back – can use some virtual hugs! Our NYE was lots of dance music (YMCA, Macarena are on 5y old’s repeat mix currently), cheese, wine for me, and just giggles. I got a party garland and party hats to make it fun and we all stayed up a bit past bedtime (5 y old went to bed at 9, adults at 11). Clearly living up the value sleep mantra :) Would love the carrot soup recipe.
I need a place to process and am hoping this is okay….yesterday Tim Walz dropped out of the MN governor’s race. I’m really sad about it and am struggling. His leadership through the pandemic and his work in MN has been so steady and honestly comforting. I understand why he made his decision. I love that MN is a refuge for immigrants and LGBTQ folks, that we have free lunch for kids, and that we do what we can to protect the world around us. I am worried about the chaos that ensues from here…
Big hugs from your Wisconsin neighbor, Amy. Hope for the best <3
You should write to him with your concerns and ask what his take on it is and if he can lend you some perspective or even better, a game plan…
I am so sorry for you and can understand your sadness and your fears. I hope that the candidate who will replace him will do good things as well.
MPLS resident. I as well, feel this deeply. I am a school teacher in North Minneapolis. I’m distraught. Walz Team has been a bright shining light for many years.
from a fellow MN: I hear you on some points, disagree on others. But I think it’s going to be okay. At all levels of government, I think we need more turnover than we are used to. I vote, and then I do my best to support the current leadership no matter what party they belong to and try to make the world a better place. We’ll be okay.
I spy Cat Ears in Anton’s haul!! My husband got ’em – they may have been my first xmas purchase after you featured ’em in a gift guide. I really liked the data on their website.
Ahhh, it feels like all of my friends are back from vacation! So good to be back in this space. Happy New Year, everyone!
Excuse me who is the cute guy with the beared? :-) Very happy new year to all of us!
haha our friend Ryan, he’s the best :)
The first photo of you with your dad, aunt and Toby, with you maybe unconciously holding your child reminded me of that photo shared by a reader with her baby at the beach, his hand on her leg to anchor himself to a loving space. It’s the opposite and yet the same. Happy New Year!
I noticed that too :)
oh my gosh sobbbbb. yes here is that reader photo you mentioned: https://cupofjo.com/2025/12/09/readers-favorite-photos-2025
I noticed and loved it too!
Oh so great to see Aunt Lulu! Hope she loved her visit. I can’t get enough of her and I see from the comments that I am not alone in this. What a superstar! I also love your tradition at Paul’s grave. What a beautiful way to commemorate. I lost my mother last year and at midnight on NYE my dad and I linked arms and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in honor of her and all our family and friends who have passed (well, as much singing as we could manage through the tears).
Sending you so much love, Anita.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Anita. I’m sure your mother would have LOVED that scene. xoxo
Thanks for sharing…made the cheesy bean bake! Was a perfect Monday night dinner! Thanks for the reccs! Love seeing your holidays…casual, low key…fun and perfect! Curious what the Gnome Foam is in Anton’s stocking? (I’m a bit of a a cottage/forest core fanatic!)
Joanna, how do you manage to mix up Christmas? Is it the result of divorced parents. Are all the adults mature? The amount of pushback we receive at Christmastime from the generation above us is crippling. Everyone wants us on the 25th and they get so bloody mean about it to the point I have this January declared that no one gets it, like a fed up Mum to kids fighting over a toy.
I’m sorry you’re getting so much pushback here! My parents and in-laws both live out of state, and we insist on spending Christmas morning at home as a nuclear family. I think our parents think we’re being silly about this, but it’s important to us to have our daughter come downstairs Christmas morning in our own house and enjoy time together. Otherwise, we celebrate Christmas at different points in December with our families- one set of parents comes to us, and then we visit the other set of parents. I think it’s perfectly reaosnable to set a boundary of, “We’ll be spending the 25th just us but would love to have you over on the 24th for dinner and presents.” then just hold firm! It’s not easy, but I bet you’ll be happy you did it.
Oh Tracey, Christmas is the worst for this reason! We ended up doing my in laws Christmas Eve, my family Christmas day, and the whole thing sucks. We already travel for Thanksgiving (not to see family, just as a trip with our nuclear family) and it’s so tempting to do the same for Christmas.
I agree totally Hilary. Anyone should understand this stance. I wouldn’t have given up those magical Christmas mornings for anything. As an older person now, I would never place these claims upon others’ time. You having people over on the 24th is very generous. I wouldn’t even go that far, ha, and agree with meeting up at different times during the month. Yes, hold firm ! Firm believer in the quote : “Shape your world or someone else will !”
Tracey, since having our 5 year old, my husband and I have made it clear that we will spend Christmas at our house. As you said, it is important for her to wake up at our house for Christmas morning. We advise our families (grandparents and sister-in-law with adult children) that they are welcome to come to our house but we will not be traveling. We also let all family know we are willing to accommodate any other time in December. It has worked out really well for us. Placing the “ball” in their court about spending the time at our house has stopped the push back. After the first year, it has become a non-issue.
Oh I feel bolstered reading the replies to this. My Christmas was the same as the last ten years, spent at my mother-in-law’s out of state, doing the day exactly as she wishes- quick opening of presents followed by rushing around helping her entertain all of her friends and neighbors all morning and then again for dinner. My little toddler was so excited for Santa and Christmas and then the whole day and night was just a ton of adults milling about talking and eating and no one played with him except me (shirking my entertaining duties), and I was so exhausted and sad about it. Then my MIL told me later that she hoped I would participate more in future and that essentially it was HER day and maybe next year I could just put my child in the TV room and close the door. I was too gobsmacked to do much more than sputter in reply, but I will absolutely not do any such thing! My husband thinks there’s some middle ground that can be reached but I’m kinda furious with his stance that we couldn’t just stay at home for Christmas with our little family of three, like that’s not enough…or reason enough to give his mother?!
@Jane, your MIL is insane – those are ridiculous expectations of you, your husband, and especially your toddler (HER GRANDCHILD). While understandable that she wants you all to be involved in her community and tradition, you all can choose to what extent you participate. Holy moly.
After a first year of chaos and disorganization and the complete opposite of gratitude and family time and reflection that we would only do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as a nuclear family. Has there been pushback to our very okay boundary? Yep! Do we work hard to make the extended family time special on the other December days we set aside? We do! Do the grandmothers appreciate that? Not really. But I’m modeling boundaries for my kids and demonstrating how you can show love and care authentically while being authentic to yourself and also that, despite your best efforts, some people will choose to be disappointed and disgruntled – you can’t control other people’s responses. We’re all just responsible for ourselves and our own happiness!
What pimple patches did you get for Anton? I have a tween who had her inaugural pimple over winter break 😅
Pimple patches are just hydrocolloid (though some have acne fighting ingredients like salicylic acid). You can get hydrocolloid patches for much cheaper at the drugstore and cut them up to fit the pimple!
There’s lots of “cuter” options but both my teens say that the CosRX masterpatch work the best
I loved the CosRX ones: https://www.cosrx.com/products/acne-pimple-master-patch Only $6 and the convenience is worth every penny. They are so effective.
Toby is looking like such a teen now! I can’t believe I’ve watched them grow up since babies on this blog, and now I’ve got two boys of my own!
Same!! I feel like you are my big sister in that way Jo :)
Those two boys remind me of the Tough Customers from Arthur every time.
The “appearing freezing but also opting for Croc’s” is soooo that age. Love it
COMPLETELY
100%! :)
hahahah 100%
Read Lulu’s beauty uniform all over again and shed a few (happy) tears. May we all be so fortunate to approach life as she does. xoxo and happy new year to the CoJ community!
Oh and maybe you found the olive dish in the Gloria newsletter? That’s where I saw it !
oh yes!! https://gloria.beehiiv.com/p/at-home-enjoyment
oh actually it was here! https://philostudios.substack.com/p/philos-gift-guide
I also bought myself the same olive dish for Christmas! :)
Phew so glad this is back. Love this community for many reasons but one is I’m in the middle (hopefully at least middle!) of a rather complicated marital separation. Moving this week, dealing with kids feelings, partner cooperation, logistics, and my own sadness and overwhelm. Seeing the life Jo has created, while I’m sure it’s not easy or as picturesque in real life every day, gives me hope that if I can just be like a buffalo and get through this hardest part I can make a life that I design and my loved ones will be ok too. Thank you!
sending so much, Margaret!!! you can do this; there is such bright light at the end of the tunnel. xooxoxooxox
Carrot soup recipe? Please.
Welcome back! I missed the CoJ team. I did the YearCompass again and one of the questions was something like “who are the 3 people who influenced you the most this year?” After I wrote my husband and my best friend’s names, I realized that the Cup of Jo community – from you, Joanna, to your team of incredible writers, contributors, and editors, to the incredibly kind + generous commenters – Cup of Jo has influenced me more in 2025 than any other single person. I’ve been reading since 2007, and am infinitely grateful that I found this home on the internet. Thank you, everyone. PS. YearCompass iss SO good and free, if anyone wants to do some 2025 reflection and 2026 intention setting – here’s the link: https://yearcompass.com/
My bestie recommended YearCompass to me yesterday; hearing your plug for it again today is going to push me into giving it a try. Thank you!
Looks like a lovely time! I echo everyone when I say, so happy to have this community with you all!
Missed you! Thanks for the pics. I was bedridden for days due to the worst flu ever and missed the Dyker lights this year (sob). Would it be possible to get the carrot soup recipe? Also kinda fun that you’ve been cooking more (I’ve been trying too!)
yes, getting it from Lulu! xo
That photo of your dad with your aunt! I teared up! I am the oldest of a lot of siblings and now that we’re all finally adults it’s such a joy to get to know them in a new way. I saw every one over the course of the holidays! I am so proud to be one of them, and I love the (bumpy) relationships we are continuing to build. I hope to be able to see them and tease them and take fun photos of them for decades yet. Thank you so much for a glimpse of a dream I hadn’t quite yet put into words.
I love your hand gripping inside Toby’s jacket: is it a ‘don’t-you-dare-move’ or an ‘I’m-so-glad-you-stayed-for-the-photo’?
I was wondering the same thing :)
HAHAHAHAHAAHA maybe a bit of both. I was trying to get him to stand closer and also wanted to put my arm around him but he was too far away so there we are!
Happy new year! Today is the first time I am alone in the house in about three weeks. Adore my kids and partner but gosh it’s nice to have a bit of space. Decided I’m going all in on year of the horse, in the sense I’m giving myself plenty of water, delicious food, sleep and something happy that makes me gallop inside each day.
So touching to read about the yearly trek to Paul’s grave. My husband died this past September and we buried him on what would’ve been his 78th birthday. I hope we can make that an annual event, too. Thanks so much for all the things we learn and all the sweet ideas we get from this remarkable community.
I’m sorry for your loss, Libbynan. xo
Look at you, modifying a recipe! that’s the sign you’re becoming a more comfortable cook! I really enjoy cooking and I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe EXACTLY…I’m sure some cooks would say that’s a problem, but for me it just makes sense. The more you cook, the more comfortable you’ll become winging it! Happy New Year, Jo and team!
I saw that olive spiral dish on Philo’s Gift Guide on Substack this year :) Maybe that was the same place you did?? Looks like you had such a nice break spent with your loved ones. Apologies that I’m several weeks late with this, but I was wondering why there was never a mention of our thoughts and prayers being with the Australian/ Jewish community right now. There was a mass shooting terrorist attack at Bondi in mid December which pretty much rocked their country to the core. I used to live there and my best friend is from there, still lives there. It’s weird, how I never saw anything in the news or media about it when it was such a massive horrifying attack on innocent people. Anyways, I’ve been thinking and praying for that community during this time, my heart goes out to them.
we don’t often post about current news on CoJ; sometimes we do a longer post on a big issue, but usually we post more current events/news/politics on Instagram. that said, we were very abreast of current events of course as a team, and the shooting in Australia was devastating. my mom and I actually went to Alex Edelman’s comedy show that weekend and he talked about it a lot before he started his show. he also lit the first candle for hanukah on stage and called into the audience to ask his dad a question about the prayer, and his dad shouted the answer back to him. it was a very sweet and poignant and loving moment. thank you for your note, Hannah.
That makes sense. I appreciate your response! I don’t use instagram so that helps give some insight. Happy new year to you and your loved ones and thank you for sharing your life in these posts. Grateful for this community. ❤️
@Hannah, the terrorist attack in Australia was horrifying. I don’t even have words right now, because what could encompass that terror, cruelty, tragedy? I just wanted to say: there are so many places for us to get new now. I don’t know where you get yours, but I saw a ton of coverage myself on places like CNN, ABC world news, etc (plus IG) and the attack was a sad topic of discussion in many spaces I found myself in throughout December (Work, JCC, family). Just don’t want you to think there was no news anywhere talking about it :/
Happy New Year! We stayed up late eating snacks and playing scrabble. Our nine year old finely made it to midnight, and the wild tired energy had her rambling 6-7 jokes, which her daylight self hates. We washed away the old with an ocean swim on the 1st, followed by (my favourite part) bundling up together on a blanket with tea, witnessing everyone else’s cold swims and shrieks. It’s hard to say what feels better; my own cold immersion and the following heat that spreads through icy limbs, or the joy of a beach full of people cheering each other on.
Happy New Year, Joanna and team! I’ve missed you! Cheers to 2026! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us. :)
The olive dish was from “Philo’s Gift Guide” which you shared on Substack and I had loved and saved it! Thank you :) – https://open.substack.com/pub/philostudios/p/philos-gift-guide?r=nyuon&utm_medium=ios
Nice holidays! When did theliving room turn white?
it’s always been white! here’s our house tour: https://cupofjo.com/2023/03/16/joanna-goddard-house-tour-2023/
ok thanks I thought it was blue
So happpy you’re bacckkkkk!!!
I love that CoJ takes some breaks throughout the year, and I’m so glad you’re back :)
Formal request for Lulu’s carrot soup recipe.
I second this request. I read back through her beauty uniform, hoping the recipe was in there and was part of her secret to eternal beauty and alas, it was not there. Formal request for Aunt Lulu’s carrot soup recipe, an updated beauty uniform and for her to adopt us all as her honorary nieces.
Enthusiastic second!
Like Maddy I read through her beauty uniform (lovely to revisit!) and found it in a comment from Lulu below the post: “It’s literally carrots and onions boiled half to death with a jelly stock plopped in and whizzed up in her old liquidiser. Oh and perhaps a couple of left overs from the fridge added for good measure……”
got a more specific version of her recipe and will post on wednesday! xx
I’m genuinely curious if there is a recipe! Excited to read it
Sorry you had to experience San Francisco’s rainiest season in forever. Hope you still had fun in our fair city!
Love that “Dogs are my friends” item in Toby’s haul – wondered if you remember where it’s from? Thanks!
I found it at a little Brooklyn stationery shop called Measure Twice xo
I have also seen it on the Badge Bomb site!
I found it for you here https://www.etsy.com/listing/1344292806/dogs-are-my-friends-stickerdog-lover
Ooooooo, did you go to Black Bird Books across from Hook Fish? It’s my most favorite bookstore—that they take a more curated approach makes it so neat to visit and see what’s out! Plus that back garden is dreamy. For all SF folks (or visitors!), the weekend story hours are fantastic with young kiddos.
Yes!!! Xoxoxo
Happy New Year, everyone! Joanna, (insert drumroll) I also started cooking! The process has been surprisingly rewarding, and as a baker, and total recipe follower, feeling proud of the new skill, and like I might even be nailing it?! Yay us! xx
Hope, I love this!! Would you ever be up for sharing some recipes/dishes that you’ve liked? Xoxo
Of course! As opposed to digging into all these gorg cookbooks around the house, I’m exclusively using my laptop + NYT cooking, selecting “easy” and “chicken” for example. I feel way less stressed with one main dish that has veg, rice etc, and can get it going in a dutch oven pot. Of course I texted a photo of my first win to my teen, a first year college student. She was impressed by the caramelized lemons! Me toooo! Here’s three I’ll be returning to. Please keep us posted on what you (& Freddie) are making!! xx https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025436-one-pot-chicken- and-rice-with-caramelized-lemon https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018591-lemony-pasta-with-chickpeas-and-parsley?q=lemony%20pasta%20chick https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12169-pureed-tomato-and-red-pepper-soup?algo=cooking_search_relevance_metric_ios_and_web&fellback=false&imp_id=7025003792168664&req_id=2035666686042352&surface=cooking-search&variant=0_relevance_reranking
If Lena’s Christmas tree is artificial, can you find out who sells it? It’s my dream of a tree.
It’s real actually!
Each year I seem to adopt something I learned from Cup of Jo into my life. In 2024, it was the Boursin pasta with peas (easiest dinner ever). In 2025, it was creating an embroidery journal, which had been linked in a weekly round up I believe. Excited to see what I learn from you and this community this year and carry into my life. <3
Same!! This year I am excited to announce the most random and exciting edition to our life, inspired by Cup of Jo and my Book Club. After discovering/devouring Catherine Newman’s work this year (Sandwich, Wreck and We All Want Impossible Things), one (of many) beautiful details stuck in my head: she repeatedly describes a “Kitchen Couch” in her novels. Her daughter or elderly parent lounging in the kitchen couch while she cooks or makes coffee. How delightful it was to stumble back upon an older post of Catherine Newman’s home tour on Cup of Jo from 2022 and see that the author does in fact have her own KITCHEN COUCH. I love that this beautiful detail from her life, home and parenting entered each of her novels and I just needed to convince my husband that this is what we needed in our life. We just bought a long, slim, blue velvet number and are currently revamping our kitchen to live out this cozy fantasy. I can already picture my daughter doing her homework there and my husband checking emails. Me reading a book. I love the idea of the kitchen hub and the syncrenisity of this Kitchen Couch epiphany.
Question about the carrot cutting photo, can we hear more about Lulu’s bracelet? Unless it’s a medic alert one in which case, sorry for the question. My family came from Hayle in Cornwall.
I’ll ask her!
Hey Laura, I live in Hayle!
Rebecca, Hayle beach is magnificent me handsome! I still have a relative living in Hayle. Thank you for commenting.
Here’s Lulu’s answer, below! Hi darling and your darlingsies, herewith the jeweler who I met at Sidmouth Folk week and from whom I self-spoilingly bought a bracelet and a ring. The bracelet was fashioned from a pair of sugar tongs! They sell quickly by the looks of her website but I love them! They are fun. https://sozoshop.com
Happy New Year to everyone!
Missed this page! Welcome back and thanks for the pics!