The joy of double dates

Last night, Alex and I went out to dinner for one of the first times since Anton was born four months ago. (It felt so good to be out!) We met our friends, and at one point, I looked over at Alex telling everyone a story and was struck by how funny and handsome he looked. We've been in such a new-baby fog recently, but I love that about double dates: You're forced to take a break, see your partner through other people's eyes, and you realize how lucky you are.

Alex, I love you.

P.S. We went to Cafe Cluny, which is our favorite restaurant in NYC; I'd highly recommend it, if you haven't been!

Read More

Getting massages at home!

When the dating and relationships company HowAboutWe reached out to me about going on a NYC date, I really wanted to say yes. But the catch was: Alex and I are pretty homebound in the evenings. We typically put both kids to bed, then eat dinner and pass out ourselves. We miss date nights! We are so boring! We have watched so many 30 Rock reruns!
But then it occurred to me: What if we could have our date at home? I checked out their site, and then I saw it. AT-HOME COUPLES MASSAGES. SAY WHAT?!
Amazing, right?! Who knew that was even a thing?! We were pinching ourselves. Although HowAboutWe began as an online dating site, they've since launched HowAboutWe for Couples—where they help couples find awesome dates. You browse their list of dates, book the ones you like, and go. They take care of all the details. It's great for people who want to do exciting offbeat stuff but don't have time or energy to plan everything themselves.
After living in New York for twelve years, I thought I had figured out almost everything there was to do here. But I was surprised to see dates I’d never thought of: couples astrology readings, old-school Brooklyn food tours, gondola rides in the East River...and, of course, at-home couples massages.
So, after both boys were in bed, we cracked a bottle of rose and put out bowls of nuts, olives and kettle chips...
...and shoved the toys to the side of the room. :)
Two really nice and friendly massage therapists arrived and set up folding massage tables in our living room.
We provided our own sheets and towels, and they put on relaxing spa music with sounds of rainforests and ocean waves.
Needless to say, it was such an incredible date and definitely the coolest night we've had in ages. What a luxurious treat!!! I've been a basketcase recently with a toddler and newborn, so it was so amazing to do this for ourselves and then just roll into bed after the massage (next to Anton's co-sleeper, haha) instead of commuting home.
I'd highly recommend HowAboutWe for Couples, which has so many fun date ideas. You can sign up for free and browse their dates in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle (and they're expanding to new cities soon). BONUS: Get $50 off your first date through this link, until December 31st. Thanks so much, HowAboutWe!

(This post was sponsored by HowAboutWe, a service we now plan to use all the time. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make Cup of Jo possible. Photos by our friend Julia Robbs for Cup of Jo, who stopped by at the beginning and left once the massages started haha. Definitely one of the funnier/more surreal blogging photo shoots:)

Read More

Did you have sex on your wedding night?

Couples are expected to have wild sex on their wedding night, but I've always been curious about...Read More >

Read More

Our fourth anniversary

Today is our fourth anniversary! Last night, Alex and I reminisced by looking through photos from when we were first dating...
This was the weekend he met my dad. How cute is he without a beard? (Although I'll never let him shave.)
Alex's old Brooklyn apartment had dark red walls in the living room, which I remember thinking was so cool and masculine when I went over there for the first time. We had a Friday night ritual of listening to music, watching movies and eating too much cheese.
Here we were at our friend's dinner party, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. How amazing was the view from their apartment?!
On our first trip together—to Berlin for ten days. I was so nervous that we'd run out of things to talk about! (We didn't.)
Visiting my grandmother in Cornwall...
...and on a walk with my family. (My grandparents' town is so small that if you send them a letter, you have to write "Polruan-by-Fowey" on the envelope so the mail carrier can figure out how to find it.)
Alex proposed on a sailboat in the Hudson River. The boat kept tilting from side to side, so I had to stick my hand into his backpack so he could put the ring on safely!
Saying our vows four years ago. Best decision I ever made.

Tonight we're sneaking away from the babies and going out to a neighborhood Italian restaurant, Gradisca, where the owner flies his mama in from Bologna to make pasta! And of course we'll meet there:)

Happy Anniversary, Alex! I love you.

Read More

Brilliant speech

Before a final vote approved marriage equality in New Zealand, Maurice Williamson gave this short speech to the New Zealand parliament on same-sex marriage. Hilarious and brilliant.

Also, bravo to Grace for her brave and inspiring post.

(Via Shortlist Daily)

Read More

What marriage means

Disclaimer: I'm 8,000 months pregnant, which means I'm extra hormonal and schmoopy. But last night, I was thinking about our marriage...Read More >

Read More

Before Midnight

Everyone seems to be waiting with bated breath to see the movie Before Midnight, which hits theaters on May 24th, and I'm happy to say that they finally released the trailer...

Such an intriguing portrait of a marriage. Will you see it?

P.S. "If we were meeting for the first time today on a train, would you start talking to me? Would you ask me to get off the train with you?" Her question was so real and vulnerable and touching.

Read More

Before Midnight

Have you seen the beautifully romantic films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset? Well, director Richard Linklater has now made a third film in the series, Before Midnight...Read More >

Read More

A little love note

So I've been sick as a dog this week—and am finally feeling better today, thank goodness. Alex was so sweet to come home early, put Toby to sleep, bring me Gatorade, make me a bland dinner (toast with said Gatorade) and lie in bed and read to me. The last time I was this sick (almost five years ago), he read me "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which was creepy and wonderful, but this year I couldn't find any short stories so he read from Bird by Bird. Thank you, Alex; I love you.

(The experience also taught me that it's really nice to read stories in bed. Do you have any favorite books of short stories? I'd LOVE to hear...)

P.S. Toby's reaction.

(Photo of our bedroom by Oh Darling Photography)

Read More