The July Edit

What we read, ate, and watched. Plus, 20% off subscriptions!

Hi! How’s your week going? Welcome to The July Edit.

Good news: We’re offering 20% off Big Salad annual subscriptions until Friday. That’s $4/month for every issue for an entire year, plus access to our archives, like four ways to deepen adult friendships, two magical Paris itineraries, Anne Helen Peterson’s gorgeous cottage tour, my take on botox, and how to know if you should get divorced — simply click here for the discount, and just email us at newsletter@cupofjo.com, if you have any hiccups. xoxo

This month, we also sent five issues:

• My boyfriend Freddie was hoping to say hi, so he shared 11 favorite things, and we recorded a conversation featuring his award-winningly* cute voice

• At age 46, I finally figured out my hair. (Plus, the only person I trust for haircuts)

• Friends revealed their 13 beloved swimsuits. Side note: how cool is Kate Baer?

• My #1 packing rule, and the eye mask Gemma and I swear by

• Finally, would you make this romantic midnight pasta?

And here’s what we are into this month…

*If I’m in charge of the judging

1. “We went to dinner at my friend Odette’s house, and her simple but gorgeous table reminded me how lovely taper candles are. We usually light them in winter, but I just pulled them out again for summer.” — Joanna Goddard, Big Salad editor

2. “I played ‘chess’ with my best friend, and she was wearing adorable Lewis pajamas. My kids used to wear them, too — they’re very well made with great nature prints.” — Joanna

Jannelle’s tank: Buck Mason. Lipstick: Tarte.

3. “Have you ever made Oobleck? You mix cornstarch and water to form goopy slime that is totally safe for kids, doesn’t stain, and is easy to clean up!” — Maureen Heffernan, Cup of Jo partnerships director

4. “To soothe my pregnancy aches at the end of the day, I’ve been treating myself to K-beauty glow pads while drinking ice water and watching old movies. They leave my skin feeling dewy, even as pregnancy dries out my skin.” — Jannelle Sanchez, Cup of Jo editor

5. “I reach for The Summer Book every year, just to dip in and out of its perfect vignettes about a grandmother and granddaughter who spend quiet days at their family’s rustic island cabin. Not much happens, but it’s also about everything. The film adaptation — starring Glenn Close — comes out in September; I have a feeling I’ll prefer the book to the movie, but I’m still excited.” — Kaitlyn Teer, Big Salad editor

6. “Not only is panzanella one of my favorite salads to serve, it’s a delight to make. While prepping, I snack on the juicy tomatoes and peach slices and sample torn bread. It’s bright and tangy and makes a great side dish for nearly any meal.” — Kaitlyn

After I figured out my own hair, a reader named Kristin commented that she had just gotten her first perm! Here’s what she told us…

“I started going grey during my 20s. After that, I dyed my hair for years but decided to stop during the pandemic. Turns out my natural color is pretty cool. Still, I was feeling a little blah, so earlier this year, I got a perm. I think it makes me look like a sexy witch or a cool ’80s mom. I get SO many compliments, it’s crazy. And I always say, ‘Thanks, it's a perm!’” — Kristin, Portland, Oregon

1. The key lime pie that Freddie brings to parties

2. The styling lotion that completely changed my hair

3. The sandals I keep spotting around NYC

4. A big-hearted novel that I packed for vacation

Says Lauren on At Age 46, I Finally Figured Out My Hair: “As an elder millennial, I just pulled out my straightener after not using it for maybe 10 years? I have straight hair, but I was feeling more like the Quaker Oats guy with my curled under bob. After using the straightener, my hair was sleek and shiny, and I felt cool and edgy.” Adds Kristina: “A girl I work with called her haircut the ‘Lord Farquaad’ — a nice companion to the ‘Quaker Oats guy.’”

Says Laura on My Boyfriend Wants to Say Hi: “It's so refreshing to hear from a high school teacher! Underrepresented profession in media.” Adds Emily: “Okkkk voice.”

Says Kaff on Our 13 Favorite Swimsuits: “Swimsuits post usually make me feel a little bit shit — I’m not body confident or skinny or rich (or on vacation, swimming). But then there’s the brilliant Kate Baer in a cute suit from Kohl’s tubing in a creek near her house and it just feels — I don’t know — affirming?? Less shit?? Guess I should see if my mom has any Kohl’s cash lying around — though, tbh, who needs a new suit when the best suits are always old and stretched out and smelling vaguely like hose water.”

1. My Sister Lucy Shares a Brilliant Parenting Hack.

2. Hunter Harris Tells Us What to Watch.

3. Found! The 15 Best Books to Read This Summer.

1. Our England Trip. Smash-and-grab lunches, twinning cousins, and boat shoes.

2. 10 Fave Things From Trader Joe’s. Including the snack my whole family loves.

3. What Small, Inexpensive Things Make Your Life Better? Our seven finds.

4. A Week of Outfits: Kayla Sossin. My friend’s $40 sneakers and career advice.

5. Puberty, Meet Perimenopause. ”A long wail came from across our apartment...”

6. What Fun Facts Do You Know? The other day, Freddie and I went to a party...

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Thank you for reading! Coming up: 13 favorite things, how to start an articles club, and what it’s like to move to Sweden. Lots of love, as always. xoxo