What are you as much as this weekend? I’m celebrating an expensive pal’s birthday tonight, and the boys needed to put in writing a birthday card for her. “Attempt to write at the least 4 sentences,” I beneficial, to which they instantly responded in unison, “‘Completely happy birthday’ counts as a sentence!” Hope you may have a very good one, and listed below are just a few hyperlinks from across the net…

My dialog with Kate Baer, the place we cowl saggy boobs, turning 40, and writing truthfully about marriage and motherhood. (Massive Salad, free for all)

Additionally, Erica Chidi shares fairly pajamas and her stunning proposal story. (Massive Salad, paywalled)

What it’s like being a firefighter with OCD. (NYTimes present hyperlink)

What attractive swimsuits.

The best way to write pleasant snail mail. “Letters don’t at all times must be life updates… Draw a map of a stroll you typically take by means of your neighborhood, with descriptions of your favourite recollections in every place. Make your individual Mad Libs for the recipient to fill out. You can even skip writing and ship Polaroids of snapshots out of your life, or private recipes.”

My boys wolfed up this cheddar-roasted broccoli. (NYTimes present hyperlink)

In different vegetable information, salt and vinegar cabbage!

This 323-square-foot house was designed to really feel like a luxurious resort.

20 brief guidelines for higher days at work. “Play music that got here out the 12 months you turned 18. In case you work in an workplace it’ll be a dialog starter and would possibly even defang ageism by normalizing BEING AN AGE, any age. Plus, there’s no music that’ll brighten your day sooner than your teenage music.”

This made my dry heels immediately sandal-ready.

Twins talking in unison. “Now we have tried to speak individually, nevertheless it’s not ourselves, it’s not us.”

Awkward household pictures, haha.

Plus, seven reader feedback (as a result of we couldn’t slim them down!)…

Says Jess on guess who was on Jeopardy final evening: “I used to be driving across the day earlier than my husband’s funeral, and I picked up the telephone to speak to him about what sort of pickles we should always serve… at his funeral. It’s so bizarre when your people simply vanish. I nonetheless textual content him on WhatsApp, and I’m nonetheless generally stunned when he doesn’t reply.”

Says Hali on three transgender children share their tales: “A couple of months earlier than my grandma died, we had been up late speaking about transgender children. She was 93. She defined that she knew children prefer to experiment and undergo phases and a few children are a little bit completely different, however that she didn’t imagine anybody was really transgender. She expressed frustration about dad and mom enabling kids to behave sure methods. It was a relaxed dialog. I’m horrible with talking my thoughts (I at all times come on too righteous and passionate), so I principally stayed quiet and listened. I remembered the same submit on CoJ (“My Little one is Transgender”) and emailed the hyperlink to my grandma. It gave her a perspective that modified how she noticed every part. She wrote again thanking me; I give it some thought on a regular basis.”

Says Karen on 8 readers share what they love about their seems: “In the present day I discovered that we Cup of Jo readers are a bunch of stone chilly foxes — completely beautiful! It jogs my memory of my child’s favourite Sesame Avenue e book from the ’90s: We’re Completely different, We’re the Identical, and We’re All Fantastic. And aren’t we simply? Massive like to everybody right here.”

Says Allison on 8 readers share what they love about their seems: “I discovered myself trying rigorously at every photograph in this submit earlier than studying it, making an attempt to guess prematurely what they may say. And I noticed that it was an unimaginable activity, as a result of there have been SO MANY stunning issues to seek out in each single individual. I hope I keep in mind that after I look within the mirror, particularly proper now as I’m present process therapy for breast most cancers. My hair is thinning, I would lose my eyebrows, the therapy is irritating my pores and skin, however I’m nonetheless me. My husband tells me that I’ll nonetheless be simply as stunning as ever – simply ‘badass stunning.’ Thanks for this excellent reminder of that.”

Says Lauren O. on the only dessert: “I as soon as yearned for cookies however had no chocolate chips in the home, so I hacked up a bunch of bizarre, fancy chocolate bars I’d introduced house from the giveaway desk at work (Sea salt! Caramel! Dried fruit! Chiles! The corpses of different snacks and desserts!) It was nice. Now I at all times get my freak on within the Pretentious Chocolate Aisle on the grocery store earlier than I bake.”

Says Whitney on what non-flashy issues do you’re keen on? “Once I’m mendacity in mattress studying, and my husband rests his hand on the within of my thigh. Not flashy, however rattling it makes me really feel content material.”

Says Julie on what non-flashy issues do you’re keen on? “That area on the aspect of my children’ faces the place their cheek meets their temple, you recognize the spot proper past the attention? I’m not an excellent touch-feely individual however I’m already mourning the day they’re too outdated for me to kiss them proper in that spot.”

(Picture by Artem Podrez/Stocksy.)

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