MOST POPULAR POSTS

Friday, December 21, 2012

Have a good weekend.

Where are you heading for the holidays? We're flying out this afternoon to Palm Springs and LA, where we'll be visiting Alex's family. And this year, my dad, brother and sister are also joining, so it will be a fun, noisy group! Please wish us luck on the flight (gulp), and have a wonderful weekend. Here are a few great links from around the web...

A song for your weekend.

For people who love words.

Two appetizers for the holidays: Crispy goat cheese and brussel sprouts crostini.

Beautiful state necklaces.

Now that's a brave woman!

What a cool treehouse wedding.

Is this banana slicer for real?

Origami for beginners.

Seven pretty outfits.

A dad's pancake upgrade.

Chris Rock's hilarious stand-up is actually right on.

The Polar Bear Club is insane.

In case you've forgotten: how to eat dinner & how to drink wine.

Pete Souza has taken thousands of powerful photos of Obama, but here are some sweet and funny ones: one, two, three, four, five.

A reader also emailed me this etiquette question: "For the past two years, my boss has handed me an envelope (with a generous gift card inside). Not sure what to do, I've waited until afterward to open it. Is this appropriate or sketchy? I felt so awkward last year!" Thoughts?

62 comments:

  1. I think a treehouse wedding with dutch babies for dinner sounds like the perfect soiree :) Plus, I'd wear a Wisconsin necklace for sure if they made one!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the Chris Rock video!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good luck with traveling and be safe!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Issaquah is 10 minutes away from where I grew up! I love that place! Even though I live in Boise now I still think I'd wear a Washington necklace :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Envelope - why not open it and thank your boss on the spot. I think that would show that can't wait to see what s/he took the trouble to give you, and would allow you to show the most gratitude.

    ReplyDelete
  6. As for the envelope, maybe you could playfully ask if you're allowed to open it now, or "do I have to wait until Christmas?" if he says open now, then go for it and thank him on the spot.

    I don't think it's sketchy to wait until later to open it so long as you thank him after!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Every February at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI (my college) we do the Cold Knight Sem Pond Jump. I'm sure you can remember how cold it is in February in Michigan ;) They cut a hole in the ice of the pond on campus and we all line up to jump in! Very very cold, but tons of fun!

    -Kalee

    ReplyDelete
  8. Read the customer reviews on the banana slices...they are hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love the Chris Rock video!! Safe travels and have a happy holiday!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great links as always!

    I think regarding the envelope, take his lead - if he hands it to you and quickly walks away then just open it after he leaves and thank him before the end of the day. If he loiters a little after handing it over then open it right away and say thank you.
    I think it's nice to at least thank people in person when they give you a gift. We buy gifts to make people happy, after all, and it's nice to see that happiness in their face. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love all the links, especially the one of the tree house wedding. Very sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those pictures of the president make me love him, especially the one with little Spiderman. He has a good soul. You can just tell.

    ReplyDelete
  13. the best thing about the banana slicer is the REVIEWS! people are hilarious :)

    have a wonderful trip and a very merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  14. safe travels joanna! we're headed to palm springs tomorrow ourselves with our 20 month old and the grandparents and i'm excited for a few days of relaxation before christmas :). i'll definitely be digging up your post from last year for some ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the customer reviews for the banana slicer (they've shutdown reviews on that product!) a highlight being a complaint that the slicer bends one way while bananas bend the other way. So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The story about the Niagara Falls woman gave me the chills! yikes..she was brave!

    safe travels and happy, happy holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  17. p.s. I just wasted an embarrassing amount of time reading the reviews on the banana slicer. hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
  18. For the reader etiquette question, it doesn't sound like an awkward situation at all, it sounds as though the reader is making it awkward by over-thinking it! If she wants, she can say something like "Thank you so much! Can I open it now? :)"

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is the perfect sort of question for my comedy/advice podcast, The Adviceists with Elisa Markus. I'd say that you should either open it in front of them, so you can say, "Oh wow! $600 at Dishtowels.com! Thanks!" or open it later but in either case, have a nice thank you note to give afterward. A thank you note is always appropriate and counteracts "gift-receivers' guilt". And in the future, have that reader (or any reader!) email the show with their burning etiquette and relationship questions at theadviceists@gmail.com. Happy Festivus!

    ReplyDelete
  20. HAHAHA the banana slicer reviews are all so funny.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I find it interesting that several commenters assumed the boss was a man, despite the fact that you made no mention of gender in your post! I am a new Cup of Jo reader and love your blog, especially these Friday posts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I noticed that too! Most of my bosses have been female, so in my head I pictured a woman. I find people do that with doctors too, always assume they are male!

      Delete
  22. Good luck! I'm not going out of state, but I am going to be visiting both my mom and dad and all the family! Ah. Busy, busy! Safe travels, have fun!

    http://thehonestfox.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love your weekend posts, thank you for all the lovely links!

    http://www.falcongriffithblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Have a lovely weekend too. Here are some New Orleans photos if you like to see.
    http://lejlatravels.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  25. I was one of the bridesmaids in the treehouse wedding! I can't wait to email the bride (my best friend) and tell her she was featured here :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. If you already know what's in the envelope, just say thank you & move on. You wouldn't open it if it were a holiday bonus check from your boss, right?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Really beautiful song! And the photo is great!

    aliceinbo2.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love the Obama pictures, esp the one with spiderman and the one of Malia taking his picture.

    Regarding the envelope - if you feel awkward opening the it in front of him, just tell him it will go under the tree!

    Merry Christmas everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'd say thank you and I can't wait to open it on Christmas, then give your boss a handwritten thank you after Christmas. I've been a boss that had awkward times like that and the only thing that offended me was no thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. what sydney said. say thank you, tuck it away and then send a lovely handwritten thank you card after the holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm headed to Boracay! It's my first beach vacation ever (my first real vacation, really) and I'm so excited! Unfortunately, it's calling for rain, but I'm crossing my fingers that it will change. Merry Christmas, Joanna!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ha! Anyone looking for a good laugh and a good time waster, go read the banana slicer reviews! So funny! p.s. LOVE those state necklaces - I'd love to wear my beloved Mitten around my neck!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great links as usual :) I'd say open the envelope later, if it has a gift inside it's just awkward to react to it in front of your boss! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas xx

    ReplyDelete
  34. If there is a lot of people around, it could be proper and non-offensive to wait to open the gift. However, if it's just one on one and more intimate then it's almost like you have to open it right then and there.

    http://www.littleredbook-thatshaute.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love the Obama pictures! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  36. just stopping by to wish you merry christmas! :)

    p.s. about the question, i think i would just open it later on and then maybe send a thank you card? :)

    <3, Mimi
    http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  37. Earn Money on Without Investment, Get Free Online Jobs and Work From home.
    www.jobzcorner.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I agree with Mimi, I usually wait until later to open cards (typically they require reading, which can be awkward to do while the giver is sitting there waiting). A nice thank you card or thank you gesture (chocolates, homemade goodies, etc.) after the fact may be the best way to go.

    In sum, a sincere thank you is definitely in order...just maybe not right in the moment. You may be saving you and your boss some uncomfortable exchanges by waiting.

    ReplyDelete
  39. in Illinois, a group of people do the Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics. I've never been brave enough to do it, but it is a crazy fun event for a good cause :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am here to tell you that blog commenting is one of the most powerful traffic generation methods around. I believe blog commenting has taken over what traditional article marketing used to be.

    Stock Commissions

    ReplyDelete
  41. Make Earning on your Every panels you purchase, Many types of Earning Systems
    <a href= http://bannersbroker.com/MrSanghani17 A

    ReplyDelete
  42. Not sure if anyone pointed this out yet... Here's the first review of the banana slicer. Made me laugh out loud...

    For decades I have been trying to come up with an ideal way to slice a banana. "Use a knife!" they say. Well...my parole officer won't allow me to be around knives. "Shoot it with a gun!" Background check...HELLO! I had to resort to carefully attempt to slice those bananas with my bare hands. 99.9% of the time, I would get so frustrated that I just ended up squishing the fruit in my hands and throwing it against the wall in anger. Then, after a fit of banana-induced rage, my parole officer introduced me to this kitchen marvel and my life was changed. No longer consumed by seething anger and animosity towards thick-skinned yellow fruit, I was able to concentrate on my love of theatre and am writing a musical play about two lovers from rival gangs that just try to make it in the world. I think I'll call it South Side Story.

    Banana slicer...thanks to you, I see greatness on the horizon.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Facebook Hot Girls, Most Popular Singer Girls, Top Most Famous Girls in the World.
    hotentertainnews.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wow, look so good... I just want to get that for myself and my families. Hope for more new style. rs gold , runescape gold

    ReplyDelete
    Replies


    1. It is for this reason that Mirror Sunglasses have become popular sunglasses for officers of law enforcement and military. Their popularity with police officers in the
      United States has earned them the nickname "cop shades". Much like an interrogation room, a suspect is unnerved by looking into a window and being unable to see who or what is looking back at him. It is also for this reason that Mirror Sunglasses are often favored by competitive poker players.

      sunglasses
      marketing sunglasses
      Crystal Custom
      Promotional Sunglasses
      Story Miami
      Logolenses

      Delete

    2. The process of making sunglasses and glasses accessory has come a long way from when Roman Emperor Nero held polished light emerald glass gems up to his eyes and Chinese attached ceramic weights to the ends of ribbons draped over the ears in order to keep on their cool sunglasses.


      Crystal Custom
      Promotional Sunglasses
      Promo Sunglasses
      Personalized sunglasses
      Customized sunglasses

      Delete

    3. The process of making sunglasses and glasses accessory has come a long way from when Roman Emperor Nero held polished light emerald glass gems up to his eyes and Chinese attached ceramic weights to the ends of ribbons draped over the ears in order to keep on their cool sunglasses.


      Crystal Custom
      Promotional Sunglasses
      Promo Sunglasses
      Personalized sunglasses
      Customized sunglasses

      Delete
  45. Indiatoursandtaxi- is best car rental service provider in Delhi.We provide Budget Car Rental and Tour Packages like Same Day Agra Tour Package and many others in reasonable rates.
    Go for Video

    ReplyDelete
  46. Best Beautiful Cars, Latest Hot Vehicles, Strange Cars, Super Cars Model, Funny Cars, Car Latest Models, Cars with Girls, Cars like helicopter and Most Speed and Expensive Cars
    WorldLatestVehicles.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Social Media Marketing is a very easy way for Marketing and Advertising, Now you can Get Facebook Likes, Twitter Followers, Favorites, Youtube Views,Subscribes,Likes, Google Plus Followers, Stumbleupon Followers, Digg Followers, Websites Visitors and Much More.
    Just Visit the Website and Start Promoting now without any Charges
    GetLikeFast.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Nice Article! I hope this will be informative to all.

    [url=http://www.crystal custom.com/]Crystal Custom[/url]
    [url=http://www.crystal custom.com/]Promotional Sunglasses[/url]
    [url=http://www.crystal custom.com/]Promo Sunglasses[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  49. Nice Article! I hope this will be informative to all.

    debt settlement

    ReplyDelete
  50. Nice Article! I hope this will be informative to all.

    <[url=http://www.crystal custom.com/>Promo Sunglasses[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  51. This is really helpful. I have read this and achieved a lot of information.



    Promo Sunglasses

    ReplyDelete
  52. This is really helpful. I have read this and achieved a lot of information.
    <[url=http://www.crystalcustom.com/>Crystal Custom[/url]
    <[url=http://www.crystalcustom.com/>Promotional Sunglasses[/url]
    <[url=http://www.crystalcustom.com/>Promo Sunglasses[/url]
    <[url=http://www.crystalcustom.com/>Personalized sunglasses[/url]
    <[url=http://www.crystalcustom.com/>Customized sunglasses[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  53. If you are looking for the best custom wedding songs, I would suggest you might want to try the services of Songs by Suzi.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Probably the most awesome things within the writing custom wedding songs clients are the tales that accompany it. Among the personalized tunes I authored was for any 70 year-old lady. Before writing an audio lesson, I usually request for lots of knowledge concerning the person receiving the song.

    ReplyDelete

Nice comments only, please! (That means you, anonymous.)

Site design by Apartment One
Federated Media Publishing - Style