Holiday hair tutorials

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For holiday parties and dinners (and even the flight home), feel free to look back through Caroline's hair tutorials. Wouldn't it be pretty to wear three twisted buns with a sparkly dress, or a mermaid braid with a wool sweater? You can find all fourteen tutorials here...

Braids:
* Mermaid tail braid
* Braided top bun
* Braided crown
* Pretzel braid
* Four-strand braid

Ponytails:
* Messy side ponytail
* Ponytail twist
* Sleek parted ponytail

Buns:
* Three twisted buns
* Top knot
* Rope bun
* Gibson roll
* Chestnut bun
* Messy French bun

P.S. Also, this year's holiday gift guide will kick off this Thursday, I hope you like it:)

(Photos by Jamie Beck for Cup of Jo)

The Best Salted Caramel Brownies You'll Ever Have

To contact us Click HERE When exactly did the world realize that sea salt makes every dessert 1,000 better? Ever since that lightbulb moment, sweet-and-salty desserts have reached a whole new level. Lucky for us, Victoria from A Subtle Revelry has agreed to share her salted caramel brownies recipe that will blow your mind (and make you the star of the show during the holidays)...
The Best Salted Caramel Brownies You'll Ever Have
By Victoria Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry

The Cup-of-Jo 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

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Are you looking forward to the holidays this year? I can't believe they're already here! Today, I'm excited to kick off the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. As always, I've tried to find things for every budget and personality, and really hope you enjoy it.

You can look through past gift guides here: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007.

Ok, let's do this thing! (I'll post one every day or two, along with regular posts.) xoxo

(Photo by Petra Warrass)

Gift Guide Part #1: Your Beautiful Mom Who Adopts Your Slang and Still Writes Handwritten Letters.

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Ticking apron for baking chocolate-chip cookies together, $27.

Finnish-style ornaments, $25. (This mobile, $67, is also beautiful.)

Monogrammed pajamas! Because how chic is that? $78.

Paper flowers to brighten up her desk all year long. $29 to $40.

A stack of your favorite 2012 cookbooks: Smitten Kitchen, What Katie Ate and Dinner: A Love Story. $20-ish each.

Freudian mug, because it all comes back to your mama, $16.


Gilded stationery, $20.

Wax seals for her most important notes, $16.

100% cotton robe to make her feel pretty every morning, $100.

Raspberry bush that grows in a container. (Perfect for even the tiniest patio!) $31.95.

Rodin perfume, an intoxicating mix of jasmine and neroni. For women, not girls. $220.

A calendar ($24.99) or notepad ($12.99) featuring her favorite little dude.
Sapphire earrings to match her eyes, $168.

Cheesecake!!! These lemon-ricotta beauties are delivered in Manhattan and Brooklyn, $55. (You can also order a classic New York cheesecake here.)

French locket to keep her loved ones close to her heart, where they belong. $90.

P.S. More gifts for moms.

(Raspberry bush via Abbey)

Write Press Releases that Grab Peoples' Attention

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By Frederick Vickers

There are so many different aspects of both online and offline business that have the potential for overwhelming anyone. All the old vets of internet marketing who pioneered press release went through that and know the deal.

The primary reason for using freelance help is to allow for more time on activities that directly impact revenue.

We are not quite done with our discussion, and if you are like us the gears would be turning with fresh ideas.

While companies selling physical products like luxaflex blinds may find this marketing strategy is very useful and diverse, it just depends on your particular situation. There is a lot to consider when you are contemplating all new promotional activities. Very many online businesses are extremely serious, and therefore they will always be interested in adding new revenue streams. Perhaps that easiest path to growth is through scaling existing campaigns, and then seek to add what you can that is all new. In the end, a long time from now, just be sure you do not look back and wish you would have considered more options. Your press release's first paragraph is really important and that is why you need to be choosy about which information is included in it. Make sure you include the basics as people are going to have questions right in the start; answer their questions related to where, how, why and when right in the first paragraph, so that they don't really have any doubts and are comfortable moving forward.

You can take any one of these methods and really go all out in your business because they will open up new venues for you, to be sure. You will be positioning your self for the greatest gains with this simple approach. One thing you can easily do is test these tips and look at examples and case studies such as the company that sells luxaflex blinds using this marketing strategy, on a small scale, and that is another approach we tell people to try - just do a small test and decide. Not necessarily at all with what we are talking about today, but there are other methods and ideas that are sold and not really the best choices for people to use.

If you are really new, then you have to know the importance of performing background research on any method that you are not familiar with. If you are not careful about what you do, then you can easily start method-hopping and getting nowhere. That experience is very common with web marketers who are relatively new and with little experience. We really pretty much do not care who it is, if something is new to you then you have to preform some research to get another side of the story. Maybe you have already had experiences in which smart homework saved you some money. In order to find success with your press release, you need to focus on some of the vital elements such as the headline. If you don't have a good headline then nobody is going to read your press release. The level of exposure that you get with your press release is completely dependent upon how well you can reach out to your target audience and impact them. Look around to see how other press releases out there have crafted their headlines so that you can emulate them while you work on conveying your own message to your readers. Do not be scared to experiment with your headlines and make changes.




About the Author:

Just about everybody who starts an online business goes through similar experiences; for example, there is a lot to be found about baby sleeping bags with sleeves strategy and their press release but you need to be careful. There can be many reasons, discussed at stop smoking London website and see their press release tips, with that as well as successful press release, so it can tough to pinpoint the exact cause. No need to bang your head against the wall, anymore, concerning this issue. We all make mistakes and have be down the same road; so do not feel like something is wrong with you.

Homeland

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Have you guys been watching Homeland? Alex and I are obsessed. The show follows a bipolar CIA agent (Claire Danes), who suspects that a rescued prisoner of war (Damian Lewis), who has just returned to the United States, has actually become a terrorist. It is SO TENSE. You're on the edge of your seat for the whole show.

We got the first season on DVD and have been glued to it every night for the past week. It’s funny when you have the dvds and can watch all the shows in a row, because it gets in your head. Usually when we go to bed, we talk about Toby or life or whatever, but now we get in bed and we’re like, "Oh my gosh! What do you think her deal is?!!! Who do you think was on the call?!!"

P.S. Claire Dane's cryface.

The Best Salted Caramel Brownies You'll Ever Have

To contact us Click HERE When exactly did the world realize that sea salt makes every dessert 1,000 better? Ever since that lightbulb moment, sweet-and-salty desserts have reached a whole new level. Lucky for us, Victoria from A Subtle Revelry has agreed to share her salted caramel brownies recipe that will blow your mind (and make you the star of the show during the holidays)...
The Best Salted Caramel Brownies You'll Ever Have
By Victoria Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry

How to wear a beanie

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I look terrible in hats. I have a big head (always have), and hats just make it look bigger. But my friend Kendra has a simple trick for making winter hats look cool...
"It's pretty self explanatory," says Kendra. Just pull on the beanie, tilt it back on your head, pull the top part back and down, and tuck in your hair. "I was always trying to wear a more tailored hat but it looked kind of uptight. The slouchie look has a much more relaxed vibe, and I think it gives you more street cred!"

How pretty does Kendra look? Here are four slouchy hats, if you're in the market: white, grey, orange or green and cream.
Thanks, Kendra!

P.S. Kendra's navy nails.

(Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo. Styling by Kendra Smoot. If you're wondering, Kendra's beanie is from Madewell (now sold out), her snood is from French Connection, her jacket is from Madewell, her bag is vintage Coach and her boots are Sam Edelman.)

Toby, 2.5 years old

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Toby is now two and a half (how time flies!), and it's awesome to watch him develop his own little personality. I figured I'd share a few photos, if you'll indulge me:) Above, he's riding on Alex's shoulders to brunch...
Strolling around the neighborhood with a Happy Birthday balloon (note: it was not his birthday).
Cuddling with his girlfriend. No big deal.
In toddler heaven at the Brooklyn Transit Museum.
Painting during an art class.
Feeling sheep at the Central Park Zoo.
Drinking shirtless while watching TV like a dude.
Zonked!

Toby, I love being your mama.

In other news, we're starting potty training this week! Wish us luck:)

Write Press Releases that Grab Peoples' Attention

To contact us Click HERE
By Frederick Vickers

There are so many different aspects of both online and offline business that have the potential for overwhelming anyone. All the old vets of internet marketing who pioneered press release went through that and know the deal.

The primary reason for using freelance help is to allow for more time on activities that directly impact revenue.

We are not quite done with our discussion, and if you are like us the gears would be turning with fresh ideas.

While companies selling physical products like luxaflex blinds may find this marketing strategy is very useful and diverse, it just depends on your particular situation. There is a lot to consider when you are contemplating all new promotional activities. Very many online businesses are extremely serious, and therefore they will always be interested in adding new revenue streams. Perhaps that easiest path to growth is through scaling existing campaigns, and then seek to add what you can that is all new. In the end, a long time from now, just be sure you do not look back and wish you would have considered more options. Your press release's first paragraph is really important and that is why you need to be choosy about which information is included in it. Make sure you include the basics as people are going to have questions right in the start; answer their questions related to where, how, why and when right in the first paragraph, so that they don't really have any doubts and are comfortable moving forward.

You can take any one of these methods and really go all out in your business because they will open up new venues for you, to be sure. You will be positioning your self for the greatest gains with this simple approach. One thing you can easily do is test these tips and look at examples and case studies such as the company that sells luxaflex blinds using this marketing strategy, on a small scale, and that is another approach we tell people to try - just do a small test and decide. Not necessarily at all with what we are talking about today, but there are other methods and ideas that are sold and not really the best choices for people to use.

If you are really new, then you have to know the importance of performing background research on any method that you are not familiar with. If you are not careful about what you do, then you can easily start method-hopping and getting nowhere. That experience is very common with web marketers who are relatively new and with little experience. We really pretty much do not care who it is, if something is new to you then you have to preform some research to get another side of the story. Maybe you have already had experiences in which smart homework saved you some money. In order to find success with your press release, you need to focus on some of the vital elements such as the headline. If you don't have a good headline then nobody is going to read your press release. The level of exposure that you get with your press release is completely dependent upon how well you can reach out to your target audience and impact them. Look around to see how other press releases out there have crafted their headlines so that you can emulate them while you work on conveying your own message to your readers. Do not be scared to experiment with your headlines and make changes.




About the Author:

Just about everybody who starts an online business goes through similar experiences; for example, there is a lot to be found about baby sleeping bags with sleeves strategy and their press release but you need to be careful. There can be many reasons, discussed at stop smoking London website and see their press release tips, with that as well as successful press release, so it can tough to pinpoint the exact cause. No need to bang your head against the wall, anymore, concerning this issue. We all make mistakes and have be down the same road; so do not feel like something is wrong with you.

Write Press Releases that Grab Peoples' Attention

To contact us Click HERE
By Frederick Vickers

There are so many different aspects of both online and offline business that have the potential for overwhelming anyone. All the old vets of internet marketing who pioneered press release went through that and know the deal.

The primary reason for using freelance help is to allow for more time on activities that directly impact revenue.

We are not quite done with our discussion, and if you are like us the gears would be turning with fresh ideas.

While companies selling physical products like luxaflex blinds may find this marketing strategy is very useful and diverse, it just depends on your particular situation. There is a lot to consider when you are contemplating all new promotional activities. Very many online businesses are extremely serious, and therefore they will always be interested in adding new revenue streams. Perhaps that easiest path to growth is through scaling existing campaigns, and then seek to add what you can that is all new. In the end, a long time from now, just be sure you do not look back and wish you would have considered more options. Your press release's first paragraph is really important and that is why you need to be choosy about which information is included in it. Make sure you include the basics as people are going to have questions right in the start; answer their questions related to where, how, why and when right in the first paragraph, so that they don't really have any doubts and are comfortable moving forward.

You can take any one of these methods and really go all out in your business because they will open up new venues for you, to be sure. You will be positioning your self for the greatest gains with this simple approach. One thing you can easily do is test these tips and look at examples and case studies such as the company that sells luxaflex blinds using this marketing strategy, on a small scale, and that is another approach we tell people to try - just do a small test and decide. Not necessarily at all with what we are talking about today, but there are other methods and ideas that are sold and not really the best choices for people to use.

If you are really new, then you have to know the importance of performing background research on any method that you are not familiar with. If you are not careful about what you do, then you can easily start method-hopping and getting nowhere. That experience is very common with web marketers who are relatively new and with little experience. We really pretty much do not care who it is, if something is new to you then you have to preform some research to get another side of the story. Maybe you have already had experiences in which smart homework saved you some money. In order to find success with your press release, you need to focus on some of the vital elements such as the headline. If you don't have a good headline then nobody is going to read your press release. The level of exposure that you get with your press release is completely dependent upon how well you can reach out to your target audience and impact them. Look around to see how other press releases out there have crafted their headlines so that you can emulate them while you work on conveying your own message to your readers. Do not be scared to experiment with your headlines and make changes.




About the Author:

Just about everybody who starts an online business goes through similar experiences; for example, there is a lot to be found about baby sleeping bags with sleeves strategy and their press release but you need to be careful. There can be many reasons, discussed at stop smoking London website and see their press release tips, with that as well as successful press release, so it can tough to pinpoint the exact cause. No need to bang your head against the wall, anymore, concerning this issue. We all make mistakes and have be down the same road; so do not feel like something is wrong with you.

The Best Apple Crisp You'll Ever Have

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In honor of Thanksgiving, we have another best recipe today—apple crisp! The lovely Monique from Ambitious Kitchen shares her incredible version, including a secret ingredient...

The Best Apple Crisp You'll Ever Have
By Monique Volz of Ambitious Kitchen
When I was a little girl, I loved to spend time in the kitchen. Of course, my favorite thing to make was dessert. I remember always attempting to make my sweets different and unique. Today isn’t any different; I can’t help but put a spin on this classic dessert.

The addition of brown butter, vanilla bean, and a splash of bourbon takes this classic to another level. I can’t seem to put into words how fantastic this apple crisp is. Just know that it's extraordinary.

Everyone always asks me for this recipe, and I’m sure they’ll ask you, too! It's best served straight out of the oven, warm, with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Enjoy!

The Best Apple Crisp

You'll need:
For the topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup dark brown sugar
½ cup chopped almonds
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces

For the filling:
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
6 medium-sized Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and very thinly sliced
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. bourbon

What to do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease an 8x8 baking pan.

To make the topping: Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and almonds in a large bowl until well-combined. Add in the pieces of butter and use your hands to squeeze and combine until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles wet sand. (Alternatively, you can cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, or place all of the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse until just blended. My favorite method is to use my hands, as I believe you get the best crumbly topping that way.)

Once finished, place topping in the fridge and begin making the apple filling.

To make the filling: Place butter and seeds from the vanilla bean in a medium saucepan, and turn heat on medium. After a couple of minutes the butter will begin to crackle and foam—make sure you whisk consistently during this process! Another minute or two, and you will notice the butter turning a slight brown (caramel) color on the bottom of the saucepan; continue to whisk and remove from heat as soon as the butter begins to give off a nutty aroma. Immediately transfer the butter to a bowl to prevent it from burning. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

While the butter is cooling, place apples, 1/3 cup brown sugar, cinnamon and bourbon in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add the brown butter to this apple mixture and toss again to combine.

Take a heaping ½ cup of the topping mixture and toss with the apple mixture. Place the apple mixture in prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with topping. It may seem like a lot of topping, but the apples will cook down and the topping will provide an excellent crunchy exterior.

Bake the crisp on a baking sheet (just in case the filling bubbles over!) for 55-60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

Notes: Feel free to use different nuts instead of almonds—or leave out nuts completely. If you don’t have bourbon on hand, you can use whiskey, or replace with ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
Delicious! Thank you so much, Monique.

P.S. More best recipes, including caramel apple pie and chocolate-chunk cookies.

(Photos by Monique from Ambitious Kitchen. Thanks to Shoko for help with this series)