Four Fun Things | Cup of Jo

My bff and style icon Georgie was wearing sparkly jellies the other day, and it got me wondering: what shoes will you be wearing this summer? I’ve worn these all winter, but I’m not sure what my sandal plan is. Tell me your thoughts!

The other day, our friends Rob and Kath invited us over and made creamy white chicken chili. Toppings included rice, sour cream, cheddar cheese, scallions, avocado, lime, and crushed-up tortilla chips. (Is there anything crushed-up chips don’t make better?) “This soup is good for a dinner party because it’s not fussy to make,” Rob told me. I’m thinking of making round two this weekend.

My friends have raved about these slip shorts for years (our contributor Kelsey wore them in her week of outfits) for preventing thigh chafe and wicking away sweat. The shorts, of course, are great for working out, running errands, or layering under a sweatshirt for that Princess Diana look. But I’m planning to wear them under summer dresses so I can feel blissfully free on adventures, versus sitting uncomfortably at picnics or trying to keep my knees together on bike rides. The cargo version has pockets (!), but on hot days, I’ll be pulling on their cooling pair.

Finally, how lovely is this children’s bedroom in Alexandra Tolstoy’s English cottage? My kids would be thrilled to squish into a room with overnight guests. This part of the interview — about keeping a house looking the same — was very sweet, too: “I rehung two pictures the other day and my children were aghast,” she laughs. “Every picture, every little bit, has stayed in its place over the years. I realized what a point of stability it was for them.”

What small things have you been enjoying lately?

P.S. More fun things, and an ice-cream sandwich taste test.

(Photo of Alexandra Tolstoy’s cottage by Dean Hearne for House & Garden UK.)