Have you ever lived alone? Thumbs up or down?

We've talked about seeing movies alone and cooking dinner alone, but now let's talk about living alone...

Have you ever lived alone? Do you now? Almost half of households in major American cities are occupied by a single person--that's a lot!

Funnily enough, I've actually never lived by myself: I grew up with my family in Michigan, went to college with roommates, lived with many different roommates (and cats) in New York, and then Alex and I moved in together.

But TONS of my friends--both guys and girls--adore living alone. They say it's both liberating and peaceful; they're free to decorate however they want (no wagon-wheel coffee tables), talk or not talk, cook whatever they want, and do whatever they feel like. And you definitely don't have to pee with the door closed:)

When you live alone, you can also be as goofy as you want (think: drinking Champagne in the shower and jogging in place during TV commercials); there was even a New York Times article called "One is the Quirkiest Number." Writer Kate Bolick, who lives by herself, even has a home-alone outfit. "I have this pair of white flax bloomers that go down to my knee. They're like pantaloons. They're so weird," she said. "If someone comes over, I change out of them."
And what if you're married? The fascinating Elle article "Divide and Conquer" profiled couples who live separately and swear it's the best thing for their mariage. And remember this New York Times article about a Vermont couple who lived in two different houses, joined by a bridge? They say it's bliss.

So, I'm really curious: Do you live alone? Do you like it? Do you ever get lonely? Do you ever get freaked out sleeping in a place by yourself at night? Could you live apart from your spouse? I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! xoxo

P.S. A funny video about what it's like to live alone:

(Bridge photo by Trevor Tondro for the New York Times. Video via Michelle)

Have you ever lived alone? Thumbs up or down?

We've talked about seeing movies alone and cooking dinner alone, but now let's talk about living alone...

Have you ever lived alone? Do you now? Almost half of households in major American cities are occupied by a single person--that's a lot!

Funnily enough, I've actually never lived by myself: I grew up with my family in Michigan, went to college with roommates, lived with many different roommates (and cats) in New York, and then Alex and I moved in together.

But TONS of my friends--both guys and girls--adore living alone. They say it's both liberating and peaceful; they're free to decorate however they want (no wagon-wheel coffee tables), talk or not talk, cook whatever they want, and do whatever they feel like. And you definitely don't have to pee with the door closed:)

When you live alone, you can also be as goofy as you want (think: drinking Champagne in the shower and jogging in place during TV commercials); there was even a New York Times article called "One is the Quirkiest Number." Writer Kate Bolick, who lives by herself, even has a home-alone outfit. "I have this pair of white flax bloomers that go down to my knee. They're like pantaloons. They're so weird," she said. "If someone comes over, I change out of them."
And what if you're married? The fascinating Elle article "Divide and Conquer" profiled couples who live separately and swear it's the best thing for their mariage. And remember this New York Times article about a Vermont couple who lived in two different houses, joined by a bridge? They say it's bliss.

So, I'm really curious: Do you live alone? Do you like it? Do you ever get lonely? Do you ever get freaked out sleeping in a place by yourself at night? Could you live apart from your spouse? I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! xoxo

P.S. A funny video about what it's like to live alone:

(Bridge photo by Trevor Tondro for the New York Times. Video via Michelle)

What guys REALLY want girls to wear to bed

Usually I'm not a huge fan of "what men want" articles, since they make men seem like scary mysterious creatures, instead of just the nerds they are:) But I was reading a Glamour story, and this answer surprised me: Can you guess what guys secretly hope girls will wear to bed? Answer below...
Read more »

What guys REALLY want girls to wear to bed

Usually I'm not a huge fan of "what men want" articles, since they make men seem like scary mysterious creatures, instead of just the nerds they are:) But I was reading a Glamour story, and this answer surprised me: Can you guess what guys secretly hope girls will wear to bed? Answer below...
Read more »

Will you cry at your wedding? (Did you?)

Before we got married, Alex told me something that made my jaw drop...
Read more »

Will you cry at your wedding? (Did you?)

Before we got married, Alex told me something that made my jaw drop...
Read more »

Do you have friends of the opposite sex?

In the movie When Harry Met Sally, Harry argues, "men and women can never be friends, the sex part always gets in the way." Well, The New York Times published an article this week debating if Harry was right or wrong. And their answer was...
Read more »

Do you have friends of the opposite sex?

In the movie When Harry Met Sally, Harry argues, "men and women can never be friends, the sex part always gets in the way." Well, The New York Times published an article this week debating if Harry was right or wrong. And their answer was...
Read more »

A surprising sex tip...

Want to hear a surprising sex tip?
Read more »

A surprising sex tip...

Want to hear a surprising sex tip?
Read more »

How big can your wedding kiss be?

Before Alex and I got hitched, I wondered if our wedding kiss should be big or small. In the end, swept up by the emotion of the day, we just went for it! And it felt awesome!

Would you do a big kiss? Or keep it small and grandparent-friendly? If you're married, what was your kiss like? Here's some lovely wedding-kiss inspiration...
P.S. A Swedish island wedding, and two rad City Hall weddings...

(Photos by Max Wanger, Jess + Nate, Our Labor of Love, Mikael Olsson, James Mountford, Lauren Ross, Bayly & Moore, Anastasia Volkova, Olivia Leigh Weddings, Kyle Hale and Boutwell Studio)

How big can your wedding kiss be?

Before Alex and I got hitched, I wondered if our wedding kiss should be big or small. In the end, swept up by the emotion of the day, we just went for it! And it felt awesome!

Would you do a big kiss? Or keep it small and grandparent-friendly? If you're married, what was your kiss like? Here's some lovely wedding-kiss inspiration...
P.S. A Swedish island wedding, and two rad City Hall weddings...

(Photos by Max Wanger, Jess + Nate, Our Labor of Love, Mikael Olsson, James Mountford, Lauren Ross, Bayly & Moore, Anastasia Volkova, Olivia Leigh Weddings, Kyle Hale and Boutwell Studio)

Made me laugh.

(Comic by Gemma Correll)

Made me laugh.

(Comic by Gemma Correll)

Do you pee in front of your significant other?

Ok, we've talked about enough intimate stuff on Cup of Jo that I think I'll just go for it today and ask the big question: Do you pee in front of your significant other? My answer...
Read more »

Do you pee in front of your significant other?

Ok, we've talked about enough intimate stuff on Cup of Jo that I think I'll just go for it today and ask the big question: Do you pee in front of your significant other? My answer...
Read more »

On falling in love

Back in 1958, John Steinbeck, author of East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men, got a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom confessed that he had fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan at his boarding school.

Steinbeck wrote this wise and wonderful letter back to him the same day...
Read more »

On falling in love

Back in 1958, John Steinbeck, author of East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, and Of Mice and Men, got a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom confessed that he had fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan at his boarding school.

Steinbeck wrote this wise and wonderful letter back to him the same day...
Read more »

Are you too busy?

Do you feel like a chicken with its head cut off? My sister sent me this fascinating article, which says that, even if we feel swamped, most of us are actually less busy than we think...

The last paragraph really struck me: Change your language. Instead of saying "I don't have time" try saying "it's not a priority," and see how that feels. Often, that's a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don't want to. But other things are harder. Try it: "I'm not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it's not a priority." "I don't go to the doctor because my health is not a priority." If these phrases don't sit well, that's the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently.

What little things do you want to purposefully make more time for? I'd like to take baths some evenings, learn how to play guitar and call my mom for random chats. Also, eat this olive oil cake.

P.S. Remember what happened on Seinfeld when Kramer got too busy?

(Photo by The Sartorialist)

Are you too busy?

Do you feel like a chicken with its head cut off? My sister sent me this fascinating article, which says that, even if we feel swamped, most of us are actually less busy than we think...

The last paragraph really struck me: Change your language. Instead of saying "I don't have time" try saying "it's not a priority," and see how that feels. Often, that's a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don't want to. But other things are harder. Try it: "I'm not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it's not a priority." "I don't go to the doctor because my health is not a priority." If these phrases don't sit well, that's the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently.

What little things do you want to purposefully make more time for? I'd like to take baths some evenings, learn how to play guitar and call my mom for random chats. Also, eat this olive oil cake.

P.S. Remember what happened on Seinfeld when Kramer got too busy?

(Photo by The Sartorialist)