How’s your summer going? We asked Cup of Jo readers on Instagram to share photos of happy moments and got over 100 responses! They felt impossible to narrow down, but here are 13 that made us smile…
Above: “We went to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. I learned about it from Joanna’s Copenhagen post a couple years ago and was tickled to finally visit. My son Henry and I loved the installation Gleaming Lights of the Souls by Yayoi Kusama — so magical!” — Katherine, Bremerton, Washington
“Here I am with my best friends from college. Two of us just turned 40, and one of us is going through a divorce. We had no idea how healing and celebratory it would be to scream our faces off with 20,000 other Backstreet Boys fans. No spa trip could ever compare.” — Lauren, Queens, New York
“This summer, I saw Backstreet Boys live for the first time, as previously I didn’t have the funds to see them. My husband came to Vegas with me, but none of my friends wanted to go to the concert, so I just purchased my ticket and had the time of my life. They played my favorites, like ‘I Want It That Way’ and ‘Drowning.’ I also met some great ladies in line, and we’ve kept in touch.” — Carol, Brooklyn, New York
“Kayaking with our dog, Barley! Before having a kid two years ago, our adventures centered around our dog. While our toddler kayaked with Grandma and Papa, we got to hang out with doggo like old times.” — Aimee, Minneapolis
“Every year, a pair of swallows builds a nest on our front porch. We’ve learned that the magic number of babies-to-grown-birds is three. Any more babies, and at least one dies due to lack of space in the nest. This summer, there were FIVE baby birds. We agonized over potential deaths; I grieved in anticipation. Then one day, I stepped outside and counted seven swallows soaring and swooping over our front yard. All five babies made it to flight day! A miracle flying over our home.” — Ashley, Fort Worth, Texas
“My family and I went on a five-week road trip. I meticulously planned our stops, including baseball games, National Parks, playgrounds, bookstores, etc. But one of my favorite moments was unplanned. In Pittsburgh, a lady overheard my husband and me talking about our West Virginia plans. She told us that we must go to Cathedral Falls. Seeing our son and daughter wading in the streams was unparalleled.” — Kohinoor, Queens, New York
“My nine-year-old son and I have ‘spa mornings,’ where we make something together (a yogurt and honey face mask, or a hand scrub with sugar and coconut oil) and then pretend we’re running a day spa, complete with a lavender candle, nature sounds, and — the pièce de résistance — a blanket warmed in the dryer. Slow living at its best.” — Tracy, southeastern Florida
“Every July, when it’s 100+ degrees at home, we head to the mountains for a week. We always hike four miles to Williams Lake in New Mexico. The trail is lined with wildflowers and rocks to rest on, and our motivation is the pretzels and beer waiting for us at The Bavarian Restaurant at the end.” — Lisa, Edmond, Oklahoma
“I’m due with our second baby in September. We live in a small apartment with our preschooler; I work with kids; and I’m introverted. Naturally, I constantly feel touched out. So, this July, my spouse and kid went to visit my in-laws, while I stayed home alone in the blissful quiet. I ate whatever I wanted, I cleaned up after only myself, and I slept in the middle of the bed. It was glorious.” — Kim B., Oakland, California
“My boyfriend and I visited Bhutan, where on my spiritual birthday I crossed the suspension bridge at Punakha. It was drizzling, and near the end, he said, ‘Look back, there’s a rainbow.’” — Em, Pasig, Philippines
“For years, we’ve hosted a shaving cream fight with our neighbors. We wear goggles and bathing suits, and blast a playlist that includes Ozzy (RIP), Pantera, and the like. As a mom who struggles to play with my kids, I cherish this tradition, which ends with pizza, popsicles and an old-fashioned garden hose.” — Rebecca, Decatur, Georgia
“I live in Germany, far from my family in Kansas City. My big sister was traveling with her family in the UK, so I jumped at the chance to meet them for a few days in London. After we lost our dad in December, and my pup died in January, hugging my sister in London felt like the first exhale I’ve managed in this Big Year of Grief.” — Anna, Hamburg, Germany
“Is there anything sweeter than lying in the grass while soft baby hands explore your face? My husband and I spent the Fourth of July at Troutbeck hotel, just like we did in 2024 when I was pregnant. There’s nothing more magical than realizing that the future we dreamed of last year is here.” — Sarah, Arlington, Virginia
What was a good moment of your summer? Please share below…
P.S. A very low-key summer checklist and a great summer read.
