currently snacking on...

While in San Francisco, I came across Filipino silvana cookies for the first time at an ice cream shop, and I'm kind of in love. It's a crunchy, creamy, frozen cookie with butter cream sandwiched between two cashew-meringue wafers and coated with cookie crumbs. It looks like a bigger, flatter French macaron, but it's lighter, melts-in-your mouth, and is kind of refreshing {which you don't often say about a cookie}. I had the coconut {above}, chocolate, and mocha-flavored silvanas...yum! Now, I just need to find them locally... ' Joy

{photo by Oh Joy}

a case of the monday's...

Hope you all had a nice weekend! We had a fun 48 hours in San Francisco...eating {of course} and seeing a couple friends along the way. It was a bit hectic traveling for the first time with the baby, but in some ways it was better than I had expected too. Ruby did great on the plane and enjoyed the new scenery of a new city. I also learned a few things we'll do differently next time and will post a few more photos from the trip later this week!

I feel lucky that I rarely get a case of the Monday's. I love what I do and rarely dread having to work, but after a weekend away, I just want one more day to decompress at home before the week starts. I love these day of the week illustrations by Paul Blow. I totally know what these funny guys feel like today... ' Joy

ps. I'll be at Lucky FABB today and will be tweeting from there if you want to follow along!

quirky little guys...

I love illustrations that make me laugh because they are just so silly or quirky or cute. And these little owl prints by Ashley Percival are so sweet with their funny hats and glasses... ' Joy

happy friday + away we go...

Happy Friday friends! Today, we're taking Ruby on her first flight ever. We're heading to San Francisco for a little weekend adventure. It'll be fun to see how she does with a bit of traveling and brand new sights and sounds in a new city. I've been nervous all week hoping I don't forget the things that I think a baby needs {and probably a ton she won't need}, wondering how she'll be on the plane all couped up, and curious how the airport experience will be with all our extra baby gear. Luckily it's a short flight, and I have a very calm husband so fingers crossed that it will be smooth sailing. If not, we're bringing ear plugs and lollipops for the other passengers nearby. Hope you guys have some fun adventures planned for the weekend! ' Joy

{Instagram photo by Oh Joy}

{oh joy eats dessert with} hannah queen...

Who  Hannah Queen, photographer and food blogger

Where Blue Ridge, Georgia

Time 3:30 pm

What's a typical dessert for you? I never order dessert out, so when I eat it, it's usualy something I've baked at home. My desserts are pretty simple and not too sweet. I love things like honey tapioca, lightly sweetened fruit pies in the middle of summer, and tart citrus desserts in the winter. This is a leftover maple buttermilk tart that I created for a blog post. It has a hazelnut crust which is my favorite thing ever. I topped it with extra whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts. 

What's your dream/ideal dessert? A dessert picnic in the middle of a forest. Little tarts, jam cookies, and towering cakes'I'd invite all my friends.

How often do you treat yourself to dessert? About once a week, or whenever I need to write a blog post! 

Thanks Hannah!
' Joanna

{photos by Hannah}

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{closet & casa} with martha mcquade...

who: Martha McQuade, Clothing Designer and owner of ScarfShop

why martha rocks: I can't think of a more perfect spring scarf than Martha's hand-dyed beauties!

in her closet: I bought this Mary Meyer scarf a few years ago and have worn it several times a week since. I'm always cold, so having a scarf close by is a necessity. The graphic print appeals to my architectural nature and black and white looks good with everything. I do a lot of dyeing, so am often wearing an old t-shirt and jeans. So I like to throw on this scarf, run out the door, and feel "dressed".

in her casa: The intaglio print was made by local Minneapolis artist Brian Aldrich during his Jerome fellowship at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking. I love it because it's geometric and has two different readings. From far away it looks crisp and graphic but up close you can see the fine pencil lines and imperfections that tell you it was hand drawn. I know Brian and bump into him occasionally at art shows and sales around the city so I value having work around me that comes from people I know personally.

Thanks Martha!
' Bri

{photos by Martha}

{3 ways to wear} a colorful pleated skirt...

I've been obsessed with finding a pretty pleated skirt in a fun color. When I look at pieces that are sort of random and maybe not so versatile, I remind myself of something my friend Beth always does. When she's contemplating a purchase, she has to be able to figure out three outfits she could put together with that item. If she can't think of at least three, she won't buy it. Kind of a good way to justify purchases, hunh? ' Joy

{BB Dakota Pleated Skirt with 1. ASOS Heart Sweater, 2. J.Crew tank, 3. Elizabeth and James blazer}

a little pool party at kate spade...

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a little summer "pool party" at the Kate Spade store at the Americana at Brand here in LA as part of a summer style blogger series. It was a fun way to kick off the summer season, support one of my favorite brands, and to meet some of my awesome readers. Thanks so much to everyone who came out! It was so fun meeting in person! And you can see a post about the event from one of our guests right here, a fun bit on Instagram, and Kate Spade's post right here! ' Joy

{photos by Bonnie Tsang. My outfit: Hana Dress, Rosewood Dot Necklace, Isabel Heels}

this & that...

...wear this pair of Cole Haan flats, decorate with that CB2 club chair...

'Bekka

painterly prints...

I'm a big fan of Michelle Armas' paintings and thrilled to see she's now offering prints! As much as I love original paintings, they're not always in the budget so her prints are perfect for indulging in a bit of pop on my walls... ' Joy

{photos by Michelle Armas}

feeling pastel pop...

{01. Emmeline glitter espadrilles, 02. Sea Bags for J.Crew tote, 03. Top Shop tunic, 04. Kate Spade clutch, 05. belts by Joe Fresh, 06. bento box from Harabu House, 07. Henri's Walk to Paris book, 08. Kate Spade bangle, 09. Madewell bag ' Joy}

{flavor stories} chocolate dipped coconut rochers...

One of my favorite tropical flavors is coconut, so I decided to make coconut rochers this week! They're a basic variation on the traditional coconut macaroon made a bit fancy with their pretty shape. They take less than an hour to prepare and are surprisingly simple to make. And, their crispy and lightly golden exterior and soft coconut center make them perfect for dipping in dark chocolate!

You'll need...
100 grams unsweetened coconut, finely shredded
65 grams sugar
50 grams egg whites, lightly whisked
1/2 vanilla bean, split length wise and scraped
a handful of dark or coating chocolate, melted {optional}

Here's how...
1. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, vanilla and coconut.
2. Pour in egg whites and mix until fully combined.
3. Divide into 10 portions and squeeze each into a small mass. Next, form each into a small pyramid.
4. Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 325'F for 15 minutes or until the base and tip are golden brown. 
5. Let cool on a wire rack.
6. If dipping in dark chocolate, temper your chocolate and dip each base {learn more about tempering chocolate here}. Let dry on parchment paper. If dipping in coating chocolate, tempering is not necessary, just melt, dip and dry. For a milk chocolate alternative skip the last step and instead add a handful of finely chopped milk chocolate into the coconut mixture.

I like them best day of, but leftovers can be kept for up to 3 days. Enjoy!

'Nikole

{photos and styling by Nikole Herriott for Oh Joy}

gettin' bloggy with it...

During my Oh Joy Rx consultations, whenever a client wants to discuss how to make their blog better, more unique, and increase their readership, one of the things we discuss is how important it is for your blog to look good. With so many out there these days, those who have a bit of technical know-how with creating and designing layouts tend to have a bit of an advantage in capturing new readers. So, I always recommend Blog Shop for those who want to learn more about how to create posts and layouts for their blog. Bri and Angela are a super talented duo and amazing teachers who put together such a fun and informational weekend for both newbie and established bloggers alike {and how cute is this video}? See more about Blog Shop here and see available classes and cities right here! ' Joy

happy friday + singing along...

It's funny the things you do when you have a baby'things you never thought you'd do or want to do. I'm a terrible singer. In my head, I sound like Mariah Carey, but when my voice hits the open air, it comes out tone def, off-key, and definitely not like Mrs. Cannon...at all. Bob was previously the only one whom I subjected my off-key melodies to, despite the fact that he actually sings really well. So most of my adult life, I've been pretty self-conscious of my singing voice and never really sung in public or in front of my friends {I was always the one not singing to the radio during road trips with the girls or suggested something other than karoke}.

Before having Ruby, I worried I wouldn't be a fun mom because I'd feel uncomfortable singing to her or doing silly things that involve reciting the same tune over and over again. But you know what...all of a sudden, I find myself singing more than ever. When we walk, I sing to her what she's seeing, what she's hearing, and tell her where we're going. I make up the cheesiest songs, and I don't care who is around me or if strangers hear me. I even take her to Gymboree. All I want to do is make my baby smile and laugh. It's a funny thing that made me get over my lack of vocal talent real quick! Next, we'll work on my fear of water...but I'll save that for another time. Have a great weekend all. Hope it's full of fun things that make those you love most smile. ' Joy

{photo by Oh Joy of Ruby at 6+ months watching Bonnie the Bear}

foxy flora...

I've always been a huge fan of Kari Herer's mixed media prints and the florals she incorporates with illustrations or other 2-D imagery. I'm loving her newest fox series with these sweet little guys peeking out from clusters of gorgeous blooms... ' Joy

cookie monster...

{1. Art of the Cookie cookbook from Williams-Sonoma, 2. compost cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar, 3. carnaby confections canister from Jonathan Adler, 4. Mast Brothers chocolate chips from Old Faithful Shop, 5. Beekman 1802 salty fudge cookies from Terrain, 6. Mr. Turtle measuring cup set from Urban Outfitters. ' Joanna}

i scream for mom...

With Mother's Day coming up, I love the idea of treating your favorite lady to something both sweet and interactive. So when the folks at West Elm asked me to come up with a gift idea for mom, rather than a crafty DIY, I created a little ice cream party for mom with an assortment of fun bowls and vessels. Here's a little peek, but you can see more details and how-to over at West Elm's blog, Front & Main! ' Joy

{photos by Oh Joy}

{sponsor} serena & lily...

my book - creative, inc.
purchase | video & tour dates

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oh joy {eats} snobar in west hollywood...

I'm a sucker for frozen treats, so when I heard about SnoBar in West Hollywood'described as a mixture between shaved ice and ice cream'I had to have some.

The paper thin layers make for a really fun texture to eat. Sno reminds me a bit of Dippin' Dots in that it starts off super icy cold, but then quickly melts in your mouth. But in this case, the texture is even lighter. If ice cream could whisper, this is what it would say... 

Flavors come in standard staples like chocolate, strawberry, and peanut butter as well more unique options like rose, green tea, milk and taro. I loved the chocolate peanut butter combination mixed with strawberry...a lighter-than-air Neapolitan if you will! ' Joy

SnoBar / 8717 Santa Monica Blvd. / West Hollywood, CA 90069 / 323.596.7766

{photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy. My outfit: blazer by J.Crew, heart & pom pins by Ban.do, top c/o LemLem, shoes from past season at J.Crew (similar), nail polish by Essie.}

{closet & casa} with anne sage...

who: Anne Sage, Executive Editor of Rue Magazine and Blogger

why anne rocks: I have known Anne for a few years now, and she is one very hard working gal! She's also a wicked wordsmith!

in her closet: This outfit is by my favorite label Gat Rimon purchased at my fave San Francisco boutique Mira Mira. The blouse is just sheer enough and the skirt just short enough to be alluring, but the varying shades of pink and the graphic accents keep the mood playful.

in her casa: These prints by Bay Area artist Lisa Congdon are called It's Simple and It's Complicated. Not only do I like the names, but the mix of soft pencil lines and bright clean colors appeals to the part of me that loves juxtaposition and contrast.

Thanks Anne!
' Bri

{photos by Anne, portrait by Nathan Michael}