Someone once told me that I'm always dressed like summer. It was such a simple statement, but I love thinking about that when getting dressed because wearing lots of color really does make my day sunnier no matter what the season... ' Joy
{Instagram photos by Oh Joy}
A couple weeks ago, our lives changed forever...Ruby started crawling. For a couple months prior, she had thoughts about crawling and scooted backwards or maneuvered around inch-worm style, but now it's full-force, let-me-get-at-that-thing-you-don't-want-me-to-touch crawling. It's pretty amazing viewing the world from her new eyes as she discovers a new room for the first time or an object that she previously could never reach {I'm also getting my daily workout by chasing her around}. Needless to say, we've got lots of things to move around and baby-proofing has officially commenced. Once we're done, I'll be sharing with you how we're going to try and keep some of the style of our home while making the changes needed for Ruby's safety. I'll end today short and sweet and wish you a weekend full of little adventures and discovering things right under your nose in a whole new light... ' Joy
{Instagram photo by Oh Joy}
OUTSIDE / The Cloud House sits besides an inviting pool, proving that the architects at McBride Charles Ryan can balance playfulness and modernity. This house inspires...
...an INSIDE that's all fun and games, but in a very grown-up way. What could be more exciting than an overstuffed gingham chair, colorblocked rugs, and striped candles, all with hints of whimsy? I picture a budding photographer lives here; someone with a real eye for color and a passion for seeing life through the viewfinder... ' Joanna
{left to right, top to bottom: striped taper candles from Leif, colorblocked wool rug from A+R Store, ceramic clock from Woonwinkel, shuffle table from Horne, piazza gingham chair from CB2, mineral birdhouse from Terrain, blackbird fly twin lens reflex camera from Poketo, cord table lamp from The Future Perfect.}
{Cloud House image from Arch Daily}
my new book - blog, inc.
pre-order | available in the fall
my book - creative, inc.
purchase | video & tour dates
wallpaper for hygge & west
baby clothing for
winter water factory
I've been a longtime fan of Famille Summerbelle for their gorgeous city paper cuts. And now, they're coming out with a book next month full of projects for the whole family. I love seeing peeks into their family life too and how their home is reflected in their signature paper cut style. ' Joy
{Be Creative with Famille Summerbelle, edited and published by Edition Paumes, photos by Hisashi Tokuyoshi}
A few weeks ago, we bid farewell to my friend Autumn and her family as they head to Hawaii for work. Since we both had babies within the last year or so, we're still catching up on all the sushi we missed during our pregnancy and decided to visit Sushi Nishi-ya in Glendale for omakase-style sushi. If you've never had omakase before, it basically means "chef's choice" and each course comes out based on what the chef thinks you'd enjoy. While they'll take into account if there's anything you don't eat, they make it clear that the more you're open to, the better your experience will be. We eat pretty much everything, and I love being able to leave the decision-making up to someone else. You also get to decide when to stop. So you could have 4 courses or 30. Here's a little sampling of 9 of the 15 courses we had. I was so, so full, but really so content afterwards. It's such a fun meal to enjoy with friends as you delight in what will come next... ' Joy
{iphone photos by Oh Joy}
Before we moved to a hilly part of LA, I used to enjoy riding my bike in Coronado {where we lived for a year before moving to LA}. The streets were wide, the land was flat, and it was just fun and easy to ride around on. Now that we're in a hilly area, it's nearly impossible to ride around without the feeling that my lungs might fall out of my body. So, when I came across this new electric bike by Faraday {which is being developed in San Francisco where hills reign supreme}, it really struck a chord with me.
Not only is the design pretty amazing {um, hello leather and wood mixed with white and mint green accents!}, but it's electric to help give you a boost up hills and has a really useful utility basket up front. You've gotta see this video that shows it in action. And while it's pricey for a bike, if you live in a city where a bike is your only mode of transportation, it seems like a really functional and beautiful option. ' Joy
{photos by Faraday}
my new book - blog, inc.
pre-order | available in the fall
my book - creative, inc.
purchase | video & tour dates
wallpaper for hygge & west
baby clothing for
winter water factory
My 4-part series with Splendid this week was my way giving you a peek into my summer as well as sharing ways that I love mixing and matching pattern and color in my outfits while enjoying my favorite summer activities. The finale in the series has all been leading up to a fun contest that I'm super excited to be hosting and sharing with you all. I've never done a contest on Oh Joy before, but I'm pretty psyched about what's up for grabs...
The grand prize is: an Apple iPad in a Clare Vivier for Splendid case, a $500 Splendid gift card, Splendid skin care products, and a Splendid towel and bag with an approximate retail value of $1275.
There will also be 3 runner-up prizes that include: $250 Splendid gift card, Splendid skin care products, and a Splendid towel and bag with an approximate retail value of $480 each.
Here's how to enter:
1. Follow Splendid on Pinterest.
2. Create a Pinterest board called "Splendid Summer" that epitomizes your ideal summer. It can include food, fashion, travel, DIY, inspirational images, or anything that tells us what means summer to you. You can even upload your own photos, snapshots, or bits of summer inspiration from your own life. Make sure to tag your images with #splendidsummer. Here's my Splendid Summer board as an example for you.
3. Once you've created your board, leave a comment on this post with a link to your "Splendid Summer" Pinterest board. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes.
Entries must be received by 11:59pm PST on August 7, 2012. I will select one winner and three runners-up by August 21st. You can see here for a full image of the prizes and contest details. Please note: You must live in the US to be eligible. For any questions regarding the contest, please email: sweepstakes@splendid.com.
Thanks again for all your kind comments this week on the series. Here's part 1, 2, 3, and 4 if you missed it! Have fun, and can't wait to see what you guys put together!
'Joy
{Top photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy + Splendid. iPad photo by Splendid}
One of my go-to things to do on the weekend is to visit the Hollywood Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings. It's my favorite market in Los Angeles not only because of the mix of fresh food and flowers vendors, but the variety of local and ethnic food stands, too. I love coming to shop for my weekly groceries and then having a street-food style lunch {I like to get a little of each from a few different places}.
My new favorite vendor at the market is the floral stand by Silver Lake Farms. I like to call them "not your grocery store flowers" because they have the most amazing blooms here that you'd never find at your local supermarket...like giant dahlias and wildflowers that looked plucked from the French countryside. For visiting the Farmer's Market, I layered a denim jacket {I'm finally starting to feel like they're back!} over a light cotton dress and topped it all with a few vintage accessories for a little extra sumthin'. And, then when I got home, this is what I did with the flowers... ' Joy
ps. see part 1 and part 2 of my favorite things to do this summer...and outtakes from the series right here...
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy + Splendid. My farmer's market outfit: Splendid* dress, Madewell denim shirt, vintage belt (similar), vintage brooches (similar). All outfits are things from my actual wardrobe that I've combined with some of my favorite Splendid* pieces. You can find a recap of all clothing shown on my Splendid Summer Pinterest board.}
{1. batik cheese slab set from Leif, 2. lasercut placeholder from Skinny laMinx, 3. Jonathan Adler block printed napkin, 4. caprice ice bucket from Trina Turk, 5. striped biergarten dining set from Terrain, 6. pink candyfloss paper plate from Shop Sweet Lulu. ' Joanna}
For the final part of my Splendid Summer series of my favorite things to do in LA, it's all about cooling off with some ice cream {big surprise, hunh?}! We're lucky to have some amazing artisanal ice cream shops in Los Angeles that use really fresh and local ingredients and have ever-changing menus of unique flavors. One of my favorites is Sweet Rose Creamery in the Brentwood Country Mart in Santa Monica. I have a serious crush on their sweet corn ice cream {yep, it's like corn on the cob and tastes like summer} nestled into a freshly made chocolate waffle cone. For satiating an ice cream craving, I paired a patterned indigo tank with polka dotted shorts, accented them with mint green accessories, and topped it all off with super summery espadrille wedges that make me feel like a big kid in a candy shop. ' Joy
ps. stay tuned for the big contest announcement coming up later this afternoon...
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy + Splendid. My farmer's market outfit: Splendid* shorts, Madewell indigo tank (similar), Kate Spade wedges, Anthropologie necklace, J.Crew purse (similar), watch from Anthropologie. All outfits are things from my actual wardrobe that I've combined with some of my favorite Splendid* pieces. You can find a recap of all clothing shown on my Splendid Summer Pinterest board.}
It's that time of year' that time when just about every berry you can imagine is in season. When roadside stands are overflowing with all types of fresh fruit. Just this past weekend I found, tayberries, black, golden and red raspberries, pink gooseberries, wild blueberries and tiny black currants, it was pretty great!
All those berries got me to thinking that a simple berry tart would be great for bringing along to summer picnics and potlucks! So, I whipped up these simple berry tarts and I just knew they'd be something you guys would want to know about!
You'll need:
' 12 sheets phyllo pastry, thawed
' 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted {approximately}
' 1/2 cup graulated sugar {approximately}
' 1 recipe pastry cream
' assorted fresh berrries {your choice}
' confectioners sugar for dusting
{This recipe yields 24 tarts, if you'd prefer 16 use only 8 sheets and store the remainder of the phyllo and pastry cream well wrapped in the refridgerator for up to 5 days.}
Here's how:
1. Make one batch of pastry cream. Refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo pastry on your work service and using a pastry brush, brush with butter then sprinkle with sugar and follow with 3 more sheets {cover the remaining with a damp cloth}.
4. Use a bowl with an approximate rim diameter of 4" placed upsidedown as a guide and cut 8 rounds. Discard the scraps and repeat.
5. Gingerly fit each round into a lightly greased muffin tin. Repeat.
6. Scoop approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons of pastry cream into each shell.
7. Sprinkle with fresh berries.
8. Store leftover pastry cream or phyllo in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
9. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and crispy.
10. Cool on a wire rack.
11. Dust with confectioners sugar and serve immediatley.
For a tasty stonefruit alternative, skip the berries and replace with a pitted & quartered fresh apricot and sliced skin-on almonds. Enjoy!
'Nikole
{photos by Michael Graydon, styling by Nikole Herriott for Oh Joy}
Ever since Ruby was born, I find myself appreciating simple things that I totally took for granted beforehand. For example, I live near the Silver Lake Reservoir and never once sat in the park there. Now, we go all the time to hang out, have lunch, and play. Ruby loves being outside, and it's so nice to enjoy the summer weather and the beautiful day with my favorite little person.
For an afternoon in the park, comfort is really important, as well as wearing something that's easy to wash should I get a little dirt or grass all over me {which, let's face it, it's pretty hard to keep spotless while hanging out with your kids}. I love pairing a lightweight sweater with comfy shorts and mixing large and small scale stripes in pops of bright primary colors. What kinds of activities, games, or get-togethers do you like to enjoy in your nearby park? ' Joy
ps. see part 1 of my Splendid Summer right here...
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy + Splendid. My park outfit: Splendid* shorts, J.Crew sweater. Ruby's park outfit: *Splendid baby dress, Ban.do hair pom, blanket by LemLem, and neon pink duffle by Crew Cuts. All outfits are things from my actual wardrobe that I've combined with some of my favorite Splendid* pieces. You can find a recap of all clothing shown on my Splendid Summer Pinterest board.}
A few weeks ago, I attended the Mom, Inc. book party here in LA. The authors Cat Seto and Meg Ilasco {along with guest Bonnie Tsang} had a Q&A about the juggle/balance of having your own business and being a mom. I found the talk to be honest, intimate, and so inspiring...and I couldn't help but think so many of the messages apply even if you're not a mom but simply pursuing a new career, a new business, or something for yourself {outside of your family} to feel passionate about. So, I love these quotes pulled from the book...just some great little words of wisdom I hope you're all appreciate too...a couple more below... ' Joy
Even though it may seem like we experience warm temperatures year-round in Los Angeles, there is still an extra special summer feeling we get here. Maybe it's the extra sultry heat, maybe it's the smell of the air, or maybe it's that little nudge that we should enjoy the outdoors more or take a little vacation. I love enjoying all of the outdoor and summer activities LA has to offer that make this season so special.
So it was perfectly fitting to join forces with the LA-based clothing company, Splendid {you know that company that makes those super soft striped tees}, for a 4-part series about my favorite things to do in the summer. For the next four days, I'll be sharing some of my favorite summertime things to do in LA and what I'd wear while there...all leading up to a fun summer contest with a HUGE prize being announced on Thursday {the biggest one I've ever done}.
So for part one, it's all about hanging out by a pool. We don't have a pool of our own so the next best thing is to grab lunch, meet up with friends, or take a little dip wherever I can find one. One of my favorites in Los Angeles is at the Avalon Hotel'it's a a bit old Hollywood and one of the coolest place to have a business meeting. For an afternoon poolside, I combined a simple striped tank tucked into a summery skirt with pops of neon for a light and lovely ensemble. Where do you guys cool off near you? Poolside, beachside, lakeside? ' Joy
...to be continued...
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy + Splendid. My pool outfit: Splendid* striped tank, Madewell neon belt, Anthropologie neon skirt, By Boe long necklace, Maya Brenner letter necklace, striped clutch by J.Crew, vintage Anne Taylor heels (similar). All outfits are things from my actual wardrobe that I've combined with some of my favorite Splendid* pieces. You can find a recap of all clothing shown on my Splendid Summer Pinterest board.}
OUTSIDE / Harry Gesner's Cooper Wave House perches over the Malibu coastline, flirting with the high tide and killer waves...
...an INSIDE jolted with watercolor tones of citron, aqua, and tangerine. The furnishings might include a collage of materials'rope that plays against shiny gold, warm wood, and powder-coated steel. I imagine the King of Cool, Steve McQueen, might reside here while soaking up the sun surrounded by beach babes. ' Joanna
{left to right, top to bottom: lily pad armchair from Terrain, Nason Moretti dandy tumbler from Barneys, molten spectrum knob from Anthropologie, Jonathan Adler nyx vase, liquid octagon chartreuse bowl from CB2, recycled paper lamp from Calypso, duval side table from ABC Home & Carpet, watercolor painting by So Very Happy Art.}
{Cooper Wave house image from Wallpaper}
You guys...seriously, where does the time go? The number of months it took to grow a baby in my belly has already passed in the number of months she's been growing outside as a tiny little person. Ruby's hair is long enough for pigtails {yay! no more "what's 'his' name?"}, her personality is really coming out {such a happy baby but also stubborn and sensitive}, and this whole mom thing is really starting to seem real {though I still find myself looking at her amazed that we made this person}. So, I wish my little munchkin a happy 9 months...and before you know it, I'll be sharing her one year photo with you {and then I will cry thinking about her going off to college!} Have a great weekend, friends, full of all the loves of your life {big and little}... ' Joy
{photos by Oh Joy}
...amazing tiny canvas buckets by Chewing the Cud. They'd be perfect to give tiny gifts {baby booties or little soaps!} or to fill with snacks {like berries or cookies!}... ' Joy
You guys might remember a couple months ago I began some spring cleaning to make more room in our home for the growing amounts of baby stuff and simply to clear out things I no longer need. Since it takes time to go through everything and list them, I've decided to spread it out over the next six months and put up new items in my Copious shop at the beginning of every month. There's a mix of clothing, home decor, and baby items. And, I'll be sure to blog an update when items have been added every month. Here's a sampling above of the latest additions for July! ' Joy
Like any daytime outfit, it's fun to have options for nighttime too. You might be in the mood to lounge around in comfy pants and colorful socks watching movies OR you might be feeling extra girly and want to sass it up in a pretty lingerie set with a light and silky robe...sleep tight! ' Bri
{Sassy (top to bottom): Shopbop sleep mask, Topshop bra & underwear, Dessous robe. Comfy (top to bottom): Women'secret t-shirt, By Langley pants, Pantone socks.}
After our visit to the Sprinkles ATM, we caught a glimpse while passing by of the first Sprinkles Ice Cream shop planned to open next door. So, it was only a matter of time before I returned to the newly opened shop to sample their newest frozen addition. And, it pretty much lived up to the branding awesomeness that I've come to know and love coming from this cupcake empire.
From the white and red decor to the ever-changing menu of ice cream flavors to the signature red velvet ice cream cones, it's a place to go and feel young at heart.
My treat of choice was the ice cream sandwich pressed between two cupcake tops. I chose vanilla ice cream {sprinkled with red velvet cupcake crumbs} to go with my chocolate cupcake ends. It was sweet, creamy, chewy, and the perfect summer indulgence... ' Joy
Sprinkles Ice Cream | 9631 South Santa Monica Blvd | Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310.274.7890
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy. My outfit: polka dot jeans from Anthropologie, tank c/o Hound, J.Crew clutch, watch from Anthropologie, ShoeMint striped flats.}
I just about died when I came across these images by photographer Chaunté Vaughn. The series of test images that Chaunté shot for her portfolio features beautiful little Kayla rocking some amazing floral headpieces. The entire thing is just stunning and looks like it could be pulled right from the pages of a magazine... ' Joy
ps. This is a great example of something I always encourage creatives to do'make self-initiated work that you feel passionate about as it's the best way to grow your portfolio and show clients what you can do {if you're not already doing it!}.
{Kayla photographed by Chaunté Vaughn, florals, hair, and makeup by Jessi Butterfield.}
my new book - blog, inc.
pre-order | available in the fall
my book - creative, inc.
purchase | video & tour dates
wallpaper for hygge & west
baby clothing for
winter water factory
