Oh Joy!

my {tropical} uniform... 16 May 2012

We're switching things up a bit over here at Oh Joy and have decided to bring the "Closet & Casa" series to a close. We've featured some amazing creatives and loved seeing their favorite items over the last year and a half. And now we're ready to change it up a bit. Bri will still be here on Wednesdays now with "My Uniform". Inspired by My Daily Uniform post, she'll be composing two outfits she'd wear for various occasions, themes, or destinations. We hope you like it! — Joy

I was just on a much-needed mini vacation in Mexico, and it was fun to switch up my normal style routine with some more festive options.

During the day, we walked around and shopped or headed to the beach, and I wore a pair of striped shorts & colorful flat shoes. It was so hot that all I needed was a sheer white top over my swimsuit.

In the evenings, these wide-leg white pants with a beaded top made a perfect dinner outfit. The patterned head scarf and yellow heels make the look more playful. — Bri

{Beach (top to bottom): The Row sunglasses, Anthropologie sheer white top, Azzaro swimsuit, Topshop striped shorts and Osborn sandals. Evening (top to bottom): Topshop head scarf, Rebecca Taylor silk camisole, Altuzarra white pants and Madewell yellow wooden heels.}

{sponsor} serena & lily... 16 May 2012

baby essentials {update}... 16 May 2012

Earlier this year, I wrote a master Baby Essentials post for those of you who asked for help or suggestions for your baby registry. Now that Ruby has passed the six month mark, I've updated that master list with some new things I've learned or discovered since then. It mostly includes some things we now love and use for Ruby as she got older, started eating, sitting, and being not as much of a tiny baby anymore. All new things are marked with an asterisk and in italics. I've also added my favorites from each category to a Pinterest board to make it easy to repin and add to you boards.

Also, for those of you who want to follow more of my Mom/Baby picks, I'm now a contributor over at the new site Mom.Me where you can find weekly galleries of my favorite home decor, fashion, and other fun things for babies, kids, and their mamas. — Joy

{A few of my new favorites above: Blabla dolls, Guava Mitts, Honest products, Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair.} 

this & that... 15 May 2012

...wear this pair of Seychelles sandals, decorate with that Crate & Barrel cushion...

—Bekka

a summer bed {giveaway} with auggie... 15 May 2012

One of my favorite things to constantly switch up at home is the bedding. I love throwing together a mix of sheets, pillow cases, and duvets in various patterns so it always looks a bit different every time. I'm not one of those people who can sleep without any covers, even if it is a warm summer night. So when summer comes, we usually store the duvet away and add a lighter quilt on top. As an ode to summer bedding, we've joined together with Auggie {whose mini quilt we have in Ruby's room and love!} to give one lucky reader a queen-sized cross-stitch quilt and shams perfect for layering with your existing bedding for the upcoming summer months.

One lucky reader will receive the cross-stitch quilt and shams {in color of your choice!}. To enter, simply visit Auggie, then leave a comment below telling us which color you'd choose and how what bedding you'd mix it with {is your current bedding striped, floral, solid, etc.}. Entries must be posted by this Friday, May 18th at 8am PST*, and one winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

{*Limited to residents of the US or Canada only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes. $403 total value. Winner will be contacted by email once comments close and announced on the bottom of this post soon after. Photos by Oh Joy. Other bedding in photo: duvet by DwellStudio & dotty cases by Castle.}

summer hound... 15 May 2012

I love Chicago-based clothing company, Hound, and their use of color and pattern season after season. The newest Spring/Summer 2012 collection was inspired by thoughts of lazy warm days, bright umbrellas dotting oceanside beaches, and beautiful summer sunsets. It has me dreaming about long, sunny days and weekend getaways already... — Joy

currently snacking on... 14 May 2012

You know I'm a big fan of pie. So what's better than a candy bar that tastes like a pie? Liddabit has these two new pie bars—Lemon Moe-ringue and Janberrry Shortcake. While both are delightful, the lemon meringue has a mix of flavors and textures that just dance on my palate with the mix of tart lemon, layers of pie crust, lemon zest marshmallow—all coated in white chocolate...yum! — Joy

{photo by Oh Joy. Bars from Liddabit*}

you smell {again}... 14 May 2012

A few years ago, I posted a school project turned real project by Megan Cummins called You Smell. It's so fun to hear from Megan again and see how much her line and company has grown since then...

You Smell is now in a ton of amazing stores and is available in additional scents and products {like paper soap}. I still love the beautiful packaging and the quirky message, and I'm so happy to see that something that started off as a student's idea turn into a real business! — Joy

happy friday + looking back... 11 May 2012

Happy Friday friends! It's funny when you take a look back on your life and how you thought everything would turn out when you were younger. When I was 5, I thought I wanted to be a cheerleader when I grew up. I am not sure why I thought that considering now I am the last person who would yell in public or in a crowd of people. I am definitely not chipper enough to be a cheerleader! I never thought I'd have my own business and just assumed that I'd make my way up the graphic design corporate ladder from agency to agency, but here I am years later with a job I created for myself and now love. I never thought I'd live in California, let alone LA. I actually hated LA for the longest time. But when we had a chance to come out to Southern California for a year for Bob's job, I fell in love with the sunshine and the more laid-back culture. The life I imagined having back in Philly or New York, immediately changed when we decided to stay. It's funny how things happen that we never expect yet they make our lives better and happier...even when it wasn't part of "the plan".

As I approach my first real Mother's Day, it's nice to be able to feel content with where things are now. And while I keep trying to plan for what's next...kind of not knowing is really fun too. I hope you have a great Mother's Day this weekend—whether you're a mom yourself or whether you're simply showering your favorite lady with the extra love she so deserves... — Joy

{Instagram photo of Ruby from this week. How cute are her Honest ice cream cone diapers?}