Oh Joy!

hey, seattle... 25 Apr 2013

Last year, I was honored and thrilled to be a part of the launch of the Petites collection at Anthropologie. So, we're celebrating petite style with another party...this time in Seattle! I'm super excited to visit as I've never been before.

So Seattle, I'll be coming your way in a couple weeks to co-host the launch of the Petites Shop at the Seattle (Fifth Avenue) Anthropologie store on Thursday, May 9th from 6-8pm. I'd love to meet you guys, so come by, try on some clothes, and say hello! I look forward to meeting you guys! Click here to RSVP...

{Photo by Bonnie Tsang}

what's your favorite thing to eat? 25 Apr 2013

Someone recently asked me what's my favorite thing to eat. I find that to be a really hard question to answer. Do I pick savory? (A great eggs benedict). Do I pick sweet? (I'd say ice cream or a chocolate croissant). Do I pick type of cuisine? (Thai, hands down).

What would you say? What's your one favorite food?

(It's hard to pick just one, right?)

{Photo Sources: donuts by Joseph De Leo, avocado toast via Melting Pot, summer rolls via Lily, smoked salmon via Kwestia Smaku...and more right here.} 

Make Someone Happy - No. 08: Leave a Little Thanks 24 Apr 2013

When I was little, my mom always told me to tell my school bus driver "thank you" when I exited the bus. I didn't realize why it was so important at the time, but over the years, I've realized how many people make our lives better as part of their jobs and rarely receive a thank you. And for me, it's fun and easy to stick thank-you notes wherever I go! So I encourage you to take a moment to not only thank the people you see face-to-face in your everyday life, but also those you rarely get to see or thank personally. It's so easy and can mean so much.

P.S. You can follow along with all the Oh Joy videos by subscribing to my YouTube channel right here!

{Credits: Video: Modshift. Music: "Empty Handed" by Teemster, licensed from With Etiquette. Production assistants: Julia Sir and Michelle Tu. Special thanks: Michelle Tu. My outfit: dress by Steven Alan from Broome St. General Store, shoes by Shoemint.}

{oh joy eats} goldie's... 23 Apr 2013

There's no shortage of spots to have lunch in Los Angeles. But my favorites are places that are casual yet have a bit of character—places you'd want to meet up with friends for lunch to catch up. I recently visited Goldie's in Mid-City West, a newish spot by the owners of Eveleigh, for a mid-day lunch break. 

My favorite dishes were the avocado on toast, watermelon and burrata salad, and the pork belly and caramelized onion flatbread. Oh, that flatbread was the perfect combination of crispy, chewy, sweet, and salty!

I love the contrast of the handsome aesthetic inside with the greenery outside, which creates an indoor/outdoor space that makes wonderful use of the climate here and feels homey yet still very Southern California. And the polka dotted shirts the staff wear are pretty awesome. Where can I get one in my size, please?

We (especially Jen) loved being surrounded by the wall of flowers as we sat outside. The scent was just incredible on this beautiful, sun-filled day.

Goldie's | 8422 W. 3rd St. | Los Angeles, CA 90048 | 323.677.2470

{Photos by Bonnie Tsang}

feeling a little mod... 22 Apr 2013

Big graphic circles, pops of primary colors, geometric shapes, and a flash of gold...here are a few things that bring back just a little bit of Mod that I'm loving right now...

{01. Ban.do hair tie, 02. sunglasses from Urban Outfitters, 03. artist studio via Lonny,  04. Virginia Johnson tank, 05. Tote from ModCloth, 06. Kate Spade Saturday necklace, 07. The Snak clutch by Marie Turnor.} 

happy friday + what we did in palm springs... 19 Apr 2013

Our little getaway to Palm Springs was much different than past trips we've taken before. Ruby wasn't her usual perky self, and we spent a lot of time consoling a cranky, teething toddler. So this visit was much more low key, and we really spent the majority of time hanging by the pool and at the house where we were staying. But we did manage to have a few little adventures...

pool living... 18 Apr 2013

While in Palm Springs earlier in the week, I got a taste of what it would be like to live in a house with a pool. It's pretty awesome and really provides an instant sense of calm. I remember I used to want to pool so badly when I was a kid...which is actually kind of ridiculous because I could never really swim that well (and still can't).

Have you guys ever lived with a pool? Is it awesome, or is it a ton of work? I love these two homes above and how the swimming pools blend in really well with the surroundings...

{Image sources: Gaurav Nanda's pool via West Elm, Barbara Bestor's pool via House to Home.}

look what i found in palm springs... 17 Apr 2013

Yesterday, my friend Kelly and I did a little vintage shopping in Palm Springs. While at Revivals, I found these cute little stools for my new studio. They're not really practical at all, but they're pretty darn cute and were only $15 each! We might recover them in a new fabric, but I also love the colors as they are. And, when I brought them back, a certain someone couldn't get enough of these pint-sized seats...

{Photos by Oh Joy. Rug from West Elm in my friend Kelly's house. Ruby's top from Crew Cuts, leggings from Target.}

a get-carried-away {giveaway}... 16 Apr 2013

Baggu is kind of like my go-to for all my "toting around" needs. I use their tote bags for grocery shopping, their zip bags for storing Ruby's diapers in my diaper bag, and their key chains for my car and house keys. We're in Palm Springs right now, at my friend Kelly's house, for a little family getaway, and I thought it would be fun to share the Baggu bags that I'm using on this trip. So I've partnered with Baggu to give away this set of five bags (which retail for $118) to one lucky reader.

 

To enter, simply visit Baggu's website, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite piece from the site. (My other favorites are this striped bag and this little pouch.) Entries must be posted by this Thursday, April 18th, at 8 a.m. PST, and one winner will be chosen at random*. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to Haley Y. from Evanston, IL for being our winner this time!

*Sorry, limited to U.S. readers only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes. $118 USD total value. Winner will be contacted by email once comments close, and announced at the bottom of this post soon after.

{My top from Madewell, dress from Target.}

{how i'd wear} denim overalls... 15 Apr 2013

I can't remember the last time I wore overalls (hello, 90's!), but I'm itching to get an updated pair in a more slim cut than what I had back in the day. Paired with a sleeveless blouse and dressed up a tad, it feels less casual and more chic. Would you guys wear overalls again? How would you wear them?

1. Headband by Ban.do, 2. Vanessa Mooney chain necklace, 3. A-Thread blouse, 4. Citizens of Humanity overalls or ASOS overalls, 5. JadeTribe bag, 6. Loeffler Randall clogs.

{illustrations by Jennifer Vallez for Oh Joy}