Oh Joy!

little dots & little stripes... 10 May 2012

...and a whole lot of cuteness! — Joy

DOTTY {top to bottom}: Zef baby tee and Zef leggings, Anais & I dress, tiny Toms.

STRIPEY {top to bottom}: LemLem one piece, Bla Bla sweater, Joe Fresh rain boots, Bla Bla pillow.

{closet & casa} with julia atkinson... 9 May 2012

who: Julia Atkinson, Design Blogger

why julia rocks: She's based in New Zealand and concentrates on the creative talent to be found down under.

in her closet: Between the color, cut, and print, this Milk from a Thistle dress is something I can't live without. It's super light and skims those body bits that need skimming! The soft tunic style means that I can wear it loose with navy tights and boots in winter or belted with sandals on summery days.

in her casa: The cushion is one of many that I have slowly gathered from New Zealand brand, Citta. I'll admit to having a problem with too many cushion purchases, but I love that they all end up on my sunny daybed—it's a total chaotic riot of print and pattern. I especially love pairing them with the old and beaten 80's leather armchair that my parents passed on to me. It has my sisters name scratched in the back and couldn't be more perfect for curling up in to watch a movie.

Thanks Julia!
— Bri

{photos by Camilla Stoddart}

table toppers... 9 May 2012

I kind of have an addiction to table linens. It's as if I think I'm going to have twenty people over at once for a dinner party one day and everyone needs their very own set. Needless to say, I'm always lusting after fun and graphic napkins like these ones by Anna Joyce. I love that they can be mixed-and-matched and look just right when they aren't match perfectly! — Joy

{photos by Lisa Warninger, styling by Chelsea Fuss}

this & that... 8 May 2012

...wear this Anthropologie scarf, scoop up mini bites of ice cream with that set of candy stripe teaspoons from Leif...

—Bekka

{oh joy eats} sprinkles atm in beverly hills... 8 May 2012

Last week, I talked about pie being the hot new kid on the dessert block. That may be true, but my heart will always have a sweet spot for cupcakes. One morning on the way to brunch, Bonnie, her 8-year-old daughter, Venise, and I made an impromptu visit to the new Sprinkles Cupcake ATM in Beverly Hills located right next to the very first Sprinkles store.

The Cupcake ATM is pretty genius if you ask me. 24-hour-a-day access to a cupcake at any time?!? It's not surprising that the folks who made cupcakes trendy also decided to invent a machine that dispenses them around the clock. Simply walk up to the machine, select your flavor, and pay with a credit card. Out comes a perfectly packaged box with cupcake that looks like it came fresh from the actual bakery. Amazing.

While you wait for the cupcake to come to the little door in front, some amazing cupcake-themed music blasts while you wait. Venise rocked out to the music {with her adorable mis-matched socks!}, and we had a ball dancing on the streets of Beverly Hills at 9am on a Sunday morning. It was so fun that we just had to do it all over again...

And if you're wondering how on earth my dress happens to match the ATM pretty perfectly, it must be fate. I don't normally match the places that I go to, but I picked out this dress from ASOS for a little blogger style feature, and it seemed perfect to wear for a sweet treat. I didn't realize just how perfect it would be till we got there. It was such a fun morning... — Joy

Sprinkles ATM / 9635 Santa Monica Blvd. / Beverly Hills, CA 90210

{photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy. My outfit: dress c/o ASOS, blazer from J.Crew, necklace from past season of J.Crew (similar), shoes from Liebling, hair clip from Ban.do, clutch by Grace Design}

{everyday party} sweet sips for mom... 8 May 2012

With Mother's Day this weekend, we thought it would be fun to share a little something you can make for mom to accent the brunch, lunch, or dinner you might be whipping up in her honor. We asked Courtney from Merriment Events put together this little how to for some sweet floral straws for mom...

currently snacking on... 7 May 2012

One of my weaknesses in life is ice cream. I've been getting over a cold and eating pints by the spoonful this week as it seems to be the cure to all my ailments. During this same week, I got to try Jeni's Super Pop Cakes collection {ice cream with cake mixed in!}, and I'm pretty much in love with the Mango Kiwi frozen yogurt with angel food cake mixed in. It's sweet, tart, and creamy—all accented by light and fluffy bits of cake...um, yes cake! And so worth it to have it shipped from Columbus, Ohio! And for those of us in Southern California, select flavors of Jeni's are now being carried at Gelson's and Bristol Farms markets...dangerous, yet awesome news... — Joy

{photo by Oh Joy, ice cream from Jeni's*, egg cups from West Elm}

striped snaps... 7 May 2012

Um, how cute are these La Sardina Beach cameras by Lomo? Maybe the cutest toy film camera ever. They remind me of these Swell cameras I helped design back in the day... — Joy

happy friday + the pause... 4 May 2012

I'm currently reading the best parenting book I've ever read called Bringing Up Bébe about the wisdom of French parenting. I've read a lot of books while pregnant and also after having our baby, and there is something about this one that speaks to me in a way that no other book has. Not only is it an easy read, but I love how it mixes in an interesting story with prose on how the French parent and why their kids tend to be very polite, well-behaved, and patient. But it's also not preachy and lets you take what you will from it. It's a book I seriously want to give to every new parent I know...

{3 ways to wear} a quirky tee... 4 May 2012

I had a ton of fun figuring out some options to pair with a pleated skirt last week, so here's a new one for ya...a few ways to wear a quirky tee... — Joy

{Madewell spectacles tee with 1. ASOS skirt, 2. striped shorts from Anthropologie, 3. high-waisted pants from J.Crew.}

a little cinco de mayo... 3 May 2012

{1. Rhuby Madras recipe using Art in the Age spirits, 2. Gabbi's Achiote rub from Dean & Deluca, 3. mango lime salsa from Dean & Deluca, 4. Mara Mi paper napkin from Target, 5. Soda-Lime recycled glass pitcher and glasses from Anthropologie, 6. Vosges Aztec elixir couture cocoa. — Joanna}

{oh joy eats} the pie hole in downtown la... 3 May 2012

With cupcakes reigning the dessert scene for many years now, the newest kid on the dessert block lately is surely pie. Good ole' fashioned pie...like the kind your Grandma used to make if you had a Grandma that made delicious pies.

The Pie Hole in Downtown LA has become a new favorite for quenching that pie craving. The menu changes daily, and they have got super fun selections of both sweet and savory pies.

Some of my favorites are the Thai Iced Tea, Lemon Meringue, Mexican Chocolate, and Maple Custard sweet pies as well as the Mac & Cheese and Chicken Pot Pie for the savories.

They use fresh, local ingredients in all of their pies and even sell their own coffee. While open daily, they tend to sell out by the afternoon on busy days, so I was sure to come bright and early. I loved the airy, yet rustic, feeling of the space. It's cozy and casual and perfect for a mid-day treat while exploring the Arts District downtown. — Joy

The Pie Hole / 714 Traction Ave. / Los Angeles, CA 90013 / 213.537.0115

{photos by Bonnie Tsang for Oh Joy. My outfit: Kate Spade dress from past season (similar), sweater c/o Gap, shoes are Anne Taylor from past season (similar), nail polish by Essie}

{fashioned florals} a spring wristlet ... 3 May 2012

We're back with some wearable flowers! This time with a easily customizable bracelet that uses some leftover ribbon, a quick bloom or two, and—presto— you have an instant accessory! 

1. Gather up your supplies...including some ribbon strands {I made sure to keep one longer that will end up tying and securing the whole thing} that coordinate with your flowers. I included a spray rose, white rice flower, some greenery and lilac. 

2. Wire it all up...pull the greens, rice flower, and lilac together with a small piece of wire, while also wrapping the the spray rose individually with wire so that you can easily attach it where you want.

3. With the ribbon, make a little bracelet out of three strands to give it a bit more heft than a single strand. Quickly braiding it all together, I left the purple ribbon longest to become the tying pieces and trimmed each at their ends. 

4. A quick twist of the spray rose to the larger bunch, and then into the ribbon braid helps secure everything together, and we're done! This would be so easy to adapt and be a great little addition to a girl's brunch or a night out, yes? — Liz

{All photos by Liz for Oh Joy!}

{closet & casa} with elva fields... 2 May 2012

who: Emily Wheat Maynard, jewelry designer & founder of Elva Fields

why emily rocks: Emily's necklaces are always at the top of my wishlist!

in her closet: My mother lived in Chicago in the 70's before three children came into her life, and this silk Valentino blouse was something she wore back then. She gave it to me before I moved to New York for graduate school. When I wore it there, I loved thinking about its many city adventures over four decades of style. Now very much entrenched in the slower paces of life in Kentucky, it's still a look I love for fun occasions...and I hope the blouse endures to enjoy adventures with my own little ladies wherever life takes them.

in her casa: My grandmother carried this sweet beaded purse as a little girl in Kentucky, and when my mother found it years later and its beads slowly beginning to unravel, my parents had it framed for her as a gift. Passing it along to me inspired my own collection of vintage and antique purses. Whenever I travel somewhere or want to commemorate a significant event, I add a find to my collection, hanging the purse in its shadowbox frame {each in a different frame} with the others in our house. It's become a growing wall of memories of particularly lovely times, places, and people.

Thanks Emily!
— Bri

{photos by Emily}

more spring cleaning... 2 May 2012

I'm still working on my spring cleaning and just added some more items to my Copious shop! It was time to finally clear through some pieces I love but haven't worn enough and some great vintage baubles I've been collecting, but just have to many to keep! See them right here... — Joy

{photos by Oh Joy}