Oh Joy!

my favorite {los angeles} breakfast bites lately... 5 Mar 2013

Since I wake up at Ruby o' clock every day (around 7-7:30 a.m.), I'm always on the hunt for restaurants that open early for breakfast. Most of our favorite brunch places don't open until 10 a.m., and by that time, she's almost ready for a nap! So, I've been on a mission to find some new spots. Here are a few of my favorite breakfast bites around town these days (they open early, too!)...

The trout toast (avocado, smoked trout and pickled onions) and homemade biscuits (buttery pockets of heaven) from The Hart and The Hunter in West Hollywood (shown above).

 Vietnamese breakfast (including this delicious chicken meatball) at Viet Noodle Bar in Glendale.

The egg and bacon sandwich (the homemade ketchup and brioche bun are out of this world!) and the coddled eggs over mashed potatoes from the Egg Slut truck. 

Do you guys have trouble finding breakfast spots that open early? I swear, L.A. is a town that just starts to get going at 10 a.m.!

{Photos by Oh Joy}

feeling minty & metallic... 4 Mar 2013

I'm loving this minty-fresh color of the season mixed with metallics of silver, gold, and copper...

{01. Design Within Reach pendant light, 02. Ban.do bobbi pins, 03. Kate Spade radio clutch, 04. Loeffler Randall sandals, 05. Maslo earrings, 06. Anthropologie earrings.}

happy friday + mama's girl... 1 Mar 2013

Sometimes I complain when she won't let me out of her sight, when she gets upset that I have to go somewhere without her, or when she's being extra clingy. But let's be honest—I actually really love it. Because I know it won't be like this forever. One day she'll be a teenager, and she'll be embarrassed to be seen with me at the mall. 

Wishing you a great weekend, friends, to enjoy those wonderful, fleeting moments that life brings...

{Photos by Bob Cho. For those of you who asked, my boots are from Loeffler Randall, Ruby's neon shoes are from Brother, and her striped leggings are by Nature Baby (similar from Gap).}

{oh joy eats} breakfast at feed... 28 Feb 2013

While I certainly love to indulge in not-so-good-for-you things that simply taste delicious, I also find myself craving really fresh, healthy dishes that make use of the amazing produce we have available in L.A. I recently had breakfast at Feed, a new spot in Venice full of tasty and healthy bites.

We enjoyed the açaí fruit bowl (like a fruit smoothie mixed with a parfait) and the Southern Mexican bowl topped with tofu and poached eggs. Feed makes its own hot sauce, which has the best mix of spicy and tangy kick—perfect for a savory breakfast dish. Oh, and I'm a sucker for adult sodas, so Feed's natural soda (I got the blueberry and maple) made for the perfect companion to a light and fresh breakfast.

Feed | 1239 Abbot Kinney Blvd. | Venice, CA 90291 | 310.450.5550

{Photos by Bonnie Tsang} 

let there be light... 27 Feb 2013

When I was in Philly last week, I found myself waking up tired and groggy, with no desire to get out of bed. I love Philly, but I had forgotten about gray winters and cold weather and how much they really used to affect my mood. I'm so dependent on lots of natural light, and I've come to learn how much happier it makes me. Being back in L.A. really made me appreciate all this sunshine I'm lucky to live in year round.

It's funny, because I'm currently looking at studio spaces for my office, and some of these spaces have no windows (no windows?!?). The person showing them to me would say, "Some people don't want any light."

Say what??? Do you guys crave light like I do, or would you be content working in a dark space?

{Image sources, top to bottom: Melnikov House via Design Squish, Allandale House, Lindman Photography.}

join the oh joy team! 26 Feb 2013

I've been juggling a million balls in the air, and it's about time I took my own advice and got some help over here (this song has been playing on repeat in my head)! Oh Joy is expanding in fun new ways, and I have some exciting projects in the works. I'm currently looking for two energetic people to join my team who want to grow with the brand.

Both positions are paid and part-time, ranging from 10-15 hours per week, with the possibility for more hours based on growth and stellar performance. You must have your own car, computer or laptop, and be based in Los Angeles.

I'm looking to fill these two assistant positions:

hers & mine... 26 Feb 2013

More and more every day, she's turning into a mini me...

top | Hers: Heidi Kenney plush donut. Mine: New York donut map by All You Can Eat Press.

bottom | Hers: neon toe cap shoes. Mine: neon toe cap shoes. (c/o Brother)

P.S. The last one...

{Photos by Oh Joy. Top rug by Nuloom, bottom rug by Madeline Weinrib}

broad strokes of color... 25 Feb 2013

I'm in a bit of an Impressionist phase lately, so I'm loving the work of artist Judith Geher. The mix of modern portrait with Impressionist-like brush strokes...gorgeous...

happy friday + hello from philly... 22 Feb 2013

We've been in Philly for the past week visiting our families. And brrrr...it's cold! I spent 30 years living on the East Coast, and now I can barely take the chilly weather. So sad. Ruby, on the other hand, loves it. She smiles and laughs when a gust of brisk air hits her in the face!

We visited some of our favorite spots to eat including Han Dynasty (the best Chinese food), Franklin Fountain, Tacconelli's Pizzeria, and Spread Bagelry.

But, of course, the best times have been spent enjoying simple moments with family. Ruby's grandparents (that's my Dad above) have been pretty over the moon this week.

Wishing you all an enjoyable weekend full of your favorite foods and your favorite people...

{Photos by Oh Joy}

a spectacle of a {giveaway}... 21 Feb 2013

After seeing how much you guys love rocking your glasses, Rivet & Sway has kindly offered to give away 3 pairs of glasses (filled with your Rx!) to three lucky readers!

To enter, simply visit Rivet & Sway's website and then leave a comment here telling me which three frames you'd pick to accessorize your existing wardrobe. My favorites are the three I wore the other day: Punchlines, All Who Wander, and Core Strength. Entries must be posted by this Monday, February 25th at 8 a.m. PST, and three winners will be chosen at random*. Good luck!

P.S. Rivet & Sway is kindly offering Oh Joy readers $50 off a single pair of frames (a $199 retail value) through March 31, 2013. Enter OHJOYSWAYS at checkout. (You can try up to three pairs at home!)

UPDATE: Congrats to Jackie M. from Jersey City, NJ, Rachel C. from Long Beach, CA, and Karly K. from Sioux Falls, SD for being our winners 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. $597 USD total value for each winner. The three winners will be contacted by email once comments close, and announced at the bottom of this post soon after.

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Rivet & Sway. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thanks for supporting these sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Oh Joy. 

{Top photo by by Bonnie Tsang.}