Oh Joy!

happy friday + happy mother's day... 10 May 2013

A special Mother's Day (and Happy Birthday) wish to my amazing mom, my mother-in-law, and my awesome friends who are moms near and far. I respect and admire you to no end. You guys keep me sane in those moments when I think I've had enough and understand me in those times when I can't imagine feeling more loved.

What do you guys have planned for Mother's Day? We're going to get dim sum (my favorite rare treat) and then go to the Echo Park Craft Fair to visit my favorite local makers. To all of you mothers everywhere, I hope you have an extra special weekend of love, back rubs, handmade cards, breakfast in bed, and other happy treats this weekend!

{Photo of our little baby/mama crew: Viv & Leah, me & Ruby, and Marisa & Cam by Bob Cho.}

the love behind cakes... 9 May 2013

The other night, my friend Mari made a Scandinavian Princess Cake for her husband's birthday. This type of cake has been his favorite cake since he was a kid. So she researched and planned and prepped to made a very special one for him this year...from scratch. It was so delicious, but also so special because it made Mari's husband so happy. No matter how old I get, cake still makes me really happy, too. And, I love the love that goes behind making a cake for someone else. 

When's the last time you made a special cake for someone? It's something I want to try and do more often...

{Sources: Yay cake by A Subtle Revelry, floral cakes by Charm City Cakes West, hot chocolate cake by Matchbox Kitchen, Sweetapolita ombre iced cake, rainbow cake by La De La Felicidad.}

things we love + a party with kate spade in santa monica... 8 May 2013

When Kate Spade New York was in the process of putting together their Things We Love book, they asked if the book could include this photo I took years ago while on a road trip up in Calistoga, CA. That photo is one of my favorites so I was thrilled and flattered to be a part of their special anniversary book...

To celebrate the opening of Kate Spade New York's newest Los Angeles store in Santa Monica on Thursday, May 16th, we've teamed up to give away prints of this photo to the first 100 shoppers. So, if you're in LA, come by and shop! I'll be co-hosting the party and look forward to meeting some of you there to shop (20% off for the night!)! Be sure to RSVP to the email address below...

Kate Spade | 395 Santa Monica Place | Santa Monica, CA | Thursday, May 16th from 6-8pm
RSVP to: nysocial@katespade.com

{flavor stories} spicy + tangy... 8 May 2013

Lately I've been working on some new video ideas—like a video version of a column we used to have here called Flavor Stories. I love emphasizing flavors and thinking about how two different ones can work together. So the new video version of Flavor Stories will show you how I like to marry two of my favorite tastes. Today, it's all about spicy and tangy in this super easy shrimp stir-fry recipe. The best part is...all of these take less than 30 minutes to make! Hope you guys enjoy it!

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

P.P.S. You can pin the dish right here. And here's the printed recipe below...

feeling like a candy shoppe... 7 May 2013

Maybe it's because of the work we're doing in my studio or maybe it's the warmer weather, but I can't get enough of these springy candy colors right about now...

{01. nesting rings from Madewell, 02. 31 Bits necklace, 03. canister by LeeAnn Yare, 04. pom pom banner by Napkin Items, 05. Cassandra Smith knots, 06. Fleet duffle bag.}

how to have an epic play date... 6 May 2013

Now that we have play dates on the regular, I often find myself stumped for new things to do. I mean, how many times can you go to the park and play on the jungle gym? Well, I was hit with a ton of inspiration last weekend when I joined a group of my fellow bloggers (including Oh Happy Day, Dooce, Say Yes, Mighty Girl, and more...) and their families at a the Rancho Dos Pueblos campsite in Goleta (just outside Santa Barbara) for an Epic Play Date weekend. The activities seemed so simple, but were such huge hits with the kids. Some of my favorites were...

my new studio {work in progress}... 6 May 2013

We've been working away on setting up the new Oh Joy studio space, so I wanted to share some inspiration and a little sneak peek with you guys! My friend Emily Henderson (or "EmHen," as we like to call her around here), is helping us design the studio. Emily has the uncanny ability to be able to imagine spaces and where things should go in a way I could never do. Plus, her sense of design is simply off the chain. She takes what I like and kicks it up a notch, for sure.

Here's a look at the "before" space and some of our inspiration. When she asked me what I envisioned, I told her I wanted it to be really white and bright, with accents of bright colors. Since there are some brick walls, I also wanted to enhance the warmth with woods, gray (my favorite non-colorful color), and, of course, a little pop of gold here and there.

We're also doing some really fun DIY's including one to the floor that involve about 12 rolls of painters tape. Here's a little peek from Instagram (where I'll be sharing even more peeks as we progress).

You can also follow along with more of my studio inspiration over on our board on Pinterest, where I'm sharing even more studio inspiration, and see if you can imagine how it's all going to turn out. Stay tuned for some "after" photos within the next few months! I can't wait to have it all come together and be the place where my team and I can work, design, and create some exciting new things...

P.S. I'll be the keynote speaker at Alt For Everyone (the online version of the awesome blogger conference) in a couple weeks! Click here to sign-up and for the full schedule.

happy friday + being present... 3 May 2013

The other night, as we were getting Ruby dressed for bed, I turned my head for one second and she fell off her changing table. Luckily, all her body parts stayed in tact and unbroken. But I held her tightly and cried and felt ashamed that I'd let that happen. While I know that it was an accident and that every parent goes through something similar, it made me realize that I wasn't focused on her completely in that moment. I may have been thinking about the work I needed to do after she went to bed or that I was cold or hungry or that I had to pee. Had I been paying complete attention, I could have prevented our little fall from ever happening.

I've realized that being present in each moment (while working, enjoying time with friends, or being with my family) is something I really need to be better at. Because as great as multitasking can sometimes be, it's not so great when your brain goes somewhere else and you lose sight of what you're doing during that particular moment in time.

...and how could I not soak up moments like this?

a garden bag {giveaway} with apolis... 2 May 2013

I love the mission behind Apolis—a socially motivated lifestyle brand that empowers communities worldwide. While Apolis carries mostly mens' clothing and accessories, I've always loved their bags for myself; I find them to be the perfect mix of casual and polished.

So, in celebration of Mother's Day, I've partnered with the guys at Apolis to give away this Apolis + Kinfolk garden bag (which retails for $78) to one lucky reader. The bags are handcrafted by a women's artisan co-op in Bangladesh and finished in California. While the garden bag was designed for gardening and picnicking, it's been perfect for using as a baby bag for Ruby. The multiple outside pockets come in handy for having quick access to toys, games, snacks, and other toddler necessities. (And I'm all about baby bags that don't look like baby bags.)

To enter, simply visit Apolis' website and then leave a comment here telling me how you'd use the bag. Entries must be posted by this Monday, May 6th, at 8 a.m. PST, and one winner will be chosen at random*. And, you can see more from this fun day shown right here...

P.S. Apolis is offering a special 20% off discount sitewide for Oh Joy readers for Mother's Day. Enter code OHJOY20 at checkout through May 12th, 2013. And, if you're in the United States and want to receive the Garden Bag before Mother's Day use the ADDITIONAL code MOTHERS for free USA "2-Day" shipping through Tuesday, May 7th.

Both codes are exclusively available to Oh Joy readers.

UPDATE: Congrats to Doris R. from Dallas, TX for being our winner this time!

*Sorry, limited to readers in the U.S. only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes. $78 USD total value. Winner will be contacted by email once comments close, and announced at the bottom of this post soon after.

{Photos by Jory Cordy. In the bag: bunny from By3191, Owen & Fred luggage tag, Manimal moccasins, vintage scarf. Ruby's outfit: Thief & Bandit dress, Saltwater sandals. My outfit: StyleMint t-shirt, Madewell tank (past season), A-Thread shorts, hair ties by Mane Message, clogs by Loeffler Randall, and Apolis + Kinfolk garden bag. Special thanks to Broome St. General Store.}

my daily {beauty} routine... 1 May 2013

It's only been in the last year or so, that I've put together more of a daily routine in terms of the products I use to take care of my face and those I apply as daily makeup. Since we're heading into the summer—a time to show our faces even more—I thought I'd share some of my favorite beauty and makeup products that I use on a daily basis with you...