Work with us!

We’ve been working hard on some behind-the-scenes projects and we are looking for some photographers to work with us on editorial-style shoots. If you are in San Francisco and you got camera skillz we would love to work with you. Please email your schedule and send a link to your portfolio to hello@ohhappyday.com with “photographer” in the subject line. (FYI: This is a paying gig.)

photo from LOC

Styled Eats: How to Perfectly Frost a Scallop Cake

This post is sponsored by Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels, the perfect special ingredient for all of your family’s favorite treats!

Today is the second post in our “how to frost a cake” series. I asked pastry chef Hope Waggoner to us some tricks on how to frost a scallop cake. When I was a little girl I was always planning parties (even then!) and I remember my mom helping me bake miniature cakes for a tea party. This little girly cake would fit in perfect at a tea party or shower. Before frosting the scallops the cake needs to have it’s crumb coat and have set in the fridge. (Follow steps 1-4 on this post.) I like that you don’t need anything fancy to make this cake, just a pastry bag and a good ol’ butter knife.

Materials Needed: All you really need to frost this cake is: A large Offset Spatula for the first layer of frosting, a heavy duty pastry bag with large tip, and a knife.

Step 1: Follow steps 1-4 over here until the cake has it’s basic layer of crumb coat and has chilled. The cake should be cold and the frosting should be room temperature.
Step 2:  Fill a large pastry bag with icing and create a row of straight dots going from top to bottom.
Step 3: Gently spread each dot with a knife, cleaning the knife on a rag as necessary to make sure the scallops are even.
Step 4: Create another row of dots where the frosting ends and spread each dot with a knife. Repeat over and over until the whole cake is finished. (Pro tip: It’s easy to remove a mistake with a knife and begin a row again.)
Step 5: When the scallops end add a final row of dots to “seal” the seam for a finished look.

A special thanks to Michelle for letting us borrow her beautiful kitchen, to Hope for her expertise, and to little A for modeling.

Photos by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

White Floors

Our apartment is pretty much done so now we’ve turned our attention to the art studio. We moved in over 4 years ago and besides a quick coat of paint we never really did much with it. But now that we both use it as our main workspace I realized it is in dire need of a makeover. The first step is we are going to paint the floors white! I’m a little nervous but some of my favorite studio spaces have white floors and I think it will help take advantage of the natural light we get. Have you ever painted floors white? Will they stay dirty forever? I’d love some advice from people who have lived with them.

photo credit: Jessica Helgerson Design

Method + Orla Kiely

In partnership with Method.

I’ve been a huge fan of Method forever so when I heard they were partnering with famous pattern maker Orla Kiely I was so excited.  It is such a great partnership of two beautiful brands. Method is so design conscious and is doing a lot of innovative things with environmental friendly packaging that the partnership makes a lot of sense. I loved this quote:

“We also believe that your home should reflect who you are. What you love. How you see the world. For us, that means keeping our planet clean and beautiful. Which is precisely why we’re so delighted to offer Orla Kiely’s gorgeous patterns paired with the naturally derived formulas and bright scents of planet-friendly method® soap. Eye-catching designs. no dirty ingredients. Cleaning has never been more inspiring.”

I went to Target and bought 6 bottles of  the pear hand soap. (It’s a limited edition and I did’t want to run out.) The new line comes in four patterns and four different scents.  ps: There is a really great interview over here at the Method blog with Orla Kiely.

Have you seen any of these in the stores yet?

Inspiration Edition No. 16

Here are some iconic, quirky, and happy little things I’ve been excited about this week.

A. My friend Jared Rusten makes the most amazing furniture. B. Every pillow should have a speedo on it. C. I’ve been scouring ebay for a vintage Creative Playthings rocker. You can get a repro right here. D. Love love love this tissue box cover. (Via Erin) E. The Curiosity Shop has a line at Target and it is so amazing (Coming Sunday!) F. I’m looking for a small coffee table or footstool and I fell in love with these. G. Love this red lipstick, my only complaint is the lid doesn’t stay on very well.