Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ralphs roses fall flowers floral A Stylish Love Story blog
Beautiful Roses from Ralphs Supermarket

Happy Thanksgiving to you!  Hope you are enjoying some delicious food today.  I am off to enjoy a good meal with my family.  We always have a potluck with all types of dishes like sushi rolls, tamales, veggie stew, guacamole and chips, fried chicken, macaroni salad, pickled cucumbers, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, marshmallow sweet potatoes, turkey, ham, apple cider, and fried rice.

How about you? What is your favorite dish? My favorite dish is definitely dessert.  I love pumpkin pie:)

Monday, November 20, 2017

In Memory of Franz

A couple of weeks ago, my photographer suddenly passed away.  His name was Franz Swantko, and he had been taking photos for my blog A Stylish Love Story over the past two years.  I was heartbroken to hear this news. At only 28 years old, he had built countless friendships, was embraced by the community, and had created some of the most captivating photographs on Instagram.  What I remember most about Franz was his smile. His upbeat demeanor was infectious and was always happy to see me when he greeted me for our photo sessions. He had the kind of personality that could light up an entire restaurant.  Franz worked at a local restaurant called Bake-N-Broil for many years, and I remember we went there one day to have lunch in between one of our photo shoots.  We always had awesome lunches together on those days.  Well, I remember one day we went to eat lunch there and he insisted that he personally make me "the best" cappuccino.  We ordered the blueberry lemon pancakes with raspberry sauce and he quickly ran over to whip up "the best" cappuccino for me.  It really was "the best".  Franz was always doing sweet things like that, not just for me, but for all of his friends.  
"The best" cappuccino made by Franz :) Photo By: Joanna Joy 


 He was thoughtful, he was kind, and he took those little extra shots just to make me happy, like this one of my little cat....
Photo By: Franz Swantko

Photo By: Franz Swantko

Photo By: Franz Swantko


Photo By: Franz Swantko

The next time I see a gorgeous sunset or beautiful clouds in the sky, I will think of Franz and how instead of photographing it from below, how he is somewhere up there helping to create it.  
Photo By: Joanna Joy



Franz was such a talented artist and friend.  I will miss him immensely.

You can see more of his work on Instagram @dr.fresh


"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou




Sunday, October 29, 2017

Inspired by Carmen Sandiego

vintage black hat Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag red Gucci suede platforms Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story blog petite blogger California style blogger


Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story style blog petite fashion blogger California style blogger


vintage black hat Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag red Gucci suede platforms Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story blog petite blogger California style blogger




vintage black hat Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag red Gucci suede platforms Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story blog petite blogger California style blogger


Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story style blog petite fashion blogger California style blogger


vintage black hat Honey Punch gold and black sheer flare pants red Talbots corduroy blazer black and gold beaded bag red Gucci suede platforms Carmen Sandiego costume Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story blog petite blogger California style blogger

Photography: Franz Swantko
Makeup: Liz Jones
Belt: Vintage
Pants: Honey Punch
Bag: Vintage
Shoes: Gucci
Blazer: Talbots
Hat: Retro Reload
Earrings: Retro Reload


Hello! I hope everyone had a fun weekend. Since we are nearing Halloween, I thought it would be fun to do a look inspired by the character Carmen Sandiego.  What do you think?  Who or what are you going to be for Halloween?


Please follow me on Instagram @astylishlovestory

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Good Credit Is Always In Style


Joanna Joy style blogger fashion blogger petite blogger blue pencil skirt blue heels orange coat

Hello!  Today, I wanted to talk about a subject that goes hand in hand with daily life and shopping…credit.  Recently, credit has been a major topic in the news and is of paramount concern for most people.  Do you remember when you received your first credit card?  Did you make your payments on time or fall into the never ending debt cycle? Or perhaps, did you use the credit that you built to purchase a new car or home?



According to a recent nationwide survey from the U.S. News and World Report, many people don’t understand the benefits of credit card ownership, credit scores, and the consequences of carrying a balance.



Understanding interest rates, finding the right credit card for you, and how credit and credit cards work should be just as important as finding out what’s “on trend” this season.  

gold heels Joanna Joy fashion blogger style blogger


While staying stylish is important, all that shopping can come at a cost if you aren't informed.  Understanding how to make informed decisions as it relates to credit cards can help you later in life. 



I believe that being educated about financial literacy is always in style, which is why I agreed to do a collaboration with the U.S. News & World Report to reveal to you a resource that you can use to educate yourself about these concerns:


Was this blog post helpful? Please leave a comment below.

*This post was a collaboration.  However, all opinions are my own.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Uncommonly Good Gifts with UncommonGoods

Have you ever wondered and wondered what gift to get someone?  I most certainly have.  Every time a wedding or bridal shower rolls around, you have to figure something out.  And what about those groomsmen right?  Well, wonder no more.  Now, you don't have to feel as though you are just buying merchandise.  You can actually invest in giving a unique and special gift to someone while making a positive impact in someone else's life and on the world.  Cheers to that!

Here's why...recently, I discovered UncommonGoods, a company that features both Uncommonly Good Gifts while also doing a lot of good at the same time.  What's nice about this company is that they work with artists and small manufacturers, and are committed to selling products that are recycled.  Another interesting fact, UncommonGoods is also a founding member of B Corporation which gives companies a B Seal allowing customers to become aware that these companies have met their standards for providing a living wage, lessening the impact on their environment, and giving back to the community.   

So, let the Uncommonly Good Gift Giving begin...

Looking for something classic?  There is no better way to commemorate someone's wedding day than by creating something memorable.  Artist Alexander Doll composes a very customized version of a wedding gift with city skyline wedding art .  He constructs a classic couple against the iconic skyline of each couple's wedding location with the couple's names, wedding date, and venue name included.  He also uses archival paper and ink to preserve this piece of art from this special day.  For an even more personalized version, you can choose the color of  the backdrop, hair color, and skin tone.


City Skyline Wedding ArtUncommonGoods art wedding gift bride wedding couple wedding photo artist handmade city skyline wedding art
UncommonGoods art wedding gift bride wedding couple wedding photo artist handmade city skyline wedding art





Looking for something elegant?  This two tiered serving tray vase is a perfect wedding or bridal shower gift for the couple who likes to entertain around the holidays and other special occasions.  What I like about this gift is that it's both chic and functional.  
Two Tiered Serving Tray Vase

Looking for something really rare and beautiful?  How about selecting this one-of-a-kind rose quartz platter.  It's a gorgeous gift for that special bridesmaid, your friend who likes to host dinner parties, or for yourself for blogging.  This natural Brazilian rose quartz platter with glittering sterling silver edges would serve up a classy presentation of meat and cheese selections next to a complementary set of cocktails.  This stunning flat surface can also give an appealing visual while displaying fine jewelry pieces and also adds a decorative flair to any bedroom or dressing area.  Or, you could buy it as a gift for yourself.  After all, it would be the perfect alternative to photographing a marble stone flat lay when showcasing your jewelry, perfume, beauty, and skincare products for your blog.
Rose Quartz Platter
Looking for something useful?  This wooden beer caddy is the perfect gift for your groomsmen, or those people in your life who love tailgating before a football game, bringing some brews to a backyard barbecue, and makes a great companion to game nights and camping trips in the great outdoors.

Wooden Beer Caddy with Bottle Opener


What do you think of UncommonGoods gifts?

*This is a sponsored post however, all opinions are my own.


Sunday, July 9, 2017

My Hawaiian Summer Style

 Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses Gucci Red Suede Platforms petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall



Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall



Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall



Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall


Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses Gucci Red Suede Platforms petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall



Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story fashion blog Hawaiian Shirt Red and White Shirt White Jbrand Denim Gucci Bamboo Glasses Gucci Red Suede Platforms petite fashion blogger California fashion blogger white jeans beaded black and gold evening bag blue wall

Denim: J Brand
Red Suede Platforms: Gucci
Sunglasses: Gucci Similar
Belt: Similar
Bag: Similar
Hair: Drybar
Makeup: Elizabeth Jones
Photography: Franz Swantko

Aloha!  It's been quite some time since my last post, but I'm so glad to be back.  The sun is out and it's time to enjoy the summer!  Nothing reminds me more of summer than a Hawaiian shirt.  They are usually made with beautiful and cheerful prints.  This one is actually a vintage version of a Hawaiian shirt.  It's not like the authentic ones you'd typically see from the islands.  In my family, the men wear Hawaiian shirts untucked in the traditional way at family gatherings.  

I felt pretty lucky to have found a women's version of this style of shirt from the 70's.  Hawaiian prints paired with white denim or pants always pop, so that's what I decided to go with for this post. I added my personal twist on this style with a leather belt and a small black beaded handbag.  These jeans are from J Brand and are called "Love Story".  I bought them several years ago before I started this blog.  They are one of my favorite pairs of pants because of the soft denim material, the slight stretch, and flare legs.  However, I have to wear them with platforms because they are so long, but I'm okay with that.   If you've been following my posts, you know how much I love wearing platforms and flares together and these red Gucci suede ones were the perfect fit. These jeans were actually worn on the day of my very first blog photo shoot, so they are kinda special to me.

What type of clothing reminds you of summer?  Do you wear or do anything traditional at your family gatherings?

















Thursday, June 1, 2017

Ruffles In Bloom


Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story Blog Fashion Blog California Fashion Blogger tribal print green dress ruffles chunky grommet Sam Edelman black suede heels orange earrings






Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story Blog Fashion Blog California Fashion Blogger tribal print green dress ruffles chunky grommet Sam Edelman black suede heels orange earrings




Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story Blog Fashion Blog California Fashion Blogger tribal print green dress ruffles chunky grommet Sam Edelman black suede heels orange earrings






Joanna Joy A Stylish Love Story Blog Fashion Blog California Fashion Blogger tribal print green dress ruffles chunky grommet Sam Edelman black suede heels orange earrings

Ruffle Dress: Similar Similar
Chunky Heels: Sam Edelman
Earrings: Similar Similar
Makeup: Elizabeth Jones
Photography: Franz Swantko

Hello!  How was your weekend?  The weather has been really nice here and I have been spending a lot of time outdoors enjoying the sunshine, flowers, and my cat:)  It's awesome!  I can finally wear lighter dresses too. What I like about this time of year is being able to walk around and look up at all of the beautiful trees around the city.  My second favorite part of spring is looking down at all of the colorful flowers that are spread across the streets and sidewalks. Colors are emerging everywhere, much like this dress.  It's busy with lots of ruffles and prints.  This is an older dress, and I have paired it with last season's chunky heels from Sam Edelman.  These shoes are great because they are both comfortable, yet edgy. 

It's also time to do a little spring cleaning.  Have you cleaned out your closet yet?