Shop Small + Heist

last year american express asked me to document some of my favorite places to shop/eat small in collaboration with small business saturday, i was thrilled about the opportunity. there are lots of places i love in los angeles and i thought it would be fun to share a few photos from my shoot. i hope you'll pay a visit to all of these unique shops.

i just discovered heist recently while venturing down abbot kinney. it's on the end of abbot kinney where i usually never walk to but now i have a reason to. heist carries a dreamy collection of clothing and accessories – lots of basics with edgy and elegant touches – they have a beautiful collection of leather handbags that i just swoon over. most of all i love the space, high ceilings and exposed brick.

HEIST
1104 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
310.450.6531

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CHONG FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS

Taiwan [Part Two]

while there is definitely a lot to EAT in taiwan – i did take some time to explore some scenic non-food related spots in taiwan. first stop was sun moon lake (thanks for the recommendation joanna!). at sun moon lake we woke up early, hiked along a path in attempts to see this beautiful sunrise people always rave about but the weather gods weren't working in our favor. the skies were cloudy and gray and you couldn't see much of a sunrise. it was a bit disappointing, since we didn't have enough time to spend multiple days there but later that day the sun came out and it was gorgeous. we biked around the lake and had some tea eggs and then headed back to taiwan.



the next day we were off to check out yehliu geological park. spent a few hours wandering around exploring and being mesmerized by mother nature. the rock formations had these beautiful textures that reminded me of a marble cake! (yes, it is true i think about food all the time) afterwards we took a cab over to jeufen for dinner.

Shop Small + Huset

last year american express asked me to document some of my favorite places to shop/eat small in collaboration with small business saturday, i was thrilled about the opportunity. there are lots of places i love in los angeles and i thought it would be fun to share a few photos from my shoot. i hope you'll pay a visit to all of these unique shops.

i've known about huset for several years from their online shop, but when i was walking down abbot kinney one day and discovered they had a brick and mortar shop i was absolutely thrilled. they carry an assortment of home goods, fashion and kids clothing and accessories all made from scandinavian designers. one of my favorite things to pick up here are tea towels, they have so many beautiful designs and illustrations. they also carry a beautiful collection of table top goods that i am lusting after like these fermliving spear trays. if you're not in los angeles your in luck because you can shop the store online!

HUSET
1316 1/2 Abbott Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
424.268.4213

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CHONG FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS

Frances and Francis

so if you know me well, you know that i rarely buy flowers. i think the notion that they never last very long makes me sad... and i'd just prefer to buy edible things! :O last weekend while i was browsing west elm i spotted these beautiful paper flowers that looked so real i fell in love with the idea of paper flowers. then i found france and francis etsy shop. she makes these incredible looking flowers made from paper, these look like something i could definitely get into!

IMAGES FROM FRANCES AND FRANCIS

Taiwan [Part One]

oh taiwan how my belly misses you so! after japan i hopped over to taiwan for literally not stop eating and a few sites in between.


one of my favorite things to eat is beef noodle soup, it's my comfort food. braised beef and chinese noodles in a beef broth top with vegetables usually cooked for a few hours it is so delicious. if you live in los angeles a & j and sinbala are two of my favorite places to get beef noodle soup.



95% of the food i ate in taiwan was street food. with a ton of street markets to choose from your tummy is never disappointed. i probably had these "pulled" green onion pancakes every day, they are chewy, flakey and savory – delicious by themselves with some hot sauce or some eggs.



if you love street food, taiwan isn't a place to be missed. i left with a happy stomach and ripped jeans (no joke!).

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CHONG

Shop Small + Urbanic Paper Boutique

last year american express asked me to document some of my favorite places to shop/eat small in collaboration with small business saturday, i was thrilled about the opportunity. there are lots of places i love in los angeles and i thought it would be fun to share a few photos from my shoot. i hope you'll pay a visit to all of these unique shops.


urbanic paper boutique is located in venice beach, the store if filled with all things paper including gift cards, tags, invites, notebooks and wrapping supplies. it's sort of a stationery lovers dream come true – while the shop is small they have a ton of things to see. and ladies, are you getting married? they have a bridal lounge in the back where you can pick from an amazing collection of wedding invites.

URBANIC PAPER BOUTIQUE
1644 Abbott Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
310.401.0427

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CHONG FOR AMERICAN EXPRESS

Weekend Snapshots

happy monday, it was a chilly weekend in los angeles – atlanta stole our 70º weather! i miss it give it back please! hope you all had a great weekend. i had some good eats this weekend at gjelina, simplethings sandwich and pie shop and the recently always talked about hart and the hunter.

PHOTOS BY @JCHONGSTUDIO + FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM OR TWITTER FOR MORE! +

Valet.com

have you guys heard of valet? it's a new travel website for exclusive members, creative professionals and frequent travelers. valet gives you access to 10-40% off boutique hotels and travel guides from some amazing hand picked artist, designers and influencers. you can eat at steven alan's favorite mediterranean spot or find out where jean aw founder of notcot stays while she is in new york. which is why i am so honored to be able to share some of my favorite spots on valet.com. currently only a few of my favorite spots are listed but more to come!

while the site is still new there are a few guides out, including new york, san francisco, and tokyo with more coming this year. membership is $199 with an application or invite however if you're interested in joining you can sign up with code JCHONG to fast track the membership process. your membership gives you access to some great deals and secret finds!

Satsuma Mandarins

satsuma mandarins are my favorite. so delicious and juicy fresh! don't they look lovely?

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER CHONG

January Round Up

it's january! a fresh new start to the calendar year. after the crazy eating habits and traveling from the holidays i am ready for a refreshing start. this month i hope to be spending home with lots of home cooked healthy meals and some r&r. how about you?

for some things to get you in the mood check out what i am pinning for anthropologie over here!

1. CERAMIC PLANT MARKERS   •  2. HOMEMADE WINTER   •   3. ANGEL FOOD CAKE APRON   •   4. SMOKED MACKEREL SALAD  •
5. ROSETTE PILLOW   •   6. COZY COTTAGE SOCKS   •   7. ILLUME GOOD NATURE CANDLE  •   8. RELAX AT HOME   •
9. MONOGRAMMED MUG

+ POST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ANTHROPOLOGIE +
PHOTOS AS NOTED ABOVE | LAYOUT BY JCHONG STUDIO

Nagano, Japan | Snow Monkey Park

without a doubt the most memorable and amazing experience in japan was seeing the snow monkeys in nagano. the morning started off a little rough, we got little sleep because we woke up early to head to the tsujiki fish market, right after we left the market we took a three hour train ride to nagano. the weather in nagano was much colder, and it had been raining – we arrived in the late afternoon hungry but determined to visit the snow monkeys before the park closed.

2013!

happy new year! it's 2013! is it just me or the older you get the faster the years go by? looking back at 2012, i feel so blessed and fortunate for all the wonderful people i meet, places i saw and things i accomplished. i went into 2012 with a positive and hopeful attitude and i was pleasantly surprised. over the break i watched a lot of movie trailers and oddly enough will smith's words from the trailer after life really resonated with me – "fear is not real, it is a product of thoughts you create, danger is very real, fear is a choice" so in 2013, i'm going to try fear less and take more risk. heres to a fearless 2013!

PHOTO BY JULIAN BIALOWAS