Sweet Joy Wilson; Joy The Baker. She’s played a major supporting role in my life as a hummingbird, for sure. Her house is definitely on my hummingbird beat. But she’s also quite the bird herself, having taken an unconventional route after spending the first 18 years of her life in LA. She’s back in LA but about to head into a national book tour. I’ll have cookies and milk waiting for her when she’s back.

What’s in your bag? When you pack for a trip, in your handbag, in the pockets of your jeans…?

I always have a sharpie marker and notebook… and a spare iPhone battery and spare set of headphones in my travel bag.  I’m a fiend for note-taking, doodling and technology.

You have 5 minutes to pack up – for a trip of which the duration you’re not sure. What do you take?

Only five minutes to pack!?  Totally easy:  iPad, iPhone, charger.  awesome jeans. Chunky suede mustard colored heels, two white tops, Marlies Dekkers bra,  day lipstick, night lipstick, mascara and American Express.

What is your most essential article of clothing?

I love my denim button up shirt from JCrew.  It dresses up and down.  It pairs with jewels and plain lipgloss.  It can be buttoned up with a scarf, or open, with a pretty bra peek.  It’s also soft and perfectly worn in.  Magic.

What are the top 5 songs you need to have access to hearing at all times?

Every song fron Van Morrison’s Veeden Fleece.  ‘Original Sin’ by Geographer.  ‘Street Lights’ by Kanye West.  ‘We Are the People’ by Empire of the Sun. ‘Iceblink Luck’ by Cocteau Twins.

What is your preferred hummingbird beat/cities you like to frequent?

I have a serious love affair with San Francisco.

What’s something crazy that you did to follow your passion? (Like, did you live out of your car for a month? Drive 10 hours to pick up a certain, weird material you needed?) 

I moved across the country to decorate wedding cakes in Burlington, Vermont… instead of going to college.  My parents nearly lost their minds.  I eventually went to college.  Now I’m Joy the Baker.  It’s all worked out so far… Phew.

What is one tip you have for traveling – a beauty tip, a survival tip, a culinary tip… ? 

Bring your own spices.  I do a lot of cooking for friends when I travel.  I have a mini kit of spices that I bring with me when I travel.  Grey sea salt, good curry powder, smoked cumin, good black peppercorns and vanilla sugar.  They make all the difference in my travel cooking AND they remind me of home.

What makes you a good house guest?  

Come with wine, and always leave the house stocked with cold milk and homemade cookies.

What’s a recent or favorite meal you had while bouncing around the globe? 

I will never not love a long lunch at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco.  Oysters, shoe string fries and Bloody Marys followed by Warm Chicken Salad.  It’s everything that’s right in the world.

Where have you had your best night’s sleep?

Home.  It’s just truth.

Who would you like to travel with – three people (you guys can caravan together or on separate trips)?

I love traveling with my little sister.  She’s adventurous, outgoing when I’m shy and totally cute (which helps when you’re out in the world).  She is also my eating partner in life.  And she can look at me and see my thoughts.  Always helpful when you’re in questionable travel situations.

I love to travel with Tracy of Shutterbean.com.  She is my go-to person for travel treats! She always travels with little bites of chocolate, or fancy eye cream… I dunno, it’s just nice to have treats when you’ve been flying for hours and hours.

Lastly, I love to travel with my man.  Nothing is nicer than holding hands and watching sunsets in a new, beachy, warm place.  That’s just love.