My name is Michaell Johnson and I’m the founder of The Vanilla Plum. I am a treasure hunter. I’m not saying I’m Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark but, come to think of it, there are similarities. I seek out the best of everything – from what goes on our plates to what goes on our shoes to where we go (aka food, fashion, travel to name just a few.)
When I’m not working, you can find me cuddling with my four cats and/or my husband, photographing fashion, food, & places, as well as looking for the next hiking spot to get away from city life for awhile. I love soft sandy beaches and am convinced that Laguna Beach is the best beach in SoCal. (It’s not bias, it’s research. I’ve hit most of the beaches and Laguna mixes “chill” with warmth in a way that no other beach on this coast manages.)
- I am married with four cats. Four because my husband and I have a heart for strays. Not five, because, well, I’d like to stay married.
- If I’m presented with 3 things, I almost always love the most expensive thing. Not because it’s expensive, but because I care about the details, the story it tells, etc. Quality sings if you listen correctly. I don’t want to brag, but it’s possible I have perfect pitch in this situation.
- If I’m presented with 31 flavors of ice cream, however, it’s another story. I’m paralyzed. I always want to try everything! In my defense, I need to test it all for quality. Who knows, Chocolate-Mango-with-Pinenuts might be the next new thing. I owe it to my readership to check it out. I’m taking one for the team, y’all.
- I grew up in the OC and the Chicago suburbs. It’s possible that explains my simultaneous love of summer dresses and cashmere cable knit sweaters.
- I was very allergic to elastic growing up, so my mom had to buy this young girl silky underwear because we had a tough time finding underwear that didn’t bother me. (Now that I think about it, this could explain my tendency to gravitate toward the lux.) Clothes can’t just look good – they have to feel good too! Life is too short (and the days are too long) to tolerate itching and pinching and sucking in one’s stomach just to resemble the catalog model. Also, my underwear drawer is folded, organized by color, and looks like a department store. I can’t blame my elastic allergy for this. What, you’ve never heard of OCD? Organized by Color Drawers?
- I’m obsessed with nutrition. I like to heal myself with food. I always research natural alternatives before I medicate with prescriptions. Yes, in a pinch I’ll reach for mint-chocolate-chip gelato to de-stress. It’s called taking care of oneself. (My husband occasionally calls it “an excuse to eat ice cream” but we agree to disagree. Or, at least, I do.)
- I dream about bringing home a Moroccan door. Ever since I saw Genevieve Gorder’s home, I’ve been obsessed. (If I’m being completely honest, I also have to admit that I’m obsessed with all things HGTV, not just Genevieve or the door.)
- I love:
- Sushi
- Spiralized meals (why did it take me so long to realize that vegetables could be shaped like pasta?!)
- California Cuisine (because it’s usually a cultural fusion and two is better than one. Unless we’re talking about parking tickets and then really, even one is too many.)
- Color (which doesn’t mean I dislike black which I recently learned is not actually a color. Apparently black is all the colors but none reflected back to the eye – why so withholding Black? What’s up with that? Oh, I got off topic. Never discuss science with me. I think you can see why.)
- Exotic spice and decor (not necessarily simultaneously. I don’t relish getting turmeric out of my sofa.)
- Japanese gardens (so soothing)
- Oversized designs (so comfy)
- Fairy tales (yay for happy endings!)
- Anime (yay for more complexity a la “real life”.)
- My version of “comfort food” is usually not American. No Mac and Cheese for me. I like soup, dumplings, tea and tea parties, anything stuffed, and bite-sized samples so I can try it all.
- I was obsessed with 40s style when I was in high school: red lipstick, old movies, the smell of smoky bars mingled with Chanel No. 5, and jazz. Now I’m obsessed with: eye makeup, period/sci-fi dramas, the smell of the beach… and I still love jazz.
- Some of my many dream destinations are Sri Lanka, Maldives, Israel, Budapest, Japan during the Cherry Blossom Festival, Bali, Scotland and Morocco (I need that door!)
- Life is a party – I want every moment to be shared, explored, conquered, and enriching to my soul.
Consider this my invitation to you to join my party!
