In A Day With... Ally Walsh
Firstly, are you able to tell us a little about you; where is your hometown, where are you living at the moment and what do you do ?
I grew up on Long Island, New York. We lived on the bay and I spent most of my time by the beach. My mom often brought me and my brother and sister on the train into Manhattan to watch plays and visit the art museums growing up.
When I was 19 I flew out to LA for modelling and basically never left!
I’ve been in Los Angeles now for over ten years now, living in different parts over the years: Venice, Santa Monica, Echo Park. Last summer, I bought my first home, in Altadena—a town at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains.
I’m the Creative Director of Canyon Coffee, a company I co-founded with my partner Casey in 2016, and I’m also a model with Wilhelmina Models. And as of last year, I’m also a mother to my son, Sonny :)
How do you usually start your day ?
At the moment my baby boy Sonny is just six months old, and I usually start my day by feeding him sometime between 6:30 and 7am. Casey brings me coffee in bed, and we all lay together for a bit, reading or watching the morning light on the avocado tree outside our window. Sonny can spend the whole morning just lying in bed looking out the window, kicking his little feet and cooing.
It's really the most special, favourite part of my day. I usually take this time to make breakfast. I’ve been making a lot of oatmeal lately with ghee and coconut oil. Or almond butter toast. Then I usually take Sonny for a walk around the neighbourhood before starting work.
What does your dream day look like ?
Dream days are coffee in bed, picking up snacks and heading to the beach to spend the day with friends by the ocean. Then coming back home for a glass of wine and a home cooked meal!
What is your beauty routine ? Do you have any favourite natural products or skincare rituals ?
A good night sleep and lots of water! It’s often dry in LA, and I can feel it in my skin and hair when I’m not staying hydrated.
I always try to use brands that use organic ingredients and ethical practices. I love Lesse, Monastery, OSEA, Earth Tu Face and Everyday Oil, to name a few.
Are there any food or health philosophies that guide how you and your family eat ?
I always strive to eat local and organic. Living in LA, I feel lucky to have incredible farmers markets and access to great produce. It really enables us to eat with the seasons. These philosophies (organic, seasonal) are ones we’ve brought to our coffee company, as well. Coffee is produce too, after all!
These days, with a six month old, we’ve been falling back on our easy-but-delicious go-to of roasting a bunch of seasonal veggies in the oven and making big rice bowls with different toppings (herbs, kimchi, salsa, tahini, etc.) and salads, or making a big pot of soup for the week.
You have recently become a first time mumma (congratulations!), do you feel like there is something you wish someone had told you about being a mother?
I don’t think anyone could have told me, but something I think I had to learn on my own is that you can’t do it all by yourself! It really does take a community. Time is limited—especially if you’re a working parent—and it’s usually impossible to get ‘everything’ done; and that’s okay. Everything might not get done, but the world keeps moving. To me, what matters is taking the time I do have to be with and love my son!
But something else I’ve learned is that motherhood is more wonderful than I ever thought possible. Every day is fresh and different.
That first smile, the first laugh, and every one after just brings the best feeling in the world.
What is your favourite way to move your body ? Does movement play a part in your everyday routine ?
Yoga has been a big part of my life for over a decade. I try to get it in whenever I can, which sometimes means a class at a studio and sometimes means a quick 15 minute session on my mat at home. Walks have also been a longtime habit for me. These days I usually get long walks in with Sonny, and we hike nearby trails in the San Gabriel mountains pretty regularly.
When do you feel your most beautiful and happy ?
After a long day at the beach, going in and out of the ocean, with friends and family.
If you are feeling tired, uninspired or just off, how do you come back to yourself ?
A long walk, a conversation with a friend, or opening up a bunch of old magazines and paging through always helps lift my mood. I work with my partner Casey, and he’s always there to listen to me, giving me clarity and stability. He helps me by reminding myself of all the things I love, and encouraging me in my creativity.
If there was one piece of advice that you could teach/instill in your son, what would it be ?
To know that there’s nothing his father and I expect or desire for him but to enjoy his life. It’s such a miracle to get to be alive, and I just want him to know that to finding joy in existence is enough.
What do you need to remind yourself of more ?
When I look back on my younger self, I always feel I was stressing the silliest or most inconsequential things. I imagine my future self would likely think the same thing of my current self, to some degree. So that’s something I always try to keep in mind!
If you were to choose 5 ingredients to have in your kitchen, what would they be ? (Practical or impractical !)
Almond butter
Sweet potato
Coffee
Wine
Chocolate
To part, are you able to leave us with a favourite recipe of yours ?
I have been making this soup weekly! It’s delicious and has a nice spice to it from the harissa :)
