Stay At Home with Tessa

Workout Before Work

I’m usually rushing to get out the door and to the office but having to work from home means I have a little extra time to get some exercise in before the day starts. Like many of my friends I’ve been getting into virtual workouts. My two favorite classes are with Natasha at @madrelosangeles for their bounce and elevate class to get my heart rate up and @sorrelcarradine for mat pilates. These women are incredible. I’m so much calmer and focused.

To mix it up I’ll take a morning walk around the neighborhood with my husband Zach. He’s an exercise nut and keeps me moving which is a blessing.

Get Dressed

My style has definitely changed WFH. I haven’t gone full sweats but I’m definitely wearing looser and comfier tops and jeans and wrapping up with a scarf. For jewelry I’ve been gravitating towards investment pieces — usually 14k gold or diamond that are really subtle but totally timeless.

Stay Organized

At home I’m a pretty tidy person but the office is definitely another story. I’m usually surrounded by raw materials and new pieces we’re working on so my desk gets pretty crazy. Now that I’m working from home (and sharing space with Zach) I try to keep my space as tidy as possible.

I recently did a little shoot at home and doing it from my living room using my own collection of props gave it a much more relaxed vibe. Sometimes you have to get a little creative and find workarounds to get it done.

Make a Beautiful Lunch

Cooking is my passion and having access to my kitchen during lunch is a dream. I usually stick to making a salad with odds and ends found in the fridge, like this Niçoise and bean salad. I eat outside — al fresco dining is a great way to soak up a little vitamin D! The ceramic plate on the right is from one of my favorite stores, Dopolavoro. Run by the Terroni team, they stock a great selection of imported Italian food and kitchenware.

Cookbooks I'm Reading:

Nothing Fancy — Alison Roman
Neiman Marcus Cookbook — Kevin Garvin (best chocolate chip cookie recipe!)
It's All Easy — Gwyneth Paltrow
Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking — Naoko Takei Moore

Grow Something!

My mom and Chan have green thumbs and they’ve inspired me to start my own vegetable garden. There is no better feeling than being able to create a meal with fruits and veggies grown at home. Right now I’m planting lots of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and herbs.

My garden is just starting to come along so I’m supplementing it with weekly CSA boxes of organic produce from County Line Harvest. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is an amazing service when you can’t make it to the farmer’s market and I highly recommend searching for it in your area.

Rest & Recharge

I like to have a glass of wine at the end of the day to unwind. Just be careful not to overdo it! I get my wine delivered from Highland Park Wine — the staff is super knowledgeable and they pick out fun natural wines to try.

I’ve been catching up on shows and movies I never have time for. I think it’s important to use this time as a chance to slow down and reset. It’s a crazy time for sure but relieving stress is a way to help build the body’s natural defenses.

Shows:
Tiger King
Voyeur
Pen15

Movies:
Phantom Thread
A Bigger Splash
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Bonjour Tristesse