Self Care

the top of the table,” laughs Donna. “But she had an eye for beautiful pieces, and soon she was a young teen designing her own jewelry.” Caitlin was drawn to vintage beads, chains, pieces, and baubles that were sometimes broken or one half of a pair. She would buy them and transform them into wearable art.

“I remember finding an antique sterling rosary medallion from 1942 with an inscription on the back,” explains Caitlin. “I just loved that it had a story and a timeless quality – a richness to it – that made the piece all the more meaningful.” Caitlin made the medallion a centerpiece of a new necklace she created. An entrepreneur like Donna, Caitlin founded cwjewelrydesign.com and her business took off. Donna supported her daughter’s creative endeavors but also encouraged Caitlin to purse another love of hers – writing – which she did at UC Irvine, studying journalism.

Meanwhile, Donna was adding more services to Relics – not simply shopping for clients but also helping design for them on a larger scale. It wasn’t too long before Caitlin’s passion for design seemed like a natural fit to join forces with Donna. “We realized that our combined talents could become something much broader in scope – and the name Whelan Design House reflects our desire to embark on different creative projects and offer various services under one umbrella,” explains Donna. “We are always evolving,” adds Caitlin. If the partners do not find something they are looking for, they will have it created – often designing it themselves. Whelan Design House’s furniture line – with soft modern shapes in gorgeous lush blues and pinks is not just beautiful but functional, comfortable, and built to last. “I love a math problem and a design challenge and sometimes a custom design is the only solution,” explains Caitlin, who is very adept at the technical side of the business. “She is amazing with new technology, such as 3D modeling, which helps bring a room to life on the screen so our clients may visualize a space,” says Donna. Successfully blending styles and eras is often a challenge for homeowners and designers alike, but it’s a specialty of Whelan Design House. “We are especially inspired when there can be a fusion of time periods. For example, a piece from the 60s working alongside something from the 20s.” A client is thrilled if she can keep that favorite piece from her grandmother, but also bring in more modern touches that create a fresh and contemporary look. Donna and Caitlin love to introduce special finds, often vintage or antique, into a scheme to express a client’s personality. “Good

design can truly change people’s lives for the better,” says Donna. “It may sound so dramatic, but we see it over and over again.” There is no cookie cutter one-size-fit-all approach to a Whelan Design plan. “We create spaces that are truly one-of-a-kind for the person who lives in it,” says Caitlin.

“We like to think of it as having an artful approach,” explains Donna. In addition to found and repurposed pieces, the team is a fan of custom-made furniture and accessories. “We try to do everything locally, using workhouses in LA because it’s better for the environment and the local economy,” explains Donna. Continuing with that eco-conscious vibe, the duo also gravitates toward natural materials and fabrics. “We use almost 99 percent natural fibers like linen, Mohair, cotton, wool, wood, and stone you find in nature,” explains Caitlin.

What might 2021 hold for the designers? Their love of art has blossomed into a stand-alone venture spearheaded by Caitlin, called Commoners Gallery. “I wanted to make artwork accessible to a broader client base,” explains Caitlin. “Having original art in a home brings me such joy and it does for others too, but it isn’t always affordable,” Caitlin explains. “So I have been scouting eBay, estate sales, and more, and I find such treasures – like prints, woodblocks, lithographs, often unsigned but terrific art, and then I have it custom-framed to create a unique piece but at a price someone starting out can afford.”

WILD BY NATURE

EXPLORE THE WILD

Relaxation and rebalancing are key for self care, so escape and chill with Wild by Nature—it was created just for that purpose. Made in Orange County and inspired by California, this Black-owned business is a hemp-derived CBD product line with no THC—only natural ingredients. Take a shot at it with their perfectly measured 6-pack of cocktail inspired tinctures or their custom vape with precise temperature control in flavors like Lavender, Rose & Hibiscus, Wild Lime & Lemon, and Apple & Mint ($19 and up). wildbynaturecbd.com

OSEA MALIBU

OSEA (oh-see-yah) DRY SKIN

Founded in Malibu by a mother-daughter duo, OSEA is designed to rehab your dry, dull skin with mineral and seaweed based products sourced directly from the sea. All ingredients are hand harvested and USDA certified organic. Exfoliate and hydrate your whole body with the Salts of the Earth Mineral Scrub ($42) created with dead sea salts, avocado oils, and shea butter. It will leave your skin silky smooth. The Essential Hydrating Oil ($36/$68) is a cult favorite for the face—it plumps and moisturizes with a blend of eight lightweight essential oils, leaving you with a glowing and radiant complexion all day. oseamalibu.com, (310) 361-0547, Available at Bloomingdales Fashion Island

NATURE OF THINGS

Need to re-energize? Soak in the Nature of Things, a collection of clean plant-based wellness products. Start with the best-selling Clarity Ritual Trio Set ($260), designed to reduce pain, inflammation, and stress from the inside out. Start with the Restorative Floral Bath made with gemstone extracts and green tea oil. Next, lather on the Nourishing Body Creme designed to renew elasticity and leave your skin supple and soft. Finally, alleviate anxiety, improve your mental clarity, elevate your mood, and sharpen your focus with the Lucidity Powder. Natureofthings.com, Available at ALTH in Lido Marina Village, Studio C and Vince in Fashion Island

FACIAL LOUNGE

ABOUT FACE

If you’re ready to be pampered, try a facial curated specifically for your needs at the Facial Lounge. Owner/ Aesthetician Amber Rose Johnson started the business over twenty years ago. Facial Lounge does not have a menu of services and exclusively offers custom treatments since everyone’s skin needs are different. Start with a mini facial (25 minutes for $99) and you’ll be hooked on their plant-based, organic, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, non-toxic services. Kick it up a notch with custom add ons: red LED light for collagen production, blue LED light to kill acne causing bacteria, facial fuzz removal, sugaring, waxing, and so much more. If you don’t want a service in person, Amber also creates custom masks to pick up for your skin issues. Truly a concierge facial service. Faciallounge.com, (949) 432-5915

MOM + POP

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT (AREN’T THEY)?

By Kim Newett

How Parents Can Support Their Teens Right Now

2020 may go down in history as one of the most challenging years for kids and their parents in recent memory. It was the year of quarantine, of school closures, of not seeing friends, of online learning and endless Zoom calls. A year of stolen summers, hard-to-focus falls and a winter of (mostly) discontent.

While a COVID-19 vaccine is starting to be administered in the U.S., it will take time for it to make its way to kids and teens, parents and teachers — meaning that we still have some rough waters ahead when it comes to helping our children navigate life, school and isolation. Not to mention all of the other pressures that face our teens, even in the best of times.

As we enter a new year, the Tableau team wanted to provide advice for parents; some tips for how to show up and provide support to their teens in this anything but familiar “new normal.” Thankfully, one of the nation’s foremost experts on this topic happens to be a trusted local resource: Daniel Patterson of Newport Beach-based Patterson Perspective.

Daniel spent 17 years working in education as a high school teacher and administrator, then left those roles to create his own company aimed at supporting teens and their families in individualized ways. He and his team are known for their effective and nuanced approaches to academic coaching and college advising that resonate with both teens and parents.

Patterson Perspective helps all teens — especially those who don’t fit the mold — map plans for life and school that best suit them. Daniel’s proven approach considers the whole person, and he focuses quite a bit on the mental health of the students that he sees. Under normal circumstances, he has a thriving business. In the pandemic, his business has seen more growth than any other year by far.

Daniel started our conversation with an important message: Remember to breathe. Deeply. And often. Then, he proceeded to give us some valuable advice, which we’ve excerpted below:

Check in with your student. Daniel recommends that your teen see a therapist at least as often as he sees a dentist — twice a year at minimum, and more as needed to make sure your student is clear on his purpose and is developing coping skills. During the pandemic, therapy can help your student deal with feeling cut off from their world, experiencing economic insecurities due to a parent losing a job, or grieving any personal losses.

Give you and your child a break when it comes

to worrying about academic shortcomings. While it is easy to get overwhelmed and wrapped up in the panic of what kids are missing due to remote or hybrid learning, there are ways to fortify what may be lacking in this new model. Consider reading, watching documentaries, art projects, or discussing the news together. With no extracurricular activities on the schedule, kids have quite a bit of time on their hands — and in their heads. In the past, we have used the subject of school as crutch to communicate with our children. Research shows that parents spend

approximately 80% of their time with their teens talking about school-related topics. But, according to Daniel, who your teen is as a student really only accounts for about 10% of who they are as a person. This is a great time for you to encourage your child to explore things that truly interest her, which will ultimately help her define her purpose.

Take this time to question the activities and

checklists we have set for our kids. For instance, this year, colleges are not requiring students to take their SAT or ACTs as part of their application package. Many colleges aren’t requiring them through 2024. So, take that off the plate of things your family is stressed about. Grades also will look different due to the approaches schools and districts are taking to accommodate varying student circumstances. Don’t hyper focus on grades. For those who receive daily emails from school with grade updates, Daniel suggests checking them once a week (at most) to avoid creating conflict. Set up small wins for your child. Create a list of rules that are clear and concise and follow through with them. Pandemic or no pandemic, house rules are house rules. Kids thrive with structures including regular bedtimes, chores, getting dressed for the day. Make sure you are not giving them “outs.” Rules for behavior and performance should be enforced lovingly, simply and consistently to help reduce tension. Kids crave ambiguity, a little slack with the enforcement because it helps them duck accountability — don’t give it to them. It’s hard as parents when we are seeking the endorphins of happiness, the smile and the hugs, to remember that not following through with the basic rules in order to avoid conflict sets us up for bigger conflicts down the road.

Remember that your kids are watching you. How you are processing your stress during the pandemic is setting an example for your kids to follow. Taking healthy breaks, exercising, and checking in with your own mental health are ways to ensure that your kids will do the same. If you are coping by engaging in unhealthy habits, your kids are learning from that, too.

While the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to families and educators, it’s also revealed — among other things — that we have been raising kids who have been over-scheduled in the pursuit of a stellar résumé, top school acceptances and the supposed “happily ever after” life to follow. Except it doesn’t really work that way. As Daniel observes, we often see kids get lost in their schedules only to get to college devoid of purpose and coping skills. The rise in teenage anxiety and depression has been growing steadily for years. This period that has enforced a slowdown has unintentionally had the effect of making people question the integrity of their motivation. Kids, like all of us, have had time to explore what they really want to spend time doing — and to make note of what they are much happier to cut out of their lives permanently. It has given kids the opportunity to explore their authentic selves. That is the gift of 2020.

Daniel Patterson can be reached via email at daniel@ pattersonperspective.com to schedule a consultation. More information about him, his services, and his approach can be found at pattersonperspective.com.

It’s important to consistently check in with your child’s mental health. Be aware of these warning signs of serious depression:

• If your child isolates him or herself from the family. If he or she spends all of their time in their room, including meals or other family time.

• If sleep patterns are disrupted. If they are sleeping more than their normal teenage selves — or less. Or if they are up at various times throughout the night.

• If they are making random friends online

Please step in and speak to a mental health professional if you are noticing some of the above behavior or if something just doesn’t feel right with your teen.

TO ORDER

By Elisabeth Abrahamson

Coffee Dose

Husband and wife duo Oscar and Jeni Castro are killing the caffeine game. Coffee Dose, their Instagramable café tucked into East Eighteenth Salon, offers craft lattes, vegan treats, and branded apparel you won’t find anywhere else. The Castros had no experience in making coffee, but Jeni knew that she could do it, saying, “Drinking it three times a day was at least a good start!” The Eastside Costa Mesa location (there’s another spot on Melrose in Los Angeles) is keeping their uber popular seasonal Dulce latte, made with a creamy blend of coconut condensed milk, marzipan, espresso, cinnamon, and oat milk on the menu this month. And next month, be on the lookout for Phil’s Side Chick, a mint mojito-inspired latte. www.coffeedose.cafe, (949) 903-8353

Project Fifty/100

Chef Jeremy Fox has been in the food industry his entire working career, starting as a busser at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland when he was 17. Fast forward to today, where he’s the Chef de Cuisine at the Summit House in Fullerton and the creator of Project Fifty/100. When Fox and his team at Summit House needed to pivot last March, he thought of ways to bring the dining experience at Summit House into your house. Enter Project Fifty/100, a box filled with prepped ingredients, instructions on how to make and plate the meal, and even a suggested playlist to set the mood—just as you’d experience at the restaurant. What’s even better? Fox partners with small local farms and utilizes byproducts and parts of produce that would normally be discarded. “Our motto is ‘Do 50 percent of the work, but get 100 percent of the credit,’” says Fox. projectfifty100.com

The Blind Pig

You might feel like you’re dining in a speakeasy at the Blind Pig Kitchen and Bar — one of Yorba Linda’s newest culinary hot spots. An intimate chef’s counter has four seats, located off the lively kitchen with a full view of the action, allowing Chef Karl Pfleider to experiment with special customized tasting menus. “Chef Karl’s dishes are inspired from a variety of cuisines from all over the world, recreated with a signature Blind Pig twist,” says owner Tony Monaco. “For example, the Mushroom Saltado was inspired by a popular Peruvian dish known as the Lomo Saltado,” he says. “This vegetarian version includes fingerling potatoes, puffed rice, and pickled mustard seeds, topped with a perfectly poached egg and chili oil.” Healthy options (it is January, right?) include Chicken Adobo and Mahi Mahi with pistachio romesco —yum! theblindpigoc.com, (714) 485-2593