Ally Walsh + Casey Wojtalewicz // Romance + Relationship Tips
Ally and Casey are one of the glowiest, loveliest, most down to earth couples around. Get a glimpse into their dreamy Santa Monica beachside oasis, and read their personal tips for keeping their relationship strong.
Ally Walsh, a model/creative, and Casey Wojtalewicz, a musician/writer, live together in their beachy Santa Monica glow-nest. This beautiful couple met in Los Angeles in 2012, and set about pursuing their shared dreams of a vibrant life full of travel, health, delicious food and consciousness together. In their free time, they love hiking, reading, and exploring new places. They both maintain a balanced holistic practice of meditation and yoga, on a unified, supportive path of self-discovery.
Ally recently earned a certificate in culinary health and nutrition from the Matthew Kenney Academy, and is looking forward to a spending some time working on a farm in New Zealand this winter. Casey, who got his start in music as the drummer of Cayucas, is excited to start releasing music and tour with his new project, Wildling. He also recently started sharing his prose and essays online at gentlemyn.com.
On our visit to their magical little pad, Ally and Casey spoiled us with Moon Juice tonics, live guitar-playing, but mostly with their sweet, loving energy that exudes from them both individually and as a couple. These two radiate such genuine kindness, the epitome of #howyouglow.
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH YOUR PARTNER / KEEPING ROMANCE: 1. surprises 2. flirting 3. dates 4. time alone together / time apart from each other 5. passion 6. attention, appreciation, affection
| Ally + Casey // @allywalsh + @casewoj |
HOW THEY GLOW QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: Ally Walsh & Casey Wojtalewicz
NICKNAME: Al & Case (Casey also used “Brothers” for music)
PROFESSION: Model & Musician
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?: A: New York C: West Minnesota
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? On the beach in Santa Monica, CA
WHAT’S ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP? A: Knowing that no relationship is perfect. There are real challenges and things that come up that require work, but at the end of the day you know you want to share your life with this person, and you can have love for each other without having to say it every day. C: And you can’t have that—can’t really have a healthy relationship at all—without real communication. People will inevitably see things differently, and you have to have the conversations about the tough stuff. The important thing is to look at any “problems” that arise as things to resolve together; not as either/or or you vs. me issues. A: Also, independence. Recognizing the individuality of the other person and giving them the space they need to grow and be.
WHEN YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…
BREAKFAST: C: Whatever fruit is in season (berries right now—especially mulberries from the farmers market!). Al likes them with chia seed oatmeal! I either do granola with nut or hemp milk, otherwise I go with eggs and salad. A: And coffee.
LUNCH: Lots of avocado and pesto in different forms… on toast, in salads, in bowls with quinoa or rice (we’ve been eating a lot of black rice, lately). Casey likes burritos.
DINNER: big salads with a lot of roasted veggies (brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips), avocado, mushrooms, Japanese sweet potatoes and occasionally grilled salmon
SNACK: A: I could live on apples and almond butter. Figs and almond butter. Also carrots and hummus. And kombucha! C: I get this sourdough bread from the Wednesday Santa Monica farmers market. We go through two loaves a week making avocado toast.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY? Amara Kitchen in Highland Park. Moon Juice & Cafe Gratitude in Venice. Inaka in Hollywood. Pace in Laurel Canyon.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE? Kippy’s coconut ice cream and any dark raw Chocolate! Zen Bunni… Spiritual Being…
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE? Alma in DTLA, Gjelina in Venice.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH? C: my Mom’s home-made waffles… and Ally can’t decide
WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP? Santa Monica Co-Op, Farmers Markets, Whole Foods
TOP 3 ITEMS YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN? Apples, avocado and almond butter.
WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIMEN? (how often & what you do) A: Yoga, the daily method, and hiking C: I just try to do something everyday. The closest thing I have to a “routine” is running on the beach to the Santa Monica pier, playing around on the rings and bars, then swimming in the ocean. Other than that I do yoga and surf.
WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (products, facials, etc) A: I wash my face with Earth Tu Face, spray with rosewater and use lots of coconut oil C: I try to use as little product as possible. I just make sure to drink a lot of water and avoid foods that are bad for my skin. I use Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil face wipes after a show or while traveling before I go to sleep.
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU? A: Persimmons, kombucha, and a sparkling water C: a notebook, a pen, and a breakfast burrito
WHAT PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY/HEALTH/FITNESS/SPIRITUAL GURUS DO YOU SWEAR BY? A: we see a meditation guide / spiritual advisor named George Falcon.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS RIGHT NOW? A: Only three?! That’s hard… Right now, probably Lost in the Light by Bahamas, Time To Run by Lord Huron, and Tiny Dancer by Elton John C: Yeah we’ve both been on a Bahamas kick right now. His music is the perfect vibe for our house. Mine right now are The Way We Used to Beg by Joel Alme, Distant Sures by The Cave Singers, and Ansel by Modest Mouse—off their new record.
MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK? C: This is tough… different books seem to come to you at different times when their message is most impactful. For me, some of those books have been Narcissus & Goldmund by Herman Hesse, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, and the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. A: So many good ones. Be Here Now by Ram Das, The Power of Now and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss
COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED? C: It’d be unfair to deem one place the coolest! We have a special place in our heart for northern New Mexico. We road tripped and visited Taos, Abiquiu and Santa Fe last August, and it was one of our favorite trips.
WHO ARE YOUR MOST TRUSTED HEALERS? A: We love Maria and Joe at Elysia Life Care (@elysialifecare)—they’re both acupuncturists / herbalists, and amazing people!
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. C: Wake up really early, make coffee, pack a lunch, and hit the road while the city’s only beginning to stir. Driving north to Big Sur or San Francisco, taking our time to stop and take photos and hike, and making it to our destination in time for a beautiful dinner.
FAVORITE QUOTE? C: Assume nothing, expect anything. A: I just read this book, Gift From the Sea, and there’s a quote that I loved: “Simplicity of living, as much as possible, to retain a true awareness of life. Balance of physical, intellectual, and spiritual life. Work without pressure. Space of significance and beauty. Time for solitude and sharing. Closeness to nature, to strength and understanding and faith in the intermittency of life: life of the spirit, creative life, and life of human relationships.”
WHAT MAKES YOU GLOW? Meditation, love, and the anticipation of travel
Photography by: Emily Knecht