Alyana DeSouza: Stay-at-Home Mom, Hair Accessory Crafter

Spotted in: Fairfax, CA

Occupation: Stay-at-home Mom, Hair Accessory Crafter

What are you up to today?

I'm visiting home for the holidays. I'm originally from Fairfax—I'm visiting from Salt Lake City.

What's one of those things that you just have to do when you're back home?

I eat a Caprese sandwich from Fair Fix! That and just wander around Marin. I miss Marin, so that's what I do. And this is my son's first trip!

So he made it ok for his first plane ride?

Yeah! We totally had a great trip. I was lucky—he slept the whole time.

That's so great! What do you do?

I was a kindergarten teacher for four years, and then I just had him so now I'm a stay-at-home mom.

What are your favorite things about both?

For teaching, it was so fun to hear what the kids would always come up with when we were learning any subject, or just talking. They're just little magical creatures [laughs]. I love them! And then being a new mom, it's been an easy transition from kindergarten . . . minus the sleepless nights.

Any new mom surprises?

The diaper blowouts! Whoa. I didn't know that was possible!

What do you like to do in Salt Lake City?

We like to go hiking a lot, and camping. We go camping in the summer almost every weekend. They have so many great camping spots there. They also have really fun farmers' markets—there's a lot of local farms there. We do gallery strolls and just hang out!

What is your favorite campground so far that you've been to out there?

There's Uintas. That's on the borderline between I think Colorado and Utah. It's gorgeous.

What do you like about it?

They have this Mirror Lake where you can grab a camp spot and have your own little piece of the lake. And it's only 12 bucks a night!

So did you do that with the baby?

Yeah, we did that when he was two weeks old.

Oh wow, that's amazing!

He's been camping ever since.

I also wanted to ask you about what you're wearing!

The glasses are vintage with my prescription. I made my hair accessory.

That's very cool—it looks like a Day of the Dead skull in the center!

Yeah, I participate in art festivals in Utah and I sell these under the name PorCause Design—a little Spanglish in there.

And how about the rest of your outfit?

I'm just wearing a flannel that I got from Target. I don't know what jeans these are, and the boots I got at a thrift store. They're Fryes.

When did you get this streak in your hair and what inspired it?

I got it when I was 18 and I'm 26 now. They usually call them skunk stripes in the rockabilly/psychobilly culture. So I got that done, and now all the kids think I have Anna's hair from Frozen when I was teaching. She stole my hair! [laughs]

So you guys are into Rockabilly—do you go to a lot of shows?

Yeah! There's a lot in Salt Lake City that we go to. There's actually a humanitarian group of pinup girls—I forget what they're called—who do shows and benefits to raise money for people who have lost kids and other stuff like that.

I also wanted to ask you about your ring!

This is my wedding ring. This is vintage. It was made in the 1880s.

And this other one?

This one is from another shop right down the street here.

And did you guys go shopping today?

Oh yes, Christmas gifts, toys for him, sketchbooks for one of the girls I watch every now and then.

What's a challenge you've overcome recently?

Birth. It was very scary to get into because I've never done it before. It was actually one of my fears as a kid. Like, I have to do that? I remember in fourth grade freaking out about it. Because I love kids and want kids but I have to do that! But it wasn't that bad.

I'm sure you got a lot of advice. What was some great advice?

I think the great advice was to just trust your body and do what's right for you. You can pick and choose from what people tell you.

What was thing that helped you most through it all?

I had a picture of a sonogram by my bed to be like, I just really want to see him! Let's get him out!

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