Alexandra (Alex) Landy is a hotel executive, real estate attorney, and mother of two. After practicing hospitality law in New York for several years, Alex moved home to Los Angeles to join her family real estate business where she now oversees the beautiful Hotel Oceana Santa Monica. She lives in the Pacific Palisades with her husband, two children, and English Bulldog. She enjoys running, travel, and spending time with family.
We caught up with the busy mama to discuss flexible schedules, kid-friendly spots in LA, and why you’ll see Mini Bloom at Hotel Oceana!
I think the trick is finding your peace with the fact that there is no perfect balance! In the past four years, my very full-time career has shifted to a more hybrid, flexible schedule, which is what works best for me and my family in the moment. Of course, this doesn’t work for everyone, but I do think it’s important to find whatever balance makes you feel most fulfilled. Plus, I could never make my life work without a very detailed Google calendar.
The most valuable lesson I impart to my kids is to put family first. My husband and I (alongside our village of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins) do this by leading by example. We make it a priority to spend time with family as much as possible, even if this is just a simple FaceTime with cousins on the East Coast. My dream is for my kids and their cousins to be best friends, similar to how I grew up.
We have a weekly tradition of going to the neighborhood Farmers Market. My kids count on it every weekend! They love sampling every cookie and fruit station, picking fresh flowers for the house, and saying hello to the potbelly pig named Porkchop that is often a staple at the market entrance. It’s definitely our favorite local activity for both kids and adults.
Recently for brunch, we went to Patrick’s Roadhouse, a local diner that has been on the corner of PCH and Chautauqua since 1973, but somewhere I hadn’t been in nearly 30 years. It was surprisingly great for kids! They have hysterical trinkets and décor to keep kids entertained, hand out crayons and cards for Go-Fish when you arrive, and their famous chocolate chip pancakes.
Our favorite Santa Monica date spot is an Italian restaurant called Giorgios. I highly recommend it if you like amazing pasta, dover sol, and an ambience that somehow combines discreet with sceney. For guests staying at Oceana, I recommend a sunset cocktail on our ocean-view, rooftop lounge before dinner.
Runyon Canyon is definitely the most “famous” LA hiking trail, but I actually think the best and most underrated hikes are in the Santa Monica mountains. My personal favorites are Temescal, Zuma Ridge (especially during yellow wildflower season), and Will Rogers since they all have amazing ocean and city views. For tourists visiting LA, don’t skip out on one of these hikes, followed by a drive up PCH and a stop at the beach (either Will Rogers Beach or the more hidden El Matador).
Oceana and Mini Bloom are such a great fit for many reasons, the first of which is that I really connected with Mini Bloom’s founder, Lauren Wolk-Goldfaden, over our respective parenting journeys. In addition, Oceana provides its guests with a “dream beach home” experience. It is only fitting for our hotel to provide even our youngest guests with products that belong in such a space – cue Mini Bloom! Finally, as a boutique, family-owned and LA-based hotel, the Oceana team felt that Mini Bloom aligned perfectly with its roots and clientele.
Definitely “Knots Be Gone!” I don’t know how I would brush my daughter’s hair without it. “Toot Toot Balm” is a close second mostly because I think the name is super cute for diaper cream.
