FOOD STYLIST
Tyna made all the food for our cover shoot…back in August. And we’ve been dreaming of turkey and the fixings ever since!
Fun behind-the-scenes story from the issue:
I "foraged" those gorgeous pomegranates in L.A., flew them back to New York, then carried them to Birmingham, Alabama, hoping to get them in the shot. Happy to say I did!
Favorite recipe to cook:
The homestyle Vietnamese soups and stews my mom used to make.
Childhood celebrity crush:
Topanga from Boy Meets World, Romeo + Juliet–era Leonardo DiCaprio, and Justin Timberlake
PROP STYLIST
A former editor, C.G.H. now spends her time creating beautiful scenes for magazines, ads, and more. She set the festive tables starting on page 88.
The one item you can’t live without:
Good pens! I’m a total pen snob. My go-tos are fine-point Sharpies for to-do lists (I pick a different color every month) and LePen pens for everything else (usually dark gray).
Favorite plant:
Everything in my vegetable garden. I get to grow so much produce, like tomatoes, snap peas, green beans, cucumbers, and herbs. I love having them all on hand; it makes me supremely happy.
FREELANCE WRITER
We couldn’t forget about Amy, who wrote our story about memory (page 48).
Favorite podcast:
I never miss Tangle. It looks at news from across the political spectrum. If we all listened to each other more, the world would be a better place!
Alternative career choice:
Probably a therapist—but I recently interviewed a linguist for a story, and that line of work seems pretty fascinating too.
Favorite thing in your home:
Does my dog count? She’s a pug named Minerva. She’s on my lap right now (and always).
REAL SIMPLE CONTRIBUTING SENIOR RESEARCH EDITOR
Maya does deep-dive fact-checking for the magazine. This month, she also dug into the thrilling history of stickers (page 62).
Where is your happy place?
Black Butte Ranch in central Oregon. My family had a cabin there, where I spent many wonderful vacations as a kid. I’ve been lucky enough to bring my own kids to the area a few times too.
What’s your personal motto?
“Keep on keepin’ on.” Translation: Never give up!
CARLA GONZALEZ-HART: COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER TESTANI;
HEADSHOTS COURTESY OF SUBJECTS