Meet Alison Metcalfe | Owner, Salud

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alison Metcalfe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alison, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My perception of work-life balance was learned through my parents growing up. My Dad worked as a California State Park Ranger where we had to wave at the front kiosk to get through to our home. While this sounds endearing to the average Californian, it’s tricky as a teen. I can remember timing my posture to slump further down in my seat the closer we reached eyesight of the seasonal Park Aides. I guess in some ways it was our own little gated community. For my father, there was no line between work and home life. For us, our home was just past the “Authorized Vehicles Only” signs.

Before I had my own child, it was hard to determine when enough was enough when it came to work. Creative fields have a lot of blurred lines. At one point, while working as a design assistant, my days lasted until midnight right before the seasonal launches. But I loved my coworkers and loved my work. Overseas travel, fashion shows and, on-location photoshoots aren’t the usual suspects to difficult working conditions. It took the arrival of my son to shine a light on my balance and priorities.

I remember one late night at the design office, I was setting the alarm and locking the front doors at 8 months pregnant. That was the first time thinking to myself that I can’t be doing this anymore. I felt the significance of my new role as a mother and realized I had already prepared my team to step into their own roles. The secret to my own balance was finding people I trusted to take care of their part within the whole.

Now, as a business owner, most of my days I work from home. This time around, work-life balance is more conscious. I think it’s beautiful that people can embody the energy of their business so that it feels like an extension of them vs a battle for attention where nobody truly wins. I can prioritize my son’s needs without apologizing. I can have phone calls with my mom in the afternoons, clear my mind with a walk at the beach, or grab tea with other business owners to share notes on our current challenges (or wins). Before my son, balance was about time, but as a mother, balance is about priorities.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I believe that we are entering a period of time where we have to consciously commit to the values of our businesses. By that, I mean that business owners are creating the channels through which healing energy will be born into our world.

I want to thank business owners who have specifically committed to sustainability, organic farming, holistic healing, creative expression, children’s wellness, conscious relationships and safe, healthy communities. Salud was build on the foundation of sustainability, personal wellness and organic farming through quality ingredients. And I am not alone in this. Other business owners have committed to the same, enduring cost increases, supply chain shortages, and dramatic shifts in retail buying among other things. I feel like this past year had many of us on our toes as we had to decide what to prioritize in our businesses.

But this year was also a year that faith had a bigger role in my business. I would find myself saying, let God take that worry. It’s less about avoidance and more about passing off those things that we can’t change for the time being.
When a large retailer closed permanently, I was sad for the owner who also was a friend in this industry while also sad for the lost sales that would have to come from somewhere else. Instead of worrying, “what are we going to do”, I had to remember what was in our own control. This was the push I needed to explore new markets, collab with luxury retreats and stay committed to the audience reading my newsletters. It was just the right push into 2025.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my favorite spots in North County, San Diego are places we can slow down, enjoy each other’s company and the glowing sunshine.

A perfect self care week would start with a Shamanic Journey sound bath with Isha Gold, founder of Gold Meditation in Encinitas. At $33 for a drop in, her classes get booked fast. (https://www.meditation.gold/)

After a meditation class, the perfect pairing is a short walk up to the Meditation Gardens, built by Paramahansa Yogananda in the 1930s. Local legend has it that the Beatles stayed at the house up top so there is a bench there that I like to sit in and absorb that history. You can also pop by and visit the baby coy fish pond before the get full grown. The gardens are free to the public.

By mid-morning, I am ready for an iced matcha latte, so a short drive over to Grange Garden on Cedros in Solana Beach hits the heartstrings. Grange Gardens is owned by Melissa Clark, who wanted to have a place where she could bring her bunnies to work. The therapy bunnies are also great with small children. They tend to have a waist list on the weekends but the week days are open or you can make reservations in advance for larger groups.

Cedros at Solana Beach has a pretty special group of businesses. One such special place is Kites by Carla Manuel, an exquisitely curated women’s vintage boutique with pieces from all over europe. At Kites you can find 1960’s silk dresses, Italian leather handbags, chunky gold and silver costume jewelry and seasonal linen sets. Carla is often traveling the world, so you can make an appointment to see her collection.

For a nice lunch, my favorite spot is the Waverly in Cardiff. The parm croutons on the Ceasar Salad are enormous and so delicious and you really can’t go wrong with their pork shoulder rice bowl or the cheese course as a starter.

Dinner spots are abundant in North County. If we are looking for a nice outdoor ambiance with casual dining, then Heritage is the spot in Oceanside – the Nachos with homemade chips can feed two people and are often overlooked for their more popular brisket platters . For a more intimate setting with a global flair, the Aloo Gobi and Veggie Samosas at Himalayan Sherpa Cuisine in Carlsbad never disappoint.

We can’t skip dessert, especially if we are in Oceanside where you’ll find Little Fox Cups and Cones. Their seasonal flavors like You Otta Horchata and S’more the Merrier are amazing. You can also order an ice cream cake or have a party catered by a fun locally owned business.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this to my mother, Ophelia. This past holiday season, I decided to explore new markets for Salud which meant more travel and special events. One particular event was up in Santa Barbara, hosted by the Palma Collective. I was still recovering from a cold, so, not quite 100% and it was my final in-person event before Christmas. Not only did my mother wake up early for our road trip up the coast, she helped me set up our pop up and carry on conversations with new customers. Her uplifting spirit and ability to make others feel comfortable are just a couple of reasons why she was such a wonderful nurse before she retired. It’s important to have people in my life who will bring joyfulness, especially through the days when I put too much pressure on myself to succeed. My mom reminds me that success is in enjoying life’s everyday moments.

Website: https://www.saludshoppe.com

Instagram: @saludshoppe

Image Credits
Photography @bylaloba