WORK • Thursday Routine
ROSE JANE JOHNSTON • CEO and founder • By/Rosie Jane
Neighborhood you work in: Glendale
Neighborhood you live in: Eagle Rock
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
9a walk into the office — coffee in hand, inbox overflowing, and a million ideas running through my head before I even sit down. The team is in, working around a central table, heads buried. The energy kicks up as meetings begin — brainstorming new products, refining formulas, reviewing packaging, and strategizing the next big thing for By Rosie Jane. I'm not a big WFH person and I don’t love a remote team, so we’re all in the office together. There’s connection and chemistry. I love that somewhere in between meetings, there’s likely a hilarious debate about the best snacks (because snacks matter), a delivery of something exciting to test, and a moment where you catch yourself sniffing your wrist, making sure a fragrance still hits just right.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today is a full-on, back-to-back meeting marathon with the team as we align on a major relaunch happening this month. 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger than I expected when it comes to product launches and updates. We’re rolling out a new perfume, expanding into a whole new category, revamping the website… basically, everything is happening at once. And since I’m not just the CEO — I’m also the creative director and CMO — my brain is in full overdrive, juggling all the moving parts.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m heading to Barra Santos in Cypress Park for the amazing shared plates in an intimate, cozy atmosphere. It’s one of my absolute favorite restaurants in LA right now.
How about a little leisure or culture?
My favorite music venue in LA is The Greek, hands down. My family loves live music, so we go all the time, even if we don’t know the band. We took our kids to see Khruangbin there, and it was next-level amazing. There’s just something about that outdoor setting, the sound, the vibe — it’s pure magic.
But if you’re looking for something totally unexpected (and a little bizarre), check out the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen — dark, a little eerie, and absolutely fascinating. I took my kids (17, 14, and 8), and they loved it. It’s the kind of place that makes you question everything you’re looking at, in the best way possible.
What was your last great vacation?
Our family trip to Italy was pure magic, equal parts adventure, indulgence, and those unforgettable moments that make you want to book your next trip before you even leave.
We started in Florence, where we indulged in affogato at Vivoli Café, an absolute institution where every bite was perfect, and we enjoyed endless glasses of wine at the cutest little spots tucked away in side streets. From there, we explored Loro Ciuffenna, a dreamy Tuscan village that feels untouched by time. Rolling hills, stone houses, and that slow, peaceful pace that makes you forget real life exists. Panicale was another hidden gem—tiny, charming, and so quintessentially Italian that every moment felt straight out of a movie.
And then there was Rome — chaotic, stunning, and buzzing with energy. We ate our way through the city, but Roscioli was a standout. The kind of meal you dream about long after it’s over — pasta that melts in your mouth, burrata so fresh it should be illegal, and wine that just hits differently in Italy. Rome was history at every turn, long walks through ancient streets, and moments where you just have to stop and take it all in.
What store or service do you always recommend?
My ultimate self-indulgence is a facial from Studio Varuni. Owned and operated by the queen herself, Varuni Palacios, she’s not just an esthetician, she’s a face sculptor. Her hands work magic, and every session feels like a total reset. I go every six weeks, and honestly, it’s pure heaven. If you haven’t been, do yourself (and your skin) a favor.