Jessica Alba has a new extensive interview and photo spread of her home in Hello! Magazine. She comes across well, as she has for some time now. It seems like Alba’s insufferable days are well behind her, and she’s settled into a nice routine as a mom and business owner. In the piece, Alba is promoting The Honest Company and her book, The Honest Life. She talks about eco-friendly home products, which are her bread and butter, and about being a wife and mother, which is also her bread and butter. Alba is a brand now, and she’s selling us her environmentally conscious lifestyle. She’s worked to make it affordable for people, and that’s really saying something when it comes to a celebrity product.

On her family
We’re a happy family. When I first met Cash, I felt like I’d known him my whole life. And my parents are a pretty good example of showing me it could work. They got together when they were 16 and 17 years old and are still happily married.

On her husband
Cash is great. He’s the best father ever. He loves preparing meals for Honor and taking her out to play if I’m with the baby, or just feeling a bit tired at the end of the day. He’ll sit and watch children’s movies with Honor and teach her different things – it’s really beautiful to watch them together.

On how she’s the disciplinarian in their house
From my own experience, I know it’s important for me to make sure Honor grows up knowing what is proper behavior and good manners. I don’t want to see her growing up into a younger version of myself!

On her career
Before I started my family, acting was my total focus in life. I know that my looks were my path into Hollywood, but I never really enjoyed the kind of attention that comes with the [sex symbol] image. I was very hungry to have a serious career and now I’m able to do both family films and darker kinds of movies. It’s the best of both worlds for me.

I’m finally comfortable in my own skin – I can embrace the idea of being a sexy and self-confident woman.

I also have different priorities as a mother. I’m not afraid to turn down film roles now if I feel I need to spend more time with my children.

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, July 29, 2013]

Alba’s career has definitely been on the wane lately, and that’s not exactly because she’s busy with her family. She sounds a little like Goop here when she talks about her career, although more well rounded and realistic. Alba built her career as the “sexy” castmember, and those type of roles tend to get replaced with younger women. She sounds both grateful for that recognition and wary of it. This isn’t new from her. It was smart of her to start her own business, and I like that Alba doesn’t try to dictate to the masses how to live. She has her way of doing things and she wants to share it, not make it into some way of life we’re supposed to aspire to.

Jessica Alba is shown at a book signing on 7-9-13. She’s also shown out with her family on 7-21-13. Credit: WENN.com, FameFlynet and PCNPhotos