Lisa is a Costa Mesa native who loves the Costa Mesa GREATS like Kéan Coffee, Sgt. Pepperoni, Snoopy House, and the local parks.
How long have you lived in Costa Mesa? How many kids do you have and what are their age(s)?
My husband Jordan and I both grew up in Costa Mesa and love that we are raising our family here. We have 2 children, Jonathan (6) and Hailey (4).
Name 3 things in town you can’t live without.
Well most of my mornings start off at Kéan Coffee followed by a trip to Target or Traders Joe’s. Then after getting the kids from school we usually head to one of the many fabulous parks in the area, so 1, 2, 3.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? A night out with friends? Why?
For a family date, we love Sgt. Pepperoni. The pizza is yummy and the kids have a blast in the little game room. For an adult night out, Tabu Shabu is one of our favs.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
Salsa Verde Chicken! I just put a few chicken breasts in the Instapot and pour a jar of Trader Joe’s salsa verde sauce over it. Then I serve over rice and some roasted vegetables. You can also make extra and use it for tacos.
What is your local go-to store for children’s clothes? Yourself?
I like to get the kids clothes from Gap, Target and H&M. For myself, I like Nordstrom’s Rack and H&M.
What are your favorite events in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach?
Snoopy House is a must during Christmas. I grew up going to the Snoopy House, and love that I get to take my kids now. We also love to go to Rodger’s Gardens during the holidays and pick out an ornament for our tree.
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Do you have a favorite destination for family trips? Why?
We love going to Palm Springs. There is so much to see and do there and it’s a great place relax and unwind. We love going to the living desert and feeding the giraffes, or just spending the day at the pool.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date?
Each year brings a different set of challenges, but I think 18 months – 2 years was the hardest for me. That time when they want to communicate with you but don’t have the words yet, and are so adventurous but don’t know their limits; it was exhausting!
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? What was the best advice your mom gave you?
One piece of advice I would give to other moms is don’t sweat the small stuff. Being a mom is hard enough and things don’t always need to be perfect.
The best advice my mom has given me is that you need to take care of yourself in order to be the best Mom you can be. Self care is so important even though I know must of us don’t make it a priority.
What do you most value in your friends?
With friendships I’ve always valued quality vs. quantity. Some of my friends I have known since my days at Costa Mesa High School. What I value most is that they aren’t just my friends; I consider them my family too.
What was your career before having children? If it’s the same, how do you balance career & motherhood?
My career before having children was as a Veterinary Technician (Pet Nurse). After having my first child I continued working part-time which was a great balance for me. When my second was born, I stayed home full-time, and although it was a big adjustment, I’ve really enjoyed it. Now that they are both in school, I’m trying to find a new balance of getting back to work but haven’t quite figured it out yet.
How do you relax and unwind?
To relax and unwind I like to read True Crime books or Biographies. Once the kids are in bed, I like to curl up on the couch with my husband and the dogs to watch a good show or a movie.
Thank you Lisa!
