Stephani is a local mom of three small children who owns and operates the popular clothing store Common Thread (formerly Xpecting Boutique).
Where are you from originally?
Tucson, Arizona.
How long have you lived in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach? How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I moved here in 2004 (I think, it is getting hard to remember exactly)! I have 3 kids: Nash is 7, Pierce is 5, and Willow is 2.
What are your favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
We LOVE the beach. We are able to ride our bikes down now and it is our absolute favorite. We are a big outdoors family! Also, we staycation at the Huntington Beach Hyatt at least 3-4 times every summer. You cannot beat the 10 minute drive to water slides, s’mores and easy fun!
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? An adult night out? Why?
Family date is the Crack Shack – my kids are happy with the set-up because they do not have to just sit. My husband and I are happy because we can have a glass of wine. We all love something on the menu so that is a bonus too!
Date night – Oak and Coal or Zinqué if we go out. My #1 is our at home dates in the backyard. Our kids are so little that they go down by 7 and there is nothing better than opening a good bottle of wine and sitting by the fire pit!
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
Pancakes!
2 eggs, 2 bananas, ½ cup oatmeal, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tsp baking soda
Blend it up, let sit for 10 mins and then add chocolate chips, of course!
What is your local go-to store for children’s clothes? Yourself?
Well myself is easy – Common Thread
My boys (husband included) – Surfside
My daughter – For a splurge I like Peek at Fashion Island, but I am pretty practical and think you cannot beat Target for little girl’s clothes.
What are your favorite events in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach?
I honestly do not have a great answer for you. Perhaps I need to get out more often?!?
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
Every time we hit a new age I think it is difficult to be honest. It is all so new (my poor first born, we seem to navigate it all together). I am always open to advice and am lucky enough to be surrounded by other moms who I look up to and admire. I would say I navigate the tough times with a lot of prayer and a lot of wine (and I am only kind of kidding).
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? What was the best advice your mom gave you?
Everybody is potty trained by the time they graduate high school. It is just a way of telling all of us not to sweat the small stuff. I think as moms we want to do our best for our children and we want them to be their very best. Sometimes we stress ourselves out about the silly stuff. This is easier said than done, but I am working on it!
My mom’s best advice is to be nice to my husband. A gentle reminder to appreciate what an awesome dad and husband he is … so does it really matter that much if he puts the trucks in the puzzle bin? No, no it doesn’t. Again, less sweating the small stuff, which is just tough for Type A people like myself.
What do you most value in your friends?
Honestly, Loyalty, Dependability, Humor
How do you balance a career & motherhood?
I actually opened my store thinking it would be a great way to balance work and motherhood, and for the most part I was right. The biggest challenge is constantly feeling like I want to be two places at once.
I manage it all by having great people around me. My husband is super hands on, our nanny is an angel and part of our family at this point, and my team at the store is the best. My store manager, Cindy, and I have built Common Thread together, and it would not be the success it is today without her. It is true – it takes a village!
IF and when you get time to yourself, what’s your favorite thing to do?
My favorite thing to do for myself is run. I had a HUGE goal this year – to qualify for the Boston marathon, and I just ran a marathon at the end of May and qualified. It is crazy to even think about since I had to cut over half an hour off of my previous time!
Thank you Stephani!
Be sure to check out her store Common Thread (formerly Xpecting Boutique)
on 17th Street in Costa Mesa for all sorts of great finds.
