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I Don’t Know How She Does It – Tera Rae Stephens

2013 September 19
by WWGD

TeraRaeStephens-WhatWouldGwynethDo

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Tera outside the confines of Instagram and Twitter, even though she only lives 30 miles or so north of me. Modern-day mommyhood, sigh. She is one of the most sought after hair stylists in Orange County, Calif. (book her here) where she tends to the tresses of some very stylish bloggers including my friend Sarah, who (hello!) has been featured on a national Pantene commercial. Clearly she knows how to do great hair. When she is not busy transforming lives through cut and color, she is tending to the needs of her loving brood, which includes her husband, sons Griffin (15) and Hudson (8) and daughter Harper (4). Here is how she does it:

What time does your day start and how?

My alarm goes off at 6:30 am and after checking email and Instagram in bed I head to the kitchen to make breakfast and lunches for the kids. I seem to always find a few moments with one of them alone which is a treat. While they eat, I grab clothes for the little ones and start my demands to “Hurry up!” and “Get dressed!” My husband typically drives everyone to school which gives me time to get ready for work. Best hour of my day! Especially because he comes home with my Starbucks!

What time does your day end and how?

Most days I’m home in time to make dinner, do baths, homework and put kids to bed. My husband and I call our bed our happy place so we love to watch TV there before turning in. Lights are usually out by the time the 11 o’clock news is starting.

Do you work from home or in an office? What is the set up like?

I work in the salon three days a week and on my computer at home one day. On my day at home I’m usually working on blog posts and social media for my business.

Do you see/speak to your kids throughout your work day? If yes, how/when?

When I’m in the salon I rarely have time to even look at my phone. My oldest checks in with me when he gets home from school but the littles don’t speak to me until I get home from work.

This is the first time that I’m home alone on my office day at home. My youngest is in a Pre K program and goes to school five days a week now. It’s going to take a little getting used to!

What is the best thing about being a working mom? Hardest thing?

The best thing about being a working mom is teaching my kids that we all need to have our own thing going on. I think they respect that their dad and I work hard in careers we love to provide them the lifestyle that we all enjoy.

The hardest thing is juggling it all and telling clients no when I feel like my kids need me.

Be honest, what is one thing you envy about stay at home moms?

Having the time to volunteer in the classroom and make crafty little treats for the teacher!

Answer the question “I don’t know how you do it?” in ten words or less.

I have an amazing partner that kicks ass!

And here are some of this mommy’s must-haves du jour for she and he and he and she: 

TeraStephensMustHaves-WhatWouldGwynethDo

(Clockwise from top left):

Faux fur is hot and four year olds should be able to enjoy the trend too with this jacket from Zara Kids.

Have I mentioned we live in the sun?! This Baby Bum Natural Stick smells good, is not overly loaded with chemicals and my kids can do it themselves.

This Zara Kids overcoat is great styling at a great price. Especially when you know it will only fit for one season!

Itching for beachy texture but have straight hair? Get this Oribe Surfcomber mousse now!

Can’t beat the price and fit of these H&M slim jeans! I buy five at a time because my 8 year old lives in them!

Art by Rachel Castle makes me happy. Sweet, simple, colorful with a little humor.

Nothing says Fall like hats! This Janessa Leone one is the perfect, fashionable cover for my always dirty hair! (editor’s note: hmmm…always dirty hair on a hair stylist. Taking notes.)

(center) I’m obsessed with rose gold and black diamonds together and this dainty little nugget from Catbird isn’t too crazy expensive.

My entire body has been parched from all the sun I got this summer and this Sun Bum spray is saving me! It smells amazing, soaks in quickly and keeps me from looking like a lizard!

I keep buying leather but these J Brand super skinny jeans are still the best fit I’ve found, I’ll be wearing them incessantly until April!

Their dad wears Nikes so the kids want em too! Great punchy colors and they hold up pretty well. Refresh with new laces to make them feel new again!

5 Responses
  1. September 19, 2013

    Great read! Love Tera’s picks. That Sun Bum was my find and treasure from this past summer.

  2. September 19, 2013

    I love this feature! And that print about the happy place is just perfect. xo

  3. September 19, 2013

    I love that lady! I don’t know how she does it either, plus she always looks amazing.

  4. September 20, 2013

    Know her, love her.
    I think I know a little bit of how she does it all….she has a super healthy outlook on parenting and adult time. She strikes a healthy balance between the two. She allows herself guilt free time ( can I underline that?) with girlfriends and mini getaways (like Italy, I die) with her main squeeze. So many of us say, “Oh, I can’t leave the kids, I feel so bad…”). We need to get over that quickly! She also has a great support system (parents, siblings, caregivers, pals) that she trusts so that she can enjoy her time.
    Yes, she is even cuter in real life and really fun, too! Great post!

  5. September 20, 2013

    Great post! I have the pleasure of knowing Tera in real life, and actually just had my hair done by her this week! She is amazing… so cool, but down-to-earth. And always looks incredible… even with “dirty hair” that looks better than my clean hair on any given day.

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