My name is Jessica Bodas. I’m a mom to three beautiful and independent women: Reese (20), Peyton (17), and Layne (14). I have been a teacher for 30 years in Tustin and Norwalk La Mirada. I started my photography business 15 years ago. I have two brothers. One also lives in Eastside Costa Mesa and we see often. The cousins are close. My dad lives in Tustin with his wife, and my mom lives in Vegas with her husband.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family:
I co-parent with the girls’ dad, Matt, and we share the family dog, Roxy. Reese, my oldest, is finishing up her junior year as a D1 soccer player at Boise State and plans to graduate with an Education major. Peyton will start junior college this summer and is hoping to transfer to a college in New York and major in Biology. After her four-year degree, she plans to get her ND (Natural Doctorate). And Layne is in 8th grade at Ensign. She’s practicing her tennis swing and hoping to make the tennis team at NHHS.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I started at Yogurt Time in high school. I worked at Surfside Sports in Irvine and Newport Beach. I worked at Spoons Restaurant as a bar waitress and National Sports Bar. I started teaching when I was 21 and took my first job in Norwalk La Mirada, where I taught for five years. After five years, I switched to Tustin Unified, where I have worked ever since. I have taught all grades K-8th, except 2nd grade. I started my photography business 15 years ago and still do that as well.
I currently teach graphic design, video production, photography, and computer applications electives at a middle school. I love exposing kids to artistic thinking and giving them tools to start a real business as well as possibly spark something within them for the future.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I have quite a few: Olea, Gulfstream, Bandera, Original A, Sugar Fish, and Rothschild’s
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach area for 22 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Probably Kobe Bryant. My daughter Reese played on his soccer team, Mamba. He pulled me aside and asked, “How did you get Reese to be such a GREAT athlete?” I started giggling, actually. I said, “You should know the answer to this already … I gave birth to her. And supported her by driving her to games and practices.” I think about that conversation every now and again as it actually blows my mind he thought I had something to do with her success.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I love Greece. Especially Mykonos. However, I’d like to see Croatia as well. Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende are ones in the near future.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV Shows?
I love things that are realistic. Where I can see what others do for work, etc. I love Black Hawk Down. American Sniper. Narcos. Griselda. Mad Men.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Work hard. Have an honest character even when no one is watching. People can sense when you are genuine. People can smell the good ones who are authentic.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Hoping by 60 I can take my girls to Kenya for a safari. That one I definitely want to achieve in this lifetime.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?
I love supermodel Molly Sims. I’d meet her for lunch and chat about life as a working mom and mom to three kids. I just think she’s cool and real and super hard-working and grateful for the life she lives each day. I love her style and her house in the Hamptons looks like a dream. She and I would definitely have some fun!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I think Eastside is a secret gem. Many of the houses are still original and haven’t been torn down yet. It’s not too fancy; however, the “fancies” are starting to creep in. It’s changed a lot in the 22 years I’ve been here. It still has some great people and great places to eat. I love how close it is to the beach, where you can hop on a bike and go eat or catch a sunset.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I’m hoping to split my time here and in Montana possibly. Maybe desert too.
Q: (Even for friends or family) What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I graduated college in five years, but my program was six years long.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My boyfriend planned a trip to Cabo for my 50th with six of some of my closest friends. That birthday was over the top. Every detail he had put so much thought into. We had lunch at the Montage. He rented a villa at Punta Ballena, which is located next to the Esperanza. We had maids and chefs. Spent my birthday night at Edith’s, one of my all-time favorites, followed by fun at SUR beach club, which was a blast. These were possibly five of the greatest days of my life.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My girls. I always want them to be proud of me.
Q: Finally, what 3 words come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Cozy, simple, peaceful
