Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston? I am a proud 4th generation Houstonian! I was born here, left to go to Baylor University in Waco but came back after school. I moved to the Montrose area after college, and haven’t left the Inner Loop since!
Child(ren) and Age(s)? I have a 21⁄2 year old son named Dino.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you… I started college with majoring in social work! I love working with people. I incorporate lessons from my fundamental social work classes into my daily work with clients.
I am also married to a tall dark bearded Greek man! He grew up in Greece and moved here to go to the University of Texas in Austin for college. He is bilingual ( Greek and English) and we – who am I kidding- I really mean HE is currently teaching Greek to our 2 year old son.
Favorite local activities to do in Houston? My husband Pete, Dino and I love to visit Hermann Park and the surrounding areas. We live in the Braeswood area, so it is a short walk to hop on the METROrail to the park. Dino loves riding on the “train” (as he calls it!) and we don’t have to deal with parking! Hermann Park also offers so many different activities throughout the year and is so close to other places to visit: the Houston Museum of Science, the Children’s Museum, Centennial Gardens, The Houston Zoo. And we love walking to Barnabys and eating brunch outside on the patio on a not so hot day!
Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant in the area? Betsy’s at Evelyn’s Park. We love meeting friends there and eating under the big oak trees. The kids eat a bit…then play… then eat a little more. Sometimes we all end up playing a game of tag out on the Great Lawn. Dino has a blast playing with friends and its always a memorable experience.
What local places do you go to for pampering and/or mom’s night out? Paloma Nails in Post Oak and WHITE Salon in Montrose are two of my favorites for pampering. For a mom’s night out, I enjoy going out to the Houston Ballet or seeing local theater with a girlfriend, followed up with a late night nosh!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the proud business owner, founder and principal designer of Emily June Designs. Emily June Designs is a luxury interior design firm focused on helping our clients create vibrant spaces that are uniquely them. Our design philosophy emphasizes ‘out of the box thinking’, insuring form meets function. We approach every project with a refreshing and transformative design perspective that is dynamic, bold and bright. From concept to culmination, my firm’s full service design process brings life to each space – curating custom interiors for my clients that are a direct reflection of my client’s personality, taste and lifestyle.
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? The Houston community has been vital to my creativity and the way I see the world. The juxtaposition of old and new, history and progress has always sparked something inside me and really makes me the person I am today. Houston is a friendly city where everyone is different, but learns to co-exist with each other, support each other and, dare I say, love each other for our differences. I love that about our city.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)? Through juggling mommyhood and running a business, I have learned to not be so hard on myself and allow myself to make mistakes. I don’t expect anyone else to be perfect, so why do I expect it of myself? Making mistakes are where I learn the biggest lessons. I had the hardest time feeling guilty about growing my business when my son was born, as I was afraid of leaving him and not living up to the “MOM” status quo. When I finally pushed through, I found that I was a better mother when I embraced being both a mom and a business owner. Today, I am more attentive when I am home with my son, I enjoy both my work and the time I have with him and my husband.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids? Get ready for the HUSTLE! I don’t know what happened exactly, but once I had a child, I have this drive that is ridiculous. I want him to have everything. It’s what gets me out of bed each morning!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood? Frozen Chicken Nuggets baked in the oven. I never thought I would be that mom. But on some nights, I just am.
