Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I am originally from Antwerp, Belgium. I have lived in Houston for almost two years now. I love the friendly people and love for the arts in Htown!
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have two amazing children. A two and a half year old girl, Olivia and a 6 month old boy, Leon. They sure keep me busy. (Our daughter’s nickname is ‘the Juggernaut’, just to give you an idea!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am a proud Belgian, but I don’t drink beer… I try to make up for it by eating more Belgian chocolate though 😉 !
Favorite local activities to do in Houston?
I love to visit the Fine Arts Museum with my husband, take my kids to Levy park or enjoy the amazing food Houston has to offer! I also really like exploring all the quirky places you can find around Houston, like The Orange Show and Smither Park.
Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant in the area?
We live close to Chinatown where our family owns a restaurant called Hong Kong café. They serve authentic Hong Kong style breakfast and lunch, but you can also get delicious dinner! With two kids, it’s nice to have the owners be family… especially when one of them is having a bad day… 😉
What local places do you go to for pampering and/or mom’s night out?
To be honest… I haven’t had time for pampering myself since I got here. Having moved here from a different country and with a husband working full-time I am mostly by myself. My relatives here all have busy lives so it’s mostly me and the kids! Maybe in a couple of years…? Help me… haha. I do like to swing by coffee shops close to my house for a little pick me up, like
@dandelionhouston and @blkdogcoffee. My favorite dessert place is @bubbleegghouston.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
My goal for 2019 is to have more exposure for my brand. I am VERY excited that multiple Houston businesses have expressed interest in selling my art and I can’t wait to share it with everybody! You can follow me on Instagram to follow my journey. I am also getting more requests for custom logos which is super exciting. There is so much talent in Houston and I feel
so honored when people want to work with me!
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
I was pretty isolated when I got here. I started creating little things here and there, and got introduced to the @htxbossbabes by my (soon-to-be) sister in law. This changed SO MUCH for me. I had no idea there were so many badass women out there running their own businesses, killing it every day!! Following them inspires me daily and motivates me to keep on growing my own brand.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business?
It is OK to take a breather. I try my very best to give myself 100% to my kids, and 100% to my business. As you can see, that math doesn’t add up. You can only give so much. As it is only me, when my kids are awake my time and attention goes to them. My time to work for my business is limited to when they are both sleeping. Some days I have a lot of energy left to give,
some days I have none. I try to forgive myself for that. My best organizing tool has been my business planner by @inkandvolt. It allows you to set monthly and weekly goals, and leaves space for writing down ideas and inspirations. It feels so nice to have a clear oversight of what you are trying to do that week/month. And crossing out your ‘to do’s’ is the best feeling!!
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
ENJOY YOUR LONG SHOWERS.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
Eating chocolate, having ‘Cheers’ on in the background and some occasional ugly crying in the shower! 🙂 oh and lots of hugs from my kiddos!
