Meet a Houston Mom | Meet Sheila Marquez of Wonderland Soft Play | West University Moms

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?

I was born in the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico and moved to Houston when I was 3 with my parents. I love my city and all the culture that makes it unique.

Child(ren) and Age(s)? 

Alexa – 11 years

Olivia – 1 year

One thing people would be surprised to know about you…

I’ve never seen Game of Thrones or Greys Anatomy, don’t resent me! 

Favorite local activities to do in Houston? 

Levi Park is my kid’s favorite park. We usually have a picnic there and stop for dessert at Dessert Gallery. The kids love to decorate their own cookie or roast their marshmallows to make s’mores.

Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant in the area?

Little Matt’s in West University for SURE! We’ve been going here for years and love it.

Saint Arnold’s is also a favorite! My husband comes here for his favorite beer but OMG their pizza is seriously amazing. The girls usually order the classic Pepperoni and we always have the Margherita.

What local places do you go to for pampering and/or mom’s night out? 

Honestly, I hardly ever have time to do anything for myself. Trips to Target are my guilty pleasure though! I love that alone time even if I forget to buy what I originally went for .

Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? 

I am! Last month I started my own business, Wonderland Soft Play! We are a mobile playground geared towards children ages 0-5yrs old. We come to your location and set up our adorable equipment made from soft materials. All of our set ups are intended to create a safe and fun environment where children can explore and develop social and gross motor skills. 

Check us out on Instagram! www.instagram.com/wonderlandsoftplay  

We recently joined Facebook too! www.facebook.com/wonderlandsoftplayhouston

We love to attend events all throughout Houston so make sure to follow us so you can bring your little ones to play.

How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?

The support I’ve received from Houston business owners and local bloggers is absolutely amazing! The mommy bloggers are such a beautiful community that never knew existed prior to having launched Wonderland Soft Play. I’ve made connections with people I’ve never met in person and I love it.

What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?

We are definitely NOT superwomen and it’s okay to ask for help. Being a mom is a full time job in and of itself, so the fact that we can run a business/volunteer/work on top of being a mom is just exceptional.

What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?

If you think you’re tired NOW, you’re in for a trip! haha

Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?

ALWAYS BRING SNACKS. Baby crying? Snack! Pre-teen moody? Snack! Husband hangry? Snack! Long line at school pick up? Snack!

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