Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I was born in Argentina and finished medical school there. We moved to Austin with a 10-month-old baby and a year after that Houston was our next stop. We have been living here for almost 17 years. It is home
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Tomas 17
Emilia 10
Isabel 7
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am a devoted gardener. I water my lawn every day when I get back from work. There is something very therapeutic about being barefoot on the grass and just listening to water surrounded by plants. Plus there is the added benefit of grounding myself.
Favorite local activities to do in Houston?
My absolute favorite thing to do in Houston is going to live Concerts. I feel so privileged to live in a city where every band wants to tour. For family-friendly activities, we really enjoy taking the kids to local markets, Levy Park or skating at Discovery Green.
I have been wanting to do the rooftop movie theater for a while. Maybe this summer I’ll get tickets.
Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant in the area?
Fresco Café Italiano probably has the best pasta in Houston. I always prefer having dinner at home so after a long day Ill order fresh pasta from them and cook it at home. It is authentic homemade food. We will order empanadas from empanada factory if we have friends over, they taste exactly than the ones you would get in Buenos Aires, I haven’t made them myself since they opened.
What local places do you go to for pampering and/or mom’s night out?
For pampering, I will get a facial or a massage. I love pilates classes at Pure Body Studio. I do acupuncture on myself almost every day so I’ve covered the wellness field. I will turn into a pumpkin at 9 pm so it’s usually mom`s lunch out. Tinys N5 and Eloise Nichols are the restaurants we love to go to.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the owner of Solstice Acupuncture, a healing space in the heart of Houston where Acupuncture becomes approachable, safe and modern, in a time where traditional Chinese Medicine is moving into the mainstream of Integrative Health Care. I became an Acupuncturist through my own personal struggle with infertility and pregnancy loss, so I can testify to its power and its ability to produce palpable results. I still remember vividly the feeling after my first treatment, like someone had just released my steam valve, I was back to feeling in control of my body and there was this sense of calm that I hadn’t had in while.
Soon after my third baby was born I decided to switch from allopathic medicine to get licensed in acupuncture and herbal medicine. With three kids in the house, those were 5 long years!!
I am probably one of a handful of acupuncturists who also have a medical degree and I get questioned about that decision frequently. My answer: I felt I had been given this precious gift about knowing the whole complexity of the body and I wanted to share it. I believe in an integrative model, not an alternative one, and I feel my patients understand the importance of addressing health disharmonies in such a comprehensive way.
I treat all sorts of conditions like pain, dysfunctional stress response, sleep disturbances among others. Lately, I’ve been training extensively in cosmetic acupuncture. It is a rapidly growing field in the beauty industry. Women are starting to lean towards a more natural look and nothing compares to the benefits of cosmetic acupuncture. The number one complaint I get is “ I look tired” and we all know there is no amount of injectables that can erase fatigue out of the face. The magic of acupuncture is that by addressing those internal disharmonies, while also addressing the face locally, the skin becomes stable, less reactive and the focus of attention goes back to brighter more alert eyes, what we all know as the “glowy look”.
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
There is nowhere else I’d rather live in the US than in this diverse and cosmopolitan city. I have made friends who I consider family and professionally, my practice has thrived because of the immense opportunities this city offers. I could not be doing this without the fabulous community of generous people who have spread the word about Solstice.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc.)?
Have a good scheduling app, do your grocery shopping online and go to bed early. It makes a difference in the energy that you have the next day and the ability to handle frustration when things get busy. Good restorative sleep is a priority for my working
week.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Travel more and pack light!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
I have put my kids to sleep in school uniforms to get some extra sleep in the morning.