Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I was born in Harlingen, Texas and have lived in Houston for over 25 years.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Lily, my sweet, kind, and loving daughter is about to be 6. And Chase, how to describe Chase…spicy and smart. He’ll be 4 soon. Although he’s a handful, he is crazy brilliant and loves to be a helper.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am Hispanic and cannot speak Spanish…and I detest avocado.
Favorite local things to do in Houston?
All the museums, with my favorite being the MFAH. I love taking the kids to the Butterfly exhibit at the Natural Science museum, and the Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife and Frensley/Graham Hall of African Wildlife are always my kid’s favorite.
Without kids, I love to explore new restaurants!
Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant in the area?
Hands down, Little Matt’s. Their food is so fresh and the kids have a blast.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
Meals with girlfriends. Bonus if they involve wine ☺
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the founder of Gym Hair, LLC. Gym Hair is a natural sweaty hair cleanser designed for application to WET/SWEATY hair (as opposed to dry shampoo which goes on dry hair). This idea came out of necessity when I was trying to get a workout in while having a million errands to do right after, all with the 2 toddlers in tow. There was nothing on the market for sweaty hair, so with the help of a local cosmetic chemist, Gym Hair was born. Get 15% off all orders when you mention “WUMOMS” ( all caps).
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? I have been introduced to some of the most amazing people through this crazy adventure. There have been countless people that have seen me as a new company, and wanted to help, connecting me to others who could utilize my product. A good friend introduced me to a sweet person at Bike Barn, who then introduced me to another awesome person at the Houstonian. It’s heartwarming to feel the power of women helping other women.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Ask for help and develop a weekly system of time management. Allocating time slots for to-do’s has kept me on track thus far. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and consequently stressed out with ALL THE THINGS. Starting up a business requires you to wear so many hats. From marketing to purchasing, budgeting to taxes, there are many balls up in the air. I take Sunday night to map out my week, prioritizing my to-dos and making sure I get in my WOD (workout of the day, albeit not every day) in. Getting things checked off my daily list helps me feel accomplished, and therefore I can devote my time to my kids when they get home from school/pre-k. Summer is a whole other beast and I’m still working on that. I guess that’s where the ‘Ask for help’ comes in. I’m lucky that my mom lives close by, and so this summer she was a lifesaver. But if ever she wasn’t in town, babysitters came in super handy!
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Asides from the obvious (you have no idea what ‘tired’ really is, travel as much as you can afford to) I would tell myself to go deeper in my spiritual journey. When those calm moments come where I’m sitting on the couch, admiring my kids’ beautiful faces, I get lost in the realization that life is truly a miracle. It’s greater than me or anything I know. I wish I would have taken the time to appreciate the graces. It probably would have helped calm my “worries” and saved me a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
GYM HAIR! But seriously, it’s a lifesaver when you’re wanting to run to Target after working out. That, and always get extra Starbucks napkins, keep them in your car at all times. Dry, they are perfect for boogers. Wet, they turn into a wipe for little chocolaty hands.