Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I’m originally from South Carolina but have lived in Houston for 11 years and love it! I wanted to live in a big city but love West U’s small-town feel. My hometown was only 6,500 people.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Our son is Emerson who will be 3 years old this June.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I’ve been an equestrian since I was six years old but recently took polo lessons.
Favorite local things to do in Houston?
I love meeting friends for brunch at Tiny’s or enjoying dinner on their lawn at dusk.
Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant in the area?
We love Prima Pasta! They’re so nice to our son. They’ve been tucked away at Kirby and Holcombe for over 30 years and are family owned. They have live music Thursdays-Sunday evening and have an abundant garden out front. They are very accommodating to my gluten free dietary restrictions. On occasion, we often order delivery if we’ve had a long day. We’ve also ordered their catering portions for new mom’s as well as large dinner parties our house.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
I love the Houstonian spa but rarely have time to treat myself to a spa day. If it’s a facial, I love Michelle at Lemon Peel Facial who is also a West U mom. She is a wealth of knowledge! Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Defy and their cryo facial. My face feels so tight afterwards. It’s defiantly stimulating collagen unlike anything I’ve experienced. For mani’s, Tina at West U Nails is fantastic!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
We moved within West U about a year and a half ago and did a large-scale renovation. We decided to add electronic window shades (amazing!) which can be controlled by a wall switch or by our smart phones. First thing when I wake up, I open my son’s shade. The first few times we did this, he had no idea how it was happening. Watching him on the Nest camera is quite amusing.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
Yes, I’ve been called a serial entrepreneur. My first profession and educational background is Interior Design. I’m a second-generation designer. Growing up in the business, it just comes naturally. I’ve owned my firm Elizabeth Parry Designs (formerly Elizabeth Koval Designs) since 2002.
I launched another business, Parry Botanicals natural skincare and beauty, in 2015. It was a long time in the making. I have significant allergies and autoimmune issues so when I couldn’t find a natural, non-toxic, anti-aging product that worked, I created my own.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? (this means the Houston neighborhood community).
My design business has been built by word of mouth and the Houston community has been amazing. As for my product line, Houstonian’s love to hear about one of their own having a valuable product. A great deal of our business is with Bering’s Hardware and Gifts who is certainly a go-to location for our community.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Try to keep a good life balance. It’s tough to do but necessary. It’s okay to hire help both professionally and personally. In design school, my only female professor gave me some of the best advice: hire to your weakness.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Enjoy the ability to complete a sentence and sleep!
