Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I am an East Coast girl through and through although I absolutely love Texas and it’s culture so now I tell people I am bi-coastal 🙂 I grew up in Warrenton, Virginia, lived in Washington DC for a few years, then moved to Manhattan in my late 20’s. Met my husband while he was on assignment with his company in Virigina and while I would come home visiting family every other weekend or so. We started a long distance relationship, fell in love, got engaged, and moved back to his hometown, Missouri City, Texas in 2009. We live in a golf course community and absolutely love the beautiful greenery and mature trees that surround our home.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
We have two beautiful, can’t stop, won’t stop boys, Brody 12, and Tucker 6.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
From flying a helicopter to rally racing to fashion show modeling, I have led a very full life!
Favorite local activities to do in Houston?
We absolutely love Houston! It’s so diverse with so many things to do on any given weekend. So many amazing restaurants. We enjoy all the museums and pop-up exhibits. Discovery Green and Levy Park are our favorties to explore too.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
In 2018, I started a healthy meal prep company, A La Carte Nutrition. I noticed there weren’t any options for local, healthy and fresh meals so I wanted to make eating healthy convenient and delivered right to your door the same day it’s prepared. I know so many families like us, whose weekdays are non-stop with sports and events and don’t have time to cook so I wanted to give families better alternatives for quick, healthy, whole ingredient weeknight meals, fully cooked and ready to eat in 20 minutes before heading out the door!
A La Carte Nutrition’s meals are prepared fresh daily in our commercial kitchen in Sugar Land from a vast selection of local, clean, and organic ingredients whenever possible, and delivered to the doorstep same day. With over 2,500 Missouri City, Sugar Land, Houston, Katy, and Cypress customers served, healthy and delicious meal delivery has never been easier!
Visit www.alacartenutrition.com to see our current menu and don’t forget to use code WESTU20 for 20% off your first order!
What do you love most about what you do?
I love how A La Carte Nutrition’s meals bring families together around the dinner table, even when they are in a hurry. With a weekly variety of fresh, healthy, and fully cooked family-style dinners, desserts, and individual meal plans, our healthful, whole ingredient recipes are nutritionally balanced and portion-controlled to help families eat healthier without compromising taste. Eating healthy has never been easier!
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
We are a small woman owned and operated business and Houston has been amazing and has truly embraced A La Carte Nutrition – we were something that was needed for healthy, fresh meal prep where no other great options existed. We have grown organically through word of mouth only and we have Houston residents to thank for that!
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Juggling being a mother, wife, trying to maintain a social life, running a household, also a business is difficult and stressful at times. I have an amazing A La Carte team/staff that I couldn’t do any of this without! Find amazing people to surround yourself with and build a team that you can lean on. Also, don’t be so hard on yourself (easier said than done). Just yesterday I had a task list a mile long and didn’t accomplish much and felt defeated. I changed my mindset to focus on the positive and gave myself kudos on the few things I did accomplish.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
The best advice I can give my younger self is to enjoy life, don’t be so hard on yourself, and learn from every moment – the good, the bad, and everything in between. Grow from your experiences, it’s a beautiful life and we only have one!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
Both my boys have always hated brushing their teeth. When they were younger, I made a simple statement while heading to the dentist about them making sure there were no sugarbugs on their teeth. Not thinking it would freak them out – they were distraught that they could have “bugs” in their mouths. The dentist assured them their teeth were clean and no sugarbugs were found. But, now, when I need them to go brush their teeth and know it’s going to be a fight, I may suggest I see a sugarbug or two and they run to the bathroom without another word and go brush their teeth!