Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
Natalie: I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University. I met my husband there, a born and raised Houstonian, and after living in New York and Connecticut for five years upon graduating, he brought me home to Texas! We’ve lived in Houston for three years and can’t imagine living anywhere else! It’s home.
Child(ren) and Age(s)? Harper is three and a half and Jack is 13 months. They are the loves of my life!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
Probably that I’m super adventurous and spontaneous and very much a dreamer at heart! I’ve laid down some roots and I definitely prioritize being a wife, a mom, and nurturing my career, however, I never want to lose that side of me. I love to travel, love to experience new things, and I love chasing my dreams, no matter how big or small. I studied abroad in college and after graduating from Oklahoma State, I sold my car, packed my life into two suitcases, and moved to NYC without a job. I’ve also traveled through parts of Europe and even went on a spontaneous, last-minute trip to Australia with my husband a month before we got married. I also may or may not have a few tattoos. I very much have a free-spirit side to me that I hope I never lose.
Favorite local things to do in Houston?
We love to explore this city! The foodie scene in Houston is amazing and we love finding new spots to try from the Heights to Montrose, City Centre, etc. There are so many incredible restaurants, most of which are kid-friendly, might I add! We also really enjoy all the museums and arts, which have been so much fun to expose our kids to. If you haven’t checked out The Children’s Museum or The Museum of Natural Science, they’re a must!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
I bribe a lot with cookies and at least once a week I tell my toddler it’s bedtime as soon as the sun goes down. Try it. They’ll never know!
Also, one thing I’m still learning to accept, but helps so much with Mom guilt is this: No mama is perfect. None of us know what the heck we’re doing and you’re going to make mistakes. But at the end of the day, all they want is you. Just you. They don’t care how much money you make, if you Pinterest, if you’re the homeroom mom, if you’re always on time, if you always remember class projects and dress-up days at school, or if their meals came homemade from an oven. They won’t remember any of that. But they will remember that you were there, that you were present, and that you loved them hard.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I’m a Regional Sales Manager for Favor Delivery, an on-demand delivery platform based out of Austin, Texas. I help lead a team of account executives in Houston and DFW where we are helping local Texas businesses grow and thrive through our merchant partnership program. Although being a working mom is tough, my career at Favor has been so rewarding. I get to do something each day that I’m truly passionate about, as well as be the kind of mom I want to be. I love knowing that we are providing an awesome service to local Houstonites (especially moms who need a “favor” in a pinch), as well as have a hand in supporting the local restaurant economy.
Favor is so much more than delivering food. It’s like your own personal assistant. Funny Story: We had a mom use the app while on a business trip because she forgot a part to her breast pump and was starting to panic. One of our Runners was able to get her the right piece from a local baby store, sending her pictures to makes sure it was correct and delivered it within the hour. Favor is a life saver for mamas!
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? (Ps this means like the Houston neighborhood community).
They say it takes a village, and this couldn’t be more true. Without the community of women I’ve built around me, I don’t think I’d still be sane! No one’s there to help quicker than another fellow mama and I’ve found such a solid base of women in Houston, always there to encourage me, build me up, and offer help when needed.