What is your name and company?
Kristen Sellentin – Loving Looking Family
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Kingwood?
I was born & raised in Leavittsburg, Ohio, a super small town & lived for much of my childhood on a small farm. I moved to Colorado Springs, CO for college where I met my husband. After graduation we moved to Houston for our careers and because my husband grew up in Kingwood, we’d be close to family. We lived downtown for many years and loved the big city life & all it had to offer. After we had our daughter, we decided to move to Kingwood to be closer to family & built the next chapter of our life as parents.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Bristol (5) & Sterling (2)
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I was a founding member of Pi Beta Phi at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) and severed as Secretary and President of the Colorado Epsilon chapter. I was the first member of our chapter to carry the chapter flag at the National Convention. It was such an honor! I have also served as Vice President & President of the Colorado Springs and Houston Junior Alumnae Clubs.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
One word. Wine. Haha! I love relaxing with a glass of wine on a pretty patio. If I’m at home you’ll find me crafting & decorating. I love to style every inch of my home, especially for holidays, it’s so fun for me. I also love window shopping, so a trip to a cool local boutique just to browse is appealing to me.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
During Christmas I shared a tip on my Instagram that I didn’t think was that “genius” but I got an overwhelming response saying otherwise. I do most of my Christmas shopping online so when the gifts arrive I keep them in the cardboard boxes and stack them in my garage with the other storage totes of books, pool toys, etc. Aren’t all of our kids used to seeing Amazon boxes on the daily? Mine sure are! I wrap them (while the kids are at school) and put the wrapped toys back in the boxes. I stack them in the garage again. My kids have no clue their presents are in them. Makes for an easy Christmas Eve. They might catch on in a couple years, so I may have to start storing the boxes in the attic, but I’m hoping to continue this method.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the
corporate world? Please share!
After taking several years off of any outside “work” to raise my kids, I was asked by a photographer friend, Leigh Ripps of Fresh Light Photography, who had taken Bristol’s newborn photos & we had stayed in touch via social media, to be a wardrobe stylist for her clients. She had noticed the passion I have for styling my family through my Instagram account. I said yes and began helping styling maternity, newborn & family photo sessions for her clients. After a successful year working with Leigh, I decided to offer my services to anyone in need of wardrobe stylist for a photoshoot. I started my business Lovely Looking Family in October 2019. I create curated, cohesive, coordinated looks for each family members to make them look their best. I can style one person or a large family reunion. There’s no min or max. I never even have to meet my client in person, we work remotely and at their convenience, utilizing their own closet & supplementing with retail site options to create their “look”.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Kingwood has been such a blessing. Upon moving here, I knew a few people through my husband but really had no friends. I joined the YMCA & was welcomed by the friendliest group of women. Through that group I found a great MDO program for my kids, joined a wonderful church, and have participated in many community activities. I love that I usually see someone I know when I go anywhere in Kingwood. Maybe that’s the small-town girl in me, but it’s so fun to see familiar faces and get to catch up.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Remember that you are only human and the laundry can wait. Just joking! No really, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Create a couple goals that are attainable and make a plan to achieve them. Do not try to be superwomen, do what you can when you can, and don’t ever be afraid to ask for help or accept help when it’s offered.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Sleep-in because you won’t again for a very. long. time. 😊
What is your proudest mommy moment?
I am so proud of my kids for being kind and respectful. They have their ups and downs, but they have a sweetness about them that they show to others.
Greatest gift about being a mom?
The unconditional love and all the baby snuggles.
Best mom hack that makes momming easier?
I have a passion for creating memorable moments for my kids & thinking outside the box on a budget to create “magic” for them. Whether it’s using food coloring in the tub & a bubble machine going to make the kids calm down and lighten their moods, or making charcuterie boards out of their favorite finger foods for dinner to get them to actually eat more than a bite, I’m always looking for ways to improve & solve issues.
What’s your favorite part about what you do?
Hands down the fact that I can work remotely, anywhere, anytime for clients around the globe. The freedom of what I do makes it easy to juggle parenthood, social events, and everyday life. I also love seeing my clients photographs with them wearing the outfits I curated. Seeing the vision come alive is always thrilling, and knowing these photographs of them looking their best will be hanging on their walls or on their devices for years to come makes me so happy.
What is your favorite thing to do in the HKA area?
It depends on the time of year, but one constant is meeting friends for a nice meal on a patio and shopping at Kings Harbor.
Please go support this local Mom and check out her website and social media!
www.instagram.com/kristensellentin
www.instagram.com/lovelylookingfamily