About Dallas Louis
Our Story
I was thinking that since we might be spending a fair amount of time together, it would be nice if y’all had a bit of background information on me. What in the world do I do every day? Pretty much the same thing you do. Try and stay sane…keep all of my kids from choking each other and not let any one of them burn down the house. But how did I get here? That’s something that takes me back.
I grew up in Austin, then moved to Houston, and yes–my name is Dallas…feel free to insert your own joke here ______. I used to be a nail tech for about ten years before I met my Prince Charming. I wanted to be a teacher when I was young, looking back, I’m glad I deviated from that path. I was the Women’s Ministry Director of my church for almost seven years (quite a jump from the salon industry, I know) I’ve authored two books: Girlfriends, Giggles & God, which is a 31-day devotional for women; and my brand new one: The Mommy Diaries: How I’m Surviving Parenting Without Killing Anyone due out later this year. I travel across the country speaking to mom’s groups and women’s groups about their faith, their mothering and their parenting. Am I an expert? Probably not. Do I have experience? Yes, in spades.
I’m married to a really swell guy. Yes, I just used the word “swell”. No, I’m truly not stuck in the 1950s, although on some days I would like to be. Jeff and I met about thirteen years ago outside of a bar, here in Houston. Shocker. It really can happen that way! We dated for about six months before he popped the question, and forty-five days later, we were married at sunset on the island of Maui. It was awesome. Hopefully in the near future, I can figure out how to post pictures into this blog, and y’all can look at the events and antics that I share with you! I suppose now is as good a time as any to let you know: I’m technically challenged, so each time a new post goes up, please take a moment to celebrate with me!
Back to Our Story, we have three amazing kiddos: Ethan is 10, Emma is 9 and Elliott is 8. It seems for a while we didn’t exactly know what was causing that sort of epidemic, but then we figured it out.. I never wanted to be THAT kind of Mom that named all of her kids with the same first letter, all I can about that is: NEVER SAY NEVER. It will bite you every time. The kids are fantastic–as most parents think their kids are–the deal with mine, I mean it! You will meet them all eventually. For now, though, here’s the 411.
Ethan is the oldest. He’s a carbon copy of my husband. He’s a thinker. He’s smart. He’s methodical. He wants to be a General in the Navy so he can draw up battle plans and fly fighter jets. He’s in love with Legos. (I’m not so much in love with Legos. I step on them constantly) He provides me with ample material to write about in a criminally thoughtful type of way, as he has not quite figured out that I am still smarter than he is, and I can tell when he’s lying. He plays basketball (the bane of my existence) and the saxophone (he’s getting pretty good at that).
Emma is in the middle. She is all girl, all the time! She is beautiful, and kind, and compassionate, and can push her brothers’ buttons without blinking an eye. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. She is an extremely talented artist. She can draw or paint anything. She loves music–all different types. She loves to dance, she and her daddy are currently working out a waltz. She wants to be a fashion designer in Paris. She is learning to speak French (or so she thinks). I asked her if she thought that living in southeast Texas, being fluent in French would really come in handy…um, really?? She didn’t care. She’s trying anyway. I’m behind her 100%.
Then we have Elliott. He’s the baby. He’s eight, and he’s really good at being eight. Every family has ONE. You know the ONE. The one that cannot stay out of trouble or the ER. Ellie has blonde hair and BIG blue eyes. He looks exactly my uncle on my mother’s side…the down side to this revelation, is that he acts like him, too. Elliott will jump, climb, or dive off or over anything near him just to prove that he can. As a result: He has broken his nose (twice), had three (mild) concussions, shoved playground rocks in his ears (those usually pop right out), shoved playground rocks UP his nose (those do NOT pop right out), broken his arm (last May at school–LOVE those phone calls from the nurse) and as of two days ago…broken his leg. What can you do? I’ve ordered a roll of bubble wrap from eBay. It should be here next week. On the other hand though, Elliott is super smart. He reads three grades above his current grade. He loves school. And he LOVES his momma.
Squish all of this together, and you have our crazy family! This is why I write. This is why I speak. I hope you enjoy this blog! And please TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
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Biography
Dallas Louis grew up in Austin and now lives in Houston, but she has enough hilarious stories to fill the entire state of Texas.
The idea for her latest book, The Mommy Diaries: How I’m Surviving Parenting without Killing Anyone (May 2012) came after an email rant about her daughter, a broken cup and stepping in curdled milk at 4:00 a.m. After laughing out loud at her misfortune, Dallas’ editor wanted to hear more – and the book was born.
Dallas is past the early, just-trying-to survive parenting days when she had a newborn and two toddlers all under the same roof (that’s three in diapers for anyone keeping tabs). But her two sons and daughter—now eight, nine, and ten-years-old—are still as entertaining and accident-prone as ever.
“The challenges are different now,” says Louis. “Different–but absolutely still there.”
And it’s not just her children who provide a seemingly unlimited amount of material, but her extended family as well. For example, whose 50-something-year-old parents sold two successful restaurants and listed their home on Craigslist on a whim because they wanted to go to trucking school and learn to drive big-rigs? Take a guess.
Once a Field Leader for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International, Dallas now travels the country, speaking to women’s groups, encouraging them in their faith and strengthening their ministries. She also leads a weekly Bible study group.
Dallas’ first book, Girlfriends, Giggles & God, is a 31-day humor-filled devotional, reflecting upon circumstances that arise in every woman’s household.
Despite her hectic, exhausting life, Dallas routinely wakes before dawn to take advantage of the early morning stillness, and admits that’s when her inspiration strikes best. She lives in Houston with her husband and three children. Find her online at: www.DallasLouis.com.
Press Kit
Click here to download Dallas Bio (Pdf)
Click here to download Sample Interview Questions (Pdf)
Click here to download Mommy Diaries Press Kit (Pdf)
Click here to view Speaking Topics