Friday, April 29, 2016:

What A Week

I miss you guys!  I miss posting here!  I was just sitting here thinking about how wild these last few months have been (and how fast they went by!!)- new baby, trip to Santa Fe, back to work....

It has been a lot to settle into- but SO worth it!!!

Getting up and running has taken me away from here but as the dust settles and as I find my rhythm, and as I slowly exhale into the weekend, I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things!

I want to continue to share my ramblings with you, my Purity updates, my life updates, my mom-of-three-boys updates!

Thank you for being such a supportive platform for me and for reading, sharing, and relating to my posts!!

So as I slowly start to wrap up for the weekend, I'll leave you with this...


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Tuesday, April 26, 2016:

Cooing on a Conference Call

By now I hope you have all heard the news!!


I joined the Purity of Elements team as their Director of Product Education and I could not be more excited!!!

We had a lot of fun last week as I took over their social sites and I look forward to posting more!

Make sure to follow us for beauty news, tips and promotions:
Twitter: @POESkincare
Facebook: Purity of Elements
Insta: POESkincare

I just wanted to take a quick moment (or dare I say #POEment) to express how grateful I am for this opportunity.  And I hope this resonates with my mom friends who are working so hard to find that balance...something I struggled with from the day my first son was born.

Four years.  FOUR YEARS.  That's how long I've been trying to pair my corporate marketing experience with my desire to get involved in broadcasting.

But...

I want to be that engaged mom who is there for drop offs and pick ups, while being able to keep my life beyond mom intact; to have something to "go back to" as my children age out of the young years.

I want to be the class mom and the mystery reader (note to self, don't forget to send email to teacher about being the mystery reader...).

I want to sign up for healthy snack day and chaperone the field trips.  I want all of that.... without people criticizing me for whining about how I want it all or forcing me to decide between work and family and balance.

While still earning an income that is inline with my qualifications, even though my "qualifications" aren't always going to be available eight hours a day, five days a week.

And folks.  I think I found just that.

But first, let's talk about timing...

I first heard from the Purity of Elements team when I was 36 weeks pregnant- probably not the ideal situation for anyone looking to serve as a sophisticated brand ambassador for a skincare line.  We had a conference call with the entire corporate team which was just a bit nerve-wracking!  But my deep desire for this role kept my nerves at bay as I answered the questions with enthusiasm and authenticity.

The next step, an in-person meeting in the city.

I was swollen and in full waddle mode.  But I pulled myself together, found the most flattering maternity shirt one could find that late in the game (Thank you Isabella Oliver!), squeezed my feet into my heals and trudged myself and my belly into New York City.

Lunch was delightful and productive.  I was confident.  And now....the waiting game...

We went on to have our beautiful baby boy,  settle in as a family, and find our rhythm as a five-some before POE and I connected to pick up where we left off.  We continued our conversations and got to know each other as best we could virtually but eventually it was time for me to officially meet the team at their offices in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

By far the boldest thing I have ever done as a mom.... I said YES.  Not a gleeful, enthusiastic, yippie "yes".  An assertive "yes".

I cradled the phone in my neck as I cradled my three week old in my arms and boldy agreed to travel to the other side of the country to pursue my dream job.

I didn't recognize this version of me.  I was confident that I would be really great in the role that had since expanded beyond QVC spokesperson and into the realms of social marketing.  I knew I could offer so much to this company and, most importantly, this company could offer so much to ME.

And as my heart & soul struggled with my decision to travel so far from my new little man, and as the hormones surged and the anxiety grew, I fought back that fear and packed my pump.

I couldn't help but think about Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In" movement and how, ironically, I actually have a general disliking for the concept.  In full transparency, I haven't read the book (because, you know, mom of three kids four and under) so perhaps there is more to this simple catchphrase that so easily sums up such an emotionally and physically complex scenario, but I wondered if maybe my ability to say "Yes" was based on the fact that this dream job was so inline with my passions, beliefs and corporate experience and that this role offered the schedule and flexibility that a parent to young children really needs- maybe saying "yes" didn't actually mean I had to "lean in" too far?

I had already been sold on the skincare line- it's lovely and feminine and delicate and, most of all, effective.  But this isn't a sales pitch.  This isn't "Kate the spokesperson", this is Kate the PERSON...the mom, the wife, the woman constantly at odds with what she wants and what she needs when she wants it when she needs it...

What really made me fall head over heels in LOVE with this company was this....

As we worked to coordinate itineraries and travel dates, at the beginning of every phone conversation, the team at Purity of Elements made it very clear that getting back to my baby was a priority.  They even invited me to bring the little guy along and promised that he wouldn't be an inconvenience and that there would be plenty of people willing to help and privacy for nursing.  Ok, and wait for this...they went one step further even offering accommodations for my ENTIRE FAMILY- husband and three kiddos- if it made me feel more comfortable.

IMAGINE THAT!  A company wanting to accommodate a serious candidate as they considered them for a role within their company.

Ok, ok, I realize that this is a very unique situation and I guess we can't expect that every company would be willing to do this.  We were very far along in conversations and we were also working with a production and air-date calendar that we had very little control over.

But I was BLOWN away by their hospitality and willingness to accommodate my very real mom-of-a-newborn needs- especially in this era of "bounce back mom bods" and comical family leave benefits and corporate expectations from parents who just welcomed a baby into this world and all of the crazy CRAZY demands a new family must undergo while they struggle and balance the mind-bleep that is being a parent....and how we don't support moms and how a mother's mental health is undervalued and how sometimes even embracing the privilege of being a parent, working or otherwise, comes with an undercurrent of oppressive subjection that no one will ever understand until they are in it.... (whew, let me tuck that heat away for another post because CLEARLY there's a lot to discuss here).

Moving on....

Ultimately, I decided to go solo.  For one, my little guy had not received all of his vaccinations so flying was discouraged and my husband, although eager to go and happy to help, worried that he might get a little stir crazy with two toddlers and an infant in a new place, far from our familiar playgrounds and activities.

While being away from the family was incredibly difficult, I stayed focused on the task at hand- learning about the brand and the expectations, taking in the Santa Fe culture and scenery, and contemplating about my future with this company.

All of our conversations and trainings went well and now it was time to sign on.

The deal maker, as I sputtered out something along the lines of "under promise over deliver", "balancing the kiddos", "want to contribute but want to be honest about my life stage".... The response...and I am paraphrasing...do what you can and if there is a day when the kids just aren't having it, we will reschedule.

Oh my goodness...a brand that doesn't just talk about "restoring balance" but ACTUALLY BELIEVES IT and UNDERSTANDS IT???

My 2.5 month old sitting in on a conference call #workinglunch...get it! Ha!
I am so happy to be a part of this team. I am so lucky to have a boss who understands that there might be a baby cooing on a conference call or that a four year old might pop in for a quick kiss and hug before the babysitter takes him to the playground (yes, just to be clear, I do have a rockstar sitter who helps out for a few hours during the week so that I can crank away on work because let's be honest, while we can only hope for bosses and colleagues who respect our desire to have a balance and to "have it all",  my kids are still trying to figure this all out).

I also want to be clear about having put in the hours.  This wasn't just a random job interview.  This was an opportunity that arose after FOUR years of putting in the unpaid hours, establishing a reputation, and demonstrating a strong and reliable work ethic.  It is the culmination of nearly a decade working in corporate sales and marketing (and while I didn't always LOVE those jobs, not a day goes by that I don't realize how much I learned in those jobs- and if I could tag all of you who influenced me, I would!).  It's about having shown a trustworthiness that a company must see before agreeing to pay for hours worked remotely from your home on the opposite side of the country.

And because of their faith in me and their approach to a healthy life balance, I pledge to do my best!! And if you missed it in an earlier post- tapping into my intenSati approach- I'm doing my best and, as moms, we must acknowledge that our best is enough!

Thank you, Purity of Elements for this amazing opportunity.  And to my moms who totally get it, stay positive, stay driven, stay balanced.

xoxo,
Kate

PS
I just want to add a small disclaimer because I realize that very few of us have an opportunity to take time and carve out a niche to establish and reflect on who we want to be because we are too busy being who we HAVE to be- a breadwinner, a homemaker, a caregiver, or any number of things we need to be before we can be the person we want to be.  But I offer this post up and hope that this content can be shared so that it can join the conversation that is so desperately needed to drive change in the life/balance arena. #family #balance #life






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Monday, April 25, 2016:

Tis the Season for Sunburn!!

Ok, folks, so we all should be wearing sunscreen on the daily, right?  We know it's important to protect our skin all. year. long.....right?!

Now that we are on the same page for self skin care, I want to take a second to talk about your baby's skin.  Truthfully, I'm not sure how I feel about putting sunscreen on my kiddos everyday.  We do spend a lot of time in the outdoors, and in the summer I lather it on, but if I am being entirely honest, I don't use sunscreen on them all year long.

That said, now that the sun is officially here (thank GOODNESS, this weather has been driving me nuts), I've been on the search for sensitive, BROAD SPECTRUM sun screens that we can use daily.

I recently received some samples from Arbonne and loved their ABC Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen.  This screen, while emollient and thick, spreads into a really silky layer and absorbs quickly.  It has a very faint "sunscreeny" smell but is otherwise scent free! 

The ABC Arbonne Baby Care sunscreen is SPF 30 and is designed with baby's soft, sensitive skin in mind.  Formulated with antioxidants, vitamins and natural botanicals...what's not to love? 

Want to learn more about this sunscreen to see if it is a good fit for you and your family??   Check out Kristyn's link for more amazing Arbonne products!
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016:

Copper What?

Copper 5 Complex....you heard it hear first!!!

Copper Salts, Grapeseed Oil, Green Tea Extract, White Tea Extract, and Vitamin E.  

Boom!

That's the differentiator between other skincare lines and Purity of Elements- our very own Proprietarty Blend.  You won't find it anywhere else but at POE.

This proprietary blend is PACKED with powerful, hardworking, skin loving goodness!  

Independently these ingredients are powerhouses in the skincare category.  Mix them together and you've got an unstoppable skincare superhero!

Get more bite-size beauty tips!! Are you following @POESkincare on Twitter & Insta?  Have you liked Purity of Elements on Facebook?

K. Brochu is a paid spokesperson for POE Skincare


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Tuesday, April 19, 2016:

My 48 Hour Social Takeover for Purity of Elements!

Did you catch yesterday's exciting news?!  ICYMI, I have officially joined the amazing Purity of Elements Team as their Director of Product education and I could not be more thrilled!  Read more about this amazing brand and my role here!  BUT FIRST, are we connected??

This morning I kickoff my very fun social media takeover- I can't wait to introduce myself to the fans of this brand and I invite you to follow along with me as I share how POE fits into my life!

Make sure we are all synched!

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

READY. SET. POE!!!!!!
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Monday, April 18, 2016:

Joining the Purity of Elements Team!!


So here's the big news!!! 



I am so thrilled to join an amazing team at Purity of Elements as their Director of Product Education!

Purity of Elements is more than just skincare!  It's a lifestyle brand that values a holistic approach to healthy beauty and overall well-being.  Inspired by the elevated deserts of the Southwest, POE taps into the rich culture, ancient traditions, and resilient flora of the region to bring us hard working, naturally derived, and science-backed skincare technology that will help restore balance, infuse hydration and address the signs of aging.

Part of my responsibilities as the Director of Product education is to represent this amazing brand on QVC!!  That's right my friends, you'll be able to tune in and see my face on "The Q" as I share more information about our SUPERHERO product, our Radiance Face Serum (tried it. loved it. had to have it....and now I get to work for the company who made it.  Not bad at all!).

I blog a lot about skincare and have had a ton of opportunities to experience and review skincare products.  But what stood out for me with Purity of Elements was the overall approach to health and well-being as it related to aging gracefully.  POE prioritizes self-care and who better to appreciate that than this mom of three young sons?! 

We've heard the story 1,000 times but for every mom, it never gets old.  We prioritize EVERYONE and EVERYTHING else before we take a minute to ourselves- over-committing and spreading ourselves way too thin.  POE encourages women to Stop. Pause. and take a minute to restore balance to your life (and to your skin).  For me, it's the 15 minutes I embrace before bedtime as I do my skincare ritual.  It's more than just healthy skin- it's taking time for ME for a healthy mind, body, and spirit!

I am so excited for all that is to come!  Stay connected with POE on Twitter, Facebook- don't miss out on all of our news and updates!

xoxo





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Sunday, April 17, 2016:

Sunday Night Teaser!!

Psst- make sure to stop by the blog tomorrow!  It might not be first thing isn't the AM, but there will be a very fun announcement posted tomorrow!!

Stay tuned...


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Sunday, April 3, 2016:

Post Pregnancy Beauty!

I have officially gotten the all clear to resume all pre-pregnancy activities and I could NOT be happier about it!!

I've started to get back into the running routine- up to three (very slow) miles and I am starting to feel like myself again.  Without exercise and the opportunity to run away the crazy, I get a little cooky- so good to exert that frenetic energy in order to achieve my mom zen!

And what's in store on the beauty front...  I'm nursing so I still have some topical cream restrictions but I cannot wait to try a little IPL treatment!!

After each one of my pregnancies I feel a little worn out- sleep deprivation doesn't help!!  I'll make sure to post some before and afters when I get it done!!

in the meantime, here are a few pics from google- let's see if my results are as dramatic!!





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