Custom Make Up?? Yes Please!!

I have walked by Blende Custom Beauty no less than a hundred times while out running errands in town, but it wasn't until I actually found the time to pop in and speak with owners Keira Karlin and Nikki Tardibuono that I learned of the cool and CUSTOM products this shop offered.

Check out this little Downtown Business Spotlight and tell me you aren't tempted to create your own custom lipstick?!?!

If the image doesn't work, copy and paste this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27GMFBO2P6w

A Little Doughnut Love

I absolutely love covering lifestyle pieces! It really is my bread and butter (or, in this case, my donut and jelly?).

Check out some of these yummy treats that are popping up all over the garden state- from large national brands to boutique mom and pops, there is serious donut demand in NJ!!

If clicking the image doesn't work, copy/paste the URL below:
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/westfield/sections/nj-flavor/articles/nj-shops-take-doughnuts-to-the-next-level-26

A Fun Little Project! Downtown Business Spotlights!

It's always been a goal of mine to showcase small businesses, especially in my town! And I think I found a way to do it!

I love the shop local movement and really feel that towns are stronger when the community can come together to support local business. But as a parent with young children and limited funds, I can't always shop or dine at the local establishments in my town. So, I figure as another option, I can help drive awareness to small, local businesses.

I have a few "mini-spotlights" in the hopper and hope to do more. Are you a small business owner that could use something like this to share on your social platforms and to get the word out about your business- get in touch!

Business Energy- Westfield, NJ

ICYMI- HiMirror on BeautyIQ

How fun is this??? I had the opportunity to work with a new beauty device these last few months and am totally fascinated by the potential of this product!!

We introduced the HiMirror to the BeautyIQ audience over at QVC last night and it was an absolute blast!!

Check it out!!

Serious Organization Inspo

Despite a deep rooted desire to stay organized, between a husband and three sons, the house always gets away from me! A friend gave me a gift certificate to Simply Organized NJ as a housewarming gift and I figured, SURE!

Here is a quick peak of their amazing work! Thank you so much Simply Organized NJ- you have helped so much!!

Click HERE to watch!

Is My Husband More Stylish Than Me?

I've always considered myself "put together", not overly styled and not a total frump, but just "middle of the road, can pull an outfit together and get out of the house" fashionable. That was until my husband made the bold fashion choice to order a pair of prescription sunglasses from Warby Parker- and bam, he has more swag than I do.

Have you guys been to their site? Have you checked out their latest spring collection? Is the "Try at Home for Free" model designed for families just like mine??  Ok, and finally is this balmy 40 degree weather in the northeast in mid Feb teasing me into thinking that a SUNNY spring is just around the corner? Answer: ABSOLUTELY.

I've had the same pair of sunglasses for, no joke, a decade, but my husband's recent purchase  has made me really stop and evaluate my standard "go to" frames.

Hmm....we do have an upcoming vacation that could justify a new purchase....

And can everyone everywhere with a small face applaud WP's Quiz? Does this NOT change the online buying experience or what??

What frames are you feeling this season?? Full disclosure, I don't wear prescription glasses (despite always sort of wishing I could). But if I did, here are mine!!

Here is the Bell- it's so simple and neutral and I think that's what I like about it. I picture a clean, well moisturized face, a messy topknot, a pair of Bells, a large green tea and a great book (and some red wine, cozy slippers, a quiet home.... I could go on but I won't)!

Hello Hyde! I love the tortoise pattern fade out to clear and the shape seems like a subtle nod to the 80's with a pinch of Buddy Holly flair? Hmm...can't quite put my finger on it, but bottom line, I'd wear 'em.

This is the Nora- A) if I had a daughter, this would be her name- so an immediate affinity already, and B) I love the throw back cat-eye situation going on!!!

Ok, and seriously Warby Parker, if you're looking to unload a couple of these Yates, I'd be happy to take them off your hands!

Be Well,

Kate

Product Review Time- NeoCutis and Glytone

I am embarrassed to say that I really had never heard of Neocutis or Glytone until just a few weeks ago when it was recommended to me by my local aesthetician. I am always a little hesitant to experiment with new products, especially when they can be so CRAZY expensive (if my husband asks, they were on sale ;). But I was in a skincare rut, so I paid up.

One rookie mistake I made was that I bought too much. For the first two nights, I couldn't quite figure out how to blend all of the products. I typically layer based on texture and consistency (think water for cleansing, toner, thin serum, thicker moisturizer), but all of these products sort of felt the same. Many of them also had the same AM/PM recommendation.

After playing around for a bit, I think I found my routine- here it is ladies!

Morning:

Every morning I cleanse with any creamy cleanser, right now I am using Neutrogena's Deep Clean Cream Cleanser (not pictured). I'm happy with it, but may switch to their oil-free cleanser when I am finished.

Next I use Dermalogica's Multi Active Toner- I love the way this toner smells, but most of all, I love that when I use it, I can feel the toner working. There is this sudsy reaction when I put the toner on my skin. You don't get the burning
or warming effect that sometimes happens with an astringent toner but I still feel like it's helping to clean and protect my face.

Next up is my Serum- cue new product haul! I am really liking the NeoCutis Micro Serum. It goes on super smooth and light, no heavy feeling at all. It gives me an immediate glow. My skin feels clean and moisturized when I use this and it has really earned a spot in my skincare lineup.

And the final step for daytime is a moisturizer with sunscreen. When I am feeling indulgent, I like to do the fancy stuff, but right now I am just feeling the Neutrogena product line (I went crazy at Walgreens). Their Healthy Skin Face Lotion with Sunscreen layers nicely with the rest of my morning routine and adds that SPF 15 that works well during the winter months (for summer months when I am out more often and the sun is stronger, I definitely up the SPF to at least 30!).

This image also included my NeoCutis ReActive Antioxidant serum. Still not quite sure how to integrate this one into my routine, but occasionally I will swap out the Micro Serum just to change things up a bit.

Evening:

For night, I cleanse with the same morning cleanser and use the same toner, but switch up to the heavy hitters which include my retinaldehyde Night Renewal Cream from Glytone with the occasional switch in of the Glytone Enhance Brightening Complex. To be fair, I am not entirely sure that I am using the brightening cream correctly, but I plan on asking my aesthetician this week! Stay tuned...

Retinaldehyde is new to me. I am an old-school Retin-A enthusiast, but figured I would give it's kinder cousin a try (I've had my fair share of skin shedding experiences so the idea of a gentler alternative seemed like one I should consider). I was getting a little bit restless after not seeing an immediate reaction when I started to use it, but after two solid weeks of nightly use, I did notice a smoother complexion. In full disclosure, while I like the idea of using this nightly and not having the painful shedding that can sometimes happen with traditional Retin-A, I do think I want to add a stronger alternative twice a week to really jump start that cell turnover and use the retinaldehyde as a nightly treatment.

There you have it folks! There are a few products from my recent purchase which I haven't quite figured out how to integrate into my skincare routine, but when I figure that out, I will definitely keep you posted!!

Be Well,
Kate

The Ultimate Product Review Site- Check this Out

I acknowledge that by posting about this destination, I am likely undermining my own content, but seriously, have you guys checked out Reviews.com? How did I not know about this site until someone from the team reached out to me?

They recently ran a study for best natural deodorants- check out their final picks here- and had asked me to highlight their work on the blog. Always happy to help a brand that's inline with my work, I made a point to check out their site and now I feel like I want to work there (no, seriously, are you hiring?).

I love comparing skincare products and sharing pros and cons, but these guys managed to test out 219 products and pare them down to two?! This consumer-centric editorial team is a curated group of dedicated product-testers whose sole purpose is to ensure that you never make an uninformed purchase ever again. And not just on skincare.... "The Best Knife Set", "The Best Yoga Mat", "The Best Bottled Water" (I can appreciate this the most because there is MOST definitely a difference between brands! My husband disagrees).

Ok, just for fun I thought of the most random thing ever.... yes, they had a thorough review on it, "The Best Auto Insurance."

Have you guys known about this gem and neglected to share this essential pre-purchase destination with all of us?

New Skincare Haul!!

I feel like it is too late to blame my lack of skincare commitment on the crazy holidays, but I swear that I am really just getting back into my game.

I have been picking up more projects as a freelancer for a hyperlocal news publication, spinning my wheels with children's activities, keeping my head above water on my own content development, digging through client emails requesting blog content and trying to carve out some adult time... all of this means very little time for selfcare (Although, one might argue that pursuing all of the fulfilling items I've just listed really is an excellent form of selfcare!).

So in the post-holiday hangover era, I noticed some serious skin fatigue. I joked with a girlfriend yesterday that I felt like I could see my pores from a mile away! My skin felt tired and less dewy and I had fallen out of my paramedical product skincare routine!

As luck would have it, I received a call from a local aesthetician who reminded me that I still had a few sessions with her from an old package that I had received as a gift. When I first started seeing her, I was still nursing a child which meant we had to be very delicate with the facial options.

Now that I am no longer nursing and with ZERO plans to have another baby, it was time to bring on the good stuff. And that she did. Chemical peel to the max! More details on that later....

But what I really needed to do was to up my at-home routine. I love a good drug store haul, and recently I've been using a Neutrogena Day Cream with SPF and a Night Cream, but I felt like I was missing out on the hard working, anti-aging ingredients that you can only find in a physician's office.

So I splurged!!  I'm still tweaking my routine- all of these brands are actually new to me! I typically layer based on texture and I am still trying to figure out when and how to optimize this little skincare goodie bag, but I will get there!  And I absolutely cannot wait to tell you all about it!!

Have you tried Glytone or NeoCutis? I would love your thoughts and ideas on these products!!

Downtown Business Spotlight: Insight Psychological Group

The Downtown Business Spotlight Series that I am working on serves as an opportunity to showcase local businesses making a difference in our community. I find that I am typically drawn to lifestyle and healthy living businesses so when conversations first began with a psychological group, I was a little worried about how I would feature them? But it didn't take long for me to realize that mental wellness is crucial for overall wellness and healthy living.

I sat down with Brett Vasquez, LCP and other therapists from Insight Psychological Group to learn more about the many offerings of their practice.

The counselors and therapists at Insight Psychology Group right in Westfield are so thoughtful, kind, and experienced- offering specific support on a broad range of mental health concerns.

Learn more about this business in my latest Downtown Business Spotlight!!

Downtown Business Spotlight: Imagine NJ

This was such a powerful Downtown Business Spotlight to work on. Big thanks to everyone involved. An amazing organization that believes no child should ever grieve alone.  Do you know someone who might benefit from this organization, pass along this link to help them make an informed decision about their grief support.

I had the opportunity to spend the morning with Mary Robinson (left), Founder and Executive Director of @imagine_a_world_nj - a center for coping with loss. A special thanks to Veronica Ortiz (right) for helping me understand all of the important work this organization does!!

Downtown Business Spotlight: Via Nutrition

Well this was a fun little project featuring a really amazing wellness shop right here in my hometown!! Via Nutrition is literally just blocks away from my house and it is an amazing resource for my town.

Karen Phillips, owner of Via Nutrition talks wellness with Kate Brochu

I spend a lot of time researching and learning about wellness and holistic living as it relates to graceful aging and skincare. I feel like I may have just found my new "go to" source for all things health and beauty related.... just a few steps away from my home!

Take a look at this video and visit my YouTube Channel for more reviews and spotlights!

Shifting into Fall Skincare

The weather in my area is hinting that fall is just around the corner. It's my favorite season and, if you read my earlier post, I am really ready to get back into our "school year" routine. I am also ready to give my skin a little break from the summer sun and heat.

Do you change your skincare routine with the seasons? Here are three things I plan to shift this season.

First things first, I need to dissolve away summer.
Despite regular exfoliation and cleansing, I always feel that summer leaves me with a permanent surface layer of sunscreen. So off to the med-spa I go to get a chemical peel. The objective- chemically exfoliate away the sunscreen and general summer grit to reveal youthful looking skin below.

Evaluate my product line up.
In summer months I typically try to keep things light, for example, sticking with a thinner, less rich moisturizer. But as the seasons change and the weather becomes a bit more harsh, then I seek out moisturizers that provide more of a barrier against the colder weather. Did you see my review of Creme de La Mer? This will be perfect when the weather turns.

Push the Fluids.
It's easy to remember to drink water in the summer. It hot and we are always on the move so water bottles are a staple in our activity bags. But in the fall and cooler months, I don't get the heat cues and sometimes forget to stay hydrated which will only make seasonal skin dryness worse.

Do I Love La Mer?

So a few weeks back I caved and spent some serious dollars on the much hyped Creme De La Mer moisturizing cream.  The Verdict? It's perfect....for the winter.

I loved the scent of the cream (full disclosure, topical treatments have come a LONG WAYS...many boast similar ingredients and do a good job, so scent is now a valid category in my book when it comes to differentiation....along with packaging!).

I followed my regular skincare ritual- creamy cleanser, toner, serum...  and then I added the Creme de la Mer moisturizing cream. Definitely felt well hydrated, but, as the website suggests, this cream is ultra rich. In the summer when I am constantly loading on sunscreen and when I am not contending with the harsh northeast winters, this cream was just a bit too rich for the season and I even noticed some breakouts and congestion.

That said, this is staying in my arsenal for the fall/winter. As the season changes, so do our skincare needs and it's crucial to stay on top of the shifts in our skin's composition. I have a feeling this will fit nicely into my winter routine when the weather comes.

Be Well, ladies!

T-Minus How Many Days Until School?

Soaking in the sun with my new hat of choice ;)

Ok, so dusting things off after a crazy summer.  And as much as I hate to treat August like the "Sunday" of the calendar year, I am just crawling to the finish line of high intensity family time activities. Add "exhausted" emoji here.

Boys are boycotting camp (and I am weak in the mornings and they can be so cuddly before the day starts, so sure, we can just veg all day, no need to go to that camp we paid for). But any parent knows that is just NEVER the case.  And just when it's too late to drop your kids of at camp...that's when the crazy begins.

So it should come as no surprise that we've been spending a LOT of time outdoors.  The beach, the pool, the playground, repeat.

I love a good dose of Vit D and fresh air fuels my soul, but I am also annoyingly aware of the damage it can do.

I've been good with sunscreen and covering up.  I've even broken in a new favorite hat that doesn't make my head look smaller than it already is, but what I am REALLY ready for is getting back into my routine- both the school year routine and my skincare routine. Which means time to book my fall facial!

My aesthetician called it...her clients completely bail in the summer but come fall, they are crawling back asking her to fix their sun damaged skin.

So let's get back into our skincare groove and get that glow!

So What's New??

Here's what's new!!  Since Purity of Elements is on a summer hiatus I have been having fun with other little activities.  More time with the kiddos and fun projects on my own!

I recently connected with my local digital news provider- TAPinto Westfield- and I am LOVING the opportunity to type up some great, local content about the goings on in my area!  It's a vibrant, energetic town with plenty of news to cover.

Check out my recent work!

Video:
Memorial Day Coverage
Home Tour Coverage



Articles:
WWII Letter
Lyme Disease
RVRC

Fun Westfield Tradition

I recently signed on with my local digital news provider and it's been a lot of fun!  My goal is to work as a podcast host featuring local "celebrities" and to integrate more video into the newsite.  In the meantime I've had the opportunity to work on a few fun stories!  The first of which was published last week- take a look!!

The Notable Homes Tour is a long-standing tradition in our town that supports the New Jersey Festival Orchestra- located at the heart of our town.

Tour Some of the Westfield Areas Most Notable Homes

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/clark/articles/tour-some-of-the-westfield-areas-most-notable-ho-1

What a Manicure Can Teach Us About Selfcare!

I sat on the edge of my bed, my husband sleeping soundly beside me and my first child (finally) swaddled and restful in his own crib.  I was too tired, burnt out, and run down to express any form of emotion.  It was a numbness I had never experienced.  I needed adult time and found myself getting annoyed at my husband who offered very little conversation...

Me: "How was work?" 

Him: "Good- uneventful"

ME: "TELL ME MORE!  Tell me anything!  What did you have for lunch?  How many cups of coffee did you get to drink?  How was your commute?!"

Exactly what he wanted to hear after a 12 hour shift in a job that's undoubtedly stressful.

I needed stimulation, I needed sleep, I needed structure that didn't come at the expense of the additional physical exertion of mommy-and-me activities (bucket seat to stroller, bucket seat to car, stroller to trunk....repeat).  

I remember feeling a shuttering emptiness when I realized that the simple act of getting a manicure, something I had so easily done at a lunch break or after work, now required childcare.  All spontaneity of my past life- gone. All indulgent moments of selfcare erased from my agenda with the focus being solely on my child.

This isn't meant to be funny when I type it, but the need for a manicure saved me! 

Listen, things can be deep and dark and NO amount of "me time" will help with that- and if you think you are in that place, you are not alone and you can find help- try here.  

But finally finding a sitter to come on a regular basis so I could get a "store-bought" mani got me a little closer to feeling like my old self.  And feeling like oneself is and always will be important. 

This small selfcare gesture taught me so much about taking care of me at a time when I focused primarily on taking care of others!

I literally cared for a living being in his entirety- feeding, bathing, napping, changing, loving, snuggling... (ok, these last two were pretty easy).  So much of My ENTIRE life was consumed by caring for this other living creature and my selfcare needs went out the window!  Ironically, the overwhelming, all-consuming aspect of motherhood is the same thing that helped me justify these indulgent moments of selfcare.  I am teaching another human being how to exist, surely it's ok to get a manicure!

I needed to breathe my own air.  I needed to have my own experiences.  I needed a break in the never-ending-ness of parenthood. 

My father's favorite quote- Do what you need to do, then what you want to do...

I've heard this so many times and respect it's message so much that it is very likely singed into my DNA.  In fact, when I became a stay-at-home parent, there were just SO MANY "need to do firsts" that all of my wants went out the window and lost their value (including sleep and selfcare!).  If I found myself resting on the couch, I could only think of all of the other things I should be tending to- laundry, dishes, general tidying up.  

I had a sitter, but I was only carving out time to do what I needed to do and using her so that I could handle the "essentials...the "need to do's"- buy groceries, pick up prescriptions, go to the dentist, datenight.*

I shrugged off my "want to do's" because they seemed like luxuries.  Not necessities.  And I lost nearly all sense of self!

I needed time for groceries AND a manicure.  I needed time to get a cavity filled AND get my hair done.  I needed time to get the car inspected AND to get to the gym.  I needed time for datenight* AND alone time.

It took me a long time to figure out what my "balance cocktail" was- how much kid-free time I needed, how much adult interaction I needed, how much independent time I needed... and I still need to turn the dial up or down depending on the week.  

But carving out time for selfcare- coffee alone or with a friend, a manicure, a facial (because skincare is a pretty great form of selfcare)- THIS is what brought me the balance I NEEDED and WANTED. 

Ok, so what's the selfcare moral of the story here?  Get a babysitter to watch the kids while you do your groceries, but make sure you get your manicure first- you don't want the milk to spoil ;)

*Important note on datenight- in reality, I know datenight is a luxury!!  But, I also see it as a "must do" to keep a marriage strong.  So for the purpose of this post, it rolls up into a "responsibility" that serves a purpose other than a "me-centric" selfcare moment.  It's an "us-care" moment ;)

All Great Things- Life Update

What a fun year it has been!  I had the opportunity of a lifetime to collaborate with an amazing skincare brand, Purity of Elements, and to support their efforts on QVC!  

While I wish there were more on-air opportunities for the brand, Purity is in an amazing space as they gear up for greatness!  I cannot wait to see what happens with the brand and I look forward to collaborating in the future!!

In the meantime, it is SO time to jump back into my own personal blogging interests!  

This past year has really helped me to refine my interests within the lifestyle arena.  I LOVE skincare, but have learned that it's more than just skincare- it's SELFCARE!  

As a busy mom of three, taking time for my skincare rituals is more than just about keeping my skin healthy, it's about keeping my mind and my soul healthy, too.  Taking time for myself to restore and recharge before the next wave of parenting responsibilities come up.

And through this newly focused lens I look forward to bringing you all more content- exploring selfcare rituals and balanced living tricks that provide actionable tips to help us live more mindful lives!

So please stick around and engage with the new content coming your way!!

Are we connected on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube??

Be Well!

Updated Demo

It is SO AWESOME to include my QVC airing into my "grassroots" demo reel!  Here's the latest folks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KisxiD78jUs