Heidi Axelrod, Former Beauty Columnist, Town & Country and More Magazine
As told by Butterfly Co-Founder, Bradi Nathan:
Fortunately for Heidi Axelrod, she already knew a plethora of beauty tips before her three children were born. Heidi has years of experience in writing the beauty column for national publications like Town & Country and More magazine. She is the ultimate resource in finding solutions for busy moms like herself. In an exclusive interview with Butterfly, Heidi shares her secrets to balancing beauty and business:
BN: What did you do before you had children?
HA: I was a beauty writer/editor at several major women’s magazines-Town & Country, Ladies’ Home Journal and MORE Magazine.
BN:At what point did you know that full-time work was not right for you and your family?
HA: I think that I always knew that I couldn’t do my job AND be with my kids without something suffering-whether it was my work or my relationship with my kids. Working at a magazine involves very long days and nights and I knew it was not conducive to being the hands-on mom that I wanted to be.
BN: How difficult was it to find freelance writing jobs? What resources can you share?
HA: Initially I found it to be very easy because of the relationships I had already established while working full-time. Three kids later it’s a different story. It’s now been a year since I stopped freelancing and to be honest, I feel it may be harder now to get back in it. My friends in the biz have had their own kids and moved on to being stay-at-home moms or to other jobs. And, like we’ve heard before, there’s a big disconnect being a mom of three (3) in the burbs trying to convince the young 20-something on the other end of the phone to assign something to me because I am still in-the-know.
BN: What aspects of working full-time do you miss?
HA: Mainly, I miss having something to call my own. But I also miss the creative process--working with other smart people, coming up with ideas and layouts and ultimately seeing my work featured in a national magazine. I also miss being in an industry that is cutting-edge and always being the first to know what is going on.
BN: What is the biggest challenge you face in trying to achieve balance in your life?
HA: I don’t want to miss those “moments” with my kids. I also hate being so stressed that I can’t enjoy my time with them.
BN: How did your colleagues react when you announced that you were going to stay home with your children?
HA: They were very supportive. Since many women go freelance in my industry, it’s not uncommon for women to take a break from full-time and do their own thing.
BN: When is the best time for you to write?
HA: At night when the kids are asleep.
BN: How can moms apply some quick beauty tips to their busy schedule?
HA: Moms don’t have to forgo makeup- they just have to streamline their routine. Find one or two things that work for you. A dab of concealer right where you need it. A coat of mascara or a quick curl of the lashes to wake up your eyes. Or maybe it’s a swipe of lip gloss and a sweep of blush to give you that I-just-got-8-hours-of-sleep glow.
BN: What are some suggestions for beauty on a budget?
HA: There are dozens of options now available to women on a budget. Multiple products like lip/eye/cheek products are genius for the multi-tasking mom who is trying to save money. Avoiding trendy brights is also key. Choose neutral shades instead that can take you further than a new shade that might be out next month. Drugstores, discount retailers like Target and online beauty sites are all good resources for budget beauty.
If you would like to hire Heidi as a freelance writer, email her at: heidiaxelrod@aol.com
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My daughter came downstairs this morning with a washcloth draped over her mouth. “I look ugly,” she muffled. After prying away the cloth, I noticed a reddish patch of dry skin next to her tiny pink lips. I told her it wasn’t anything that a dab of Aquaphor couldn’t fix. That’s my beauty tip for the day and I might also add, that all little girls must be taught that true beauty comes from within. |
BN: What did you do before you had children?
HA: I was a beauty writer/editor at several major women’s magazines-Town & Country, Ladies’ Home Journal and MORE Magazine.
BN:At what point did you know that full-time work was not right for you and your family?
HA: I think that I always knew that I couldn’t do my job AND be with my kids without something suffering-whether it was my work or my relationship with my kids. Working at a magazine involves very long days and nights and I knew it was not conducive to being the hands-on mom that I wanted to be.
BN: How difficult was it to find freelance writing jobs? What resources can you share?
HA: Initially I found it to be very easy because of the relationships I had already established while working full-time. Three kids later it’s a different story. It’s now been a year since I stopped freelancing and to be honest, I feel it may be harder now to get back in it. My friends in the biz have had their own kids and moved on to being stay-at-home moms or to other jobs. And, like we’ve heard before, there’s a big disconnect being a mom of three (3) in the burbs trying to convince the young 20-something on the other end of the phone to assign something to me because I am still in-the-know.
BN: What aspects of working full-time do you miss?
HA: Mainly, I miss having something to call my own. But I also miss the creative process--working with other smart people, coming up with ideas and layouts and ultimately seeing my work featured in a national magazine. I also miss being in an industry that is cutting-edge and always being the first to know what is going on.
BN: What is the biggest challenge you face in trying to achieve balance in your life?
HA: I don’t want to miss those “moments” with my kids. I also hate being so stressed that I can’t enjoy my time with them.
BN: How did your colleagues react when you announced that you were going to stay home with your children?
HA: They were very supportive. Since many women go freelance in my industry, it’s not uncommon for women to take a break from full-time and do their own thing.
BN: When is the best time for you to write?
HA: At night when the kids are asleep.
BN: How can moms apply some quick beauty tips to their busy schedule?
HA: Moms don’t have to forgo makeup- they just have to streamline their routine. Find one or two things that work for you. A dab of concealer right where you need it. A coat of mascara or a quick curl of the lashes to wake up your eyes. Or maybe it’s a swipe of lip gloss and a sweep of blush to give you that I-just-got-8-hours-of-sleep glow.
BN: What are some suggestions for beauty on a budget?
HA: There are dozens of options now available to women on a budget. Multiple products like lip/eye/cheek products are genius for the multi-tasking mom who is trying to save money. Avoiding trendy brights is also key. Choose neutral shades instead that can take you further than a new shade that might be out next month. Drugstores, discount retailers like Target and online beauty sites are all good resources for budget beauty.
If you would like to hire Heidi as a freelance writer, email her at: heidiaxelrod@aol.com
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