Nicole Bloomberg: Tickled Pink & Blue

Jody Fegelman

Born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Nicole Bloomberg had a successful career in marketing and public relations. When she moved to Toronto, she put her creative forces into designing a jewellery line. When she became a mom it lead her down a road she had been hoping to travel since her days studying for an MBA: running a magazine.

Pink & Blue Magazine originally started when Bloomberg’s popular Facebook group exploded onto the mom scene in 2011, attracting thousands of passionate parents every week. The magazine is the first publication in Canada that garners topics straight from where they began, their Facebook forum. With close to 6,000 members on the Facebook group and growing weekly by 100-200 people, Pink & Blue is tapped into a huge social network. It connects local mothers in Toronto and across the country and the US. You can ask questions, share stories, and inform others of local happenings. All of the information on the forum is strictly advice from other mothers.

“Being a new parent comes with lots of new experiences and a lot of questions arise from these experiences. Many of my friends who were also new moms were also sharing these same difficulties,” says Bloomberg. “I was pretty sure that this wasn’t exclusive to my circle. I started Pink & Blue on Facebook for new moms and not so new moms to help one another out and share techniques and experiences.”

That’s how Pink & Blue was born: to bring moms together to share, learn, gain advice and socialize. The forum was amazing for doing just that. Bloomberg realized the need for more than just great mommy advice – but expert mommy advice. Cue Pink & Blue Magazine.

“You need a strong support network. The magazine is making life easier for parents who just don’t have the time to search the Internet. It is a trusted source for parents to turn to for advice from other parents and experts. This is really an exciting and thrilling time in my life and keeps me on the edge of my seat to see where life takes me and what happens next. I am grateful to be a mother and to have Pink & Blue as my second baby and to watch it grow and to help moms from all over. It is hard work, but it is always worth it when it is finally published!”

?How has it changed you (if at all)?

Pink & Blue has changed me for the better. It has changed the way I view business, women and moms. The hardest part is to separate yourself from your brand. I am doing something I believe and that I love and at the end of the day that is the most important thing!”

?What do you think of some of the bad buzz on Pink & Blue Facebook forum?

“I choose to focus on the good and to ignore people that choose to be negative. Also, we’re dealing with hormonal women that are pregnant, just had a baby, or just moms trying to balance life. Whenever you have thousands of moms communicating you’re bound to get some claws out. Some people like the drama and some don’t. You have to choose what you read, what you learn from and what you want to ignore.”

How do you juggle a busy career and being a mom?

“As a true Fab Mom should, I try to balance my career and my growing family. I think every mom struggles with the balance. The trick is to take a step back and make time for yourself, which was the hardest lesson to learn, so you don’t get burnt out.“

Three things every new mom should know.

“1. When you’re relaxed your kids are relaxed and they pick up your energy.

2. Trust your motherly instinct.

3. Don’t let others judge you. Everyone will always have an opinion, especially when it comes to your kids.”??