Meet Kim Buchanan, Executive Producer of the Morning Blend! Including a special bonus clip with TV Host, Molly Fay as they share their love and laughs with us!
(Don't mind the techie parts, lol! I'm a learner!)
With every moms controlled chaos at home and work, I had the opportunity to watch Kim Buchanan first hand on how fast her morning really goes, how she juggles a million things happening at once, and how calm and cool she stayed tackling one challenge at a time that came her way. Sure! This may have been only one morning with this fascinating lady, and maybe all went crazy the next day, or the minute after I left, but guess what? That’s a mom’s world, on and off the playing fields and that’s how most of us roll… on a good season at least! & haha, all the above was AFTER her kids were off to school!
 |
| Kim Buchanan & her own "Mornin' Blend" |
I am talking about, & so excited to share with you the
behind the scenes experience I had on the set of “The Morning Blend” with Executive Producer, Kim Buchanan! A
show I am a huge fan of, and a family that I was able to be a part of one Sunny, Milwaukee Morning with every crew member welcoming me in and sharing
their kindness and love for the part they all have in making this awesome local
show what it is.
Kim Buchanan made this
day possible just by saying “yes”, when I asked if I could meet with her to
learn more about her “mom and work” balance. (See on the set pics at TMB.) It was truly an honor and I hope I do justice in sharing what she shared
with me (& the surprise during our interview too…wait for it…the beautiful
Ms. Molly Fay dropped in!)
“You can have it all but you can’t do it all. Find what YOU are passionate about and do it.” -Kim Buchanan, Mom of 3 & Executive Producer
of, “The Morning Blend.”
While talking to Kim, I loved most of all, how she
celebrated the small tasks accomplished each day.
Getting up on time, not hitting the snooze button and kick starting her
day was just one for starters. Simple
enough right?! We all feel better when we are the first one awake in our household and ready to make sure the day begins on the right track. Kim enjoys cooking and loves to do this for her family. With
working (a few?!) long hour days at "The Morning Blend", she is unable to be home to enjoy dinner together as often as they'd like. She takes
advantage of having a warm breakfast ready for her family before the busy
schedule flies each member out the door.
I thought this was crazy but at the same time, felt her smile glow when
she talked about doing this. It made
her happy and she makes it happen; just another day to day goal that she
accomplishes, doing what she loves most on top of so much more. She takes her Sundays, when
possible, to prepare the family meals for the week. We’ve all heard this was the best way to
avoid eating junk all week with our kids’ right?! Kim conquers this challenge with preparation
to make sure, again, her family is started off on the right step in the
mornings. Working together with her
husband & prioritizing their work calendars is another way they are able to
balance parenthood and be there for their children ages, 13, 11 & 9, not to
mention the life of the family dog too! One biggest challenge, of a few I'm sure, that her and her
husband work out is when a child is home sick, which one is able to take the
day off of work to be with them.
Parenting, it never ends, and no one takes care of a sick child like
their own mom or dad. Another accomplishment of parenthood & marriage with Kim and hubby, Rick.
Kim explains how important it is for every mom to find time
to themselves. (I personally have to schedule this in and don’t do it enough). Recharging the batteries to feel your best
when with the family! Even if it’s a nail appointment! I love how
Kim says she loves to give a friend a little massage certificate when she sees
it may be just what that friend needs for a "break". Kim has a heart of gold putting everything
she’s got into the minute she’s in and including the world around her. I feel Kim is a huge giver always giving back as much love, if not more, than she receives! Kim did not hesitate inviting me onto the set during air time, meeting the camera crew, production manager, and even letting me know its ok,
to sit comfortably in the desk behind the cameras… did I mention that desk has the same chairs our local news anchors use when LIVE?! Her laid back and calmness was what was
carried thru with everyone I met on set.
What a true honor this was and I did my best to play it as “calm” as possible
like Kim does :) I lowered my excitement a gazillion notches, and took it all in
embracing this special moment with her.
Kim and I continued our talk. She was very grateful to her own mother for
coming home and staying with the kids while Kim and her friends just got back from
a ladies vacation away. This was 20
years past due and “much needed” as Kim said, and who wouldn't agree?! "Girlfriend time is always important, to have that support from one another
and take the break to enjoy all you are together." She loved having her mom home, helping take care
of the family while she was away with the ladies, and her moms extra help getting things done that had Kim herself, get caught up with a few
things we all can relate to when she returned. (Take it easy ladies, her hubby works long days too & nothing like having mom home with your kids while you enjoy some girlfriend time together!
A win-win in my eyes!)
A favorite gift Kim loved from her family, besides the priceless homemade notes and cards her children make for her, were the “Wireless Beats” she’s
able to listen to during her workouts; not messing with the head set cords and all while having
them easily accessible in the car to listen to her favorite podcasts at
times was another bonus; It may be the Mother Talkers Podcast, but that’s just my guess J
How Kim got to where she is today is not the path she set
out for in the beginning. Starting
school to be a pharmacist was not sitting right in her heart but writing and
journalism did and it seemed to take over when she wanted to follow in her
grandmothers footsteps. She never looked
back and has been moving forward ever since.
TMJ4 had Kim as the News Producer of Special Projects for ten
years. One project was a year in the
making of a local talk show. She
traveled to different areas already doing this to see how it was done, and came home with a team ready to put the
talk show business model together & making it all happen right here in
Milwaukee. Her husband came up with the
name of “The Morning Blend” and all was ready to go! The show was put in place and Kim was onto the next project until she was asked to be the Executive Producer
of this very show! She was put to the
challenge & took it on enjoying everyone she works with and the work she
does. “Everyone is very passionate about
their work and what they contribute to the show.” I’ve seen this first hand. This show is more
than a show, its family, and everyone’s huge heart is extremely visible.
When I asked her if she felt she was at the peak of her career/dream, she replied,
"I enjoy right where I'm at, & feel really great about it."
Kim truly believes
every mom makes sacrifices, "it’s great to see how other people do it and
make it happen, but always do what is
best for you and your family.
Let your kids know what is important to you and help them understand the
“give and take” of when it’s time to work as well as taking time with your
family and time away for yourself. Don’t be afraid to be different. Turn off work when you can, putting the phone
aside, and spending quality time with your family every chance you get."Kim Buchanan, this interview was a true pleasure and I can't thank you enough for your time together and on the set of "The Morning Blend." Thank you for sharing your work/home balance with each of us; may all the great moms out there celebrate the small victories of each day find joy in all you do, and take the time (with a delish moms-beverage) to...
"Shed the chaos, Keep the fun & remember to always have a little Moms Blend in your morning!
