WELCOME TO MY BLISS.

This is my little corner of happiness. 

I write about things I love.

 

My name is Kari.

I’m passionate about helping people discover their own personal creativity & style.

I only shop at thrift & vintage stores & think it’s important to be living green. I love Sacramento and do what I can to encourage others to support what’s going on locally, and get behind businesses that are making a difference in our community.

If you need a hand & some professional advice going through your closet & revamping your current wardrobe, I’m booking PERSONAL STYLIST APPOINTMENTS & would love to schedule you!

 Some of what we do around here:

MAN MONDAY

 THRIFTING HOW-TUESDAY

STYLIST DIARIES

 LOCAL. MATTERS.

Have fun looking around & let me know you came by!

 

BLEH.

Fashion Darlings,

Ever have one of those days  weeks when feeling blah bleeds into a couple things everything? I’ve been sick for well over a week now, & it not only keeps going & going, but I’ve now given said dreaded cold/flu/horrible-ness to poor doting husband (who has been taking care of miserable me without complaint). I only hope I can be as patient & doting as he’s been now that he is also miserable. { so sorry! }

oof. I can’t seem to wrap my head around much – being sick just sucks the life out of me. Cooking (pizza?), house-work, writing, pictures, getting stinkin dressed in the morning…I seriously found myself standing in the middle of the lawn in my apartment complex today holding keys, and wasn’t sure if I had been walking to my car, the mailbox, or Wonderland.

I needed me; but on a really good day, this morning. I needed to remember an hour earlier than I did that I have picture messaging, and send a desperate plea for help to my assisterant (sister+assistant) who could tell me if my outfit looked ridicules. It was one of those, try on everything in your whole closet (holy cow I made a mess!), everything looks stupid, and whatever is left on your body at that last second before you have to walk out the door is what’s going to be worn, kind of days. Ever had a day like that? 

If fashion is self-expression, then my fashion today expressed…. eeeeechhhhhhh. Not the day to have pictures taken for a news article. oops. Hello tired eyes, iffy outfit & rushed makeup. Those are not going to be pretty.

Now at the end of my very busy, yet somehow overwhelmingly unproductive day, I am now going to attempt to sleep & hope that splitting a romantic bottle of wine Nyquil with mr. now-you-got-me-sick-too will help the cause all around.

Here’s to clearer heads, getting more sleep, and positive fashion thoughts in the morning.

– Kari

 

EMMA. FASHION FORWARD.

Emma Watson – getting it right.

Emma Watson isn’t your average teenager.

She’s adorable, British, has been in a couple small movies you may have seen, and has contracts with Burberry & Chanel…but most notable to me is that despite all of that, or possibly, enabled by it, she has chosen to put her name where her heart is.

Emma is using fashion as a tool to ‘alleviate poverty’. She’s designed a line called Love From Emma for People Tree and is donating her fee to craftsmen in developing nations.

People Tree is an incredible company, and I have a lot of respect for a girl who can (and does) have contracts with the biggest  & best of the fashion world, but chooses to pour her energies into a company that truely works to reverse the negative imprint fashion leaves on the world scene. 

Speaking of the timliness of her line on the fashion scene, Emma said, “I think young people like me are becoming increasingly aware of the humanitarian issues surrounding fast fashion and want to make good choices but there aren’t many options out there.”

People Tree clothes are made entirely by hand by fair trade groups using weaving, knitting and embroidery, helping to create livelihoods for disadvantaged groups in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. 

People Tree is actively reducing poverty, promoting more environmental projects & organic cotton farming, and Campaigning to create an empowering environment for Fair Trade and sustainability amongst the public, business leaders and policy makers. That’s something I can get behind.

. . . . You can shop Emma’s new line HERE.  Or shop the rest of People Tree HERE.

Want to make a difference? Whether it’s with People Tree or elsewhere, vote with your dollar. Become an expert on the practices of the companies you choose to spend your money at. 

There are ways to get more involved with People Tree – and Fair Trade in general. Want to become a Fair Trader or come to an event? Do you run a shop and want to purchase wholesale? Or maybe you’re looking for an internship or perhaps even a career with People Tree.

Whether it’s something that involved, or just becoming more aware of how your buying power truely effects the world around you, be intentional. Make a difference.

– Kari

 

FLEA MARKET.

FLEA MARKETS. ARE. FUN.

Where else are you going to find awesome oversized utensils for $10.00? I wanted these so bad.

Flea markets are like giant outdoor thrift stores where you can barter for things you find. Basically – garage sale on crack. And sure, at thrift stores & garage sales you find stuff that you’re totally not into or isn’t super high quality. But there’s also the possibility of finding something amazing.

One doesn’t go to a flea market in search of something in particular. You go to have a fun day with friends, laugh, eat and maybe find something cool. A day well spent supporting local.

There are 2 flea markets that I know of here in Sac, and they happen every weekend, Friday through Sunday. We went to both a few Sundays ago with our friend Tom & had a fun day. Here’s a bit of the revelries…

 

 Not ‘knives & swords’ or even ‘knife & sword’. One knife and a lot of swords? Either way, the sign worked – my husband bought a pocket knife and was super excited with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew my house was missing something. This is definitely it. I swear that thing was the size of my entire livingroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly, there are a lot of really gorgeous outdoor living vendors here. Pottery, sculptures, fountains, furniture… now I need an upgrade on my 4 ft patio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, fashion doesn’t seem to be a strong suite for flea markets….

 

{wow.}

 

 

 

Aligator skin boots anyone? How bout ostrich then? They  have them in bubblegum pink & bright turquoise if you don’t like white.

There were vendors with brand new, really cute boots, but I didn’t get a picture… too busy trying on boots.

 

 

 

 

 

At the flea market in Roseville, they have a lot of really yummy food: texas bbq, authentic mexican food, chinese food, hotdogs & burgers… now I’m hungry.

It’s great – eat, grab a beer & keep on trekking through. This place is pretty massive.

 

There is no limit to the randomness of the belt buckles here. Tons of vendors selling accessories – belt buckles, sunglasses, hats, purses…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for the guys:
more video games, new dvds & electronics than you can shake a stick at.

Most items are priced really low or reasonably already, and vendors are accustomed to being bartered down from there. 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s always live birds for sale, and sometimes, even puppies, kittens & bunnies. SO cute. 

 

 

Then there were the not so cute, or live animals….

 

 

 

 

 

 Pretty creeped out. Not gonna lie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

. . . . 

Apparently, taxidermy is alive & well {no pun intended} at the flea market. eew.

This is my friend Tom & the jackelope we had to pry from his hands. : )

Overall, a chill day hanging with friends.

 

With only 6 more weeks of cold weather (thanks, Mr. Groundhog) flea markets are going to be an even better way to spend a Saturday. 

Let me know if you head out to the flea market & what you find!

 

 

 

WINTER. STAPLES. GO.

THRIFTING HOW TUESDAY.

It’s going to be cold for quite some time still…there’s a couple wintery staples I hope you have in your wardrobe, cause you’re going to need them for the next few months.

And of course, you know where I think you should buy them. : )

To those of you who don’t feel like you can do ‘trendy, young’  looks like I often show here, these are pieces I feel are great for any woman, any age & body type. 

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The first staple is a great dark scarf.  I really like this woven black one – detail & personality while still being a basic. You can wear this with anything, dressy or not. 

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The second staple, obviously, is a great jacket. I am partial to pea coats, for guys and girls. A guy rocking a pea coat automatically wins style points with me…{shout out once again to the uber-fashionable guys in my office – I wish more guys dressed like you all.}

This jacket is a bit longer than a traditional pea coat, but it’s wool, lined, and tailored well to fit me. A great collared jacket can completely make a look, and can save a lackluster attempt at the rest of an outfit. All buttoned up with the dark scarf (that you’re going to go get!) you have the illusion of a well put together look, even if the rest is less than stellar.

I have found the perfect jacket at thrift stores on a number of occasions while out with clients…one time, it seemed almost too good to be true, and  client & stylist did a happy dance in the aisle. Perfect condition black pea coat, sized like it was tailored for her: $25.00. My jacket was a gift from a dear friend. (Thank you, thank you, Lisa! xoxo) 

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I make no secret of loving great boots. I think it’s important for women to have dressy and casual boots in at least black & brown. It cracks me up going out in the evenings & seeing girls do the mini skirt & heels with bare legs. Newsflash – it’s REALLY COLD OUT! Dark skinny jeans, great high heeled boots & the jacket/scarf combo: a simple, fashionable way to do cold winter evenings out.

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I bought these boots yesterday and, yeah. They’re pretty hot. Suede, thrifted (but brand new!), built-in scrunch, high sexy heel *sigh*… Someone might have to pry me out of these, or I’ll wear them every day. I’ve showed you these adorable vintage leaves before – they are so versitile! I wear them on the top of simple heels, on boots like I have here, in my hair or hanging from a chain as a pendant. Think outside the box when it comes to accessories.

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Speaking of accessories – this necklace is a composite of love. My friend Emily bought me the gold leaf pendant on her first thrifting adventure, and my sister bought me the acorn. I like combining metals in a common theme with pendants of different sizes. And speaking of sizes: a great black or brown woven belt is a must-have, whatever size you are. You can wear it over a simple blouse like this one (another staple!) or over a longer tunic-length top. It brings you in, accentuating your smallest part & creates balance in the look.

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A fun staple to invest in: big bold earrings! They look great with short hair. (Barb, are you listening?!) Long hair swept back with large vibrant colored earrings is also stunning.

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TALLY FOR THIS WEEK’S LOOK:

– gold leaf earrings: $2.99

– acorn / leaf necklace: gift.

– vintage jeweled leaves: gift

– creme sheer blouse: $3.99

– perfect skinny jeans: $3.49

– woven black belt: $1.59

– black boots: $5.99

– charcoal jacket: gift

TOTAL: $18.05

 

 

BLACK IS {not} BACK.

EXPERIMENT:

–noun. 1.A test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle.

When entering into an experiment in life versus a science class, there is usually a desired result as opposed to “lets find out what this does”.  In life, I feel the term “experiment” is used as a precautionary measure against the embarassment of failure. Unfortunately, this post is an example of that definition…the original intent behind this post did not include the word experiment at all. ugh. 

PROBLEM:

I have a lot of black colored clothes that I’ve bought at thrift stores, and while they are in great shape, the black-ness isn’t what it used to be. I also have a few articles of clothing that I would like more if the color were different.

“EXPERIMENT”: 

Gather up all almost-black colored garments, and unfortunately-not-black items, and dye them all black. The hope is to rejuvenate the black coloring on the items that are already attempting to be so, and transform the pieces that aren’t into deep, dark awesome wearable wardrobe staples.

 This is one of the pieces I experimented on… I’m not super into pink, but it’s so comfortable!

I bought this dress years ago at a thrift store because I loved the shape & satiny fabric. But, it’s orange. yeah. Black satin dress = so much more wearable!

DIRECTIONS:

(Google is amazing.) I went to the site for RIT, to make sure I got as much info as possible so as to avoid having to call this an “experiment” {sigh}. There are a few ways you can dye something, and I chose to do it in a washing machine since I was doing quite a few items.

1. Fill machine with enough hot water for fabric to move freely.

2. Refer to the chart below for the right amount of dye to add. (didn’t include the chart) Pre-dissolve powder in 2 cups of hot water. Add pre-dissolved powder or liquid to hot dye bath.  I read the chart & was too ambitious, added too much water & too many items for the amount of dye I had.

3. Wet fabric in hot water. Uncrumple and add to dye bath. Realized after I added the items to the dye water that I forgot to get them wet first.

4. Set machine for extended wash cycle. Fabric should be in dye bath for at least 30 minutes before rinse begins. (You can reset your washing machine before the rinse cycle begins for extended wash cycle.) I did all this at my parent’s house, as I have an upright washer that is not mine. Didn’t know how to operate a foreign washer, & overcompensated by letting items sit in dye for a LONG time. 

5. Rinse in cold water until water runs clear. Wash deep shades in warm water with mild detergent and rinse thoroughly in cool water. Did that.

6. Dry item in dryer or hang to dry. Did that.

7. Clean washing machine using highest water level with hot water, detergent and 1 cup chlorine bleach using complete wash cycle. Clean lint traps. Did that.

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I absolutely couldn’t wait to see the results of my dye job, and rushed to the washer to watch the final spin on the rinse cycle.

And then… the epic fail.

The previously orange dress is now tie-dye brown-ish. It soaked in a lot of color, but the ratio of dye was no match for the overpowering orange. Might still try to save this, but I thought it wasn’t wearable when it was orange… patchy brown is way more stylish. FAIL.

 

Important note when dying anything: different fabrics, textures & finishes take dye VERY differently. My previously bubble gum pink sweater is now a dismal pinkish-grey. (with the zipper taking on zero dye, and remaining fully pink.) FAIL.

Another item, a cute (but unfortunately patterned) cotton maxi dress, not only was not awesomely jet black at the end of this, but now was even less attractive as a grey-washed version of an already unattractive pattern. FAIL.

CONCLUSION:

Experiments are fun, and sometimes a bit costly & dissapointing. The good news is, I now know a number of things to not do next time. : )

There may be a follow-up post at some point, where I try all this again with less items, more dye, pre-wet clothes, & hopefully don’t have to use the word “experiment”.

 

COMEDY. FOR HAITI.

I am impressed, Sacramento. You continue to step up & use what you have, where you’re at to make a difference for others around the world. Here’s one more way to get involved…

HELP FOR HAITI – 100% FOR CHARITY.

Want to do something to help the relief effort in Haiti? Want to enjoy yourself while you do?

The Sacramento Comedy Community is performing a benefit show, and all proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross for Haitian Relief.

On Tuesday, February 2nd, see a great show hosted by Sacramento’s own Keith Lowell Jensen!

Starring headliners: Ngaio Bealum, Marcella Arguello, Dennis Gaxiola, Chazz Hawkins, Ray Molina and many more comics as they rock the Sacramento Punchline.

Just for you! (and thousands of Haitian Earthquake victims).

 

For more info, listings, shows, comedy news, and the latest on everything funny in Sacramento, visit:

www.sacramentocomedy.com

Twitter.com/SacComedy
Meetup.com/SacramentoComedy
YouTube.com/SacramentoComedy

 

wonderland.

I had the pleasure of planning & hosting a party this past Friday…

a MAD HATTER party.

{this is me & my friend Ryan, the party host & hostess}

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting down the days til my birthday weekend,

(aren’t you excited for my birthday?!)

which also happens to be when the new Alice in Wonderland comes out!

Depp fan, Burton fan, Alice fan, or not a fan at all – you’re going to want to see this movie. With such dark, twisty, high hopes for it, I think I may be genuinely dissapointed (and shocked) if it bombs. I was so stoked to have a Wonderland party…

{this is me & my gorgeous friend Jessica. love her.}

I adore vintage. I don’t know how many costume parties you get invited to in any given year, but it’s so fun to dress up in fun costumes & wear silly things. In inviting friends to this, I wanted them to have the ability to get as involved as they’d like. So, dressy casual with “curious or delightful headwear” was the request. 

I got this dress third-hand, as opposed to second-hand. A friend had bought it at a thrift store a long time ago & it was perfect for the vintage, victorian, party feel we were going for. I’m kind of sad to give it back, but I seriously doubt there will be another occasion to wear this. Thus is the beauty of thrifting costumes. Someone else can find & love a piece that has served you well for 1 event and be thrilled.

Thrift stores are GREAT places for costumes, accessories & interesting things to create a cohesive look for any kind of fun party.

I love how into it some of my friends got. One friend mentioned that a resolution of theirs is to celebrate a forgotton holiday with friends this year. What better excuse to put together a random, hilarious fun party with friends? Ground hog’s day? Charles Dicken’s Day?

Get creative! Have fun! Throw a party! (& invite me.)

– Kari

 

KNIT-PICKY MEN.

As a manly man one can not be ashamed of the fact that they are clothes shopping; especially at a thrift store.

Finding sweet jeans at back-alley prices is just smart and we all want to look smart and cool. As you enter the store be determined to find your perfect fit. Don’t settle for “I kinda like it,” or “It’s so cheap that it doesn’t matter if I wear it very often.” I have personally fallen for this trap numerous times. It’s not worth it (even if it was only fifty cents) because than you just end up with lots of garments you only wear once even though you try it on every couple of days thinking, hoping…dreaming that somehow the puke orangeishbrown sweater vest you rescued last week suddenly became bodacious over night. And that’s just lame and bad for the environment…I made that up.  

One thing to rescue that last note is to remember that YOU make what you wear awesome, it’s NOT what you wear that makes YOU awesome.

Shop with confidence knowing that even if you decide to wear this crazy star clad western jockey shirt that you found half way off the hanger in the back of the store (true story), YOU made that shirt look darn good. Soon you will discover that your friends are envious of your new found boldness and will never question your authority as a style mogul or your status as a male gender of our beloved species.

-Johnny Cowan

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Johnny is one of very few people my age who can say they’ve known me since I was born. We grew up together  as good friends in very similar families, both loving thrifting from the get-go. Now in our mid-20’s, he is one of very few guys I know who shops almost exclusively thrift. Basically – he’s the male couterpart of me & my thrifting obsession.  I love that even though he’s now in another state, we can work together, bringing you different sides of what we love.

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I just want to let you in on a great trend that has become huge this season for guys :

the shawl neck cardigan.

Don’t be turned off by the name… it does sound a little girly. But for the past 5-ish years, cardigans have become a fashion staple for all men no matter what your age. No longer do they have the stuffy or old stigma associated with them, and it you do not have one in your wardrobe for winter then you need to invest right away. This season has seen the introduction of a new style/cut cardigan which involves the fold over shawl neck.

These oversized collars give the cardigans a real “slouchy” relaxed feel and are perfect for staying warm this winter. I have never seen the shawl neck so popular and it is present in all the major designer collections this Winter. More important to me than who’s designer websites you can find these on is that they are pretty well-stocked at thrift & vintage stores. Especially vintage shops that have shoppers out in thrift stores pulling all the in-style stuff.

So how to wear this new trend and why should you have one in your wardrobe? In the end it is just a new twist on classic knitwear that will look just as great next year as it does this year. What am I always saying? Versitility & functionality! Being more oversized and slouchy, it means this can be dressed up  or down multiple ways.

You can match an oversized shawl neck cardigan with the whole check/workerwear trend a la Beckham (with collar up to add to the relaxed vibe if you like), which looks great as a casual look and would also keep you extremely warm now the weather has truly turned for the worst.

You can also pair the shawl neck with a shirt and tie just as easily and button it right to the top. This is what really separates it from the traditional cardigan, it definitely has an edge when creating a formal look (see Daniel Craig) but when open and draped it just looks like the most comfortable and casual piece money can buy. And when you’re getting it second-hand, you’re spending even less for a quality piece.

So basically, you win.

– Kari

 

A BETTER PLACE.

Hello world changers.

Last week I told you about a couple opportunities to make a difference, both events happening this past Saturday, January 23. I am so happy to report that both events were overwhelming successes, with so many of you making a point to come out, give of your time & resources, and make a difference. I wasn’t able to make it over to the Salon, as I was Harvesting all day, but the tally at the end of the Haircut event was incredible. If you weren’t able to make it to one or both events, there are still ways for you to get involved. 

The first event was URBAN GLEANING through Harvesting Sacramento & the Sacramento Food Bank, picking fruit in Oak Park for the hungry.

After a brief safety lesson & overview, we broke up into teams (this is my awesome team), each with designated areas of Oak Park to cover. We were equipped with tall ladders, fruit pickers, buckets, a huge food bin in the back of a truck and maps with trees/houses marked for each group. We met some sweet homeowners, some who happened to spot us & invite us into their yards to harvest their fruit right on the spot. So great. Thanks to my readers who joined us for the harvest day, it was great to see you out there!

I contacted one of the organizers for a day total: 3,050 lbs!

If you missed this harvest day, we have a tree spotting day & another harvesting day coming up for February!

East Sacramento tree spotting day:

Date/Time: Saturday, February 13, 9:00am – 1:00pm
Meet up at: Theodore Judah Elementary (3919 McKinley Blvd)

East Sacramento Harvesting day: 

Time: Saturday, February 20, 9am-1pm

Meet up at: Theodore Judah Elementary (3919 McKinley Blvd)

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If you have any kind of tree, or garden abundance (any time during the year) PLEASE fill out a Donation Form. It’s simple: just a few questions about what kind of fruit (or vegetable) you have, your address, and how we get in touch with you so we can come harvest your yard to help feed Sacramento.

Subscribe to Harvest Sacramento’s Blog.

Come help out! Fill out a Volunteer Form for Harvest Sacramento.

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The second was the HAIRCUTS FOR HAITI event at Salon San Severo, raising money for an orphanage in Haiti that was devastated by the earthquake.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the event… the clients, family, friends, and mostly the people of Sacramento! They were able to raise over $3,500 for the children of Haiti!

There are still shirts available – go to their SITE & order yours!!

There’s always a way to get involved & make a difference. Hope this inspires you to find your thing. — Kari

 

LOCAL. SUPPORTING HAITI.

I am blessed to live in Sacramento, and be surrounded by people who care for others in need. I think we can all agree that the people in Haiti can use all the help, prayers & support that we can give right now. I’m all about supporting local, and supporting businesses that are doing good for the community. Here’s an oppurtunity to support people in Haiti by getting involved on the local level.

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The staff members at Salon San Severo are holding a hair cutting event next Saturday, Jan. 23rd. The stylists are donating their time to cut your hair, and are asking for donations. 100% of the proceeds will be going to the orphanage Real Hope for Haiti. Just show up – no appointments needed.

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January 23rd 10AM-4PM

Salon San Severo 1931 P Street – (MAP)

(916) 441-4414 

STILL don’t feel like you’re doing enough?

Another great oppurtunity to help those in Haiti is through a local group who donated their time, expertise & creativity to design & produce some awesome apparel:

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You can purchase a shirt at the salon tomorrow! So even if you don’t need a haircut, go down & buy a shirt!

As with the Hair cutting event, ALL procedes go to the orphanage Real Hope for Haiti.  Each shirt is $25, and there are different necklines &  designs. Talk about fashion forward.

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If you can’t make it to the hair cutting event, go to their SITE and order one today! This is such a great way to make a difference and inspire others to give while you wear it around town. 

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Be inspired. Inspire others. Make a difference.