Fashion

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

June 10th, 2020 by Karen 5 Comments

1. Creamy pastel pink manis

I’ve been into opaque pastel bridal-style manis lately, specifically pale, creamy pinks. There’s something so refreshing about them… Maybe it’s because they remind me of ice cream? An added bonus is when the edges chip — which is inevitable these days, since I wash my hands about 6,924 times a day — because you can’t really see the nicks unless you look really closely.

duri forever beautiful — I’m wearing Duri Forever Beautiful, and Connor’s wearing shades from the Sally Hansen Jelly Belly collection.

This particular shade is by Duri, and it’s called Forever Beautiful. I’m wearing two coats along with my go-to Essie Gel Couture topcoat.

2. Archer Farms Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee Light Roast Ground Coffee

I don’t like it when coffee is bitter and tastes like punishment. Blech! Gimme a smooth and easy to drink cup of coffee any day of the week. I guess I’m a wimp like that.

archer farms vanilla bean creme brulee — I’m drinking a cup right now, as a matter of fact!

Anyway, this vanilla flavored coffee from Target has very little bite, and the vanilla bean and crème brulee flavors are present but not overpowering.

I love when I can find it… Seems like it’s always out of stock these days, but I’ve also seen it available online.

3. Ooly Pastel Liners

These rainbow pastel markers are double ended. They have an angled tip on one side and a fine tip on the other, and ooh! — the surge of satisfaction I feel when I cross items off my to-do list with these markers. It’s off the charts!

Multi-colored rainbow lists are the best.

4. Deep belly breathing

A few weeks ago I set a reminder on my phone to chime every few hours to remind me take some deep belly breaths throughout the day, and those breath breaks make a HUGE difference in my overall mental health.

Yes, having to remind myself to breathe felt silly at first, but with current events as they are…I don’t care anymore! 🙂 When you reach the point where your shoulders scrunch up to your ears and stay there all day long, you’ll try anything.

Five or six deep breaths take all but a minute or two, and I do it every few hours to help my nerves.

5. Free People Movement Om Crew Neck Tank Tops

I bought a few of these $15 tanks on a whim a few weeks ago to wear with my stretchy workout pants, and I like ’em. A lot. They’re lightweight, and the fabric is pretty thin, which I like, because we’ve already started with the 90-degree days here, and it’s been a struggle to, ya know, actually wear real clothes.

These tanks feel light as air, and they’re a bit “see through” depending on the color, so wear a cute sports bra underneath and call it a day.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

New Kicks: The Nike Winflo 6

February 5th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

I call these Nikes my “elf shoes” ?‍♀️ because of the pointy curve in the heel…

So, I’ve been spending a lot of time on my feet since I started working at the bakery, and now even when I’m off cake/cupcake duty, I’m very particular — more particular than ever before — about my shoes.

At this point in my life, I’d rather be comfortable than cute…

I know — WHO AM I?

At any rate, my tootsies crave supportive footwear that simultaneously makes me feel like I’m walking on cushioned clouds. No stiff shoes for this girl!

Enter these Nikes.

I’ve been living my best life in these Winflo 6 Running Shoes, which I love because, not only do they lift my arches up enough to keep ’em stable, they’re also on the squishier side, so I feel like there are fluffy cumulous clouds strapped to my feet…

They’re firm and supportive, but not stiff or uncomfortable.

This is the third generation of these shoes I’ve worn, and I think it’s the best-feeling, cutest one yet.

The wide base around the heel keeps my ankles from rolling, and the fabric makes them featherweight (they required absolutely *no* time to break in). I also love the subtle pink and purple color blocking and the “swish” on the insdie heel.

The shoe comes in other colors, too, ranging from conservative (gray, black and white) to colorful (berry, black and hot pink!). I like this particular color combo because the black and white are pretty standard issue, so I can wear these with most outfits, but the pop of pink keeps it fun.

I wear them all the time — when I’m working out, when I’m toolin’ around Novato, or whenever I need to do things with Connor, because you never know when you’ll have to break into a sprint when you hang out with a child.

I love them so much that I’m thinking about getting a second pair.

You can find this style almost anywhere that carries athletic shoes. I just saw them at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Petaluma and DSW in Novato, and online at nike.com and nordstromrack.com.

Your friendly neighborhood comfortable footwear addict,

Karen

About That Chevron Necklace…

January 29th, 2020 by Karen 9 Comments

karen loft necklace 2020 — One of the most-asked questions I get on MBB is about this necklace…

When I bought this chevron necklace years ago at LOFT (it was on clearance for like five bucks!), I could never have imagined how many questions I’d get asked about it here on MBB. Every time I wear it in pics, it’s almost guaranteed that someone will ask, “Where’d ya get that?”

The bad news? I’m pretty sure it was limited edition costume jewelry, and I don’t think it’s available at LOFT anymore. Lord knows I’ve looked!

The good news? Thanks to this wonderful doohickey called “the Internet,” I found similar pieces on Etsy. ?

They aren’t exact dupes, but they have a similar vibe. I like ’em, and I think you might like them too.

MarleyJaneDotCom Gold Double Chevron Mixed Metals Necklace, $32.50

There are mixed metals in this dainty double chevron necklace, and for a little extra, you can have the chevrons engraved as well.

And if two chevrons aren’t enough, you can add a third if you’d like (!).

I can see this being a reliable everyday go-to.

AccessoriesAtelier Gold Pendant Necklace, $38

Tiny cubic zirconia give a sophisticated sparkle to this delicate, airy piece, which comes handmade and made-to-order from New York City.

ArtyAri 3 Chevrons Pastel Necklace, $34.33

This pink enamel 3 chevron necklace is *kindasorta* similar to the one from LOFT… The chevrons are enameled on both sides, and the chain is stainless steel. Also available in mint green (cute!) and soft gray.
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Channel Your Inner Paddington Bear, and Stay Dry During a Deluge in the Eddie Bauer Charly Jacket

December 12th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

eddie bauer charly marigold — Autumnal camouflage

Question for you: who wore this yellow coat better — me or Paddington Bear? ?

OK, so, the fact that I‘d be able to channel Paddington’s vibe wasn’t the only reason I got this bright yellow waterproof raincoat from Eddie Bauer! (It was one of the main reasons, though. Ha ha ha!). It was also (and still is) marked down 50%, from $189 to $89.50.

It’s been pouring off and on for a few days here, and this coat has kept me dry, even without an umbrella. The rain practically rolls off the material (it’s 62% cotton and 38% nylon), which is warm, but sill breathable enough to be comfortable, and it moves just enough to feel structured but not stiff.

The hood is wide and has a subtle brim — apparently, this is *totally key*!

The brim prevents raindrops from hitting my face and my glasses so much more effectively than the raincoat I bought at Target a couple years back. I still love that coat, but last winter I got caught in a few downpours and was soaked through, which is why I wanted a new one.

This coat, though, won’t let water in for nothing!

Other reasons I love it…

Zippered pockets! Oh, gosh, there are so many zippered pockets, and it’s glorious — two on the sides of the front pockets and one on the inner lining. I carry my phone with me everywhere, and the zippers on the pockets give me a little extra peace of mind.
Subtle branding. It’s there, but it’s not splashed across the chest like on a lot of Eddie Bauer coats. There’s a small logo embroidered on the wrists of both sleeves, but you can’t really see it unless you look closely.
So many sizes available. The coats come in your standard-issue XS, S, M, L and XL, and in a bunch of height options including Regular, Petite, Tall and Plus. I ended up getting a Regular in XS. It fits, but it does run a little big, so it’s roomy on me. I don’t mind, though, because I can layer a sweater or a thick sweatshirt underneath.
It’s cute! I like the J. Crew-ishness of this coat. Plus, the yellow color is so fun.

It also comes in beige, a dark brown and navy (which is super cute too), if the Paddington Bear stoplight yellow color is too bright for you.

I’m into it… Now all I need is a red hat to go with my coat. 🙂

Bring on the rain and the rainbows!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I’m Super Obsessed With Athleta Workout Leggings

November 21st, 2019 by Karen 20 Comments

Altheta tights — These stretchy pants take it to the next level.

Why didn’t I heed their advice sooner? I should’ve known the ladies in my HIIT class — the women who lift heavy, run fast and push me every time I step into the gym — would steer me in the right direction. For years I heard them rave about Athleta workout leggings, but I never considered buying a pair for myself because they’re like $100 a pop!

Super. Crazy. Expensive.

However…when something is good, and I mean really, REALLY good, the calculus may prompt me to go there. And I totally went there.

What ultimately pushed me over the edge was a secondhand pair of Athleta tights my friend Nicol gave me. She teaches the HIIT class I take, and she happened to have an extra pair that didn’t fit her, and she passed ’em to me.

First time I tried them on — and immediately after I stuffed everything I could into the pockets, of which there are SO MANY — I started to wonder if I’d ever wear another pair of pants again, because daaaaang… They were so soft.

Then, of course, I bent over in the mirror to see if they passed the squat test…

They totally did. 🙂 No underwear peeking through!

Next, I wore them to class and could not stop staring at my booty in the mirror, because the pants somehow transformed it into J. Lo’s (#GOALS), LOL!

I didn’t have to pull up my pants once, not once, during the entire class. Also, the waistband stayed up and held in my tum-tum the entire time, and the material stayed intact and didn’t stretch out at all, either, so no baggy knees.

When that class was done, I knew it… I’d be drinkin’ the Athleta Kool-Aid with the other girls soon.

Later that week, I ended up going to the Athleta store in Corte Madera to buy my first pair, because someone in class mentioned there was a sale happening. I left with the camo ones up top (yup, they’re still on sale!).

When I told the sales associate that it was my first Athleta purchase, she told me all about their generous return policy (if you work out in your clothes and don’t love them, you can still return them with a receipt), then gave me a discount on top of the sale for being a new customer.

SWEET!

If you’re into working out, or otherwise particular about your stretchy pants (as am I), I think you’re going to love these. I’m officially saving up for my next pair.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Transitional Booties at DSW

September 16th, 2019 by Karen 13 Comments

I got a coupon in the mail for some good deals on early season boots at DSW, so I went! — despite the fact that it was 92 degrees with nary a cloud in the sky.

Thankfully for me and my feet, DSW has the answer to navigating this very confusing time of year between summer and fall, and the answer is something I call “transitional booties.”

Did you laugh like a teenage boy when I said, “transitional booties”? Because I crack up every time I say it, ha ha ha!

So, what is a transitional bootie? Well, they’re ankle boots, usually made from suede or leather, that you can wear with summery dresses or your favorite fall pant/cozy sweater combo, and they go with everything during that weird in-between phase between summer and fall.

My favorite type of transitional booties are perforated ankle booties.

They have the little hole cutouts in the shoe material, a la instant air conditioning for your feet. On warm days, you can wear them without socks, and perhaps with a dress.

baretraps booties — The perforated Rizzo bootie by Baretraps

And on cool days…socks!

I really like the Rizzo by Baretraps because of the low heel and the rounded toe.

Super comfy.

I also like the Dr. Scholl’s Best Day Bootie. This one is SUPER cute in person, especially in the Olive option, which is a dark, rich green khaki that functions as a neutral.

dsw booties 21 — Dr. Scholl’s Best Day Bootie in Olive

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The DKNY Fusion Perfect Bra Is a Bad-@ss Brassiere

September 11th, 2019 by Karen 15 Comments

dkny fusion perfect bra beige — Do your girls a favor.

Transcript of me talking to a stranger in a Nordstrom Rack fitting room a few weeks ago:

Me: “Oh, my god. Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. OH. MY. GAWD!”

Stranger in the stall next to me: *knocks politely on wall* “Miss? Are you doing OK?”

Me: “Yeah, I’m OK. I’m so sorry. I forget sometimes that I’m, ya know, out in public.”

Stranger in the stall next to me: “Erh… Alright.”

This exchanged happened as I was trying on the DKNY Fusion Perfect Bra, a lightly padded underwire t-shirt bra.

This exchange also happened shortly before I bought all of the available Fusion Perfect Bras in my size in the store (there were two!), and a few hours prior to me buying three more online at nordstromrack.com.

Seriously, SO GOOD.

My new favorite affordable everyday bra

The Fusion Perfect Bra is regularly $42, but it’s on sale now for $18.97 at “DA RACK,” as I like to call it, and while a few of the colors are sold out, there are still a good number of sizes and shades available. If you can snag your size in a color you like, all I have to say is…do your boobies a favor, and get them into this ultimate over-the-shoulder boulder holder.

Props to the marketing peeps who came up with the phrase, “perfect fusion,” because this bra is indeed a perfect blend of functionality, fit and feel.

dkny fusion perfect bra bows — Dainty details

It’s bra nirvana!

The material, a mix of nylon and elastane (a.k.a. Spandex), is softer than a baby’s cheek, a bunny tail AND your favorite cozy couch blanket, and it’s worked into two silky smooth cups and a velvety band that hug your torso with a gentle touch that’s so comfy I sometimes forget I’m wearing a bra.

It’s definitely NOT one of those itchy, ill-fitting bras that poke you and that you immediately ditch the second you get in your car (wait, am I the only person who’s done this?). I could keep this bra on all day (and possibly all night) if I needed or wanted to.

Oh, how do I love this bra?

Let me count the ways!

So flexible: The smooth material allows the bra to sit perfectly under both flowing tops and fitted tees, and it somehow miraculously seems to never get too hot against my skin.
No slip: The straps are slightly thicker than your typical bra straps (but they’re still slim enough to seem dainty), and they prevent the bra from sliding down my shoulders!
Off the hook: The clasp in the back with the hook and eye is easy to fasten.
Big ups to the cups: I like that the cups high up enough that there’s no boob spillage over the top of my bra, and no weird gaps. I also like that the padding is light enough to hide les nips, but yet it isn’t so stiff that I feel like I’m walking around town with pot holders strapped to the front of my chest.
Delightful details: The sweet bow in the front and the little teardrop peek of skin underneath it lend a feminine, dainty touch. Oh, and I also dig the subtle DKNY branding on the side. There’s a small logo at the base of the band, and it’s barely visible.

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DSW Adventures! I’m Fancying Flatform Sandals

June 24th, 2019 by Karen 16 Comments

Don’t knock ’em ’till you try ’em, man! These flat platform sandals — otherwise known as “flatforms” — combine the comfort of a flat shoe with the height of a platform, so you get the extra lift without the achy arches and lower back pain from high heels.

Side note: I can’t believe I just wrote that because it was only a few years ago when I was living in high heels practically 24/7, but now I wear flats all teh time, and my bod feels better.

At first, I poo-pooed flatforms. I thought they looked like a Frankenstein-ian monster mashup of an espadrille and a wedge, but I kept seeing them on blogs and Instagram and thought, “Hey! Those are actually really cute.”

They’re the kind of shoe you almost have to see on someone else’s feet to appreciate them as fashionable footwear…instead of as a questionable science experiment.

And once you slip them on? Ahhhhh! All is right with the world…

I was this close to giving this pair of Bjorn flatforms (at the top) a happy home today. I slipped them on and proceeded to walk around the store for 10 minutes because I forgot I was wearing them! But that’s a good sign, right? When you forget to actually pay for a pair of shoes on your feet because they’re that comfortable? That’s usually a good sign…

In the end, though, I decided to wait because I’m picky about my straps, and this pair had one too many around the ankles. If I’m still pining for them on Friday, I might go back. We’ll see.

I also liked the look of the lighter brown MIA flatforms below, but the straps were a little too loose.

Cute though!

So many flatforms…

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