Upgrade your pony!

From Dawson's Creek to style icon, I've always loved Katie Holmes. She has a girly style with a little edge, which, if I had to describe my style, it would be the same. The new issue of InStyle shows her rocking this gold metal barrette. Usually it takes a good hour to straighten my horse tail. Let's be real, there's nothing pony cute about my thick hair. So, when I do, I like to wear it down and get the dramatic look of it all straight, instead of pulled back. Although, I might actually consider doing this for my next date night, whenever that may be. <hint, hint>

$12
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=32545840&color=070&cm_mmc=SEM-_-Google-_-PLA-_-82529910904product_type_l1w%26product_type_l2acc%26product_type_l3hairaccessories&adpos=1o1&creative=52048931224&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CNCMk-2DjcYCFY88gQodPAwAAQ

 $30
http://www.loft.com/brushed-metallic-barrette-set/369169?skuId=18995923&defaultColor=&colorExplode=false&catid=

$4
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=3324

$60
http://www.shopbop.com/thin-rectange-barette-mrs-president/vp/v=1/1548731321.htm?fm=search&os=false

Dressed to "The Nines"

My Chanel-inspired black/white look for the 2nd Annual The Nines Fashion Show last night. Such a great time! They are always on trend with looks for the summer. Some of my favorites were a blue chevron maxi dress and a scalloped crop top.

Check out the rest of the pictures at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Style-by-Kari/212972702130423

When all you want is the sun...

It has been raining for the past 8 days, I swear, with a 30 minute break yesterday for me (and my boys) to play outside. It seems like mother nature is laughing in our face. 'Oh, you're coming out to play because you've been cooped up for days? Just kidding, I'm not done raining.' 

This is really putting a damper on my girly cute spring/summer wardrobe. My bright colors are rarely seeing the outside of my closet and my dark, winter clothes are getting way more use than they are supposed to. 

Here are my tips to avoid a winter-like spring funk:

1. Throw on your Wellies water boots and go puddle jumping! Who cares? It's just water, be a kid.
 

2. Make a Target run for a cute umbrella and take a short walk around the block. How cute and fun is this?
http://www.target.com/p/totes-polka-dot-print-stick-umbrella-green/-/A-17138478#prodSlot=medium_1_40&term=umbrella 

3. And when you just can't leave your house because the wind and storm is too much, there's always online shopping!

In 24 hours

Every minute is precious. At night before bed I like to relive my day and think about how I can make tomorrow better.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015. 4:30 AM: The alarm goes off for the first of 3 snoozes. Drowsy walk to the living room and begin pumping. Shower and do my 15 minute beauty routine...
5:20 AM: Toner, brush teeth, decide how to wear my hair for the day (side braid, down and curly, or high bun - if I'm running late, pick whichever is faster). Today, high bun. Then; concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara and eye brow pencil. 

                      

5:35 AM: Second guess every outfit I just planned in the shower and finally settle on black denim, black/white stripe blouse and black leather jacket. Throw on my silver jewelry (watch, rings and black pearls), grab my black Nine West pumps, spritz on some Chanel, quick kiss to the hubs (who is still sleeping - remind me to complain later how I wake up too early) and run to the car.
6:00 AM: Arrive at work.

Today is the 14th Annual NDSU FABO fashion show. I can remember being there for the first and the second, so today's show is definitely a don't miss.
11:00 AM: Meet my friend and drive to campus. Oh how I've missed this campus. I'm reminded of all the memories; good and bad and how my life has turned out. Before the show starts, we grab a coffee and warm up, because like the memories I can't forget, somehow I forgot how freezing you get walking around.
12:00 PM: Minutes before the show starts I look around and see my old teachers and wonder if they remember me.
12:30 PM: The show is over and I regret not finishing school and not attending the past 12 shows through the years. It was such a great show! Kittsona, Proper & Prim and Francesa's, to name a few.

1:00 PM: Get back home. While I didn't graduate from college, I wouldn't change where I am now for anything in the world.
4:30 PM: Me and the hubs go to Barnes and walk around. The clearance section has a great history of fashion book that I flip through. It shows vintage pieces and old Victorian style corsets and dresses.
7:30 PM: Finally get home after grocery shopping and get ready for bed and put the boys to bed.
8:45 PM: My eyes finally close for the day and I think, it was a good day. I will do it all over again tomorrow.

I could always use another fashion show, but I have to wait til May 30th in DL at The Nines.

Craving the beach?

When I signed up for Birchbox, I was excited to get a present once a month of beauty products for only $10.00. But let's be honest, I doubt I'm going to buy these products through Birchbox in a full size, they are a little expensive. One of the samples I received in my first Birchbox was the PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray. I never really used it until a few days ago. I absolutely love the way this product makes my hair feel which made me search for a more reasonable priced sea salt spray. This one sold through Birchbox is $24.00 for 4.9 fl oz. I found this John Frieda Beach Blonde Seas Waves Salt Spray for $9.99 for 5 fl oz. A deal? I think so! So my Birchbox may not be the best priced, but it can help me look for a new product to try and find somewhere else at a price that is easier on my pocketbook. 

I would highly recommend a sea salt spray if you want a little body and texture to your hair. This is one of my favorite styling products for spring without being to heavy and weighing your hair down.  Give it a try!

A week of outfits.

As a mom I don't have much time to myself. So when my 30 minute pump break happens at work I consider it my few moments of silence in my day. This is when I take advantage of the full length mirror behind the door to capture my outfit. Here are a few compiled together. I chose not to remember the weekends when I wear a hoodie, jeans and sneakers. Hard to believe?

I'm a taurus, so I should right?

The new Vogue is filled with new fashion and I even got a Spring catalog of BCBG. But there was one page that stuck out to me with a trend that I might consider. The non-pierced septum ring. If I didn't see a picture with the piercing I would've called it the booger piercing, or between your nose. Granted, there are some celebrities that do rock these; Lady Gaga, supermodel Eva Marcille and Scarlett Johannson. I must admit that Elisabeth Tnt who writes for Vogue looks pretty good with one too. I think the thing with this trend is that you have to possess that rocker chic vibe, and I do not. I would much prefer a floral skirt and heels over torn up jeans and dark colors. But just wait!

After Googling some shopping sites and images, I found that there are non piercing septum rings out there for the girly girl in you, with bling! I don't think I'll jump on this trend bandwagon right now, but I'm not completely opposed to it. I'll keep searching some jewelry sites and if I can find a decent one cheap enough to test it out, I will add it to my shopping cart. I just hope it looks like a septum ring and not a huge booger hanging out of my nose. After all, I am a taurus, I should act more like it.

Feel like being daring and following this trend? Check out these celebrities who have!

Elisabeth Tnt, Scarlett Johannson, Eva Marcille, Lady Gaga, Jordin Sparks.

Blow-Out? Throw out?

I just got my Birchbox sample last Friday and was pretty happy with what it included. I got an awesome new lip color in a fun red that I've been meaning to try. Now I actually have it and I don't have an excuse. I kinda love it too. I also got this amika Bombshell Blowout Spray as a sample bottle. I'm thisclose to giving it away to someone. Because I wake up at 4:30 AM and shower at 5:00 AM, I cannot use my blowdryer with 2 little kids and a husband sleeping. I doubt I will ever get to use this because; 1. They don't make silent blowdryers and 2. Who has time to blow dry their hair?! Or is that just me? 

My son has some longer hair, maybe we can try it out on him? Then at least I can review it to get my free 10 points. Birchbox should consider your morning regimen when signing up. Do you have 30 minutes in the morning to yourself? Can you be as loud as you want? No? Then this isn't for you.

Me vs. The 21 Year Old

The other night I attended JAFA - Josef's Annual Fashion Awards with a good friend who is a fun younger version of myself. When I was her age I would be out til close, hanging out with friends and dancing in some risque outfits. Nowadays, I am in bed by 9:30 PM and wake up at 4:30 AM when I used to go to bed at that time.

The fashion show was an all ages show, but the 21+ was upstairs, which is where we happened to find a table at this packed house. I have never felt older and more like a mom. Several young'ins behind me were talking about shots, more drinks and smoking and asking the waitress for all of these. I happened to know the waitress from high school and we both have children now. Since I'm still nursing and actually care what I look like in front of strangers, I opted for a glass of water. She came back later and asked how we were doing. I said, 'Great! But I'm starving. Do you have any food back there?' How lame am I? She came back with another water and a glass of trail mix for me. At a fashion show. Surrounded by 21 year olds. 20 minutes later, I left the show early.

Man! Am I old! At least I looked cute in my black maxi dress, black booties and leather jacket.

50 Shades of Perfection

So, I'm not jumping on the 50 Shades bandwagon, but I am in love with Dakota Johnson's Valentino dress from LIVE with Kelly & Michael aired a couple days ago. Instead of baring my legs in the winter (it's -12 here today!), I would wear some black tights and a cute bootie heel. Love this! 

I'm also considering stalking her Polyvore at Dress Like Dakota Johnson. Take a look! 

http://everythingdakotajohnson.tumblr.com/tagged/Article

On the hunt!

Everyone has a style icon. If you like Jennifer Aniston, you are probably like the girl next door. If you like Sarah Jessica Parker, you tend to dress more fashion forward. And if you like Keira Knightley and her boyish figure, you may like the tomboy style. No matter how you dress, it is an undeniable fact that Stacy London knows how to dress herself and knows how to dress others.

On her new TLC show, Love Lust or Run, she wore something that I never thought I could pull off. When someone asks me what to wear under a top that is see-through or thin, I always say, wear a similar color so it doesn't  stand out too much. That was my motto until I saw Stacy London wearing a black lace blouse over a white button down. She even had a red flannel moto jacket over it to pull it together outside.

Ever since I saw that, I'm on the look out for something similar. This one is from Loft and is $54.

http://www.loft.com/paisley-lace-top/361094?colorExplode=false&skuId=17890991&catid=cat640046&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=6600

                                        

                                               

Pain in the...

I still have not figured out how to not get a headache from my hair in a bun all day. It was 4:15 when I was finally able to take my hair down. As it feel down from it's high crown, I could feel my headache lessen. There is nothing like that feeling. Aaaaahh!

My comfort zone.

                                          

                                           

Day 6 of the new hair color and I still love it. Although, I realized the other day, once I get a gray hair, it is going to stick out like a bright light! Why didn't I go blonde?!

I must admit I'm having a hard time dressing how I usually would, with bright colors. Some would say that bright colors are who I am, so not wearing them makes me feel less like myself. I think the black and other dark colors with my hair look so simple and classic. Maybe tomorrow I'll wear some bright pink.

Time for a change...

The last time I dyed my hair, I was in middle school and it was with red Kool-Aid. It was during my grunge/punk phase. Which is an entirely different topic. Let's just say we all have that time in our lives we wish we could go back and re-do.

I noticed some gray hairs the other day - you better believe I pulled those suckers out! But I knew they'd be back. So I picked up a couple boxes of dye and called my girlfriend over. It's a little darker than I wanted right away, but it's growing on me, literally.

On trend.

Sometimes I make a fashion decision that I'm not always sure is a good idea. Recently, I bought a floral jacket bomber style on my Vinted app from my favorite vintage seller. I liked it and it was cheap, but I want exactly sure how to wear it. Yes, I do have that problem. So I let it sit in my closet for a few days before I tried to make it an outfit. 

Well, the fashion gods heard my cry and answered. I got the newest InStyle edition (aka - The Fashion Bible) and what do you know? There was a section about a new trend of bomber jackets! It was like this magazine was written for me!

It's not yet summer, and it feels like it's a long ways away, but this jacket screams spring and I can't wait for it to get warmer. Me, and every other North Dakotan.

S-A-L-E

 

 

Standing in line at The Limited today my 5 year old asks, "What does S-A-L-E spell?" That my dear boy, is a sale! There is such a good clearance sale going on at The Limited online and in store. I bought a sweater, a button down blouse, and a belt for $30. Be sure to check it out before all the good stuff is gone. Don't lose the coupon they give you for 50% off on January 11-February 1! These are some other pieces (printed blouse, color block sweater and boyfriend jeans) that I wouldn't mind grabbing up! Happy shopping!

Winter Maxi

 

Happy January 1st!! In North Dakota, the weather can be at its coldest. This will usually put a damper on my wardrobe and I would rather wear a sweater and jeans than dressing up. The rest of this winter I have decided - resolved maybe? - To wear more dresses.

Looking through my closet now to find a cute maxi dress that I can take from summer to winter and still be warm and stylish. Because I'm not completely crazy, I will would wear this on a 20 degree day. When it's -40, all fashion rules go out the window and I try to avoid frostbite.

1. Always always a statement necklace.

2. Maxi dress, I chose a darker color so you don't look out of season. Wearing your thin bright turquoise maxi will make others think you are freezing, when you will be.

3. Jacket, because it's still winter.

4. Purse, bag, clutch, something to carry your junk.

5. Tights, a solid color that won't clash with the dress.

6. Booties. I could decide if booties or flat boots. I think either could work if they weren't too bulky.