Your Tribe

I read somewhere (probably pinterest) that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.  Think about your relationships.  They greatly affect how you think of the world, of yourself, the decisions you make in life, whether or not you realize it.  

Take inventory of the people around you.  Do they motivate and inspire you?  Do they encourage you?  Can you learn something from them?  Do they make you feel good about yourself?  Surround yourself with those kinds of people who will lift you up and make you better.  Sometimes its so easy to just stick to what you know or what you're comfortable with, but its not necessarily the most healthy for you.  This being said, this doesn't mean surround yourself with people who just yes you all the time.  You want people around you who have your best interests at heart and won't be scared to tell you you're wrong if you are.  

I'm a stay at home mom.  And I've moved around a lot in the past few years so making new friends has been tough to say the least.  If you don't have co-workers or if you didn't go to school in the area you live, its tough to get "in" with people.  I've put myself out there to meet people and build my tribe.  It's still a work in progress but I'm so grateful for my friends/family and people who support me and my happiness.  My tribe doesn't consist of mini-me's and people who share my every interest. Although in the beginning I honestly thought that's what I needed.  I didn't know any better so I was always on the hunt for the "perfect" friend.  But now I realize, it's the sum of those parts that makes my tribe whole.  I have my mommy friends who get it when I'm having a nervous breakdown because my kids are throwing tantrums, I have my childhood friends who I don't talk to everyday but when we do catch up, its as if there never was a break, I have my type A friends who keep me in check (because I'm so not type A) who make sure i follow through with what I say I will do, I have my workout buddies who keep me motivated, I have my fashion friends who love going to events and love hunting for deals like me.  None of them are exactly the same, yet they all feed into my soul and help me be a better person.  Getting to this point took a lot of trial and error.  There are some people that you open your heart to and let you down in the end.  And yes its hurts, but you know what?  Good riddance.  They make you even more grateful for the people in your life that do inspire you.  

Surround yourself with happiness.  Life is too short for any negativity.  Grow with your tribe. And be sure to thank them and let them know how important they are to you. 

Love, Karen

Winter favorite

By far my most favorite item this winter are fur scarves and stoles.  Its so fun playing with them and layering them in different ways.   This deep orange faux rabbit one is absolutely gorgeous in person and most importantly, its warm.  This one is from the Olivia Palermo capsule at Banana Republic.

Family Photoshoot

Just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from our family photoshoot late in 2016.  Every year we try to take some in the fall to use for our Christmas card but also just to document our life and how big the kids are getting.  I wish you could see the wheels spinning in my head when i think about location, clothing,overall vibe for the shoot.  I really put a lot of thought into each one - and its stressful because I can't control the weather or more importantly, the kids' temperament.  But luckily things have gone pretty smoothly.  This year was no exception.  Our photos were taken by Peter Atkins from Minneapolis.  I've worked closely with him in the past for Cayetano Legacy Collection shoots and I love his work.

I kind of wanted the mix of an urban setting with an everyday luxe look for our clothing.  I had Alessa and I in tulle dresses.  She had a beautiful navy faux fur jacket which - would you believe it - was from Target? I wanted to downplay the dressiness factor with a sweater and then i tied in the boys with their grandfather sweaters.  I think the pictures came out exactly as I envisioned.  Hope you like them :)

Karen

Can I get a redo?

Hi loves! It's a brand new year and I'm asking for a redo!  It's so tough to figure out what we want in life, who we are, what we're meant to do.  I feel like it's even harder with the large influence of social media.  Watching everyone virtually, what they're accomplishing, where they are in life, it literally pulls you in different directions, making you question what you really want to do or who you really are.  Life is hard enough to figure out without the extra pressure to be "perfect."

I keep telling myself I want to blog but i never keep up with it.  I have so much info I want to share from travel tips, to being a mommy, to fashion updates.  Honestly, i think i stopped because its scary putting yourself out there.  I always masked myself behind my work.  A prime example is my instagram account.  I started as my jewelry company name, transitioned into my company acronym with my name, and now finally I am standing on my own two feet and planning to transition into @parisandalatte.  This is huge!  If you are a mom, if you love to travel, if you love fashion, decorating your home, and are just trying to live life, then follow along on my journey.   We can figure out life together.

Cheers to new beginnings!

- Karen

France Haul

I recently came back from a 2 1/2 week trip to France.  I was able to visit Paris and Toulouse - what an amazing experience.  So many people were asking me what i bought and I honestly didn't get to do too much shopping.  The whole trip revolved on doing things that the kids wanted, things that they would enjoy, and experiences that they would remember.  Shopping wasn't a priority to say the least.  But one day I was able to sneak away for a few hours (thank you mom) and snag a few things.  I of course had to stop by Zara and Sephora.  The 2 stores that I LOVED and can only dream that they would bring here to the US are Bershka and New Look.  I later came to find out that Bershka is under the same umbrella group as Zara.  They are both under Inditex.  Both stores have similar aesthetic except I would say Bershka is more reminicent of the Zara's TRF line - its younger and more trendy - but still classy.  It's a blogger's haven.  The price points and quality are comparable to that of Zara.  New Look I would say - is more comparable to Forever21.  It's fast fashion, trendy, for lower price points.  I chose key pieces that i felt I could rotate and rework with my existing wardrobe while maintaining an elevated look.  Here's what I chose.

Zara - biker jacket  - similar here 

Bershka - Pleated skirt 

New Look - faux patent leather mini bag

New Look  - longline olive sweater 

New Look  - mink 2 pom beanie  (for Alessa :)

The rest of my Euro's I spent on chocolate croissants and nutella crepes ;).

Love - Karen

The Modern Boyfriend Jean

1. LOFT relaxed skinny fit 2. Madewell Slim Boyfriend fit 3. HM Girlfriend fit 4. Madewell Slim Boyfriend fit 5. LOFT Relaxed Skinny fit 6. Madewell Slim Boyfriend fit

Hallelujah!!  I found the best boyfriend jeans for curvy girls!  I've always loved the relaxed look of  the boyfriend jean, but I never even allowed myself to try them on because i just knew it would look horrible on me.  I'm only 5'3" and I'm curvy.  I was at the mall shopping with my girlfriends recently and we went into the Madewell store.  That's where I saw the sign: Slim Boyfriend jean.  It was literally calling my name.  It might as well have been lit up like Marquee lights.  I beelined for them and tried them on.  It was literally love at first sight.  Its not as baggy as the normal boyfriend jean but it still had that easy look.  It was perfect around my thighs.  It had a little bit higher rise so this covered love handles or potential muffin tops. I started daydreaming about my future outfits: casual looks with my white converse sneakers and a grey v neck tee, dressier outfits with heels and a crisp tuxedo blazer.  My heels!  They literally sit in my closet because I don't have enough functions to wear them to.  But with these jeans i could wear my heels everyday without looking too stuffy.  It was a little pricey but you know, I've been living in them so its so worth it.  So if you've been looking for a great pair of more flattering boyfriend jeans - you must try the Madewell ones on.  I did try the Loft relaxed skinny and HM's girlfriend fit and they are great lower priced alternatives.  Their rise is a little bit lower so its not so forgiving with the love handles.  But if this isn't a problem then check them out!  Your closet potential will increase significantly.  

Enjoy!!!!! Love, Karen

Closet Staple - Striped turtleneck

I have been living in a my striped turtlenecks this season . I have it in quite a few colors and it really transforms well in any outfit because its so great for layering.  It adds dimension to neutral outfits without adding bulkiness or distraction.  Here are some great options to pair/style this closet staple with.

This turtleneck can be found in a variety of colorways for a great price here. And would look great paired with these:

1. HM knit poncho 2. SheInside coat 3. Ann Taylor cable knit sweater 4. Missguided Cape 5. Missguided pleated skirt 6. Missguided midi skirt 7. Sam Edelman pumps 8. Cayetano Legacy Collection necklace 9. HM boyfriend jeans

Here are some great looks by some of my fav's:

Paired with a great blazer and a leapard clutch  - Hello Fashion Blog

Layered under a chunky cable sweater paired with boyfriend jeans and some killer heels: Atlantic- Pacific