Katherine Chloé Cahoon

For all of you college girls who have sent me dating questions, today I’m featuring a college guy who candidly gives you his insights on what guys think.

Last Monday was all about girls’ night confessions. Afterwards, I loved reading your messages about the need to get together with close friends every once in a while and cut loose. And I learned that girls’ nights can span generations. That happened to me last weekend. Here, my mom and I were out having fun snapping pictures of my new Milly find.

In my family, we love taking pictures. My mom always wants to be clicking the camera rather than standing in front of it. But she shouldn’t. Trust me, she’s a total babe!

We have fun experimenting with different poses and camera settings…especially when something like a Milly creation is involved.

Mom was in an extra-creative mood that night. She had recently seen a jewelry picture in a magazine where the model artistically fanned out her fingers across her face. When she suggested we create our own version of the look, I pointed out that I wasn’t really a model. Her answer? “Who lets a little thing like that stop her?” I love my mom!

My favorite part of the experience though, was when she looked at me and said, “We’re in serious need of a girls’ night. Let’s go to dinner.” We had so much fun telling jokes and laughing. And when the server asked Mom if she would like dessert, her answer was, “Hit me with it!” She ordered double fudge cake with whipped cream.

As you can see, I have a serious case of Seahawks pride! I think every Seattleite does. It’s not unusual to find aerobics classes here where instructors bar the doors to everyone who’s not donning blue-and-green on a game weekend.

But getting the right fit for your favorite team garb can be a bit challenging. Most sports stores don’t have fitting rooms, and the sizing for this type of apparel is varied. I’ve found that I’m different sizes in different styles, even within the same brand—and I’ve heard people say that when they buy something in their usual size and try it on at home, it doesn’t fit. That can really put a damper on your tailgating plans.

Here’s my solution: When you hit up the local sports store to buy your favorite team’s garb, wear yoga shorts and a tight-fitting top. Then slip on your selections over them right there in the store, regardless of how many people could be watching. There’s usually a mirror around, and you’ll know exactly how they fit. Problem solved! Now it’s time to proceed with team pride for Sunday’s official season kickoff!

One of my favorite rappers is dancing in his newest music video, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to do a dance tutorial for it. And since Macklemore is a Seattle man that means it’s time to have a resurfacing of the Seahawks dancing fan squad—The Triplets of Boom!

Guys seem to find girls’ nights intriguing. As my friend Annie says, “The big problem with these time-honored rituals is that men do ask about them and women don’t tell.” Well, she decided it was time to change that, so she wrote this guest blog. She had just returned from an intense medical project in Africa and was about to leave for more medical work in another state. What she wanted most for her brief break was a girls’ night, but the men in her life didn’t understand so she is making these confessions to them…

Confession 1: We take selfies. Beyond that, we ditch the electronics. Don’t worry when we don’t text back or answer your calls. We silence our phones in order to enjoy our girl-time to the fullest.

Confession 2: We are carefree! We let our inhibitions go. We may pull out the moves on the dance floor that we usually only do when alone in our bedrooms with a hairbrush as a microphone. We shimmy, we get down, and we have a good time.

Confession 3: We are perfectly imperfect. We have our moments where we are insecure and let it all out. Girls’ night is about being encouraging and reminding each other that each of us is beautiful, flaws and all.

Confession 4: We appreciate you. We love our girlfriends, but we also love being home snuggling with our men. Our night of craziness would not be as fun if we didn’t know that you care.

Teen girls, college girls, independent single women, married women, newly divorced women adjusting to a new life… We all love our girl time! Did we answer some of your worries? Some of your curiosities? Girls’ nights make us better people, but it’s hard to describe how.

Love, Annie

As you can see, Annie has girls’ night down to a science. Well, that makes a lot of sense—she’s a girl and a scientist.

When I heard that Seattle’s Sorrento Hotel (circ. 1909) had undergone a renovation, I just had to see it—and find out if people claim that the fashionable grande dame is still in residence that they think has haunted it for decades. Since all who say they have seen her state that she wears vintage gowns, I donned this frock. It’s something I picked up the last time I was in Hawaii.

I paired it with some Nordstrom bracelets by Judith Jack and Nadri. Here is a picture of them laying on a piece of Moroccan tile in the hotel dining room.

So if you get a chance to visit the beautiful Sorrento Hotel, now you’re up to date on both the renovation and the rumors!

These ladies sure know how to work it! And here’s a step-by-step dance tutorial to their music video so you can work it right along with them.

I have adored fashion since my preschool days when I raided my mom’s closet or snuck into Grandma’s jewelry box for a play date with my dolls. For me, piecing together an ensemble is a creative endeavor. Today, I’m wearing one of my favorite fall looks. Don’t think I’m ready to end summer early. I love it! But when the dark clouds roll in, I’ll be ready to put on my Nordstrom Collection sweater and James Perse top…

And tie them together with this Rebecca Minkoff bag that feels divinely soft.

When you face the day with it on your arm, life will go better…especially if you keep the designer’s advice in your mind. As she says, “Don’t be afraid to work hard. It requires a lot of late nights, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But if you put your all into it, you can usually turn it into a reality.”

Last weekend, I saw the Broadway touring revival of this fictitious musical about the turning point in the life of King Charlemagne’s favorite son. The Tony Award winning production combined the dancing flair of the legendary Bob Fosse with inspiration from Cirque du Soleil. Acrobatics flew across the stage and contortionists performed body-defying tricks while the story unfolded through song and dance.

Pippin proclaimed, “We have to dedicate ourselves to a better world for all people.” But for most of the play he went about attempting to “better the world” in all the wrong ways as he sought glitz and glamour. In the end, Pippin learned that he was the happiest when he was with someone he loved, regardless of how simple his life was.

I loved the dancing, singing, and circus razzle-dazzle in this production. I was awed by the turn-of-the-century Paramount Theater where I saw it. But I found many elements of the storyline disturbing. I am not a Catholic, but the anti-Catholic content, frivolous attitude toward life, and cavalier take on death were unsettling. I assume this was done to make a point, but I think there are better ways to do that. Maybe this is because today we are facing serious life-and-death issues. I think we need to make a serious effort to understand each other’s beliefs in trying to solve them—and that when we have extraordinary opportunities to affect the course of history, as Pippin did, we also have extraordinary responsibilities to use them for good.

This song of summer wasn’t an instant hit. It originally came out in 2012 and is just now making a splash with a remix by Felix Jaehn. I love seeing someone, like OMI, who doesn’t give up when immediate success doesn’t come his way. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to the official music video that will let you make a splash by doing the dance the next time you’re at a party and the song comes on.

Who says a girl has to be a supermodel, like Karlie, to show off her makeup style?

There’s no way I could double for this catwalk darling, but I’m giving you a step-by-step makeup tutorial so you can make Karlie’s look your own.

First, pick a golden/copper shadow to brush on your eyelids. I chose one from Guerlain’s Petrouchka Palette.

Concentrate more shadow in your creases.

Second, apply a soft, black eyeliner-pencil. Any favorite brand is fine as long as the pencil is truly soft. Karlie’s look is more on the natural than the dramatic end of the spectrum. Her soft pencil keeps her eyeliner from looking too bold. Only extend your lower line from the outer corner of your eye to the center.

Third, smudge your lower line. This step is why it’s crucial to pick a soft liner. You can either use a product with a smudge brush built in, or take a small brush and go back and forth across the line several times to soften it.

Fourth, frame your eyes with mascara. Right now, I’m loving MAC’s Extreme Dimension. It goes on and comes off fast and easy, while lengthening lashes.

Fifth, use a soft, white eyeliner-pencil along the lower wet-line to make your eye color pop. I’ve tried out a variety of brands and have been happy with all of them.

Sixth, give your eyebrows a boost. Karlie is known for hers. Lancôme is my go-to to plump-up mine. As you can see, it’s almost time for me to buy a new pencil.

End with a soft lipstick. Mine is a Bobbi Brown throwback that I just can’t part with, but a comparable color is Pink Tulip. Apply lightly for a Karlie glow.

This model is such a babe. If you follow these steps, you can be one too.

 

 

 

I have a guy friend who asked me that question with a perplexed stare. He’s the kind of man who reaches into his closet every morning, pulls out whatever he touches first, and puts it on. He followed-up his initial question by saying, “There are clothes, and then there are clothes. Right?” Wrong! There are clothes that make a girl feel sassy, sexy, about-business, or badass, and every emotion in between.

My look today is perfect for when a girl wants to feel “casual-summertime feminine.” The shorts and top are part of Free People’s boho couture.

The Kate Spade bangle accents the beads on my blouse.

And this KS purse ties the pale pink hues together.

So in answer to my friend’s question… Fashion is fun because it lets us create a spectrum of looks that we can call our own.

Today, I’m excited to have you all meet Cole Blakely. He’s not only an intelligent man about to receive an engineering PhD, he could write a doctoral dissertation on the art of dating. Many social observers say that today’s singles’ scene is dominated by those using apps to find hookups, and succeeding with only a swipe and a text. Cole proves that there are appealing, thoughtful men out there wanting quality relationships who go the dating route.

Thanks, Cole, for sharing your candid insights. And if any of you haven’t seen him teaching me to wakesurf, here’s some funny footage… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzjBqB-URV0

Last weekend, I saw the film Paper Towns after devouring the book. And since this is Meeting Men Monday, I’m giving you the low-down on the leading man’s real love journey. In an interview, he revealed that he was a bit of a romantic recluse until he gained confidence. I found this endearing. In the game of love, it’s important to give people a fair chance. Like Nat, that shy guy you kind of like may become a guy you really like once you get to know him.

When asked about the most romantic thing he’s ever done Nat responded, “I’ve written a song about a girl and recorded it and gave it to her.” Now that really is romantic.

 

Last week, I featured a Ted Baker dress and somehow I just couldn’t leave my TB love fest. Here’s some footage of the line’s cocktail/party couture.

https://instagram.com/p/6ss2G1CfFr/

The brand’s line ranges from coquettishness to luxurious, with this embroidered gown.

And the men’s fashions are equally impressive. Ted Baker’s tailored shirts are high quality, flattering and sophisticated with embellishments that add finesse like the complementary patterned under-cuffs.

You probably recognize this charmer from my Thinking Out Loud dance tutorial. When Tom is around, I’m guaranteed to have a good time…

Which you can probably tell from the look on my face!