Katherine Chloé Cahoon

Are you travel-obsessed? I know I am! I love traveling so much that I placed a plane on my grade-school charm bracelet and, to this day, trip tickets go on my bulletin board. Starting at the age of fourteen, I spent summers – on my own – at various locations across the globe training with ballet companies. I found that the best way to experience a new town was to learn about its history and culture before boarding the plane, immerse myself in the environment once there, and make friends with locals.

Two of the places I visited were the hometowns of great people whose passing we mourned in 2013. The third is someone whose home I wished I could have visited. Maybe someday that will happen, but today I want to honor him.

Nelson Mandela, a black man living in South Africa during the days of apartheid, had the courage to publicly state that he “cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” For 26 excruciating years he was imprisoned for expressing these beliefs, but he refused to let isolation and torture deter him. Mandela became the first president of a multiracial South African democracy.

2013 marked the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He came from a wealthy, powerful Boston family, but crusaded for common people. One of his guiding principles was his assertion that, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

Margaret Thatcher was dismissed as merely a grocer’s daughter from Grantham, England. But she proved that success doesn’t depend on your family’s bottom line. The bottom line of her story was that she became her nation’s first female prime minister. When she entered office, England was in steep economic decline and deemed ineffective as a world leader. She reversed that and was instrumental in peaceably dismantling the Soviet Union, freeing the nations within its grip.

Last week, I attended a Broadway revival of Evita, an updated version of the original iconic three-time Tony award-winner. This rendition, a dance masterpiece, tangoed its way through the highs and lows of María Eva Duarte de Perón’s journey from poverty to triumph as Argentina’s glamorous, beloved first lady. The adaptation portrayed her using an arsenal of conniving tricks to reach her goals, but that was nothing compared to the tricky footwork of the dancers telling her story, complete with lifts, high kicks, and turns propelled by a spiced-up rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s renowned score.

The postlude to this touring theatrical feast was a real one at Seattle’s Icon Grill. The restaurant was decorated, as usual, with local art pieces and ornate blown glass.

And if you think you can exit while abstaining from one of their decadent desserts, think again!

What better way to start 2014 on-trend than by donning Chantecaille’s Wild Horses palette? You can be a natural knockout in these earth tones…and while looking radiant, you’ll be helping to save endangered animals. This product benefits the Humane Society campaign to keep these horses running free.

The horses etched on the makeup palette and their fitting names are sure to make you smile. Freedom is at the top left, ready to give your cheeks a sun-kissed glow even if you live someplace where the sun is hiding this winter. On the top right is Palomino. Dust it on your entire lid. Mustang, on the lower left, is your crease color. And Black Stallion eyeliner is your finishing touch. After doing up your eyes, apply Chantecaille’s Nocturne glossy lip color, and you’re ready to meet any adventure head-on…or more like face-on:)

I met the lovely Alex Chantecaille at a trend show. She leads the international team of sales managers in this close-knit family business.

Alex explained that anyone can weigh in on what animals the company should feature in subsequent seasons. Just tell your local Chantecaille store manager, and the suggestion will go straight to Alex and her mom, Sylvie, the founder.

And if you’re able to attend a Chantecaille trend show, you’re likely to receive a gift like this one that Alex gave me. I’m ready for a pamper day with these samples of Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask, Rose Eye Makeup Remover, and the Pétales fragrance.

This morning while cleaning out my files, I ran across my itinerary from a business trip to NYC a while back. It was one of my favorites. I made friends with people from America to South Africa, and my book sold out in every store! One of the most interesting men I met was an attractive professional squash player with an Ivy League education, a sharp sense of humor, and a unique theory on true love…which he happily divulged after a few drinks.

He had this down to a science, explaining that only three criteria matter, each of which can be ranked from one to ten. If the cumulative total for your amour du jour is 25 or higher, you have a good match. If not, move on. Here are the elements: COMPATIBILITY. You can’t add points for enjoying going out to – say restaurants – with this guy. You’re not dating restaurants…you’re dating him! So before assigning this one a number, decide whether you would enjoy spending time with him if you stripped away the outings. SHARED VALUES. Do the two of you agree on core beliefs? ANIMAL MAGNITISM. Do you have raw passion?

When I met Mr. Squash Player, I was in a serious relationship. SP helped me calculate our “Love Score” and it totaled 24…just a point shy of the magic number. In all seriousness, he advised, “You have two choices. Quit wasting your time and end this thing now, or let it fizzle out later when you learn that I was right.”

I protested, saying that no relationship was perfect and I enjoyed this romance. “Really,” I asked, “what is one point?” SP just shrugged with a look that said, You’ll see.

Well, he was right. Although I adored my boyfriend, eventually I realized that we weren’t ideal together. But I’m glad I didn’t call it quits when I got the “ominous” 24. That was one of my best, most adventure-filled diversions. We came from very different backgrounds. In the end they were too different, but that caused both of us to view the world in another way. I would never have wanted to cut our time together short. Who knows, maybe SP is onto something with his Love Test. But sometimes, I think it’s good to throw all tests out the window and see where life takes you.

While taking an evening walk with my mom, I noticed that Wolford – the fashion and hosiery shop – was having a party. The cupcakes were too enticing to pass up, so we strolled on in. The event was coming to a close, but we made friends with the product experts and a spontaneous after-party ensued. They styled me in this Wolford outfit. Then my mom pulled out her purse camera and we posed away.

The Fatal Dress and Multifunction Scarf combo that the ladies chose for me can be combined in an array of options…so many that you could invent a new look every time you pulled them on. The dress can convert to a skirt or top, and there are endless ways to twist the scarf around your body. For a traveling girl, these are perfect items to pack. They’re even wrinkle-resistant. Here’s a Wolford video for style inspiration. It’s from their 2012/13 season, but the tips are timeless and the model is excellent at showing the versatility of this piece.

The cupcakes may have been the culprits for luring me into this party, but it was the great fashions and product experts that made me want to stay!

All you thrill seekers can now get an adrenaline rush merely by standing still. Step Into the Void, which just opened, induces major pulse pumping with no physical exertion. Entering this glass room suspended off the uppermost terrace of the Aiguille du Midi mountain peak in the French Alps will give you the sensation of walking on air. To get there take the world’s highest vertical ascent cable car with its picturesque views extending to Italy and Switzerland. This is only about a 20-minute ride, but keep in mind, Midi is no ordinary mountain…it’s Europe’s highest peak. And when you Step Into the Void, take the time to fully appreciate your clear view of the 3,395 foot drop below your feet. This is not for the faint of heart!

But why stop at that? Next you can take the Vallée Blanche ski run with a vertical descent of almost 9,000 feet into the Mount Blanc massif…the largest glaciated domain in the Alps. The Aiguille du Midi summit is the closest you can get to Mont Blanc without strapping on a pair of crampons and going all in. Follow this up with the hut-to-hut hiking trip through France, Italy and Switzerland featured in my book The Single Girl’s Guide to Meeting European Men. It’s for true sports lovers, and if you haven’t guessed, it comes with an avalanche of interesting athletic men. We all know what that means…well-toned:)

For those of you haunted by heights, rest assured that in future weeks I’ll have travel posts you’ll enjoy. For now, I think the closest you should get to Step Into the Void are these pictures!

We’re calling it a night…or technically a morning, since it’s after midnight! Hope 2014 brings you exciting adventures.

The pompadour hairstyle has been trending throughout the year. As you can see from this picture, it isn’t just for celebs like Sandra Bullock, Selena Gomez, and Kiernan Shipka.

Any girl can create it by following the six easy steps in this video, and the style can be tweaked to fit in anywhere, from a jam fest to the red carpet! Try this look tonight and you’ll ring in the New Year with style!

Mollie, the hair goddess in this video owns Mollie Michelle Salon.

The graffiti-covered building in the photo shoot is located in Seattle. It’s going to be torn down soon, so the city is allowing the public to paint it. The result is a constantly changing work of art.

One of my favorite stories of a marriage proposal gone awry happened to my friend at this time of year. Her boyfriend surprised her with a trip to Manhattan. They were students, finances were tight, and she realized that he wouldn’t be doing this if it were not a supremely special occasion. She suspected that he planned to propose in a world-class city sparkling with holiday lights and exuding romance. This was going to be one of the most important days of her of life, and she intended to do her part to make it the most memorable. It was, but for some of the wrong reasons!

She found the best dress and shoes for the occasion. When they arrived, an unexpected cold snap hit the city. While they were on a romantic stroll to the place where her boyfriend planned to propose, my friend was freezing and her goose bumps weren’t doing her gorgeous gown justice. On top of that, her shoes, which had been comfortable during the test run in the store, became feet eaters. Blisters formed on her heel and every toe. As her boyfriend got down on one knee, she felt like crying out in pain instead of crying for joy, but she forced a smile and gave an Oscar-worthy performance as a few tears trickled down her cheek.

An intimate dinner was next on his agenda, but she couldn’t handle the agony any longer. She ducked into a store and asked the manager for their most comfortable shoes. The price was beyond her budget, so she settled for a pair of socks, and used them to cushion her blisters. Fetching, I know;) Then she ignored the many people looking her up and down with odd stares. She’s stunning no matter what is on her feet, and her fiancé didn’t even notice. He loved her dearly, he was going to spend his life with her, and this was all that mattered. They’ve been married for ten years now, have two beautiful kids, and still love each other as much as they did the day he proposed.

…And while wearing a REALLY tight dress? My answer would have been “no” until I recently attended a party at a David Lawrence store. After enjoying hors’ devours, I decided to try on a Herve Leger gold gown, or as I describe it, the famous suck ‘em in frock. The sales associates said it would sculpt my figure. Translation—it’s tight!

I absolutely loved the dress, but was self-conscious, so I asked my attendant for a larger size. He protested, explaining that I was wearing the right one, and suggested that I see for myself in the three-way mirror. Since it was located at the heart of the party, I would have had to sashay out of the dressing room and past a group of very well dressed, hot attendees. Naturally, I declined. Next thing I knew, David Lawrence himself entered my dressing room and emphatically stated that I was not a larger size, celebrities love Herve Leger, tight is in, and I should work it.

Here is my attempt at working it…while still hiding out in my dressing room:) This brand is amazing, but pricey due to the high quality of the material and workmanship. It can make a girl look like she’s been working out, even when she’s been hitting the holiday goodies big time, like me. So if you are a lucky lady with a celebrity budget, it’s definitely worth the splurge. If you aren’t, other vendors like Bebe and Adrianna Papell are designing similar styles for much lower costs. They can’t duplicate the spectacular suck ‘em in quality, but they are still appealing. With New Year’s Eve around the corner, this look is an attention grabber.

And if you haven’t been to the David Lawrence store, do yourself a favor. You will fall in love with all the merchandise.

I’m so sad to say goodbye to Christmas, but we still have one holiday left this season, and a lot more memories to make. If you’re in the Seattle area, I’d recommend stopping in Bellevue. From now until New Year’s Eve, Snowflake Lane, in the heart of town, will become Celebration Lane, with a new program.

Only two blocks away is the Bravern, another no-miss. The entrance beckons with a gorgeous, two-story lighted tree. The store windows are decorated like Holiday Lane and the restaurants have live music. My favorite hangout there is John Howie for Happy Hour. This place is renowned for their steak and maybe I’m just a kid at heart, but I can never pass up their gourmet mac and cheese!

Maria Menounos, the Houghs and Mark Ballas began Christmas Dance Wars this year, and invited everyone to join the fun. The Cahoons answered the call and included all four generations, from  my littlest cousin to my 89-year-old grandma…even though she’s partially  paralyzed from a recent stroke. This is the first time she’s stood (and danced)  without her walker. My dad, a non-dancer and terrific sport, was hilarious in his roles. Byanka, the raven-haired beauty, choreographed the last clip in 15 seconds, and I added some Santa magic. Altogether, this is the perfect entry for my first WILD CARD WEDNESDAY!

Every year around the holidays, I reminisce about when I was little and danced in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker. Each year, we had 40 performances. I loved everything about them…the music, the camaraderie, and the excited audience. My first Nutcracker performance was the first time I ever got my makeup done. My stylist was Tricia, the exotic beauty applying my powder in the above picture. She taught me how to do stage makeup. The stunner in the middle is Shannon…another expert makeup artist.

Since that first Nutcracker performance, Tricia has become one of Bobbi Brown’s top makeup artists. Bobbi sends her to major events across the United States. Despite her busy schedule and makeup-superstar status, Tricia never forgets olds friends, like me. To this day, before most of my special events, she makes a point to rendezvous and give me tips.

Here are the items Tricia used on me for this look…they are perfect for Christmas Eve or any festive occasion: Bobbi Brown Copper Cream Shadow (all over lid), Sparkle Eye Shadow (similar – pop of sparkle on the center of lid), Cocoa Eye Shadow (in crease), Black Liner, Peach Blush, Nectar Shimmer Brick Compact (dust over blush; can also be used as a travel eye shadow kit), and Sweet Nectar Lipstick.

In the spirit of mistletoe season, I polled some savvy men on their dating preferences. These three had insights guaranteed to give any girl a dose of confidence!

“A genuine woman is hot. Trying too hard to impress or acting stuck up is not.” 24, California

“Girls sometimes try to be sexy by acting aloof, but a smile is the sexiest, most appealing look.” 26, Idaho

“Physical attractiveness is a key to initial desire, but personality causes lasting appeal.” 29, Seattle

I love these candid reactions. No girl can control the genes she is dealt, but anyone can give herself an attitude makeover.

At Nordstrom’s holiday shopping party, I planned on only looking at gifts for family and friends. I wasn’t going to try on anything for myself. You can see how well that went!

Topshop Bow Sweater