Summer Dresses!!

Check out this new summer dress from Steven Alan. Don't you just love it?? Jordan and I saw somebody wearing this dress (only it was from last season) in Sayulita and we both immediately loved it!! Not only is the cut amazing but so is the color.  I think it would be great for all occasions!! A picnic in the park, a summer evening dinner date, a BBQ (with beet burgers of course), or a day at the lake/ocean and I am sure that I could find alot more events to wear it to!!

I also love love love this dress from Permanent Vacation - a Swedish line which I have really grown to appreciate. I love everything about it - how it hangs, the color. If clothes could portray who I am and what I am about I think this dress would be me. It is full of color which I think could represent fun - which I like to have. But the white background also represents a serious side which I also think I have.  I think I will make this dress my one big purchase of the season and wear it to my cousins wedding which is at the beginning of July. 

The Sandals they paired with the dress are great too!! Very similar to the ones that I posted last week!

Enjoy your Wednesday,

Karen

Arte de Pluma (feather in Spanish)

While the Mexican Beach "Vendedores" used to only sell silver, those times are gone. Intermixed with the silver sellers are artists selling their home-made goods. We found this couple, Elisabet and Angel, selling these feather accessories in Sayulita. They hand pick all of their feathers from environmentally/animal friendly sources, dye the feathers themselves and after design the piece. They had an amazing selection of earrings, hair pieces and dream catchers. If you would like to make an order from their collection, you can contact them at chavezchapa@hotmail.com or jangelsunchezm@hotmail.com.

As I have been looking for a  great pair of feather earring, I quickly bought a purple pair which I love!! They even have a tine little skulls as the base of the earring!! I hoping to wear them alot this summer back in Canada as it will remind me of Mexico!!

XOXOX,

Karen

Mexican Chicas!!

Our friends from Saskatchewan came to visit us last week in Sayulita!! We had a wonderful week with them which we spent in a cute little bungalow!! We drank lots of margaritas, laid on the beach, went surfing, went for a boat tour and even caught some Mahi Mahi! I will try to post as many of our adventures as I can over the next week so stay tuned!!

My gorgeous friend Jordan is both super creative and stylish so we always have a ton of fun talking about clothes, jewelery etc. I was so happy when she accepted my invitation to be on my blog with me!! We had so much fun taking these photos together and I really think that she should have a blog as well! Although we didn't plan it, our outfits seem to match quite nicely. I think it may be one of my favorite photo shoots yet!!

I am wearing my new jean jumpsuit from United Colors of Bennetton!! I love it so much that it has almost become my uniform down here. It is perfect for all occasions from the beach to the city!! Jordan is also wearing a jean skirt along with some goodies that she found in Sayulita. She found her sandals in a store along the beach for a great price because they are leather and handmade. She also bought her necklace on the each which was a great find as well because it is full of real fresh water pears. I think it is soo pretty!!! 

Karen:

Jean Jumper: United Colors of Benneton

Shoes: Hand made in Argentina

Earrings: Bought on the beach

Hat: Zara (It is Dominic's) 

Jordan:

Skirt: Mac and Jac 

Tank: H & M

Shoes: Hand made in Sayulita

Necklace: Sayulita

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Hat: Urban Outfitters

Ciao Bellas,

Karen

Flowers and Agave!!

Another hard day at work among the Agave fields!! The day I took the photos, it was a scorching 33 degrees Celsius. With these dark jeans on, I was dyeing of heat exhaustion, so the fact that the flowered shirt was shear was a huge bonus.

It is too bad I don't look like this when I am actually working in the field in Canada. Our time in Mexico is coming to an end and we are just finishing up our all of our business here! So, I guess that means back to Canada. I have to start mentally preparing myself now for the cold weather and the lack of tacos!! I will miss you Mexico!!

Ouch - the agave plant poked me!!!

Same day but different location. I loved the color of this pink wall!

Shirt: Zara: Christmas gift from my sister

Belt: Vintage

Jeans: Zara

Shoes: Frye

Glasses: Prada

Have a great weekend,

Karen

The Fair is in Town!!

I took these pictures a few weeks ago when the fair was in town. This stand had the most amazing selection of candy and sweets - if you are into that kind of thing, which I definitely am! Not only was the candy amazing but the socio-cultural aspect of the fair was super cool as well. All of the stalls served a dual purpose of the stall and a house. At night, the entire family who owned the stall would sleep behind the stall in the make shift tent. At the end of the fair, the entire family would pack up, with the stall prepared to move to the fair's next location. 

I thought the fair's people were kind of like Gypsies - who travelled with their houses and I really liked that idea. I think because I sort of feel like a Gypsy in many ways. Right now we also travel with all of our stuff in our truck, moving from place to place, setting up a life for a short but sweet time and then moving on to our next adventure. Would you like to be a Gypsy??

Coconut Macaroons

Gummie Bears and Chiclets

Lollipops

Dzan Devlesa (Good Bye in the Gypsy language Romani),

Karen

P.S - I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the best mom in the world!!! I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for reading my blog!!!

Inspired by Frida Kahlo

Check out the Frida Kahlo shirt. It is made and designed in Sayulita, Mexico by a French couple. The name of the company is called Revolucion Del Sueno and there are only 100 shirts printed with one design so each shirt is numbered. So, I not only love the shirt because it is like wearing a piece of art but because has Frida Kahlo on it - the classic image of Mexican art. Influenced by indigenous Mexican art, Kahlo's self portraits are renowned for their dream like quality. She was not only an important political warrior but she became one of the world's most important artists. An inspiration to me and many others, like a tribute to her image and what she stands for, I am proud to have her on my shirt.

I think that this Frida shirt is so fitting for me this week as she was often referred to as the wife of Diego Rivera, despite her many accomplishments. I thought of Frida when I  was also referred to as Dominic's wife during a business meeting. It is true, I am his wife, however I am also a person with a name, who owns 50% of our company. Although I cannot compare my accomplishments with Frida's, I can sympathize with her and protest for my name. 

So I know that this background doesn't really match the outfit, but I kind of enjoy the contrast. This is what I happened to be wearing as we drove by this amazing place. I think it is the remnants of an old Spanish style house in a small town called San Pancho. Sort of suiting for the whole Frida Kahlo theme.

Shirt: Revolucion Del Sueno

Jeans: Vero Moda

Shoes: Hand made in Argentina

Necklace: Pyrrah

Muchos Besos,
Karen

My Dream Shoes (For the Moment)

I love these sandals!! Aren't they just perfect!! I would love to wear them with a cute pair of colored socks or tights!!

These Zinda sandals are the newest thing on my want list!! They are from a Canadian shoe store called Gravity Pope - possibly one of the most extensive line of shoes carried in Canada. 

 

They will be mine, oh yes they will be mine!! (sorry for the lame Waynes World quote, but I will admit it was and remains to be one of my favorite movies of all time!!

Que tengas un buen dia,

Karen

My Own Mexican Pancho!!

I have been searching through markets around for a pink pancho. I finnaly found this one at the market in Guadalajara for 60 pesos which is about $5 CAN. Although I bought it new, I am pretty sure one could call it vintage because I think it has been in the market since the 1980's. It was super super super dusty and they actually don't make panchos this color anymore. The only time they made them was in the 1980's. So I feel very privileged for having this unique, one of a kind piece.

Although the pancho is a bit big,  I think I will try to doctor it up a bit when I get back to Canada.  I was thinking about making the sleeves a bit smaller and hemming the bottom to make it a bit shorter as well. For now however I will just roll up the sleeves and I am sure they will be fine.

Pancho: Bought in the market

Jeans: Zara

Shoes: Birkenstocks

XOXOX,

Karen

Built By Wendy

Here are a few of the items on my want list from the Built By Wendy Spring Summer Collection. The whole collection is very Parisienne-esque which I love, as it continues to inspire me to save money for my trip to Paris!!! Next year is my champagne birthday - I will be 28 on the 28th so I am hoping that I can spend my birthday in Champagne, France!!! It is but a dream, but you never know when dreams can come true!!

I love these pants!! Both chic and comfortable at the same time!

Isn't this skirt beautiful??

   

Have a lovely lovely weekend!! I will be thinking of you all while I am at the beach with our great friends from Saskatchewan!!

Puss och Kram,

Karen

Remnants of St.Patrick's Day!!

Did you dress up for St.Patrick's Day??? I didn't actually wear green but I am going to post these pics and pretend like I did!! I have never been one for wearing green on March 17, as my whole life I have tried to dress differently from everybody else and to use my clothes to express myself in some unique way!! To dress up would have defeated the purpose of my entire life philosophy - so, yesterday I wore purple!!!

I apologize in advance for the pictures being a little bit dark but I think you can still get the gist of it!! We were in a hurry to take the photos before we went out for dinner! Dominic's parents were actually down here in Mexico for a few weeks and it was their last dinner before they flew out in the morning!! We decided to have tacos because you can't get the real tacos in Canada like you can in Mexico.

I think this is the perfect summer/beach vest. It is made from silk and viscose so it feels so soft on your skin which is perfect for the hot and humid weather. And it is a little more exciting than a simple tank top. The vest is even reversible! The first few times I wore it out, I actually wore it the other way around and without a belt, but now I think that I am really enjoying it this way! I will try to post another outfit wearing the other way around so you can decide for yourself.

We didn't manage to get a good photo of the back of the vest so I took this one when we got home from dinner. I think the back is the best part!!

Tank top: American Apparel

Vest: 

Belt: Thrifted

Jeans: Zara

Shoes: Frye

Hugs and Kisses,

Karen

Save the Turtles!

Six of the seven seas turtles in the world are from Mexico and most are  endangered. While the sea turtles spend most of their lives in the sea, they are born on the beach. The mothers can lay their eggs in the same spot as they were born and they can lay up to 200 eggs in each nest which need to be incubated for a period of 45 to 52 days. 

Due to many of the Mexican beaches becoming populated with people, the turtle nests are being destroyed and the baby turtles are not surviving. There are now some initiatives put in place to guard the nests for incubation period and make sure that they get back safely to the water. 

The beach that we were staying on had tons of turtle nests and there were people watching the nests making sure that the baby turtles would get back to the ocean safely. They let me pick one up which was pretty exciting. I hope these turtles make it!!

Aren't they cute???

You can check out HEART for more information on how to help the turtles.

Ciao,

Karen

P.S.- Happy St.Patrick's Day. Don't forget to wear something green!!

Style vs. Comfort

Ohh, the joys of an amazing sunset at the beach. It is hard to beat a moment such as this one. Although I know that this dress is not the most stylish piece in my wardrobe, I love it to pieces. There is something to be said for simplicity, which I think this dress paired with a cute little red pair of Repettos does a very good job at. 

My very stylish Finnish friend once told me that you can't follow all of the fashion trends of the season. Rather, you have to take a few of the trends and incorporate them into your wardrobe and make the trends your own. You have to wear what you like and for me the most important thing is to be comfortable - what ever that means for you. 


For me, being comfortable means I feel good in what I am wearing. It also means that I do not, under any circumstances, ever, wear high heels or a dress/skirt that is too short which you have constantly be concerned about. Does comfort matter to you??? What does it mean to be comfortable to you??

I love whoever thought up putting pockets in dresses!! Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you.

I love the back of this dress!!

Dress: J.Crew

Shoes: Repettos

XOXOX,
Karen

My Beloved Ring

I am not sure if you have noticed my bright turquoise ring or not, but since I got it a few months ago I haven't been able to take it off. I bought it from some young Argentinean artists who have been traveling around Mexico making and selling their own jewelry. I think this is an amazing piece of art and it is so great to support local artists rather than buying something which has been massed produced. The greatest thing is that there will be never be another ring like this one.

Muchos Besos,

Karen

Red Sky In the Morning, Sailor Take Warning!

We have been having absolutely amazing weather here. Just hot enough to enjoy the beach but cool enough to put a light sweater on at night. It is sooooo nice to be in an endless summer!!! 

So, another nautical inspired outfit, and sorry to say I can't promise that it will be the last one either. As I look at my wardrobe I realize that I have many nautical/sailor inspired items. I am not sure if it is because I am at the beach or if I am just drawn to them, or maybe because one day I would love to have sail boat to sail across the sea. Oh, how nice it is to dream, actually I think that dreaming is essential. If you can't dream, you can never achieve those dreams. 

Cardigan: Zara

Tank: American Apparel

Shorts: Valerie Dumain

Sandals: Birkenstocks

Have a Wonderful Weekend and Keep Dreaming,

Karen

Espadrilles

I have been searching everywhere in Mexico for a great pair of espadrilles. While I have found some great pairs the colors have been a bright blue and pink which I think may be a bit loud for me. But I am sure that as the summer stock starts to arrive, new colors will be in the mix. In the mean time, I think that these espadrilles which I found on A Cup Of Joe are perfect. They are 

Hope your day has been great!!

Karen

Red Sky at Night, Sailors Delight!!

My parents have been here Mexico this week and we have been having a lovely time - so great to see them!! We are staying in this cute little surfing/resort beach village called Sayulita. A few days ago we went out snorkeling on the ocean in a boat that looked just like this one shown below. We had a great time, even though the waves were so big we thought that we were going to overboard. I thought that this  sailor inspired dress was a perfect fit for the occasion.

It has been so hot here the past few days. At least much hotter than it has been in the city, which has made me be extra creative with my clothes.  Being from Saskatchewan, layering on the clothes and trying to keep warm is somewhat natural but trying to look good with minimal clothing is somewhat of a challenge. But a challenge that I am willing to take and enjoy. Do you prefer dressing for warm weather or cool weather??

Dress: Bershka

Belt: Vintage

Shoes: Frye

Earrings: Hand Made in Mexico

Have a wonderful Day,
Karen