Happy Father's Day.

Yesterday was Father’s Day and because I wrote a Mother’s Day entry, I feel I should write a Father’s Day entry as well – both are equally important to me. My “real” father, the guy who gave me life, doesn’t exist to me anymore. We refer to him only as Frank the Sperm Bank because the only important thing about him was that his little spermies made my siblings and me. My real dad, who I call Steve (and dad when I really want to earn some brownie points ;)) deserves to be written about and probably deserves an award.

I was five when my mother and Steve began dating and decided to bring our Brady Bunch of a family together, and we were NOT happy about it. He has three children of his own, three boys might I add and took on the four of us, three girls and a boy (we’re not easy and quiet kids either). Let’s just say, we brought a little liveliness to Steve’s normal, much quieter life that consisted of Village Pizza and a recliner.  He supported us, he tried to discipline us and he helped us become the adults we are today – he didn’t do a bad job either.

Dear Steve (dad),

You have taught me the importance of hard work and that I can do anything I put my mind to.

You are the reason I was the basketball player and athlete I became, making me practice shooting in our driveway and signing me up for AAU at the age of 13.

You drove me around New England to my basketball tournaments.

You cried with me when I tore my first ACL.

You made sure to tell my mom when you thought my skirts and shorts were too short.

You gave every boyfriend I ever had the stink eye because nobody was good enough for your girls.

You learned to leave the room when all four women were sobbing watching Beaches or when we were all PMS’ing at the same time.

You calmed us down when we were being crazy and screaming at one another.

You learned to be funny and would repeat a joke until it was not funny anymore.

You forgave me when I told you that weren’t my “real” dad and accepted my apology when I came in crying and telling you I didn’t mean it.

You set curfews when we were in High School but let us drink occasionally when I was 17 on your Business trips or at family parties.

You tried to ground me for finding alcohol under my bed. Keyword is tried.

I have traveled to Paris, Germany, California, Washington, Florida, St. Thomas, St. John and South Carolina because of you.

We experienced 5-Star Hotels and became incredibly spoiled because we continued to want chocolate covered strawberries on our beds when we arrived at a hotel.

You learned the importance of shoes and that they require an extra suitcase and a bigger car because we’d have too much luggage.

You bought me my first Mac computer that helped me become a Graphic Designer.

You married my mom finally after 17 years and had the best wedding day ever.

You let me know that I can move home whenever I want.

You taught me the importance of saving my money.

You taught me how to golf and are my favorite golfing partner.

You are a huge part of why I am the person I am today.

Thank you Steve for being the patient, kind, giving and loving dad you have been for 20 years. You are so supportive of all of us and we couldn’t ask for a better father. Happy Father’s Day. I love you.

Great results.

My life tends to be on the hectic side, especially when I need things to go smoothly. Last night was my FIRST Stella & Dot Trunk Show. Since it was my first, I decided to host the party – I can only do this twice a year. The show was to get people to see the jewelry and just have a good time.

Yesterday was also our work picnic at High Meadow, in Granby CT. We stayed for the raffle because they had some really amazing prizes, did I win? Absolutely not. As we are rushing to the car, I look at my watch and it is 4:30 – crap! I had to meet my Stella & Dot Sponsor (it sounds more like an AA sponsor than jewelry sponsor but that’s ok) at 5:15. We were stuck in traffic for a good 45 minutes but thankfully my sponsor was running late as well, “Awesome!” I thought, maybe we’ll get along really well since we already seem to be alike – always running late! Everything was fine, she arrived right behind me into my apartment complex. I changed in 30 seconds and was running around like a mad woman when my first guests arrived. After that, it ran smoothly.

My party was really fun, everyone chatting, eating, drinking wine, looking at jewelry, it was great. Great to catch up with people I haven’t really seen. Trying to learn how to set up a Stella & Dot party and actually throwing one was a little crazy but it was fine because my friends and family were there. Paige was a HUGE hit, as always, center of attention dancing to the Stella & Dot music. 

Overall, it was a great day that left me extremely exhausted but worth it. I placed everyone’s orders first thing this morning and I hope I accomplished getting people interested in throwing a party of their own. First party = Success.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I have my first Stella & Dot Trunk Show on Thursday and I am super excited about it. Not as many people as I thought will be able to attend but that is what I need to expect when it comes to this type of party. It will be a great time and I cannot wait to show of the incredible jewelry.

Lately, my boyfriend and I have been spending more time reading and less time watching TV. We were so consumed by TV shows this past winter I think I got a little dumber (more dumb? Is dumber a word? Point proven). We are both avid readers, when we find the right book of course.  I am 250 pages into The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb – the author of my favorite book I Know This Much is True – and I can’t put it down. It is not your typical love story or a thriller, but if you know Wally Lamb’s novels, they are not like that at all. It takes you to the day of the Columbine shootings and a family and towns struggle to get through it but with other storylines thrown in. I will keep you posted on my thoughts when I finish the book. So far so good.

Golf, such a silly sport but one I have really come to enjoy. I used to work at a golf course so I was lucky enough to golf for free whenever I wanted. It has become a weekly tradition with my dad and me. This Sunday routine is an excuse for him to golf more and for me to work on my golf skills and also to spend some quality time together. (He had a tough time with me moving out ;))

My life hasn’t been too exciting to write about, I have been super busy but not in a creative, I need to post about this kind of way. I completed my first pottery class and I signed up for a second, so I guess that shows that I liked it. I will take pictures of my work shortly and post when I can. I have yet to pick up my pieces but my next session starts on Wednesday so I guess I can wait until then. Pottery for me, was a relaxing way to get out my creativity, no thinking involved just doing. I learned so much in the 9-week session and I am excited to take on the next class and to make new pieces. Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year!?  

I guess that is it for now. When I have something a little more exciting I will post – until then, check out Stella & Dot, you’ll love it. www.stelladot.com/karibarnowski Real annoying, I know! But hey, I have to market as many places as I can. ;)

Style your life.

Every girl should accessorize her life a little…

My new adventure has officially begun! I am now an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot. What the hell is that you ask... Let me tell you a little bit about Stella & Dot. Stella & Dot is a social selling company with boutique style jewelry – my absoulte favorite kind of jewelry! I never thought I would be one to host parties to sell a product, nothing against it, I just never thought it was for me. Until a Senior Stylist named Carrie called me, had me listen in on a conference call by the founder of the company and from there I was hooked. Call me annoying but this is a product I believe in, I myself will wear it and it sells itself. I am here to tell you how to get your hands on it.

After learning more about Stella & Dot and how the opportunities are endless with this company, it changed my perspective on in-home Trunk Shows. Each piece of jewelry is hand crafted by New York designers and has been seen in People Stylewatch, InStyle, Lucky Magazine and on Gossip Girl. Stella & Dot is Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Company. Only .5% of women in the United States even know about Stella & Dot. I will be selling trendy, AFFORDABLE, jewelry… You are probably thinking, blah blah blah enough with the facts. It is a great excuse to have a party with your friends and family, you can receive hundreds of dollars worth of free jewelry by doing just that, throwing a party! The other great thing is, if you can’t make it to a party, you can purchase the jewelry right online. My website is www.stelladot.com/karibarnowski

It is so incredibly easy to get your hands on these super stylish jewels. Contact me about hosting a party, gather your friends and family together, pick a date, pop open some bottles of wine and enjoy great jewelry and a fabulous time. Also, if you are interested in becoming a Stylist yourself, I can help you do that as well. Who said you have to live in New York City to live a fabulously trendy life? Style your life. Happy Friday :)

A time to rebuild.

I haven’t had the creative urge to write lately – call it writers block if you will – but in the recent weeks, there has been such tragedy in the world and in our own backyard of Springfield, Massachusetts, it makes writing not that important. The massive and devastating tornado in Joplin Missouri, the destructive tornadoes across the south, deadly E. coli in Europe and great violence in the Middle East. The tornado that plowed through Western Massachusetts, killing four people and injuring over forty, and tearing apart a city and small surrounding towns, seems so miniscule compared to what is happening in the rest of the world but it is still a tragedy and one that should be acknowledged. 

Tuesday night as I was driving to Granville, Massachusetts - on my way to my parent’s house -  I took a deep breath and inhaled the smell of cow manure and the country air. I thought to myself as I was driving, what a peaceful place this small town is. No street lights. No shopping plazas. No highways. No loud noises. As we were eating dinner, we teased my father about a tornado warning when we were little that made him so nervous he sent us to our grandparents. “Have you ever seen a tornado?” my father questioned, “trust me, you don’t want to.” My sister, brother and I laughed and said, “Since when do we get tornadoes in Granville?” Well it wasn’t in Granville, but it wasn’t too far from it either. The following night we learned a valuable lesson, we do indeed have tornadoes in Western Massachusetts. They might not be as powerful as the tornadoes down south, but it wreaked havoc on the towns in its path.

A colleague of mine lost everything. No house. No car. No clothes. Not even a pair of shoes. It was as if a giant broom just swept it away. Luckily he made it to his basement in time and his life was saved as his house blew away over him. It is comforting to know that I work in a place where people are so incredibly giving and compassionate. By noon, over a thousand dollars was raised for him to get back on his feet from this disaster. He is not the only person this happened to though and it saddens me to think of what people are going through during this terrible time.

Appreciate the things you have. The roof over your head, the car you drive as you please, the clothes on your back. This natural disaster forces us to work together and help those in need when they have literally lost everything. We see the good in people. You can rebuild, you can start over and buy new clothes but you can’t do it alone. With all of the tragedy in the world,  something good can come from it. You learn that you have a shoulder to lean on and a few extra hands to help you rebuild your life.