Stories from The KARA Effect
Future memories, fresh possibilities, and a little fashion along the way.
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I Know I Should Take Better Care of Myself… So Why Don’t I?
What if getting healthier isn’t really the goal? There are certain things we reach an age where nobody really needs to explain to us anymore. We know we should move more. We know we should eat reasonably well. We know fresh air is good for us, sleep matters, and sitting in the same chair for…
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Nothing Exciting Happens Anymore
Have you ever heard yourself say: “Nothing exciting ever happens anymore.” I think there comes a point when life can become very… predictable. We know what we’re doing tomorrow. We pretty much know what we’re doing next week. We have our routines. Our favorite restaurants. Our usual shows. Our errands. Our appointments. And there’s nothing…
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Your Vision Board Has a Handle
Karen carries pictures of where she’s going. Kara carries memories of where she’s already been. It started with a water bottle. I found one that could be personalized with photographs, and immediately thought: What if those photographs weren’t memories from the past? What if they were memories from the future? So Karen got a new…
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What If This IS the Special Occasion?
I have things I save. Maybe you do too. The good perfume. The pretty dress. The jewelry that’s just a little too sparkly for an ordinary afternoon. The restaurant that feels like it needs a reason. The purse that’s completely impractical but makes you smile every time you see it. Somehow, these things get assigned…
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Don’t Let the Past Drive
There’s a saying I’ve always loved: “There’s a reason your rearview mirror is much smaller than your windshield.” Think about that for a moment. When you’re driving, you need the rearview mirror. You glance at it to see where you’ve been and what might still be behind you. But most of your view is through…
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Maybe the Picture is Too Old
Have you ever looked at something you’ve wanted for years and suddenly wondered: Do I still want this? Not Can I have it? Not Is it too late? But… Do I actually still want it? That’s a very different question. Because sometimes the problem isn’t that we’ve given up on our dreams. Sometimes the picture…
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But What Do I Want? Maybe It’s Time to Ask Again
There’s a question that sounds ridiculously simple: What do I want? Not what does my family need. Not what should I be doing. Not what would be practical. Not even what did I used to want. What do I want — now? And sometimes, especially after 50 or 60, that can be a surprisingly difficult…
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Kara’s Plum Evening Gown: Dress for the Memory You Haven’t Made Yet
“Oh, I remember this dress…” There’s something different about choosing an outfit for Kara. Karen looks at a wardrobe and wonders, Where could I wear this? Kara looks at the same wardrobe and says, Oh, I remember where I wore this. That’s because Kara is my future self. In the world of The KARA Effect,…
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Your Future Wardrobe: Shop It or Remember It
What if you could try on your future before you ever bought the clothes? I’ve always loved the idea that what we wear can change the way we see ourselves. Put on an old T-shirt and comfortable jeans, and you might be settling in for an ordinary Saturday. Put on something that makes you feel…
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Kara’s Wardrobe: Opening Night on Broadway
Shop It or Remember It If Kara is going to Broadway, she isn’t sneaking into a Wednesday matinee. She’s going to Opening Night. For this Future Memory, Kara chose an emerald green evening gown with a sparkling bodice and flowing chiffon sleeves, emerald jewelry, a vintage-inspired silver evening bag, and — because she is Kara…