Hello, everyone! I’m off to spend four days with my mom at Disneyland and the surrounding beach towns…sort of a Mother’s Day trip, if you will. My mom means the world to mean and I’m so glad we get to share this mini trip together. How will you celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day?

Went I went to compile this week’s “Instagram Love” post I quickly realized I only took seven Instagram photos this week! What the what?!! That’s unheard of! I must have either had a really busy week or a really boring one. I like to think it was a busy, busy week because that makes me feel better. At any rate, here are the few pics I snapped this week. Tell me, does your use of Instagram fluctuate?

Kachet Jackson-Henderson might be my new best friend. If she’ll have me. Undeniably adorable, this stylish lady is vivacious, intelligent and downright stunning. Kachet describes herself as a little bit sensitive, sometimes selfish, incredibly loyal and the best friend you’ll ever have. She’s also a fellow fashion blogger, writing about fashion, beauty products and life in general over at The Lipstick Giraffe.

At our photo shoot earlier this week, I asked the 5’9″ beauty how old she was. She replied with the dreaded, “How old do I look?” After guessing 31 and being met with a gleeful, “Nope. Younger. Guess again,” I offered up a second guess of 28. Kachet laughed and proudly announced she was a mere 24 years old. Quickly adding that she’s a Leo and will turn 25 come August.

Part of the reason I thought Kachet was so much older than she actually is (aside from the fact that I like to think everyone is in their 30s because I am) was because of the way this local It girl carries herself. She exudes confidence and is clearly comfortable being herself—sometimes playful and goofy, other times serious and driven. It’s this killer combination that has led her to have a successful career in marketing.

As a project manager at MeringCarson, a Sacramento-based ad agency, Kachet works on projects for Visit California, Walt Disney World, The Vintage Estate and veteran initiative Got Your 6. Still figuring out what her dream job might be, Kachet is sure she’s in the right industry.

“I can’t see myself working in any other field than marketing so I guess I’m on the right track and pretty fortunate to be starting my career now,” she remarked.

If she does decide to veer into another industry, I might suggest modeling. Just look at how gorgeous she is…

For more on Kachet, check out her blog and follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Bloglovin’ and Instagram. You won’t regret it!

How would you describe your style?
It’s a mixed bag—a little bit feminine, a pinch of edgy with a dose of colorful. But if I had to choose one word, I’d have to say comfortable. I don’t wear anything that I don’t feel comfortable in. It’s an instant confidence killer if you’re constantly worrying about bunching of your dress or your pants cutting off your circulation.

Who are your favorite designers?
Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Vivienne Westwood and of course, Chanel (can I please meet Karl Lagerfeld?).

If you could raid anyone’s wardrobe whose would it be?
Joan Crawford. The shoulder pads, the gowns—oh! I’ve loved her since I was nine. I guess in present day I’d have to say Gwen Stefani, Rihanna or Katie Holmes. What a mixed bag.

Where do you turn for fashion inspiration?
I enjoy reading People Style Watch and InStyle magazine. I grew up reading Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and InStyle—thanks to my mom and grandmother who were subscribers and always dressed from head to toe.  Other bloggers inspire me—styling things in ways I had never thought of. And, I also get inspiration from the people I encounter while travelling.

Is there an item you’re currently eyeing?
Yes! Immediately, I am looking for a cargo/safari vest in green. Old Navy had one last year, and I tried to get it on eBay recently and missed it, so if you have suggestions or want to get rid of one—let’s talk! Long term, I’m looking into buying a timeless bag. I’d love a Louis satchel or a Chanel classic chain bag. We’ll see!

What was your most recent wardrobe purchase?
I bought some electric blue cutoffs at Nordstrom Rack for $6.

What is one item in your closet can’t you live without?
 My denim blazer. I wear it all the time.

What’s in your closet that you’ve never worn?
A chiffon dress I bought at Heart. I had it in mind to wear to a wedding, and I changed my mind at the last minute. Then the weather got bad, but now that it’s nice again, that little baby will be making an appearance soon.

How often do you purge items from your closet, and where do your castaways go?
I do it after every season. I go through, take out things that are 1) Not appropriate for the season and 2) Something I won’t wear again. When I’m done, I usually take my things to Freestyle or Crossroads. The items that they don’t take, I will donate to the Salvation Army or Shoes & Sandwiches.

What are your favorite styling products?
Lipstick is a must. For years I only wore gloss, with very little color. Now, I feel naked without lipstick. My favorite color is Dubonnet by MAC. My skin loves Trader Joe’s Enrich moisturizer better than anything I’ve used—and it doesn’t hurt that it’s under $5. Now that I’m wearing my naturally curly hair (I cut off all my chemically treated hair last July) it loves oil—olive or coconut and even Moroccan oil. It eats it up! Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue, Eco Styler gel and my alltime favorite Kiehl’s Silk Groom crème. I first started using it on my relaxed hair when damp and it would ensure a smooth blow dry.  Now, it gives my hair very defined curls without weighing it down or making it sticky. Although I love my OPI and Zoya polishes, Revlon has some really fun colors this season, and they are under $4 at WalMart.

Have any shopping spots you’re willing to divulge?
I’ll tell it all—there’s no shame in my game. My fav local boutiques – Heart, Firefly, LeGacy and Tela. Gap, Old Navy, Ross and TJ Maxx. Let me tell you, nothing beats the TJ Maxx in Moraga. Their sale racks have current items, and not the rejects. Joe Jeans for 20? Yes, please. They also have a special designer section called “The Runway” where you can get Christian Louboutin, Rachel Roy, Marc Jacobs to name a few for a great price! Don’t believe me? Read the Yelp reviews.

Make a day trip out of it and have some great lunch in town. No matter where I shop, I always shop sale. I seldom ever buy anything full price.

Give me your 5 favorite local haunts.
Home! The Crocker Art Museum, the Red Rabbit, Massage Envy Midtown (ask for Katy, she’s amazing) and new favorite Blackbird Kitchen & Bar.

What music do you listen to when you’re getting ready to go out?
My dolled-up, getting-ready-to-strut-my-stuff music? Any Britney Spears will get me moving. The older the BritBrit, the better.  Also, need some Rihanna. Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton.

After this batch of “Closet Case :: Then & Now” photos I only have three more in the vault, including my own—ugh. I’m really hoping more people send in their “then” photos because they are seriously awesome! The hair, the wild patterns, the fanny packs, the bright-eyed innocence, and the cheesy poses—it’s enough to brighten any day. Here’s a few more to add some smiles to your day!

John Hooper was by far one of my favorite shoots. At first he was a little nervous, but once he got into it the shoot was a blast! It’s so awesome when a guy is really into style. Plus, John is one super charismatic guy with a witty sense of humor and a killer smile. I’ve got mad love for this guy. Oh, and check out his “then” photo. Can you say “adorable”?!

Check out John’s original “Closet Case” post here.

Confession: Jen Schryer and I are friends in real life. And guess what? She always looks stunning. True story. Every time I see this lovely lady she is wearing something that I want to steal from her—usually her entire outfit! Of course, I’m not sure how I feel about the pants in her “then” photo. I mean, they are pretty awesome, but I’m not sure I could rock those bad boys like she did! Haha!

See her full “Closet Case” post here.

Um, are those giant crayons? Hello, awesome! Desa Sanders is straight up adorable in her “then” photo! Not one to steer away from patterned dresses now or then, Desa has apparently always known how to strike a pose—hands on hip style! This lady is pure joy and was a true pleasure to shoot and I’m willing to bet the photographer who took her “then” photo would say the same!

You can see more of Desa in her original “Closet Case” post here. Oh, and be sure to check out her Etsy shop, too!

I’m not feeling very inspired to write much about the past week. Not that it wasn’t lovely, I’m just feeling kind of drained right now. Thank goodness it’s Friday. I will say that my week was filled with dinner parties, happy hour dates with friends, bright clothes, iced beverages and lovely weather (except for that one day when the wind made my allergies attack my face).  Happy Friday, friends!

As a rule, I always encourage my “Closet Case” peeps to invite a friend along to our shoots—knowing it’ll help settle their nerves and get them to loosen up in front of the camera (of course, a few drinks never hurts either!). Sometimes a friend will join, sometimes not. When I showed up at Stephanie Birch’s Midtown apartment, I was greeted by my lovely subject, two of her friends, her boyfriend and their adorable 9 month old son, the handsome Bennett or “B” as they call him. Truth be told, it actually made me a little nervous. I’d never been so outnumbered at a shoot!

Within no time at all, the shoot was under way and my nerves had settled. We began telling corny jokes, laughing and getting down to photo-taking business. Stephanie proved to be an awesome model—her spunky and charming personality making the shoot an absolute blast. Plus, her friend Kimberly was hilarious and equally stylish (look for her own CC in the future!).

Like so many CC subjects before her, I first met Stephanie via the powers of Twitter. The self-described “California girl with a golden state of mind” and I struck up a conversation and, after some Internet sleuthing on my part, I realized she would be perfect for this feature. I also discovered that the 5’8″ beauty and her boyfriend Steve own an awesome furniture business called Reclamation Art & Furniture, which specializes in modern home furnishings fashioned from reclaimed material. Hello, that is so in my wheelhouse!

The one-year old company creates some really unique and stylish pieces, and has enabled Stephanie to stay at home with Bennett since the day he was born.

“While Steve is the main man behind the name, I offer support in all the other areas and photograph all of his pieces, run our social media pages, etc.,” explained Stephanie.

Well, it’s a good thing she’s a social media maven or our paths may never have crossed! Ok, enough about that…here’s a peek at Stephanie’s wardrobe. Enjoy!

For more on Stephanie, find her on the following online locations: Open Book Moments (her blog) and Twitter.

How would you describe your personal style?
This is a tough one as it has seem to change in the last year or so. I believe my style is laid back, California girl. I lived in San Diego for a good part of my late teens to mid-twenties and my style was very much beach attire, naturally. I have slowly worked away from the beach clothes to a more classic style I hope! Turning 29 has also put me in this sort of transitional phase of wanting to revamp my closet into a more modern, mature style still working on whatever that is.

Who are your favorite fashion designers?
I’m not really big on designers. If I catch a glimpse of campaigns or runways, I definitely stop and admire but I don’t particularly keep up on the “it” designer.

If you could raid any one’s wardrobe whose would it be?
It would have to be two closets: Katherine Hepburn and Kate Bosworth. Katherine Hepburn was so chic and classic, even dressed in weekend loungewear. Kate Bosworth has that perfect California, classic, semi-payful style that is so relatable.

Where do you turn for fashion inspiration?
Blogs, Pinterest and fashion-savy friends.

Is there an item you’re currently eyeing?
I had been on the hunt for the perfect pair of skinny jeans to wear for the spring. I finally found a pair that fit and the price of a whopping $6 at Freestyle made it worth the wait! I am now eyeing a pair of gray skinnies…dun, dun, dun.

What was your most recent wardrobe purchase?
Skinny jeans, racer-back tanks and bandeau tops.

What is one item in your closet can’t you live without?
My brown, worn-in boots. They were such a great find and go with everything.

What’s in your closet that you’ve never worn?
A cropped military jacket. I haven’t been bold or brave enough to throw it and “own it” as I walk out the door. I try but end up taking it off before I leave.

How often do you purge items from your closet, and where do the castaways go?
Almost seasonally. A couple times I’ve taken the items to a clothing exchange, but mostly give the clothes to my younger sisters or Goodwill.

What are your favorite styling products?
I cannot live without Burt’s Bees chapstick. It goes everywhere with me.

Have any shopping spots you’re willing to divulge?
I love clothing exchange places like Freestyle. Article Consignment Boutique is a fun favorite and was really excited when I found out they also carry maternity wear very much needed last year!

What are your top five favorite spots in Sacramento?
Hot Italian, Old Soul, Tapa the World, Mulvaney’s and Scout Living. La Petit Paris was a favorite, but sadly it closed.

What music do you listen to when you’re getting all dolled up?
Pandora is on in our house all the time. For going out the town and dancing, I turn up the volume to some house music. As for date night, I love Bitter:Sweet or Bajofondo Tango Club. Current favorite Pandora stations include: Bajofondo Tango Club, Empire of the Sun, Audio Bullys, MC Solaar, Bitter:Sweet, Dirty Laundry, Max Sedgley and Thievery Corporation to name a few or seven. Ha!

Some weeks just seem to fly by, and this was definitely one of those kind of weeks for me. It was jam packed with bike rides, photo shoots, gin & tonics (yum) and quality “me” time (a therapy session, and a facial and hair appointment). All in all, I had a lovely week and I hope you did, too!

Last month, the Limited approached me in regard to covering the grand opening for it’s new store at the Roseville Galleria. I was also invited to interview Linda Heasley, CEO of the retail chain. I forwarded my fashion-related questions onto the PR firm handling the store’s promotion, but Linda’s hectic travel schedule has prevented her from getting back to me…so it appears my questions will go unanswered. Sigh.

Feeling perhaps a little guilty for not being able to fulfill my interview request, the Limited gifted me an awesome yellow necklace and a $50 gift card. They also sent me another $50 gift card to give to one of my readers. Hello, awesome?!

I plan on using mine toward either this, these or these. If you win, what will you buy?!

To enter:
You can enter this giveaway up to two times. For each entry, make sure to leave a separate comment.

1. Head over to the Limited, then come back and tell me what you’d buy with your gift card.

2. Tweet about this giveaway and come back and leave me a link to your Tweet. Oh, and be sure to include @BowsandSparrows in your tweet!

This giveaway is open until Saturday, April 28th at 12pm PST. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter. This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere. Good luck, everyone!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Kerry (of Paper Dahlia) who won the $50 gift card to the Limited.

Now that I’m rapidly approaching 35, caring for my skin has become a top priority. Sure, I probably should have started being diligent with my skincare regimen earlier in my life, but as the French say, “c’est la vie” or, as we Americans like to say, “better late than never.”

So, for the better half to the past year I’ve had monthly facial appointments with local esthetician Jenneane Rocha (of Jenneane’s on J). The first time I met with Jenneane, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted let alone needed. I let her assess my skin and determine the best solutions to tackle my oily skin, and combat my wrinkles and blemishes. I’m still not sure exactly what she does each time (mostly because I just let her do her thing), but I can say I’ve seen vast improvements since I started seeing her regularly. Hopefully, with her help and by maintaining my own at-home routine we’ve been able to cut some wrinkles off at the pass!

In addition to relying on Jenneane’s expertise, I also really appreciate that she never pushes any products or services on me. Oh, and she’s freaking hilarious and super easy to talk to. I actually really look forward to getting the scoop on her life and talking about mine…it’s kind of like therapy that way!

While I’ve only used Jenneane for my skincare needs, she does offers a host of waxing services (for basically any body part you can think of) and I always ask her random questions about the process. I figured if I had a couple skincare and waxing questions for her, others might as well. So, I asked Jenneane to use her expertise to enlighten us. Here’s her interview and some shots of her adorable Midtown-based studio.

You can find more about Jenneane (and Jenneane’s on J) on Twitter, Facebook and Yelp. Her services are by appointment, so give her a call if you’re interested in booking one for yourself…(916) 444-2691. Oh, and check out Jenneane’s “Closet Case” post here.

BONUS: First-time clients will enjoy 20% off when they mention this post!

How long have you been an esthetician?
11 years.

When did you first know that’s what you wanted to do?
I’ve been waxing myself since I was 12 years old. My aunt was a hairdresser and she used to let me sweep the floors at the salon when I was younger and I loved it! She bought me a wax pot and I learned how to wax myself. I knew I loved seeing my aunt and the women there make people feel good about themselves. I didn’t officially know I wanted to do esthetics until my third year of college. I had changed majors so many times and finally came back to esthetics and loved it!

What do you like most about your job?
I value and love my clients! I love meeting new people and clients, too! Here’s my mission statement for how I do my business, “To be honest and transparent with my clients about their skincare needs and to make sure every client is completely happy with my services.”

What is your most popular service?
I would have to say probably eyebrow waxing or Brazilian waxing.

What are one or two of the biggest skincare mistakes?
One mistake I see often is when buying products many people with problematic skin want anything to work so they buy an entire line at one time. The best way to try products is one at a time, that way if something isn’t working you can pinpoint it and leave that particular product out of your routine.

What is one skincare must?
SUNSCREEN!

Is it possible to shrink pores?
You can not actually “shrink” pores—they’re there for a reason, i.e. they provide a way for your body to flush out toxins. Although, there are ways to minimize their appearance. Our bodies are all different and there are many causes for bigger pores—smoking, age, oily skin, etc. The best way to treat large pores is to pinpoint those issues and treat them based on said issue.

What products or skin care regimen can help with adult acne?
Just like large pores, there can be many factors contributing to adult acne. Hormones, diet, allergies, skin care regimen and stress can all contribute to adult acne. The best thing would be to come in for a skin consultation and go from there. Sometimes something as simple as changing your pillowcases more frequently can help.

How can I combat wrinkles?
The first thing I always try to stress is PREVENT! That means take care of your skin when you are younger—I’m talking about sunblock, sunblock, and more sunblock! All of the things we know and choose to ignore in our 20s. After the damage is done it becomes harder, but exfoliation works wonders to combat wrinkles.

Do you have any skincare products you swear by?
I swear by C-ESTA Serum from Jan Marini, and their C-Estamins (skin vitamins)—those vitamins are the miracle pill!

What lifestyle changes can improve someone’s skin?
Staying hydrated, eating healthy and exercising. It’s amazing what just those three things can do for your skin.

Be honest, how painful is getting “down there” waxed?
It definitely isn’t relaxing, but it isn’t as bad as you think if your esthetician knows what they are doing. I think many of us have heard horror stories from our girlfriends, and that experience may have been with someone that wasn’t well trained. To hurt less, hair needs to be grown out for 4 to 6 weeks…this makes sure all of your hair growth cycles have grown out (when it is too short it can cause breakage and ingrown hairs).

What are the benefits of waxing your bikini area vs shaving?
Think of a textbook picture of a hair. Thick at the bottom, thin at the top. When shaving you are cutting the hair off at the thickest point of the hair…so, it grows back thick and feels like stubble. When you wax, you are pulling it out by the root so the thinnist part of the hair is what grows back. After time, and when you are on a regular schedule, the hair grows back thinner and more sparse.

Any tips on how to prevent ingrown hairs?
I swear by exfoliation gloves and Tend Skin.

What are the benefits of getting your eyebrows waxed vs tweezing on your own?
The shape. I think as women we have some weird natural urge to pick at things…sometimes over tweezing can really ruin the shape. Plus, it takes time out of your daily grooming routine.

It’s been a couple weeks since I posted a “Closet Case :: Then & Now,” and I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with bated breath for more of them. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy seeing embarrassing photos of some of the most stylish people in town. Right?! At any rate, here are a few more pictures from the vault…enjoy!

Oh, and if any of you “Closet Case” peeps haven’t sent my your “then” photo yet, there’s still time!

Long before Kellen Walsh (web operations manager for LuLu*s) became the stylish lady that she is today she rocked quite the tomboy look…we’re talking’ layered shirts, baggy jeans, Vans and some very, very interesting hair. Needless to say, this style maven has come a long way. Still, even in her “then” photo you can tell that Kellen is an exuberant lady ready to live life to the fullest.

Check out Kellen’s original “Closet Case” post here.

Oh, my goodness! Can you say, “crushed velvet”? Local hairstylist Sara Carter may currently have an awesome wardrobe full of fabulous pieces, but that wasn’t always the case. Luckily, she retired her old threads long ago upgrading to quite the collection of covetable clothes and shoes (oh, her shoes!). Oh, and as for that stuffed Santa, he’s been replaced by one adorable little boy named Waylon.

See her full “Closet Case” post here.

Sara is currently a hair stylist over at  Space 07 Salon (1421 R Street). If you’re interested in booking an appointment with Sara, call (916) 444-7474.

Allison Bethurem (of My MatryoshkaLife) is a real go-getter with a fabulous sense of style, a killer smile and incredible drive…and, just like the rest of us, she went through an awkward stage. Don’t believe me? Check out this picture from her seventh grade ID card from Crespi Jr. High. So awesome!

You can see more of Allison in her original “Closet Case” post here.

Get to know more about Allison on her blog or considering Tweeting her over here.

Charming, vivacious and absolutely gorgeous, Mary Gonsalves Kinney (a fashion stylist, and the editor and co-founder of Sister | Brother Style) gets my vote for style maven extraordinaire. Back in 1992, this pretty lady tried her hand at being her school’s first female president. Pretty awesome, huh? While it may not show in her “then” photo, Mary assures me that her love for stilettos, haute couture and revelry has been consistent…even back then.

See Mary’s full “Closet Case” post here.

For more on Mary’s styling company sister I brother (which she runs with her brother, duh), find them on Facebook and Twitter.