The Obligatory Bio.

Who are you?
My name is Karen. I’m in my 30s. I live in Mandeville, Louisiana, which is about a short distance away from New Orleans. I currently work at Bra Genie, a fitting salon in Mandeville. As a Fit Specialist, I help women find the right size bra. (80% of women wear the wrong bra size.)

I’m married to a wonderful sysadmin, Doug, who loves Doctor Who, fancy European board games, video games (namely MMORPGs), and anything tech-related.

We have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Gizmo. We adopted him from a corgi rescue shelter in November of 2010. He is spoiled rotten and craves affection and attention. (Gizmo, not Doug.)

What made you start blogging?
I originally started blogging back in 2001 or so to teach myself web design, as well as keep an online journal. I’ve always kept diaries/journals since I was fairly young, mainly because I love to write. I took many creative writing courses in school, and studied journalism in college. Writing has always been sort of cathartic for me.

I’m a plus sized woman, and have been all of my adult life. For years, I hid in bootleg jeans, too-big t-shirts, and Doc Martens – because I didn’t believe that someone my size COULD be stylish. Around 2005, I found myself drawn to reading more about fashion, and started experimenting with my clothing choices a bit more. In 2010, I embarked on the 15:30 Challenge with some fantastic and beautiful women, and found that I adored not only reading about fashion, but writing about it as well.

Everyone deserves to look and feel their best, regardless of their size, shape, or age.

Anything else?
I go to sci-fi/gaming conventions and ren faires. I met my husband and my closest friends through Vampire LARPs. No, I don’t think I’m a vampire. I love wearing black and dark colors, but I’m not a “goth”.

I love the steampunk subculture. Something about a slightly twisted oddball Victorian aesthetic just appeals to me. I’m constantly working on costumes and ensembles for conventions and Halloween.

I drive a Blue Onyx Pearl Scion xB called the TARDIS. I’m a Doctor Who fan – in fact, I love a lot of British TV shows. In October of 2007, Doug and I went on a two week trip to London, Wales, and Scotland, and since then I have become an irreparable Anglophile. I have vowed to return to the UK at least once in my lifetime.

I have a tattoo on my right calf. It’s a tribal design. No, it doesn’t mean anything.

I could eat Godiva chocolate until it comes out of my ears. I make a mean sun-dried tomato and feta dip.

I love music, but was not blessed with the ability to create it.

I read really fast, and I read a lot.

I collect assorted shades of red lipstick. For the life of me, I can never find the perfect shade.

I collect cameras and love photography…looking at pictures, taking pictures, developing pictures, all of it. I worked as a photo lab technician for both Eckerd’s (now CVS) and a professional lab in the New Orleans area.

Where did you get the name “sevenlies”?

Seven lies multiplied by seven
Multiplied by seven again
Seven angels with seven trumpets
Send them home on the morning train
-Depeche Mode, “John The Revelator”