Our Friend of the Week - Karen Brown
Your City: Sonoma, CA + Ketchum, ID
Karen Brown knows how to make every moment of life an adventure. Whether it's exploring Bhutan, sailing across the world with the America's Cup crew, penning erotic literature or finally realizing her childhood dream of riding of horses, she's always on the move with friends and has the most fascinating stories to share. Currently she's working on The Tenth Step, a stunning documentary that explores one man's quest across the Himalayas, which will premier at the 2017 Telluride Film Festival. We can't wait to see what she does next.
Karen’s What –“The one thing I absolutely cannot live without is EltaMD UV Physical Broad Spectrum SPF 41 sunscreen. My Scottish/Irish skin was genetically engineered for fog shrouded highlands and moors, not the high desert of Idaho. It protects my fair skin and the light tint makes it look smooth and moist. I LOVE it!”
FRIEND OF THE WEEK: 11 QUESTIONS
- Nickname This has been the big disappointment of my life….I have no nickname. The closest I ever came was in high school when a girlfriend called me O’Leary for a few weeks, because of my Irish and Scottish heritage. That’s it. So sad. This ranks high up there along with not being able to whistle.
- What’s your short story? I was raised in California but started traveling and working in Europe in my early 20’s. At age 30 I found myself in Australia again and I hooked up with the America’s Cup campaign going on outside of Perth. There I met my future husband. The next couple of decades included yacht racing and crewing, a Coppola movie, a college degree, a business importing furniture from Italy, and many happy days spent in Sun Valley, Idaho. When my husband passed away unexpectedly I refocused on things I love to do and now I have followed my childhood dream of riding horses. I’ve also finally put my college degree to use and am working for a non-profit documentary film company that will be taking me to Nepal and back to Bhutan in the Fall. Life is amazing and always full of surprises.
- What’s your jam? Always has been, always will be, anything by Prince. My Father’s first career was a Disc Jockey so I was lucky enough to be exposed to and develop a love for all kinds of music at an early age. My guilty pleasure though, when no one else is around, is Bollywood Music. Great tunes for housecleaning!
- What motivates you? Adventure. My favorite words to hear are “Let’s go have an adventure.” To me adventure is a broad term that can encompass something geographical, physical or mental. An adventure can be something that expands my horizons by visiting a new country and culture, it can be testing my body with a new sport or even working my brain by learning a new job. The goal is to make every moment of life an adventure.
- Who do you think you’d have great friend chemistry with? Any of the women inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame! These women aren’t just cowgirls; they are also veterinarians, business women, acrobats and artists. They are women who have followed their own paths, typically in male dominated fields, and made outstanding achievements. They are unassuming, inspirational and awesome!
- What qualities do your favorite friends have in common? This may sound simple, but my favorite friends are all happy. I believe it is because they have found a way, within their very busy lives, to follow their bliss. And they find it in different ways; through creating their own jobs, their sports, or giving back to their community. They all know what they want to do and they make it happen. And that makes them happy.
- What’s the smartest, most inspiring, awesome thing you’ve read, watching or listened to? Oddly, when reading this question my very first, instantaneous thought was “Cocktails of the Ritz Paris.” I’ve spent many hours at that bar listening to Colin tell stories about clients, many of which he recounts in his book. The book is like a travelogue and peak inside Parisian culture combined into one. But you’re probably looking for a more insightful answer, which is not my forte. I will tell you that when my husband died a friend sent me a copy of "Eat, Pray, Love." That book, and good friends, got me back on my feet again.
- What whets your appetite? So many pleasures; galloping on horseback, cocktails in beautiful places, hearing stories from older generations, laughing with great girlfriends, and food….always food!
- What’s next on your To Do List? Maybe riding horseback to Machu Picchu next Summer. Could be awesome!
- How are you friends with Gina + Amy? A friend introduced me to Amy at a Farmer’s Market in Sonoma years ago. I was instantly hooked by her genuine smile and generous laugh. She’s smart, sassy, funny and goes after what she wants. She inspires me to go outside my comfort zone and makes me feel like anything is possible.
- Who would you nominate for our next Friend of the Week? Tia Small. She has the exact same characteristics as Amy. This must tie into question 6 somehow.