Put on Some Clothes, Shake up the Bed

Outfit details:
Teal tank top: thrifted, remixed
Coral tank top: gifted, remixed
Jeans: Old Navy, "The Flirt", remixed
Sandals: Unionbay via Kohl's, recently remixed

Where:
Work

I'm totally trying to take advantage of the casual dress code at my current job. I'm so excited to be moving on to something better and something new, but I will definitely miss my days of tank tops and jeans at the office. The new office isn't super formal, but it's definitely more of a "business casual" feeling, so I'll have to adjust accordingly.

I've put this outfit together before, almost exactly, and I loved the bright color combination then as well as today. Pairing red-orange and blue-green is a visually stunning combination that I find incredibly satisfying and interesting. Plus, I love how the necklines of these two tanks compliment each other so well even though they're so different!

I also love that I'm getting so much wear from these sandals already! I always know that a pair of shoes will become favorites if I start wearing them right away, and often. I feel like the height just adds so much punch to any outfit that I pair with them, and I adore the huarache-inspired feel to the straps. They actually remind me a bit of one of Sal's gorgeous and well-loved Sunday Shoes.

Title song: David Bowie, "Oh! You Pretty Things"

Just to Find Her

Outfit details:
Black tank: Old Navy, remixed
Gray vest: Urban Outfitters, remixed
Skinny jeans: Shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, remixed
Black wedges: Lela Rose for Payless, remixed

Where:
Physical therapy, work

Thank you all for your kind comments recently. It has been such fun to read them and hear what you think! Keep 'em comin'! Also, I was super-excited last night to see that I was featured on the front page of Weardrobe and then today on the unfailingly awesome Daddy Likey's Blogback Mountain post! I'm so happy to be a part of this beautiful wonderful (not to mention painfully fashionable!) blogging community.

Today's outfit was one of those "I-have-no-idea-what-to-wear-so-I'll-just-randomly-start-pulling-things-out-of-my-closet-
until-I'm-late-for-physical-therapy-and-have-to-settle-for-whatever-is-on-the-top-of-the-pile" days. I actually really like it, because it's so comfy and includes a few of my favorite staple items. I thought the heels really jazzed things up, and I love the vest-over-tank look right now.

Title song: The Monkees: "(I'd Go the) Whole Wide World" (bonus points for who can name the Will Ferrell movie in which he sings this song while playing the acoustic guitar - one of my faves!)

Way Down Where I Can Be Free

Outfit details:
Plaid shirt: Lark and Wolff by Steven Alan at Urban Outfitters
Skinny jeans: Old Navy, remixed
Heels: Old Navy, remixed

Where:
Work

Joe has been giving me a hard time about getting a plaid shirt for an awfully long time now. He seems to have a soft spot for the interesting pattern, fitted cut, and bright colors. He gave me explicit instructions to get any plaid shirt that is both "heavily green" and has "Easter-y colors". So when I saw this plaid tunic on sale an UO, I was very excited to be able to fulfill Joe's dream of seeing me in his perfect plaid shirt. And when he saw me leaving this morning for work, through sleep-filled eyes, he said "Ooh, I like it! You look pretty." Which I will consider a huge success.

I've changed a few things about Between Laundry Days recently, and thought I'd mention them here. I'm incredibly slow at responding to technological change, but I FINALLY got a Twitter account and would love to connect with you there!! I've also changed a bit of the layout here on the blog, so I hope you like the changes. They're all courtesy of Joe, so give him a hand. Thanks for everything, sweetheart; I owe you so much for the past few months.

Title song: Jimi Hendrix, "Hey Joe"

A sharp cat, and a dull wit.

There once was a cat

who rarely ever sat


for it's a** grew red

it's mood turned blue



After each and every

# 2 .




I would have liked the poem to work a bit better, but it's getting late. Yeah, that's a good excuse.

We went shopping for school supplies today, and after we got what we came for, I bought a few things for Bent Objects. I bought this and a few other things that I have ideas for that I'll be posting then putting in my Etsy shop. Feel free to visit there and look around.

How Steampunk is this!!

Gals,

I just had to share this recent snap from Dad. It doesn't get much more "Steampunk" than this!!!

Its a photo taken of a local chemist/pharmacy in my hometown, Clonmel. Unbelievably this establishment was open when I was a child and Mam used to purchase ointments and interesting lotions in gorgeous glass apothecary style jars with labels and twine on them. Its got such antiquated character, almost reminds me of a set from a Tim Burton film!!

Folk often ask us where we get our inspiration from and quite simply a local building like this will fuel the creative juices every time! Honestly, can you not see a jacket in this picture??

In Style....

bonzie & ger

Client Corner ~ Julia

Gals, we swooned collectively over the most recent client corner entry. Julia, Julia, Julia!!! What a wonderfully romantic shot taken by Jennifer Dominick of Love Life Images . The ruffles, the kiss, the guard of honor, the hunky uniformed hubbie!! It doesn't quite get much better than this.

Julia approached us with a need for an elegant bridal bolero to rock with her gorgeous designer dress and we were to delighted to work with this lovely lady. Julia's dress features a dramatic plunging back line and we worked together to modify our Carina bolero to work with the dress and judging from Julias picked the whole look came together beautifully. We were absolutely thrilled to receive such lovely wedding pictures back after the wedding. It was a delight working with Julia and a treat to share in the pics afterwards.

Ger and I would love to extend our warmest wishes to this remarkably lovely couple and we hope you have an amazing adventure together. ;)

bonzie & ger

x

Sweetness Sings from Every Corner

Outfit details:
Olive tank top: Old Navy
Silver pleated skirt: Old Navy, remixed
Belt: thrifted, recently remixed
Strappy platform sandals: Unionbay, via Kohl's, remixed
Black cardi: Old Navy, recently remixed

Where:
Work

I didn't realize this until looking at the pictures here, but I was ROCKING some neutrals yesterday. Olive, gray, black, brown, all present and accounted for. The only piece missing would be white, but I seem to naturally gravitate toward darker neutrals. I feel like white stands out so much that it almost counts as a color in some outfits, rather than a palette to build off of. What do you think? Is this too much neutral? Should I have added a white piece to fill out the neutral spectrum? Is white a neutral??

This skirt, as I've mentioned before, never used to get a lot of wear. It was a weird length, super clingy with tights, and I could never figure out what to pair it with. And then I discovered high-waisted summer skirts, and my worldview shifted a bit (well, maybe not my worldview, but my skirtview, certainly). I think this skirt looks stunning with a tank top tucked in and a big flashy belt or scarf keeping the whole thing together, and hot days=no tights=clingless! And I love keeping the rest of the outfit pretty simple so that the metallic sheen and lovely pleats can stand out. This tank top works particularly well because of the small pleat-like detail at the neckline, echoing some of the lines of the skirt.

Title song: Neutral Milk Hotel, "Communist Daughter"

My Ten Year Old Self

This is me at 8, not 10, but nevertheless.

I was thinking this morning that my ten year old self would be somewhat disappointed that I wasn't a millionaire by now. I'd respond that it's harder than it looks, and if he would have studied a little more who knows what would have happened! ha! A Facebook friend mentioned that his ten year old self wanted to be an astronaut, so "I guess they all get to be disappointed."

Terry the ten year old would definitely be surprised with some of the other goals that I have achieved, even if they haven't meant the great financial rewards he had hoped for. I've checked quite a few things off my list that I made a little later in life, with several more to go.

I also remember that I looked forward to buying a certain canned chocolate drink (Choc-Cola, I believe it was called) whenever I wanted to(!) when I grew up. I don't believe that brand exists anymore (besides, my treat drink taste buds have turned to iced coffees and beer these days) but sometimes I buy something that reminds me of that stuff, just because. Kind of like keeping a promise to the little person that I was, all those years ago.

Of course, feel free to comment about the thoughts of your little 10 year old self.

------------------
Plus- This just in- I finally find out who has been filling the internets with good stuff. Chipmunks, legos, and Star Wars- Here. I've seen his stuff floating around a lot lately.

Hi as Fi Can Go

Outfit details:
Dress: Pink Rose, via Nordstrom Rack
Red sandals: Seychelles, via Solestruck
Belt: TJ Maxx, remixed
Necklace: heirloom from my grandmother

Where:
Work

I love how these red Seychelles add so much pop and pizazz to any outfit. I mean, take this one, for example: a gray jersey dress and tan belt. Meh. Add some poppin' red Seychelles and it suddenly turns into an awesome work ensemble!

This necklace is one of those pieces that I would save if my apartment set on fire. It was my grandmother's, and I inherited it when she passed away a few years ago. I love the exquisite detail of the painting on the mother-of-pearl shell, and I love how it matches with anything, but mostly I love that it comes from her.

This gray dress is fast becoming one of my faves. I bought it on a Nordstrom Rack excursion a while back with a few other lovely dresses (see here and here!). I had been meaning to build up my reserves of jersey dresses, and I found each of these for less than $20, so I was pretty stoked about it. They are ridiculously comfy, and pretty flattering on my body. And they can be dressed up or dressed down, which is the. most. important. thing.

Title song: Roxy Music, "Mother of Pearl"

You'll See Your Lucky Day

Outfit details:
Tank top: originally Target, altered by me (see below)
Shorts: thrifted, originally Gap jeans, altered by me (see below)
Shoes: Toms

Where:
Craft Day!

I totally rocked some craftiness on Sunday! I had been feeling more and more overwhelmed by the clutter in the apartment, and especially the lack of organization that ran rampant through my clothes, shoes, and jewelry storage. I was mad inspired by some of the organizational tricks that you lovely bloggers have shared in the past few months, especially Danielle's paper-towel rack trick. So I've been on the lookout for something like that to organize my jewelry, and I finally found a mug-tree at Ace Hardware. It was perfect for organizing and displaying my necklaces and bracelets, even the longer ones! Take a look:

The other major problem in my apartment is the storage of my shoes. I love my shoes. It's one of the few things about me that makes me "stereotypically girly", although I have some ideological issues with that idea in general. Anyway, I flippin' love shoes, and I have a lot of them. So many that they had completely filled the floor of one of our closets, leaving no room to walk, much less for Joe's shoes and stuff. So I utilized some old smallish bookshelves to my advantage and voila! Closet cleared! Check it out:

Along with my shoes came some clothing organization, too. We have TONS of closet space in our apartment, and until now the shoe closet was just for shoes, but I wanted to share that space with some of my hangable clothes. So I bought almost 3 dozen clothes hangers at Walgreens and finally hung up a bunch of my dresses, sweaters, blouses, and skirts:

Speaking of clothes, I also did some very exciting alterations to a couple old pieces. I never ever ever wore these Gap jeans or Target shirt, for whatever reason, and decided that I should do something about it and make them both a little more summer-worthy and fun. So out came the scissors and here's the result!!

(and I'm proud - or embarrassed - to say that I didn't measure or sew anything!)

Title song: Gloria Gaynor, "Do it Yourself"

If You Knew My Story Word for Word

Outfit details:
Maxi dress: Old Navy
Layering tank: ??, sooo old
Sandals: Steve Madden Sarrahh, recently remixed
Beaded leather bracelets: gifted, remixed
Big-ass ring: gifted, recently remixed
Ray-Ban wannabes: Target, remixed
Bag of peaches, arugula, and blueberries: Farmers' Market

Where:
Farmers' Market, work, home for delicious dinner

Maxi dress time!!!! I loved this outfit. Absolutely loved it. I felt so Farmers' Market-y, flowy and fresh and like a cute little pixie hippie. I admit that I was slow to get on the maxi dress train, but now that I am it's all steam ahead. Joe particularly liked the little knotted-up bit at the bottom, which was done mostly out of necessity since the dress is far too long. But I actually really like this little asymmetrical twist to the dress.

I've been doing some mad accessorizing with brown (in either leather or wood) lately. I adore these bracelets that were given to me by Joe's mom, and I flippin' love the giant ring that my best friend gave me for my birthday. And for a completely flat sandal, these Steve Madden Sarrahh's (why two Rs? why two Hs?) are surprisingly comfortable and a flashy but still natural addition to any outfit. Yay Saturday!!!!

Title song: Peter Bjorn and John, "Young Folks"

The Artist and His Model

I've made this image available in my Etsy Store, as well as several others, including what many people consider to be one of my best. That one and another are of questionable (if minty) taste, so consider yourself warned.

It's a Big Enough Umbrella

Outfit details:
Dress: Lux, thrifted
Belt: thrifted, remixed
Sandals: GoJane, remixed

Where:
Work, museum, dinner and a movie

I bought this dress last weekend while doing some thrifting, and knew it would be a perfect summer work dress. It's pretty shapeless, so a belt is crucial, but it's silk, so the fabric drapes perfectly with the belt. I'm already thinking up other ways to wear it, with pants or leggings, as more of a tunic.

I decided to take the afternoon off to spend some time with Joe before my new job starts and I have to work a lot more hours. So we spent the afternoon at the Field Museum, which I love, and then went out to a happy-hour dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery and then to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was really nice to have a date night together. Our schedules have been weird lately and we haven't had a lot of time to go out together so it was really nice to do the whole dinner-and-a-movie thing.

So one of the things that I've been thinking about is how to get a more office-appropriate wardrobe started for my new job. I have a few select things, but not much. So I'm putting it to you all: knowing what you know about my style (and keeping in mind that I'm definitely still on a budget!), what are a few must-have work wardrobe staples? Any particular stores I should be checking out? And for you other short-legged lovelies, any advice on which brands offer petite sizes or shorter inseams?

Title song: The Police, "Every little thing she does is Magic"

Pretend I Was Queen

Outfit details:
Coral shirt: thrifted, originally American Eagle, remixed
Houndstooth skirt (w/pockets!): GoJane.com
Navy canvas peep-toe slingbacks: Impo, via TJ Maxx, remixed

Where:
Work

First of all, thank you all so much for your kind congratulations on my new job! I'm so pumped to start this new phase of my life, doing something that I could really see turning into a career. A few of you asked what exactly I've been hired to do. It's actually a pretty basic clerical position, but in a university office that is undergoing some really exciting changes, with great opportunity for growth. My job for the past few years has been pretty much all solo work, so I'm absolutely over the moon about getting to work with a supportive, kind, and forward-thinking team of coworkers.

I've been waiting and waiting (and waiting...) to debut this skirt. I'm not sure why, but it's one of those items that I bought quite awhile ago and just didn't wear right away. I think it's because I love my new purchases so much that I'm afraid that whatever outfit I create around them won't live up to my expectations for them. Totally ridiculous, since they end up hanging out in my closet indefinitely instead, but old habits are darn hard to break. In any case, I really like the way this outfit came together. I felt really sleek and a bit sexy, while still maintaining a bit of cuteness. Plus, the skirt has POCKETS!

Title song: Rachael Yamagata, "Be Be Your Love"

Just Follow Me

Outfit details:
Maroon tunic tank: Old Navy, remixed
Skirt: thrifted, remixed
Black cardigan: Old Navy, remixed
Black belt: thrifted, $2!
Wedges: Naturalizer, via Filene's Basement, recently remixed

Where:
Work, Target, diner dinner!

First and foremost, let me just say this:

I GOT A JOB!!!

The people that I interviewed with last week called me yesterday afternoon and offered me the position. I am sosoSO excited about working there...the staff are amazing, the job is crucial to the smooth functioning of the office, and everyone has a great vision of change and improvement for the office and entire institution. I'm thrilled to get to be a part of their team!

To celebrate, Joe and I went to dinner at a cute little diner downtown. It was down-home, delicious, and cheap. We might try to plan something a little more extravagant soon to properly celebrate, but it was a great way to spend the evening.

I felt very classy yesterday with this outfit. I NEVER wear this skirt because I think it's a weird length and it's way too big, but I kind of liked the way it worked with this tank top and belt. It helps to wear heels with it, even low ones, because it lengthens my legs and lines of my body. I really need to do a feature on these shoes because they are SO wonderfully comfortable and classy, but I'll save it for another day. I'll just say that they will definitely be coming with me to the new job.

Title song: John Lennon, "Working Class Hero"

Your Skin is Something That I Stir into My Tea

Outfit details:
Yellow shirt: Old Navy, remixed
Tulip skirt: Forever 21
Black wedge sandals: Naturalizer, via Filene's Basement, recently remixed
Earrings: gift from parents, shop in Venice

Where:
Work

This skirt is a new fit/style for me, but I'm really liking the way it fits to my body. I had seen tulip skirts on other bloggers and street stylists and loved them, so I thought I should give it a try. I got this skirt few months ago at the Forever 21 downtown, and just haven't gotten around to wearing it yet. I do that relatively often with new clothes and shoes; I love buying them and planning great outfits around each piece, but sometimes it takes me weeks or months to actually wear that outfit or item. Does anyone else have a similar problem, or am I alone in my buy-it-and-wait-on-it habit?

My parents just spent the week in Venice and brought me back these lovely mismatched earrings. They're glass from Murano, a small island just off of Venice that crafts the most unbelievable glassware, from jewelry to sculpture to kitchenware. I love the bright colors in these earrings, and I adore the fact that the two pieces are similar but not quite the same, making them all the more unique and special. I tried to keep the rest of my outfit free of accessories and business so these babies could shine.

Title song: Joanna Newsom, "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie"