Laundry Day: Climbed Cathedral Mountains

Joe and I, quite literally on top of the world * Devil's Causeway in the Flat Top Wilderness

We're back!! Thanks for checking in with me last week while we were in Colorado. We had an incredible week, and even though we came home last night to lost baggage and rainstorms, I feel totally relaxed, centered, and happy. I'm going to leave you today with a whole crap-ton of pictures from the trip. I took zero outfit photos while I was there, so you'll have to make do with some of the spectacular Colorado scenery instead. Tomorrow: birds and dinos in DIA!

We witnessed some pretty magnificent storms while we were there. The 4th of July proved to be pretty rainy (top), but we witnessed a seriously spectacular rainbow later in the week (bottom).

Easily the highlight of the trip for me was climbing Devil's Causeway with Joe and my family. It's a 5-foot wide rock causeway in the Flat Tops Wilderness, at 11,800 feet above sea level (and well above the treeline, as you can see from the barren landscape). It was gorgeous, and isolated, and perfect.

Hot air balloons!!

And what trip would be complete without picking Mark Twain's nose??

Title song: John Denver, "Rocky Mountain High"

What's Alive Inside Us

Navy silk blouse: Old Navy, remixed * Maroon sweater: Old Navy * Pants: Michael Kors, remixed * Sandals: Swedish Hasbeens, remixed

So I both loved and hated this outfit. It was comfortable, nice, business-casual, easy, and appropriate for meetings and work. But I didn't feel like "me". It felt super boring and fairly mediocre. It served its purpose as an outfit, in the sense that it clothed me and got me through the day, but it totally didn't serve its purpose as an outfit, in the sense that I felt totally blah with it by the end of the day. I was not inspired by it, and I only really love outfits that inspire me or feel inspired. Better luck next time, I reckon.

Oh, and even though you're probably sick to death of my pestering, I'll be back in town pretty soon, so don't forget to ask me your burning questions (preferably nothing about burning, though) before I get home!

Title song: Less Than Jake, "We, the Uninspired"

Did someone say Vintage??

Recently stumbled upon this quirky little capture of our pal and muse Trish wearing head to toe 'bonzie' finery and looking very dapper in her regal surroundings at Waterford Castle !!

www.bonziedesigns.com

I'm Not Your Average Guy

Turtleneck: Little Ocean Annie Vintage * Gray pants: thrifted H&M, remixed * Jazz shoes: Seychelles, remixed * Cuff: Eye Pop Art Etsy shop, remixed

Guys, I felt like a superhero in this outfit! The red, the navy, the super-rad cuff bracelet made from a record (seriously, from a record! Isn't that just about the coolest thing you've ever heard?). It's such a simple outfit, but I felt like such a badass. These jazz shoes are pretty much my favorite shoes ever. They're comfy, super cool, and go with almost everything. A good pair of comfy black shoes is such an important part of any wardrobe, and I love this pair because they're so versatile and chic.

I thrifted these H&M pants months ago, and have worn them a handful of times since. They are far too long for me, which isn't so great with slim-cut pants. However, I haven't taken the time to actually hem them yet, so I've been cuffing them every time I wear them. I like the cuffed look, but they're actually pretty nice pants that I think would make for pretty good slim-cut work pants if I actually got around to hemming them. I've become a bit of an expert at hemming jeans, since I essentially have to do it for every pair I own, but I'm not quite as dexterous with a needle and thread when it comes to hemming fancier fabrics. Denim is easy because it doesn't show mistakes, but it's harder to keep a straight hem with fabric that has a bit of stretch. Hopefully I'll get around to it soon, because I'm kind of a big fan of these pants, and I think they have a lot of potential.

Curious about what my preferred superpower would be? Ask here!

Title song: Jane's Addiction, "Superhero"

I Wonder What You Can See from Up There

Sweater: Gap * Jeans: Gap, remixed * Oxfords: Kmart, remixed

Well, hello super old pictures! I can all but guarantee that it is way too hot in Chicago for sweaters today, and yet here I am, in a sweater! What is this sorcery, you may be wondering. Ah, a magician never tells (though the upload dates on Flickr may speak for me).

Yeah, this was actually taken a number of weeks ago when Chicago was getting some majorly apocalyptic storms. Joe and I took a walk on this day, like we often do, and I spotted these lovely big trees to take my pictures under. It was stiflingly humid and pretty windy. Literally as we turned off the camera to head home, the skies opened up on us. Neither of us were carrying umbrellas, and we got so soaked on the way home. It was absolutely torrential, and it went on for the rest of the evening. Ah, June in Chicago. Lovely stuff.

Oh yeah, and then I climbed some trees. I'm not an athletic person, really. I'm not limber, or fit, or strong. I don't like running, or playing sports, or exerting myself in general. And I don't really like climbing trees that look hard to climb. What I do love, however, is scrambling up trees and branches that are just begging to be climbed. This was one of those trees, and Joe accommodated my silliness as I swung around on the branches.

If you haven't already, head over to my FAQ post to ask me a question! I'll be putting together an answer post when I get back from vacation. Oh, and keep those entries comin' for the Orient USA watch giveaway! I'll pick a winner on Friday, July 16.

Title song: Jim Noir, "Climb a Tree"

As We Lose Our Inhibition

Lace blouse: thrifted, remixed * Shorts: DIY from Old Navy jeans * Sandals: GoJane, remixed * Key necklace: Etsy, remixed * Watch: Forever 21, remixed * Purse: Kenneth Cole, remixed

Ah! You guys, I'm in love with this outfit! Seriously, I want to wear it everyday. I think I'm so crazy about it because it feels like a totally simple t-shirt and jean shorts outfit, which I can sometimes feel pretty schlumpy in. But with the lace shirt, the long key necklace, and these embellished sandals, I feel totally chic while maintaining the beautiful, simple comfort of denim and a comfy tee. I fully plan on wearing this lace shirt the minute it gets out of the laundry, every time. It is that awesome. And I'm more than a little bit obsessed with this giant watch. I got it at F21, it was probably $4, and I'm sure it will break, but I love the novelty of wearing a giant man-sized watch. Like wearing one of those novelty foam cowboy hats. Or carrying a vuvuzela. Ridiculous like that.

Speaking of vuvuzelas, can I please dedicate the rest of this post to them? These simple, annoying-as-balls horns have completely changed the way I think about South Africa, soccer, or sporting events in general. Joe and I were watching Invictus last night (the recent Morgan Freeman/Matt Damon movie about Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team), and at a particularly moving moment, I looked at Joe, mimed a trumpet, and loudly said, "BZZZZZZ". It was awesome. Oh, and did you know that YouTube has installed a vuvuzela button on all its videos? If this isn't pure genius, I don't know what is. Vuvuzelas can also be used to express your feelings about the Gulf Coast oil spill! I mean, seriously. If I ever attend a public event that doesn't have a whole crap-ton of vuvuzelas, I'm going to be deeply disappointed.

Whew. I've probably lost a half-dozen readers who don't give a hoot about vuvuzelas, and another half-dozen who don't know what vuvuzelas are. Well, at least now you don't have to ask me my thoughts on vuvuzelas for my Between Laundry Days FAQ!

Title song: Knaan, "World Cup 2010 anthem"

Mrs. O'Leary's Cow

Spent the weekend in Chicago.  This was photographed fairly quickly in our hotel room, but here it is.

Maybe I'll do some more pieces with city themes.