A Gift

Thank you all for visiting my blog for some time now. It's been a year since I have started this projects, so it was time for my first update to my blog. I'm really excited about this. Thanks to Roxanne Wolthuis and Carmen Steenbergen from the Noorderpoort College at Groningen, I have this beautiful new place. They made me my own website!

So this means my blog has officially moved to another address. Can´t wait to use my new LaundryChemistry home and post all my new ideas. From now you can find me at: www.laundrychemistry.com

You can keep on following me on many social media.

Click here to visit my new website!

Statement Earrings

Home, sweet home. Maybe you have noticed that it I haven't posted anything lately. I recently went on vacation to Austria. I really did enjoy my time there and I would love to go on more trips, but returning home is really nice after being away for a while. While on vacation I tried to stop thinking about everything, relax and take some rest. I never knew it was that hard to do. After two days I was already restless and wanted to work on my blog. I promised not to do so and I didn't, although I did went shopping.. In Austria I enjoyed nature the most. The streets are also very clean and the people are really nice. I loved the mountain landscape, which to me is very exciting because in the Netherlands everything is flat. I wish I have such a beautiful place close to home so I can take pictures for my blog in such a beautiful area. Another perk of Austria is the sun. My skin doesn't tan easily but now it's a shade darker tanned than before! Yay!

In a previous post I talked about holiday packing. I can tell you it was a success! I'm proud of myself that I didn't pack more than necessary. Thanks to that I had room left for the new things I bought on vacation. Here is one of my vacation finds. Beautiful statement earrings that I bought at Innsbruck. The picture was taken on my vacation. Despite that I couldn't wear them with the right outfit, I was too excited to wait with wearing them. This picture is taken while I was on my way to go swimming. I see myself wearing these earrings with a basic, cozy white or cream colored cardigan.

In my younger years I had a period in which I wanted to wear only statement earrings. I felt naked without them. At the time I had a total crush on earrings with big peacock feathers and I had a sea blue colored pair with nacre. It guess it had something to do with my age and the fashion image at the time. These days I don't think statement earrings are suitable for every occasions or outfit. However as counterpart of an outfit it can complement it or add the finishing touch to a certain style. Big earrings can give the impression of youth. There is a turning point of when wearing big earrings can give the wrong impression. It can look vulgar when wearing the wrong pair or wearing them the wrong way. That is something we want to avoid, so be careful. Sometimes I like to create a romantic or natural look around statement pieces and I personally love styles like Greek, Egyptian, Indian, animalistic, Roman or Aztec. I think Dolce and Gabbana is always does a great job with their statement pieces and spectacular prints. I especially love their winter collection of 2013 and their summer collection of 2014. These collections are the proof that wearing a lot of gold doesn't have to be vulgar. I let myself be inspired by them.

I always had something special with shoes and accessories that are made with care and have fine quality and details. I keep on being fascinated by those small artworks.

What is your opinion on statement earrings?

Earrings: Vanity Her Italy // Bought at: Fink's

Summer Skin Care

I was looking for facial skin care and sun protection for summer. I think self care is very important and a good skin is the base of your look so it is very important that you use good products for your skin. I finally found the perfect product for my face. To me this product has it all. It's made for a sensitive skin, it strengthens and relaxes the skin and makes it less sensitive. This product is made to moisturize your skin. My skin often gets dry in summer so it can use some extra moisturizing. It has a mild fresh sent and feels very soft to your skin. It also is parabens (chemical preservatives) free, which I think is a big plus. I don't make it a big don't, but I prefer natural far over chemical products. As if this isn't enough, this product has sun protection Spf 25. Perfect! This product is more expensive than the skin care I used before, but not overpriced. I think this product is more than worth the price.

Is skin care as much important to you as it is to me?

Day Crème: Vichy Aqualia Thermal uv // Bought this product at the pharmacy shop.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

Shoes everywhere! Just love those little artworks on my feet. I saw these when I went sale shopping, I just had to take them with me. I have always had a obsession with good quality shoes and at the moment comfortable shoes are on top of my list. Maybe its because I'm getting a bit older, in my (even) younger years I just bought the shoes when I fell in love with them. If they were my size and made of good fabric, I was sold. My strategy changed quite a bit of the last years. I need my feet, knees, hips and back to last my hole life, so I invest in different kind of shoes. I´m tired of wearing heels ruining my feet so I´m looking for more fashionable lower or flat options. That doesn't mean I don't wear heels at all anymore. No, I just try to find a joining of comfort and beauty. For me shoes need to satisfy me in several conditions. I take more time to feel how the fit of the shoe is for the form of my feet. I don't want to feel too much pressure on the ball of the foot. I feel if I have enough or not too much space left, nor have any pressure on my small toe and I need to feel comfortable when walking in them. I always want real leather or other good quality fabrics. Check, check, check and check.

I Found some beautiful loafers and some solid color blocking heels from Geox.

These both have such soft foot beds, which makes me feel like I´m walking on clouds. The breathing technology Geox is known for is a big plus with the temperatures these days.

Can't wait to show you a outfit post with them.

Are you also a shoe lover? What are you're contents when shoe shopping?

Shoes: Both are from Geox. Found these bargains at the Bijenkorf

Beat the Heat

Summer is my favorite time and with temperatures like this we need to do everything a bit more easy-going, while enjoying the beautiful sunny weather. It's like this weather makes everything better, It makes people more beautiful because the sun tans your skin. Sunlight is also good for the process of creating vitamins. I also love the food this season, summer soups and salads.

I'm not only easy-going in my behavior, but also in my outfits. I just let my hair fall or pin it up and wear my bikini. A lot of dresses, skirts and shorts are coming out of the closet again and I don't like to be stuck in some tight uniform these days. I love these relaxed times.

For me there is one problem with these temperatures. Unless I drink a lot of water and try to avoid being in the sun for too long a time, there always comes a headache with the heat. Because of that I thought about something my grandmother used to do with these temperatures. Since I've being doing this too if feel a lot better, so I thought you deserved to know about it. Every morning, at the beginning of a hot day, my grandmother drank a big cup of bouillon. I also tried this trick and it seems to work quite well. Thank you grandmother!

I use 500 ml hot water and a halve a bouillon block. U can also buy bouillon specially made to drink.

How are those temperatures for you?

Note to Self: “Over-Packing is Unnecessary.”

Oh yes, I remember the days that I took my XL suitcase with me. When I was totally over-packed. To go home afterwards with more unused than used stuff. It's a waste of time on your holiday to be moping around and not knowing what to wear. It's hard for me not to be over-packed. I want to take my whole wardrobe with me, but when I do, I try to remember this post.

My golden rule for holiday packing is to just pack your favorites. By that I don't mean the statement pieces you would love to wear for that one opportunity. No, just the pieces that you may think are boring because you wore them so much. You didn't wear them so much for no reason. These are the key pieces to your own working formula so start embracing them.
The destination is Austria this year, I´ll be visiting my aunt, nephews and nieces, whom live there. I look forward to go shopping in Italy for a day. When I go on my holiday this summer this outfit is one of the sets I'm sure to take with me. Some careless shoes, my casual ripped white shorts and a silk black blouse and a basic hemp underneath. Don't forget to bring a careless bag in a usable size that you can wear on your back or across the body. Next to this set I bring a dress, a pair of heels and a pair of walking shoes, my ballet flats, my thousand ways scarf, some basic tops to wear, a jacket or sweater, an extra shorts and long pants with me. I also bring some sunglasses and one piece of jewelry. My bikini is essential, as well the ordinary everyday stuff like underwear, socks, something to sleep in and personal care products. I take some laundry soap with me in a travel sized bottle, so I can do a hand wash when I really have too. Lastly I pack my small sewing kit for emergencies. This is everything you need for a basic vacation. Remember, you need one clean top for everyday nothing more and nothing less. You can wear pants more than once. All the items together make at least five complete sets. To sum it up: The set from this post, a set with the other shorts, a set with the dress, a set with the long pants and a set with the thousand ways scarf.
By mixing all the pieces I got my options are more diverse enough for one to two weeks. Some Gellac on the nails (so you don't have to take that with you either) just before leaving and a lash refill and I'm ready to go.

Just do it. You won't regret it and especially not when you realize you have some extra space in your suitcase to bring back home any new findings. Is packing you suitcase also hard for you?

Black Blouse: Zara // Buy here
White top: Steps // Buy here

White Short: Tommy Hilfiger + DIY

Sandals: Dune // Buy here

Bag: Georgers Rech // Buy here

Watch: Davis

How To: “Buy Brands and Build a Working Wardrobe With a Low Budget.”

I'm a real fashion victim and constantly work on my wardrobe. I don't like it when my bank account won't let me build on my wardrobe as I would love to to do. Let's be honest, most of us aren't millionaires so we need a few tricks for a beautiful and fabulous wardrobe that works. For such a wardrobe we basically need good basics, sale specials and some vintage items.

Step 1: Take a Breath

It all starts with timing your purchases. There can be several situations when you can't spend money on clothes. In times like these you have to let all those new, beautiful pieces pass you by. Don't worry, there will be more beautiful pieces in the future. These you'll also think you must have. So, don't invest in new pieces, but do so in your old ones. What do I mean? Maybe you need to repair some old stuff. You can also try to customize some things or even design something new from fabric you got laying around. Using this time for a DIY project is not a bad idea at all! This is not only a good example of spending your time well, it's also a lot of fun and provides me with things I'm missing in my wardrobe. Smart investments can result in an amazing wardrobe.

Step 2: Saving Money

Having money for the bigger sales at the end of the seasons is important. I always have a small part of my savings set aside. Next to that, I sell the pieces I don't use anymore and save the money on the same “shopping” account I previously mentioned.

Step 3: Time to Buy

In the beginning of a season I try to spend all my money on the new collection pieces I really love and those I think will be sold out very fast. This may sound contradicting to what I previously said so let me explain. It goes something like this; There are two important moments when there are big sales, the summer and winter sale. Keep in mind that the stores always precede approximately two months in advance with what they sell, so for example the summer sale will be in the middle of the summer. Also at the end of a season the new collection for the next season arrives. At that moment I spend my money on important, must have pieces from the new collections and some good picks from the old collection. Then I save in the coming months for the next big sale and new collection.

Most of the pieces I buy from the new collection are well cut basics, cheaper basics with a good quality fabric or those that are comfy to wear or easy to combine. Invest in these key pieces! Further in the season the other stuff will probably be in sale. Look for special items to complement your wardrobe. I love the times when everywhere there is sale! This is the time when you have to strike. Pick your battles between the beautiful pieces of the brands.

These are my sale picks for now. Don't you just love sale shopping?

Scarf: Lilly and Lionel (also love the orange variation of this one) // Buy here

Shoes: Michael Kors // Buy here