Welcome To The Jungle

              Yes, those are trees in my house...Everyone else is doing Fall decorations and here I am bringing in trees in my house. I told you I am not a Fall person! My mind is on Summer all year round! Trees and flowers; greenery and bright colors; beach vacations and tanning. That's what I like! Not drab mustards and oranges or dying things and plants. I don't know if its a genetics thing, with me being from some tropical island in the Philippines. But Fall just does not excite me that much. Ok...Fall is really not that bad. And I actually like the mustard color leaves turn in to (it reminds me of summer a litte). I'm being a little dramatic.
         But back to the trees though. I've made it clear on this blog that I am a big nature lover. So, indoor trees is just the coolest thing to me! If I had enough sunlight in my house, it would look like a jungle. It's already starting to. But the lighting in my house has its limits. So, if you are thinking about bringing in plants and trees to your house, please consider how much sunlight you have in your house! It's a big must! I am pleading with you to not be a plant killer, as I have been in the past. But I'm a changed person now. Promise!

         
FYI: Pottery is expensive! But I was able to cut the costs by more than half by buying the pottery from some discount store called Ollie's. If they don't have this store where you are from, try Wal-Mart. They were just the cheap terracotta types but then I just spray painted it with white gloss spray paint. This is the one I used from Lowes: Click Here. I spent around $25 for both pottery including the spray paint. It would have cost me over $70 if I had bought it non-discounted!

Also, if you are just as crazy about indoor trees as me, (if that's even possible) check out these links:

* I swooned over these indoor citrus trees! Not only are they trees but they yield fruit: Click Here.

*And here's a link for a DIY on indoor citrus trees: Click here.

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Is She or Isn't She?

       Is it the beginning of an obsession to watch "Breakfast At Tiffany's" two nights in a row? I've seen it before, years ago. But then I watched it again last night (and again tonight and ummm maybe tomorrow night?). It was better than the first time for me. And now I can't stop thinking about it! I even took a stab at playing "Moon River" on the piano. Hence, this video. I rarely play the piano for the public...I'm not that good at it and even if I was, I've kinda got a jitter problem. Doing videos definitely gives me less jitters though.
        I apologize for being a late bloomer on the topic of Breakfast at Tiffany's. Better late than never, right? But for all of you fans out there what did you like about the movie? Audrey's LBDs in this movie inspires many around Halloween time (and it's almost that time). Foreshadowing my Halloween costume maybe? For me, I was pretty impressed by the dialogue just as much as Holly Golightly's glamourous ensembles. The line that stood out to me the most from this movie was from Holly's agent (or shall I say pimp?). "Is she or isn't she? A phony?" This struck a chord for me and here I am evaluating if Holly is indeed a phony.
       The best method I have found for understanding people (and characters) is just put yourself in their shoes. So, I tried wondering if people question the same thing about me (sure they do!). And when I did that, I totally get it now! Have you ever felt you were fooling the world sometimes? Are you trying to make people think you are something that you are not? Do you put on a smile even though the world is falling apart around you? Sometimes, I feel like I do this. But I don't think of myself a phony! In fact, I like to think that I am a very genuine peson. I'm just a girl that wants to be happy and be the best person I can be. And sometimes, I am not all that good at doing that and others get hurt or I don't progress.
         So, is Holly a phony guys? She is always so happy and kind to all of the "gentlemen" and her "beaus". Despite that some of the guys stalk her and bang on her apartment door, she is always so gracious towards them (I would not be so tolerant). But deep down she is a frightened girl that doesn't know who she is. Yet, she is always so chatty, chirpy, and charismatic. This is a lesson I have learned from the pretty and glamorous Ms Holly Golightly. Despite what's going on around us or in us, we should always be happy. And is that being a phony? Well, if so, I would rather be a happy phony person than a genuinely grouchy person!

Petals On My Shoulders

The pains I went through to take these pictures all by myself! And I am not even happy with how they turned out. You have no idea, but I am about to let you know: I had to move an 8 feet long table, 8 chairs, a picture, not to mention other technical difficulties for not having a cordless remote control for the camera. Oh and the best part was running back and forth in 5 inch heels from camera to chair. Ok, enough huffing and puffing from me.

This is the dress that I had mentioned I was waiting for in the mail. It's a keeper! I won't be selling it on Ebay, ever! Despite what Micah thinks (he thinks all of my stuff always ends up on Ebay). Guys.

Dress: Darling UK. Shoes: Thrifted.

(Here's a good detail shot of the pretty flowers on the shoulders.)

(This bench was painted gold and reupholstered by Micah and me.)

Raven Rock Hike

We took a little Sunday hike today. Nothing strenuous (with the exception of the stairs part). We just wanted to enjoy nature and make it a spiritual experience appropriate for Sunday. I've been doing really good on hikes and walks lately. I want to keep this up. Anyone know of other beautiful locations to hike in the Raleigh/Fayetteville area? Let me know!

Btw, for those of you who thinks my constant nature posts are getting a little excessive, I've got some other posts lined up! I am aware I need a little more variety on this blog and I'm on it =)

I had to insert this picture in. I'm proud of my messy "Katnis"version hairstyle. Speaking of braids, check out this really NEAT braid shaped like a HEART! Click here.

Adieu Summer 2012

I visited the botanical gardens for the first time today. I don't know why I came at this time of the year. It's still a beautiful place despite that the flowers are starting to wilt; the butterflies are not as abounding; the bees are a little frantic. All signs that this year's summer is fading away. It gets me a little melancholy. I have always been a summer child. I was born in May, when flowers came, but I am loyal to summer.

I don't look forward to digging up the sweaters and boots. Have you done that yet? But no matter, I will look at the positive: If it wasn't for winter, we wouldn't appreciate summer as much.

Mid-Week Hike

The beauty of nature is very therapeutic so I thought I would share some of these pictures in the middle of the hectic work week. These were taken at Lanier Falls, NC. I hope your week is going well!

Btw, if you need a little country respite for your mind, this blog will get you daydreamng that you are in a romantic faraway place(at least it did for me!) Click here.

Ballerina Bun

Let's talk about buns! Not the edible kind or the kind some of us like to give little pinches on our husbands (or am I alone in that department?). I'm talking about the hairstyle that makes us all feel as graceful as a ballerina, or at least just look like one. True story, while working at SAKS, one day I was donning one of these buns and I had a sweet elderly lady ask me if I was a ballerina! And I don't think she was after my employee discount. It was one of the most memorable compliment I had ever recieved and I did twirls at my cash register for the rest of that day.

There is actually an art to buns. So, here are some videos of how to do 3 different types:

1.)This is my favorite! How to do a bun with socks...yes I did say socks. No typo there. Click here.

2.)A messy bun for those non-neat freaks. Click here.

3.)The sock bun with braids. Once you get the sock bun perfected why not add some intricacy with braids! Click here.

Red, White, and Blue

Wearing patriotic colors, probably inspired from my husband being in the military. There is this innate need for me to match Micah's color palette for some strange reason. The longer I have been married the more I feel like I have to be in harmony with my husband even in my fashion choices! I'm trying to understand this strange phenomenon. Anyone experience this too?

Before, I always felt like I was overdressed around my husband. I use to never be a jeans and t-shirt type of girl. I didn't ever really like dressing casual but I'm a changed girl now. I am now trying to master this dressing casual thing without feeling like I look boring. One thing that has not changed though is my impractical love for dresses. Even time can't change that! I have a pretty dress lined up for pictures this weekend. It's still in the mail though but I can't wait to take pics with it! Hope you had a great weekend!

Outfit details: Free People shirt, Forever 21 jeans, Madewell gladiators, thrifted Thai purse and silk chiffon scarf.