Stress Relief

I have been under a very busy schedule this week: waking up early to go to the gym, going to classes, studying until very late (under the influence of some highly caffeine spiked coffee) and helping a 9-year old with his homework. Consequently, my sleeping hours have been extremely limited. So, the day of the exam came and I thought to myself: FINALLY some rest. Only to discover how wrong I was. I don't need rest, I need to relax. The question is how?

Here are some ideas that come to mind:
-Maybe watching re-runs of Sex and The City (thanks to a good pal from which I borrowed the DVD box set!)
-Reading a good novel (Jane Austen sure sounds whimsical...)
-Get all cozied up with my blanket and watch an old film (a little Hepburn might be just what I need).
-Drinking some tea (NO more coffee please!)
-Browsing apparel online (I know I won't order but its always fun to imagine how I'd accessorize that dress).
-Bake something (maybe cookies or a pie. Yumm-o!)
-Watching a national baseball game. In case you don't know, I'm a big baseball fan. Mainly Yankees fan, so maybe I'll start to watch national games, too. Just for the fun of it!
And then MAYBE I'll get some sleep afterwards!

What kind of things do YOU do when you need to relax?

April in Panama

Over the past few weeks I have been asking around if I could find peonies in Panama, given that the spring is coming soon and I've encountered myself with several fellow bloggers expressing how much they wish for peonies to be in season soon.
Unfortunately, the small detail that Panama just has two seasons, either very hot or very rainy, seemed to have slipped by. Feeling let down and very under the weather seemed to rapidly change into feeling upbeat and ecstatic when I found this tree. Yes, in Panama! Whether they are peonies or cherry blossoms I do not know. However, what I can tell you is that my encounter with this beautiful pink tree, might just be the spring I was hoping for!
Have a happy weekend everyone!

Greenhouse Apparel

Flowers and plants have never been my thing in the sense of actually getting my hands dirty to plant them in gardens or vases. However, in the past few weeks, I have had the chance to appreciate the botanical display that holds my terrace thanks to a very heavy paper I have been working on, partly because it is a very comfortable and fresh place to be in this hot summer and also because, for some reason, is the place in the house where the Internet signal is at its prime. Anywhoosle, this appreciation for all botanical has made me want to incorporate it in my wardrobe as well. I visualize this botanical theme in the cohesive mixes of green, beige, brown, camel, taupe and subtle pops of color here and there. However, I have been very careful that the outfits I've picked out to portray mi vision don't get mixed up with the military theme because if you're anything like me, and I'm hoping you are because if you weren't I'd be very embarrassed, military theme should reserve itself to soldiers.





Greens and browns, how more botanical could you go? Product information: Top/Forever 21, Shorts/Urban Outfitters, Sandals/J.Crew and Bag/Urban Outfitters

I know I didn't mention anything of denim in my description before, but the rose accent on this dress was just too pretty to let it pass by, paired up with some jade toned sandals and a brown messenger bag it does get a little bit more garden oriented. Product Information: Dress/Forever 21, Cardigan/Forever 21, Sandals/Urban Outfitters & Bag/Urban Outfitters.



That pop of color found in this gorgeous coral tote (WITH CHAINS!!!!) is exactly what I envisioned when expressing my concerns of the rest of the colors being too monotone without the pop of color. Product Information: Top/Forever 21, Shorts/J.Crew, Sandals/J.Crew and Bag/J.Crew.





Again, just by emracing a pop of color in the outfit, a whole lot of difference is made. Product Information: Top/Forever 21, Trousers/J.Crew, Sandals/J.Crew and Bag/J.Crew.

Book Review

I always get this odd feeling when I finish a book, whether I'm left off having mixed feelings about the ending or confused about what will be the next book I decide to dive into. Being that as it may, I just finished ¨El Misterio del Solitario¨ written by Jostein Gaarder and truth be told, it met my expectations to the fullest. If you're into philosophy and the great existential questions that the subject evokes, but also into whimsical stories that can only be found in magical books, then this my friend, is the book for you.
¨El Misterio del Solitario¨ follows a very intuitive 10-year old and his dad through a journey to find his mom in Greece. As he deepens into the adventure of embarking on a road trip with his father, he suddenly ends up in a world of cards and their meaning, just to find out that the most important piece is the Joker, who sees too much and knows too much. I'd consider it an ¨Alice in Wonderland¨ meets ¨Sofia's World¨, another one of Gaarder's masterpieces. It makes you question yourself and decide what kind of card do you want to be in the hand life has dealt you. I know which one I want to be!