The Purple Unicorn

A reader, Victoria, asked about the links below my post and how I liked up with the bloggers I mention. Well, I guess I need to explain that I'm no way related to any bloggers, but I do link up with their link parties! ^__^ Hello, Victoria! I hope I have answered your question.

Also, the most annoying thing had happened last week! You might notice that many pictures on this blog suddenly disappeared into a grey box with some announcement from Photobucket. I'm fixing it, but it takes time and the pictures should be back (crossing my fingers) on May 7. Sorry for the inconvinience!

Hello, Friends!

In a previous post I mentioned how my Mom, Hubby, and actually some coworkers have encouraged me to do some shopping, since I have not bought any new dresses since 2011. Well, I did finally purchase some new things, though not dresses. One weekend I decided to do a small project: reorganize my shoe closet and throw away all the shoes that were too worn out to survive another season. I think I rid of six to eight pairs. All of them were beyond repair, the material had peeled off, the color had faded, or the soles had become too thin they're no longer comfortable. I always try to wear out things that I like before throwing them away. Sometimes I even repurpose them. Of course, sometimes I buy the "wrong thing" and ended up regretting it. For those particular cases, I usually choose to give them to someone else, donate them, or sell them. I don't like shoving unloved things to the back of my closet!

The most rewarding thing about doing a small project like this is the feeling of accomplishment. It's also very rewarding to see the empty spaces in my shoe closet and knowing that now I only have shoes that I love and will actually wear instead of worn out, disintegrated ones!

After the cleaning, I decided to treat myself with some shoes. I ended up with three pairs of these super cute wedges. They're all very colorful, very girlie, all bows and flowers and cheerful colors in shocking pink, bright red and electric blue, and most important of all: they're comfortable!

  

  

I even indulged myself and shopped online for some new accessories. I got these J. Crew-inspired bubble necklace, replica of course, and much cheaper than the real ones, and a pair of flower studs. I have been wanting this bluish mint bubble necklace for over a year, since the first time I saw it on various fashion blogs. I hunted all over ebay but could not one find one that I really like and sure about, or the seller doesn't ship to Indonesia. So when I stumbled upon this on an Instagram online store, I snatched it. I ended up buying in two colors because they have minimum order. One in bluish mint, the other in coral pink. I'm not really into the pink one, and when my order came, it looked more bright, tacky pink than coral, but surprisingly, it went well with a lot of clothes combinations! You can expect to see more of these necklaces in upcoming posts! I'm so glad I waited so long to get my hands on the bubble necklace trend. I've been getting compliments like crazy each time I wore either one of these lovely bubbles. They are really statement necklaces! You wear one, and you can skip all other accessories.

Because of the minimum order policy, I also order these adorable flower stud earrings. I am not into studs, I prefer big dangly earrings, but I watched AprilAthena7 vlog titled Dinner Party and I fell in love with her white, sunflower-inspired studs that stand out beautifully againts her jet black hair and tanned skin. They are so dainty and pretty, and not too small for my taste because I tend to prefer big earrings.

 

I wore this ensemble for Good Friday 3 pm mass. The heat was unbearable and during Easter weekend, the Church is always always full packed with fellow Churchgoers, so I dressed in this thin Unicorn top and batik skirt. I chose the lavender and purple combination, because in Catholic Church, Lent is signified with the color purple. I didn't want to wear bright colors on Good Friday, in respect of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that some people, including my Mom, consider that it is tacky for a mid-thirty mother like me carrying a glittery Hello Kitty purse. It looks like it belongs to a five-year-old, isn't it? Nevertheless, Hello Kitty makes me happy, she is the only cat that I love (I'm more a dog person) and thankfully, Hubby doesn't mind her wife still have a penchant for girlish, childish things like this. (Thank you, Hubby!!!) They make me happy! Well, I guess elegance is not my fashion middle name. I'm more into fun than classy. ^__^

In terms of life, nothing much has happened in the past week, but I'm glad to say that it's been a productive week. I finished a lot of small projects such as family budget and spending recap, wrapping one birthday gift, one baby shower gift, one care package, and one wedding gift for our friends. Hubby had the chance to visit an old friend who came from Holland. She brought her baby with her, and I hope I also will get the chance to see her and her baby one of these days. The care packaged I mentioned was for a friend of Hubby's who is ill and is in hospital right now.

Thease are some cute cupcakes a coworker gave me for her birthday. You can tell that she, too, loves Hello Kitty!

I decided to start sharing my weekly task list with you. I got inspired by Mandy of Biblical Homemaking. Hopefully, posting my weekly to-do list on this blog will motivate me to actually doing it. Hopefully! Of course, I won't share about work related list, for obvious reason.

Personal to-do list of the week:

• Update our family insurance.
• Read, learn and contemplate on The Book of James.
• Prepare bank requirements to apply visa for my and Hubby's upcoming holiday.
• Prepare transportation plan for the aforementioned holiday.
• Meet architect to talk about renovation project.
• Reorganize the linen closet.
• Read one chapter of Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and one chapter of Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle".

I will share with you next week whether or not I can stick to this list. ^__^

I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

Monday

• Taming Rapunzel: Hair Style Monday
• DC in Style: Monday Bloom
• Not Dead Yet Style: Visible Monday
• Mom's The Word: Make Your Home Sing Monday
• Happy Wives Club: Marriage Mondays
• The Better Mom: The Better Mom Mondays
• What Joy Is Mine: Monday Musings
• Color Blind: Thrifer Anonymous
• The Modest Mom
• Create With Joy: Inspire Me Monday
• The Beauty in His Grip: Sharing His Beauty Mondays
• A Pinch Of Joy: Busy Monday
• Tell Me A Story
• Still Being Molly: YOLO Monday
• Very Busy Mama: Real Mom Style
• Momma In Flip Flops: Real Mom Style
• Thrifty Chic Mom: Real Mom Style
• I Am Priiincess: Monday Madness
• Basic Training – Corporate Style: Fashionably Employed Link Up
• Glamamom: Mode Monday
• Bon Bon Rose Girls: Monday Mingle
• Mom Trend: Monday Mingle
• More Pieces of Me: Manic Monday
• On the Daily Express: Manic Monday
• Whitney Nic James: Personal Style Monday
• Fizz And Frosting: Mix It Monday
• The Style Record: Monday Must Haves
• A Proverbs 31 Wife: Matrimonial Monday Linkup
• I Should Be Mopping The Floor: Inspiration Monday
• Splashin Glory: Momma Notes
• Missional Call: M M and M Monday Linkup
• Michelle DeRusha: Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday
• The Wellspring: Playdates with God
• Rich Faith Rising: Unite
• Finding Heaven: Soli Deo Gloria
• Growing Home: Growing Homemaker
• Teaching What Is God: Women Helping Women
• Join The Gossip: Monday Morning Gossip
• Life of Meg: Mingle Monday

Tuesday

• Life’s a Party Dress Like it: Stylish Tuesday
• The Fashion Canvas: Trend Spin Linkup
• Corner Stone Confessions: Titus 2 Tuesday
• Time Warp Wife: Titus 2 Tuesday
• Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
• Keeping Life Simple: The Gathering Spot
• Sugar Bee Crafts: Take A Look Tuesday
• Style Elixir: Style Sessions Fashion Link Up
• Growing Home Blog: Teach Me Tuesday
• 100lb Countdown: Turn It Up Tuesday

Wednesday

• Transatlantic Blonde: What I Wore Wednesday
• Because Shanna Said So: Random Wednesday
• My Girlish Whims: My Whims Wednesday
• Juana Mikels: Wednesday's Prayer Girls
• Kimba Likes: Wardrobe Wednesday
• The Pleated Poppy: What I Wore Wednesday
• Messy Marriage: Wedded Wednesday
• Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired
• My Daily Walk In His Grace: Winsome Wednesday
• A Creative Princess
• Get Your Pretty On: I Feel Pretty
• A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
• Cute And Little: Color Brigade
• Redcliffe Style: 30 Plus Style and Beauty Linkup
• Adorned From Above
• Woman to Woman Ministries: Word Filled Wednesday
• Little R & R: Wednesday Link Party
• We Are That Family: Works For Me Wednesday
• Jennifer Dukes Lee: Tell His Story
• Fitness Blondie: The Hump Day Blog Hop

Thursday

• CLK Fashions: Fashion Boutique Favorites
• The Tiny Heart: Look What I Got
• Penniless Socialite: Look What I Got
• Rebecca Lately: Look What I Got
• Vodka-Infused Lemonade: Tres-Chic Thursday
• Mix and Match Fashion: What I Wore to Work
• 3-D Lessons For Life: Thought Provoking Thursday
• Katherines Corner: Thursday Favorite Blog Hop
• A Glimpse Inside: Catch A Glimpse Party
• Serving Joyfully: Thriving Thursday
• Glitz And Gold: All Things Thursday
• Maybe I Will: Be.You.Tiful
• Chic California: Be.You.Tiful
• The Happy Gal: Be.You.Tiful
• Fry Sauce And Grits: Be.You.Tiful
• Raising Mighty Arrows: Proverbs 31 Thursday
• All Things With Purpose: All Things Thursday

Friday

• Mummy's Got Style: Fashion Friday
• Penniless Socialite and Delusions of Grandeur: Favorite Fashion Friday Link Up
• Two Thirty Five Designs: Casual Friday Link Up
• Serenity Now: Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up
• Simply Lulu Style: What I’m Loving Fridays
• Style Elixir: Friday’s Fab Favorites
• Musings of a Housewife: Fashion Friday
• Rags to Stitches: Coffee Date Friday
• Womanhood With Purpose: Friday's Link Up
• Missional Women: Faith Filled Friday
• Spiritual Sundays
• Essential Thing Devotions: Essential Fridays
• Rachel The Hat: Passion For Fashion
• Simple Sequins: Fashion Item Friday
• Chantilly Songs: The Totally Awesome Blog Hop
• Christian Mommy Blogger: Fellowship Friday
• The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash Blog
• Soul Survival: Faithful Friday Linkup
• Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo: Anything Goes Linky Party

Saturday

• How Sweet The Sound: Pink Saturday
• Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Linky Party
• Renewed Daily: Recommendation Saturday
• Fashionista Momma: Stylish Saturday
• Sincerely Paula: No Rules Weekend Blog Party
• Amanda's Books And More: Make My Saturday Sweet

Sunday

• Macdonald's Playland: Mommy Moments Blog Hop
• Watch Out For the Woestman: Watch What I'm Wearing
• All The Things, Etc. : Sunday Edition
• Let It Be Beautiful: Sunday Edition

Women Are Amazing

These pictures were taken during my 20th-week of pregnancy. ^_^

I read once over the internet: work doesn’t do any good to enhance a woman’s femininity.

Hmmm… I guess there is some truth in it, especially if she worked in “men’s field” like forestry, mining, construction, etc., or if she happened to be good in her job AND career driven. The second part means she is eligible to AND want to move up the corporate ladder.

I’m definitely not Marisa Mayer or other high power career woman, but over ten years I have climbed some steps in the corporate ladder, and I can say this: the higher you are in the corporate ladder, the tougher you become, the more masculine your brain becomes, the more cunning you become, and the more ruthless you become. You have too, since you can not climb up just by being good at what you do, but also you have to survive office politics.

It’s not all bad, mind you. I also learned that I have grown wiser and humbler, since the more you see the more you realize that eventhough you are important in this world, you are also only a very small part of it. I have learned to become more positive and control my negative feelings and emotions, since you realize that life is hard as it is, but it can be wonderful if you CHOOSE to live it wonderfully. My faith has become stronger, since I realize I cannot survive office politics and maintain my sanity and integrity, as well as my soul, without the love and words of God.

I love my job. I asked my husband once, if he thinks my work competes with my role as a wife, and he says no. He said he would speak up if I start showing the slightest sign that I put family second after work, but since the beginning of our marriage, he said I have managed to put both in the right places (Family second after God, work third, or even fourth or fifth, haha!). Hence, he encourages me to do whatever that makes me happy, either being a career woman or a stay at home Mom. When we have children, we’ll see. But for now, I work and manage the home as well as the family finance.

Now I have a baby, and I still manage to work from home about an hour or two everyday, just to finish a big project that I started 2 years ago and supposed to be finished shortly. Some days I feel like a lousy mom. Sometime I feel so sleepy I didn't even wake up when my husband kisses me before heading off to work. Sometimes I feel like I can do it all. Sometimes I feel like I can't do anything right. Normal, rite? So, it's not that bad. I cannot say I enjoy waking up every hour all night, but I do embrace motherhood and am determined to do it well. And with a lot of love. ^__^

I started this blog to promote modest, fashionable dressing and femininity. Then, after some time, I made it a sort of limited tool to channel my thoughts. And now, I realize, that this blog is also a tool for me to unwind and relax. I love reading blogs by SAHMs. I also love reading blogs by single women, and working wives/mothers. And I found that for those women who work, blogs have become tools to channel their inner feminine and girlie sides, that they cannot channel freely at work, for whatever reasons, as well.

That’s why I want to make this blog real. That’s why I don’t set up goals to commercialize this blog. I write sponsored posts once in a while, but I don’t pursue it. I love comments, visitors and followers (who doesn’t, honestly), but I don’t worry about it.

I have seen blogs that I used to like and enjoy reading, but after gaining some popularity, they become…. Well, not bad, but not so real anymore. Too commercialized. Too professional, maybe? I can tell that they no longer write from the heart, but just to catch a timeline and make sure that the blog is out there. And that’s when I stopped reading and following. I don’t know how about you, but for me, when I’m looking for “perfect” inspirations, I turn to models and movie stars on the magazines and TV, and when I’m looking for “real people” inspirations I turn to the internet like blog and YouTube. Odd maybe, but that's just me.

I’m writing this in the evening after a hard day at work. I just had finished dinner and a nice conversation with my husband, cleared up the dishes, cleaned the table, and now I’m sitting in front of my laptop, typing. My husband is in the room, editing his pictures on Instagram, via his iPhone. It’s our little “me-time” before bed time. Half hour of winding time, drowning in this little feminine world of mine called Style N Season

Thank God I have it. ^_^

This is a batik dress tailor made from Grandma's fabric. Mom wore it, and she passed it down to me. The obi belt is just a piece of leftover fabric sewed to become a belt. Soon I have to dish the obi altogether since my tummy has got bigger and bigger. I also had to opened up the seams on the front waist band, if not the dress won't fit. Once the baby is born, I'll sew it up again, since I naturally have small waist and wide hips.

As you can see, I no longer wear heels. Only flats. :(

Batik dress: tailor made, was my Grandma's and Mom's. Tan jacket: DKNY. Obi belt: DIY from leftover green satin fabric. Gold sandals: Debenhams. Earrings: Accesorize. Purse: Stradivarius.

Linking up to:

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