Joy Explorer: August 2014

Summergirls head out to Ilocos

*More on Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte Photo Diary: Lapaz Sand Dunes

Ilocos Norte Photo Diary: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

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Thursday, ‎April ‎25, ‎2013, ‏‎8:36:42 AM

My girlfriends and I arrived in Laoag City via Florida bus from Manila at 7:30AM. It was a tiring ten- hour bus ride but that didn't dampen our spirits for the first agenda on our list, Lapaz Sand Dunes.

After breakfast at Jollibee, replenished and energized, we were met by our 4x4 driver and guide. For the booking,we paid the 50% down payment via bank deposit to the operator five days before the booked date (will try to remember the contact person hehe) and settled the remaining upon meet up. The tour + adventure included the 4x4 vehicle ride to Lapaz and sandboarding.

Adrenaline started to pump up as we were greeted by the 4x4 vehicle that drove us to Lapaz.

4x4

This area marks the starting point of the sand dunes in view of the ocean + sand + wild plants -makes you feel like you're in Africa.

adrenaline induced view

Before heading out to the real dunes..

imagine how steep the slope is

nervous as heck

The heart-wrenching, crazy ride ended here. The 4x4 went through super high slopes that drove us mad with excitement.

side shot of the our ride

The whole 4x4 ride and sandboarding experience was indeed one for the books. Had so much fun! Ended up exhausted and dirty but happy.

Sharing this old project I did for my room back in September 2012.

Freshly painted wall -2006

Originally, my room color was a darker shade of green picked out by my mom and I. It was a color that emanates our love for that shade and my current obsession of the hippie culture at that time. Imagine flowers, beach effects, free living - the works. Eventually, I grew out of that phase and got tired of looking at my room feeling disorganized. So after five years, I decided to change my room color into a more subtle shade of green that reflects my current state and age and that will inspire me more.Of course the exciting part, I get to paint it on my own. Yey!

Not the actual Boysen Color swatch, picture for reference only.

In picking out the right color, I compared different shades using the Boysen color swatches and since I wanted it to be subtle I chose lime. I also did a little research on color meanings and here's what these sites say about 'green',

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology. However, there is an “institutional” side to green, associated with illness and government-issued green cards, that conjures up negative emotions, as do the “slimy” or “bilious” greens. How The Color Green Affects Us Physically Soothes Relaxes mentally, as well as physically Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony

Read more at: http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-meaning/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-green-4309#.U_12OcWSySo | Sensational Color,

From: http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-green.html

This is the color of balance and harmony. From a color psychology perspective, it is the great balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart.
From a meaning of colors perspective, green is also the color of growth, the color of spring, of renewal and rebirth. It renews and restores depleted energy. It is the sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living, restoring us back to a sense of well being. This is why there is so much of this relaxing color on the earth, and why we need to keep it that way.

Green is an emotionally positive color, giving us the ability to love and nurture ourselves and others unconditionally. A natural peacemaker, it must avoid the tendency to become a martyr.

It loves to observe, and therefore relates to the counselor, the good listener, the social worker. It loves to contribute to society. It is the charity worker, the good parent and the helpful neighbor.

Being a combination of yellow and blue, green encompasses the mental clarity and optimism of yellow with the emotional calm and insight of blue, inspiring hope and a generosity of spirit not available from other colors.
This is a color that has a strong sense of right or wrong, inviting good judgment. It sees both sides of the equation, weighs them up, and then usually takes the moral stand in making appropriate decisions. On the negative side, it can be judgmental and over-cautious.
Green promotes a love of nature, and a love of family, friends, pets and the home. It is the color of the garden lover, the home lover and the good host.
It is generous and loves to share, but it also looks for recognition. It is friendly and can keep confidences.
This color relates to stability and endurance, giving us persistence and the strength to cope with adversity.
Green is the color of prosperity and abundance, of finance and material wealth. It relates to the business world, to real estate and property. Prosperity gives a feeling of safety to green.

I'm no interior designer but doing some research can help you find inspiration for your room.

I wanted to make my lime green wall the focal point in my room so I chose another color that will neutralize the green and during the planning stage I was hooked with Taupe, recommending it mostly to my clients in the store.
Taupe or nude in other applications such as bags, nail polish, eyeshadow, etc.
Here's some inspiration from this shade:

Taupe/Brown color meaning:

Brown says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the color of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic

HOW THE COLOR BROWN AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY

supplies a feeling of wholesomeness

stabilizes provides a connection with the earth

gives a sense orderliness

Read more at: http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-meaning/color-meaning-symbolism-psychology/all-about-the-color-brown-4365#.U_1-OMWSySo | Sensational Color

Materials i used:
2 rolls of 1 inch Masking Tape
2 Baby roller
1 2inch Paint Brush
Paint Tray
Old newspaper
rag or cloth
3/4 Chrome pipe (as the paint extender)
1 gallon Boysen Mix and Match Taupe with Healthy Home Base
1 gallon Boysen Mix and Match Lime with Healthy Home Base

Healthy Home is an antibacterial and odourless paint of Boysen.

Instructions:

Cover mouldings, edges, parts of the room with newspaper and masking tape.
Pour a small amount of paint on the paint try. Make sure the wall must be clean with dust and dirt before painting. The paint must be mixed first, stir using a stick until color consistency is okay.
Use the baby roller and lather over the tray with the desired color, rolling it back and forth to spread the paint on the roller.
Paint on wall leaving about 2-3 inches of space on the edges.
Second coat after 2 hours or after fully dried.
Use the 2 inch brush for the spaces on the edges.
If you want to achieve a more distinct color, add more for third coating.
Remove newspaper and masking tape after the paint is fully dried.
Retouch on some parts
the END! ENJOY!

Here are the actual photos:

This part of my room was a shade of white, decided to make this my focal wall.

The end result--so happy! Placed white decors, still with beach effects

Of course, more beach effects and added some fav colors!

The Taupe part of my wall

more DIY decor featuring some lomos on print

Happy with the end result. Took me a month and two weeks to finish painting every nook and cranny in my room cos I only did it on sundays. Hehe!

Lastly,

Later did I notice that thew whole color scheme I chose was based on these pillow case covers that I had and only later when I arranged everything, that I realized my mind was transfixed to these. Haha!

Now I try to incorporate more whites in my room adding a touch of this and that based on the pillow cases' scheme. I feel like I still achieved the beach effect but more relaxed and orderly now.

Currenly my room is still in the works. haha!