This Summer has been remarkable; certainly full of memories that I’ll cherish forever.

Things I’ve done, beautiful souls I’ve encountered, ideas I’ve developed and the personal growth I’ve achieved – and each day I’m discovering and redefining who I am and what I believe in.

Even though this is a fashion article, most of the tips on how to wear tones of rose I’ve already given to you. And my opinions remain the same. Consider this a complement to the La Vie En Rose post that you can read here if you want to know what colours match best with rose and how to combine it with undertones.

As for the Outfit, this day was completely spontaneous and it was probably one of the best days of all the Summers I’ve experienced. That’s why I decided to share it here.

So much for my crazy need to plan every article ahead…

The shoes are new and I’ve been wearing them since they arrived. They’re so comfortable and airy. I love Oxfords and Derbies because they’re pretty and fit my personal style. I honestly can’t decide what these down here are because following the guidelines of what differs an Oxford from a Derby isn’t applicable on this style.

They’re probably Derbies but since the word Oxfords is more popular, that’s what they are now. They’re closed on the toes and heels area but with cut outs on the sides and upper part. This way they don’t cause heat discomfort.

I wear only closed shoes for reasons of: folks hit and step on my toes; and it hurts but they don’t do it on purpose – I hope. I don’t enjoy that on my shoes either, but better shoes than toes. Am I right?

I didn’t grow up in a green environment and I always had a serious phobia of insects when I was inserted into one. To be quite frank, I freaked out with all things that fly, especially the big ones that make a buzzing sound – thinking about it, I’m not quite over those yet.

Anyway, continuing…

My husband loves going to the garden; he has grown into all the things that come with a garden (i.e. spiders, buzzing insects and all types of flying “thingies”). At the beginning of the year, we moved into a flat that has a garden downstairs. All the time he would ask me if I wanted to go to visit my father-in-law, go to the park or even just go downstairs to our garden, I’d tremble at the thought. But I’d go for mainly three reasons: 1st because I love him; 2nd I wanted to take photos for the blog and 3rd because they say it’s nice to be in nature. Pfff I never understood those people…

Until this day.

Honestly, I don’t know what happened. I just know it did. I wasn’t scared anymore; and I felt like a little child rolling around the trees, bushes and INSECTS! And I don’t remember being that happy for no apparent reason but being in such deep appreciation and alignment with the present.

I didn’t worry if they would land or even fly close to me – the smaller ones at least; I didn’t worry that the berries weren’t washed before eating them – they had just been plucked and probably were much cleaner than any market berries anyway. But for a cleaning obsessive person that was a win!

I was just overjoyed.

Sometimes, the best way to face a fear is to not give A DAMN about it! You’ll notice that your perspective will just shift, like magic.

I lost the count of white butterflies I’ve seen that day; and a squirrel – YES, A RED TINY SQUIRREL – walked less a meter from me, INSIDE MY FATHER-IN-LAW’S GARDEN! I ate berries directly plucked from the bushes; I wasn’t freaking out among insects. I even posed with one:

For those of you who don’t have this kind of phobia, you might think I’m overreacting; but that’s the thing with phobias – they’re irrational. And for those who resonate with what I wrote, you’ll probably understand that for me, all of it was huge and liberating.

I’ve found genuine happiness in some of the simplest things in life and I really can’t wait for next Summer.

So long, Summer! Farewell, old Lina.

P.S.: I hope you’ll check the other post I wrote with more fashion tips, I’m sure you’ll like it. This one was a collection of photos that I took and wasn’t a planned post. But I really enjoyed how the outfit turned out. That first photo, by the way, is actually of my next planned My Mode article, in case you notice. *now you will anyway*