Daydream Oasis

The visual, auditory, and imaginary experience. Take a moment and just breathe. Heighten your senses and take in everything that you see, hear, and feel. Start the music, listen to my words, and feel the emotion in my photos ~ For the daydreamers and deep feelers only! *All photos taken and edited by me*

[daydreamoasis]

Popsicles in the Park

Look out kiddos, here comes the ice cream man. I think he’s got something special for ya today...

[daydreamoasis]

Sunny Haze

It took me my entire freshmen year to realize how important nature is to me. When I was away at school at the University of Kansas (KU), my friends and I would always make it a habit to routinely visit a little plant nursery called Earl May. We even started to go so often that the workers started to recognize us. And the funny thing is, the majority of the time we went in, we never ended up buying anything. The only reason we would go was for the atmosphere. Oh, and we all love plants so there’s that too!

Earl May is a quaint nursery that I had actually overlooked several times before my first visit. It’s off of a very busy street but I only truly realized what it was when I commented on a friend’s Instagram post asking where she got her air plants.

Upon entering Earl May you are immediately engulfed in green. The front entrance leads you directly to a handful of small succulents, viny pothos, and a little fountain to the left. Whenever I go to Earl May, the first steps into the establishment are always the most crucial. As the door swings open, fresh and cool air takes me back. Then the green hits me eyes and the soft pitter-patter of the fountain hits my ear drums. The combination of all these elements relaxes me and makes me feel like I've just been transported to a rain forest.

There are potted plants on the floor, small cacti and succulent on small tables and shelves, and viny plants hanging overhead. Practically every inch of this store is cover in beautiful flora and I just love it! Over the course of the year I actually ended up with 10 plants in my dorm room! Yes, I said 10!

Now, since I've been back home from school, I've gone to Forest Park, two plant nurseries, and even unexpectedly ended up applying for a job at one of them after casually chatting up one of the friendly employees. 

Since I didn't have my own car at school, I always ended up going to Earl May because a friend wanted to go; but now that I’m home and on my own, it seems like I just automatically end up at these places. 

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. And I've noticed that whenever I get stressed out, something inside me tells me to run. It tells me to run away and to go hide myself in nature. To immerse myself in it. To stick my nose, my hands, and fingers in nature, and to just close my eyes for a moment and take it all in. 

After leaving Early May or one of the many plant nurseries I've been to, I always leave feeling refreshed and revitalized. So, the next time you go to a nursery, or just take a stroll through the park, think about how you feel before and after. Do you feel refreshed liked you’re ready to take on the world?

Photos are from various nurseries in St. Louis and Lawrence including: Bowood Farms, Early May, and Garden Heights Nursery.

Today’s Lessons:

Immerse yourself in nature

Find what helps you fend off stress

Own plants because they are just as rewarding as raising kids but if you kill them it’s not that big of a deal... (but try not to kill them though!)

[daydreamoasis]

Summer’s in the Air

It’s finally summer break and I’m back home from school. It’s only been a week and I’m already missing the squad. Hoping all you cool kiddos are enjoying yourselves and I can’t wait to reconnect in a few months! This one’s for you...

Today’s Lessons:

College is the best experience of your life so never leave it

[daydreamoasis]

Vibes: 

Photography has always been a  big part of my life. So whenever my brother and I reconnect, we always make a knack to take a day off and go shooting. On this particular afternoon, which also happened to be the day before Thanksgiving, we were leaving an event at the Edward Jones Dome. On our walk to the Metro, we happened to spot a few nice buildings and some really sweet nooks and it eventually turned into a full fledged photo shoot. My brother Jonathan found a doorway and garage door he really liked and things just took off from there.

I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that art is everywhere, even when you think it’s not. My brother and I were simply strolling in downtown St. Louis when we noticed a few cool brick walls and shiny windows and look what we were able to make! We made the city our backdrop to our photo shoot. The city of St. Louis really isn't that nice. It’s practically vacant now because all the business, stores, and restaurants have either closed down or relocated. But although downtown  St. Louis is a mere shell of what it used to be, my brother and I were still able to find beauty in it. 

Today’s Lessons:

Life is Art

There’s beauty in everything if you look from the right perspective