I am staunch supporter of rustic motif and minimalist with a hint of muted hues, Now,I know that's a lot to take in and you might think it's all over the place. But trust me, with the right location and elements, you can absolutely pull this off.
So when I was assigned the bookworm setup, I immediately created a Pinterest board and pinned every picnic style/reading corner pegs I could find. It was such a joy to plan every detail and scout for props. An ocular is obligatory to visualize the setup and ensure that everything will suit as planned.
It's my first ever outdoor themed set up and I had mixed feelings on how it will turn up. My head was rambling with a lot of ideas. I didn't want it too look too "overly adorned" and I didn't want it to be too bare either. A tepee and picnic mat were the core items of the set up. With the help of friends, we're able to make the pillars for the tepee. We bought the cloth at very reasonable price and even got scraps for free which we eventually used for buntings.
I wanted a relaxed look hence I figured a swing would be a good element to boost the reading corner look. The white/blue light bulbs added romance which complemented the swing. To inject rustic vibe and a hint of vintage feel, we added old wine boxes, weaved basket and pillows in hues of brown and beige. There were long stemmed flowers and piles of books in one corner along with the Polaroids scattered on the picnic blanket.
The mini bicycle added a bit of playful wit to the entire ensemble.
As soon as we're almost done with the setup and I was almost way too eager to see the final look, a roving team approached us and requested for a permit. We didn't have any as we thought we're allowed to hang things anywhere given it's a public park. We were so complacent at the thought that it's for public use and become oblivious that this is Singapore and they have strict laws and high respect for nature. We were asked to take down the Tepee, remove the buntings, light bulbs and yes, the swing. It broke my heart to see everything taken down. And as much I wanted to bawl and rant, we did the opposite. We were doing the set up for a Photo Marathon and for a good cause. We can't let a little mishap ruin everything we planned for. So instead of whining, we re-arranged everything as a picnic set up while maintaining the elements we initially thought of.
The buntings were used as a background for couples who would like to take their couple shots. The light bulbs were placed around the reading corner. We were done as soon as the guests start to come in. I smiled sheepishly as I gazed at the finished setup. It was a work of love rooted for a good cause.
There were 3 setups done for this marathon and everyone poured their heart and thoughts to ensure that the backdrop will be picture worthy. The event was indeed a success. A birthday celebration for our 2 year old Anika and surprisingly managed to raise an amount which exceeded our preset goal .
There is something poignant about the image of people coming together for a cause and this experience was an eye opener for me. I've come to an understanding that more than the monetary assistance, there are different ways by which we can bless others. We can be generous with our skills, time, talent and resources. With the proper mindset, objective and heart; we are empowered to unselfishly give, with no serving motives. Giving is always better than receiving and though it's human nature to believe that when have more, we can give more; if you come from this mentality you never have enough of anything to give.You gain more when you give and it's something which cannot be quantified nor measured. It fills your heart and entire being. So be
generous of whatever you have and be cheerful in doing it; because it
is when we lose ourselves for others that we can truly find joy beyond any possessions. 
Xo,
Jhesy
