I’ve been wanting to watch (for the nth time) one of my most favorite movies of all time — UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN — for several days now as a prelude to a perfect weekend I expect to have with my family at the farm. I’ve been so busy with work (and blogging… ha!) that I haven’t found the time until a few hours ago when Mahal arrived from his DTI class and we decided to watch it together.

When I first watched it almost 16 years ago in 2003, I felt like I have already resonated with this movie on so many different levels even if the particulars were still unbeknownst to me at that time.

Years passed and I’d still watch it when I feel sad; when I feel inspired; when I want to be inspired; when I feel happy… basically no matter what my mood is. I just tear up with this movie no matter how many times I’ve already watched it and it always makes me feel like everything is alright with the world after indulging myself with its heartwarming story.

Fast forward to 10 years after that movie was first shown (2013), my first marriage crumbled to pieces…

Just like Frances Mayes (Diane Lane), the protagonist in the movie, my world turned upside down. Just like her, I somehow found myself making spaces for things I want to have in my life (having a baby). Just like her, I met someone  like Marcello (Raoul Bova) who “couldn’t wait until I was ready”.. Just like her, just when I wasn’t looking anymore, the elusive “lady bug” (a.k.a. “the one”) appeared in the person of my Mahal, my former bessy.

So yeah, this movie is like the personification of my life 16 years in the making! Add to that the fact that we are slowly building a life (our own Bramasole) up in the mountains. This movie just gives me the creeps, but in a good way! Did I attract this life because I’m so into this movie? Or did I attract the movie because of my future destiny?

However way it goes, I just love this movie so much that we named Tuz after it actually. Tuz is short for Tuscany. Our baby shower for him four years ago had the color motif of Tuscany. We named our farm Tuscany Highlands. And should the time come for me and Mahal to finally get married, he promised me we’ll have our honeymoon in Tuscany, Italy.  We can dream, can’t we? ❤

Speaking of our own version of “Bramasole” (the old, rundown villa Frances Mayes bought in Tuscany in the movie), let me show you the progress of my redecoration of the lounge at the farmhouse.  After all, like what Frances Mayes in the movie said:

Pick one room

and make it yours.

Go slowly through the house.

Be polite, introduce yourself,

so it can introduce itself

to you.

And that’s what I’ve been doing since we first lived at the farm in 2017…

But before that, you may want to check these out first for a little back story:

That time I redesigned Mahal’s parents’ old bedroom at the farm: JEN BY DESIGN – MAKING AN OLD RUSTIC ROOM LOOK COZY AND NICE

That time I was having a “buyer’s remorse” just like in the movie when Frances Mayes was feeling like “What in the heck was I thinking buying this kind of life?”: ADJUSTING TO RURAL LIVING – RANTS OF A CITY GIRL TURNED FARM GIRL AT 11 IN THE EVENING

That time, I first redesigned the lounge area at the farmhouse: Jen by Design – Turning a Bodega Into a Cafe-Inspired Living Area

Okay, now for the latest photos of the farm lounge redecoration which I did a month ago. We haven’t repaired anything yet because of lack of budget. The house feels sturdy anyway. It already survived several typhoons for the past 40+ years! My goal right now is to just make the spaces I use beautiful and pleasing to my senses, teehee. I’ll be coming back there tomorrow after a month of absence and I’m hoping it still looks like where I left it.

The table and chair patio set, I bought from Mandaue Foam Home Store. I usually buy big ticket home furniture there. It’s almost similar to the set I also have at my balcony in my Alabang Townhouse. Look here:

The dreamcatchers I ordered from Hands at Work Studio. That’s where I buy my feathered headdresses, earrings and other accessories like this one:

Anyway, what do you think?

I will continue with my redecoration this weekend aside from my plans of planting some more vegetables and taking care of my nursery and veggie bed. So excited!

Happy weekend, everyone!

I’ll see you again tomorrow if my wifi connection is strong enough to publish a post. (crossing my fingers) 😉