The Random Truths

Season 31: (Belated) Pilot Note

2011-12-29T22:11:00.001+07:00

So here I am again, doing that thing I've been doing for the past few years, writing a note about how the past year in my life has been for me, as well as a starting note for me to kick off this new season. For you not familiar with this "season" thingy, here's a short explanation. As a TV series junkie, this is how I view every birthday : as the start of a new season of this "series" called "My Life", and this is the pilot note.

Looking back at Season 30, I think this is the year where the main lead actress, aka myself, got the biggest role change: becoming a mother - but I'll come to that later.

Work wise, it was not exactly getting any easier, and though some might say they feel sorry that I was pregnant during those difficult times, I'd say completely the opposite. Last season was the perfect time for me to get pregnant. Otherwise, it would be very hard for me to find happy thoughts when all those shenanigans happened. Plus, I got a three months maternity leave! Hooray for pregnancy during tough times at work! And what's even better? Getting transferred to the department you wished for, straight after maternity leave! I was like jumping with joy when I heard the news ^-^

Still about work, but on a more personal note, it was quite heartbreaking for me to see a lot of close friends and/or role models leave the company, be it for another company, or to the regional offices. Although I am happy for them.. but still, that sad feeling knowing they won't be around anymore? Oh it's there alright >.
Enough about work, let's move on to the fun stuff!

In Season 30 I finally walked down memory lane and took a trip down under with Bayu, 7 years after my last visit there for my graduation. Funny thing, the holiday was meant to be a baby-making trip in Jan, but turns out I was already pregnant - so we postponed the trip to March instead. It was a great 2+ weeks getaway to Melbourne & Sydney which I would just love to repeat! Hopefully that chance will come again soon *amin*

On long-life dreams, two of them came true last season. One was being a regular radio announcer on 90.4 CosmopolitanFM (that's right, I landed that one-year contract!), and the other one was watching The Lion King Musical! I can't believe I finally got the chance to watch it! You know, I even shed some tears during the "Circle of Life" number because it was just so emotional for me! Almost 10 years in waiting, and I finally got to see it. Awesomeness!

But of course, the super highlight of Season 30, was me being a new mother to my beautiful baby girl, Aqila :) Never pictured myself as a mom; never pictured myself, the gerwani, with a kid, but now I can actually feel those people say that having a child is indeed the greatest gift ^-^

So, Season 31..
New role in personal life, new role at work.. Couldn't be more excited!

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Hasil Survey #KurirASIP di Jakarta

2011-10-12T00:49:00.001+07:00

Kemarin ini saya penasaran dengan jasa #KurirASIP. Ingin mulai survey dari sekarang saja, siapa tau suatu waktu butuh, karena sesuatu dan lain hal (semoga nda sampai butuh ya, amin). Pertama yang terlintas di pikiran saya adalah Gojek, karena sedang sering dibicarakan di timeline twitter. Jadilah saya bertanya di twitter, "Kira-kira Gojek bisa delivery ASIP nda ya?" Ternyata jawabannya bukan hanya seputar Gojek, tapi juga jasa kurir lain yang ternyata memang punya fasilitas khusus dalam antar-jemput ASIP : Wira Wiri, Gatotkoco, dan Arga Nirwana Express. Saya pun menghubungi semuanya, dan ini hasil surveynya

Gojek
Perhitungan biaya benar2 sesuai alamat. Dari Gatot Subroto ke Pondok Indah, ongkosnya 37ribu
Order paling lambat 15 menit sebelum pick up
Bisa dihubungi via
Telp : 0217251110
Handphone : 085890841110
BBM : 329188EA
YM : gojekindonesia
Twitter : @gojekindonesia (lihat di timelinenya sptnya bisa juga order via twitter)
Website : www.go-jek.com

Wira Wiri
Biaya antar dalam kota Jakarta (kemana saja) : 30ribu
Order paling lambat pagi di hari yang sama (kematin telpon jam 9an dia bilang masih bisa jam segitu)
Bisa dihubungi via
Telp : 02194662811
BBM : 27D07AB4

Arga Nirwana Express (ANEX)
Biaya antar dalam kota Jakarta (kemana saja) : 30ribu
Order paling lambat di hari yang sama, jam 8-11 pagi
Bisa dihubungi via
Telp : 0217663413, 02170640917
Email : arga.nirwana@gmail.com
SMS : 087875569663
YM : arganirwana

Gatotkoco
Biaya antar dalam kota Jakarta (kemana saja) : 25ribu utk 4 botol pertama, berikutnya dikenakan charge tambahan per 2 botol (yang saya lupa tanyakan kemarin berapa *facepalm*)
Order paling lambat jam 4 sore 1 hari sebelumnya
Bisa dihubungi via
Handphone : 083899078148 (tapi kemarin ini susah sekali ditelpon)
BBM : 223D6653 (via BBM lebih cepat)
Twitter : @KurirASI_GTKC (tp sepertinya nda bisa order via twitter, saya lihat TLnya kebanyakan promo saja)

Tinggal pilih saja antara cost vs flexibility kali ya. Gojek paling mahal tapi paling fleksibel. Butuh darurat, 15 menit ASIP sudah bisa dijemput. Gatotkaca paling murah, tapi order harus paling lambat jam 4 sehari sebelumnya, nda bisa dadakan. Plus kl ASIPnya banyak, diatas 4 botol/plastik, masih ada biaya tambahan lagi. Wira Wiri & ANEX kurang lebih sama dari segi harga dan batas terakhir order.

Yang harus dipikirkan juga mengenai fasilitas ya. Dari 4 kurir di atas, semua sudah biasa menangani pengiriman ASIP, kecuali Gojek. Harus make sure bahwa dipack dengan benar, mungkin menggunakan thermo bag + blue ice sendiri. Kalau saya pribadi sepertinya hanya akan menggunakan Gojek kalau kebutuhannya benar2 mendadak, kalau masih bisa diprediksi menggunakan yang lain yang sudah biasa mengirimkan ASIP. Selain lebih yakin, lebih murah juga *ibu ekonomis*

Sekian hasil survey #KurirASIP, semoga bermanfaat buat sesama ibu-ibu yang sedang menjalani #baladapabriksusu ^-^

PS: Thanks to @yasminda8, @mistymaitimoe, @rikigede, @irmayunita, @ajenghendarmin, @measurja, @absolutraia yang sudah bantu kasih info seputar #KurirASIP via twitter sehingga survey ini bisa terlaksana :)

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Mad About Prints at Tulisan

2011-09-13T22:59:00.001+07:00

September 13, 2011

Sejak dulu saya selalu suka yang namanya stationery. Salah satu stationery favorit saya, selain post it, adalah blank cards. Rasanya nda pernah saya melewatkan kesempatan untuk membeli, setiap saya menemukan blank cards yg bagus.

Salah satu koleksi blank card kesayangan saya adalah produksi Tulisan, yang saya beli di brightspot market setahun yang lalu. Itulah awal perkenalan saya dengan @mytulisan. Inget banget waktu itu ingin sekali beli macem-macem tapi karena cash hanya tinggal sedikit, hanya cukup untuk membeli blank card set saja.

Setelah itu saya tidak pernah lagi "bertemu" dengan Tulisan, sampai beberapa hari yang lalu teman saya bercerita kalau dia baru belanja di galerinya, di Jl. Tirtayasa. Kebetulan saya sedang mencari kenang-kenangan untuk teman saya yang akan sekolah lagi di UK, dan saya ingin memberikan locally made products, jadi saya pun mencuri-curi waktu untuk kesana pada saat Baby Aqila sedang tidur. Maklum, balada ibu menyusui baru, masih susah meninggalkan anak terlalu lama.

And I'm really glad I went. Tempatnya lucuu sekali, benar-benar menyegarkan mata. Warna & motif produk-produknya sendiri sudah menarik, ditambah dengan pengaturan yang manis manja group ala ala suasana rumah tinggal - tak hanya bikin betah, tapi juga membuat ingin beli semua yang dijual haha..

Galeri Tulisan, view dari pintu masuk

Bukan hanya suasana tokonya yang hangat, staff penjaga tokonya pun semua menyambut kami (saya datang bersama adik) dengan hangat & ramah. Mereka melayani semua pertanyaan dan keingintahuan kami dengan sabar dan dengan antusias menjelaskan mengenai produk-produk Tulisan. Mereka juga dengan baiknya mengizinkan kami untuk foto-foto. Saya jadi menyesal nda membawa DSLR seperti adik saya, huhu..

Hasil dari kunjungan saya? Sukses mendapatkan kenang-kenangan untuk sang teman: Tea Towel - untuk mendukung habit High Tea di UK, lengkap dengan peralatan pendukung : gift box dan tentunya, blank card. Sayang karena waktunya mepet dan saya harus buru-buru mengirimkan, jadi lupa difoto :(

Buat yang suka barang-barang print lucu, musti banget deh main kesana :)

Breakfast Set For Two

Collection of blank cards sets

Bags! Bags! Bags!

This tea pot cover made me want to buy a tea pot just so I can use it, and I'm not even fond of hot tea!

Tulisan

Jl. Tirtayasa IV/33
www.mytulisan.com
@mytulisan

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Motherhood: A Learning Process

2011-08-22T13:52:00.001+07:00

"When a baby is delivered, a mother is also born into the world"

I read this in @chibialfa's tumblr, in her birthday post. Rumor has it, this copy was used in Molto's print ad for Mother's Day a few years back. When I read it, I thought: "what a nice and touching copy". But that's about it. I couldn't really relate to it. But it all changed about a month ago.

On July 12, 2011 - 11.05am to be exact. Because that was when I was born as a mother, to a beautiful baby girl named Aqila Maharani Rahman

Honestly, I never pictured myself as a mom. I'm probably the least motherly person. I don't have the patience, I cringe whenever there are too many kids at one place, and I don't have that tingling spider sense to play with kids whenever they're around me. People say it's going to be different when the child is your own - but how could I be sure of that? What if I still don't have the courage to carry the tiny baby around-because she's so fragile? What if she cries? What do I do when she needs to have her diapers changed? Or when everything looks OK but she still cries? Can I handle it?

None of those thoughts crossed my mind when I heard Aqila's first cry after 12 hours of labor. Or when I first looked at her as she was put on my body for IMD. All I can think of is how much I love that tiny thing and that I would do just about anything in my power for her, whatever it takes. Now, more than a month after her birth, I'm still adjusting to this new role. It hasn't been that easy. When they say motherhood comes naturally, well that's certainly not the case for me. Just like a newborn baby, a newborn mother also needs time to learn how to survive in this new world. Breastfeeding was definitely a challenge. I literally cried, sweat, and bleed during the first two weeks. Everyone kept saying that's what being a new breasfeeding mom is like. And so I thought I was just over reacting, and not being a strong enough mom :( But when they saw my nipples, then they knew what kind of pain I was in, and I was glad that I didn't make that stuff up in my head. I went to a lactation counselor and she said Aqila had a condition called tongue-tie; which can be a barrier to breastfeeding, as it makes the baby not able to suck properly hence hurting the mom's nipple even more than it already is. Not only that, because of the poor sucking, the baby will not get the maximum milk intake, causing her to gain less weight. The counselor, which was also a pediatrician, performed an incision on Aqila's tongue to fix the condition, and afterwards things got better. It still hurts a bit, but now I don't find breastfeeding as terrifying as I used to.

Then there was the growth spurt phase, the time when she wouldn't stop crying for milk. Everytime I put her down after breastfeeding, within a max time of 15mins she'd cry again. At first I got all stressed out, thinking I must've done something wrong, or maybe the breastmilk isn't enough, etc. But then I browsed the net and found that it was a normal condition. I also consulted with the pediatrician (thank God she can be reached via txt!) and she also assured me that there was nothing wrong. And with that I calmed down. Within a few days, Aqila was already on her normal breastfeeding behaviour again.

The hospital's policy of 24 hour rooming-in helped my husband and I to get used to baby-carrying faster. My husband is just like me, scared of holding newborns. But he can do it just after one night of rooming in. As for me, since I still felt faint for the first 24 hours, it took me an extra day to do the same. But hey, for someone who has never held a baby under 3 months old, I'd say that's a serious achievement!

The diaper changing? That is the easiest part, trust me :D

The point is, motherhood is a learning process. There are still a lot of things that I don't know, a lot of things I still need to learn. But I am enjoying the learning process, by accepting that there is no way I can be instantly good at this. Afterall, as a mother, I am only 42 days old ^^ And the thought of that made it all easier for me. Thank you Baby Aqila, for bringing a new mother into this world. Bear with me as I learn, kiddo :)

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Smoking Joe's - Not Just For The Meat Lovers

2011-05-17T13:53:00.001+07:00

About a week ago, I tried this new restaurant, Smoking Joe's, based on the recommendation of my friend Asti.

She said this place is a must try for meat lovers like me, and so I went there and gave it a go.

When I heard the name Smoking Joe's, what comes to mind is an american BBQ diner, so am quite surprised when I first saw the place. The ambiance was kind of fancy and loungy, supported with the soft yellowish lighting and the bossa songs. And so I was a bit worried about the price. However, when I opened the menu, turned out it was quite OK. Main courses start from 50K-ish (Pasta), and for the meat platters start from 80K-ish. The steaks which are the most expensive ones on the menu start at 175K-ish for 250gr. But with their big portion, I'd say it was really worth it. If you don' eat that much, you can just share and add desserts, and you'll be fine. As for the drinks, they (non alcoholic ones) are also within acceptable range. For instance, the Ice Lychee Tea I ordered was only 17.5K - not bad for a nice restaurant like this.

Now why am I yapping on the price before getting to the foods? That's just not right.

Let's move on to the food. There were four of us but we decided to order 3 main courses first because Asti had mentioned of the big portion

This is the Beef Brisket Platter. They slow smoked this for 12 hours with their special sauce to make sure it is absorbed perfectly. And it sure did. I love love love it! Just eating the brisket alone without additional chili/mustard/ketchup is already good! This one's the large one, priced at 98K and comes with 2 side dishes of your choice. Trust me, it is more than enough for sharing!

Behold, Smoking Joe's Philly Cheese Steak! I am also so in love with this one! I love how it's cheesy but not too much it makes you nauseous. I love the tender, juicy meat inside, and I love the focaccia bread, toasted to perfection! Yum! This one's about 70K-ish, including 1 side dish of your choice.

We also ordered the sirloin steak (no pic, sorry - but seriously, it looks just like any other steak ;P). Also good, but not so special for me. I mean, you can get a good plate of steak at a more affordable price at Mastro, right? But the beef brisket platter and philly cheese steak? not so sure!

And then comes the desserts. The oh-so-fabulous desserts!

First, my fave - American Apple Pie

Don't be deceived by the appearance, it's not as sweet as it looks - but it does taste as GOOD as it looks! The crust is so tasty and buttery, and the filling is just delish! Love how the apple filling still tastes fresh. Nomnomnom my mouth is watery just imagining it!

And then there's the Toll House Cookie

Must try for choco chip cookie lovers! Warm, fresh-from-the-oven soft-baked-cookie combined with ice cream is just something you can't say no to!

Another dessert we ordered was the classic warm chocolate melt cake

It was alright, but not that special. If you want warm choco melt cake, probably Loewy/Koi/Bakerzin would be better places to go to

So now you see why I said that Smoking Joe's is not just for the meat lovers, right? If you're into meat AND desserts, like me, give this place a try. You won't regret it!

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Sushi Frenzy at Sushi Groove! #SGFoodTastingPanel

2011-04-30T10:01:00.001+07:00

Japanese food, especially sushi, has always had a special place in my heart (and tummy of course), so boy was I excited when I got an invite from @ismaya to be a part of their food tasting panel for @SushiGroove's new menu! I'm familiar with SG's previous sushi menu, and I know they really like to take fusion sushi to the next level, so I made sure all my agendas were all cleared so I can go there.

It was quite a trip to Citywalk from Pulogadung (where my previous meeting was) because of the traffic, the rain, and of course being 7-month pregnant was also a contributing factor, but I finally made it - and was so glad I went through all that because 12 new menus from SG were there to make it all up!

Finishing 12 sushi dishes wasn't easy, so it's a good thing I have another 8 people in the food tasting panel to share the "obligation" LOL xD

OK let's move on to the new menus. Let's start with my faves, shall we?

Here they are, in order of preference

Mango Megumi Roll

When I first read the description, I was a bit sceptic. I mean,c'mon.. Salmon - Mango - Cream Cheese, rolled into 1? But then I tried it aandd.. I love it! Have never been a fan of any fruits + rice combo (except avocado) but this one's seriously really good! It tastes fresh, and somehow the fresh salmon - mango - cream cheese just made sense. And the tobiko also adds to the richness of the flavor. Am so definitely in love with this dish and I think Sushi Groove should make it their signature dish!

Salmon Mentai Roll

On the contrary to Mango Megumi Roll, for this one - reading the description alone already made me feel this would be a fail-proof choice. Diced fresh salmon, onion, mentaiko mayo - all torched? That's all of my fave things in one roll! And it really was good! Every time this plate arrives at our table, it was all gone in a swoosh because everyone on the panel loved it so much!

A little secret, I'm not supposed to eat anything raw during pregnancy, but I just cant resist this one (and the mango megumi roll hihihi xp). And because they're just sooo goooddd, I guess a little cheating is OK. Consider it a training for #BabyQ to like fresh salmon even from the womb *excuses, excuses*

Unamon Roll

Unagi and Salmon torched on top of crunchy kani tempura, plus a hint of mayo .

Now what can go wrong with that? Like Joey would say: Unagi, good. Salmon, good. Kani, good. Mayonnaise, gooood!

Black Pearl

Don't like fish? This could be an option. This roll is filled with smoked beef and unagi, topped with flamed black tobiko.Anything with unagi is good for me, and am not surprised that it goes well with smoked beef, tobiko, and tempura crunch. Too bad for this one the tobiko tasted a bit smoky for me. That's something that can be improved for this dish. Aside from that, all good!

Firefly Roll

SG's new menu has just about everything, This one's good if you're into ebi tempura (I know I am!). And it gets better. It's got torched salmon and tuna on top of the roll, plus a small slice chili to top it all off, gives a bit of that spicy sting. If you're into spicy food, don't be fooled with the spicy icon on the menu. For someone who has a high tolerance of spiciness,like me, this is nothing. Seriously.

So those are my top 5 out of the 12 new dishes.

These are the rest. They're quite OK - but if you only have room in your stomach for 5 dishes, I'd definitely recommend the ones on top :)

Pirate's Roll

Soft shell crab roll topped with smoked beef, onion, and a slice of fresh chili. You should try this if you're into that sweet-sour taste. If you're not, then maybe it'd be best just to try other things on the menu.

Angry Bird.

I was expecting to see something red and fluffy, but it looks like I just play too much of the game haha! As you can see, it looks nothing like the birds on angry birds ^^;;

The description on the menu says that this is spicy chicken karaage roll topped with melted mozzarella cheese and togarashi - and it's labeled spicy. But again, if you're really into spicy food, this is not spicy at all. And I can't really taste the cheese, either. Maybe that's something SG can improve on this dish

Saboro Chicken Roll.

Chicken sprinkles wrapped in kani salad, tuna, and avocado. I'm a fan of almost any sushi dish with avocado in it, so this one was alright. Although compared to the other dishes, this one was quite bland and not as rich as the others in flavor combination

Shibuya Roll.

Tempura roll topped with fresh tuna and unagi. I had to put the tuna aside since it was raw (am not that fond of tuna, so it's not worth the pregnancy restriction cheat ;P), but the unagi & tempura crunch already made a good combo.

Alligator Roll.

Looks more like caterpillar roll don't you think? xD This roll has gindara tempura + fresh avocado inside, and topped with sweet & spicy sauce. For me the sweet & spicy sauce was a bit too much. WIthout the sauce would be a better option for me. But others in the panel liked it, so I guess it's just a matter of taste - as always.

Now that's 10 menu already. The other two I didn't try, but I have the pictures here in case you're curious

Devil Tuna Roll.

Fresh tuna & mayo topped with tobiko & togarashi. Didn't try it because the tuna was raw. Again, raw tuna --> not worth the pregnancy restriction cheat ;P

Deep Forrest Roll.

Confession: didn't try this one because it's got nothing but vegetables. Wouldn't be able to stand it ^^;;

All these dishes are already available at Sushi Groove, so you can go yourself and give them a try. Price vary from 18K (only for Deep Forrest) to 55K, but the average is around 40K-ish.

Thank you once again to @ismaya and @sushigroove for the invite! Looking forward to more food tasting events v(^^

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Magnum Cafe Jakarta: A Twist To Your Magnum Experience

2011-04-09T20:25:00.002+07:00

First, a little introduction.
Magnum Cafe is a pop-up restaurant from Magnum. Yes, Magnum the Ice Cream from Wall's.

It's located at Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, West Mall - 5th Floor, and it's a pop-up restaurant, meaning it will only be around temporarily, in this case - only 3 months, from March to May 2011.
I've been to the place twice, once for the grand opening, and once again after that, for a family dinner.

Dinner, you ask? So this is a real restaurant, not only a place for ice cream? Yes, that's correct. Aside from the Magnum sticks (the same ones you can find at supermarkets), they also have hot food, a wide selection of drinks made from Magnum elements, and of course, to-die-for desserts using Magnum sticks as the main ingredient.

Magnum Cafe was built with such attention to details. They even have their benches shaped like Magnum Sticks, so cute!

Ushers dressed thematically for the grand opening

Magnum Stick Bench! Cuteness!

My friend, @tachril, asked me: So what's the difference between eating Magnums at Magnum Cafe and just eating it at home?
Well, first of all, here you can customize your own Magnum! You can choose the stick (vanilla/chocolate), the chocolate dip (milk/dark),the topping(s) - and they will create the Magnum stick for you!

This is Vanilla Stick + Milk Choco + Hazelnut Topping

They also provide a wide selection of Desserts, all with a touch of Magnum Sticks, of course. Seriously, looking at the menu literally stressed me out every time, because they all look so good!
Not just so good, but also so big! You really need to save some space in your stomach for these desserts, I'm telling you!

For the waffle-ice cream combo lovers, any of these two would be the perfect choice

Waffle de Aristocrat: Waffle + Magnums + Profiteroles + Choco Sauce

Waffle de Imperia : Waffle + Magnums + Shredded Coconut + Caramel Sauce

If you're into ice cream combined with bread, pastries or the likes, any of these three might just be the one for you

Honey Palais du Royale: Magnums on Glazed French Toast

Lord Sandwich: THREE Magnums in a croissant

Millefoglie ala Magnum

For the strawberry lovers, you should try this one! I love the Magnum - Strawberries - Marshmallows combo!

I was also very fond of the drinks there! If you're too full for dessert, you can still have a taste of Magnum by ordering one of their drinks creations

Magic Mocha: Blended chocolate truffle Magnum Stick with espresso and chocolate syrup

Kingdom Far Far Away: Blueberry Blended Frappe topped with Classic Magnum stick

The hot foods are also delicious, BTW! I've tried the Shrimp Aglio Alio Spaghetti, Pette Dipollo ai Funghi (Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce), Nachos, Lamb Ribs, and they're all really good!

A Knight's Tale: BBQ Lamb Ribs with Spicy Magnum Chocolate Sauce

The place is always very packed, so if you're curious to try, you might want to consider going there not on normal meal hours. If you come for lunch/dinner on the hour, you can expect a looo~oong queue.

Oooh, they also have a giant Magnum dummy there, in case you want to take a picture beside it, for fun - like I did xDD

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Day 359: See You Later, Metropolis! #365shots

2011-03-04T20:07:00.001+07:00

March 4, 2011

About to board QF42 to SYD. Let the #escapade begins!

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Karena Memutuskan Menjadi Orang Tua Adalah Pilihan, BUKAN Kewajiban.

2011-03-02T09:54:00.001+07:00

Saya sering terganggu dengan kebiasaan basa-basi kebanyakan orang Indonesia yang selalu bertanya, "Kapan....?"

Waktu masih single, pertanyaannya: "Kapan menikah?"

Setelah menikah, pertanyaannya berganti: "Kapan punya anak?"

Setelah punya anak pertama, rangkaian pertanyaan masih berlanjut, "Kapan anak kedua?"

Anak sudah besar, masih ada pertanyaan, "Kapan mantu?"

Dan seterusnya dan seterusnya..

Sejak menikah hampir tiga tahun yang lalu, pertanyaan yang selalu saya dengar adalah: "Kapan punya anak?" Kebetulan memang awal-awal saya dan suami memutuskan untuk menunda dulu, karena masa pacaran yang cukup singkat (hanya 1 tahun lho dari kenal sampai menikah!), jadi kami berpikir untuk menghabiskan cukup waktu berdua dulu sebelum menambah anggota keluarga baru.

Semua pertanyaan tentang kapan punya anak pun saya jawab dengan senyum saja, daripada menambah perdebatan yang tidak perlu. Tidak ada beban, karena memang kami belum berencana.

Kemudian setelah anniversary pernikahan kami yang kedua, mulailah kami berpikir untuk serius program punya anak. Mulailah kunjungan ke ob/gyn, menjalani serangkaian tes untuk memastikan semua baik-baik saja, dan dokter pun mulai menerapkan programnya. Sengaja memang rencana program ini kami simpan sendiri, tidak memberitahu orang-orang karena tidak ingin merasa terbebani dengan harapan orang-orang.

Saat-saat kami sedang berusaha inilah dimana pertanyaan dan komentar orang-orang mulai membuat gerah dan terasa tidak pada tempatnya. Karena entah kenapa, sepertinya mereka merasa saya memang sengaja tidak ingin punya anak dan selalu mengeluarkan komentar yang bersifat menghakimi.

"Jangan kerja terus makanya, kapan mau punya anak?"

"Kenapa sih ditunda-tunda terus punya anaknya? Awas lho kalau nunda-nunda ntar malah nda punya-punya"

"Udah berapa sekarang anaknya? Gue dong udah dua!"

Itu adalah beberapa dari sekian banyak pertanyaan/komentar yang sering membuat saya geram, karena dilontarkan oleh orang-orang yang jarang bertemu saya. Tau apa ya mereka tentang apa yang sedang saya jalani? Apa yang sedang saya usahakan? Kenapa langsung berasumsi kalau saya tidak mau punya anak dan jadi malah seperti mendoakan saya lama punya anak? Dan sejak kapan anak jadi seperti piala, jumlahnya dipamer-pamerkan? Padahal itu saja saya baru yang usaha beberapa bulan, dengan upaya yang mungkin minimal dibandingkan dengan apa yang dilalui orang lain. Kebayang nda sih, kalau komentar itu dikeluarkan ke pasangan yang sudah lama berusaha dengan segala daya dan upaya, apa nda sedih dengernya?

Lagipula, kenapa memangnya kalau pasangan yang sudah menikah tidak/belum mau punya anak? Apakah salah? Apakah berarti semua yang punya anak lebih baik? Semakin banyak jumlah anak menandakan pencapaian di dunia? Kayaknya kok picik sekali ya?

Menurut saya, memutuskan menjadi orang tua adalah pilihan; BUKAN kewajiban. Bertanggung jawab atas hidup manusia lain bukanlah hal yang mudah, dan itu harus dilakukan dengan sepenuh hati, karena KITA yang menginginkannya; bukan karena dorongan orang lain.

Sekarang saya dan suami sedang menantikan anak pertama kami, alhamdulillah sudah masuk ke minggu ke-21. Kehamilan saya sejauh ini cukup lancar, tidak ada morning sickness dan masih bisa beraktivitas normal. Hanya saja selama 3 bulan pertama saya tersiksa karena pilek-batuk yang tidak kunjung reda, yang ternyata karena hormon yang berubah. Tidak bisa minum obat, pusing tak tertahankan, dan sebagainya. Riwayat sakit punggung yang pernah ada pun muncul kembali, dan karena belum boleh pijat, jadi ya saya hanya maksimal bisa mengusap-usap dengan minyak angin. Tapi semua saya jalani dengan ikhlas dan senang, karena ini memang sesuatu yang saya inginkan untuk diri saya sendiri. Kalau saya melakukan ini hanya karena desakan orang lain, sepertinya bisa marah deh mengalami segala "penderitaan" yang terjadi :)

Makanya, tiap ada yang bertanya sama saya mengenai program kehamilan saya, bagaimana bisa berhasil, dsb - dan kemudian menyebutkan alasannya, "Iya nih, gue udah ngga tahan ditanya2in terus kapan punya anak sama orang tua/mertua/saudara/dsb", saya selalu bilang: "Hamil itu nda selalu all that glorious lho, make sure emang loe yang pengen, bukan karena tekanan orang lain - jadi semua konsekuensinya juga dijalani dengan senang."

Itu baru hamilnya, belum nanti pada saat anaknya sudah lahir. Sudah pasti hidup orang tuanya berubah total. Banyak yang harus dipikirkan kalau sudah bertanggung jawab terhadap hidup orang lain. Yang menjalani dan bertanggung jawab terhadap sang anak kan kita, bukan orang tua/mertua/saudara yang ribut mencereweti kita kalau belum punya anak tadi kan?

Memutuskan menjadi orang tua adalah pilihan, bukan kewajiban. Dan buat saya sekarang, menjalani pilihan ini terasa sangat menyenangkan. Mendengar detak jantungnya pada saat USG, melihat gerak-geriknya di monitor, mengetahui pertambahan berat badan/panjangnya, dan yang terakhir ini, merasakan pergerakannya di rahim saya, semua terasa begitu menakjubkan, dan membuat semua pilek/batuk/pusing/sakit punggung jadi tidak terasa lagi.

Tapi lagi-lagi, ini adalah pilihan saya. Tidak semua orang memilih demikian. Jadi, buat yang pertanyaan basa-basinya adalah soal anak, atau yang hobinya "menghakimi" pasangan yang belum memiliki anak, tolonglah, cari pertanyaan lain untuk basa basi. Ini pilihan, bukan kewajiban. Dan yang lebih mendasar lagi, ini bukan urusan anda. MYOB, please!

Posted via email from Popsicle Toes

Karena Memutuskan Menjadi Orang Tua Adalah Pilihan, BUKAN Kewajiban.

2011-03-02T08:29:00.001+07:00

Saya sering terganggu dengan kebiasaan basa-basi kebanyakan orang Indonesia yang selalu bertanya, "Kapan....?"

Waktu masih single, pertanyaannya: "Kapan menikah?"

Setelah menikah, pertanyaannya berganti: "Kapan punya anak?"

Setelah punya anak pertama, rangkaian pertanyaan masih berlanjut, "Kapan anak kedua?"

Anak sudah besar, masih ada pertanyaan, "Kapan mantu?"

Dan seterusnya dan seterusnya..

Semua pertanyaan tentang kapan punya anak pun saya jawab dengan senyum saja, daripada menambah perdebatan yang tidak perlu. Tidak ada beban, karena memang kami belum berencana.

"Jangan kerja terus makanya, kapan mau punya anak?"

"Kenapa sih ditunda-tunda terus punya anaknya? Awas lho kalau nunda-nunda ntar malah nda punya-punya"

"Udah berapa sekarang anaknya? Gue dong udah dua!"

Posted via email from Popsicle Toes

Sephora Express Dry Shampoo : When Wet Shampoo Is Not An Option

2011-02-18T21:36:00.005+07:00

So as you can see in my profile, my mood totally depends on my hair condition. When my hair is wrong, EVERYTHING ELSE is wrong. So you can imagine how hard I try to keep my hair in its best shape from day to day.

Unfortunately, as always, sometimes things do not fall into place as planned. For instance, waking up late on your hair-washing day, or having to come to office earlier when you were actually planning to get your hair blow dried at the salon that morning, etc. For me, those conditions mean tragedy. Because my hair would feel/look so messed up by then. My hair would feel oily,it would start to look flat, and my scalp would start to feel itchy. All are big eughs and no no for Miss Hair Drama here

What I used to do is the oldest trick in the book, baby powder.what I do is, Pour a generous amount to my hands, spread it evenly to scalp & hair, pat here and there to make sure I don't suddenly look like Adnan Buyung Nasution, and off I would go. This works, but only for a few hours. I'd have to rush and wash my hair during lunch break, or immediately after work ( because sometimes life sucks that much that there's a lunch meeting on the day you don't have the time to wash your hair). And another downside is, sometimes you miss a spot and people can actually see the excess baby powder. Not good.

But then I found this magic spray at Sephora labeled Dry Shampoo. Yes ladies, this is the solution to not having enough time to do old-fashioned wet shampoo! It's super easy, all you have to do is just spray it all over your hair, preferably near the roots, because the ingredients (all dry shampoos contains some type of powder) are supposed to absorb the excess oil that causes your hair to look and feel flat & oily. I read in some sites that you should comb your hair after several minutes to remove the excess oil, but I usually just run my hands through my hair after spraying the dry shampoo, so that it doesn't ruin the curls (I only brush/comb my hair after shampooing).

The effect is MUCH better than using baby powder. My hair instantly becomes less flat & oily, and the itchy feeling is also gone. And this can last up to the next day, so it can buy me more time in case I really really don't have time to wash my hair that day. Now how can I not love this product?

Of course this can not substitute the real thing. The old-fashioned wet shampoo is still the best way to go, but dry shampoo is a great alternative compared to having my day ruined just because I didn't have time to wash my hair. Please note that using dry shampoo also leaves residue on your hair, so this should only be used in emergency situations only and is not suitable for daily use

Sephora Express dry shampoo is available at Sephora (of course). I bought this one at Sephora ion Orchard. 1 size only (75ml) for SGD 10. Sephora (the non express range) also has dry shampoo in a bigger size, but also more expensive, about SGD 30-40. If you just want to do some testing, better go with this one first.

My Daily Eye Make-Up Essentials

2011-02-18T21:36:00.003+07:00

Still part of answering @dandanpol's challenge (somehow I sense this challenge will be answered in quite a few parts ^^;), these are my daily eye make up essentials.

From left to right and then to the front of the line-up, they are:
1. Eyelash curler - Shu Uemura.
Some may think that you can just use any brand, but from my own experience, a good eyelash curler matters. It curls the eyelashes better, and the handles give you better grip when you're using it- giving you a much easier curling effort. Sure it's a bit more expensive, but gives better results and it lasts longer. I change mine every 2 years, mainly because I can't find any rubber that fits well with the curler (Shu Uemura does not sell the rubbers separately). Price is about SGD 25.

2. Mascara - Maybelline Magnum Volum Express (Waterproof)
Considering you're supposed to throw your mascara away every 6 months, I always go with drugstore brand for my mascara choice, i.e Maybelline. I think their mascaras are the best value for money mascaras. L'Oreal is also a good choice, but usually they are a bit more expensive. This Magnum mascara is alright, but I prefer their original Volume Express (the one in black tube). I feel this one doesn't dry as easily. But am still OK with it, for now. Price is about IDR 70K-ish

3. Corrector (Concealer) - Bobbi Brown, in Peach
I. Seriously. Can. Not. Live. Without. This. I have very dark under eye circle, and I've tried several concealer to fix this, but none really satisfied me. I've tried brands from Maybelline to Shisheido, but the search was still an ongoing one, until I found Bobbi Brown's corrector. It gives me the coverage that I need, but still feels light. And it doesn't come off that easily, too. Price is about SGD 35

4. Eyeliner - Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (Chocolate Shimmer Ink) & 5. Angled Eyeliner Brush - Sephora 15
I still remember the conversation I had with the shop attendant at Bobbi Brown a few years back, when I first decided to buy this eyeliner.
SA: You should try our gel eyeliner!
Me: No thanks, I've already got my own and I really like it. Been using it for years.
SA: Well, clearly you've never tried ours. I guarantee you will change your mind.
Intrigued, I decided to give it a try. And he was right. To date, this is hands down the best eyeliner I've ever used! I thoughtbit would be hard to apply, but it's not. With the right brush, it's as easy as applying a pencil eyeliner, but with a much smoother look. The color really stands out, and most importantly, it doesn't come off easily - even after all day wear. I use Chocolate Shimmer Ink, it's somewhat shimmery brownish. Really love it! Price is about THB 1400-ish. For the brush, I'm currently using Sephora's angled eyeliner brush (15). I like Bobbi Brown's eyeliner brush better, but this is also a good and more affordable alternative. Price is SGD 25.

6. Eyeliner - Revlon ColorStay (Brown)
As much as I love BB's Gel Eyeliner, it can be quite a hassle to use when you're in certain situations (in a super hurry, in a car, in an elevator, etc), so I also need a back-up eyeliner. I was first recommended by Mbak Anie, the renowned Blue Salon's Make Up Artist. She said that if I want to buy a pencil eyeliner, this should be it. But I have to get it in Singapore, because this kind isn't sold in Indonesia. Her words, "Beda deh ini sama yg dijual di Jakarta, kl yang ini warnanya jadi dan nda gampang luntur". So I bought it, and she was right. It is different than the Revlon eyeliners I bought here before. The color stands out more, and it is more waterproof. A nice alternative for when I have no time for the whole gel eyeliner ritual. Price is friendly to the pocket, too! Only SGD 10 :)

So that's my daily eye make-up essentials! Of course what is also important is the eye make up remover. I use either L'Oreal's or Maybelline's Eye & Lip Make Up Remover. Both do wonders at affordable prices, gotta love that!

Sephora Smoothing Primer

2011-02-18T21:36:00.001+07:00

I am actually very new to the world of face primers. I confuse them with moisturizers at first, and wonder what they actually do, what's the difference with foundations, etc.. but then I did some googling and learnt that face primer is what you use in between moisturizer and foundation, to get a more flawless result

Primers are meant to give you easier foundation application, as it smoothens your face and fills the lines on it, providing a better "canvas" for you to paint your make-up on

This is the Primer I currently use. Well actually, this is the only primer I've ever used v(^^) - Sephora Smoothing Primer. Bought it at Sephora ion Orchard. I was first attracted because of the small bottle size (I like smaller bottles because I can finish them faster), and when I tried the tester on my hand, it did give that instant smoothing effect. Price was also affordable, around SGD 20 - 25 (forgot the actual price), so I decided to give it a try.

After using primer, I know that I will never again use foundation without first applying primer. The effect was significant. Foundation becomes much easier to apply, it glides on more smoothly. Coverage of that annoying zit (if any) is also easier because the primer gives the concealer something to "cling on" to, unlike if you only use moisturizer. What I find lacking from this Sephora Primer is how the matifying effect doesn't last for very long, only a couple of hours max.

Sephora Smoothing Primer is only available in one size (15ml), and one color (transparent gel). It may look small, but it lasts quite long - if you're a moderate foundation user like me, that is. I use it once in two weeks (on average) and it lasted for around 6 months.

If you've never used a primer before and would like to try something affordable for your first experience, this could be your choice :)

Maybelline BB Cream: A First Time Experience

2011-02-18T21:35:00.001+07:00

With all the talk about BB Cream, I was super curious to give it a try. Am primarily appaled by its promise to give that Japanese/Korean stars look (yea I'm vain like that), and wanted to prove it myself. So I searched the web, asked around on my twitter timeline, and came across several recommended brands.

However, I did not want to risk spending too much - in case it doesn't work out, so I finally went for Maybelline's BB Cream. It's got some good reviews, one of which from @ditut, and it only costs IDR 35K! So I bought it last Sunday, and tried it yesterday.

First impression: I like it! After application, I can see a noticeable improvement in complexion, my skin tone looked more even and brighter. It also covers well, but doesn't feel heavy on my skin. It's like a step-up from tinted moisturizer, but not as heavy as foundation - so it's fine to use on a daily basis.

I applied the BB Cream after all my skin care regime. Even though it says on the packaging that it also moisturizes and has SPF 26/PA+++, I still use my moisturizer and sunblock beforehand - because one thing I believe is that you don't use make-up to do a skin care job. I read that people usually apply BB Cream using a brush, but since I don't have one, I applied using my finger tips - and I didn't have a problem, the texture makes it easy enough to spread all over your face & neck evenly.

Another plus point of the BB Cream is how it makes cream blush blends easier. I didn't use powder, applied the rest of my make-up straight after the BB cream, and it makes my Bobbi Brown cream blush blends easier and hence looks nicer compared to when I use my regular compact powder.

I was worried not using powder will make my face looks oily (I have slightly oily skin on the T-Zone), but, surprisingly, that wasn't the case. However, I was only out for 5 hour-ish and they were all spent in air conditioned situations, so the not-making-face-looks-oily thing may need to be revalidated.

Bottom line, that was a 35K well spent!

For a brief explanation on BB Cream: see the Wiki entry here http://j.mp/eeQ4dr

Day 344: New Arrivals #365shots

2011-02-17T07:31:00.001+07:00

February 16, 2011

These two just became the latest arrivals to my make-up regime collection. Excited!

The Random Truths

Season 31: (Belated) Pilot Note

Hasil Survey #KurirASIP di Jakarta

Mad About Prints at Tulisan

Motherhood: A Learning Process

Smoking Joe's - Not Just For The Meat Lovers

Sushi Frenzy at Sushi Groove! #SGFoodTastingPanel

Magnum Cafe Jakarta: A Twist To Your Magnum Experience

Day 359: See You Later, Metropolis! #365shots

Karena Memutuskan Menjadi Orang Tua Adalah Pilihan, BUKAN Kewajiban.

Karena Memutuskan Menjadi Orang Tua Adalah Pilihan, BUKAN Kewajiban.

Sephora Express Dry Shampoo : When Wet Shampoo Is Not An Option

My Daily Eye Make-Up Essentials

Sephora Smoothing Primer

Maybelline BB Cream: A First Time Experience

Day 344: New Arrivals #365shots

Day 342: This Year's Valentine Movie #365shots

Day 340: What I Know Best #365shots

Day 337: Hello, Ms. Jackson! #365shots

Day 335: Reds #365shots

Day 334: Necessities #365shots

Day 332: Okonomiyaki Frenzy #365shots

Day 333: Time For a Better Me #365shots

Day 329: Ketjil Kitchen #365shots

Day 328: New Place #365shots

Day 319: Giant Lollipops #365shots

Day 326: Saturday Nite at FIP #365shots

Day 325: Cosmo Cake #365shots

Day 324: Arrival. #365shots

Day 323: PS, Finally. #365shots

Day 322: Heaven Must Be Missing A Shop #365shots

Day 321: Somerset #365shots

Bump Log: Week 15 #baladabump

Day 318: Week 15, Alive & Kicking #365shots

Day 317: Unity in Diversity #365shots

Day 316: The Drama Ends Here #365shots

Day 315: "THE" Birthday #365shots

Day 313: New Addition #365shots

Day 291: Merry Christmas from @photojojo #365shots

Day 311: Jewelry, IDR, & Pencil #tedaksiten #365shots

Day 312: The Gift(s) #365shots

Day 310: Today's Fortune #365shots

Day 308: FAIL #365shots

Day 304: Good Taste, Great Team #365shots

Day 303: Nasib Telah Berubah #MLP #365shots

Day 300: Finally Giving Up #365shots

Day 301: Hello There, Dinara Adeninna Nuhan! #365shots

Day 297: NYE, Inspired by Masterchef US #365shots

Day 295: Go Garudas! #365shots

Day 298: Almost ABG #365shots

Day 299: An Afternoon at @Sabang16 #365shots

Day 291: Autumn in Pondok Indah #365shots

Day 290: Just Like The Good Old Times #365shots

Day 287: Childhood Candy #365shots

Day 285: 31-derful Sunday #365shots

The Seven Wonders of Jakarta Culinary Festival Food Blogger's Dinner

Season 30: Pilot Note

Day 280: All The Best #365shots

Day 279: Temu Kangen Bintang Hongkong #365shots

Day 277: From The "Insightful" Ababils #365shots

Day 273: Fresh From The Oven - Mr & Mrs Arief Tjakraamidjaja #365shots ((365shots, Wedding))

Day 271: Season 30, Pilot Episode #365shots ((365shots, Birthday, Season 30))

Day 268: Second Time This Week #365shots

Day 263: Aizka and Manny, Reunited #365shots

Day 262: Talk About Thematic #365shots

Day 261: Ruth Sahanaya's Not-So-Sparkling Silver Anniversary Concert #365shots

Day 258: Ovomaltines #365shots

Day 255: Irresistible Ira #365shots

Day 253: Found It! #365shots

The Fabulous Ira Noviarti

Day 252: ONROP! #365shots

Day 243: Baby Fat #365shots

Day 251: Healthy Lunch #365shots

Day 243: Baby Fat #365shots

Day 239: Out Of Stock #misshairdrama #365shots

Day 242: Highway #365shots

Day 241: A Much Needed Short Break #355shots

Day 240: Affection Knows No Boundaries #365shots

Day 239: Out Of Stock #misshairdrama #365shots

Day 238: Meeting Necessities #365shots