Monday, August 25, 2014

Why and How I Love Mondays

`kate spade, cedar street elissa, kate spade new york, working mom, fashionista mom, stylish mom, career woman


Hello and happy Monday, Friends!

Do you love Mondays? I do! Of course I love everyday, but Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday are somehow felt more special to me.

Why do I love Mondays?

Who doesn't love a fresh start?

Over the weekend I made plans, to-do-list and goals. I publish my posts on Mondays and write my week recap and to-do-list for the week on Mondays. As the first day of the week, Monday gives me the opportunity to make it happen! Don't you want that good feeling of accomplisments? I do, and I like to start fresh and new on Monday.

How to have a fresh start on Mondays:
  • Create your to-do-list, task list, things to accomplish for the upcoming week, whatever you'd like to name it, on Sunday night. It will give you a sense of purpose and guideline to walk the upcoming week. Some project examples: create centerpiece for your coffee table, read one chapter of that book you are trying to finish, write one post for your blog, organize the pantry, sell used books on the internet. etc.
  • Start small. I have weekly project list that I write on my week recap post, but every night I make to-do-list for the day after. It helps to structure my mind and make my day (and week) that much more productive, because I won't forget things.
  • Wake up a little bit early on Monday. Just fifteen minutes early is enough. Use that extra time to mentally prepare your mind and body which will give you that good start and set a calmer tone to last you through the whole week. Pray. Read one or two verses from the Bible. Enjoy your morning coffee and favorite banana muffin with no rush. Savor the moment of showering with sweet scented magnolia soap that you just bought the weekend before. Joke with your husband, children, or pet. Sing to yourself when putting on your makeup. Do one of those things. Or even two. Don't worry. You have fifteen minutes to spare.

Recharged after weekend!

Weekend for me, and most people I'm sure, is for unwinding and relaxing. On Monday morning, I usually have more energy level, determination, and good spirit after a weekend of recharging, so I'd like to get back on track and get productive.

How to be on your tip top condition on Monday morning:

  • Don't get too tired! Get wild on Saturday, wind down on Sunday evening.
  • Get enough sleep on Sunday night.
  • Avoid Monday morning chaos by preparing as much as you can on Sunday night: breakfast prepwork, the clothes you are going to wear (and your children's clothes), school lunches and supplies, etc. I always prepare a week's worth of working clothes on Sunday evening. No need to think of what I'm going to wear in the morning, when I'm already in rush!

Mondays are very forgiving!

So, you didn't get to do all that you want to accomplish last week? Monday is the time to fix it and challenge yourself to reach that goal this time. Failed your workout last week? Now you know how improve it this week.

How to make the best of it:
  • Learn from what didn't work the week before. For example, I try out new or improved recipe for our weekly meatless dinner on Mondays.
  • If I skipped my workout routine, eating healthy, bible study, whatever, last week, I can always "repent" and do it this coming Monday. Afterall, Monday means a new week!
kate spade, cedar street elissa, kate spade new york, working mom, fashionista mom, stylish mom, career woman

kate spade, cedar street elissa, kate spade new york, working mom, fashionista mom, stylish mom, career woman

Monday evening is the best time for doing some chores

Like grocery shopping! I almost always go to the grocery stores on Monday evenings to avoid long check out lines. Also, why do laundry on the weekend? Why not keeping some chores you usually do on Saturday for Monday evenings? That will free up some more time to enjoy weekend.

How to make the most of Monday evening chores:

  • Try to do your grocery shopping on Mondays. I can almost guarantee that you will spend less time in the store because there is no long lines at the checkout line.
  • Monday is usually very busy, so I avoid heavy-duty chores like cleaning out the fridge. In addition to grocery shopping, my favorite Monday chore is doing laundry that needs no ironing, like sheets, towels, and undergarments. We use automatic machine, so basically all I need to do is dump the laundry into the machine with some detergent, push the button, and that's it. When laundry is done, I can fold them after my son's bedtime while accompanying Hubby watching DVD.

Lesser crowd for evening outs, date nights and movie nights

In Indonesia, going to early movie nights on Monday evenings translate to having most of the theater to ourselves, no lines to buy ticket, you can arrive at the cinema pretty much ten minutes before movie starts and can still get a pretty good seat, and cheaper ticket price. Also, some restaurants have special rate for Mondays.This frugal gal loves discount!

How to make the most of Sunday evening specials:
  • Try meeting your girlfriends for coffee, lunch or dinner on Monday evenings. If you are a wife or mother, weekends are usually for family, so your can keep your Mondays free for your friends.
  • Try to look for special Monday rates at nearby restaurants.
  • If you are single and work like I did, of course you would prefer to hang out on Friday evenings, because you don't need to get up early the next day. But try Monday evenings for a change once in a while. It will give you something fun and exciting to look forward to on Monday!

Monday is the best time to flaunt the new you

Show off that new haircut, that new necklace and cute skirt that you've got from weekend shopping. Try out the new color combination that you want to mix.

How to present the new you on Mondays:
  • Prepare the clothes that you are going to wear the night before. When I was single, I change purse and accessories on a daily basis. After being a mother, I didn't bother to do such meticulous fashion planning, so I change my purse once a week or once every two weeks. I plan my weekly ensemble based on the purse that I choose to wear for that week. It's fun to do on Sunday evening, it takes only 10-20 minutes to plan a whole week ensemble, and it saves plenty of time and sanity on the morning rush. Also, it keeps me fashionable at all times. The secret is because I don't need to think of "What am I going to wear?" every morning, just once a week.
  • If you have children who go to school, prepare their clothes for the week or help and teach them to do so. Make a game out of it so they won't think that as a burden.
  • Wash and pre-style your hair on Sunday evening.
kate spade, cedar street elissa, kate spade new york, working mom, fashionista mom, stylish mom, career woman

kate spade, cedar street elissa, kate spade new york, working mom, fashionista mom, stylish mom, career woman
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

Monday



Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Friday, August 22, 2014

My New Journal N Weekly To-Do-List

Hello, Friends!

You might notice that recently my posts have been all scheduled ones and I have not been writing any weekly recap or weekly to-do-list. I miss journaling, but long traveling always puts extra stress to any mom/wife and a glitch in anyone's daily routine. I'm getting back on track and I realize that without my weekly to-do-list, my daily to-do-list becomes blah and uninspired and repetitive. I don't have any small goals to achieve, I don't have any small projects to do. So I decided to once again write my weekly to-do-list on this blog to keep me focus.

It's just apt that I have finished using my old to-do-list notebook to the last page and am starting to use this new one! I truly love this because it's small enough to carry everywhere or throw inside my purse, but not too small that I have difficulty writing on its pages. I also like the fact that the pages are colorful and decorated. I love cheerful, cute things to use on a daily basis!



Enough said.

This week's to-do-list:
  • Read Chapter 16 of Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle": Smashing Pumpkins.
  • Read and contemplate on the Book of Proverbs Chapter 4.
  • Interview potential contractor for renovation project.
  • Declutter and organize my work desk.
  • Organize Michael's closets.
  • Organize property files online.
  • Purchase new sandals and bottles for Michael.
  • Pay bills.
  • Fix refrigerator downstairs.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Highlights of the Month: Sequins N Traveling

Hello, Friends!
 
I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks due to many, many, many, MANY things. You might notice that I have not been writing week in recap for quite a while, and I most definitely miss writing one! The other posts were scheduled posts, because I try to always have a "post bank" for the days (or weeks) when I'm too busy to write anything or have a writer's block.
 
Well, it's too late now to write week recap, but let me making it up by writing a month recap, sharing with you some highlights of the month of July.
 
First of all, let me share you what I got at the beginning of July. I got these cutesy, kitschy, sequinny, sparkly, glittery Hello Kitty purses! I love sequinned bags, I love Hello Kitty, so both of them rolled into one bag is just putting a big smile on my face. I had been eyeing these babies for awhile on Instagram online shops, but when I really try to buy one, they were ALL sold out. I was disappointed, but didn't care that much, until one day, I went to lunch with my coworkers and stumbled upon a young lady in casual jeans and white shirt carrying a black, sequiny Hello Kitty bag in all bling-bling and shiny, and she looks casual and elegant and classy and edgy at the same time! The real purse was waaaaayyyyy much better looking (or for some people, tacky looking) in real life than in pictures that I saw on Instagram. I said to myself right at that momen: "LeeAnne, you have to have that, or you will regret it for the rest of your life."
 
However, I searched all over the Instagram olshop in Indonesia, and all of them have sold out. I could not find even one bag left, in any color. I was totally devastated. OK, I might sound like an overgrown drama queen, and it felt like that. On Saturday, I went to the mall with my husband and son. Hubby wanted to purchase some new games for his PS3. I got bored waiting for him and wandered with Michael to a clothing store. It's been there forever, and I have been to the mall like a hundred times, but I never entered that particular store. And there it is! Sparkling like tinsel that decorates the Christmas tree, as gorgeous and striking as a glittery disco ball, held by a manequin: this most impractical looking silver beauty...
 
 
 
Really, picture doesn't do it justice. The Hello Kitty face is made up colorful sparkly rhinestones, and the purse is all covered with silver sequins. The size is just correct, and I love the strap. It might look impractical, but actually it can fit many many things. It's just a perfect accessory for a casual look!
 
 
I hesitated to buy it, since again, it doesn't look like a fit purse for a mid-thirty mom like me, but I couldn't get it out of my mind. I kept thinking about it after leaving the store, and after leaving the mall. And I couldn't stop thinking about it all day! So finally, in the evening after Church and after tucking Michael in with the sitter, we went back to the mall - which is conveniently located five minutes away - so I could buy the silver Hello Kitty sequin bag.
 
 
When I stepped into the store, the saleslady told me that the store is having a special this weekend: I would get 40% discount if I buy two items! That's almost half price! There was this other Hello Kitty bag, with clasp style, denim material, and white rhinestones all over it. I felt guilty to want BOTH purses, but Hubby encouraged me. "It's almost like buy one get one free, it would be a pity not to get both, " he said. So I did. And I'm very happy about it, even until today. 
 
 
My Mom would frown and say it's unsuitable. Some people would even say it's tacky. But, hey, I feel fabulous carrying this bag, I feel good! I don't know whether I will still feel comfortable carrying a Hello Kitty bag, or Hello Kitty anything really, several years from now, but up to today, Hello Kitty still makes me smile. I am so thankful that Hubby, though he doesn't care for Hello Kitty, and he couldn't see why I love Hello Kitty so much, fully support my inner-childlikeness. Thank you, Hubby!
 
July was also Indonesia's President election month. This is the first year I vote, so it's pretty special! I never voted before this year, but now since I got older, and a little bit wiser, I realized that it's my right AND responsibility to vote. Every vote matters, and even if there are only two choices which I do not like, I am still able to vote the best of the not-so-good options!


 
 
 
 At the end of July, we would be leaving for a 17-days trip to Italy. Michael would not go with us, staying with my Mom instead. Naturally, we wanted to spend as much time as possible with him before our departure. We took him for walks to nearby park every weekend, we played with him and I read to him after work. Actually it's what we've been doing all along, but this time, we really tried to live in the moment of just being with him, knowing that we won't be seeing his little cute face for 17 days, if you know what I mean. On the last weekend before leaving, I took Michael to my hometown, 45-minute by airplane, and stayed with him during the weekend. My parents, of course, were very happy to have him. They are in their seventies, so I guess it's fun to hear little voices cooing and little feet running around the house again. Look at the picture below of little Michael playing with his Grandpa! So cute, rite!
 
 
 
 
 
It was the first time of me traveling with Hubby, or doing any kind of traveling really, since our marriage, since I got pregnant right after our honeymoon. We had a wonderful time, and I guess we needed some time alone, but we missed our son very much!
 
 
Traveling the world is something that I always dreamed about, and slowly I'm beginning to realize that dream. But like Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz said at the end of the movie: "There's no place like home!"
 
 

Monday, August 11, 2014

Butterfly Garden

I was looking over my old files and found these pics! I think they're worthy of a post, so here they are! Some time ago I have cut the skirt shorter and turn it into casual wear instead of office wear.

On vanity...

Bag or shoes?

Carrie Bradshow will go for Manolos or Louboutins, of course, but I'll choose bag anytime. A bag would never hurt my feet, and it makes as strong fashion statement as a pair of shoes! Not to mention that I could carry LOTS of girlie junk inside one. Another reason? I almost always wear heels, but usually only 2-3 inches max. Four and five inches are gooooorgeous and make the legs appear super long, but to me, they don't worth the pain and the limping. Ow, and I don't care that so many fashionable women can run in them, I can not. So yeah, bag over shoes anytime for this gal.

Colorful or neutral?

As elegant as neutral look may appear to be, to me fashion is mostly about having fun. I love trying out new combination and see how they work. Sometimes they look fabulous. Sometimes they just look like I pick out my outfit while sleeping, a.k.a weird looking. But the point it: it's never boring, and I'm always having fun with my ensemble! I don't have signature look. Not that I'm trying to reach elegance personified like Audrey Hepburn - as much as I admire the lady. I just wear whatever makes me happy AND proper. There are times, of course, when I'll wear safe colors like all blacks, but that's exactly the point: even everyday cheerful, colorful look might be boring after a while. :)


On marriage...

Married or single?

Single if I were a single, married if I were married, and I AM married now. Hahaha! The thing is, have you ever thought about high school or childhood years and think that those were the best years of your life, but no amount of money in the world will be enough to pay you to go back there again because the best time is right here and now? It's like that with me. I still think that my single years were great and fun and much less complicated AND easier than my married life. There are many times when I lamented: "I wish I were single again, it's so much more fun!" But, there are many many times - especially when my husband is being really loving and sweet - when I realized that I didn't really mean it and THIS is the stage that God is placing me now, so it must be the best thing for me right now.

Children or no children?

I know some people who never want to have any children. On the other hand, I know people who desperately want to have children, and they don't have any. Again, for me, it's up to the Lord. I don't feel pressured to have children, but I'm not against having children. My husband wants children, but he doesn't want to put any pressure on me, or on our marriage. We talked before we got married, that we would leave that matter to God. Update: we have a child now, Michael, whom we love very much. And of course, we would trade having him with anything or any situation in the whole world!

Batik flared skirt (find similar here, here)
Forever21 striped top (find here)
Rufled black jacket (find similar here)
Multicolor flower necklace (find similar here, here, here)
Multicolor butterfly necklace (find similar here, here, here)
Bow earrings (find similar here, here)
White heels (find sensible version here, platform here, stiletto here, kitten heels here)


On lifestyle...

Country or big city?

I'm a cityslicker at heart. I enjoy nature and the country, but I love the hazzle and bussle of city life, not to mention the convenience and the vast array of entertainment, museums, shows, shops, choices and opportunities big city life has to offer. It has its own drawbacks, of course, like the traffic and pollution, but it's something I'm willing to cope with.

Lucky for me, I live in a suburb close to the city part. The suburb is like an independent city in itself, with all necessities one might need to live on daily basis: hospitals, schools, beauty parlors, malls, theaters, restaurants, cafes, basically everything the glam and glitters of downtown. Best of all: minimum traffic jam, which is a very appealing quality rare to find in Jakarta. I cannot imagine living any other part of the city.



 
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

Monday



Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...