Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Week in Recap: Ordinary Life

I am sad to say that Hubby's auntie, Aunt Marie, who I wrote here was battling cancer, has passed away yesterday on Monday. Please, kindly pray for her soul and for the family who is left behind, especially her children: Pram and Sheila. This is a truly mourning period for Hubby's family; with two of the youngest sisters/aunties in the family passed away within the period of less than a month.
 
Hello, Friends!
 
Last week had been a rough week and I've been really stressed out and running around like a headless chicken. Many arguments as well between Hubby and I, both of us were really drained last week, but thankfully, all have been resolved and we kissed and made up. Hurray!! Well, they say that a ship was not built to avoid the storms of the high seas, rite. So is marriage is not built just to withstand the good times, but also the bad times; sweet disposition as well as bad mood and fights. That's what makes it a covenant not to be taken lightly!
 
On top of the many tasks needed finishing last week, we also got cheated by the store where we usually buy building material for our renovation project, named KendiM*s. She sent more expensive material for lesser quantity without notifying us, with an excuse that she is out of the cheap brand and she was trying to "help" us. Help us! She could just have sent a quick text telling us she was out, and we would have said OK anyway. When I said so, she said in a very impolite tone to take our business elsewhere, which I quickly reply "You dang sure we will!" This kind of dishonesty and rude attitude we will not tolerate, so no more business with that store! I was determined to find another, more honest, store to take our business to. And glad to say, we did find a better store with even better prices. Ha!
 
But looking back, I realized that even during the extremely strenuous week, we still had many delightful, lovely moments sprinkled on top, middle, bottom and all around. ^__^ Allow me share with you, Friends, also as a reminder that even in the middle of the darkest pit, God still sends us small love packages tied with a pretty ribbon everyday!
 
About food...
 
On the weekend we decided to heat up some frozen dim sum that Hubby bought from a coworker. The dim sum came in packages of ten each, and overall they are way cheaper than if we go eat them at restaurants. We had siaomay and fried shrimp tofu. Hubby had some black coffee with a piece of chocolate biscuit with cream filling. I said dim sum is supposed to be eaten with green tea, but Hubby argued that it's Chinese tradition. In peranakan culture (mixed of Chinese and Malay culture, common in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia), people have dim sum and coffee at Kopitiam or CoffeeShop. Delicious!

 
 
Remember the little ice cream parlor Hubby and I went on the evening of Hubby's birthday? We went there again in the afternoon and this time, I made sure that I took lots of pictures! The place is really cute and it reminds me of my parents' home in my hometown. Lind's in an ice cream chain originated in my hometown, but they have opened several branches in other cities, including Jakarta where I live now. The interior and furniture is pretty similar to that of my parents' home: heavy wooden chairs and tables, some with marble tops, heavily gilded mirrors, huge Chinese vases, antique objects and ornaments and clocks. Ow, and lots of lots of greens that add more homey and secluded, serene ambiance.
 
 The wooden furnitures and lush greens makes this place feels nice and cozy.
 
 
For me: Tazmanian devil. A mix of chocolate and moccha ice cream with hazelnuts, chocolate sauce topping, and cherry on top. Yummy and pretty looking, rite!
 
 
For Hubby: Praline Macchiano. I guess it has lots of coffee ice cream in it. Not sure of the mix. As usual, my cofee lover husband ordered coffee to go with the ice cream. Look at the cute sugar sachet! I love pretty details like these!
 
 
 
About Michael...
 
Remember the wine and coffee station that I created for Hubby's post family birthday party? It was made of a small cart that was used for Christmas parcel, and now I repurposed the cart as a toy for Michael. He pretends that the cart is a train, and the dolls are his passenger. He has such a good time pushing the "train" around the house and made little "choo choo" noises, and collecting payment from the passengers! He really enjoys the game. I don't often buy Michael new toys. He just play with everyday things around the house. Even his dolls are not new, except one Winne The Pooh doll that I got him from grocery store, they are old dolls of mine or gifts that I laundered clean and gave him to play with. The reason is not just about being frugal with money, but also with space. I don't want toys invaded his playing space. Besides, I want him to be creative with whatever resources he has around, and appreciate his things. We don't want him growing up with the notion that he can ask for whatever newest game is out there and we will buy them for him.
 
Actually, the main reason I kept the cart is for him to play with. However, over the past year, the little cart had served as his lunch station, cleaning supply container, and wine corner station! The time is just right to turn this little cart into "new toy", since Michael is now way too tall to push his walkers. The cart is the perfect height for him now.
 

 
 
 
Michael has also learnt to put trash in the proper place: the trash can.
 
 
Some might be horrified to see this picture of a toddler playing with Johnnie Walker boxes, but let me assure you that they are empty boxes. Hubby loves wine, so we do have a modest wine collection at home, but we don't keep any other alcoholic beverages. However, a part of my job is the Penthouse office, so sometimes I bring home empty beverage boxes for play or storage. The boxes are pretty sturdy because they are used to keep breakable bottles and they are very pretty, as well. Michael plays with them like legos, he organized them like blocks.
 
 
 
Rrr... then he made them a stool of some sort. ^__^
 
 
Michael is terrified of doctor's visits. That's why I had an idea to get him a doctor toy set so he can familiarize himself with the idea of doctor and immunization. While playing, I can also explain to him in simple words and sentences that doctors are not bad people who like to hurt him, they are there to help him, to heal him, and to avoid him of getting sick. This is the set I bought him. The set is for toddler aged three and above, but it should serve its purpose. I kept most of them in the drawer so we won't be losing them, and just gave Michael the stetoscope, the scissor (Michael thought it was a nail clipper), and the syringe needle. Oh, and the phone. Michael loves the phone, and having an old rotary phone is a new and interesting idea to him, since he only knows click and dial phone, or modern cell phones.
 
 
Michael loves his new toy set! As result, his dolls, Mommy and Daddy, and the childminder are all turned into "patients". Here he is, looking so serious playing with stetoscope as dr. Lung M.D., with his "patients". Well, I'm not sure if our next doctor's visit will be more "peaceful", but it's worth a try. Besides, he's having a good time playing!
 
 
About winding down afterhours...
 
Last week was pretty tense, that Hubby had trouble sleeping. To try to induce him to a good night sleep, I tried a simple trick of aromateraphy. I don't like wearing perfume, but I have some body spray that people gave me as gifts. I usually share my gifts with the girls at the office, but I keep some things for myself, like this bodyspray from BodyShop called Pink Grapefruit. I have another one called Japanese Cherry Blossom, but this grape one is Hubby's favorite of the two, so I used this a lot last week. I sprayed our linen and his pillow as well as the curtain, and the subtle sweet scent permeated the bedroom, created peaceful and serene mood in preparation of a good night sleep. I don't know if it's a mental thing, like you were telling yourself "Oh, I'm using this so I will sleep well tonight", but it worked! If you have some trouble sleeping, you should try it. Tell me in the comments if you have tried something like this before and whether or not it worked for you. It worked for me and my husband.
 
 
Hubby's reading all includes his cell phone. He reads e-books and news on tab and Samsung Galaxy Note before bedtime. I prefer to read real books or blogwalking or watching YouTube videos on my laptop before bedtime. My eyes are not keen to small screens like cell phones or even tablets. This kind of companionable time is what we have on most evenings before we go to bed. Sometimes we watch DVD or just talk.
 

 
I know it's not good to snack before bedtime, but sometimes I like to indulge in moderation! These "worms" are cheese sticks with flour, egg and garlics and they are just devilicious! I try to keep my portion small, though.
 
About small projects...
 
One of my last week's to do list is to organize the top of my main bedroom fridge. I have two baskets there: one white with pink roses that I got at a Daiso store (kind of Japanese style Dollar Store), and the other is a brown box with green birds embroidered on it that used to be... guess what, a parcel container! I keep rolls of wrapping papers and aromateraphy sticks in the first basket, and all sort of junks in the other. I used to have used grocery plastic bags to line the room trash can, papers, odds and ends, my hairdryer and straightener, snacks, my glasses and glasses boxes, and lots of junks. Basically I threw everything that didn't have a home there in the basket! It looks ugly and overflowed!
 
One of the small projects that I wanted to tackle last week was organizing this basket. I threw away things that belonged in the trash can, then tidying up a bit. This is the before and after picture. Now I can see everything in the basket without having to dig around! It looks much nicer too, sitting on top of the fridge.
 
Small projects like these make me feel accomplished and good about myself. It takes about five to ten minutes, so I don't need to dedicate a big chunk of time to do it, otherwise I will feel overwhelmed and choose not to do it at all! If you need an extra mental boost and motivation to get organized, try doing small projects like these. Tackle one or two each week, and you will get the whole room organized before you realize. I also decoupaged some used cardboard boxes with wrapping papers, which I will share in another post.
 
 
 
About life at the office...
 
One of the ladies was celebrating her birthday last week, and she ordered pizza for us. Here we are, with the birthday girl!
 

 The pizza went pretty fast!
 
 
About last week's favorite Bible verse...
 
An antidote to keep me thinking of positive, beautiful thoughts, despite the ultra stressful week that made me want to scream.
 

 
 
About whatever is lovely...
 
 
I love being a woman! There are so many lovely little things available for women today. Little things and big things that make us happy. I enjoy blue clear sky, a walk in the park with my son and husband on Saturday mornings, walking fast, cold drink in the middle of a hot day, and many many more. But I want to highlight some girlie stuff that add some sparkle to my week!
 
This lovely flower necklace...

 
 
This blue beaded pouch that used to be my coin purse, but now I turned into a cell phone pouch for my phones, because my old one is no longer proper to carry around.
Inside I keep a lipbalm, my phones of course, a lipgloss, a scrunchie, and a USB. I carry this pouch with me all day, every minute of the day, literally, during my working hours. That's why it contains more than just cell phones!
Speaking of lipbalm, I started on this SilkyGirl magic pink lip balm last week. I used to wear this for a long time, then I switched to another product from SilkyGirl, but didn't like it. Now I'm back to using magic pink. It's the kind of balm that looks sheer but leaves a fresh pink tint on your lips. It moisturizes as well as beautify. Very practical to wear at the office! I don't need to reapply lipbalm AND lipstick every hour or so.
Aaaaand.... as if a continuation of His words to think about anything lovely, God gave me this lovely sign on Friday, to close the exhausting week. I was walking around the mall on Friday evening just to unwind for half an hour or so before going home, and I saw this sign. I stopped.
 
Bath & Body Works is coming to Jakarta, to the mall close to where I live!!!!! I love the BBW three wicked candles so much, but you cannot get them in Indonesia, so I'm super super excited. I just hope they won't jack up the prices like they did with Payless Shoe Store. Here in Indonesia, Payless is not cheap!
 
 
Last week's to do list:

  • Start to read and contemplate on Hebrews part of the Bible.
  • Start to read one new book. I read a comic book and finished it, haha!
  • Read Chapter 8 of Kitami Masao's "The Swordless Samurai: Friends and Family", a historical story of how a Japanese "warrior" who could not fight rose into power and unified all of Japan with his power of mind, interpersonal skills, and shrewdness.
  • Renovation project week 10: putting concrete for the 2,5th floor, putting in plumbing system and door frames.
  • Updating iTunes on my laptop, so I can upload files from my iPhone.
  • Fix the broken dining chair and Michael's nursery window latch.
  • Laundry old dolls.
  • Grocery shopping.
  • Organize the main bedroom fridge and top of the fridge.
  • Organize the coffee station corner.
  • Organize my personal facebook pictures.
  • DIY: decoupage two book cases from used A4 paper cardboard boxes.
  • Saskia's wedding.
  • Visit next neighborhood park with Michael and Hubby on Saturday.

This week's to do list:

  • Read and contemplate on Hebrews 2.
  • Start reading Gary Thomas: Sacred Marriage.
  • Read Chapter 8 of Kitami Masao's "The Swordless Samurai: Friends and Family", a historical story of how a Japanese "warrior" who could not fight rose into power and unified all of Japan with his power of mind, interpersonal skills, and shrewdness.
  • Renovation project week 11: finishing walls, looking for gate maker, start buying floor tiles, looking for other stores to buy building materials; just in case.
  • Updating iTunes on my laptop, so I can upload files from my iPhone.
  • Organize the china closet.
  • Organize our book shelves.
  • Continue organizing my personal facebook pictures.
  • Buy, wrap and send wedding gift for Hubby's cousin.
  • Send caregiver care package to Bandung.
  • Looking for new childminder. Our current one is pregnant.
  • Write one fashion post.
 
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

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6 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings.

November 12, 2014 at 10:03 AM
a joyful noise said...

sorry about your hubby's aunt. Children often enjoy a box or pot or pan from the kitchen over a store bought toy. Thanks for sharing at Tell me a Story.

November 12, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your recent losses. Losing 2 family members in a month is tragic. I love the outdoor ice cream shop and the pictures of your precious "doctor" son :). He looks so happy and content with his new toy.

November 12, 2014 at 8:10 PM
Amber Cadenas said...

It's wonderful how you delight in these "ordinary" things of life. Thank you for sharing with us at Unforced Rhythms.

November 13, 2014 at 8:52 AM
Jess said...

Wow! That ice cream looks so good! Thanks for sharing your life with all of us!

November 16, 2014 at 10:09 PM
Christina Morley said...

Your little boy has the cutest toys and even the boxes! Amanda, my 6 year-old, sometimes asks to go wine tasting. Of course, she never drinks the wine. She just likes the outings and the bubbly grape juice that some wine estates in South Africa make for kids. Lavender fragrance is also good for helping with sleep. And, sorry for your loss. Thanks for linking on Amanda's Books and More! God bless.

November 18, 2014 at 10:33 PM

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