A Simple Gal Journal: May Caleidoscope of Love, Thanks N Happiness

This May...

I'm loving and thankful and happy...

That for the very first time ever, I'm celebrating birthday with my husband!

It feels odd, yet it feels wonderful, too! I'm still getting used to the idea that I'm a married woman now! ^_^

That so many people remembered my birthday!

I received like six birthday cakes sent to me at my office, I think my colleagues were getting sick from eating too much sweets for the day! I got a cheesecake, a chocolate cake, a strawberry cheesecake, a mango cake, a fruit cake, and a tiramisu cake. I brought home the chocolate cake to give my Mom-in-law, the rest were divided among people at the office.

For these beautiful presents from my Mom-in-law.

She loves fashion, and she knows that I do, too, so she gave me this pretty necklace and metal belt. I'm so excited to style them! I have limited closet space now, I can no longer buy new clothes, shoes or purses, but there's still room for accessories! Haha!

For these lovely birthday gifts from dear friends.

I didn't take pictures of all of them, but I got so many beautiful and thoughtful gifts: body lotion, aromateraphy candles, pretty nightie, cute purse/keychain, chocolates, and many more! I'm so glad and blessed to have so many friends giving me these gifts. I love presents! But what girl doesn't, rite!

For a girlie girl like me, beautiful packaging adds the thrills of receiving presents!

I'm glad to receive these pretty accessories and pale yellow nightie. I have limited storage space now, so no more new purses or shoes, but I still have plenty of space in my accessory boxes! ^_^

And this cheerful yellow key/bag chain will add an extra cheer to any purse. Love it!

And of course for this necklace my dear Husband got me from E-bay as birthday present.

I have wanted this F21 turquoise for quite some time, and it took me some pondering before deciding that I truly wanted it. So, I'm so  glad to finally own one! Thank you, Hubby! I guess you know by now that I just love when you give me presents. Any kind of presents. It doesn't have to be expensive like you love to give me sometimes. No Tiffany box? A package from Ebay will do just fine! No lavish vacation? A simple movie night at home with a box of chocolate will make me happy. He's new to Ebay like so many other people in Indonesia, but several gifts that I insisted that he bought from Ebay for me have convinced him that yes, you can find great deals for great stuffs on Ebay.

For the extra-long four-day weekend!

So I could visit my parents at my hometown for several days, eat my favorite childhood food, just be a child again, sleep, eat, play around the vast garden and have a nice, long conversation with my Mom and Dad. Thank you, Hubby, for letting me having an extra two days before joining me, so I could have some time alone with my parents!

That I live in this era of the internet!

So that I could have all this kind of information and ideas just at the tip of my fingers, literally! I know many people have lamented about the negative side of the internet, but everything in this world has positive and negative sides, depend on how we see it and make it. Let's concentrate on the positive.

I feel very blessed. It's been a great month. Thank you, Lord...

Are you having a great month of May so far?

Ain't A Common Office Gal

A common office gal doesn't strike numerous poses every morning in front of her desk, hahaha!

Anyway, I don't mind if people think I'm weird. Afterall, why settle for the mediocrity of mundane daily life, if you can just whip it up a bit into an extraordinary one?

Anyway, I have secured and moved all my accessories boxes, though I haven't organize my clothes yet (they're still in boxes), so what I do everyday is basically just put on any decent clothes I could manage to find, then spice them up with some accessories. I hope the trick works!

I have a collague who once said to me: "Women only keeps stylish and groom themselves when they're single. I bet that once you catch yourself a boyfriend, you will start slobbing." Well, first of all, I don't think I "catch" a man. I don't think women are supposed to "catch" men, because it sounds like a pushover phrase to me. Also, not only I want to prove that it's not true for girls with boyfriends, I'd like to show that even a married woman doesn't have to look sloppy! Maintaining our God-given body is for everyone, whether you're single or married, rich or poor, male or female, young or old! Even if one is not into fashion, one must take a bath everyday and keep ourselves clean, and that's maintaining our bodies, rite? What do you think, Friends?

I thought people here are used to my antics of taking pictures every morning. Well, not really! Male colleagues still tease and make silly poses while I'm taking pictures! Haha!

Batik shirt: Barata. Skirt: Japanese vintage, Mom's. Shoes: Yongki Komaladi. Purse: unbranded, from Egypt. Necklace: online. Jacket: tailor made. Earrings: Accesorize, Singapore.

And this is how I styled the billowy lemon skirt in the past...

And with an old black shirt, office uniform from previous office.

I'm carrying a bag I got in Egypt last year since I broke the zipper of the one I brought from Indonesia.

Something Bubbly, Something Gold

Hi Friends!

Some of you might know that I just got married at the end of April. Now I'm still in the process of moving and renovating and decorating our new home, so it's kind of super duper chaotic around here! I can't find my things, and there are times when I want to wear a skirt or something, then realize that the shoes or bag or underskirt that goes with it is still in my old house! We haven't got our cupboards and wardrobes up yet, so everything is pretty much scattered all over the floor in cardboard boxes.

My husband basically just moved all his clothes in two suitcases and placed them all in his section of the closet. It took him less than fifteen minutes. Hence, the poor man of mine cannot comprehend how and why it takes me weeks to finish organizing my closet(s). It's out of his masculine brain that for me, closet organizing is an art in itself. It takes time, it takes trials and errors, it's fun (!), and I do enjoy the process of piling, sorting, categorizing, folding, and doing it all over again. Yep, I'm an organized freak. I'm much better now. In the US, I even color code my clothes hangers! It's OK, Dear Husband, you don't need to understand me. Just love and accept me as who I am and what I am and how I am. ^___^

Soooo, when a girl is out of time and her things are separated at two houses, and she's so busy with daily life, work, social life, new marriage life, and a new house, AND she needs to create a blog post, what would she do? She would have to make do, of course, with whatever she has around her!

Well, for me, just wear all black and throw on some gold bubbles on top. Those are the few things I could find in my still-messy closet. Ow, and wear double skinny belts, in silver and gold! Mission accomplished. What do you think of my rather desperate attempt to look stylish today, Friends?

 Shirt: old office uniform by Invio. Skirt: tailor made, hemmed with black lace. Jacket: tailor made. Mustard purse and skinny belts: unbranded. Shoes: Yongki Komaladi. Bubble necklace: Naughty Stores. Bracelets: Shanghai. Gold flower earrings: F21.

A Simple Gal's Journal: Pizza Delivery, Mr. Butterfly?

Today...

Just a lazy hazy Saturday...  One of those perfect, ordinary weekend when the sun is shining, you feel happy and content, nothing very special, but still it's one of those wonderful, lovely days.

I'm smiling because...

I can pose and act silly like this!! Cannot do that with my working outfit pictures since there's no way I can pose like this at the office! Haha!

This old thrift find pouch bag is finally out of the closet after a loooong time...

I found it many years ago at a small town fair somewhere in Texas...

It's a little bit worn and beat up, but still looks nice with this ensemble, don't you think?

So yeah, I'm happy about it!

Aaaaaah.... to be able to wear flats instead of my usual three inches..... and rather fashionable pair, too, if I might so say so myself. And they were on sale when I stumbled upon them at Debenhams. Luckily my pedicure still looks decent for this shot! So yeah, I keep on smiling... ^_^

Give us this day our daily bread..

We had cheese lasagna and BBQ chicken wings at Pizza Hut, Tebet Square. Haven't been to Pizza Hut restaurants for quite a while, and this one has very cute and colorful interior which I love. So, of course I took lots of pictures! 

White is still the best canvas. Just put on some colorful glassware, and they make an interesting backdrop for any room!

I don't know the logic behind this, but somehow old-fashioned menu written with colorful chalks give me this warm feeling inside. It feels... homey... It rings true whether you're in a coffee shop at Manhattan, New York City, or at Starbucks, Singapore, or in this pizza parlor here in Jakarta!

Perhaps I can adopt this style for my future home... I don't think I can get away with my beloved antiques for my first home, it would be too heavy for a small, first home... This minimalist approach will work better.... Until I can afford my dream home and fill it up with antiques like my parents'...

The delighful looking salad bar...

Mix and fun, indeed! I love mixing up my own ice cream topping!

Even the kitchen area is cute! I don't understand why other Pizza Hut chains don't look as pretty as this one!

I'm thankful for...

The clothes I'm wearing, the food I'm eating, the wonderful weather, and the loved ones I'm spending this weekend with. Precious oments that will last forever in one's memory.

Top: unbranded (ITC Mangga Dua). Pink jeans: unbranded, cropped (ITC Mangga Dua). Pouch purse: thrifted, Texas. Sandals: Debenhams. Earrings: Accessorize, Singapore. Bracelets: old collection.

Linking up to:

A Rare Jade Treat

I love my job. I like the work, the challenges, and my boss is great. However, just like so many other employees in the whole wide world, there are times when I literally have to drag myself to the office. Times when I'd rather be anywhere but the office.

Overtime, I've learned that in those times when you couldn't care less of what you're putting on your back, when you tend to just slob around all day, it's the time when you need to dress up the most! Though I always rush in the morning, I really enjoy my morning beauty ritual and it does wonders to lift my mood and prepare my mind to face the day and get ready for whatever life would throw at me. It's like an actress preparing her mentality to play a role. I woke up sleepy and groggy, but during the ritual of showering, dressing up, and putting on my make up, I grow into the role of a confident professional woman, just like Betty Suarez of Ugly Betty says. Even if I ever quit my job someday to raise a family, for example, I believe (I hope!) I will still do that ritual to prepare my day, for my role as a wife and mother. My Mom surely does!

We are so lucky to live in this modern age where various beauty treatments and products and concoctions are widely available and pretty much affordable for just about anyone. From high end brands to drugstore makeup, no woman has any excuse to look sloppy. Of course, there are days when I just slob around in my nightgown all day and totally enjoy it, but I try not to make that a habit!

God has been so good to us, women. Beauty treatments and rituals are not just beneficial for us, they are also very pleasant things to do! The products that beautify us are sweet smeling, delightful to touch, and in pretty packaging that are so adorable to look at sitting on the vanity table and bathroom shelf!

Estee Lauder says, there are no homely women, only lazy women. I have to say, Friends, though some may call it vanity, I, for sure, agree with her!

And afterall, doesn't God love anything lovely and beautiful?

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Striped top: Bebe. Black wrap skirt and jacket: tailor made. Gold heels: Voir (Malaysia). Jade handbag: Guchi. Jade-colored mother-of-pearl earrings: Accesorize. Jade and gold bracelets: Shanghai Tang.

The Ruffle Purple

Does dressing ultra feminine to the office will make your colleagues think less of you in terms of capability and professionalism? Will they think less of you and doesn't take you seriously because you wear something pink, ruffly, and lacy?

Honestly, the higher my position in the career ladder had become, the more feminine my office wardrobe turned to be. Not for any purpose but because that's the way I love to dress. And higher position allows me more freedom. I no longer have more tasks. Instead, I have bigger responsibility. Nobody tells me anymore what to wear or what time I should arrive at the office, as long as I deliver results.

As for dressing, I think the key is to keep it appropriate and not wear something distracting. Distracting could mean anything from too bold colors, patterns that scream too loud, or too much showing the skin. Anything too much, basically.

"Hey, it's me! I could dress however I please!" Hmmmm, yes, each of us is a unique individual, and being oneself is good. But still, we are also a social being who lives with other people. On a certain degree, everyone needs to compromise to social values and custom, unless you are really willing to live alone in the jungle. That's the price we pay for being and choosing to be a social being as well as being an individual.

Would you tell your boss, or your Mom, or your loved one, that he or she looks really silly in that checked shirt? No, you would try to tell it in a nicer way, though you DO think he or she looks silly.

And keeping the balance between the individual and social sides within us, is an art we keep honing until the end of our lives.

I usually wore this ruffled top to hangout, but this time I decided to wear it for work. This is how I usually styled it. You can read the original post here.

Top: unbranded. Pants: Ann Taylor. Wedges: unbranded. Purse: Les Catino.