A Simple Gal Journal: The Beauty Is In The Details

Today...

 I'm thankful for...

Everything! Today is one of those days which I'm grateful just to be alive. I wish I could feel like this everyday. Well, at least I'm trying...

Waking up this morning...

I've been listening to (yes, listening) to YouTube videos while taking my morning shower lately. I have this odd tendency to listen to videos while doing other things instead of really sitting down and watch. Therefore, I usually subscribe to channels which owner has delicious voice that I enjoy listening. It could be cute voice, sultry voice, or thin voice, whatever strikes my mood at that particular moment.

At work...

In the morning, I ran some errands for my boss. No scheduled meetings today, so I took care of some administrative tasks and organizing my filing afterwards. I'm quite happy with my small accomplishments, they give me a sense of progress.

I'm taking delights in...My charm bracelet with 3D charms...

This lovely dangling butterfly earring with intricate detailing...

The flower ruffles on this purple-ish magenta top...

What I had for lunch...

This delicious Indonesian style fried oxtail soup, with hot steaming rice, fried onions and lots of pepper.

Perfect tonic for a cold, gloomy day! It warms and energizes the body, and the rich broth smelled heavenly.

Some snaps taken at the charming little restaurant where we went to lunch...

Wicker tissue box...

The traditional congklak, a kind of children game that has been around since my grandmother's time or even before that. I used to have a lot of fun playing this game with my cousins. I don't know if little kids still play this game nowadays with all the video games and Angry Birds and stuff, but I hope they do. You can use either sea shells, beads or any other small trinkets to play. It's really a fun group game!

In the evening...

I went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, NinetyNine, at Grand Indonesia. The food is not particularly special, just good, but the place is so comfy and cozy and nice to hang out with your friends. I go here for brunch with my girl friends or dinner. The price is a little on the high side for such simple food, but it's the ambiance that you're paying for. And I'm the type of person who's willing to spend more in experiencing something different, than on stuffs. Isn't life all about experiencing instead of accumulating?

NinetyNine is by all means not a homey, family type restaurant though. More like a hip dining place. rather borgeouis-y, but not snobbish. And as much as this girl enjoys spending time at home, I need a bit of variety once in a while, so I'm really glad to spend an evening at this gorgeous establishment.

Overall, a nice, ordinary day of an ordinary girl lives an ordinary life.

The kind of sweet ordinaries that makes life extraordinary.

Magenta top: Express (USA). Black tank top underneath: unbranded. Black slacks: LOFT (USA). Bag: Elle. Shoes: Yongki Komaladi. Bangle: Le Marie. Charm bracelet: Warna. Butterfly earrings: Warna. Belt: unbranded. Trench coat: Papaya (USA).

Linking up to:

He Holds The Key To My Heart

I had no idea what title I should give this post, but then I noticed these key-like earrings I wore, and decided the title on a whim. The earrings were from my Fall Haul 2011 as you can read in this post here. The point is, I want to wear pants today, but still want to look feminine, because... well, maybe because it's Valentine's Day? What do you think of my attempt, Friends? ^_^

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!

Black slacks: office uniform by Invio. Black turtleneck: Lerner New York. Blazer: tailor made. Pastel color-blocking bat-style stop: Escrava. Purse: Palomino. Shoes: Yongki Komaladi. Necklace: Warna (MKG). Earrings and bracelet: Naughty (MKG).

Color Burst

I wore this super-cheerful, happy-color, bright ensemble for Chinese New Year family gathering a while back, and then totally forgot to post it. I'm such a lousy blogger. But anyway, better late than never, rite. Haha!

What I mean family here, are my aunties, uncles and cousins. Every year, an auntie host this annual gathering for all relatives who live in Jakarta or nearby towns and suburbs.

These are some rules that I live by when visiting, including visiting my own relatives:

Wear something nice and proper, depend on the occassion

Show respect for those who will have to see you and look at you. When I was younger, I thought I could get away with wearing anything and doing anything I want by saying: "I am just being myself!". Now I realized that being myself with no caring of hurting or annoying others is just plain childish and selfish. Yes, stay true to yourself, but anyone who refuse down pat to consider other people's feelings and needs altogether, would better live alone in the jungle!

The color red is very significant for Chinese New Year. It is considered bad luck to wear gloomy or dark colors on this auspicious day. Thus, I always opt for bright, happy colors to wear for this annual celebration.

Also, I know there would be little children attending - nieces and nephews -, so I avoid clothes that are too short (Little children have low eye level, you don't want them to see what's under auntie's micro mini!), or too tight, or made of too sheer fabric. Children nowadays are exposed to too many shows and entertainment which I don't consider good role models, such as Keeping Up with You-Know-Who, so I don't think myself as their auntie need to add another bad example on top of that by wearing immodest clothing right in front their faces! Of course, modesty really depends on culture and where you live. For example, some cultures and religions see pants as immodest on women. For others, pants are okay. My own rule for modesty is quite simple: be attractive, NOT attract-ing!

Arrive on time, early, or late, depends on your tradition and culture

In the US, it is considered rude to arrive more than 10 minutes late. But here in Indonesia, 15 to 30-minute late is considered normal, even proper for large informal gatherings like this one. The invitation says 12 noon, so I depart from my house at 12 o'clock sharp so I could arrive at my auntie's house around 12.30-ish. Of course, it's not applicable for formal or business meetings or when you are meeting friends at the mall!

Bring a hostess gift or contribute something to the party

I notice that my cousins brought dishes last year, and an auntie always brings fresh fruit every year. So for this year, knowing there will be little nieces and nephews running wild around the house, I brought ice creams! I bought them from nearby supermarket, in little cups with plastic spoona, so the hostess won't need to wash too many bowls and spoons. Yeah, yeah, I am pro green living, but for this kind of events, I think it's OK to use plastic utensils for convenience.

Another auntie brought disposable paper cups, which are great because with so many guests sitting and drinking together, it's easy to get your glass mixed up with others'. With disposable cups you feel free to use a new cup without feeling you add a burden to wash those additional glasses to the hostess. Or to the hostess' maid(s).

Try to be a good guest

Just the usual ettiquette every child above 2 years old should know. Engage in conversation, be polite, be cheerful, say thank you. Help the hostess to keep away dirty plates. Don't put on a sour face. Don't critize the food. Again, have respect for your host or hostess, and for other guests. Don't you want other people to have respect for you, as well?

Don't leave too early or stay too long!

What are your rules to be a good guest?
Red dress: unbranded. Necklace and earrings: unbranded child's accessories! (I got inpired by this post at Clothed Much blog) Mustard backpack: Zara. Skinny jeans: Forever21. Wedges: Ana Eslie.

By the way, these platform wedges are new. They are gift from a friend. Aren't they pretty? It's just that I'm not used wearing shoes with arch that high, even platform wedges, and need some getting used to. I wish they were an inch shorter so the arch won't be that high.

The Perfect Pink Pucker

There it is. The perfect pink pucker. I've been searching high and low for the perfect shade of pink lipstick, and at least for now, the search is over. On daily basis I wear very little makeup, just some neutral or purple eyeshadow, and some bright color lipstick. No eyeliner, no mascara, no shading, no highlights, no blush. I didn't have makeup brushes, instead I used clean fingers to apply my makeup. Pale face, either matte or dewy, is my trademark. That's why I need a bit of color on my lips, so I'll have a face, therefore the shocking pink or fuschia lipstick.

YouTube beauty and makeup videos have completely corrupted me! I bought brushes (which I haven't used, except for the lipbrush). I bought colorful eyeshadow pallette (which I haven't touched, either). And inspired by one of my favorite YouTube gals, April of AprilAthena7, I fell for pale pink lip color. Lipstick, lipgloss, doesn't matter, I want that perfect, glossy, baby doll pink that looks so yummy and sweet and dainty and pretty and ultra-feminine on my lips!

And now that I've got one, this gal is happy. At least for now, I'm loving the color! And best of all is.... it's been hiding there in my box of new, unused lisptick collection all this time. I just never cared to wear light colors on my lips before. So came out of the box it went and into my daily makeup essentials. Together with fuschia and shocking pink old time favorites.

So yeah, I'm wearing baby doll pinks now, daily. What do you think, Friends? Yay or nay?

It says moisturestay, but actually the lipstick is very drying!

So I mix it with a bit of nude gloss to add some moisture

Call A Spade A Spade

"Then the Prince took the Princess to his castle, and there they got married and lived together and had children and worked and decorated the castle and fought and reconciled and laughed and cried and had fun and got bored and loved each other and got mad at each other and forgave and loved each other again and got sick and got well and got poor and rich again and grew old together, etc. But overall, they lived happily ever after."

Ending of The Princess Fairy Tale a la LeeAnne, Style N Season

Some time ago, me and my friend Inti did some browsing at Kate Spade boutique and got this cheerful red flower pin that we can use to receive a 10% discount.
Now, I've been wanting to incorporate flower pins to my outfits for like forever, but somehow never found the perfect one. You know, if it's to my taste then it's too expensive. If it's affordable, it doesn't look right. Yada yada yada. I even planned to make a DIY project out of it but somehow never really see it through. Anyway, finally I really wear flower pin! Yayy!!

It's just perfect for a busy but supposedly casual Saturday! Powder blue top with DIY baby blue beadwork: MNG. Jeans: Jordache (USA). Red striped wedges: Mon Cher by Lolly. Red and white flower earrings: Claires (USA). Red and white scarf: thrifted. Tosca blue bag: Stradivarius (gift). Red flower pin: free from Kate Spade.This is how I wear the Kate Spade flower pin. I made a simple knot on the baggy powder blue top, then simply stuck the pin, making sure that its facing was at the front side. Notice the baby blue bead-work near the neckline? Originally they weren't there, but I thought the powder blue color makes me look pale and washed out. It needed a little something, hence came the DIY beadwork project! We went to Citos (Cilandak Town Square) to watch a funny Indonesian movie titled "Get Married". It's the third installment of a comedy trilogy, about marriage, having triplet babies, being a good spouse, parents, and getting along with the in-laws. I didn't follow the first nor second installment, nor I'm an avid movie-goer, yet I enjoyed it and laughed out loud with other viewers because the story is light, easy, fun, and with a good moral message. Certainly, even in the movie, being married and having children is not easy!After the movie, we went for dinner at Ocha & Bella, a new cool place to hang out at Menteng area, at Morrissey Hotel complex. They just opened in March this year. Ouch, if I knew we're heading to such a place, I'd definitely be more dressed up! Oh well...

This is the bar are of the restaurant. Ocha, btw, means tea in Japanese. Bella, of course, means beauty in Italian. Nice combination, and easy to remember, too! This is the dining area. The outdoor bar.

And they have outdoors sofas, too! If only the view is the beach instead of the busy street, I'd feel like in Bali! They have an open kitchen, so you can see how your food is being prepared. They have this really cool stone stove for pizza. Mmmm...The food is not very special, but not bad, either. A bit pricey, but not over the top. Just like any other hip cool places in Jakarta, I would say. You basically pay for the interior, the ambiance, and the crowd. People come here not just to eat or meet friends, but also to see and be seen, if you know what I mean. Some might say it's a superficial world, these kinds of glamorous vibe, but let's admit, it's fun to be and look and feel glamorous once in a while, as long as we keep it in moderation and the righ life perspective. I don't know why they call this dish guinea pig, but it tastes really good. This was taken outside the restaurant, at Morrissey Hotel lobby.

Overall, it's a fun, full night out!

For more info:

Ocha & Bella

Phone: (021) 310-5777Fax: (021) 315-6777

Morrissey (Citadines Quartier Hotel)

Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim No. 70, Menteng, Jakarta