2024

2024 was a year of growth. It was a difficult one, full of challenges. I don't hate this year, but it's not easy to forgive, either.
A lot has happened in one year, from all of the ups and downs, 2024 was giving everything. There have been moments where I felt like I couldn't pass through the year, but thankfully, my support system is the best I've ever had.
2024 showed me how to trust myself more. I rebuild myself again. My relationship with myself was tested again. I've promised myself I would never go back to where I used to be. I won't. I worked so hard to be where I am now. I feel like my best self after such a long time, so I would never throw my effort all these years like it was nothing.
This year taught me that my health is my priority, be it physical, mental or emotional health. I'm not someone who is blessed with prime physical health, and of course, it can be challenging for my mental health as well. Despite everything, I relearned how to take care of my well-being in the best way possible. 
If there's something I learned the most from this year, it is that not every question needs an answer immediately. Not every action needs a reaction. We might not realise this, but this is one of many ways in life to make a space in you for something greater, and sometimes we mistake it as a punishment. 
2024 was not easy, but it was necessary. An eye, mind and heart opener. So, thank you, 2024! 

END OF YEAR REFLECTION

Time in 2024 flies so fast yet so compact. I feel like I live 3 years of my life in one year and that's something! Through ups and downs I've through this year, I found myself stronger and wiser than I was before. That's something worth to celebrate. Yourself is always worth to celebrate.
Anyway, here are questions I answer for my end of year reflection.

• What am I most proud of this year?
• How did I change and grow?
• Who did I feel my best around? 
• My most grateful moments were... 
• Who did I lean on the most?
• What could Ihave done differently?
• What was the biggest challenge?
• I felt happiest when... 
• My biggest lesson was...
• The best advice I received in 2024 was... 
• What is my main goal next year?
• How was this year made me feel?

I wish 2025 will be better year for everyone. Happy new year!!

OUR FIRST YEAR AS HUSBAND AND WIFE

Some people say the first year of marriage is tough. If that's the most common case, we are blessed. If anything, our relationship becomes better each day. We've been together for two years and married for a year, with each day that has passed, we've become better and more comfortable with each other. I'm not saying we didn't face any challenges, we do. But it's not our relationship, those strong winds come from outside factors and we're lucky our ground is strong. 
Taufan and I don't find it hard to adjust to cohabitation, though it's a huge adjustment period. We are learning how to share space and live together. Moving into a shared space might bring to light the differences and preferences each of us may have, and that will need compromise, patience, and healthy communication. Mundane domestic adjustments also happened naturally. I like to organise things, clean, and do house chores. Taufan is someone who also likes to do stuff too, so we take turns. This matter is probably the easiest for us to adjust. It happens so naturally that with no hesitation, we help each other to take care of our place and things. 
Adjusting our financial situation is also fairly easy for us. I'm not a shopaholic and neither is Taufan. So it's not a big problem as we only stick to what we need. We are both also fine with missing out - none of us cares about hype and stuff like that. Way before we got married, we already talked about finance and how we wanted to organise that. 
One thing that I understand why it feels so natural for us to blend together is none of us have a high degree of expectations. We of course have certain expectations, but neither of us forces the expectations to one another. We communicate things. We keep learning how to communicate our needs, preferences, and concerns. We discuss uncomfortable topics. Although on some days, some things lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, we never go to bed angry. Whenever we have misunderstandings, we take time alone, and when we are both ready we talk about it. We plant this mantra in our heads: it's not us against each other but us against the problem. 
Our healthy communication is something we are both proud of and this saves us from unnecessary drama. 
We both still learning is to blend two families together. There are some things that I personally found challenging to comprehend from one side or conflicted with my perspectives. It can be hard for us to navigate our spouse’s family when they may have different religious or political values, tense relationships with siblings, and some degree of toxicity. I'm thankful whenever there's a problem from outside, both Taufan and I think objectively and discuss it together. Tackling different family traditions and cultures can create stress, trigger trauma, and poke their mental issues that's why it is important to have a spouse who can be open-minded and objective, just as important as to have a spouse who can defend you, especially from their family. After all, it is OUR relationship, not our family's. Learning to differentiate and understand what's best for you, your spouse and your family can be challenging, but it is not impossible. You must, it's very important for you and your spouse. 
I believe every relationship is unique and couples have their own way of dealing with their problems. Some say Taufan and I are still in our honeymoon period, but really, since the beginning of our relationship, we are always like this. We struggle through big changes together and I think we did an amazing job as nobody knows how we deal with that. The point is that your first year of marriage should only make you more sure of the person you’ve chosen to be your one and only. Your 'The One' should give you energy instead of taking it from you. 

PLAYLIST | RAINY SEASON

I don't know about you, but during rainy season I like to hear some melancholy songs. I know, it sounds so depressing but honestly, the combination of rain, a cuppa, mellow songs, and warm blanket is the best! 
Here are some songs that are on my frequently listening. 

1. Number One Girl - Rosé 
2. Right Through Me - Day6
3. Lose Control - Teddy Swims
4. Wings - Birdy
5. Life is but a Dream - Avenged Sevenfold
6. And Then You - Greg Laswell

What's your current favourite song? Let me know x

THE SECOND YEAR

There aren't enough ways to put this into words to describe how beautiful the past two years with you are.
One thing I know for sure is that I really am the luckiest girl to get to do life with you.
You are a strong, wise, loving, cheeky man who loves me in every way I need to be loved.
Thank you for all you do and all you are. 
I love you so much, my love.

BOOK | RECENTLY READ

I'm back in the game of reading at least one book a month! It's only been 3 months since I posted my previous recently read and now I'm back with some more books to review here! Pssst... Sometimes I open my Goodreads account but most of the time, I forget. Such a forgetful girl!

I won't be writing an in-depth review, just a brief one for each book.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat - Syou Ishida

This is such a unique and poetic book with an adorable concept! This book has five heartwarming and captivating stories that keep you reading. This book also reminded me of my cats, especially Flynn my adorable orange cat, and how he always comforts me when I need it. One thing this book left me was how I felt after reading, hopeful and inspired. 

5/5 stars 

If Cats Disappeared From The World - Genki Kawamura 

This is the type of book that I want to read when I just want to relax with a cuppa and a soft, cosy blanket. It's a fun read but yet made me think a lot of things that actually matter in my reality. The story is nothing dramatic but everything in this book is unique. The main character, the cats, the surprise character - everything combined to form a unique, heartfelt story. 

5/5 stars

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson

Usually, I read the book and then watch the film or the series. However, it's the other way around with this one. I watched the TV series first and got the book after. I like both, which again, is something unusual. Jackson's writing style still gave me my own imagination even after watching the series. Obviously, the book gives you more details and explanation than the series, but overall, both are so good! 

4/5 stars 

What's your current read book? Let me know! Xx

BALI (III)

This month marks 2 years since I packed my life and moved to Bali. This beautiful island has been so kind to me - reconnected with some of my old friends, gave me beautiful opportunities, and most importantly, personal growth. 
Not every day here is filled with roses and daisies, but it is always so much better, even when things are hard. Mainly because I surround myself with people who are good for my mental health. So when things get rough to the point it's threatening my mental health, I still can manage. 
I am proud of myself for how far I've come. To be the person that I am today, I worked so hard. Countless hours of crying, stopping myself from doing things I should not do, therapy sessions, medicine, and everything that is humanly possible, I have done it. 
So, honestly, this is not solemnly about Bali. This is about how I distance myself to put together pieces by pieces of me. This is about how I give myself a second chance in life, to rebuild my life, and to reintroduce myself to the world. This is about me allowing myself to be vulnerable yet so powerful. This is about me finding my strength. I am not a perfect person, I will never be. But you know what? 
I am perfectly imperfect and that's beautiful.

PLAYLIST | OLDIES BUT GOODIES

These are the songs I've been listening lately. Some are new songs, the rest are actually the oldies but goodies. If you know me, I like to listen to my old playlists and rediscover my favourite songs. Anyway, let me know your current favourite songs!! 
Psst... The list is not in a particular order. 

1. Through The Fire - Chaka Khan
2. Hopelessly Devoted to You - Olivia Newton-John 
3. APT. - Rosé & Bruno Mars
4. Right Through Me - Day6
5. Midnight Waltz - David Garrett, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Franck van der Heijden
6. Mantra - Jennie

A WEEKEND IN LIFE: MENJANGAN

All photos are mine

Last month, my husband and I decided to have the weekend early, we took Friday off and went on a 5 hours road trip with Menjangan Dynasty Resort as our destination. I've been eyeing MDR for a long time, perhaps way before we got married. However, with scheduling conflicts, budget, and everything, the trip had to be postponed. It's not always easy for my husband to take a day off from work. His role requires him to be always available - sometimes during weekends too. So when he was able to take a day off, without thinking too much, we booked the hotel around 10 days before the trip. We're so lucky there's still a room left! 
We stayed in one of the beach tents, which was perfect for a couple like us. The view was literally so pretty, you could see the beautiful beach and blue sky right from the porch. The service was amazing. After we checked in, they brought us to our room with a golf cart. When we got to our room, there was a welcome fruit basket with a cute note waiting on the table, the amenities were fully stocked and the bed was pretty comfortable despite the room idea was to sleep in a tent. One thing that both my husband and I wished them to improve was the bedding, for us, it was too rough and somewhat felt cheap. We prefer linen, cotton, or different materials such as tencel or bamboo bedding. But, to note, this is purely your preference!
We originally wanted the villa with a private pool but it was fully booked. But it didn't bother us much because the deluxe tent was just as comfortable as the Vila one, just smaller, and the public pool wasn't too crowded. In general, MDR is not a busy resort - it's somehow secluded, perfect for those who want to get away from the busy, hectic, life. What makes it perfect is, that MDR is a one-stop service kinda resort. They have water activities, a gorgeous restaurant with good food, and an astonishing view. My husband and I just wanted to relax, so we mostly spent the day on the day bed on the beach - he's playing games and I reading a book. 
Overall, we had a wonderful stay at Menjangan Dynasty Resort. Such a beautiful, relaxing place with a wonderful view, and amazing service. Highly recommend! 

A DAY IN LIFE

Let's spend a day-off with me! I don't always do this on my day off, but occasionally I like to pamper myself as a self-reward after working so hard. Especially in the past few months, a lot has happened and this type of day is very much needed. It was a nice sunny day so I decided to do some errands! 
As per usual on any day, I started my day by doing my skincare routine. After my husband left for work (he didn't get the same day off as me), I made our bed, cleaned up our space and also did the laundry. Once everything was in place and neat, I did my makeup and got dressed. 
The first on my pamper day to-do list was to do my nails. I found this press-on nail company called Eze Nails on e-commerce and ever since I have stopped getting my nails done at the salon. The one I used this time was dusty rose. The colour compliments my skin and is definitely perfect for everyday colour. 

THE ONE

There's no right or wrong answer to this question: how do you know he's the one? I used to wonder about that too and the more I thought about it, the more I realised, I wouldn't understand until I felt it. 

It's completely normal to have that question lingering in your mind. We don't want to waste our time, feelings, and energy with the wrong person. Some people want to bring the relationships to the legally binding, and some want both parties to reach the same level of commitment. One thing that we all share in common is to have a good relationship with a good person. A relationship is each other's commitment. 

It can be so easy to say 'I love him!' at the beginning of the relationship. We are filled with the excitement, the joy and perhaps certain expectations. Sometimes, we are also blinded by the idea of love. People cross each other's paths for reasons. And naturally, we hope the reason is a wonderful one.

If there have to be signs that you have found the one, these are probably what I can tell you, purely based on my understanding and experience. Please note, that I am not an expert in relationships or love, these are purely my opinions.

INDONESIA BERTUTUR 2024

Aku, suami, dan teman-teman kami merayakan Hari Kemerdekaan Indonesia yang ke-79 dengan mengunjungi festival budaya Indonesia Bertutur yang diadakan oleh Kemendikbud. Tema InTur 2024 ini adalah Mengalami Masa Lalu, Menumbuhkan Masa Depan. Selain berbagai pameran seni di museum-museum, festival ini juga menghadirkan musisi-musisi kebanggaan tanah air untuk meramaikan. Dari sekian yang tampil, orkestra Erwin Gutawa adalah salah satu yang paling aku tunggu. If you know me, I'm a sucker for orchestra music! Sejak dulu ingin sekali menonton konser EG tetapi kalau jadwalnya gak tepat, pasti kehabisan tiket. 
Kami datang ke Peninsula Island, Nusa Dua, Bali di mana acara pamongnya diadakan. Selain pameran seni, tentu saja banyak stall-stall makanan yang sepertinya sih UMKM semua. Anyway, I had a great time with my friends and enjoyed the day so much! Here are some snippets from one of the fun and heartfelt weekends!

2024 SO FAR

So, how's my 2024 so far? Colourful. There are ups and downs, mostly unexpected. This year has been good. It's not always kind to me and everyone I love dearly, but that doesn't mean it won't be better for the last half year. 2024 so far is the year I become more patient towards myself, relearning my self-worth, and the year to be more upward and stand my ground. Also, a lot of catch-ups! It was so nice to meet some old friends and catch up on our lives. It's nice to know the friendship hasn't changed!
Let's break down month by month, shall we? 

MOVIE | DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (2024)

Copyright Disney Australia

There is so much hate as much as love toward this movie, and there's even a debate about whether Deadpool and Wolverine a proof of Marvel's downfall after all this time. I'm Switzerland in this situation, to be honest. As I got older, I couldn't care less about these things, probably? 

As a long-time Marvel fan (you might want to take a look at the drop-down menu, I literally have a Marvel category and you'll see why I said I'm such a nerd), and somehow learn how to enjoy the film as it is now, I'm going to be really honest. 

Deadpool and Wolverine is an entertaining movie. That's it. It's such a fun ride to see one or two or more cameos appear in this movie, classic Marvel jokes, classic Wade jokes, and once again see how silly and chaotic Wade was. 

However, if you think about the storyline, the whole MCU thing and the easter eggs, I honestly can't defend this movie. The storyline is somehow predictable, bland and boring. And how is this movie going to tie in with the new MCU phase? I have no idea. The only thing I can think of is, first, this movie brought back so many old Marvel characters - some are those who have already been introduced who will have their stand-alone movie(s), some will be remake(s) and there is a possibility to what we know as alternate universes. 

Am I disappointed? Not really, honestly. It is 9.5 in terms of how entertaining it is. I kept laughing and surprised during the movie and enjoyed every bit of it. It is a solid 4 if we talk about the storyline. 

What do you think about this movie? Let me know!

BEAUTY | CURRENT FAVOURITE LIPPIES

If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for lip products! I love trying out new products though at the end of the day, I always come back to my favourites. I rarely have dry lips because I always put on lip balm before bed and after showering, but to maintain that throughout the day, I opted for a non-drying formula. I am always looking for moisturising lip products. Chapped lips are not cute!

Here are my current favourite lip products! 

From top to bottom

Dior Addict Refillable Shine Lipstick - #422 rose des vents

This product never claimed to be a moisturising one, but it works amazingly on my lips. The shine is perfect, the colour is so subtle and I love the packaging. This shade is perfect for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, when you don't want to look like you have makeup on. 

Ps: my husband got this for me - girls love it when their men know girls' favourite makeup!

Twentywendy Glasting Star Water Tint - #dschubba 

I love this peachy, brownish-red gloss that is perfect when you want something more pop on your lips. I don't usually choose a peachy colour, but this one is an exception. So pretty, juicy but not too much. 

Twentywendy So Matte Soulmate Lipstick - #ruk

As matte products usually tend to dry your lips, this one, however, does not. It glides so effortlessly and smoothly. This shade especially, is my #1 favourite colour for lipstick. It makes my face look glowing and fresh and compliments my skin tone. It stays pretty long-lasting too! 

Cleya Tinted Lip Serum - #courage

I was looking for a good tinted lip balm and found this one on the online site. It turned out amazing! It's everything I'm looking for in a tinted lip balm, the colour is not too bold, moisturising, and always leaves my lips so soft. The only thing I don't like about this product, is probably the packaging or maybe I just got a badly manufactured one, sometimes it got messy. The product gets to the tube and cap. 

Dior Rouge Lipstick - #772 classic rosewood

This is the most recent lipstick I got and I like it so much! The colour is so perfect for a sunny day in Bali, it's fresh and cute. I'd say this is the lipstick that Barbie would wear if she lived on a tropical island! The formula is good, but I found it a little bit heavier than my other lipstick. 

What's your current favourite lip product?

BOOK | RECENTLY READ

It has been too long since I posted a book review, the last one was back in September 2023. Oops! Anyway, I've read quite a lot for the past few months - I've been actively reading since January and oh boy, I did more than just a few books! 
I won't be writing in-depth reviews about each book, just a brief review. 
One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid
So, I read this one 'cause The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I was like, OK I need to read every book this author wrote! So I started with this one because people said it was 'calmer' than The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Well, I like it but I don't love this. It was promising at the beginning but then as the story went by, it got a bit boring and predictable. Still going to read Reid's other books though!
3/5 stars
The Inheritance Games - Jennifer Lynn Barnes 
Wow, what a ride! I love everything about this book - the characters' introductions, the premise, the plot twists, even the cliffhanger!! I immediately read the second book once I finished this one. SO. GOOD!
5/5 stars
The Hawthorne Legacy - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
OK still good! The story pace is faster than the first book but I wished some parts were longer. In some parts, they felt rushed. In the middle of the book, it was a little boring but it got better. I liked the ending of this book though!
4/5 stars 
The Love Hypothesis - Ali Hazelwood 
It's a cute book. That's all I can say. It's an easy read - a book you want to read when you're at the pool or the beach. It's predictable, but so nice. 
3.5/5 stars 
The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Holly Jackson 
WOW. I love this book so much! It's amazing! The tension is built up so well. One of the books that got you thinking and making theories inside your head as you keep reading. I couldn't put this book down - finished this book in less than 20 hours. 
5/5 stars
The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World - Haemin Sunim 
I took a break from fiction and decided to pick up this book. I started reading this book on the plane - my flight was 1.5 hours and by the time the captain announced it was landing time, I'd finished more than half of this book. I simply couldn't stop. Even though some parts are a tough lesson to learn, the author wrote it in a simple, calming way that makes you not want to stop. A beautiful work!
5/5 stars
8 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go - Jay Shetty
This is the first Shetty's book I read and I love it so much! So thorough that I felt like reading a textbook about love, life and every aspect that comes with them. Instead of reading for fun, I was reading to study. And let me tell you, I study hard with this book. I enjoyed it so much, so beautifully written!
5/5 stars
I am currently reading two fiction books and one self-help book. God know when I'm going to write the review again, hopefully, in less than 10 months ;)
Anyway, what's your current read book? Let me know! Xx 

OUR WEDDING DETAILS #VERATAUFANFOREVERMORE

Finally! FINALLY!

If you asked me two years ago if I'd get married or not, aku mungkin akan menjawab 'gak tahu'. Jangankan 2 tahun lalu, akhir tahun 2022 saja aku masih belum tahu kalau aku akan menikah dengan Taufan. Cerita kami dimulai bulan November 2022. Everything happened so smoothly like they meant to be. Cepat? Ya. Bulan Maret 2023, Taufan melamarku saat kami mau makan malam, he didn't have the ring at that time. Lalu, bulan April 2023, kami berkenalan dengan orang tua dan keluarga masing-masing. Fast forward to June 2023, we're officially engaged. 

Persiapan dilakukan legit 6 bulan sebelum. Awalnya aku cemas, rasanya terlalu cepat. Tapi setelah bertemu dengan A Doni dari TWEX, aku lebih secure dan yakin kalau wedding planning di H-6 bulan itu sangat mungkin. Anyway, aku ingin membahas vendor-vendor yang membantu kami selama 6 bulan terakhir ini satu persatu yaaa... 

BERDAMPINGAN DENGAN DEPRESI

Aku cukup terbuka dengan kesehatan mental-ku di sosial media, tapi mungkin aku gak pernah benar-benar menjelaskan bagaimana rasanya hidup dengan depresi dan anxiety. Tujuanku membagikan pengalamanku ini (semoga) bisa meningkatkan kesadaran tentang kesehatan mental. Masih banyak orang yang kurang memerhatikan kesehatan mental karena "tidak terlihat". Hanya karena tidak kasat mata, bukan berarti tidak penting, ya. 
Kesehatan mental sama pentingnya dengan kesehatan fisik.
Aku bersyukur sekarang di Indonesia, pandangan masyarakat tentang kesehatan mental sudah lebih luas, well sudah seharusnya begitu. Toh topik kesehatan mental bukanlah sesuatu yang tabu. Semua orang seharusnya sedikit banyak paham tentang ini, bukan hanya orang-orang yang didiagnosa saja. Gak sedikit orang-orang yang struggle dengan kesehatan mental merasa malu dan takut untuk dihakimi, takut disebut gila, takut disebut stress. Siapa sih sekarang yang gak stress? Aku rasa semua orang punya stress-nya masing-masing. Semua punya beban yang perlu dipikul.

2023

2023 for me was a year of surprises. Everything happened so smoothly as it was meant to be. Last year was the year of finding myself back, starting a new chapter of life, and finding the courage to be a little selfish. My closing moments for 2023 was being a bride. I'm a wife now! 
My hope for 2024 is to be a year full of happiness and joy. A clean slate for me to be more of myself and a space for me to spread my wings wider. 

BEAUTY | EVERYDAY PRODUCTS

Ever since I moved to Bali, my skincare and makeup routine changed. The first few months, my skin breakout really bad and it made me stressed. I changed my skincare routine, from facewash to sunscreen, everything to find the perfect one. So far, skincare is still a mystery,
However, my makeup routine was fairly simpler. I only need 15 minutes to do my daily makeup, nonetheless add a few bits such as blush and eyeshadow probably add 5 minutes more. I quiet happy with my go to makeup and it's all thanks to these makeup goods.