SETELAH MENIKAH, PEREMPUAN ITU...

Beberapa waktu lalu, aku pernah mengunggah pertanyaan di Instagram tentang perubahan yang kamu rasakan setelah menikah (foto insta story ada di bawah). Tulisan di bawah ini adalah jawaban teman-teman, baik teman dekatku maupun teman-teman yang bertemu di sosial media - juga jawaban Mim, my mum. Terima kasih teman-teman yang sudah mempercayaiku untuk berbagi pengalaman dan berdiskusi tentang menapaki bagian baru hidup kita menjadi seorang istri (dan juga Ibu bagi yang sudah menjadi orang tua). Terima kasih juga memperbolehkanku mengutip jawaban kalian dan menulisnya di blog ini!
First of all... 
Menikah itu menyenangkan. Kamu bisa hidup dan membangun mimpi-mimpi, kehidupan, dan banyak belajar dari pasanganmu atau sekelilingmu. Kamu menjalani kehidupan dengan sahabatmu, orang yang tulus mencintai, menyayangi, dan menghargai kamu apa adanya tanpa ada kaitan darah. Pasangan itu idealnya adalah anggota terbaik dari tim kehidupan yang kamu punya. It's all about team work! It takes two sides to build the bridge dan dalam hal ini, jembatan yang sedang dibangun itu adalah kehidupan yang sedang kalian jalani bersama. 
Your husband (or partner, spouse) should be your biggest supporter. Segala jenis dukungan datang dari dia. 
They are your greatest love, your rock, your life companion, your soul mate. 
Menikah itu seru! Banyak hal yang sebelumnya Aku gak pernah terpikir, hal-hal baru yang membuat aku bisa bilang 'oh gini ya rasanya nikah' atau 'enak ya punya suami', sampai 'kok baru sekarang sih? kenapa gak dari dulu aja!' daaan banyak lagi!! 😂
Tapi... Berumah tangga itu tidak selalu bahagia, pasti ada masa-masa yang terasa berat, menantang, bahkan sulit untuk dilalui. Life is not always roses and daisies, so does marriage. 
Tujuanku menulis post ini untuk teman-teman perempuan, khususnya para istri, supaya tidak merasa sendirian. Apapun yang kamu rasakan, ada banyak orang di luar sana yang merasakan apa yang kamu rasakan juga. Apa yang kamu lakukan sudah lebih dari cukup. Kamu sudah melakukan apa yang kamu bisa, semaksimal mungkin. Don't be too hard on yourself, this is our first time to be a human. 

Setelah menikah, perempuan itu... 

BOOK | RECENTLY READ

I've been trying to do a life-work balance, and so far, it's been great! I have time to read and watch, while still having quality time with my husband as well. I kinda feel confident that I created a nice and balanced routine. On weekdays, I usually spend a solid 15 minutes in the morning before getting ready for work and a good 30-45 minutes after work before doing house chores. While on weekends, my husband and I always make time for our 'me-time'. I usually read when he's playing a game.

Anyway... Here are some books I've read over the past months. Some of them are good ones, and some are OK. I won't be writing in-depth reviews, just a short one for each book. 

Verity - Colleen Hoover 

It's a nice mystery book, but somehow twisted! There are some parts that I found hard to read, so I had to take a break from it a few times. But overall, if you like the crime mystery genre, it might be the one for you. 

3.5/5 stars 

Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection - Haemin Sunim 

I love this book so much!! I make so many notes and highlight so many pages that my book is filled with Post-it notes! 

5/5 stars 

Every Word You Cannot Say - Iain S. Thomas 

I love most parts of this book, and the rest is just OK. I like how the author writes, but some parts are too ordinary. 

3.5/5 stars 

Book Lovers - Emily Henry 

It is defo a nice book! The writing style is not for me, but it is easily forgiven. I like the premise and how the story turns out. Also, the ending is just WOW! 

4.5/5 stars 

Do you have any current favourite books? Let me know! Xx

BEAUTY | MY HEAVY ROTATION FRAGRANCES

Here are the heavy-rotation fragrances that I'm obsessed with! Note, I like floral and fresh fragrances, but they are still so soft. If you are like me, these might be for you as well ;) 
PS: If you're looking for a serious description of the fragrances, you will not find it here. I am truly just having fun writing this! 

Jo Malone Peony & Blush SuedeThe softest fragrance I've ever had! Whenever I use this, I feel very ME. Idk what to explain anymore. I love this so much!

Saff & Co Loui This is a stronger version of 'my soft girl era'. 

BOHE Bali Bisou and Faye These two are the newest additions to my heavy rotation yet hard to miss! Bisou is floral yet there's a hint of sweetness that I still love. Faye is right on my alley, soft floral out of the shower vibe. 
What's your favourite fragrance?

FROM ME TO ME

Today is my birthday. Another year has passed, and my growth journey is still going. This year, I intend to bloom the best I can be. Although, still, I don't want to push myself too hard. Something that begins with 'too' is never kind.
I’ve learned the importance of setting realistic expectations for myself and understanding that it’s okay not to achieve everything all at once. Instead of pushing myself to meet unattainable goals, I focus on what’s truly possible in the given moment. I allow myself to be more kind and patient with myself, especially during times of uncertainty. Rather than getting frustrated with setbacks, I now see them as part of the process, and I adjust my goals, ensuring they align with my current abilities and energy levels.
I’ve also committed to setting healthy boundaries with myself. This means recognizing when I need to rest when to say no, and when to prioritize my mental and physical well-being. By respecting my limits, I believe that I can approach challenges with a clearer mind and a more grounded perspective. Listening more to myself is definitely a must in this journey. 
I am done putting others above myself.I will only give the same energy they give me, no more, no less.
I deserve to be well-treated, respected and loved. 

BOOK | MY TBR LIST

I have set a realistic goal this year as I want to read at least 12 books within a year. I think it's pretty doable. To be honest, I haven't set any reading goals for years now and it's time. I've been back in reading game since last year, and my hunch says this year will be better. 
After a long time abandoned my goodreads account, I finally logged in and I'm back! I've joined the 2025 reading challenge and updated my profile. It's been fun to catch up with my friends there too.
Anyway, here are some titles on my TBR list. Any titles catch your attention?

1. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black
2. Lights Out - Navessa Allen
3. Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection - Sunim Haemin
4. Book Lovers - Emily Henry
5. Verity - Colleen Hoover
6. Things We Lose in Waves - Lucy Ayrtons

BEAUTY | MY CURRENT MAKEUP ROUTINE

OK, so the last time I shared my makeup routine was last year?! Wow, how dare I? My routine has changed a lot, tbh. Now, I'm focusing on hydrating as well as taking care of my hormonal acne-prone skin. If you read my blog for a long time, I have never struggled with acne before. It started back in 2022. I was very stressed because of the hormonal acne. Yet, my stress caused more. So it's basically an endless cycle. 
I would love to share my skincare routine (as well as my skin cycling) but I haven't found the perfect routine yet. So, let's be patient! I'm still experimenting here and there to find the right one for my skin condition.
Anyway, let's move on to my makeup routine. The routine is similar to my last one, but some of the products have changed. Either I found the better one, or it suits more with my skin condition.