right time, right place.

where did you meet each other?

it's definitely my favorite question to ask whenever i meet new friends who are a couple, and i've gotten pretty interesting answers. From meeting on the train from each day's commute, meeting in nepal while the guy happened to be riding his bike across the region (his plan was to bike around the world, but it got interrupted because he had met "the one"), and "we've known each other since junior high"...

my story isn't extraordinary at all: we met through a mutual friend somewhere around 2001 during lunch in a restaurant owned by a polygamist (which, i was vocally against the whole polygamy concept let alone eating there) but our friend insisted they had great chicken and fried tofu (err okay, but that's how it went). fast-forward a couple of years later, through the hype of social media (friendster), my now-husband gave me a short, innocent testimonial on my page (as that was the thing to do on birthdays and such) but it was a much belated wish. so we met up a few days later to have a coffee and chat. instead it became dinner, a couple of drinks and a couple of scoops of ice cream. we both had a great time, but only started dating a couple months afterward. and the rest is history :)

i knew my parents' process towards a marriage was very quick, they met through my mother's boss, and 3 months later my parents wed. 3 days later, my dad was stationed in paris, and my mom flew to be with him a few months later.

but i never really knew how they met in detail until recently.

turns out, my mother was walking to work as her boss drove past and offered her a ride, but he needed to make a stop at his twin's house. his twin was nowhere in sight, instead was his housemate who needed a lift as well.

so here we are, 42 years, 5 daughters, 6 (almost 7) grandchildren later.

nothing's coincidence, everything's supposed to happen exactly when it happens.
and all is well in the end.

places

you know, we don't even have "our" special place, like "our" restaurant, or anything like that. i mean, you take and took me to places that you've taken other girls. so it's like not special at all, not really... hmpf.

yea, but i only took YOU to the altar.

uhm.. yea.. *blushing*

you're like heaven

just like heaven, by the cure

"Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream" she said
"The one that makes me laugh" she said
And threw her arms around my neck
"Show me how you do it
And I promise you I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you"

Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
"Why are you so far away?" she said
"Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
That I'm in love with you"

You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream

Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone alone
Alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved
And drowned her deep inside of me

You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven


ps. i'm so glad i've you to go home to and that i don't ever have to be alone...

perks #1

the perks of being married is that you get to wake up in his arms when you've just had the most horrifying, unbelievably terrible nightmare.

me 2.0

i'm the best version of me when i'm with you.

on a thursday afternoon

how'd you know that?

i know, cos i'm always there with you...

errr, that's creepy dude

hahaha

other girls might have said "awwwww"

that's why i married you....

*blushing*

364th day of being 32

33. i turn 33 tomorrow. what did i do while being 32?

actually a lot.

planned our wedding, got married, became a new member of his extended family. traveled to bali, yogyakarta, manado, lombok, (bangkok and bangka were last year but i wasn't 32 yet i think.. hongkong? last year or the year before? forgot...). set up Tea for Two with my best friend. as for daily life, living with my husband definitely taught me a thing or two (or 2 hundred) about him, us and myself, our priorities, responsibilities.. and we decided to purchase a house!

it's been quite a busy year, an abundant one filled with joy and laughter. for that i'm endlessly grateful. Alhamdulillah for our health and family's, for the streaming luck and wealth of material and mind. Thank you God for the chance of living this life and having it overflowing with love.


ps. thank you God for sending to me my husband, he's a good, good man.

baby is born!

One of the resolutions this year, besides the lombok trip with the girls (that i totally scored!) is setting up this accessories line with my best friend, called Tea for Two. We actually kind of stumbled upon this project, well, we don't really know how it started, but i think we were both making hair bands and adis' piece especially was getting a lot of great feedback. they were in demand! she taught me how to make them, we made many as souvenirs for family and besties for my wedding. that was last year. As things were moving along slowly, and we both had busy lives, this project was put on hold, on and off.

To cut things short, we took it step by step, made small goals for ourselves, and we made our Tea for Two available for public last week! So far, our items have gotten good reviews, hopefully we get things going... it's tough since we're doing all the handwork ourselves, but it's so exciting and rewarding to see an item being sold, and the person receiving it happy.

here's where you can see our treats :)

http://teafortwo.asia/
http://www.facebook.com/teafortwo.xoxo
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=266408231404

or follow us on twitter:
http://twitter.com/TeaforTwo_xoxo

35 Simple Ways to Be Beautiful

by Lori Deschene


“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” ~Sophia Loren



It seems like such a cliche to say pretty is as pretty does, but the truth is physical beauty is subjective. And no matter how closely someone matches your ideal of physical perfection, that will eventually fade. What endures are the qualities, passions, and habits we nurture.That’s what makes us beautiful–and believe me when I say there is something beautiful in everyone. If you’ve done any of the following lately, you are absolutely beautiful:


1. Smile. As the quote goes, “I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”


2. Be there for someone who needs you even if there’s nothing in it for you–give without expectations.


3. Make a sacrifice for someone you love.


4. Admit a mistake, even if it’s hard to say you’re wrong, and work to make amends.


5. Share your struggles, putting your ego aside, to make someone else feel less alone.


6. Create something that helps people. A song, a blog, a support group, a non-profit–anything that inspires.


7. Help a child feel good about him or herself.


8. Tell someone what you appreciate about them, even if you feel vulnerable.


9. Forgive someone without needing to hear the words, “I’m sorry.”


10. Give someone an uncomfortably long hug when they need it.


10. Create positive energy around you by thinking positive thoughts and acting with positive intentions.


11. Sit with reality without judging anyone or anything.


12. Accept someone for who they are instead of trying to change them to who you want them to be.


13. Treat people like you want to be treated.


14. Notice something simple but beautiful in the world around you.


15. Acknowledge the beauty in others, instead of feeling threatened or competing with other people.


16. Be the change you want to see in the world, as per Gandhi’s suggestion.


17. Tap into your personal power and do something that makes a difference in the world.


18. Find strength in a challenging moment. It’s not easy to do, and you deserve credit for it.


19. Talk kindly about the world around you instead of gossiping or complaining.


20. Forget yourself for a minute and do nothing but listen to someone who needs it.


21. Measure a person by their best moments, not their worst.


22. Give yourself the same courtesy–focus on the good you’ve done, not the mistakes you’ve made.


23. Take the high road when someone hurts you instead if being cruel or catty.


24. Make someone laugh. A smile can literally melt stress and pain away. How beautiful of you to do that for someone else!


25. Make someone cry–tears of joy that is. People want to feel moved, inspired, motivated. Never underestimate the power of touching someone’s heart.


26. Keep an open mind instead of sticking with a judgment or assumption.


27. Love what you’re tempted to fear.


28. Be the voice of optimism when the people around you need it badly.


29. Show humility when your accomplishments would make it easy to stand above people.


30. Handle rejection or failure with grace. It’s far more easily said than done–and it sounds so cheesy and cliche–but accepting loss gracefully makes you a true winner.


31. Show unbridled enthusiasm for something that excites you. All children are beautiful, and I think their unadulterated joy has a lot to do with it.


32. Hear what someone means, not just what they say. Anyone can nitpick. Not everyone actively works to be understanding.


33. Imagine a world where people know peace, and do one small thing to create it.


34. Honor the values that matter to you. Showing integrity is the first step to feeling good about yourself.


35. Accept and love yourself–or as Ben Folds sings, “Learn to live with what you are.”


And now a disclaimer: some days you may not do anything written above–in fact, you might do the exact opposite. On those days you are still beautiful.


There are times when, like Alexander, I’m having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Times when it seems like I might get swept into the tornado of chaos around me. Times when the voice in my head is unkind, and I interpret everything that happens through a negative filter. When I think the worst of people and complain about it; when I expect the worst of my day and lament it.


This admission might seem like the biggest possible acknowledgment of hypocrisy, but I have nothing to give if not my honesty. And the reality is I am imperfect. We all are. We all have moments of weakness–but they’ll only define us if they far surpass moments of kindness, compassion, love, and strength.


Being beautiful doesn’t mean adhering to some picture-perfect fantasy, or living every moment that way. It means realizing this moment is a new opportunity to be who you want to be, and making the effort to seize it.


How will you be beautiful today?


copied from adis' email. just thought it'd be good to share and to remind myself, that everyone is beautiful and perfect, just the way they are.

missing

i've been missing my grandma immensely since the lombok trip, and my husband said "try to remember that she'd like you to be happy, and that she's in a better place now." i couldn't begin to imagine what he went through when he lost his father when he was just 9 years old, then losing his mother to cancer 10 years later. just thinking about the possibility of my parents dying makes my heart ache.

i heart you, in darkness and in sunshine

and anywhere in between the color spectrum

photo by RAS

cancer - the zodiac

Crabs live in the inter-tidal zone of the oceans, where tides rise and fall twice every day. This is the most dynamic and changeful place on earth, but also the most nutrient rich. Because of the constant change, Crabs have developed a hard outer shell for protection. You Crabs can use the hard outer shell of your home as your protection. But it's more than just that. Typically, your sensitive Crabs can hold your feelings quietly behind your own walls.

Crabs also have large pinching claws, and your Cancerians can hold onto things, especially from the past. You are fiercely loyal and have a difficult time letting go. But you are also quick to bring those you love inside the safety of your outer shell while you nurture them. Your love is protective, but unless tempered, can be smothering.

Your motto could be, "A good defense is the best offense." Like a Crab in its cave, your attack can consist of baiting your opponent into your territory. What appears to be a retreat to others can be your best aggressive tactic. As you feel your way through life, building your security by developing your home and family relationships, remember that unexpressed anger can turn into resentment and depression, so find someone you can trust and share your feelings.

Element: Water
Astrologically, the water element symbolizes emotion. Water runs deep; it seeks its own level and will flow until it has found it. The cycle of water is endless with the snows falling in the mountains and melting. The mountain streams join to make the great rivers that run to the sea. The tides and currents churn the oceans. Similarly, our feelings are flowing as they connect the present with past experiences. Sometimes the waters are so deep that we cannot put words to our feelings.

The water of Cancer is that of the changing tides. Regular rhythms that bring food and nurture the creatures who live there. But this is also about the water of a smoothly surfaced lake. No movement is apparent, yet beneath the surface there is movement, currents and much hidden activity.

House: Fourth
The Fourth House is related to the mother. It is where we are nurtured, and takes in not only our real mother, but all those who nurture us -- especially early in life. This is the house of childhood surroundings. It is where we retreat from the noise of the outer world.

Key Planet: Moon
The Moon is always changing, not even the same two nights in a row. It races around the Earth once a "month," and as such we are familiar with her regularly repeating patterns. Women's menstrual cycles are naturally tied to the lunar rhythm, putting them in closer touch with the subconscious realms of the Moon. But to man and woman alike, the Moon is the key to our feelings and our emotional cycles. As the key planet of Cancer, the Moon symbolizes our basic needs -- how we need to be nurtured and how we nurture others.

Greatest Strength:
Your ability to nurture others

Possible Weakness:
Fear of the past repeating in the future


thanks adis for the info! :* by the way, princess diana was a cancer.

from www.tarot.com

while you were sleeping...

apparently, you can learn a lot about yourself while you're sleeping..

especially now that i'm married, i've discovered a few things:

1. that sometimes i sleep with my mouth slightly open (and hubs gladly snaps a pic at every opportunity)
2. turns out i sometimes snore, softly. i must've been very, very, very tired.
3. that i take up 3/4 of the bed, and sleep diagonally every chance i get.

thanks for the info (and pics) hubs. grmbl.

6 for two

6 months. together, you and i. it's not a long amount of time to some people, and it surely felt short to us.. but these 6 months have been... wonderful. i don't know how else to say it, i'm not the one good with words. you've been nothing but loving, understanding, knowing and all the good "-ings" that exists in the dictionary.

i love how we're beginning to create our own traditions :)

you couldn't have given me a better gift for our 6-month anniversary: in 2 islands in one day, part of the day with my best friends, and the rest of the day with you. you listened patiently to my stories of the trip, we had steak dinner then walked to our favorite coffee shop...

i'm truly a lucky person to have you in my life, honey. i love you forever.

no you nor me only us.

six words. six months. now, just the two of us.

image by RAS.

what would you do...

on your birthday, if this year's your last? (tony stark, iron man 2)

we both agree on this one. our answer would be to spend it with each other, at home. him cooking the main meal, me making the dessert. easy conversations about nothing and everything, over wine on our balcony, perhaps him with his gin and tonic. snuggling under the covers. as simple as that.

of course i'd want a present that's really over the top :P

let's get things straight here

you know how some husbands worship the ground the wife walks on? you don't do that, i don't think.....

of course not, i'd rather worship you than the ground.... then again, i don't worship you, i worship God.

errr..

:_)

from postsecret.blogspot.com

the question on mates for your soul.

do you believe? in soul mates?

i used to, until recently.

in the past, i've had friendships and relationships which i thought were "meant to be". chemistry was evident, instant attraction obvious. somehow those friend/relationships expired. just like that. i know i must be thankful to have had that instant connection while it lasted.

and now, as i can say i've had some experience in those, and reflect on them, i've come to realize that most of my (lasting) friend/relationships are not so obvious, are rough around the edges and need some (sometimes a lot of) work. all the while, making them more valuable.

for example, my best friend and i, we've been friends for almost 15 years. we first met by accident and necessity, became room mates, trip mates, pen pals, best friends. we're practically family. it takes a lot of toleration on her part, actually i'm not sure why she sticks by me. if she didn't i'd have stalked her. just kidding 'dis. uhm, not really.

i wouldn't say my husband and i are soul mates, at least, not in the obvious way. i would like to think we had chemistry when we conversed eye to eye the first time, but nothing about us was instant. i'm only a little bit interested in the things he's obsessed over, although i support him (and his hobbies) with all my heart, even if it drives me nuts. he says "cool!" with a two-thumbs up and asks "what is it?" as i show him my crafting projects. he buys me shelves and storage for my crafting mess. i'm a morning person, he's a night-owl. we do have common interests, like sleep and food and our future.

all i know is that we love each other and are committed to making us work.

... may be that's the definition of soul mates.

what's in a name?

he's a name picked out. wow. that's big.

never get tired of watching this

our wedding video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj6Bv5XNk9Y

either or

being married either feels like you're on vacation together, or in a long-distance relationship.

i miss my husband. bad.

thursday love letter 2

dear you,

it's been almost 5 months (and a total of 3 years together) and i can't get enough of the way you look at me, even when i look like a total mess. the way you touch my hair, even though it's coarse, you treat it with special care. and when i go to sleep, i can't wait to see you smile when i wake you. i wish you could feel what i'm feeling. i wish i could dive inside your head and heart to see your thoughts, especially when we're both being stubborn. i think you're the better cook between us, and i'm glad you're the kind of man who'll gladly do chores and throw out the garbage. that's how it should be :P

love you,
wifey


ps. how sexy is that? my man giving his woman a foot rub

you

i want to love you.
i can't help but to love you.
for all the right (and wrong) reasons.
and for no reason at all.

obviously

i never know what i want, what i'm doing, where i'm headed...

yea, you didn't know what you were doing when you married me...

errr...

:_)

terharu.

i didn't know she did this! it's like, are you sure she's talking about me??

http://lamaisondepopa.blogspot.com/2010/02/things-i-admire-in-others-volume-03.html

isn't my dear friend ( http://lamaisondepopa.blogspot.com )sooooo talented???

love comes in different shapes and sizes

in return, i made him breakfast in bed :)

nothing fancy, just french toast and coffee.

love is not you, it's us

out of the few years we've been together, we never have celebrated valentine's day. we still didn't make it an event a few days ago and ended up spending the day being apart. however, this year is different; we're married now :) and i woke up to see this on my bedside table.

ps. happy valentine's day honey :) and thank you for the chocolates

i heart you, nasgor

it's that extra something that makes my heart melt all over the place all over (and over) again.

sunday

list

making up a list of ideas/things to do for thing-a-day, just in case i get blocked.

1. mouse cushion (for hubs)
2. modge podge on used jar (to make as a vase for leaves/flowers?)
3. long knitted thingy/snakey for nephew (perhaps this is a bit ambitious to do in one day)
4. vintage-looking hair band
5. doodles for karma/tip jar for my favorite coffee shop
6. book cover
7. ....

3 on the 2nd

3 things i'm happy to greet each morning:

your smile, your hug, and coffee!

have a colorful day!

matrioshka 2

hopefully i'll be inspired all month long. found some other doodles from last year. well, watercolors.

watercolors make me happy!

matrioshka 1

i found these doodles. doodled them one day, cos of lack of subject or thought, i looked around the living room and found some inspiration. my sister collects matrioshkas.

monday - 1

how often does the first of the month come on monday? today i've committed myself to http://thing-a-day.com/ in the hope of doing something creative, consistently, one thing a day for the whole month.

as i was still feeling so negative and agitated and irritated this morning, i got a reminder-email on how to do the post in my office inbox. conveniently a block blinded my creative view, but the task had to go on. without much thought, i started folding and doodling. turned out pretty therapeutic. and after it got done, i felt much better.

fly fly away!


ps. my daily posts at smittenirma.posterous.com

2

2 months have passed. just last night we were watching tv, sitting on the floor, side by side, i turned to him and said: hey! wow! you're my husband!

sometimes i don't realize that we're actually married.

2 months have passed and a lot has happened in that short amount of time. new experiences, new feelings, new lessons learned. new dreams, new purchases! together.

highlights so far: 1 bali trip, 2 yogya trips, 1 house purchase, being nomadic half the time, sleeping over in his room, adopting a kitten who ran away 2 nights later, being adopted by 2 friends and a teen nephew, doodling on our 3 hour wait at the doctor's office, 30 minutes in the doctor's office together for the first time, getting the right ratio of coffee:sugar:water for your morning coffee, our unsynchronized schedule of waking up and falling asleep...

i should stop, cos listing these things make me love you and miss you even more!

hey you number 2!

happy 2nd month anniversary!

ps. last month we were apart for the night, the same as this month. let's not keep this up, ok? love you. kiss :)

ini dia kuncinya!

ingin mencoba melakukan segalanya dengan ikhlas. setiap saat.

aku perlu banyak belajar!


ps. kamulah inspirasiku

absolute beginners, david bowie

I've nothing much to offer
There's nothing much to take
I'm an absolute beginner
And I'm absolutely sane
As long as we're together
The rest can go to hell
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
With eyes completely open
But nervous all the same

If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Could laugh at the ocean
Just like the films
There's no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true

Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can't shake
Oh we're absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you're still smiling
There's nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
But if my love is your love
We're certain to succeed

If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Sail over heartaches
Just like the films
There's no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true


ps. replaying in my head and ears. i miss you so much, i'll miss you even more tonight, and tomorrow.

it's funny how time flies, not just when you're having fun, but as you get older.

2009 was a lively year, full of love, laughter and travel. also a few cries. but that's how life is, it has to be balanced. i understand that. it was also a year of new commitments, change and hope. a year i strengthened bonds with family and friends. a year i gained 2 sets of big, warm and loving families who welcomed me with open arms. a year i had 2 parties of a lifetime. my year when 2 became 1+1.

this past new year's eve was our 4th together, and our 1st being a married couple. the year starts off with fireworks, hugs and kisses from my darling husband and dear friends, and goes on with a wonderful trip to yogyakarta. what have i to complain about?

i am very very lucky, God, i can't thank you enough :)