Dec 31, 2014

Welcoming 2015

Ah, new year resolutions, we meet again. Although I usually did not achieve anything in my yearly resolution list, I still enjoy making a list of things that I wanted to achieve. Let's just get to the point, here are my simple (I guess) new year resolutions:

  1. Save some money –– Since I downloaded an app called HomeBudget –which is, by the way, amazing to track your expenses– I realized that I spent A LOT of money in the last six months of 2014. It freaked me out. I also learned that successful people, spend their money wisely. Thus, I decided to save more and spent less in 2015.
  2. Read more books –– By joining this challenge, I hope I can read more.
  3. Less Commitment, Less Stress –– I just learn that it is okay to say "no" and be selfish for yourself. Since 2014 is the year where commitments only lead to stressful days for me, I need to think more about the well-being of myself in the future.
  4. Less Stuff, Less Stress –– In the last couple of months, I just learned about minimalism and frugal living. I have started reducing the number of items that I have in the last coupe of months, and I will try to keep this habit in the future.
I hope I can achieve at least one of my new year resolutions. It is several hours to go before the 1st of January comes, why don't you make a resolution list that you can actually achieve by listing several simple and detailed goals. By doing so, you can easily achieved your resolutions because you know what to do. Good luck making your own new year resolutions! 

Dec 30, 2014

The Perks of Having Short Hair

I could say hair is my best assets. Thanks to my mom who always take care of it and somehow treats me like a practice doll for hairstyle and hair treatments. It all started since the day I was born. She always dedicatedly smears crushed burned candle nut on my head to make my hair looks very black, and she succeed. When I was a little bit older and have more hair, she loves to give my hair a treatment by applying freshly cut aloe vera to my hair. She also succeed and my hair becomes very thick and beautiful. In addition to those treatment, she likes to combed my hair and applied hair tonic to my hair after I wash my hair, which makes my hair thicker and blacker.

Apparently, my mom's wish to make my hair thicker and longer also influenced me. For a long time, long hairstyle has always been my choice of hairstyle. I have cut it several times but only to change style or trim it a little bit, but I always keep my hair length below my shoulders. Well, I actually have a very cute Anna Wintour hairstyle when I was in kindergarten, but then my inner hairdresser came out and I decided to recklessly cut my hair with a pair of scissor that I found on my dad's desk by myself. I still do not know where the idea comes from. As a result, my hair looks like Angelica's doll, Cynthia.

[Before]

And after several years of living with long hair, now I decided to cut my hair short above my shoulder (again, if my kindergarten creative era counted as a legit haircut). Some people might think it is scary to cut this drastically, but I do not really mind it; since hair will eventually grows again. So, it is not a big deal. After I cut the hair, somehow I entered a new level of my life. I will share you what I feel about having a short hair:

  1. Easy to take care –– When I was in my long hair period, I always have a question in my head about people with short hair. Do they always blow dry their hair every morning to achieve the perfect shape? If the do, then they should wake up earlier and dedicate some time to blow dry their hair every morning? These thoughts almost prevent me from cutting my hair because I do not have that much time and I tend to avoid using hairdryer for my hair. It turns out, with the perfect cut from the hand of my favourite hairdresser, I can achieve the polished look without hairdryer.
  2. Less shampoo, less trips to the supermarket –– The first time I wash my short hair, I am amazed by the amount of shampoo needed to wash my hair. I can use less amount of shampoo because I have less hair on my head anyway. Thus, a bottle of shampoo can last longer in my bathroom. I will definitely keep my short hair when I study abroad since I can save some money with this haircut!
  3. Looks fresher and taller –– In many articles found online or in magazines, they will tell you that by cutting your hair shorter, it will makes you look fresher and taller. Let me tell you, it works.
  4. Less brushing –– I used to brush my long hair with four different types of hair brushes. Now, I barely brush my hair, and it still looks awesome!
  5. Less time to dry my hair –– So convenient!
[After]

Dec 29, 2014

Music Monday: Oh No, Not My Baby


Oh No, Not My Baby by She & Him
Album: Classics (2014)

Comments:
The album has been on my iTunes for a while, but I rarely listen to it because of my disappointment on their third album. One day, I decided to listen to the album when I was taking a hot shower, turns out the album is very nice and great to accompany my relaxing hot shower. Oh No, Not My Baby is my favourite from this album, but the whole album is amazing especially for the holiday mood. Oh, Merry Christmas guys!

Dec 16, 2014

Art Candy: Tyler Spangler

In the middle of intense (with a little bit of procrastinating) study of Indonesian Economy for tomorrow's final exam, I relax my mind by browsing my Tumblr. When I checked my activity page, I found several people have followed me and I like to check them out. Then, I found this guy, Tyler Spangler, who did a simple yet wonderful artworks that I instantly like.

 

Don't forget to check the artist website, http://tylerspangler.com/!


Dec 15, 2014

Music Monday: Gie


Gie by Erros Sheila on 7 feat. Okta
Album: Gie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2005)

Comments:
I've heard this song so many times before, but it gives a lot more feelings when I watched the film. Great film, great soundtrack. It would be nice to hear this song with a cup of hot tea while it is raining outside.

Dec 8, 2014

Music Monday: Blush


Blush by Mr Twin Sister
Album: Mr Twin Sister (2014)

Comments:
I just found out that Twin Sister now add another word in front of their name, now the became Mr Twin Sisters. It's been a long time and I am glad to hear a new album from them. The first Twin Sister song that I heard is I Want a House. It is a simple song with simple lyrics, however it sounds very soothing. This song, also gives the same feeling to me. It is recommended for you to listen to this song when you are alone chilling on your bed at night.

Dec 2, 2014

Pretty Pictures #9: Manakamana

It is a very simple yet complex documentary that shows several different people commuting by using cablecar. I can classified this film as a study of human behaviour (and lambs). Sometimes people talk in a very enthusiastic manner, sometimes people sit without saying a single word. 

The film continuously force us to see people face to face, and it somehow makes me think: "When was the last time that I really pay attention to the people I am talking with?". The film successfully makes me think.



Dec 1, 2014

Pretty Pictures #8: Blue

Blue (1993) is a final cinematic statement of Derek Jarman. I find this film fascinating because in the whole film, you can only see texts with the colour of blue as the background. He talks about everything, it is scattered and sometimes doesn't make any sense. However, that's why I love this film.



Music Monday: Dear Mr. Salesman

Dear Mr. Salesman feat. Nomiya Maki by Fantastic Plastic Machine
Album: The Fantastic Plastic Machine (1997)
Comments:
Thank you Sylla for introducing me to FPM. It totally suits my taste.