& Other Stories: Grand Canyon West

Still in the land of 'Murica, this was the destination I had a privilege to visit during Summer 2015. Btw, I had this blogpost postponed for only God knows how long! So hopefully I could still picture you guys the story of this trip to the tiny details. Then again, I barely remember anything. So where do I start? Probably I should've explained how did I end up on the West Coast. There was a time I dreamed about traveling to all the 50 states, but now I honestly don't mind if the bucket list remains unchecked. Because, life happens that way. These days, I just want to count my blessings.  

As I was saying, my 23-year-old self wished to visit the other side of the US. With my sister living in New York City, I felt like I've had enough of the East Coast. HA. To pursue my lifetime dream, of course, I thought I should start off somewhere popular. I think it was a 14-day tour from Jakarta to LA, where everyone began the bus trip to Las Vegas, SF, and headed back to LA again. So this one trip was actually a part of the entire West Coast tour that wrapped in less than two weeks. Yes, you're reading it right since each flight took around 24 hours. 

Two different rims on the package were offered to us, although we eventually picked the west rim because it was the closest to Vegas and ahem, cheaper. I didn't care much about the view, it all looked the same to my eyes. Furthermore, I wanted to walk on the Skywalk where there was nothing much but, canyon. For some safety reasons, no one was allowed to take any pictures on the location, we had to put our gadget inside the locker. Numbers of photographers who sold your photos as souvenirs could be easily spotted, though. If anything was memorable about the trip, it had to be the intense Summer heat! Gosh! I'd never seen myself so tanned before. Oh and, the gift shop deserved its own highlight too. Thanks to the AC, I could just chill out and felt alive again. On another note, my mom and I purchased a variety of mineral rocks and we were so happy to bring them home as keepsakes!

Top-Rated Online Furniture Stores

Photo courtesy: Hannah Blackmore Photography

When purchasing new furniture for the home, of course you want quality and style rolled into one. With this being said, some online catalogues offer more products to choose from than others. For those who want style, form, and quality, you'd want to shop with a catalogue that has several options available for you to choose from. For UK customers who are ready to purchase new furniture, these are a few of the top catalogues from which you can choose to shop, for the latest styles and distinct patterns you want to find when purchasing new furniture.

Furniture Village has it all. Living room, dining room, bedroom furniture, and more. Whether you’re shopping for a new patio set to entertain as the summer months approach or want an eclectic style for your living or dining room area, there is something for every home. The selection of material, ranging from microsuede, to leather, to wicker sets has something for every shopper. The site also offers reasonable financing terms meaning you can buy now, pay later and furnish your entire home.

Graham and Green is a second site to visit. This site caters more to the outdoor furnishing shopper but does have a nice mix of pieces you can put throughout the home. Colourful, quality material, unique patterns, and thoughtfully designed pieces are a few of the many which you’ll find on this site. And, their pieces fit any budget so even those who don’t have much to spend can find something they’ll love online.

Gautier Furniture is another site for contemporary mixed with modern. You can find distinct designs, new-world material, stainless-steel finishes, mixed with a blend of old-world charm and elegance. If you like unique and prefer something that is somewhat different than traditional furnishings for the home, you can find it on this site.

Chaplins also carries more contemporary styles. The catalogue offers “contemporary style, for modern living.” Basically, the furniture has a ‘vintage’ charm, while still providing the newer design scapes, and colourful styles you might want to mix throughout the home.

There are many great places to find furniture when catalogue shopping. Whether you prefer modern, traditional, contemporary, eclectic, or a mix. These are a few of the best catalogues to visit offering great styles, elegant designs and affordability in pricing when you choose to go through the buy now pay later pricing scheme at checkout. Feel free to share you favorite sites too!

Inexpensive Home Décor Hacks

Photo courtesy: Bench Accounting

Are you on a tight budget, yet wanting to transform your home with a little makeover? You don’t have to forego decorating a room or upgrading some spaces in the home. With the right tools, using the right approach, and planning ahead, you can achieve the desired look or finish, without breaking the bank.

Try DIY jobs
Paint the home yourself. Build little tables, shelving, or other small items that are easy to put together. If you want to refinish or stain cabinets, try to do these jobs yourself. In addition to costing virtually nothing apart from materials, you can give the home the personal touches and nuances throughout, which a contractor won’t achieve. But on the other hand, I would not recommend doing certain jobs yourself as some things can be dangerous or will need to be certified by a professional, replacing a fuse box, for example. This is a job you should not undertake yourself.

Consider alternatives
Look for plank-flooring, choose a cheaper wood-grain, or go with linoleum finishes. The same goes with paints and backsplash for the kitchen. There are alternatives which look (almost as good as the original), and they often cost ½, if not less, than what you’d pay for the “real thing”. Shop around to see the great deals.

Keep it simple
Sometimes switching out a few knobs, painting or finishing the cabinets, or doing something small like installing a new ceiling fan, will make a world of difference. Look for smaller, cheaper projects you can do, which will have a great impact in the overall design, when you are re-modelling on a budget. These smaller jobs also take much less time for you to complete, so you are not going to spend weeks, or even months, like some of the larger re-modelling projects are going to take to complete in the home.

Just because you do not have much to spend doesn’t mean you can’t design a home you are proud of and love to be in. These are some simple ways homeowners can go about redecorating, not overspending, and achieving the finishes they desire, when trying to save on the cost of redecorating the home.

& Other Stories: Downtown Gatlinburg

I'm blessed enough to have visited many places across the globe at such young age. Ever since I graduated from high school, it's been a tradition in my family that we should make our time to travel. Each year in my life was unforgettable as another bucket list was ticked off, yet it's very rarely of me to show this other side of my life. Some of my friend even wondered why I didn't post pictures while traveling. Frankly speaking, I learned from my younger self when I first traveled abroad. I was too busy picking tons of pictures and ended up missing several moments that obviously couldn't be repeated in reality. It's such a sad remembrance when you passed the opportunity to witness bigger things through your own lens.

However, lately as I visit more destinations, I start to think about the what-ifs of forgetting the detail on each journey. And being a writer myself now, I know for certain that one of the best ways to remember is by keeping a journal. Realizing I couldn't have everything etched on my memory, herewith I'm assured I can share a travel journal that highlights some memorable experience that my parents have granted to me. On this first post, I'd like to dedicate it to a resort city in Tennessee that I visited last year. I went on tour to the Southern USA in search of the joys of spring. For that March 2016, the weather in New York wasn't really accommodating due to blizzards and rains.

Downtown Gatlinburg pretty much reminds me of Downtown Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. Probably because of its quirky attraction that can be found along the road. This tourism destination is situated on the border of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. To me, it was indeed a nice place for a walk. I remembered how breezy the day was regardless the striking sunshine.

Upon arrival, I took an Ober Aerial Tramway in which, I was shown the panoramic view of the Smokies. The cable car goes directly to the mountaintop where the amusement park, ice rink and ski area are located. I wasn't amused with the ride-up, so I decided to leave earlier since there's nothing much to enjoy.

For lunch, I browsed around the area near the cable car station and was easily lured the moment I saw a watermill in front of a steak house named Calhoun's. Didn't have a single idea of what to order, I got attracted by their featured menu of the day; wild salmon. The service was fast and hospitable, but their delicacy was an ok, it didn't make any remark.

Speaking of delicacy, if I could highly recommend anything for you when visiting Gatlinburg, it must be their donut and fudge. The Donut Friar offers variety of handmade donuts that is freshly crafted daily. Just make sure you enter The Village complex to find this little gem inside. Another thing that made quite a remark was Kilwins' fudge. Not sure which flavor you fancy? Worry not, the workers will let you sample! The greeting was all friendly that the guy didn't hesitate to suggest the other delectable flavors to me. (I am just that confused when it comes to picking just ONE flavor, for God's sake!) In the end, I ordered a double dark chocolate one and it was so savory.

This year, I almost booked a tour to revisit this place, but a sudden change of plan headed me to a sunnier destination. (You can look forward to the travel journal!) All in all, I wouldn't even complain if I had to revisit this town. It'll be a pleasant journey knowing how beautiful this place is and I'm eager to explore Tennessee.

My next travel journal will be covering my trip to one of the *literally* HOTTEST touristy places I've ever been. Just the thought of it made me cringe again as I got extremely tanned after. Can you guess? Leave me a comment!

New Year, Stay Golden

If year 2014 until mid-2016 was all about lenses with thick limbal rings, by the end of 2016, I discovered a new style of lenses that its design could transform my look. *HINT: they got the most striking design I've ever seen.*

A little background story before I start the review. In the beginning, I thought this kind of hydrocor lenses would look very unnatural since they are designed with a very low opacity. However, I was wroooong! You will totally look different, but in a great way. It might took a while to finally get used with such lenses, just like how you get yourself (and people around you) used to see those thick limbal ring lenses when you aim for a dolly look. Hydrocor liven up your eye color, especially for people with dark brown eyes like me. 

My very first hydrocor lenses were all gray colored as I was too afraid to try the other options out there. Mainly because I wasn't sure if such light brown colored lenses would suit my skin tone too. The dilemma came to an end the time I eventually gave a shot and purchased hydrocor in brown. The result was unsatisfying, I didn't look as graceful as I did when I wore the gray ones since the rest of the brown colored ring exceeded the white part of my eye.  Lesson learned.

So when I saw Lens Village asked their ambassadors to review their newcomer line, which is Molicon Signature, I didn't hesitate at all and fell in love instantly with the golden one!

The lens itself is designed in tons of distinct dots, and the color of those dots fall somewhere in between green and brown. It's also been said that the result will vary depending on the real eye color of each person. You might be surprised at how radiant the colors are on your eyes, yet they nevertheless look natural. This pair of lenses also feels comfortable for daily usage. Well, it's not like I have zero problem wearing them indoor. There were some days when my eyes needed extra care, but as long as I'm able to rewet them with a lens drop, I'd be fine.

Face:

• Too Cool For School Rules Dual Cover BB Cream
• Etude House AC Clean Up Mild Concealer
• Rollover Reaction Sueded Lip & Cheek Cream in moss
• Etude House Play 101 Stick in #12
• Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover Powder

Eye:

• Molicon Signature Hydrocor in golden
• The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit in #3
• 3CE Longwear Tattoo Eyebrow Maker in ash brown
• Maybelline The Blushed Nudes
• Dolly Wink False Eyelashes in #23

Lips:

• BLP Beauty Lip Coat in lavender cream

Styling 101: Scandinavia Dreaming

Source: Decordots | Country Road | Urban Outfitters

Pardon me for thinking too far ahead but I love catching up with my own reverie, just like how I often imagine how my future house would be. I wish to have a house with contemporary Scandinavian interior design, the kind of house that uses earthy muted tones of furniture, features large windows that let the natural light to pour in, also white walls so it reflects the light and makes the interiors brighter. I could use some metal pendant lights here and there too as it will come in handy, functionally and aesthetically. Moreover, I would like to own a spacious backyard where my future kids could freely play and get along with the nature, while I'd get myself indulged in afternoon tea.

Go get 'em: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

I had so much fun browsing through Anthropologie! These findings are quite gem since I was surprised to learn that they apparently offer a wide range of stunning home accessories. Even their cookware sets would create a pleasing aesthetic at the kitchen, wouldn't they? Hands up if you agree with me!

Oh and it's that time of the year again. I hope you are all having a joyful holiday gathering with your loved ones. May the spirit of Christmas bring you happiness and peace!

Gift Guide: Feminine Wanderlusts

I was initially planning to post a gift guide as a #BLOGMAS series, but during that time of the year everything got so hectic and eventually the series ended in two consecutive posts. I'm no good at making a commitment, thus explained why I've never posted a roundup of my monthly favorites. Nothing much I can say besides more excuses, so let's just look forward to reading another gift guide every once in a while just like my occasional Styling 101 or Wish List post, alright?

1. Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
2. Sonix Cora Portable Charger
3. Chi Air Classic Tourmaline Ceramic Iron
4. Ted Baker Hanging Garden Travel Bag
5. Ted Baker Luggage Tag
6. Ban.do Peekaboo Clutch
7. Philosophy Rollerball Trio Set
8. Adidas Tubular Defiant Jersey & Suede Trainer

This gift guide is actually made according to my preference as a frequent traveler who happens to love pink. Hahaha.. Well, I think these are my essentials when it comes to traveling. Because who can seriously leave out music, a clutch for storing your makeup and portable charger, hair straightener or curler (only real girls NEED this), a pair of comfy not to mention good-looking shoes, and mini perfumes that can be brought along your trip on the plane? Just imagine your friend can fit this important stuff inside their stylish luggage and cap it off with a cute tag. Aren't they all set now?

Fall Liquid Lippies

Here comes the beginning of a new season. Like for real, Summer is over and it's time to say goodbye to my bright red and coral-toned hues lippies as I just purchased these babies to swipe on this Fall season.

 TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick and

Rollover Reaction Sueded Lip & Cheek Cream.

Ok, let's get into TheBalm first, it actually comes in 12 different shades and is described as long-wearing formula that has a comfortable matte finish. Meanwhile, Rollover Reaction is stated as two-in-one lip colour that doubles as a blush with velvet finish. Just recently they launched three new shades, which are all perfect for the Fall season seriously.

Onto the description as per usual.

The actual products.

I've heard lots of positive reviews on TheBalm's products, from their well-known blusher, bronzer, and highlighter kits to lip products. Long story short, I finally gave in and searched all over the Internet to find a trustworthy online reseller. Btw, we have the offline store in Jakarta, also Sephora Indonesia sells it online, but the price is outrageously more expensive, so bye. I was scared too that I'd get fake products (you know how tricky online shopping is), thus I devoted more time to investigate until I found an article that helped me to distinguish between the real and fake products. 

Whereas, Rollover Reaction is a local brand that's been selling out really well. Despite the heavy demand, I managed to land their products. My shopping experience was easy-peasy, the shipping was fast as it only took a day, and the package came in a very adorable pink box. Now... Let me reveal the initial local lip product that I wanted so badly. It was called Lip Coat that was created by a renowned Indonesian beauty blogger, Lizzie Parra. But... All of the shades that I've been eyeing sold like hotcakes. Reseller price is so much higher, ugh these opportunists, it's utterly disgusting how they make extra money! I'm not going to spend a single cent on their business. End of story.

Doe-foot applicators.

Swatches.

I think both shades flatter my skin tones differently. However particularly, I've received quite compliments every time I wear Moss. Performance wise, I kind of dislike Rollover Reaction's wand and patchy texture as I couldn't do my entire lips in just one pass. It might be because their formula isn't as lightweight as TheBalm, thus making the application a little hard to control. For Rollover Reaction, the finish falls somewhere between matte and creamy, while TheBalm dries down matte within seconds. Longevity wise, I couldn't be more content they last longer than my expectation. Even after my lunch, these lip colors are still pigmented! Now to the scent of it; both of these product have the similar sweet kind of smell. I think a mint chocolate ice cream really represents TheBalm's scent, whereas Rollover Reaction smells like a vanilla cupcake. 

In conclusion, as much as I wanted to shop just one more lip color, I've been so happy with these lippies and convinced myself that I'd NOT need another one throughout the season.

Have you found your go-to fall lippies?

 

A Lifelong Romance

“Love yourself enough to never lower your standards for anyone.”

Photo courtesy: Stylenanda

It's past midnight here and there goes a moment of reflection that's meant for a nice write-up about life lately. This year, well not exactly as in January until now, nevertheless the length of time, I've learned so many things about love ever since.

I've learned that in order to love myself, I must behave in certain ways that I admire which means I should change for the sake of my own self, not for someone else out there. I should focus on loving myself, instead of loving the idea of other people loving me. Furthermore, the fact that someone else loves me doesn't rescue me from the project of loving myself.

I've learned to discover the reason of my existence and I've refused to settle for anyone who doesn't completely agree with it. I've learned that it's okay to follow my heart, but I should take my brain along the journey. They said we accept the love we think we deserve. I couldn't agree more with it. Rather than dating someone who treats me with less respect, kindness or empathy, I'd be happier single.

I've learned that it takes more than effort, patience, trust, communication, and appreciation to stay in love. Yet the hard truth: you'll never know what does it take to fall in love. I mean, there's simply no explanation. Ain't you just fall? It doesn't make sense.

I've learned to never demand anyone a closure because, I too, acknowledge they have the rights to remain silent. But I've learned to let go the people who don't give me closure. I deserve someone who will express their feeling with all honesty. After all, why would I commit myself to a person who doesn't respect me?

This past year has taught me to figure out the qualities I should be looking for in a man. Finally, I've learned that love isn't overrated, it's just the society who often gets it twisted.

Stylenanda Wish List

As soon as I knew Stylenanda was finally on Zalora's K-fashion brands section, I just couldn't contain my excitement and I felt like I had to share it right away! I mean it's hard to find such stylish yet comfortable clothing these days. Understated is the word that comes to my mind whenever I peek through Stylenanda's lookbook. I love how they carefully choose the pairing which makes all of their models look so effortlessly polished. Well, I think these picks aren't just another wish list, it's more like an inspiration for those who love Korean street fashion.

Pleats Sleeve Sweatshirt // Sweater Dress // Paneled Sleeve Darted Dress

If you want to wear a shorter skirt, balance it out with a loose sweatshirt that can keep your body warm and match it with autumnal shades, like burgundy and navy. This first outfit will work perfectly well together for those days when you’re just as indecisive as the weather, whereas the second one would be perfect for those days when you want to feel much cozier in oversized sweater. Honestly though, oversized statement sweaters are tricky to pull off in transitional weather, because it may look awkward to wear a sweater when the time hasn't even arrived yet. As a consequence, you've got to make it work with airy bottoms in feathery material. Such rose pink skirt as opposed to black would make it work seamlessly. The last outfit really got me fall in love the second I laid my eyes on it! The figure-flattering dress showcases such a feminine flair yet the choice of fabric evokes a cozy and playful mood. I also think it's smart how they pair the loafers with mid calf socks for a little added warmth.

It's no secret I have a lot of oversized clothes in my closet as my personal style is all about being relaxed. Another similar character from all of these pieces aside from its oversized feature is the cool tones that are super versatile to be mixed and matched during this stage of transitioning into cooler weather. Don't you think so, bumblebees? Let me know your tricks too! How do you transition your closet for Fall? 

White Milk

This is going to be one lengthy post as I will review not only one, but two latest products from 3 Concept Eyes as known as 3CE, a sub-brand by Stylenanda primarily focused on beauty. Luckily, I discovered this Korean cosmetics wholesaler who enables me to try out these particular 3CE products 'cause you know, they're not available locally in Jakarta.

3CE White Milk Pack To Foam & 3CE White Milk Sleeping Mask.

Can't we just scream for the cutest packaging ever done by 3CE?

Talk about details.

A hologram sticker attached to each packaging which symbolizes the originality of the brand.

Although 3CE is well-known for its sophisticated kinda design, this time they really prove their breakthrough in Korean market with their cutesy whitening products. Called as White Milk, their first skincare range focuses on skin whitening as if people are madly craving for a brighter skin. True that I'm one of those people who ain't satisfied with my uneven skin tone, and that's why I opt for a whitening product haha.. I have always had issues with my dull complexion, but I tried to be realistic that it takes effort and time as typical whitening products promise nothing instant. Hmm.. Unless their White Milk Cream, that one's supposed to be called a magic cream!

3CE White Milk Pack To Foam

Description: The milk and clay ingredients lift away the impurities deep inside the pores and keep your skin looking clean and clear. The product contains 10,000ppm milk protein and extraction that can remove excess sebum and the impurities deep inside the pores, promoting clean and clear looking skin. The moisture-retaining oatmeal and honey keep skin from drying out, while the tea tree extract helps soothe the skin.

Directions: This white clay mask contains fine particles of bubbles and can be used as both a facial pack and a cleanser.

Combat dead skin cells: Spread an ample amount over face avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. The rich lather lifts away impurities deep inside the pores. Use once or twice a week.
Refreshing Daily Cleanser: Apply to damp skin and massage in a gentle rolling motion. Work up a lather and rinse with lukewarm water.
Urgent Spot Treatment for the T-zone: Apply an ample amount over the oily T-zone and rinse after 5 minutes. The soft and rich cream throughly cleans those hard-to-reach areas in the T-zone.

My verdict: Let me explain about the unique packaging 3CE has come up with for this clay product. It feels like a toothpaste tube, but thinner. Supposedly, you'll be able to squeeze out until the last product. No more wasted product, plus hygienic! Also, the screw cap is just what I need for a facial foam since you're gonna put it in the shower and water usually just finds its own way to sneak into the cap, am I right? The consistency is creamy, it glides very easily, interestingly lathers up to foamy bubbles, and I can feel how hydrated my skin is afterwards. Though the texture is not as solid as clay, it hardens within minutes when it's applied to dry face. The rinsing process was effortless too, I'd just wash it off with water and wipe everything up. Overall, the after effect of using this as a facial foam or mask is almost the same. Therefore, considering this facial pack as a mask is such a fun regime while showering in the bathroom. Not to mention, it smells like powdered milk, which is a plus point!

3CE White Milk Sleeping Mask

Description: Non-sticky, creamy sleeping mask contains 50% of milk protein extract that moisturizes the skin and brightens complexion overnight. Tea tree extract treats blemishes and evens out overall skin tone while oatmeal and honey protects & strengthen skin's barrier.

Directions: Use in the evening. After cleansing and toning, apply adequate amount evenly over face avoiding lip and eye area. Sleep through the night with the mask on, gently wash off with lukewarm water in the morning.

My verdict: Though the weight and shape of the product is exactly the same with the facial foam, it doesn't come in aluminum tube but plastic. However, the scent of this product is somewhat similar to the facial foam, a powdered milk kind of, but more artificial. I use it at the last step of my nighttime skincare routine, every three-day period. The thick cream consistency remains sticky on the skin, especially oily on the T-zone. While it claims to brighten complexion overnight, I could barely notice any skin tone improvement the morning I woke up, seriously. Other than my face being extra moisturized and supple, I don't think it shows a significant result. But I'm happy that this hydrating sleeping mask doesn't break me out! It's hard to find one, you know. I guess that's due to the tea tree formula, yet amazingly, there is no a hint of herbal scent at all.

Price: USD 21.

Use my code T717MH2M8NU to get 8% discount at bbcosmetic.com. The discount code will only be valid within this month, so hurry fill up your cart!

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Woohoo! I'm beyond thrilled to present you a new look on my blog! Over the past few years, I've always wanted to revamp this blog because the previous template looked too dull no matter how much I tried to customize it. The decision of doing a total blog makeover was never easy. Not until recently, when I was in the middle of nothingness and suddenly had this random thought, "Why don't I purchase a pre-made template and give it a shot?" So I spent hours and hours browsing around Etsy, projecting if those particular themes would fit Oh Dear Bumblebees' image. Just so you know, before the idea of purchasing a template came up, I already browsed the freebies but not a single one I stumbled upon could impress me. I'm an extremely picky person when it comes to design because I know exactly what I want, and finding "the one" while staying within budget was challenging, indeed. Hope you enjoy scrolling down the page as much as I do!

Summer Cotton Skin

Hey, dear bumblebees! I'm so excited with some addition to my skincare as well as my makeup routine lately. I just can't wait to share, so stay tuned until I'm done trying them out! Two weeks ago, I received a package from bbcosmetic.com and was surprised when I found out they sent me this product for a review because I myself have never thought of using The Face Shop cushion before. To be honest though, my main motivation before purchasing a cushion is based on this particular factor; they must have a cute packaging. That's it. So now you know why. Haha! What a childish reasoning, but oh well... 

The Face Shop Oil Control Water Cushion.

Description: Perfect your makeup on the go with the Oil Control Water Cushion. Light foundation with a cushion applicator provides a matte finish for a flawless look. The finish of liquid foundation in a convenient compact size.

What it promises:

• Shine-free moisturizing cushion
• Controls sebum
• 4x denser Durable Microfoam
• Evenly dispenses product from first to last touch

Directions: At the final step of your skincare routine, apply all over the face in an even layer. Gently pat into skin with the palm of your hands for complete absorption.

Mine is in shade #21.

The cushion comes with a beige colored puff.

Well the end of summer is drawing near, but there is no such rules in changing the makeup game here. Jakarta has always been hot throughout the year and I feel like this cushion was given to me with thoughtful consideration. The Face Shop actually provides four different types of cushion makeup, in which the other three of them are intended for people with drier skin. I can say that I am glad bbcosmetic.com sent me this one instead of those other cushions.

The swatch on my skin.

Packaging wise, the case looks quite sturdy though it can get easily scratched. This actually happened several times, and I was sure there was no sharp object inside my makeup pouch, yet I found some scratches on the compact. Does this weird phenomena occur to you as well?

Moving on to the puff... Let me sigh for a moment as I want to question this. There are so many colors available in this whole universe, yes? So why does The Face Shop choose beige as their puff's surface color? I can never be sure how much foundation I pick up on this beige colored puff. But yes, it feels denser than any other cushion puff I've ever tried!

Although the finish is more matte than dewy, their shine-free promise might be a little too much 'cause I still need to blot my oily T-zone at midday. Durability is okay for me, however it does a great job at evening out skin tone and fading blemishes. The only issue is, the high SPF in this foundation leaves white cast on my skin, which is a no-go for a night occasion. Please note that the white residue looks noticeable too in daylight. Just make sure to turn off the flash if you're having your photo taken ;)

Price: USD 17.89

Use my code T717MH2M8NU to get 8% discount at bbcosmetic.com. Did I forget to mention the worldwide free shipping? The shipment was pretty fast too, I guess I only had to wait for a week or so, not to mention the abundant samples I received :P

Styling 101: Pleats

The first time I encountered pleats was back in 2014 when I was modelling for a local brand's collection. Though my first impression of the fabric wasn't all that enjoyable due to the humid weather in Jakarta, I had a glimpse idea of how appealing and cosy it would be to wear pleats in cooler temperature.

• Issey Miyake Pleats Please Light Bounce A-Line Dress 
• Fendi By The Way
• Fendi Cat Eye Sunglasses with Crystal Details 
• Steve Madden Carolyn Lace-Up Sandals 
• Kate Spade Small Square Stud Earrings
• Jemma Wynne Chalcedony and Diamond Bangle
• Kate Spade Daydreamer Mirror iPhone 6 Case 

You know you just couldn't skip Issey Miyake when taking pleats into account, could you? And I've been adoring shades of blue lately. I mean, these shades make color mixing seems so easy, not to mention they complement my skin tone. Here's a proof: see my previous post's selfie. In addition, the lace-up trend appears to dominate the entire season. I've noticed it doesn't only look surprisingly hip on clothes, but also on shoes and sandals.

Lily of The Valley

As someone who has a soft spot for exquisite packaging, this debut fragrance from Miu Miu had me at the first sight. I hadn't smelled the perfume, yet I fell in love instantly. You know, it's impossible to resist when the look of the bottle itself is already breathtaking! *pun intended*

Miu Miu Miu Miu Eau De Parfum.

Description: An elegant, sensual floral—lily of the valley—composed of real jasmine, real rose absolute, and synthetic green notes. The soft, fresh, ingénue scent is set against a deep earth-toned background: the wood and pepper of akigalawood, an extract of patchouli. The akigalawood adds a rich, brooding mystery to the subtle sparkle of the floral. The surprising combination feels natural and timeless—flower and earth—but the effect created by the multifaceted process is utterly contemporary.

Notes: Star Anise, Ginger, Green Lily of the Valley, Blooming Lily of the Valley, Jasmine Petal, Rose, Akigalawood, Sandal Wood, Nirvanolide.

Style: Feminine. Youthful. Sophisticated.

Ingredients.

The packaging, of course, too dainty to be true. I appreciate the beauty of ornamental fragrance bottles, simply because they could sublimely style the top of my vanity as well as any of Instagram #flatlays shots, don't you think so?

I adore the fancy scent of pure floral and warm woody tones, it's been my signature scent if anybody has noticed. Thanks to the jasmine and rose influence, this perfume smells so refreshing as if it is tailored to the summer season. And, is it only me? But I sense these subtly woody notes are tantalizing, creating such a seductive allurement which is delicately enrapturing. Last but not least, performance wise, it delivers a long-lasting floral hit onto the skin. 

Price: USD 88

On a side note, I got this new pair of circle lenses from Lens Village, a Malaysia-based K-lens distributor that carries more than 600 choices of circle lenses and ships worldwide. As someone who always plays on the safe side when it comes to appearance, I picked the brown ones but apparently the diameter of these lenses are way too big for my eyes, 0.5mm larger than my usual. It was my mistake to fail checking the details, I ended up looking too dolly and unnatural. Comfort wise, I don't like how they aren't stuck properly on the middle of my eyes sometimes. Sounds weird I know, perhaps it's caused by the huge diameter. Moreover, I don't think they come in the same exact color as their advertisement. On the display, obviously the brown shade somewhat appears to be bronze, whereas in real life it looks closer to chocolate brown.

Face:

• Missha M Magic Cushion in #23
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer
• Etude House Play 101 Stick Contour Duo
• Etude House Play 101 Stick in #12
• Innisfree No-Sebum Blur Powder

Eye:

• The Dolly Eye V1-25 in brown
• The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit in #3
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• Maybelline The Blushed Nudes
• Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Lips:

• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in petal
• Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor in bare maximum
• 3CE Lip Color in love sick

A Gratitude Journal

“If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love,
you have to find the courage to live it.”

Being a grownup has taught me to manage my time wisely and share only a tiny bit of my life to the society. Perhaps that principle of mine is the main reason you didn't see this blog as active as it used to be? Told ya to expect this kind of random stuff from me, so here I am unusually typing a blogpost about how my life has been these past months. Hope you excuse my awkward blabber since I've never done this before :/

Life lately has been a hectic amalgam of work, study, passion, family, and friends in which I can hardly believe I'm spending the wee hours writing this journal instead of having a better sleep. Nevertheless, there is something exhilarating about this deep late-night conversation (Yes. I'm requesting some feedback). So, let's cut to the chase, shall we?

I call it nonsense for someone who is in their twenties for not experiencing the quarter-life crisis. To be perfectly frank, two months ago I was so clueless with my life, I quitted a job I despised, I didn't pass a job interview that I was always curious what it'd feel like to work there, I traveled places yet I didn't know what I was going to face once I got back to my hometown. However in the end, I had no regrets because I tried my best, I took the chance to break out of my comfort zone. In this case, it's my ex-workplace, I called it a comfort zone because there was no room for adventure and excitement. I felt neither challenged nor appreciated. What's more, I took the chance to at least get interviewed until the final round and realize that the job wasn't for me in the first place, and as a reward, I received something more valuable; a thrilling experience I would always be grateful for.

Art by Hello Monday Design.

Right now, I'm pursuing my career and dream at the same time. IKR?! I don't know how I got so lucky! My entire weekdays would be full of work, I often come back late at night because of several different reasons, could be attending events, working out at the gym, or merely catching up with my friends. I say it's seriously difficult to keep your social life balance, meanwhile I'm the kind of person who wants to have my own quality time at least once a week.

On Saturday, I'm taking a TOEFL course at this tuition center for the sake of my academic goal, and right after finishing the course, I'd be meeting up with my friends or working out at the gym. Dang. Why do I sound like a gym-holic now?

Finally moving on to Sunday... Yeah, I'd rather spend the whole day for myself or my family. Because, duh? I don't want to drive all day everyday. HA. Jakarta's traffic has gotten worse, you know... And I want to have this day as my own day for pampering myself, being productive making a new blogpost OR not productive at all!

Being surrounded by positive energy of the dreamers and the doers has changed my perspective towards life. I especially love those who have creative minds with amazing commitments to their dreams.

More importantly, I'm beyond blessed to have such supportive family and friends. Once someone told me to go chase my dream, I bluntly declined the idea because I was skeptical my kind of dream job could pay me enough bucks. Now that I finally got the job, I can admit how foolish I was that time for being ignorant, rejecting without even trying.

I know some people who are still figuring out what they truly aspire in their life. It might take a while for you to acknowledge your enthusiasm, so here's a relevant life hack that might be helpful. Sometimes, it's in the darkest period of life you'll see the spark, one-of-a-kind spark that I describe as unusually bright and somehow keeps me in the right direction to always look forward. When you see the spark, you'll say something like "I got this" with a bunch of motivation. That's when I was very convinced with my goal in life.

Hence you've got to be brave enough to ask yourself: "Risk or regret?" The future is bound to be uncertain, but how do you know your full potential if you aren't stubborn about your own goal?

And if one day I start feeling stressed, I'll spend a few minutes looking through this post as a proof to remind myself what really matters.