No Maid No Problem (yet?)

A month after Hari Raya, some of my friends are still struggling to find a domestic helper. As it is a common phenomena in here.

It got me thinking that almost 5 years now I live without full time helper (of course I am hiring part timer once a while especially when the ironing is piling up to the roof)

Realizing I can survive without them, let me share a few easy tips to manage your house and yourself.

Trust me, I often want to scream too when things get overloaded.

Let’s get start with the list :

1. Get all your family member in the house to be involved. Everyone should know where is the tissue storage, oil, paper, tape and so on. Even the kitchen utensil.

Start with labeling the boxes, especially when you have a young children at home.

It is important for all adults to aware of those places, in order to help you keep things in places.

BUT! Be flexible and feasible with all the situation, especially if you have children. They need some times to know all the places and help you with house core.

At least they can tidy up their toys and be commited with it.

(My 8yo is always playing everywhere, but he’s on his way to helping us more. Practice and patience still the key 😁)

I am so lucky to have a cooperative husband (but he did some hiccup too, as normal human and we know the consequences of that hiccup is wife will bark a bit Lol)

2. Get your cleaning tools COMPLETE – handy.

I always choose the easiest and cleanest mop, even though it cost lots of money. Simple reason to get things done easier.

And always clean them when you are done the cleaning process. It will reduce the stress level when you are about to start your cleaning process.

3. Clean kitchen sink is a happy start.

It is very personal, but if in the night I get to do prioritize, clean up the dishes is a must before go to bed.

You can easily ignore if the floor is a bit dusty but not dishes.

You don’t want to wake up in the morning and facing the dirty dishes and pans.

4. The most important part, it’s okay to have a messy house once a while. Don’t overdo and let yourself too tired.

I am still working on this mantra. To be honest, I get upset easily of the house is disorganize. I could stay awake and sleep late to do some cleaning.

This is not good in long term. Because I need to rest and continue working the next day.

Keeping myself awake in the night will cause more problems the next day.

Like we all know, lack of sleep will affect our hormone and mood ladies. We don’t need to be a dragon cleaner lady.

After all it is our house, our home. With or without helper is a choice. We know what it’s best for us.

I can tell this story or surviving without helper, but I believe many people out there who has no choice to add a helper as part of the family.

Just make sure you are happy with the decision 💖

Tell me your cleaning or managing house story. Would love to read it.
xoxo

– A –

Finally! A delicious Stove Top Granola Recipe

Hello,

On my way to cleaner eating this year, I begin to dig in my old recipe of good old saviour snacks. GRANOLA.

Unfortunate there is a tiny problems, which I am still struggling to adjust the temperature of my manual oven ( I know I shouldn’t have use it as an excuses, but it does slowing down my baking journey)

And todaaayy. I was having a challenging day, from a leaking water to my bedroom, continue with the stove fuel need to refill, the balcony door suddenly decided to be broken and I got lock out. My keys aren’t working. LOL. What a day. It’s not even a mercury retrogade ❤️

After applying my trusted Lavender oil, I decided not to cook today and went outside for eating and coming home in a good mood.

Voila, in a good mood indeed and here I am making a stove top GRANOLA in the middle of the night.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Oats
• 1 cups Sunflower seeds
• 1 cups Raw Almond (chopped)
• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cups Maple Syrups
• 1/2 cups Goji Berry
• 1/2 cups Raisins
• 1 cup Coconut flakes
• A dash of himalayan salt

How to do it :

1. Heat up the pan and melt the coconut oil
2. Pour in the oat, sunflower seeds, almonds and stir it
3. Pour in maple syrup and continue to stir until it turns golden brown (5-10 min). The key is to keep on stirring as you don’t want them to be burnt (and keep your stove on the lowest setting)
4. Turn off the stove
5. Pour in Goji Berry, Raisins and Coconut flakes and stir them.
6. Keep on the stove top until it completely cool.
7. Store in the airtight container.
8. You have a fresh GRANOLA. Enjoy.

My favorite is to eat them plain or using greek yogurt and fruits.

It can last 2 weeks. But mine is usually having shorter life period.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
xoxo

– A –

For the Love Of Coffee

Almost everyday we can find a new coffee space to hang out or take away.  I always fell for a minimalist place and good coffee of course.

If it’s too crowded, i might just take away the coffee and have it outside.

Proudly saying that the local coffee shop in Indonesia is way better than the famous “green icon” brand.

I’ve been a coffee drinker since I can’t remember to be honest. Starting with creamy sugary milky coffee in my youth and now consciously turn my head to bitter or black coffee.

I need the caffeine kick not the sugar, though I have a weakness for Ice Latte 😁

This one is still number 1 for me 😁

And happy to find some other follower that taste good as well.

Made in Bandung yay!

Or this one nearby our apartment.

All those Ice Latte are sharing the same taste. Bold coffee with touch of cream and not too milky.

Simply delicious!

Coffee is giving the kick from its caffeine but be very careful, it can caused addiction.

Light roasted coffee is having higher caffeine comparing to dark roasted and light roasted tend to feel more acid comparing to the darker one that develop oil while being roasted.

However, the origin, environment, age and processing may affect the taste and quaility of each coffee.

Current trend is some coffee shop using blonde coffee. It’s a light roast coffee and of course with higher acidity. For you who love a hint of lemon sour in coffee, this is the coffee for you.

Please be aware of it especially if you have gastric problem.
By having sufficient rest and healthy food (maybe combine with some regular exercise), you might not need coffee as a booster.

If you are wondering why am I Being so serious about coffee, because I take coffee and food seriously. I need to enjoy the coffee 😁

Oh well, once in every blue moon, I can write something so serious LOL.

Now please excuse me who’s enjoying my afternoon coffee.

Till next time.
xoxo

-A-

Spring Cleaning (or other seasons)

Time of the year again. To clear up space and clean up the clutter, particullarly my wardrobe.

Over the year, the question and situation remains the same.

Between

“I don’t need this or this one should go”

VS

“Wow, a treasure ”

Neverending dilema and few days later.

Piling up some goodies (that I secretly hope it’s goldies) LOL.

And after a few days and cups of coffee later, I want to share some tips to make the Spring Cleaning Process easier.

1. If it doesn’t fit anymore, it should go.  Forget the idea “If I do some diets, It will fit me and bla bla bla”

If it doesn’t fit, means it doesn’t fit. If somehow our size is changing and become smaller, that will be a good reason to start shopping 😁
2. If you are not wearing it more than 2 years, It should go.

Sorry to say, If you did’r remember the existence of this particular item, then It is not important.

Bye bye outfit.

3. You have few similar items.

What’s the point of having 5 tutu skirt for God sake? Oh well, that’s me.

I decided to keep 3 out 5 (which is still a lot). But some needs to go.
4. Out of date.

Some outfit are worth to keep, but some not. Please do not insist to keep a syntetic fur jacket that you bought when you were at Junior High. It’s definetely out of date.

Junior High, pleaseee

5. Too Short – Too long – Too Tight- Too ….

Everything that start with too, means it is not suitable for you anymore.

We should let it go.
So, how it goes ladies?

Pretty easy On the paper right?

We are on this together, so please give your outfit a fresh start and look. Let them go.

Let some of them find a new home.

Happy Cleaning Ladies
Xoxo

-A-

The Right Decision

It is a powerful statement. Making the right decision.

Have you ever wondered wether the choice you made is the right one. Or have you ever listen to the tiny voices inside your head that making you doubt on your own decision?

Hang on there, you are with me.

Everytime I need to decide something, I keep on questioning myself, am I making the righ decision? Is this the best? What if and so on.

Funny part, I already know that whatever the decision I made, is followed by consequences.

It is not about right or wrong.

It is about taking risk with consideration.

Afterall we are human. We have brain that help us think and intuition that send the signal of inner voice.

Sometimes our decision will lead us to the best possible situation.

Some other decision will lead us to regret.

Again, there is no right or wrong.

We have to believe in faith and destiny.

When GOD want that to happen, the best that we can do is praying for the best to happen.

Fret not, all the good things are not easily delivered and all the bad things usually comes with rainbow afterward.

I am about to make a decision as well.

I’ve heard my tiny voices inside my head and build up the anxiety as well.

Lucky I have the best partner to discuss things and friends for advise.

Wish me luck and I pray and put my faith on it.

So, tell me what’s your recently made decision?hope it all lead to a good progress.

Keep on making a ton of decision love.
xoxo

-A-

Psstt : these pictures are taken at Yats Colony. A lovely place to stay when you are coming to Yogyakarta Indonesia. I might share the details of our short getaway later. Till next time.

Do You Believe in Magic?

I always consider myself as a day dreamer and night thinker. Not so good because then I will find it hard to do morning activity 

(not a morning person too but trying so hard to drag myself off the bed to pray before fall back asleep at couch LOL) 

This picture from internet tells it all. L O L 

Back to magic. 

I always believe that everything happen for reasons and there is one who created us that DO the MAGIC. 

I believe in GOD as the solely do MAGIC in our life. 

The interesting part, I also acknowledge that some peoples are gifted by natural force, sensitive sixth sense beyond other people. Having chance or opportunity get to know them is interesting. I myself experiencing in unusual way.  Don’t get confuse with witchcraft or fantasy though. 

But the best Magical that coming to me is friends and family.

They always manage to put on special spell on me, whenever, wherever. 

From a close or casual friend that giving you the best advise or just a warm hello on your bad day. To simple hug or bump into long lost friend that suddenly giving you that glow happy feelings. 

Magic is everywhere. 

You just need to believe in yourself and spread it out. 

Especially when you need it the most. 

Trust me, it will coming back to you.

Of course, words are easy to say. But you have no other choice but to take good chance and use it. 

If it fails, then let’s start again. 

I am having bad day too. 

I am having dispute and awful argumentation too.

I feel disappointment and guilt too.

But I know that there is a process for every tiny victory and improvement. 

The process is always seems imposible until it’s done (inhale exhale)

So hang on with me while doing all the process. 

Hang on there, when you are planing a bigger thing.

Encourage and motivate yourself not to give up when it fails. 

Push yourself to the limit and set the higher bar (and believe it) 

Most important, do your MAGIC. 

So tell me now, Do you believe in MAGIC?
xoxo

-A- 

(Written by me aka Nanny Plum who’s working on her magic at this moment to keep her sanity)

🦄🦄🦄

So called Motherhood!

We are surrounded by super moms (I must say super moms, because they are all super and lots of them). What makes us a mom? What makes us deserved a mother’s title?

It doesn’t really matter for me, wether you are delivering a child so you are called a mom, or you are adopting, or you are raising cats and dogs, or even you are a mom at your workplace for your team.

A mom, is someone that we care about, we adore, and we look up to.

A mom is someone who is caring for us. I know that some of us are choosen to be a birth mom and some others should fight to be one. Some of us decided not to having a child on his own but care for others. It doesn’t really matter.

Once you have unconditional love to someone else, you deserve to be called MOM.

Once you care for someone even though that someone is annoying and often forgeting your exsistence, you still deserve a MOM’s title.

I am not talking about the love lust, I am talking about the sincere and pure love.

This is motherhood, MY version.

You might agree or not, your choice.
Ps : I am a mom to 8 yo boy who could not leave me alone whenever I am busy entertaining myself. He will come and ask and ask and ask and ask. Like never ending question and request. He will nagging and asking about fewe things just to get my attention. He is trully something.

But I am proud to called my self a MOM, because i would do anything for his wellbeing. Ensuring he is ready to embrace the future.

He might get hurt (and I might not be able to stop that), but I want him to go back on his feet and step up and be better.

Well, I  am a serious MOM when talking about this stuffs 😁

Now I am sending love to all MOMs out there.

Any kind of MOMs.

Au revoir

💖🌸
A

Finding FUN

Hey Jakarta, you are surpringly FUN. Even more than I can remember. 

Of course your bitterness is still there but I begin to like you. 

I am not a fan of your crazy hectic road, but thanks to massive online transport that make it easier. 

Well, not going to talk about that, I am just gonna talk about YOU, the Jakarta that I like! 

1. Fun and creative people

I got a chance to meet fun creative people recently. From beauty blogger to travel blogger (whom I known for years and so happy to be able to catch up with her) and creative talented handmakers! 

I love to know that so manu inspiring handmaker, crafter, artist are here. They post almost everyday and yes, I repeat, inspiring. My fave makers are @nikeprima and @mamiraz of @livinglovingnet 

Also you can browse, a lot of community that offering classes and workshop with affordable budget, sometimes free! Exciting right?

2. Local Coffee shop. 

A LOT! It’s like every corner, you can find a new coffeeshop. 

They are all creative and offering different kind of atmosphere. 

From edgy to homey. 

From bold to sugary syrup taste. 

My number 1 coffee will be TokokopiTUKU. Their coffee is perfect 10 and cheap. But the queue is not something that I fancy of. 
The second fave is Our weekend spot, Crematology. Something about the barista and homey places that fit us well. The coffee taste is good also. Crematology that we often hang out is located at suryo 25. 

And so the list continue to liberica, beau, commonground, pigeonhole, kopimana, wisangkopi,  filosofikopi (the fact that I am one of fan LOL. You know who I mean) and so on. 

Too many to put on the list. 

Here’s some of the pictures of it (and me of course)

Jakarta is all about exploring the fun. This two fun things that help me to settle down in here. 

I know I will find more fun along the way and I look forward to it. 

Till next time. 

xoxo

A

You Write when You Miss it

I am still missing KL all day, everyday. Not that I can’t move on or continue our life, but I do miss KL. 

So, here I am, listing my fave things to do when we were in KL.

What I love the most :

1. Parks with sparks

I haven’t found any park in Jakarta that give me sparks. I could spend hours on my “so called me time” in one of those park in KL. Sitting, sip a cup of coffee, juice or ais teh tarik. 

Picture perfect. 

Taking my boy to park is also fun. We could walk around it and chat and play with the sun.

2. Yarnsholic heaven

All those craft store, from local craft store at sungei wang or pasar seni, to Spotlight. 

Did I mention how much I love yarns? It was the first thing that I check when our cargo was arrived. 

I also missed my fellow handmaker there who’s been so nice to me. Missed hang out with them

3. Supplies and supermarket

Grocery shopping is my thing beside craft. My fave grocery store is Village grocer, they have everything that I need. My fave is located at Bangsar Village, nearby our aparment and the local food banana leaves resto. 

Then followed by Cold Storage, Jaya Grocer, Isetan and Sams and local market of course. 

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4. Bangsar

Yes. Spefically I missed Bangsar. 

I missed the Nirwana Maju resto, Chawan, Mikey Pizza, plan B, snackfood shop, smalls fashion boutique, lego stores,nasi kandar, massage place and cziplee stationery store too! 

Bangsar is a homey area. It’s not located in the center of KL but it’s reachable (excuse my geographic skill). If you are familiar with KLCC, Bangsar can be reached by LRT/MRT/Monorail. 5-10 minutes only from KL sentral station. 

Bangsar is housing area too. If you are wondering about the ground house area in KL, Bangsar is one of it. 

I always love to spend my day at Bangsar. 

5. Trains 

When we were living in KL, we always enjoy taking train everywhere. It’s just our thing. 

Monorail, LRT, KTM komuter, all of it. Now they have a brand new MRT, unfortunate we got no chance to try it out.

Ah ya, we also like to take KLIA transit to putrajaya and hang out there. Simply because we enjoy the train ride very much.

I remember one time, my son requested to take bus to Melaka and he wants to ride KLIA transit too. We suppose to take KLIA transit to Bandar Tasik Selatan/Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (the place where we can take the bus to Melaka) but then we decided to take longer ride to KLIA 2 instead and continue the journey to Melaka from there. 

It was a long trip but we are having fun. A winning indeed.
​

6. The Foods 

I can’t believe I put this on the list. Few months when we first move to KL, I hate all the food, everything seems to “curry-ish”. But now I love it! 

From Nasi Kandar (pelita), nasi lemak antarbangsa, Banana Leaf rice, kwetiau, mee mamak, canai, chicken rice, tosai, kuih2. All of it. 

I am drolling just thinking about it. 

Oh how I missed it. 

Kwetiau at Food Republic Pavilion

Canai Teh Tarik Palace

Kale Salad

Laksa

Mee Tarik Warisan

Ais Cendol

Nirwana Maju Banana Leaves
I could write thousands more about how much I missed KL. 

It will always be our second home and I secretly hoping to be able to spend some life in KL again. 

Hope so. Pray for me? 😁😘
xoxo

A

It’s ok to be not ok

Again and again, I haven’t posted anything. My oh my.

8 months since we moved back to our beloved country, Indonesia.

I must say I miss KL a lot. The environment, the multicultural people, the surprise that I got everyday. Everything.

Well, I do find different challenge in here. Another kind of challenge and additional title as homeschooled mom 😅 (but no, I prefer not to share the details in here since LOL)

Everytime I flip the old pictures, instantly I flew back to last year in KL. I do miss it 😁

Miss this view, miss the FOOD.

But Hey,

Don’t be so gloomy while reading it.

I am having fun also in here.

We are surrounded by family and more friends now. The best part of moving back and the unbeatable local food.

Happiness is happen when you feel it and it’s not determined by the place but by the heart.

It is ok not to feel ok in the beginning of changes but you must believe that it is all for good cause. There’s a bigger plan behind it.

Keep on believing 💖
xoxo

– A –