Adieu, 2015. Welcome 2016.

As 2015 in just a mere 1 hour will be history, we'll be in 2016 shortly. How time flies, 365 days spent so fast.

As for me, 2015 was a big year of growth where I learned about acceptance and letting go. I learned the hard way that we cannot always have things we desire (in material or immaterial concept) and one thing not least important money cannot always brings you happiness. But in the end, all these things I learned made me thing stronger and calmer.

I have a few personal goals for 2016. Some of them are money related including paying debts #shyface and being savvy. The others including launching my kids decor online shop called Oh The Small Things, trying to write more for this blog, last but not the least serve my husband more :D (been a lazy old hag this year duhh..)

So excited to start over this journey of live tomorrow (inshaAllah..if He grants me another day and another breath to be taken). Can't wait to see what your 2016 takes you. I wish you all the best for the new year ahead!!



    xoxo
-antybazar-

Style - Mini Rodini, A brand We Love

Ahh.. What a week. After a long weekend well spent in Pontianak and Singkawang, here we are again stranded in our busy routine at the office with Ishtar playing safe in her governess's good hands. Nothing new, and nothing interesting happen until yesterday, a package came. Yayy.. after a few days delay, it actually arrived safely and save me from my boredom. It's not a mere package for me, it's Mini Rodini. 

If you're following my Instagram, maybe you're already know that I'm addicted to Mini Rodini, a Scandinavian brand from Sweden. You know, sometime social media like Instagram is a poison to our grocery shopping list. If you can't hold yourself, you'll end up buying more and more. Just like me. My addiction to Mini Rodini started a long ago while I'm searching for an inspiration to dress four months old Ishtar. Me and my husband coincidentally didn't like that pinky, princess or cartoon print kids clothing with ribbon and itchy lace from head to toe. Can we just dress our kids in a simple cozy clothes but still presentable as a kid without looking too old for their age? That's what our thought saying that day. So, I start my hunting session in IG, until at some point I stumble upon a photo of a kid wearing a toucan print dress. 

It was love at first sight actually. My oh my.. It looked so cool to me. Toucan bird on a kid's clothes? How cool is that? While that big bird with bright orange bills reminds me so much of my childhood in my birthland which is their native habitat, seeing the print wore by a white kids made it feels like its a symbol of unlimited, borderless, wild imagination of a kid's life. It seems so me. Of course I want Ishtar life to be far better than mine. She has to live her life to the fullest, push her dream and aim and effort to the limit, living her dream out. That's what I tought when I saw that photo. How cool is that? 

So, I started digging on the brand which later I know to be Mini Rodini. A Stockholm based children clothing line founded in 2006 by Cassandra Rodin. And the rest is history. LOL. I end up having numerous collection from several seasons they already launched.

One other thing interesting about Mini Rodini besides their quirky bold print is they name each of their season with quirky name also. Their latest is called See You Later Alligator for Spring/Summer 2015 as for Autumn/Winter 2014 and 2013 are Quel Carousel and Mini Zoologist respectively. 

Ishtar in Mini Rodini SS15 - See You Later Alligator

Ishtar in Mini Rodini AW14 - Quel Carousel

Ishtar in Mini Rodini SS14 - Mini Zoologist

And one more photo. This dress in a certain size are soldout anywhere. So, if you see them somewhere, go grab them, hoard them if needed. Because they gone when the gone. And you might find them whatsoever, in double price. Don't say that I didn't warn you LOL.

Ishtar after a vaccine shot in the sought after Mini Rodini Pug dress.

Ishtar's Holiday - To the West (Borneo) We Go!!

West Borneo. Yeah.. A city I have long forgoten until last week while searching for any tickets for the weekend, I found out that it was the only option for us to escape Jakarta without spending too much on the tickets. It was a long weekend that's why it's almost impossible for the three of us to visit favorite local destination because nothing is available let alone affordable. So, West Borneo seemed to be the best option we had.

With simple packing and simple itineraries in mind we flew to Pontianak in 90 minutes flight. I reminded my husband that not much Pontianak and Singkawang can offer but their local culinary, which is beyond awesome. Being with me for more than 9 years, he knows exactly how much I praise my birthland for their food, especially their snacks.

As for Ishtar, I have three big agendas for her. One, take her to ziarah (paying a visit to someone's grave. This time it means my mum's, my beloved aunt's, my grandpa's and my sister's). Two, take her to my hometown in Singkawang and introduce her to my extended family and the last but not the least is, take her to the beach. Yeah, B E A C H. With sand and the waves and the breezes.

She's never been into one before. So I think it's a good chance for me to introduce her because we will find many beaches on the 145 km road from Pontianak to Singkawang. I opt for specific beach, Pantai Pasir Panjang Indah. Nothing fancy about this beach. Just natural sandy beach with coconut trees along the sand. A picture perfect beach in my mind.

Ishtar visiting her littlest cousin Aldi. She cried in jealousy as I pick him -,-

Posing at the beach. She refused to walk on the sand at first.

See Ishtar reaction as the waves hit her. My poor city girl LOL..

Enjoying Pisang Goreng Suka Hati, a specialty in a legendary same name coffeeshop.

Taking a traditional boat to cross the River Kapuas.

 

Playing at Taman Alun Kapuas. An open park beside Kapuas river.

At a crossroad in Singkawang city center. See the old chinatown behind them.

At the oldest temple in Singkawang, Tri Dharma Bumi Raya.

Those days were awesome. Good food, familiar faces, nice places, taste of the salty air even the journey itself. I hope everyone was as happy as me enjoying our very short visit. And we can't hardly wait for another adventure.

Lame Post in 2015

Hi everyone,

long time no see. Been a while since my last post on 2013. I've been busy since then, I swear :D. Moving to our new house, having a baby, toting a toddler, I nearly got no time even for myself. That what my life has been being a working mum. But when I found this abandoned blog while searching my own name (you know I'm a google freak , rite? ) I think it's time for me to start over again. But, what to write? :D (still the same old reason eh?). But I'll try.

Anyway, here in Jakarta, today is the opening day of the Grand 60th Asia Africa Conference Commemoration 2015. Despite oll of the traffic caused and none of my officemate think it's a special event, I feel a bit touched by two photos I've seen about the the commemoration. First is my aunt's photo she post in her Path, which was her posing with HE Le Luong Minh - The Secretary General of ASEAN and the second is my ACI Detik 2011 friend, a very talented young designer taking a picture of her in the commemoration itself. Wowww.. Such a lovely thing to be able to experience this, meet great people, join the great event. I think it's a way to keep ourself empowered. And after seeing these pictures, I am like being reminded that succes in anyway will come to those who work their passion out. I believe that my friend Giffa, and my aunt are on of them. That idea keep me thinking a thing I have long forgoten to think, what is my passion?

Hmmm...