New Year

May we all have a happy, quiet and blessed new year and years to come, no more or no less... hugs!

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Potluck Satay

My potluck menu I bring today for our holiday season office potluck party....let's eat!



Krang Kring Resto

I am obsessed with any chalk wall...And now, I fall in love with the chalk glass painting if I could say so, at Krang Kring resto, Ciliwung street, Bandung.  Another Bandung community endless creativity,.......happy holiday!

Krang Kring resto Bandung

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

On this holiday season, I had organized few assignments for the kiddos..

Starting today's assignment with red velvet whoopie pie cooking experiment.  I hope the result goes smoothly this time..I rang the kiddos just now, they said it's delicioso!  Can't wait to come home and taste...whoopie whoopie whoppie wooooo..I am coming!

Detik Food - Red Velvet Whoopie Pie



Mint Choco Cupcake

My latest cooking experiment with the kiddos..I melted mint choco with butter in the microwave, add 2 eggs and flour afterwards.  I split the cake mix into two so the kiddos won't fight for their portion.

Pretty well result..only the taste was more to brownies kukus than choco melt..ahh, I blamed it on the mint choco!

Museum Kebangkitan Nasional

Again, this was the eldest' request to visit any museum on the weekends and I accidentally found this place somehow..

Museum Kebangkitan Nasional is next to Paviliun Kartika, RSPAD Gatot Subroto, Jakarta.  

The place is quite spacious, and a bit spooky. It was used to be an old Javanese medical school.  No wonder they're wearing Javanese blangkon all over the place.

Entering the vintage building feels like passing through time tunnel and time has just stopped there..It made us wondering how the students studied with a limited medical equipment and stayed in the quiet dormitory....no internet, no wifi, no CSI sophisticated thingy with DNA identifier and computerized autopsy room? 

They must be very classy and high profile students! 

String Pinata

Promiseeeeee...this is gonna be my last post for bash preparation!  hmm...but someone could break her promise, right?

I also prepared Spongebob Pinata for the party but this time I decided not to do the bang bang..The idea was coming from my last pinata project where the 2 y.o. kid enthusiasticly banging the heavy stick and it turned out to be hitting other children,....sad!

I was putting several strings on the bottom of pinata - do not forget to glue a thinner paper to ease the pull out session...so we did a pull than bang pinata!

And look at their happy faces when pulling out the string, everybody got their turns!



Choco Melt

I know, i know..bit too much to post my bash preparation in several posts....I just could not help it!

I  made the choco melted cupcake because it's simple and yet it took less than 1 hour to bake 40 cups!

You are the Universe

Yes, this is how I feel about you, kiddos.......

You are the Universe, you're a driver, not a passenger in life!

Paper Vs Paper

One busy morning, on a meeting with one of my senior partner and the boss, I ended to an interesting conclusion.

Whenever we agreed on something, the three of us were automatically writing down on a piece of paper to take note.

This is odd, maybe, in the paperless digital world nowadays where we should easily write down with our smartphone....and on another mental notes : the boss is using IPhone and the others are having IPad including me (sigh!)

The most amazing was the partner : he's writing down on a small piece of paper, folded and slipped it on his wallet as he said it's heavy to carry an IPad....Hmmm, and I said : you need to get a personal assistant to carry.. (hahaha!)

I actually tried to use the so called hi-tech equip to simplify my life.  I sometime bring my IPad to read candidate's CV during my interview, but most of the time I skip and  whenever I pass on to my colleagues for another interview, they always ask for the print-out CV!

Conclusion : There's something that traditionally remains unchanged......PAPER!

Another Bash Four

I am not a bday party kinda mom though I like to decorate..for me, bday must be celebrated in a simple and quiet mode...Everyone have their own birthday date, isn't it?

But this time, since it was requested by the youngest and this is gonna be his last year at kindergarten, so why not?

I decided to go for a cheaper goody bag as mine was a small jar filled with hand puppets and choco biscuits  instead.  I bought a plastic jar cost me only IDR 3000 a piece, cut multicolor fabrics  (you could use any used fabrics or buy a cheaper one) and wrapped it with gold ribbon.  And I am done now!

Another Bash 3

And this is the 3rd preparation, the hand puppets!

I luv this, i saw this first at IKEA Abu Dhabi 2 years back and it should be perfect for the goody bag, light and handy...Lucky, they are still on production till now, Yeay!

Happy Foccacia

My level of happiness is simple...and is when you were having Starbuck Foccacia for your breakfast..simple, isn't it?

IKEA Wishlist

My 3 IKEA wishlist from my last trip to Singapore, which will continue as my wishlist till I find a way to ship  to Jakarta..cross finger!

Another Bash 2

Soo..this is another DIY for my youngest bash......I bought the plastic bottle from Pasar Mayestik and I glued the colorful bottle wrap from kind-kindred-melissa and I luv the result!

Cooking Class

This was the second year I was asked by my youngest's teacher to be a guest teacher at school.  The theme is  process...wow, what kinda process to be talked about for 6-years old pupils?

Cooking demo is the first idea came to mind.  For 30-minutes time, it should go within your reach.  Just put a mayo, the chicken, any tomato and ......HOO to the RAYYYY,  HOORAAAY!

On the D day, when I came to the class, the pupils started to scream my name....Mama Azra,..Mama Azra.....Mama Azra.....oh my, my heart gasp! I really enjoying the 3-seconds fame..please please do not take that away from me?

And then, the chaos started......

Believe me, it's better to run an office meeting with 30 adult, than handling 19 pupils.....one was dissapointed for not having her turn to cut the bun, one was complaining for having overcooked chicken, and the other four were screaming for the red burger toppers! Hahahahahaha.....

But it was such a joy, F-U-N-tastic and overwhelming experience and I won't trade this with anything.....They are such adorable and one thing broke my heart to the most, my youngest was so proud of me! Luv u too!

Burger Demo

This was prepared last week for my cooking class project...I printed out the burger sketch, glued on a cardboard and put a stick on it.  I prepared also a cupcake topper for the burger,love it!

Party Assistant

Meet my youngest who is now officially becoming my party organizer assistant.  His first duty is to write-up mom's arisan menu...good job, young boy!



Another Bash

My upcoming project for the youngest bash at his school...wish me luck!

Jambu Air

And my jambu air on the pot is growing!  Happy!  U guys should try to grow fruit in the pot, it should be very easy to maintain..

Piquenique at Mekarsari

And off we go to Mekarsari....flying fox, banana boat, rolling doughnut...

Do not forget to come early to avoid traffic and sunny day, bring your colorful mat, homemade foodie and have the stylish and cheap piquenique..the kiddos gonna love it..

Hello Kitty Pinata

And here's the result...

Dear Lea, please be nice to the eenie meenie teenie tiny catwoman wannabe...happy birthday!

Meowww...



Lazy weekend working on the white crepe papers craft for my bestie's daughter....meeoowww..



Vintage Tiles

My future project on vintage tiles...aren't the colors lovely?

Bench Makeover 2

And this is the after makeover!  I first wanted to have a rustic light blue, but i still need to have the kiddos to sit on it frequently to get the natural rustic look!

The rustic idea was coming from this blog, Bright Bazaar actually...who would not fall in love with the light blue drawer?

Bright Bazaar

Taman Langsat

And the journey continues..... Taman Langsat is on Barito street, Kebayoran Jakarta.  As the closest park from our home, this is quickly becoming our go-to for lazy weekender.

Look....they have the red bike, recycled deer, hanging frames and hopscotch...hoop hoop!



Bench Makeover

Boring on the weekend as usual, this time, I decided to do bench makeover...

Before....



Gyukaku Horenso Salad

You should try this, Horenso Salad of Gyu Kaku restaurant, Pacific Place, Jakarta.

Horenso leaf, sliced fried garlic, fresh mushroom and peanut sauce......the look is stunning and refreshing! 

Museum Polri

A surprising request from the eldest : "Mom, can we go to the museum on weekend?"

Yeay....my weekend without mall effort was a bit paid off.  And here we are at the Museum Polri Kebayoran and the kiddos loved it!

New Ride

Sooo this is the brmmmmmm brmmmmmmmmm....My new project for my cutie nephew's carnival next week.  The project is the collaboration of the hubby, me, the kiddos and the mbaks..our first fun project! 

Daffa....please win it for us!

Boring Drawing

This is what happened when the boss got bored during the conference call and started to draw me.  An outstanding intepretation, maybe, considering he's coming from audit firm background...Me and calculator and that necklace?

Bash Project

This is the 2nd year I was asked by my bestie to help preparing her son's bday bash.  Amazing how time flies and he's two years now!

We brainstorm the party's theme and came up with Thomas the Train and Mustache for the baby shower.  We both were so excited preparing and kept exchanging ideas in between our office meetings and month end reporting.  We don't mind to cut and glue all the party thingy in the middle of the night and whatssapp it each other.....F-U-N!

So, mr. Timothy....c u you on the next bash project!

Cardboard Newbie

My newly project for my cutie nephew....The hint : brmmm, brmmmm....!

Nannyless

The story was inspired by my boss 3-yrs old daughter who was freeing herself cutting papers with big scissors and her daddy was only looking at her and smiling.

I started questioning myself : will I be able to let my kiddos to do the same at their age?  will I be a nervous mom who will grab the scissors and put it away?

This year is his 2nd years living in Jakarta.  When the wife delivered the 2nd born months back, I asked if they will hire a new nanny and they said no.  And with minimum help, they are able to teach the daughter to be independent.  Hellooowww.....who will let the 3yrs old grabbing scissors??

Living in Jakarta giving you so much priviledge for having 2, 3 or 4  nannies easily helping you.  It is very common if you go to the mall to see children running errands or playing at the playground with their nanny.

I have two home assistants by the way and by any chance, I sometimes lazy when I got home tired and let all the babysitting duties been delegated.  I know it will spoil the kiddos and they become less independent. 

Me as the mom sometimes forget that nurturing is about building your close relationship with the children.  And that includes sitting boringly at the playground or changing the clothes or let the kiddos do it by themselves, to my opinion.

To minimize, I don't bring my assistants for mall hangout,drum lessons, swimming or travelling...well, if I do ask them to come is to the event when the hubby is not around, or if we would like to have fun together like picnic.

I chat with my lil sis who is now living in Kuala Lumpur and be a full-time mom.  We both agreed this is called the beauty of motherhood to share every precious moment together with the kiddos.

As the time goes by and the kiddos growing up, they would think we are the coolest mom ever.

Our children are the now generation, the gadgets generation....we need them to be ready to conquer the world!  *lebay.com*

Thomas Pinata

My Thomas wannabe pinata for my bestie. Imooooo,.....all aboard!! choo...choo...choo....

Cooking School

Just back from Mayestik and am happy to buy all teeny tiny cooking thingy. I am gonna build my own cooking school...hey, that serious?

Anyway, i already had my loyal students......

And they are the kiddos and my cutie nephews and niece! hahaha..I don't think they have any other choice to have me as their chef, do they?

Happy Pancake

Happiness is simple....and is when you were preparing breakfast in the morning without failed...

The secret of happiness?  Pillsbury Pancake Mix, no brainer!

Gudily

Yeayyyy...I finally found the polkadot straw from  Gudily .....can't wait for them to arrive!

Striped Straw Lime Green & White

Polka Dot Straw Neon Blue

Facebook

I have my new toy now....Facebook for the kiddos!

It was started when the eldest opened his new Facebook account and the hubby opened it for the youngest, both under their own names. 

At first, I am not into that FB thingy as I do not think sharing my daily life is me. 

I choosen to have my own blog to share my DIY collections and my silly thought as well as the legacy for the kiddos to have them be able to look back and know who am I...

If it happened to be my sharing on daily life, I still trully believe to only share the positivity.

But now....I am all over crazy to upload their new pictures every now and then..though it is only  for the youngest account as I respect my eldest teenager privacy.

I do hope when they grow up,  they will be laughing at loud looking at their younger face, oldies clothes and silly pose.. I hope they will memorize and share to whomever enjoy it...this is mom's simple wish from a simple mind, dears!

Busway

I was continuing the project for exploring Jakarta with the kiddos. And this time, the busway trip.

Though it's pitty to see the dirty station, broken door and aircon...but this was just a simple step to let the kiddos understand their roots and enjoy Jakarta.

In any case,  we all held accountable to keep Jakarta to be the most comfortable city to live in! not a heavy thought, kan?

 

Monolog Red Tomato Soup

My new crush for breakfast from Monolog Restaurant, Plaza Senayan...the Red Tomato Soup!

They put mozarella bread and meatballs on top of the fresh tomato puree..I like the soft, chewy, sour and crunchy combination, nothing is too much, it's just perfect...yum yum!

DIY : Chef's Hat

I found it was not an easy task to find Chef's hat with my not-so-shopaholic mode on.  So I decided to make the not-so-similar-chef's hat and the result was not-so-bad, I guess...

And I think it was a bit success as the youngest was proud of wearing it and did a video shoot pretending he's the Masterchef....hmmm...