Julie and Julia ..and I...

Haloo....

Ok, I'm guilty as charge: the laziest blogger ever..

I wont defend myself for this, nor will I come up with excuses for being plain lazy..

So...All laziness gone out the window.., I want to share this story..

Last night I watched this movie called Julie&Julia. Such inspiring movie about Julia child, a chef, tv personality who inspired thousands of American people to actually start cooking..real food!

In this case: her book: Mastering the art of French cuisine is so..revolutionary and life changing! 

The movie: Julie and Julia, Meryl  Streep and Amy Adams brought in the character

That someone is a bored government employee who sits in cubicle daily,responding calls of unsatisfied citizen, named Julie. Julie's life is so real, I can relate myself to hers. She sits in cubicle whole day--> familiar?? and all she does is taking calls from people who complains about the country's system, health insurance claim , yet she has no power to change anything..not that she doesn't want to..but her authority is so limited, she practically just connect the dialer with answering machine somewhere someplace..geezz..how..frustrating..

What's a girl to do??? She cooks her way out..she love making delicious dinner for the husband, and one day....it hits her, she's gonna be a food blogger! She loves cooking and she loves Julia..so, why not making her 524 recipe in 365 days of the year? Weheee..thats when her life turn upside down, she has meltdowns and disappointments but heyy..she conquers all..with her big hearted husband at her side, at the end she has numerous fans on her blog, nailed Times front page and other offerings start flooded her, cooking shows, magazine column and so on and so forth..

she never looked back.. THAT' S how you change your life from bored to death to FABULOUS..one simple step..all we need is to start something, GO..dig deep..find out our buried PASSION!

How I love happy ending story..pink with happiness..but red with starvation..

I watched it alone, with only 2 carrots and dried leeks remaining on my fridge..How am I supposed to cook her beef bourguignon????!!! I usually do not eat food I can't spell but this one, is cas exceptionel, just to see the pics will make your mouth watery ! I.. then ended up gulping my last drop of cola..hesshhh..imagining in my head it was red wine..sluurp

The infamous beef bourguignon

On the other hand....I can relate even more to Madame Julia Child herself..such coincidence we share the same birthday:) She was born in Pasadena on 15 August 1912 to be exact, (hmmm....the constellation in the sky show us once more that Leos are blessed wit implacable taste..)no offense to other stars up..there:p

She was once a spy in the Office of Strategic Services(OSS) serving under the General himself..Mr William J Donovan (Plse tell me..one thing she cannot do?!) She assigned in Sri Lanka and met her future husband Mr. Paul Cushing Child, also an OSS employee. Their bond was so strong, despite she cannot conceive..a child.. and both of them took this picture for valentine card..oowwhh..TTTsooo Tsweeetttt.. 

Mr Child joined the US foreign Service and assigned to Paris, for 4 years, she followed..and the two couldn't feel happier!The moment she eat those wonderful buttery fish at Rouen..a fine French restaurant( Which I plan to visit the next time I am there, probably will left me bankrupt for the following days) she just melt altogether with the butter...she soon enter le cordon bleu, specific cooking class, all men..all strict and cook like a machine..At one scene, she learned to dice-chopped onions, until..it piled on the kitchen cabinet..LOL!

In the sophisticated city, super friendly and cheerful, Julia began to gather many friend and admirers. Her towering physique at 1.88 m, combined with her trademark high pitch voice and 'have fun while working with poultry and lobster ' makes kitchen a favorite place in the entire house

( I wonder have she met chef Gordon Ramsay? Or would she ever visit the hell's kitchen..uurmm..probably NOT)

Anyone who can cook a fish that big..deserve 2 thumbs up

She and her 2 French friends: Louisette Bertholle, Simone Beck soon began to write a book, eerr..encyclopedia (since it is consist of thousands pages) and become a legend that she is today...I mean who wants a plain bagel and canned red beans..while you can cook a wholesome dinner? I am talking about chicken mushroom with hollandaise sauce and bunch of delicious recipes

The big question now..are you ready to step out of your shell and find what you like the most?

I picture my 80-something self..telling stories to my grand children of what I have accomplished in life..I do not want it to be: born-growing old-going to die in the same place doing the same routine thing..Liking something but do nothing about it, having a dream but never pursue...pheeww....Horiblle..I certainly hope not!!!

I want them to know their grandmother did something in her life, something...unnecessarily BIG but meaningful..and that she has a full life..excitement and beautiful journey...cos you life only once, make the most of it!!! 

Till then, mwax

BAZZAR

BAZAAR!!!!

Hi there...I know..Its been a while since my last post, but believe me, Ive been busy!

I feel like little mice of Cinderella..trying to pull things together for Tomeis's( Toko rame-ramei) upcoming bazaar..--> Its 6 of us under one roof:

Tokoiko, Sibebo, Duapita, Sophie's shop, Maydi and Andhita swim wear, Qiddis...its a total burst of creative energy in 2X2 square meter booth..Oh la..la..you can get any better than that!!!

So...bring you enthusiasm, passion for fashion and support us by purchasing these national products with international flavor

It will be held at La Piazza Kelapa Gading booth JJ. This event is sponsored Area Lokal and in the same time.wait for it... The Final of MTV VJ hunt 2011. Yay, the way I picture it, it's gonna be a blasting Long weekend( for some of us who has the privilege of 'cuti bersama'...silent curse*)

So...Speaking of which, allow me to show you a glimpse of some Tokoiko masterpieces for the bazaar

Sequin Pocket top, Rp 179.000

Plaited Scarf Rp 65000

 

Stripe dress( draped necklaces included) Rp 199.000

Great with acid-wash denim vest and wooden clog

And... not so..ready merchandise..few days to go, I'll figure something out..cross finger

My house is a total havoc these day, my mama will start calling it nest, instead of a house which I think quite appropriate..:(

Tartan flower embellishment--> Not sure what I shall do with them, but they're so pweetyy.. aren't they?

The.. uurm..stuff??!!

What do you think?? Visit us at the bazaar...and u'll see more from us..:) save the date!!! ciaooo for now!

Start plaiting again*

galau

Hv u heard about midlife crisis?
When people (mostly in their forties)demand an acknowledgment
in various ways as a result of dissatisfaction of their present
life

TV showcases mature men(in terms of hairline, but not attitude) joined a congress only to debate sans solution,
ehem...switch off*

or...

women wearing fifty different type of 'bye bye wrinkle' nightcream.
Knowing all those money spent for nothing,and immediately switch to botox and other beauty enchanment to pause the clock from ticking thus stop the aging

I've seen people going through this, and trust me, the people around them are the most bothered or if I must say suffered

Speaking of which, I think I have quarter life crisis!!! No, seriously! I don't know if its because of my overly sensitive self these days,home-sick,or simply because it is the time of the months(towards the end,u knw what I meant)or worst: combination of those three:(

I questioned myself everyday, is this what I am destined to be? Don't get me wrong,I love what I do, and above all, I am thankful that I have a job where half of the world begging for one.

What I should do to fix my mood and set the burning desire to deliver the best? If I were to do something else, What???! GALAU --> confused,clueless.. Surprisingly writing give me an inexplicable satisfaction for now..
Alhamdulillah

The point is I don't want to have midlife crisis, I feel kinda lucky that I experience it now,when I am totaly aware of wats going on..and willing to overcome the problem
Better yet if I could turn this uncertain feelings into a project which represent myself truly...

Lucky I have such supportive family, friends, boyfriend who kept my head straight when things
Get rough, cheer me up,give a tap in my back

I have nothing to lose, let's just try something out,if I succeed that would be wonderful, if I lost that's fine, that's how I learned..n many many chances awaits :D

Goodnite chicas!!
Kisskiss

Stacked bracelet

The countdown to my first ever BAZAAR has begun,
and I am doing as much as I can..pheww belive me..trips to various places to collect the materials, DIY STUFF,  sending fabric to supplier, wrap it..and I only want to bring the best to the plate:)  Yes..yes I am perfectionist like that!


One of the merchandise is..ta..da..

STACKED BRACELET

 Why wear only 2 if we can wear 5??
Better yet wear ALL, satcke 'em, layered 'em
Be BOLD and mixed materials, wooden, metal, plastic,I know this could be tough ladies..
but WORRY NOT, I handpicked them for you, all you need is to trade them with Rp85.000-Rp 120.000 bills(big grin)

visit us as  TOKOIKO for daily update and  more selection plse come to our both number @ La Piazza Kelapa Gading AREA LOKAL

Duchesse of Cambridge

Here comes the bride..all dressed in white..naa..na..na nan nan  na nana naaaa...

To a become a bride is every little girls dream..yards and yards of tulles and silk..flowers blooming everywhere and prince charming..haha, yes,..I admit it, I am a sucker for all things cheesy..which i think we DO need every now and then, coz live is hard as it is, so you need a constant reminder that you are cherished by this person..no matter how tired, ugly, limp haired, dressed in faded sleepwear, complaining about rise of petrol, water bills, and our helper who never come back from long festive season leave..(siiiigh)

On the other hand, Miss Middleton a.ka Duchesse of Cambridge never have to worry about anything! especially the faded sleepwear part..:P

Marry him and worry-not!

 Ok..ok I got it, It was last week..but you know what they say..better late than never..So here's the dish:

Kate's dress..uurmm what can I say....yes it is a reminisence of Grace Kelly's but it wasn't as BIG, BOLD, BAM...as we all expected..was it? even her's got bigger crinoline and tulles underneath.  Here in Indonesia...we make wedding kebaya richer than that.  Just ask Anne Avantie if u don't belive me!!!  Name a local artist who doesn't look like they just rob a swarovski crystal  store and throw it all over their dress..wink*

Grace Kelly becomes Monaco's royalty

Prince William and Kate

Mommy have high expectation for u..costume-wise :D

 I do agree that fabrication is important and you don't need to embellished much when you have exquisite fabric. I don't know about you...but to me, the dress just lack of WOW factor..
the je ne sais quoi factor to make work!

Loads of world reknown designer created a design for Kate..check these out...

 and also..few people who picture the princess the way the imagine it would be...LOLZ (esp the pink one, its's hillarious!)

Nevertheless, I wish her them a blissful wedding..
Will and Kate sitting on the tree..K-I-S-S-I-N-G first comes love and then comes marriage then comes a baby in a baby's carriage..

I made a wedding dress before.  It was for a clientelle..who's almost  two meter tall and super slim.  Apparently she doesn't like the way she looks sometimes.."lack of curves", she said...Whaaatt? are you kidding me?!! I'l give you my straight, curves, round, all kind of shapes I have..
neighbour grass is always greener and I was definitely green with envy..:D

It was tears and blood process, all the lace are handbeaded first and atteched to the bodice later on.  The bust part is padded, ruched and beaded...to create CURVES, and from empire line-down was the hardest point..I sew it on a mannequin to make it look as it is when she walk down the aisle..

The total look was a bit Grecian..with the sash which go all the way down along with the train..She's tall enough so..She can pull it off! YEAH, that's what I am talking about!

The dress, still push pinned..in process

The finish look

Notice my eye-luggage..exhausted..but happy

 She wrote a thank you note to me..and said it was so beautiful..delicate and how everyone admire the effort puts into it.. blushin*thank u..thank u..(slight bow*)psstt... thank God it didnt fell apart...





 








 

GILI TERAWANGAN

carrying rice sacks to the shore

 

 

 

Multi tasking mommy

melodramatic sunset

Yes..yes, guarantee to send u to he moon

bbq!!

kids learn early on to live green..bike riding

cidomo

Weehe, Im about to write my first post, excited!!:)

Not too long a go I had a marvelous time in Gili Terawangan.  It is an island in Lombok( used to live in Bali..so visiting Lombok is like 45 minutes cruise n..ta..daa..ure there!I used a fast ship from Benoa harbor called Bluewater safaris

To my surprise, the whole island is like KUTA...blending  of foreigners and local, hotel rooms, cheap restaurants, posh restaurants, souvenir..and..MUSHROOMS, ooo yeees..daahling, THAT mushrooms!just picture Kuta SANS poluted beach and overwhelmed kakilima(street vendor).  What do I missed? Sandy beaches,checked..,great watersport, checked, snorekeling and diving experience, checked!

I was there for an opening of a boutique where I used to work back then.  So yeah, it's a business and pleasure in the same time.  In the morning I helped them out setting up the store, beach wear, resort wear, bikinis,brimmed hat..u name it..and after lunch I had free time..yayy!

There is no motor transportation in the island of Gili Terawangan.  On land, there are bicycle, cidomo(cikar-horse carriage  with bemo tire), horseback riding..pretty much it!  So..I rented a bike for 50 thousand a day and wandering around the island..took few pictures of kids, fishermen, food.  Went snorkeling with my boss..and dinner with company credit card, waaks...HEAVEN!

On one of my snorkeling trip, I actually encountered a seaturtle between the reef...beginner's luck I think.  I didn't follow it, coz it drifted me away from the shore, which is quite dangerous..I have mixed feeling when I am at the sea..curious, amazed and a bit scared in the same time..confirming that you are just a minuscule creature compared to the almighty...

For those who wants a taste of adventure and refreshing hollidays, why don't u try the gilis?  There are Gili Meno, Gili Aer, Gili Terawangan.  By far..Gili Terwangan is the most developed amongs the three.  Kick back, relax  and dip your toes in the sand.  Support Visit Indonesia!!!