fave

Dimples Couple

23:02:00

I can't help my tears for coming out when I watched last episode of Leeteuk & Kang Sora (We Got Married, Korean variety show). They really matched each other. Even with the parents. T_T
Aren't they cute? Just as a fairytale couple..
TeukSo at their school date, when Sora plays "Summer" for Teuk-ssi. Fave!
I've already told you about WGM earlier in here and here. I always love how this shows taught me on how you should and should not treat your spouse. After a round up, it's always sincerity as the most important thing in relationship. 
Well, Dimples couple, I'll miss both of you!
=*

cooking

My First Rainbow Cake!

10:34:00

It's not because of last Masterchef Indonesia's challenge which make the participants should make a rainbow cake. I have a willing to make it since a long time ago, before married, when Rendy want to try but cancelling because trying to save more pennies to our marriage. Well, the second reason why I try to bake (steam, actually) the cake is NCCRainboweeks that just passed 2 weeks ago. You could visit their blog and start drooling, haha.

I found NCC (Natural Cooking Club), as a community where I would join happily. They share and encourage each other for having new invention and creation in any cooking experience. Just imagine, how 9.000's food & cooking enthusiasts gathered and emerged.  I've registered but haven't approved by the administrator. Hiks. =(

Anyway, here it is. I am not satisfied yet, but the taste is beyond my expectation and I'm really happy. I almost could not believe, how this cake with the dimension 15cmx15cmx17,5cm only need 38.000 IDR/4 USD for all of the ingredients! I should learn cooking more and more... 
Decoration inspired by the fact that Rendy is Slank fans and an activist. Hehe.



The color of red layer didn't come out well...

quote

QoTD: Have You?

22:30:00

"It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. "


friends

Senpai's Wedding!

00:11:00

Hari Minggu kemaren (9/9), pertama kalinya saya menghadiri pernikahan alias kondangan, setelah pernikahan saya sendiri. mas Agyl --yang kakak kelas di kelas Akselerasi dan adik bungsu dari sahabat dekat saya, pak Ardhy-- menggenapkan separuh diennya dengan mbak Isti. Beruntung, karena rumah mbak Isti di Semanu, Gunung Kidul, saya jadi bisa menghadiri momen indah ini. 

Berbekalkan peta undangan, arahan Google Maps serta sebotol air minum, pukul setengah sepuluh saya dan Rendy bersemangat menempuh perjalanan. Tiga puluh empat kilo sekian meter. Itu yang tertulis di layar laptop untuk memperkirakan jarak Banguntapan-Semanu. Santai lah, itung-itung jalan-jalan... Tak disangka ternyata rute yang mendaki dan belokan tajam berulang kali muncul dan bikin deg-degan. Apalagi setelah botol air minum kami jatuh karena cantolannya putus. Hampir satu jam perjalanan hingga kami menemukan alun-alun Wonosari, yang berarti tujuan sudah dekat. Sempat nyasar sebentar, tapi akhirnya sampai dengan selamat.
 
Sejak dulu setiap lihat berita di televisi, daerah Gunung Kidul selalu ditampilkan dengan kekeringan, gersang. Kali ini saya menyaksikan sendiri, ternyata memang kering, tanahnya gradasi dari putih, abu hingga coklat muda karena didominasi oleh kapur. Tetapi entah, kawasan karst ini menurut saya eksotis. Andai saya punya kamera yang ciamik, rasanya sepanjang jalan ingin berhenti berkali-kali mengabadikan pemandangan yang seksi. Dan herannya, angin yang berhembus terasa sejuk, padahal mentari sedang terik-teriknya. 

Tanah Gunung Kidul
Saya sempat #salahfokus ketika tiba di lokasi. Mata ini langsung berbinar melihat bagaimana dekor, katering,   sudut hiburan ditata sedemikian rupa. Maklum, melankolis, yang diperhatikan malah detil-detil seupil. Pesta atau jamuan pernikahan di tiap daerah selalu menarik untuk diamati (dan dinikmati). Tetapi, saya kemudian benar-benar #salahfokus ketika melihat bagaimana acara ini didokumentasikan. Sebagai alumni UKM kebanggaan: Sinematografi UA, saya tertegun beberapa saat melihat body pod dipadu camera (dolly) track slider untuk merekam "sine-manten". Mantab!

#salahfokus
The video-grapher (Jm Tod) troops (photo: his courtesy)
Ketika pulang, saya meminta kepada Rendy untuk rehat sejenak di Bukit Bintang. Selain meregangkan otot-otot yang lumayan kaku, penasaran juga mengapa daerah ini jadi tempat jujugan muda-mudi berwisata. Ternyata letak Bukit Bintang memang pas untuk melihat lalu lintas perkotaan yang bagaikan miniatur jika dipandang dari sini. Udara bersih, minuman segar, juga tangan kekasih(ku) di genggaman. 
#asyeeekk =D

Negeri Tanpa Tepi
Oh iya, tulisan tentang pernikahan tanpa foto pengantin rasanya tidak tepat. Ini dia kedua mempelai. Sekali lagi, barakallah mas Agyl & mbak Isti! 

(photo by Emha Bayu Miftahullatif)

life

I am Not Half Awake

03:13:00


I've already had my umpteenth time of hearing the same question: 
are you conscious enough for marrying him/her?

If you are a newlywed, or having friend/relatives whose just married, I bet you will hear this often too. Many people used to have a joke by saying this. It's quite funny at the first, because then the dirty little secret about the spouse will leaked out. Old friends will say that he's so naughty in the past, very nosy, or she's a nonstop chatterbox, eating like a monster, etc. But when the conversation goes further, when the questions flare, you really don't know how does it start and something could suddenly burnt. Perhaps someone's heart, mind, or the worst, friendship and another kind relationship.

It really becomes not funny at all when question with "superlative and comparative form" comes out. She is too beautiful for you (with uproar laughing), he is too handsome for you (with frowning forehead and wide smile), blablabla. You probably could say that "he's really lucky to have her", as I really sure another people who know the groom better will say vice versa. I could accept sarcasm, but mockery is really not my cup of tea. *shrug*

Somehow, in my opinion, questioning about people's consideration at marriage is weird. I thought, every people just agreed about the weight of marriage commitment, even people who choose for not being married. It becomes silly. Of course, they didn't sleep when they choose to say "I do". I believe that a man and woman who mentally healthy, will do several deep thoughts before their marriage. Let's respect each other as a human being, a creature with mind and feeling, who could think and decide the best path for themselves. 

Maybe, this writing sounds angry. Not really. I just want to speak out my mind, nothing more. Kisses! 

daily

Wrap The Holiday!

23:51:00

How about your holiday, fellas? Mine was great. It is my first Eid el Fithri with my hubby, doing the real "mudik" from Jogja to Surabaya and Mojosari by train, thinking about the budget for this holiday, etc.
Tugu Station, Jogjakarta. Waiting Sancaka. 
Rendy helping Abhi with Animallion. Animal Batallion. =D
Going home always growing spirit, reminding me about dreams that I should pursue, then synchronized it with new dreams that I had with my own family now. =)

Anyway, today I cooked Nasi Uduk. It's the second actually, but I still amazed with the magic of the process. I can't believe these tiny spices could turn my ordinary rice into delicious rice. Yummy! 
The spices
I use 1 piece of galangal, 1 stalk lemongrass, 3 bay leaves, a pinch of coriander, salt, and coconut milk. I use as much as 350 grams of rice menthik, 435 ml of water and 65 ml coconut milk (1 sachet of instant coconut milk). Grind coriander and salt, mixed with coconut milk. Wash the rice, and mix all the spices and water, put in the rice cooker. When it is half cooked, open the lid, stir the rice then closed again. Let it cooked and you've got your delicious Nasi Uduk! 

friends

Bersyukur

16:10:00

Kata Quraish Shihab 2 hari yang lalu, bersyukur itu tidak hanya berterima kasih. Bersyukur: selalu menganggap pemberian yang sedikit itu sudah terlampau banyak dan selalu merasa baru memberi sedikit meski secara jumlah sudah cukup banyak. 

Akhirnya sore kemarin saya berhasil menyampaikan salam seorang teman kepada Ibu dan keluarga. Alhamdulillah, saya tidak sampai menangis. Teman ini sudah cukup dekat dengan keluarga, sehingga ketika mendengar kabar keberhasilannya melewati skripsi, sidang dan revisi, Ibu mengucap syukur berkali-kali. Berarti ia akan lulus, wisuda, kembali ke tanah kelahirannya. Dan saya akan kehilangan kehadiran teman terbaik saya.

Kanti, namanya. Pertama kali mengenal karena ia mengikuti proses pendadaran unit kegiatan mahasiswa Sinematografi tahun 2007. Saya yang merancang dan menjalankan program itu, dan jadi orang tergalak buat peserta saat itu. Tepat setahun kemudian, Kanti menjalankan peran yang sama. Lebih galak tapi, dibanding saya. Hehe. Mimpi (ter)buruk bagi peserta (dan panitia) pendadaran mungkin untuk tahun kemarin. Saya dan Kanti sama-sama hadir, dan jadi duet maut senior cewek tergalak mungkin sepanjang sejarah. Maaf ya. =D

ki-ka: Saya dan Kanti ngecek tingkat kekuningan lidah. Wek!
Banyak yang bilang sifat saya dan Kanti mirip: keras kepala, keras, ekspresif. Iya sih, memang. Tetapi bukan sifat-sifat itu yang membuat pertemanan ini menjadi rapat. Terus terang dan logis. Itu. Mau kami tengkar sehebat apa pun (iya, kami juga bertengkar), akan mudah mereda ketika penjelasan-penjelasannya berterima dengan akal. Mau sesakit apa kata-kata atau nasehat yang terlontar satu sama lain, akan diakui karena kenyataan yang terjadi sama pahitnya. 

Kadang saya sempat kesal juga pada Tuhan, kenapa Ia mempertemukan saya dengan orang-orang yang tidak bisa saya temui lagi, tidak diberi kesempatan untuk membalas kebaikan mereka. Kanti misalnya, sejak awal kenal, ketika saya tanya tentang rencana hidupnya, dengan mantap dijawab akan kembali dan berkarya di Pekanbaru. Tinggal, menetap, berkeluarga dan berumah tangga di sana. Sejak saat itu pula saya sadar bahwa pertemanan pun sepertinya punya masa tayang. Terbatas.

Namun saya sepertinya lupa diri. Jika diingat-ingat, saya juga meninggalkan teman-teman saya di Tulangan, di Mojosari, bahkan juga yang di Surabaya, karena sekarang saya tinggal di Yogyakarta. Mungkin juga ada teman saya yang dulu juga kecewa, ketika saya seharusnya bisa membantu, menghibur atau sekedar berbagi tawa, tapi saya tidak ada di situ. Maaf. 

Pertemuan - perpisahan, asing kemudian saling kenal, sekarang saya sadar betul kewajaran peristiwa ini dalam alur hidup. Dan harusnya saya mulai belajar bersyukur. Berterima kasih karena 5 tahun berselang, dengan berbagai momentum [saya lulus, kerja, gaji pertama, lamaran, menikah, Kanti pacaran, putus, digebet banyak cowok, ga ada satupun yang jadi, ups!] hingga hal-hal wajar sehari-hari [nyulik Kanti buat brunch di cak Sandi, mendadak nonton di Lenmarc yang jauh minta ampun, nonton gigs, nggosip, berlama-lama di toko buku atau toko grosir, blablabla. Maturnuwun sanget Gusti. 

Dan sekarang harus belajar untuk merasa bahwa saya masih belum memberikan apa-apa sebagai rasa syukur itu sendiri. Belajar menggunakan berbagai upaya agar pertemanan ini terjalin. Belajar berusaha, untuk membuat teman-teman saya tidak kehilangan dan tetap menganggap saya sebagai temannya. Bismillah. 
Kembaran ciput. =D
PS: Saya dan Rendy sedang mudik ke Surabaya. Pulang. Happy Eid! =*

daily

Make It Stick!

00:12:00

Have you ever tried "wall sticker"? You know, the sticker to be put on the wall to decorate your room/home more (like the picture below). Nowadays, it's kind of happening here. At least in online shops which spread in Facebook and successfully made me drooling and want to try it in my home. I've already contacted the seller to ask the availability. Lucky me, several of my choices didn't available. Why do I said so? Because the next day I went to SunMor market (an abbreviation of Sunday Morning) in Gajah Mada University's valley, and I found several wall sticker sellers there! With same products, same designs as the online shop sells. 
taken from Qiew Shop catalog

I bought some of it and try to apply as soon as I can. Surprisingly, it demands a lot of patient and thoroughness because the material very thin, as weary as a layer of pastry. It could easily tore and my fingers sometimes too emotional. Hehe. 

Because of my less calculated brain for the spatial, my wall still look empty after I stuck the sticker. Whatever. I still have my [so-called] living room to decorate. Yay! 
Pardon the difference of paint and sticker's background. =P

daily

Making Love Out of Nothing At All

16:43:00

It's been several day, where "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" (MLOoNAA) aired in our home again and again. Hehe. Not the old Air Supply original version, but Regina (Indonesian Idol 2012 winner) feat Judika. I don't know who the vocal director is, but s/he successfully turned the song into perfect duet song. Four thumbs up!


Personally, I always love songs with beautiful lyric. MLOoNAA [what an abbreviation, haha] captured me at the first time just by its words. Definitely lovely. 
I like to scrutinize the style of the lyric writing too. It boasts in the beginning, but suddenly give a paradoxical twist at the middle. It doubled the romantic & poetic effect. Just read the song leisurely, and hear the song for make it complete. =)

Songwriters: GORELICK, KENNY/AFANASIEFF, WALTER N
I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where to find the answers
And I know just how to lie
I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream

And I know just where to touch you
And I know just what to prove
I know when to pull you closer
And I know when to let you loose
And I know the night is fading
And I know the time's gonna fly
And I'm never gonna tell you
Everything I gotta tell you
But I know I gotta give it a try

And I know the roads to riches
And I know the ways to fame
I know all the rules
And I know how to break 'em
And I always know the name of the game

But I don't know how to leave you
And I'll never let you fall
And I don't know how you do it
Making love out of nothing at all

Everytime I see you all the rays of the sun
Are streaming through the waves in your hair
And every star in the sky is taking aim at your eyes
Like a spotlight

The beating of my heart is a drum and it's lost
And it's looking for a rhythm like you
You can take the darkness from the pit of the night
And turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright

I've gotta follow it 'cause everything I know
Well it's nothing till I give it to you