Selamat natal dan tahun baru for all readers in Indonesia and Singapore!
Thank you for always supporting me. Am so grateful for all kind words and ever going support from you guys. I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year ahead!
There will be no resolution this year, as I have come to make peace with myself that I can never hit my resolution goal that I set years ago, which was losing weight. My weight scale hitting the highest ever in my non pregnant stage. So, I am feeling depress now. LOL!
A little update on us, we spent our 2nd Christmas since our moving to New Zealand - and I start feeling like home. It's definitely a different kind of life, but it's not too bad. 2016 is a good year for us as family. Heaps of up and down, cry a lot and laugh too much! LOL. But all in all, we are grateful that we have friends that treat us like family.
Little Ethan had lotsa fun decorating the tree, and literally putting pretty much most of the ornaments at the bottom of the tree, because ornaments need to "hang". He's been singing Jingle Bell in a very weird wording, and everyday, he is eye-ing for those candies under the tree.
- Am going to write in Bahasa Indonesia for my readers in Indonesia. -
Cepet banget yah, udah akhir taon lagi! Kita bakalan bikin little BBQ di rumah buat Christmas and bakalan nangkep kepiting lagi pas taon baru. Semoga cuaca bagus. Ini harusnya summer di Auckland sekarang, tapi kok ya masi anginan, 18 derajat, en suka ujan pula. Repot banget kuar masukin jemuran - nasib mak mak banget yah? hahaha.
Gw berasa super sibuk banget December ini, mulai dari daycare party nya Ethan, potong rambut, rapi rapi rumah, siapin menu Xmas dinner, beli beli kado yang bujubuneng disini adatnya rame bener kalo Christmas! And taon ini gw dapet beautiful gift dr direct manager gw.. - so sweet ya -
and to close my 2016 blog post..I just want to say have a safe New Year, do not drink and drive - and let us all have exciting 2017!
Christmas week is here and omg, here we are on the most wonderful time of the year!
I always love the feeling of Christmas, with the gorgeous lights around the tree, santa's socks, and the gifting season - obviously. I love creating gift ideas for people close to my heart, and having said that - sometimes, I need to scratch my head (a couple times) to pick what is the right gift for the right people. So, I feel you. I feel you.
This year, Santa is being too kind to me and let one of my favorite Jewelry shop - Michael Hill having my Christmas gift sorted. A massive thank you for Michael Hill, for letting me choose two beautiful collections of yours.
For me, my mom is the most special person in my life, and her name is always on top of my whatever list, including my Christmas gift list. I choose this adjustable gold bracelet from Michael Hill for her. This beautiful bracelet perfect for stacking, this dainty 10ct yellow gold bracelet is centred with a polished identity plate and secured with an adjustable toggle.
I love the fact that it's adjustable, so I don't have to worry on the " oh - it's too big or too lose " moment when she open the prezzie. This is great gift for those who love subtle jewelry without losing the elegant touch.
As a practical person, I am the type that wears jewelry as my daily accessories. I love the fact that this gorgeous earrings suits my outfit. Be it a good office wear, casual Friday outfit, or tanks and short for beach outing. It is so versatile that it could be a gift for everyone.
Take a look on how it sit nicely on the ear, and those little sparkle - omg! We would want gorgeous bling even on our daily fashion, right? Do I see nodded head? Yes! Head over to Michael Hill website for your daily dose bling. I know you want it.
It's beautiful and affordable, more over it brings me happiness. That's what the right gifts do.
Have a safe Christmas everyone, if you are heading out of town - get your car checked, and don't drink and drive. See you all next year.
This post gonna be quick, coz I just want to share my mini haul withHikoco. I've been looking for a good online shop that sells authentic Korean makeup and skincare. After a thorough browse, I found Hikoco and this online shop based in Auckland, New Zealand. I found other beauty blogger reviewing this shop as slightly more expensive compare to other online shop, probably yes, they are right - I didn't check the price on that. As for me, I like how they work. I like the shopping experience with constant promo code, QUICK delivery, and authentic products. That's it for me. When online shop have those, I am buying.
I won't be reviewing the website interface or sort of stuff, because if a tech dummy like me can buy from this website, means idiot proof. :D
I bought pretty broad range of skincare and make up, and guess what - they have those.
NEOGEN
Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine
30 GENTLE EXFOLIATING PADS THAT OFFER ALL THE BENEFITS OF CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL EXFOLIATING IN ONE.
My take: I LOVE on how the whole packaging works. This is pretty much like fully dip cotton pad in beautiful wine smell, and seriously the scents is gorgeous. Sweet like a grape juice. There you go.
FERMENTED BAMBOO SAP AND FERMENTED FRUIT EXTRACTS MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN FOR A LONG TIME AND PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM DRYNESS, MAINTAING THE BEST CONDITION FOR YOUR SKIN.
My take: I run out of my SK-II - and I give this product a go.
It won't give you the radiant look like SK-II though, but it works wonder for hydration.
And oh, every purchase come with free samples and free delivery for above $50. Take a look of the generous samples I got on top of my purchased products. Am overall very satisfied on my purchase with Hikoco, and definitely will buy again from this webstore.
Not a restaurant review, but if you would need a suggestion on where to go for the weekend lunch..I recommend The good Home - Mt. Eden. That's the address, right there. 37 Normanby Rd, Mt. Eden.
As you guys know, I pretty much cook at home and change a little of our lifestyle (and save a lot) by not eating out that often. But every now and then, we enjoy going out as family and just a have one good afternoon talking to each other (without phone down, clearly - in my case) and enjoying a little sun.
Le Mr took us to this place and oh boy oh my, we love it!
Let's
start with ambiance! What we love the most about this place is the cozy
feeling we experienced the moment we stepped in to the indoor dining
area. All woody with bits and pieces of semi industrial interior across the huge room.
And when you walk in to the left hand side, there was this semi outdoor dining area that meant for family with kids.
Take a look on how thoughtful the placement of toys and activities for the little one. They even have those small chair and table for the kids. Super love the dining place that are kids friendly. At least in this place, I won't feel embarrassed if they want to cry or decided to show off some tantrum. :P
The food was good with generous portion! I ordered seafood chowder and OMG, supaaa yummy! Le Mr's steak sandwich was good, although not as good as he remembered, though. :/
This is us! Finally hitting a year living in New Zealand.
If we were to look back and see how the things go for us, we definitely would say it was ONE HUGE blessing, indeed. We got a place, we easily got a good job, and Ethan is settling really well with plenty of space to run around. We are blessed with many good friends and really amazed on how God place everything perfectly. We had, i mean mostly I had a down stage in my life throughout the year, but today - I am loving every bits of the new life we have here.
We grow so much as couple during the one year, we worked together as team to reach the financial freedom we want and the beautiful retirement that we already start planning. These were not even in our conversation 2 years ago. I am grateful for him and this marriage that we always work on. Our marriage was in a bad shape couple of months ago, and I learn that marriage is best to stay as Husband and Wife. Put aside the families, extended families, and those who know nothing about your relation and decided to judge and talk about it in front of others family member.
Just remember, no one ever have the right to make u feel small, unwanted, and losing your confidence. For me, I got painful experiences with uncle and auntie that has a habit of "biting" people, but when it's their turn to get "bite" - they got very offended! Say what?
But oh well, we can never control what other people do, but we can choose to react positively, and continue life without their remarks. So I choose to ignore, stay away from them, and building my little life with BIG happiness.
..and taking our little steps to a better tomorrow, as family.
Welcome back to the Hidden Gems section! It's been a while, I know...and to make it up, I found something so interesting to share with you guys!! This nothing related to beauty though, but I think this is the right time to share something innovative about housing alternative.
I'm not a property expert, nor a council consultant or anything, I am just a normal citizen that started to pay attention to New Zealand, Auckland's property market for the last one year and honestly, I am not excited to see overseas investor coming in with cash offer to buy houses, leaving the first home buyer struggling to even score a chance to bid. So, I decided to look around and find what are the other interesting in property scene apart from " that house sold for bloody 400K above reserve" kind of news. :(
Fortunately, from where I used to sit at work, I was surrounded by successful people, investor, and great entrepreneur. That is where I heard about container home business. So, I goggle up and found out that we have that kind of business in here!! And guess what, the lady behind this amazing idea sits 5 steps away from my desk!! Say what???
So I, literally approached her and hoping she would agree for the feature in this blog, and SHE SAID YES! She accepted my proposal!
- no ring involves tho -
Meet Brenda Kelly, the spreadsheet Queen, my amazing and sweet colleague and the owner of IQ Containerand read up her inspiring stories! You might want to own one!
What makes you started IQ Container Homes?
Ever since I was a teenager I have been fascinated by small homes. Utilising the likes of clever storage solutions, innovative furniture and good design principles to make the most out of small spaces. When it comes down to it, the majority of us can live quite comfortably in a small space, one that is much more economical and less wasteful than your traditional sized home.
NZ currently has one of the highest average sized dwellings in the world yet with an aging population, high proportion of singles, couples holding off till later in life to have children and the huge increase in the cost of housing, the demand for smaller homes is on the rise. It just doesn't make sense to keep building McMansions. I believe there is a gap in the NZ market for small homes. My passion for small space design, coupled with a desire to create affordable, sustainable, quality homes led me to take the giant leap of faith to start "IQ Container Homes Ltd" in 2013.
How long have you been living in Container home?
Faced with the realisation that gaining consent for such an alternative concept was going to take time and $, driven by the desire to stop paying rent, get some hands on experience with container construction and test different materials I embarked on a father daughter project of building one of my smaller designs, a prototype of sorts, to put on my land and live in while I awaited approval and construction for my larger home. This small off-grid unit which I aptly named "My Tiny Container Palace" served as home for 1 1/2 years and I loved it. Having since completed my larger council certified 45m2 2 bedroom home, I subsequently moved into this where I have been living for the last 6 months. I like to walk the talk.
What was your first impression of living in there?
Living in "My Tiny Container Palace" was an awesome experience. Being only 10m2 in size, it forced me to downsize, go minimalist and taught me just how little is needed to have a very comfortable home. The design still allowed for a kitchen, living area, bedroom, office space, separate bathroom and plenty of storage. I lacked nothing! What's more it was completely off grid so I had no monthly bills.
Were you ever wish to go back to conventional house? and what are some of your favorite features on your container home?
Having now lived in 2 container homes, I can't envisage ever wanting to revert to living in a conventional home. Containers are virtually indestructible, recognised as earthquake, hurricane and fire resistant. While our homes are smaller than most, our designs make effective use of space. While not completely off-grid, my larger home that I now reside in still features solar and rainwater harvesting (rainwater from the roof is recycled for use in flushing the toilet and clothes washing) but is grid tied allowing me to draw from the national grid for potable water and additional power. An eco-friendly gravity fed vermiculture (worm) based system is utilised for wastewater. Fruit trees, composting facilities and a vege patch complement this sustainable home. Our homes are all constructed with superior insulation and non-toxic materials with photovoltaic (solar) system and rainwater recycling as standard. Not only do I have a healthy, warm, low maintenance home but it is environmentally responsible with minimal running costs.
What are three things any first-time container home owner must do?
If considering your own container home;
A) Do your research. If you're hoping to build one yourself be prepared for a lot of R&D, expense and liaising with the council. If you're thinking you can purchase a few second hand containers and knock something up yourself on the cheap you are sadly mistaken, there is a lot involved. Definitely achievable but don't underestimate the time and cost.
B) Ensure your site is easily accessible by road for delivery and that there are no covenants restricting this type of home in your area. Like any home, consider a design and orientation that makes the most of your site, sun and views.
C) If looking to downsize, ensure the size and design are going to work for you and your family. Individual containers are quite narrow (interior width is around 2.2m wide once fully lined and insulated) Consider the use of dual purpose storage maximizing furniture to make the most of your space, don't assume your exiting furniture and entire wardrobe is going to fit, be realistic.
What’s the best way to enjoy the container home?
I recommend building a large outdoor living area to supplement your container home, our layouts are all designed for indoor outdoor flow and an undercover deck can double the size of your living area and provide ample space to entertain year round.
With eco-features such as photovoltaic system (solar panels) learn how to best utilise these. eg. Set your dishwasher and washing machine etc to run during the day when you're generating your own power to save on cost.
If looking to utilise as a bach or rental, it is not uncommon for a premium to be gained due the the novelty factor and environmental features.
What are the best selling design?
Our designs cater to a number of people and situations. Our small off-grid Great Barrier model is popular with fans of the tiny house movement after a cosy permanent home for themselves or couples after a weekend getaway for their site in the middle of nowhere or temporary accommodation while building. Our 2-bed Russell model is popular as a bach or minor dwelling. While our 3-4bed Paihia model is attractive to families.
With so much happening on the property scene, what's the best advice to invest in container home?
Container homes are constructed off-site and are relatively quick to build. While not cheap (if done properly), they are affordable. Due to requiring minimal cost effective pile foundations, they are often a suitable solution for difficult sites where traditional construction would prove cost prohibitive. They are also transportable, so if for some reason you wish to on-sell or move them at a later date this is a viable option. They are gaining momentum for first home buyers and investors and will assist ease the housing crisis.
How much can we expect to spend for a container home?
Our homes all feature a solar system and rainwater recycling as standard and can be delivered nation wide. They start from as little as $90k+gst (for a 1bed) through to $232k+gst for a 3-4 bed model. This price excludes consents, delivery and site works (foundations, connection to services and any decking/landscaping required)
What advice would you give to future owner?
Don't be afraid to try something different like a container home. NZ building code and strict council inspections mean these days homes are designed and constructed to survive a minimum of 50years. A well maintained container home will surpass that, providing a safe, warm home for several generations.
What's the best thing about living in container home?
It's hard to chose the best thing about living in a container home. If I had to chose, it would be the sense of security it provides (knowing its virtually indestructible) and the eco-features that ensure it is healthy, warm, environmentally responsible and has minimum running costs.
Are the container home suits couple or more to family?
Container homes have been described as lego for grown ups. Due to their modular construction they can even be added to over time if a client wants to start small and add on once family circumstances change and/or finances allow. For example our 2 bed Russell unit suitable for a couple, can be converted into a family sized 4 bed Paihia model with the addition of another container featuring 2 bedrooms and a bathroom.
What are some common misconceptions about container home?
The most common misconception about container homes are that they can be built cheap. While a containers themselves are affordable, everything that goes into a container home is as per a normal house. In addition engineering and reinforcing is required to accommodate windows and doors and specialist insulation is used which all adds up. The other common misconception is that they will rust. Containers are mode from corrosion resistant Corten steel and a specialist steel paint is used which if maintained correctly (we recommend an annual wash down and repaint every 10years depending on the environment) will prevent any rusting.
It's amazing, isn't? Do you want to see more?
Check out this cool video by BRYCE from Living Big in a Tiny House. I got permission from Brenda to publish this video, and both Bryce and Brenda are amazing in the video! DO subscribe to Bryce Video for more cool stuff he has! That dude is AMAZING!!
Like finally, video tutorial of the make up I did like probably last month, my goodness!
I've been busy, I've been busy, and definitely been sick and finally feel better! On the good news, I finally know how to edit video using proper video editing software! *toss confetti*
Personally, I like this kind of make up for a great day out with girlfriends, a good summer party, or the time when you want to look good, without looking like you are "trying to hard".
Hope you like the video, and do let me know what kind of make up look do you wish to see next :)
