Greatest Lesson

A friend has recommended this book for some time now, and after awhile I finally got to purchase the novel and read it. At first, I thought the novel was another book of love story, and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of novels as they are long and many of them are written in complex structures; Not that I have anything against novels, but unless it tells a story that is very intriguing to me, I would rather read a book of collection of short poems or stories.

Tuesdays with Morrie has positive reviews with people claiming the book has changed their lives, so I got curious and decided to join the hype. And after a few days, I got to finish the book, and I can see where the hype came from. It was an enjoyable read of a real life story, written in simple words and heartwarming life lessons. It clearly has the ability to change the readers' perspectives on life and so many other things, it gives readers different point of views of what's important. I like how the stories are told and written as it is, it doesn't feel as the writer tried to impress the readers with big words or any complexity while building story elements.

It was a good read and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers, or simply buy it as a gift for someone, it would be a heartwarming one. Tuesdays with Morrie lives up to its reputation.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Graduated

I have finally graduated from college with bachelor degree of art! I have actually finished the study since a couple of months ago when I passed the thesis final presentation, but the graduation ceremony was just held last week. The ceremony was quite long and was a bore, but I was sitting close by my friends, so we had a pretty good time during the long ceremony, even though we were half asleep due to the early morning starting schedule. We had our photos taken afterwards with each other, and also other friends who came to congratulate and give us flowers, we went back to celebrate with each of our family and some of them actually made friends and got acquainted. I am deeply thankful and grateful for all the people who have been around since day one and stuck around until the end of college; I thank you for the support, laugh, advice, and many more. To my family, closest friends, classmates, lecturers, seniors, and every one who have had roles during my college years, you have been crucial every step of the way!

As good as it feels to be free from any responsibility, I will miss the hours of struggling to complete a project and skipping sleeps after sleeps just to catch up with deadlines. I will miss the Skype video chats and hours of silence during the calls just to keep each other company while working on the projects. I will miss the freezing classes and backseats filled with juicy gossips and complains about life and classes. I will miss saying hi to other friends in hallways and I will also miss the snack counter selling the nicest treats in campus. I will miss the ramen counter and also the expensive lunch one, and I will miss the sofas where we lay down for hours working on other projects, eating, and sleeping while waiting for the next classes. Thank you to all my friends for the good times, and thank you to all my family for the support!

On Monday, 2 days after the graduation ceremony, I was hired and started working as a graphic designer at a lifestyle and retail company. They are quite well known among the young people in Jakarta, and I actually enjoy being a part of the brand development team, even though the commute takes quite a portion of my time and paycheck. The bosses are very welcoming since day one, and so are the people working there; Even though they are much older than I am, they always try to reach out and make me feel like I'm part of their team. So far, working at this new place has been pleasing, I am excited to experience new days and meet new people along the way!

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Holy Grail

Lately, I have been slightly obsessed with skincare and makeup products. I look them up on the websites and search for their reviews, and I would have the urge to always try new interesting ones when they have positive feedback. I bought them because I want to try them and have the effect and result promised by the product, but other times, I bought them because they are packed in lovely packaging and they caught my eyes. Compared to each other, I am much more interested and obsessed with skincare products to makeups. I personally think using skincare products is more important, because they can actually help skin to be repaired and maintain its prime; But it also depends on each product's ingredients, composition, quality, and of course, the compatibility with each skin type. 

I have been using some products that I love, they are basically my holy grail of skincare products. I don't usually use the high-end product brands though, as their combined price numbers are above my paycheck, but I would definitely try the good ones when I can afford one. In the meantime, I'll just steal some of my mum's SKII and buy the ones that I can actually afford; Their quality and results have been impeccable, and I'm obsessed, I will not stop using them in a long time. These products work well with my combination skin type, but keep in mind that every result may vary for every one.

PHILOSOPHY – Purity Made Simple (One-step Facial Cleanser). The absolute necessity after a long day with make-up coverage, it is the perfect smooth cleanser with amazing cleansing ability. It washes off make-up products within 30 to 60 seconds of face massage, it literally melts all the products off of my face. It is made from organic ingredients, and it works not only to cleanse, but also to hydrate and balance my skin.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

SON & PARK – Beauty Water. After rinsing off the excess of the facial cleanser, I would complement the cleansing process using Son & Park's beauty water. It is a toner to balance the skin as well as a cleanser for any remaining dirt on the face. It smells really nice and I love how it feels cool on my face. Turns out it also works as a light exfoliation with bark and papaya extract to peel off any dead skin, it also contains lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract for hydration and moisturization.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

ORGANIC SUPPLY CO. – Castor Oil. This oil is the absolute work of magic, I use it with the intention of making my eyelashes longer, and after only a few days of using it, my lashes grow longer much faster than I expected. Before using this product, my lashes barely existed, they were so thin and short, but now I can apply mascara easily on my upper and lower lashes thanks to this oil. After a continued research, I found out that castor oil is also applicable as skincare product, it is made from the extract of Ricinus Communis. It contains vitamin A, B, D, and especially rich of vitamin E, castor oil stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which wonderfully hydrates and softens skin. Castor oil is also known for its ability to fade dark spots and delay wrinkles or fine lines, as well as an alternative choice for lip balms.

Where I got mine: Organic Supply Co.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA – Murumuru Butter Bronzer. This one is actually a makeup product, but I absolutely adore it as it works wonder on my face. It is a light bronzer by Physicians Formula that gives me the perfect color to add definition to my face, I love the color and most definitely, the smell. It smells so good, I could sniff it all day to be honest, the bronzer is infused with the blend of Murumuru butter, Cupuacu butter, and Tucuma Butter, from the lush and nutrient-rich Amazon. It is perfectly soft and gives me the bright radiant Brazilian glow, as well as sealing moisture and lasting hydration.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

They are my absolute favorite and holy grail and work well with my combination skin type. But again, all these products may have different results on each person, so always check and look for more reviews and details on each product before purchasing one.

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D