Photo by Kento Hirasue from Unsplash

There some songs and music videos released on early September that I really like, one of them is Kaerou (帰ろう) by Fujii Kaze. Actually he has released the song in his album HELP EVER HURT NEVER on May 2020, but the music video was available on his channel some days ago along with English translation / subtitle in it.

 

These days I have been thinking about one thing that few times appeared on my dreams, that is “home”. I wrote about “going home” and “where is the home that I saw in those dreams” on my journal too. This brings some coincidences, more topics about “going home” that I found on youtube feed and randomly on SNS ads.

 

Another coincidence is that a blogger friend commented about Fujii Kaze on one of my blog post too, like wow, everything is connected and I’m given the chance to witness that beautiful connection.

 

I think I have never found a song that speaks about this thing so deeply. I always cry when I watch the music video. Everything is beautiful.

 

On his special talk about Kaerou, one of the thing that Fujii Kaze spoke that get stuck inside my head is : We can go home safely, happily, and peacefully.

 

This music video will absolutely be my September repeat. Something that makes me feeling lighter when I listen to this song is the part of lyrics that says : we both have nothing to fear, nothing to lose, we both have nothing at all at the first place.

 

There aren’t many things I can convey through words, everything in this song and music video, even about Fujii Kaze himself is beyond words (actually everything that exists in this world is beyond words – we can’t really know what it really is). So I captured some favorite scenes from the music video (honestly, everything is my favorite) below.

Everything is a gift. This world will keep revolving and rotating with or without me. This is not about only me. This life is not a burden or punishment or something that was given to prove something. “What is the use of hating each other?”. Everything is temporary. There is no point in bringing so much baggage to that home. There is no point to prove which one is right or wrong. There is no point to achieve something great for egoic fulfillment. Achieving something, doing something good, getting praised, having friends, are good things that we can appreciate in this life, yet they are not “the tools” to be happy.

“What can we take with us when we leave this world?”

 

Just let go everything and let’s go home lightly.

 

Song Information :

Fujii Kaze – Kaerou (Album : HELP EVER HURT NEVER)

Released : May 20, 2020

Spotify || iTunes || YouTube (music video) || YouTube (Fujii Kaze Talks About Kaerou)

 

Saya Dapat Liebster Award!

Hai! Kali ini saya akan membuat blog post dalam bahasa Indonesia. Sesuai judulnya, saya dapat Liebster Award! Yay! Kelihatannya keren ya dapat award, tapi apa sih Liebster Award?

Singkatnya Liebster Award adalah sebuah penghargaan dan recognition yang diberikan satu blogger pada blogger lainnya. Tidak perlu jadi blogger terkenal atau memiliki jutaan views dan komentar, siapapun bisa dinominasikan untuk Liebster Award. Setelah dinominasikan, blogger tersebut wajib membuat blog post mengenai Liebster Award. Intinya semacam membuat tulisan berantai, mungkin ya.

Saya tahu Liebster Award dari mbak Yani yang menominasikan blog ini dalam blog post Liebster Award (jadi terharu). Dalam postingan tersebut sudah jelas beberapa rules yang harus diikuti. Rules tersebut sepertinya mirip seperti Liebster Award yang saya baca di blog-blog lain, hanya berbeda di jumlah pertanyaan dan orang yang dinominasikan.

Rules yang ini saya dapat dari blognya mbak Yani yang menominasikan saya dalam Liebster Award.

 

Rules :

Membuat blog post mengenai Liebster Award yang isinya :

1. Ucapan terima kasih kepada blogger yang menominasikan

2. Menyebutkan 11 fakta mengenai diri sendiri + 3 blog post favorit

3. Memberikan jawaban untuk pertanyaan dari blogger yang menominasikan

4. Menominasikan 11 blogger lain

5. Memberikan 11 pertanyaan kepada blogger yang dinominasikan

6. Memberitahukan kepada blogger yang dinominasikan mengenai Liebster Award

 

Thanks To :

Mbak Yani (iidyanie.com) yang sudah menominasikan blog ini dalam Liebster Award. Awalnya saya iseng baca-baca blog post dari blogger yang saya follow, termasuk postingan Liebster Award milik mbak Yani. Ternyata ada nama saya. Ketika login kembali ke akun instagram saya, ternyata mbak Yani juga mengirimi saya pesan mengenai award ini, beberapa hari sebelumnya. Kalau tidak dinominasikan mbak Yani, saya mungkin tidak akan tahu ada award semacam ini (mungkin baru tahu beberapa tahun kemudian kali ya). Meski sejak Mei saya jarang nulis blog (karena ada hal-hal yang harus saya selesaikan), saya terharu ternyata mbak Yani masih ingat saya Q^Q Pokoknya makasih ya mbak, hehe.

 

11 Random Facts About Me

1// The first child yet always be mistaken as the second child (my sister). The youngest in the workplace, and finally I know how it feels like to be the youngest lol

 

2// I love sky, stars and space. Sesuatu yang luas bisa membawa ketenangan. Langit, gedung besar yang kosong, lautan, dan ruang angkasa. Artikel, buku, bahkan lagu mengenai alam seperti langit, lautan dan bintang bisa langsung menjadi favorit saya, haha. 

 

3// Magic. Dari dulu saya suka nonton anime yang mengandung keajaiban seperti sailormoon (karena mereka menggunakan nama-nama planet dan benda-benda luar angkasa). Bahkan sampai sekarang saya masih membaca manga Cardcaptor Sakura, haha. Beberapa “novel” dan “komik” yang saya buat di masa sekolah juga semuanya mengandung magic seperti konstelasi, elemen alam, bahkan vampire. 

 

4// Simple foods. Makanan favorit saya tidak aneh-aneh. Buah, sayur dan makanan yang tidak melalui proses memasak terlalu panjang. Bukan berarti saya tidak menyukai rendang, dendeng, dan teman-temannya, saya tetap bisa makan, namun jika mereka tidak ada pun, saya masih bisa hidup. 

 

5// Clean scent. Saya suka bau kebersihan, untuk detergen, sabun mandi, pembersih lantai dan pengharum ruangan. Untuk bau buah, bunga, atau rempah-rempah pada produk-produk tersebut, saya tidak begitu suka. Berbagai minyak esensial masih bisa saya sukai, tapi yang terfavorit tentu saja lavender. 

 

6// Simple skincare routine. Seperti yang saya sebutkan di Calming Skincare Routine, saya menggunakan produk-produk yang saya butuhkan saja setiap hari. Untuk setiap beberapa waktu, saya akan menggunakan exfoliating toner. Sehari-hari saya menggunakan serum, moisturizer dan sunscreen saja. Sisanya, kalau saya ingin, akan menggunakan essence dan exfoliating toner. 

 

7// Tidak begitu suka makanan dan minuman manis. Jika boleh memilih antara minuman hits yang berisi berbagai macam benda di dalamnya dengan air mineral, saya memilih air mineral. Jenis kue dengan dekorasi yang indah pun, saya tidak begitu suka, selain karena tidak tega, saya punya pengalaman tidak menyenangkan di masa lalu. Di masa lalu saya sangat menyukai kue tart dan es krim, namun ada satu waktu setelah memakan kue tart dengan banyak krim, saya jadi kena semacam radang tenggorokan dan demam tinggi. Hahaha. 

 

8// Masa lalu biarlah masa lalu. Saya mudah sekali melupakan masa lalu. Wajah orang yang baru saya temui saja, saya sering lupa, apalagi masa lalu. Sehingga, bersih-bersih benda-benda dari masa lalu cukup mudah bagi saya, karena menurut saya (juga disebutkan di bukunya mbak Marie Kondo) benda-benda yang sudah kita lupakan keberadaannya, lebih baik dipindahkan dari kehidupan kita (entah dengan dibuang, didonasikan atau yang lainnya). Jadi kalau misalnya ada uang yang terselip di barang-barang masa lalu dan ditemukan oleh orang yang lagi bersih-bersih, anggap saja itu rezeki buat yang bersih-bersih. 

 

9// Tidak punya warna favorit. Selama sekolah dari SD hingga menjelang kuliah, saya masih punya warna favorit. Favorit saya selalu biru dan merah. Benda-benda yang dibelikan oleh ibu kepada saya juga selalu biru, merah atau hijau, sedangkan adik saya selalu dapat warna yang lebih kalem seperti pink, hijau muda atau orange. Sejak belajar desain, saya tidak bisa menentukan satu warna favorit. Saat melihat mereka semua dalam palet warna di software desain, mereka semua indah. Saya tidak bisa memilih. 

 

10// Lebih suka mendengar lagu. Dibandingkan menonton drama atau film, saya lebih suka mendengarkan lagu (sekarang ditambah podcast dan audiobook), karena sambil mendengarkan saya bisa melipat baju, bersih-bersih atau melakukan kegiatan lainnya. Jika saya hanya mendengarkan lagu atau podcast saja tanpa melakukan hal lain, maka saya pasti ketiduran, haha.

 

11// Suka hal-hal lucu dan menggemaskan. Sesuatu yang dianggap lucu bisa berbeda antara satu orang dengan yang lainnya. Bagi saya, sesuatu yang lucu adalah hal-hal seperti suara hewan-hewan yang unik (terutama yang mirip manusia), video hewan peliharaan yang kadang terlihat tidak penting, dan video yang bahasanya tidak saya pahami. 

 

 

Favorite blog posts :

Ketiga (empat karena ada 2 versi untuk satu judul yang sama, hihi) blog post ini menjadi favorit saya karena saya menyukai infografis yang saya buat sendiri di dalamnya, hehe. Monthly Highlight bulan Agustus lalu adalah pertama kalinya saya membuat monthly highlight dalam format berbeda tanpa saya rencanakan dan saya pun menyukai hasilnya.

1// Simple Things You Can Do To Love The Earth

2// Monthly Highlight : August 2020

3// Basic Skincare : Sunscreen || Basic Skincare :Sunscreen (English Ver.)

 

Pertanyaan dari Mbak Yani -iidyanie.com-

1// Kapan pertama kali kamu membuat blog?

Pertama kali membuat blog waktu SMP, untuk tugas pelajaran TIK yang tentu saja isinya tugas-tugas TIK. Selama masa sekolah, semua blog yang saya buat isinya tugas-tugas dan pelajaran. Baru pas kuliah, isinya macam curhatan, opini dan sedikit terjemahan artikel (buat latihan bahasa Inggris).

 

2// Alasan apa yang membuat kamu ingin memiliki blog?

Dari dulu saya suka melihat interface blog atau website yang lucu-lucu, jadi saya pengen punya blog sendiri, dengan konten original, dan foto-foto saya sendiri.

 

3// Tema atau topik apa yang sering kamu tulis di blog?

Lebih banyak tentang skincare dan pengalaman pribadi.

 

4// Bagaimana cara kamu menghadapi writer's block?

Tidak berbuat apa-apa sih, hehe. Kalau sedang tidak ada yang ingin ditulis, saya tidak memaksa buat menulis apa-apa. Seperti yang saya lakukan sejak pertengahan Mei sampai Juli.

 

5// Apakah kamu bergabung ke komunitas blogger? Komunitas apa saja?

Saya bergabung di komunitas Blogger Perempuan.

 

6// Apa manfaat menulis yang kamu rasakan?

Tentu saja, mengurangi kebisingan yang ada dalam kepala saya. Meski dalam masa “libur” ngeblog, saya tetap menulis jurnal. Jika tidak menuliskannya, saya bakal merasa kebingungan dengan banyaknya pikiran yang bermunculan dengan randomnya di kepala saya.

 

7// Buku apa yang dibaca di masa pandemi ini?

Seperti yang saya sebutkan di Monthly Highlight :July 2020, forever reading saya adalah buku A New Earth oleh Eckhart Tolle. Selain A New Earth, saya membaca beberapa buku lain seperti Untethered Soul, The Power of Now dan baru-baru ini yang saya publish di Monthly Highlight :August 2020 yaitu Astrology for The Soul dan Krishnamurti’s Notebook.

 

8// Apa kegiatan kamu selama pandemi selain nulis blog?

Saya masih pergi bekerja, jadi sepertinya kegiatan sehari-hari saya tidak banyak berubah. Berbeda dari sebelumnya, karena saya menulis blog lebih jarang, saya menulis jurnal lebih banyak, serta membaca buku, mendengarkan podcast dan audiobook, serta menonton video-video calming di YouTube.

 

9// Apa momen terbaik kamu semasa menjadi bloger?

Sepertinya semua momen asik-asik selama menjadi blogger. Mungkin saat ikut blog challenge selama sebulan, rasanya saya harus melakukan planning dan menyesuaikan jadwal blogging dengan kegiatan sehari-hari saya.

 

10// Jikalau pandemi telah usai, mau jalan-jalan ke mana saja? Apa alasannya?

Entah kenapa saya ingin ke pantai yang tenang, yang tidak ada orangnya, untuk bersantai, selama beberapa hari.

 

11// Jikalau dikasih pilihan, mau jadi blogger sukses, penulis sukses atau pebisnis sukses?

Ketiganya oke, hehe. Tapi karena saya lebih suka menulis blog, saya ingin menjadi blogger sukses. Jadi pebisnis sukses yang membuat produk yang membantu banyak orang juga menjadi keinginan saya – tapi walaupun saya jadi pebisnis, saya akan masih tetap menulis blog.

  

Nominees

Semua nominees yang saya sebutkan disini adalah para blogger yang saya follow dan tulisannya muncul di blog feed saya, sehingga saya sering membaca tulisan mereka. Meski saya libur menulis untuk beberapa lama, saya masih sering membaca blog orang lain lho (meski tidak selalu muncul di kolom komentar, karena biasanya pas tidak login di akun google atau disqus, hehe)

1// Ewafebri | Journaling Blog : Blogger pertama yang berasal dari Indonesia yang saya temukan yang membahas mengenai bullet journal dan hal-hal seputar produktifitas. Sesama Aquarius, haha, dan bahasa yang digunakan untuk setiap blogpostnya lucu-lucu, sehingga tidak membosankan meski topiknya terlihat seram seperti produktifitas. Haha.

2// Niklosebelas | The Cranky One : Mbak Nike adalah salah satu blogger yang saya kenal melalui komunitas Blogger Perempuan, kalau tidak salah karena sama-sama ikut challenge 30 hari menulis blog. Tulisannya beragam, kebanyakan mengenai lifestyle, kesehatan, parenting dan hal-hal asik seperti makanan, hihi. 

3// Monica Agustami : Blogger asal Jogja yang menulis mengenai kecantikan dan kesehatan - yang ternyata juga suka menonton anime dan membaca manga. Saya suka baca-baca review skincare dan make-up di blog ini, karena selain penjelasannya langsung mudah dipahami juga karena foto-fotonya yang mendukung blog.

4// Murenzonio [ Personal Journey of Mur ] : Blogger Jakarta yang juga saya kenal melalui komunitas Blogger Perempuan dan challenge menulis blog setahun lalu. Yang saya suka pertama kali dari blog ini adalah foto-fotonya. Kalau tidak salah, review mengenai ramen-ya yang ditulis tahun lalu, adalah yang paling saya ingat.

5// Farah | Find Beauty in Peace : Blogger yang juga saya kenal melalui challenge Blogger Perempuan. Tulisannya banyak mengenai review skincare dan make-up. Saya suka foto-foto yang ditampilkan di blog ini, untuk product review bisa sangat membantu pembaca untuk mengetahui bagaimana bentuk produk dan hasilnya.

6// Celoteh Kiky : Saya mengetahui blog mbak Kiky ini karena lagi-lagi blog challenge oleh Blogger Perempuan tahun lalu. Tulisannya beragam mulai dari lifestyle, curhatan, review film, keuangan hingga jalan-jalan. 

7// A Lifelong Journey by Lulu Khodijah : Blogger asal Surakarta yang tulisannya juga beragam (namun favorit saya selalu review drama korea dan buku, hihi) mulai dari review buku, review novel, review drama, hingga pengalaman pribadi (kalau tidak salah saya baca mengenai tes CPNS di blog mbak Lulu juga)

Pertanyaan untuk nominees :

1// Apa saja lagu atau podcast yang belakangan ini sering kamu dengarkan?

2// Apa rekomendasi buku yang wajib dibaca oleh teman-teman blogger yang lain?

3// Ingin tinggal di daerah perkotaan atau pedesaan? Alasannya?

4// Apa hal yang kamu syukuri saat ini?

5// Jika kamu dapat kesempatan untuk bisa bertemu seseorang (orang yang sudah meninggal, tokoh penting, tokoh fiksi), siapakah itu? Apa yang akan kamu lakukan jika bisa bertemu dengan seseorang tersebut?

6// Apa quote favorit yang selalu kamu ingat dalam hidupmu?

7// What is love?

8// Apakah ada hal yang berubah baru-baru ini?

9// Apa makna kehidupan bagimu?

10// Jika kamu bisa kembali ke masa lalu, apa yang akan kamu lakukan atau katakan pada dirimu di masa itu?

11// Apa pesan yang ingin kamu sampaikan pada kamu 10 tahun mendatang?

 

Catatan : Siapapun boleh menjawab pertanyaan ini (meski tidak saya nominasikan dalam Liebster Award) dalam bentuk blog post atau social media post. Beritahu saya jika kamu ikutan ya, agar saya bisa share tulisanmu di blog post saya selanjutnya

English versions (for those who want to join in) :

1// What songs/podcasts do you recently listen to?

2// What books do you want to recommend?

3// Do you want to live in the city area or countryside? Why?

4// What are the things you are grateful for right now?

5// If you were given a chance to meet someone (deceased person, celebrity, famous person, fiction character), who would that person be? What would you do?

6// What is your favorite life quote?

7// What is love?

8// Has anything in your life been changed recently?

9// What is the meaning of life for you?

10// If you could go back to the past, what would you do or say to the past you?

11// What message do you have for you in 10 years from now?

 

Note : Even though you are not nominated in this blog post, you can answer the questions above in your blog post or your SNS. Let me know if you join in, so I can share yours in my next blog post.

 

Naaah, ini pertama kalinya saya menulis tentang Liebster Award, jika ada kesalahan mengenai rules dan penjelasan mengenai award ini, silakan mengirimkannya di kolom komentar ya. Silakan ikutan menjawab pertanyaan, meski blog kalian tidak saya nominasikan di sini. 

 

Sampai jumpa di blog post selanjutnya.

 

 

 

Photo by Mehmet Ali Turan from Unsplash

Nature Icon Pack by Freepik from Flaticon

 

 

 

Hello, welcome back to another monthly highlight. We have come to another new month. September will be an important month - just like other months passed. I decided to change the monthly highlight format to be more minimal and easy to read without too many explanations or words, because some experiences can’t be explained by the words, you will know it when you are in it. 

I learned that being present is the most important thing in this world. For years, I have lived in an unconscious pattern and the same cycles over and over again. This just makes me get the same results again and again. Everyone will be different, so whenever you are tired of the same things that always come into your life, you might need to see inside. You might need to ask this : what habits do I have?

You might need to do something about it, or you do nothing. Maybe you don’t know what to do, that’s okay too. 

I made this monthly highlight in a new format so that it can be more helpful and easier to track. Psst, I only planned to make it simpler with fewer words, but I ended up creating all of these graphics. The spontaneous work is always the best for me.

 

Disclaimer : all of the products I mentioned are not sponsored, I bought it myself.

 

1. Books I Read 

Krishnamurti’s Notebook 

A book published from a diary of Jiddu Krishnamurti around 1961-1962, which he didn’t write to publish it. Some vocabulary is new for me, yet I can always enjoy any pages I open randomly from this book. There is always something that can't be spoken about reading this published notebook.

“It was a perfect day; the sky was intensely blue and everything was sparkling in the morning sun. There were a few clouds floating about, leisurely, with nowhere to go. The sun on the fluttering leaves of aspen were brilliant jewels against the green sloping hills. The meadows overnight had changed, more intense, more soft, a green that is utterly unimaginable.”

(from KRISHNAMURTI'S NOTEBOOK PART 3 GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND 13TH JULY TO 3RD SEPTEMBER 1961)

 

Astrology for the Souls by Jan Spiller

A book that has been on my wishlist for a long time, and I just remembered to finally read it. Another life-changing book for me. It’s mainly about the moon nodes, which is the aspect I’ve used to be more likely to abandon. Then I come into understanding why there is this kind of life for me to live in, then comes the “answer” of looking at life from another perspective. 

“Truth is an energy, not a personal opinion; it cannot be reached with two concepts struggling against each other to be “right.” The energy of Truth is accessed through two people who are being open to each other’s ideas and wanting to find Truth together.”

(from FINDING RESOLUTION)

 

2. Beauty Product I Emptied 

SKIN AQUA Tone Up UV Essence SPF50 PA++++

What I like : the ingredients (Tinosorb M, Titanium Dioxide), affordable price, consistency, moisturizing, easily blended to my skin

La Tulipe Maximatte Lipstick : Blushing Wine

What I like : not drying, the color is suitable for my skin tone, affordable price

 

3. Foods I Tried 

Tomato

Mom bought many tomatoes this month, big red sweet tomatoes. I can eat up to 5 tomatoes, but then I understand that my tummy doesn’t like too much tomatoes, it results in stomach ache the next morning. Then I limit it to only one tomato a day, it can keep the doctor away, lol.

Papaya

Another fruit mom bought was a big sweet fresh papaya. I haven’t taken any photos of it because it disappeared in a short time lol everyone loves it, I even ate too much so that my stomach hurt again during the night lol.

Spicy Spaghetti

On a peaceful off day, I decided to cook my spaghetti I bought a long time ago, haha. I have the chili oils from instant noodles, so I used them. It resulted to a super spicy spaghetti, that made my head spin around after eating it. Yet my youngest sister ate it enthusiastically without having a stomachache or anything else. 

Chicken Dumplings

A co-worker bought some dumplings. I got one, at first I thought it had strawberry inside because of the red dots on the top of it to differentiate it from the other fillings, but it was actually a ground chicken with basil leaves and a bit spicy seasoning. I usually love the filling more than the dough, but this time I love the dough more. It has something different, something like vanilla and a light tasty ingredient which I really love.

 

4. Photo I Love 

 

5. In the Playlist

JJ Heller - Blowin' in the Wind

Spotify | YouTube 

Ayaka - Nijiiro

Spotify | iTunes 

E-girls - hitohira

Spotify | iTunes

S.A Karl - Aldebaran

Spotify | iTunes

Johnny’s WEST - ANS

CDJapan | Official Music Clip (Twitter)

Kiyohara Kaya - Ima to Ano Koro no Bokura

Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

J.Y. Park - When We Disco (Duet with SUNMI)

Spotify  |  YouTube

Takahashi Yu - room

Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Aimyon - Morning Sun

Spotify | iTunes | YouTube

Kanjani Eight - Re-LIVE

CDJapan  | Official Music Video (Twitter)

 

6. Quote I Reflect On

“Whenever you are unhappy there is unconscious belief that unhappiness buys you what you want”

(The Power of Now / Eckhart Tolle)

 

7. Journal Theme 

Takoyaki. I found this theme to be cute and I really like the red color from this tombow dual brush pen. I never planned to make this pattern, but it happened accidentally that I ended up creating the whole pattern that made traces on the title page. 

 

8. New Item I Bought

The reason I chose this tissue is its cute packaging. There were two types with cupcakes and doughnuts. This packaging reminds me of Arashi Sweet Club title image.

 

9. Products I Like

ZINC Active Cool Shampoo

What I like : the smell (super important aspect for a shampoo for me), doesn’t cause dandruff or hair dryness

LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask : Apple Lime

What I like : calming my lips after eating too much pineapples the other day, moisturize my dry lips during these hot sunny days

 

10. Videos I Watched

Eckhart Tolle Teaches Young Man (documentary)(YouTube)

Living with Meaning, Purpose and Wisdom in the Digital Age | Eckhart Tolle Talks At Google (YouTube)

Become Awake Now! | Russel Brand & Eckhart Tolle Full Episode (YouTube)

When We Disco Dance Practice (YouTube)

 

Title picture by lailiving

Photo by Mockup Graphics

Tomato photo by Erily Mariel

Papaya Photo by mercy

Hello! I come back with the first monthly highlight after taking a break this year. Honestly, this recent situation is more like a roller coaster ride, one time you feel good, another time you feel so bad like many stuff being trapped inside your head, the other time you don’t feel particular feelings – neither in a good nor bad way, just neutral. The reason I didn’t write is just I can’t encourage other people when I can’t do that to myself. I don’t want to spread negativity here, I don’t want to share all the bad things that sometimes creep into my head. It’s better to step out from anything and anyone when those thought stream comes in. Yeah, those are not real, yet they are there. Fear is something unreal that MIGHT happen but it’s not happening in the real world right now, like it haunts you without any visible forms. You can’t fight it, you can’t escape from it.

Seems so dark, right?

I don’t want to share those dark stuff here. I only write them on my journal, that some entry titles have some creepy energy by only looking at it. For now, I will reflect more, go inward, while doing my everyday things like job and other normal daily activities. I might write one or two blog posts when I feel like wanting to.

If you are currently experiencing similar thing as me, you are in the process of something. It might be difficult, yes, this thought sometimes comes to my head too. You and I are the same, we just appear to be different in the form level. We will definitely experience challenges. I don't say that you have to persevere or to not give up. You can give up, you can let go, you can be angry, you can cry, you can do anything, or nothing. 

Honestly after taking a break, I'm surprised seeing the new editor interface of blogger, I can add emojis, symbol and some special characters directly through this editor. Also, the default font I usually use for this blog becomes bigger. Haha.

Okay. Here are some highlight from last month. Monthly highlight is always my favorite section of this blog, so I won’t let it die.

 

1. REPURCHASE : PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

I repurchase one of my favorite serums that is PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum. I wrote about it previously in this April Monthly Highlight. There are 2 versions of this serum, the green one that is scented, and the white one that is unscented. I recommend that unscented version for sensitive skin. Since I have no problems with oils in this serum ( and I really love the scent ), I repurchased the green one.

It gets easily absorbed once I apply it on my skin, a lot faster than its essence that needs more time to fully get absorbed. Even though it has no highlights for acne or brightening purpose, I choose this product because of its calming ingredients like Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide.

 

2. PRODUCT EMPTY : iUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

Another favorite moisturizer I emptied this month is the one from iUNIK which is Centella Calming Gel Cream. It has clear color, water-based consistency, so it doesn't make my skin greasy. Recently I only choose the moisturizer for calming and moisturizing purposes. For brightening or acne-fighting purposes, I’ll leave it only to exfoliating toner or serum I already have. Even though the brand claims that this moisturizer can do brightening stuff and working on wrinkle, I don’t aim for that.

It can be used for any skin type, even sensitive skin (as it claims). The consistency is light and can easily absorb on my skin (that’s why I prefer gel type for my skin). My favorite ingredients in this product are Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Niacinamide, Allantoin and Centella Asiatica Extract.

 

3. NEW : Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel

After emptying my iUNIK moisturizer, I bought another moisturizer from Illiyoon which is Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel. There are some variants of Illiyoon moisturizers which have similar packaging, so you really need to read the title carefully. It comes in some different sizes too. The one I bought was 150gr one.

Since it’s been colder here, everyone in my family has problem with dry and flaky skin, so they also use this moisturizer too. Haha. Mom really likes this one too. I chose the gel type since I also use it under my sunscreen during the day, I don’t want to use heavier moisturizer beside my skin will get easily oily during the day.

Ingredients I love from this product are Ceramide (ofc), Betaine, Squalane and Glycerol.

 

4. New Journaling Account : shainalite

During lailiving break time, I made another instagram account which is only for journaling. I share my journaling photos and progress and some music recommendations there. If you are interesting in creative stuff, journaling and drawing, you can check my instagram account here : @shainalite. I also started a new blog for this new account where I share freebies like monthly astrocal and free phone wallpaper (the theme is the same as my journal theme during the month). Since my theme for August is takoyaki, I’m sharing simple takoyaki phone wallpaper you can easily download from my blog I mentioned there.

 

5. FOREVER READING : A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

One book I can’t stop reading is A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Between May - July, I read this book like everyday. His books are life-changing. For many years, I look for an understanding about life that is not judging, comparing nor spreading hate. The common advices I got during my earlier ages were covered by judgement toward differences, comparing one human to others, and spreading the words of hate. Even though the message is purposed to ask people to understand life more, to be compassionate, and so on, but I feel there is something missing. I don’t say I hate the way people spreading good messages like that, but there is something inside me that constantly saying : there must be another way.

Then I found The Power of Now and A New Earth, two books of Eckhart Tolle which I always come back to every time I want to. Even after I found these books, I didn’t instantly turn into someone new or my life changed so drastically, no, I just found the answers I asked for so long. Also, whenever I re-read them, there is something like new-ness in it no matter how many times I do that.

I can’t really explain what it is that makes me sticking into his books. One of my favorite quotes from his book is : "The ego isn’t wrong; it’s just unconscious."

 

6. PLAYLIST : Takahashi Yu, NiziU, HIRAIDAI

There are some songs released this month that I really like and immediately becomes my playlist.

🌿 Takahashi Yu – one stroke

The newest song (new digital single) from singer-songwriter Takahashi Yu, the first one after departing from Amuse. He then released his song globally through Warner Label. The music video was firstly released during his 10th Anniversary live stream. He also will release a new album soon. Hopefully it will be released globally too! The music video shows him flying accross the sky, I really like this scene where the background is the blue sky and he flies freely. I really want to fly!

Listen here : Spotify | Music Video

🌿 NiziU – Make You Happy

A new group under JYP Entertainment consist of 9 Japanese girls, selected from TV show that is collaboration between Sony Music and JYPE. They release a pre-debut digital mini album titled Make You Happy along with the Music Video (and Dance Video in Korean version). A bright cheerful youthful song that will make you happy once you listen to it. My favorite member so far are Mako and Miihi. Maybe it’s because Mako is the leader of the group, and I already falling in love with Miihi’s voice during the audition and show.

Listen here : Spotify | Music Video | Performance Video (Korean Ver.)

🌿 HIRAIDAI – EndlessSky

New song by HIRAIDAI titled EndlessSky, has the vibe of summer, sky, Hawaii, and holiday. He also released lyrics video of EndlessSky which has English translation of the song. It’s a perfect song for enjoying sunny vibrant days (recently it’s likely to be sunny and summery, even though it’s colder during the night and morning here). "To the world that is still unseen, let your heart guide you through, follow the sign in front of you, endless sky"

Listen here : Spotify  | Lyrics Music Video

 

7. FAVORITE PHOTO : Airbrush-ed Sky

The sky is always beautiful everyday! Whether it’s sunny or cloudy. The sky remains open and being what already it is despite of the situation going below it. What I can learn from the sky is that no matter what happens in this life, that doesn’t change the essence of who you really are. You might think you have certain identities you accepted as you based on your situation. I read it from a book titled : The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim that sky teaches us this valuable thing. “Negative emotions come and go like clouds, but the wide open sky remains.”

This is one of my favorite sky photos I took during July. It looks like as if the cloud pattern was edited by software, but it’s airbrushed by the nature. Of course the real sky was more beautiful. I think I can never capture nature’s beauty as photos, it always turns out to be different compared to the real one.

 

Thank you for visiting this blog. Thank you for sharing your comments. I believe I will be able to finally look back to these days and I will just smile as I understand that all of these weird scary stuff is needed for my growth, and I will be grateful that they all happened and sent for me with love from the whole universe.

Whoever you are who found and read this blog post, I pray for the strength to face all the challenges  you currently experience.

See you on the next post!

Title picture by lailiving

Photo by Marina Kraus