i gotta say i somewhat agree with miss marianne. the more hectic my job gets, the more i drag myself away from finishing it -__- alas, i lost 'the mood' to do my tasks on this riweuh monday, and made this entry.
beberapa waktu lalu di twitter orang-orang banyak yang meramaikan hastag #100happiness. gue nggak mau ikutan, abis takut pamer dan norak :p nanti yang menurut gue bombastik, menurut orang biasa aja. gimana nasib pencitraan gue kalau begitu? hehehe..
lantas, di saat pekerjaan/rutinitas/hidup lagi menghimpit dan cenderung bikin gue sering mengeluh lahir batin, gue tiba-tiba terpikir untuk membuat daftar hal-hal yang, menurut gue dan seinget gue, memberikan a sense of happiness di hati. ternyata manjur juga, seiring dengan gue mengingat-ingat hal apa aja yang pernah bikin bahagia, perasaan jadi lebih enteng. just like the old proverb says, "count your blessings." *gak tau lanjutannya* jadi beginilah... i haven't reached a hundred, moreover a thousand yet, but i am counting.
1. Our first actual date watching a free documentary des alwi's movie at galeri cipta TIM. :D
2. Our java trip, getting lost using a borrowed car.
3. Makan siang bersama teman-teman di citibank. Ah hari-hari yg indah, mungkin paling indah, sepanjang rekor gue sebagai pegawai.
4. Ngekos di ciganjur ditemani bubiku.
5. Bertemu Bhumyamca untuk pertama kalinya.
6. Perjalanan-perjalanan melelahkan kita dari karawaci ke ciganjur (dan sebaliknya) menggunakan motor honda karisma yg kita eksploitasi sampai rontok.
7. Mengurus Bumy bersamamu. At any given day, it's been a bliss for me. I'm forever thankful that he's got you as his dad.
8. The times we cried together. I'm thankful to ever having those times at all.
9. Our days at rumah pawon, cooking-trying out simple recipes together, sleeping the whole day, watching dvds from dusk til dawn, having our meals delivered just because we're too lazy to wash our faces and leave the house.
10. Everytime you hug me.
11. To read really touching books with eloquent writing, such as Nukila Amal's, Krauss', Foer's, Catcher in The Rye, Lahiri's, Arundhati Roy's, Hornby's, Nicholl's, and others' :D
12. Membaca blog dan mendapati entry baru di victorialand dan sourcreamnonion.
13. Grocery shopping with my little family. Makes me feel so functional, so... fairy-tale-like.
14. To ever sing in a band.. can't believe I did.
15. To get straight A's. Ah the achiever in me. She rarely comes out these days.
16. Setiap habis belanja baju yg okhe. Setiap habis belanja :|
17. Kelayapan sejak malam sampai pagi sama sahabat-sahabat hedonis, dulu, in
my younger days. Galau bersama, sok pinter bersama, memaki-maki pria bersama, ah I miss my girls.
18. Menyesapi lagu-lagu yg sinting bagusnya.. Oppie andaresta album bidadari badung, weezer pinkerton, radiohead, blur, pulp, ok I'm musically alive in 97/mtv-asia's-early-days.
19. Duduk di kursi belakang bis lipo maupun patas 104 sama Kiti, nyanyi lagu-lagu morrissey, and being together just because :)
20. Saat 'berhasil' menyusui Bumy selama 6 bulan, lantas 1 tahun...
21. Saling berkirim surat dalam bentuk surat beneran maupun buku curhatan sama sahabat-sahabat kala masih remaja. I'd like to read again our teenage ramblings, Nuri, Elis, Weich :*
22. Perayaan hari ulang tahun Bumy/setahun gue jadi ibu. It was just my kinda 'perfect' get-together.
23. Lulus dari binus. I couldn't wait!
24. Ngobrol menghina-hina orang t*lk*m dan diri sendiri sama Ika. Sambil makan buhanyak.
25. Hasil rontgen bagus, dan diberikan kata-kata penyemangat oleh dr. Albertus.
26. Setiap saat Bumy kembali sehat sehabis sakit.
27. Setiap saat Bumy sehat.
27. Main galasin sama teman-teman saat SD.
28. Saat hasil perasan asi lebih banyak dari yg diharapkan.
29. When my mother agrees on my opinion and choices. I do live in her shadows *facepalm*
30. Punya adik Debby Ferina. She is sunshine.
31. Akad nikah sukses dan dihadiri semua sahabat terdekat :')
32. Ngobrol tanpa perlu melengkapi kalimat sama Weich. Cos "you knoow."
33. The feeling of being taken care of, yaitu saat dapat pembantu rajin.
34. Hanging out with whom none of us need to say anything to impress, like (pathetically) pura-pura sukses. Certain circles do that, and I don't like being in that kinda crowd. Love it where everyone just be themselves and whine like there's no tomorrow :P
35. Makan coklat Silverqueen. Sejak punya duit jajan, gue hampir selalu menabung untuk bisa beli coklat ini tiap minggu.
36. Setiap berkeringat setelah olahraga. It's scientifically proven that exercising merangsang endorphines which make us think/feel happy. Pure physics.
37. Bisa punya hp canggih setelah sekian tahun bergaya hidup 'frugal' dengan cuma memiliki hp flexi sederhana, itupun syukurnya disubsidi kantor :)
38. Menjadi bagian dari (kelas) rebits. God, really, i was once living comic book scenes.
39. Saat nyokap gue histeris bahagia mengetahui gue hamil, saat gue tau gue akhirnya hamil, dan saat bubi nyium pipi gue bilang "selamatya beb." Err kaya ultah aja bi.
40. Saat disamperin bubi di rindam bandung dulu. Beberapa minggu gak ketemu, istrinya udah tanned, dekil, keker, dan berbaju kamra. Tapi perasaan gue saat ditengok itu bahagiaaa banget. Maklum penganten baru.
41. Saat lagi punya rejeki mentraktir mricans.
42. Saat akhirnya bisa menyetir. Sendirian. Dari tj. priok ke karawaci *puhleez*
43. Perjalanan-perjalanan impulsif kita. Bandung dan bandung lagi.
44. When the baby's asleep in my arms, with his cute adorable face (cue rabid bunda).
45. Watching modern family, SATC, gilmore girls. Those series give me
that feels-like-home sensation.
46. Our little celebrations (baca: justifikasi untuk fancy eating-outs).
47. Saat bisa menertawai diri sendiri.
48. When everything is in its right place. Yes, that's the OCD part of me speaking.
48. Jogja trips. Each trip brought nice surprises: ketemu kawan-kawan virtual, begadang sampe pagi sama Dyah dan awak Teater GM, tetiba jadi obyek brosur UGM (ditawarin aja gitu pas kita lagi nongkrong. pasti gara-gara sedang sama ex-model beneran, si Elis), nyangsang di solo tanpa rencana, melala sama si Bun, sampai tim jogjazz trip yg penuh drama.. great memories.
49. Pas duit tiris eh dibayarin makan.
50. Punya asman pinter, buaik, cerdas, lucu, rajin, gak sembarangan nyuruh, visioner, bijak, dan kalo becanda nyambung abis sama gue, yaitu pak Elfin. Really, I could make another list about 1000 good things about him.
51. Masa-masa nginep untuk bikin skripsi. I heart sleepovers :p
52. Ngomong-ngomong tentang sleepover, another happiness came from my sleeping
over at my nenek' and late-andung's house in pejompongan. I loved loved it there. I was their object of affection and education, there were heaps of books, the house was big, empty, and got many luxurious stuff that didn't exist in mine. Should make a dedicated post about it.
53. Hari-hari saat kecil, punya sahabat dua anak lelaki, yang satu cengeng yang satu banci. Kita nginep di tenda pramuka, berkhayal jadi google pink yellow and black, did everything together.
54. Ketika bisa pake jilbab.
55. Kemping pertama kelas 6.
57. Main kasti di lapangan yang agak jauh dari sekolah, dan untuk ke situ, kita jalan kaki rame-rame.
58. Dapet/dikasih duduk di sarana transportasi umum.
59. A dose of morning sun.
60. Bersih Sehat.
61. Bersih, sehat :D
62. To show integrity. To say sorry and admit my wrongs.
63. When succeed at applying self-limitations. In terms of (junk)food intake, and sloth versus productivity. This gets harder as I'm older...
(quite a lot for an hour or so of brainstorming yah. and i'm quite in disbelief to see no point mentioning money :D)
got this really interesting article from http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/top-5-budgeting-answers?partner=yahooau
and this is truly rellevant with our current financial condition and our ecek-ecek household budgeting.
Top 5 Budgeting Questions Answered
Budgeting has negative connotations, but it can do wonders for your overall financial picture and it takes very little effort to create and maintain a budget. Think of a budget as simply a tool for organizing cash flows. You are, in essence, a CEO on a smaller scale who is taking steps to ensure your company's (or family's) cash flow is monitored each month. In this article, we'll cover five of the most commonly asked questions with regards to budgeting, and show you how it really is possible to save money, pay off debt and still enjoy life.
1. How much should I set aside for investments?
When deciding how much you should put aside to save or invest, there are many factors to consider, including your age, disposable income and liquidity needs. Your age will help determine not only your asset allocation (younger investors should have higher equity allocations than older ones) but also how much money should be put toward future goals like buying a home or retirement.
Disposable income is independent of all your costs that need to be paid out in order to survive. You can spend it on toys or stash it away in savings. The amount of disposable income you have will determine how much fun you can have now, and how much fun you can plan for later in life. Liquidity means how fast you can convert your assets to cash. Your level of liquidity will generally determine what kind of interest rates you will receive or how fast you will be able to access your own money.
While there is no magic dollar amount that defines how much should be saved or invested, 10% of your net income is a desirable target (but starting at 5% is still admirable). It is essential that any money set aside for investing should be free and clear of any monthly or annual expenses. It should also only be considered if you have a "cushion account" of emergency funds that can be accessed quickly, such as in a savings account or Treasury bill.
2. How much should I allocate to debts like credit cards or car loans?
Some of our debt, such as car financing, comes with specific repayment schedules, but rolling debt instruments like credit cards can generally be paid off according to one's personal ability to pay. The ruling maxim here is this - don't allocate money to taxable investment accounts if you have existing credit card balances.
Some fixed-period loans will allow for overpayment, while others will not. You should evaluate the interest rate being paid to determine if paying a fixed debt off early is the right path. If you have existing credit card debt, chances are that this is costing you more in interest than an auto loan for example.
3. Should I overpay on my mortgage (if allowed)?
Your mortgage is often the cheapest source of debt you have (assuming that it is a conventional mortgage and not subprime), but it could still make sense to overpay on your monthly payments. First and foremost, all of the higher interest debt that can be settled should be done so first, before considering this option. Any money that is considered for overpayment should be money that would otherwise go into a savings or an investment account, meaning that all other budget categories are fully funded for the time being.
While it is possible to earn more on an investment than would be saved in mortgage interest, it does expose you to the increased risk of market fluctuations. Many people would rather pay a couple of hundred extra dollars per month towards their (typically) largest source of debt than subject a small investment account to possible losses in the markets. The more favorable your interest rate is on your mortgage, the more the scales tip in the favor of keeping the extra money to invest instead.
4. How should I maintain and update my budget?
In the first few months, it's essential to review account statements regularly and see exactly how much was spent on various expenses. These aggregate figures should be compared to the amount set up in your budget and any adjustments should be made to reflect the reality of your life. This is the best and easiest way for your budget to remain relevant in your financial life.
Inevitably you will come across "one time" expenses that you may wish to add up over the course of a year rather than per month. It would be better to add up all of these sporadic expenses to arrive at an annual figure for "home maintenance" or similar category in your budget. Remember, however, if you find that you've budgeted too harshly and have left little room for fun, you will not stick to this budget. If you find that you are covering bills, decreasing debt, filling your emergency fund and savings accounts, but just can't stand missing out on the latest movies or parties with friends, then you should re-evaluate your budget to reflect your new goals.
5. Why do I always seem to have expenses or wants that don't fit into my budget?
One reason why some people stop using a budget is because there are many expenses that don't seem to have a place in their budget. This is partly to be expected, and is easy to fix. Any good budget will have a "miscellaneous" category for all disparate expenses that come up in a given month or year.
Sometimes the answer is a simple as re-evaluating your original budget for any missing categories or places where you might have underestimated how much should be budgeted. Otherwise you'll always find yourself with expenses that don't have a home in your budget, and this could discourage you from sticking with the process. Over time you'll find that your budget more closely reflects your spending patterns, so long as you are honest with yourself about where the money goes.
Conclusion
Good budgeting may seem like a humbling or constricting endeavor, but it can actually be very freeing if approached with an open mind and with future goals in place. After all, the goal of any budget should be to maximize what can safely be spent on the things we want and need, while at the same time planning for a solid financial future. Following a good budget can lower debt, increase funding for investment accounts and reduce the overall stress that comes from not knowing how much money is needed from month to month.
sebentar lagi Bumy 16 bulan, tapi gue baru inget belum update catatan milestone. well, here goes:
- makannya udah gak pernah pakai bubur lagi, udah nasi terus. lumayan memudahkan sih, jadi gue tinggal bikin gravy untuk beberapa hari terus ditaro di kulkas.
- giginya (masih) delapan, klop empat atas bawah, di depan semua.
- udah bisa naik turun ranjang dan sofa yang tingginya hampir sebadan dia sendiri. deg-degan sih liatnya, tapi kalau ngikutin hasil seminar sama Najeela Shihab kemarin, bagian otak anak yang paling awal berkembang adalah bagian mirroring. jadi dia memproyeksikan apa yang kita orangtua (atau active caretakers) 'harapkan' dari dia. sooo gue SOK berpikir positif ajah, dan alhamdulillah skill panjat-memanjat Bumy makin terasah (blah).
- kelakuannya yang funnily nyeleneh, di antaranya suka banget sama topi pet bokap gue. ini unik, karena sejak baru keluar dari perut, Bumy gak suka dipakaiin topi. pasti dia tarik sendiri. makanya gue heran banget suatu malam menemui dia santai aja pas dipakaiin topi bokap gue. trus orang-orang rumah bilang, "iya, dia emang suka banget topi itu," bahkan suka sampai minta, nunjuk-nunjuk ke arah topi minta diambilin. kelakuan nyeleneh satu lagi, yaitu suka belagak nelpon-seperti sejak 14 bulan-tapi sambil jalan-jalan keliling rumah. nanti hp siapapun itu ditaro di kuping, trus dia mondar-mandir sambil ngocehhh. ocehannyapun meniru orang yang lagi beneran nelpon, "hwooh," "oma?!" (teriak kenceng), "twuus?", "acacacapekapekab9$&)_&^..." dia juga pakai jeda gitu ngocehnya seolah ada yang diajak bicara x)
jackpotnya adalah kalo dua kelakuan itu dipadukan: Bumy keliling rumah belagak nelpon, ngoceh kenceng-kenceng, dengan memakai topi opa. -__-
- he touches EVERYTHINGGGGG. phew! beberapa perkakas di rumah udah pindah ke belakang, untungnya ruang belakang rumah gue dipisahin sama pintu. kalo kita di rumah, semua pintu tertutup rapat, karena Bumy hobi banget dorong-dorong pintu. kakinya pernah kena ujung bawah pintu :S
gue udah beli beberapa safety tools, seperti penahan pintu biar gak ketutup rapat, stiker ubin kamar mandi biar gak licin, dan kunci gagang bukaan rak gitu (foto menyusul). yang belum ketemu tuh penutup saklar (akhirnya ditempelin selotip aja) sama pagar/play yard. ada sih tempat rental mainan yang udah gue hubungi, tapi barangnya baru bisa diambil minggu ini. sementara kemaren iseng nanya di mothercare harganya 2 juta sekian ajah.
- lagi suka muter-muter bikin dirinya sendiri pusing -___- abis itu jatoh. bener ya bayi tuh pelupa, harus rajiiiin deh kita 'mengingatkan' (baca: mengulang-ulang larangan).
- lagi suka meniru iklan susu dancow di mana si bocah loncat-loncat di tempat.
- kalo naik tangga sambil dipegangin tangannya sama kita, beuh gayanya, satu langkah satu anak tangga.
- haus teman sebaya. Bumy girang banget kalo udah ketemu anak kecil... tanpa malu-malu dia akan teriak-teriak mencoba menarik perhatian anak kecil lain itu. trus dia cengengesan, ngoceh kenceng-kenceng, bahkan gemes banget sama si temen ini. sampe kasian gue liatnya. segitu terpenjaranyakah anak gue sehari-hari?? (lebay).
- sangatttt membutuhkan toddler carseat. iya ini sih curhat gue!
- belum juga mencoba uht. gimana yah, abis guenya parno :(
- (kayanya sekarang dimulai section keluhan sang emak) tidur malamnya Bumy kacauuu. dalam semalam bisa bangun, atau lebih tepatnya minta nenen, LIMA kali. dua bulan ini badan gue rasanya tambah jompo aja karena gak bisa punya quality sleep. i know this sounds so manja. gue sampe bosen (kelepasan) cerita ke nyokap karena responnya selalu "ya begitulah resiko punya anak!" okay, that's really comforting.
menurut hasil browsing ke babycenter (what can i do without thou, o internet?), Bumy might need soothing sleeping object, either it's a soft toy, or a blanket. intinya hal yang bisa membuat dia kembali tidur kalau tiba-tiba rewel gak jelas di malam hari. kutipannya begini,
"One of the key ways to help your toddler learn to go back to sleep on his own at night is to make sure that the sleep-associated objects he has around him at bedtime are the same each time he surfaces from sleep. If he goes to sleep in Mum's arms or watching the TV, then this is what he will associate with sleep and want in the middle of the night!"
nah, rasain deh gue! tiap kali Bumy merengek, hal pertama yang gue lakukan adalah nyodorin t*te! akibatnya gue sering banget masuk angin gara-gara perut ngablak semalaman, and not to mention the sleep deprivation, ihik. akhirnya kemarin gue dan adit bawa Bumy ke toko boneka, demi menjadi sang soothing sleeping object. dan kita juga sepakat membiarkan dia milih boneka MANAPUN yang dia mau, regardless of the color! karena pernah kejadian, Bumy suka banget sama boneka piglet, dipegaaaang terus, tapi karena bapake nggak sreg sama warna pink gonjrengnya, akhirnya boneka tigger yang dibeli. yang terjadi selanjutnya, boro-boro deh Bumy mau nyentuh si tigger. sebelum mencapai kesepakatan, gue racunin adit dulu, "gapapa kali cowok demen pink, banyak kok anak kecil yang gitu." gue kasih contoh kasus anak orang kantor yang sukaaa warna pink padahal cowok.
di toko, pertama-tama gue sodorin dulu boneka yang warnanya mencolok (including pink of course) ke Bumy, tapi nggak ada yang bikin dia tertarik (bapaknya lega bener nih). beberapa saat keliling, gue liat boneka teddynya mr. bean. gue coba kasihin ke Bumy, eh ternyata suka! kita trial dulu, kita sodorin lagi boneka-boneka lain (terutama yang pink), Bumy bergeming, tetep kepincut sama si teddy. okhelah... jadi kita anggap pencarian sudah berakhir, mari menyambut teddy sebagai teman bobok pengganti nenen, haha.
tapi ternyata ujian sesungguhnya baru dihadapi di luar toko. begitu melangkah sekian puluh langkah dari toko, tiba-tiba si teddy udah tergeletak di lantai karena dibuang sama Bumy. gue dan adit membeku. alamaaak, belom juga sepuluh menit dibeli, mahal pulak, kandas deh harapan kami akan tidur malam yang nyaman T__T abis itu Bumy bener-bener gak mau nyentuh si teddy (yang kita kasih nama kato karena terinsipirasi green hornet), tapi gue tetep taro si kato di tempat tidur sih. kali aja akan datang keajaiban yang bikin Bumy kepincut lagi sama si kato/teddy. amin.
