Math: Shopping Problem

Today I went to the mall. I was going to buy some body lotions and hand sanitizer at my favorite store, Bath and Body Works. Then, I was faced with a dilemma. I have two coupons but I cannot use them at the same time. I had to choose to use one of them.

Coupon A: 20% off your purchase.
Coupon B: $10 off when your purchase is $30 or higher.

Which one to choose?

This seems simple, but it's deeper than I thought. To be able to answer this, I simply revert younger self in school. Referring to the basic math. And the answer is.... depends on your purchase.

Purchase#1:
If the purchase is lower than $30, then definitely use Coupon A. You can't use Coupon B for anything less than $30 anyway.

Purchase#2:
If the purchase is equal or more than $30 and less than X amount, it will be more profitable to use Coupon B. Why? Because:
Coupon B: $10/$30 = 33% discount!
Coupon A: 20% x $30 = $6 discount.--> If you use Coupon A on a $30 purchase, you'll only get 20% discount.
Where I come from, 33% discount ($10) is better than 20% discount($6)! I think everywhere in the world, that principle is still valid.

So now here comes the serious question. What is the break even point? Until what point it'll be more profitable to use Coupon B? I mean... if your purchase is $100, it'll be better to use Coupon A, because:
Coupon A: 20% x $100 = $20 discount.
Coupon B: $10 discount of $100 purchase = 10%.
$20 discount (20% off) is better than $10 discount (10% off).

To be able to answer this, let's just calculate the X. The break even point will be the $10.
Coupon B: $10 = $30 x 33%
Coupon A: $10 = X x 20%. ---> X = $10/0.2. X = $50.

So, if your purchase is $50, then here's what happen:
Coupon A = 20% x $50 = $10.
Coupon B = $10 off $50 = $10/$50 = 20%.
No matter which coupon you use, it doesn't matter, it'll be the same discount, both dollar wise and percentage wise.

Purchase#3:
Using the basic principles above, for any purchase above $50, it'll be more profitable to use Coupon A. Why? Simple.
Coupon A = Let's say your purchase is $51. Then: 20% x $51 = $10.2 discount. 2 pennies still higher than 0 pennies.
Coupon B = $10/$51 = 19.6%. Which is 0.04% less than 20% that's offered from Coupon A.

Purchase#4 (my actual purchase):
My final shopping resulted in a $40 shopping. Which coupon you think I choose? By using simple logic and math, I did my calculation quickly before surrendered one of the coupon to the clerk:
Coupon A: 20% x $40 = $8 discount.
Coupon B: $10/$40 = 25% discount.
In this actual shopping experience, Coupon B wins because it was 25% discount (higher than 20%) and I literally saved $10 (instead of $8).

I really have to thank my math teachers.

Thank you to all math teachers everywhere you are!!!

Learn "Happy"

If you happy when you have nothing, you'll be happy when you have everything - Anonymous.


Many people think happiness is a goal. A destination. A status reached. I myself was guilty of this too. I thought,"Oh I'll be happy when I graduate" - when I was in school. When I was single, I thought I'll be happier when I get married. When I used to rent an apartment, I always thinking how happy I will be when I buy a house. Others might think,"I'll be happy when my children grow up to be over 18 and be independent on their own". Some think,"I'll be happy when I get promoted, get new raise, or get better job elsewhere."

And the funny thing is, when life moves us to those stage we want, yet we're not fully happy. Yet we still aim for something else. As if, there's always something missing to complete our happiness.

So now I learn, that if I'm happy with I have now (or lack of thereof), then I finally know the key to happiness. Happiness is not measured in wealth, status, or any other symbol that the common norm perceived. Happiness is when you happy, no matter what.

My husband taught me that happiness is an inside job. It's a state of mind. And yes, he is 100% correct on this matter. I see my husband grow from the last decade, he's always happy (and peaceful) no matter what. I admire his inner peace, which finally produce his inner happiness. Which he spread to his family (I'm definitely so lucky to be his wife!), his coworkers, and his society.

So if right now we're not that happy yet, learn. Learn to be happy. Be happy first. Then everything will follow. If you can be happy now, you'll be happy later. If you're not happy now, you can always change your mindset and your feeling. We are human, the most versatile being (compared to animals and plants). The best thing of being human is we have the ability to progress. That includes happiness.

Today I hope you happy. To find true happiness, we all need to learn to master happiness. I wish you always be happy! Today, tomorrow, and forever and ever! :)

*And they all live happily ever after* - The End.

Homemade Peanut Sauce

Putting it here in my blog so I don't forget:

Add 1/2 cup peanut butter, 2 tbspn soy sauce, 1 tbpsn lime juice, 1 tspn brown sugar, 1/2 tspn red pepper flakes, and 1/3 cup water and blend, adding more water by tablespoonfuls if needed to thin, until smooth. 

DO AHEAD: Peanut sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

Best homemade peanut sauce ever!!! :)

To be the BEST

To be the BEST, you have to be BETTER at whatever you're doing now.

To be BETTER, you have to be GOOD at what you're doing.

So first, practice to be GOOD, and then to be BETTER, then eventually you'll be the BEST.

Practice makes perfect.

================================================================

Every day, I'm trying to be a better person. Better daughter, better wife, better employee, better friend, better human. I'm definitely far from perfect, but at least I try my hardest to get there. Trying to be better doesn't mean that I'm bad. It means that I'm already good at what I'm doing, but I know that there's some potential powers within me that can still be developed into the next level. I don't satisfy with status quo. I believe I still have plenty skills and talents that waiting to be released to produce better results.

As human, we normally use only 10% of our potential. This principle is wide-known. Here's some reference about it:
1. Wikipedia
2. Morgan Freeman's movie "Lucy"
3. Bradley Cooper's movie "Limitless"
4. Wired

Whether it's true or not, whether it's 10% or 5% or 23%, the point is I believe I can still do things better if I want to try to be better. The funny thing is, once I realize that I could be better, then I start doing things differently.

For example, I want to be a better communicator. I want to talk effective and efficient. So now, I stop ramble aimlessly, and start focusing on the key points when I talk with someone. Without sacrificing my sanguine flair, I can make a better conversation by getting to the point faster (efficient) and get my audience understand the point (effective).

I need to remind myself everyday that I have to be better, by working, doing, talking smarter. Smart doesn't mean short cut and cheats, it just meant doing things a little bit faster and better! But only do that when you already know how to do it right. Don't do things faster and compromise the quality of your work. Quality things still takes time, but after you do it right several times, you can always speed up the process.

Why I want to be better? Well... it's because eventually I want to be the BEST. :)

Don't Stop

Can you imagine if Walt Disney stop after making Snow White in 1937? Then there would be no Cinderella (1950), Disneyland (1955), and Disneyworld (1971). There would be no future Disney cartoons (Beauty & The Beast, The Little Mermaid, Lion King, Mulan, etc). There would be no Disney Channels (Hannah Montana, Austin & Ally, The Suite Life on Deck, etc). There would be no Disney Alani and Disney Cruises. And to be honest with you, a world without Disney is a world I don't want to live in! Everyday I'm so thankful that Walt Disney didn't stop at his first success. He continue on the next project. And onto the next success. And the next. He kept going.

Don't stop. Once you completed your accomplishment, keep going to the next one. Don't let one big success stop you from leaping into the next bigger success! Keep pushing forward.

Can you imagine if Leonardo DiCaprio stop acting after starring in Romeo & Juliet (1996)? Jack Dawson would be very different in Titanic (1997) if it's not played by Leo. Catch Me If You Can (2002) will not be the same if it's not starred by Leo. We probably will see a different Gangs of New York (2002). There might be no The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Revenant (2015). Everytime I see Leo's movies I kept being reminded to myself that Leo never stops. He continues making great movies and that's what make him one of the greatest movie star of our time.

My point is, don't stop perfecting your craft. Keep honing your skills. Aim to achieve the highest level of mastery in your trade. Don't stop.

You will make the world a better place by continue producing great works. Have a good day!

Living my dream (love & life)

On 6th October 2002, I had an impossible dream. I wish one day I'll meet Lloyd (husband now, boyfriend then), and play chess face to face together. I said impossible because at that time I did not think that I would meet him face to face. I lived in Indonesia, he lived in United States. We had a long distance relationship. And we didn't know that eventually we'll marry. We didn't know that eventually I come to United States. We didn't know that we'll play chess again.

But today, August 13th, 2016, I am living my dream again! I finally able to play chess face to face with Lloyd, and had two games in a row. (Well, in 2003, we played face to face; and today we play a couple more matches.) This dream seems simple, but if you asked me fourteen years ago, I'd say I would give up anything just to be with him physically! And to play chess face to face, instead of virtual, like what we used to do in the early stages of our friendship/relationship.

I must always remember to cherish my dreams. Dreams do come true when you work towards it and make it to your reality.

It's an indescribable feeling. To live the dream. To finally have your dream come true.

My point is, never give up on your dreams. Work towards it and your dream will become your reality. And it's so fun to live in the reality of your dreams!

Have a nice day! :)

World Peace

World peace doesn't just happen by itself.

We all want to live in a peaceful place. Imagine. When it's peaceful, we can travel all around the world without fear. We all can learn from each other's diversity and other's rich culture. Peace is when we can let our children play without worry. Peace is when we can eat without afraid someone poisoning our food. Peace is when you have the freedom to choose what you want without give in to someone peer pressure. Peace is when you can work and live to the fullest.

To make it happen, all of us must work together to achieve that.

That means every nations, doesn't matter big or small, must hand in hand, work together.

Set aside our differences, work out together to find options and resolutions.

Put down your weapons and let's meet in the negotiation table. Open diplomatic channels.

Often times, we are blinded by the looks, and not the content.

Find the common enemy. Let's not fight the people, but tackle the problems.

What's all nation's common enemy?
1. Poverty
2. Cancer
3. Illiteracy - lack of education

Actually I believe there should be more than just 3, and I will let the experts at the United Nations figure that out.

My point is, you cannot expect world peace by doing nothing. You must do your part too. Whatever small it is. Do your part. Put in your contribution. If you want world peace, then work for it too. If you want world peace, then stop fighting. Start living peacefully. Practice peace. If you don't know how to be at peace, then learn from those who had achieve peace.

I'm pretty sure we all know how to be peaceful. We are the best and smart generation. We live at the BEST moment of our live time. Let's not wait for peace.

Do your peace today! :)

Gratitude

Before you complain about your children,
Think of those who want to have kids but can't.

Before you complain about your spouse,
Think of those who longing for one but haven't find him/her yet.

Before you complain about your parents,
Think of those who miss their ma and pa because they already passed away.

Before you complain about your job,
Think of those who is still searching for one and unable to get it yet.

Before you complain about your coworkers,
Think of those who work in solitude and longing for human touch.

Before you complain about your customer,
Think of those business who has no customer coming it at all and still waiting.

Before you complain about your health,
Think of those who was born with permanent disability.

Before you complain about your country,
Think of those who lives in turmoil, unstable, constant war, fighting poverty, or deadly virus.

Before you complain about your world,
Think of other planets where the environment is unsuitable to live,
Making earth the perfect world to live.

Be grateful with what you have. Be thankful for everything you have.

Living the dream (work)

Who knew. Something happened. It looks like a bad thing, but it turns out to be the start of the best thing in my life.

Mid July 2015. The company where I work for the last 9 years decided to close the site and lay everybody off. It's not because we were doing something bad, it's just business. I never thought that lay-off will become our reality. The company was generous though, they gave us 4 months to be prepared. They provided us moral support, providing us career counselors, helping us to get a new job to replace the one that we would soon loose. They held career classes, teaching us the tips and tricks to be successful in an interview, how to utilize professional networking, both on and offline, how to effectively use LinkedIn to propel you to the next step in the job hunt, and how to be confident in your job search. They plant confidence seed in ourselves and boost our low morale. I would forever be grateful for their encouragement in this difficult times.

My coworkers at the time were fantastic too. Especially my good friend, Betty. She advised me to not look for any job, but to selectively choose the ones that I really want. I told her that I would love to work in Vancouver, the city where I live, and no longer commuting 25 miles to Tigard everyday. I shared with Betty (and my other coworkers too, it's like the 10 of us! and our boss Kim, Dan, and Mary), so I shared with them that I would really love to go back to banking world (the branch life, not behind the scenes offices), and it will be great if I can get a work in Vancouver. They said, so do it. I replied,"Well, I've been trying to get a job in Vancouver and branch banking for the last 11 years! But I couldn't find it." Betty and the gang continued to advise me to hold on to my dreams and to not give up just yet.

So I follow their suggestions. I dare myself to apply to several banks, credit unions, investment firms, and other type of companies in Vancouver. There are times that I just want to give up and revert to a call center life, but my IMC team kept me on track. I remember Betty said,"You want to be picky now. This is your time to be choosy and keep applying to the job that you really want."

Job application after job application. Interview after interview. After 38 companies, 10 phones interviews, and 7 face-to-face interview, finally there's one company that answer to my call and decided to give me a chance. And guess what! That company is a bank (branch, not back office), and it's in Vancouver! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!

The interesting part is, the day of the lay-off, Dec 11, 2015; was that fateful day, when the bank called me and confirmed that I got the job in a Vancouver branch! Wow, just wow. One door closes, another one opens.

I forever will be grateful that I listened to the good advice from my colleagues. I forever will be grateful that I continue to hang on to my dreams, and keep pursuing it. And now, since day 1, I am living my dream. Everyday in the new office is a good day for me.

It's so... magical.

I want to thank you everyone (my previous company and my current company), plus all the great people I work with in the past and the present, who keep supporting me and push me forward. It was (and is) wonderful working with all of you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Happiness Waiting Time

In the matter of happiness,  I don't wait.

I don't wait until a certain age to be happy.
I don't wait until I get into a certain job title to be happy.
I don't wait until I have a possession (or two) to be happy.
I don't wait until I reach a destination.
I don't wait until I accomplish something.
I don't wait until the world change to my standard.
I don't wait until tomorrow.
I don't wait until my family are in different stage of life.
I don't wait until my birthday or anniversary.
I don't wait until the next big event, whether it's sports, political, or entertainment.
I don't wait until my workday over to be happy.
I don't wait until retirement.
I don't wait until Tuesday.
I don't wait until November.
I don't wait until the next Star Trek movie is released.
I don't wait until the new president is elected.
I don't wait until the lights turns green -- to be happy.
I don't wait until the oven beep.
I don't wait until dessert.
I don't wait until I can travel to Maldives.
I don't wait until I level up in my video games.
I don't wait until I finish reading a book.
I don't wait until school is done.
I don't wait until someone say hello to me.
I don't wait until the meeting is over.
I don't wait until I get a present or gift.

To be happy, I don't wait.

I just want to do "happy" now, and practicing happiness in every single moment is a goal that I am pursuing, in every single breath that I take.

I never wait to be happy anyway.

I was happy. I am happy. And I know I'll still be happy later.

I don't care how you drink your tea

I don't care how you drink your tea
I don't care if you prefer it hot or cold
I don't care if you hold your pinky up or not
I don't care if you take one, two, or three sugar, or lack of thereof
I don't care if you drink it in a cup or in a glass or in a bottle or from a jar
I don't care if you drink it while sitting, walking, or running
I don't care if you choose white tea, or black tea, or oolong tea, or jasmine tea
I don't care if you drink at 4 am, 4 pm, or whenever you like it.
I don't care if you drink it in your kitchen, living room, or bedroom

All I care is that after you're done drinking your tea, wash the dishes.

My Life Now

I'm happy.

I live in one of the best and safest country in the world. I live in a beautiful home with gorgeous view all surround me. Every morning I wake up and get dressed to get to work, I can see Mount St. Helens afar with it's snowy peak across from my mini window in my closet. I felt so peaceful whenever I do that. In the afternoon, after my work, I sit down in one of the room that has been converted into an office, and I can see the tall green trees outside, and I feel in serenity.

I work in one of the biggest bank in America. I get to work in a reasonable hours, from 8 or 9 am to 5 or 6 pm, depends on the day. My profession is a personal banker, my favorite job. I get to meet people from various walks of life and it feels so good to help their financial lives to be in a better state.  I work so close from my home, only 10 minutes away, with no traffic in between. How lucky is that?

I'm married to a husband that is so loving and faithful to me. He is full of sense of humor and have a gentle spirit. He's kind, funny, and very understanding. I've been living this wonderful dream for the last eleven years, and only wish that this relationship will never end.

My mom still alive and live with us. She's very cute and protective, just like a mama bear. We all live together happily ever after. All of us: me, my husband, and my mom, are very healthy and not sick at all.  My house is clean and free from clutter. I am very thankful that we living this great life!

I'm happy because I have a choice to cook for dinner or buy food home from a restaurant near by. I'm happy because our house is full of our favorite snacks. I'm happy because even though we can eat what we want but we keep watching our weights and ensure we're not pass our max limits. 

My life now is a bit different from what I've envisioned twenty years ago, but that's okay. It's actually turns out to be better that what I originally planned. 

I'm happy. Life is great!

Wisdom of the day

The older I get, the happier I am.  Weird.  When I was younger, I somewhat afraid to be older. As if being older is something I want to avoid of. But somehow, age gets the better of me. I somehow (and hopefully) become wiser and humbler. I admit that I don't know everything, and still willing to learn things that excite me, or peek my curiosity.

To sum it up, I only have 3 simple wish I have in life:
1. I want to be happy.
2. I want to always be healthy.
3. I want to be wiser.

Success and wealth are important too, but being in a state of mind of happy and contentment are something that I can always have in any age level. No matter how old (or young) I am. Bob Marley once sang,"Don't Worry Be Happy!"

Health is another point of view. No matter how much money I have in the world, nothing can buy life. Yes you can prolong your life by keeping healthy habit, take vitamins, and exercise. But eventually, we all going to die at some point. So having a healthy life till the end is a priority to me. At least if I die, I want it not because I have certain disease or something.

Lastly, wisdom. This, I found, I can only get by age. Doesn't mean I have to be older. Learning from those who had walk before me. Like learning from my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and all those who have more seniority than me. One thing for sure, wisdom is something that I will always pursue.

I guess it's true what a wise man once said. "The more I learn, the more I know that I know nothing."

That's ok. As long as I'm happy, healthy, and getting wiser each day. :)

Tidur dengan pria lain?

Suatu hari seorang pria bertanya kepada tiga orang wanita yang sudah menikah.

Pria: Maukah anda tidur dengan pria lain kalau anda dibayar satu juta dollar?

Nyonya A: Tentu saja.  Bahkan saya akan berikan bonus satu malam lagi.

Nyonya B: Sudah pasti, siapa yang tidak mau satu juta dollar.  Bahkan keesokan paginya saya akan bilang pada pria itu kalau saya sebetulnya bersedia tidur gratis dengan dia!

Nyonya C: Iya saya mau, kalau nama pria itu adalah Tuan C, suami saya.

Pria: Kamu tidak mengerti pertanyaan ini.  Pertanyaannya adalah apakah kamu mau tidur dengan pria lain, yang artinya bukan suami kamu sendiri.

Nyonya C: Saya mengerti pertanyaan anda.  Anda tidak mengerti jawaban saya.  Saya hanya mau tidur dengan suami saya sendiri.

Pria: Kenapa begitu?

Nyonya C: Mudah saja.  Saya bisa tidur tanpa satu juta dollar.  Saya nggak bisa tidur tanpa suami saya.

Pria dan dua nyonya yang lain: ...

Kesetiaan seorang istri tidak ada harganya.  Berbahagialah Tuan C punya istri yang tidak bisa dibeli dengan satu juta dollar!

Busy

"I'm a very busy person."

"Busy doing what?"

"Busy relaxing."

...

Have a good day/night everyone! :D

Which Type of Glass?

In my previous blog,"Why Half-Glass Perspective Is Important", I outlined the pros and cons of having both point of view.

Now here's a question for you.  Which type of glass would you like to have?
a) Full glass
b) Half glass
c) Empty glass

I think the answer for this answer will depend on the context.  What's the context?  There are situation that required either full, half, or empty glass.  If you're thirsty, of course you choose full glass.  But if you're fulfilled, then there's no point of having a full glass.  Unless if you predict you can't get refill! :)

Either way, understanding the context of situation you're in will help you determine which type of glass you need.  Have a good day!

How Many Ways to Get 4?

Really, how many ways?

2+2 = 4

2X2 = 4

But then you can get it with 1X4 = 4, or 3+1 = 4.

Or 100-96 = 4.

Or 80/20 = 4.

The true answer is.... infinite.

There's infinite ways to get to 4.

The end. =)

Thank You, Readers!

My dearest readers,

This blog article is dedicated for you.  You are the reason why I write this blog.  Through my blog, I want to support people.  I want to instill hope and inspiration.  I want to provide motivation.  That you can do whatever you want to do as long you put your hearts and minds into it.

Readership.  That's a new word I learn today.  I enjoy our readership (me writing, you reading).  And I like that we can "talk" about whatever issue or concern or topic our heart desires.  That's the purpose of my blog.

So readers, thank you.  Thank you for your time reading my blog, and I truly hope you enjoy it too.

Decide to do it in this lifetime

Whatever it is you plan to do, to make things better, faster, cheaper, decide to do it in this lifetime. You will amaze yourself on tapping your capabilities in a way that you never think before!

I'm proud that at least I achieved these 3 accomplishments:
1. Closed a $10 million dollar deal when I used to work in a big foreign bank in Indonesia.
2. Closed another half million dollar deal that land me a trip to Italy for 2 weeks.
3. Lead a direct sales team of 40 people.

And I did it all before I get married at 26!

These achievements are something that I will always carry in my heart for the rest of my life.  And all because I was dare to do it. So whatever you wish, dream, and want to do, just do it!  You can do it!

Time.

Why "Half Glass" Perspective is Important

Let's face it, we live in a world where "half glass" concept exists.  They say half-glass-full people is optimistic, and the other half live in a pessimistic world where no one wants to live in it.  But the truth is, we need both sides of the story.  Why?

Half Glass Full
* To be grateful for what we have
* To be thankful for what we've experienced
* To enjoy life as it is
* To count our blessings
* To be in the mindset that "now I know more"!

Half Glass Empty
* To know that there's more work need to be done
* To realize the race is not finished yet, keep moving on to our goal!
* To tap more into our deeper potential
* To understand what it means to not have everything and be kind to those who less fortunate
* To learn more!

Our reality will always balanced out between these 2. The secret is to choose one condition based on our situation.  Hope this help. :)

Shopping Marital Advice

A couple who had been married for 15 years is asking a marital advice from a couple who had been married for 35 years.  The older couple gave 5 advices to the wife and 1 advice to the husband.

Wife:
1. When shopping, do shopping.
2. That means check price comparison.
3. Do your due diligence on quality.
4. Stick within your budget, do not over extend.
5. Do not regret things you buy.  You need it, right?

Husband:
1. Let your wife shop.

Change

Some people that knew me since my childhood years, or even back 5-10 years ago, might thought that I don't change that much.  They are partially right.  The truth is, I changed.  Now I decide to let go things that no longer matter anymore.

At some point in my life, there are things that are more important than the others.  But the thing is, you really need to try to look beyond your present day.  Try to look ahead of what will come, but not too eagerly want to peek at your future, is truly an art.  Mastering this can help us avoid unnecessary mistakes and get us to our "destination" faster.

I guess it's true what they say.  Life is about how you handle plan B.  And that's why, to a certain degree, I will always change and evolve.  To something better. :)

Terhalang 20 Years

20 years ago, 10th June 1995, was an important date for me.

On that fateful day, me and my high school friends produced a theater play "Terhalang", adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  My role as Mercutio (aka Jaen Lohai), which was the 1st guy who died on stage, is something that I will never forget and will probably take with me till death do us part.

Oh btw, it was an all girl high school, so somebody gotta play the guy.

My love for drama and theater will never die.  I think.  Now fast forward 20 years later, and here we are today with new movies, tv series, and plays.

But something authentic about all girls drama high school is just an experience that you will always cherish and remember.  I especially want to say thank you to my high school drama club.  Thank you for the opportunity for me to play that special guy, Jaen Lohai. Thanks for having me in your show. :)

Pelajaran Berharga

Kemaren ada kejadian luar biasa. Banyak hikmahnya. Dan membuatku merenung dan ambil pelajaran2x berharga.

Jadi ceritanya gini.  Aku dan suami sudah on the way home, skitar jam setengah sebelas malam. Tiba-tiba ada suara kayak DOR.  Aku bingung dan nanya suami,"Kamu denger, nggak?"  Dan gak berapa lama kemudian,  ban belakang sebelah kiri kempes seolah2 kena paku.  Alamaak!

Nah, terus mau nggak mau ya kita stop di pinggir jalan.  Bingung, gimana ganti ban, soalnya kita nggak punya ban serep (mobil zaman sekarang nggak nyediain ban serep, adanya cuma satu kotak kecil untuk mompa gas, dimana gue & misua kaga ngerti gimana cara makenya.)  Alhasil kita akhirnya mutusin untuk nelpon nomor darurat 911.  Mana batere telpon udah cenat cenut pula, alias tinggal 5 watt.... haiyah! >_<

Sementara suami lagi berusaha kontek 911 (minta bantuan roadside assistance), mendadak ada orang asing ngetok kaca jendela.  Mungkin dia berusaha jadi good samaritan kali?  Tapi instingku berkata lain. Suara hati bilang, "Jangan percaya sama orang ini!".  Susah ngejelasinnya, pokoknya nggak feel good deh sama orang ini.  Dia berusaha untuk menolong kita ganti ban.  Pake acara keluarin toolboxnya dia segala.  Tapi dia nggak berhasil ganti ban kita, entah kenapa.

Aku kasih kode lagi untuk suamiku telp 911 lagi, dan kali ini mereka bilang mereka akan kirim mobil patrol.  (Berarti polisi dong? hore!!).  Dan beneran aza, nggak berapa lama kemudian, mobil polisi tiba.  Baru sekali ini aku ngeliat polisi dan langsung bernafas lega.   Polisinya wanita berbadan tegap bernama K.Gibson.  Aku tanya,"Bisa nggak kamu stay?".  Tadinya aku pikir dia setuju2 aja, tapi ternyata responnya dia aku nggak nyangka!  Dia cuma nanya satu kata gini: "Why?" Waduh!  Gelagapan jawab, jadinya aku nggak bisa jawab...

Nah, mungkin bu polwan ini kasian kali ngeliat kita luntang lantung kayak orang digantung, jadinya doi cuma nasihat gini,"Sudahlah, masuk mobil kamu sana, naikin jendela, kunci pintu, dan tunggu sampe tow trucknya dateng."  Ya wes, abis itu kita ya nurut saja sama nasihat beliau.  Padahal hati gue jadi dag dig dug lagi. Getar getir mikirin kalo ni polisi mungkin bakalan pulang dan ninggalin kita sendirian.  Ihik!

Oke, sekitar setengah jam kemudian, akhirnya tow truck yang ditunggu2x dateng juga.  Horeeeee! Gila, seneng bangeth deh gue!  Mana udah jam 12 malem, dan hp udah mati total.  Drivernya muda, namanya Nick.   Sementara itu, orang asing nggak dikenal yang sok nawarin bantuan tapi berniat jahat (maybe? I don't know, looks suspicious, sih!) ngelewes2x pergi mundur teratur.  Terus, tiba2x aku denger suara di sebelah kiriku,"You guys are so lucky.  Jangan percaya anyone!"  Eeeeh, ternyata ibu polisi Gibson udah kembali!  & Ternyata Madam Gibson kenal sama Nick the driver ini!!  Hatiku jadi damai tentram.

Akhirnya setelah semua urusan tetek bengek kelar,  kita smua berpisah dan pulang ke rumah masing2x.  Phew!

Pelajaran berhargaku:
1. Asuransi mobil langsung harus ditambah dengan feature Roadside Assistance!  Supaya lain kali nggak makan waktu lama kayak gini dei...
2. Jangan percaya sama orang asing yang pura2 baek.  Selalu percaya insting!  Always count on it!
3. Pulang ya jangan malem2... *kalo bisa*

Ya gitu deh cerita kali ini.  Semoga bermanfaat.

3 Persona

Did you know that you have 3 personality types?  It applies to everyone.  What are they?

1. Past Self
Past Self is your self in the past.  It's history.  What's done is done.  This is your collections of your success, failures, and all activities leading to it.  Past Self could bolster your next steps into the right direction, and vice versa.  Past Self could imprisoned you if you don't let go of guilt and dwell too much on "mistakes".  Instead, look at it as a practice field to refine your skill.  After all, practice makes perfect.  The good news is, by reconnecting with Past Self, you can always look back at how determined you were to achieve your goal in time of trial and tribulations.  Look at it as a rear view mirror.  Just occasionally check to see how far you've grown!

2. Present Self
Present Self is your self in the present.  In the now.  If life is illustrated as a journey going from point A to point B, this is your point A. Be in the present. Be aware of your surrounding.  You never know when opportunity knocks.  Although discipline in daily grind is important, but "stop-and-smell-the-roses" attitude will help you appreciate your condition right now.  Present Self is also the busy bee. Present Self do things that must be done, or lack of thereof. So?  Get it done.

3. Future Self
Future Self is your self in the future.  You're not there yet, but eventually will be there.  This is your point B.  This is your finish line and/or multiple checkpoints.  Future Self will often time caught being thankful to the Past Self and Present Self, when the Present Self finally arrive in their destination and hitting their goal.  Future Self eventually become Present Self on the destination day.

So which one is important?

The truth is, all of them are important.

You need your Past Self to remind you your history,  to not repeat the same mistake twice (Mistake is okay, but don't repeat it again.  Learn from it!)

You need your Present Self to do things that have been planned by your Past Self.  And prepare your next stop for the sake of your future.

You need your Future Self to constantly draw you to the better place.  Keep going.  Eyes on target.

All these 3 personality types work cohesively together and form the most important thing that matter. YOU.

1st Violin Lesson

Here we go!

Now I can mark this off from my bucket list! :)

3 Points of Success

1. Success is not a birthright
Nobody born as a successful person right away.  I've never heard of "successful baby".  Success is not something to be inherited.  And definitely not genetic.  I found in my studies that success is a trait.  A skill.  Successful people came from various background: rich and poor, school-smart and street-smart, young and old, any type of gender, race, and all other types of diversity.   Because it's a skill, that means it is something that can be learn, practiced, and refined with time and experiences.

2. Success is not exclusive
It is not mutually exclusive to certain trades, profession, or socioeconomic status.  I used to think of terms "successful businessman" as something to aim for.  Like if you have your own business (versus working in a company), then you must be successful.  But in reality, it doesn't work that way.  There are unsuccessful businessman too.  There are successful employee too.  With that term in mind, that means success is not really belong to a special elite club.  It is a condition where a person able to reach their goals in a strategic manner, applied to any status they hold.  And yes, that includes successful housewife and mother too!

3. Success is relative
Success is defined by your perspective.  It is not an absolute, it's a relative.  My success standards might be different than yours, and that's fine.  A success achievement for a musician is different than what success means for movie producers, or high school teacher, or a park ranger.  And the funny thing is, what we defined as success five years ago, could be evolving into something entirely different now.  Our environment may change, especially in this digital revolution age!  What seems important back then, might not be necessarily the same now.  We continuously adjust, adapt, and alter our success measurement as our condition changes.

For me, success means progressive actions to the betterment.  Keep moving towards the goal I set up, not just moving in motion towards nowhere.

Just what my dearest mama always said to me every morning before I go to work,"Sukses ya!" (Indonesian translation: Be successful, ok!), I will depart with you now with a wish: Have a successful day!

Divergent Professions

For the last fifteen years, I've been working in the financial industry.  I've done jobs that most people prefer to avoid, like sales or being a debt collector.  What I've imagined  back then when I was just a fresh grad from campus to my condition now, is somewhat different. I always want a career in banking industry, and I thought the ladder will be vertical, but instead I've gained various experiences in a divergent way.  Why?  Because it's all different experiences, and it's expanding.

I started my professional experience being a broker-trader for a commodity index exchange market. It was challenging and I truly learned a lot from it.  Then I became assistant manager, then junior manager, then back to business consultant again so I can finish my studies and get my degree.

Next, my journey brought me into the world of direct sales.  Cold-calls, door-to-door, canvasing business offices, you name it.  I've sold traditional and modern banking products, including investments and insurance.  I enjoyed it.  It's truly helped me getting rid the fear of talking with strangers, and enhanced my communication skills.

Then I became personal banker.  Maintained my customer's wealth portfolio for retail, premium, and priority banking.  I love this job.  I like visiting my clients and getting personal touch at their lives. Whenever there's new products or services, I can't wait to tell all my clients about it, because I want them to get the first dip of the benefit.  This one is my second most favorite career ever!  (Why second? Keep on reading, save the best for last!).  I get to meet hundreds and hundreds people with diverse backgrounds, as customers, peers, bosses, and beyond.  Great people with various experience. Truly a humbling experience for me.

Then, sales manager.  Sell! Sell! Sell!  But wait, there's more.  I have an army this time.  An army of outstanding goal-oriented people with high motivation and full spirit to achieve our target!  I love it!

My adventure did not stop there.  I moved to a new country, and start from the beginning again. I still stick with banking, so I decided to start as a teller.  I was very nervous before the job interview that I've made my husband trained me to test me the difference between the coins!

After that, I became a debt collector in a call center.  It's definitely a new environment for me, but I adapted.  It was a challenging job and I don't know how I survived back then.  But I did my time and get more experiences out of it.  My teams and managers were fun and great people.

Next stop, operations.  I got behind the screen and getting new experiences as business support. Some call it ops desk, some call it analyst, some call it auditor, some call it scheduling.  It does have many names.  I like to think that this is the all you can eat buffet type of job.  I like it!  Really really like it!

Moving on, I got deeper into the world of monitoring call center in a bigger scope.  I want to call this job:  "The Watcher".   The coolest job I've ever had. My favorite one by far!  Watching the universe. Everyday is new experience, can't be bored!  I also really like the company and believe in it's values. I trust the way this company is headed.  I like how they do business.  I admire my leaders.  This is not a lip service, but I'm just confessing the truth. Maybe I need a separate blog for this specific one! For sure, this job makes me believe again in banking business.  I definitely love it!

My career journey took me to places I've never imagined before, but I think it's more interesting this way.  There's more twist and turns than what I've expected.  I don't know what I will have in the future, but whatever it is, it will surely add more value to my experience.

Today's Question

Have you heard this question,"If you can go back in time, would you change anything?".  This question have been asked in magazine, newspapers, and any other online articles.  Most will answer,"No, I won't change a thing.  If I changed, then I won't become the person I am today."

But if you ask me, I will certainly without a doubt said,"YES!  YES I WILL CHANGE SOME THINGS!"

Not that I'm regretful or anything, but surely there could be something I can improve by changing things.  I probably would be more patient.  Or be more ambitious.  Or be more careful.

Then I just realized, I could simply apply these changes today.  I can still be more patient.  More ambitious.  More careful.  If I don't like something, I can simply change it.

While I know I can't go back in time and change things in the past, but I still can change something that I want to change right away, right now.  Then this question would not become "I-wish-I-can-go-back-in-time" thing.  This question will lead to "What-can-I-do-better-today-so-I-can-have-better-future?"

This is a deep question.  Take some moment to reflect and ponder on it.  Will you change anything?

Peggy's Special Chicken Vesuvio

I've been making Chicken Vesuvio for the last 10 years, and every time I made it, I always add something.  The celery, cauliflower, and some spices were not included in the original recipe, but somehow I think the above additions make this dish more flavorful and certainly delicious.

My husband really like it and even said that tonight's version was the most spectacular Chicken Vesuvio I've ever made!  So with that thought in mind, I'd better jot down this recipe in my blog before I forget.  I'm sharing this with you so you can try this wonderful dish too!  Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

3 red potatoes, diced 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, diced 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 lemon, grated & juiced 2 stalk celery, diced

1 head cauliflower, cut in florets 4 cloves garlic, minced 2  green onions, chopped 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced Seasoning: salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, cloves, oregano, basil, sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Place potatoes, chicken, celery, cauliflower, and garlic in a casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the seasoning blend.  Mix together. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Sprinkle green onions over chicken.
3.	Bake, covered, in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, add mushrooms and season if needed. Return to oven, uncovered, and bake for 30 minutes.

"Spend-to-Save" Philosophy

Ah, where do I begin?

I'm chuckle at this concept mainly because I was guilty of it.  "Spend-to-save", said the retail stores and marketing department behind it.  But now I will a bit more vigilant to safeguard little money that I have and not fall into this clever maneuver!

Few years ago, I shopped at Kohl's and justified my purchases because "I need new clothes". I denied calling it the impulse buying urge even though it was really an impulse buying, not a planned shopping.  I love shopping and can't resist the temptation to try out those new outfits.  After all, there's no harm for just "trying" that cute red blouse with chic black skirt that comes with it.  And when I look at the price tag, I thought,"Not bad.  Market price $20 but Kohl's price only $14.50!  What a bargain!".  Then my shopping journey continues to the hat and gloves section.  Winter is coming so I thought I would need to stock up my winter gears.  Hat $12, gloves $8, but if I bought one more pair combo, I would have them all by just $30.  ($12X2, $8X2 = $40, so technically I'm "saving" $10!).  And I continue to shop around till it's time to go home.

I went to the checkout line and was shocked to see the grand total.  It was $212.  I surely didn't plan to spend this much originally, but alas, I can't back out of course.  So I paid and then checked my receipt. "You saved $108 today!".  So I'm thinking,"Does that mean I suppose to pay $320 for all these clothings?  And why I don't feel I'm not saving anything at all?"

I mean granted, everyone like discount and sale.  But I won't forget what I felt that day.  Call it a buyer's remorse or something like that, but I don't really feel I save money by spending money.  I save X amount but I have to pay Y amount?  I spent $212 to save $108?  Where's the saving in that?

I'm not complaining because in the end I wear the clothes and loving it.  But next time I go shopping, I would be very careful with the "spend-to-save" philosophy.  I should remember that I won't save anything by spending.  If I want to save, then just tuck the money away somewhere and not using it.

I guess that's why having a budget is very important.  Stick it to the budget and save by save.  Not save by spend.

Sims 3 : Purchase Vacation Homes

Sims 3 ! ♥♥♥

I'm a huge fan of Sims games, ever since the beginning of the original Sims 1, then Sims 2, and Sims 3 now.  Yes, I know Sims 4 has been out there for a while, but I'm still having fun playing Sims 3 and although I've been playing Sims 3 for about 3-4 years, I continue finding and experiencing new things, which make me still want to "man the game".

I have to admit that bugs and glitches are part of my Sims 3 life.  And after several trial and errors, researching via Sims Community Forums, and other walkthroughs, I pretty much sum it up to the below points to help enhance our gaming experience:

1. Always "Save As" in new file game.

2. After you have several files, o let's say more than 5 files, delete the previous old files.  Don't delete all, at least leave 2 or 3 copies.  Just in case your current game glitches, you can at least start from your freshest files or the last 2 or 3 files.

3.  Try to keep your household to be under 4 people if you can.  Less file to maintain.

By implementing the steps above, now my Sims upload the game very fast.  In the past, it took me 15-20 minutes to load, but now it's about 100 seconds!  That means it's also faster in saving and faster in travelling (since it has to upload another world).

And that lead us into the fun part : vacation!

With save, upload, and travel time reduced from 15-20 minutes to just about 1.5-3 minutes, my sims can easily travel back and forth and having max level 3 visa easily for all 3 countries : Shang Sim-La (China), Al Simhara (Egypt), Champs Le Sims (France).  Once you have max level 3 visa for all those places, you can purchase vacation home.  Another cool feature that you don't want to forget is to buy Certificate of Partnership for each countries (can be bought with Ancient Coins - and you'll get these easily by completing Adventure Quests and/or loot in Treasure Chests inside tombs/pyramids). The Certificate of Partnership can prolong your vacation time to the max days possible. :)

Now buying vacation homes, that also means we need simoleon, right?  Some homes are less than 100k, and of course there's the lavish one above 100k (In Champs Le Sims, there's one for 318k!).  It would take forever for my sims family to work, work, work and afford to buy just 1 home.  With 3 vacations spots, that means I want to have 3 vacation homes!  So here's my "strategy" (not cheat mode!  just another way to get it faster):

1. When starting a fresh game from the start, I chose rich family (duh, it's already there - why work harder? hehe).  Rich family of just a husband and wife, with a big house.  Ensure you include "sell furniture" to increase the sale price.

2.  Sell the house and move them to a small house.  This way I have big simoleon savings to begin with. Ka-ching!

3.  Start buying businesses with the savings.  Remember, they yield dividend income that you can collect every Monday, ... as long as you have the businesses.  Talk about passive income! :)

4. Have the husband and wife work & thriving with their careers.  Especially the wife.  Eventually when she reach high level of profession (8,9,10), when she pregnant, she'll still get paid big bucks while on maternity leave.  Very cool, huh?  And eventually when they both retired, they'll bring home retirement income in daily basis.  Nice!

5. When the wife is almost at level 8,9,10 in her profession (I choose 10 of course, max maternity benefit in simoleon), have her befriend a vampire, and when they're pretty close, have the vampire bite her by "offer to turn".  After the bites, wait few days until she became full vampire.  Then "try baby" with her husband, get preggy, then bam, you have a vampire baby.  Not instantly, since vampire baby are just normal kids until their teenager age done.  The vampire kid will become full vampire when they reach young adult.  At this point, it's up to you if you want to turn the wife back to human.  If you want, simply "Purchase Vampirism Cure" in Science Laboratory.  It's only 3000 simoleon.

6.  Now their kid will be the one that have all the adventure traits & wish list!  Now you ask me, why vampire?  Well, vampire lives longer than human.  Since it would take time and effort to fulfill the wish list "Max Level 3 Visa in All Vacation Place" - or something like that, I choose vampire type to complete this.  Vampire kid will also max skills in few minutes.  Writing 10 minutes - bam, level 10! Painting a medium picture for the first time - bam, level 10!  Imagine the possibility!

7.  Vampire kid turns to teenager, that means they can start travel (with their parents) and start doing Adventure quests!  Our first trip was to Egypt, because there's the high tech camera cannon that they can buy, and my vampire kid can start builing photography skills right way (and of course max it in just few clicks without any problem).  While my teenager vampire collecting photos, keep them, don't sell it yet.  Later on when he/she become adult, I have the vampire choose Photographer profession, and then "sell all photos" - and again, bam! Level 10 Photographer.  Sweet!

8.  Having the vampire teen start doing adventure quests early means they can build up their level 3 visa quicker, without the hassle of building up skills needed for job/profession.  The parents can enjoy vacation whatever they want while the vamp doing quests.

9.  Vampire teen eventually turn into vampire young adult.  And if your vampire young adult exceed level 3 visa, then go ahead buy the vacation home from phone!  By now, hopefully your household have enough simoleon to purchase them houses!  Remember: high level professions earned income (or daily retirement income when parents retired), passive income dividends from businesses, and sell celebrity rewards if any.  It's easy to become celebrity - just mingle with one of them!

10.  Some businesses (especially "property" type) might need to be upgraded.  So try to level up your property to max level 3, in order to obtain the highest dividend income.

Well, hope this strategy helps.  Now, let's play Sims 3!  Enjoy!

10th Years Wedding Anniversary

It was our 10th years wedding anniversary last week.

Wow - is it a decade already?

My husband, me, and my mother celebrated it in Petra House Restaurant - a Mediterranean cuisine for this occasion.  Nothing fancy, just simple down-to-earth get-together.  And the food were definitely yummy! :)

So what this 10 years journey means for me?  I truly feel blessed and lucky to have a husband as my dearest one.  Why?

1. He is patient.
2. He is funny.
3. He cares.
4. He fixed broken things.
5. He is peaceful.
6. He is simple.
7. He is smart.
8. He is strong.
9. He is handsome.
10. He loves me!

I love my husband just the way he is, and I'm happy that he accepts me just the way I am.  What a lovely marriage it is to be in! ♥

"Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Does being happy means to laugh all the time?  To smile all the time?

I think not.

I think... being happy is more likely means "being content".  It doesn't mean that we should smile, giggle, and laugh all the time like some silly person.  But be content - with what you had, have, and probably don't have - is a skill that one can try to develop anytime.  It's not something that you born with, but something that you practice day by day.

It is easy to find reason to not be happy and content.  But I think we should see the bigger picture.  It would be nice indeed to have everything and experience all the things that our heart desires, but the reality is it's nearly impossible to hit everything in the checklist.  Why?  Because as human, we are yearning for more, better, and progressive situation in life.

But be content while you're not having everything and perhaps even experiencing challenges - now that I called that mastery.  Understanding that life may not be perfect but everything still going upwards, perhaps not now but eventually.

Suddenly I just got a song stuck in my head while writing this blog: "Don't Worry, Be Happy".

Have a good day! :)

Dining : In or Out?

What our family did (and still do) to be one step closer for financial independence, is discontinue dining out in restaurants.  We love going to restaurants to celebrate special occasions or just to spend our weekend in the norm.  Or just a random passing up unfamiliar territory and have that sudden craving of trying out something new.  It’s a family tradition since I was a little girl.  We love trying out new restaurants, new themes, new flavors, and spending quality time together.  However, with a bigger goal in line to manage our finances wisely, and thinking ahead of our future, my family and I revisit our budget, and decide to take a proactive approach on taking control of our money back.  After all, we don’t want to outlive our money and have nothing in the future retirement days.  That would be a bleak future!

At first, it was difficult to break the old habit of not going out to restaurants.  But we've made a commitment and would love to see it through.  We start using kitchen again to cook our meals.  We utilize fresh ingredients from our local produce markets and get innovative with alternating recipes.  We use whatever available on the market that day.  My family enjoy the time we spend together both in the kitchen and at the dining table. 

Soon, we see a dramatic changes in our finances.  It’s a huge saving for our family by converting restaurants menus with home cook dishes.  A typical restaurant bill for a family of three will cost you average of $50, and obviously you have to add tax and gratuity in every occasion.  While the expenses of producing the similar dishes are not as nearly as half the cost.  Okay, perhaps we don’t have a commercial stove or top-notch range, but you don’t really need the most superior culinary items for just an everyday meal.  Any cooking utensils you have will be enough.  The most expensive ingredients you’ll need to buy is meat, and $5-$10 can stretch your budget along the way.  Once in a while there might be a seafood sale and you can get $9.99 for a pound of fresh salmon, which feed for family of three.  Just add fragrant jasmine rice or roasted potatoes on the side, and you can call it a day!  This doesn't cost you as much as dining out in your local fine dining establishments, which will charge you at least $5 or more for just a salad bowl.

And don't forget, some meals can be extended as the next day leftovers and taste even better.  A pan of lasagna can last for a while, who can really eat all of them in a day?

The best thing about cutting dining out, is that you actually can explore unlimited version of producing meals that will fit your budget and your mood of the day.  You can go Indian, Chinese, Italian, any time.  In the long run, making your own homemade meals are healthier (as you know exactly what you put in each dishes) and friendlier for your wallet.  In the last few months our family saved around $400-$500 a month by not going to any restaurants at all.  What a saving!  It was a relief to see this new habit comes to a fruition.  It was a success we accomplished as a family!

Dining out now is just another luxury, no longer a ritual weekly habit. :)

Red Cliff

One of the best movie I've ever seen is... Red Cliff.  Not going into details of the story here, as this Wikipedia link will reveal more info, but I'd like to share why I felt this movie is one of my favorites.

1.  The story line was unexpected, full of twist and plots.  Unpredictable - which is an indicator of a great movie.  Make us glued to the screen.

2. Beautifully arranged.  The battle scene are not the same as those typical war movies.  There are tensions and previous scenes which build up enough pressure leading to the climax.  Especially the last battle in the night time.  Brilliant!

3.  Mystical.  This movie takes you to summer of year 208 AD.  Imagine that.  Year 208!  And China is already full of war masterminds and strategists and politics advisers.  History lessons became alive and exciting!

4.  The casts played important roles and each of them are so deep into the character.  Well, Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro alone already a household name for Chinese/Mandarin movies.  The result?  Powerful on-screen partnership.

John Woo made a fantastic, top-notch, over-the-top movie, and I would like to see it over & over again.  I wish and hope there are more new movies like this one! ♥