Colour Me Fuschia

The Declining Day

2012-11-02T09:37:00.000+07:00

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ

وَالْعَصْرِ (1

إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (2

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا

بِالصَّبْرِ (3

By time,

Indeed, mankind is in loss,

Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

source

Now let's take some minuetes to watch this video:

This video explains this surah creatively so, we can get into its meanings straight out. There are so many creative ways to dawah which can firstly make people interested, and the most fundamental thing is to get ourselves and the others to apply the message. May Allaah Guide us to right path. Ameen.

Takbeer Night

2012-10-25T20:45:00.002+07:00

My calligraphy artwork for an art assignment at high school (made on 23rd September 2008)

Allaahuakbar.. Allaahuakbar.. Allaahuakbar..

La Illaaha il-lal-lahu Allaahuakbar.. Allaahuakbar.. Wa lillAllahil hamd.

Allaah is the Greatest.. Allaah is the Greatest.. Allaah is the Greatest..

There is no one worthy of worship except Allaah, Allaah is the Greatest..

Allaah is the Greatest.. and to Allaah belongs all praise.

Today is 9th of Dzulhijjah and how lovely it is to be able hearing the takbeer night!

and tomorrow will be 10th of Dzulhijjah, in Shaa Allaah.

Eid Al Adha Mubarak

for all the muslim ummah out there.. :)

"Their meat will not reach Allah , nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good." (Q.S. Al-Haj (22) : 37)

Today I changed my attribute thrice, and I ended up going for dinner in these.

Fashion Formula:

Worthington dress + Merona white long sleeves shirt + Minimal black trousers + Montego Bay Club brown wedges at Payless + Balck socks + Prada nylon tote + Maysaa cream chiffon scarf snood

Three Days in Green Trousers

2012-10-18T20:20:00.000+07:00

Fashion Flashback

How I survived college in these green trousers...

Worn these outfits some weeks ago.

Fashion Formula:

Zara TRF pineapple shirt + Mango cardigan + Zara trousers + Prada nylon tote bag + Vincci oxfords + Scarf from Est.Boutique

Fashion Formula:

Maje birds printed blouse (my sister's) + Zara trousers + Prada nylon tote bag + Vincci oxfords + Purple scarf from Debenhams

Fashion Formula:

New Look white long sleeved shirt + RW & Co. white tulle vest (my sister's) + Zara trousers + Prada nylon tote bag + Fioni at Payless flats + Houndstooth scarf from Kalea_(instagram online shop)

Mid-term Exam is Over!

2012-10-18T20:00:00.000+07:00

Oh, I'm gonna be worried 'til the exam results are out! But wait, just submit whatever in Allaah's Will! Keep learning to be tawakkul, and be prepared for the next term more eagerly, in shaa Allaah.. :)

Fashion Formula:

Yellow shirt (beneath) + Thrifted yellow sheer blouse + Topshop trousers + Mango bag + Fioni at Payless flats + Scarf from Rumah Mode

Surat Ad-Duhaa (The Morning Hours) - 93

2012-10-15T12:04:00.001+07:00

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(93:2)
Sahih International: By the morning brightness
Indonesian: Demi waktu matahari sepenggalahan naik,

(93:3)
Sahih International: And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,
Indonesian: dan demi malam apabila telah sunyi (gelap),

(93:4)
Sahih International: Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].
Indonesian: Tuhanmu tiada meninggalkan kamu dan tiada (pula) benci kepadamu.

(93:5)
Sahih International: And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].
Indonesian: Dan sesungguhnya hari kemudian itu lebih baik bagimu daripada yang sekarang (permulaan).

(93:6)
Sahih International: And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
Indonesian: Dan kelak Tuhanmu pasti memberikan karunia-Nya kepadamu , lalu (hati) kamu menjadi puas.

(93:7)
Sahih International: Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
Indonesian: Bukankah Dia mendapatimu sebagai seorang yatim, lalu Dia melindungimu?

(93:8)
Sahih International: And He found you lost and guided [you],
Indonesian: Dan Dia mendapatimu sebagai seorang yang bingung, lalu Dia memberikan petunjuk.

(93:9)
Sahih International: And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.
Indonesian: Dan Dia mendapatimu sebagai seorang yang kekurangan, lalu Dia memberikan kecukupan.

(93:10)
Sahih International: So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].
Indonesian: Sebab itu, terhadap anak yatim janganlah kamu berlaku sewenang-wenang.

(93:11)
Sahih International: And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].
Indonesian: Dan terhadap orang yang minta-minta, janganlah kamu menghardiknya.

(93:12)
Sahih International: But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].
Indonesian: Dan terhadap nikmat Tuhanmu, maka hendaklah kamu siarkan.

صدق الله العظيم

--- the high-lightened ones are my favourite verses from this surat :') ---

Surat Al-Ma`un (The Small Kindesses) - 107

2012-10-15T11:49:00.004+07:00

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(107:2)
Sahih International: Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
Indonesian: Tahukah kamu (orang) yang mendustakan agama?

(107:3)
Sahih International: For that is the one who drives away the orphan
Indonesian: Itulah orang yang menghardik anak yatim,

(107:4)
Sahih International: And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
Indonesian: dan tidak menganjurkan memberi makan orang miskin.

(107:5)
Sahih International: So woe to those who pray
Indonesian: Maka celakalah orang yang sholat,

(107:6)
Sahih International: [But] who are heedless of their prayer -
Indonesian: (yaitu) orang-orang yang lalai terhadap sholatnya (927),

(107:7)
Sahih International: Those who make show [of their deeds]
Indonesian: yang berbuat ria (928)

(107:8)
Sahih International: And withhold [simple] assistance.
Indonesian: dan enggan (memberikan) bantuan. (929)

(927) : orang yang tidak menghargai serta melalaikan pelaksanaan waktu-waktu sholat.

(928) : ria adalah melakukan perbuatan tidak untuk mencari keridaan Allah, melainkan untuk mencari pujian atau kemasyuran di masyarakat.

(929) : sebagian mufasir mengartikan dengan “enggan membayar zakat”.

صدق الله العظيم

--- This truly is a wake up call! ---

Outing with the Family

2012-10-06T22:58:00.001+07:00

Liking mom's outfit colour combo

♥ Love my nephew; Zen ♥

Fashion Formula:

Black shirt + Marks & Spencer black trousers + GDa'S Gallery maxi cardigan + Kalea_ (instagram online shop) pearly white jilbab + Prada nylon tote + Fioni at Payless fuschia flats + New Look bangles + Sox Gallery socks

My very first pair of fuschia footwear! I'm loving 'em!

Trying on shoes at payless

Yellow point toe kitten heels > for the unique, pop cultured character

Red platform wedges > for the brave, sassy character

Shocking pink open toe heels > for the urban-sophistication character

Flower printed heels > for the classic modern character

B&W printed ballet flats > for the daily casual style

Welcome to my sister who is just started blogging! Horray!

The picture above was taken by my brother in law who's sort of wacky. He likes to take pictures of us with a very weird perspective. LOL.

Abu Usamah

2012-10-05T23:00:00.001+07:00

Assalamu'alaikum,

I'd like to share my favourite Qur'an reciter whose name is Abu Usamah. From what I found on wikipedia, he's a mualaf (revert). Masha Allaah.. and now he's an Imam at Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham, England. Firstly, I accidentally found his Qur'an recitation Surah Al-Fiil to be put on my tumblr blog. I was instantly soothed hearing his recitations. His voice is so beautiful, smooth, and he doesn't read it too fast. That's why his recitations are very easy-listening for some people like me. Gladly, on soundcloud website, we can download some of the files there. And mostly Abu Usamah's recitations are surah makkiyah, the ones that are more easier to be memorized. It really helps to memorize some Surah in the Qur'an when we listened to it repeatedly. You can see my last.fm playlist here. I really recommend to play the playlist above. Hopefully you'll get 'that' feeling too.

There are so many great Qur'an reciters out there. Most of them are people I don't know. I rarely go to the 'live' Qur'an recitation (pengajian). I mostly read the Qur'an alone. Oh! How I wish I could improve my Qur'an recitations and surely the most important is the understanding of it, and how I practice the Qur'an in my daily life. In Shaa Allaah.. wish the rest of my life can be fulfilled with beneficial knowledges.

Some of My Favourite Things:

2012-09-22T22:00:00.000+07:00

1. Surely, some coloured pens + the place to write on (books).

2. Feathered pens

and,

(Row, Column)
3. (1,1) : Parahyangan International Relations from Danus Gintre designed by Tresna and I
4. (1,2) : My neon-yellow jelly pouch.
5. (1,3) : Portable mushaf Al-Qur’an
6. (2,1) : Portable tajwid Al-Qur’an » when I need to read the meanings & learn the tajwid
7. (2,2) : Inong Aceh keychain from Mr.Piyoh!
8. (2,3) : Favourite dhikr book (love its cover too!)
9. (3,1) : British India notebook.
10. (3,2) : Jelly lego notebook!
11. (3,3) : Another favourite notebook from Lenwa.

Storages

2012-09-22T21:25:00.000+07:00

My order (below) just arrived today, so I'm making this post about my current storages for my stuff!

It's an envelope orange lucite clutch which came from my friend's label Stoffe. It fits my daily saviors which include a wallet, an iPod, a phone, an earphone, and a beng-beng (my current favourite chocolate wafer snack).

A yellow neon jelly pouch which I usually use to contain my stuff like on the picture above, but without the wallet, and the beng-beng.

I had this pink lucite pencil case since I was in high school. I've been loving lucite stuffs since forever! Any form of lucite has been catching my eyes. I've been using this pencil case for something else, but when I found it again, it's useful to contain many stuff! I currently like to use coloured pens and they fit prettily in there. I also can put my "Parahyang International Relation" pin on the net inside it.

I also have this WATER STORAGE (tumbler) since I was in high school. It's because of the environmental education I had there. I really got the benefit from it because it has helped me to be more aware for our environment. My teacher taught me not to use plastics in a high amount. We must to reduce our habit to use plastic. Especially when we buy bottles of drink. We better to bring our own drink with our own tumblers from home. Though I don't bring it as much as I did now, I think I want to start using this tumbler again! Let's be healthy and environmentally friendly! :)

Clear lucite storage. It contains my cute stuff which reveal my inner kid... Explained on the below picture.

These stuffs are making me happy! Those happy colours are really energizing. There are kinds of like "post-it" notes, bookmarks, animal cuts from cereal box, and two jelly bracelets I got from a friend in high school. But surely these help me to make bookmarks for some college studies. It really is a fun thing for me to stick them all!

Snake Skin

2012-09-13T21:28:00.001+07:00

I almost never put a 'full' make up this much for the daily. I usually just put some of them like really randomly. Today I have no college schedule so, I was suddenly wanting to try my make up on. I only used face powder, eye shadows, white eye liner, lipstick, and mascara though. Haha, it's quite fun.. to use real brushes here and there, not only on photoshop -- my first time putting my own simple make up -- please be advised, haha. I sometimes feel that I look silly with full make up, but this time, I feel like liking it! with the white eye liner, I feel like the make up making me look like a lioness.

white eye liner inspired by the lioness!

Fashion Formula:

Zara TRF shirt + Black super-wide legged trousers + New Look scarf

I've never seen the scarf this way.. I'm just realizing that I'm sort of liking it more.

Outfit of the Day // Lighten

2012-09-08T18:55:00.003+07:00

Fashion Formula:

Thrifted buttons up + Yellow stretch trousers + Pale pink hijab + Neon yellow necklace + Nine West flats + Nude coloured socks + Birthday gift tote bag

Necklace close up

Red Valentino store is way too girly cute! the colour scheme also accidentally happened to match with my outfit. Yellow, mixed up with light coloured top.

Stylin’ and Smilin’!

2012-09-02T21:12:00.000+07:00

Mila, from Bandung, Indonesia, is a trendy young lady who is not afraid to venture out into different fashion styles. Her colourful personality shines through on her blog.

Thanks Aquila, for featuring me as one of your Aquila's Picks! ^_^v

(inspired by Sketches of Mind post)

Hey, Hey, September!

2012-09-01T23:38:00.000+07:00

(: السلام عليكم

Glad to be back! I missed blogging here oh so much.

First September already. And this week is my first week on the third semester at Uni (so long, three months holiday~). The last time I blogged was on 2nd August. Almost a month this blog has been neglected, whereas I have planned so many things to be posted on this blog. It was Ramadan, and I'm suffering a quite serious sickness. I could be looked healthy on the outside, but I need a long period of medication. So, I'd like to ask your prayer for my health, and for our health in general. Jazakumullah Khairan Katsiran Wa Jazakumullah Ahsanal Jaza (^_^). I personally feel thankful for these reminders from Allāh Swt. I believe that every test from Him will give us the best lesson for us to be a better person each day we're given. Ameen.

I've posted nothing on most of my social-media accounts (except twitter) about our Eid 1433H because of the unavailable internet connection for me during those days (I had my Eid in Jogjakarta). So, I wish we all have a nice one, and from my deepest heart, I humbly ask your forgiveness for every mistakes I've done. The most important is to keep our Ramadan spirit along the way to the next 11 months ahead until we meet the next Ramadan *in shaa Allāh.. if God Willing*. Ameen.

Today I had a day-out with my mom to a wedding party and continued to Paris Van Java (a mall in Bandung). Here are some snaps of the day:

Saw this billboard on my way to PVJ. This show used to be aired on local TV channel It makes me miss Ramadan so much! I used to watch this show almost every suhoor time. I watched this on MNC Muslim once (after Ramadan), but I don't know exactly the time schedule when will this be aired. Really touches my heart.. I cried on some parts of the show. How I wondered to live at the same era with Rasulullāh S.A.W. How the people struggled. How people echoed the Shahada.. *goosebumps*

I am a pasta monster currently. Since the primary food is defined as rice in Indonesia, pasta isn't eaten every where and every day here. So, I'm kinda longing to eat spaghetti with aglio olio seasoning. It's totally my current favourite right now. I had lunch at Pepper Lunch, and I didn't know there was this menu. I was straight ordering it. Changing my 'always-be-ordered' menu from Pepper Lunch: Salmon Pepper Rice (without pepper). I don't fancy this version so much. I recommend "Salmon City" from Warung Pasta, and "Aglio Olio" from Bakerzin for those who like spicy taste.

Alhamdulillāh! Mom let me to eat my favourite ice cream.. ^_^

Mom, I wish you'll be placed in Jannah.. Ameen ya Rabbal 'Alamin.

Fashion Formula:

Marks & Spencer fuschia shirt + Asos jumpsuit (♥♥♥ Oh La La! Bird prints on it ♥♥♥) + Maysaa navy blue chiffon scarf snood + Prada nylon tote + Camel coloured socks + Nine West nude studded flats

Bumped into my high school friend; Astari a.k.a Jek! She has the fanciest hands -- ever. We used to talk fashion stuff when we were still class mates, and we mostly went crazy over teenvogue issues! Haha! fun times. Too bad I forgot to take her head-to-toe pic. She definitely got some cool, unique, chic taste.

Love Lily Cole on here!

Getting my first make-up kit which are 4 palette of eye shadows, mascara, and lipstick.

Fuschia on my eyes everywhere! First: the shirt I wore today, on the street: I saw so many fuschia-coloured flowers! really energzing to have seen those flowers blooming on the street, and then: the fuschia cardigan me and my mom tried on in Marks & Spencer fitting room.

Happy getting this! ^_^ wish to get some scarfs from Ina's Scarf later.
p.s.: pardon my messy desk :P

What happen to me at home after getting my firsts Hijab Tutorial Book and a Make Up Kit :P

Jogja - Day 1

2012-08-02T12:13:00.000+07:00

I took the train that left Bandung at 7am on 26th June 2012 to Jogjakarta. That was a dream came true. I had been dreaming to have a journey on a train after so long I've never been on a train anymore. I really missed the train noises, the beautiful sceneries, and ate nasi goreng inside the train. And the place I was going was my dream journey destination; Jogjakarta. The last time I went there was on around mid 2010 when I joined my high school's comprehensive learning (study tour) program. But we only stayed for a while there. We only stopped by around Malioboro and bought some souvenirs over there. After that, we continued our trip to Bandung on Buses. Thanks Allāh to have given me this opportunity, to have come back again to this lovely city.

I went there with my mom, and three of her friends. Then, we arrived at Jogjakarta around 2pm. And for an hour we finally got reservations at a hotel in an alley nearby Malioboro street. Luckily, the hotel we got is placed close to the main road. It was really hard to find ones! In the holidays, the hotels are mostly fully reserved.

After that, we had an afternoon walk to get some foods. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful afternoon vibe I experienced there. I've never seen such thing on the road before (below). It's such an creative, artsy guardrail. It's Aksara Jawa written there which I don't actually know what it really means and moreover, I don't know how to read it.

After that, we went to Gudeg's Central Place around Street Wijilan to eat gudeg (of course) with the traditional transportation service called becak. On the picture on the two left (below) is my mother's friends, and I was on becak on the right with my mother and her friend. I sat in the middle. The becak I used has wider seat than the becak on the left, and it's equipped with machine! I've just experienced this latest innovation in Jogja. Though, becak with machines are already used in some cities in Sumatra. But surely, the shapes are totally different with becaks in Java. I wonder how if the traditional becak is really gone. Could becak is still categorized as an environmentally friendly transportation anymore?

Left: It is the becak without machine. I'm liking the lighting at that time so much! The sun shone beautifully. Also, the "Indonesia" touch on that becak also giving a nice object for my photo.

Right: The main focus in this picture is the clock. It depicts of how the Jogjanese (Jogja People - I made out that word. lol. sorry) are well concerned about timing. I felt that way because I've seen so many clocks around Jogja streets. Unlike in the city I'm living in.

Malioboro street on the afternoon

Left: A huge half human body sculpture on the street. I really had no idea whether the sculpture stays there forever or it was just because the event around that time? The event was called "Festival Kesenian Yogyakarta" The event was held for some days. I also saw a crab sculpture on the beginning tip of Malioboro street.

Right: A beatiful bird cage and the bird outside the place where I ate gudeg.

Really enjoying Jogja on the afternoon on becak with mom, tante ida, and mang becak! eh? how to call 'mang becak' in Javanese?

These are my first thoughts which I tweeted after hours stepping on Jogja land:

Tiba-tiba pengen kuliah di Jogjakarta, agar jauh dari kemanjaan yangsudah menjalar di Bandung.. #eh
— Mila A. (@milakarl) June 26, 2012

Jogja oh Jogja.. Baru saja aku menapakkan kaki 6 jam di atasmu tapi kau sudah membuatku terpukau dengan vibrasimu!
— Mila A. (@milakarl) June 26, 2012

✭✭✭ and I feel like I still have that feeling! ✭✭✭

...But reality awaits and I must face it with smile and dignity. Bismillah :)

Instagram Style Inspiration

2012-07-15T21:40:00.004+07:00

Instagram is an application full of artful snaps. When I followed these people on instagram, I personally feel inspired for what they have shared on their accounts. Here are some of 'screen captures' of pictures that inspire me. Here they are:

Vika Gazinskaya is a Russian fashion designer who has an outstanding style aesthetic. She has been snapped by the street-style hunters for years, and surely her style stole the spotlight. In this style, she put on a wide graphic-printed prints on the maxi dress. She mixed it up with nike sneakers, red bag, and a denim jacket. What a style.

This might be a man, but man.. this look is also applicable for the hijabis. Mix the style up with shocking pink chunky sweater, a rolled up baggy trousers, and here comes again my current like; nike sneakers. The ones he had on this picture is cool, gray based coloured but they're stroke with neon nike logos.

Vika oh Vika! Her style is incredible to me. Sporting white classy dress, with sporty white nike cap and also nike sneakers. And also, if I'm not mistaken, she also worn a fake (printed) diamond necklace. Overly love this.

This laid back style really fits this lady! A white tee, and stripey bottom. This look also reminds me of the mix I did on this post. Don't you agree? A rolled up sleeves white tee with red details on it, and the vertical stripes prints bottom. But minus the bangles, shades, and the coke. (p.s. I mixed the outfit there before I saw this picture)

Love those red baggy trousers mixed up with white shirt, black blazer, and the red scarf! This style looks so comfy.

She's somewhat mastered in turban-tying! The colourful printed scarf looked adorable with the denim buttons up. Look what she put on her neck! It looks like Louis Vuitton's padlock, doesn't it?

Another look from Vika. Hopefully the dress is a maxi dress. The print is so 60s which add a fun vibe, but at the same time, the wide sleeves also add the elegant touch.

Vika's designs worn by herself and her close friend; Miroslava Duma. These two close friends have a really good taste. They're rich, young, and talented. How worldly their life is. These outfits are such artistic pieces.

Blue baggy jeans paired up with loose leopard printed shirt, statement necklace, quilted bags, and very stylish pockets belt! I wonder what shoes she's wearing. I'd prefer something sporty. No?

Carolina Herrera's fuschia heels!

(I'm liking the colour :P)

Fam(ily)

2012-07-15T20:15:00.002+07:00

Yesterday, I've just got back from Banda Aceh. I had a sort of tiring journey last day because I had prepared since 3:30 am to catch the morning flight on 6 am. My papa, little brother and I also had to transit for about 25 minuetes at Medan. After that Alhamdulillāh, we're arrived on Jakarta at 10.30 am. Then, we continued going to Bandung at 11am. From Jakarta, it took six hours to Bandung. It usually takes two hours or more if the traffic wasn't as jammed as yesterday. Well, as I have experienced on my latest trip; the shorter distance journey from town to another town in Java island is more tiring than moving from Sumatra island to Java island. Traffic Jam in the Java's downtowns have been a serious problem. Especially in our capital city; Jakarta. Hopefully, in the near future this problem can be solved. Ok, enough with the traffic things. I had an amazing week at Banda Aceh. I already feel like missing everything about Aceh now. I do. After I finished my last Jogja trip, in shaa Allāh I'll continue to make the Aceh trip posts.

Today, My family and I gathered for lunch to welcome Ramadhan (In shaa Allāh, Please convey us to reach the holy month ya Rabb). There were my mom, my grandmother, my sisters and surely their husbands (my brothers in law), my little brother, and my incredibly cute nephew. Here are some snaps of us:

Photo taken by Citra's husband

From left to right: My elder sister; Wina, eldest sister; Citra, mom and her sweetheart grandson; Zen, me, and my sweet granny.

Photo taken by my little brother; Haikal!

From left to right: Ibid.

Here we go! our little reporter with his new hobby: handycamming.

He worn Aceh! shirt from Mr. Piyoh store. They have nice stuffs there.

Left: photo taken by Haikal.

Right: My sister with her son! They look very cute in pair. I sometime went crazy seeing him. I. can't. stand. seeing. cute. babies. Masha Allāh! (p.s. Zen turned 1 last Thursday. Alhamdulillāh..)

A baby trying to ride the 'BIG' bike.

Zen is totally attracted to his granny! he wanted to push me away.

Wina - Mila - Citra

The sisters came in three.

♡♡♡ Love them lots ♡♡♡

I happen to read a poem entitled: Three Sister's! Sweet :')

Fashion Formula:

Gap orange shirt + Dorothy Perkins purple cardigan + Black maxi skirt + Nike sneakers + Green Prada nylon tote + Birdies print scarf from a hijab exhibition.

source

I bought this scarf with Nisa. We couldn't resist its overrated cute print! masha Allāh. If I'm not mistaken, the name of bird which is printed on the scarf is Orange-chinned Parakeet. Its scientific name is Brotogeris jugularis. Size: 7 to 7.2 inches. Native Region: Southern Mexico, south through Central America into South America. Life Expectancy: Up to 15 years. Noise Level: Moderate; loud at times. Talk/Trick Ability: Good. (source) (more about orange chinned parakeet)

The bird on the print may not look exactly the same like the one shown on the picture, but from its beak, it's a parakeet breed. I wish I knew more about these animals! ♡

Dream Outfit // 48

2012-07-15T08:20:00.002+07:00

Fashion Formula:

Topshop dino tee by tee cake dinosaur t-shirt + Hache Blazer + A-Line Maxi-Skirt + Marni Printed PVC tote + Denis Colomb Ring Shawl + Nike Air Vortex LTR

This is my 48th dream outfit formulated in my polyvore. I feel like this one is sort of different than others. It's simple, and I feel like these pieces could be easily found in some places around me which means those pieces don't have to be exactly the same things like on this set. I've told here on my previous post that I currently into white shirts. And this! I've never seen it in topshop store here actually, but the shirt's print is so adorable, isn't it? Because I used to be interested in dinosaurs. I also kinda need white skirt, and this one which I found on polyvore seemed to be nice! I hope I can find one white skirt, one day. Marni is a genious label for making graphic prints, the tote has the 'fresh and young' feeling! I've just found that scarf by the way, I'm liking the blue! The colour scheme of this outfit also puts 'smiley faces' on me! Yeah, you know.. women are created to be physiologically more attracted to colours and have the ability to see much more different colours than men. And the last but not the least are the nikes! I've been mixing some sets on my polyvore with this footwear. The shoes are completing a such comfortable look. That's why I post this set here :).

Menulis

2012-07-04T00:11:00.000+07:00

Ya, menulis bagiku merupakan suatu kebutuhan. Dimana.. kegiatan tersebut membantuku untuk membiarkan pikiran-pikiran dalam benak untuk terbang bebas ke atas medianya. Menulis bukan lagi suatu kegiatan yang membutuhkan alat tulis seperti pulpen maupun pensil untuk menari-nari di atas kertas lagi. Menulis pada era masa kini sudah menjadi eranya dimana jari-jari tangan menghentakkan dirinya di atas papan tombol jari pada mesin ketik maupun pada perangkat keras penting dalam komputer.

Pada pos ini, saya menulis dengan bahasaku, Bahasa Indonesia untuk pertama kalinya dengan lengkap. Mungkin akan aku mulai pos-pos lainnya dengan Bahasa Indonesia, insha Allāh. Alasanku selama ini menulis dalam Bahasa Inggris tidak lain untuk melatih kemampuan berbahasa inggrisku, dan juga agar apa yang aku tulis ini dapat dimengerti di belahan dunia lain. Bahasa Indonesia tetap saja merupakan bahasa yang tercinta untukku. Bahasa yang indah untuk dimengerti, bahasa yang indah untuk diukir menjadi satuan kata-kata. Bahasa yang pastinya aku mengerti hingga ke lubuk hati.

Dalam KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia), me-nu-lis merupakan kata dasar 'tulis' yang disisipkan kata imbuhan 'me'. Sehingga, kata tersebut menjadi kata kerja yang memiliki arti:

membuat huruf (angka dsb) dengan pena (pensil, kapur, dsb). Contoh: anak-anak sedang belajar ~; melukis baginya merupakan kesenangan yg dimulai sebelum ia belajar ~;
melahirkan pikiran atau perasaan (spt mengarang, membuat surat) dengan tulisan. Contoh: ~ roman (cerita), mengarang cerita; ~ surat membuat surat; berkirim surat;
menggambar; melukis. Contoh: ~ gambar pemandangan.
membatik (kain). Contoh: lebih mudah mencetak daripada ~ kain.

Menulis ternyata memiliki empat arti dalam KBBI. Meski sebenarnya masih ada banyak lagi arti yang bermacam-macam apabila kata dasar 'tulis' tersebut disisipkan oleh berbagai macam imbuhan. Menulis selalu menjadi kegiatan yang gemar aku lakukan. Sejak kecil, aku selalu senang berurusan dengan yang namanya kertas dan pensil. Entah apa yang aku tulis, sekedar lingkaran berkelanjutan yang aku buat untuk memenuhi kertas sudah membuat hatiku senang. Aku masih ingat ketika aku masih di TK (Taman Kanak-Kanak). Aku suka meminta ibuku untuk membelikanku buku bergaris. Dengan teman sebaya di sekitar rumahku; Deva dan Devi (sepasang anak kembar), kita senang membuat spiral seperti mie di atas buku bergaris kami. Kami namai kegiatan tersebut dengan nama "Urbi". Ya ampun.. begitu ajaib kelakuan-kelakuanku di masa kanak-kanak. Seiring dengan bertambahnya umur, aku pun mengkoleksi berbagai macam buku harian yang apabila dibaca kembali bisa terasa bagaikan pedang yang menancap ke jantungku. Memalukan, menyedihkan, bodoh, semuanya jadi campur aduk. Semuanya menjadi fakta-fakta yang membentuk aku hari ini. Mengkilas balik kehidupan bisa menjadi suatu kegiatan yang menyenangkan maupun memilukan. Namun, jangan lupa untuk mempelajari segala kejadian yang sudah kita lalui melalui tulisan-tulisan harian yang telah kita buat di masa lampau.

Apa yang saya lakukan kali ini tidak sekedar untuk bercerita hal-hal konyol. Entah bagaimana, kegiatan yang aku lakukan, yang sama halnya dengan arti dalam KBBI nomor dua ini bisa membuat saya tersenyum-senyum melihat layar komputer dengan mataku yang sudah sayu. Menulis bagaikan meminum sereguk asa untuk 'melihat', dan 'berkembang'. Sebuah kesenangan telah berbagi di atas media ini. Meski aku sadar betul bahwa 'grammar' maupun gaya bahasaku dalam berbahasa inggris itu masih jauh dari sempurna. Yaaaa.. gayaku menulis secara keseluruhan dalam bahasa apapun masih jauh dari sempurna. Tetapi itu tidak akan mematahkan semangatku untuk tetap menulis!

Ada beberapa situs di internet yang dapat melatih kemampuan menulis kita. Diantaranya yaitu:

Beberapa sumber inspirasi menulisku memang kekanak-kanakan. Seperti salah satunya juga buku yang aku miliki ini:

Buku panduan menulis untuk anak-anak yang menurutku sangat menarik. Pada masa sekolah dasar hingga menengah atas, saya tidak pernah mengalami tahapan-tahapan menulis yang begitu rinci seperti apa yang dipaparkan pada buku tersebut. Saya tidak pernah mendengar sebelumnya tentang Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing and Proofreading, dan akhirnya Memublikasikan hasil karya tulisan kita. Seingat saya ketika ada tugas menulis.. ya, tinggal menulis saja mulai dari memikirkan tema yang akan dibahas, lalu membuat kerangka tulisan, dan menulis cerita secara keseluruhan. Setelah diingat-ingat lagi, pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia di sekolah memang menyenangkan. Tidak hanya mempelajari bagaimana cara menulis, tetapi juga mempelajari 'kebahasaan' itu sendiri, yang begitu luas cakupannya. Meski sering dianggap remeh, pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia juga bisa menjadi pelajaran yang paling "menjebak" pada saat Ujian Nasional. Dan kini, saya mulai rindu duduk di kelas untuk mempelajari pelajaran-pelajaran sekolah karena apa yang saya dapatkan saat ini di perkuliahan memang sudah jauh berbeda.

Mata kuliah Bahasa Indonesia yang saya pelajari di kuliah adalah untuk mempelajari tata cara membuat karya ilmiah. Tentunya sesuatu yang lebih terstruktur akan lebih rumit juga proses pembuatannya. Selain itu, topik yang dibahas juga lebih serius. Ini juga menjadi sebuah tantangan bagi saya untuk mengasah kemampuan menulis karya ilmiah. Saya selama ini telah menulis untuk kegemaran semata sehingga, hal-hal yang ditulis pun pada dasarnya mencakup hal-hal yang menurutku menarik. Pokoknya sesuatu yang tidak seserius yang dibahas dalam karya ilmiah. Haaaahh.. begitu banyak hal yang masih harus dipelajari, meski semua ilmu Allāh tidak akan mampu untuk masuk ke dalam otak saya. Namun saya berharap apa yang kita semua pelajari di bumi-Nya ini, bisa memberikan manfaat bagi diri sendiri, dan tentunya untuk lingkungan sekitar kita ya, aamiin.

Berikut beberapa manfaat menulis yang saya ambil dari dua sumber:

5 Manfaat Menulis di Blog

Meningkatkan kemampuan menulis - Menulis di blog sebenarnya merupakan cara lain bagi kita untuk bercerita, dan untuk menulis cerita yang bagus sebenarnya membutuhkan kemampuan khusus dan bisa didapatkan asal terus latihan.
Menambah kemampuan berkomunikasi - Dengan menulis di blog, pengguna akan dapat meningkatkan kemampuan komunikasi sang pemilik blog. Dengan begitu, anda akan membuat tulisan yang dibuat semakin menarik.
Berbagi itu indah - Pasti akan muncul perasaan gembira ketika ada hal-hal menarik yang bisa diceritakan ke orang lain. Jadi apapun yang Anda alami, tuliskanlah di blog.
Membuat opini - Dengan menulis, akan ada kemungkinan untuk membuat opini publik. Berhati-hatilah saat melakukan hal tersebut. Jangan sampai ada pihak yang tersinggung.
Menabung informasi - Sama seperti membaca, menulis juga bermanfaat. Saat menulis, berarti anda sedang melatih daya ingat anda. Ketika lancar menuliskannya, anda berhasil mengingat sebuah informasi.

Manfaat Menulis

Untuk menghilangkan stress. Dengan menulis kita bisa mencurahkan perasaan sehingga tekanan batin yang kita rasakan berkurang sedikit demi sedikit sejalan dengan tulisan. Tulisan yang kita buat bisa tentang apa yang sedang kita rasakan ataupun menuliskan hal lain yang bisa mengalihkan kita dari rasa tertekan tersebut (stress). Dengan demikian, kesehatan fisik dan mental kita akan lebih terjaga. 
Alat untuk menyimpan memori. Karena kapasitas ingatan kita terbatas, maka dengan menuliskannya, kita bisa menyimpan memori lebih lama. Sehingga ketika kita membutuhkannya, kita akan mudah menemukannya kembali. Misalnya, menuliskan peristiwa-peristiwa berkesan di diari, menuliskan setiap pendapatan dan pengeluaran keuangan, menulis ilmu pengetahuan atau pelajaran, menuliskan ide/gagasan, menuliskan rencana-rencana, target-target dan komitmen-komitmen. 
Membantu memecahkan masalah. Ketika kita ingin memecahkan suatu permasalahan, maka kita bisa membuat daftar dengan menuliskan hal-hal apa saja yang menyebabkan masalah itu terjadi dan hal-hal apa saja yang bisa membantu untuk memecahkan masalah tersebut.   Cara seperti itu akan lebih memudahkan kita dalam melihat duduk permasalahan dengan tepat yang pada akhirnya bisa memberi pemecahan yang tepat pula dalam jangka waktu yang relatif lebih cepat.
Melatih berfikir tertib dan teratur. Ketika kita membuat tulisan khususnya tulisan ilmiah atau untuk dipublikasikan, maka kita dituntut untuk membuat tulisan yang sistematis sehingga pembaca bisa mengerti apa yang sebenarnya ingin kita sampaikan. 
Sumber penghasilan. Orang pasti selalu membutuhkan bacaan baik itu bacaan fiksi (cerpen, novel, puisi, dll.) maupun nonfiksi (berita, ilmu pengetahuan, dll.). Baik bertujuan untuk menambah ilmu pengetahuan atau hanya sekedar hiburan saja. Bagi orang yang pandai menulis, tentu saja menulis akan menjadi sumber penghasilannya.

Illona

2012-07-03T23:32:00.000+07:00

Assalamu'alaikum..

My family has just got an obituary last Monday. My eldest sister must passed through a miscarriage for her first daughter who had been borne for seven months. She was baby Illona Artanaya Kinandari. I know that every sad news will bring anyone into grief. But surely, the mischance happened only by the will of Allāh Swt. Allāh Swt surely will never let us 'down' as long as we're given life by Him in this world. His lessons are meant to make us be fully grown. It depends on us, on how we work on every situation we are in. The best movement either in good or bad situations is the movement that brings us closer towards Allāh Swt.

I saw her, my pretty niece.. masha Allāh. She looked like my sister a lot. I've heard that any baby who has given the 'spirit' by Allāh Swt, and they died while they were still pure, in shaa Allāh.. they will be put around Allāh Swt in the hereafter. May baby Illona be placed in heaven, ya Rabb.. Even though we haven't met in this dunya, hopefully we all, as one ummah be placed in the shade of Allāh Swt. Aamiin!

Every obituary of close family or relatives has always been successfully warn me that we will pass away too.

source

Oh Allāh.. this world is just a short phase for us to pass.. But why do I get attached so much to it? Astaghfirullāh, please Guide us with your Guidance, Guide us to Your Light, to the right way..

Now, my sister is bed-rested at the hospital. Ya Allāh, please Give us Your tranquility in our remembrances of You.. Please give the strength for my brother and sister; Ari Widodo and Citra Anzib after passed this test from You, may the hurt that they felt will shed their sins and make this test as a purifying to come back to You. And may baby Illona Artananya Kinandari.. :') be placed beside You, and may she will pick her parents up in the hereafter. Aamiin, please send your prayer or du'a too ^_^ Jazaakuma Allaahu khayran.

This is Awakening

2012-06-30T20:00:00.000+07:00

By: Yasmin Mogahed

It’s hard to describe the feeling. Imagine living your entire life in a cave and believing it was your whole world. Then suddenly you step outside. For the first time in your life, you see the sky. You see the trees and the birds and the sun. For the first time in your life, you realize that the world you once knew was false. For the first time, you discover a Truer, more beautiful Reality. Imagine the high of that realization. For a moment, you feel you can do anything. Suddenly, nothing from your previous life in the cave matters. You become empowered, fully awake, fully alive, fully aware for the very first time. It is an unexplainable feeling. This is the spiritual high that comes with newly discovered Truth.

This is Awakening.

A convert to Islam knows this feeling. A born Muslim who comes back to the deen knows this feeling. Any human being who lives their life away from God, and returns, knows this feeling. This state is what Ibn ul Qayyim (RA) calls ‘yaqatha’ (awakening) in his book ‘Madarij Al Salikeen’ (Stations on the Path to God). He describes this state as the first station on the path to Allah. This is the state sometimes referred to as the “convert zeal”. When a person first converts or starts coming back to Allah they are often full of motivation and energy that others do not have. The reason for this energy is the spiritual high, characteristic of this state.

Characteristics of the Station of Awakening

Allah makes worship easier:

While in this state, worship becomes much easier. A person is so driven and motivated that they may easily sacrifice everything for the sake of the new reality they have discovered. This zeal can take a person from 0 to 60 in no time. It’s like being on spiritual steroids. The strength you have is not from your own self, but from an aid that was given to you. In this case the aid is given by God. Some may advise not changing too much, too fast. I don’t think fast change is the problem. I think arrogance is. I think hopelessness is. If Allah gives you a gift whereby you are able to do more, use it. But thank Him—not yourself, for that ability. And know that the heightened state is temporary. You may go from 0 to 60 in a very short time due to it, but when the high passes, don’t lose hope and let yourself slip back to 0.

Temporary:

Like every state in this life, this state is temporary. Life is never linear. And neither is the path to God. Not realizing this can cause despair and hopelessness once it passes.

Pitfalls of This State

The 2 pitfalls associated with this state correspond to not understanding the characteristics of the state listed above. These pitfalls are also the 2 causes of stagnation on the path to God: arrogance/complacency and hopelessness. The arrogant person already feels they are good enough, so they stop striving. The hopeless person believes that they will never be good enough, so they stop striving. Two opposite maladies, leading to the same result: To stop moving on the path to God.

Arrogance: The first pitfall corresponds to not understanding that the increased ability to worship came from God and is a characteristic of the state—not the individual! The one who doesn’t understand this wrongfully attributes the heightened ability to worship to one’s own righteousness. This false attribution is very dangerous because it leads to arrogance and self-righteousness. Rather than realizing this heightened ‘religious state’ is a gift from God, the worshiper feels a sense of hidden pride and may look down on others who don’t share similar zeal.

Despair and Hopelessness: This pitfall corresponds to not understanding that like all states in life, the spiritual high is temporary. This does not mean you have failed or done something wrong! Most people know what it feels like after the Ramadan high has passed. The instability of the ‘high’ is a characteristic of life. And that lesson is one even Abu Bakr (RA) had to learn. One day Abu Bakr (RA) and Hanzala (RA) came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: ‘Hanzala is a hypocrite, Messenger of Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Why is that?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, when we are with you, you remind us of the Garden and Fire and it is as if we could see them with our eyes. When we leave your presence, we attend to our wives, children and estates in a state of great heedlessness.’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘By the One in whose hand my soul is, if you were to remain in the state you are in when you are in my presence and in the dhikr (remembrance), the angels would shake hands with you on your bed and in the street, but, Hanzala, different times are not the same.’ three times.” [Muslim]

After the Spiritual High Has Passed

The most important part of this journey is never giving up! Know that you don’t feel the same zeal, not because you have failed at something. The dip that follows the high is a natural part of the path! Just as the Prophet (pbuh) explained to Abu Bakr (RA), these ups and downs are part of the path. And had we always remained in the high, we wouldn’t be human. We’d be angels! The determining aspect for success is not so much what we do when we’re up. The question is what we do when were down—when we’re not feeling it. The key to succeeding on this path is that once you do reach your ‘low’, you keep going, knowing that it’s normal.

Shaytan’s Traps

Remember Shaytan will get at you in different ways depending you your state.

When You’re High:

When you’re high, he’ll try to get you by making you arrogant. He’ll try to get you by making you look down on others. He’ll try to get you eventually by being so pleased with yourself that you don’t think you need to keep striving because you are already so great (and better than others around you). He will consistently make you look at those who appear to do less than you to justify your own shortcomings. For example, if you don’t wear hijab, he’ll make you think, “There are hijabis that do x, y, z bad things! At least I don’t do those things! I do x, y, z good things that hijabis don’t do!” Or if you slacken in prayer, you may think, “At least I’m not clubbing or drinking like so and so.” Remember, Allah isn’t grading on a curve. It makes no difference what others are doing. We all stand alone on the Day of Judgment. And this is just a tool of Shaytan to make us stop striving.

When You’re Low:

But when you’re low, shaytan will try to get at you differently; he’ll try to get you by making you hopeless. He’ll try to make you believe that you’re worthless and that there’s no point in trying. He’ll try to make you believe you are a failure and no matter what you do, you’ll never get back to where you once were! Or he may try to make you believe that you’re too ‘bad’ for Allah to forgive you. As a result, you may let yourself fall further. You may have been up once, and then felt so bad about yourself because you started to slacken in your worship. And maybe because of your previous self-righteousness you didn’t give people permission to make mistakes or be weak. This ends up becoming self-destructive because it further translates to not giving yourself ‘permission’ to make mistakes and be weak.

Since you believe you don’t have permission to be human and fallible, when you do make a mistake, you are so hard on yourself that you lose hope. So you let yourself go. You may end up committing more sins, which only makes your hopelessness worse! And it becomes a self-perpetuating vicious cycle. Shaytan will also try to make you believe that you shouldn’t try to repent or pray because you’d be a hypocrite since you are such a ‘bad’ person. He wants you to despair in the mercy of Allah. That’s what he wants! These are all lies, of course. But he’s good at what he does, after all. When you have sinned, that’s when you need to turn to Allah even more—not less!

To protect yourself from this downward spiral, remember that the lows are part of the path. Remember that ‘futoor’ (the dip) is part of being human. Once you realize that this does not mean you failed or that you are a hypocrite (like Abu Bakr (RA) thought), you can keep from giving up once you get there. The key is to develop certain habits which become your ‘bare minimum’. That means no matter how you feel, how unmotivated, how low, you still do these things at the very least. You realize that when you’re at your low, it’s going to be harder, but you struggle to keep doing them. For example, the bare minimum is the 5 daily prayers at their appointed times. This should *never* be compromised no matter *how much* you’re ‘not feeling it’. They should be considered like breathing air. Imagine what would happen if every time you were exhausted or in a bad mood you decided not to breathe!

It is preferred to have other rituals that are part of the ‘bare minimum’. For example, stick to certain extra prayers and athkar or daily Quran—even if it’s little. Remember that Allah loves a small *consistent* action more than a huge inconsistent one. If you hold onto certain essentials during your ‘low’, you will ride the wave of iman and come back up, insha Allah. And, God willing, when you do go back up, you’ll be at a higher place than your last ‘high’.

Know that the path to Allah is not a flat one. Your iman (faith) will go up and down. Your ability to worship will go up and down. But, know that for every dip, there is also a rise. Just stay patient, stay consistent, don’t lose hope and seek help in Allah. The path is hard. The path will have bumps and drops. But, like all things in this life, this path will come to an end. And that end will make it all worth it!

Allah says:

‘Oh mankind, indeed you are ever toiling towards your lord, painfully toiling…But you shall meet Him’ (84:6)

source

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Masha Allāh.. another spiritual awakening article written by one of my favourite ustadzah; Yasmin Mogahed! I'm reposting this on my blog because it'd be easier for me to re-read and re-read again! Really, everything we do in this life will be truly accounted for. What she did all these times have helped me to be aware more, and surely waken me up too, Alhamdulillāh. Even though I never go to attend spiritual activities outside as for these periods.. The last time I got formal islamic education is when I was in high school (astaghfirullāh), I still can learn Islam through useful websites that the others ummah made, and surely islamic books too! Alhamdulillāh, I'm truly thankful for their knowledges that are shared through any media that I can touch. Hopefully their virtual da'wah will also bring good effects, benefits for the ummah worldwide, aamiin. But that doesn't mean I would't join Islamic activities outside.. I crave to do that, but my body isn't moved so much and I don't have any access to get in 'there', I'm such a homey (home + ey = homey) girl. Alright, I am so wrong to have complained.. This situation must not control me. Bismillāh, insha Allāh.

D.I.Y Trip

2012-06-29T21:00:00.000+07:00

D.I.Y. doesn't stand for 'Do it Yourself', but it stands for 'Daerah Istimewa Yogjakrta', one of the special and amazing town in Indonesia!

Alhamdulillāh, this morning I've arrived from Jogjakarta after having a wonderful short trip with mom. I spent about three days there but in those period, I've visited and ate the central place to eat Jogja's special food; gudeg around Street Wijilan, visited Borobudur Temple, Affandi's Museum, Parangtritis Beach, Kota Gede, dinner at Soto Kadipiro (they serve super delicious soto, masha Allāh!), used the transportation 'Trans Jogja' (the latest improvement of shuttle bus in Jogja), went to Universitas Gajah Mada, Plaza Ambarrukmo, Kraton, Taman Sari, and surely walked around Malioboro! Malioboro is a must visited tourist attraction to get souvenirs and some goodies.. Malioboro area has always been living up with a bunch of people with various activities!

Since it's going to be a long post for the trip I had to be placed in just one post, I'm going to write them later insha Allāh. But now, I'm going to share what I got from Jogjakarta. I had some interesting buys!

I'm sorting these out randomly but I'll start it from top left to bottom right:

Red batik trousers
Javanese people on white shirt
Onthel shirt
Patchwork maxi skirt
Batik slippers
Butterfly necklace
Javanese language dictionary
Pink, blue, and green bubbly bangles
Five flower rings in one set, here's the closer look:

And the rest are some tickets to get into particular areas, brochure and a pencil gift from Museum Affandi. I've always liked to collect stuffs for my keepsakes. Currently, I like wearing simple white shirts a lot, especially with some unique designs on it. Jogja is absolutely a fine place to get nice unique shirts. The creativity of Jogja people is well known in Indonesia and worldwide too.

Here, I'm posing with my new wall sticker for my bedroom decoration. I was crazily excited when I found it at Plaza Ambarrukmo, Jogjakarta. I'm such a "happy bird-girl", thanks Mama! I also tried on my so called "Jogja Style":

Fashion Formula:

Onthel! - Djogdja - Have fun with my bike rolled-up sleeves shirt from Malioboro + Zara white long sleeved shirt + Patchwork maxi skirt from Mirota + Batik slippers from Mirota

Alhamdulillāh, to travel has given me a good effect for the soul. I'm really glad to have gone to Jogjakarta. Even though it's not my first time going there but, in my age now, I am more eager to learn various cultures and more conscious to learn various aspect of the characteristics from different places. When I was younger I wasn't aware as much as I am right now. It's really interesting to learn alongside with tasting the 'experience' itself at the same time.

The Benefits in Travelling
تغرب عن الأوطان في طلب العلى *** وسافر ففي الأسفار خمس فوائد
Leave your country in search of loftiness
And travel! For in travel there are 5 benefits,
تفرج هم واكتساب معيشة *** وعلم وآداب وصحبة ماجد
Relief of adversity and earning of livelihood
And knowledge and etiquettes and noble companionship
فإن قيل في الأسفار ذل ومحنة *** وقطع الفيافي وارتكاب الشدائد
If it is said that travelling brings humiliation and difficulty
And long journeys across deserts and toil and trouble,
فموت الفتى خير له من قيامه *** بدار هوان بين واش وحاسد
Then death is better for a person than him remaining
In a humiliating land between traitors and enviers
المرء إن كان عاقلا ورعا *** أشغله عن عيوب غيره ورعه
If a person is intelligent and pious
His piety occupies him from the sins of others
كما العليل السقيم أشغله *** عن وجع الناس كلهم وجعه
Just like the ill one is kept preoccupied
From the sickness of others by his own sickness

---

“Orang berilmu dan beradab tidak akan diam di kampung halaman. Tinggalkan negerimu dan merantaulah ke negeri orang. Merantaulah, kau akan dapatkan pengganti dari kerabat dan kawan. Berlelah-lelahlah, manisnya hidup terasa setelah lelah berjuang. Aku melihat air menjadi rusak karena diam tertahan. Jika mengalir menjadi jernih, jika tidak, kan keruh menggenang. Singa jika tak tinggalkan sarang tak akan dapat mangsa. Anak panah jika tidak tinggalkan busur tak akan kena sasaran. Jika matahari di orbitnya tidak bergerak dan terus diam. Tentu manusia bosan padanya dan enggan memandang. Bijih emas bagaikan tanah biasa sebelum digali dari tambang. Kayu gaharu tak ubahnya seperti kayu biasa jika didalam hutan”

(Imam Syafi'i)

Imam Syafi'i's quotation has put me on a sense of excitement. Maybe right now I've just been travelling for the 'fun' and to increase knowledge too. Hopefully one day I can go travel for something that 'I'm working on', something like for the good of humanity. Aamiin.

Modern Mary Blouse

2012-06-19T19:55:00.001+07:00

Assalamu'alaikum! ☺

The first time I was registered to Hijab Fashion Week, Sister Wafa told me this exciting news that I was offered to review a piece from Modern Mary. I am definitely happy to accept that offer. About last week, I received a package of black "Pintuck Ruffle Collar" blouse (below). Alhamdulillāh, Jazaakuma Allaahu khayran.. Sisters Wafa and Seema!

So, this blouse came out in black and white. I've never had this type of blouse which has this ruffle details that add elegance and feminine side for the whole look. I like how its length covers our backside, the size isn't tight but it fits perfectly for me.

I've just figured out this fashion line throughout Hijab Fashion Week event, and I personally think that Sister Seema's creations are truly one of to dig in. The concept of this line is to harmonize modesty and fashion. Modern Mary's style aesthetic is universally designed for every women who likes to dress down comfortably yet still looking beautifully in not tight-fitting, and not overt clothing.

I think this blouse is versatile because I can apply it on my formal and my casual look. The cotton stretch fabric is easy to breathe, and comfortable to wear. It's not stiff as it might looked! So here are the looks I mixed up with the black Pintuck Ruffle Collar blouse:

CASUAL LOOK

Fashion Formula:

Modern Mary pintuck ruffle collar blouse + Mango acid washed jeans + Prada nylon tote + Montego Bay Club wedges from Payless + Sox Gallery ankle socks + Green pashmina + Broken white necklace

FORMAL LOOK

Fashion Formula:

Modern Mary pintuck ruffle collar blouse + Thrifted polkadots skirt + Calvin Klein clutch bag + Aerosoles wedges from + Sox Gallery candy socks + Maysaa cream chiffon scarf snood + Mom's necklace

What I adore the most from this blouse is its high collar!

Reincarnated

2012-06-18T17:19:00.001+07:00

source

Firstly, I found this picture on my tumblr dashboard. And I was instantly enamored with the portrait of that women. I usually saved my favourite pictures if I really really liked them. And this painting is definitely one of them. I like to make those pictures as desktop background or walpaper on my phone or iPod. And then, when I decided to put this on my blackberry messenger display picture, I slowly start to think that I looked like her (you wish, Mil.. LOL). Except her blue eyes, of course. Yeah, I felt like the mole under her left eye is just like mine (I don't know whether she had mole on her right cheek too), those black eyebrows also remind me of mine (though mine aren't as neat as hers), my cheekbones are also prominent like hers, and I'm open mouthed also. I'm such an open mouthed girl even when I'm quiet. I have an overbite upper teeth that makes me so. My mom always tells me to keep my mouth closed or sealed! She would be like: "Mila! close your mouth! (Mingkem! heeeem)" I just didn't do it purposely. I need extra effort to make my mouth sealed. Haha. And my elder sister also happen to tell me that the women on that painting looked like me! Weird. I've heard something like this: "we have three twins in this world, who have some similarities with our face". I think I believe that. I've seen some people look pretty the same like others, and so on. Whether our twins would be three or more, it's still remaining as God's mystery.. Wallahu a’lam :). So, could she be one of my twins? I just personally think so.

I've just realized that this painting is one of Gustav Klimt's artwork. Gosh! his name could be seen on that painting. I have been crushing on his artworks all this time. The first time I saw his artwork is on Harper's Bazaar way back when issue (I was in senior high school at that time). The name of the painting is "Adele Blochbauer I” (below). They have this amazing spread with Julien Ann Moore on portraying the ladies of the paintings! Such a great concept. You can check out more images of the spread here. I like the painting style of Gustav's Klimt except for some of his artworks that show nudity, I don't fancy nudity.

Here, I make the hijabbed version of the women. I feel like making a shot that portray this painting. Haha.

Talking about paintings, I slowly to have some interests on them after watching a tv show on BBC Knowledge named "Fake or Fortune". It discussed about lost or rare paintings. It's a ding-dong journey to find out the mysteries of those paintings, and how much a painting could cost! Amazing. I don't pretty much know all about the painting business, but I think it's really interesting. I enjoy when some painting experts explain the motions and emotions over a painting. It's just like, 'a picture paints a thousand words'.

I wanted to visit a monographic exhibition at Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta. Too bad! I missed the opportunity to come to the solo exhibition of Raden Saleh's paintings. Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman (1807 or 1811 - April 23, 1880) is one of the best known painters from Indonesia and a pioneer of modern Indonesian art. He was considered to be the first modern artist from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), and his paintings corresponded with nineteenth-century romanticism which was popular in Europe at the time. He also expressed his cultural roots and inventiveness in his work. (source)

Energizing Sunday

2012-06-17T21:00:00.000+07:00

It feels really good to be back! Alhamdulillāh :)

Photos from left to right:

It's Jalan Dipenogoro or Dipenogoro street on Sunday Morning, 17th June 2012. There's a Sunday Market every Sunday (of course :P) around that area, nearby Lapangan Gasibu or Gasibu Field. The merchants don't just trade inside the Gasibu Field, but they also use the roads! You can imagine how it creates jasm every Sunday.. You can find that they sell from underwear, fishes, to vehicles at one place! Creatively Bandung people~ And I've just figured out that people are starting to open their booths on Jalan Dipenogoro. The local government or the police itself might be unable to close this 'every Sunday' market. Maybe it's because of the enthusiasts of this market.
Haikal and Mom with the police's car behind.
Taman Lansia or Elderly Park. It's really nice to have this park in the town but sadly, the citizens are still lack to maintain the cleanness and the beauty of this park.
Police's patrolling motorcycle
Haikal said that I was cruel to take his pictures! Haha~ OHMY. Look at that annoyed face >,< I'm sorry brother, but you're my particular photo object *wink*
Me and Mom at Yoghurt Cisangkuy! photo taken by my brother.
Mommy walked in Taman Lansia.
Angkot Pink!!! It's one of the public transportation in my town. Angkot is the acronym from "Angkutan Kota" which means "City Transportation". The pinky one is somewhat is an hot issue currently for me because it has the same colour with my scarf which I wore on this post! The car on that picture isn't slightly the same with my scarf actually, but there are some which coloured slightly the same. LOL! So then, I was curious what is the name of the track of that angkot. It's routed from GD Bage - SP Dago to Caheum. Ok, this is truly random. But there's a long story why do I really care about this angkot. Hehe >,<

The firsts two photos were captured by my lil bro! thank you Haikal! \^o^/

Fashion Formula:

Hijab Chic dress + Ayoka Hijab scarf + Necklace from Payless + Bag from Aceh + Black socks + Nike maroon sneakers