WW: Street Inspiration

NYC and all its perks..

I found these quotations on the street inspiring.

What do you think?

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun blog hopping!

Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls

How's you week so far?

Fall is slipping away and winter is waiting in the corner.

Surprisingly, we have very pleasant week with friendly weather and lots of fantastic activities, including watching Cirque du Soleil Kurios: Cabinet of Curiousities.

Circus timee..

It was indeed a great show that Bo, Obi and I enjoyed it pretty much!

Do you love circus as well?

Last weekend, we also visited Van Courtland Manor to see the great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. I shared it this week and it was another lovely annual event that we love to see here in NY.

For sure the joy and festivities are in the air!

And it's also party timeeee...

“Welcome to Oh My Heartsie Girls “Wonderful” Wednesday’s »

This is our 45th Linky Party in 2016 and it our purpose to share with you some great blogs that linked up with us from last week's party. And this week we have so great fall ideas and recipes and Halloween ideas and we hope you will enjoy! Then for you to join us and share what you have going on your blogs.

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We Hope While You Party With Us, You will follow our Hostesses!

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze-My Purple World (Pin To Share)

♥ Indah Nuria Savitri | The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze-My Purple World | Tw | Fb | Pin | In

Santa Star Ornament (Pin To Share)

♥ Donna Wirthlin | Two Chicks and a Mom/Santa Start Oranament |Tw | Bl | Fb | Pin | In

Wallpaper Your Home (Pin To Share)

♥ Evija Roberts | Wallpaper Your Home/ From Evija With Love | Tw | Bl | G+ | Fb | Pin | In

Luxury Bed Ideas: Sweet Dreams Are Made of These

♥ Karren | Luxury Bed Ideas: Sweet Dreams Are Made of These / Oh My Heartsie Girl Tw | BL | G+ | FB | Pin | In

We Would Love It If You Would Pin Your Favorite - Opens In A New Window

Feature Chosen by Indah// My Purple Passion Fairy Bread//Miabella Passion Fairy bread is white bread that has been buttered and sprinkled with 'Hundreds and Thousands' then cut into triangles to serve. (Pin To Share)

Feature Chosen by Evija // From Evija With Love Rustic-Bench-Modern-Bench-Hairpin-Leg-Bench-Tutorial-Bigger Than The Three of Us A rustic modern DIY Wood Bench with Hairpin Legs-And you will find the complete tutorial plus more photos. (Pin To Share)

Feature Pick by Donna // Two Chicks and a Mom Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Cristo // My Life Cookbook This Thanksgiving leftover turkey cristo is a most delicious way to eat your leftover turkey and cranberry sauce. The special sauce makes it! (Pin To Share)

 

Feature Pick by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl Blackberry-Apple-Pie// Wife In Progress This Blackberry & Apple pie is absolutely delicious, has amazing fall flavors and is a fun twist on the usual pies we see at this time of the year. (Pin To Share)

 

Feature Pick by Karren Homemade Fudge Brownies Recipe// Lolly Jane A delicious classic dessert, full of simple ingredients you can whip up in minutes! My oohy-gooey Homemade Fudge Brownie with Pecan Crumble is to die for delicious. Check it out! (Pin To Share)  

Feature Pick by Karren 12-Toilet-Paper-Roll-Thanksgiving-Crafts //Crystal-and-Company Crystal loves the idea of creating toilet paper roll Thanksgiving crafts!

(Pin To Share)
 

But Now.....Open for a Week you are welcome to share all posts, YES, Linky Parties and Giveaways. Comments Are Appreciated after Linking Up!!

Let us know that you are following us so we can do the same! You Are Welcome To Link your DIY Projects, Tablescapes, Garden Ideas, Recipes, Reviews, Giveaways or Challenges, As many as you like. Tweet Our Party To Help Us Grow! And Thank you!

If you missed our party last week you can check it out Here 11/8/2016

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But Now.....Let's Party!!….

PARTY LINKY

An InLinkz Link-up

#WeTalkAboutCancer: Apa Itu Mastektomi?

Hi thereeee..

Kami kembali dengan #WeTalkAboutCancer, kolaborasi saya dengan Yervi Hesna, sesama penyintas kanker payudara dan blogger juga.

Untuk obrolan kami kali ini, ada MASTEKTOMI yang akan dibahas.

Yervi juga posting mengenai hal yang sama di sini: Jangan Takut Melakukan Mastektomi

Apa Itu Mastektomi?

Buat teman-teman yang tidak familiar dengan kanker payudara atau belum pernah mendengar mengenai berbagai prosedur pengobatan yang harus dilalui para penderita kanker payudara, mastektomi mungkin terdengar asing. Atau mungkin pernah mendengar cerita istilah Angelina Joli dan double mastectomy  yang ia jalani?

Well, syukur Alhamdulillaaaah jika tidak harus bersinggungan dengan mastektomi :).

Kalau boleh pilih ,saya pun tidak mau berurusan dengan mastektomi.

Tapi, again, sometimes, kita dihadapkan pada situasi di mana kita harus berjuang melawan kanker payudara dan mastektomi adalah salah satu pilihan yang ada.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014, I have choices to consider. Choices whether I would go through series of procedures or else. I was diagnosed with invasive moderately differentiated duct carcinoma with focal micropapillary features. 

As my oncologist said, they found three lumps on my right breast. In this case,  surgery is one of the most common treatments for breast cancer. Some might choose to have chemotheraphy first, then wait until the cancer cells are gone or diminish, so that they don't have undergo surgery. But ini many cases, oncologists suggest the surgery, either removing part of or the whole breast tissues, to take out all the cancer cells. 

Mastektomi adalah tindakan operasi yang mengangkat seluruh bagian/jaringan payudara yang terkena kanker.  Untuk saya yang telah ketahuan memiliki dua sel kanker  dan satu pre-cancer cell yand sudah siap berubah menjadi sel kanker di payudara kanan dan posisinya tersebar, maka mastektomi menjadi pilihan yang paling pas untuk saya. 

Selain mastektomi, ada pula metode lumpectomy , di mana operasi yang dilakukan hanya mengangkat sebatas jaringan/bagian payudara yang terdeteksi dengan sel kanker dan area sekitarnya. Jadi hanya sebagian kecil dan bagian lain payudara yang tidak terkena dapat tetap dipertahankan. 

Karena saya memiliki 3 spot kanker yang menyebar di payudara kanan, mastektomi menjadi pilihan yang saya pertimbangkan dengan serius. I have a long discussion with my oncologist about this. For me, mastectomy is the choice. Although my breast cancer is detected quite early, I have 3 spots with 2 cancer cells and 1 pre-cancer cell on my right breast.

Mungkin bagi banyak penderita kanker payudara, keputusan ini adalah keputusan yang berat. Karena payudara merupakan salah satu bagian penting yang menjadi identitas kita sebagai perempuan. Melakukan mastektomi berarti kita membuang bagian penting dari identitas diri. Selain dampak fisik yang langsung terlihat, ada dampak psikologis yang besar karena bukan tidak mungkin kehilangan payudara membuat kita merasa kurang, tidak lengkap, dan karenanya tidak percaya diri. 

Tapi saya berfikir, kalau payudara ini hanya menjadi sarang kanker, buat apa dipertahankan? 

Kalau payudara ini hanya membuat saya kehilangan kesempatan berharga untuk hidup lebih lama dan lebih sehat, buat apa saya sayang-sayang?

Kehilangan payudara tidak membuat saya berkurang kadar keperempuanannya.  
Tanpa payudara tidak membuat saya kehilangan percaya diri.

Apalagi suami juga mendukung keputusan saya untuk melakukan mastektomi dan percaya bahwa pilihan saya untuk membuang jaringan kanker yang ada di tubuh saya adalah keputusan terbaik.

Dan 3 hari setelah ulang tahun saya yang ke-37, saya menjalani operasi mastektomi.

Apa yang harus dilakukan sebelum mastektomi? 

Saya pernah share juga di sini: And I will continue my fight against breast cancer

Sebelum operasi mastektomi, ada beberapa tahapan pemeriksaan harus saya lalui, termasuk antara lain CT-scan dan MRi yang membantu mengecek apakah ada penyebaran sel kanker ke bagian tubuh lainnya. Bahkan, in my case, saya sempat menjalani MRi-guided biopsy untuk payudara kiri karena dicurigai ada sel kanker juga.  Karena payudara kanan saya positif terkena kanker, saat hasil MRi sebelum operasi menunjukkan spot yang mencurigakan di payudara kiri, pihak dokter menyarankan untuk memastikan status payudara kiri saya. Bukan hanya status di Facebook aja yang perlu dipastikan :). Singkat cerita, persiapan selesai dan alhamdullillah operasi berjalan lancar.

Selesai operasi mastektomi, bagaimana rasanya?
Saya pernah share di sini: After the Mastectomy...What's Next?
Pastinya nano-nano :).
Sakit, nyeri dan tidak nyaman, namun di satu sisi saya merasa lega dan yakin bahwa keputusan yang saya buat tidak salah. Meskipun mastektomi adalah langkah awal dalam pengobatan saya, I am pretty sure I am at the right path to recovery.

Tapi yang pasti, satu pelajaran penting yang saya dapat dari proses ini adalah jangan pernah takut kehilangan. Letting go does not mean you lose. Bukan tidak mungkin apa yang hilang akan digantikan dengan yang jauh lebih baik. Dan jangan pernah lupa untuk selalu berbaik sangka pada-Nya, karena hanya skenario terbaik yang diberikan oleh-Nya :).

Stay tuned di postingan #WeTalkAboutCancer berikutnya ya.

Stay blessed and stay healthy, people!

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

Fall is somehow identical with pumpkins. And Halloween as well as Jack O'Lantern.

I guess many of us were having a blast last Halloween, including carving this famous orange icon.

Speaking of Jack O'Lantern,  have you seen the Great Jack O'Lantern blaze? 

Yes, the blaze.

When you have around 7000 (indeed..seven thousands) Jack O'Lantern beautifully lit in a historical manor.

And it's in Tarry Town, where we have the famously haunted cemetery, Sleepy Hollow.

We've heard about it since the first time we arrived here in NYC, but we finally get a chance to do it this Fall. I have been eyeing the ticket since September but apparently I was too late to get it for October. This event is so popular that we only manage to get the slots we want on the third week of November.

our ticket

The show is held in Van Cortland Manor, one of the historical spots along the Hudson Valley. Historic Hudson Valley is the NGO hosting the event and they surely make sure that this annual event become a memorable one.

The ticket is $25 per adult and $20 per kids (3-17 year old) during weekend, and $20 per adult and $16 per kids (3-17 year old) during weekdays.

We arrived at 7.35 PM, 5 minutes late from our designated time but it was okay. We got the parking spot and couldn't wait to see all those beautifully hand-crafted pumpkins. As the website said, there are around 7000 pumpkins are being displayed.

As we strolled around the main street called Pumpkin Promenade, we were awed by the ambience of the manor.  Bo et Obi just couldn't help shouting in excitement while looking at all those pumpkins. Some are scary, some are funny..they even have the Obama face carved on it!

We walked through the path and stopped at the Pumpkin Zee Bridge. Amazingly, we also saw a giant Sea Serpent there..all made of pumpkins!

But the most beautiful in is the  Pumpkin Planetarium.
It's soooo beautiful. Colors are changing while we walked under the stars.
Pumpkin stars!

As we continued our walk, we saw more incredible statues and figures made of pumpkins, including several type of dinosaurs from Jurrasic Park, giant spider webs, pumpkin stamps, 

and grandfather clock in on of the corners. I also love to see the elaborate Celtic knot carvings which are very detailed.

We finished the trip by taking more pictures with pumpkins and bought some souvenirs.

For sure, it's a great show and if you happen to be in NYC or the surrounding around Halloween time, this will be a great event that you and your family will enjoy.

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Van Cortland Manor
525 South Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

Fields of Gold

I have to admit, I have tons of photos I love so much from our trip to Yosemite National Park

More snaps from the sunny day at Yosemite National Park...

All photos were taken by my hubby +Rudi Frakarsa  @frakarsa (Instagram) and I using Canon 5D Mark II with Canon lens 16 - 35mm

Join us on Skywatch Friday 

and enjoy magnificent sky from many corners of the world