And It's A Wrap!

And it's a wrap!

We are officially counting down to 2018.
Let me start by wishing every single one of you A BLESSED 2018!

2017 has been a wonderful year for me and my family.
Well, every year has its ups and downs and there will always, always 'the first time' for anything in one particular year! 

In terms of family affairs, work, traveling and more, I have been abundantly blessed.
Kids are happily enjoying and exploring the world, doing extremely well at school.
My hubby and I excitedly embarked on new excitement with our home project in Jakarta.
I have got promotion and extended assignment in New York City as well.
Plus I got a chance to visit 6 new countries, 15 new cities across the globe.
As for my health, I have a steady progress and continue working on addressing the side effects of my medications.

And of course, there are moments when families are united, be it by good cause or a rather sad  circumstance. By the time I wrote this, my father-in-law is still struggling with stroke and kidney failure in Lampung, our hometown. My hubby flew back 2 days ago and is now with his beloved family. Please keep us in your prayers and hope for the best for all of us. This is also the year when I deal with more consequences from the series of treatments and medicine I have to take to destroy my cancer cells. Moreover, as the world is witnessing some horrible phases of conflicts, tragedies and disasters, my works have been tougher this year in terms of the volume and intensity, feeding my stress level to an unhealthy rate.

Tahun 2017 memang luar biasa gado-gado buatku.
Dari awal sudah penuh drama yang lumayan menguras energi, dan sampai menjelang tutup tahun pun banyak kejadian yang memerlukan perhatian dan konsentrasi penuh (duh, berasa ujian aja deh :)). 
Mulai dari pekerjaan yang makin 'nggilani' dan bikin stress, perkembangan anak-anak yang perlu selalu diperhatikan, kondisi kesehatan dan hasil lab yang turun naik, sampai dua kali ditinggal Udi sementara ke Indonesia karena urusan keluarga yang sangat penting
Tapi di balik itu semua, ada begitu banyak nikmat-Nya yang tentu saja tidak akan pernah kudustakan.
Nikmat sehat, rezeki, waktu, jalan-jalan, kumpul dengan mama dan keluarga tercinta, prestasi anak-anak di sekolah yang luar biasa baik, nonton konser keren dan Broadway asyik, lari 5 K (ngga nambah-nambah huahaha) sampai kesempatan mencoba hal-hal baru, traveling dan menjelajahi muka bumi bagian lain, dan bisa lancar terus ngeblog!

But all in all, 2017 has presented a lot of wonderful opportunities for my family.
Keeping our hopes up for better, more blessed 2018!

My family and I, particularly my kids, are enjoying our time here in the Big Apple and as we are preparing our new adventure in the middle of 2018, we have determined to see and experience more of this beautiful city and country!

As for the blogging world, I have been enjoying it so much and am quite consistently share some episodes of my Purple World :). I guess I have written quote some posts, 239 posts to be exact :). However, I haven't really checked other statistics (my skill with Google Analytics clearly needs some improvement >_<). 

I have received many sponsored posts, guest posts and free items as well, thanks to My Purple World, my blog. And I am super happy. I know many bloggers out there make more money or received more free things than me but I'm happy with what I have now, as I take those posts whenever I want, like the way I want it, and being appreciated for that.  I sincerely hope I will have the same,- if not higher, spirit to continue writing and sharing what I love.

Untuk urusan blogging, bahagia bisa terus sharing di blog tercintaku ini. 
Walaupun rasanya aku belum naik kelas, hahaha.
So far masih menikmati jadi blogger biasa-biasa saja, atau kalau orang bilang 'blogger 'receh' :).
Alhamdulillahnya, aku bisa konsisten juga ngeblog. Menulis dan berbagi banyak hal, yang semoga bermanfaat untuk banyak orang. Cita-citaku menduniakan INDONESIA masih terus terpatri, walaupun masih banyak lagi sebenarnya yang bisa aku tulis dan bagi di blog ini.
Ada banyak tawaran sponsor yang lumayan, walaupun aku  ngga selalu ambil karena banyak juga yang kayaknya ngga sesuai dengan usaha kita, if you know what I mean hehe. Yang pasti, aku seneng karena banyak tawaran post dan juga guest post yang berbasis di AS dan beberapa posts traveling internasional. Walaupun masih 3 digit USD, tapi not bad for blogger ala ala macam aku yang posting aja masih terserah gue dan kemampuan SEO yang super duper di bawah standar hehe. Semoga tahun depan makin asyik ngeblognya. It's not all about the money, but that great feeling you have when you have just done and shared something you love! Amen to that!

So, here are a few highlights, in pictures, from our 2017!
When I say a few, it was indeed only a few as I have so many valuable memories and beautiful moments in 2017. Too many to be put in one blog post.
Wanna check it out?  
Here we go...

JANUARY

We welcomed 2017 with a big bang at Times Square :)
At least once in a life time, watching that world-famous Ball Drop marking the dawn of the new year!

Walaupun saat itu cuaca dingin (dan kalah jauh dinginnya dengan tahun baru 2018 yang menjadi tahun baru terdingin di NYC sejak 100 tahun belakangan ini ), tapi senang rasanya bisa kumpul dengan keluarga dan teman-teman di salah satu hot spot on earth!
Dan Times Square memang ngga ada matinye!


did you see that Ball Drop in the back :))


FEBRUARY

I was once again witnessing Indonesian designer showcasing her intricate designs in New York Fashion Week. Although things have been completely change for Anniesa Hasibuan now due to business fraud case she was facing afterwards, but it was a great moment for Indonesia.


Drama, Anniesa Hasibuan, NYFW 2017


MARCH

Work - related traveling took me to the fabulous region of Luzern, Switzerland. 
I haven't got a chance to visit this beautiful place while we were living in Geneve so I was super happy! And of course, Luzern is drop dead beautiful!



A great intermezzo I need indeed!



APRIL

Spring break has been wonderful in 2017, as we have our annual roadtrip. 
The Frakarsas were back on the road!
I have to admit it's one of the most exciting time of the year in our family!


The Horse Shoe Fall, Niagara, Canada

This time we went to Canada and the Niagara Falls, for both sides!





So we started our trip from NYC to Quebec first, then Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, then Niagara Falls, the Canadian side as well as the US side.



We had a chance to see Bon Jovi concert in Toronto, too!


Helloooo, Bon Jovi :)

MAY

Caribbeans, here I come!
First time setting #myitchyfeet to this beautiful region, enjoying St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Barbados. Another 'first time' experience I love so much.
So blessed!




JUNE

It’s Lebaran month! The victory day of us Moslems after a month of fasting and contemplation. Blessed to share this beautiful moment with our dearest family and friends!





JULY

And my mom came to NYC! Together with my auntie.
How fun!
Surely we had wonderful time filled with home-made comfort food, good old jokes and laughters, and endless traveling! The house was messy but merry and joyful.
Families are indeed the source of our happiness, right. Well, one of them :),



We went to Washington D.C together while they went to Canada, Niagara Falls and exploring NYC for sure :).



AUGUST

I'm hitting the big 40!
Congratulations, Indah...may you be wiser and abundant in love, joy, and happiness!
And unsurprisingly, I feel young and energetic!
That's the magic of 40 :).



wish me luck...

SEPTEMBER

The crazy month in terms of work! High Level Week of UN General Assembly is here! 



As always, dignitaries were coming, including our Vice President.




So many important events during that week..



But at the same time, my dearest Nadine was chosen as the student of the month as well. Proud mama :).


OCTOBER

My 4th Making Strides against Breast Cancer!
Every October!




I am a proud survivor of breast cancer and this is the least I can do to help one another frighting breast cancer as well!

At the same month, it was more concert for me and I was lucky I got to see the amazing concert of Katy Perry in October! She's incredible!


Our wonderful Katy..



NOVEMBER

I joined another UN Run and finished my 5K in 50 minutes :).
Okay...better than 2016, my first 5 K ever, as I hope I can even improve it. I still can't run for the complete 5 K but at least I tried! And it felt good!




I also volunteered, for the first time, for New York Marathon!
Yuuup..that famous New York Marathon.
Incredible experience and fun.


My best friend that night..megaphone :))

My volunteer pin :)



DECEMBER

I added 2 beautiful countries in the Caribbean that I have visited so far. 
Two wonderful places that have been added to my 'visited  countries' list :).
Again, so blessed!


English Harbour seen from Shirley Heights, Antigua and Barbuda

This time, I have Saint Lucia as well as Antigua and Barbuda. 

Gorgeous indeed!

Marigot Bay, St. Lucia

And as always, wee are celebrating 4 special days in December as well!
My kids and hubby's birthday, and our 13th wedding anniversary!
Alhamdulillahirrabil aalamiin.





But we have received a sad news from home and my hubby is flying back to Lampung, Indonesia to be with his family. Again, we are sending tons of love and prayers for Datuk Lukman, my father-in-law, and hopefully he will get well soon.


So, that's 207 in a nut shell. So many great things happening, so many great lessons I learned in 2017. Wishing a more peaceful and prosperous world in 208!

Aku punya banyak harapan untuk tahun 2018.
Semoga tahun yang baru bisa menjadi tahun yang lebih baik lagi buatku dan keluargaku tersayang. Penuh kebaikan dan rahmat-Nya, kedamaian, ketenangan, kesehatan, kemakmuran, kesuksesan, dan juga kebahagiaan. Selalu diberikan kekuatan dan kemudahan oleh-Nya untuk menjalani hidup dan segala tantangannya.
Ngga perlu resolusi spesifik kan ya... yang penting niat untuk menjadi lebih baik dan lebih baik lagi benar-benar kita jalani!
Bismillahirrahmanirahim...semangaaat!


So, I am now ready for 2018.
Are you?




13 years and counting



13 years ago :)

This is a super, duper late post!
Considering that we were celebrating 2 important dates of the year in the life of our family.


My hubby's birthday and our 13th wedding anniversary!

And the 'almost-the-end- of-the-year-fiasco' always takes its toll on me.
I finished writing it at the last working day of 2017, after our internal meeting at the office.

Rasanya setiap akhir tahun , kita selalu disibukkan dengan banyak hal, ini dan itu.
Di saat - saat terakhir.
Yang membuat kita melewatkan banyak hal, sengaja atau pun tidak sengaja.
Tidak terkecuali aku .

Kadang karena kesibukan pekerjaan, ada aja satu dua hal yang terlupa. 
Mulai dari lupa bayar tagihan kartu kredit (penting banget ini), tergopoh-gopoh ke dokter walaupun jadwal appointment sudah lewat, sampai sale barang inceran di online shop andelan yang terlewat or expired diskon ekstranya karena lupa. Pernah juga lupa jemput Obi yang ternyata pulang lebih cepat karena mau bagi raport. Parah abis ya #tutupmuka

Tapi aku ngga pernah lupa dengan ulang tahun orang-orang tercintaku.
My kids, my hubby, my family.
And I usually have something special or different prepared!
Aslinya kan aku memang hobi arts & crafts dan bikin yang unik-unik gitu, termasuk kalau ada acara istimewa.
Sampai akhirnya aku kecapaian sendiri dan stress! 
Dan setelah berulang kali yakinin diri sendiri kalau nothing's wrong with being realistic dan realitanya aku memang sudah kewalahan dengan banyak hal karena pekerjaan dan tanggung jawab yang makin banyak, aku pun sudah tidak memaksakan diri.
Except for birthdays of my loved ones!

Dan aku punya cita-cita sederhana untuk menghabiskan waktu berdua aja dengan Udi.
Going home early and wanna have a short date at the movie and dinner afterwards.
As simple as that.
And we couldn't do it.
Thanks to the work.
Well, we managed to have a super late dinner at the end of the day.

Makanya geregetan dan sebel berat (plus sedih banget) rasanya kalau semua yang sudah kita rencanakan,  one of of the supposedly-to-be-the-most-cherished moments in our life, harus berubah karena ada prioritas lain terkait pekerjaan.
Sudah banyak cita-cita mau ini dan itu, tapi gagal karena ada hal penting yang harus diurus dan harus diurus pada saat itu juga, bersamaan!
Well, karena ngga bisa dibahas di sini, jadi kita skip aja bagian menyebalkan itu, okay!
Dan bersyukur at the end of the day, akhirnya  bisa melewatkan waktu bersama orang-orang tercinta.

Dan itulah sinopsis cerita perayaan pernikahan aku dan Udi yang ke-13 tahun ini :).
Terus aku berpikir apa karena yang ke-13 jadi 'agak' sial begini ya?
Hush..I'm not superstitious but look at that!
13 continues to be blamed for all the bed things.

Tapi setelah dipikir-pikir, mungkin memang baiknya begitu.
Punya cita-cita menikmati 'our time' mumpung anak-anak dijagain mama yang masih ada di NYC waktu itu because I really need a break
Too many things have happened at this short period of time and we both need to chill.
But deep down I know, kami sudah sangat terbiasa ke mana-mana dan ngerjain apa aja selalu berempat. Aku, Udi, Bo et Obi.
Jadi kalau pergi berdua aja, rasanya kok ngga lengkap.
Pasti malah nanya anak-anak lagi ngapain ya. Atau udah pada makan belum ya.
Atau anak-anak mau kita bawain apa ya. Intinya, selalu inget anak-anak di rumah.
I guess all parents are like that, right!


So, that's what I have missed to share (on time).

My hubby's birthday and our 13th wedding anniversary!

December 12, 2014 was the date when we both officially became husband and wife.
Fast forward 13 years, here we are now.
Living on the other side of the world, far away from our comfort home and families, juggling to enjoy life amidst crazy works, extreme weather, and tons of fun!

And he is my rock!
I have never been imagining life without him.

Kalau tanggal 12 Desember lalu saya masih tergerus pekerjaan dari pagi hingga malam, Rudi adalah orang pertama yang memeluk saya dan bilang, "go... finish your work. It's your responsibilities. I will be waiting."
Dan saya makin trenyuh.
He is the strong person I am destined to live with.

And don't ask how he has staunchly stand by me during my, - our - darkest time as I fought breast cancer.
Mata saya akan basah mengingat itu semua.
Soalnya saya memang jadi zombie dan horrible monster thanks to all the procedures and tons of medicines I have to take. Those crazy hormone suppressor!

So, back to December 12, 2017, we did enjoy our brief moment.
I took the liberty to put my phones and laptop away so that we both could enjoy our morning candle-blowing moment; exchange cards, gifts, hugs and kisses; and sit down with our once-a-year lavish dinner :). Dinner, super late dinner (starting at 10 PM) just the two of us, which rarely happens.
After a crazy day and rush morning for another UN back-to-back and non-stop meetings, at least we could just sit down and relax.
And I am blessed!

So, 13 years and counting.

I have to admit at this point I don't know what else to say.
I guess I have said it all.
Or maybe because I'm simply not good enough to put everything in words.
To me, my hubby is more than just a husband.
We have been through a lot.
Not only the sweet moments in our lives, but also the long and winding ones.

He is my very best friend, who knows exactly what make me happy or sad or laugh or cry.
My soul mate, whom I look for the first thing in the morning and the last time at night. To whom I ask for consideration, starting from choosing a napkin to doing mastectomy or not.
My greatest frienemy who has made my life super colorful and blessed, full of laughters and crazy moments, that I look forward to living it day by day.

Here's to a loving father, fantastic husband, wonderful son, and fun uncle my husband is.
And here's to Allah SWT's blessing for our marriage.
Happy 13th and beyond, love!






Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls



Last week in 2017!
And we did enjoy the Christmas break.
Well, as you all know as I keep mentioning it here in my blog, we don't celebrate Christmas as we are moslems. But of course we fully respect those who celebrate it and truly enjoy the festivities as well as the loving spirit!

And my mom went back to Indonesia on the Christmas Eve after staying with us for more than 6 months.
Miss her already!
My son and I were both crying hard when she left. But I was happy that she was happy to go back home, missing her friends and families, plus escaping freezing weather. My mom couldn't take the extreme cold weather due to her  arthritis. Well, NYC has been crazily cold (again) lately. 

Moreover, we have some troubling news from home as my father-in-law, who is 74 years old, got stroke and is hospitalized up until now :(. Hopefully he will be better soon. The doctors sound optimistic and kindly keep him and our family in your prayer.

Nevertheless, here's our linky party for this week with #OMHGWW.
Stay warm and healthy!

And have a blessed 2018!


Welcome To Oh My Heartsie Girls #OMHGWW 

As we approach Christmas and need more ideas this weeks features that include lots of Christmas Recipes and Ideas From 8 Blogs!!! Bloggers are some of the most Inspiring bloggers we know and make our parties special!!!

Oh My Heartisie GIrls Linkup

Linky Parties are also an opportunity for us to feature other #Bloggers and #Blogwriters and for you to share what you have going on........your blogs!
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The Highlands Myths Collection with John Lewis and My Thoughts

Evija Roberts // From Evija With Love The Highlands Myths Collection with John Lewis and My Thoughts | Tw | Bl | G+ | Fb | Pin | In » Repin From Original
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Top 3 Cleaning Hacks for Every Room in Your House


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5 Favorite Places during Holiday Season in NYC 

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Evija's Feature Choice // From Evija With Love #1-Busy Being Jennifer // Upcycled Pallet Christmas Tree Decor Feature Chosen by Indah // My Purple World #2-Dazzle While Frazzled // Milk and Cookie Mix in A Jar Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl #3-Adventures in Weseland // Christmas Displays To Enjoy Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl #4-Simply Stacie // Chicken-Broccoli-Casserole

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Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl #7-Mrs. Kringles Kitchen Raspberry Stripper Cookies
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WW: From Antigua with Love

I know we are counting down to 2018.
And Christmas has just left us around the corner, with its lingering festive ambience.
So, any plan for the New Year's eve?
We haven't decided anything yet.
But I sincerely hope that in 2018, my family and I will get more chance to travel and see the beauty of God's masterpieces in many parts of the world!

And now, I still have wonderful memories and tons of pictures from my last trip to the Caribbean.
To Antigua and Barbuda, to be exact.

As it was a business trip, I have very limited time.
Yet, I've seen some amazing parts of this beautiful country.

Here's from Antigua with love.









For sure, as you have rightly guessed (as I mentioned it again and again), the complete stories are coming. Maybe in the beginning of 2018 :)).



Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun linking up with us!

Happy Holidays from NYC

To those celebrating Christmas, wishing you a wonderful time with your family and your loved ones.





And a blessed New Year for all of us!