August 17th, '13

For some of you who doesn't live in Indonesia, maybe 17th August is just an usual day. But in Indonesia, it's our Independence day! For me? It's another my very, very big day in a year: My hubby's birthday!

Saturday, August 17th.

Well I kinda freaked out about the preps, since I haven't done anything except for window-shopping his gift.

*Should I make cupcakes, or cake? Chocolate or cheese? When should I buy the gift? Does he gonna like it?* Etc, etc, etc. The next big surprise is, because our Independence day was on Saturday, that means we had extra weekend holiday. His family were planning on spending his birthday at Batu. Short two-days escape. And he asked me to go with him and his fams, along with my lil' bro too. How can I say no, with that puppy look? *sigh

Long story short, I managed to keep everything done just in time! We went on saturday morning, so I tried to finish everything on Friday (luckily I don't have any lecture on friday, so I can focus on preps.) My plan was fixed: 1. Chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting and some Oreo toppings; and 2. Creamy Fettuccine Carbonara with smoked ham. He looooovvvesss those. Well basically he just loves to eat anything :p

The cake went smoothly. The pain-in-the-ass problem is.. The frosting! It turned out so buttery.. Almost like water bath. And I'm like whaaaaat? Sh*t.. Bla,bla, bla, I did everything I can to fix the frosting, and in next 2 hours, the cake was finally done! yeaaay! It's already 9pm or so, and I'm very tired.. But I went to bed thinking about my cake and I couldn't believe that I really can make one :') It's my first time.

Next morning I cooked the Fettuccine (well it's for substitute for noodles. Chinese's tradition: you have to eat noodles on your birthday, so you can have a long life.) No problem because I made it several times before. Packing, packing, preparing, etc, then We started our trip!

Arrived at Batu, at Singhasari Resort as our Hotel. It was a very good place to stay. Warm and friendly and refreshing. And the food is quite good, too. Passed our afternoon with walked around the resort. took pics, and even spent some time swimming ;)

My hubby, his big sister and my lil bro.

I really love this gazebo!

Later on night we found the perfect spot to take pics and brought the cake along, so he can blow the candle birthday ;) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mr. Boss

Really hoping your years ahead will be more awesome. And success. Loveyouuuuu :*

The birthday boy :*

Sunday, August 18th

Woke up 5am to a very beautiful sunrise. We decided to take a little walk. But the air was so cold.. I'm freezing!

Another thing: there's a wedding chapel here on the resort. My room balcony was facing right to this chapel.

Got hungry, so we ate a few bites ;)

After breakfast, we were getting ready for our next stop: Eco Green. Yay! After finished packing we took some selfies around the hotel ;)

There's a bar there with a unique and beautiful interior, take a look:

Time to leave this beautiful resort! Headed to Eco Green ;) But we stopped at KUD Batu to drink some milk. Do you know that Batu has a veeeery delicious milk? It's a must-try.

Arrived at Eco Green!

Eco Green has everything you have to know about nature. Animals, Environments, Places and twc, with entertainments. t's a very unique place to explore! You're gonna need a looong time because you have to walk from one place to another. But it's worth it!

There's also a photobooth are, where you can take pics with the lovely parrots! These birds are soo cute.

It's an eagle, everybody. And he's so heavy!

And there's this place I love most <3

Last selfies ;)

What do you think, fellas? :)

Thanks for reading!

Irene

Tephi's Sweet 17th Birthday Party

Last night I attended a sweet 17th birthday party of my girl - Stephanie Hutani! She was a guitarist in my gospel band, we've been friends since I was in the 11th grade. She's on the same age with my sister, three years younger than me.

I hadn't been attending sweet 17th party for some time, so I feel a lil bit younger last night. Haha ironically I'm turning twenty this year.. TWENTY! Gosh, so old. Yet time still flies too fast.

The BEST news is.. I bought it, finally! My own camera :D

So here's some photo from the party last night!

Pisa Cafe's Bar

The fetucinne is everyone's fave - yum!

My sister ;)

Happy Sweet Seventeenth again, dear Teph!

All the best for yaaaa

Semakin alay :* Semoga cepet dapet jodoh! Hahaha. Loveyou! :*

Thanks for reading!

Irene ;)

X'celent Crew 3rd Birthday

Well well, the Christmas atmosphere is everywhere! 

December is always a very sweet month that enjoyed and delighted by everybody, don't you think?

And in the middle of December, just a few weeks before Christmas, is the birthday of my best besties ever,
X'celent Crew!

Made this for this special day ;)

You know, time flies really fast. We always grew up too fast, sometimes not knowing which path we should take, or even made a terrible mistake that keeps haunting us for days -- 

But despite of it all, you always have that one friend - who encourage you when you're asking for advice, who will answer your calls when you're calling them for help, who will sit in silent and listen carefully to your thoughts when you have a problem, but at the same time not afraid to tell you how you've been wrong all those times.

To me, these are my true friends.

We fight a lot, miscomunicate often, well; that's okay. We didn't gather much because our busy days. We lost members. We didn't talk to others as much as we were. But these, these made we grew into who we really are.

In the end, they who stand here until now, until this very second, are what I can proudly call my true friends. My second family. :)

So I don't think if we're just a little group, or if we don't meet too much, but with them I can share everything - without over-thinking that they may stab you behind your back.

Here's some photos from our little dinner party --
at The Range, Golf Graha Family & Country Club, Surabaya.

Look at how BIG the pizza was.

The Ladies

Me ;;)

Kevin - Jennifer - Me - Dewi - Wen - Guen - Polo

So here's a toast for another year of X'celent - May the upcoming years tighten our friendship!

I really LOVE YOU GUYS! :*