Well, today definitely did not feel anywhere close to the Earth I used to know. For starters, I live in a quaint little town called San Francisco and the sky turned orange.
Here are some pictures:
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Warning: you may find yourself wanting to do ALL of them
3-5 min read
I feel you, smarty femme. You’ve been sheltering-in-place and you’re so over being at home all. the. time. COVID-19 has been lingering a little bit longer than we’d all hoped for.
I really hope you’re hanging in there, though. Really, take the time to do what you need to do to feel okay. My friends and I have realized that texting can only do so much, but calling or FaceTiming each other does amazing things for the soul. It also helps to release some steam from time to time.
Call your friend, call your mom, or even call your Aunt Deborah whom you haven’t seen in 2 years due to some twisted family drama. Kidding, I probably wouldn’t recommend the last one.
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Because we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
7-11 min read
This post was written by guest contributor Jessica Atmadja. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube. She shares her testimony in this video.
Sometimes, life feels like it’s going in slow motion. Other times, I feel that I’ve pressed the fast-forward button. I wonder, is there ever a moment in-between? But no matter what we feel, there is no rewind or stop button. Life never stops.
People might say that only death and taxes are certain, but I know that my certainty is placed in God. I trust that God is walking with us in every step of the way. However, from time to time, I struggle to feel His presence. I wonder, am I a bad believer for feeling this way?
Over the years, my journey with God has been and is a total roller coaster. When the highs are high, I’m good. But, I must admit that I have, at one point, reached my lowest lows. I’m sure that almost every Christian has felt the spiritual high after coming back from a retreat or a mission trip, but also the lows when you truly question the existence of God. In both those situations, your mind is swimming in God-related thoughts, but we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
In both those situations, your mind is swimming in God-related thoughts, but we don’t live our lives going from retreat after retreat and mission trip after mission trip.
What about the moments in-between? During the school year, I find myself constantly occupied by academics, sports, and other extracurriculars. Life has pressed the fast-forward button, where I’m constantly going from one field hockey practice to planning events for a club to cramming for a math test. It’s already overwhelming to be juggling eight different things at once, so it feels difficult to make space for God, let alone grow spiritually. If only I had more time in the day, then I can definitely make space for God.
Who knew that my dad had some incredible Kung Fu skills?!
In light of Father’s Day, I wanted to share our Father-Daughter Dance at my wedding last fall. Our dance, which features some Kung-Fu action, was a complete surprise to all of our wedding guests (and also to my now-husband!).
Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I’m so grateful that you have been a constant part of my life since the day I was born. Not everyone has someone that they can call “Dad”, so there’s not a day where I take you for granted.
We’ve shared so many memories together that are filled with love and laughter. I could always find you in the audience whenever I had a recital or competition because I would just have to look for the man with a big smile on his face. Of course, it meant a lot to me that you were there for my big moments in life, but it’s the little things you did that have stuck with me.
It is Saturday, after all! I feel that I’m always trying to cross off 15 things from my to-do list every day. I’m one of those people who likes to play a game of “beat the clock” or “minute to win it” with my to-do list.
I’m going to use today to take time to learn, grow, and reignite the passions I have. Maybe I’ll end up discovering a new passion that I didn’t know I enjoyed?
I live in a big city, and I feel that everyone around me is always doing something. You can say it feels somewhat of a different “peer pressure,” but I feel grateful for it. It helps me to be stay productive and focus on the things I’ve always wanted to do.
I do admit that I can be somewhat of a workaholic. I enjoy working around the clock and being productive. There’s nothing quite like getting. things. done!
The sun is out! Rather than being at home, you’d rather be doing ________ [fill in the blank].
Trust me, I totally get it. When I was in college, I was still studying through mid-June since classes were held on a quarter system. When the spring and summer months rolled around, I just wanted to go to the beach, relax, and drink passionfruit La Croix. #FlashbackFriday
Once you have a full-time job, you may miss having an entire summer to do everything (or nothing) that you wanted to do. You really need to savor those precious PTO days. But, then again, you’re (hopefully) getting the weekend off. You can choose to take care of your plants, get some ice cream, use your jade roller – whatever R&R means for you. You do you, smarty femme!
Keep in mind that you can still have a great summer. Whether you’re inside or outside the house, being in a good mood (and mindset!) is essential.
To help, here are some summer tunes to get you in that sweet zone, with TSF commentary:
P.S. The Smarty Femme’s 2020 Summer Playlist will be linked below. Follow The Smarty Femme so you don’t miss a post. Click the Follow button on the top right-hand side (desktop) or bottom right-hand side (mobile).
Below is a special Mother’s Day edition of The Smarty Femme. Enjoy!
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An Open Letter to My Mom on Mother’s Day:
Dear Mom,
Happy Mother’s Day. I’m sorry that I won’t be able to see you in person since we’re quarantining in two separate places. This is the first time we haven’t seen each other for Mother’s Day since I got married, and it makes my heart slightly ache inside. But, we’ve never really celebrated Mother’s Day anyways. To you, every day was Mother’s Day, since you constantly felt the love from those who care and love you, including me. Unlike most people, you didn’t need fancy flowers delivered to the front of your doorstep or a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day. I know you’re not a gift person.
I long for the day where I can give you a hug since it’s been way too long. Times are changing, Mom. When Yeye passed away a few years ago, I realized how short life can be and how things can change so swiftly. We need to cherish our time we have with each other. When I danced with Opa during my wedding, I sobbed, with tears streaming down on my face. I wondered if this was going to be the last time I’d see him before he and Oma left to go back home, oceans away from us.
When I started working in San Francisco, I grappled with whether it was selfish of me to live away from you and Dad, out here in the city. I know that a lot of people tend to move out at the ripe age of 18 for college. But,I had the luxury of attending a university that was close to home, where I could still see you and Dad every day.
Not everyone had that, and while I took it for granted at that time, I can now see its meaningfulness.
San Francisco to San Jose is only a train ride away, but we went from seeing each other every day to seeing each other at most once or twice a week, if I stayed over the weekend. But you reassured me, and said that this was the start of my future, and that this was exactly where I belong. You knew that this was all God’s plan. I know it wasn’t easy to see your only child go somewhere beyond your comfort zone. But I think that God teaches us in mysterious ways. You may feel that you’re never ready, but God knows when you are. You’ve had your fears, and I’ve had mine.
Thank you for raising me to be a strong, smart, and independent woman who loves God tremendously.
You encouraged me, challenged me, and allowed me to pursue my (many, many) passions. When you knew I didn’t like something, you sought out ways to make it better for me. That meant changing teachers, changing classes, and changing the ways I learned. Some might think that it’s too much and really inconvenient for you, but for you, it was never too much and never inconvenient since you loved me dearly so.
Thank you for homeschooling me when homeschooling wasn’t a thing 20 years ago. It was quite a foreign topic at that time, wasn’t it? Who thought that an immigrant parent, who had no background in teaching and a former (and I must add, rather famous) jewelry designer would be able to homeschool? I remember when you told me that you faced challenges along the way, but you didn’t let them faze you. From facing microaggressions to doubting eyes from other parents, you chose not to dwell on that. Instead, you chose to bravely seek out resources and materials beyond what was needed. By God’s grace, you ignored the naysayers and was able to push through – and I thank you for doing that.
You’ve taught me to control my emotions and exhibit self-control in every situation, even though it is one of the most difficult things to do. You remind me to not let things get to me, and while sometimes it does, I am still encouraged by you.
You tell me that you have to turn your lemons into lemonade, bravery over fear, and humility over pride.
Most of the time, it’s not easy. Butwith God, all things are possible.
As an adult, I look back and see all the things you’ve done for me. Every little things doesn’t go unnoticed. To mothers out there who have young children – one day, they too, will notice all that you’ve done for them. To mothers out there who are struggling – one day, your children will remember all that you’ve done for them.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.
XO,
Your Daughter
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Today’s Friday. Give yourself a pat on the back because you made it through the week!
Honestly, I almost forgot that I took my exam this past Monday. Do you ever get that feeling when you have a lot of things going on, you forget when you did what? This week felt like one of those weeks for me. But I must say that it was a truly productive and happy week. Yay!
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Below are five things I made this week:
1. DIY Face Mask
I made a DIY face mask using my husband’s old jacket! Not the ones that you use to moisturize your face, but the ones that you use to go to the grocery store these days.
The only materials I used to create the face mask were 1) part of the old jacket, 2) thread, and 3) sewing needle. I don’t have a sewing machine, and it worked totally fine. Using a sewing machine probably could’ve sped up the process, but this little project took me 30 mins tops.
I’ll be releasing a tutorial of how I did this on my YouTube channel. If you’re interested, you can subscribe to my channel here to get notified when my video is released.
This is called martabak manis (pronounced mar-tah-BAHK MAHN-niss), a sweet (or savory) Indonesian pancake. It’s basically a glorified pancake, but even that doesn’t do it justice.
My grandparents love this stuff. My parents love this stuff. I love this stuff. My friends love this stuff. My aunt’s twice-removed cousin’s father’s niece love this stuff. This stuff is really, really good. You must try it for yourself, so here’s the recipe I used.
It doesn’t taste exactly like the authentic thing (since it’s usually drippin’ in delicious oils, cheese, peanuts, and lots of chocolate). Still, it’s pretty good.
Usually the filling is made with chocolate, cheese, and peanuts. It may sound like a weird combination, but once you’ve eaten it, you’ll be forever changed and there’s no going back.
3. Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Ice Cream (Homemade)
When I visited Las Vegas a couple years ago, my mom and I always made it a point to visit the Sprinkles location in the Strip. I love their cupcakes, but what we really enjoyed was their dark chocolate ice cream (which I always had in their red velvet cone). Sadly, Sprinkles shuttered down their Vegas location on the Strip and the Sprinkles location closest to us doesn’t sell ice cream, only cupcakes.
So, a smarty femme’s gotta do, what a smarty femme’s gotta do.
I tried to emulate the dark chocolate flavor by following this recipe from the NY Times. I incorporated some tweaks of my own, and it turned out pretty well. It satisfied my chocolate craving, but it still wasn’t quite the same as Sprinkles’ dark chocolate ice cream. Looks like I have go on a trip to LA next year, since this year is definitely out of the picture.
After trying to perfect my fried rice recipe for so long, I am finally getting it right. It just took a lot of research and a couple of creative batches.
The ingredients I used were the things I had in my fridge: rice (I used long-grain brown rice), tofu, half a red onion, eggs, and garlic. But I’m telling you, the secret is in the sauce. I used a mixture of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and Chinese cooking wine (which I found at my local Asian grocery store).
To me, cooking feels like an art form and is a bit therapeutic for me. Some recipes may call for exact proportions, but cooking may take some trial and error. You have to experiment a little to see how it turns out. The journey is as important as the destination. Really, you only need to invest a little more time to be 100% better. Think about it.
5. Recorded videos for Mother’s Day
I actually recorded multiple videos – one by myself and another with my husband. I won’t spoil the details here, since it’s not Mother’s Day yet. I’ll have an update in a couple of days!
Have a great start to the weekend, you smarty femme! I’ll be doing a special piece this weekend, so stay tuned…
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During this quarantine season, I’ve realized that I’ve been doing several things just plainwrong this entire time. Chances are that you’ve been doing them too. We might’ve been doing them unintentionally, since some habits form naturally over time. Not all habits are good, sadly.
We need to acknowledge, understand, and proceed to change our bad habits. Or, do we just need a vacation? Let’s unlock our full potential, us smarty femmes!
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Below are things I’ve been doing wrong during quarantine:
1. Not Taking Enough Breaks
It’s so easy to plop down at your desk (mine is a makeshift desk, aka the dining table) and be glued to it for the entire day. With the exception of going to the bathroom and making some food, I find myself staying in one location for most of the day. We really need to make a conscious effort to get away from our desk, although it can be difficult at times.
Here are some things to try out:
Set your water bottle away from your current location so you can get some steps in.
Commit to eating breakfast, lunch and dinner away from your desk. If you eat away from the desk, it can help you be more mindful of what you’re actually eating. Your brain deserves a break too!
2. Not Making Time for Yourself
I admit that I can be a bit of a workaholic. My friends and family jokingly say that I’m a “robot”, given my strict regimen and schedule. I, on the other hand, prefer to use the word disciplined. I like to make a schedule and I try my best to stick to it. Mind over matter, amirite?
Jokes aside, I do find myself working more during quarantine season. I’ve had more time and I’ve been doing things I love, but I haven’t found any time to relax. I’ve been juggling work, my YouTube vlogs, The Smarty Femme (Click the Follow button on the top right-hand side (desktop) or bottom right-hand side (mobile) to follow my blog), and studying for my exam scheduled on Monday, which I just found out it’s still happening!
If you haven’t found time to relax, you may need to schedule at least an hour every week to relax and take care of yourself. You can invest in some new skincare products, play a fun board game, or do some relaxing yoga. TSF Tip: Try using essential oils in your yoga practice to awaken your senses! Manage the stress you have to become a better you, you smarty femme.
3. Not Getting Enough Fresh Air
It can be hard to motivate yourself to put on some real clothes, other than your cozy pajamas, and get some fresh air outside. We need to consciously remind ourselves to go outside and get some fresh air, even if that means just stepping out to our backyard or balcony (if we have one).
Getting some sunlight is important, too. It feels so good to have the warmth of the sunlight on your skin! I also find that I’m a lot happier when I get some sun. Is my true Californian self coming out?
4. Not Having a Clean Space
I usually clean our place once a week, but I find that things have been taking a turn for the worse. Dishes pile up, dust starts to collect, and hair seems to always collect on the bathroom floor (ugh). Given that we’re home a lot more than usual, this seems to make sense.
Instead of cleaning once a week, you may find myself needing to clean 2-3 times a week. This means vacuuming, wiping down counters, and mopping the floor more often. They’re probably not your favorite chores in the world, but they’re so essential.
5. Not Eating Enough Healthy Food
Being at home all the time makes me reach for comfort foods. These include homemade mac and cheese, toast with Nutella, grilled cheese, pita bread, Lucky Charms cereal, Tate’s chocolate chip cookies (which I just bought four of – they’re so good!), and the list goes on. Clearly, I love my carbs and sweets.
Since we’re now staying at home for likely another month, we may not be getting enough exercise. It makes it even more important to eat healthier foods. While “treats” every once in a while are good for the soul, make sure you fill your plate up with a healthy dose of veggies and protein. Also, check to see if you’re drinking enough water. Try to aim for 8 cups of water a day to stay hydrated!
Hope these tips can help you release your inner smarty femme. Cheers!
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Feeling Overwhelmed? 5 Practical Tips to Help Manage Your Life and #GetItDone Don’t you just wish you had personal assistant just like your favorite celebrity?
The Smarty Femme 