That's It.

It was my few days of depression. I wasn't stressed, I was in fact depressed. It's very hard to explain how I really felt and the reason behind..I guess it's all an accumulation of things that have been going on in my life. I've been trying to think about it, and I guess I came up with a conclusion: it's a mean world out there. There will always be people who lie to you, who loves bringing you down, who hates you for whatever reason.

S and I spent the night today just sitting in silence. He was very kind to let me just sit and not talk, cuz he knew I wasn't in the mood to talk about anything. I looked at him, and cried. He drove me home.

On our way, we saw a truck got into an accident, and from what we saw, it was pretty bad. I felt...awakened.

I might not be strong, but I am one happy girl. I will never let anything nor anyone take away that spirit. For whatever mistakes I have done, I have apologized. If I am not forgiven, then that's it. For whatever mess I made, I'm always trying my best to fix it. If my effort is not appreciated, then that's it.

We humans are humans. And we should appreciate and give credits to ourselves. If we spend our lives just to please everyone, when will it ever end?

Thank you, Allah. For every blessing. For keeping me safe and sound throughout my days.

I love You...:)

Quote of The Day

"Being happy isn't about laughing & joking around the whole day. Happiness is when you can accept that life isn't perfect yet you're okay with it."

- Diana Rikasari -

Knowledge Box

This is so random I know...but below are some tips you might find useful when studying:

Topshop lace top & beanie hat, Billabong denim shorts, Antyk Butyk necklace, DKNY watch from Urban Icon, Uniqlo tights, Up wedges

• Don't get caught in memorizing definitions or terms. When you are able to understand the most basic foundation (what, why, how), it's much easier to comprehend and explain things in your own words.
  
  
• Challenge things. Don't just read and say, "oh so that's how it works". Ask, "why does it work that way? Can it work as well if we change A into B?".
  
  
• For every topic we study, find a living example. Referring to examples is the greatest way to study.
  
  
• See the bigger picture. Try to understand how one connects to another. At the end, everything falls under a system. Think systematically.
  
  

Enjoy! :)

Say, "I Am Happy".

"Being original" is addictive, because us who are used to being true to ourselves, will always need to be true to ourselves. It grows as a habit and builds up into a character, and once in that stage, it becomes ingrained into an establishment of a lifetime. There's something about it, really. Being original gives us the fullest gratitude and satisfaction of who we really are, that we embrace ourselves and the humankind happily. We become tolerant and appreciative towards everyone's differences, because we accept everyone to be individually unique. So we live peaceful, in life and in mind.

I believe in holding strong our cultural & moral values, and the significant importance of living responsible to God. But other than that, we should be free to set our minds and act on what we think is best for us, although such must be heavily noted that "what's best for us does not dis-benefit others" as well.

Say "no" when we simply don't want to.
Stand up when we don't agree.
Facilitate discussions, not kill ideas instantly.
Work on something we're passionate about.
Wear something we genuinely like.
Be proud of our physical appearance.

Be 100% original...:)

Like A G6

You know that saying, that when you're sane among the insanes, you'll eventually end up being the most insane? I think this describes my feeling the most. I am confused, because words seem to be flying around the air, and every time they fly, they mean differently. They take off with one but land with another. And within the process, I get lost.

Words can be the sweetest thing to hear, but they can hurt us worse than a knife. Feel before we think, think before we speak. At the end of the day, no words can actually heal a broken heart. We heal because we're just supposed to.

Quote of The Day

"When you keep questioning the universe why it's never with you, perhaps ask why it doesn't seem to want to."

- Diana Rikasari -

Quote of The Day

"In happiness there's sadness. In sadness there's happiness. Life's balanced that way".

- Diana Rikasari -

Quote of The Day

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"Feel before thinking, think before speaking."

- Diana Rikasari -

Acknowledging The Necessary

It's always interesting to bring up a topic about piracy in the context of women and fashion. Unlike guys who are more straightforward admitting that they buy pirated goods just for the sake of a cheaper price, women seem to have a more complex reasoning in their purpose and justifications.

Talking about buying pirated goods is not always about "I can afford" or "I can't afford". It's not always about the finance. It's about the thinking behind it. When I buy a fake good, I openly tell people that it's fake, and bought it just for fun because it was too cute and too cheap to simply miss. As wrong as this is, at least I don't run away from the fact that it was wrong. I admitted it. However, there are many people out there who buy fake goods and pretend that they're not. They act all expensive and classy and think that they're NOT wrong. It's like saying "this isn't red" while in fact everybody knows it's red and you yourself know as well.

It leads to a nowhere-point when we debate on "but you're rich and you can afford while I can't but i want to look just as stylish". It's not a matter of social status, economy class or the action itself, but a simple thought & act of taking responsibility. The richest people can buy fake goods after all. But then what would matter is how they respond and take responsibility of their actions; to admit or to fake it.

Be 100% original inside and outside, peeps. But it's always more important to start from the inside...:)

Mike Likes & Strikes To Hike

Climbing a mountain was never easy, so don't whine when we decide to go climb and find the journey to be difficult. We should have known the consequence from the very beginning, don't you think? :)

Wednesday

Despite my backache, it has been a heavy, sad week. I am forever grateful and content of my life, but I cannot help to not feel sad of what's been going on around as well. I guess having been at home for days has forced me to watch TV and see myself what's happening in Indonesia, unlike other days where I just read news from Twitter and say "woah" or "sigh". What's your problem, Indonesia? Why the immorality? The closed-mind? The injustice? The easily-manipulated law? It's ironic how the Indonesian youth dream of a bright future, and we spend our days to learn, create and innovate for the betterment of this country. But on the other hand, it's not getting any better.

Then seeing my parents getting older somehow aches. I love them so much, and it hurts like anything to hear any medical diagnoses that means not okay, even when it's minor, even when it's curable. I am never ready to see my parents sad or get hurt. What keeps me going is my faith and my parents. Because of my parents, I am alive.

I am sorry, peeps. I've been crying a lot to Allah these days. I am scared. Group hug, please? :')

Thank you...:')

Dorothy Shop dress, Only I tulle skirt, Khaloong necklace & rings, unbranded hat, Rayban sunglasses, Up wedges

Quote of The Day

"Don't sweat the small things. But hey, some small things actually count."

- Diana Rikasari-

Access Granted.

Blog is a space where we can just share with the world. No matter how substantial or nonsensical what we're sharing might seem, it's a relief for bloggers to be able to express whatever we have in our minds to others, even more when our blogs can facilitate a forum of inspiration and or discussion.

I appreciate all the pros and cons that happen in life. In any aspect, there will always be a wide, various range of opinions which can be complementary or opposing towards each other. I have to be honest though, that sometimes it saddens me when I read negative views about bloggers. I even feel that the negativity is even larger when it comes to bloggers who tend to blog about fashion.

Therefore, through this post, I would like to express my thoughts about these views. And before I do so, I would like to make it as clear as possible, that this post does mean to be offensive nor defensive. It's just merely an opinion....:)

1. Fashion bloggers have nothing else to do besides dressing up and taking pictures of their outfits.
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With all due respect, fashion bloggers DO have other things to do. If you were kind enough to spend more time getting to know more about us bloggers, you would actually be amazed by our backgrounds. Some bloggers do work in the fashion industry, some others work as accountants, media planners, journalists, graphic designers. I myself used to work as a quantitative researcher who then hopped on becoming an assistant brand manager. Only recently did I decide to resign and pursue my dreams as an entrepreneur. So yeah, we do have a life, and we do have other things to think about or do. We just happen to enjoy slipping some hours within a day to take a break from our daily activity, take pictures of what we're wearing that day, blog about it, then resume. That's all...:)

2. Fashion bloggers know nothing about fashion, they embarrass the fashion world.
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Now my question would be, "who ever claimed that we know so much about fashion?". I can't recall any blogger I know who loudly stated "I know so much about fashion, hence you all should dress like me". We never asked anyone to follow the way we dress, because yes, some of us do dress weirdly, but we're happy that way. Everyone has their own style...it's that simple. Our blog is simply a gallery of ourselves, us who have the guts to take pictures of our outfits and post them up on the internet. The way we dress was never intended to offend anyone who sees it, but if it does, then I apologize on behalf all of us bloggers. We might not know much about fashion, but we can't deny that we love it. Would you actually make fun of someone who loves photography and has a photoblog up on the internet even though his photos are not that good, and consider him as an embarrassment to the photography world? I think even the most professional photographers would actually appreciate him for even loving photography, some would even guide him to slowly learn and become a better photographer...:)

3. Fashion bloggers are overrated, they don't deserve the exposure they're getting.
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Sometimes I actually do agree with this. As a blogger myself, I am often confused why blogs and bloggers are becoming so much news material. But whatever the reason is, do we actually have to bother so much? Besides, everything comes and go anyway. Like Friendster, who got outdone by Myspace, then Facebook, then Twitter, bloggers will be replaced one day. So I guess we bloggers are just grateful for the moment we're getting, even more grateful because we never asked for it. But come to think of it, I think bloggers do deserve some credits, because to some extent, we have been contributing. You see...for every clothes we wear and mention on our blog, we're actually giving free advertisements. We bloggers provide an alternative to entrepreneurs, brands and companies who are seeking other ways to promote. And not all of us charge for it! I have been more than happy to receive items from random local and international brands and promote them on my blog for free if I know they have the potential. Magazines charge high rates for doing such promotions, and even when they don't charge, it's not easy to gain the access. Given this, is it that wrong if bloggers get at least some credits for it? :)

So I guess that's all I have to say...and everyone has the right to agree or disagree. For those of you who hate me or us bloggers so much, I really don't know what to do to make you not hate us. And you do have the right to hate, but we also have the right to not bother your hatred and just continue what we've been doing..:)

Thank you for reading, everyone! And I apologize if I said anything wrong..:)

Much love,
Diana.

PS: HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! Gong Xi Fa Cai! :)

Quote of The Day

"You can hate someone so so bad, you can loathe, you can even swear to never speak again. But at the end of the day, listen to what that person has to say. What will be said might not be right nor acceptable, but a reason is always understandable."

- Diana Rikasari -

Breathe.

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"Diana....what do you mean by 'let go'?"

I believe I'm pretty much a 'let go' person. I let go of anything that hurts me, anyone who saddens me, any excess that troubles me. I live my life without carrying an extra baggage, and walk on with just what I essentially need.

I think this trait can be clearly seen in how my wardrobe never grows bigger, and my closet has remained the same size since years ago. I educate myself to let go of the old clothes I have, pass it on to someone who might need it more, and replace them with new ones. I only keep very few clothes which I really really really love. Otherwise, they are handed down, or go into garage-sales.

Same goes to furniture, shoes, artworks, cards. And people. As much as I love meeting new people and making friends with them, I filter out those who I know do not benefit my life in any way. This does not mean I am picky. I am selective. Being picky sounds more negative, somehow implying that we choose only to make friends with people that share the same social status, education level, religion, or race. And I don't. I do, however, select people who I know do not carry a bad influence, and bring positive energy for me in any possible way.

In life, there will always be things, or people, that make us cry, that betray us, that steal from us, that make us wanna kill ourselves at a certain point of time. But let go. Let go of the anger, the grudge, and any intention for revenge. Let go and see the bigger picture. An unhappy moment in life, is just another moment among other moments to come. Let go and move on.

And let go of the people who hurt you. They are toxic. It's nice to be nice, but it's wiser to be wise. I believe God taught us to be nice to people, but God never told us to please everyone we know. We have the right to do the right thing. And as the owner of our own life, we know what's right for us.

And clothes. They're just clothes. Pass them down. Buy new ones. They just wrap the outside. They do not feed our soul.

Quote of The Day

"Doing the right thing is always more difficult than doing the wrong thing. That's why good people are great, because they overcome that difficulty."

- Diana Rikasari -

Confessions Of A Blogger

If I were to choose today's "Question of The Day", I guess it would be this one which was raised by a very friendly lady I met today;

"Do you ever feel pressurized ever since your blog got famous?"

I answered with a smile, and a low voice of "yes"...:)

The interesting part about blogging, for me, is that it started off with the thought of diary-ing. Ever since I was a kid, I used to buy Hello Kitty diaries and write down about my day in it; what I did, where I went, what I ate. It's just a part of me that enjoys keeping daily stories as memories. And so the diary itself went virtual at one point of time, that my diary is now no longer called a "diary", but a "blog". So my blog is my virtual diary.

I just wrote, took pictures, reviewed products, shared my favorite songs, and I was so much enjoying it that I never put any thinking of what I was doing and where it was taking me to. It was simply a medium of expression, and it still is. But then I am just very lucky, that people, including you, have the kindness to drop by and actually read whatever I have put up on my blog. And so I am grateful...:)

As much as I would never want to claim my blog 'famous', I do realize that there are quite a lot of people who read my blog, and therefore the diary is shared. And I guess this is where the pressure comes. The pressure arrives when high expectations are set, and every word I write is analyzed. I have to think twice, even thrice, before writing a post, because I am scared of what kind of responses it might invite. Some readers would be extremely nice providing me supportive & heartwarming comments, whilst ones who don't fancy me would take my words or photos as a presentation of a snob, a weirdo, an attention seeker, a fashion failure. I am aware that this is the risk of making your diary public, hence also a responsibility for me to ensure I do not blog about anything that might have a bad influence towards others. But then it requires a very big heart to accept all the consequences and move forward by remaining true to yourself, and that big heart can sometimes shrink though eventually enlarges back. I am who I am, and I can never accommodate everyone's liking. There will always be a group of people who does not like me with or without any reason, and there will always be another who expects me to be what they expect. In between, there are people who just kindly accepts me for who I am. I have my utmost respect to all of you, whichever group you fall into. And I am so grateful to have you all around me, as it teaches me a lot to become a strong person...:)

I'm just a Diana, who loves shoes, clothes, doing business, writing, trying new things. If I become known because of it and because of this blog, I really don't know what happened, but I will always remain the person I have always been. This post is one of my ways to let go of that pressure I might have been feeling once in a while, as I am writing this out of genuine feelings. I've made a promise to myself that this blog will always remain a diary, that will not be fabricated or commercialized..:)

Here's to you and me and everyone around us! We might love or hate each other, but even haters have room for love. Cheers! :)

PS:
My "Earthy Love" photos for Bloop Endorse is in Go Girl! January issue...yay!! :)

Chocolate Sunday

Life can be very hard at times, but never for once say life sucks. God made us exist in this world for a reason, and for a mission. Just try to look at the bigger picture..:)

I Say Hello

It's almost 2011, peeps..how do you feel? :)

I'd like to welcome the new year with a new spirit yet the same person inside...let us all make progress, help more people, gain more achievements, maintain a good health, embrace changes, while keeping our values & beliefs strong.

Let us be comfortable with who we are, what we have, and we what we are capable of. Let us reject any negative influences, and remain positive and humble every time.

Let us never feel inferior nor superior, just content, tolerant and grateful.

Let us always be true to ourselves.

Happy welcoming 2011, everyone. Keep 100% original..:)

Quote of The Day

"Don't live to prove or make a point.
Just live and enjoy."

- Diana Rikasari -