Darla!

Category: Life

Thank You, 2016. And Good Bye!

We all agree that 2016 has been very hard for most of us, but I’m not gonna lie; 2016 has plenty wonderful things too.

It’s the year I met Chop-Chop. It’s the year I went through my quarter life crisis. It’s the year of good movies. It’s the year that my blog grows in terms of sponsorship.

It’s been a challenging year, but surely God knows what we are worth and how strong we are, and look at us now! We’re alive. We’re breathing. And that’s the most important thing to be grateful for.

I’ve made several plans for 2017, but mostly I’ll leave it up to fate. Wherever 2017 will take me, I’m ready to adjust my sail. If 2016 has taught me a thing, it’s to not force anything.

Have a nice holiday & a happy new year!

Dara | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

25 December 2016
My November Goals

Is it too late to write my November goals? I’ve never done this before, writing monthly goals, but seing that my life is such a mess right now, I think it may help a bit to write down specific goals for this month. So even though it’s already the sixth of November, here are my goals for this month.

Keep working out regularly. My gym membership expired yesterday. I don’t know whether I’m gonna re-apply or not. Those sparks of energy to go to the gym disappeared about two weeks ago. Regular workouts have lifted me up mentally, so I know that I need them, but going to the gym & sticking to the classes’ schedule have been hard for me (the gym is like an hour away from home). My goal is to keep working out, at least go running once a week.

Finish off current projects and decline project offers that I don’t wanna do. I don’t know why exactly, but lately I’ve become a yes person. I need to start saying ‘no’ more. I’ve kept accepting projects and then become overwhelmed. (And whenever I feel overwhelmed, I tend to procrastinate; it’s in my DNA.)

Catch up with lotsa TV series. Elementary and Agents of SHIELD, mainly. Also, I need to start watching Stranger Things, Westworld, and Outlander. I heard they are good?

Catch up with lotsa comic series. Because srsly!

AND catch up with lotsa books. I rarely read anymore and it makes me sad 🙁

PLUS catch up with my favourite blogs. If I used to comment on every single post on your blog but then completely stopped doing that, chances are it’s not your fault; it’s mine.

My goals are pretty achievable, no? I hope I can reach them all. The year is almost over yet I feel like I haven’t really done anything.

Dara | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

6 November 2016
Quarter Life Crisis is Real, and It’s an Absolute Bitch
Whether I read an amusing article or a serious one about quarter life crisis signs, there’s only one conclusion: I am currently in the middle of my quarter life crisis. I’ve found that quarter life crisis is real, and yes, it’s a bitch.

I’ve been feeling like I’m dragging my feet every single day; forcing myself to get up and go to work. At one point, I couldn’t even talk to anyone without getting anxiety. This had been going for weeks before I finally realised that I’m turning 25 in less than a month. At first I thought perhaps I was having a mental breakdown or I was depressed, but now I’m quite sure that this is what they call quarter life crisis.

Among all the signs that I’m going through right now are:
- I’m having trouble falling asleep at night, but all I want is to nap all day. Which is almost impossible, because work (duh!)
- I’ve always been a socially awkward person and it’s always hard for me to meet new people, but the awkwardness has increased to anxiety. And not only to new people but also to friends.
- Since college, I had always known that 8-to-4 jobs weren’t for me and that’s why I started a career as a private English tutor, but I’ve become to really hate my job and I’d give anything to have an 8-to-4 job and to be able to be home before 9pm.
Part of me wants to make a huge change like start having babies or move back to Bandung City, but another part of me wants to stay and not make life-changing decisions during this phase. I’m really confused right now because I honestly don’t know what to do.

Help! (I guess?)

Dara | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
30 September 2016
Life Lately – Mid August

I’m trying not to be one of those people who say “It’s August already! Time flies!” when clearly this year feels like the worst year for everybody in the world. There was a point a few weeks ago where I decided to stop watching the news on TV entirely because everything looked bad. We need more positive news, please.

That being said, at least we got a new Harry Potter book this year, though it’s not a novel but a drama script. I’m not 100% satisfied with it, but that’s a story for another time. As for now, let’s just appreciate this excerpt:

Boy do I miss Sassy Minerva so much (and also Sassy Dowager Countess).

Also, I finally went to the gym and tried a belly dance lesson (I know, right???). Halfway through it I realised that belly dancing was NOT for me. I was SO BAD at moving my hips and I looked totally awkward and stupid that I won’t be going to that class ever again.

Nope. Not for me. I’ll just switch back to running on the treadmill (and maybe a Zumba or aerobic class?)

There was one morning a few days ago when I couldn’t get up from bed because Jessi was lying on my chest. She has become so heavy after being spayed and I was too lazy to make an effort to get her off my chest, so I took a few more minutes in bed taking pictures of her and editing them on Prisma.

This has been my newest favourite app of all time because it makes Jessi look even more fabulous and majestic than she already is! My favourite one is the top right. I’m now using it as both my phone and laptop wallpaper.

Talking about cat… Looks like Jessi and Chop-Chop will have to share the house with another kitty for the next few years as I took this little baby in on Thursday. I found him crying beside a road near my mum’s house. There were no other kittens and the mother was also nowhere to be found. He sounded hungry and was covered by ants. I took him home and bottle fed him. The plan is to foster him until he can eat canned food and poop + pee on the litter box, then after that my mum will adopt him.

He looks a lot like Ed Sheeran, doesn’t he? It’s been 72 hours and both he and I have been doing just fine. I’ve never taken care of orphaned kittens before. I kinda feel proud of myself right now.

Last but not least, I want to emphasise that global warming is real, you guys. It’s August yet somehow it’s still wet season here in Bandung. The dry season should’ve started as early as April, but nope. Still raining. I miss the sun and I want to go swimming, but as for now I’d just cuddle with my little Ed Sheeran. (No, that’s not his name. His actual name is Asoy.)

So how’s your August been so far?

Dara | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

14 August 2016
Awesome August

New month. Fresh start.

I find it funny that I almost forget my new year’s resolution. It’s August already and I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing. Absolute zero. That business I started earlier this year? Dead. My attempt at blogging in Bahasa Indonesia? Also dead. My work has been a mess since that stupid thing I’ve called a laptop keeps breaking down every time I need it. I’ve decided to ~~kick it to the curb~~ sell it and buy another one. So here I am with a new red Dell. I hope we’re meant to be. So now I’m trying to finish a proofreading project in one sitting. Go me!

Also, go you! For whatever thing you’re doing right now. You’re doing great. You’re awesome!

Dara | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

3 August 2016