TLC VoxBox for Influenster MOMS 2014

A few weeks ago i received my TLC VoxBox from Influenster. This VoxBox is specially designed for the Influenster MOMS. This box is being designed to help the MOM to get some TLC! I bet all the mom will love that!

If you haven't heard about Influenster, it is a site that will sent you a free product in the VoxBox for free and for that all you have to do is to review it and to publish it on social media site such as Facebook, Instagram, Vine and Youtube etc. All the item that i received are free, but all the opinion and the review are my own.

Let get started with my review

First product is PUFF TO GO : Being a mom and people who have allergy this neat Puff To Go is a live saver. I love Puff long before i got this on my box. Why i love it, simply because if you have runny nose either from flu or allergy, constantly blowing your nose will make your nose red. Puff with lotion will at least ease your nose. So no more red nose for me or my son. I put it on my bag, on the car even on my son school bag.

Second is IVORY SOAP : I never use this soap before, but i've been loving it for the fresh smell and my skin feel so clean. This might be one that i'll be pick up again for my next groceries trip

Third is AVON Anew Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother ; It is a very long name for the product! It is actually the one i really want to try on. According to the package this translucent balm blurs the look of the wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes instantly.

I've been trying this product few times, but i didn't notice any difference on my wrinkle, or maybe i didn't have permanent wrinkle or i haven't use this product the right way.

Four is SHELL Fuel Rewards Network Card, I've other rewards card from one of my supermarket store. The only bad thing about this card, the Shell gas station is not near my house, it is about 35 minute for me to drive to one of Shell gas station. But i will try to use this card on my next road trip

Five is Breyers Gelato Indulges, yey a coupon for a free Gelato! I jump to my next trip for this! I got this in Raspberry Cheesecake. Loving this for the flavor and my son keep asking for another scoop. It finish on the second day..well i think i need more coupon ;)

Six is Neosporin NEO TO GO : I love neosporin but i didn't have it this kind of neo to go. This stuff is very handy, specially if you have kids that running around like crazy and end up with scratches, you just spray this and they back on!

I like to thank you to Influenster to include me on this TLC VoxBox. I'm loving that i get to try on new product and give my reviews on the things that Influenster sent me. I really hope this review will help other moms. And i also like to invite others to join the Influenster and keep spreading the words of what product that you love.

My son graduated to 3rd Grade

On June 7th, my son graduate from his 2nd grade. He was really proud that he finally graduate and ready to move to his 3rd grade. I got his Spring Pictures from the school and also his report card.

The final weekend the Brentwood School district invites all family to come to the ART IN THE PARK event, where all the student art will be display and the family can interact with the teacher and also can see the student art.

We also have FUN DAY at Moore School,that they the PTA member volunteer their time to bring fun and games to the student. This Fun Day also in the student wish list, because they get together with their parents at the school and getting to know the teacher. I'm so tired when volunteering but putting the smile on the student and my son is so worth it.

Mother's Day

On Monday 5/11/2014 is Mother's Day in United States, in Indonesia we might call it Hari Ibu. It said that the Mother's Day is 3rd biggest celebrate day after Valentine and Easter. On friday my son brings his craft from school, i think that day on lots of elementary students will give their mothers the craft for Mother's Day. It's very nice gesture to come home and see your son crafts and what he thinks about you. 

He gives me the World's Best Mom, for that i take it :). He also makes poem and tell me that i love to sleep! Every mother will be thankfull if they have a whole day for sleep without worrying about every thing. 

Since as usual my hubby have to work on weekends, we end up walking to Giant Eagle to have our lunch. Is actually a very nice day to walk! I know that is spring but on other part in US, we still have snow. 

 

and i also take a selfie! A Mother's Day selfie, i bet lots of mom will putting their pictures with their moms or their kids too. At the end of the day, when i search my pictures with my mom, i realize that i don't have!! Since i lived in different country than her! This is i make from my mom and me picture.

On my personal notes: got to take my pictures with my mother soon, just me and her! Oh missing you mom a lot

How is your Mother's Day? Do you have special crafts from your son? Did you find out that maybe you don't have your picture with your mom?

Pemilu/Election 2014

On April 9-10 2014, Indonesians is having the legistative elections. The parliamentary election is before the presidential election in July. Since i'm Indonesian living abroad, i got a letter to indicate that i have to choose to elect by mail or go to the Embassy in NY to cast my election. Since NY is about 6-7 hours from Pittsburgh, i prefer to send my vote.

I never vote through mail, and as i remember i just exercise my right for maybe twice. The first time is to elect Megawati Soekarno as a president and this time. As for why i don't want to exercise my right for other past election is maybe because i really disappointed on other elections either for the chosen candidate or the parliment. 

There's a lot corruptions and miss management in Indonesian Goverment. So with this condition lots of people choose not to vote, doesn't care about the election, or even when they come to vote they couldn't decide which political parties they want to choose. But this time around i see lots of changing in the Indonesian politics. I see lots of emerging young people tried to exercise their rights. Lots of social media such as Facebook, BBM, Path and Twitter that being use to gather the young people. As I amaze for this, maybe this also because lots of movement in the world now start or being reports by young people straight from the social media. 

For this time around, i wish that many people specially the younger generations go to vote and exercise their right, because every vote is count to be a better Indonesia. Here is some the of the plamphlet and the sitution in Indonesia during the Election Day

Quote : John F. Kennedy " ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" Vote!!

Putu Ayu Indonesian traditional steam cupcakes

To everybody who just stumble to my blog post and who actually request about this recipe just notice that I'm Indonesian, and i want to introduce to you one of Indonesian traditional cake. It is an easy to make, i promise you. I'm not a very good cook so i always find ways to make lot of our traditional food as easy as possible but still delicious. This recipe is also a modification since i substitute grated coconut with grated cheese

Without futher chit chat here is the recipe:

Putu Ayu Indonesian Steam Cupcakes

Ingredients

125 gr all purpose flour

150 gr sugar

3 eggs

150 ml coconut milk (you can use the can one, and find it at Chinese Store)

1 tbsp vanilla 

1 tbsp baking powder/cake emulsifier

1/4 tbsp salt

1/2 tbsp green food coloring (optional)

1/3 cup of grated cheese/coconut

Directions

1. Grease 15 cupcake mold ( i use olive oil )

2. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs on high speed until pale and creamy

3. Pour the flour in to the mix and then coconut milk gradually, stirring until it blended well. Put salt and baking powder into to batter, stir well.

4. Put the green food coloring and stir it well

5. Heat the steamer, make sure it hot before you put the cake mold

6. Put the grated cheese into each mold, press firmly into the base

7. Put the cake mold to steamer, wait a bit before you pour the cake batter until the mold is full

8. Close the steamer and reduce the heat, then steam for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick into the centre comes out clean

9. When the cakes are cooked, leave to the stand for 5 minutes. Run a dull/butter knife around the edge of each mould, then ease the cake out onto a plate.

And your steam cupcakes done.

Here is the recipe in Indonesian and few of the pictures from my niece on step by step to make the cupcakes.

and here is my finish PUTU AYU and love having it with my cup of green tea

I hope that you can make the cupcakes too. Happy steaming!

Got A New Gift from Sephora and Victoria Secret

I'm so excited that i got a few freebie for my birthday from my favorite store Sephora and Victoria Secret. If you live in US, and a member of your favorite store such as Sephora and Victoria Secret, usually if you have a birthday they'll send you an email or coupon voucher to redeem at your favorite store. This what i got from Sephora gift set from Smash Box contain lipstick and small mascara. I love this gift set, since i love lipstick and also they come in travel size. So convenient since travel a lot and i love to try on sample. At Sephora too, if you buy online you going to get sample pack usually 3 sample (it came a sachet or perfume vial). You can enroll to be come Sephora VIP member for free. Remember they have different kind of sale and you can get free sample too.

As for Victoria Secret, well this one always going to give you free panty and different kind of coupon for free if you become a member too! For my birthday they gave me a $10off single purchase that i use to buy perfume mini 2 for $15, so like getting 2 perfume mini for $5!!

This program is free and i suggest that if you love makeup and VS, join their mailing list and enjoy small surprise heading your way.

Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored ad, i got it for free as my birthday gifts

My Birthday 2014

Last year i didn't post any about my birthday, i was away for "Umroh". For Muslim people that's the pilgrim we do it to follow what our prophet Muhammad SW do long time ago. I'm so bless when i start my umroh, it's on my birthday. I love my Umroh, i do with all my family, include my parents too. Last year i have lot of blessing, going to Umroh and visit my parents again in Indonesia. I couldn't have it if not for blessing from God and of course a little help from my parents. 

Let me tell you why my Umroh is blessing from God. If you from US, and you want to do Umroh, you have to know that if you're a women you have to travel with your spouse or your family. In Indonesia you can perform Umroh alone even you are not traveling with your spouse or your parents. It is very strict in here US if you want to travel to Saudi Arabia. So i purchase the ticket with prayer that i can get my visas at the same time that i need to go. I plan the Umroh in exactly one month. Even my travel agent consider it is impossible. But possible with the blessing of GOD.

First, the visa officer that approved my visa is actually half Makassar and half Saudi. So when he saw my passport immediately he knows that i came from Indonesia specially from Makassar. He actually call me and try to speak to us since he was so excited to met people from Makassar. So that the 1st blessing. My visa went smoothly and arrived one day before we depart.

Second, the vaccination. You have to get certification for Meningitis vaccination. In US, you have to be at least 11y old and above if you want to get that vaccination, that if you want to get it at your doctor or local Walgreen's and CVS. But because of my son is 6y by that time. I have to search to find place that have the vaccine for my son age. Let me tell you, the place that have it, is your local Government Health Care. Call them, that's the only place that you can have the Meningitis vaccine for 2y old and above.

Third, my travel agent is World Wide Travel Agent. They actually can help you to get the visas and the ticket to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umroh/Hajj. There's a lot of travel agent here in US that specially for Umroh/Hajj, but you have to travel with them. But for my case i just need the visa and the ticket, since I'm going to meet up with my family there and going to be with their travel agent (from Indonesia).

So with all of that, I sincerely say that i have the best Umroh and memory of the best birthday that I ever had!!. 

Here is what I have for my birthday this year! 

Still loving it though, not much but i love it and i just want to count my blessing from GOD.