Bogor Katulampa Dam

Katulampa Dam located in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Built in 1911; the dam becomes so crucial in rainy season; because it controls the flood (from Ciliwung River) that comes to Jakarta (capital city of Indonesia). The dam starts its alert condition since the water level is above normal height (80 cm). If the water level continues high, it can be predicted that the flood will arrive at Jakarta in eight hours ahead. For Watery Wednesday, I share pictures of Katulampa Dam that I captured weeks ago.

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The Secrets of Happy Couples

This post is still related to the topic of Couple's Corner last week. I’ve mentioned a little about the result of a study that conducted by Terri Orbuch and her team of researches. Imagine this; they have conducted the longest-running study of marriage in North America-22 years-wow!

Again, I’ve mentioned here the result. The secrets of happy couples, that Orbuch and her team of researchers found, were amazingly simple.

"Really great marriages are not the result of long hours of hard work, but of everyday behaviors and attitudes, seemingly small gestures that show your spouse that he or she is noticed, appreciated, respected, loved and desired" Orbuch mentioned the secrets in her book: 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great, and it’s based on the study's results.

You might want to know, what are a few secrets to make a great marriage, right? Here they are (just a brief of them):

Do small things often to make your partner feel special.Psychologists call it as affective affirmation. It includes compliments, help and support, encouragement and hand-holding - anything that tells your partner you're still paying attention. Orbuch said that what important is, husbands and wives should recognize their different ways of expressing affective affirmation.

Expect less, get more.Unrealistic expectations of men, women and relationships-in most cases- cause frustration, anger and hurt. All marriages have ups and downs, and even the happiest couples in Orbuch's study admitted that they argued.

There's no such thing as endless harmony. In fact, studies have shown that happiness in marriage begins to decline after two or three years, with the stresses of raising a family and maintaining a home together, only to increase again by Year 25, in what's called "the U-shaped curve." It isn't until after about the 35th year of marriage that happiness regains and even exceeds that of the first years.

Hold daily briefings.
Take at least 10 minutes each day to talk. Just talk. About hockey or movies or politics or what you'd do if you won the lottery. The catch is that it has to be something other than work, kids or finances.

The happiest couples were those intimately connected with each other's lives. They knew each other's routines and preferences, their inner lives and social worlds. They slowed things down to make time for each other.

Shake things up.Dullness is a real marriage-buster. Do new things together, to keep things interesting. Orbuch said that it's the best way to add passion into a relationship. Another trick for getting out of a habit is to exchange roles. If he's usually the travel planner and she's the cook, get her to book this summer's vacation and him to make Sunday dinner.

Keep costs low, benefits high.
Psychologists have developed a theory that people keep track mentally of how much emotional currency they spend in a love relationship compared with how much they earn or get back. She conveyed six behaviors that couples reported as being the most "costly" in terms of marital happiness. Among them: an unfair division of household labor, chronic arguing, jealousy or power imbalances, secretive behavior and conflicts with each other's family.

I think we, married couples, can learn a lot from this study…

Source: montrealgazette.com & google
Picture source: vintageholidaycrafts.com

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Getting Fit with Affordable Fitness Equipment

You might have already realized about the importance of exercise. Lack of exercise and poor diet can cause lots of health problems. To meet your own goals, it’s better if you acknowledge more about exercise. There are some ways for exercising; you can choose one that you most like. You can swim, walking, running and other outdoor exercises. If you prefer to work out indoor, fitness training can be a good choice.

Some people are lazy to come to gyms; they like better to have their fitness equipment at their home. When searching for a piece of fitness equipment, your budget and your needs represent the main criteria of selection. If you’re still confused on choosing the best fitness equipment for you; don’t worry, I know the best place, eFITology that offers free consultation from their consultants that also as fitness experts. Isn’t it a great service?

They offer best brand fitness equipment with low price guarantee. If you have decided to have a treadmill, you should choose a good one with careful; and

Tunturi is much recommended. Tunturi exercise bikes are also proper fitness equipments for you; it will enhance your performance, energy levels and self-confidence. Training will be more enjoyable when using a Tunturi exercise bike!

So, what are you waiting for, guys? In favor of good health and shape, just dial 1-866-570-0470 and get your free consultation!

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CC: Sweet Gestures

What makes couples happy? What makes marriages last? Terri Orbuch (a research professor and a marriage-and-family therapist) and her team mentioned the secrets of happy married couples:
"Really great marriages are not the result of long hours of hard work, but of everyday behaviors and attitudes, seemingly small gestures that show your spouse that he or she is noticed, appreciated, respected, loved and desired"

So, the secret of a happy couple is the small stuffs, the small gestures that we do often such as:

• Hubby tells me that I always look beautiful.


• I bring him coffee in bed in the morning; he brings me a glass of warm water in the night.


• Every time he’s leaving home; he kisses my forehead; and I kiss his hand.


• Before going to bed, we’re forgiving each other and holding hands.


• When he’s tired, I always massage him (and vice versa).


• If we’re in the middle of a misunderstanding and one of us is pointing forward the bended little finger, the other isn’t allowed to reject the reconcilement invitation. This funny way can always break the ice; and it becomes a good start to communicate heart by heart.

Those are some of ours. Visit Couple's Corner if you want to know more stories...

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Make Your Home a Child Proof Home

Dear parents, of course, you want your home to be a safe place for your child. But have you known that accidents at home often happen to children that normally move very actively? Independent Research Institute of USA, in 2008, records that there are 15,000 accidents cases that children experienced at their own home. A house becomes the second place where accidents happen after roads and vehicles.

The cause of accident at home is arranging and choosing furniture and room design that less pay attention to child safety factor. Whereas, children move and play everywhere, so that they are in high risk to get an accident, like struck down by television, stick in cables, get a shock from electricity, or bump into sharp and pointed angles of furniture. Don’t worry, with a little care, many incidents can be prevented.

First, you should increase your knowledge on how to baby proof your home by reading child safety tips. And then you can decide what proper baby proofing products that you need to apply at home. Finding baby proofing products can be so difficult if you don’t know KidSafe.

With KidSafe, you’ll get what you need because they offer a wide variety of the highest quality child safety products (more than thirty categories). For my home (once I’ve my baby), I really need to install Baby Gates and Child Safety Locks. If you’re looking for other products, they also have Corner Cushions, Outlet Covers, TV Guards, Door Locks, Appliance Locks, Window Guards and much more.

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Small River

It’s Wednesday, time for Watery Wednesday. The small river is one fork of a bigger river that called Kali Keruh (Bumiayu, Central Java, Indonesia). I captured this river spot because I like its view (click on it to have better view). Hope you like it, too...

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Opening Yourself Tag

Today’s post is another tag for me. Thanks for Lina Marliana for mentioning my name in her list. As usual, I have to answer several personal questions here. You will recognize me more after this…

1. Who are you at home?
I’m a daughter and a wife; not yet a mom.

2. Who are you; according to your friends?
I’m not asking my friends; I’m asking my husband and sister in-laws. So, here I am:
- honest
- stubborn
- moody
- faithful
- a good listener
- the best secret keeper
- a not much talking person

3. Mention 5 wanted things that haven’t yet achieved.
It has to be things? Ok, it’s my list:
- a baby room
- a hi-tech SLR digital camera
- a family car
- a PDA phone
- a family entertainment room

4. Who is your spouse’s name?
Usrofi, I call him Mas Fi. My sister and brother in-laws call him Oppie.

5. Tell 5 things that you like most from your spouse!
-love me so much.
-very funny
-faithful
-a good cook
-a caring person

6. When did you get married?
We got married in Bogor, July 14th, 2002.

7. What is your bad memory as a couple?
We need to struggle to get my father’s blessing. It’s a hard one…

8. What is your love song?
We don’t have one. We like to listen many songs, but most of them aren’t love songs.

9. What changes do you want to see from your spouse?
Stop smoking and care about his health more.

10. Share the tag to another 10 blogger friends.
Hehehe, I let and invite all my friends to GRAB the tag…

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