2013: Change for the Better

| Outfit: ALL GOWIGASA, except boots from Japan. |

It's not even half of January yet, but I've learned so many valuable lessons... in a not flattering way. Maybe when I said one of my New Year's Resolution was to learn something new everyday, He took it as a challenge.

Life has always had its way of teaching us lessons. In the end, it's up to us whether we choose to learn from them, swallow our ego, and change for the better; or... We can be stuck up, ignorant and worse, blame other people for our unhappiness.
It is always easier to make excuses than to admit your own mistakes and deal with the consequences, right? But as they say, "When people blame others for their mistakes, they learn less and perform worse." I agreed.

You may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him or her, but you won't succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy.

So if something goes wrong, try to use your best wisdom and ability to listen to yourself, find out which weaknesses in your personality that are contributing to the problem and then try to overcome them. :)

Btw, don't forget to join our on going Wet n Wild GIVEAWAY here! Thank you♡

X O X O,

Elle Yamada

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Everything has a Price to Pay

Doll Top, Pink Neon Clutch, Dip Dyed Shorts from GOWIGASA | Galaxy Wedges from Up Shoes | White Belt from ZARA

"Everything you want in life has a price connected to it. There's a price to pay if you want to make things better, a price to pay just for leaving things as they are, a price for everything."

–Harry Browne

This quote pretty much describes our current situation. We are paying a "price" to make things better, to start a new beginning. It ain't easy, but anything in life worth having takes effort, right. : )


Anyway, don't forget to check out GOWIGASA New Arrivals that's just launched two days ago! We have new and fabulous items you don't want to miss! ;D 

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A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?

Unbranded polkadot denim top | Forever21 pants | ZARA white bag | Oasap leopard print wedges | Mango sunglasses | ZARA white belt

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

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If You Love Someone, Let Them Know

Bershka Floral Tank Top | Forever21 Mustard Shorts | GOWIGASA Brown Blazer | Pull&Bear Bag | June+Julia x Elle&Jess Shoes

Watched Marley & Me for the second time yesterday and bawled my eyes out AGAIN -actually worse than the first time since I have Hyde now and they are both Labrador, so it's easier to visualize that Hyde was the one going through all that. Urghhh cannot imagine how devastated I will be when the time comes.

I do have this fear of losing loved ones. When I was a kid, every time my parents came home late, I would always freak out and think of the worst, then praying the whole night until they return safely. I also used to pray to God to take me first before my family members -but not anymore since my friend told me it was a very selfish request, that it would be even harder for parents mourning over their child.

Heaven knows the more we are attached to something, the more painful it will be when we are separated from it. But I guess as long as we let our loved ones know we love them and we care about them, there should be no regrets or a guilty feeling. :)

"As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do."

–Zachary Scott

(Gee, didn't know this would turn out to be a melancholy post.)

Xo,

Elle

Twitter: @elleyamada

Instagram: elleyamada

Decision and Happiness

In making certain decision, one must always listen to one's heart.

When your heart tells you not to do something, even if it sounds good at the beginning, you better not do it.

If it ends up good, it's fine. But if it doesn't, you might end up blaming yourself or even worse, blaming others -for your own choice.

Why? Because there is no love from the start. You did it for other reasons.

When the decision's already been made -and it sucks, ask yourself:

"Is it my responsibility?"

"Is it my duty?"

If your heart says, "Yes, it is", then stay. Do it. Endure. Skip the next two paragraphs.

But if your heart says that it's not, then RUN.

It's not a bad thing to run from a certain bad situation that does nothing but drive you crazy. In fact, it might be the best decision you ever make in your life.

But if you cannot run from it, if there is not even a slightest possibility to escape (or, you CAN run from it, but you won't because it is your duty or responsibility), then ACCEPT it as your fate. Make peace with it and deal with it.

Quit whining / blaming / being defensive / being grumpy / acting victimized. Endure it with positivity and prayers.

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."
Human brains aren't dead, they learn something new everyday.

Find the bright side in doing it and when you find it, make sure you always keep that in your mind. The positivity that that bright side brings will give you strength in doing it.

Find ways to make yourself happy and feel content. You are a human and you also have your own needs. You cannot be too selfish for doing what you like, as long as nobody gets hurt.

"Work hard, play hard," they say. Gotta keeps things in balance.

Do yourself a favor by feeding your human needs to refresh your mind and body, thus enabling you to treat others better, too.

Remember that happiness is a state of mind and one of the best ways to be happy, aside from being grateful for who you are and what you have, is by making other people happy.

The decision is yours to make :)

♥

Jess
© Jessica Yamada 2012

Back to School

So often I wish I went to school where I could wear whatever I wanted. Most schools in Indonesia (including mine) require their students to wear uniform. I personally think that wearing a uniform is a ridiculous rule because it limits students' self-expression and not everybody is comfortable with their school's uniform.

Fyi, I went to school where the female students had to wear a 5cm-below-the-knees skirt uniform (min.) and it must be worn with black shoes that are 'specially' manufactured by them -horribly. We were also not allowed to dye our hair, wear accessories (even small earrings would be confiscated by those killer teachers), make-up, or even colored soft-lenses.

There were so many ridiculous rules that made me hated my school, but when I think about them now, they're kind of funny. After all it was the place where I found my best friends. :)

*Outfit: Bershka Top / Unbranded Jumpsuit / Urban Outfitters Bag / GOWIGASA Belt / JC Lana Shoes

♥

elle

Details in the Fabric

Calm down, deep breaths and get yourself dressed instead of running around.

If it's a broken part, replace it.
If it's a broken arm, then brace it.
If it's a broken heart, then face it.

If anybody asks me what's my favorite break-up song, my answer will always be "Details in the Fabric" by Jason Mraz. The song brings me into so many emotional levels, especially when I get upset and can't think clearly. It encourages me to move on from the situation, always remember to 'hold your own, know your name' (knowing your value and believing in yourself), and that eventually 'everything WILL be fine'. Everything happens for a reason. You may not see the reason now, but in time you will.

It's a bittersweet song. It's really sad, but it's hopeful.

That's what makes it so beautiful.

Knitted Top - Unbranded

Shorts - Topshop

Shoes - Unbranded

Purse - The Little Things She Needs

Socks - MUJI

Necklace - Bershka

***

What I've been up to?

Re-reading my favorite manga, One Piece and preparing for GOWIGASA New Arrivals!

p.s. Jason Mraz, if you read this, you've helped a person through your song. Thank you. :)

♥

elle

Raise Hopes, Lower Expectations

When you hope for something, you don't know if it will happen or not, but you hope that it will. For example, you can hope for a miracle.

When you expect something, you believe there is a good chance it might happen. That's why they often lead to disappointment — especially if they are unrealistic.

"Keep your hopes high, your expectations low, and your minds open."

♥

elle and jess

Somebody to love

MANGO blazer, f21 purse

ZARA top, Gitchy skirt, Steve Madden shoes

***

How much can you learn from watching a film? For me, it's A LOT.

One of my favorite TV series that has taught me loads of lessons in life (and being a woman) is Desperate Housewives. If you are a fan of the series too, you must be familiar with the narrator's voice, Mary Alice (the one who shot herself at the beginning of the story). I always find her quotes profound and worth to remember, well actually I love many quotes from each character. That Marc Cherry guy sure knows how to entertain and make us learn something at the same time.

Anyway, here is the most recent quote from Mary Alice that I find to be very true:

"The things that bring us pleasure may not be enough to give our lives meaning, without someone to love."

I always thought the saying "Money can't buy us happiness" was completely wrong, but when I heard that quote from DH, I began to imagine what my life would be if I had all the money in the world but I didn't have, well as lame as it sounds, somebody to love. Yes money can make us feel happy, proud and all that, but only for a short period of time, our lives would still be empty without love. The feeling love brings is something you can't describe.

♥

elle