The Little Things That Taste Like Home

Monday, 1 September 2025

Today the whole team was complete at home:

My husband, running a marathon of online meetings in the bedroom.
My eldest, attending online college in another bedroom.
My youngest, school online in the living room.
Me, working at the dining table.
And my mom, the true CEO of the kitchen. :D

The day started with my mom cooking fried rice, complete with vegetables and eggs for protein. I swear, no matter how old I get, food made by my mom always hits differently. Maybe it’s not just the taste, but the love that gets stirred into the pan.

By noon, she decided to experiment with a new potato recipe. She boiled them first, tossed them with Japanese Garlic Butter (seriously addictive), sprinkled some dried parsley leaves, and a dash of “I Love Popcorn” butter seasoning. Then, I showed her how to roast them in my beloved mini retro oven air fryer. The result? Perfect. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.

Later in the afternoon, my eldest took over the kitchen, making salmon steak with Secret Element Montreal Steak seasoning. The method was simple: coat both sides, pop into the air fryer, and done. While waiting, she stir-fried her favorite napa cabbage with soy sauce and oyster sauce. Both dishes turned out delicious, and I couldn’t help but admire how fast she moves in the kitchen.

And that was pretty much my day. Nothing groundbreaking. Just another day at home, everyone safe, doing their own thing, gathering in the kitchen when it’s time to eat.

But you know, sometimes “nothing special” is actually the most special. These little domestic rhythms: sharing meals, experimenting with flavors, laughing over who does what chores, are the very essence of home. They remind me of a line from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”

Cooking potatoes with mom, watching my daughter rub salmon with confidence... these aren’t wasted moments. They are the invisible threads that weave safety, love, and meaning into our days.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve also had “ordinary” days that secretly carry extraordinary weight. Don’t dismiss them. Treasure them. They are your rose. Pay attention to your everyday table: the food, the faces, the laughter. These are the moments that nourish more than your stomach. They nourish your soul.

From my table to yours,
Nuniek Tirta

The Waiting Room of Life

There are few things in life that test our character more than waiting. Not the kind of waiting where you’re stuck in traffic with your favorite playlist on, but the heavy kind; waiting without certainty. The waiting that weighs on you because you don’t know if it will end tomorrow, next month, or next year. I’ve been thinking a lot about this today because something big just wrapped up. A long-awaited promise was finally fulfilled. And in the process, I witnessed firsthand how differently people behave when placed in the uncomfortable chair of “ the waiting room of life. ” Imagine a waiting room where everyone has been told their name will be called someday, maybe soon, maybe late. You’d see at least two kinds of people. Some people sit quietly, open a book, maybe start a new project on the side while glancing occasionally at the clock. They don’t need to narrate their suffering to the entire room. They choose dignity over drama. They know that patience doesn’t have to be ...

What I Learned from Timothy Tiah - Founder of Nuffnang

Last Sunday when I entered VIP room at JWEF , I was introduced to this guy with his mini version boy on his lap, and his pretty wife with white top and red skirt. We had chit chat and he told me he’d be in Jakarta this Tuesday, and I told him that we’d have 57th #Startuplokal Monthly Meetup on Tuesday night. To be really honest, only a very few did I know about him until he shared his amazing story on JWEF stage a few minutes later, and get inspired that I took note and now share this with you all. Timothy Tiah founded Nuffnang with Cheo Ming Shen at 2006 when he was 22 years old, with 150k RM startup capital, partly borrowed from his father. He simply founded it because there’s nobody built it before, while the demand was actually there. The site was launched in February 2007. Sales ≠ cashflow On earlier years, although Nuffnang sales highrocketed, the cashflow was poor. At one point he only has 5k left in bank, while there were invoices need to be paid out urgently. He came to Hon...

Waiting and Celebrating

This morning was wonderfully slow, the kind of slow where time doesn’t feel wasted but savored. Everyone in the house had their own lazy rhythm. No alarms, no rush, just soft hours unfolding. By two in the afternoon, we finally left for Pondok Gede to check our first house. We had it lightly renovated: The old, tired canopy was taken down, so the two-story house could breathe and look elegant again. The walls and fence got a fresh coat of white paint, giving it that “new beginnings” look. The cracked tiles were replaced, no more tripping hazards waiting for unsuspecting guests. The windows were repainted, catching a bit of shine when the sun hits. House for sell or rent, near Mall Pondok Gede. Contact here. Now it’s neat, clean, and... how do I say this... ready to meet its "jodoh". Although we don’t know yet if the match is a buyer or a tenant. Should we sell it? Should we rent it out? We don’t have the answer yet. And for someone like me, uncertainty is both fascinating a...

Staycation, Wedding Edition

Sometimes the best kind of joy doesn’t come from running away. It comes from choosing to be fully present somewhere new, even if it’s still in your own city. Some weekends don’t just rest your body; they quietly reset your spirit too. Saturday, October 4, 2025. The day I’d been waiting for finally arrived: staycation day with my husband! It had been ages since our last one. Unless you count that time I stayed overnight at the hospital (which I don’t, thank you very much). This time, we had a much better reason: a wedding. Since the venue was quite far from home, we figured, why not make a little weekend out of it? After finishing some work and a blog post (because apparently, I can’t truly rest without typing something first), we headed out at noon to... drumroll... PIK 2. Predictably, it was scorching. The kind of heat that makes you question all your life choices. But honestly, I’d missed the seaside vibe too much to complain, fake or not. We parked at The Land’s End, and after walki...

Less Fighting, More Understanding

Sunday mornings have this magical way of stretching out slowly, like they don’t want to end. This morning was one of those slow mornings, the kind where the house hums gently, everyone moves at their own pace, and there’s no rush to do anything other than exist. We had plans to go to church, but of course, life had its own little lesson in patience: the War Ticket frenzy. Thousands of people rushing online just to get a spot for worship every week; it’s kind of insane when you think about it. Praise the Lord indeed for the technology that lets us all battle for our pews without elbowing anyone physically. After church, we went for a late lunch, and that’s when I discovered MOKKA tucked away in a corner of the mall. I’ve walked past this mall so many times, but I never noticed it before. It’s funny how sometimes good things are hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone else to point them out. The restaurant was quiet compared to the line at Lekko just down the hall. And while MOKKA’s f...

What's the point of wealth?

Sometimes the mind gives up long before the body does. And sometimes, the body quietly follows the signals the mind keeps whispering. Today’s event reminded me that resilience isn’t just about having strong savings, but also having a strong brain. Every year, I get invited to Permata Wealth Wisdom , kind of like my annual “school trip” to The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place . This year’s theme: Resilient Wealth, Confident Future. I arrived at 9:30, just in time for the keynote speech by Airlangga Hartarto , Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs . The topic: Navigating Indonesia’s Economy Amid Global Shifts . Basically, he talked about how Indonesia’s economic resilience relies on innovation, infrastructure, and inclusive growth. Then came the talk show, moderated by my friend Aline Wiratmaja , with the panelists: Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) , the former Governor of Jakarta , with his trademark blunt honesty. Josua Pardede , Chief Economist of Permata...

Saya Nuniek Tirta, bukan ((hanya)) seorang Istri Direktur

Catatan penting: untuk mencapai pemahaman penuh, mohon klik dan baca setiap tautan. Awalnya adalah pertanyaan . Membuahkan suatu jawaban . Diposting di akun pribadi, seperti yang biasa saya lakukan sejak hampir 15 tahun lalu , bahkan sebelum Mark Zuckerberg membuat Facebook. Jawaban yang juga autopost ke facebook itu menjadi viral, ketika direshare oleh lebih dari 20ribu orang, dengan emoticon lebih dari 38ribu, dan mengundang 700++ komentar. Kemudian menjalar liar, ketika portal-portal media online mengcopas ditambah clickbaits. Tidak ada media yang mewawancara saya terlebih dahulu ke saya kecuali satu media yang menghasilkan tulisan berkelas dengan data komprehensif ini . Well, ada juga yang sempat email ke saya untuk meminta wawancara, tapi belum sempat saya jawab, sudah menurunkan berita duluan selang sejam setelah saya posting foto di bustrans Jakarta . Selebihnya... Tidak ada yang konfirmasi terlebih d...

Going Home with a 270 Million Bill and a Prayer

Thursday, August 21, 2025 This is it! The day I finally got discharged after 10 nights in the hospital. After surviving ESWL for kidney stones + laparoscopy for appendix + mini laparotomy for myom and uterus removal. In the morning, Dr. Eko came by with the golden ticket: “You can go home today.” And previously, Dr. Ong team also said the same. Finally! I’d been waiting for that sentence like a kid waiting for recess. Of course, it’s never as simple as “the doctor said I can go home.” Nope. There’s a whole backstage performance involving the nurses, admin, pharmacy, and let’s not forget the insurance company. Meanwhile, my husband was busy running back and forth between the hospital room and the car, carrying bags, while I reminded him, “Don’t forget to buy bread for the nurses and staff.” Doctor on duty replaced the dressing on my laparoscopy wounds, but left the laparotomy one alone. Too wet, too risky. I didn’t even argue, I’m just glad someone else was brave enough to de...

A Series of Plot Twists

Today felt like an indie film directed by the universe itself. Every scene had a sudden plot twist , and I was just the confused yet slightly amused main character, improvising my way through. Plot twist number one: I was supposed to go to Jakarta Premium Outlet to find something to wear for Saturday. But! My husband suddenly had an offline meeting. Plot twist number two: I wasn’t planning to join him, but he suggested I come along and wait at a café. Better than being home alone, I thought. Plot twist number three: he assumed the meeting was in Tangerang, just thirty minutes from BSD. Nope. Kuningan. More than an hour’s drive. Plot twist number four: Hungry in the car because we’d only had brunch, we planned to grab snacks. But I missed the exit, got sucked into the toll road, and ended up snackless and pretty starving. Plot twist number five: I landed at one of my favorite places, Erasmus Huis. I read a book in the library and ordered food at the little Dutch café. Just a...

What if peace had an address?

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax. — Mark Black At five in the morning, while most of the world was still asleep (and probably dreaming of not having to wake up early on a Friday), we were already in the car, heading to Puncak. Our youngest could join this time because her school was running an asynchronous week, meaning she could attend classes online from anywhere, even from the hills. The sky was still dim when we left, but slowly, soft streaks of gold began to spill across the horizon. That kind of sunrise, the one that looks like it’s whispering, “You made the right choice waking up early”, was our silent reward. People often complain about going to Puncak because of the infamous traffic jams. But we’ve learned the secret two years ago after months of renovation trips: leave at 5 AM, 6 AM the very latest, or don't bother going at all. With this little trick, we reached our villa complex in just two hours flat. No traffic, no stress, ju...

The Diary of a CEO's Wife

Search This Blog