Are You Ready for Valentines Day (Part II)

Dear my fellow readers,

If you read my last post, I'm sure you wonder what the second alternative I would like to recommend you for Valentines gift. This time is not for young adult or adult but for the kids. If you have children or nephews or nieces or any member of family/children under 10 years old you would love to give a gift for Valentines Day, please, check this children book below.

"Coki Periksa Lagi!" (Coki, Check Again!) is written by Yunita D. Harahap, a talented author special for children and teenager books.  This educated children book has been published last month, in December 2011 and can be found at Gramedia, Gunung Agung and all Christian book stores in Indonesia.  This is the third book after "Coki Bisa Apa?" (Coki What He Can Do?) and "Coki Mengambil Risiko" (Coki Took the Risk).  She also wrote an educated teenager book: "Maafkan Aku" (Forgive Me).

I had read two of them: "Coki Bisa Apa" and "Coki Mengambil Risiko" and "Maafkan Aku". My daughter got them (Coki) as Christmas presents in 2010 from her (and "Maafkan Aku" is a gift for me). As a result, I had to retell them in English so she could understand the stories were about. We both love the picture of Coki--a little pigeon--especially his cute face--with chubby chicks, hehehe... The stories are interesting and very educated, easy to understand and the illustrations are beautiful.

The special thing about these books beside I mentioned above is the author now resides in US, the illustrator now resides in Australia after he finished his study in art design in US and the publisher is from Indonesia. It is intercontinental project.

As a children and teenager book author--as I know--she has read many books including novels, too.  One of them is "Enthusiasm".  She becomes fans of it after reading it and even has good friendship with its author.  You can read her comments about "Enthusiasm" in Indonesian here (click). 

And what about with my little daughter comments after having those two books? She said one day she would like to write a book like Coki. Hehehe . . . it is contagious, isn't it? But then what I see now she even writes many girly and mysterious stories, hahahaha!!! What an opposite--my cute little daughter!!!



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Are You Ready for Valentines Day? (Part I)

Are you ready for Valentines Day?  What do you prepare to buy as a gift for your loved ones?  I'm sure you will find so many red theme of flowers, chocolates, any kinds of candies and Teddy Bears, etc in the stores. And did you ever think you were going to give a special thing besides those?  I did. 

It was bored giving the same chocolates or other little bears to my hubby.  I was so excited planning to give him something else.  Can you guess?  (Hmm, hmm ...)  It was a poem!!!  What a nice, little and simple gift but I was sure it was special for him.

Well, if you have the same thought like me, you should prepare it earlier.  So what is it?  I'm trying to give you several suggestions--if you don't mind.

First, do you ever think about a book: A book about love?  I'm sure you will be easy to find it during this season in the book stores.  And if you care about someone you love who needs encouragement and support, the inspirational book is the answer.

Well, don't you think I'm going to promote my book?  Of course, the answer is YES!

ENTHUSIASM in Indonesian version will be released soon in the end of this month, prepared for Indonesians to celebrate Valentines Days.  You can find ANTUSIASME (The title in Indonesian version) in many book stores: Gramedia, Gunung Agung and all Christian Book Stores in Indonesia.

I was so excited when the publisher sent me (almost) final cover of my book. It looked much better and prettier than its original. I cannot wait to show it to you as soon as possible when it has been released already. Besides Valentines Day, they are planning to present ANTUSIASME to celebrate KARTINI DAY, April 21. Awesome!!!

Meanwhile you're still waiting for this book released, I'll present you an inspiring video that might give you something to fill your days. ENJOY!!!



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Introducing the 41st "Enthusiasm" Ambassador

Dear My Fellow Readers,

I'm proudly introducing you a new "Enthusiasm" Ambassador, Johanes Krisnomo from Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, and he becomes the 41st "Enthusiasm" Ambassador.  He is an alumnus of chemistry, Bandung Institute of Technology, a writer, an environmentalists, food technology, health, food chemistry and food industry practitioners.  As a writer, his many articles can be found at several local newspapers in his hometown.  His dream, someday his article will be published in a national newspaper and also he wants to write a book.  The special thing about him: he is a graduated student from online writing course, pelatihan menulis.com where I lead.  

Anybody who is interested to become an "Enthusiasm" Ambassador, you may send me a message or contact me via Facebook and must follow some rules below:
1. You must be an Indonesian, female or male, no matter where you live;
2. You have an account in Facebook, have been as an active user, and have at least 50 friends in your list;
3. Your age is not less than 18 years old;
4. You will give me permission to post promotion messages of "Enthusiasm" book, either in Indonesian or English version to your wall and tag it to your Facebook account;
5. You should consider that this is a volunteer activity and you don't have to forward those messages to others;
6. As an "Enthusiasm" Ambassador, you will be the first person who has a chance to know the recent news about "Enthusiasm" in Indonesian version;
7. You will have a chance to be three of the most active "Enthusiasm" Ambassadors and will be awarded.

So, don't wait so long! Be the 42nd1st and 43rd Enthusiasm" Ambassadors!
To read a short profile of 40th "Enthusiasm" Ambassador, click here.

Special to all 41 "Enthusiasm" Ambassadors, please accept my great appreciation of your great support! Let's make "Enthusiasm" brighter and brighter and more people will get inspired, then great blessing will come to all of us. Thank you so much!!!

And below, you will see their pictures, names and locations in a slideshow alphabetically. (Important note: Because Slide.com will be shutting down on March 6, 2012, every new ambassador picture isn't able to be downloaded in this slideshow but it will be attached in the post. I apologize for this inconvenience. Thank you)

Agustinus Rohayadi (Entrepreneur), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Ambar Purwaningrum (Private Employee), Surabaya, Indonesia
Ani Pratamawati (Government Employee), Lombok, Indonesia
Christine Wuryanano (Business Woman), Surabaya, Indonesia
Edy Zaqeus (Indonesian best selling author, writing coach, trainer and editor), Tangerang, Indonesia
Elfia Venesia (Housewife), Jakarta, Indonesia
Endang Dwi Astuti (Housewife), Jakarta, Indonesia
Erni Nuraeni Azizah (College Student), Bandung, Indonesia
Esther Yosephine Sanggelorang (Private Employee), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Evy Ariani Laurens (Housewife), Surabaya, Indonesia
Heni Kurniawati (Writer, Private Employee), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Hermien Harsono (Entrepreneur), Surabaya, Indonesia
Ida Tri Wulandari (Government Employee), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Ika Andriani Karim (Mc Donald Manager), Surabaya, Indonesia
Ika Devita Susanti (Admission), Surabaya, Indonesia
Johanes Krisnomo (Writer, environmentalists, food technology, health, food chemistry and food industry practitioners), Bandung, Indonesia
Judita Andarise (Housewife), Surabaya, Indonesia
Katharina Rika A (Private Employee), Surabaya, Indonesia
Lilik Maskuroh Witono (Entrepreneur), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Lily Sikome (Math Teacher, Postgraduate Student), Malang, Indonesia
Meivy Lembong (Private Employee), Menado-Sulsel, Indonesia
Mien Setiawan (Entrepreneur), Semarang, Indonesia
Mona Margaretha T (Private Employee), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Mutiara Anna Rarome Kambey (Private Employee), Surabaya, Indonesia
Nana Mathias F (Housewife, entrepreneur), Tulungagung, Indonesia
Niken Amartani (Entrepreneur), Bandung, Indonesia
Nila Ratnawati (Housewife), Surabaya, Indonesia
Nur Aini (Housewife), Malang, Indonesia
Ririn Ayuandari (Housewife), Makassar, Indonesia
Rizki Amelia Rahmadhani (Accountant Employee), Surabaya, Indonesia
Ruslan Andy Chandra (Founder and Board Chair of Promo Sijori Foundation), Jakarta, Indonesia
Ruth Dian Purnamasari (Business woman), Jakarta, Indonesia
Sahala Napitupulu (Editor of Tabloid Genie, Mom & Kiddie; and Just For Kids Magazine), Jakarta, Indonesia
Stephanie Setiyadi (College Student), Surabaya, Indonesia
Sukma Rini (Housewife), Surabaya, Indonesia
Susana Rinasari (Housewife), Bandung, Indonesia
Tutik Partiningsih (Private Employee), Surabaya, Indonesia
Velixa Huwae (Housewife), Sidoarjo, Indonesia
Vieske Eingeline Matius Kathiandago (Private Employee), Kamal-Madura, Indonesia
Viviana Andrew (Entrepreneur), Ipoh, Malaysia
Yunita Phillips (Writer), Ohio, USA

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NEW YEAR, NEW HOME, NEW STOVE and NEW HOPE

The picture was taken on April, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I believe it is not too late to mention it. We've had no internet access since the end of November 2011 till now, including TV cable and home phone. We were in the process of moving to a new house. Step by step we moved our belongings ourselves every week or with a help of our neighbors every time we had a chance because we both had to work. Only Christmas we had a day off. The lucky thing, it only takes around 7-8 minutes to go to our new house from the old house.

Everybody likes the new house. It is smaller than the one we lived before but it's suitable for three persons to live in: my husband, my little daughter and myself. Everything is new except several doors and all the windows.

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas with all our children. As we still don't have a couch in the living room, I bought a small area rug and everybody could sit on it and enjoy our Christmas morning: having breakfast, playing a new game, painting/drawing and opening the Christmas gifts.

Christmas morning, I became a Santa Clause, ha ha . . .

Christmas Breakfast

A problem appeared when I tried to bake something. The oven didn't work. The worst thing, it was around 2 weeks before Christmas. The result was I could not bake special food for Christmas, but the good thing was I cooked NASI SOTO AYAM instead of baking food and everybody loved it. That made me happy.  It was the first time we celebrated Christmas with an Indonesian food--yellow spicy (tasty) chicken soup served with rice (nasi) for our Christmas lunch.

Christmas lunch

My plate, Nasi Soto Ayam

The new stove came on January 2nd in the morning and it cheered me up--I could not wait to start baking again, trying several new recipes of my own and others.

With the old stove in the new kitchen

Other good news that cheered me up too, I got a news from Indonesian publisher. They are going to release my book in the end of this month if there are no other new changes. I'm so excited and cannot wait for the marketing manager contact me for the news of the marketing he will plan. This is a great and very special present for me in the beginning of this year. I thank God for this opportunity He has given and I hope this book will bring blessing for every reader in Indonesia.

Besides of that, I have gotten some questions when and what book I'm writing now. I have to be honest that I have been absent almost a year not to continue my script for the second novel because of getting a new full time job and finding a new house. Those gave me the hard time to find the time to write. It was so stressful but you may believe or not, I had been enjoying my hard time too much and I felt that was what a real life was about I had to thank for. That would make me alive and getting mature every time and every year. New cases are good for me for learning. One thing is the most important, I have seen how God walked with me in every step of my life and my family. He sent some angels to help us during the difficult time.  So this year, this new year I believe--as I always say to everybody-- new year is new hope, full of enthusiasm for my family and myself:

Bubby is doing fine now after getting lung transplant last June. He is planning to start his class again in Eastern University this month.

Sissy got a new job several days before Christmas after graduated from her college last May. I believe it was the greatest Christmas and New Year gift for her she ever got.

Mimi is still busy with her study in the college. She is going to transfer to the North Carolina University as she said to me. But I hope she will go to University of Pennsylvania to continue her study instead of NCU.

Little Mermaid is always busy with her drawing almost every day. We are so proud of her as her creations/arts had been chosen to attend in an art show last year and as one of the pictures of 2012 Coatesville School District calender. She said she wants to be an artist, art teacher, writer and illustrator.

My husband, I believe he is getting better and better in his health. I was happy he attended in Christmas Eve service after several years he was absent because of his work schedules.

Myself, I hope this year I commit to finish writing my script--either continuing the second novel or starting the next saga novel. I haven't made any decision yet. Other hope is Enthusiasm in Indonesian version will be received well in the heart of many Indonesians.

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