FEBRUARY: One Month Four Celebrations

February is a special month for me and this year will be more special because I have four celebrations. First is celebrating the time I was born. Could you guess how old I am? Many friends at work called me "Young Lady", "Miss Fida", etc but when I told them I had 4 children, their eyes moved forward one inch (hahaha!) And when they were trying to guess how old I was, nobody was even close to predict my age. But when I gave them a small indication, their eyes even moved forward two inches (huahahaha!!!)

Well, most people really want to look younger and I'm a lucky one to have this. When they asked what the recipe to look younger was, I even wasn't ready to give the right answers. I used to give a quick answer without thinking that I drank a lot of water. They even laughed at me hearing this cute answer.  Whatever! 

Looking younger for me has plus and minus.  Plus, of course we know that by looking younger, we feel more confidence showing people that we take care ourselves well, especially our health.  Minus, this is what I don't like to talk about.  I had many experiences how people treated me like I was still as a teenager or a young adult who didn't have many experiences in many fields.  That was fine until then they would know I was not like what they thought.

By the way, my husband still likes to make a joke when introducing me to his friends that he married with a teenager, hahaha!!!  Most of them would stared at me from the top of my hair to the bottom of my toes, thinking how old I was--I could read their minds hehehe... 

Whatever they thought, it doesn't matter. Age is just number. What I want is to be wiser and fruitful every year for my family, friends and everybody.

This month, on February 10 is the 6th year of my blogging activity. I even didn't feel that so long enough. I really enjoy blogging. Thank you to Ang Tek Khun who had suggested me to start blogging six years ago.

In two years (2008) after I started to blog, this personal blog had been chosen as one of the finalists of Christian Indonesian bloggers. A year later, in February 2009, this personal blog got Honorable Mentioned Blog from BlogNet Award and had reached page rank 3 in Google. That was good enough for personal blog to reach that number in three years. And until this year, this personal blog has gotten 53 awards given by many bloggers around the world.

But most of them I would like to thank you for every loyal bloggers, visitors and readers who keep coming to read the recent post here.  Thank you so much for your interest.

And what's the third one?

In February 24th 2010, my first novel "Enthusiasm" had been released. I even could not believe I had done a big project as I had scheduled.  Several months later, "Enthusiasm" got Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for category of novel from North American Bookdealers Exchange.  Then in summer 2010, "Enthusiasm" got an interest from one of Indonesian publishers.

Behind that scene, I would like to thank you to my friend, Budi Agus Nataatmadja and his wife, Elizabeth Handoko in Auckland, New Zealand who had introduced me to General Manager of YKBK publisher, Yunita D. Harahap. After reading my book, this publisher had interest to make a long contract with me.

And now the fourth, YKBK publisher would release my book in this month. When the date exactly is, I'm so excited to announce you soon along with the new-more beautiful book (front and back) covers.

Do you want to know the reasons why they were so interested to publish my book in Indonesia? Please, stay tuned to read this blog. I'll be right back with many interesting news in the next couple days regarding my book released in Indonesia.

Meanwhile we're waiting for, if you're Indonesian and has interest in writing, please, visit "Pelatihan menulis online" (Online writing course). Probably you're interested to join and have some questions, please, be free to write them to the link they provides. Hurry up!  The registration will end on February 18, 2012 and they have 10 % discount and will end on February 14th.***

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Are You Ready for Valentines Day ?(Part III)

Did you ever hear the name THE RUFFLED RIBBON before? I did last year. I like that name and became interested since I knew the owner, Berlin Belle-LeVan, was the person who I just knew when I did my second book signing at Coatesville Area Public Library, August 21, 2010. Her husband, John LeVan, President of Board of Trustee, introduced her to me. Several months later she found me online and told that she had finished reading Enthusiasm and then she became one of the fans of it. What a big surprise!

If you wonder what she had written her thought about Enthusiasm, you can visit this link.

The Ruffled Ribbon is a new online "gift loft" where you can shop for great gift ideas for yourself and your loved ones, celebrating "useful gifts" or items that are not only attractive and appealing, but useful and practical.

As I visited its website, it became more interesting when I saw it had many kinds and various items, especially if we are interested in personalized gift items from baby gifts, youth till adult.  The website will

be updated with any gift items following what we are celebrating for: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc.  We also can find many other special gift items in daily basis for different occasions: Anniversary, Birthday, Wedding, etc.

As Valentines Day will be coming soon, she has updated the new gift items. You can see couple of examples here but for other detail gifts, you should visit its website.  Don't forget she also gives special coupons you can use during this month.

If you'd like to be the first to know when new products have been added to the Ruffled Ribbon or advanced notice of sales, you can join their newsletter by filling out the form in this link.

Knowing where the office location in Exton is not far from where I live, I really want to have a visit and meet her there, and I can also have a chance to see any interesting products she has.  Well, actually she lives not far from me.  She is my neighbor now, probably around couple blocks away from my house or we can meet each other in library, hehehe . . .

So what you're waiting for?  Visit The Ruffled Ribbon website, take a look and make any purchase online for your Valentines day gifts for your loved ones.

Any questions?
You can call 1-888-671-4461
or email to sales@theRuffledRibbon.com (office hours: Monday - Friday 9am-4pm EST)
or by mail to

The Ruffled Ribbon
256 Eagleview Boulevard
Suite 106
Exton, PA 19341

Let's celebrate Valentines Day with 

The Ruffled Ribbon!

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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 cheeks, 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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