Labels: about me, wordless wednesday

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My contract with the company will end next February. After that, I haven't decided what I'll be doing.

My Dad told me to just find another job. My MIL suggested trying my luck in starting a business.

One or 2 years back, I would just do what Dad advised me to. But now, things change. I'd like to try my MIL's advice.

I've learned the possibility and I think I can do that. I've also been doing researches. I think I even can start in the beginning of 2007.

Yet, I still need more advices. I mean, it's my first time being an entrepreneur, running a business, eventhough it's small. There are worries, of course.

But, they won't stop me. To overcome the fear and worries, I have checked out some sites that can give me ideas or advices on running the business.

Thankfully, I found this great site offering free advice for small business owners. It really enriches me with information and stuff regarding a business.

So, I think, next year, you can start calling me Business Woman.

Labels: blog, business

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

In Indonesia, we celebrate Mother's Day at December 22nd. It means, today.

But, this year, Mother's Day will only bring tears. It will remind me of my GrandMa who passed away in September.

When she was with us, my Mom, GrandMa and me would spend time together, chatting and laughing. Sometimes, I made fun of her if one of her children forgot the special day and didn't show up.

But now, there's only Mom and me. I'm afraid that both of us will end up crying if I said Happy Mother's Day to her.

Oh, I really miss my GrandMa.

Labels: family

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From some sources I've read, they say that as we age, we are less capable to produce enzymes. And, why am I concerned about it?

Because, it might cause RAPID AGING! OMG!

Not that I wish to look like 17 while I'm 50. No. It's just, I wish to look at my age. Not looking like 50 while I'm 30.

BTW, I'll be 30 next year. And, most people over 30 years of age are enzyme deficient.

So, I think I have to be well prepared. Don't you think?

My friend told me that one of the ways to avoid enzyme deficiency is by detoxifying your body with herbal or organic enzyme. That sounds like a great idea, doesn't it?

She said she tried to detoxify her body with Enzymecorrect. Enzymecorrect caused her no side effect. And, it helped her with the digestive problem she used to have. The best thing is that, it worked very very quickly!

Well, it must be good. I mean, a recommendation from a friend. Would you try it?

I think I would. Come on now, detoxify your body with Enzymecorrect.

Labels: health

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

There are many things that inspire my writing. There are also places that do. There are also people. And, here they are:

1. Other writers - I love reading other writers' life/biography since it gives me lots of inspirations for me to keep writing.
2. Books - any kind of books. Fictions and non-fictions. Usually, after finishing a book, ideas come to mind.
3. Friends - it's not that I write about my friends' life or anything. But, after hanging out or having a chat with them, I kinda get inspired.
4. TV - not all shows...but some of them make me think and come up with ideas
5. My Baby Hana - I have a special blog for her. And she makes me want to write and write again.
6. Restroom / toilet - I have this bizarre habit: sitting down for such a long time on the toilet seat. Sometimes I read, some other time, I simply think. And, that gives me ideas!
7. Bus - in the bus, I see many people. Different kind of people. Sometimes one or two give me ideas on my writing just by watching them.
8. Discussions - I love discussing about anything with anyone. And, yes, it's inspiring!
9. Weddings - yup, wedding gives me lots of ideas...lots of them
10. Bed - I do my thinking in the bed, mostly before I sleep. Usually, I write the ideas that come down on the paper so tomorrow I can follow them up.
11. While browsing & blogging - I bet you do, too.
12. Beautiful pictures/photos - my brother has a great talent on photography and his shots are so great that they are totally inspiring.
13. My life - yeah...my best friend's comment on my first published short story was "It's you, isn't it?" Well, it wasn't, dear! ;P
    

Labels: inspiration, thursday 13

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Labels: hana, wordless wednesday

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

Yes, I decided that it's time for me to exercise regularly. This decision is not related my wishing to lose weight. Not at all!

It's more related to my wishing to be healthy.

I love jogging. It's just it's gonna be more like walking after I pass one block or two. I get tired easily.

I tried fitness once. I liked it. It's just, sometimes, the place is so full of people that it makes me uncomfortable.

Well, know what I love most? Dance.

Yes, dance is a great way to exercise. Sometimes I combine it with a little aerobic that I once learned in the gym or from some DVDs. Not only it's fun, since I do it at home by myself, I don't have to worry that other see me making silly moves.

Hahaha...yes, I do make silly moves, most of the time. But, I believe they help me burn calories.

Once I did it in front of my hubby. He did laugh. I was kinda embarrassed. But...who cares!!! I was enjoying my self and making my self healthier. So...a hubby who laughed out loud didn't stop me from doing what I think was right.

But I wasn't angry at him. I simply came to him and gave him a loving kiss on his forehead and asked him to get out of the room.

And, of course, he refused.

;P


FYI, this post is inspired by www.noexcusesgym.com

Labels: health

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

I have another blog containing some very short stories I have written.

Click THIS if you wish to read the English ones.

And, THIS if you'd like to read the Indonesian ones.

Also, THIS if you want to read my writings in French (which might contain lots of Grammatical Errors).

Labels: blog, stories

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

Let me start with the first word of the above title. Who's got engaged? My cousin.

Yesterday, my family attended an angagement party held by my cousin and his fiancé. What was so special was that it was the fiancé's birthday. It was indeed funny.

Why?

Because the fiancé is my cousin's cousin from his mother side (I'm his cousin from his father's side). Some of his aunties and uncles were surprised.

But all of us prayed for their happiness.

Both are still studying (my cousin's 22 and his fiancé's 21). So, they won't get married until the next 2 years.

My brother, 26 years old, doesn't even have a girl friend. But hope soon he'll find his soulmate.

And now, about blogger beta.

Yes, finally I took the decision to move to Beta. Why? Don't know. I just feel like it.

:D

Labels: blog, family

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

Have you visited Prague?

If you haven't, yet you wish you did, visiting this blog is something you'd like to do.

This blog will provide you with thousands of photos of this capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It can also make you feel as if you have a walk on Prague city center.

Enjoy the beauty of Prague. Enjoy your virtual tour.

I did my turn...now it's yours.

Bon voyage! ;D

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

A library sold their collections just now, and I bought many books with at least 70% discount! :D

Here are 13 of those books:

1. Arranged Marriage: Stories by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni


2. The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni


3. Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni


4. The Vine of Desire by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (1-4 are Divakaruni's, it's simply because I like her writings and I'm a book collector who dream to have my own library, one day)
   


5. Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa (I'd love to get letters from a great writer)
   


6. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding (I have the 1st one, this is the 2nd one, remember, I'm a book collector, so even if I've watched both the movies, I'd love to have the printed story :D)
   


7. The Lottie Project by Jacqueline Wilson (I collect Wilson's books)


8. Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson (I like it when Patterson writes a non-mysterical book)
   


9. World of Pies: A Novel by Karen Stolz (I fell in love with its cover)


10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4) by JK Rowling (I bought it at only US$ 1, yippie!)


11. Jazz (Contemporary Fiction, Plume) by Toni Morrison


12. The Bluest Eye (Oprah's Book Club) by Toni Morrison (It's my first time reading Morisson's but from a review, this Nobel Prize Winner's writings are great)


13. Cosmopolitan Girls: A Novel by Charlotte Burley, Lyah Beth Leflore (this book was meant to be a birthday present for a friend, but I kinda like it, too. We'll see if I finally keep it and get my friend another gift or I give it to her :D)

I know, I'm late...terribly late.

But if you still would like to join TT, check this one out.

Labels: thursday 13

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I need to get myself reminded, and so do you.

Why? Why not?

Now, let's say you have dozens of friends, many family members but, you have problems with memory.

You can't remember their birthdays, their anniversaries, etc.

Don't you think you need to be reminded?

Yes, you do.

Try this online calendar reminder. The calendar will surely help you remember any dates, any birthdays, any anniversaries. Get alerts and event reminders by email or cell phone, for free. Plus, share them with your friends and family.

Before, I wrote down all the important dates in a piece of paper and put it on the fridge. But, I miss some important dates anyway.

But since I use this wonderful calendar, not a single day was missed. My friends and family seem to love me even more!

So, come on now, get your finger click the link below:
http://www.americangreetings.com/products/online_calendar.pd

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

All this time, I’ve been thinking about being a writer of fictions only. But the idea seems to change lately.

Remember, I’ve borrowed some books from my boss? I’d done with Make Money Self-Publishing. Then, I took How to Start and Run a Small Book Publishing Company. The 1st one really made me enthusiastic and eager to start publishing my novel. But then, the 2nd book told me that publishing a fiction would be hard to help me make money.

I put the book right away. I wished I didn’t read it.

It made me totally cheesed off. It almost killed my big wish to try self-publishing.

But then, I gave some thought about it. Then, I took the other book, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing. I didn’t read all part of it, only the sub-chapters with writings about fictions.

Then, I put away all the books. Reading nothing. Simply thinking.
I asked my self…why did I decide to try self-publishing at the first place? To make money and to be a writer.

Then, I asked my self again…can’t you get both by writing a non-fiction? I think I can.

But, can I write a non-fiction? I mean one book of it? So far, I have written non-fictions, but they are simply articles of less than a thousand of words.

So, I took sometime to think again…and, it ended me up in a new idea, a great one…I know what to write! One book of non-fiction.

Suddenly the idea changed my life. It got me extremely excited. I can’t wait to make it happen. I can’t wait to be able to write it. I can’t wait to publish it. I can’t wait to sell it.

This week, I’m planning to look for a printing company, trying to get a low price but good in quality. I’ve asked my brother to help me. And my hubby, too.

It’s always nice to get supports from a family, isn’t it?

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

It’s been quite a long time since my daughter, Hana (2.5 yo), starts to have her ability to make choices. This ability improves when she reached the age of 2.

I, who used to her habit of doing whatever I told her, whatever I served her for meal, and whenever I decided her to take a bath, am now totally confused with the change.

Now, she keeps saying NO whenever I ask her to do things, saying NO to any food I prepare for her (she’s being a picky eater lately), and more NOs to everything.

It seems like her vocabs shrink to NO (exaggerating, yes, I am…in fact, her vocabs are starting to be uncountable…no hyperbolism here).

This makes me feel like I don’t know how to handle my own daughter. Worse, my Mom who lives nearby, keep backing her up. She never lets me be strict to my daughter.

“She’s just a child…she doesn’t understand.”

Oh Mom…you don’t know. She’s manipulating you…! I wanted to yell that to her (which I never do, yet I’ve told her about it, so many times, before).

And the worst is…I feel totally guilty whenever I try to be strict to my daughter. I mean, she’s my angel… everytime I see her sleep beside me (yes, my hubby and I are still sharing bed with her, I don’t think I can let her sleep by herself because I’m being paranoid of earthquake, I won’t forgive my self if that happens (knocking on the wood hoping it won’t happen) and I’m not by her side), I feel like I should treat her more with softness instead of firmness.

Well, I know I’m not the only mother with such a problem. Has anyone been in the same situation? Feeling like a looser for not knowing how to deal with your manipulating-yet-cute ‘lil daughter?

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

Appetizer
Which language would you like to learn and why?

Oh there are so many languages I'd liek to learn...Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and many more...and, I'd also like to improve my French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Germany...yes I've learned these languages...

Soup
What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?

Nothing funny...poor me!

Salad
Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?

Actually not because it's bad...it's simply a horror movie. I'm afraid of horrors...

Main Course
If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?

NadNuts the Wide Imagination

Dessert
Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.

I don't really care about new movies. I prefer watching movies at home from my DVD player. And, I only watch those who get good critics.

Try your own feast...

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Reposting:

Do You Like Harry Potter?

I do. I really do. I think JK Rowling is a genius for creating such a great character. Don't you think?

I always enjoy reading the book. It helps my mind go as wild as I want to. Imagining how scary Voldemort is, imagining how wise Dumbledore is, imagining everything about Harry.

But...before I continue, let me ask you one question: Do you remember how tremendously enjoyable it was to have your parents read to you when you were kid?

Would you mind another question: Don't you ever wish there was someone who was willing to read all the chapters in all Harry Potter's books for you?

Well, somebody answered your wish...guess what, now you can enjoy Harry Potter Audiobooks!

But it's expensive to buy. So, I suggest you to try the rental program. Know what...renting via Simply Audiobooks would be a great economical way for you who wish to enjoy imagining while someone is reading the whole chapters for you, especially the Harry Potter ones. Or, you can even listen to the audiobooks with your kids.

So, what's the waiting for? Try this new way of enjoying a book now!

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

1. I wish I were in my office writing articles, browsing and blogging (I'm in an internet cafe now).
2. My babyHana is sleeping in my parents' house so I can go to the cafe (it's 2.30 pm now).
3. I took my babyHana for a trial in a preschool. She enjoyed it, I did, too.
4. Feeling extremely proud of my daughter for being good at school.
5. I miss my co-worker, Rani...you'd better read this, girl, when we meet again, next week.
6. My hubby's not feeling well but he had to go to work for his big project, I thank God for this.
7. I miss my computer at the office...huhhuu...
8. I don't know what else to say...hehehe...
9. It's been 1 hour 17 minutes 37 seconds since I started logging in.
10. I'm reading Lying in Bed by Polly Samson. See picture above for the cover. BTW, I love the cover so much, don't you?
    
11. I'll be online until 3 pm.
12. I met a dear friend, Widya, yesterday to accompany her designing her wedding invitation and to have lunch together. Miss you already, girl...
13. Yippieeee...it's #13!

Labels: thursday 13

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

I do. I really do. I think JK Rowling is a genius for creating such a great character. Don't you think?

I always enjoy reading the book. It helps my mind go as wild as I want to. Imagining how scary Voldemort is, imagining how wise Dumbledore is, imagining everything about Harry.

But...before I continue, let me ask you one question: Do you remember how tremendously enjoyable it was to have your parents read to you when you were kid?

Would you mind another question: Don't you ever wish there was someone who was willing to read all the chapters in all Harry Potter's books for you?

Well, somebody answered your wish...guess what, now you can enjoy Harry Potter Audiobooks!

But it's expensive to buy. So, I suggest you to try the rental program. Know what...renting via Simply Audiobooks would be a great economical way for you who wish to enjoy imagining while someone is reading the whole chapters for you, especially the Harry Potter ones. Or, you can even listen to the audiobooks with your kids.

So, what's the waiting for? Try this new way of enjoying a book now!

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.

If it is, then why I felt guilty saying it to a prospective buyer of my family’s property?

The property belonged to my GrandMa. When she could make decisions of her own, when she was totally healthy, she sold some of it by not thinking that business was business. If she knew that the buyer was not too wealthy, then she would give a very low price. She was indeed extremely generous.

But now, she’s gone. All the property are taken care by her children. They’re not selling any of it yet. But a buyer came last night and wanted to buy some of it. But…his price was like 20% of the real price! So, I, who accompanied my Mom said, “Business is business, Sir.”

But then…after he left our house, I kept remembering my GrandMa and how generous she was. And, I felt guilty for being strict to that guy.

So, I was asking my self…is business business, or is it something else?

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I always use pictures for my desktop wallpapers. Sometimes, I put on pictures of my dear daughter. Most of the times, I use some beautiful pictures that I download for free.

But, sometimes, I hate it if those free pics contain spyware or adware. Worse, some are difficult to download.




But now, things are easier. I've found a great place to get free desktop wallpaper. There, I can find all the types of desktop wallpapers I need, such as seasonal ones, nature scenes, inspirational ones, even some cute Care Bear pics which my baby Hana likes.

And, the best thing about it is that it contains no spyware or adware! Plus, those pics are so easy to download.

You see the pic above? Yes, that's the one I use on my desktop now. I love the greeny-turquoise color and its simplicity.

BTW, they've got screensavers as well!

Wanna try?

Now, I'm blogging at http://NadiahAlwi.com/english, please visit me there. Thanks.