Day 17 of 365 grateful days project.

"I'm grateful that the client likes the 4 designs I've made."

So I woke up at 4.30 AM to be able to catch my flight this morning, which was at 6.10. I was supposed to have the meeting in the afternoon. However, the meeting got cancelled because the Client needed to be somewhere else, but I still sent the work I've done via email. - I wish I knew that the meeting was cancelled before though. Then I could have spent more days with my family in Surabaya.

Anyhoo, I'm super happy they like them! Now it's only the editing process that we have to go through. But that's more relaxing than coming up with concepts.

Awesome.

365 grateful days project graphic design job

11:05 am

Day 16 of 365 grateful days project.

"I"m grateful for having a new design project to do from now to a couple of weeks later."

I've just got the news that my proposal to the ad print design for a PMA company in Bali is accepted. I'm terribly, terribly excited to do that! I like to work on anything visual; so photography and graphic designing are two of the things I love to do the most. Make it a business and earn from the creativity that I enjoy every second making, that's even better.

The downside of that news is that I have to go back to Bali earlier than I would have preferred. First meeting will be tomorrow on Friday (I know, such a tight schedule). Luckily, I have prepared some designs even before the proposal was agreed. But I need to do some polishing with some of them.

My mother was pouting, grumbling that she still missed me and that my trip was too short. So I had to promise that I'd come back soon. I do have to come back sooner than the last time I visited Surabaya (about a year ago). This trip didn't make up for it as I only spent my time with my mom and my family. Next visit will be slightly longer and I'll try to make some time to meet some friends.

Life is good.

365 grateful days project job

6:51 am

Day 15 of 365 grateful days project.


"I'm grateful for the great, successful Mum's birthday celebration."


She woke up at 4 AM and insisted that I should not be falling asleep again. She talked and talked and talked for hours and how happy she was that I was there. It was her birthday so I tried my best to be awake at that weird hour.


Later that day, after Michelle came back from school (she had her final examination so she returned home earlier than usual), I made her my sous chef. We made macaroni schotel for starter, roasted chicken and potato wedges for the main course, and chocolate chip cookies for the dessert. I think there was never a time in my family's life to have three courses in a row. But this time we do. All baked with my Mum's brand new oven. :) 


Michelle, especially, was so excited that she was allowed to help. My mother never allows children to be around her in the kitchen when she cooks. She's afraid that something will happen to the kid: knife cutting the finger, or too close to the fire that they get burned. That's why I never knew how to cook until I was 27. For me, children should be acquainted to cooking in the kitchen from the early age. The more they are used to it and the danger of several things, the more they are aware of these. And they can develop their cooking skill from then on. And I mean how can you resist to smile to see this happy face of hers while she cooks?

And my mum was super happy because there was a change in the dishes consumed on her birthday this year. She'd been having pecel for her past birthdays. 

365 grateful days project family food

11:41 am

Day 14 of 365 grateful days project.


"I'm grateful for seeing my mother's surprised face as I went home from Carrefour with Michelle bringing an electric oven as her birthday gift."


Her jaw literally dropped.


Her own traditional oven had been broken a long time ago. She never said she wanted an oven but I could tell from the look of her face when she was staying at my place last year that she'd like to have one. But being as she is, she'll never ask you that. So Vincent and I agreed to buy her this electric oven, I think even better than mine, as her birthday present. I know that her birthday is tomorrow but I want the oven to be used tomorrow on her birthday.


I took Michelle to Carrefour to buy it and she asked me, "This oven is from me too, right, Tante Carla? I don't have money to buy Grandma anything."


I laughed and said yes. "You can tell Oma that the oven is from Tante Carla, Om Vincent and you."


Last year she had a piggy bank which she diligently filled every time she had coins. On my mum's birthday last year, she gave her the full piggy bank. She's such a sweet kid. :)

365 grateful days project family

7:14 am

Day 13 of 365 grateful days project.


"I'm grateful for being in Surabaya for my Mum's birthday (Wednesday)."


It has been a while since go back to my hometown. I remember the last one being in July last year. And this time of the year is perfect to be back home with Mum and family. I needed a break from the routines and the usual look of my working space. Yes, I know I was on a short vacation with boyfriend last weekend, but I'm in need of more and more changes. And it's so good to see my mother, brother and niece again! All the loudness, all the expressive laughs, all the yelling and swearing; THAT is Surabaya, my friends.


As soon as I saw Michelle opening the gate of the house for me, gone away all the stress I've carried from the projects. As soon as I got my mom to kiss me, gone away all the annoyed feelings I had on the plane on the way here. I haven't told you? I was flying with the SMALLEST aircraft I've ever been, which took twice the time to fly from Denpasar to Surabaya, and there was this 5-year-old girl who kept crying at the airplane whom I was desiring to KILL! I also wanted to kick her parents (mother, especially) who thought that talking about POOP $ was what was going to comfort the child. Damn.


But it's all forgotten now. Yes, I'm still working hard while in Surabaya. My brother gives me his modem to work to make me stay longer here. But I'm working with a good feeling. 


So yes, it's good to be home. :)

365 grateful days project family Surabaya

2:59 am

Day 12 of 365 grateful days project.


"I'm grateful for being busy on Sundays."


Some people might wonder why I should be. But that's the reality of my freelance work. Most of the projects require to be finished by the end of the week. That's why I'm the most frantic on Saturdays and Sundays than Mondays. For a weird reason, I like this fact because when every body else starts working their arse off on Mondays, I may be having a pedicure, massage or hair spa treatments. And it's good to have the salon all for myself! :D

365 grateful days project beauty job

9:00 am

Day 11 of 365 grateful days project.


"I'm grateful that Scotty McCreery wins the American Idol Season 10."


Okay, he was not the first contestant I wanted to win badly. But he was one of my favorites. I still wished Casey had won the whole thing, or Haley. But hey, this is an idol contest. Not everyone has the same taste and not everyone understands and appreciates their music. Still, all in all, I think this season has the best contestants ever. They are very different and they stand out in what they do. I really enjoyed watching every American Idol show this year. And I was not alone watching it. Vincent never missed a show either! He'd go back home early from work so that he could watch it in time. And he was proud that Scotty won. He already liked him since they just arrived in Hollywood. :)





Anyway, well done, Scotty!

365 grateful days project music tv show

11:51 pm