12 Facts About Dreams & Dreaming

Note :  This post was written about 2 weeks ago !

I’ve been working a lot the past few days as I’ve mentioned in my last posts; and I’ve also not been sleeping very well; between organizing my clients’ wedding functions (which start tonight btw) and my own party – it’s been quite hectic !

I kid you not when I say that my clients are literally taking over my life .. including my dreams ! I woke up with a start this morning because I must have spent the majority of the morning dreaming about them being present in my house and giving me instructions on what meetings they wanted changed !

It’s 00:48 and I’ve finished my last meeting for the day – and came across a tweet by Guy Kawasaki titled 15 Interesting Facts about Dreams & Dreaming.  I went over and checked it out and thought to add my own two cents to some of the points … 

1. We forget 90% of our dreams.  I suppose that’s true.  Considering we have   over 150,000 dreams in a lifetime; that’s 15,000 dreams that we DO remember.  How many dreams do you remember having this week or last month ? I can think of 3 vivid dreams from the whole week; but nothing more than that.  Now given that we can have 4-7 dreams in one night which each dream lasting around 1-2 hours; it’s no wonder we forget our dreams.
2. Everybody Dreams.  If you think that you don’t dream – then you are under the influence of alcohol, sleeping pills, or any other drugs  (including caffeine) – as these factors inhibit our ability to dream.  (who isn’t under the influence these days?)  But really -  you’re just like the rest of us.  Unless one has an extreme case of psychological disorder.
3. Blind People also Dream.  If someone goes blind after birth they can see images in their dreams.  People who are born blind have dreams involving their other senses of sound, smell, touch and emotion but can’t see images.  I never actually thought about this. 
4. Animals dream too.  I used to love watching my dogs sleep.  I would know  they were dreaming when they’d flicker their paws as if they were running; sometimes even making sounds which made me want to give them big comforting hugs.  I’ve always been curious to know ‘what exactly’ my dogs used to dream off.  I remember stroking them to calm them down if they looked like they were having a bad dream. 
5. In Our Dreams We Only See Faces, That We already Know.  Have you ever  woken up and wondered ‘who was that in my dream ?’  That person is real – maybe you passed on the street; or on the train home; that crazy driver trying to maneuver their car in a traffic jam.  So real that we have crossed paths at some point – and yet we don’t necessarily know them or even remember them.  So if you live in a big city – that’s quite a few hundred thousand faces – that will keep coming up in as various characters in our dreams.
6. Not Everybody Dreams in Color. A full 12% of sighted people dream exclusively in black and white. The remaining number dream in full color. According to recent researches, the percentage of people dreaming in black & white has decreased significantly .. Why ? Colour TV !
7. Dreams are Symbolic.  Have you ever looked up a ‘dream dictionary’ ?   My mum has always had one in her bedside drawer and whenever we had unusual dreams as kids – we would tell her and she would look it up and tell us the symbolism behind it.  Lately I’ve been dreaming of my teeth breaking – which implies that I’m self-conscious about my appearance.  I think it just means I’m due for a visit to the dentist !  Although, Just today my mum was mentioning that if you can remember your ‘early morning dream’ that it normally comes true. Hmmm I better call the dentist just in-case.
8. Dream Incorporation. Our mind interprets the external stimuli that our senses are bombarded with when we are asleep and make them a part of our dreams. This means that sometimes, in our dreams, we hear a sound from reality and incorporate it in a way.  I recall that whilst on the camping & rafting holiday; due to the fact my tent was facing the Ganges river & we were surrounded by natural forest; I would dream a lot about being in the river or have an adventure trek in the forest (something I actually didn’t do ‘cos of the foot!)
9. Fancy Predicting the Future or Déjà Vu Anyone ?  There have been times  where I’ve had dreams and maybe a few weeks later or months later .. that dream has come true ! The correct way would be to call it Precognitive Dreaming.   Then there’s that innate sense of Déjà vu that comes about when you’re having a chat with someone and you feel that you’ve had that particular conversation before.  Well guess what – you have – in your dreams ;)
10. Control Thy Dreams .. .. a.k.a lucid dreaming.  As a kid, I recall many times where I felt like I was completely ‘aware’ and ‘in control’ of my dream.  Have you ever felt like you could control and manipulate the situation or surrounding in the midst of a dream ? I’ve had dreams wherein if I was in a situation that made me feel uncomfortable or unpleasant – I have been ‘aware’ enough to change those circumstances, or ‘rewind’ the scene to ‘replay’ it in another way.  Has that ever happened to you ?
11. Men & Women dream differently.  If a man states that he only dreams about sexy sizzling women – don’t worry they’re lying ! Around 70% of the characters in a man’s dream are other men.  Considering men have more aggressive emotions in their dreams than women – could they be practicing their combat skills to rescue damsels in distress ?? Although I will admit that I’ve had my own share of turbulent reveries ! Luckily for us women, we can appreciate both sexes so its a 50-50 ratio in our dreamland.   However the most emotion experienced in dreams is anxiety … even in our sleep we are bothered by negative emotions =(

12. Dreamy Orgasms.  Yup – one can experience an orgasm as strong as the real ‘O’  whilst dreaming.  So next time you have a naughty dream – keep dreaming – and you might just wake up pleasantly surprised … and on that note .. I’m happy to say that DAMN I woke up in a happy happy mood hehehe .. That’s right I was dreaming about YOU !

So what was the last dream that you had and remember ? Do you feel that you can control your dreams ? Have you ever experienced Déjà Vu whilst dreaming ?  Have you ever used a dream dictionary ? Do you believe that dreams are symbolic ? or do you just forget your dreams and move on with life ? 

I’d love to know your thoughts on this .. sometimes I feel we don’t give enough thought to all the things that actually go on with us – from a deeper perspective .. so this should be interesting …

Inspired By

1. Honest Information.com : Dream Dictionaries
2. Honest Information.com : Dream Facts
3. Animals Also Dream Images
4. How Déjà Vu Works ?

7 Things To-Do For A Great Party

Planning a party ? I mentioned in my previous post that I’m in the process of organizing my birthday party … being an events planner I’m already fickle as it is when it comes down to the planning process .. so decided to share a few tips with you all on the process. 
It sounds simple – but believe me – it’s effective.  The sad part is that most of us ‘know’ this but ‘don’t apply it’ when we have to get around to planning a party.
1. Location & Site Visit.  Always go and visit the venue for your party.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a 5-star hotel; a banquet hall or your grandmothers country house. 

• The location tends to determine how many people will attend the party.  The closer you are to home – the more people are likely to turn up.  The further out the party – its a more a selected bunch of mates that will show. 
• Sketch out a map if the venue is not well-known.  I drew out a map using the paint program and used it for my party last year.
• Download a map from the venue website and send it to your friends.  Email it, or put it up on a Facebook invite.
• Take note of full address with landmarks (in case people call for directions)
• For venues that are on the outskirts of the city
  • Time the drive so that guests know what to expect.
  • Use a sign board or placard if possible.  I printed 3 signs on t-stands to help my guests with directions.
  • Take pictures of landmarks and post them on  your FB invite; e-vite or email to your friends so that they know what landmarks to watch out for.

2. Invitation. A proper card invite is a No-No unless it’s big occasion i.e. wedding; anniversary; etc If you have the budgets – go for it – if it’s not necessary – skip it.  Make sure you give your guests at least 2 weeks heads-up that you’re having a party.

• E-vites are IN ! There are quite a few websites that one can use to create customized e-vites.  And if you are feeling creative – then use Photoshop (even the basic Paint or Powerpoint program for the novices) to create something of your choice.  Here’s what I’ve made for my party :)
• SMS.  Small or large party – a text message is sufficient for close friends.
• Facebook E-vite.  Almost everyone uses FB and with its ‘create an event’ features – organizing a party becomes very simple as you can get quite a good estimate on a head count.
  • You can post the landmark photos; maps in the event page
  • Guests can post their queries; inform you of what they are bringing etc so makes your life a lot simpler !

3. Your Guests Will Be Hungry !  Is food going to be served ? How is it being served ? Who is organizing food ?

• Caterer or No Caterer that is the question.  Do you have a budget for food ? That ought to determine what you should do.
• If the party is at home or at a private venue (not a hotel or banquet) then you could make quite a few easy and filling dishes yourself.  My aunt hosted an engagement party for her friends’ daughter – here’s what the buffet was like.
• Or just tell everyone that it’s a pot-luck party and to bring a dish along.  
  • Of course – don’t rely on everyone to do that.  Select a handful of close friends who will definitely be there for the party and assign them some dishes to bring.
  • My party is a BBQ pool party and my close mates are all helping out. NC is hooking up the humus, frankies, and jello shots J Neh is making brownies, potato salad and bringing along Taboo. I’ve got my mum making Mexican and pasta salads.  The last BBQ I went to was a semi-pot luck party.  Check out the dishes on the table.
  • Easy dishes for DIY parties : potato salad; Caesar salad; mixed fruit salad; pasta salad; spaghetti in tomato, cream or pesto sauce; sour cream dips; pita breads; olive & cheese sticks; corn on the cob; grilled chicken;

4. Booze & Drinks. Every party needs drinks and if you mess that part up – you’re going to have some cranky guests on hand.

• Get your close mates together and figure out what the general group that’s being invited drinks.
• Minimum Quantities for a party of 30-50 pax :
  • Vodka x 10-12
  • Whiskey x 5
  • White Rum x 5
  • Dark Rum x 2
  • Gin x 1
  • Red & White Wine x 12; and
  • 3 cases of Beer.
  • If you and your friends like to do shots – hook up some Tequila (x 2) or Sambuca (x 2).
• Mixers & Sodas :
  • 8 x Orange Juice;
  • 8 x Cranberry;
  • 8 x Mixed Juice;
  • 2 x Lychee;
  • 10 x 2 litre Cokes;
  • 5 x 2 litre Sprite;
  • 1 x case Soda (24) ;
  • 12 x tonic water;
  • 1 x case of 1 litre mineral water
• Bartenders. If you have the budget – hire them ! That’s one headache that you can be rid off. They know just how to utilize the booze and can come up with some great cocktails to be served. I’ve got 2 guys booked for my party.
  • Most agencies for bartenders also provide glasses, garnishes, and bring along all the shakers etc.
  • They can also advise you how many bottles you require depending on the number of guests.
• BYOB.  For any private party that you are hosting – there’s no harm in suggesting to your guests to bring a bottle with them. 
• Every bottle counts.  If you have 5 close friends who you can count on to bring a bottle each – that’s 5 less bottles that you need to stress about organizing. 

5. Music. Fancy yourself as a DJ ? Got friends who have killer tunes ? Any friends who DJ? Music is the essence of any good party.

• The problem with DIY music is that you have to make sure you have a basic sound system with good enough speakers; a good selection of music or if you are an i-pod user, then the i-pod speakers and a place to keep it on charge for the duration of the party.
• I always recommend getting a DJ (I’m an events planner what else can you expect) and once again this year – I’ve booked myself a DJ who’s coming down with his sound and speakers as well as lights for the evening part of the party.
• If you’re having a house party – and have surround sound on your TV – cheat a little - hook up a hard drive with music to the TV and play your tunes from there.

6.  The Guest List.  The key to being a great host is to look back on all the invitations you have ever received for a party and make sure to include them on your party list.

• What if it’s too many people ?  It doesn’t matter.  Always reciprocate to the people who have invited you.  They may or may not turn up but at least you’ve covered yourself.
• Business & Pleasure.  Hmmm this one is tricky.  It might be slightly awkward inviting work friends / clients and social friends to the same party.  It really depends on your relationship with them.  General rule of thumb – don’t invite the work mates or clients unless you are already a part of the same general social circle !
• Mix-It-Up.  Make sure you’re calling people who know how to have a good time regardless of the situation.  The last thing you need is a bunch of people complaining.  Call people who can mingle with others even if they don’t know them.

7.  Make lots of Lists.  Chalk down the things that you need – and mull it over with a mate.  Better yet – I swear – ask your mom.  She’ll be able to tell you something that you’ve forgotten.

• Guest list. Names of all guests & potential adder-on’s with them.
• Who’s bringing what.  Nothing wrong with selecting a handful of close friends and assigning them responsibilities.
• Budget Sheet.  Keep track of what you are spending and how much you are spending.  Looking at this sheet will help you either cut down on some expenses or spread the load amongst close friends or at least figure out a few deals. 
• Who can help.  You’d be surprised at the wealth of info & contacts that you have amongst your friends circle.  Someone might know a good caterer; or DJ; or an alcohol supplier.  Don’t be afraid to ask for contacts.  It’s all about saving where you can.

So there you go … straight from the event planner herself ..  my 7 must-do’s for a great DIY party !
p.s. as an update … I’ve already managed to get more than enough food coming in for my party between 6 friends !

I Wanna Party …

cos it’s my birthday !!!  Okay so it’s not really my birthday today … but it is coming up on 23rd January and I am super excited about ! My birthday could definitely be classified as one of my guilty pleasures !

I love my birthday – and organizing it even more !  My birthday tends to be a drawn out affair – a minimum of 3 days of celebrating : the day before, the day off, and the day after.  After all – I am an Aquarian =)

Last year I’d booked a bungalow out in Lonavala (about 100 km out of Mumbai and a good 2.5 hour drive) which is also considered a hill-station.  I was quite impressed with the turn out of about 6 guests.  My bartenders were stunned at the amount of alcohol we consumed ! The party went from 6 p.m to 6 a.m with the last guest arriving at 3:30 a.m !

This year is going to be no different.  In November I got it into my head that I ‘want to’ have a ‘pool party’.  Sounds like no trouble right ? WRONG ! It’s practically impossible to find a good bungalow / villa with private pool that can be hired within the city.  Sure there are some – but they are quite far off and the snail-paced traffic is enough to deter most people from attending !

I have driven close to 400 kms between Sunday & Monday … all for the sake of finalizing the perfect bungalow (with a pool of course) to hold my 28th birthday … and I finally found it.  On my drive back home – I thought about how I have been wanting to start writing tips for wedding planning .. so why not also note down tips for general party planning.

So while I try to sort my party out over the next few days – I’ll leave you guys to read up on 7 Things To Do for a Great Party !

2010 : The Makeover Begins

It only took a few days of hunting around – and countless hours testing templates .. but I managed to finally narrow it down to this one.

In keeping with my New Year Resolutions – this is a first step towards creating a more customized design for my blog.  It’s not 100% me .. In fact I don’t even know how many % me this template is .. however it did catch my eye and I have settled on on it (trust me I tried & tested over 20 designs) – so there must be a fair amount of me in the design. 

This is technically the third blog makeover (if I disregard the standard template when I first started blogging); and all 3 have been quite different from each other.  I’d love to get your thoughts and feedback on the current and previous design. 

Is there anything I can change .. or do you know anyone who could help me with a blog makeover without damaging my pockets too much ? I’m already digging deep for my birthday party – but more on that later.

I still need to tweak it a bit … and any advice would be great !  There are 3 things I’d like to do :

1. Change the font for the header text to Segoe Print – but every time I try to change the existing font family – nothing happens =(  Which font family does it belong to ? Any ideas ?
2. Increase the overall size of the borders of the template so that the entire blog is a bit broader in width
3. Increase the borders for the 2 columns on the right (currently one of my awards is getting cut off *sniff*sniff)

So if anyone out there reading this in blogosphere – and knows some secret HTML CSS codes that can solve my 3 issues -  pleeeeeeeeeeease do !

Until then – hope you enjoy the new layout and design .. and it doesn’t traumatize your eyes so much so that you would not come back !!! If you really really really really really hate it – then let me know and I’ll try to find something more pleasing on the eye ;)

p.s  I found the above image over at MyBlogMakeover who has some easy tutorials on how to customize designs into your blog background; and since it IS Monday .. the image was perfect to add to the post :)

 

My Guilty Pleasures

I’ve been feeling really blah the last two days – been having trouble sleeping; am totally overworked and yet trying to find some ‘me time’ so as to be totally rested in time for my clients’ upcoming wedding.

Despite having had a migraine the whole day – I’ve been feeling kind of guilty that I couldn’t get as much work done that I wanted to.  I got to thinking about guilty feelings and ended up thinking of all the guilty pleasures that I’ve indulged in.

So here it is .. My Top 12 Guilty Pleasures ….

1.  Chocolate. Chocolate. and More Chocolate.

Give me any chocolate – milk, dark, white – and I’ll have it.  I’m a self-proclaimed dessert-holic.  I prefer desserts to main courses. 

  

2.  Ice Cream. 

With lots of Hersheys chocolate syrup.  2 scoops of ice cream (vanilla & chocolate  chip) with enough Hersheys’ syrup to just spoon up once the ice cream is over.  Although I must say – having ice cream licked off your back is one of the most sensuous feelings ever !!! *sigh*

3.  Photography. 

It’s no secret. I love my camera.  It’s my addiction.  My sister labeled me Paparazzi and Paparazzo a few years ago.  Everyone calls me that.  They pretend to hate it when I take their pictures – but they are the first to tag themselves and complain if an album is not up on FB the next day.  Even my friends’ mum knows me as the FB Queen of Photos ! It’s a Sign ! hahaha I’ve managed to capture some really nice Mumbai Moments – not to mention lots of other views too :)

4.  Slipping on my PJ shorts & a tank top as soon as I’m in the room.

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like dressing up unless I’m going out.  If I’m sitting at home – I want to be comfy – and that usually means getting out of my capris (I haven’t worn a pair of jeans in 2 years since moving to Mumbai – too hot!) and straight into a pair of PJ shorts.

5.  Bubble Bath. 

The last bubble bath I had was in April when my mate HS  took me for a ‘don’t think just relax’ weekend.  The only thing that can top a bubble bath – is a bubble bath with a very sexy young man, hint of a stubble, and a glass of bubbly too.  Damn it.  Now I wish I had a tub in my bathroom :(

Oh I’ve romanced an ex with a bubble bath & champers .. I’m still waiting for someone to give me one.

6.  Floating in the pool. 

It’s an amazing feeling.  All sounds get drowned out.  It’s just you, and the water – becoming one.   Just a few weeks ago after my clients wedding, I managed to go for a dip and it was as if I was submerged in my secret life ! 

7.  Being on the beach and by the ocean. 

I am a total water baby. I’m an Aquarian after all.  I could stare at the ocean all day.  I loved going snorkeling in Mauritius (even though I’m scared of fish – yes – really I am) and was almost traumatized when my mate (and now ex boss) threw breadcrumbs which led to a large school of fish all charging in my direction ! And I got to see more than just a whale’s tail :)

  

8.  Manicures & Pedicures .. and Waxing too ! 

I’m not a girly girl – but I love my  trips to the salon.  It’s a few hours of just ‘me’ time me.  I love French manicures (yes those are really my nails). 

My sore feet need pedicures after the long hours of dancing. And I really don’t like having body hair

9.  Movie / TV Show marathon. 

Every now and then, I like being on my own and watching show after show – particularly CSI, Entourage & How I Met Your Mother.  All of this because of my cousin NC.  We’ve gone through ‘House’, ‘The Mentalist’ and enough movies lazing around on her couch. 

10.  Sandals.  Slippers. Any Foot Wear.  I am a total footwear fanatic. I have about 80 pairs of sandals.   It’s just a shame that currently all I’m doing is wearing flats =( damn that taxi !

11.  Handbags.  Which woman doesn’t love handbags ? I go out of my way to pick them up.  There was a time, I must have had all colours to go with outfits – and various styles.  These days – nothing has changed – except I am carrying more of my mums’ funky designer bags (which she’s donated to me – recession peeps!).  Fendi, LV, Gucci – I love you all !

12.  Scoping out Blogosphere. 

There are so many fantastic bloggers out there. I’m constantly discovering new blogs; new ideas & ideologies.  In a way – I feel that blogging has made more ‘aware’ of everything around me – that there is this alternative realm outside of my immediate presence where actions & reactions occur simultaneously.  I’m more in tune with the universal spectrum and that is a different level of pleasure altogether.

That’s all the guilt that I’m holding on to … what about you ? What are YOUR guilty pleasures ? Come on – I’ve shared mine – it’s only fair that you tell me what yours are :P 

If you haven’t already done so – why don’t you make a list of your guilty indulgences and leave the link for me in the comments section so that the rest of the neighbours and I can drop by and check them out :)

It’s Season Time …

… and tonight I’m feeling the after effects of being over-worked the past few months ! I'm an events and wedding planner by profession and its peak wedding season from October to February in India …. and right now .. I am tucked in bed, nursing a very bad headache that refuses to go away despite the pills I’ve popped to stop it.

Was on my way back home with my colleague MG and our in-house decorator – and she pointed out to me that it looks like I really need a lot of rest ! Tell me about it .. even last week when I was down with the flu – I was having trouble sleeping because I was so busy thinking about all the pending to-do items on my clients’ upcoming wedding … which is only 13 days away …

On another note .. there have been two articles posted about me on WeddingSutra.com which a portal for weddings.  That’s pretty cool =)  I’ve also been meaning to start writing about the process of event & wedding planning; tips – guides; and also sharing some of my work .. and I really want to do that on my own custom blog domain … which I really need to get working on !

I’m gonna go catch some shut eye now .. but I’m happy to say that I’ve got a bunch of posts already in progress … there have been a handful of blogs that I’ve been reading and they’ve totally inspired me to write on some topics which I haven’t really ventured into.

Until the next post .. Good night and sweet dreams

Looking For A Cheap Seat ?

A friend of mine in the States was chatting to me on Skype and wanted an opinion on purchasing some tickets online.  She wasn’t quite sure whether or not she’d get a good deal or not and was too busy to go over and check out various theatres for ticket prices.

I’ve used quite a few online ticket agents to purchase theatre or comedy show tickets; musicals; concerts and even some combo dinner & theatre tickets.  Whilst living in London I would use either LastMinute.com or Ticketmaster.co.uk and since I’ve been in Bombay, I tend to use BookMyShow. 

She told me to go check out  A Cheap Seat and shortlist a few shows that I thought would be good for her to go with her relatives who were visiting her.  I found myself on the site today and it’s actually quite good.  I’d never heard of it before she mentioned it – and was generally impressed with the way the site was laid out.  There’s always room for improvement but it’s simple and easy to use which is quite important.

One can search under the following categories Concert Tickets, Sports Tickets and Theatre Tickets.  Furthermore, depending what you are looking for – there’s a side bar with ‘Popular Categories’ that offer another range of tickets such as boxing, circus tickets, rodeo shows and even figure skating shows ! Now that’s pretty cool.  But what I liked most about the site was that when I checked the event calendar for a city search for New York – I got a total break up (by neighbourhoods / districts) and the total number of events in those respective areas.

Since her younger kid cousins as well as 2 nieces are also visiting her – I had shortlisted Sesame Street Live Tickets for her to take them too.  It’s one of the longest running children's’ musicals and will be playing over at Madison Square Garden ! But then I came across the Disney On Ice Tickets … I’ve always heard about what a spectacular show this was but never seen it myself .. Went on to Disney’s website and WOW ! I want to go for this show ! Wish it was coming to Mumbai !  There are 5 different types of Disney shows on ice – including Finding Nemo ! Check out the video on Youtube.

Whilst on there – I was checking out anything else that might be appealing .. and I found Kentucky Derby Tickets ! My uncle is an avid horse racing fan and he’s making a trip to the US in May – this would be a perfect way to finish off his holiday !

Looks like by the time I make my way to the US for a much deserved holiday – I had better keep aside enough cash to check out all the theatre shows and sports (basketball & football games) that I want to check out !

If you are in the US and have used ACheapSeat.com– do share your experience with the site and if you can suggest some definite MUST SEE shows in the New York and Boston area – do let me know !

Have You Got Your Kakizome ?

I received an interesting email today and it inspired me to put this post together.

Did you know that today is Kakizome ? Kakizome (書き初め) is a Japanese term which literally means "first writing" of the year.

In Japan, people celebrate this day by writing their favorite poem or proverb in calligraphy with the traditional oriental ink brushes.  These writings were then burned around 14th January at the Sagicho festival – and it’s believed that the higher the  burning paper flies – the better that persons’ handwriting becomes.

I don’t really have a favourite poem – nor can I think of any outstanding or mind blowing proverb .. and let’s face it – I definitely do not have any oriental ink brushes lying handy around my room ….I can barely remember any of the calligraphy I learned as a kid … so I’ve decided instead to pen down ‘my first writing’ for 2010 and share it with you all …

It’s a new day

In the new year

Say to yourself

Thou shall not fear

life’s obstacle course 

Awake with a smile

And go the extra mile

For it’s a new day

In the new year

Thou shall stand tall

Thou shall stand strong

For there is nothing

That you can do wrong

In the new year

I do hope that you find my first Kakizome inspiring .. and would love for you to share some of your favourite quotes or poems in the comments or on your own blog so that we can all look forward to a fabulous 2010.

6 Resolutions for 2010 That Are Realistic

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010 ! I hope you all had a great time doing whatever it is that you were doing to bring in the new year.

I had a brilliant new years eve – hanging out with my cousin Nomi and a very dear friend HRH.  Yes he really likes to be called HRH =) Spent the evening at one of his friends’ terraces after being greeted by the hosts with spiked Rum Sugar Cane followed by Vodka Watermelons !

I got home at 6 a.m; rolled out of bed around noon; and have spent a really leisurely day.  My phone hasn’t stopped beeping with all the New Year messages and I’m quite proud of the fact that I have not sent out a common mass message to anyone by SMS.  I’ve sent out a few personal messages to certain friends – and have left the rest up to Facebook and Twitter to spread the word.

It’s 23:32 right now – had gone out for dinner with my mum, bro & sis – which was nice .. we were joking about and had a few laughs.  I don’t really believe in New Year Resolutions so haven’t made any either … but I was thinking … maybe I should …

(oh FYI I was trying to get this post up before midnight, but due to a glitch it’s gone up as of 2nd Jan *sigh* oh well at least I tried)

So to go with the flow – here’s what I’ve managed to come up with :

1. Get a custom domain AND a design for my blog.  I really do like this haven for my sporadic reflections and I reckon it deserves it’s own name with it’s very own funky design.  So that’s what I’m going to do.  Hopefully will get this done before the 1st quarter of the year.
2. Invest More.  About 2 years ago I started investing in the stock market  and mutual funds.  Last year I started investing in a Max Life Insurance policy.  I stopped the stocks when the market crashed – cashed out and used the money for a big birthday bash.  This year, I want to invest more in mutual funds and maybe even property.  It’s time to save !
3. Travel More.  In 2008 – I managed to travel A LOT including 2 international trips.  In 2009 – I kept on traveling but only around India and some were repeat visits.  This year – I would like to travel to more non-commercial places around India AND somehow get at least 2 international trips in.
4. Be more Positive and less Negative.  It’s not that I’m a negative person – I’m just very cynical most of the time.  And yes, I suppose NC is right when  she tells me that I need to stop complaining about me being in India. So NC – this one is for y
5. Make my company more successful.  Of course any business owner wants their business to be successful.  It goes without saying that I want the same.  However – I don’t want it to be just ‘commercially’ successful – I want the company, the team, the service we provide to leave such an impact on my clients that the success we get is driven by them – the clients.  I can pimp my company all day every day – but when someone else does it – that’s when you know that your venture is a success.
6. Finish the physiotherapy and get back to the gym.  I’ve been in and out of physio for a few months now – and with it being peak wedding season – I haven’t had time to rest my poor feet.  So in February once my events are done – it’s back to the physiotherapist – and finally back in my high heels to go out dancing in :) It’s been months since I have been to the gym since I can’t do any sort of cardio or even weights that will pressure my foot – so can’t wait to go back there and let my trainer know that I wasn’t purposely slacking off.

At least these are quite realistic and achievable.  I’ve got it penned down now and it’s going to be stamped into cyber space until the cyber system decides to crash. 

What about you ? Have you got any resolutions ? Do you believe in making resolutions ? Or am I just a fool for making one ?

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.

— F.M. Knowles