As some of you may know, I recently went to Bermuda and OMG it is by far one of the most beautiful islands I have ever been on.
Here are some of the gorgeous sights that I got to feast my eyes on every day …
| Horse Shoe Bay  |
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
WW #64 Serene Seat
This looks so beautiful. I would love to sit out in the middle where all the rocks are gathered together and just enjoy the breeze against my skin.
Photo by Krzysztof Browko found on MyModernMet.com as part of the The 2012 Sony World Photography Awards Shortlist
Friday, June 15, 2012
The Art of Song Writing
The thing I find about great songs, is that they are crafted in a way that they tell a story, not necessarily with its words, but with rhythm, dynamics and feel.
There are countless arguments and discussions into what makes a great song, but as a songwriter, I know that there is a limited science to creating a great song. Songs are made to find an audience, and it’s the audience, not the critics or even the musicians that determine when a song is great. So the question I’m going to explore is one that all songwriters ask. What makes a great song, great?
Some of the song writing greats such as Burt Bacharach and Diane Warren seem to have a magic formula that has produced a succession of hits through a multitude of artists. Lennon and McCartney have a catalogue of songs that have shaped music as we know it today. Today, the likes of Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys storm the pop charts with their work. Then there are those artists who have come up with the great hit song, for it only to be surrounded by boring ‘filler’ tracks on an album.
More often than not, I’ve found that the great songs need time and a few rounds to develop and mature. Paul McCartney noted in his autobiography, that the first draft of his prolific song ‘Yesterday’ were remarkably different. The opening line was ‘Scrambled eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs’.
The problem with today’s popular music, is that a lot of it isn’t that popular with the masses that are still forced to listen to it. My theory, is that the producers are given a tight deadline and have to move quickly and force songs to be manufactured in a short timeframe. Often the artist’s best work, whilst it may take a shorter time to write, needs much longer for it to develop and mature. This could explain why ‘break through’ artists, only break through, with their first album. Their second album is rushed, to catch the audience’s attention span, with the songs less organic and more processed.
More often than not, the songwriter is often a taunted soul, often mocked by creativity itself, as that creative spark is not a tap they can turn on and off at will. Trying too hard to create a story can sometimes render the writer, lost for words.
I would argue that songwriting is more of a craft than an art, just as the act of painting is the craft and the painting itself is the art. Great songs are crafted, and it could take 10 minutes or it could take 10 weeks. However, in my experience I feel that my best songs seem to have found me, rather than me creating them. It almost seems like these songs are stories from the subconscious.
Jomar is an independent songwriter, producer and performing artist. He is an Australian of Filipino origin now based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He started writing music in 1985 and has had professional gigs over the years. He has also worked with artist development, management and promotion, and is now focusing on song writing. In 2007 he started the Music Producers Forum online community and blog, organising meet-ups in Australia and Europe.
Jomar is always on the lookout for talented bands, musicians and vocalists to compose music for or to produce and promote. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Reverbnation and of course his website www.JomarMusic.com
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
WW #63 The Big Apple
I’m here in NYC – the city of dreams and an empire state of mind. Some of my captures today.
Happy WW Everyone ! Don’t forget to share your linky below.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Choosing the Right Villa to Get Married in Tuscany
A Tuscan wedding is a very much desired experience to tie the knot in an unforgettable way. There are many Tuscany villas and gorgeous settings in the region offering an idyllic location for both your wedding ceremony and celebrations. Some properties are large enough to welcome the newly wedded and all their guests. It is the perfect solution for an intimate wedding with friends coupled with celebrations and a honey moon in Italy. When it comes to it, however, choosing the perfect property in Tuscany for the perfect wedding isn't easy! There are many criteria you have to take into account, but the most crucial ones are the season you want to get married in, how many guests you have, and whether you should consider hiring a local wedding planner.
How Many Guests Do You Have?
If you are considering to enlarge your wedding party from just you very best friends and family members, it is fundamental that your desired Tuscan villa has enough comfortable room for everyone. This is going to be a vacation you are offering to your dear guests. Some have children, some may not be very fond of one another. You have to consider that just a bed-count might not fit the needs of the group. You cannot just group people that do not belong together under an intimate accommodation. So make sure everyone will be happy with their arrangements. Fortunately, Tuscan villa owners are very helpful with this, and will sort the room arrangement for you. In case your wedding is going to be really grand, then you may need extra properties in the area. Some owners have castles and nearby apartments. In other cases you will need to arrange two or more separate accommodations.
The Right Season
The months with the fairest weather in Tuscany are those going from April until October, while from June to September you have the high season when most weddings are celebrated. These are the months you should avoid, since they are the busiest, most crowded and expensive. It is harder to find suitable villas during the peak months, while all other service providers are less available and more stressed out. It is true that chances of getting rained in are very slim during this time frame, but June and September are also great candidates to have the highest number of sunny days. In order to make sure you get your accommodation, book it a couple of years in advance; this will also give you enough time to visit the property personally and solve any logistic issues.
Is a Wedding Planner Necessary?
Even if you are a natural-born organizer, planning a wedding abroad may be challenging. Most people would benefit from a Tuscan based wedding planner, at least to accomplish the prominent wedding duties such as paperwork, church or state house arrangements, florists, catering and the photographer. However, if your party is small in size, then you will probably be just fine without a wedding planner. Depending in the Tuscan villas you are renting, you may even find wedding services are catered with your rental for an extra fee.
A writer and in love with Italy, Matt will be
able to advise you on the best Tuscany villas available for your wedding or just for a relaxing holiday in Italy.
Monday, June 11, 2012
MM #84 Jay Z - Empire State of Mind
I started this Monday with Breakfast in Bombay, a late lunch / snacks in London, dinner & drinks on route to NY and by nightfall I’ll be in an Empire State of Mind !
Such a perfect tune for my first Monday in New York !! Wooohoooo !! The Diva’s vacation has just begun !
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you,
lets hear it for New York, New York, New York
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Hard Truth on Why You Got Dumped
If you’ve ever been on the wrong side of a breakup then you are probably familiar with the top three breakup excuses. Do any of these sound familiar?
“I need some time to think.”
“Things are moving too fast for me.”
“You deserve more.”
Obviously these excuses won’t help you much if you’re trying to figure 
out where things went wrong. Each one is purposely broad and could be interpreted in several different ways.
Sadly, this is precisely what your ex had in mind by using them. They didn’t have the courage to tell you the truth, so they decided to hide behind a lame excuse.
But the real question here is… what was your ex was so afraid to tell you? Why not just tell the truth and attempt to work on the problem together? Well, the short answer is because the truth isn’t always pretty. If your ex used a one-size-fits-all explanation for breaking up then perhaps your relationship was suffering from one of these embarrassing issues...
Pure Boredom
If you spent more Fridays on the couch watching Netflix than you did going out to new places there is a good chance your ex felt stuck on a treadmill going nowhere. Being young and in love is all about experiencing life together and breaking free from your comfort zone. Of course no one is going to tell you to your face that you bore them to death, so the easier option for your partner was to simply get out of the relationship.
Lack of Romance
The difference between being friends and being lovers is pretty obvious. You don’t kiss your friends, so a relationship without affection is anything but romantic. Physical attraction is big part of dating and sensual signals confirm a deeper connection with someone you love. If you and your ex weren’t connecting on this level then you are better off as friends.
Too Much Negativity
We should all feel comfortable sharing our troubles with our partner, but a relationship without smiles and laughter quickly turns into a chore. Positivity and perseverance can carry love through even the hardest of times. Solving problems together builds trust and brings you closer together. Negativity on the other hand literally sucks the life out of a relationship. Don’t blame your ex for leaving if you spent the majority of your time together complaining.
I’m always surprised to hear people say they don’t know why they got dumped. Really? I’d say in most cases the writing was clearly written on the wall. Whether or not you are honest enough to admit your faults will determine how successful you next relationship will be.
Elliot Beers has been serving up uncensored
ed relationship advice across the web since 2006. He writes about breakups and how to fix them at GetBackMyEx.com. Follow him on Twitter and don’t forget to check out his Facebook page.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
WW #62 Summer Wave
I would love to be here right now. I envy the photographer that managed to capture this image. (and if it’s photo shopped, then don’t tell me – let me enjoy this moment)
Two weekends from now – I’ll be in Bermuda and maybe I might get a pic like this myself.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Be My Guest Over The Summer
This lil’ Diva is off on holiday starting 11th June. New York – Bermuda – Montreal – London – Paris and maybe Ibiza. I’ve been waiting for a vacay like this for a while and can’t wait to get my trip started !
I’ve already started packing my bags, have a few more gifts that I need to buy for friends and next week sees me off on a 3 month adventure ! That’s right – 3 months. I’m thinking of it as a birthday present to myself for my 30th. 2012 is my big year so I get to do fun things (although I assure you my wallet and bank balance do not see things the same way)
Whilst I will have my laptop with me, I’m not sure how often I’ll be blogging (come on, I’m supposed to be out having fun, meeting friends & potential hot guys for equally hot dates – at least that’s what I’d like to do!) and as I did last summer – I would love to host some of you amazing bloggers as my guest on my blog.
Would you like to be Diva’s Guest Blogger ? Here’s the general criteria :
- Original Post (never published before)
- 500 – 1500 words
- You can publish the entire post on your own blog 2 weeks after it’s been published on mine (should you wish to do that)
The theme for July "Summer Love / Summer Lust / Holiday Romances” and can be approached from any angle that you perceive it to be. We’ve all had our share of summer loves, crushes, and holiday hook-ups and I’d love to hear your perspective on it. Posts need to be submitted by 30th June 2012 for July publication.
The theme for August is “Relationship Deal Breakers” and can be approached from any angle that you perceive it to be i.e. be it with friends, potential partners, first dates, your office co-workers, your boss even ! Posts need to be submitted by 20th July 2012 for August publication.
If you feel like you want to add your Blogger Voice towards my very sporadic reflections – then drop me a line on dazediva@gmail.com with :
- A small blurb about yourself along with your Photos / Avatar
- Please include a link to your blog / twitter account
- Final Post with Post Title on Word Document (min 500; max 1500 words)
- Any relevant photo / image you would like to include with your post (otherwise I will choose one for you)
Don’t let the choice of themes stop you from sending over a guest post. Since my blog is so sporadic I’m always open to something different – so anything from fiction, flash fiction, poetry or even a cool product review – so hit me up on email or DM me on Twitter and lets work something out.
This is your chance to de-lurk and show off your creative skills … be my guest .. seriously !
Monday, June 4, 2012
MM #83 Jennifer Lopez - Dance Again
I’ve been in the mood to dance for the past week or so now and starting next week it looks like I’ll be dancing for the next 
few months =) No wonder I thought that this track by Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull was ideal for today’s #MusicMonday.
I’m not much of a J-Lo fan and let’s not get me started on how silly some of her videos are (including this one). The whole dusted in gold look is not the most appealing; the video didn’t require this – she’s hot as hell without it !
Anyway, hope this gets your feet tapping and livens up your Monday
People You Should Never Invite To Your Wedding
Creating the guest list for your wedding can be one of the most challenging tasks you need to complete. A dress? A venue? They are simple decisions when compared to deciding who you want to include in your big day. You don’t want to leave anyone out, and you don’t want to invite everyone. To make things a little easier, here are the people you should never invite to your wedding.
Your Ex-Boyfriends/His Ex-Girlfriends
It’s surprising how often brides and grooms have a difficult time deciding whether or not to invite their exes. It should be a no-brainer. If inviting your ex isn’t uncomfortable for you, it will be uncomfortable for your husband and anyone else who knew you two as a couple. What are they supposed to say to someone you used to love? You might be genuinely good friends with your ex, but they still shouldn’t get an invite. This is a time to celebrate your forever love – former loves not included.
The Co-workers who Annoy You
If you have a few good friends at your job, you might want to invite them to your wedding. If you invite your good work friends, you might be obligated to invite everyone else from your office as well so no one feels left out. Don’t do it. This is your wedding, and you shouldn’t invite anyone you don’t enjoy spending time with. If you don’t want them to feel left out, just avoid talking about your wedding while you’re at work.
Friends You Haven’t Talked to in Years
Maybe you had a close college roommate you did everything with, or close friends you used to talk about your dream weddings with. When you’re planning a wedding, it’s easy to get nostalgic and want to invite everyone who is or was important to you. If you haven’t talked to these friends for years, you shouldn’t invite them to your wedding. It’s a little weird to decide that the first contact you’re going to have with them in a long time is sending them an invitation to your wedding.
People Your Mom Wants You to Invite
If you have a mom who is super excited about your wedding, she probably has a guest list already created for you. She is so happy for you that she wants to share her joy with all the important people in her life, even if they’re kind of irrelevant in yours. You shouldn’t feel obligated to invite anyone just because someone else in your family wants them there. It is about what you want, and everyone you invite should have a direct connection to you.
Your Friend’s Brand New Boyfriend
When you’re inviting single friends, you have to make the decision of whether or not to allow them to bring a date. If you understandably don’t want to pay to have people at your wedding that you barely know, you won’t allow dates other than people in well-established relationships. If your best friend suddenly gets a new boyfriend she wants to bring along, don’t invite him just because she asks you to.
Alisha White, recently married at a gorgeous luxury resort in Mexico, knows all about inviting the wrong people to weddings. She is also a school teacher and freelance writer who loves to give advice on subjects she knows well.
Photo Credit: gvSAXBOY
Friday, June 1, 2012
Birthstones 101
When it comes to gemstones, the mainstream folks who are not really into the industry of fashion and jewelry look at them as birthstones. Birthstones are gems that symbolize a given month of the year, dating back all the way to the first century.
Folks look at these birthstones as good luck charms and is said to be filled with magical energy. Chinese fengshui experts also suggest folks to wear birthstones to ward off diseases and bad events in someone’s life. The more sceptical folks, however, say that these myths and legends are nothing short but marketing strategies made by miners back in the day. Regardless, no one can argue that these stones are quite beautiful, and that they will make an excellent addition to your jewelry collections.
Let’s take a look at this awesome Infographic made by Brilliance.com regarding different Birthstones and what do these stones actually stand for. Enjoy!
Brilliance Birthstones
Source: Brilliance Birthstones Guide
Jonathon Ohayon is a Graduate Gemologist and has extensive experience in the field of Gemology including diamonds, gemstones, and precious metals. He has been working in the jewelry industry for over 10 years; apprenticed under Head Gemologist of Brillilance.com for 2 years, and also appraises diamonds and jewelry for Brilliance.com.
You can find out more on Facebook and follow on Twitter if you have any diamond, jewelry or engagement ring related questions.
Will You Cook For Me ?
Here’s one for the Diva’s Dating Diary (I really should make a chart for 2012 but that’s another post altogether)
How It Began
About 3 weeks ago, I went out with a girlfriend for the launch of a new club in Bombay. We were looking fab and dancing the night away. This one guy caught my attention towards the end of the night – he was looking straight at me through 10 feet of writhing bodies and when I locked eyes with him – he looked away. And I laughed which I assume embarrassed him just a bit – because every time he looked up and caught my eye – he couldn’t maintain eye contact.
I found this pretty amusing and actually pointed at him and indicated that he should come over to where I was. Typical Bombay boy, he didn’t and looked even more flustered (heaven forbid a woman is direct!). At this point I just got bored and went back to dancing with my girlfriend.
Whilst waiting for my car – I saw the guy again and this time he did approach me and we struck up a conversation, exchanged phone numbers but not before he asked for my BBM pin. Seriously what the hell happened to just taking a phone number down ?
The Problem
The next day, this lad drops me a half dozen text messages which included (and I quote) “C U Sometime at your comfort”, until I tell him that it’s a lot easier to have a conversation on the phone (my pet peeve is constant texting / bbm’s instead of a quick phone call). 2 hours later he gets his ass in gear and calls me (but not before we play phone tag for another half hour or so).
Plus points to him for actually trying to fix a date; more plus points when he did fix a day to meet to up. I asked him what he fancied doing and he says …
“I thought you could come over to my place, watch a movie and you can cook me lunch”
Errrrrrrrrm NO. Minus points all around. Seriously – the logistics of this suggestion involve me traveling from one side of the city to the 
back end of the suburbs to cook for him with absolutely zero effort on his part ! Why on earth would I want to cook lunch (or any meal) for a man I do not know and at his house the first time I ever meet him ?? Not a smart thing for any girl to do on a 1st date (unless you have some history with the man). Cooking involves slaving over the heat in the kitchen (and with temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius in Bombay that is NOT something I want to be doing) AND end up smelling like food !! Appealing – No way !
I provided an alternative option of going out somewhere to eat but he wasn’t having it. Cheap alert perhaps ? Or then again it could have to do with the fact that he’s a 24 year old model who thinks he’s being cute ! *yeah right*
Needless to say – that date never happened. The party was on a Thursday, he rang me on Friday, we’d fixed up to meet the following Tuesday and like most of the Bombay boys – he never quite followed through to the end. A request on his part to reschedule but that didn’t happen either. Although I got a text message the weekend after asking what I was up to and when I would be cooking for him !! My response – I’ll send you some take-out / delivery options !
Diva’s Verdict
Guys – don’t ask a girl to cook for you on the first few dates. You may not realize this but cooking for someone is quite an intimate affair – and if you haven’t got a history together, it could turn out to be a bit of a disastrous meal !! Ask her out, take her out (this does not mean it has to be fancy), show her that you’re into her and if you play your cards right – she might show off her cooking skills or better yet, if you’re really lucky, she’ll serve you breakfast in bed !
Side Note : I don’t have a problem with cooking a meal for a guy – but that’s at a later stage of having been together i.e few dates at least / a boyfriend .. definitely not the first time I am meeting him. Now if HE offered to cook for me (or vice versa) that’s a different story … but this was just a bit lame (even though my mates reckon he wanted to actually indulge in Naked Master Chef)