Looking Back !

Today is the last day of the year 2010, and that calls for looking back at this eventful year. It was a year full of travel, movies, blogging, facebooking, family functions and enjoying all seasons. I want to look at all these in a little more detail. Looking at the travel part, it was a year of travelling by all comparisons; we visited so many places like Atlantic City, Niagara Falls, Washington D.C. and many more beautiful places and we had a wonderful time.

Travelling also includes, clicking some memorable pictures and we sure got some amazing shots. And I got some pretty photo books done too to preserve those precious memories. The part of movies is gigantic too, as we saw numerous amazing movies like how to train your dragon (3D), Avatar, The Social Network, and amazingly funny movies like Date Night, get him to the greek, Golmaal 3, No Problem; the list is endless. We also had a great 4D experience. In all, it was a very entertaining year in regard to movies.

Family functions always are the sweetest part, as it was so much fun to be back in India for my sister’s wedding. We had a fabulous time meeting and enjoying with family. Looking at the blogging part (which am still doing), it was very regular and I tried to put down all my experiences on the blog. It was great and I’ll be continuing with it, right into the next year.

Facebooking, was a big part of this year, as I updated my profile quite religiously and connected with so many friends and it was really nice to get in touch with people from school days. And the movie social network, made it even more popular, I guess.

And of-course, I enjoyed all the seasons – right from spring to autumn and summer to winter; and one of the best ways to experience it, is to live in New York. Boating in central park during summer and ice skating in Bryant Park in winters, it was wonderful.

In all, year 2010 was a splendid year and I will cherish all the beautiful memories of this year forever. I hope the year 2011 brings in even more happiness and cheer into our lives. I, so go by the motto of, ‘Live every moment, as its your last’.

Adios to 2010…………….

Facebook Status Summary '10

The time of the year, when one looks back on 'the year that was'; brings up many memories. And this facebook application- my year in status, is pretty good; as it brings up a complete summary of all the status messages of the year. So I also made one today. This is how it looks, thought of putting it on my blog, as another 2010 memento.

When i saw it, I was surprised, as it brought out all the status updates for the year which I had completely forgotten. The status messages on weather, IPL 2010 updates (especially as a follower of RCB), the plethora of movies we saw, places we visited, season's greetings and famous quotes. It sure was a year of facebooking for me, with continues updates and yes, connecting with friends was a big part too. 

In all, it was a jolly good year. 

December Blizzard

Blizzard on the East coast this Sunday came unwarranted and shut down almost whole of New York and New Jersey. The first heavy snowfall of the season, measuring almost two feet; came quite early this year. Last year, this kind of heavy snowfall came in February but this time it's already snowy-white. 

This weekend storm definitely came at a bad time, as its the holiday season and instead of going out, people were stuck inside their homes. A complete standstill, one can say; as the transportation system went down, trains were cancelled and airports were closed. It brought everything to a halt, schools were closed, offices were closed and ofcourse one couldn't see any traffic on roads also, as the gusty winds brought the visibility down to almost zero.

Some called it 'Snowmaggedon', 'Snowpocalypse'' or 'Christmas Blizzard of 2010', it sure was a big one to end this year on a stormy note. Anyways, now that the storm is over and there's no other snow storm warning for the coming week, we can surely plan for our new year weekend. Now the plans for the holidays will have a touch of snow. 

Rockefeller Christmas

A visit to Rockefeller center is always chilly and crowded; and of-course very refreshing. Yesterday, we went there to see the famous Christmas tree and the beautiful decorations. On the way to the Rockefeller, the streets were all decked up and we clicked some amazing pictures and the Radio City Christmas tree also looked very pretty. 

Rockefeller Center, located between 48th and 51st street in New York City was built by Rockefeller family in 1930s. The fourteen buildings of the center were built in art deco style and was declared National Historic Landmark in 1987. Many famous names are located in the center like Radio City Music Hall, GE building and many other offices. Today the buildings are a famous tourist attraction especially during the Christmas season.

And the famous Christmas tree at the Rockefeller draws people from all around the world. The tree, a Norway spruce is lighted during the last week of November and stays up till the first week of January. And this year the tree was 74 ft tall and is usually counted among the giant Christmas trees around the world. The tree stands tall beside the ice rink and the statue of Prometheus; which is a breathtaking sight.

                                                             Rockefeller Christmas tree 

The Rockefeller Christmas decorations are surely unparalleled and just the perfect place to be during Christmas time. And this time the Saks Fifth Avenue 'snowflake and bubble show', a two minute 3D projection which played every 15 minutes on the building with Christmas music; was also very good. With bubbles coming out of the windows and snowflakes falling over, it was beautiful and very different from last year.

Warm up to NYC chill: Five Winter essentials

Surviving the big apple cold weather needs some warm accessories apart from sweaters and coats; and these five winter essentials come handy and are equally fashionable. 

1. Ear Muffs - The gushing cold winds in NYC can be torturous for your ears and the ear muffs come as a  savior. It was invented by Chester Greenwood in 1873 and has become a winter essential since then. It protects ears in the chilly weather and comes in many designs and styles. And the acoustic ear muffs come with headphones, which is even better especially while working out. 

2. Mittens - The hand gloves which keep the hands warm and prevents frostbites. Mittens have one cover for the four fingers and one for the thumb unlike gloves which have four coverings for fingers and one for thumb. It keeps the hands nice and toasty and some even come in a design with the removable finger cover for ease. And they even look cute. 

3. Leg Warmers - These are footless coverings for lower legs and are a sure way of keeping legs warm. And can be worn with leggings, jeans, jeggings and are pretty much a fashion accessory for winters. Earlier these used to be worm by ballet dancers but later it became a fad. 

4. Boots - A pair of warm winter boots go a long way in protecting one's feet during the chill, and also saves one from slipping on the ice while crossing the road. And not just that, boots look awesome and complete a winter attire perfectly, as it goes well with coats, sweaters and even skirts. 

5. Chullo - The cutest of them all, a chullo is a hat with ear warmers and strings to tie under the chin for keeping the head warm. It is just what one needs to keep the head and ears protected from the cold. And comes in beautiful colors and patterns. 

                                                             A beautiful Chullo Hat

These five are definitely needed to cope with the extreme weather in New York and they look as good as they feel. And to beat the chill, of course a cup of hot chocolate can never go wrong, slurp!!

First Snowflakes of the season: Came tumbling down

The first snowflakes of the season came tumbling down on Sunday night and continued till Tuesday afternoon. Snowflakes looked beautiful flying away with the breeze. The shapes of the snowflakes was a surprise for me, as I got to know about it for the first time last year, when I saw the light and sound show on Saks fifth Avenue during Christmas time. It was splendid.

                                                                    Saks Fifth Avenue

Snowflakes - 'Snowflakes are conglomerations of frozen ice crystals which fall through earth's atmosphere'*. They come in so many shapes and sizes; and no two snowflakes are alike. They have been a point of interest for many researchers around the world and many books have also been written as the shapes of the crystals are very unique. 

These snowflake symbols are associated with Christmas and of-course the winter season. One can see paper snowflakes all over the city, as stores and many streets are decorated during winters. These tiny pieces of snow are truly a work of art. 

                                                                  Swaroski Snowflake 

Links: 

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake 

Reflections: Confessions of a Shopaholic

After watching the movie yesterday, I have come to believe that stores have their own way of making people spend and that too on things they don't really need. Its just like, you see a sale sign and you wanna run and grab the first thing you can put your hands on, as you tend to buy things just because they are on sale. And the dummies are dressed so perfectly, that you feel like buying the complete look without even thinking twice.

More-so during the Thanksgiving sale, when the stores get so crowded and people swarm over each other to fill their bags. The stores open early in the morning and everyone rushes to catch hold of the things on their list before anyone else does. The billing counter lines are so long, that you wonder whether all of this stuff, people have is being given out for free. And going to a fitting room can take hours together. 

Shopping is good but not to the extent that you go out of your means to get something and the movie has shown it perfectly. Though, it is understood, that people sometimes go on binge shopping but if it is restricted to just a few times then it doesn't really hurt but being a regular shopaholic can be disastrous. But in the end, its a question of personal choice.

Besides all that, I do believe in retail therapy and comfort shopping, as it uplifts your mood instantly. And it also makes you feel so good, when you look stunning in the new dress and you also feel satisfied with your purchase.

Shopping is something everyone likes, but putting a stop when required can save you some money for the next sale, maybe. So it can be said, moderation is the word, as till you don't go overboard it is good. Shopping isn't a problem but over-shopping is.