Resolutions 2015.

Hello again, blog!

Have not been good with blogging lately, but hey,

at least I've been coming here every now and then to wipe the dust off.

Hehe.

Was about to start with gasping about how fast the year has zoomed past.
But recently,
I realised that only people who are no longer young do that.
So I shall try my best to not do it.

Already posted my reflections for 2014 and resolutions for 2015 on my Dayre but I think I'll do another set for the blog!
Easier to search for posts on the blog and I think I would want to revisit my resolutions when 2016 finally rolls around.

I vaguely recall making resolutions for 2014 so I ran a search on my blog and voila!

Here are my resolutions for 2014,

let's see how many of them I have managed to remotely achieve..
Or not.

Hahaha.


2014 resolutions

- Stick to a budget every week and DO NOT OVERSPEND. 
I chose to determine my budget according to weeks because some weeks require more spending, such as special occasions etc. I really need to start saving up for the flat which is coming our way in 2017, renovations and furniture are no joke. BOO. 

 - Exercise at least once a week and stop indulging in so much junk food. Healthy body, healthy mind, positive mindset! 

 - Stop being so short tempered and negative and give out more positive vibes. 

 - Update my blog at least once every week. I think I've achieved this for most of 2013 and so I'm going to try not to break the streak! 

 - Make sure that I have savings of at least $__________ by the end of 2014. MAKE SURE MAKE SURE!!! 

 - Be a better person to everyone around me.

Okay...
Evidently, I have not stuck to my resolutions last year at all.
In fact, I failed pretty terribly at the "update my blog at least once every week" part.
Geez.
Does this mean that I should stop making resolutions?

Read somewhere that we should print out our resolutions, frame them up and put them somewhere we can see on a daily basis.
To constantly remind ourselves of what has yet to be achieved for the year and to push ourselves to work towards them.
That's a good idea actually, makes it more like a to-do-list instead of something we only look at after the entire year has passed us by.
Maybe then I will finally start to see my resolutions come to fruition after a year.


So anyway,
here're my wishes/resolutions/goals for this year!

To be more driven and self motivated at work. And also to motivate others! 

 Better lifestyle habits - exercise more, drink more water and retire to bed earlier than 4am. 

 Things to stop doing - overthinking, saying 'yes' and 'ok' all the time, being negative in situations that I cannot help. 

 SAVE MORE MONEY! 

 Read more.

Also, importantly, I need to stop procrastinating so damn much.
Forgot to include this in my Dayre post but it is seriously the bane of my life.
I need to be more on the ball, start moving and stop waiting.
The fact that I have not even unpacked my luggages from my BKK trip (came back on 21 Dec) speaks volumes about how much I can procrastinate.


Okay,
I think that's all to my resolutions for 2015!
Think they are all pretty achievable as long as I keep them in mind.

For a start,
I've already signed up for gym membership with Yoko and have been running twice a week for the past 2 weeks.
My "Better lifestyle habits" resolution looks well on it's way to being achieved.
HAHAH.
Alright, better not say too early!
Else I might have to eat my words when I do my review for 2015 resolutions.


Have you done your resolutions yet?
What do you hope to achieve for 2015?

Of resolutions and letting go.

Chanced upon this article sometime ago from my friend's Facebook page.
Thought it makes an interesting read and several note worthy points for the new year and so I'm sharing them on my blog.

20 Things to Let Go Of In Order To Achieve Happiness 

1. Let go of all thoughts that don't make you feel empowered and strong.

 2. Let go of feeling guilty for doing what you truly want to do.

 3. Let go of the fear of the unknown; take one small step and watch the path reveal itself.

 4. Let go of regrets; at one point in your life, that “whatever” was exactly what you wanted.

 5. Let go of worrying; worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.

 6. Let go of blaming anyone for anything; be accountable for your own life. If you don’t like something, you have two choices, accept it or change it.

 7. Let go of thinking you are damaged; you matter, and the world needs you just as you are.

 8. Let go of thinking your dreams are not important; always follow your heart.

 9. Let go of being the “go-to person” for everyone, all the time; stop blowing yourself off and take care of yourself first … because you matter.

 10. Let go of thinking everyone else is happier, more successful or better off than you. You are right where you need to be. Your journey is unfolding perfectly for you.

 11. Let go of thinking there's a right and wrong way to do things or to see the world. Enjoy the contrast and celebrate the diversity and richness of life.

 12. Let go of cheating on your future with your past. It’s time to move on and tell a new story.

 13. Let go of thinking you are not where you should be. You are right where you need to be to get to where you want to go, so start asking yourself where you want to go.

 14. Let go of anger toward ex lovers and family. We all deserve happiness and love; just because it is over doesn’t mean the love was wrong.

 15. Let go of the need to do more and be more; for today, you've done the best you can, and that's enough.

 16. Let go of thinking you have to know how to make it happen; we learn the way on the way.

 17. Let go of your money woes — make a plan to pay off debt and focus on your abundance.

 18. Let go of trying to save or change people. Everyone has her own path, and the best thing you can do is work on yourself and stop focusing on others.

 19. Let go of trying to fit in and be accepted by everyone. Your uniqueness is what makes you outstanding.

 20. Let go of self-hate. You are not the shape of your body or the number on the scale. Who you are matters, and the world needs you as you are. Celebrate you!

Extracted from the website http://www.mindbodygreen.com/


On a personal note,
2013 was definitely not the best year for me.
I felt that I underachieved for most aspects of my life and I'm still struggling to resolve some issues now.
I failed to resolve those issues by the end of 2013 but I've made a promise to myself that I will face up to my problems and find my way through this 2014.
I guess new years are good in this way.
They make you full of hope and faith that everything will turn out for the better.


Some resolutions that I've made for 2014:

- Stick to a budget every week and DO NOT OVERSPEND.
I chose to determine my budget according to weeks because some weeks require more spending,
such as special occasions etc.
I really need to start saving up for the flat which is coming our way in 2017,
renovations and furniture are no joke.
BOO.

- Exercise at least once a week and stop indulging in so much junk food.
Healthy body, healthy mind, positive mindset!

- Stop being so short tempered and negative and give out more positive vibes.

- Update my blog at least once every week.
I think I've achieved this for most of 2013 and so I'm going to try not to break the streak!

- Make sure that I have savings of at least $__________ by the end of 2014.
MAKE SURE MAKE SURE!!!

- Be a better person to everyone around me.


That's all!
Decided to keep it short and simple so that I can focus on achieving them.
Have you set your new year resolutions yet?
;)

YOGYAKARTA, 2013

This shall be a semi-wordy post because I have too many photos to post and too little time to type captions/thoughts for most photos.

Spent the last of my 2013 and the start of my 2014 in Yogyakarta.
For the less initiated,
it is a small city within Indonesia.
Definitely not my first choice when it comes to holiday destinations,
but Thom wanted to visit this place so I thought I should be the accommodating one for once.
Heh.












Airport outfit of the day:
Boyfriend Swag Denim Shirt in Dark upcoming on TTR,
black maxi from BKK,
bag from Sandy Trove,
flats from Steve Madden


















Outfit of the day:
Edelweiss Skorts Romper in Mint upcoming on TTR

Come to think of it,
I should have taken more photos at the balcony!
It's just really really pretty.

I love the entire colonial feel of the hotel.
It makes an extremely stark contrast as compared to most parts of Yogyakarta.
The service of the staff was also impeccable and made a great impression on me.

In fact, I told Thom that the part of the trip that I enjoyed the most was the hotel stay.
LOL.













The Phoenix Hotel, Yogyakarta
















Prambanan Temple

One of the MUST GO places when you're in Yogyakarta.
I would have enjoyed taking in the sights more if it were not for the heavy downpour that we experienced when we were there.
Was not a pretty sight when we had to hurriedly throw our umbrellas aside while taking photos in the rain.














Malioboro, shopping street of Yogyakarta

I wouldn't really call it a "shopping" street because there's practically nothing to buy.
I think it's more for the locals.
The entire place was swarmed with people because we were there on NY's eve.
I left way before the clock struck 12 because the crowd was getting too massive for me to handle.

Spent our countdown watching fireworks from our hotel balcony instead.
:)


















Borobudur Temple

This was the place which I wanted to go to the most but unfortunately the crowds were crazy!
Just look like the ant-colony-like photo that I posted of the people making their way up.
It was also dreadfully hard to get a decent shot without having anyone walking into the photo.
Oh, and it was also raining when we were there!
Major bummer.
:(
















Food at our hotel's restaurant was great.
And really cheap if you convert the prices to Sg dollars.
Other than the Mcdonald's meal, KFC meal and a random dinner at a random eatery that we had,
we ate most of our meals in the hotel because I was extremely afraid of getting food poisoning from the food served on the streets.




























Spent our last afternoon wandering around random streets of Yogyakarta.
Had fun taking street snaps of this unconventional holiday destination.
Unconventional for me,
at least.
This would definitely not be a place which I would suggest to come for a holiday if not for Thom's interest.

In fact,
I whined a whole lot during the trip and I felt more than a little miserable about being in Yogyakarta for a holiday.
But thinking on hindsight,
this trip really taught me a lot about myself as a person, and in turn make me realize which areas of myself I ought to improve on in year 2014.

Being overly self-entitled and self-centered are some of my biggest flaws.
I fail to realise that compared to so many other people in this world,
I have so much to be thankful for.
Instead of complaining about the trip,
I should have realized how lucky I am to be able to jet off for holidays without much advance notice/applying for leave,
I should have thought about how much Thom tried to make me feel comfortable and making sure I stayed happy throughout the trip,
I should have appreciated the fact that I am financially well enough to travel places and see the world.
Most people in Yogyakarta have never even set foot outside of their city.








Pretty pink sunset I caught on the flight back

This 2014,
I wish for myself to be more easily contented,
to be a happier person,
and to achieve more for TTR.

I also wish happiness for all of you!
:)

More on my past year reflections/new year resolutions in another blogpost!