Its time to bid adieu to the year which to me has just flown past. I can’t remember some of the months now and am wondering if maybe I have been in some limbo somewhere for sometime? Has it been the same for you? Can you believe it that December 2018 is over and its Hello to a New Year 2019!!!?
So first of all a wishing all my readers a terrific new year ahead with loads of promises and abundance of new adventures, friendships and achievements ♥♥♥
I had self signed up on a #100HappyDays pact on 23rd september 2018 to make the last 100 days of the year count. I am happy to report that it went off brilliantly and I have some beautiful treasures to cherish at the end of it. So this post is going to a long one as I have a lot to talk about – hopefully you will bear with me.
{ I think I am going to set PURPOSE as my WOTY – I intend to add purpose to all my intentions, wishes and dreams with a solid plan to make it happen!! What do you think of that? }
Virtual Strangers
Looking back at december, I think the first thing that stands out is the Mumbai trip where I met so many friends from the virtual world. It’s the highlight of the month for me. Friendships are so limitless and liberating to allow folks to bond as kin even without ever meeting in person. I guess that’s also a virtue of the internet for its overcome the logistics of meeting up
Met 3 Blogger folks that I had been interacting with over the past 2 years – they were much more than how I had imagined them to be – warm, comfortable and so enthusiastic about meeting me. I felt sad to part from them and am already looking forward to our next get together.
Same thing happened with a Twitter friend who was my secret Santee for a Secret Santa through a book club three years ago. Once she realised I was her Santa, we just became great online pals, exchanging gifts every year. So the Mumbai trip wouldn’t have been complete with out meeting her. And I discovered a warm heart and a welcoming smile in her. God bless her for the warmth and love.
I am most grateful for the time and effort all of these kindred souls made to come and meet a “virtual” stranger (pun intended 😉 )
In fact the entire trip was about meeting people and there were a few cancelled meetings too as some folks got tied up. I ended up meeting cousins after ages, some with very grown up kids who talked non-stop about Harry Potter with me. Made a firang friend at the backpacker hostel I stayed at in Mumbai. I had a great time roaming around town with her and exchanging notes on our respective countries.
Intrigued? Pin for later
Then there was the annual Xmas party at my house which has become a tradition of sorts. Actually the summer months are so stifling that I do all my socializing (at home) in winters. Thats when I can cook up a preferred storm in the kitchen along with some mulled wine / warm sake, etc. This year some of the usual suspects were missing as they have moved cities but were well-remembered in spirit 🙂
I also gave into consumerism this year and bought a small plastic Xmas tree and some minimal decorations too. It’s just something I was missing very badly as it was a favoured thing to do when I was in school. Having studied in a convent school, Christmas became important for us kids. We would deck up any low growing tree in the garden as a Christmas tree and would dance around it all day. Check out my Xmas look please 😉
This year I also made time and effort to attend a caroling concert in a Church in the heart of New Delhi. The gorgeous Church made for the perfect backdrop for the angelic voices as they soared high in the Lord’s praise. I am so so grateful for being able to attend this concert.
Gifts Galore
December was like Santa with a bag full of goodies for me. I have been gifted jewellery, books, salt, wine bottles and even a home-made scrub which a dear friend is investing in as a solopreneur. This is also the year when I have been gifted sarees – something that has never happened in my life to date. Both the sarees are so unique and different. Waiting to wear them and preen – so you will see the pics then. Grateful to have such abundance in my life via friends and family.
This gorgeous book came all the way from Australia courtesy Sanchie whom I met for the first time in this year.
This book is a gift from A who is a blessing in herself. She has given this to me in hope that I pursue my interest in Ayurveda further.
And finally all this loot that I collected on my Mumbai trip. Some are gifts for me and some to be gifted by me.
Gluttony tales
I discovered an awesome place to eat in Mumbai; a chain called Suzette’s that makes the most awesome buckwheat crepes. Amazing savoury and sweet fillings to choose from, and I ended up eating at their various outlets about 5 times during my 8 day stay 😉 If you are in Mumbai, please go and have a crepe and one for me too.
When Sups travelled to Hyderabad, and I asked for some biryani to be bought back – guess what she did!!! Hooray!!! Gorged on it one evening at her place and thanked my stars for such loving friends.
Major gluttony also happened on the last day of my exams when I met up with the gorgeous A who was in town for a few days. I think A has become synonymous with good food for me now. Dont believe me? Have a look at these pics
Blogging news
I had the guest post campaign on my blog this December too and it was such a success, thanks to all the wonderful participants. And my readers who lavished lots of love to my blog this month. Thanks to all this love, my Alexa rank has moved below 4 lakhs now which is a first for my blog – YAY!!!
Traveling feat
I had my second holiday of the year when I planned a short trip to Mumbai. I was invited by a backpacker hostel for a free stay in exchange for a writeup (coming up shortly) on my blog. It was quite an experience for me and I had a ball discovering Colaba in the early hours of the morning. I could just walk up to Gateway and The Taj hotel as they were a stone’s throw away. Visited some amazing places in Mumbai and will chronicle them on the blog in this month. I am just grateful for such an amazing stay in one of the best localities of Mumbai.
I also spent an amazing amount of time on Marine Drive just reading a book or gazing at the sea and horizon. Its one of the best weathers that I have seen in Mumbai in all the trips that I have made there. Crossed off quite a few things off the Mumbai bucket list this time around.
Health & Fitness
With a bout of sickness, travel and then exams; I have been off my yoga routine for two whole months now. Planning to hit the gym in the New Year with loads of zeal. Fingers crossed.
But I did manage to do early morning walks in Mumbai – something I am very proud of myself for doing so.
I completed a year of magnet therapy and its made amazing difference to my health. My water retention is down to a bare minimum and my weight has finally started moving down now. Hoping to reduce at least half a kilogram a month in 2019.
Okay people, that is it from me and yes this is one of the longest Gratitude posts done by me ever!! Thank you for the patience to scroll through it all. I wont be surprised if you did skip read it 😉 Once again wishing you all a very prosperous and abundant 2019!!!!
Linking up with Vidya for the Gratitude circle
If you are not exhausted by now, you could hop across to my November post here 🙂
Lovely to see your wrap up post for December. It was great to meet you as you know and I’m honoured to be mentioned in your post! 🙂 I realised I never ended up trying Suzettes! The food photos have now made me hungry even though I’ve just had dinner! I hope 2019 is a wonderful year for you. Also, purpose is an amazing word for the year!
Dearest Sanch – we can form a mutual admiration society 😉 I love you and hope to stay connected till the end of time – hows that for a 2019 declaration!!! 🙂
You missed out on Suzettes – I am salivating at the thought of it even now. But have to tell you that I stumbled on Buckwheat crepe recipe in a cook book someone had gifted me ages ago! I am now going to get some flour and make them – shall post a pic if the experiment is a sucess.
Wish you a very happy 2019 love!!!
So very very very happy for you, Shalini. Your year has been vibrant, filled with love and all things good. Wishing you more of the same all year long in 2019 🙂
I love how you throw yourself energetically into whatever you choose and do a wonderful job of it too. 🙂
That picture of you on Christmas is too cute! Thank you for being such an integral part of my blogging journey all through 2018.
Ha ha on the Xmas pic- its my thing to do every year 😉 I love being such a nautanki!!!!
Thank you for being so kind about me; such praises!!!! I am reeling with delight – actually cartwheeling with joy in my head!!! Thank you for being such a positive and driving force behind my blogging/social media interactions and other stuff you influence me on!! I really look up to you and hope to meet you sooooooon!! Maybe 2019 is that year! 🙂
Wish you a very abundant 2019 Shy!!!
Happy New Year! I’m glad to see that December was a good month for you too. While I’m sad I was unable to participate in the guest posts like I wanted, hopefully I’ll be able to do it this year.
Hey Raney- thanks for the wishes. Wish you a very happy new year as well. I am hoping too, to see you on my blog soonest! Hope yoou helath issues are under check and work is going great.
Thank you very much! I’m doing pretty well.
What a lovely month filled with memories to wrap up 2018. May your days be filled with more and more happy memories in the coming year. Happy new year to you.
Thank you so much Shilpa for such lovely wishes.
Wishing you a cheery and love filled 2019 !!!
Wonderful ! Nice to know that you met some blogger, let’s hope we meet too in the New year. Happy New Year !
Happy 2019 to you Atul- so good to see you after ages!! 🙂
Yes yes and yes on meeting in this year – I would love to. I owe you so many lunches by now 😉 Come soon!!!!
What a lovely happy post and I am wondering how come I have missed all those pictures of you on IG 🙁 In my quest to bring down my social media time, sometimes I miss updates from you guys.
Anyways – loved the wrap up post and happy for you. All that junk jewellery? Yum! (Sorry, that is the only word I get when I see stuff like that :P) I hope we get to meet in 2019. If I am in Delhi, I will let you know.
Wishing you a lovely year and here’s to better health, more reading, writing and connecting with friends. <3
Ah yes that can be a bit of a drawback of cutting on the social media time but I think its very imp to do so!
Meeting in Delhi in this year – I am excited by the prospect and now sending loads of energy to the universe for it! I really want to meet you too Parul!
Drop me your postal address if you love Junk jewellery – you never know when I am feeling generous ;-)!!
(serious about this – so do DM it to me please)
What a beautiful December you’ve had! You are indeed blessed to have such great people in your life as are they to have you in their life! Let’s meet this year, you should come down to Bangalore 🙂
Wishing you a very happy 2019, darling! Looking forward to see you wearing those sarees you spoke about 😉
Lots of love!
Thanks so much Soumya – your generous offer to stay with you has me tempted so so much!! I might just make a trip to bangalore this year all becuase of it!
I picked up a gorgeous saree from Dilli haat the other day – its what I call the arty saree! Now I have three of them thanks to you and another ffriend who gifted me one each!! Hoping to wear them soonest!!
Love and hugs Soumz!!! 🙂
You nailed that year in style and how making new friends, studying and reading at Marine Drive, my favorite place in Mumbai. Happy 2019 and look forward to meet you this you hoping my stars in the sky to favor me 🙂
Hey hey!! I look forward to meeting you too Vishal- what a lovely thought to start the New year on 🙂
Yeah December was an amazing month for me – I am feeling very blessed and happy!!
You are amazing Shalz and am sure we will hit off nicely 🙂 Make every day count!
Thanks re.
Wish you the same! 🙂
Loved reading your Gratitude post for the style and honesty. Glad that 2018 has been a thrilling year for you! The visuals are lovely and though I have seen most of them on Insta, they still look fresh and vibrant in the post. Wish you a great year with many more travels and book reading! 🙂
Thanks so much Anshu; yes 2018 was a far more blessed year for me than 2017 had been!
Wish you a very happy and fulfilling year too! 🙂
I love your Christmas pic, Shalini. And the Cathedral brought back memories for me of many happy Sunday mornings when I attended Mass there as a little girl.
You’ve really dared greatly last year and I’m so happy for you. Looking forward to reading a lot more of your writing and being inspired by you through 2019. Have a wonderful 2019! ♥
PS: Looking forward to reading what your WOTY is.
Thanks Corinne.
Church was such a thing for me too as I have studied in a convent school and the nuns were always such a claming presence. None of them would lose their cool. And the singing class was the best for me; even though I cant sing in public 😉
WOTY coming up in Monday musings next week!! 🙂
This is such a heart-warming post Shalini ! Your joy is shining through every line and it’s so infectious. A very happy 2019 to you. <3 You're looking very pretty in your Christmas avatar.
Thanks so much Jheelam and wish you a very happy 2019 too! 🙂
Such a nice post, Shalz. Filled me with warmth. So happy that December was so good for you. It is wonderful meeting virtual friends. It is as if we’ve known them forever. You know my dad’s place is in Colaba. I grew up in South Bombay and that will always be home. When we went and stayed with dad, we would go to Marine Drive every morning for a walk. Wilson College on Chowpatty is where I did my B.Sc from. 🙂 I am so glad you enjoyed your Bombay stay. There is really no place like this city.
Also, I am eyeing your loot with envy. 😉 Hope you get back to Yoga really quickly and that 2019 is a beautiful year for you.
Thanks Rachna. Yes my months are turning out to be more and more fruitful or maybe its the effect of noting gratitude!!
Virutal friends into real life friends is such a big thing; social media has rendered us lazy and wary. We tend to perceive things a lot on the written word but without the real emotion behind it, we miss the true expression. We then tend to judge. I am so glad to find that each and everyone was just as they come across on their blogs/virtual world. Hoping to meet you soon too!!
Yup Mumbai this time around was something else for me. Infact this month I will be doing up posts from the travel and stay.
The loot was so so so good though half of it is gone as I gifted most of it. Some it was for me!!!
Fingers crossed I get back to Yoga really fast; in the meantime I have just started morning walks!! 🙂
Food, books, friends, travel, health – so much in a short time. Awed at your thirst for cheer in life. Go girl, go get the world. May 2019 be all the more fun to you and all the more inspiring to your readers.
Thanks so much Nandhini; yes it was a fully packed month for me 🙂
Wish you all the best and a very happy 2019!!
This post was a delight to read. It always amazes me how much you pack into your days. But I am so glad they were filled with so much joy for you. Wishing you an amazing 2019!
Thanks Shan – wishing you a happy and prosperous 2019 too 🙂
I hope to be equally busy and happy in this year as well! Knock on wood!