My first post for 2012! LOL! Happy New Year by the way...hope you all had a nice celebration for New Year's =) Mine was a somewhat quiet one...I spent it with a few friends over a BBQ and we witnessed some very cool fireworks display right outside the house, courtesy of a generous resident in that neighborhood. My very first experience in 2012 was to see a fireworks display up close and personal...seems like it's a good start! *crosses fingers*

Anyways, I'd also like to do a little recap on the year that was. Who knows, it could be a sort of 'benchmark' where I can measure how much had I accomplished (or not) during the year. It would be nice to see it all documented, I guess =)

• 2011 is the year I left my Bioinformatics job and pursued something entirely different job in IT...OK, technically it's end of 2010, but I was still learning a lot in 2011 so it counted for me I guess =) With a significant enough jump in salary and the fact that I am STILL learning quite a bit in this job, I am quite happy with where I am work-wise at the moment *grins* 
• It is also the time where I got really serious with losing weight....up to the point where I was attending Capoeira & dance classes every single weekday till almost 11pm. Drove my parents (and almost myself) crazy. Then 'things' happened and I took a break, joined a gym with some personal training, and I THINK I'm slightly back on track. As in, I don't need to go to class everyday, but I'm still working out enough to at least maintain where I am. To date, I have lost 10kg from end of 2010...but I gained back another 2kg due to some muscle mass build up from the weight training with my personal trainer. 
• 2011 is the year I found...and subsequently lost 'love'. Don't really like to talk about this much coz it still stings (albeit I try to tell myself to let it go....still working on this), but at the same time I guess I am grateful for the experience. Even though it's only a few short weeks, I could sort of at least say I've gone through one cycle of a relationship? 
• 2011 is also the year that I went to Bali for the first time! In fact, it was the first ever holiday that I've ever been to since I've started working....though at the time, it was a 'spur of the moment' thing but I'm really glad I took the leap of faith and bought the tickets because I had a great time in Bali when I really needed the break. The scenery, the culture, the people...everything just makes it so memorable for me and I'm raring to go back someday!
• 'Tis also the year that I've been baking (and sometimes cooking) in earnest. My baking projects have somewhat mostly yielded good results, and I'm quite proud that I've managed to accomplish at least this. I find baking to be very therapeutic for me, and the smiles on my friends and family's faces when they dig into the cakes / cookies / pastries gives me more encouragement to try out more recipes and 'experiments'. *grins* Heck, I've even had a few 'sales' with them. I don't think I'll plan to do this as a job, but to say it has been a fun ride with baking (either by myself or with some of my friends!) is an understatement =)
• And I guess the most fun for me was being able to attend quite a few shows in 2011. Most of them were in the final quarter of the year, but it was still so very fun for me. From local productions ("The Secret Life of Nora", "In Perfect Harmony", "The Drive", "Short & Sweet" festival) to my very first international production experience ("Wicked" by the Australian touring cast in Singapore!), I had a blast at every single one of them =) 

• Drop more weight to my ideal weight, which is about 5-10kg more. I figured this could be possible as I took about a year to lose my previous 10kg...so, hoping it's all good and I can reach this target (AND hopefully, maybe....if I'm brave enough, to fit into a bikini? LOL!)
• Go on a holiday at least once in a year. Doesn't have to be an international one, but it should be somewhere different to get away from the hectic life and work....beach, mountains, island. Gosh, I'm raring to go *grins* Now, to save up for it!
• Attend at least three different productions in a year =) Again, it doesn't have to be international, but it'll be great if there are more productions like "Wicked" to be shown locally!
• Spend at least two days a week with Scottie, be it taking him out for walks or outings. He may not be as handsome as he used to be, but he has been there whenever I need him...and I find I have neglected him loads while I was out there 'searching for myself'. He's the only boy I have in my life right now (aside from my Dad), so I should do more for him =)
• Get a tattoo! Haha, yes you've read right. I know, it sounded really crazy but it's not so much of a taboo for me...more like, I want to find something that's significant enough for me to want it on my body for a LONG time. And I do believe I've found it...if I ever get enough courage to get it done, I will post it here =)
• Be a tougher, more assertive person. The past year had been a lot of crazy 'downs' because I couldn't bring myself to say "NO" when I need to....up to the point where people think I'm too gullible or soft-hearted. So, this year is the year that I need to tough it out, close my eyes and just say "NO" when I have to, or speak my mind.
• Be a little more social...yes, kind of a weird thing, but I do find that I'm a loner. And it doesn't help that I'm so awkward when it comes to social things...so since this is the new year, I need to (again) toughen up and go out and 'mingle' so to speak. =)