It’s hard to imagine a life without facebook these days. If someone is not on facebook, we look at that person as if this person is from Jupiter or something. A few weeks I’ve decided to take some personal time off and stay away from facebook as well. I am really enjoying it now. My friends that really want to connect with me actually made effort to call me, and I made some effort to connect with my friends by calling them. If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot.

This reminded me of the old days when I first started using facebook many many years ago.

I really have to share this next one.

Finally, I have my second 65 goals in 365 days done. I did think about 101 goals in 1001 days, but I know myself. I make decisions and change my mind in seconds. Couldn’t convince myself. So, here you go. Hold me accountable this year please.

1. Book at least 10 weddings. I’ve made a decision that no matter how tempting it is, I am not going to shoot more than 2 weddings each month. I am determined to provide a very quality of service.
2. Travel to at least 1 new state.
3. Reach my savings goal.
4. Buy a new car.
5. Donate to charities/different organizations.
6. Be better at time management, and managing teaching, business and personal life.
7. Order at least one sample album.
8. Buy at least 2 pairs of shoes.
9. Pray regularly.
10. Send out newsletter/email once a month.
11. Post something on my facebook business page at least 5 times a week.
12. Lose at least 5 lbs. I know it’s nothing, but I failed miserably everytime I said 10 lbs.
13. Highlight my hair.
14. Exercise more. At least twice a week or more if possible.
15. Improve my OCF. Practice, practice, practice.
16. Attend at least one workshop on business/photography.
17. Update my headshots with a new look.
18. Second shoot at least 5 weddings.
19. Send out holiday cards to clients.
20. Send out anniversary gifts/cards to clients.
21. Feature at least 5 more businesses on my blog.
22. Attend at least 10 networking meetings such as ABC, Showit, PUG etc.
23. Blog on 2013 bloopers on Dec. 31.
24. Share more behind the scene photos.
25. Write down all my business plans.
26. Connect with at least 1 vendor each week.
27. Shoot a wedding outside of AZ and CA.
28. Change my hairstyle.
29. Get a manicure and a pedicure.
30. Improve my client welcome packet. I have a couple of new ideas.
31. Improve my workflow.
32. Bring out my personality more on my blog, facebook and twitter.
33. Blog everyday for 1 week. Baby steps.
34. Contact at least 1 different friend each week.
35. Attend WPPI.
36. Write my ideal client profile.
37. Take more detail shots of the wedding venue.
38. Read at least 5 books, and write a review for each.
39. Go on a trip with girlfriends only.
40. Buy a plant and make sure it survives.
41. Invite some friends at my new place and cook for them.
42. Get a facial once every 3 / 4 months which means only 3 or 4 times a year.
43. Improve the packaging of my products.
44. Get a new phone.
45. Have a memorable 31^st night. No more going to bed before midnight.
46. Buy and learn blogstomp, and actually use it.
47. Get my work published.
48. Stay away from work once a week and relax.
49. Share more on instagram.
50. Reach my facebook fan goal: at least 700.
51. Do a styled shoot.
52. Be better and faster at picking locations/spots based on lighting during a wedding.
53. Improve my bride and groom pose.
54. Bake cupcakes.
55. Bake a cake, any kind.
56. Improve wedding collections, and pricing.
57. Reduce my debt by at least 50%.
58. Improve my details shots, especially table setting at weddings.
59. Plan at least a day ahead of teaching.
60. Buy a new purse. It’s been over a year since I purchased a purse.
61. Come up with a weekly blog.
62. Go to a concert.
63. Improve my blog site.
64. Shoot a different cultural/ethnicity wedding.
65. Purchase 24-70mm f/2.8G.

 

Remember last year I created 65 Goals in 365 Days? For the first time in my life I came up with such a long goal. I was determined to make 2012 a huge success for my business, and yes, 2012 was a huge success for my business. I was able to shoot more weddings than my goal, raised my prices a few times and enjoyed it.

1. Order a sample album

Must get this done in 2013. I promise.

2. Bring out my personality more on my blog and facebook page. Blog 5 times a week.

I did try to bring out my  personality more on my blog and facebook; however, I was unable to blog 5 times a week on a regular basis.

3. Contact at least one friend each week. √

4. Get a manicure and pedicure.

Can you believe it? I am girl, and I didn’t reward myself with a nice mani, pedi session?

5. Attend WPPI √

6. Buy at least 2 pairs of shoes to compensate my vertically challenged side.

Again, a girl didn’t buy only 2 pairs of shoes.

7. Meet my Showit family from across the globe √

8. Get a pair of new glasses √

9. Buy some great flipflops √

10. Pray regularly X

11. Send out newsletter/emails once a month X

12. Post something on Facebook business page at least 5 times a week

For the most part, I was able to post something almost everyday. There were only a few weeks when I had very limited internet access, and fell behind.

13. Go to a yoga class at least once a month.

I attended a few yoga classes, and please don’t hate me. I don’t enjoy yoga at all. I need zumba and boxing.

14. Highlight my hair X

Totally forgot about this goal. Oops

15. Visit Universal Studios.

Yes I did. Not once, twice.

16. Exercise at least twice a week X

17. Order brochures/welcome packets for clients √

18. Donate more to charities √

19. Travel to at least 1 new state. √

20. Buy my new baby 35mm f/1.4. √

21. Attend a Zumba class at least once a month.

I didn’t attend every month, but I did attend a lot of zumba classes.

22. Buy a macro lens. It’s about time. √

First I bought 60mm. Then I ended up selling it, and got my new 105mm, and I absolutely love 105mm. Highly recommended.

23. Learn more about OCF (off camera flash). √

I didn’t get a chance to attend any formal workshop on OCF, but that didn’t stop me.  I practiced a lot, and I’ve improved a lot. I will share a seperate blog post on this.

24. Reach my savings goal. √

25. Get rid of 70% loan, other than the student loan. X

26. Update my headshots with a new look. X

27. Lose 10 lbs, and keep up with the new weight. X

28. Change / improve wedding and lifestyle packages. √

29. Complete a 5k. X

I will never commit to a goal like this because of my foot injury.

30. Second shoot at least 5 weddings. √

31. Blog every day at least 2 months out of the year. X

32. Get a facial done every trimester which means 4 times a year. Wish me luck on this one! X

33. Finish my X files DVD collection. Yes, I am still a sucker for that show. X

34. Update my website. √

35. Read at least 5 books. √

36. Reach my Facebook business page goal: at least 1000. √

37. Hike at least once a trimester. X

38. Write my ideal client profile. √

Need to improve it now.

39. Send out holiday cards to clients. X

40. Play around with natural lights more often. √

41. Do a styled shoot. √

42. Shoot a wedding in a different state other than CA and AZ. X

43. Feature at least 5 more businesses or people on my blog. X

44. Keep up with my cute wardrobe √

45. Spend some time with my nephew √

46. Attend at least 10 networking meetings such as PUG, Showit, ABC and so on. X

47. Take my mom for a nice facial at least twice this year. X

48. Buy a new and improved laptop. √

49. Get my work published. X

50. Travel somewhere with some girlfriends only. √

51. Improve my workflow. √

52. Improve my client interaction. √

53. Send out anniversary cards to past clients. √

54. Go skiing or snowboarding. X

55. Offer holiday minisessions. √

56. Share at least 2 new photos every week on facebook page. √

57. Blog on 2012 bloopers on Dec. 31, 2012.

Coming Soon.

58. Share more behind the scene photos on blog and on facebook.

Coming Soon.

59. Visit Disneyland. Haven’t been there in like FOREVER ! X

60. Improve my time management and procrastinate less. √

61. Buy another external hard drive. √

62. Learn more about different hairstyle. I really need help with this. Any help is appreciated. X

63. Have a memorable Dec. 31. Last few years were spent going to bed on time.

Don’t think anything different is going to happen this year again.

64. Write down all my business plans. X

65. Connect with at least 1 vendor/business via email each week. X

The best part about family shoots is watching a family grow every year. This shot is from a family session this weekend. I did their family shoot last year, and a year later this little girl is walking, and trying to talk. She was so adorable! During the photoshoot she kept finding rocks and giving these to me. Please excuse my not so pretty hand, but this image is absolutely precious to me. This will forever a beautiful moment for me.

Somedays I let my students free write in the morning. Their creativity and imagination shine through their free writes. Yesterday my students were sharing their free writes with the class. The first student wrote a fiction where I was the main character.

“Once upon a time there was a queen named Miss Munmun. She was beautiful, nice, funny, …………….. One day she decided to leave to look for a king because she didn’t have a king…………………………..” After a million different adventures, “Miss Munmun decided to go back home without a king. She couldn’t find a king.” I was just looking at him thinking ‘WHAT??’

Kids are observent and truthful. I still can’t stop laughing at this story, but hopefully I will find my king without all those crazy adventures.

Long time ago or maybe I can say once upon a time, I started or at least thought of starting a series with favorites. First favorite was about a few of my favorite books. Finally I’ve decided to add more to this favorite series now. This time it’s about one of my favorite or my most favorite type of clothing, saree.

If you didn’t know, I am originally from Bangladesh, a small country in south east Asia. Our flood news always make it to CNN, but we do have other wonderful things just like any other country. When I first moved to the U.S., I was asked by a high school girl, “Do you all have your own elephant?” I was shocked even though I thought that would be so cool to have our own elephants. I still asked her why did she ask that. She said that she thought we traveled on elephants. Now I laugh, but that time I got a little angry. I had to explain to her how it was just like any other country, and cities had everything that we have in the U.S. Let’s get back to our topic now.

Saree is one of our traditional clothing, and I just love it. It’s about 12 ft long. There’s a technique to wrap this long piece of cloth to make it look nice. I love to invade my mom’s closet every now and then, and just look at her sarees. These are a few that were very easy to grab to take a few shots. I wish I had more opportunities to wear these.

Fall is here in most states, and winter will be here before you know it. This means it’s time to buy more scarves. At least for me. Here are a few tips on how to wear a scarf.

This one cracked me up so hard. What a great idea! Kidding….

This is everyone thinks that I am crazy! Now this makes a lot of sense.

After eating the yummy cupcake at Saturday’s wedding, I’ve been craving for some chocolate cake ever since. Now I have a good reason to eat some chocolate cake. Happy Birthday…..

My students never fail to surprise me, or ask me some really awkward questions. For example, a few days ago one of my students asked me, “Miss Munmun, do you have a boyfriend?” I avoided the the question since I get asked this a lot. Well, my students ignored the part that I was avoiding her. She asked, “If you do, are you mean to him?” All I could do was drop my jaw and stare at her thinking, WHAT???!!!!

Student, “Miss Munmun, do I look hamsome?” I almost started to laugh, but I didn’t. I replied, “You look very cute!” He didn’t like my answer. Student, “NOOO! I don’t want to look cute! I want to look hamsome!” I should’ve known better I guess.

Student 1: “Miss Munmun, do you want kids?” I said, “Of course.” I should’ve guessed where it was going. Student 1: “My mom is 30 and she has 3 kids. Just saying.” Then she walked away. Student 2: “My mom is 32 and she has 3 kids.” She also walked away. Hhmmm so were they trying to tell me that I am too old? Student 3: “I think they mean you are too old Miss Munmun. You need kids or get a dog.” At least no one said I need to get a cat! Phew!

During dismissal I was taking my 4th graders to the gate, and a kindergarten class was passing us. They were in a straight line so I complimented them, “Wow! You are always walking in a straight line. Good job!” One kindergartener pointed at me and told her fellow classmate, “She’s creepy!”

One of my super cute boy created a song. I wish everyone could hear him sing and hope he doesn’t find out that I am sharing with you this.

I am so amazing

But my heart is for the ladies!

I tried my best not to laugh, and told him, “Save it for you 30s, and finish your homework now.”

I LOVE pinterest! I know I’ve said it many times, but I found this pin on pinterest, and tried the trick with different colors last night, and received a lot of compliments from all of my girlfriends. Yay for me! Believe me, I struggle big time with makeup.

This reminded me of myself. This is so me!

Every time I pick a shopping out of hundreds of shopping carts, I end up with the one that’s either loud or something is wrong. How does that happen every time?

Was this done on purpose? I mean the colors..

 

I’ve been thinking about my old 4th graders, now 5th graders lately. I’m really missing them. There were days when I really wanted to quit, but all is well if it ends well. Did I say it right? They wanted me to get cats, not a cat, a few cats. And they suggested another teacher to join online dating. I am not crazy, really! We have some very smart children.

I left the best card they made me this year in my classroom. I will share with everyone soon. And I am really enjoying looking at myself. Yes, both of these are supposed to be me. How? I have NO Idea.

I am really looking forward to starting a new year with new 4th graders.