Budgeting in Management Reporter

It has been over two years now since Management Reporter 2 was released and available for Microsoft Dynamics GP - its hard to believe!  Click here to see my first blog post on the subject.

Microsoft's original road map showed budgeting and forecasting built into Management Reporter in two stages:

• Simple budgeting in 2012
• Complex budgeting in 2014

Obviously a roadmap is highly subject to change and at this point in the game, Microsoft is still in the planning stages.  While this may cause uncertainty for users who are holding out for this functionality to be added to MR, lets hope that our wait is worth it in as far as the future functionality delivered in MR.

According to my Linked In poll here, the majority of MR users want to see budgeting as the next feature, followed up by integration with sub-ledgers rather than just the GL.

Since all the Dynamics ERP solutions have basic budgeting features, perhaps Microsoft's strategy has changed to hold-off and just deliver features that surpass Microsoft Forecaster rather than introduce basic budgeting and forecasting.

Either way, if you or your organization is looking for a unified CPM solution that handles all budgeting, forecasting, reporting and analysis in one place today, look no further than Prophix CPM.  Click here for more information on its advanced capabilities.  Your budget contributors, financial analysts and their spouses or significant others will thank you!

All dolled up

A classic look Inspired by Mad Men but keeping the application as simple as possible. Here’s my version step-by-step for how I create my 60s polished face in a rush-

Step 1. Foundation & Concealer /I use MAC Studio Fix Fluid ($26.50) and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($28)
Step 2. Fill and Shape Eyebrows /I use Laura Mercier Eye Brow Pencil ($19) and go for this retro shape
Step 3. Medium brown eyeshadow swept over the eye lid and in the crease /I use LORAC Starry-Eyed Baked Eyeshadow ($26)

Step 4. Gently pull back eye and line the top lid only in black making as dramatic cat eye as you personally like / I use MAC Blacktrack Fluid Line ($20) and Paula Dorf Angle Liner Brush ($24)
Step 5. Lots-a mascara / I use MAC Zoom Lash ($12)

Step 6. Blush on the apples of your cheeks / Today I used Vapour Aura Multi Use Blush in Spark for a soft pink glow ($28)

Step 7. Line your lips very precisely / *I always use a neutral liner to make my lip shape and base color when I’m going to be wearing red as I find it more forgiving. I am using Estee Lauder Lip Defining Pencil in Spice ($12)
Step 8. RED LIPS / I am wearing Covergirl’s Queen Collection in See Red ($6.99)

Step 9. Take it to the next step with fake eyelashes (love love love) / I am wearing Faux Lash in Audrey ($16)
Step 10. Blend in the fake lashes to the real ones with a final sweep of mascara

Ready for a meeting on Madison Avenue or to bat my lashes on a romantic date!

Elizabeth and James Shoes-Modern Lifestyle Shoes

Elizabeth and James Shoes are some of the best modern lifestyle shoes in the market. This is attributed to their attractive and great features that give wearers the hottest look ever. The shoes can be worn to any occasion because they come in a wide range for teen and adult women fashion styles that will enhance your confidence. They come in great designs that steal looks from every corner because they are hard to resist. The shoes guarantee comfort and luxury hence, the best shoes for those who need to make quality fashion statement. Women especially those who love a sexy look have a wide selection of sexy heels that go well with just about any outfit in your wardrobe.

One of the best features that make Elizabeth and James shoes fashionable and suitable for modern lifestyle is that they are stylish. They are high fashion style shoes whose quality is unrivalled. The shoes are designed in a unique and highly sophisticated way for the best look. From a distance, one can easily spot the shoes due to their stylish elements. Irrespective of an assortment of the brand that one may settle for including comfortable flats, sexy heels and chic sandals, you can rest assured of highly functional and fashionable products that enhance your elegance.

The shoes are incredible in every aspect. This is because they are designed to bridge the gap between contemporary fashions and designer wear. In this case, they are designed by top craftsmen who blend high quality materials for style and comfort. They are appealing due to their aesthetic value, which is enhanced by their unique and neutral tones. As a matter of fact, they are some of the best shoes in the market that one can get inclined to wear on daily basis. They depict what many celebrities and polished women wear in modern day. The shoes further reflect a wide range of downtown styles hence a great brand for the new generation.

Elizabeth is trend conscious therefore; the shoes are great for women who want to look elegant from top to bottom. The latest trends are highly stylish and to ensure that women dress in the best that fashion world has to offer. For this reason, the brand is always offering new collections to their clients. Elizabeth and James shoes are just beautiful because their great features. They have a leather insole, which is highly valuable and durable. Most of them feature a back zip closure, leather lining, some perfectly pleated suede upper, suede covered platform wedge and for enhanced comfort, some feature an open toe design.

Similarly, the shoes are just tempting. Unlike other brands, everyone can find a pair that suits her personal needs and style. For instance, wedge shoes are considered sweet and attractive on all women irrespective of body physique. Being a popular shoe brand, they shoes are sold at the most affordable prices in the market. There are many websites that sell the shoes; hence, you can catch your latest trends at the comfort of your home.

The 2012 Costume Institute Gala-Top Picks

The Met Gala is one of my favorite nights of fashion! Here are my best dressed of the night… Let me know what you think!

Sofia Vergara in Marchesa

Carey Mulligan in Prada

January Jones in Atelier Versace

Amber Heard in Zac Posen

Emma Roberts in Escada

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren

Leslie Bibb in Zac Posen

Rihanna in Tom Ford

Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe Collection

Joker's Smile

 

You walked holding my hand

You cried lying on my shoulder!

We lived without caring anyone

We had our jokes to laugh!

Faces appeared and vanished

We remained the same!

Our doors were open to all

We had our own world too!

Secrets were fewer between us

Oh! That was my imagination.

You wrote a beautiful play

With me playing a joker’s role!

We won’t hold hands anymore

We can’t be friends again!

The thread of trust is broken

Still I smile at you for no reason!

Eight Tips For A Happy Life

Have you ever thought what happiness is? It is a feeling when you find a meaning and reason in life. Overall, it is performing something that offers you joy. Here are a few simple points on how to get the essence of happiness in your life:

1. Live For Yourself: Once you start living for yourself and be happy with whom you are, you will automatically start creating positive results. Even if you have to perform many roles in life, at the end you cannot be anyone else but yourself.
2. Adjust And Change: Life is not static. It is always changing and so you cannot stay the same always. Therefore, be ready to adjust with the new changes in your lifestyle and ways of thinking instead of killing time worrying.
3. Have A Happy Meal: Try to eat more happy foods that have natural mood boosting tryptophan and tyrosine. These include milk, chicken, turkey, bananas and leafy greens. There are a few stressful foods like white bread, processed foods with preservatives and coloring that has to be avoided.
4. Be Kind: Involve in a few kind activities like visiting an old couple or feeding stray animals. A kind act can make you feel better about yourself and circumstances.
5. Simplify Your Life: You cannot change your past or future! So it is pointless to worry about it. Execute things that are within your scope, strength and talent. Always remember that over achievers tend to be unsuccessful in the end. Similarly learn to say no.
6. Act Till You Feel It: When you are feeling low, try to act as joyful and soon, you will be better. Smile when you are sad. This may sound stupid but once you act so, it will make your mood better immediately.
7. Take Breaks: You are not a machine. You have a limit and when you exceed the mark, you will be in trouble. Do things like watching your favorite movie or visiting your favorite holiday spot at times to unwind yourself. Take care of your body; stress can end up in physical aches and pains.
8. Face Adversities Bravely: Never look at challenges in a negative light. Understand that only through hardships you will learn to conquer and rise above it. When you overcome it, you will be happy always.

Being An Indian Female

I wonder how I can still weep saying I suffer from writer’s block when girls are assaulted all over the country. The degree of proximity plays an important role in everyone’s life. It is the same reason that made me feel so weird after watching a news report in my local TV channel. A 17 year old girl raped by her father is pregnant. Since it is a local channel, they explained every minute detail including the video of the arrest of the accused. People give no value for relationships these days. If not, how can he do that to his own daughter?  Usually, a girl’s first hero will be her dad. What will be that girl’s mindset while delivering her own dad’s baby?

Kerala has witnessed some unusual and brutal attacks against female community for past few years. A girl was raped and killed by her friend’s father in Nilambur. She was just 9 year old! Again, a lady in her fifties was assaulted by her sons’ friends. Soon, you may hear news of sons raping their mothers. In addition to these cruelties, there are cases of killing babies just because of being females. The death of Baby Afreen is the latest ‘known’ incident. Unknown murders are countless.

I should admit that I’d never received any torture physically or verbally from my relatives or friends. I know I am a lucky female in this country to say so. However, in the society I had to suffer discrimination like every Indian lady. Once I proudly called myself a member of a state that has 100% literacy. Education is supposed to make a man cultured. Here, it is just the opposite. Women in Kerala cannot walk freely after dusk. Though the situation is changing slowly, God’s own country still remains a male dominant area at night. I would blame ladies for this situation (includes me too). We never bother to break the rules and act as if men are the ‘super powers’ in the world.

Indians address their own country as Bharath Matha and they worship Kali, the goddess of power. Our countrymen know how to respect and treat well. This is a nation known for patience and brotherhood. Similarly the law offers ‘equal’ rights to all citizens. Yet girls are considered as curse by many families. Female community is stamped as weaker section even today. Many times I feel it is the complex of men which make them control females. In Malayalam, there is a phrase aanaku aanayude shakthi ariyilla (An elephant doesn’t know its power). Same way, a female doesn’t know her strength. Or else, men never allow her to realize her potency by caging her with many dos and don’ts! Only the moment we recognize our power, we can move fearlessly and make our society spell ‘females’ without hesitation.

PS: I think I have deviated a long way from the point I started. The mix and match is not done proportionally. One thing you can read, i.e. the suffering of woman in India. After all, conclusion is tough for me when it comes to women issues.

Stranger Friends

If unseen is strange

We are strangers!

If care is friendship

We are friends!

Laugh and fight

Play and pause

Enjoying life

Every moment!

If ever we meet

What’d we talk!

If ever you see me

What’d you gift!

We wish to speak

We hope to meet

Earth is round

Man is a wanderer! 

(Dedicated to all my virtual friends whom I had never seen)

Confessions of a Facebook Addict

Breaking the silent moments of power cut yesterday, I heard a conversation between two guys in the street: “What the hell! I’d send a friendship request and she rejected it”…! These kinds of talks are nothing new today. When you see a person posing before the camera, automatically you’ll think ‘it is going to be his/her new DP (Display Picture)’!

Facebook and other social networking sites have made a huge impact on the thoughts and activities of the present generation. Kids studying in third or fourth standard will have an FB account. Any child can create a profile by just giving a fake date of birth. When a group of youth gathers, their main topic of conversation will be about Facebook.

I must say I am a person who is known among my friends as an FB addict. I was an introvert in my school days. In my primary school days, pupils there rarely know me. Sometimes I felt ashamed of being a silent girl. The sense of loneliness depressed me in my teenage days. Slowly, Orkut gave me a platform to chat with my friends. But in that, we could only reply to the scraps send to us.

After my studies, a few of my friends introduced me to a new social networking site named FACEBOOK! Exploring new sites is my hobby. In the beginning I didn’t like the whole concept of publicizing the status messages. However, my friends told I’ll like it very soon. Their prediction is right and now I am a well known ‘Facebooker’ among my friends. Within two years, I’d experiment every app in Facebook except business deals and games (I hate to go through these two sections).

Now I realize I transformed myself to a personality that I always dreamed of. I wished to be an individual who love to express my ideas and gather friends. Check out a few lessons I have learned from my Facebook life:

• Facebook encourages expression. Still, posting too much emotional stuff will make your friends bored. If you really want to express your emotions, start a blog.
• Add strangers as friends only if you feel they are trustworthy. This point is very important in case of ladies. Cyber offense is the most dangerous and deadly crime in the world that is increasing day by day. Again, subscribe only to verified accounts of celebrities.
• Even though majority of the Facebook users are females, many don’t know how to handle it. Make sure that your account is well protected. I’d suggest females to lock their albums and contact details in Facebook.
• Join groups and pages that you feel you should be a part of! I regret for joining many pages in FB. So I used to leave groups if I don’t find it good.
• Finally, spend some time to read good articles and features. It is through FB I come to know the latest updates of the world.

FB can be used for personal or business purpose. Facebook is a wonder that will provide you surprises whenever you log in. On the other hand, do realize that it is a virtual world and nothing is real in it. The virtual personality should not interfere the original YOU!

Management Reporter 2012 has been released!

Management Reporter 2012 has been released!  This release includes more than 30 new features, including all promised features!  You can find videos of these features at the Microsoft CPM blog here.

Some of the new features include:

• Integration with Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Schedule reports to generate on a periodic basis
• Publish reports to multiple Microsoft SharePoint or network locations
• E-mail a link to the report from the Report Viewer
• Quickly create a chart based upon selected report rows and columns
• Drill from account and budget balances on a report to related information in your Microsoft Dynamics ERP
• Toggle the accounts display to optionally include/not include the dimension descriptions by user

One important thing to mention is that the FRx migration tool currently does not work with MR 2012.  We expect this will be addressed shortly, but in the meantime, you will need to migrate on the previous version of MR.

Naughty Surprise

A village girl and a female from metro city met under a hill. They spoke different language and had diverse culture. Yet, a single word bonded them… FRIENDSHIP! I am not going to narrate a fable. What I told you is how I found a friend named Meenakshi Nautiyal.

Most of my blog readers will be familiar with that name. Meenakshi is mostly the one who comments at my blogpost first. Whenever I post something in this blog, she will be the first person to know. That may be the reason why Deepak, one of my blogger friends believed that Meenakshi is my fake profile!

We both studied together for post graduation. I and Meenakshi don’t have too many similarities. Initially, I had a doubt whether I can get along with a girl from Mumbai. But I was really surprised to know that she doesn’t know how to apply makeup. My perception about a city girl changed completely after seeing her.

Three Qualities of Meenakshi:

1. Caring & Helping
2. Lively & Jovial
3. Open & Simple

She is short and slim. If you are a person who believes eating is the sole activity that frames a person’s physical structure, you must meet her. Her lunch equals my full day diet. And the funniest thing is that she remains slim and I remain plump.

One Confession:

She has many teddies with her. Among that there is a yellow teddy which is huge and cute. Every time I see that, I think of stealing it. Somehow it never happened…!

The most essential quality needed for a friend is to keep in touch with his/her buddies. In case of Meenakshi, whenever I message her I’ll get the reply instantly. When I am depressed, I used to SMS her: “I wish to hear your scolding”!

Three Best Moments With Meenakshi:

1. Food sessions:
   I am sure that the staff of Dominos in Coimbatore will be surprised to see a tiny girl Meenakshi eating a medium pizza and a huge female like me having a small one. Always when we order any food, she takes half from my plate after completing her. Thanks to her for helping me to get rid of fine at mess for wasting food.
2. Shooting:
   Reporting was the only enjoyment during college hours. We go out, roam and have lots of fun while students from other departments stay in their classes listening to boring lectures. We wandered through Palakkad and Coimbatore searching for news. Visiting Meher village was a wonderful experience. First TV news reporting from Palakkad was also special.
3. Combine studies:
   She is a good reader and writer. I would say I passed all semester exams of MA Communication because of this girl. She explains each topic very well. Globalization, Media studies, Communication Theory… Oh God! I can’t think of those topics now.

Hard times will let you know who your real friends are! There is another category of friends who act as your best buddies and make you fools. They enjoy seeing you getting trapped. True friends will remain with you during the ups and downs of your life. I should say I am lucky to have such a pal in my life.

Happy Vishu

Facebook or other social networking sites can always give a virtual presence of your dear ones. However, there is a big difference between virtual and real world. Actual company of people is more precious than online presence. Celebrations and festivals are meant for such get together.

Malayalees celebrate Vishu today. Vishu marks the beginning of an agricultural season. Mainly there are two festivals in Kerala namely Vishu and Onam. Both these are related to agricultural seasons of this area. Vishu celebrations start by Vishukani followed by Vishu kaineetam. Crackers and sadya add flavors to this festival.

Like every Vishu eve, I couldn’t sleep yesterday. Even though I see the same kani on Vishu each year, it is exciting all the time. With closed eyes, I have to walk all the way to Pooja room and open my eyelids in front of a decorated Lord Krishna statue. Also there will be a few other materials including gold, money and a few agricultural products. The main highlight of kani is kanikonna, a flower that blooms only in hot summer.

Vishu is a time for family members to enjoy themselves together. For kids, it is the best day of their summer vacation. Compared to last years, this time the number of crackers is small. The prize hike is the main reason. This high cost has adversely affected the Vishu celebrations. Medical experts say the fireworks can remove the pollutants and infection from the environment. Apart from providing entertainment, it is also healthy.

Once every celebration, prayer and life was dedicated to crop cultivation. So above everything, Vishu reminds us that we had an agricultural tradition.

Wishing all my readers and friends a Happy Vishu!

End of a Fairytale

Tears dried up
Motionless I stay!
Broken words
Lifeless thoughts!

Why did I imagine
What did I get!
All questions to me
Clueless I am!

Tunes did not match
Rhythm is not right!
Once a perfect song
Now a nuisance!

Unexpected turns
Unique twists!
A colorful fairytale
Ends with no smile!

Untouchable

There is a get together going on in her house. She is not allowed to get out of her room as she is an ‘untouchable’. On those three days every month, she lives like a prisoner. She cannot touch clothes, utensils or food in her house. Even to get a few drops of drinking water, she has to beg and wait for the mercy of others.

For outsiders, she belongs to a well-fed family with a few acres of agricultural land. Her family is highly educated and has a good status in the society. However, they still hold the orthodox Brahmin culture. She tried many times to question about the untouchable days. The only answer she gets is ‘some customs has to be followed’…

She has to hide herself from the sight of those who are going to temple. Others think it is bad to see her before their temple darshan and so they will start cursing her when they spot her. Again some rooms like kitchen and pooja room are forbidden places for her during those days.

Only on the fourth day, she becomes ‘pure’ after taking a dip in the pond. Until then, she has to remain inside her room. She says the mental torture is worse than the physical suffering. Outside her room, the world celebrates 21^st century life…!

It is not the story of a single female. There are many ladies who are secluded like this inside the houses of namboodiris. The female communities of Kerala Brahmins are not allowed to live freely during their days of menstruation. Though most of the families have come out of this idiotic custom, a few still practice this!

Earlier, the seclusion was a part of giving rest from household duties to females. In those three days, she needs rest mentally and physically. But now the scene has changed, every girl has her own world. Everyone is highly educated and they can make their own time to work and relax.

Being a namboodiri girl, I always feel it is time for a second revolution in the community. Even if the condition of Kerala Brahmin ladies has changed a lot (Thanks to VT Bhattathiripad and others for the first revolution), there is still a little more to change.

A man finds it hard to manage a fever or cold that comes once in a while. These people can’t even imagine how much a lady bears each month. Still she manage to smile and love men without any hesitation.

Again, I don’t think it is God who had laid all these rules that let females suffer! If Almighty is so cruel, then I would say I don’t want to worship a stone like that!!!

This post has been written for the Time to change Contest hosted by IndiBlogger . Thanks to Stayfree,the best companion of a lady!

Once Upon A Time…!

During my aimless channel scans, my fingers stop pressing the remote control when I see Doordarshan. Though the programs of this channel is still the same and hasn’t changed a bit from 1980s, watching DD is like visiting a historical museum. Just like an art gallery that reminds our past, DD remains as India’s national channel.

Doordarshan has nothing to offer more than a few government promos and a few old recorded programs. However, this channel has a glorious past as India’s first national channel. In my childhood days, DD made our days. A few days back, when I spoke to my younger cousin about DD’s programs, she looked at me blankly. For new generation kids, Doordarshan is a channel for grandpas! For kids of 1980s and before Doordarshan is now a part of their nostalgia.

A few reminiscences about Doordarshan:

• Every program after school time should not be missed.
• Whenever you do something wrong, say ‘sorry shaktiman’!
• I used to wake up early in on Sunday morning to watch Rangoli
• I knew all the epics those days. Thanks to Sreekrishna, Om Namashivaya, Jai hanuman (Britannia Tin Tin Titin).
• Like a ritual, every Indian watched Republic and Independence Day parades.
• Even kids watched the President of India addressing the nation on the eve of Republic and Independence Day.
• Whether it is Hindi, Malayalam, English bulletin or even news for special people, everyone will listen carefully.
• Cricket matches, especially India vs. Pakistan, were like wars. We listened to both Hindi and English commentary patiently.
• Rhymes of ads were by heart (washing powder Nirma)…
• You’d to wait one week to watch the next episode of a serial.
• Watching the 4o’ clock evening movie on Sunday was like seeing the first show on the first day of movie release.
• Mile sur mera tumhara was listened and sang with so much of fervor

Now things have changed… Doordarshan never accepted the new trends. At present there are hundreds of channels available in our television. From international, national, state, regional to city channels, all these compete themselves to bring variety of programs. Yet we are not satisfied with a single channel and so we keep changing the channels every now and then.

Doordarshan was a synonym to the word entertainment previously. I should admit that the satisfaction that DD had provided in those days can never beat any media of today.

Watch DD at least once in a month. Else, we will be forced to tell a fable to our grand children, ‘Once upon a time there was a channel named Doordarshan’!!!

Namesake/Pointless

I have always wondered how do I get topics to write…! Usually, I don’t frame a post for the sake of updating my blog. However, I should admit that this post doesn’t have a specific topic to speak about. Again, I am a lazy book reader (but I do read blogs) and so my vocabulary is not too good. My dad used to scold me for not reading books! But what to do, I’ve many books in my shelf that are half read. Only a few books like Arundati Roy’s The God of Small Things amuse me. I’ve read that book completely with so much of passion.

Now coming to the point of posting… Please don’t curse me after reading this saying the whole thing I wrote was worthless. Subjects come at some point to my mind, this time it didn’t happen. I waited for a whole week. My routine of posting at least one post per week has to go on. That’s the main reason of scribbling this ‘namesake’ post.

Moreover, the number of people following me has really surprised and scared me! I never expected such a huge number in my list even in my dreams! Similarly, the tension of whether I can fulfill their reading needs has really worried me. You may say blog is to express whatever you feel. But always remember, it is the readers who can help you improve your writing skills. While writing a comment on others blog posts, I always try not to hurt them because sometimes a single rude comment can kill a writer. It doesn’t mean I don’t criticize bloggers. Rarely, I do attack some bloggers though not in a way that it is going to ruin their self confidence.

Unbelievable, the word count of namesake post has crossed 300 words. Life has to move on and my blog too!!! So, stopping this idiocy here… See you soon with some interesting posts. Thanks for your patience!

(So many don’ts and can’ts here… Believe me, I’m an optimist)

Walking Back To My Life

I am a human,

Not a stray dog!

I am a girl,

Not a mere doll!

Ashes of dreams

Wishes of future,

All lay shattered

For a phoenix rise!

I never lived for me

I never smiled back!

Blank and blind,

For a full season!

I’m walking back

In search of my life!

Somewhere I lost

My love for life!

World of words

Idols of ideas

Cracks of creativity

Waiting just for me!

Bright sunshine

Heavy shower

Lovely spring

Without shadows!

No more fetters

No more tears

Only a single life

To live the fullest!

Keeping your Planning Focus

Do you or your organization suffer from a lack of focus during your planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting exercises?

The other day, while I was watching my five year old son's indoor soccer game I noticed that I was following the action in the wrong game?  Why?  The reason is simple enough, my son was playing a field over and the spectator stands are only available on one side of the field, which meant that I had to keep my focus on the second field instead of the game being played right in front of me!

I believe that our planning and reporting can suffer the same 'lack of focus'.  It can occur for a few reasons, including:

• Spending more time collecting and organizing data than analysing the data
• Budgeting/forecasting at an inappropriate level of detail, effectively drawing our focus from key business drivers that should receive more relative focus and giving equal weight to administrative expenses
• Routinely generating, reviewing and analyzing a standard set of reports, as opposed to interacting with the data and performing 'ad-hoc analysis' on key areas and variances

Looking for a Microsoft Enterprise Reporting Replacement?

If your organization is affected by the discontinuation of Microsoft Dynamics GP Enterprise Reporting, you should review and consider the following replacement solutions:

• Management Reporter
• Prophix CPM

Happy Birthday Equals 150th Post

I started blank

I knew nothing,

Slowly it grew

Step by step!!

Smiled and teased

Claps and stones

Courage with fear,

Lived and died too!

Three years voyage

Still rowing hard,

No looking back

Only pride, no regrets!

Three years back:

Sitting in a class beside the elephant hill at Ettimadai, I was really confused about blogging. Many of my classmates had a blog. The word blogging was a trendy topic of discussion during those days. Finally I too decided to start a blog. I asked my classmate Vidya about this. She was a new blogger that time and had no much idea on that. She said: “Just search ‘how to start a blog’ in Google”. Google re-directed me to BlogSpot.

BlogSpot asked me a blog title. A few names of my classmates’ blogs went through my mind. Suddenly, a name came to my mind: Voice of a Village Girl! Ok, let it be an option because even now I’m not sure whether my native is a real village. I tried for alternate names. Soon, I recognized this is the perfect name for my blog. With the picture of a few golden colored bangles as header image and a plain black template, I started my blog.

In the beginning, my intention of this blog was to publish my full news reports that I did as a part of academics. Usually, most of the news stories are edited by sub-editors before publishing it in our college journal, Campus Beats. Apart from removing unwanted words from the report, they are also forced to trim a few paragraphs in order to fit into the provided space while designing the news paper. I cannot blame them because I myself used to kill their stories mercilessly.

Today:

A real adventurous journey of three years from Roopa to roopz… Zero to 150 posts! I still cannot believe how I made it. There were ups and downs, appreciations and criticisms. Some were really harsh; while others were too sweet. Although I cannot claim that it is my life that I’d depicted here in this blog, I found a life in this world of blogging. I began this expedition without any expectation!

Earlier, I kept on nagging my friends to read, comment and follow my blog. I should thank them for not giving a blow on my face for irritating them. Following are those people who encouraged and supported me:

• Classmates, seniors, juniors and faculties of Amrita School of Communication
• My dear friends of Sreekrishna College
• My schoolmates of Peevees and Good Hope
• My colleagues and boss of Webnamaste
• My fellow blogger friends
• Facebook and Twitter friends
• Indiblogger, Blogger.com and WriteUp
• Microsoft Word (for providing me synonyms and correcting my sentence structure)
• My family, cousins and relatives

Even when I receive a few applauses for blog posts, the missing of Soni M Bhattathiripad is still a pain for me. I wrote a post about him in a hope that someone will give me positive news about him. Though the post created a sensation, that spirit did not long much. That missing still remains as an unsolved mystery. Hope Soni’s puzzle will be solved soon as the enquiry from the authorities is at a high speed today.

Writing 150 posts in 3 years and the role of SEO Executive taught me a few lessons:

1. Scribble whatever you wish (it is your blog)
2. Write every post as if it is your first blog post
3. Add maximum pictures to make the post colorful
4. Always consider the feedback of your readers
5. Never mix business in your personal blogs
   
6. Respond properly to the remarks of your readers
7. Read other blogs and do comment (not just a ‘nice post’)
8. Commenting on other sites can increase the traffic to your site
9. You can give positive or negative feedback
   
10. Criticize and point out the faults politely

Sorry for making you read such a long post! Three years or 150 posts is nothing in blogging. I still have a long way to go… Thank you world for accepting my blog and giving me a brand name- Village Girl!

Special Mention: Meenakshi, Anees, Vidya, Nimisha, Priya Sajith, Navin, Prajith, Priyanka Stephen, Vishnu, Renjith, Prajil Aman, Seethal, Vibin Das, Nisha Dilip, Jabir, Deepak Karthick, Leo, Vinod Bhattathiripad and Priya Mundekad