The wonderful year of 2007 has come and gone in a flash and brought forth the on come of 2008. January 1 of 2008 meant the full thrust of the rigorous presidential elections in America and more importantly, the Beijing Olympics. The Olympics, which occurs every four years is an event that the host country prepares for years before the dawn of the Olympics. To mark the beginning of the Olympics is the infamous torch relay race. The ever-burning flame is to symbolize the torch of the king of all gods in Greek mythology, Zeus. Many interesting ways have been used to keep this tradition aflame. In Athens, the flame was transmitted into a radio signal where it was transported to Canada where the signal was received by a laser beam that lighted the torch up. This April, the prestigious Olympic torch passed through India in Mumbai and Delhi where athletes such as Anju Bobby George and even actors like Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan participated.

This event would not exactly, well, suit me. Running to me is not something that is invigorating. In fact, it is just tiring to me. But running through the architectural richness of Delhi would ease my burning pain a little bit. Delhi is like a live history text book. Everywhere you turn, you see a piece of history that battled all these thousands of years to stand firmly on the grounds of the 21 century. The Quitab Minar and the Humayun Tomb are by far my favorites. Once you enter the tomb, you instantly feel this unusual aura of peace that it doesn’t feel like you have just entered a burial site. And the romantic Quitab Minar has the most intricate patterns that won’t be seen on other monument. After thinking of the magic of Delhi, I am almost tempted to start running through the streets of Delhi with the torch (even despite the looks I would be getting).

Ah…the smell of spring is in the air. But spring is not the only to celebrate about. As many of you know, the New Year/Ugadi/Cheti Chand was also in our atmosphere. No matter what you call it, you know there is a big feast that will be held. This could be considered the Indian version of Thanksgiving which Americans celebrate. But then if you think about it, nothing can compare to Ugadi. The interesting meal consisting of raw mango, neem buds, tamarind juice, green chili, jaggery and a dash of salt. Now if you have never celebrated Ugadi, this meal is not as random as you think. Each ingredient is supposed to signify life’s mixtures such as sadness, happiness, anger, surprise, fear and disgust. This is not the only thing about Ugadi however. Your whole house goes under complete makeover. This is make sure your guests don’t step into a dust ball while their celebrating their New Year. That fortunately never happened to me. But one thing that made our dinner more interesting was surprisingly my dining table. And to no surprise it was the Beekman Extendable table that entertained my numerous guests. When guests kept in through the door, some of my friends threw questioning glances at my table. It was only until I “magically” extended it that my friends let out a sigh of relief. So far, I have had no Ugadi disasters yet but I’ll sure to keep you posted if anything embarrassing does happen.

And since Ugadi is over and spring is settling in, it is normal that you wont have 100 people over at your house. If you want to just enjoy your meal and have a quiet night then the Baxter Dining table is your new best friend. In fact I saw this table at a restaurant which comfortably fitted our whole party. Despite the décor wonderfully themed (the restaurant was decorated to look like a tropical rainforest), I did not have such a great time over there. The restaurant’s rain forest really became a rain forest when I saw a huge hairy spider right on the wall next to me. Having a pretty bad experience with all arachnids, the sight of a “creepy-crawly” scares me more than a ghost could. I actually think I have arachnophobia which is the utter fear of spiders, crabs etc. That’s why whenever I think of that restaurant, I get shivers down my spine.

If there is one place I can think of that always reminds me of relaxation, its got to be Greece. With the calm and ice-cold Mediterranean lapping at the rocky shores of Greek islands, there is no way you can’t relax. Even their ancient civilization shows signs of blissful indolence. If you look at some pieces of Greek art, you can see a female or two lounging on chairs just soaking up the European sun. A more modern and classier version is Delancy Chaise Lounge. I would see many of these types of lounge chairs on the roofs of the quaint houses meant for taking a nap with the sun as your natural blanket.

The Spruce Chaise Lounger is made for people who want to just spend their Sunday resting. And trust me; you’re not the only one. In Spain, it’s common to find a CLOSED sign on restaurants from 1-4 p.m. We thought something was wrong or maybe Spaniards have late lunches. But later we found out that locals take a siesta or a nap for three hours during the day.

If business is your game and classy is your name then the Sullivan Chair is perfect. Don’t get me wrong, Europeans are not lazy, it is just they are a lot more relaxed than other parts of the world. Those other parts of the world would like the Sullivan Chair. It is a rare mix of comfort and sophistication and doubles as an art piece. And even if you can’t take a siesta on this, you can still have a fiesta or a party where people will admire this chair.

Many consider life on the farm would be relaxing and could be compared to a pool of tranquility. If you think about it, that could be true. Waking up the dawn’s break feeding animals who love you for your food and being completely immersed in nature. Sounds like a wonderful life especially without the office part. That is until you get to the part of actually doing to work.

Milking a cow is definitely easier said than done. There is a particular side that you can milk a cow from. If you go on the other side, the cow will surely kick you straight into the hospital. But besides the kicking, cows are an animal that we as humans should try to follow. Its laidback style and carefree personality allows time to watch the grass grow. That’s the same with the Vivian Stool. Not only does it have a comfortable cushion with a leather print of a cow’s hide, but it reflects a cow’s personality (which is a good thing).

Speaking of traditional items, the next barstool the Bette Round Stool, reminds me of something I saw the other day. Being in Delhi, it is necessary to go to the Connaught Place. After pushing my way through street peddlers barking their prices at me, something caught my eye. It was a beautiful bracelet woven of wire. Its unique intricate designs pulled me towards it and after the redundant bargaining, it was on my hand. This is why the Bette Round Stool is a masterpiece. It has a one-of-a-kind design and it mysteriously still manages to look modern.

After the tiring round of shopping at the Connaught Place, I headed to a restaurant for a refreshing to replenish my energy source. Plopping down on a bar stool without thinking twice, the stool tipped over and due to the law of gravity, so did I. This may sound funny but imagine how funny it looked. So now, I’m always extra careful when I sit myself on a bar stool. But the Arrigo Stool will ensure that you don’t end up like me and fall down in a restaurant full of entertained people. In fact, its so sturdy that it would stay put in an earthquake( but hopefully one wont occur)

Moving can be described as a process in which a person changes their residence. It’s definitely easier said than done. As for me, I am familiarized with the packing, labeling, stress and unpacking that is part of moving. Having recently moved for the billionth time, I was trying to avoid the aftershock that many feel when first living in a new house.

The worst part is feeling the emptiness of the new house. Having gone through that a million times (I’ve been counting), I promptly ordered some accessories that would make the house actually feel a little used and the living room live up to its name. One of the things I ordered was the Ann Wall Unit. It’s a perfect thing to keep your T.V on, plus any other decorations you want to give your living room some flair. The best add-on I liked about this was that it comes in wenge, white oak or walnut so that this wall-unit can fit in into any room.

Another one I would’ve ordered (if I didn’t order so many of the Ann units) would be the Irving Wall Unit. Since our family addicted to the T.V, it is a must that we have a lot of TVs (and I mean a lot!). The Irving Wall Unit is 6 feet long so that this perfect for the ultimate techies. Music systems, remotes, DVD players and your TV can fit on this wall unit with still ample space to spare.

The best part of these wall units is the reaction you get from friends. After setting up the easy to install shelves and drawers and unpacking (which took much longer than installing the wall unit), I invited some friends over. Seeing the awe of their faces at seeing the modern furniture and wall units made me forget about all the stress of moving.

When the cricket or football games finally come around and everyone is ready for the game to start, a crowded T.V stand doesn’t exactly set the mood. With nests of wires intertwined with remotes and DVDs, the stress levels climb faster than India can score a run. That is when the Greenwich Entertainment Center comes in handy. This modern entertainment center is conveniently oversized, allowing ample space to keep that new widescreen T.V. As for your DVDs and CDs, they can be taken care of by storing them in the interior of the stand for easy storage.

A similar functional T.V stand is the Astor Entertainment Center. With plenty of space to keep decorations, remotes and of course the T.V, this modern design is a great asset to a living room. This stand can easily complement any T.V and be able to make it look contemporary. For the practical side, there are holes in the back of the stand for wires so that your floor is not carpeted with wires. Plus there is a large central compartment to store your movies and CDs.

A sleek entertainment center is the Wooster Entertainment Center. Fusing the two elements of glass and wenge-finished wood, you’ll sure be looking at the stand more than the T.V. It may seem beautiful on the outside, but this urbane stand comes with a convenient inside. The three drawers are perfect for people who, over the years, end up accumulating many DVDs. The neutral color of the stand allows it to fit into any room.

Many people regard their bedroom as their island of peace as it reflects their personality and is a retreat that they can go to in order to relax. The bed is obviously one of the most important aspects of a bedroom. One bed that is elegant, classy and modern is the Waverly Contemporary bed. Mimicking a sled-like shape, this bed is definitely unique and simple as well.

Another bed that oozes simplicity is the Charlton Contemporary Platform Bedroom Suite. This bed not only is robust but also it is eco-friendly. This is the easiest and perfect way to ensure you have an eco-friendly house. This is also convenient for people who move frequently because of its simple shape. Plus this modern bed will certainly attract anyone’s attention.

A bed that blends the comfort and modern aspects effortlessly is the Monroe Contemporary Bedroom Suite. This bed is especially perfect for families with kids as this bed is coated in a clear protective finish which will make it virtually kid-proof. This wenge hardwood bed also comes with cushioned back-rests that allow exhausted parents to finally rest. An added reward is that this bed is not only stress relieving but also eco-friendly.

Another bed which can accent any room is the Worth Contemporary Bedroom Suite. This bed utilizes the simple colors black and white and its modern design is also clean-cut. This aesthetic bed also uses minimal space, clearing up space and magically making your bedroom seem a lot larger. The attached nightstands flanking the bed complete this sophisticated bed.

With the clearance of winter clouds and the emergence of the bright spring sky, it’s the perfect time to start clearing out your old furniture. Especially in the case for the kids, bright and colorful modern furniture can help boost happiness.

One piece of furniture I particularly liked was the Giovanni Kids Bedroom Collection. Not only does it come with anything and everything a kid could need but also its innovative contemporary design creates an energetic atmosphere.

If you have a little girl who still loves the color pink, the best set for her is the Anna Kids Bedroom set. With a special feature of a walk-in closet, she will have all the space she needs to keep her dresses, shoes and of course, her dolls. Some think that families with two kids equals to twice the energy.

If that’s true then a room that will make your kids want to go to sleep early is the Over Kids Bedroom. With a bunk bed and a wide-rung ladder, this bed ensures safety and fun. It also means you don’t have to buy two separate beds and girls and boys alike will love it.