My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

A List of Tried and True Toddler Blankets

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Kaiden sleeps with two blankets, one my mom made him that’s fairly large and very soft yet heavy and a smaller baby blanket that’s his ‘cape.’ He also sleeps with a towel (re: towel cape), but that’s neither here nor there!

Now that he’s getting taller, I think he needs a new bigger blanket. He also doesn’t stay in one place when sleeping, so I feel like he needs something that will stay on as he bounces around. But when started researching different options, I got overwhelmed and stopped. I then took my question to my Instagram community, and my mama peeps didn’t disappoint. I got a ton of recommendations that are tried and true, so I thought I’d share for anyone else in a similar dilemma.

YNM Kids Weighted Blanket – I was told this person’s neighbors also got this blanket for their kids and love it too!

Roore 5 lb Weighted Blanket – A few people mentioned this one!

Aden + Anais Dream Blanket – A couple of people love this one.

Sivio Kids Weighted Blanket

Pillowfort at Target – A lot of people suggested blankets sold at Target.

And if you live in Canada, you can try the Life Comfort Weighted Blanket for Kids (available at Costco if you shop there!).

I think we’re going to try a weighted blanket and see how that goes. I’m debating all the ones I listed here. Ahhhh…so many choices when it comes to kids!

Well, I hope this helps a bit! Let me know in the comments if you have any other suggestions.

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Written on Related:Toddler

5 Minute Journal Prompts

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Ok so this isn’t an original idea AT ALL, but I want to share because this is the one thing that’s kept me journaling almost daily for over 1.5 months now.

Essentially what I do is take one page in my journal per day and write out these prompts borrowed from the 5-minute journal…

[The first three are for the AM]

Grateful for:
1.
2.
3.

Amazing things today:
1.
2.
3.

I am:
1.
2.
3.

[These are for the PM that same day]

Awesome things that happened:
1.
2.
3.

Could’ve been better:
1.
2.

And then on the other side of that page, I write general thoughts and notes about things that are coming up for me.

I really like this because it keeps me focus AND allows me to be free flowing if I need that as well.

Anyways, I wanted to quickly share this because it’s changed the journaling game for me. I now look forward to pulling out my notebook every morning and getting started!

Do you journal? Do you have a method or are you a free flowing person all the way?

Written on Related:Life

Edwards Apple Orchard

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It’s been a minute since I’ve checked in on here. Honestly, this space is taking the back seat right now, but I’m staying true to my word and checking in when I can.

I wanted to share about our day trip to Edwards Apple Orchard because it exceeded all of our expectations. And most importantly, Mr. Kaiden had an amazing time!

Vishnu and I decided that we wanted to visit an orchard, but we were a little (lot!) late to the game. A lot of the nearby orchards are closed for the season. Vishnu did a bit more research and came across Edwards Apple Orchard. The website looked great and there were three varieties of apples still available for picking.

The only con was that Edwards is 86 miles from where we live in the city. But we decided to go for it. We brought our own lunch since the restaurants are closed, and headed out fairly early.

We got there around 10:45 and headed straight to the area where the tractors meet you to go picking. The first thing I noticed was how everyone was wearing a mask. Phew! One worry off the list. The second thing I noticed was just how beautiful this orchard was, and how well organized the place seemed. The process to get our tickets, get on a tractor, and go to the orchard was super quick and easy. Everyone was social distancing, and it just seemed so seamless.

The orchards themselves still had plenty of delicious apples to pick from, and we definitely went to all three. We got a basket for $48 (up to 6 people) and filled it 3/4 of the way. Kaiden had the best time being on Vishnu’s shoulders to pick the highest apples!

After were were done picking apples, we headed back to the main area where the big store/barn is. Again, there was a line to get in with markers on the ground, and everyone was still wearing their masks. The barn itself was spacious and smelled like heaven (fresh donuts!). We got a few goodies – spicy strawberry jam, salad dressings, popcorn, etc. And of course, we couldn’t leave without getting a few donuts, which in my opinion were the highlight of the trip. So warm with a crispy sugar +cinnamon exterior and a soft pillowy interior. YUMMMMMMM!

We debated going to the huge pumpkin patch on site but decided to eat lunch and head home. We were hoping Kaiden would nap a bit on our way back, but he didn’t! Of course!

I can only imagine how magical this place is during non-Covid times, but because we had such a great experience, I wanted to share in case any of you are local readers and are looking for a new orchard to visit!

Thanks for a great experience, Edwards Apple Orchard!

Awarify Coaching is LIVE on Social Media

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Hello everyone! Since the last time we talked, I officially launched my coaching business, Awarify Coaching, on social media! Woo hoo!

What this means is that all of my social media channels are now live, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I don’t have my website set up just yet (I did buy the domain though!) but am planning to launch that by the end of the year.

I am just so stinking excited. If you’re interested in learning more and/or joining me on this new journey, I ask that you follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook (for now). I’ll definitely let y’all know when the website is up, but for that, I’ll need some time.

I’m also planning on launching a newsletter in November (ish!), so be sure to sign up for my email list. Lots of goodness coming your way!

The one story I haven’t shared on social media is where the name Awarify came from. So, as you can tell, it’s not a real word. But if you take ‘ify’ and apply it to the word aware, it means to bring awareness to make more aware.

All of the credit for the name goes to Vishnu. We literally sat on our couch and brainstormed so many names, most of which were already taken. After the first night, I was ready to name my business ‘PK Coaching.’ So original right!? Vishnu told me not to give up, and on the second night, he asked me what I thought of Awarify. I asked him what it meant, and when he told me what it could mean (given it’s not a real word), I literally fell in love. He said I should sleep on it, and I said, “Nope, that’s it. That’s the name.” The rest is history!

I’m so glad I married a creative thinker!

The reason I love Awarify is because I truly believe awareness is the first step in any process, and I see my role as a coach being to help people become more aware of what’s holding them back/blocking them so they can move forward and achieve their goals.

It just fits!

I promise I’ll share more about Awarify as journey evolves!

And finally, if you’re reading this and you’ve been around for a while or you’re a new reader who plans to stick around, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! MIS and the community its attracted has been such a source of joy for me over the last almost 10 years, and your constant support fills my cup more than you know. Love y’all!

Friday Stuff [#6]

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Leave it to me to share a post about not blogging frequently only to blog again a couple of days later! I just can’t stay away. 🙂

With that, I thought I would share a few things that have either been on my mind or are good finds that we’re loving.

Here we go…

Parks and Recreation

I finished all seven seasons of Parks and Rec, and I LOVED every minute of it! If you’re looking for an awesome comedy series to watch (binge!), this one should be on your list. Leslie Knope for President!!

Kids Knives

I got K these Tovla knives a while ago, and the first time we tried to used them, he kept waving one of the knives in the air. A no go for a while! Then, last weekend, I let him use one to cut up some strawberries, and I think he actually enjoyed it. The look of pride on his face was priceless!

Toddler Masks

We’ve tried quite a few masks for Kaiden, and the ones that fit him the best came from…Old Navy! They aren’t super thick (but none of them are really!), but they don’t slide down his face, which is key.

Little Passports Subscription

My sister and BIL got K a Little Passports subscription for his 3rd birthday, and I must say, it’s pretty awesome. Every month, we get a new activity, along with stickers, a ‘toy,’ and an activity booklet. All catered to his age group. Kaiden loves opening his box every month, and I love how his creativity sparks every time. A great gift option!

Toddler Sunglasses

Kaiden hates anything that touches his face/head – sunglasses, hats, helmets, etc. BUT, when I realized it was ‘sunglasses day’ at school a few weeks ago, I bought these sunnies on Amazon because I didn’t want K to be the only one without a pair. 🙂 He’s worn them a few times afterwards but not quite a sunglasses lover yet.

Friends Reruns

Nothing better, am I right?! I wonder when I’ll be done with this show. Likely never! What’s a show that you never tire of?

Energy Leadership

I have to read the book, Energy Leadership, for my coaching program, and to be completely honest…I LOVE IT! It’s a really interesting read, and I think it’d be helpful for anyone responsible for leading teams, coaching people, leading a team (personally or professionally). Such powerful takeaways on every single page! Highly recommend this one!

Weekend Plans

We don’t have too much going on, except a play date with a good friend and her son, an ice cream party, and a visit to my sister’s place.

Hoping Vishnu doesn’t have to stay too late at the hospital. I want to have a wine and cheese night with him again!

Ok peeps, that’s all I have for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Hello? Anyone There?

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Ok…so it’s been a minute since I’ve posted here. And I’m not going to lie, I miss posting here a few times a week.

If I’m being honest, I don’t know how long I’m going to keep this blog up. At the same time, I don’t want to let it go. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. I’ve been sharing my life on here for nearly 10 years!

The other day, when I was talking to Vishnu about all the things I want to do with my coaching business, he mentioned halting MIS the blog, and I looked at him like he had 10 heads. However, in my heart, I know that I don’t have a ton of free time to blog. Not that this space is super professional, but it does take time to type your thoughts out.

So here’s what I’m committing to right now. I’m keeping MIS alive for now, and I’m going to take all the pressure off. This means I’ll blog when I have time. I’ve always done things my way on here, and there’s no reason that should change. In fact, when I get some time, it’ll be nice to document the whole entrepreneur side of me.

With that, I’m a business owner, y’all! Like I have an LLC. Isn’t that nuts?! I’ll definitely share more as things unfold, but I’m working on a few big things right now and trying to keep in mind that I can’t go into this at full speed right now. I still have my full time job, Vishnu’s still a fellow, and Kaiden is still my sweet mama loving toddler. Good things take time. And my speedy self is coming to terms with that.

Anyways, life lately looks a little hectic, but I LOVE it. I’ve never felt so happily tired in my life!

With that, I thought I’d share some fun prompts to give you guys a more micro look into my life right now.

Habit I’m trying to break:  iPhone use before bed. I’ve set the same goal for myself for a long time now, and truth be told, I’m still working on it. But I have made some progress in the last couple of weeks, so I’m hopeful. This (bad) habit is directly related to my poor sleep quality, hence, one I know I need to fix now. Now that I’ve shared here, I feel a little more accountability, so I’ll definitely report back.

Habit I’m trying to continue:  64 ounces of water daily. My commitment to this comes from the headaches I get first thing in the morning when I don’t drink a ton of water.

Best experience of the summer:  This summer was definitely a little different than we original planned, but that’s ok. It is what it is and pretty much out of our control, so I’ve come to terms with it. It’s hard to pick just one experience, but for me, it’s all the family time we got. This summer was going to be filled with lots of travel (work + personal), and because all of that has been nixed for now, we’re home all the time. There are some cons to that, but I love that we’ve gotten so much quality time with just the three of us.

Getting me excited for fall:  Do not judge me, but I’m excited for sweatshirts. Vishnu got me two new Nike sweatshirts a while back, and I can’t wait to put them to use. I’ll go from tees and sweatpants to sweatshirts and sweatpants, and I’m all for it. I also can’t wait for cool weather runs and cuddling up under a big blanket on the couch.

Current thing I’m learning to love about myself:  In full transparency, it’s the same thing it’s been for years. I’m learning to love my body and all the amazing things it’s done/doing for me. I’ve accepted that this is likely going to be a lifelong journey for me, but I’m giving it my all. I gained some weight last October-December, and my goal was to get back in the gym and lose what I gained + become stronger. Welllll, while not totally impossible, I haven’t exactly done that. So instead of aiming for a number, I keep movement + nourishing foods in mind, and use those thoughts to push me in the right direction. Always a work in progress, y’all!

Current thing I do love about myself:  My ability to live in the moment and not get totally overwhelmed with everything that’s going on and/or about to happen in the next few months. This is a 180 from how I used to be, so I’m proud of myself for creating a mindspace of flow and joy and knowing that things will work out as they should. Not to say we shouldn’t work hard, but trusting the process.

Book(s) I really can’t wait to read: SO MANY! After I finish my mandatory read for my coaching program, I’m looking forward to reading Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.

Task I haven’t done yet that’s driving me crazy:  Hmmm…I’m sure there’s something, but I can’t really think of it right now. I feel like I need to find a way to get myself more organized, if that’s considered a task…?!

On the docket for this weekend:  Vishnu’s on call, so it’ll be just me and K. If the weather cooperates, I hope we can squeeze in some outdoor playdates as well as some time with my sister and BIL. I also want to take K out to get ice cream. My boy takes after his mama, and therefore, loves anything sweet, especially ice cream. I thought it’d be fun to go somewhere, sit, and lick our cones! 🙂

With that, I hope y’all have a great rest of your week. I’ll see ya (on here again) when I see ya!

A Crazy Monday!

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Well, Monday didn’t go as planned!

Let’s start from the beginning…

When Vishnu and I woke up, he happened to see that there was some unrest in Chicago the night before. We didn’t think too much of it, so he went to show, and I went in the kitchen to make his lunch and get ready for my day. I happened to glance at my phone and saw that I had a note waiting for me in the school’s app. It said that school was closed because of CTA being closed and the damage done in the surrounding neighborhood.

Of course, I totally understood why the decision was made, and I 100% agreed with it. But that didn’t make moving my day around any easier.

When K woke up, I told him there was no school, and he enthusiastically said, “YAY!” That made me smile!

Between a healthy dose of screen time and hands on time with me, we made it through the day. To be really honest, it made me very grateful for K’s school and all the precautions they take whether it’s Covid related or something like this.

Here are a few highlights/funny moments from the day:

  • Kaiden ate more for breakfast than he has in the past 2 years – a whole apple, a half a piece of Dave’s Killer bread with cream cheese, and 2 thick turkey slices.
  • Kaiden had to poop during a call I had (with an external speaker we’re working with on an event). Of course, I was frazzled, but it all worked out. I’m pretty sure my other colleague on the call with me wanted to bust out laughing.
  • Kaiden skipped his nap (of course!), but he definitely tricked me. At about 12:45 pm, he declared that he was tired and wanted to take a nap. I got him all settled, tucked him in, and of course 10 minute later, I hear a little voice yelling MAMA!
  • We read two Berenstain Bears books, and it made me excited because I feel like we can dabble in longer chapter books soon!
  • We also played in bed which means I ran and jumped and Kaiden laughed. Best 20 minutes of my day!
  • We watched Aladdin in the afternoon. Seriously one of my fav movies!
  • In addition to everything that happened overnight, we also experienced a crazy storm in the late afternoon. It spooked Kaiden out, and I was pretty sure out patio furniture was going to end up in the Chicago River. It didn’t. However, there as a lot of destruction across other parts of the city.

Anyways, that was our crazy Monday. Not as expected, but I think I handled it with as much grace and calm as I could muster. I give so much props and credit to those working parents who also have to play the role of teacher at home during this crazy time. Hats off to you!

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