random Archives - My Inner Shakti

Checking In

Happpppy Tuesday! It’s been a while since I’ve checked in and shared the random stuff we’ve been doing, reading, eating, etc. Today’s the lucky day!

Fair warning. This post is going to be a bit all over the place. 🙂

Vishnu and I are trying to cut back on the number of toys we get K. Vishnu’s also trying to get rid of some of his current trinkets. With that being said, while I do think less is more, especially for young kids, sometimes I can’t resist and I end up buying something on Amazon. Take these big stuffed balls as an example. Kaiden is OBSESSED with balls, so how could I not hit purchase? And in my defense, they’ve been a hit!

When it comes to books, I don’t hold back! I really want to instill a love for reading in K starting at an early age, and thankfully, my persistent ways seem to be paying off. Kaiden loves it when we read to him! The other day, he brought me a book at 5:30 am. Ha! And while I think all books are great, I wanted to see if K would take to science oriented books, so I bought Hello World! Solar System and the Baby Loves Science Board Book Set. I loved science books as a kid (my favorite one was about dinosaurs), and I still do to an extent, so I figure it’s a win-win for all of us!

And when I’m not reading to K, I’m trying to find time to make a dent in book #5 of 2019, I’m Not Judging You. So far I really like it – it speaks to so many truths in a funny way. Will share more when I finally finish it!

Going back to Kaiden and his obsession with balls, you should’ve seen him at the Children’s Museum this past weekend. The only thing he wanted to do was bowl. Such a big change for my little guy who usually just wants to hold the bowling ball and roll it to me. But this weekend, it got to the point where I had to carry an upset little Kaiden out of that specific area because it was time to go! Such a little character.

In terms of meals we’ve been loving, The Chutney Life’s Instant Pot Lasagna Soup still tops the list. It’s so easy to make and it tastes so damn good! A must make IMO. We’re also loving the Trader Joe’s mushroom and truffle ravioli paired with the kale and cashew vegan pesto. I think K ate like six ravioli in record time!

For those who follow me on Instagram, you may be aware that Vishnu and I are trying to up our salad intake. I’ve been sharing my daily (ish) salad creations on IG, and so far, people have been loving it! All of this started when Vishnu proclaimed that he didn’t want to take a sandwich to work every day. He wanted to go back to the salads he used to take, but this time, he didn’t want me to get the prepackaged kind. He suggested that we make our own! I jumped on the salad bandwagon because I definitely needed to add some good things to my diet. It’s been a few weeks now, and we’re still going strong! Here’s to more veggies and lots of fun salad combos to come.

Switching gears a little bit, my friend Sonal featured me on her blog Coffee & Chai. I wrote a post about what it’s like to raise K as an Indian American, what our biggest priority is, and some of the small things I do on a daily basis to instill our cultural values in him. Give it a read and let me know what you think!

And finally, I just want to share something super small and unimportant. Our cleaning person came on Monday, and it made my day! Our apartment was very crumby and just didn’t feel that clean to me, and by the time she left, it looked like a brand new place. It doesn’t hurt that Nermina is now like a friend and always a pleasure to see! Now to only find a way to keep it this way for longer than five hours!

Ok, enough of my randomness for one day! Have a happy Tuesday, y’all!

P.S. Also, be on the lookout for an exciting blog related announcement this week! Can’t wait to share. 🙂

Updates + Books + Recipes + Games

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Ready or not, here comes a random but hopefully informative post!

First up, life updates…

There have been some changes at work, which means more/elevated responsibilities for me. This also means I’ll be travelling to Rome, Italy for a week in March. So much going on!

I recently shared on Instagram that Vishnu’s on night float for the rest of this week and next. This usually throws me off, but this time around, I’m really trying not to let it get to me. I know we’re only a few days in, but I think I’m doing a great job. Positive self-talk + slowing down a little really helps.

The one thing throwing me off has nothing to do with night float. Kaiden’s been waking up earlier than usual, and it’s exhausting! He wanted to party from 1-2 am the other night! Silly boy! When he wakes up before 5:30, I bring him in our room, so we can both get a little bit more rest. I don’t know if that’s the best move because now he literally points to our room and then our bed. It’s like he wakes up just so he can come sleep with me! Not necessarily the best habit, but I kind of love it. He’s such a cute snugly bug when he sleeps! We shall see where this takes us…

Now on to a few book recommendations!

My 2019 goal is to read 24 books. That’s two per month. I’m a little behind at this point but hoping I can make up for it soon.

Here’s what I’ve read so far…

No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury
Becoming by Michelle Obama

Up next I’ll be reading One Day in December by Josie Silver.

Now, get ready because you’re going to get a little hungry…here are a few recipes I’ve recently tried and LOVED!

IP Lasagna Soup by The Chutney Life – I’ve made this twice now, and it’s been a hit both times!

IP Masala Khichdi by The Chutney Life – not surprising…another fav! Love the masala aspect to this recipe!

Energy Balls by The Lean Green Bean – you guys know I love Lindsay’s recipes! This one is full of all the good stuff and both adult and kid tested and approved. Kaiden ate two balls last night and probably would’ve had more if I let him!

I got a few messages on Instagram about the games I shared in my stories over the weekend. We played Codenames Pictures (so fun, so hard!), 5 Second Rule (so intense…leaves me so flustered and goofy!), and the age old favorite, Cards Against Humanity. All great options to have on hand for game night!

Guys, I wanted to share some new makeup products I’m using too, but I’m tired and feel like the more responsible thing would be be to go the f to sleep! HA! I’ll share a roundup very soon.

Happy Valentine’s Thursday, y’all! Don’t forget to eat a little chocolate today!

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!

Random Musings – Motherhood, Life, Beauty, etc.

written by Parita 3 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve just typed. I usually stick to a plan when blogging, but sometimes it’s nice to see where your fingers take you!

In terms of Kaiden updates, I don’t have too much to share…finally. Ha! Overall, the past few weeks have been great. A few bumps here and there, but he’s doing so well. My fingers are perpetually crossed in hopes that our three month sickness streak is over. It’s so nice to see Kaiden without a stuffed nose. My baby can breathe! Although, his teething (or what we think is teething) symptoms are a little out of control (re: diarrhea galore) . But hopefully a few chompers will be in soon!

Kaiden with the wild hair!

Out and about enjoying the beautiful weather (last week)!

Me on the other hand? I’ve been experiencing a weird allergic reaction to some unknown thing since last Tuesday. I broke out in hives after being outside for a few minutes, and it’s been on and off (mostly on) ever since. So I’m now on Allegra until we figure this thing out. I’m seeing an allergist this week, so hopefully I’ll have some answers soon. Please send some soothing/non-itchy vibes my way!

Vishnu remains unscathed by everything for now. Really (really!!!) hoping it stays that way.

The best development over the last week is that we have a mobile baby now! Kaiden started crawling early last week and has been on the move ever since. And now that he can get to the furniture, he’s also trying to grab on and pull himself up. It’s all so bittersweet! I love seeing him develop and become more and more aware of the environment around him, but at the same time, I miss the newborn days where all he wanted to do was be in my arms!

As the above clearly shows, motherhood is full of ups and downs (luckily ours are minor). Sometimes I feel like when things are on the up and up, I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean, I know it’s coming. Just a matter of when. On the flip side, knowing this journey is essentially one wave after another, I do try to enjoy the good stuff as fully as possible.

I also have to state the obvious. Spring needs to get here (and stay!) pronto. This gloomy weather is making me emotional (i.e. sad) even though I have no reason to be. I can handle the cold temps, but I need sunshine. COME ON!

Let’s switch gears to the good stuff. We have some fun travel plans coming up. Both with Kaiden and without. Vishnu and I will be in LA at the very beginning of June for a friend’s wedding. V’s parents will fly up to watch Kaiden – more grandparents time! And then soon thereafter, the three of us will fly to Atlanta to spend some time with family and celebrate K’s 1st birthday (WHAT?!?!). And then later in the summer, we’ll all be heading to Vail for Vishnu’s cousin’s wedding. Fun times ahead!

I have a skincare post in the works, but for now, I just have to share that Drunk Elephant products are so wonderful. And I love that I don’t have to worry about what I’m exposing K because everything is so ‘clean.’ More to come.

I’m also still loving the Namskara castor oil I shared about on my Instagram Stories. I can’t say tell yet if my brows are growing in more rapidly, but I’m definitely not losing any brow hairs. I’ll take it! If I do see considerable growth in the next few weeks/months, I’ll definitely post about it.

Another product I shared about on IG but have yet to follow-up on is the Eva NYC Mane Magic 10-in-one spray. I love how it keeps my coarse hair manageable and soft. Tis stuff is liquid hair gold. If you’re looking for a product that protects from heat styling, tames frizzies, etc., this one’s for you!

Other truly random musings…

I still get super irritated when people see me trying to maneuver our giant stroller in and out of doorways and offer no help whatsoever. I don’t expect it because I can and usually do figure it myself, but a little help never hurts!

Our thoughts are super powerful. I truly believe this. However, sometimes I feel like my thoughts actually create my life situations. For example, this past Sunday I woke up thinking about how K’s poops are super healthy (he was constipated for a while) and how a major blowout hasn’t happened in months. Well, guess what…he now has diarrhea. Coincidence? Probably. But this isn’t the first time my thoughts have literally manifested themselves. When I told Vishnu about this, he laughed and told me to think about his dream car. Ha! Jokes aside, I really should think more positive thoughts. You know, just in case I can make things happen!

I’m excited to share that I’m launching a ‘Working Mom’s Diary’ series very soon – Q&As with fellow working moms, topics specific to the working mom life, etc. Obviously, I have a vested interest in this topic and am super passionate about it. I hope, if nothing else, other working moms will read some of these posts and feel less alone (day-to-day life can feel very lonely).

Read this article about maternal grandparent advantage and please share your thoughts if you do! I want to write about my own take sometime soon.

If you have 53 minutes (give or take!) to spare, listen to this podcast about parenting. On point!

Annnnd…that’s all she wrote…for now. Have a great Tuesday!

Rewind and Fast Forward

written by Parita 3 Comments

REWIND

As you all know, HFMD (Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease) took over my little guy’s body. Based on what I read and what friends told me, I think K’s version was mild compared to what could’ve been. Apparently, this thing can get pretty severe and painful. He had some bumps on his hands and face, but other than that, he was ok. And luckily, everything started clearing up by Wednesday.

Early last week, Vishnu started complaining about chills and a really bad sore throat. I was positive he caught HFMD from Kaiden, but (again) luckily, I think he had strep. He felt much better after starting on antibiotics. And even though strep sucks, I hear the adult version of HFMD is absolutely awful.

Moving on from sick talk…

Vishnu’s mom and I share something pretty big in common. We both love food – cooking it, eating it, trying new things, watching any food related television, etc. I’ve enjoyed introducing her to new recipes and ways of cooking over the past few weeks. For example, this past Friday, she tried Trader Joe’s cauliflower crust pizza and loved it! I’ve also made a few recipes in the Instant Pot she’s ended up loving.

On Saturday, Vishnu and I went out for some St. Patty’s Day fun. Well, we had very loose plans and decided to go with the flow. We stopped by our friend Rohit’s place as he was having a little get together/party. After a bit of chit chat, we headed back out to meet my sister, BIL, and a few friends at a restaurant turned club. You guys…it’s been a minute since I’ve been out like this. I will say, after a bit of “we’re only going to stay for 20 minutes,” we ended up having a lot of fun. The music was on point, and the company was even better! Vishnu and I stayed for maybe an hour before heading out, grabbing a bite to eat, and making our way home at 9:00 pm (ha!). The best part? We walked everywhere! No car, no Ubers, no cabs. The weather was bearable (a little warm even). Spring is on it’s way (FINGERS CROSSED!).

Sunday included a lot of food prep (for us and for Kaiden), a visit to my sister’s place to play, and Costa Rica packing. Productive x 10!

FAST FORWARD

Vishnu’s mom leaves on Tuesday evening. I’m already super sad. Ha! I think her absence will really hit us when we get back from Costa Rica. The other night, I said to Vishnu, “I don’t remember what it’s like without help.” To which he replied, “I can help.” I meant help for both of us. He cracks me up! We’ll be ok though!

Not really a fast forward but something worth mentioning – One of the reasons we’ll be ok is because Kaiden is finally sleeping through the night (ish)! [Knocking on all the wood.] He’ll occasionally wake up crying unable to go back to sleep, but all he needs is his pacifier (which is by his legs at this point in the night). I really really really hope this continues because I haven’t felt this fresh and awake in a long time!

We leave for Costa Rica on Wednesday. Ahhhh! I’m actually super excited now and can’t wait to explore a new country with my besties! We have a packed agenda full of so many adventures – a 10 hour hike, ATVing, white water rafting, waterfall repelling, and zip-lining. Send LOTS of courageous vibes this way please. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it!

I’m also super excited for Kaiden to spend time with my parents in Atlanta. As my sister likes to remind me, it’ll be good for both of us. We’re a little attached to each other!

And finally, after a crazy Q1 2018, I’m ready to take back the rest of the year! I’m formulating a plan in my head right now about how to do this and plan to blog about my efforts. This will likely include some hopefully positive changes in the diet, exercise, organization, play, reading, blogging, relationship, and likely more areas of my life. I just feel like everything went off track in small ways over the past few months. Life happens, of course, but now it’s time to make the most of the rest of the year.

Well, that’s all she wrote. Happy Monday! I’ll chat with you in a few days, hopefully more rested and a little more tan. 🙂

Friday Things + Favorite Links

written by Parita 4 Comments

I’m coming at you a little later than usual on this warm and sunny Friday (it’s 80+ degrees in Chicago today!), but hey, I made it!

Yesterday was one of those days that started out great and ended with me asleep on the couch at 8 pm. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open, and my energy levels were so low. Thankfully, that all changed this morning when I got to sleep in for an extra hour while Vishnu watched Kaiden. However, as I got out of bed and walked into the living room, I felt a little guilty for ‘sleeping in.’ When I mentioned this to Vishnu, he told me not to. “You got up at 1:00 am and 5:45 am, babe.” Even still…little pangs of guilt remained for a bit. This mommyhood business is a funny thing, I tell you.

I suppose it’s a good thing I woke up for those feeds, as Vishnu works a week of nights starting tomorrow. Wish me luck! Honestly, I’m not too worried. By the time Vishnu leaves, Kaiden will already be asleep, so it’s just that 1a/2a feed that I’ll have to tackle on my own. We shall see… 🙂

Oh also, speaking of Vishnu and work. I was totally wrong about his schedule last weekend. I thought he worked a 24 shift from Saturday am to Sunday am, but it turns out he only had to work a 12 hour shift on Saturday (8a to 8p). Finding that out made my weekend! Also, I should probably look at my calendar every now and then, as I had it correctly noted in there. Oops!

I started Dr. Brene Brown’s newest book this week. It’s called Braving the Wilderness, and like all of her other books, it’s fantastic. I’m on chapter 3, and her words are resonating already. I highly recommend checking out her work. She has the 5th most viewed TED talk in the world, she’s written four books, there are countless articles/interviews you can Google and read…the options are limitless. Her work is truly life changing.

So I shared in last week’s post that we got an Instant Pot. I’ve used it three times now, and I can honestly say I like it a lot. While not every recipe is ‘instant,’ it does cut down on cooking time and the number of dishes needing to be washed. I can tell this new device is going to take lot of experimentation and patience to learn, but once we get it, I can see us using it every day. I mean, my IP lasagna soup turned into IP pasta, but it tasted delicious so there’s that!

Other than that, this week was pretty normal…ish! I have a handful of weeks left before I go back to work, so just trying to enjoy every second with my little guy. More on that coming soon!

And for my favorite links of the week…

Marriage after kids…kind of a different ball game!

Totally on board with this way of life

So simply put but so true

#3 and #8 really ring true

Problem solving v. question posing – love this

Meditation, weight lifting/yoga, walking = happiness

“To know if sparks are going to fly, Joel says, nothing is more telling than an old-fashioned face-to-face.” ABSOLUTELY!

Sometimes the best of intentions have severe consequences

LOL…yes to all!

How delicious does this look and sound? And it’s vegan!

It’s squash season, y’all!

Cue the tears (and no, we are not giving K a brother or sister any time soon!)

Have a wonderful weekend!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, there are affiliate links 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!

Friday Favorites

written by Parita 1 Comment

I don’t know if it’s because I now write a dedicated Friday Favorites post every week or what, but the days are flying by. How is it already Friday?!

Now that I think about it, it’s probably because we are in the final countdown to baby. That makes more sense, huh?

Speaking of final countdown, Vishnu and I are on a mission to use our time this weekend getting ready for Baby K. We’re making a trip to Ikea (at 37.5 weeks pregnant…wish me luck!), we’re setting up the Pack n’ Play and Rock n’ Play, we’re installing the car seat, etc.

We’re also celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary (a week early) because Vishnu works next weekend and every other weekend in July. Thank goodness my mama will be here next Saturday! My sister also reminded me she has weekends off in July, so that will be nice and super helpful. Phew!

Anyways, let’s move on to this weeks Friday Favorites…

I unexpectedly found baby shopping with Vishnu at BuyBuyBaby really fun! What should’ve been a stressful trip ended up making us laugh. We couldn’t get over how companies market to and hone in on parents’ biggest fears. It’s ridiculous! Also, strollers…SO EXPENSIVE! And don’t get me started on baby clothes. I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m shilling out $25 for an outfit my baby will wear 2-3 times before outgrowing it. Oy vey!

My heart was so happy when my mom sent me this picture last Sunday. My parents, my grandparents, and Vishnu’s parents met up for a Father’s Day dinner at an Atlanta Indian restaurant. So sweet!

Thea and I met up with two of our former coworkers at Pizzeria Via Stato for a birthday lunch, and the pizza I ordered was EVERYTHING. The cracker thin crust was perfection. As in I ate the whole thing! #noregrets

My current after work routine is pretty amazing. Me + the couch + Friends. Every. Single. Day.

When I see elote on a menu, there’s a 99.9% chance I’ll be ordering it. With that being said, how delicious and fresh does this recipe look? Don’t have a spiralizer? No worries…just use a potato peeler to create your zucchini ribbons!

For my readers with an interest in leadership articles/books, you will LOVE this site – Leadership Now. I literally spent 45 minutes clicking, reading, and being inspired.

And to a few articles from the week…

Love these heartwarming arranged marriage stories!

The topic of self-care is having it’s time in the limelight recently. This article really hits home with 6 great tips.

Baby K isn’t going to be talking any time soon, but I definitely plan to keep these statements/phrases in the back of my mind.

Happy Friday! Make it (and the weekend) a great one.

Friday Favorites

written by Parita 3 Comments

Another Friday, another favorites post!

Overall, it was a good week. I got to spend more time than usual with my sister, I had a great doctor’s appointment, and for once, I took it easy in the mornings and didn’t rush my way to work. Oh, and the weather in Chicago is BEAUTIFUL. What more can one ask for?! Only that the weekend continues in the same direction. 🙂

We don’t have any major weekend plans. We’re still in the middle of researching strollers, so Vishnu and I will make a BuyBuyBaby trip after work today to test drive a few of the options we’ve been eyeing. Oh how Friday nights have changed! Vishnu’s working another 24 hour shift on Saturday, so I’m hanging out with Thea. We have delicious brunch plans I can’t wait for! And we have no real plans on Sunday…maybe hang out with my sister and BIL for a bit, as they both (finally!) have the day off.

Anyways, enough about that. Let’s move on to some Friday Favorites…

I already said this above, but spending time with my sister is one of my favorite things to do. Every time we hang out, I’m reminded of how lucky we are to have her and Adarsh so close. Aekta is the kind of person you can’t help but love and adore (not that I’m biased or anything). She’s also been so supportive throughout my pregnancy. In fact, every Friday, she’ll call to check in on my emotional and physical state. Love her!

Every Marc & Angel post resonates with me to some degree, but I particularly loved this one. #1, 2, and 3 = spot on for me!

On Monday, I wrote about ‘Putting the Universe’s Words into Action‘ and committed to maintaining a peaceful and loving mindset throughout the week. While I can’t say I was 100% successful, I was able to avoid angry thoughts 85% of the time. Not too bad! Oddly, my favorite situations involved walking by smokers and sending them positive ‘quitting’ vibes…all while holding my breath. This certainly beats my ‘what a f’ing disgusting habit’ thoughts. Ha!

I tried two new recipes this week (and forgot to photograph both…oops). I highly recommend you put both of these on your upcoming meal plans!

Apparently I wanted spicy food this week…?

Also, I’m definitely putting these brownies on my weekend to make list. YUM!

It may seem a little weird to be sharing this as a favorite, but I now truly love our new garbage can. I didn’t in the beginning and honestly thought it was a waste of money, but over time, it’s grown on me and proven to be quite convenient. There’s a sensor that opens the lid when you wave your hand over it (keeps everything nice and clean), and there are two compartments – one for trash and one for recycling. The latter is my favorite feature because in a small apartment like ours things can get out of hand quite quickly, and I love that we now have one place for everything. I also love how there are recycling friendly bags that fit perfectly in our new trash can. It’s the little things!

Don’t tell Vishnu about the above, as I may have rolled my eyes a few times and made snarky remarks about his new ‘toy’ when we first set it up!

A couple of more interesting articles from the week…

Daily Practices for Achieving Real Happiness – I’ve never thought about achieving happiness in this way…

To Build Your Resilience, Ask Yourself Two Simple Questions – a great approach in business and in life

And finally, our engagement anniversary was on June 10! We didn’t (and never really do) celebrate in any way, but it was fun to reminisce and think about how far we’ve come. Vishnu and I also realized that June and July are big months for us – legal wedding anniversary, engagement anniversary, actual wedding anniversary, dating anniversary, and Baby K’s birthday!