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About Me: The Details

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Recently, I started thinking about what I would say in an About Me post.  I haven’t divulged a lot of details about my life or who I am, and my plan was to slowly incorporate that information into each post.  Over the past few days, the idea of an About Me post really appealed to me because I do think it’s important to give the people who read your blog a better understanding of who you are as a person.  So, here goes…

My name is Parita, and I am a first generation Indian American.  My parents settled in RI after immigrating from India in the early 80s, therefore, I was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI.  If you’re thinking, “where is that”, does the Slater Mill ring a bell???  Anyways, I also have a younger sister who is one of my best friends in the entire world!  Despite having to raise two kids in an entirely new and different country, my parents did an incredible job!  They were able to keep the Indian culture alive in a foreign place, while still allowing us to fully embrace the American culture.  For example, my sister and I took ballet, tap, and jazz dance classes, played baseball in an all girls league, and had sleepovers just like a lot of our friends growing up.  But what set us apart were the trips to the temple, Bollywood movies, HUGE family get-togethers, Indian dance classes and performances, and multiple trips to India.  If I had to relive my childhood, I wouldn’t change a single thing!

Little Par! 🙂

We moved to Georgia when I was 14, and boy did I hate it!  I missed home and thought everything about the South was strange!  However, over time, I came to call Georgia home.  After finishing high school, I went to the University of Georgia for undergrad.  I majored in Finance because everyone was doing it (no joke)!  Truth be told, those 4 years were some of the best yet!  I met some of my best friends and my boyfriend of almost 6 years during that time, and looking back, life was so carefree and fun.  I miss it! 

After graduation, I worked for a public accounting firm in their consulting group.  This basically meant that I travelled a good bit and got to see some cool places.  I also learned a lot of life skills during this time, and that is why I think everyone should really try to ensure that their first job out of college gives them good experience both professionally and personally.  After about 2 years, I decided that I wasn’t truly happy with my job and couldn’t see myself there in the future.  So, I signed up for the GMAT and applied to business school to get my MBA.  I got into Georgia Tech and began an exciting 2 year adventure.  Going back to school was the best thing for me because it helped me realize that if I put my mind to something, I can do it no matter how difficult it seems at the start.  I was essentially going back to school to switch career paths, and in the beginning, I didn’t know if my mission would be successful.  With a lot of hard work and dedication, I was able to find a job upon graduation that would allow me to follow my professional aspirations.  I know that not everyone can afford to take this path (I was lucky to have very supportive parents), but please don’t ever give up on your personal goals and dreams!  Where there’s a will, there’s a way! 

My current job requires me to move around every 8 months for 2 years.  So far, I have lived in Tucson, AZ and am moving to the Boston area for my next rotation.  It’s such a great experience!  You get to live in 3 different cities, meet tons of new people, and gain valuable experience.  Moving around so much is a little annoying sometimes, but I knew what I was getting into!  🙂 

The reason I started this blog was to have a space where I could share my thoughts and ideas on health, fitness, and overall well-being.  I figured if I could inspire one person to adopt healthier habits, I would have made a difference.  However, since starting this blog a little over 2 weeks ago, I am starting to think that it’s going to be about much more than health and fitness.  I know that sounds a little vague, and I’m not totally sure what that means yet, but just knowing me, my goal of sharing health information will extend to changing the world…hahaha!  What I do know is that aside from sharing my daily thoughts, I want to share more about the Indian culture.  Learning about new countries, cultures, and people is so fascinating to me, so I figure blogging about my own culture will be a great experience for both myself and the people who read my blog.

What else can I share about myself??  I love to spend quality time with my friends and family, especially over a good meal!  I love talking to Vishnu everyday, but I absolutely can’t wait for the day when the phone is no longer our primary means of communication! 🙂  I love to shop, especially with my sister because she thinks I have great fashion sense (which I really don’t)!  I love “deep” conversations about anything and everything (I can just see my friends nodding their heads as they read this sentence)!  And this may shock some of you, but I really do love talking to my parents at least twice a day…we’re very close!  Working out, reading, traveling, going to the movies, cooking, laughing, etc. are other hobbies of mine…I really love ME time! 

All grown up!

Well, I’m sure you’ll learn more about me over time, but I think this is a good start! 🙂  Thanks so much!

Written on February 6, 2011 Related:General

Overcoming Your Fears

written by Parita Leave a Comment

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one.” — Elbert Hubbard

If you’ve been reading my posts over the past few days, you probably saw that I was traveling to Boston for the weekend.  I am relocating here for work and flew up for an apartment hunting trip.  And I am happy to report that it was successful…mission accomplished!  🙂

From the minute I booked my travel, I was really nervous about driving in the snow.  Honestly, I thought about it at least 10 times a day.  I’ve driven in Boston before but never during a snowmageddon!  I’ve been asking everyone I know for tips and tricks on how to get around with so much snow on the ground.  I even asked someone at the airport!  My fear over the whole thing was taking over my thoughts.  However, once I got in the car, took a few deep breaths, and started driving, I realized that I was going to be ok.  Even through some rough traffic, I made it to my hotel in one piece!  I was so proud of myself!  This got me thinking about how so many people probably let fear control their lives.  And believe me, it’s easy to let that happen.  My example is a little silly, but there have been other times in my life where I almost let fear make my decisions for me.  I’ve learned over my short 27 years of life that in order to get something out of it, you have to put something in, and that requires taking risks and taking advantage of the opportunities that come your way.  I know this sounds cheesy, but you really can’t go wrong if your heart is in the right place.  I’m not saying that people should take unreasonable risks.  What I am saying is that we shouldn’t hold ourselves back from what we are truly capable of. 

If you’ve always wanted to run a marathon, go for it!  If you really want to go to Europe, make it happen!  If your dream is to be a teacher, do what it takes to get there!  Don’t let fear cause you any regrets!  That’s enough of the deep, philosophical stuff for today… 🙂  More to come later…promise!

I do quickly want to talk about my lunch today.  My realtor and I stopped at a mall food court for lunch because we were crunched for time.  As I was looking around, a sign for “Regina Pizzeria” caught my eye!  For those of you live in or have visited Boston, I hope you had the opportunity to go to the North End and try this pizza.  It’s some of the best I’ve ever had!  The sauce is sweet and spicy, the mozzarella cheese is gooey and fresh, the veggies are perfectly cooked, and the crust is a little chewy but very light.  And although I was in the boonies and not the North End, my slice of pizza reminded me of the fun times that are to be had in Boston!  I am really going to miss AZ and Tucson A LOT, but I am also excited to call Boston(ish) home for the next few months. 🙂

Written on February 4, 2011 Related:Uncategorized

TED Ideas Worth Spreading

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Have you ever visited TED?  This is one of the coolest websites ever.  I first learned about the organization in grad school, and then someone reintroduced me to it at work.  Since then, I am a regular visitor.  TED is a nonprofit dedicated to ideas worth spreading (see today’s title), and it stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design.  Every year, there is an annual TED conference that brings together some of the world’s greatest minds.  New and innovative ideas are discussed and presented, and then the presentations are uploaded to TED for us common folk!!  But seriously, you can find videos on all kinds of topics, from business to the arts to global issues.  The videos vary in length from about 3 minutes to over 20, but even the longer ones are worth it!  For example, I searched the word “food” and all of these interesting videos came up!  I really loved this video with Mark Bitterman on what’s wrong with what we eat.  I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do!  Another new fun fact about me – I am a total nerd when it comes to this kind of stuff!

Speaking of spreading ideas, I have a new snack idea to share with y’all.  My friend Courtney had me try some Go Raw Spirulina Chips.  They are 100% raw, 100% vegan, 100% certified organic, 100% gluten-free, and 100% nut free.  I know what some of you are thinking, “what is she talking about?  that does not sound good at all.”  But trust me, this is one of those products you have to try before you decide if you like it or not, but believe me, you will like it!   You can really taste the banana and coconut. 🙂  In fact, I stopped at Whole Foods on my way home and got some for my trip up to Boston this weekend.

Your New Favorite Snack

Have you ever tried something new and really loved it right away?

I still have to pack for my flight in the AM!  Wish me luck as I travel from the warm and sunny to the cold and snowy. 😛

Written on February 2, 2011 Related:Food Product, Inspirational

Back to the Basics

written by Parita Leave a Comment

My simple dinner, chickpea and tomato pasta, was the inspiration for tonight’s blog post.  After an entire weekend of unhealthy eats, I wanted to eat something that would give my body some of the nutrients I missed over the past few days.  I am happy to report that dinner was delicious and nutritious!  Before I talk about how I revert back to the basics after a  few unhealthy meals , I will share my recipe.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can approximate all of the ingredients based on what you like and what you don’t like.  I didn’t measure anything…just added a little bit of this and little bit of that!

Ingredients:

Multigrain pasta

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can garbanzo beans

Good quality olive oil (don’t underestimate the power of quality olive oil) 🙂

Dried herbs of your choice (I used basil)

Salt and black pepper to taste

A pinch of Indian red chilli powder (I couldn’t find my crushed red pepper)

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.  Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot.  Add the can of tomatoes and about 3/4 of the beans.  Allow to heat through and then add about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.  Season with the herbs and spices to taste.  Allow to heat through and serve warm.

Allowing yourself to have indulgent foods every now and then is a must.  But sometimes, reverting back to healthier foods and a healthier mindset is harder than one would think.  The transition is much more bearable when I gradually add back fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. into my diet.  Here are some of the ways I get back to the basics:

  • I try to start off with a filling breakfast (my favorite cereal with soy milk, a bowl of oatmeal, slices of toast with peanut butter, an egg white omelet, etc.)
  • I make sure that my kitchen is stocked up with fresh fruits and vegetables, and I incorporate them into every meal (I love juicy berries because they are full of antioxidants, and they are great with yogurt, oatmeal, or even on their own)
  • I reap the benefits of spinach by making a spinach salad with my favorite veggies and beans (my favorite salad beans are black beans, garbanzo beans, and dark red kidney beans)
  • I sip on lots of water throughout the day.  I try to drink at least 6 glasses a day to help cleanse my system.
  • I snack during the day – almonds, fruit, string cheese, Larabars, etc.
  • I eat dark chocolate almost daily! 🙂  I allow myself about 100-150 calories worth and eat it VERY slowly to satisfy my sweet tooth.

These are just a few of the ways I slowly get back to the basics after allowing myself to eat pretty much whatever I want. 🙂  I find that by adding fresh foods back into my diet and not eliminating entire food groups, I am back on track in no time!

Do you find it challenging to eat healthier after indulging?  How do you get back to the basics?

Written on February 1, 2011 Related:Food, General, Recipe

A Tour of Southern Arizona

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Eating, hiking in the canyon, eating, driving up a mountain, eating, touring a cave, eating…

That pretty much sums up the weekend!  Oh, did I mention we ate a lot!?!?

Roshni and Sweeti’s flights got in late Friday night, but we still managed to get up at 6 AM on Saturday to go hiking.  Yes, I did say 6 AM!!! I took them to Sabino Canyon because of the beautiful views.  We hiked a total of 8.4 miles!  It was so fun!

 

We were exhausted by the end of the hike, but it was totally worth it. 🙂

After relaxing and showering we headed to Mi Nidito (yes, I go there often)!  Roshni and I each ordered a bean enchilada with a side of rice and beans.  That sounds boring, but it was really delicious!  Sweeti ordered the Flat – Old Fashioned enchiladas – essentially corn cakes smothered in sauce and cheese…very unique and filling.

 

Flat Enchiladas

 

Next, we drove up Mt. Lemmon to experience some breathtaking views of Tucson.

Before we headed home, we made a pit stop at Frost, a local gelateria.  Unfortunately, I devoured my dark chocolate gelato and completely forgot to snap a picture. 🙁  Sorry!  I won’t forget next time!

Later that night we headed out to experience Tucson night life.  It was a very interesting night but LOTS of fun nonetheless!  It totally reminded me of our undergrad days!!!

The next day we got ready and headed to Lovin’ Spoonfuls (yes, I frequent this place a lot too!).  I decided not to branch out and ordered the usual – a Club Sandwich with a chocolate chip cookie on the side.  🙂  My meal didn’t disappoint!

 

Club Sandwich

 

Kartchner Caves was next on the list, so we headed out and drove about an hour south(ish).  If you’re ever in Southern Arizona, you should definitely try to visit and tour these caves.  We saw beautiful stalagmite and stalactite formations and learned about how the cave has evolved over thousands of years.  In my opinion, some of the formations were unreal!  And to think, they were formed from drops of water…craziness!  We couldn’t take the camera into the caves, so I don’t have pictures for y’all, but if you’re interested, please visit the official site for more information (Kartchner Caves).

Our night ended with more Mexican food (can’t get enough) at Guadalajara Grill.  GGrill has a fun atmosphere and ambiance.  I ended up ordering a cheese enchilada with a side of beans.  This restaurant introduced me to my very first Tucson Mexican food experience, but I must say, nothing beats Mi Nidito.  Hey, we all have our favorites!

 

Fresh, made-to-order salsa!

Our night ended with Bollywood songs via YouTube!!!  For those of you who may not know what Bollywood it, it’s the Indian version of Hollywood.  Don’t worry, I will dedicate an upcoming post to Bollywood so you are all well-informed!

 

That was my weekend!  I was so sad to see it end, but I know there are more fun times ahead!  🙂  Even after a 2 hour nap, I am still exhausted.  Off to bed I go!

Written on January 31, 2011 Related:Food, General, Restaurant

Stay Tuned…

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Boy am I tired!  This weekend was full of friends, food, and laugh until your stomach hurts fun!  I will be posting a full update this evening, but until then, here’s a delicious preview…

 

YUM-O!!!

 

YUM-O x 2

Written on January 31, 2011 Related:Food

Girl Connection Memories

written by Parita Leave a Comment

If you don’t remember what Girl Connection is, read this post first – Girl Connection.  My company’s volunteer coordinator just sent out pictures from the event, and I wanted to share!

Self-defense workshop

ZUMBA!

Me with the girls!

The whole gang 🙂

I didn’t share this in the last post, but during lunch, one girl innocently asked me, “so, what high school do you go to?”  When I told her I graduated a long time ago, she responded with “you look young,” and the others nodded in agreement.  I literally LOLed!  I then tried to explain my educational background but quickly realized that I was losing their interest, so I shut up! 🙂  Overall, the event was well put together and lots of fun.  I hope my company continues to sponsor it in the future.

Snack Idea of the Day

As I was writing this post, I ate one of my new favorite concoctions.  I’m not going to bother adding it to the recipe page because I would feel a little silly (it’s really simple).  All you do is take a cup or so of Greek yogurt (I am really liking the Trader Joe’s brand), a squirt or two or three of honey :), and granola and mix it all up.  That’s it…so easy but so good!  The honey adds the right amount of sweetness with no funny aftertaste, and the granola adds the crunch.  A perfect snack to hold me over until dinner!

I’m off to clean my apartment before I have to go to the airport. 🙂

Written on January 28, 2011 Related:Inspirational, Recipe

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