My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

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One Week Old!

written by Parita Leave a Comment

HAPPY ONE WEEK BLOGIVERSARY (yes, it’s a word (on Urban Dictionary)) TO ME!!!   I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement.  It really means the world to me!  I hope you continue to follow my antics and share your thoughts and ideas because I love hearing them!  🙂

On another note, I ordered a new digital camera today (point and shoot)!!!  Guess what color it is??  BROWN!!  It matches my blog! 🙂 Vishnu (my boyfriend) is the BEST because he actually helped me find a really really really good deal (he’s the best for other reasons too, but this was just awesome)!!!

Here's my new toy!

In honor of Vishnu, here’s a pic of us in beautiful Sedona!! 🙂

Me and Vishnu in Sedona, AZ 🙂

So, it’s been a week since I started on this adventure, and I’ve received some really good feedback and some questions that I want to address.

1.  I’ve been told that my content and topics are great, but that I need more pictures.  I hear ya!  My favorite blogs are the ones with fun, colorful pictures.  So, as soon as my camera arrives, I will begin adding pictures to every post.  Get ready!  LOL 🙂

2.  I’ve been asked a few times about what my goal is for this blog.  Honestly, I don’t really know yet!  I want to blog about a lot of things, with the majority of the posts focusing on health, fitness, and overall well-being.  Health and fitness will be easier topics for me to blog about, but the well-being part is what I’m trying to define.  I think a strong sense of self constitutes overall well-being.  And a strong sense of self comes from giving back to the community, learning about new and interesting things, and choosing to take on positive thoughts.  For now, my hope is to blog about all of these things and integrate them into my daily posts.  How does that sound?!

3.  I’ve also been asked about the recipe section I added.  And again, I have no real plans for this either.  I know I definitely want to share some of my favorite Indian recipes that my mom and aunt have helped me adapt for the every day cook.  But other than that, I think it will host a hodge podge of recipes from a variety of different cuisines that are fun, simple, and easy to make. 🙂  I hope that helps!

4. Finally, I know that my About Me section is pretty high level, so instead of changing it, I plan on divulging more about myself as I go.  🙂

One thing that I will share about myself today is that I absolutely LOVE quotes/proverbs of all kinds!  Here is one that has really resonated with me lately:

“I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet,” –Indian Proverb

That’s all for today, but I promise some restaurant reviews in the near future.  Roshni and Sweeti (my BFFs from undergrad) are visiting this weekend, and they want the real Tucson experience, including lots of yummy Mexican food. 🙂

Goodnight and thanks again!

Written on January 27, 2011 Related:General

Par’s Picks

written by Parita Leave a Comment

With the beginning of a new year comes an overwhelming number of health articles.  I think I have seen it all, and we’re only 25 days into 2011.  The articles that always seem to catch my eye are the ones that list out “powerfoods.”  I haven’t figured out why I gravitate toward that topic, but it really does fascinate me.  I get super excited when one of my everyday foods makes it onto a list!  🙂

So anyways, as I was brainstorming potential blog topics, I thought, why not create my own list of “powerfoods” that give me myinnershakti.  In order to make my list, the food had to be a regular part of my diet, be versatile, and be yummy!  So without further ado, here are Par’s Picks (in no particular order):

1. Avocados – I use avocados in guacamole, salads, sandwiches, and even on their own (a very satisfying snack).  They are rich and creamy and have a really subtle taste that works with a lot of dishes.

2. Spinach – Spinach is obviously great as the base of salad.  It also works as a nutritious replacement for lettuce.  I also chop it up and mix it into stir fry recipes, soups, etc.

3. Tomatoes – An obvious use for tomatoes is in sandwiches and salads, but I also like to eat them raw with a little sprinkle of salt.

4. Bell peppers (red is my fav) – Peppers are great in salads and stir fry recipes.  They are also really good stuffed with spiced quinoa (thanks, Monica!).

5.  Dark chocolate – THIS IS BEST ENJOYED ALL BY ITSELF! 🙂

6. Tofu – Tofu scrambles are my new favorite, but this seemingly boring ingredient can be jazzed up and included in a lot of dishes, including stir fry’s, casseroles, and even baked goods.

7. Ground flaxseed – I love ground flaxseed because it adds a lot of nutritional value to a dish without sacrificing flavor.  I add it to my morning oatmeal, sauces, and even Indian food (no one can ever tell its there).

8. Peanut butter – I used to be a Reduced Fat Jif girl until I tried some of the all natural varieties out there.  My favorite brand is  Maranatha.  I just love how peanuty it tastes with very few ingredients.

9. Greek yogurt – Yogurt is great, but in my opinion, greek yogurt is the best!  It’s so thick and creamy and full of protein and calcium.  I love it in parfaits, smoothies, and dips.

11. Blueberries – My new favorite berry is the blueberry!  I love eating these berries by themselves, with my greek yogurt, in smoothies, and even in my baked goods (muffins, cakes, etc.).

12. Bananas – I pretty much eat one banana a day.  It’s the best snack because it keeps you full and satisfied!

13. Apples – An apple a day keeps the doctor away!  I love all kinds of apples, but my favorites have to be Gala and Granny Smith [with peanut butter].

14. Granola – A sprinkle of granola over my oatmeal or yogurt is the best because it adds crunch and sweetness.

15. Beans – If I had to choose one “powerfood,” it would have to be beans.  I love them all – garbanzo, black, kidney, pinto, etc.  I use them in soups, salads, dips, burgers, and even my brownies! 😉  They fill you up and keep you full for a long time!

16. Balsamic vinegar – I love ranch dressing but only the full fat kind (the reduced fat/fat-free stuff is too gloppy for my taste).  However, if I used full fat ranch dressing every time I had a salad, my arteries would be clogged!  So now I use balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make my own vinaigrette.  I find it really refreshing, and I personally like the tang that it adds to my veggies.

17. Olive oil – This is my go to oil for everything I make.  It’s full of heart healthy fats, and besides that, I just love the aroma of olive oil heating up in the kitchen!

18. Quinoa – Quinoa is the newest addition to my diet.  For those of you who don’t know what quinoa is, it’s a grain like edible seed.  The cool thing about quinoa is that it contains all 9 essential amino acids needed for human development.  It can be used in pretty much anything – casseroles, stir fry’s, oatmeal, baked goods, etc.

19. Larabars – All of the foods listed above are simple, whole foods.  In my opinion, a Larabar is 5 or fewer simple, natural foods combined into one, with the base being dates!  I wasn’t too sure if they would be to my liking, but one day my friend Courtney let me graciously try her Apple Pie bar, and I instantly became a fan.  My newest favorite is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.  Other tasty flavors include Pecan Pie, Chocolate Coconut, and Chocolate Chip Brownie.  Do me a favor, if you decide to give them a try, let me know as I would love to hear your thoughts!

So, there you have it…Par’s Picks!  I’ll be sure to update this list whenever I find something worthy of being called a “powerfood,” so be on the lookout!

I would love to hear about what your “powerfoods” are and why, so if you have any, please share!  I am always looking for new ingredients to use in my everyday eats. 🙂


Written on January 25, 2011 Related:Food, General

Eatin’ Out

written by Parita Leave a Comment

My weekend was filled with great food, awesome friends, and my wonderful family!  On Friday, my friends and I went to a local restaurant called Lovin’ Spoonfuls for dinner.  This is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in Tucson!  It’s absolutely delicious and 100% vegan.   Tuscon visitors should not leave the city until they have been to Lovin’ Spoonfuls (even meat eaters).  In fact, it’s so good that I went again today with my family for lunch. I have never walked out of this restaurant feeling unsatisfied!

On Friday, I got the Santa Fe plate, which consisted of baked polenta, tomato and basil relish/sauce, and black beans.  I washed all of that down with a soy milkshake called the Mexican Delight (a combination of chocolate and coffee).  YUMMY!  I am definitely going to try to recreate that dish and shake at home.

Today, I got my usual, the club sandwich with China Black Tea.  This is probably one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.  It’s made with soy ham and turkey, vegan mayo, tomatoes, lettuce, and oat grain bread.  DELISH!

It’s a good thing that Lovin Spoonfuls is a healthy place because dinner last night was definitely no where near healthy.  My family and I went to Mi Nidito.  Mi Nidito is a well-known Mexican restaurant in Tucson that’s been around since the 50’s.  It serves real Sonoran food, which equals delicious, cheesy goodness!  I ended up ordering a bean enchilada with a side of rice.  We also ordered the guacamole to share.  Everything tasted so fresh compared to other Mexican restaurants.  Mi Nidito’s tortillas, guac, beans, and rice are the BEST!  Another Tucson gem worth trying!

Since balance is my new favorite word, I plan on balancing out all of the eating I did this weekend by doing some yoga this evening.  I’ve been wanting to get Jillian Michael’s Yoga Meltdown DVD for awhile now and finally made my way to Target to buy it.  I LOVE her workouts and plan on blogging about all 4 of the DVDs I own soon!

Wish me luck!

Written on January 23, 2011 Related:General, Restaurant

Girl Connection

written by Parita Leave a Comment

From time to time, we all need to step out of the bubble that we call life and experience something new from someone else’s perspective.  One way to do this is to volunteer.  I was lucky enough to have that opportunity today with an event that I helped organize called Girl Connection.

The premise behind Girl Connection was to have an event for girls by girls.  The girls, ages 10-15, were from local Boys and Girls Clubs.  We hosted 3 workshops (relationships, money, and beauty), a self-defense session, and a fun Zumba class at the end.  By the end of the event, I felt both inspired and sad.  I felt inspired to volunteer more and mentor youth in the community, and I felt sad because these girls have probably gone through more in their short 12 years then I will in a lifetime.  Some of these girls have seen some horrific things, including abuse and violence.  Please don’t get me wrong…in no way do I feel sorry for these girls.  In fact, after today, I am certain that they will be our next doctors, nurses, teaches, engineers, etc.  How do I know this?  At the end of the event, the question was posed, “how many of you want to go to college?”  ALL OF THEM raised their hands!  I hope that they continue to be ambitious and curious, and more than anything, I hope that they continue to persevere and overcome everything life throws at them.

Overall, I feel really lucky and appreciative to have the life that I do.  My childhood was filled with laughter and love.    I had no worries in the world except getting my homework done and figuring out whose house my friends and I were going to have a sleepover at on the weekends.  There was hardly any stress or fear in my life.  And although I can’t say my adult life is stress-free, I can say that most of my stress is self-induced.  I have a wonderful family, a loving boyfriend, great friends, a great career, etc.  Honestly, it can’t get any better than this.  I am truly VERY lucky.

And even though I believe that we should all reflect on the things we have and be more appreciative, I don’t think that’s enough.  We need to take action, give back to the community, and really help those who weren’t blessed with the best lives.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”  –Gandhi

Written on January 22, 2011 Related:General

Hello world!

written by Parita 7 Comments

My first blog post EVER!  This is a really exciting moment for me because I have been wanting to do this for a really long time.  A conversation with one of my best friends really got the ball rolling for me today.  I told her how I want to start a blog “one day,” and her enthusiastic response of “you totally should” really made something click in my head.  Immediately after I got off the phone with her, I got on the internet and did some research…the rest is history!  I really want to write more, but I am exhausted (I know, I know… it’s only 9:30)!  Another reason I want to get to bed early is because I want to get up bright and early to do my super fun strength training DVD (Jillian Michael’s No More Trouble Zones).  I haven’t done a hard core strength workout in over a week, so wish me luck!

Written on January 21, 2011 Related:General

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