My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

Five on a Friday

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It’s been a week, y’all! A good week but a tiring one. That’s mostly due to the fact that I got the latest Covid vaccine and the flu shot on Monday. I didn’t end up feeling horrible or anything like that…just worn out. Butttt…glad to be protected!

In other news, Kaiden’s going on his very first field trip today! I’m so excited for him to have all of the experiences I loved as a kid. I can’t wait to see him after school and hear all about it, or whatever I can get out of him at least!

Now, on to my five on a Friday…

ONE – The Book of Joy

I LOVE this book so much! It’s a simple read in many ways, but it’s also so profound. The way the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu break down the concept of joy is honestly…fun to read. If you’re looking for a non-fiction book that makes you think, feel, laugh, all while making you feel more connected to your fellow human beings, this one is for you.

TWO – The One You’re With

In terms of fiction books, this one was a favorite of mine. I honestly can’t pinpoint exactly why, but it just sat well with me if you know what I mean. The characters, the plot, the twists…all of it came together in a way that just made sense. Again, highly recommend this one too!

THREE – Charades for Kid

Kaiden got this game for his birthday, and he played for the first time when my BIL/SIL visited a few weeks ago. EVERYONE, Kaiden + adults in the house, LOVED it. It made us laugh, forced us to be silly and creative, and made time fly! This is also a great game for kids who need to move. Sometimes, I find that the games/activities where K has to sit for a while don’t capture his attention as much. In that sense, this game is perfect for him. Get it, have fun with your family, and thank me later.

FOUR – 100 piece puzzles

Kaiden got a really cool 64 piece puzzle for his birthday that he completed recently. After seeing him working on it, I bought this 3 pack of 100 piece puzzles for an added challenge. It’s also true that I love puzzles, so this is a fun activity for us to do together. For us, puzzles are challenging and engage our problem solving, and they’re also calming and fun.

FIVE – Kaiden’s profound thought

The other morning, Kaiden and I were brushing his teeth, and I said, “Ok K, after we’re done here, let’s head downstairs to eat breakfast and do your homework (he didn’t finish it the night before).” In retort, he said, “Mommy, I can’t do both at once. I need to do one at a time.”

That hit me hard because, even though I know I shouldn’t, I’m a big multitasker. Kaiden is a lot like me in some ways, but this is one way he definitely isn’t. He’s more intentional and slower. And while he’s still working on his ability to focus (especially on homework), he is able to focus on one thing at a time. It’s annoying sometimes when you want him to move along, but it’s something I deeply admire about him.

So profound and he doesn’t even know it!

That’s all I’ve got today! I hope you have a great Friday and weekend.

2022 – Midyear Review

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In the corporate world, regular reviews/check-ins with your boss are both necessary and required. The midyear review is a point of reflection to look at goals, accomplishments, and all that’s left to do.

Since I don’t have a corporate job at the moment, I thought I’d do a little midyear check-in on this blog. If nothing else, it’s a great way for me to reflect on the year so far!

So far in 2022…

  • We got Covid!
  • My BIL got married
  • Kaiden turned 5
  • I launched my very own coaching business
  • I co-launched a podcast (!!)
  • Kaiden and Mila got their first Covid vaccines!
  • The most exciting one for me by far is seeing Kaiden grow and transform this year. When we first moved to Atlanta, he had a really hard time. Now, he’s super talkative, friendly, open, and somewhat willing to try new things (ha!). He has the biggest heart and is just so loving and kind. He’s the best big brother and is just the sweetest with Mila. Obviously, kids are like moving targets, but I truly love being this boy’s mama and can’t wait to see what the next six months bring for him!

In terms of goals, I didn’t set specific ones for the year, but overall, I started with the world ‘try’ in mind. I didn’t want the fear of the unknown to keep me from new experiences. I also wanted to continue working on my health and fitness and my parenting. All super broad but that’s the general gist.

I’m happy to report that I’ve tried a lot of new things so far this year…

  • Swapping out my stable corporate job for the momprenuer life and Awarify Coaching
  • Launching a podcast with my friend and fellow professional coach, Amy Galvin
  • Pushing myself on the Peloton and trying to break previous records and increase my strength and overall fitness over time
  • Really trying to take a more child centered approach with both Kaiden and Mila. By no means am I saying that we make them the center of our world, but more so, trying to understand their perspectives before diving into my own. Slowing down, doing one thing at a time, and staying as rested as possible helps.

From a friends and family perspective, the first half the year has proven to be a lot of fun. We’ve spent tons of time with family and close friends – dinners, birthday parties, game nights. It’s so hard to coordinate schedules, but we do what we can with who we can when we can. Life is too short to wait for the right/best time. Figure out who you want to spend time with, make that time, and then spend it. New life motto!

From a travel perspective, we haven’t made many moves yet. We had our family of four vacay to FL in May, Vishnu and I went to South Carolina for a friend’s wedding in June, and I’m currently in California visiting my grandparents. We have a few fun things coming up in the next couple of months. It’s not the world travel we were imagining last year, but it’s something and it’s with people we love, so there’s that!

The rest of the year will go by in a flash I know it!

We have…

  • Kaiden’s pre-K graduation
  • The start of kindergarten
  • My sister’s baby coming soon!!!
  • Mila starting daycare (we think)
  • A girls’ trip (for me)
  • A couples’ trip to FL with friends
  • Disney with Kaiden
  • Mila’s first birthday (how?!)

I think my words for the second half of 2022 are going to be ‘breathe, relax, and enjoy.’ Life is moving at warp speed and sometimes I let this overwhelm me. This in turn doesn’t help me be the best version of myself for anyone, so I’m going to try my very best to ground myself in whatever’s happening around me and really be there…soaking it all in like a sponge. Now is all we have anyways, right?

Currently – June 2022

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Taking it back to really old school blogging with this post! Sharing a few of my current favorite reads, listens, foods, etc.

Currently reading

I just finished Book Lovers and absolutely adored it! I’m currently reading Every Summer After and really enjoying how the story is unfolding. Two great summer reads!

Currently listening to

Podcasts! And lots of them! But my current favorites are Good Inside with Dr. Becky, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, and Healthy in Real Life with the Fitnessista.

Currently eating…

Berries – blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Can’t get enough!

Yogurt bowls – Full-fat Greek yogurt, cinnamon, peanut butter, mix of berries, and Purely Elizabeth chocolate hazelnut granola. SO SO SO GOOD!

Egg toast – toasted bread, Greek yogurt cream cheese, fried egg, and Sriracha. Could eat this every day and not grow tired of it!

Currently watching

Believe it or not…nothing! This is Us just finished, and we also finished the Ozarks recently. I’m kind of enjoying our TV free nights (and getting to bed earlier!).

Currently looking forward to

Kaiden’s 5th birthday party and his actual birthday! He’s been talking about it for months, and I’m so excited to celebrate my sweet boy! Five really seems to be a turning point for us. He’s a much better listener, he’s able to communicate in a gentler way (most of the time), and he’s just so so affectionate and sweet (especially with me!). And not to mention some of the things he says…just hilarious.

I’m also looking forward to launching a PODCAST! My friend and fellow coach Amy and I are doing the dang thing and starting a new exciting project together. I can’t wait to share more! The trailer will be up in mid-July and the first episode will be ready for your ears at the end of July. AHHH!

Almost 5 years ago! Can’t believe it!

Currently thinking about

Intrusive thoughts! I have so many tools at my disposal to combat and work through unhelpful thoughts, and yet I find intrusive thoughts so hard to get rid of. These are hypothetical thoughts that take me down rabbit holes that are super dark and grim. Not fun at all.

My currently strategy is to remind myself that everything is ok right now and take as many deep breaths as I need. Any and all strategies take practice and repetition, so I’m working on it. It’s definitely better than it was a few months ago, but I’d like to not even go there if at all possible.

Currently trying

Daily stretching and a nightly sleep meditation. I use the Peloton app for both and absolutely love all the classes. I could definitely use a bit more zen (see above) and these two (almost) daily practices are helping.

Currently dreading

This heat wave we’re experiencing. It is BRUTAL! I used to go for daily walks with Mila round noon, and now we don’t leave the house. It’s super hot and uncomfortable, and I’d definitely need another shower if I attempted outdoor walks right now.

Currently wearing

Joggers and tees of course! But other than that, I found a few comfy summer dresses at Old Navy (dress 1, dress 2, and dress 3) that I’m loving. And I’m also loving the Lululemon stuff I picked up earlier this year and a few weeks ago. Vishnu got me a sizeable gift card for my 37th birthday, but then I got pregnant and decided to wait before buying anything. I’m not a Lulu shopper, so I stuck with basics like leggings, a sweatshirt (can’t find a link) and these really comfortable back in action tees that feel like butter!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now! Hope you’re all currently doing well!

June 2022 – Happenings and Goals

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How are we almost half way through 2022? And how we been Georgia residents (again) for almost a year? Craziness!

The year is speeding by for many reasons, mostly because we have two kids I think. It’s like what they say. When you’re in the day to day grind, time slows down a little. Then when you step back and take a more macro view, you can’t believe how fast it’s all going!

June happenings

It’s also probably going quickly because we have so many big things happening (and a few that have already happened). For one, my BIL’s wedding was this past weekend! Ya’ll, this wedding was two years in the making (they pushed it forward because of Covid), so it felt extra special. Great fun was had by all! However, by the end of it, Vishnu and I were both ready to get the kids back to a routine! Exhausted doesn’t even begin to describe how we felt.

And next up, specifically this month, we have my sister’s baby shower, which will be so fun! I’m extra excited because my two aunts (mom’s younger sisters) will be in town for it, and it’s been over two years since we’ve seen them (maybe even longer!). I’m in charge of games for the shower, and I have a few good ones ready to go. I’ll share more after this weekend as to not ruin the surprise for my sister and BIL!

After that, Vishnu and I will be headed to Hilton Head for his med school friend’s wedding/receptions. You guys have no idea how excited I am to have 48 hours to relax and know that my kids will be well taken care of (each set of grandparents is taking a kid). On the flip side, I’m also a little nervous because this will be the first time I’ll be away from Mila for more than a night. The first time was when I landed back in the hospital a week after giving birth. I keep telling myself it’ll all be ok. Vishnu and I need this time!

And THEN…we have the main event for June…my little boy’s 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! I can’t believe he’s almost 5! This is the first big party we’re having that he’ll actually remember, so I’m super excited. We’re going with a Paw Patrol theme…I’ll share more afterwards. It’s going to be emotional for sure!

Other than that, I’m still wrapping my head around how hot it is already! It’s 90+ degrees in Atlanta most days of the week now! I’ll take this over a Chicago winter any day though. I always say, it’s so much easier to peel layers off versus pile them on!

June goals

  1. Really delve into mine and Chitra’s next book club book – Influence. I actually read this back in 2009 in business school and have been wanting to reread for a while now. Funny side story – I only realized this was the same book after I finished the first chapter. But it’s all good because this book is a great read from a business perspective.
  2. Read a fiction book. Hoping to dig into something when we go to Hilton Head. Saturday during the day is pretty free, so you bet this mama is going to park her butt on a pool chair (hopefully with a beverage in hand) to read!
  3. Find some summery clothes! I have a VERY minimal summer wardrobe since I was pretty pregnant last summer! Need to find some staple pieces stat!
  4. That being said, this month I want to clean out and declutter every closet in our home. The plan is to donate everything that no longer fits/that we no longer need or want. Wish me luck!
  5. I don’t know if this one will get done this month, but I need new professional photos! I found a local photographer so now I just need to schedule the time. This also means I need to get some new clothes for said pictures. So maybe I need to figure out #3 first! I’m ok with pushing this one back to July/August too. We’ll see…
  6. And of course, I’m still going to continue with my forever goals of moving every day (intentional 4-5 times a week), drinking half my body weight or more in water, cutting back my time on social media, meditating daily, and going to bed by 10 pm.

Phew! That’s all I’ve got for now. I hope your June is equal parts fun and chill. Here’s to being almost halfway through 2022!

2021 Reflections

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I know I haven’t been sharing here much these past couple of weeks, but I’m changing things up today given we’re at the tail end of 2021 and sharing some of my key reflections (borrowing this idea from Brittany of A Healthy Slice of Life!). This isn’t a ‘look at all that I’ve accomplished’ list but more of a here’s what went down, what went well, and what could’ve been better.


Let’s jump right into it…

What was it like in the beginning?

To be completely honest, I started 2021 with a lack of clarity about whether or not I wanted to try for another child. I had an a-ha moment in my iPEC module in mid-January that led me to the conclusion that I did in fact want to try. By the end of the month, we were pregnant (very very fortunate).

I also had lots of hopes about Covid being a non-threat this year since the vaccine was starting to be rolled out.

And finally, lots of stressors about our move – would we find a place to live that we liked, how Kaiden would adjust, etc.

What worked well and what didn’t?

For the majority of the year, I wasn’t a great delegator and felt like I had to take the world on my shoulders. Later on in the year, I learned that I didn’t need to do that and that no one expected me to either. That realization was everything, and now I’m learning how to be a better delegator. Makes me a better human.

Also, with Kaiden, both Vishnu and I are learning what works and what doesn’t. For example, we can’t spring anything on him. He’s unable to pivot and adjust so we have to prep him waaaay in advance. Timers work, as well as positive reinforcement. Threats, punishment, and coercion don’t work with him!

Therapy works for me. Just thinking I can think my way out of certain thoughts/emotions, doesn’t/didn’t work.

My blog and IG space being truly for my own fulfillment works for me. What doesn’t work is posting and sharing for others, to drive up #s and engagement, etc. Leaving all of that in 2021!

What were the most important conversations and connections?

All of my conversations with Vishnu about parenting, our move, our career choices, our marriage, etc. were important and critical and continue to be.

My sister and I have had some amazing conversations as well this year, and I truly cherish my relationship with her.

And finally, reconnecting with all of my close friends in Atlanta has been super important/special to me.

What was the best entertainment?

Kaiden. Haha! He’s grown so much this year, it’s incredible when I think about it. He talks a mile a minute and always has a story to tell or a question to ask. Definitely my favorite form of entertainment is hanging out with him!

Who mattered?

My family. My friends. My online community. ME!

I’ve found a different kind of voice through my writing this year, and I’m so thankful for that, as well as my IG space and this blog. This truly is an outlet for me, and I love the community that’s grown along with me. So very special.

What changed?

The better question is what hasn’t changed. HAHA!

Well, we have an additional member of our family. We moved back home to Atlanta. Vishnu has a new job, so our finances have changed (lol!). I spent the last 3ish months on maternity leave, which was an adjustment at first, but I love it.

In a sense, everything changed for me/us, and in some ways, it’s all the same. We’re still the same crazy people we were a year ago, just in a different place.

Where did you find happiness and fulfillment?

I truly find the most happiness spending quality time with people I love. There’s nothing better than creating memories and having fun while you’re at it.

I also find a ton of fulfillment in processing my thoughts and ideas through writing. And secondary to that, connecting with people via my writing.

What did you learn?

I’m a lot stronger, mentally, physically and emotionally, then I give myself credit for.

And also, fear isn’t going to change the outcome of a situation. In fact, it’s probably just going to make your journey a living hell. Grounded hope is what I’m taking with me into the new year.

What is actually ending?

Not sure…will need this think about this one some more!

What do you want more of?

Quality time with family and friends. Travel. Time to write and reflect. More real life fun moments -> less online sharing of said moments. Hope. Lightness. Rest. Play. Laughter. Kindness.

The list goes on…

I hope you find some time to reflect on this past year and what you want your 2022 to look and feel like!

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Hello + Thinking Out Loud

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Hello hello! It’s been a minute since I’ve blogged. It’s not that I didn’t want to or didn’t have time. I’ve just been exhausted the past week or so. Like I could fall asleep anywhere at any time. I finally felt a rush of energy today, so I thought I’d come on here and share something a little different. A way to play catch up/check in I suppose…

One of my favorite experiences in December – girls’ night cookie exchange party!

Ok here we go…

Habit I’m trying to break: This one is easy. I’ve been falling asleep on the couch every night waiting for my pump time, and it really messes everything up. I need to either go to bed and wake up to pump or I need to just stay awake and suck it up.

Habit I’m trying to continue: Drinking tons of H2O every single day. When I don’t, I feel it physically, mainly in the form of headaches.

Best experience in November/December (so far): I honestly can’t pick just one. Most days look and feel the same, but I don’t mind that. I’ve loved everything we’ve experienced and am looking forward to a cozy winter.

Getting me excited for winter: The weather! Georgia winters are the best. And after five Chicago winters, I’m ready for a mild one. I often find myself complaining after dropping K off at school about how ‘cold’ it is. But I then remind myself that it could be a lot worse. A LOT WORSE!

Current thing I’m learning to love about myself: My postpartum body. Looks aside, I’m learning to love and appreciate how strong and capable my body is. Not only has it created life, but it’s carried me through a rough postpartum time and so much more.

Current thing I do love about myself: My ability to get shit done. Once I put my mind to something, I have to find a way to make it a reality. Period.

Book(s) I can’t wait to read: Hmmm…good prompt! I haven’t created a 2022 reading list yet, but I know Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown will be on it.

Task(s) I haven’t done yet that’s driving me crazy: I have a list of Awarify to dos that I have yet to tackle. Soon, my friends, soon!

On the docket for this weekend: Christmas day brunch with the fam bam! We’re hosting this year and are just so excited to celebrate with our families and experience this holiday with Kaiden in our own home.

Hope y’all are having a good week so far!

Wednesday Thoughts and Things

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I first typed “Friday Thought and Things” and then thought, “Wait. That doesn’t sound right.” This alone should tell you how our days are going…fast and slow depending on what’s going on at the moment.

It’s crazy to me how so much happens in a day but then when you look back, you’re like what did I even do! Right now, my goals are to make sure Kaiden is ok emotionally, Mila is fed and sleeping somewhat regularly, Vishnu and I check in with each other every day, I get my pumping sessions in, and I TRY and sleep when I can (not very successful with this one). Everything else can wait! Oh and there’s also bottle washing and laundry. With regards to the latter, we’re usually pulling washed clothes out of the basket or dryer for days before things get folded and put away. Such is life right now!

Life isn’t as routine as I’m making it sound. In fact, I’d say we don’t have a true routine down just yet. Vishnu and I feel like we’re getting close though. Let’s take this morning for example, Vishnu started work at 7 (from home). I woke up at 6:50 (despite setting an alarm for 6:15). Kaiden woke up as soon as I started heading downstairs. As I was getting his breakfast ready, Mila woke up crying. Long story short – it was chaos between feeding Mila, getting her back down, getting Kaiden to school, etc. Needless to say, I was thankful for Mr. Television!

Life also isn’t as stressful as I make it sound sometimes (on here and on IG), but we’re definitely feeling some stress around the viruses that are circulating right now. At the same time, we feel ok with some of the measures we’re taking. For example, we’re only seeing people who are healthy and vaccinated (and thankfully, most of our family and friends have gotten their booster shot as well). For example, we’re going to a Friendsgiving dinner this week and taking Kaiden. I don’t feel super stressed about that. Mila will stay home. And for actual Thanksgiving, we’re getting together with both of our families, but we’ll have Kaiden wear a mask and so will we. And if anyone wants to hold or get close to MIla, we’re going to ask they put on a mask too. While earlier on in the pandemic, we said no to pretty much anything that had us about and about with people, we’re now taking a different approach where we weight out risks and benefits and go forward from there. Feels a bit more freeing to us too given that Covid is probably going to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future.

Ok, enough about that. Let’s talk Christmas. We put our tree up last weekend, and my mom was like aren’t you supposed to do that after Thanksgiving. I told her we don’t care because we’ve waited a long time to put up our own tree, and we want Kaiden to enjoy it for as long as he can. It’s his first tree too! We’ve always been in Atlanta for the holidays, but this year we’re obviously staying put. AND we’ll be together as a family, whereas in the past, it was pretty likely Vishnu wouldn’t be able to join us or only for a short time.

AND this year we have Mila!!! It’s her very first Christmas and we want to go big!

AND Vishnu and I are pretty much big kids right now. We’ve bought so many ornaments, matching family PJs, hot chocolate, etc. We’re ready baby!

Speaking of Vishnu, he isn’t working any major holidays until 4th of July 2022! Woo hoo! As much as I complained about residency life, attending life isn’t so bad. There are still some downsides, but the upsides far outweigh everything else.

In other personal happy news, I found the PERFECT postpartum holiday dress. It’s comfy, affordable, and comes in multiple colors and prints. I wore it for our family pics and immediate bought one more because I loved it that much!

Let’s go back and talk about Thanksgiving for a minute. What’s on your menu? For Friendsgiving, I’m bringing mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. For our family Thanksgiving, my in laws are ordering Indian food, but we are doing traditional desserts. I’m bringing pecan pie brownies. Can’t wait!

Ok, that’s enough thoughts and things from me! Have a great Wednesday!

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